ER Visits

Many of you, have probably already read my posts on Facebook regarding my recent trip to the Emergency Room. Those that haven't, I'm okay. We were at a family party in Columbia, MO, Sunday, when I started to get a pain in my back. Within 15 minutes the pain was so strong that I had to walk away from dinner and Justin and I went to the nearest Women's and Children's Hospital.

The pain got progressively worse because I was forced to lie down. They didn't perform an ultrasound, probably because I wasn't spotting and there was no abdominal pain. However, they did take my blood pressure, pulse and checked the baby's heart rate as well. After two hours of excruciating pain and being prodded at, they brought in the Resident OB who diagnosed me with a pinched nerve. I was sent home with 1000 mg of Tylenol in my system and a prescription for Flexeril, a muscle relaxer. The Tylenol never took effect so the hour long ride home was excruciating.

Upon arriving home, I asked Justin for a blessing and Dad Furnell was able to come assist. I had to keep telling myself to relax all night because of the pain. Most of the night I was trying to sleep while sitting up and leaning over two pillows to take the pain away. My wonderful husband was only able to get about two hours of good sleep Sunday night. Monday came and I called the my doctor to let her know what happened and how I was feeling. She thought that it might be a kidney stone, but had me take some Ibuprofen to see if it would take away the pain. Ibuprofen was the key! It has become my best friend!

I am so grateful to all the people who have been watching over me and attending to my every need. I am very grateful to be married to a worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holder who has the authority to give me blessings in times of need. In the blessing Sunday night, I was told that this is not a major complication and that I will recover in time. So, that is why, when the pain got worse, I knew not to go to the ER again, and that Heavenly Father is watching over me.

Today was the 20 week ultrasound. We were excited to hopefully know the gender of the baby, however, the baby was stubborn and would not flip itself over. It was fun watching it punch my stomach and stretch its legs a little. My placenta is still healthy and it is anterior. That is why I didn't feel the punches, just had fun watching. We will be going back on Thursday to have get the measurements and gender if baby is cooperative!

Its the Most Wonderful Time...

So lately you have read my posts about the baby, today I want you all to know that the Doppler was successful! The baby is still growing, and my belly is definitely getting bigger.

From now on, this post will be about the holidays and the importance of family. This Christmas, Justin and I have our own house to decorate, and our own presents to wrap, and two furry daughters to love and celebrate (and the baby on the way!) However, with all of these wonderful things happening in our life, we have managed to set up the tree. Yes... That is our only Christmas decoration up. A tree, no ornaments, no lights, just a tree. At night, our house is just a house on the side of the street. Dark on the outside, no lights from a tree inside to light it up. It's safe to say that we are hermits this holiday!

Life has been so busy! However, we are finding time to attend family gatherings, discuss future events, and to show love to our two furry daughters. This Christmas, I get to go to Utah (if all goes well at the appointment on Dec 20th), I will get to see my family for the first time since April. My little brother is grown up from the little 7 lb baby I saw before we moved. I get to eat food I'm used to. I get to visit my favorite restaurants, and fill all my cravings (especially the burritos from Cafe Rio!) But most of all, I get spend some time as a mom-to-be, with my mom. And maybe my dad can give Justin some pointers on pregnant women!

As the Time Passes By...

Since I have recently quit my job, I seem to have a lot of time on my hands.

First, I filled it with cleaning and relaxing on the couch. Yes... I may have watched a few seasons of Gossip Girl, but I have kicked that habit!

Next, I filled the time with cooking. I made my favorite brownies! They are called Jackson Hole Brownies, named after where my parents met. They are a quick recipe and very easy to make! I won't include a picture, because they disappeared too soon.

Recipe:

• 1 box Brownie Mix (of choice)
• 1/2 bag Mini Marshmallows
• 1 container Vanilla Frosting

Make Brownies as stated on package. Turn off oven, do not take brownies out to cool. Put a layer of marshmallows on the top of the brownies. Put in oven until slightly melted. If they get too melted they turn hard when cooled. Remove brownies from the oven and cool. When cool, frost the brownies. 

Cut and enjoy!

Now, I have been filling my time with many episodes of One Tree Hill, cleaning, resting, and waiting anxiously to feel the baby. With an Anterior Placenta I was told it would be a while before I could feel it.

Back to the issue of One Tree Hill, I don't know if it's the hormones or if the episodes are just really touching, but I seem to cry in every single one! I bet it is just the hormones, but I keep going back for more. 

Dr's and Thanksgiving

This week has been filled with stress from all angles!

