NYC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[New York, NY]

Oh me oh my was last weekend a dream!? I feel like it never happened, honestly. It was so magical being there during the Christmas season. I am kicking myself I forgot my Canon so these iPhone photos will have to do. Personally, I am kind of grateful I forgot it because I really wanted to just be there - with Adam & the Andersons -

rather than be snapping pictures every moment. Sometimes I get too caught up in distractions around me that I forget to enjoy what's right there beside me. I forget about the one who continues to hold my hand & look into my eyes as we step into the unknown. It is scary to think where we will be, what we will do with our lives but that fear escapes as I realize that we get to do it together. Travel, move from place to place, have kids, learn how to become parents, go through hardships, grow old, spoil our grandchildren, travel some more & one day leave this earth.

All of that we get to experience together.

 How scary can that be? Knowing that I always have him to lean on.

I hope that we never forget who we have.

Whether that be our siblings, parents, children, animals, spouses, or the Savior,

we are never alone.

 

"There is not one of us but what God's love has been expended upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for & caressed. There is not one of us that He has not desired to save, and that He has not devised means to save. There is not one of us that He has not given angels charge concerning. We may be insignificant & contemptible in our own eyes, & in the eyes of others, but the truth remains that we are the children of God, & that He has actually given His angels - invisible beings of power & might - charge concerning us & they watch over us & have us in their keeping."

President George Q. Cannon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

we are all the same

 

[Alexandria, VA]

 Somedays we feel like we need to write. It doesn't matter what exactly one chooses to write about,

 but that point of the matter is what everyone has something they need to say. 

I believe that the most therapeutic exercise is writing because it allows you to listen to yourself.

 It feeds my Spirit to hear truths that I have confidence in.

I also believe the brain is the most powerful muscle of the human body. In one second, we have the power to fall as prey to the delusion that everyone's life is happier, more productive & more popular than ours because of that detrimental "like" button.

 We live in a world in which social media is constantly bombarding our minds via facebook, instagram, twitter, blogs, snapchat, & pinterest -- which distort our views of reality. Every single day, we are faced with words, photographs, pieces of peoples lives that are illusions which have the effectiveness to change our self confidence & self worth. The consumption of media into our minds create ideas of comparison, jealousy, envy, & resentment that do not need to be there.

This inundation of perfection unconsciously blinds us with negative emotions.

But the truth is that everyone is out there struggling, battling, carrying the same doubts, confusion and loneliness you & I do. Everyone is simply trying to figure out how to control, understand & change in order to create a peace of mind & of heart.

So why do we let ourselves become the victim of this? Why do we let negativity bring us down so

 much that we no longer feel good about ourselves & the world we live in?

Minds have the power to choose if they want those ideas to linger or to get out.

 Minds have the ability to create, inspire & strengthen others; but also have the weakness to tear you apart, spit on you, & make you believe you are alone. 

The truth is we are all seeing the world through a different perspective but ultimately having the same experiences. Maybe next time when you feel those thoughts creep into your mind, you will have the strength, the power to catch yourself & remember that we are all the

same.

 

 

 

 

we either make ourselves

m is e r a bl e

or we make ourselves

s tr o n g 

. . .

the amount of work is the

s a m e

.

 

 

 

PS. this photo was taking in Paris, France

circa 2011

Hello December

 

 

 

 

 

[Alexandria, VA]

Ok...so we are a little excited about Christmas. But let's be honest, who ISN'T?! Lights, trees, christmas  music, food, gifts, family, fireplaces, reindeer, hot cocoa, fireplaces, books, snow, every possible Christmas movie (favs: Grinch, Elf, Christmas vacation, home alone, polar express...), decorations, pie, shopping, Christmas cards, holiday cheer, the list could seriously go on & on...but you get the point.

