Drive of Empowerment

So, many of you may not think this is a big deal, but yesterday I drove into the city all by myself! I was rather proud of my accomplishment. Nate has always driven in the past, a task I would rather not deal with. There is something about big city driving with all its one way streets, parallel parking, crazy pedestrians, trollies, and unknown streets that frightens me. Even growing up, I hated driving into "downtown" Boise for the same reasons, but it's nothing compared to San Francisco.

However, I had some interviews in the city and they were spaced so that if I rode public transportation I wouldn't have time to come home in between but if I went directly from one to the other I would have over 2 hours to wait. Plus, I would have walked for about 15 minutes through a rather remote area. So, I sucked up my fear and got behind the wheel. Everything went smoothly and I even think the interviews went well. Cross your fingers! The end to a long process may be in sight.

I had to take pictures because I was so proud of myself. It was definitely empowering to overcome my fear.

I was greatful for sunny weather as I tried to find my way around.

Nate says I look mad in this picture. I was just concentrating on where I was going.

Our Beloved Prophet

Recently I came across this video created in memory of our loving prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley. I think it truly testifies of the service he performed and the stamina he had in fulfilling his calling. He was a man of God. I know he has returned to our Father in Heaven and has once again been reunited with the love of his life, who he missed dearly, Marjorie Pay Hinckley. Many times throughout the years his words and counsel have uplifted me.

(If you watch the video, you may want to pause the music on the side of our blog first!)

Tribute to Grandpa Weed

My Granpda Weed's 87th birthday would have been last Friday, same day as my brother's! He passed away a few months ago in October of 2007, but not before leaving his mark in this life. At the time of his passing, many of my cousins had already posted their tributes to him on their blogs, so I decided to wait until his birthday to do mine.

My grandpa was a remarkable man. The older I have grown, the more I have realized what a strong, dedicated, and loving man he was. He loved my grandma very much. Up until his final breaths, he served her and cared for her. For the last few years, my grandma has been incapable of taking care of herself and my granpda day in and day out provided for her. In a circumstance that could be trying he patiently and loving served her-a true testimony of his deep and committed love.

Grandpa loved to serve. Over the years, he held many callings in the church and always served so faithfully. He had a strong testimony of the gospel and everything he did reaffirmed that fact. Living so close to them in Provo for my college and early career years, I was able to take advantage of the calming influence and wise counsel he provided many times. One afternoon, after becoming engaged, I had the opportunity to sit and chat with him about my fears. I was feeling a lot of anxiety and in need of some comfort. He lovingly gave me a blessing, which I believe took just about all of his strength. I really thought he was not going to make it through but he persevered, finished, and slowly returned to his seat. He then said something that stuck with me. He asked if I could pray with Nate. When I responded in the affirmative, he replied, "Then you'll be fine. If you can invite the Spirit and the Lord into your relationship you will have strength and power to overcome all." Spoken by a wise man who truly loved the Lord!

Grandpa and Grandma Weed made the effort to be at my wedding-not only did they come to the brunch but they came to the temple sealing too. I know it was difficult to get there but it meant so much to me.

My grandpa left an amazing legacy. He taught us all by example. We all loved him very much and know that we can be together eternally as a family.

Big Sister Birthday

One of my best friends celebrates her birthday today. My older sister is also adding another year to her age.

She has a knack for cheering me up and giving great advice. Happy Birthday Jessica! Can't wait to see you soon.

Happy Birthday, Dear Jason!

Today, my brother gets another year older. I keep thinking, "Oh my goodness. He's so old." But, then I remember I'm not too far behind. Jason was married first out of my siblings and has the cutest little family. His two boys-soon to be three boys-are adorable!

Jason is a very talented musician and growing up was good at whatever instrument he chose to pick up. He has the ability to make friends easily and feels comfortable talking to all types of people. I know he loves his wife and family very much. Happy Birthday Jason!

Just for Kicks

Half Moon Bay

This morning we woke up to another beautiful Bay Area day, so we decided to make the most of it. We drove over to Pacifica and took Highway 1 down the coast to Half Moon Bay. We ended up at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay where I admired the golf course before we made it down the cliffs to the beach. There were a bunch of rocks that formed tidal pools with all sorts of sea life and old golf balls for us to discover.

Dad and Eric - this looks like a beautiful course, we'll have to play it sometime

This old man looked like he was thinking about something important.

That's the hotel on the cliff in the background

Two starfish and a crab.
The crab shrunk back into his shell when we snapped the photo

Fort Funston

One of the best things about living in San Francisco is the many historic sites scattered throughout the Bay Area. Recently a sister in our ward came up with the great idea of making a scrapbook highlighting some of the famous sites in the area. Many families in our ward have each chosen a location to visit, to take pictures of, and then to create a scrapbook highlighting their adventure. At the end, we will compile all the pages and have a great memorial book of the area and the ward.

Nate and I chose to visit Fort Funston. If you remember my previous post on China Town, this is another card of the 50 "City Walk Tours" we have. We pulled it out and went on our way.

During World War I and II, Fort Funston served as a lookout point for enemy ships attacking from the Pacific Ocean. It was during World War II that Fort Funston was expanded to include large artillery batteries. Now there are only remnants of the batteries.

Today, this area is famous for dog walking, hang gliders and a good stroll on the beach. Although the weather was not right for hang gliders, which we were bummed about, we saw tons of dogs and had a nice walk on the beach!

In front of one of the batteries

At the start

Sitting on one of the lookouts

Watching dogs playing on the beach

Footprints in the sand

Karate Kid

I love walking in the wet sand with bare feet!