First, the stress from anticipating the doctor appointment. Like the last appointment the doppler wouldn't pick up the heartbeat. After an ultrasound to hear the heartbeat, we have discovered that the baby is still there, still growing, but... I do have an Anterior Placenta. An Anterior Placenta is nothing to worry about. It just means that the baby is behind the placenta and it makes it harder for the doppler to hear the heartbeat because of the fluid in the way. Baby's heartbeat is now in the 140's, normal for a baby in the second trimester. The Midwife we are going to is determined to find the heartbeat with the doppler, so December 9th will be her chance! December 20, right before we fly to Utah, is the big ultrasound to determine sex of the baby, and whether there are any birth defects.

Next, stressing about Thanksgiving, even when I'm not making the food, is a lot of work! At first, I just felt homesick because it was my first Thanksgiving without my siblings or my parents. But then I stressed because I didn't know what to expect about a Furnell family Thanksgiving. The food was delicious and the company was fun. Justin was very sick on Thanksgiving though, so when we got home, it was peaceful while Justin slept and I relaxed.

Life has many changes...

As many of you already know, there is never a stagnant boring moment in life. When one thing goes wrong, it seems like every element in the universe needs to be included. There have been  many moments like this in the last few weeks. First Justin was having issues with his job, so he quit. Then I was having health issues and I ended up having to quit my job just to survive the day. Thank goodness that Dad Furnell needed help these last weeks with his company or we wouldn't have any money for this holiday season, let alone our many bills and responsibilities. Just to top it all off, Justin's Great Aunt passed away. So, we are currently learning about financial discipline, hormones and egos, and how to keep Sadie entertained for nine hours a day (not an easy task!!)

As far as the pregnancy is going, I have been feeling better since I quit my job. My body has more time throughout the day to wake up. I am also having problems with super light-headedness, and some issues with my Sciatic...already! My next doctor's appointment is tomorrow and we will get to hear the heartbeat again. But if you read my last post about my latest appointment, you are probably just as nervous as I am about the Doppler hearing the heartbeat. Hopefully there will not be any complications!

Still waiting to feel the baby, but I know I will soon.

Here's some news for the whole family in Utah! We are flying out December 24th, if all goes well with the pregnancy and I'm okay'd for flight. We will remain in Utah until January 5th! That's two whole weeks to catch up, feel the baby, see me as a beached whale pregnant woman, and for me to re-introduce myself to my baby brother!

We are very excited for the changes that life is throwing at us, and we are ready for anything!

And one more thing... PC Wizard is up and running! Checkout our website: pcwizardmo.blogspot.com!

Blessings come with Trials

The last couple of weeks have been... let's just say... difficult.

First, I have been worrying about the baby. Like any soon-to-be mother, I always wonder what is going on inside that little womb of mine. Another huge worry is my lack of morning sickness! But after a few doctor appointments I feel better about the uncertainty.

Two weeks ago, I had a doctors appointment for this beautiful little baby that is growing inside me. It was my 12 week appointment where they first try to find the heartbeat with the battery-operated Doppler. The Doppler is usually quite accurate, but in my case... the baby was not being heard. Fear of a miscarriage, started to fill my mind, but lack of bleeding left me still hoping. So an appointment on Monday, leaving a weekend for the baby to grow a little more, was scheduled. I went back on Monday and just like Friday, the baby was still being shy. The fear of something being wrong grew stronger. Because of both tries being negative with the Doppler, an ultrasound was necessary. It took about three seconds for the doctor to find the baby, and the heartbeat! I am so happy that everything is still going how it should. We even got to see the little boy/girl move around! All the excitement of that weekend ended in a 3 lb weight loss.

Last week, my husband's boss announced that he was cutting my husband down to 32 hrs a week, and he took away the vacation pay. We had been planning on me quitting my job in December, which would mean that we would only be living on Justin's  income. Now with his income being cut by 1/4 what we had been planning, budgeting has gotten even more difficult. Today... Justin let me know that his pay has now been dropped a $1.50 an hour and he still can only work 32 hrs a week. Its almost as if we are being tested... Welcome to mortality.

Saturday was a wonderful day for my family. My Dad has recently had his priesthood restored and it was time for him and my step-mom and their three beautiful children to be sealed in the temple. What a wonderful blessing that is for them and for us! On Sunday, my Dad had the privilege of blessing Alysa and Canyon. I am so heartbroken that it didn't work for me to go out and see these wonderful things happen. But seeing and hearing the change in my Dad while he has been working on his priesthood restoration helps me to recongnize more and more how wonderfully blessed our lives are.

