What's Happening with the De Vaneys

Well,  I have been talking to some old friends and many are confused about what exactly is going on right now, here's a small update!

...Kyle and I moved back to Idaho so he could finish his school!  He's been working so unbelievably hard, and I am so proud of him!  I got a job as a Paraprofessional at a school teaching the ESL class.  I some how convinced them that I really did know Spanish and could help those in our school! Ha!  All I can say is, when I make a phone call, people come when they are suppose to and they are in the right place, therefore, I can't be doing too bad at this job!  I am also working with developmentally delayed children with an agency called Journey's.  It's a fun job, I get to play Luke Sky Walker frequently and defeat Darth Vadar!  I have been investing a lot of my time in looking for a full time job in the school district as a school teacher, it's really frustrating, but I have been blessed to have gotten interviews!  The average job opening receives about 45 applicants! So to say the very least, it's very competitive.  But I have grateful to have had four interviews, at least I'm on the map, and can just wait for the right one to open up!

....Well, that's about all there is!  Nothing too exciting has been going on, but we're happy and crazy about one another, and that's about all we can ask for!

Jackson Hole 2013

Tay&Bay

I honestly have to say that Heavenly Father has not held back in sending me amazing people to be in my life. I really have come across some absolutely fabulous people and with these people I've met, I've been even more blessed to create lasting friendships.  One who I feel especially blessed to have gotten to know, and am able to call one of my greatest friends is Bailee Brinkerhoff!  She's one of those girls who, no matter how long it's been in between times of talking, we're able to talk like we talk to each other every day.  I really wish I could say this was something special just between Bailee and I, but it's not, she just has a very big heart and a great ability to just make everyone feel like a friend.  She's really just that awesome.  Bailee and I met two and half years ago, while we were both serving a mission for our church in Los Angeles, California! And I am so glad that we did!

Bailee and I as missionaries

Well, here is why I am writing this ode to my dear friend Bailee.  Bailee, like most of us do, has hit a rough patch in her life.  Recently, her and her fiance, Taylor, (who I haven't got to meet yet, but I'm sure he's got to be a very excellent guy to have Bailee agree to marry him :)) were in a car accident, which left Taylor in a pretty serious conditions.  This adorable couple, and Taylor's younger sister were traveling to Arizona to surprise Bailee's family for Thanksgiving, and ended up surprising them in a completely different way. The car accident required Taylor to get some pretty extensive spinal surgeries and a long haul pass to rehab, which, naturally, would send hospital bills through the roof!  I'm writing this blog to hopefully help out my dear friend and her fiance, Taylor, in any way that I can.  These two deserve, as any couple would, to start a life together, blissfully, for a just a little moment in time.  

So here are a couple of things these two need to start this blissful life together..

First and foremost, nothing goes further than a prayer.  

Second, spread the word about their story, and help them get some financial help where ever and however possible!  Here are a couple of links which can hep you to do that!

Here is a newspaper article explaining a little bit about what these two crazy kids have been going through...

Also, here's a video which gives a introduction into these two crazy kids love story, tragedy, and their continued hopes...

And here is where you can go to help this couple begin their blissful life together & learn even more about them through Bailee's blog!

Bailee and Taylor or as they like to be called Tay&Bay

Thanks for reading, and I hope you find time to help one way or another! Here's to Tay&Bay!!

365 Days Later...

365 days ago this all happened!...

I really can't believe that it's already been a whole year!!

In the last year we've been super busy too!  That's probably what made the time fly by so quickly!

+Moved to Utah for me to finish my schooling

+I graduated from college

+Drove to Alaska and lived there for 5 months

+Moved back to Idaho where Kyle is finishing his school, where we currently are!

And when I say busy, I guess what I really mean is a lot of packing and moving! Blah!  But I wouldn't have wanted to do that with anyone else!

Yesterday we had a nice celebration!  We slept in, went to the temple, went to dinner, went to the movies, ate our wedding cake which had been frozen for the past year...and actually it was still REALLY good!  Vivian Harper knocked that cake out of the park!  

                                                          

 In the past 365 Days I've learned a lot and hopefully grown up a lot!  I've never been more grateful for my parents and how hard they work to provide, I've never been more grateful toward Heavenly Father for giving me such a wonderful husband, I've never been more grateful for Kyle before!  He really is the best! He's the best husband, the best kisser, the best provider, the best looking, and he's my very best friend!

