Adam Steven Hebdon's 10th Birthday

Adam's 10th birthday was August 19th. We were able to celebrate it with him before they left to go back to Ohio. He is quite the character. Quite often you can see him making funny faces and speaking in a silly voice to match. We played quite a few board games with Adam and Benjamin (with Caleb ready to help out as much as a 3 year old can), and we had a lot of laughs. What a fun couple of boys. Adam is growing up to be a great young man, and we love to see his smiling face!!

Benjamin Owen Hebdon's Baptism

We received a phone call the first part of August from my nephew Benjamin. He told  us that they were coming to Idaho and if his Uncle Joe would baptize him!! Joe was so excited to receive this honor. He feels pretty close to his nephews and nieces, and this would be his FIRST baptism.
So the Ohio Hebdon's headed their way to Idaho and the rest of our family made plans to spend a few days with them. The Bare's invited them to go to Bear Lake with them...

The order goes: Caleb,  Alyssa, Aimee, Benjamin, Adam, Jenna, and Jared. Due to the sudden plans to come visit us in Idaho, Jake and Beth had other priorities that they had to be at. We sure did miss them!!

August 18th was the date of the baptism. It turned out to be an incredible event, the Spirit was so strong there with the talks and testimonies shared. And Benjamin has been such a wonderful young man and an example to us all. We were excited to be able to share this day with him.

It was a short but sweet visit. The last time that we have all been together was our wedding. We always look forward to seeing them, and can't help but wish that we all lived closer. I am so grateful for my family, for the unique closeness that we have together. My husband, parents, brothers and sisters are the best friends that I could ever ask for. Through all of the ups and downs of our lives, our family has always been there to provide strength, love, and happiness. I love you all!!

Weekend in Las Vegas

Ultrasound has proven to be an exciting but challenging program for me. Not only with making sure to pass the classes and to get the hours in for my clinicals, I also have to take 3 registry classes. The first one, physics, I took June 25th...and passed!! Phew!! Then I have to take OB/GYN and Abdomen. OB/GYN is pretty intense, with so many pathologies to cover. I decided to go to a highly recommended seminar that helps to break down the principles that are covered in the registry. The closest one the offer is in Vegas, and it is during August. So I decided to do it, and am beyond grateful that I did!! I tried to get a couple of classmates to go with me, but they couldn't go. So, as Joe was booking my trip and weaseling some deals ;0) he got some pretty cheap airline tickets. So I asked him to come with me!! We also decided to go and see "The Phantom of the Opera" at the Venetian. I love musicals, and Joe has come to enjoy them as well. We heard that in September, The Phantom wasn't going to be in Vegas anymore, so we gave into the pressures to go and see it. And it was phenomenal!! Truly, we enjoyed the whole thing and were awed by the special effects!!

I took some pictures, but my camera is pretty darn pathetic. Kindof frustrating. As I was trying to get better pictures, I was stopped. Apparently we can't take pictures inside the theatre...a shame because it is absolutely elaborate and beautiful. So here is what I got... What a great memory!!

Joe's 30th Birthday

My Jo Joe turned the big 3-0 June 21st. He had to work 3-11 that night, so I delivered a balloon bouquet  at his work, and then I tried to have his birthday cake ready for him when he came home....don't mind his clothes..... We didn't do much, but I hope that he knows how much he means to me!! He always makes me laugh, is always singing and dancing whenever he gets the chance, and people seem to be drawn by his friendly personality. He is an amazing person, with a strong testimony, righteous desires, and he loves me!! How did I get so lucky?

A Brief Update...

Joe and I are doing really well. We have been pretty busy with school, applying for jobs, job training, and all of that funs stuff :0) I thought I had downloaded pics of the apartment and other fun...will have to paste later.

1. Joe finished the Spring Semester with all A's!! We were excited and pleased to put on his radiology program application here at CSI 104.5 points out of a maximum of 108.

2. Joe had his Radiology program interview last week and he felt confident that it went well. Now it's just the wait to hear back. They said it should be this week. I tell him that he is spoiled compared to my experience at Weber State.

3. I was rejected for financial aid spring semester. It was pretty devastating considering we were totally relying on the grants and loans to pay for school and expenses. However, I had my family fast and pray with Joe and I, and I am very grateful to say that I received a full ride scholarship for Spring, Summer, and now Fall semesters!! Seriously a miracle and blessing to have that and not add to the student loans. However, it makes finances tight, but what a huge blessing!!