Let me rephrase my title to explain more what I have learned from all the things we have been blessed with lately. The new title is: Blessings come FROM trials.

Say Hello to... BABY FURNELL!

That's right! We are having a baby. I'm currently 8 weeks along, no morning sickness, losing weight from lack of interest in food, mood swings (just ask my husband!) Ultrasound said that baby is healthy, strong heartbeat of 162 beats per minute. Ladies at work say that its a boy! Still way too early to tell though! Our due date is May 3, 2012. Yes... My dad's 40th birthday is our due date!

Family is excited, and Justin and I are ecstatic and nervous all at the same time. At first I was very afraid that the four pregnancy tests and the test at the doctor's were lying, because of my lack of symptoms. But it turns out that I am in the 25% or pregnant women who never experience throwing up morning sickness! It was so amazing to see the baby on the ultrasound. The sweet sound of his/her heartbeat made it so real!

At first, I was having cramps all of the time. They have gone away because I have started lifting less at work. Now I'm just suffering from complete exhaustion! Eight weeks down, thirty two long weeks to go!

Sick Pets and Vet Visits

Yes... You read it right.... Suki and Sadie have been super sick.

First, we signed the papers on the house and that day we noticed the fleas. There was a big flea infestation in the house that the previous owners had left. We paid a pest company to come and spray to kill the fleas. After his first visit to our house, the fleas came back. This time... They brought cockroaches.

We brought Suki into the house about 2 weeks after the first pest spray application. Next thing we knew, we had a cat who would stop itching and she started losing the fur around her tail, legs, and belly. After the sores started showing up on the back of her neck, we knew we had to take her to the vet. We had already put Frontline Plus on her right after we knew that we would be bringing her to the house.

The vet concluded that she had: Flea Allergy Dermatitis. After two shots and some very sad parents, she is doing well and the fleas have started dying.

Sadie on the other hand... She had some more problems. We got Sadie on Wednesday, August 10, from the Warrensburg Animal Shelter. She was just recovering from a spay operation. Not only did we notice that her stomach was not feeling good (due to the throw-up on the hardwood floor), but we started to notice a cough that would shake her whole body. Pretty soon, she started hacking up mucus and anything she had eaten from the day before. After almost a week of her cough, and her lack of appetite started growing more and more prominent, we took Sadie to the vet.

Sadie was diagnosed with Kennel Cough, WhipWorm, and flea irritations. She is now finishing her antibiotic to treat the bacteria portion of Kennel Cough. The vet, Justin, and I are all convinced that the Kennel Cough, and WhipWorm are from the Animal Shelter.... Our poor baby is just barely eating a tablespoon of food a day and her water consumption is still normal. After speaking to the vet yesterday about her food habits, the vet is convinced that her eating even just that little bit everyday will help her build up her immune system. Today, Sadie had a particularly bad day. She has been super lethargic and she only drinks if I sit right next to her and watch her.

Suki and Sadie have a little game. I am grateful for this little game because sometimes it gets Sadie to eat. I will set a bowl of food down on the floor right in front of Sadie. Sadie just looks at it until Suki comes in and starts looking interested. Sadie starts getting worried that Suki will eat it and so she hurries and eats enough to get Suki to leave. It is pretty funny to watch!

I love my two little girls and I wish that they would get better soon.

Introducing: Sadie!!

Suki is no longer an only child....

Say HELLO to Sadie!!

We adopted Sadie from the Warrensburg Animal Shelter. She has a very sweet disposition and she loves to cuddle. She is a Terrier Mix with long black fur.

When we first started dating, we knew that we wanted a dog sometime in the future. Now is the time! We were going to get a dog as our Christmas present, but there was an adoption day in Sedalia for the Sedalia Shelter and  we talked... and talked... and figured... and talked some more... about getting a dog so soon. So we went to look. After visiting the Sedalia shelter, we went to Warrensburg (about 30 min. away). Warrensburg Animal Shelter had a wide variety of dogs to pick from! I am partial to big dogs, and Justin loves Medium sized dogs. With Sadie we met in the middle! She is a medium-large dog and a wonderful purchase.

Benefits of adopting from a shelter:

• The adopted pet has their first vaccinations
• They receive a microchip upon adoption
• Adopted pets are required to be spayed/neutered

Sad parts about adopting from a shelter:

• Pets are caged all day
• Pets pee and poo on the concrete in their cage
• All pets cry when they see a human, they want you to adopt them

It was hard for me to walk into the shelter and keep myself from crying. I have such a soft heart when it comes to animals of all shapes and sizes, and seeing them in these conditions really tugs at those soft heart strings. Sadie grabbed our attention and we couldn't even look at any other pets!