Before we got married, I thought I am SO in love with him, now 365 days later...I'm way more in love with him, which is exciting because I am beginning to see that as time passes, I'm only going to fall deeper in love with him.  Which is amazing!  I love being in love with my husband!

To close off the blog I am going to provide you with 12 things (one for each month we've been married 365 too many and 1 is not enough) I absolutely adore about my sexy husband!

1. He loves me!  
2. He's so funny!  
3. He's smart!  
4. He can fix almost anything!
5. He mumbles sweet nothings in the middle of the night!  It's so cute!
6. He's a spiritual giant!
7. He's a hard worker!
8. He's an amazing listener!
9. He's so kind to everyone!
10. He is always giving me sincere compliments!
11. He always says he likes my cooking!
12. Him, I absolutely just adore everything about him!

Well, there you have it!  12 things I adore about my husband!  I'm such a lucky, lucky girl!  Here are to many more countless days for me and my darling!  Happy Anniversary to us!

His Presence

I have to admit, I cried today.  My heart was broken by the thoughts of the reality of what the world is really coming to.  I can only imagine the reunion that each person received today as they crossed over to the other side of the veil to meet again with our Savior and our Heavenly Father.  I have no doubt in my mind that those children are in their comforting arms.  I chose to become a teacher, for many reasons, but one of the main reasons was because I love the presence of children in my life.  They are so pure and precious, it really is so hard to not to love them. I could not imagine being a teacher in that school in CT today!  11 days from today is Christmas, a day of gathering with family and others who we love.  The day we celebrate the birth of our Savior.  As I thought of all those families today who had bought Christmas presents for those children who they lost, I then couldn't help but remember the true meaning of why we celebrate Christmas.  It's not about the presents or the candies or any of the other worldly things which come along with the holiday, but it's about His presence.  It's about recognizing things which we need to change in our life, to be able to be more worthy to have that presence with us all year round.  With His spirit, comes eternal comfort and the feeling of pure hope which is what is much needed in the world today.  I hope as I continue on through this time of year, I will all remember the true meaning of Christmas, and strive to share His Spirit this Christmas! Because of a babe born in a manger, all those families who have lost loved ones will see their babes again.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Some where only we know...

I always get super excited when Kyle and I get to go to Anchorage, even if it is only for 24 hours.  Yesterday, an old friend and mission companion of mine had an open house in Anchorage, and Kyle and I decided to go and make a weekend of it.  As we were driving to Anchorage, I just kept thinking about how excited I was go to, and I was thinking about why I was so excited to go, then I realized all the things I was excited about were just things to do in Anchorage that really I could do anywhere.  Then, the thought came into my mind, "Why do I love Anchorage so much?"  And this is my conclusion...   There is no one else in the world that I would rather steal all of their attention than Kyle's!  I want him to be giving me his attention all the time, because I always want to be giving him my attention.  I don't want to have to worry about this or that, I just want to spend my time worrying about, "how can I make Kyle laugh?" or "What would be the best angle to take this picture of us from?" or "What time is snuggle time?"...I love Anchorage, because that's our place!

:)

Alaska really is so beautiful...the whole state!  No matter where you go!

All the waterfalls freeze on the side of the rocks through the pass

Christmas lights in Anchorage!

To Never Looking Back....

I am never looking back to what I weigh today!  I joined weight watchers!  I am going to do it, and I am going to give it 100%!! Putting this on my blog helps me to feel as though I have something/one to be accountable towards!  I want to be healthy for my future!

I Dare You!

As of lately I have been reflecting a lot about the my life and how I am living it.  I always find myself saying, I know I can do better.  How do I know?  Because I've done better in the past. While today I was doing more reflecting I came across a Mormon Message  with our dear prophet, and he talked about standing alone.  Which is so hard to do, but really, we're all doing it one way or another.  Each of us are going through things that we can't find anyone to relate to, except for our beautiful Savior, of course.  But we are all standing alone, fighting our own demons, developing our own testimonies, the list could go on and on.  None of which are easy, but are much more easily done when we have a purpose and a desire to what is right, and to rely on the God Head.  I am never alone!  I can do hard things!

"Dare to be a Mormon

Dare to stand alone

Dare to have a purpose firm

Dare to make it known"

                                               -- Thomas S. Monson