4. I received a radiology technologist job at North Canyon Medical Center in Gooding, ID (about a 45 min drive north west). Although I only pick up vacation and sick hours, I am grateful to have it on my resume to keep my skills up. So I do x-rays and am learning CT. It is pretty intense, but a fun experience. I hope to add US on that list, though it like they want me to focus on CT for right now. I only have one shift for June, and hoping for more!!

5. Joe has had a few job options that have come up. We keep hoping for a job that offers benefits, but to no avail. However, we are just grateful to find a full time job, even if it is graveyards as well. So believe it or not, we are profoundly grateful and hope that it will be a nice fit for him and his schedule.

6. We adopted a cat the first week of April. LOL, her name was Zippy, but Joe and I didn't fall in love with the name. So we thought as long as it sounded like Zippy, we might get away with another name. We came up with Silky, from her superly soft fur and after the character I was a couple of Halloweens agon when I was Miss Silky Adams. We absolutely LOVE her. She is a calico, mostly white (blast black!!) and has such a sweet spirit. We joke around that she isn't a cat but a dog instead. she loves to snuggle and give love squeezes. She is going to be 3 this July, and has already been potty trained, received shots, and has been neutered. Silky is a perfect fit for us. Especially for me when Joe works nights and is gone. He now has a new appreciation for the hours I put in at ICU, and I have a new appreciation for him being home alone, and sleeping at nights alone. We have only had 2 years this June 26th, but it's amazing how much you adjust to the comforts!!

7. I turned 31 years May 18th, AHHH!! Pretty crazy for me, but for some reason, I always add a year, so I feel like I have been 31 years old for awhile ;0)

8. Joe turns 30 years old June 21st...LOL I happened across our wedding license, and it has him down as 27 years old and me 29... I love my younger man and wouldn't have it any other way.

9. Our 2 year anniversary is coming up June 26th. It seems like longer than that, but that is a good thing. Joe's dad, Gary, told Joe that we seem like kindred spirits, and I have to agree. We are so much alike and just love to be together that I couldn't be happier. What a huge blessing in my life that my sister in law Rachel had such a wonderful cousin. That she invited him to spend some time with the family a few years ago. That my brother Kevin invited him to learn more about the Gospel. That he received a witness of the truefulness of the Gospel and of the Restoration in the John Johnson farm in Hyrum, OH. That he was baptized, and accepted the life changes that came with membership. And most importantly, that he chose me to be married for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. We have a lot of work to do, and will need to continue to do more, but what a profound difference that has made in our lives, and hopefully in the lives of our posterity.

10. Joe was called as the fourth Sunday Elder's Quorum teacher, which he loves. He enjoys reading the conference talks and learning more about the principles taught by Modern Prophets. I was called as the Young Women's Secretary and feel very overwhelmed but excited. It is a totally different calling then I have ever had before. Luckily it's just the secretary, so I don't have as many obligations as the others. But it is fun to be challenged and do new things.

We hope all is going really well with all of you. As I used to write in my missionary letters to home, and for some reason it feels right here, God bless!!

Spring Break Continued...

So the pillows weren't enough...in fact, it just opened up Pandora's Box. I had some blocks left over from when I was trying to decide on what I wanted for my quilt that I have now. Along with some fabric that I had left over from the jelly rolls....I decided to make a Twin sized quilt. So therefore, the Benzo block was continued on to this quilt.



I was excited with how it turned out. And the best part of all...it was from everything that I already had. And I still had some extra fabric, so I decided to try another block I had seen on a blog, and make a crib sized quilt...



No, that isn't an announcement. In fact, Joe and I joked around that I have cursed us of ever being able to have a girl...we will probably end up having boys instead. I had so much fun!! By the time I was done with these projects, I must admit that I was quilted out...for now anyways.

Spring Break...

During my spring break, I got to play and do whatever I wanted. I love to do crafts and it has been since I was dating Joe that I worked on quilts. In fact, the quilt on our bed was one I started working on Fall of 2009 and finished February 2010. But by the time the lady finished quilting it, I decided to save it for after we were married. I had some fabric to make pillows, and so I went at it...and went a little bit overboard... 

But I enjoyed myself, and that is what counts, right? And these were pillow cases I embroidered for one of my Young Women's project.

I thought everything together looked great....minus the fact that Joe hates messing with the pillows....But I LOVE our bed!!

