Catching up...

2014 happened. 

Had a January birthday celebration for my Dad and nephew, Kalin. (my parents are so cute)

Lily girl...just because she's so darn cute, and such a poser.

I decided that Lily is my twin. 

On the left a picture of me at 4-5 years, and Lily on the right at 3 years. 

And I'd say we're twins in more ways that just looks - we love the sweet things.

My sister Erin had a birthday in February....

...and we had a surprise girls luncheon for her....

...this was taken before she arrived. I love my sisters (missing Caitilin)

...and Lily again. I can't help post her cuteness.

I have been drinking a lot of water. And I mean A LOT. Check out my Water post here. 

After Grandpa Richards passing Mama Jane sent us this great picture.
L-R: Bud (grandma's son from her first marriage, Grandma Richards, John Jr, Grandpa Richards, Jane, Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Richards.
Circa 1950-ish?

I am addicted to this salad that I seriously make er'day. 

Lettuce/Spinach, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, lite Olive Garden dressing, and grilled chicken.

Yum!

Had a bad stomach flu. No fun. Glad it was quick.

Due to eating healthier my blood sugars are normal. YAY!

Foggy day

Cute nieceTara.

Reinventing my story

Friends! Come follow my newest blog. 

My weight, my emotional well being, my insecurities have been a HUGE issue for me...my whole life. I am seeking new ways of changing me for the better. Follow my journey of 'Reinventing my story'. It's a new story about a new me.

My old story is the person I was before...overweight, fearful, insecure, a worrier, etc, etc. I'm done with that person and I'm so happy with the person I'm becoming; the person I'm supposed to be, the person I was designed to be and the life I was designed to live.

Although it's a journey, and not something that happens over night, I look forward to the transformation physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. It's not a diet. It's a way of life. It's changing my negative thinking to the positive. It's changing the way I have hated my body to now loving it now matter what it looks like.

I have a lot of personal information on this blog that I would never have thought to share with others in a million years. But it's kind of freeing. I like it so I'm going to continue doing it. :)

Follow me in my journey. :)

Christmas/ Grandpa Richards..

A week before Christmas Ryan's Mom came to visit us. We always love having her here and spending time with her. I lucked out with my in-laws. They are wonderful people that I love so much and get along so well with. Love them!

She was set to leave Sunday December 22nd. So, on Saturday we went up to Temple Square to see the lights. 

I decided that my favorite time of day to see the lights is right when they go on. It's still light outside but it sure makes for beautiful pictures. 

Our little 'Babushka'. :)

Fast forward to about an hour after Jane left.

We got a call from Ryan's Uncle that Ryan's Grandfather, Jane's Dad, tragically passed away just minutes before he called us. It was a sad, sad day. I have never seen Ryan cry as much as he did. We both cried.

Sadly, Jane didn't know it until she got back to Wyoming that evening. Ryan's Dad didn't want us to call her while she was on the road - too dangerous and it was snowing - we didn't want her to get into an accident.

So, off we went to Wyoming on Tuesday morning - Christmas Eve. 

Max did really well in his kennel. He prefers to sit on our lap in the car.

It was great to see the in-laws, and other family in Wyoming, including Ryan's cousins. We love them!

We got together with everyone and had a good time remembering Grandpa Richards. 

(Kendy Richards, John Richards Jr. (holding Jamie), Jane, Ryan, Dan

Kabre, Grandpa, Jasi, Grandma - Circa 1980...something)

Later after everyone left we found some old pictures of Grandpa. I love these pictures. I didn't know Grandma Richards but I know she was a good woman. 

Dan & Jane's wedding June 1969

(Grandpa Rex Hadden, Grandma Jenny Hadden, Dan, Jane, Grandma Hildegard Richards, Grandpa John Richards)

Grandma & Grandpa Richards June 1969 - Dan & Jane's Wedding

One of my favorite pictures of Ryan and Granpa. 

Grandma & Grandpa's Wedding Anniversary. I want to say 50th, but I'm not totally sure. 

Grandpa & Grandma Richards with Ryan. 

Christmas morning picture at the Hadden's.

Ryan & Max

We headed home on Friday before another storm was to come on Saturday. 

This was a normal site as we drove. Ryan taking pictures of old cars...

About 10 minutes from Evanston our car broke down. All the engine lights came on, it had no power...and it was cold outside, and we were on the highway. Not fun. 

Thankfully Mazda called a tow truck and we were rescued and taken to Murray, UT. 

My sister and brother were kind enough to take us, and all our gear, back to our house. 

We were car-less for the next week or so as it was getting fixed .

