Merry Christmas 2013

Can you believe it is the holiday season again already? My oh my 2013 was a crazy year for us. As most of you know, we are Utahns again. We had been thinking about it for a few months before we finally made the leap of faith and packed up. We are living in Pleasant Grove and are doing great. It has been an adjustment, but we love it and feel we made the right decision. We absolutely loved the friendships and experiences in Las Vegas and they will always be a big part of our life. We were surrounded by some of the best people while we lived there and have been so happy to continue our friendships, even after being away.  But, we also look ahead to our bright future in Utah and the life we are making here. 

It is so nice to wear sweaters and play in the snow. I hope we never turn into those people who hate when snow season comes or complain about how cold it is. So far, it is a very welcomed reunion to have traditional winter weather, especially for making the feel of Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
 -The Larsen Family-

PS>>>> Thank you all for your wonderful Christmas Cards! We love to see how your families are growing and feel so loved when you think of us. We have really gotten some cute ones this year!!!

I Did In Fact Marry My Soul Mate

Hey there, Jeff here. There was an article on KSL yesterday that was making the social media rounds called "I Didn't Marry My Soul Mate." If you haven't read or have no desire to read the article, I'll give you the rundown. The author, Katie Lee, shared how she met her soul mate that created fireworks and butterflies. Her soul mate, however, sent her a "Dear Jane" while she was serving her mission and he married someone else. She came home, dated someone and got married, but she claimed there was never a spark. They got married because it "worked."

Well, I am so grateful I married my soul mate. I do not mean to sound cliche, but it is true. To justify my claim that she is my soul mate I will tell you why. Discretion: this is only my side of the story.

It all started one early morning on the first day of an economics class. This was no ordinary class, in fact it was my second time taking the course because I wanted to improve my grade from the first time around. This is the only class I ever retook, opening the door for fate to happen. Per usual, I scanned the classroom to see if there were any good looking girls. There was this beautiful girl sitting in the front row while I of course always took the back row seat. This girl wasn't just beautiful, but gave me a feeling I had never had before. I knew there was something different about this girl, but I wasn't sure what it was at the time.

It was a smaller class because seriously, who signs up for a 7:30am Econ class? Our professor had us introduce ourselves and tell the class something unique about us. I'm sure I shared the normal "I've had stitches in my armpit and foot," but this beautiful girl shared that she was only 5'0 tall. Okay, there was no way I could date this girl because there would be over a foot difference in height. However, there was no shaking off the feeling I had. I had to try and impress her. One class we were learning about something Econ related and I volunteered to eat as many Hostess cupcakes as I could. There were three volunteers who were in front of the class to see who could eat them the fastest. I caught her staring at me and smiling while I scarfed the treats only to find out she voted for the other guy. My theory is she didn't want to make her attraction to me too obvious.

Still, I had no idea what was different about her. I remember passing her on the stairs on my way to my class. She smiled and mouthed "hi" creating a clan of butterflies in my stomach.

The next step was how to talk to her. I'm not typically a shy person, but had no idea how to start up a conversation. I found out her name was Bobbie so I went to work searching the best source to stalk a person, Facebook. I found her and wrote her a message. Thinking I was clever, I asked her if she could help me study for class. We exchanged numbers and started texting regularly.

Come to find out we were in the same singles ward. Fate once again.

At the time we seemed to be in different places in our lives and didn't think it could workout. Somehow all the reasons to be apart went away. To reference that article again, in the comment section someone said he didn't believe in soul mates he and his wife just "worked." She didn't try to change him and he didn't try to change her. To me that sounds more like a business contract than a marriage. Bobbie and I grow together all the time and I'm a better person because of her and hope I've made her a better person too.

I'm not saying our marriage has been perfect. It has been far from. If we were to write a book about some of the experiences we've had, some might mistakenly place the book in the fiction section because it would seem so unbelievable.

I never believed in the phrase "when you know, you know" until I met Bobbie. I knew I loved her the second I saw her from the back row of the classroom. I didn't know I knew, but at the same time I knew.

I love her and this is why she is my soul mate.

Taking A Sick Day

So the sniffles and colds have been going around at our house for the last two weeks!

First Jeff got sick, but I was sure he was faking it. Which gave me a false sense of security about getting sick myself. But ... people at work were all getting sick too! It was everywhere and inevitable. 

Once Jeff got over the cold and I thought we were in the clear ... BAM!

