Jamba and Rambling

Tuesday nights are when I usually work until 8:30 or 9:00 pm. Yesterday one of my coworkers, Nicole was also working the latenight shift with me. We decided we needed to get a Jamba Juice on our brake so we could survive the night. (There is something about those tasty, fruity smoothies that give me energy and bring a smile to my mouth and stomach! For just 260 calories, 2 fruit servings and some protein why not?) Nicole is such a fun person to be around. As we were driving we were joking and I told her I was going to blog about our trip to Jamba Juice so we had to take a picture at the next stop light. So here we are! (I totally look like a dork, but Nicole looks great as usual!)Nicole and I had such a fun time taking a brake from work and being able to just chat! Nicole is such a great person. I love being around her, she is always happy, laughing and trying to make others that way too. She will often ask me what she can do to help me be happy when I am stressed or annoyed at work. She will notice when I need help and just jump right it and do what needs to be done! Nicole works in the Lab and X-Ray but will always help out where she can, and never complains about it. I am so grateful for this and I'm sure I don't tell her 'Thank You' enough for all the help she gives me. I am so thankful that I work with such a great group of people! (I know I have coworkers who are reading this and are thinking where is my post? Well.......... at this point you will need to do something really amazing in order to get a post! Sorry, that is just the rules I have to follow from Management;) BUT, if you would just set up a blog for yourself (Lisa) like I have been trying to convince you to do I would make a special post just for you! It would say something about how you have decided to join in on the Blogging world and not just by being a blogger stalker who doesn't have a blog of your own! At least leave a comment - that way it is a little less creepy! Plus, once you have your own blog you will not care if I post about you anyway!)

Anyway, back to Nicole. Nicole is such a great person with amazing strength! I have yet to hear her say something unkind about someone. She is the type of person that you can see her love for the Lord and the Gospel in her eyes! I have learned so much from her since she started working at the clinic a year ago. I am amazed at her positive attitude and out look on life. Nicole is also single and available! So, if you think your brother, cousin, nephew, neighbor, friend or other male associate needs to get her number just let me know! We can do a little match making. If.... he can pass my prequalified test to date her!

Our new favorite spot!

This past week we have discovered a great place to eat! It is Model A Cafe in Mapleton. (It is on the highway across from the Subway and Chevron gas station.) I went on Wednesday with my Mom to lunch. It was really good! Jared had worked the night before so I brought him home some food, he also really like it. Friday night comes around and we were busy doing things to get ready to move but I was in no mood to cook dinner. We wanted some good food but I was not in the mood for a burger loaded with grease so I shot down Jared's idea to go to Glades. After trying to decide for like 10 minutes we agree to go try Model A Cafe again. The food again was amazing! Jared loves the fish burger and onion rings. I usually don't really like onion rings but Model A Cafe knows how to make scrumptious onion rings!! I really liked dipping the onion rings in fry sauce it was so yummy!
They also had really good thick shakes. We had a chocolate one and it was perfect. I must also say they have great prices! We spent $21.00 on 2 meals, a Coke (including 3 refills) and a chocolate shake, added in a tip and we were out the door spending under $30! When was the last time that happened at a nice sit down restaurant? So if you are wanting to try this wonderful food and are in need of someone to go to lunch with or want to go on a double date give us a call, we'd love to go and we'll pick up the tip!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATE!!!

Nate and Livy playing ring-around-the-rosies at our reception!

Today is my brother Nathan's 29th Birthday!! WOW!! Almost to the big 3-0! Nate is a great brother and member of the family. He can talk to anyone and help them see his side of the story, as we like to say he could get away with anything! When around him you are sure to be laughing! He has just one year left in medical school in AZ and is pretty darn smart. He is a great Husband and Father who helps out around the house, plays with his girls and is good to his wife! We love you Nate and hope you have a Happy Birthday today.... but a better Birthday Celebration with your family when you get home on Friday!!

An Apostle Visiting Sacrament Meeting!!

So as many of you know we are moving at the end of this month to my parents ward. My Dad is currently serving as Bishop in the ward. I decided last night I would go to Sacrament meeting to hear my Dad speak during his Ward Conference because it was soon to be my ward as well and plus he is my Dad! So as I was just about to get ready for the day my cell phone rings. My Mom was calling to invite me to church (I was going to surprise them that I was coming) and to get there early because Elder M. Russell Ballard was going to be there in Sacrament Meeting! I got ready in almost half the time it usually takes and came over to their building. I walked into the chapel and found just a few people getting ready to practice for ward choir. I saved "our row" (the 4th row in the middle) and waited for the rest of the family.

