Zzzzz..

Just a short note to add to the "Sleep Talking Diaries". . .

SJ. rental gas

NJ. what? did you just say rental gas?

SJ. no I said the gas is gone

NJ. no I think you just said rental gas in your sleep

<<<<<<snoring>>>>>

Thanksgiving Vacaaay

Thanksgiving break was so much fun. It started out with an amazing concert by JM! We have made it our goal that whenever John Mayer comes to town we have to go see him. Phillip Phillips opened for him so that was an unexpected treat as well. John changed his style of music recently which we were so opposed to but we bought his latest album and took it on a road trip with us. By the end of the trip we were fans of the new John (not to mention double points for dating my main lady KP).

We woke up the next day and headed to Columbus, Ohio to have Thanksgiving with our Wernli friends for the second year in a row. They are always so great with making us feel like one of the fam. The weekend was filled with Black Friday shopping, Settlers of Catan & Puerto Rico, eating eating eating (including some speciality items on the menu: orange pancakes and abelskivers) and staying up till 3am talking. We would shortly regret our late nights in the morning when their kids would get up at 7:30 but then we would stay up late again. Hilarious! We have not seen these friends since they moved away from Georgia in July so it was such a great time.

Don't worry, we CHOSE to sit at the kids table for dessert

party van

boys love their games

never say never

"I NEVER snore"

Well my husband --fiance at the time-- was wrong, but it's not that bad. It's only every once in a while. I cough once and the snoring ceases, and if I'm lucky he'll talk in his sleep. It makes for the funniest nights. Last night went like this:

Shaun was snoring softly 

I nudged him 

SJ: aba aba aba

Ni: you are talking in your sleep

SJ: well it's because there is a lot to say about…

Ni: about what?

SJ: well I mean I was talking because…

Ni: because why?

Ni: Shaun?

SJ: yeah?

Ni: do you know what you were saying?

SJ: I think I was half asleep

Then I'll tell him what he said and we laugh until we fall asleep.

I love being married to that guy.

for the glory of the skies

Last weekend I was in a scene from a movie. I just had to be. I couldn't believe how gorgeous everything looked around me {I can't imagine how heavenly it is in the summer time}. Shaun and I had made it all the way to the lighthouse when Shaun's phone died. My ears were also getting numb so we went back to the car. Shaun really wanted to film the waves so he went back out without me. While I was waiting in the car, I pulled up "For the Beauty of the Earth" on youtube. It was awesome. The creation of the earth and it's gorgeous details leave me speechless every time I think about them.

The Mission Field

The church outside of Utah, or the "mission field" as people call it, is such a different experience. The members here live in a world of persecution and have to really choose for themselves that they believe. I'm not saying that the church back in Utah doesn't get any persecution. I am sure Utah as a whole gets its fair share, but more often there are individual attacks.

In Michigan, I am in a ward where I am one of twenty relief society sisters. I found out yesterday that there are 8 of us that are baptized (which is awesome because investigators are so fun to be around and their learning). Yesterday in our lesson we were talking about persecution and how we react to it. The teacher asked the class:

How many of you first heard about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day 

Saints from a resource that was meant to be negative towards the church?

We counted 9 out of the 12 investigators! I was first shocked to see so many hands raised and then was overcome with happiness that they still showed up to learn for themselves. I learned that the downtown Grand Rapids area, where we currently are living is a very anti-mormon area. I heard stories about the Stake Presidency instructing the members to remove all bumper stickers or things that would reveal that you are affiliated with this church because of many accounts of trashed cars. There is also a cop on duty for the youth's mutual nights. I was so grateful for these strong courageous members! I know missionaries and people outside of Utah probably hear and see stories like this every day. Personally, my eyes would have never truly been open to this if I would not have left the Utah church environment.

One more thing, we were also discussing in our lesson yesterday about blooming where you are planted. One lady shared how her callings have really made her happy and the joy she gets from them (she is the choir director). She explained that she has been trying to get back West for the past fifteen years but for whatever reason she never made it. She has come to realize that the Lord has allowed her to stay here and be the strength in this area. She also has the opportunity to work in the area of the church that she wanted. She said "back in Utah you practically need a bachelors in Music to be considered for a musical calling. I never would have been a choir director back there." People laughed but I couldn't help but nod my head! Shaun and I always talk about how much more work we are being able to do out here. Having these INCREDIBLE experiences with the youth of the church and thinking, back home in Utah we were sunbeam teachers {which was a blast of course}. It makes me laugh. I know there is some truth in what she was saying but I really just loved her comment because it reminded me of all the "blooming" that I am doing out here on this adventure of ours.

