Calling on the calvary

(as it appeared in the email I sent out.  This is for those of you whom I love but don't have your e-mail)

Chris and I want to tell you something and see if we can get your help.  Just so everyone is on the same page and so it doesn't turn out to be the telephone game where it starts out as one thing and ends up being another.

We have been separated since the beginning of Dec.  We didn't tell anyone not because we want to keep it a secret but we didn't want anyone feeling sorry for us or worrying about us over the holidays.

Now don't go thinking that this is horrible. Sure it's not something we wanted or hopped for but it happens.  It is a trial and we are making it through.  I ran across a quote the other day by Elder Maxwell that said, "If we criticize God or are unduly miffed (love that line) over sufferings and tribulation, we are really criticizing the Planner for implementing the very plan we once approved.."  Misery is optional right? Chris and I have chosen not to be miserable.

Grandma Van once told me the hotter the fire the stronger the metal so...I figure by the end of this Chris and I can get through anything.  No matter the outcome.

Here is where we need your help.  This Sunday is fast Sunday and if you wouldn't mind fasting for Chris to overcome his trials and struggles, and as he says, "get his mind strait" that would be awesome.  Iknow without a doubt with your help and prayers things will change for the better.  Fasting is an amazing gift that our Father in Heaven has blessed us with and it has worked many miracles. If you don't believe it just come to my ward.  You can't argue with Isaiah (even if we don't always understand him) "Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer;..satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and they darkness be as the noonday: and the Lord shall guide thee continually.." (Isaiah 58:8-11)

If you can't or don't fast please keep him in your prayers.  If you are not the praying type send good thoughts his way.  If you are not the thinking type you have bigger problems and I don't want to be your friend anyhow :)

If you want to talk some more feel free to give me a call, if I don't answer most likely I am at work or pumping iron at the gym (aka watching Psych on hulu) just leave me a message or send me a text.

I know not everyone looks at their e-mail and I KNOW I don't have everyone's email (especially on the Mahana side) so if you would like to forward this facebook it (it's true I don't have one) or twit (as mom says) the info to our loved ones it would be greatly appreciated.  

I know the religious stuff may make some of you uncomfortable but it is what I believe and have faith in. For those of you who may worry about me, DON'T. I try to swear at least once a week to keep from being translated.

Thank you, I love you all, it's true.

aimee

The Norm

 Love this guy.  He was so excited to see a Redskins football hat he was in shock.

 I know this is a horrible picture but it makes me laugh.  I was taking a picture of my recently chopped off hair for my sis in law and this is how it turned out.  Yeah I chopped all my hair off and sent it to Locks of Love.  

 SOME of my tomatoes.  Feel free to come and have some if you like tomatoes. (I hear they're pretty tasty)

  

 and SOME of my peppers.

 I decided I wanted to straiten Chris' hair to see if we could get a Sam Winchester look going.

yeah.....

I like his curly hair much better.  (he is such a good sport)

I just love it when he pulls it up into his latin soccer look, as I like to call it.  

Some of the things I made with this years harvest.  Wicked delicious jalapeno poppers, careful though, these were pretty warm. (who are we kidding, we had the burning farts) Some jalapeno jelly and some yummy peach jam.  

Come visit and I will feed you. 

I promise I will do better at posting.  

I realize that I say that every time I post.

How about, I'm sure at some point in the future I will post again.

Thug life?

Enola was listening to this new poppy "rap" and thuggin it out.  

So I put on some real thug music.  

Chris said Tupac wasn't quite the thug he thinks of for Enola.  So he demo'd some real old school for her.

Backwards

Yet again I posted the pictures in the opposite order I planned. Sometimes it's okay to start at the end.

Could I have taken a more boring looking pictures?

Anyway this is my new favorite drink.  It's a homemade Brazilian limeade and boy is it tasty.

The shots from the cell phone really don't do it justice.  But I love cloudy sunsets we get here.  I'm sure everywhere has their great sunsets but I'm partial to ours with the clouds and mountains.

Anyone want some snapdragon seeds? Really...they are taking over and I have been pulling some out before they are even dead.  Don't get me wrong they are so pretty but I would like some of my other flowers to have some recognition too.  Each little flower pod has about 100-200 seeds, so be warned, they WILL spread but they are low maintenance.

This is the day I decided, "Screw it, I am happy with myself if you have problems with me lets take it out back."  The way I look, the way I laugh, the way I run, my sense of humor, my demeanor and everything else is who I am. Deal with it or I will punch you in the face.

