Up close and Personal with Snickers

Its hard to believe that the Pup came home four years ago and was only 8 pounds at the time
Current Stats
75 Pounds and super fluffy

Celebrating Sonia

We recently celebrated my AMAZING sister in law!
Happy Belated Birthday Sonia!
May you ENJOY many more!

My mom

My mom is the most important woman in my life. She was my best friend and someone I could tell anything to, that is until her mind become riddled with Alzheimer's. I love my mom dearly and there isnt anything I wouldnt do for her. It kills me to see her in the stage that she is in. She doesnt recognize me any longer. She can no longer communicate. She has a caregiver 24/7..someone to feed her, change her, bath her .....

I would give anything to have MY mom back...anything! But I know that isnt God's plan. Until that time he calls her home I will visit with her, bring her mochas and pray for her.

I LOVE YOU MOM!!!

Mad Men Party

We were recently invited to a MAD MEN themed party. It was fun to dress up in the 60's....they had style then. Thank you Thompson's for hosting a fun night!

Thompson Clan

Thompson Clan

The little Sweetie

The MAD MEN

Yesterday was a tough day

September 29, 2011...we lost a GREAT man.
George Robert " Bob" Young
Husband . Father . Friend

We love you dad and you will be greatly missed.

Bumpy Times...thankful times

I cant even begin to outline the adventure that Ryan and I are on right now.....everything is on the line....waiting for GOD'S Provision. We are waiting on funding for MobilePay. We are waiting on my credentials to clear so I can work while I go to Grad School. We are waiting on the health of Ryan's dad. We are waiting on the health of my mom. We are in a season of waiting, not to be confused with a season of wanting. We are not in want of anything. We are provided for and have everything we need. He provides Salvation, a roof over head and food on the table....what more can we ask of him? It is sometimes hard to see him in the midst of the chaos and craziness..but we know that he is there..leading the way.

There is so much to be Thankful for....
Family
A Healthy, Strong, Christ Centered Marriage
Good Health
Our Crazy Puppy
The Amazing house we live in
Food on the table and Clothes on our backs
The gifts and abilities that God has blessed us with
The ability to give back.....

We are thankful for the smooth times and the bumpy times, as it draws us even closer to God and closer as a family. Thank you, Lord, that you are with us wherever we go, near or far, and that You care deeply about us. Thank you for loving us just as we are and challenging us to strive to be more and more whole. Thank you for the many blessings in our lives.

Zack and the tide pools

About a week ago I took my nephew Zack down to the Tide Pools at Crystal Cove State Beach. We were hoping to see a lot more than we did, but it was still a fun adventure!

no catchy titles for this entry..just an update

Its been a few weeks since I last did an entry. Its been a little busy around here...lots going on. We were in Arizona for about 5 days after Steve passed. We were helping mom and dad go through things and make arrangements. It was extremely difficult for Ryan, Paul, Peter and Craig. Ryan and Paul cleaned out Steve's room and found his treasures. Steve loved zippo lighters and loved to collect them...he also loved Precious Moments(something he shared with his mom). He had an AMAZING collection. It was hard going through things, but also a chance for me to get to know my brother in law a little bit better.

We are heading back to Arizona this weekend for Easter. No doubt it will be another hard trip. Long nights, early mornings...but lots of family fun! This will be my first Easter away from my mom...a little hard for me.

I turned 37 (THIRTY SEVEN) this week.....what the heck? When did I get so old? In honor of my birthday Ryan made sure we had a party....so I decided I wanted a Guacamole party! Everyone that came brought me Guacamole....it was the great Guac Off of 2011!

No other real news here....Im sure there is more..just cant think of it!

Until then I leave you with this CUTIE!!

Stephen E. Young

Stephen E. Young
October 26, 1966- April 5, 2011
Son, Brother and Friend

Tuesday. April 5, 2011 we received news that Ryan's older brother passed away.
Stephen was an incredible man...one of great faith! Although he was plagued with a multitude of health issues he never was mad at God.

Stephen (Steve) You will be greatly missed. See you again!

Mom, Dad and the Boys
Thanksgiving 2010

Ryan and Steve.....going for the mountain man look!

Mom, Dad and the Boys
Christmas 2009

101 in 1001...UPDATED

This is the updated version of the List...doing good so far..there is still a lot to in not so much time!