I am so grateful for the pioneers and previous church members that truly gave their life for this church and went through unimaginable persecution. You always hear that we are "modern day pioneers" but I never really felt like that until I came out here and am hearing stories of strong courageous faith. The persecutions will come and they will come hard but this true church will NEVER cease to be on this earth! It will keep moving on like a train, a train that I will always strive to be on.


side note: my beautiful sis missionary came home from Albania due to some nasty parasite situation. she's on the mend. I'm grateful for her example of a person that has a love for the gospel and wants to shout it to the world.

steak

One of the things that people have been telling us to do before the snow comes is drive up the coast shore of Michigan. Last weekend it wasn't too cold so it was the perfect opportunity. The drive up there was beautiful. And we just barely got to catch the end of Fall!

We stopped in this beautiful small town called Traverse City. We had brunch at the cutest little cafe, I felt like I was in a movie (i also had the most delicious steak omelet, and i don't even love steak. yep, trying to eat like an adult since…well since i married SJ).

Lake Michigan was SO awesome to see!

Then we took an amazing scenic drive around the lake to a beach area and a little lighthouse. Unfortunately the lighthouse was one that was part of a house so I didn't even care to document it. I'll find my real lighthouse soon!

 It was such an fun day. Total driving time was probably about five hours, which doesn't bother me because I love road trips and when it's so beautiful the time flies. Sing-a-long's with the husband also gets the time moving! I'm grateful for Shaun's job and the flexibility he has with his schedule which lets us do such fun things.

i love him

While we were in Utah last month, we got our beautiful friend Emma Van Wagoner to snap a few shots of us. I wanted some new photos on my walls besides our wedding ones. She also took some fun ones that really show our personalities for our Christmas card {that aren't pictured}. It was such a fun time! I think it is ten times better when you really know your photographer---it is so much more comfortable. I can't even decide what ones I love the most, there are just too many. Here are just a few. Thank you, thank you Emma.

Hot Topic

I am obsessed with Halloween. Usually for this holiday I dress up at least 2 or 3 times. Unfortunately we are in Michigan, away from our friends in Georgia and our family in Utah so Shaun said many times "who are we even dressing up for?" I was still determined to have a good Halloween and it ended up being one of my top favorite years. Shaun is usually over the top with his costumes because he is trying to win a contest of some sort so we went much simpler this year since it was just the two of us. So we decided on:

Goths 

{unless your definition for a goth is a viking or a warrior like my G'pa}

It ended up being a human experiment. We went and walked around the mall because I wanted to show off our look a little bit and maybe find a few of "our kind" because that is usually where they hang out. It was so entertaining to have people look at us and then quickly turn away when we make eye contact with them. They were never really sure if we were in costume or just going on with our everyday lives. I LOVED the attention, I felt like a celebrity {yes andrea & kristine, I am still in it for the glory}. However, sometimes I did feel like I was being looked up and down from a few judgmental people---especially the elderly people or parents. It almost looked like they were appalled that we were even out in public. 

We then went to dinner and asked our host as he was sitting us if he thought we were in costume or not. He got super awkward and stumbled on his words not wanting to say the wrong thing or offend us. 

"no..um, you two look fine! we get a lot of people like you around here."

We told him we were in costume and showed him a picture of what we really looked like. He was laughing and was so relieved. We ate dinner and came home to watch Ghostbusters on TV. I had never seen that movie and I guess you just had to be alive during that time to enjoy it because I thought it was the dumbest movie.  Overall it was such an awesome Halloween and a very fun memory. Hope everybody's Halloween was fantastic!!

homemade canvas

When I was in Utah, my sister in-law and I wanted to do a little crafternoon session. I saw a tutorial for a homemade canvas that I was really wanting to try. Margaret had some wood laying around in her garage so that was perfect (you can easily pick up wood from Home Depot or Lowes). She chose a skinnier piece of wood that was the exact measurement for her picture and I had a thicker piece that could stand up more like a picture block.

1. Paint your block the color that you want the background to be. 

(In Margaret's case, only the sides would show the color)

2. Once the paint drys, cover your wood with GLOSS-LUSTRE mod podge so the
wood has a shiny look to it.

3. Once you place your picture where you want it, cover the whole thing 

with mod podge evenly.

*if it's not even, you may see lines after it dries* 

the white color is normal when you first put the podge on

-----

We loved how they turned out and I am currently making a few more that I can hang on the walls! 

