Balance.

"Too much of anything in life can throw us off Balance. At the same time, too little of the important things can do that same thing." -Elder M. Russell Ballard
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I've been putting this post off for some time. I don't like that I have to have an "excuse" for not staying active with my blogging. What used to be a hobby and way of keeping my family and friends updated on Ford Happenings, has turned into this 'job' where I lose 'followers' and 'crediblity' for being a "serious blogger" if I don't post at least twice a week.
Writing is apart of me that I love more than anything. I have always been passionate about it. Something absolutely incredible happens when someone can pick up a pen, or put their fingers to the keyboard, and write down words, thoughts, emotions and stories that influence others for good.  I am constantly thinking thoughts I wish I could share with the world through my blog. So, here's the excuse for not blogging for the last seventy seven days: I just REALLY needed to find some BALANCE. Simple as that. And probably currently true for a lot people. It's something I will most likely have to do several times throughout my life because, lets face it; Life. Is. Hard. I mean, skinned knee, heart broken, sobbing uncontrollably, death wrenching, can't breathe, nothing is fair, I am a failure HARD.  Have you ever felt that.... ALL AT ONCE? If you know my history, I think it's fair to say that I have had a few times in my young 27 years where these emotions would apply, rightfully so. But this time it's different. This time my life is SO GOOD and yet I still have fear, pain, anxiety, anger, jealousy and sadness. In a whirlwind of constant overwhelming emotion, I literally had to take a step back and look at my life. I am SO INCREDIBLY BLESSED. I have a wonderful, faithful, hardworking, loving and righteous husband. I have two beautiful children who have given me the greatest gift of motherhood. They are healthy, happy, so adorable, and remind me how sweet life is. I have family who loves me unconditionally and are some of my best friends. I have faith in God and Jesus Christ and have a testimony of their plan and knowledge that families can be together forever. I am so aware of how blessed I am, and still I get so caught up in the world. But those are the times. We live in a world of social media and I am DAILY trying to keep up with mommy homemaker, Wife Betty and The Jones' next door.  I have so wished, so many times, that my family could pack up and live in the middle of nowhere, removed and unplugged from the world. But I can't and I am just going to be so honest and say that the STRUGGLE is real for me. I know so many others face struggles, challenges, fears and pain in there lives also. My heart hurts to think of people who struggle much worse than I do.
I hope you'll forgive me as I try to find ME. As I get back to the things I love with a little more focus and reason, I hope you'll continue to read along as this blog once again becomes a reflection of me and things I love, my family and things that really matter most. 

A Quality Marriage Getaway.

I am completely in love with my sweet husband. He is my happily ever after that took a long time, through trial and error, to find.  He makes me laugh, smile and spoils me rotten. Our honeymoon phase was short lived. We became pregnant after 6 months of marriage and within two years had two babies. Life became very routine. Work for him. Mommy duties for me. The Honeymoon phase may have only lasted a short while, but I couldn't be more blessed that we jumped right into our Eternity Phase. I have been so fortunate that Kevin and I choose to make our relationship a priority.  Even above our children, which is harder for me sometimes, we really work to make sure WE are taken care of emotionally, physically and spiritually.  You caught that WORK part right?  Marriage sometimes is work, especially with all of life's distractions, but I can promise you the work you put into your marriage will leave you with the greatest rewards.
"Marriage is a gift from God to us, the quality of our marriage is a gift from us to Him" -Elder L. Whitney Clayton
One of the ways Kevin and I keep that quality in our still new, young but CRAZY BUSY marriage is by escaping from our routine.  Sometimes just for a few hours, sometimes overnight and when we are REALLY LUCKY, for a whole weekend.
One such overnight escape happened last month when my sweet Aunt Patty came and watched the kids. She is the BEST. 
Kevin and I started our getaway with 9 holes at Sleep Ridge Golf Course. We are blessed that through Kevin's work we are able to golf often and it has been something we have LOVED to do together since one of our first dates. 

We then headed to dinner at Tucanos in Provo.

After dinner we headed up Provo Canyon to Heber where we caught the evening showing of A MidSummer Night's Dream.

I have ALWAYS been a fan of plays and Broadway and I was so excited when we found this local showing. I was BLOWN away. The cast was incredible. I love when I can get lost in the story and this cast was able to deliver a spell binding performance. FIVE Stars for the Timpanogos Valley Theater and the cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream. We will be back for sure.
After a wonderful evening we escaped to The Homestead Resort in Midway Utah. We head both heard raved reviews about this beautiful resort and it certainly lived up to its expectations. 

We snuggled into our room where Kev treated me to my favorite chocolates, a face mask treatment and a much needed foot massage. #majorhubbypoints

The next morning, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast of french toast, scones, eggs and delicious hot chocolate right on the golf course.

The grounds of The Homestead Resort are absolutely stunning. Such a tranquil atmosphere that was just what we needed to escape our routine.

In the early afternoon we got to explore one of Utah's most unique activities, The Homestead Crater. This one of a kind natural wonder was such a neat experience.  The water was so warm and the slight current inside made it the perfect spot fro a relaxing float.

 These were the stairs to the TOP of the Crater that once used to be the only way in! 

Now it's caged off and is lookout to admire the beautiful Midway Mountains and Heber Valley.

We wrapped up our fabulous getaway with a stop into P-Town for the Taste Of The Valley event. We ate some of Provo's best foods as we walked along Center Street in the perfect sunshine.

In just a short 24 hours, we were able to laugh, kiss and enjoy each others company without interruption. It always takes me back to our dating days where we didn't spend more then a few hours apart and were constantly out on fun adventures.
I am so grateful for this handsome man of mine. I am grateful that we are able to continue to "date" even after 3 and a half years of marriage, two kids and a busy life. 
How do you like to escape life to "date" your significant other? 

Hot or Not: Men Carrying Purses.

Yesterday, as I frantically searched the mall for a bridesmaids dress for a wedding TODAY (to no avail by the way), I noticed 3 different men who were carrying their wife/girlfriend's purse.

Hot or Not? (And No, Orlando Bloom & Miranda Kerr were not one of the couples I saw today)
I honestly had a 5 minute battle back and forth in my head trying to figure out how I felt about this gesture. My first thought was, "Kevin doesn't carry my purse!" My second thought was, "Well, I don't really have a purse. I have a backpack I use as a diaper bag that my wallet is tossed into." My third thought was, "Even if I had a purse I wouldn't want to EMBARRASS my husband and take away his man card by making him carry around this ridiculously girly bag." Then my brain went to the thought, "I can carry my own purse!" Feeling a little prideful, I then thought, "Kevin does so many other kind gestures, opening my car door, pulling my chair out, HOLDING MY HAND and KISSING ME IN PUBLIC..."
I was reminded of a conversation I had with an employee at work about a similar topic. She told us about a General Conference talk she heard which stated how women are trying to be so "equal" to men that we sometimes forget to allow them to do these sweet and loving gestures for us because we are "too capable" of doing it ourselves.
I finally decided that having my husband carry my purse is NOT HOT.

As much as I LOVE when my husband shows other kind gestures like mentioned above, holding my purse is just not something I feel he needs to do.

(Now Carrying my Shopping Bags??? Totally Different Story!! )

I am so grateful for my husband and the gestures he makes to show me he loves me. 

I am grateful that there are men out there who carry their girl's purse and are at least MAKING AN EFFORT to show a little confirmation of love.

What are your thoughts on Men Carrying Purses?!

Is there a gesture you're significant other does that really makes you 'weak in the knees'?

Comment Below! 

Happy Weekend Readers.