Some Photos... As Promised

As promised, I have chosen a couple of pictures that best depict our new-to-us house.

Kitchen- After our new paint, cabinet hardware, accessories, and our laundry units. We are still waiting until the pesticide totally takes effect before we lay the vinyl floor.

Gas Stove and fridge came with it. Paint Colors:
Valspar Signature- Au Lait Ole, and Historic Collection Churchill Eccru

Washer/Dryer: Whirlpool Cabrio Super Capacity

Kitchenette w/ Granite Cutting board.
We chose this to help add some counter space.

Master Bedroom-Painted by Mom and Dad Furnell, and touched-up by me. The carpet is new.

New Bookshelf
Paint: Valspar Signature Au Lait Ole

Our Make-shift Entertainment Center

Front Room: Hardwood Floors, stained trim, new blinds.

New Blinds, Paint: Valspar Signature Martinique Dawn

Wood Trim, Accent Wall Paint: Valspar Signature Mudslide

Bathroom Before:

Bad Photo. The paint color was an off-white.

Bathroom After: 

Shower and above tub.

Bathroom Storage. we chose not to paint into the corner yet. It is going to be covered with a curtain.

Paint: Valspar Kitchen and Bath Enamel Super Nova

I wish it was all finished and that you could see the before pictures to see how much we have done!

Update AT LAST!

I need to apologize to all of our readers out there! I have been a major slacker at updating and it was not made any better by the lack of Internet for a week and a half.

This is our new home! Cute huh!

Justin and I are now homeowners. We own a cute home on a quiet street near the edge of the town. It is about 1 mile from my workplace and across town from Justin's. We have a beautiful lawn... Still needs quite a bit of work. Its a three bedroom house with a laundry room, kitchen, and lots of storage! We even have hardwood floors!

For the first two weeks of owning the home, we had to wear bug spray all of the time to keep the flea infestation off of us. We still lived with Mom and Dad Furnell until July 15. Almost a week since the exterminator was here to spray. Suki still ended up with a few (more than) fleas on her and she is constantly itching! We even had a flea guard on her, but it didn't work very well. Now there is a small cockroach infestation. They know that if they touch the floor they will die, so they climb on the walls and behind trim. The exterminator is coming on Saturday to spray again.

Soon I will upload pictures of our remodeling efforts.

So far the kitchen has a new coat of paint, it looks completely different! Too bad that we didn't take any before pictures... Here is a description of the before: Canary Yellow walls and ceiling, off-white cabinets and trim, white chair rail, and nasty dirty vinyl floor. Yes.... It was not a sight for sore eyes! No description of the new paint... you have to wait and see!

Front Room... Before: Hardwood floors, wood trim, brown egg colored walls, white ceiling. This is the main room with the uncaulked trim where the cockroaches like to nest.

Master... Before: White walls, seventies carpet (orange and brown), Wallpaper paneling, wood paneling in the closet, and broken blinds all around.

One major selling point for me was the amount of windows! I love that I can open the blinds and the room lights up! The natural sunlight on our new paint colors looks awesome!

These rooms that I already have mentioned are the only ones finished. We still need to do the bathroom, hallway, sewing room, and guest room.  Next summer we hope to have Justin's workshop out back finished on the inside so that customers can come and drop of their computers.

I work at Neet Products Inc, I make archery products for 40 hours a week. My main focus at work is quivers and arm guards. Just finished my first thirty days and will hopefully continue to improve and gain skills and improve talents.  Justin starts a new position as a property manager with a rental company. He also starts school at State Fair Community College, for a few computer degrees, in August.

Everyday it has been in the triple digits for the last three weeks. It is set to continue for three more. The MO state fair starts August 11, and with our new budget... I can't see Jason Aldean in concert! Oh well... Car is now paid off and we have a house that we get to make all our own!

Hope all is well with you, my readers!

Until Next Time...

Justin & Mitzi

Disney World-Florida

It all started last April... Justin and I were engaged, I was meeting the family, and we were already planning a family vacation to Disney World. Mom and Dad Furnell, being members of the Disney Vacation Club, reserved a Treehouse Villa at the Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa on the Disney property. Shannon, the kids, Justin, Mom and Dad Furnell, and I, all drove from Sedalia to Orlando to experience the "Happiest Place on Earth!"

After a ten-hour drive on Sunday, June 5, we arrived at 7:30pm at the Clarion Hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After settling into our rooms and a quick dinner at Cracker Barrel, nothing seemed more wonderful than the thought of sleeping on a bed with my husband by my side and steady ground underneath me.