Our sweet little baby tree was born on December 1st, 2013. She has beautiful lights, loves water/sprite, smells good & is still in process of becoming a women. Every chance we get, we turn on She & Him Christmas Pandora station (yes Pandora is so yesterday but it works for us). I am so tempted to listen to it during work because I feel like I can never get enough & December goes by waaay to quickly. Tomorrow night we are excited to go see the Christmas Carol at the Ford's Theater for date night & this weekend we are heading to NY with the Anderson's to do some more Christmas festivities! It really is neat celebrating the holidays as a married couple. I feel like there is so much more energy & gratitude in me because I get to enjoy it with someone I love. Not that I don't love my family, it is just different. There is an ounce of understanding of how someone could love another human so so much & want to give their life for them. It helps me to see how much our Savior loves everyone of his children. This season is a time to celebrate His birth & the joy He brought to the world. Without Him, I am nothing. I hope we all can embrace the true meaning of Christmas & soak all of it in.

 

because Christ walked such a long,

lonely path

u t t e r l y   a l o n e

we do not have to . . .

 

Jeffrey R. Holland

 

 

 

 

 

November Update

 

[Washington, DC]

1. I know what i want to be when i grow up: a horse trainer. I have always known this but for some reason I cannot stop thinking about the day when i get to ride again. Maybe it's because i'm trying to figure out what i am going to do with my life. It seems like a decade ago when i spent hours upon hours riding/taking care of Siena & how i closed that door & am unsure when it will open again. When Adam asks me about what i am passionate about--i think about horses because they were/are apart of me. Siena taught me how to love & how to work hard. I will forever hold those memories close to my heart.

2. I know the type of car i want to hall all my children in: a VW bus. I drive by this car every single day on my way to work & i seriously stop & stare for a few moments. I had to jump out of the car the other day to snap a photo. Isn't it just perfect?!

3. I know what my weakness is: BOOTS! I am obsessed with boots, scarves, gloves, beanies, & basically anything warm. I saw these ones in particular at Nordstrom & of course i tried them on & fell in love but thought i would just ask for them for Christmas, which is right around the corner!! (cannot wait to get our own tree) Anyways...with that thought in mind, i walked away & was surprised a few days later by my wonderful husband who brought them home after i had a rough day...(thank heavens for husbands)!! I love mine oh so very much.

4. I know what excites me: off-roading in a jeep with our favorite friends Mike & Jenna Anderson & Lauren & Jack Gerard. We spent such an incredible weekend at the cabin a few weekends ago but i blogged about that earlier so go check it out. 

5. I know what gives me joy: running on George Washington Parkway soaking in the crisp air & beauty all around me. I think i ran about 5 miles because it was too enjoyable to stop! While Adam was out golfing, i was out having some "me" time because every needs a little bit of it in their life. & this is one of my favorite ways to spend it.

6. I know that i love DC: because that means people come to visit! My parent's best friends Jerry & SueEllen Hall came out for work & we got to spend a day with them being tour guides around Capitol Hill. I can assure you that these people are whom i aspire to be because they are so in-tune with one another. We love sharing the city we love with people we love. 

(come visit hint hint)

7. I know how to party: Macklemore concert. I can't remember the last time i laughed so hard. His attitude, his lyrics, his style, his dancing, his whole facade is hilarious to me. Even though there are ideas of his that i do not necessary agree with, i thoroughly enjoyed a spontaneous (2 hours before) decision to see him live. Adam & i know how to have a good time. I think we also wanted to go because our dear friends Caitlin & Jeff Howell & Bree & Kevin Ahlstrom were there as well. It was so entertaining. 

8. I know how much i love my family: the Kennedy family! I am so grateful that we got the chance to spend a couple nights with my cousins who i never get to see. I have learned a few things from them: Eric hates america, i drive a lesbian wagon (outback Subaru), & some beautiful parenting advice..."enjoy the time together without kids because they stick with you forever, pop 'em out quickly, a part of you is inside each & every one of them, they are all different & our responsibility is to help them find their way back home". Man I can't wait to be a momma some day.