I was SO LUCKY to have such a forgiving husband by the time the cold hit me. He was so sweet and waited on me hand & foot. I feel guilty for not being nearly as hospitable! {LOVE YOU BABE}

We once had the vet tell us that dogs can also catch the bug. Also, from other sources, that dogs feel what their owners (parents) feel. So we had a hard time telling if Jake's low energy and mopey eyes (see photo above) have to do with him not feeling well, or feeling bad that we didn't feel well.

He is all better today, just like we mostly are! Thanks to lots of  meds, Roman, sleep & Diet 7-UP.

So thank you to all of the sweet friends and family that checked in on us...we love you!

With other news... um ... there aren't any.  

Let Go and Let God

Yes, the title of this post is very cliche, but it is very applicable to this blog post. This is Jeff writing by the way and it has taken me some time to put these thoughts down.

I've always been one who liked to have a plan. For example, I graduated college with the exact amount of credits needed because once I decided what I was going to study I planned each semester out based on what I needed to take and when those classes were offered. In fact upon applying for graduation, my college counselor told me he had never seen anyone so thoroughly planned and prepared.

Of course with my plans, The Lord has played His part in my decisions from serving a mission to moving to St. George where I met my wife and received my degree. But I knew what I wanted and no one was going to change my mind. Once I graduated college I was going to get a certain job, eventually go back to graduate school in a certain field of study, have a family and live happily ever after, right? Well not exactly...

Although Bobbie and I are very much happy and blessed more than we deserve, things haven't exactly gone the way I had played it out in my mind, which has thrown my life blueprint off. My career hasn't exactly taken off. I am grateful for the experiences I have had, for the people I've met and for the things I'm learning, but it isn't where I had envisioned I'd be. I always told myself I had a backup plan, but knew full well I had no intentions of using it.

The other part of my plan, starting a family, hasn't been in the cards yet either. I think having kids is something too many people take for granted. As I see people make poor choices, which consequently ends with an unplanned childbirth, my heart aches wondering why a child can be born to a parent or parents who can't even seem to take care of themselves when I feel like Bobbie and I could offer that baby so much more. A few weeks ago as we were stopping to grab something for dinner after a busy day, we saw a very pregnant girl smoking a cigaret in front of the restaurant with no discretion whatsoever. It just makes me ask why.

I know I could never compare myself to Joseph Smith and the trials he endured, but I often times ask the same thing he does in Doctrine and Covenants 121, "O God, where are thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?"

There are many general conference talks given on this topic. The one that comes to mind was given by Elder D. Todd Christofferson where we are compared to a currant bush and God is the gardener. As the gardener prunes the bush, the bush asked:

"How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth....And now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me....How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here."

[The gardener] replied, "Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn't intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, 'Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.'"

You can read the full talk here.

I have full faith that The Lord is helping me see my full potential and guiding me in the way I should go. Perhaps I need to be humbled as well. While working at the bank prior to graduation, a gentleman told me I seemed to be a guy that had everything going for him, which required Heavenly Father to shrink my head down a bit.

One thing I do know is The Lord's promises are sure and he will provide as we seek him, even if it isn't what we had in mind. In Isaiah 55: 8-9 The Lord says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways...for as the heavens are higher than earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

This is why I need to let go and let God. I need to quit trying to tell The Lord what I want, and instead work harder to seek his counsel.

Thank Goodness It's Friday?

We've been watching the show Grey's Anatomy lately. It is a show following the lives of doctors in a teaching hospital, where they learn by doing. The doctor's who are older and teaching, always seem strict and somewhat harsh during a teaching moment to really allow the learning doctor to rise up. This approach has got to be the best way any of us could learn. You can only learn so much by someone telling you how to do it, before you have to just get in and get your hands dirty. This kind of reminded me of the way life has been over the past few years. Maybe it has been like this all along, I just didn't realize I was getting my hands dirty.

Today my car broke down. The good car, the dependable one. I was stuck at a gas station in this Vegas summer heat, so confused. It was working just fine, I've been driving all morning. Then bam. I tried turning it over a couple times and nothing would happen. I called Jeff right away and told him to hurry to come get me. In the mean time I called the dealership to schedule an oil change for the car. It was my plan anyways, I had a coupon and it needs to be done. I was partly hoping that the car would just start up once Jeff used his magic touch, then I could have them just make sure everything was ok while they did the oil change.