Monday morning, we left Chattanooga at 8:00am and headed for Florida! I have come to the conclusion that the Georgia needs some water! The road we drove on was surrounded on both sides with brown weeds and dry plants. Not as pretty as the beautiful, green Missouri! Ten-hours, and two hail/rain storms later, we arrived at the Saratoga Springs Resort.

Upon settling in our beautiful villa, we set out to see the resort! The pool was beautiful with two slides for the kids to enjoy. The spa was warm and the perfect spot for our worn-out bodies. Sleeping was the biggest goal of the day!

Bright and early Tuesday morning, we headed to our reservation at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom Resort. For all of my readers that have not been to Disney World, but have been to Disneyland in California, you aren't missing out on anything at Magic Kingdom. Disneyland and Magic Kingdom are virtually one in the same. There were only two differences that I was sad about... No Indiana Jones ride, and the Matterhorn was nonexistent! However, to counteract the sadness after encountering these two devastating facts, Justin and I attended the Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor! This is the coolest thing in Magic Kingdom! You get to sit in a theater and witness a clean comedy act put on by the audience and the monsters from the show. Very fun!  To end our day at Magic Kingdom, we were interrupted on our way home by a drunk fight. Yes... I have been so sheltered that I have never seen a drunk fight in my life! This one was scary enough for me! Gang fights aren't even as bad, at least gangs try to do it privately.

Wednesday we arrived to Animal Kingdom around 11:00am. "It's Tough to Be a Bug" was the kids favorite show of the day. Justin's favorite ride was Everest. Mine was the Dinosaur ride. We got to pretend that we were on an expedition in the prehistoric time searching for a dinosaur for a researcher. It's bumpy, exciting, and scary! Justin was so scared one time that he actually started shaking!

Thursday we arrived at Magic Kingdom again so that the kids could experience Fantasy Land.

We spent Friday at Hollywood Studios. We got to watch a car stunt show, and tour the backlots. Friday night, Justin, Shannon, and I went to the Fastasmic water and stage show. It was bright, colorful, visually entertaining, and romantic! (for Justin and I at least)

Saturday, I got to step foot in the amazing Epcot Resort! I loved seeing all the cool things that they do to help improve the environment. We even got to ride my favorite ride... Soarin'! The kids had fun and I actually got sunburned on Saturday. Just on Saturday though.

Overall... It was a wonderful vacation and I loved it!

Happy Birthday to Me!

So... as most of you know, my birthday was on Saturday, May 28, 2011. I am now 20 years old and totally awesome! (jk)

For my birthday, Justin got me a beautiful gold necklace and a pair of gold earrings. For breakfast, Justin treated me to Papa Jake's Donuts (the only fresh donuts in Sedalia!) When I sat down at the table, I found an adorable card from the In-Laws, with  my favorite chocolate bar, Hershey's Cookies and Cream! To further celebrate this  20th birthday of mine, we made a trip to Columbia, MO. We helped Aunt Donna pack up and move to a new house, went shopping at the Columbia mall, and finished our day with a wonderful lunch at Red Lobster. For the final celebratory activity we looked at Big Lots for possible furniture for our new house! Yes... You read it right!

Justin and I are closing on our house June 30. We get possession immediately at closing and can start moving in. With both of our full-time jobs under our belts and finances coming in on a weekly basis, we will be more prepared for the perils of owning a house. Such as... Laundry machine purchases, lawn maintenance equipment, seating for several people, kitchen tables and storage shelves, and much much more!

We are pretty excited! Three bedrooms, 1 bath and a yard all to ourselves! Oh, and our soon to be puppy that we will have starting in about August.

Life is moving on at a quick pace and we are so excited!

Overall, Happy Birthday to Me!

Tornado Chaos!

As many of you know, there was a tornado that hit our little town here in Sedalia. The Southwest corner of the town had lots of devastation. The tornado ripped through the Brentwood subdivision and a trailer park. Phillips gas station on S 65 Hwy had damage to their pumps and multiple semis in their lot.

The Sedalia School District bus barn was also hit. The bus barn was housing 25 of 30 buses at the time and all 25  were destroyed. Due to this unfortunate act of Mother Nature the School District was forced to cancel the last three days of school for the year. 

LTL survived, they were miles away. The tornado was two or four blocks from the house, but we were downstairs and were safe.