I love November.

Off Roading

[Deep Creek Lake, MD]

Basically, these pictures sum it up -- we are hardcore. Even though most of the trails were shut down, we found ways to climb over rocks, spray a little water, & happily enjoy the ride. To be completely honest, I was more into it than I thought I would be. Usually I freak out if my body is leaning half way down a mountain & all I can think about is the car flipping twenty times down it but Mike & Jenna's new Rubicon is now my new favorite toy! I forgot how adventurous I am. I've been bungee jumping in the Swiss Alps & sky diving a few times so I really had no excuse to be a baby. This trip also consisted of football, delicious pumpkin pancakes, pajamas, sleep (lots of it), reading, playing in the leaves & apple cider. I am in love with November because of all those things. Being born & raised in California prevented me from experiencing seasons - especially the distinct changes in nature. I never really knew what it was like to see the leaves change colors or for it to snow (until I moved to Utah & here). Maybe I was young & nieve but I never realized how all the various shades of orange, yellow, red, purple & green create an aurora of color & beauty that cannot been explained. It is a feeling that must be experienced & I sure am one lucky girl to be experiencing it. 

Look 

around you 

& 

R E A L I Z E 

how blessed 

you are. 

s e v e n m o n t h s

 

[Newport Beach, CA -- March 29, 2013]

I thought it would be appropriate to post the videos of our special day today. It has been exactly 7 months since I became Mrs. Jacobs & I cannot explain how grateful I am. These past months have been filled with change--from graduating, moving to DC, working full time, to learning how to live with a man! So much growth for such an important purpose. These months, days, hours, seconds are so significant in how we are shaping the foundation of our marriage. Every disagreement, every hurt feeling, every bad day builds experiences that will inevitably solidify the bonds you have made with one another. If you both have the commitment or end goal to be happily married & endure through the good, bad & the ugly, I know that you will be. It is just baby steps. Day by day interactions that will soon turn into even more love than you thought you could ever posses.

 

 

If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. You shield it & protect it. You never abuse it. You don't make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new. It becomes special because you made it so, and it grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by.

--Elder F. Burton Howard

 P.S special thanks to Rique Carroll who put together our wedding videos! The reception is soon to come as well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween & Hazel

[Butler's Orchard & Mt. Vernon]

It was hard saying goodbye yesterday to Adam's sister Emily, brother-in-law McKay & there two adorable kiddos Henry & Hazel. They ventured from South Bend, Indiana (where McKay is studying chemical engineering at Notre Dame) & spent the week with us. We miss them so much already! Because this was the first time meeting Hazel, I got to see little bits of her personality which really pushed me to be baby hungry again (which is nothing new at the Jacob's household). But I know my time will come when Adam & I are ready. We still have a lot of growing to do together before babies can factor into the equation.  

Hazel is one of the happiest little girls; always smiling, laughing or just perfectly content with what was happening around her. She is a piece of heaven & I could've kissed her cheeks all day long! I think my favorite part of having family in town is seeing how Adam is around the kids/his family. No matter what, he was always serving, helping out with the kids, holding a baby or doing anything he could to make sure they are happy. As his wife, my heart just sank. His actions reflect on his character & how he will be as a father one day. I know that family is what he believes to be most important. I remember him turning to me in the car last Monday morning (as he was heading off to a job interview) & he told me that he has been asking the Lord of what he can do to prepare for this interview. He said, "What I can do is make my family have the most enjoyable time while they are here." These words stuck in my heart over the next few days as we hosted the Ryttings' little family because that is what the Lord wants. He wants us to love & serve one another. There are so many distractions or selfish incentives that keep our minds cluttered but when we recognize how we have the ability to make a difference or create joy in someone else's life, that is when we are truly happy. The Lord has blessed us with people to love & who love us. I hope we all treasure our families & those people we love. 

People will 

c o m e  &  g o 

the best will 

s t a y . 

Come back soon Emily & McKay!