About 15 minutes before the meeting started our Stake President and my Dad come walking up the aisle toward the stand, inbetween them was a white haired man in a grey suit it was Elder Ballard! He does not look like what he does on T.V.! I always thought he was a stockey man on T.V. in person he is not. I know I would not have recognized him if I didn't know that he was coming today to Sacrament meeting.

Elder Ballard wasn't sent by the prophet to check things out in the ward, but for the blessing of his 27 great-grandbaby. As an apostle he sat on the stand and was presiding at the meeting. It was so neat to look up and see a member of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostle's on the stand!

The Conference went well. Dad did a great job speaking! He said one of his biggest fears was to speak infront of a General Authority, today he proved he could do it. At the end of the meeting Elder Ballard took a few minutes and spoke. (His voice however sounds the same!) He talked about a former Stake President and serving with him like back in the 50's. He also said he loved the concern that the Bishop had for the youth and such. It was really funny when he said... To the mothers with children on your laps, don't give up they will grow up eventually! He spoke about the children in the ward and the best place for them to be was in church even if they make a little disruption now and then. During the baby blessing the baby was crying almost the whole time! I think he was telling his granddaughter not to worry about it! I love his concern and love for the mothers in the church, he expressed this in General Conference too! His talk was my favorite by far during Conference.

At the end of the meeting my Dad introduced each member of our family to Elder Ballard. He had a very firm handshake and a sparkle in his eye! Today was such a neat day, I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet and hear from Elder Ballard today! I am so grateful for the gospel and the teachings of how to live my life. I love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

...Just let me rant for a moment...

So I feel like my life is crazy! This post will probably be so random, just hang in there please and let me get it all out...
First (if I can even categorize things) I am just a little emotional this week... need I say more? I don't think so, mother nature is to thank! Note to self you've been a little on edge at times apologize to Jared!

Next item of ranting, I don't like I.H.C or is it just the management at the Hospital where my wonderful, honest, hardworking husband works? I shouldn't say too much about this but I will. I will say upfront that Jared works with some great people. There are some tech's and nurse's who are hardworking, honest, caring people there are others that I will not comment on. Thank you to those people that I know "have his back" in any situation, this is very comforting to me and I appreciate it! (P.S. to Jared's coworkers I think the B-Med Bacon is hilarious!)
His managers however are another story! They treat Jared like crap! He goes above and beyond at his job and the "thanks" he gets from them is to be accused of having a "bad attitude" at work or a hug from his manager... who is like a 50 year old lady! Uh, don't touch MY husband please - especially after just ripping on him during a meeting, your "warm fuzzies" are not welcomed here!! Jared has a lot of integrity and a very strong, honest work-ethic, if something is not right he will voice his opinion. I don't believe this could be considered a "bad attitude" it is your "bad management" skills that are to blame here! Don't get me wrong Jared can and will defend himself, but I want him to know that I have his back too! I many not be very intimidating but just tick me off and you'll wish you hadn't. The wrath of Davian is not pleasant or kind, I can be a mean girl! Plus... my Dad can still kick some butt even if one hand is bandaged! Gurr... they make me so mad! I'm not even their employee and I am so upset.

No, no I can not be done with out mentioning that they didn't approve Jared's time off for our anniversary!! This is our first anniversary! It's not like we have been married for 47 years and can't remember what day our anniversary is or if we put in our dentures! This is the first one! Let us celebrate our happy marriage and anniversary without a weekend at work! Aahh, it feels so good to vent about this, I'm starting to feel better already!

It is offical... Jared and I will be moving at the end of this month to a new apartment just 7 houses away from my parents. If I fall behind on posting in the next couple of weeks this is why! We are both very excited about the move, but sad to be moving away from Jared's family! Due to tradition it was bound to happen though, all three of my siblings lived in my parents ward within a year of each getting married. I am most looking forward to having my Mom and Sister so close. Then on weekends like this when Jared is working I can hang out with them!