Sedalia has a great tornado warning system! After hearing about the devastation in Joplin, MO on Sunday evening, Sedalia got ready for bad weather. There were some early warning sirens at about 11:15 AM. I hadn't been feeling 100% when I woke up so I was in bed until the sirens went off. So... I grabbed Suki and slowly walked down the stairs. There wasn't wind or rain outside so I thought: "No big deal. I'll just do what they want." About 20 minutes later and non-stop news coverage of the possible tornadoes in Kansas City, we lost the cable. Two minutes later the power went out.

About the time the power went out we heard what we thought was hail, for a few seconds. The Tornado sirens stopped at about 12:30PM. Justin called and asked if I was okay. I said: "Yeah, Why wouldn't I be? The power is out, but nothing as happened." To that he responded letting me know that a tornado had just landed and part of Sedalia had been hit. I was shocked! We didn't even hear a thing!

The power remained out until 12:30PM today. The only damage we encountered was a yard filled with shingles, metal sheets from buildings, and several checks and check registers. 25 Mobile homes had been destroyed.

In all of this, only 24 minor injuries were reported and no deaths have been discovered. Thank goodness for a Father in Heaven who is watching out for us!

I survived my first tornado... NO WE'RE NOT MOVING BACK TO UTAH! (All caps for emphasis!)

House Hunting

Yes... You read it right! We are currently house hunting.

Here in Missouri, it is cheaper to pay a mortgage payment than to rent. We love living with the in-laws, but our plans to move into their spare home fell through. Apartments want pet-free zones or $200 more a month. We are finding lots of good prices, but few homes that fit our rigorous criteria!

There are a lot of processes to go through when you decide to buy a home. First, you need to look at your finances and determine whether or not you will be able to pay for the house. Second, make a list of the pros and cons of your current situation and compare it to the pros and cons of buying a house. Third, talk to a loan officer and learn about the criteria for a loan. From there, you can find out how much you will be approved for so that you can qualify for the loan. Fourth, find a realtor to help find the things that you are looking for in a house. A realtor will help you and work with your best interests in mind. Fifth, look at your options and fast and pray!

The most important process is to put the decision you are making in the front of your mind and discuss it with the Lord (if you are religious). Heavenly Father will let you know if you are making the decision in a way that he would be proud of.

I look forward to this process and to all the things that life has in store for us!

Reasons I Love Mother's Day!

According to the common view, Mother's Day is celebrated when a woman has raised, is raising, or is currently in the process of creating, a child. My wonderful husband believes differently! To him... Mother's Day is a celebration of Motherhood and the ability that we as women have to create and sustain a life inside of us for nine long months.

I do not fit the common classification of a mother, but Justin made me feel so loved by just being me!

I have always been the type of person who loves living things! aka... plants, animals, children.  So... To celebrate my love of life, Justin got me a new pet to raise! I am now the proud owner of a fish tank with little fishies for me to feed, love, and show off. We still have Suki, my herb garden, the bamboo plant, and our indoor fern.

And finally... The topic of my post! 

I love Mother's Day because it is our day to show our Mother's how much they mean to us and how much we love them.  I was unable to share this Mother's Day with my mom in person, but I got to speak with her over the phone. I spent Mother's Day with my Missouri family and it was beautiful! 

I love Mother's Day because it is an excuse for the men to dote on us and do whatever we ask! Justin barbecued and it was delicious!

I love Mother's Day because I remembered how important our role in this life is! It is so wonderful... This gift we have been given to nurture, love, support, and be an example. I can't wait for that time to come for me!

Love,

Mitzi

Jobs...Jobs...Jobs

In the past, I have been extremely blessed with my employment status!

My very first job, was at an embroidery shop in North Ogden. I walked in, filled out the application, and started the next day.

My second job, also known as my most recent position, was at LDS Business College. I was a scholarship recipient and I didn't even have to apply! They emailed me, asked me to send a resume, and called me in for an interview. I was so blessed to have my job at the College because it was the perfect position for me, and I was blessed to know some amazing people!

So... As you can tell, my experience job hunting has been extremely limited to NONE.  This last week has been... A roller coaster. I had an interview at one bank, for the teller position, and they seemed really excited to hire me... Monday I got the call saying I didn't get it. It has only been since last Wednesday that I have been applying, but two rejections has been hard! Oh well, just another opportunity to get a position that better fits my personality!

Job hunting is hard, but I admit, its a wonderful opportunity to rely on the Lord and to grow in many ways! Currently the most noticeable growth has been around my middle... But that's a story for a different day!

The weather here has been amazing! If it rains today, it will be the second rainy day in the last week and a half. I love the oxygen-filled air, the warm sun on my face, and the green grass outside the window!  I am becoming quite the bread maker! Four loaves since we got here, qualifies me for this title!

More updates later!

