All about Eden

Ever since Eden found her feet, she has taken liberty to put them to good use. She's having fun with her new abilities and finds something new to explore every day! 

This is her page because she's so darn cute to look at.

She LOVES doing Daddy's hair and is almost tall enough to reach without giving Austin a kinked neck. 

These were some of Eden's first steps... and how crazy we are as parents.

Just when I thought we had explored all the cupboards...

Eden found one her size.

Did I mention we love to sweep?

Maybe I should get a broom her size.

Austin did it again

Austin did it again. He was the only one in his class to receive an Award of Excellence for scoring 98% on the NBME in Biochemistry. The NBME is a national exam in the US, which, Austin obviously aced.

Professor Mungli and Dean Percel presenting Austin with his award for being so "Excellent."

Eden and I always love being on campus with Austin.This would make for a great family picture if only my hair were down, but it's just so stinkin' HOT!

To the top of Mt Liamuiga

You won't believe it! Austin took a break from studying and took us to climb the island volcano. When I say he took us, I mean he carried Eden the entire way. What a man.

Our adventure started Saturday morning when we loaded buses at the school to go to Kittitian Hill. One of Austin's professors, Dr. Mungli, arranged for a huge group of 51 people to hike Mount Liamuiga. He said the hike was moderate to hard according to his fitness level. I wasn't expecting him to be so fit! The hike really was pretty difficult. It wasn't terribly steep, though we did scale some pretty high slopes, but it was more technical. We were stepping over tree roots, climbing up rocks, using ropes and a ladder to get to the top and stooping under entire trees that had fallen. And Austin did all of that with a baby on his back (and front). I never could have made it carrying Eden. I'm so grateful Austin could handle it, and handle it like a champ. We would have slipped and she would have been jostled and banged up had I carried her.

We left at 7 am, started hiking at 8, finished at 1:30 pm, and were home around 3. Eden did awesome. She loved the entire thing and lasted on all the treats we brought to eat along the way. We even managed to change a diaper at the top. We took her out to stretch half way. She would have hiked the whole mountain by herself if we let her!

PS. Now you have seen a zebra in the jungle!

Don't let these pictures fool you. It's not this green anywhere else on the island.

 

Everyone made it! We wore Eden out. She managed to take a nap on the way up and crashed on the way down. Austin should have been the tired one. You go daddy!

Christmas Break 2015

Christmas break couldn't have been better. It was magical.

We were welcomed to Utah with 2 feet of fresh snow and lots of family. What else could we have asked for? 

Oh yeah. Presents! Somehow, Santa Clause found us twice!

First came Christmas Eve. The new Grandma Jack is continuing the tradition of giving out pajamas the night before Christmas. Lindsey caught on and was the first to change. Aren't these Jack's cute? and they must have been good this year because Santa sure spoiled them! Ahhh.... can't you just feel the fire in the background?

Eden's reaction was priceless. She got a baby doll that she just gawked over! Seriously, this girl wouldn't stop screaming with delight. Precious. Her other favorite thing? Chapstick. 

Don't you just LOVE her face?




 

Austin is absolutely crazy, but crazy fun and funny. He couldn't wait to jump on the tramp in the snow. What he didn't realize was that the tramp was covered in inches of thick ice. That didn't stop him from running out in the snow barefoot and barechested- twice- because we didn't catch him on camera the first time.

We visited City Creek with the Gardenhire Family. It was Brrr... Cold! and wonderful. Isn't it fun to see Eden in a coat and boots? We also saw the lights at Temple Square and at the Draper Park where they have the Tree of Life, but didn't get pictures. Pictures just don't do the lights justice. 

Austin isn't the only one who had fun in the snow! We got bundled up and took Eden sledding down the backyard. Weeeee!!! What a blast. Eden had a huge grin on her face the whole way down. Can you even see her face under all those clothes? 

One day we are going to get one of these chairs and it is going to be awesome. 

Look! The day finally came! I waited a whole year to take this picture! The cute ladies from my fitness class gave this to me at my baby shower and it finally fits! I couldn't wait until we got to the airport and it was cold enough for Eden to wear it. What do you think, do we look like twinners? That's my baby! You work it, girl!

On 2 legs!