1. Go for a hike (February 2011)
   
2. Take Pilates
3. Run a 5K
4. Learn to cook a really good steak
5. Visit Lake Tahoe for a week and show Ryan around
6. Take a road trip just for fun
7. Eat at a new restaurant once a month
8. Learn about the stock market and invest $1000
9. Camp in Yosemite
10. Read the entire Bible
11. Volunteer (RockHarbor Arts Team and YoungLife)
    
12. Cook dinner at home 3 times a week for 3 months
13. Build a dog sized deck for Bozley (March 2010)
    
14. Take a vacation and not bring my laptop or phone
15. Shoot a new baby session Tayden Courage..born October 28, 2010)
    
16. Learn about wine (Napa Trip 2010)
    
17. Go to the dentist twice a year ( Does 4 times in 2 months count?)
    
18. Plant an Herb Garden and use it! (April 2010)
    
19. Go Sledding
20. Go on a missions trip with my husband
21. Go fishing with Ryan
22. Learn to surf in Hawaii
23. Go to my 20 year High School Reunion! Go Lakers!
24. Learn a martial art or how to box
25. Spend a week in the summer on the east coast
26. Teach Bozley agility courses
27. Go apple picking and make a pie from the apples I pick
28. Ride a segway
29. Walk in the Memory Walk for Alzheimers and raise over $1000
30. Read Art of War
31. Clean out spare room closet (March 2010)
    
32. Start an account strictly for charity giving and contribute each month
33. Send homemade card to friends
34. Clean out closet and get rid of everything I don’t wear (doing on an ongoing basis)
    
35. Double my 2009 income (Accomplished)
    
36. Save 90% of what I make for a month
37. Buy a second investment property
38. Eat something I have never tried before ( Oysters...Boston 2010)
    
39. Make a new friend (Jeff and Anna Dunham , Ryan and April Cannon, John and Amber Fox)
    
40. Go out on a boat
41. Go camping
42. Send someone a care package( Katie Kirk, Sammy Case, Megan Yount and Taylor Charles...summer 2011)
    
43. Build a snowman
44. Learn to play an entire song on the guitar
45. Have a Martha Stewart looking dinner party
46. Buy an antique
47. Move my moms china hutch into our house (February 2011)
    
48. Ski in Colorado with Amy and Andy
49. Update the look of my blog (Done)
    
50. Send thank you notes for small, unexpected reasons
51. See a movie on opening night and have to wait in line for it
52. Learn to sew
53. Have a really good Halloween costume (Jovi the Elf)
    
54. Babysit for a friend so they can have a date night
55. Attend a formal event (Feb 20 2010 and Feb 19, 2011 Front and Center)
    
56. Make a piece of jewelry
57. Paint my living room ( May 2010)
    
58. Help my husband build the deck in the backyard ( March 2010)
    
59. Plant an Orange Tree in our backyard
60. Plant a Thornless Mexican Lime Tree in our backyard (April 2010)
    
61. Randomly send someone some small item they mentioned wanting
62. Have an adventure
63. Plan a couples night to happen once a month (Started Feb 2011)
    
64. Help Ryan with the removal and remodel of media center in living room (February 2011)
    
65. Visit family in West Virginia
66. Take a vacation somewhere we haven’t been (Boston May 2010)
    
67. Get in good shape
68. Take flying lessons
69. Spend a night in a luxury hotel just for fun
70. Go to an Angels Game and not freak out in the crowds (April 24, 2010...Go Indians)
    
71. Design Shower invites (Sonia November 2010)
    
72. Design Holiday Cards for friends (Hornbostels 2010)
    
73. MASTER INDESIGN
74. Learn to knit
75. Buy golf clubs and go golfing with Ryan ( I inherited a set and have since been golfing)
    
76. Resurface the French doors in dinning room ( June 2011..all by myself)
    
77. Plant yummy veggies in the yard and actually eat them(April 2010)
    
78. Take more classes(still doing)
    
79. Have lunch with a girlfriend at least once a month
80. Get more bookings for family portraits (at least once a month)
81. Cook one new recipe a week for a year!
82. See the monsoons in Arizona
83. Go horseback riding
84. Write in a journal at least once a week
85. Buy 3^rd lens for my camera
86. Buy a new MAC desktop
87. Go to New York
88. Go to San Francisco during the Christmas Season (soon...for Kim and Jefferson's wedding )
    
89. Sell stuff on Ebay
90. Buy something off of Ebay (Harveys seatbelt bag)
    
91. Learn to shoot a gun with Ryan
92. Enter a photo contest
93. Vacation in Napa (Augst 2010)
    
94. Ride in a hot air balloon
95. Blog everyday for a month
96. Visit a friend I haven’t seen in a long time (Kim ...August 2010)
    
97. Learn a foreign language….Finnish!
98. Do something for someone anonymously
99. Print a photo of Bozley for the Family wall (Does the front credenza count)
    
100. Really try to make all this happen!
101. Go back for Masters Degree ( In progress....will graduate in May 2013)
     

An old video of Bozley

This Video was taken shortly after Bozley came home with us....I feel bad that he fell off the hammock but it was just too funny to not post!