I got out the manual, skimmed through pages and tried to look like I knew what I was doing when sketchy people walked by. A kid walked out of the gas station on his way back to work in another part of the complex. He looked at me and asked if I was able to get the car going. He asked me what was going on and had me pop the hood open. He told me what he would do if I were to take it to his car shop. He didn't have an jumper cables to get the car started. I felt some comfort in the advise he gave me. I called our regular mechanic and let them know what was going on and explained what the kid said. They said he was right, that's what they would say also and advised me to go to the dealership as the parts may still be covered under warranty. (Plus they were slammed and wouldn't be able to fit us in until Monday.) Next I called the dealership and let them know I may need more than an oil change. Turns out we missed our warranty on the part by less than 6 months, but it would still be better to get it with them, so we could have a new warranty on the part.

So in this time of frequent bad news, my car broke down. I wanted to break down too, but I didn't... I was comforted by the sweetness of this stranger who came and wanted to help me. This stranger who just so happened to work with broken cars. Once Jeff arrived I explained everything and we made a plan. We flagged down this man who was driving around in a golf cart and asked him for jumper cables. He didn't have any but left to track some down and then came back. We were able to get the car started! He was so nice and so willing to help us out.

Even though I was upset that the car needs repairs, this was such a learning experience. In times of hardship or stress, the Lord sends us comfort. In the case of today, the comfort came from strangers willing to serve. Also, it was such a blessing that the car broke down when it did. For my job I travel all over the Vegas area alone, not always in the nicest of neighborhoods. It would have been really scary to happen somewhere unfamiliar or unsafe. Also, I got a good parking spot! Completely shaded and cool!

So, there is light at the end of this very long and windy tunnel of life...you just have to take time to calm down and notice it.

When I Ripped My Pants...

Hello,

It has been some time since Bobbie has blogged about our life. She has been pretty busy with her full-time job as well as her photography and prop businesses. I have taken it upon myself to guest blog on here even though technically this is my blog too. This post will be a bit different than the rest. We typically like to share fun photos of us and our dog, but this post will be about a recent experience I had.

It all started with an innocent trip the town we love, St. George. Bobbie had a photo shoot so we decided to make a day out of it. We dropped our dog, Jake, off at the amazing day care there called Red Rock Pet Resort. We went to  the newly-opened Chick-fil-a for lunch and explored other places around town before the photo shoot. By now you may be wondering why this blog post about our day to St. George is relevant, but I'm getting there.

We decided to go to Harmon's where you can find the best snow cone in town. We also went in the store to purchase some balloons for the shoot, and Bobbie's favorite drink that is unknown to Las Vegas, Diet Code Red Mountain Dew. While Bobbie was getting balloons I wandered around the store. I loaded up the cart with a few packs of her soda, and this is where it all begins.

After we exchange goodbyes with the cashier, Bobbie begins to laugh out loud. Now, if you know Bobbie at all you'll know that when something embarrassing or scary happens her first reaction is to laugh hysterically. I pause to look back to see if I had missed something, but she insists I continue to walk forward. Still confused, I keep trying to look back to find out what would cause her to lose it. I even try to get her to whisper in my ear, but she tries to stay behind me. Once we get outside I'm dying to know what caused the ruckus. I know with the way Bobbie was laughing that it had to be something good. Maybe she saw her ex-boyfriend or someone slipped and fell. WRONG! She leans up and in my ear tells me I have a huge rip in my pants going up my butt. This isn't just a little rip. The rip was so huge that I'm not sure how I didn't feel the air drift. Panicked, I begin spinning in circles like a dog trying to catch his tail.

I didn't ever hear a ripping sound that would indicate I had ripped something. I have no idea when it happened, if it had happened that day. Maybe it happened in the washing machine and I had been walking around town with an open butt flap all day. It could have happened when I bent over to pick up soda off the shelf right? We'll never know exactly when or how my shorts ripped, or how many people were unfortunate enough to receive a full moon view.

Well, I am the exact opposite of Bobbie during these times. While she laughs, I begin to lose it. I become upset and even start to cry. I snap at Bobbie, exclaiming how she shouldn't be laughing at me.

Here is an exert from our dialogue.

JEFF: Bobbie it's not funny! My pants are ripped and my butt has been hanging out!
BOBBIE: Jeff, how can you even say that sentence without laughing?

She tried to comfort me, but I would have none of it. Bobbie being the sweetheart she is drove to Kohl's and picked out a new pair of shorts for me.

Moral of the story. If you rip your pants, have the courage to laugh at yourself while your wife is laughing at you. Also, reach back and check your butt every now and again to make sure there is no rip.

Below you will find the pants I speak of.