It is an exciting day at the Gardenhire place in St. Kitts. Our little munchkin decided to graduate from four "legs" to two. Yep! Eden is walking! and now she is like the Energizer Bunny who keeps going and going and going. It is so fun.

It has been a rather eventful week. Eventfully joyful for the girls around here and eventfully um... well, chaotic, for Austin. It doesn't differ much week to week other than in degree for him. Yes, it has been another endless time of studying for the man of the house. He has another bout of tests tomorrow morning. This, after having a test and a quiz last week that were scheduled for Monday, but postponed until Tuesday because the internet went out. Good ol' St. Kitts. Always undependable. On the bright side of things, he has been amazingly calm despite the inner torment and stress of not having enough time to cover the material he would like to. It has been absolutely heart warming to see Eden develop this new fondness for Austin. She would play all day with him if she could! Eden loves brushing Austin's hair, especially, and shows him everything.

We have been able to spend a good few days at the beach and another few at the pool. The beach is a blast when you can explore on your own! Sadly, I think Eden has a small allergy to the sun- if not allergies to something else here on the island. We had a rough, and I mean rough, day at the beach. Poor thing broke out in a rash, watery eyes, runny nose, and was probably hot and tired to top it off. Needless to say, we invested in some Benedryl which will be worth it's overpriced cost. 

There are a few more families on the island as of this semester. Some have kids around Eden's age, so she has had play dates and a good time with little ones. It's been fun for me to meet other wifees, as I deemed them, too. They aren't exactly "mommies" yet, but they do count as "wifees." One girl, who is here for the first semester, said she is going crazy with nothing to do, but watch tv and play with her cat. Enough said. I'm glad I don't have that problem. And I'm glad we met her so she will have more than her cat to keep her company.

I got hired for a small- very small- job writing blog posts for a company based out of California called Project Juice. I should be writing 1-2 articles a week and get paid $.03 per word. So... my goal is to get really fast at writing meaningful fluff ;)

Austin and I were just called to be the Temple prep class teachers for the branch. I would be absolutely thrilled for that opportunity if I weren't so worried about Austin's time. Instead, I'm just really excited and hope it all works out in his interest. The branch is really stressing temple importance and has made it a goal this year for our members to make a temple trip by December. A good majority of them have never been, so we get to help them prepare. Cool, eh? Little did I realize just how blessed we were with the temple in our midst and ingrained in our family culture.

Yeah, we don't need a cat.

As I have been writing this, Eden found Austin's stash of Christmas chocolate and has been pretending to talk on the phone. She says hi! and needs a mom again.

Temple Marriage

I feel like I grew up- like many of us do- thinking that a temple marriage was going to be my happy ending. It's like any Disney Movie or fairy tale anyway.... two people fall in love, they get married, and they ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after. That is the ultimate goal, right? Temple marriage?

Though the temple may and should be our ultimate goal, it surely is not the end or my life would have been over at 21. No, Temple marriage is just the beginning. It's the beginning to a new life and your true test of learning to become like Heavenly Father. 

There are things only a marriage can bring:

• Authority to procreate
• Forgiveness within the home
• Omitting your will to a joint cause
• Charity
• How to give yourself to another and learning to be one

These goals sound much like the attributes of God and Jesus Christ, no?

• Power of creation
• Mercy and charity
• Aligning Christ's will to that of the Father
• One in purpose

If we are doing marriage the right way, it is the best way we can perfect ourselves and come closer to our spouse. It is like Elder Bednar describes; comparing marriage to a triangle with Christ at the apex and us and our spouse at the basse. If we individually come unto Christ, we become closer to our spouse. 

In the Book of Mormon, it describes how to find happiness. Those who were happy were part of a family. They "were married and given in marriage." President Gaust said, "Happiness in marriage and parenthood can exceed a thousand times any other happiness."

Why is that?

There is something wonderful about being loved and something so fulfilling about loving someone else. True happiness comes in knowing that love is permanent and will never end. 

It is a great comfort to know that nothing can interfere with my family's togetherness. Death means nothing to my family because we will always be together. 

A temple marriage unifies a couple because their goals are one and the same. They receive blessings together for this life and the next. You are able to realize your true potential with your spouse- only possible to those who marry in the temple. 

