Intense Couple of Days

I'm the type of person that has to plan on something before doing it. So what abound as we got to Utah turn my world upside down. While Mark was driving across country I stayed with the lovely Johnson family. It was so fun living with them for a few days. As I was conversing with Mark while he was driving he suggested that I should call and schedule an appointment to meet with the manager about our apartment. So I did, and discovered that they had AcCiDenTally gave our apartment away and still drew over a thousand dollars from our account. To put it lightly I was very HOT on the phone. Mark got to Utah in a day and a half and spent the rest of our days just looking for a place to live. This was very tiring and stressful. A real TrIaL of our faith. At least for me anyway. To make a long stressful & bothersome story short we FOUND a place in Orem, and it worked out so well. As if the Lord really wanted us here. He was probably looking down from heaven saying "Juanita stop your murmuring I need you here and not there". So my loved ones when we sing the song I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go really mean what you say. Something I'm STILL learning about.



Eve loved living with the Johnson's for a few days because she had friends. I love watching her play with Kainoa and Kiera. She gets so happy.

Taking a break from the stress of finding a place to live. We decided to go to Jamba Juice. This is Eve's first time drinking Jamba Juice. We got her an all fruit smoothy. She LOVED it!

We went to visit Ryan's mission buddy and they had this unique swing in their back yard. Eve could have stayed in there for hours. She was so calm in there and dang she looked so cute, but funny at the same time.

Moving Back To Utah

We Head Back To Utah Tomorrow. Eve and I are flying and Mark will be driving. I'm kind of envious of Mark, because he has so much time to think, experience, enjoy etc. I love driving especially to new places. When I first bought the car I would just drive to anywhere in search of something pretty. I loved giving people rides so I could just drive. Kind of selfish but not. Yesterday for family home evening we decided to read an entry in our journals but the other person can pick the date. We made rules such as no editing just got to read what you wrote. Which is really scarey in my case because when I write in my journal, I write expecting that people will respect my privacy at least until the next life. Mark on the other hand writes in his journal knowing that someone is going to read it. I felt bad because the dates we both decided to read was our wedding day. He wrote something really sweet, me on the other hand didn't have an entry until 3 months after the date. To top it off I only wrote a paragraph explaining why I didn't write anything because I was so stressed out. I was really embarrassed! So as soon as I get a chance of total and complete peace, I want to record that special day when I made a promise to God that I would be my better self for him, for my husband, and my posterity. Families are FOREVER if we abide to the gospel of Jesus Christ! I'm so happy that I have Mark in my LIFE! Dang iT, LoVe is AWESOME!

Family Day In Michigan

Big fan of yellow watermelon. Reminds me of Hawaii.

Eve loves the sand! She had a blast crawling all over the beach. I love her little beard of sand in this picture. This cute little shirt my friend Ashley made. She sells a whole bunch of cute stuff like this on her Itsy shop. Check her out at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5726747

Mark about to dive Eve in the water. She just loved the water.

She was splashing like crazy!

We were to the left of this. Whatever this is, I liked it.

Pebbles on the sand.

After the beach Mark drove us to the ghetto. An area he had worked in. He had mention this amazing mural he had seen while he was working and insisted that I should take a picture of it. It depicts the process of African slavery . It was painted on an abandon house. I would have gotten better pictures of it, but I was scared that I would be involved in a drive by shooting. All in all we had a fun family day in Michigan.

Back From New Jersey

Our 4 generation picture. Leila, Papi, Juanita, & Eve. This shot was taken in La Guardia airport in NY. That was a sad day for us because we had to say good bye. We love you Leila and Papi.

Leila playing with Eve in the morning. Auntie Yyvonne and Eve at the party.

My aunt Nancy planned a party for my Leila's 73rd birthday. It was so nice to see this side of my family again. It's been 6 years since I've seen them last. Way to long!

This is what Puerto Ricans do at parties, we play dominoes. I'm not sure who won this game, but you can tell Leila was thinking really hard.

My uncle Ralphy and cousin Alli playing with Eve at the party.

Papi teaching Eve how to walk.

My cousin Teresa and Eve.

My aunt Nancy! She just woke up in this picture. Isn't she a babe?
This woman is amazing! She does so much for people w/ a smile.

What a fun trip we had. It's so nice hangin out with family. I was so blessed to hear some new stories that I still need to document for family history. So fun, so fun!

Our Wonderful Weekend

This is Eve's first encounter with Granny and Grandpa

After eating at the Olive Garden we went to Notre Dame campus to walk off our dinner and take some pictures. Granny was nice enough to walk with Eve while I took some pics.

This is their baptismal font and anointing of oil case in the Basilica. It was really dark in there so I didn't get some good shots. I'm gonna have to go back again because it's beautiful.

It's weird to think that there is a possibility that we could be back here next fall for school. This is one of the schools Mark will be applying to.

After dinner on Sunday we went to Michigan beach for a Sunday stroll. It's weird that this lake actually looks like the ocean. Eve loved the sand!

So much that she wanted to eat it and eat it and eat it!

Granny cleaning her off.

Our cute little family!

Walking on the pier.

Here's her big chompers. She never lets us get pictures of her teeth. We got lucky with this shot!

No reason for this picture. I just thought he looked great so I had to sneak this shot!

We were so happy that they could come and visit us!

The weird thing is the night that Granny and Grandpa left. Mark came home from work at about 10pm and the Sirens went off. You know the sirens that the State sets off when theres a natural disaster about to happen. Well they went off about 10 ish. Mark said maybe it's a test and I thought yah right this late at night. I never felt so vulnerable. We didn't have a T.V. nor a 72 hour kit ready. So I PANICKED! Mark was able to get a hold of his friends and they told us that a Tornado is going to hit South Bend, Indiana in 20 minutes. By the way we live in South Bend, Indiana! We looked out side and the sky was full of lightning and the thunder was really loud. I was so scared! We hurried and grabbed the diaper bag and Eve and left to his friends apartment because they lived on the bottom and we lived on the top. This was a reality check for me! I realized everything we had are just things and I didn't really care about any of it. Just the safety of my family! Another thing I realized is that you always have to be prepared for any natural disaster. When we lived in Hawaii for a year we had our 72 hour kit already to go in a small suit case, I just figured we weren't going to be in Indiana very long so we didn't need one. WRONG! Always, always, always have a plan and be prepared. Just in the past month or so there has been wild fires, earth quakes, tornado's, and hurricanes. If that's not a sign I don't know what is!

Were So Excited!

Today Granny and Grandpa Denninghoff are coming to visit us from Kentucky. It's always a pleasure to have them around:)

10 Things That I'm Grateful For Today!

-My families good health and LIFE
-Granny & Grandpa are visiting
-My hard working husband
-The TRUST that God has in me, and His FAITH!
-People! I met this awesome & beautiful African American lady yesterday at the pool and we immediately connected. We shared a lot of our aspirations in life, hardships and JOYS! We just shared and shared and shared! I love sharing and giving!
-I'm grateful for my body! That it works! and especially that I can taste delicious foods! I love food! I love cooking especially for others.
-Mark helped me clean this morning, because frankly I just didn't want to do it. I was to tired.
-The LOVE that Eve gives me. It's so WONDERFUL to feel needed! And I know that she loves and needs me in her life.
-It's Sunny!
-I can use the bathroom and it doesn't even hurt. The things we take for granted:)