My husband has been sweet enough to take me to Thanksgiving Points Gardens on numerous occasions.  This is when we were there for the Tulip festival this spring, I believe.   I may just get me a pass so I can take a good book and hang out for a few hours.  It is so relaxing and the next time you are in town (cause the only people that read this don't live here) you need to go see the new "Light of the World" exhibit.

Quickies from my phone

First I need to vent. I already did this post but it was deleted. Then saved incorrectly and I am really mad at blogger so...on with the show now.

Enola and I went to Youth Conference before the "Wood Hollow" Fire which started the day we left and burned the exact spot we were staying.  

We went to the "Mormon Miracle Pageant" It was good and all, filled with some overacting but still good.  The only giggles to be heard were coming from our ward (leaders included) We have a great youth group and am lucky I get to hang out with them, especially the cute girl in the picture with me.

The following two pictures are from Chris' phone, therefore the quality is worse than mine.

He is giving me his honest reaction to...

My homemade salsa.  I just threw together what I wanted and what I thought sounded good.  I would have liked more heat but Chris didn't know if his stomach could handle it.  It tasted better the longer it sat.

I'm not sure why I felt like playing with my food all last week but I also made a cilantro, lime, buttermilk, ranch dressing which is pretty good.

Enola and I went to the nations 3rd best farmers market (according to some article Chris read) in S.L.C and picked up some fresh fruit among other things.  So I made this thing of beauty.  

YUMMY!

I was pretty pleased with myself since I didn't use any recipes, and I need recipes.

Enjoying the market, where I was a sucker for the young kids playing the violin.  

They were amahzing!

Some love fruit during my no sugar month.

No sugar month is over and I had some ice cream to celebrate....

Too sweet and it wasn't even Risser portioned.  I like this no sugar stuff, but I like treats too so it's all about portion control.  New month new goal

not portion control that's a forever thing....

Yes I know it's been two months

It's not like anyone really reads my posts anyway.  There are a faithful few (most of which were just with me) So...

 Preparing to get dirty.

 Me and my awesome team. We ended up splitting into groups of three.  Not by choice but it worked out just fine.

 Our awesome individual names.  

Dr. Dirt (Aunt Syd) Psychd kick (Enola) Interrogator (Holly) Arsonist (Kenna) Smuggler (Baily) The Decoy (Chels) Muscle (Avalon) Ninja Gecko (Aaron) Bossman (me) The Threat (Jett) Source (Jenni) and The Assassin (Daniel)

 Ready to go minus Chelsea who forgot her number in the car.  As soon as they released us to run she ran through with us and D.J. met her 1/2 way through and pinned it on.

 Unbeknown to me I had the clump of mud on my forehead all day and was only told it was there as we were waiting in line for the showers. Nice eh...

 I really wasn't lagging behind or tired it's just a bad picture but also shows how some people just didn't embrace the glory of the mud.

 Again not pooped just looks like I had a stroke.

 I was lucky enough to run with this awesome little guy in the piglet plunge.  He was crusin around the competition!

 My cool big sis brought her brood to run with us.  I love Avalon in this picture.

 Chris fell in love with another female this last month.  

 I love her slimy bluish/green mustache.

 Aunt Syd working her magic on the old folks.  (tee hee)

 Enola loves to do action shots.

 Avalon was trying to get in on the action.

 See no matter how sweet and loving the baby they still try to push the gingers away.  (Who are we kidding, she loves me)

 As you can tell this booger couldn't get enough of me.  I forced him to be in this picture with me with my extreme strength.

 My garden is mostly thriving despite the fact that someone didn't put a weed block down before he threw the dirt in and there is grass growing everywhere!! (it was a nice gesture at any rate) And our dear old Laila dug up and I think ate some of my garlic. Not bad for my first attempt.

 Enola found moms old clothes in the cedar chest so we decided to model them.

 Laila wanted in on the action too.

Babies first cigar and Flo Rida video (don't worry Jen there is no cursing or slang) 

Don't forget to check the Kasch Klan to see more.

POTS!

(I apologize once again for the picture quality, they were all taken with my phone)

Mint Pots

Chocolate, Sweet, and Orange mint all in their own little pot.

My rustic and weathered strawberry pot.

My in your face color pot.

So these aren't pretty pots but until my garden is ready and the temps remain consistently warm I had to temporarily plant my tomatoes. A couple of them still got sun burnt or frozen, I can't tell which yet. I think too cold though.

My indoor polka dot tropical. Should have gotten more of the foliage in the photo cause she is just so cute.