I have come to realize that Heavenly Father wants to bless us infinitely. BUT, he can only do that if we marry in the temple. This is because we do not have the ability to create on our own. We need, even as Adam, a helpmeet and a companion. So, without eternal marriage, we are stopping and putting a limit on our progression with otherwise is limitless. That is like saving your life's earnings to go on vacation and then never getting off the plane. You might have made it to your destination, but didn't open the door to see the adventures awaiting you. 

I love what Elder Cook says: "Our Father's plan is about families, symbolized by a great tree. For a tree to live and grow, it needs both roots and branches. We likewise need to be connected to our roots- our parents, grandparents, and other ancestors- as well as to our branches- our children, grandchildren, and other descendents."

There you have it. God's plan- the Plan of Happiness- is about families. The only way to grow our tree and keep it together is through the sealing power of the temple. Otherwise, we would all end up as nothing more than driftwood. 

My marriage means everything to me. It is my happiness, my peace, my comfort, and what empowers me now and in the heavens. I am grateful to be sealed to my best friend forever. I am grateful for the eternal perspective that will keep us together through good and bad. I am grateful for the higher law that the temple holds us to. And I am grateful to bear children under our temple covenant so they can be ours eternally too. 

Choose the temple. It's the best way and the only way. 

Another day goes by

Another week already? Whew! It's hard to keep the days apart and they only seem to gain speed as the semester progresses.

I'm not sure the happenings have been out of the ordinary. Eden is constantly growing, as you know, and it won't be long before we have news of her walking. She has taken her first steps as of this week, but at most has taken 6 before losing her balance. At that, it's more of a run and fall than steady walking. She is getting really good at standing up, however, and gets a delighted cheerful smile and applauds herself whenever she manages to stand on her own. She really is the cutest thing.

As you saw, she also learned to blink and loves to be my little helper around the house. She's good with a broom and likes to clean, clean, clean!

We became good friends with the Jehovah's Witnesses this week. We took a brochure from them in passing and then met them again when they were proselyting later in the week. They were bothering Yaba, who obviously didn't want to talk to them. So we interrupted by saying hello again and mentioning that Yaba loves God and always says, "God is good, God is good" and that he could teach them a cool handshake. After inserting myself into their circle, I mentioned that I had read their pamphlet and didn't agree with some of their teachings and asked if they wouldn't explain what they believe. Yaba gladly took the opportunity to hightail it out of there while I spent the next hour having my own missionary discussion with them. We turned the tables on them and had a great talk. I gave them a lot to think about. One of the men said that he had never talked with a Mormon before. Once, a Mormon gave him a Book of Mormon and told him to read it, but that was all. Lesson learned- simply handing out Book of Mormons is not enough to get someone interested in the gospel.

I have really appreciated getting to know more about other people's beliefs and religions because it increases my desire to study and learn, thus strengthening my own conviction in what and why we believe all we do. And it's beautiful. There is an answer to everything and it all fits together.

My conversation with the JW's all started because they proclaimed to believe that a soul could literally die. Understandably, the scriptures to say that a spirit can die, but we know that to mean that a man dies temporally and spiritually like Nephi teaches. When a spirit dies, it is only dead unto God, but not unto existence. Well, from there we talked about the Plan of Salvation, the Fall, the nature of God, and Adam and Eve. I have come to realize that if you truly understand the Plan of Salvation, you know everything you need to about the gospel because everything relates and those are the precious truths that have been lost. It was the JW's understanding that Adam and Eve could have had children while still in the garden and while living in their perfect state. Also, that Adam, being a sinner, was dead unto God. What a shock to them when I said that I was grateful that Adam partook of the fruit!

That was only the beginning. I am sure that they will be back for more and I can't wait! I love feeling like a missionary! As much as I want others to know of the truths of this gospel and happiness and blessings they can have in this church, my eyes have been opened to the goodness of people around the world. Though not members of our church, there are many, many good people who have devout faith and a strong love for God. Seeing that, and their openness about religion, has been a sort of inspiration to how I want to be.

Isn't this beautiful? Eden and I go for walks around the neighborhood and this was our view one night. You don't get to see this too many places in the world, and definitely not fro your own backyard.