Turned out to be a faulty transmission, which they fixed since it was under warranty. Thankfully!

Family were so good to us letting us use their car while it was in the shop. 

It was a crazy end to our already crazy week.

I don't know why I look like I'm smiling below. It was not fun.

-The end

Sometimes I'm crafty...

...but not all the time.

My sister sent me vinyl stencils for Halloween and Christmas pillows, and since last night was 'sisters craft night' I decided to give them a whirl. And even though Halloween is over I really wanted to make one for next year. 

I love how they turned out!

Here's what I used:

-White, and Black 'GURLI' pillow case from IKEA, $3 each

-Two pillow inserts from IKEA $3 each.

-White, and 'Christmas Red' craft paint from Hobby Lobby. $1.37 each.

I told me sister to do a step by step video on how to do this. I'll keep you updated on that.

For now...lets' just bask in the fact that I. ME. SHANNON did something crafty. 

That's a big deal.

Life...

Today I woke up and jumped out of bed and into the shower, dried off and straightened my hair and got out the door right in time. Wow!

This was an anomaly to say the least. Usually I lay in bed for a while until I really have to get up. (usually 30 minutes before I have to leave for work - enough time to get showered and pull my wet hair back and get dressed.) I gripe and moan and gripe and gripe about how I hate work and don't want to go and then I gripe some more. I usually have zero energy, and zero desire to do anything but lay in bed all day. 

I welcomed this mornings jolt of energy.

As I was doing my hair and pointing out to Ryan that I was actually doing my hair today he said, "geez - you do your hair for people at work, but not for me.", to which I responded, "actually I do my hair for no one else but me." He then came back with, "you must be feeling better because you are full of sass today". Haha! Yes, I was feeling better. :)

The past few months have been some of the hardest I've had in a really, REALLY long time. I mean seriously. I have been in a bad state of depression. So bad that there were a few nights where all I wanted to do was take some sleeping pills and not ever wake up. Yeah, it was bad. 

My new job has been a challenge to say the least. My confidence has been shaken so much, more so than it was before, that I would come home everyday and cry to Ryan. I'd cry as I'd lay in bed listening to Ryan snore. I cried on my drive to work. I'd cry on my drive home from work. I'd cry on Sundays knowing Monday was coming. I cried ALL. THE. TIME! 

Everything made me sad. I was a complete wreck - a mess. I was stressed more than I ever felt stress in my life. I gained weight. I didn't work out. I sat on the couch every day, or I slept. I hurt. My body hurt. My spirit hurt. My stomach hurt.

My sweet Ryan sent me texts each day to help me. "I believe in you!", "Hope you feel better and your day goes well. Love you!", "do you need me to bring you something?", etc. 

I prayed each day to find another job. I submitted Resume after Resume desperate for something that would be better emotionally, and physically for me. I told Heavenly Father that this wasn't the job for me and that this challenge was too great. I had a job interview that I thought went so well, but I didn't get the job. 

As the stress continued to grow I prayed and prayed, "Heavenly Father you have to help me. I see this going two ways. Either I'm going to die of stress or I need to you bless me with a new job." I couldn't see any good come out of this job. 

Here's the thing. 

Before getting this new job I prayed to feel more challenged. I knew where I was at XANGO wasn't giving me the challenge I needed to progress in this life. I felt I was done with progressing there. I prayed and prayed that I could find something that would give me a challenge and help me progress. Yep. I asked for it.

He gave me a challenge, a big one. I didn't realize how much growing and stretching would be taking place here. 

The past week has been the best week here. I feel I'm finally understanding things. I see how this is helping me grow, and I am grateful for it. 

Doing my hair today represents a change. It may be a small change, but it's something.  I have a desire to find my role in this life and live it to the fullest. I have a desire to be the best that I can be.. to help motivate others and realize their role.

I have been relying a lot of my patriarchal blessing a lot lately. Trying to understand certain parts of it and figuring out what it means, and what it means I'm supposed to do. 

In the meantime I am going to keep fighting, and keep pushing myself. To find strength within and from above to help me keep going and not give up.

Ahh...it feels good to write all of that out. :)

ANNOUNCEMENT

Something big happened this weekend with the Currans!! Take a look at the sequence of pictures to find out!

FAMILY PICTURE TIME!...(unedited versions)

It's a MIRACLE! After 13 years of dating my oldest brother Quinn FINALLY found the courage to ask Darlene Hawea of New Zealand to marry him...and did it in front of the family...literally.

I couldn't be happier for these two!

Wedding coming up October 19th! This means it'll be a big production for the Currans...as seen in previous weddings. Oh the fun it'll be!