Love,


Justin & Mitzi

We Made it!

Some may think that Justin and I are totally insane for driving straight through,with a cat, from Utah to Missouri.

I'm beginning to agree!

Suki was wonderful! The first two hours through Wyoming, with its lack of scenery and its rolling hills and valleys, were not enough to keep her attention off the fact that she was in a car. However, very soon after that first two hours, she calmed right down and road in her cat condo with out any problems. I was pretty worried about her because she wasn't eating or drinking anything the whole trip. Now she has made up for it.

About ten hours into the drive, and a fourth the way through Nebraska, Justin let me drive! Yes... I got to drive on unfamiliar roads, enjoying the flat scenery, and listening for Justin to silently fall into a deep sleep.

We had bought two books on CD... Hazardous Universe, and Shadows of Brierley: The Wanderer.  These books helped keep us entertained while we were driving and allowed me to slip into their worlds so that I didn't stress about the next week I had ahead of me. Now that we are in Missouri, living in Dad and Mom Furnell's house, I am slowly learning my way around Sedalia. Finding a job for me will be the hardest. I know what I want to do, but that can't happen for a while. We need the money from two incomes to make it through the next couple of months. If all else fails... I can work at Staples! Ha Ha.

Justin has a job with his dad at LTL. He is excited to relearn how to do everything, and to spend some time with his dad. I am currently working on getting a position at the Community College in the Financial Aid department. After working at LDSBC for two years in Financial Services, I hope that it will set me apart.

Suki is still calming down and getting used to our room before I will even dream about introducing her to the other animals in the house. She is still so young but has little experience with other animals. Kids are a foreign enemy to her and the stress of the new enviroment is a little difficult to grasp.

I'll update again later when we get things a little more figured out!

Love,

Justin and Mitzi

Hogle Zoo

Justin and I decided that it was our turn to visit the animals at Utah's Hogle Zoo.  Here are some of the cute animals that we got to see:



Mountain Goats



Goose

Justin (just kidding! He just wanted to be in a picture!)

Prairie Dog

Suki's Other Family (Spider Monkey)

Swan... Big Feet

Camel with Arthritis

Baby Zuri and Mom

Tarzan

My Hand wasn't Big Enough

Look how long my tongue is!

Human Simba Cub

Sea Turtle

Nap Time

Justin's Hand was Close

We had fun! Seeing animals always makes my day brighter!

Moving Day

This last week has been crazy! Tuesday we went to the zoo, post to come, and then a wonderful trip to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple with Gramma Shelley! School got out on Wednesday, Mom and Dad drove in Wednesday night, and we had gradation on Thursday. Friday night we had dinner with Justin's General' Manager, and Saturday was moving day.

Saturday morning, we drove from our Aunt and Uncle's house to the U-Haul store where we picked up our 5x8 trailer. My mom and brother, and sister met us at the apartment to finish the packing process. at first, the looming pile of boxes and furniture looked to big to fit in the trailer and truck bed, but Dad Furnell is an experienced mover and was able to fit almost everything in the trailer!

Two hours later the apartment was literally spotless and we were exhausted. A celebratory lunch at Subway ended our day of packing. The rest of the afternoon was filled with fun family time and nice relaxing showers. Mom and Dad drive out early Monday morning and we will meet up with them in a week!

I am very grateful for all of the help that we have received both physically, emotionally, and most of all, spiritually. More fun and excitement posted soon!

If Only, If Only

Oftentimes we wonder... If only we were skinnier, if only our hair looked how we wanted, if only I could express my emotions in a more positive way. My if only today refers to having everyting that I love, all the people that I love, and all the work that I love to do, at one time. And this time... If only the weekend could be longer!

Every once in a while a weekend comes around. Sometimes our weekends are worth remembering, other times, they are so short that we don't even have the time to remember it! That's how this last weekend was… Too Short.

I have tried to pack our belongings when there is time throughout the week and I am now down to only having to pack the things that we use every day. Friday night we were able to attend the mission reunion for the California Oakland mission with President and Sister Beck. We arrived around six o'clock to help set up. It was such a wonderful experience! I got to meet many of the friends Justin had while on his mission. We ate some delicious Strawberry Shortcake and even better mango salsa. The spirit was so strong and we were able to relieve some of the stress on President and Sister Beck. We got to video the stories that the returned missionaries told about their life after their missions so that the Becks could see how successful their missionaries are becoming. One RM was asked what practices from the mission field have helped him the most in his daily life. His answer proved to me that scripture study and daily prayer make life so much easier.