Switching gears to my work situation this week, this is a BIG switch so take a deep breath and calm down... okay that was more for me than for you! I have a patient who is amazing! I feel like she has become like a sister to me the past few months. This week I have seen amazing strength and growth from her. At 25 weeks pregnant (full term is 40 weeks) she went into labor and delivered just over a one pound baby. Many doctors and nurses fought to save her little one's life but due to his prematurity he passed away just three hours after his birth. My heart aches for her so much at this time. I have cried for her and have been constantly thinking about her and praying to know what I can do or say to be of support to her. Most importantly I have been praying for her strength, comfort and peace. She is a young, single, high school student, but you wouldn't know this by talking to her. I saw her today for the first time since the passing of her baby, she looked great and gave me a big hug. I am so impressed by her knowledge and wisdom at such a young age. She said she knows this happened for a reason and knows that the medical staff did all they could for her and her baby. See, she really is such a strong person at such a young age!
(Not crying yet? Go to www.ninetynineballoons.com this was forwarded to me in an e-mail from a co-worker. Have tissues close by as you watch! Life is too precious to not thank and celebrate life with the ones we love!)
This experience again reminded me how much I enjoy my job! I am so thankful I have the opportunity to work with people of all walks of life. I am so thankful that they let me into their lives to share in their joy, pain and sorrows. In the past five years at the clinic I have learned so much! I have grown to care about complete strangers, learn and try to comprehend what they are going through and worry about their well-being. I hope I have made an impact in someway in their lives as they have on mine.

To end on a happy note: Our first anniversary is coming up in just 3 weeks on Sunday! Can you believe it? We are trying to plan a fun trip or activity for the weekend but we will also be moving so we'll see what happens! We are thinking about going to The Roof restaurant in SLC, has anyone been there? How is the food? Do we need reservations?

If you are still reading this Thanks! I needed to just vent and talk about life for a minute.

Spring Cleaning

Today has been a typical "day off" for me. I usually have Wednesday's off from work. I feel like after I get all my chores done that I cramp into this "day off" I need another day off to do just what I want to do! I have been cleaning everything, it has felt more like spring cleaning with snow outside!

Because our landlords put the house up for sale we now have people who are interested coming to "walk-through" to check things out... no, to check my things out! This bugs me a little. I don't really like people walking through my space when I am not here. I am so nervous they will steal something. Last week we had a few people walk-through. On Friday night Jared and I were both home when we got a call that someone was on their way to check out the house. I was in the middle of making cookies and did not want to leave. I told our landlords that people were free to walk through but I was in the middle of dinner and cookie making and would rater stay here. They said that was fine. When the people walked through Jared actually knew them. (They were some of his parents best friends.) They ended up talking for a bit while the Realtor who was showing the house was opening doors and checking things out.... a little ackward I must add! Anyway, that is life right now and rent is cheap here, so I can't complain too much!

On Saturday the Realtor came and took pictures of everything. I figured since eveyone else will see the pictures on the internet that I might as well post them for my family and friends who haven't been over to check out our apartment!

This is my favorite room in our apartment! I enjoy having separate sinks but my favorite thing is the jetted tub!! I LOVE taking a bath to relax before I go to bed!


See that super cute pillow on my bed? My very talented sister made that for us, she can make anything! Our bedroom is longer than what is shown in this picture but not very wide as you can see with the bed taking up so much space.


Our kitchen. My favorite kitchen item is my Kitchen Aid - on the counter top to the left of the fridge. I enjoy cooking and the Kitchen Aid makes mixing a breeze, this 6 qt. stand mixer is one of the best inventions ever! I love that I can mix all the dough for croissants in it and not by hand.


I thought this was a little funny, take a look at the table shrine, as we call it in my family! See anything weird? I do and I just noticed it when taking this picture. On the left is our wedding announcement framed. On the right is the same main announcement picture in a 5x7 frame! Maybe I should move it huh! Funny though we have had that there on the table for 11 months and we never noticed.


Look close... this is a handstitched black temple quilt! Jared's Grandma Jane made the quilt for our wedding. Jared's favorite color is black and his grandma was the one making it so it is black on one side and white on the other! Grandma was not very happy at my decision to have a black temple quilt, that is a funny story all by it self, but she made it anyway! It is beautiful. Why do we need 2 stereo's on the floor? Because we don't have anywhere else to put them that is why. If you know Jared you know that he loves music and this is constanly playing!


This shelf is above our couch in the family room. I must point out the way cute blocks that spell out "JOHNSON". I would love to take credit for these, but 100% of the idea and making is by my amazing sister!

Another one of Breanne's creations.....


This is one of my favorite decorations from Rod Works! I love that store - if Breanne didn't make a decoration in my house then it probably came from Rod Works!