The backyard.

My blog peeps will probably be sick of this view in no time. I can't stop taking pictures of it. Every time we go on a walk we pass this. Every time I look out my window I look out to this. I love this. This being: bridges, water, and tall buildings...I guess. So you have now seen it in fall, I shall keep you posted on what it looks like with some snow! Which supposedly is coming soon. 

The update on us is, basically we are loving our lives. Conference just ended which was much needed as always. SJ's work schedule is so awesome and he is usually home late afternoon so we have time to explore. Artprize has been happening the past two weeks so I have been very entertained. Shaun has a company car so the beautiful Elantra is in my hands. We have been very blessed with frequent trips back home, which is happening again soon here and that will be awesome. 

But Georgia is on our minds. . .

it surprised us too.

The GR

 Well Friday morning we packed our bags and headed to Michigan! On my to-do list before we left, I needed to send my letter to Celine that Shaun wrote. We explained our three cancellation-heart-breaks that we have experienced and included pictures of each event with a big fat sad face. I am sure nothing will come of it but we just wanted to write her to say that we wrote her! It was fun.

Even though we packed for only three months, I felt like we brought a ton. There was some talented tetris action going on trying to make everything fit. I'm obsessed with road trips so it was definitely a party. Shaun and I are listening to Enders Game before the movie comes out. Love me some Harrison Ford!

There is an art festival called The ArtPrize that is in Grand Rapids every year and it is the biggest one in the country supposedly. When we pulled up last weekend, downtown was a madhouse! It has been so fun for me though because I can just wake up, walk downstairs, and explore until I'm sick of walking. Everything is walking distance and there are seriously thousands of people everywhere. I love it. My favorite's have been the pieces that were made completely out of junk (like this dragon). These pandas were made entirely of tires.

And here is our nice little apartment. It has more of a hotel vibe than I thought it would but I still love it (even if I hate the wood look). To calm this germ freak's mind, we went out and got a sofa cover. The place has also been scoured with clorox wipes. Those things are my best friends. That carmel spice fall candle does the trick as well! We are loving this temporary adventure in a different place. It seriously is like a mini vacation (at least for Nicole :) 

Ps. ...Can you believe that little corner called the kitchen? I can't believe I was complaining about my minimal counter space back at home. I am going to go back to Georgia so excited to see that little counter of mine!

Mr. Poff

Wellllllllll we're off to Grand Rapids, Michigan next weekend! We know nothing about Michigan, which is exciting I guess because we knew nothing about Georgia before our adventure to the south and we ended up loving that. Some strangers who hear we are leaving try to act like they know something about Michigan saying "oh wow, you'll be freezing up there" or "I heard the fall is beautiful." Shaun pointed out that wherever there is snow for the winter, you'll be freezing. Also, everywhere you go, the fall season is pretty. But we don't blame them because google was the first place we went. At least 9th grade Geography with Mr. Poff taught me that Michigan is a winter state because it looks like a mitten!

Procrastination is pretty much what I have majored in my whole life and it's not getting any better. (although I would like to say some of my best school work has been done the night before..)I think it actually hit me when Shaun said the other day "well get that done before next week because it'll be a busy one." What the. Next week! Fortunately Shaun's company puts us up in a furnished place in Michigan since it is temporary so we are keeping our apartment here in Georgia. That saves Nicole's sanity! I would die if I would have to pack up everything and get out of here in that short of notice. That stress will come next year! I will miss my king-sized-bliss called a bed and SJ will be missing his big screen TV. However, our Michigan apartment is right in downtown so I'm excited about the exploring I will get to do.

Now I got to go dig deep for some winter clothes. I think those clothes still do exist in my wardrobe.

By the way, these songs have almost cured my procrastination moods:

Nashville Weekend

To celebrate Shaun's parent's 30th wedding anniversary they went to Nashville, TN. Gratefully it was only under four hours away from us so we met them there for the last few days. It was a fun little 3-day weekend getaway. We visited some plantations, went to a fun dinner and show on a river boat. We also went to the Grand Ole Opry house and saw Martina Mcbride. Oh and of course, ate and ate and ate. The highlight of the trip was probably the last night. After the concert, we went to this restaurant/bar that we loved called Puckets. They had live music playing, mostly from the 70-80's. We all danced the night away!

inside the Grand Ole Opry house

President Andrew Jackson's mansion 

I LOVE cemeteries. So awesome that his tomb is on the plantation. 

Tennessee recreated the Greek Pantheon in 1897 (built to scale). It was massive!