Our adopted feline, Miss Silky

Since we moved to Twin Falls, I wanted to get a pet. So the first weekend of April, I tease Joe again about getting a cat....and he gave in!! I was so shocked, and knowing that if I waited too long in getting one, he might change his mind. But due to our crazy schedules, and the fact that we spend weekends away from home, we decided that a cat that was potty trained would be our best bet. We REALLY wanted a puppy, but having a puppy at home 9 hours straight, might spell out disaster! After looking for a cute kitten....we ended up finding an adorable 2 year old cat named Zippy. However, we didn't like the name, but she seemed to respond to it. So we tried a few different names that sounded like it, and came up with Silky...her fur is so soft, thick, and silky! So here she is, the perfect pet for us, Miss Silky..

We absolutely love her. She is one of the sweetest cats ever. We always joke around that she is our dog, because she is so cuddly, fun, and attentive animal. Here she is, with a ball of yarn that I gave her. We would wake up to the front living room covered in yarn....the chairs and coffee table wrapped around multiple times. LOL I would wrap the yarn up in a ball again, just to do it again a few hours later.

Visit to Ohio!!

My mom, sister (Stephanie) and I decided to fly to Ohio for the weekend. Unfortunately, our husbands all had school or work, but we were excited to see Kevin, Rachel and the kids. Due to activities and scheduling, we didn't get to see everyone, but we were glad to get what we could take.

We went to a Chinese restaurant...

Benjamin ate frog legs and clams...

Adam and Grandma ate garlic shrimp (Adam LOVES shrimp)...

Caleb ate noodles...

And we all enjoyed every bite!!

We also went to the Cincinatti Zoo. But, as always, I forgot to bring my camera. So I will post when I get copies from Stephanie. So much fun and so much variety.

On Sunday, we decided to make a quick trip to Kirtland. What a great way to spend a Sunday. This was Stephanie's first visit, and I am so glad that we went. the 4 1/2 hour one way trip was worth it...

The plot that my Great Grandfather Vinson Knight lived on. The corner of Cowdery Street and Joseph Street...

The bend of the river were my Great Grandfather Anson Call was baptized at...

The Newel K. Whitney Store...this is my personal favorite place since I visited when I was 19...

The John Johnson Farm, the location of many spiritual experiences, along with being the place that Joe gained his testimony of Joseph Smith, and knew he needed to get baptized...

It was a blast to be with my family again!! I enjoyed them all so much. We played indoor games, played glove tag (we threw gloves folded together instead of a ball), and had a lot of time laughing about memories. I am so grateful for my family and the love that we have for one another. LOVE YOU!!

Here is a pic of a bird that slept outside of the front door. He was so stinkin' cute!!

Twin Fall, Idaho....here we come!!

Phew, we finally made it!! After a lot of plan A's, B's, C's, and even D's fell through for us, a plan E magically appeared!! So we were able to move to Twin Falls, Idaho where my ultrasound clinicals are and Joe can attend his classes on campus instead of online. It worked out for both of us and we are very grateful!! When I was doing my first week of clinicals January 9-11, Joe was sweet enough to go apartment shopping. He went to quite a few and was nervous to go without me. However, we found a basement apartment in Buhl, which is about 14 miles west of Twin Falls. We were kind of excited to move to a little town, and were beyond excited of having only one ward meet in a building....that would be a guarantee of 10:00 church every year for us!!

We were beyond excited and organized a moving crew to meet up with us Saturday, which entailed Sally and Phil (Joe's mom and brother). We packed up the U-Haul from a storage unit we had in Twin Falls, and headed to Buhl...just to realize that the steps were way too steep to get furniture in, let a lone the washer and dryer through the bathroom door...YIKES!! Needless to say, we were frustrated. Our neighbor didn't help with the issue...lighting up a bombfire to burn his garbage and blasting AC/DC. Note: his home is a mobile home and a shack... He hangs out outside everytime we come and it's FREEZING outside. Doesn't give the warmest feelings...

So we ended up bunking with Sally and Phil at the Super 8, and we looked for more options on Craigslist....just to find a treasure!! We called them at 8:30 pm and was able to see the apartment Sunday at 11:00...to sign the contract and get the key!! Our U-Haul had to be back by 2:30 or we would get an additional $40 charge. So Joe and Phil were brutes and got the job done by 2:15!! Beyond impressive and what a miracle!! We really thought we were out of luck, but have been beyond blessed.

Interesting note: the landlord said that the building was built in 1905 (it has 4 apartments) and was the original first Catholic Church in the city. How fun is that!?! Our front room/kitchen has high ceilings and the front entry way is the original wood floor....I am in LOVE!! LOL, so was Sally and Phil. It is quirky, cute, and homey. I will post pictures as soon as we get the boxed out of the way and moved in...which could be a LONG time ;0)

Our new address is:
501 2nd Ave. East Apt. #1
Twin Falls, ID 83301