Carrying both our shoes- what a great husband!

A view of some bluffs from the beach

Picture Perfect

A few weeks ago, Nate and I were delighted when my sister presented us with the long awaited wedding gift. I knew she started working on it right before our wedding and it was a work in progress for a little while after. But, she finally completed it and gave it to us. She painted us a picture of where we were married-the Salt Lake Temple. I am always amazed by her artistic talent and wish somehow, somewhere I had received those same talents. To each his own I guess!

We love the picture and it now adorns our wall. Every time I look at it I get excited! The fact that she took the time to paint it herself makes it all the more special. Thanks Jessica!

(By the way, points to you if you can see where my hand is holding the camera up to eye level. It kind of throws off the coloring. The real thing is much better than this picture.)

Caching in on the New Year

It was such a nice day today that Jaime and I decided that we needed to get outside and celebrate the new year with a little geocaching. I really enjoy geocaching because it brings us to places that we whould never normally visit. We got online to download caches in the area and we found a series of 4 placed off of walking paths along the bay. It was great to get a little exercise and fresh air. We do need a little help, however. At each of the 4 caches we found there was a portion of a clue that was supposed to give us the information we need to find a 5th, bonus cash. We thought the information was going to be a set of coordinates, but it was a poem that reads:

"The owl and the pussycat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat.
Pussy said to the owl, 'You elegant fowl,
How charmingly sweet you sing.'
The dined on mince and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon"

That is probably the most random poem we have ever read. I don't even know what some of the words mean! If anyone has any ideas for us let us know.

Acting natural while waiting for muggles to pass by

Finding our first travel bug

A little picnic

Finding a cache

It's a New Year-2008!

We welcomed in the New Year charading! A couple in our ward invited us, as well as other couples over for a night of food, games, laughter and Martinelli's. We spent a majority of the evening playing charades using Apples to Apples cards. Charades was a lot of fun (and coming from me who hates getting up in front of people especially to act means a lot) We acted out over 100 cards before we watched Dick Clark's count down to the New Year!

Bocce Ball Craziness

I just thought it would be fun to fill you in on a little funny story regarding our Christmas adventures. Nate and I set a dollar limit on our Christmas giving this year. A few weeks previously, Nate and I had gone shopping to the outlets and purchased him some new shoes for Christmas, which took up a good portion of that dollar limit. So I was limited in what I could get him that would be a surprise. I decided on 2 gifts: an umbrella (which he desperately needed) and a nice bocce ball set (one of the pastimes we enjoy). I knew with the weight of bocce balls there was no hope of carrying them to Utah with us so I was planning on just giving him the umbrella in Utah.

However, just about a week before we were to leave it was raining really really hard and Nate needed an umbrella. Reluctantly I let him open the one Christmas gift knowing it would leave only the Bocce Balls. I still wanted to be able to have him open a gift in Utah on Christmas day so decided to print off a picture of the set I ordered online and wrap that. Imagine my surprise when the night we were to leave to Utah Nate gave me the gifts he had gotten that were to big or heavy to take and among them was a bocce ball set! He was so excited about the bocce ball set that I didn't have the heart to say anything my plans but I started going into a panic realizing I didn't have a gift to give him on Christmas day. Who would have thought we would give eachother the same gift!

As luck would have it, his cologne bottle broke on the airplane ride to Utah and I was quickly able to go to the mall Saturday afternoon and retrieve a new gift-a new bottle of cologne.

Friends Are Made of Gold

While in Utah, Nate and I were able to get together with some old roommates and friends. We were even able to satisfy some of the cravings we have had for certain Utah restaurants that are not located here in California.

We got together with my old roommate Ashlee and went to Zupas, a place that serves amazing salads, paninis and soups. I forgot how much I enjoy that place! (We forgot to take a picture with her so we threw in an old one)

We also went to the Dodo restaurant at the Gateway in Salt Lake with my old roommate Alex. She's about 7.5 months pregnant here but you really can't tell. She's so lucky! The Dodo has the most amazing Turkey BBQ sandwich.

One of our favorite activities was attending the wedding reception of one of our really good friends, Krista. Slowly our little group of friends is moving from the single lifestyle to the married one. We were also able to catch up with Ken and Kristen as well, which was a lot of fun. We wish they didn't live so far away in Maryland but it's so fun to catch up with them when we can!

CHRISTMAS!!!

It was great to go home to Utah for a week of Christmas vacation. The Saturday before Christmas the whole family went to A Christmas Carol at the Hale Center Theatre in Salt Lake. We recommend everyone go see it if they have the chance. They do a really good job. There are some people that go every year for a Christmas tradition.


The next day, before Christmas we got together with the entire DeFries extended family for dinner and gift giving. We left a little early so we could make the 4 hour drive south to Beaver where we spent Christmas with my family and the Larsen's. (Glade, Debbie, Paul, and Melany) It was great to just spend a few days relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

At the cabin in Beaver there was a TON of snow. It really helped us get into the Christmas spirit since we don't get any snow in California. We took the opportunity to do some sledding, snowshoeing, skiing, and general frolicking.

Christmas day at the cabin was really fun. For lunch we had ribs flown in from Rendevous in Memphis, TN. I thought they were great, and even Jaime had some even though she doesn't really like to eat meat directly off the bone.

Aunt Debbie's gifts of mini helicopters and light-up tops were the biggest hit. It is amazing that even in our 20's we were all most interested in small plastic toys that are shiny and spin. Maybe it's the lead in the paint?