The Great & the Terrible

So I just finished this series (props to my mom for showing me these books). At first I was very hesitant to read them, but once I started I couldn't stop. This is an extremely compelling story that shows how real the battle is that we are fighting every single day. It gives you hope, joy, and understanding through an entertaining and spiritual story. Seriously, there are miracles, battles, deaths, evils, and triumphs. The characters are real, colored with their own personal flaws and unique traits. I love love this book.

As I have grown older, the types of books I like has changed. I used to absolutely love Harry Potter and Twilight, but now I want something more. I want to be uplifted by the books I read. I want my testimony of Christ to be strengthened. Those kinds of books are really worth reading. So if you run out of something to read these days, definitely give this one a shot. You can read the first chapters on Amazon.


**PS. The kindle edition is way cheaper! I have books 3-6 on my kindle, if anyone wants to borrow them!

Bored as heck.

This week was the first week of spring semester. Yayyyy. That's means our schedules get changed up a bit and new opportunities arise. For Curt, he is switching branches at Purdue Federal and will be working at the Union Memorial branch. This is very exciting because (1) the location is SO close (2) the hours are great & (3) he will be working with members face to face. (But we will really miss the people at his branch right now. He has some great co-workers). So we are very excited. Also, Curt officially transfered into the school of technology and will be majoring in Organizational Leadership & Supervision (OLS). Another Yayyyy. The end is in sight for us finally!

For me, I am going to school and working Monday-Wednesday. So the first half of my week is busy, but the last two days are soo slow. Thursdays not tooo bad since we are playing on a league for volleyball now, but FRIDAYS are so boring. I have a class at 10:30 (not bad) and then I have a class at 3:30 (very bad). So I kinda just sit around for four hours and do nothing. I need to figure out how to be more productive. I should pick up my baby guitar or finish the paintings I started a year ago. I should figure something out. But the good this is that I don't have to work late Thursday and Friday nights. That means that I can actually work on making a meal for the mister when he walks in the door. To be honest, I really am not a good cook and I don't really like it. It tends to stress me out. But I need to get better, and hopefully this will help! Last night I made some pretty good spaghetti, stuffed mushrooms, and garlic bread. It was a pretty decent meal, but the best part is when the mister walks in the door and gives a big SNIFF. And then he looks so so happy. Dinner is awaitin! I think it's one of the best feelings after a long day of work, especially on a Friday.

Wish me luck!

A chocolate chip vs. a bigger gift

Five minutes for these adorable kids felt like a lifetime. I love this video and what it shows. Marriage is the most important gift Heavenly Father has for us. If we just wait until that sacred, beautiful day, we will be blessed beyond measure. It is definitely worth it, the bond that you share with your husband/wife and with God is amazing. It just keeps getting better. This video means so much to me because I understand how dang hard it is out there to say no and to stay sexually pure. I completely understand the pressures. I just want my younger siblings to understand the beautiful gifts waiting for them if they only wait to be sealed for all eternity. I love them so much and I know that Heavenly Father loves them more, which is why he has promised them so much.  You will be eternally grateful if you wait. I know that I am.

I love Curt with all of my heart. He is the perfect man for me. He makes me laugh, makes me stronger, makes me a better person. He loves me completely, and for that I am so grateful. I know that Heavenly Father has blessed our marriage with eternal happiness and love. I feel His comfort and encouragement as we go through our daily struggles. This is what He has intended for us. I am so grateful that Curt waited for me and followed the commandments given to us by our prophets. I am so grateful for his love of the gospel and for Heavenly Father. Because of that, he is the man he is today. The man I love.

Let's drink to that.

Saturday was great. It was our last night of freedom before school started. So we whipped out our handy dandy Oprah cookbook and created a masterpiece! We made a delicious sweet potato salad, crostini with wild mushrooms & mozzarella (love love this), and Lemon Chicken Scaloppine in Pine Nut-Parmesan Crust. We were fine dining that night! Oh yes, we also had a side of blackberries paired with sparkling grape juice. Perfection on a table right there.

The ONLY thing that could have made this meal more perfect is if we were watching something wonderful, something dear to our hearts. Netflix heard our hearts desires and provided Princess Bride for us. Such a classic! We also decided to play a little drinking game with this movie and our sparkly. These were the rules:

When you hear a predetermined word or phrase, you must drink. Here are some of the catch phrases you MUST use for optimum enjoyment of this game:

• Farmboy
• As you wish.
• Buttercup
• Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.
• Inconceivable
• True love.
• Mawige.
• Humperdink
• Man in black.
• Boo!
• Rodents of unusual size
• you truly have a dizzying intellect. Wait till I get going!
• What's so funny? I'll tell you in a minute.
• ...and dream of large women.
• hahahahahahahahahahaha... (thud)
• I am not left-handed!
• I'm not left-handed either!
• Life is pain, highness...anyone that says otherwise is selling something.
• Ever heard of Aristotle? Socrates? Yes. Morons.
• Anybody want a peanut?
• My way isn't sportsmanlike.

That's a lot of words/phrases as you can see. Good thing we stocked up with 4 bottles of sparkly. 

A few Christmas/Bridal shower pictures

White Elepahnt Gift Exchange



So we had a white elephant with the entire fam. Jessica and Andrew picked the "Shake Weight", which was quickly stolen by Grandma. As you can see, she really wanted it.



Love!



Cole is very uspet about this gift.



Kyle took the safe road and grabbed the gift card. Smart man.

Bridal Shower for Jessica!

These are the three wedding dress options created for Jessica during her bridal shower. Trinity was by far the winner!



Winning team.



Andrew told us that his favorite color is black, so Emily and I bought Jessica these very adorable undies, which I think Andrew will appreciate very much. Heck, he might even want to wear them himself!

Very Very sexy.

Congratulations you two love birds!

The Christmas Cramerbarger Creation

I know it's past Christmas and it feels like spring out there, but this still cracks me up every time I watch it. Thanks Mom for putting this together!

The Cramer Crew

My family needed some pictures with our new member (Curt)! So I set up the tripod and we all put on our best smiles, and they turned out great! 

Kind of angelic, don't you think?