Young Life

I am so excited that God is allowing me and using me to reach Young Kids for Christ. I have been having a great time getting to know some of the kids and am looking forward to all that the spring holds! What fun!

Whats the big EYEdea????

Love my puppy ...cant get enough of him!!!!

A Few photos from the past

I had the chance to visit with my Uncle Paul and Aunt Janeen the other day. My Uncle Paul is the one who keeps all the old photos of our family. I took a few away with me...I love that my family has a history and we have pictures that have preserved it!

This is my Finnish Grandfather....found out his first name ( finnish name) is Sulo. I think I like it! This pictures proves that I have skiing in my blood!

This is my mom....geee wonder where I get it folks???

My great Grandma (Selma) and my Great Grandpa (Mattie)
They had reservations to ride the Titanic over, but Great Grandma was pregnant with my Grandpa....that would have been a shame if they had been on the boat..I wouldnt be here!

My Grandma Elizabeth Angela (I am named after her) and my Grandfather..not many pictures of them together as they divorced long before I was born. I still love seeing pictures of them together....my grandfather was so handsome and WOW!!!! my grandma was BEAUTIFUL!!!

eleven in eleven on the eleventh

I meant to do this post about 11 days ago, but never got around to it! So here it is a little bit late! Every year I sit down and come up with goals that I am going to do through out the year...this year we are going for 11 since it is 2011...

So here they are in no particular order:
1. Love my HUSBAND better....with a love that matches Christ's love for him!
2. Fall back in love with my Savior
3. 365 project....take at least one picture a day and post it!
4. Work towards obtaining a Masters Degree in School Counseling
5. Make Meriweather Magoo's a success
6. Develop deeper relationships with my close girlfriends (Anna, April, Tracy and Shelly)
7. Try at least 2 new recipes a month
8. Build a garden box in the backyard for my veggie garden!
9. Be more purposeful with time with family
10. Break a sweat (workout of some sort) 300 out 365 days (thats only 5-6 time a week)
11. Appreciate the little things in life...the daily blessings!

I am so excited to be a part of this AMAZING ministry once again. I was a leader many years ago, but due to my busy and hectic work schedule at the time I wasnt able to continue. I hated leaving a ministry that meant so much to me. Young Life is where I met Jesus. I had amazing leaders that loved me and valued who I was a teen. They told me the great news and showed me Jesus in the way they lived their lives and how they interacted with me. During my college years I was a leader and loved it. Sharing the gospel with High School kids is an amazing gift.

After I left being a Young Life leader 11 years ago, I thought that I would never be able to come back to it. That I would always have a job that was too demanding, that wouldnt allow time for me to invest in the lives of kids. But, god had different plans. I have wanted to get involved for quite some time now, but timing wasnt right.....until now! I love how God's timing is ALWAYS right! I emailed Kristy Fox and told her that I was interested in getting involved again....what would it look like? Would I be a leader, on committee...what? As luck would have it they needed another female leader at Foothill High School! I went to my first leadership meeting on Sunday night and then my first event last night! It feels so natural to me...Thank You Jesus!

My Mom.....

So its been almost 4 years since my mom left home and went to the hospital with a bladder infection that sent her body into a downward spiral. My mom is in the late to terminal stages of Alzheimers Disease.....they call it the long goodbye and that it is. These past 4 years have some of the toughest of my life...but God is bigger and stronger and surrounds me with a great support system. This picture was taken a few days after Christmas. The bear she is holding is from my dad....its soft and she likes to hold it.

There hasnt been a lot of change in the past few months with mom's health. Her doctor changed up her meds a little and she is a little more comfortable. She still relies on her care givers for everything....feeding, bathing, mobility...She likes to sit in her chair in the living room, while she cant really communicate with anyone, she likes to hear voices and the sound of the TV is soothing. We are praying that this is the year that God is merciful to her and calls her home, but we know that only God can do that and that he has his own plans.

So if you have any time, please pray for my mom and my family...this is the by far the hardest thing we have gone through.