Saturday was busy… Justin went to work and right when we got home it was time to go to Ogden to wash our laundry and for a birthday party for Denise and Chelsea. It was fun to see everyone again! I will only get to see everyone together one more time before we move. It was hard for me when I sat down last night, after playing with Makaila and Alysa during the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference, when I sadly remembered that I will not get to see them as often as I have been. We haven't had the opportunity to visit them very often lately and I will miss not seeing them as often as I would like. Let's not forget Canyon… My baby brother, when he is born, will not get to see me very often and I struggle with that.

But I know that we are supposed to be in Missouri, so all of you that question that… Take my word for it! I have prayed and asked and weighed the options. I know that there is something in Missouri that the Lord knows will strengthen us and I know that if I trust in him, everything will be alright!

There is a lot of faith required for the next couple of months that we have ahead of us, but I look forward to it only bringing us together and making our relationship stronger.

 Love,
Justin & Mitzi

Time to Stop

First of all, we are not pregnant, so don't ask!

Many of you know that Justin and I have been trying to have a child. However, with many complications left from the synthetic hormones, we have not been successful. Months after trying with no success, and the impending doom of no insurance and many job searches, we have decided to stop. It was a hard decision, but with so much unclear in our future, it is important for us to do what is the most logical. We feel that the Lord knows what is going to happen and he will support us in our decision for now.

Thank you all for your concern over us for the time being.

Justin & Mitzi

Time is Running Out!

With the end of the semester drawing to a close, tempers are hotter and stress is laid on thicker. You would think that after 2 years of college we would be used to it already! Wrong.... It seems like there is a new challenge around every corner.

We are excited to be moving and packing is just over the horizon, boxes are lining up, and the worry about how we will find jobs is starting to get frustrating. Every night is packed with final activities with family members, friends, and final places to visit.

We are doing great though! We are pushing through and with two weeks left in the semester we should survive and pass with semi-flying colors!

We know we are in the right place and we are moving where the Lord wants us. Wish us luck on surviving the next couple of weeks!

Introducing Suki!

About seven months ago, we adopted a beautiful, little, short-haired kitten from a family in West Jordan. We decided to name her Suki and she took to it well! Now she is nine months old and a long-haired, maned, ball of fire!

A little bit about Suki:

• She loves plants!
• When Suki was about four months old, I moved a plant down to get some sunlight. Before I knew it, she had taken all of the leaves off that poor defenseless plant! With a new plant in its place, she finds all sorts of ways to get to it.
• She loves to run!
• As you can tell by that look in her eyes, she is a trouble-maker (just like her dad!) Any chance she gets, she's running across a project or distributing homework from one wall to the other.
• She loves to jump!
• Suki hasn't quite learned how to jump onto the counter (thank goodness) but anytime she gets the chance she jumps from bed to couch to cat condo to bedside table.
• She has an attitude!
• When Suki knows what she wants, she lets you know it too (she learned that from me, can't decide if its good or bad)
• She loves to cuddle... Under the covers!
• Almost every night I find Suki cuddled up next to my side. She is the first cat I've had that likes to be under the covers.
• She plays fetch!
• Yes... Our cat knows how to fetch. She will fetch anything from Jolly Ranchers to Erasers. She taught herself and its one way she gets our attention.
• Last but not least... We think she's part raccoon and lion!
• Suki has a mane, and a very fluffy tail! She also has cute gray ear hairs that stick out further than her long whiskers.

We love Suki and we hope that you will too!

St. Patrick's Day

Every year St. Patrick's Day comes around on March 17th without fail. Every year, we did the same thing. This year... It is our time to set our own traditions. So I went to work (on setting the traditions)!

The traditional St. Patrick's Day dinner consists of Corned Beef and Cabbage. So we had Corned Beef and Cabbage for dinner. I even added Mashed Potatoes...dyed green! For gravy, we had to improvise. We did not have a gravy mix or a recipe. We did have some ramen noodle seasoning packets! With two cups of water, 2 packets of beef seasoning, and 1 cup of Corned Beef juices, we had a pretty good gravy made up! The thickness was provided by about 2 tablespoons of corn starch. It was the perfect night of firsts! First time eating Corned Beef, and a first time cooking a big dinner!

Now that we have spoken about dinner before we mention breakfast, you might be thinking that we had a normal breakfast! Wrong! For breakfast I made German pancakes. These were not the normal yellow German pancakes that everyone is used to... These were green! We put the normal toppings of powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, syrup and butter on our German pancakes... They were delicious! The German pancakes were made with whole wheat flour.

Overall, it was a green St. Patrick's Day! I do believe that this is a tradition that will last.