Forever

The last two months have gone so fast.  They have been filled with joy and sorrow.  Funeral, wedding, and Emily's birthday.  At the end of October, right before the wedding my dear wonderful Grammie passed away.  At that time, and even now I cannot stop thinking about eternal families.  Because after all, that is what this is all about.

My Grammie

She was an amazing woman and a wonderful example to me of strength and perseverance.  I love you.

McKensie and Emily

My Girls.  Although things did not work out with their father I am grateful that they were born in the covenant which is a birth right blessing.  Emily passed away November 19, 2009.  Three years I have been without My Angel. I love you, we will all be together again someday.

Ethan

We were sealed together in the Jordan River Temple on November 2, 2012.  I am so grateful for this wonderful man and the joy he has brought to my life.  I am excited for what the future brings, for eternity.

 

I feel blessed to have the knowledge of the gospel and know, without a doubt, that after this life we will all be together again. 

Ethan and Elizabeth, Chapter One

Yep... It is true...

In my life I have been blessed, through good and bad.  Trials and tribulation have come; yes.  But throughout it all I have always been blessed.  I am so grateful for my Father in Heaven who has stood by my side and guided me in those dark times.  He helped me heal.  He also brought me my best friend, Ethan..... He brought Ethan into my life before I was even ready for him.... but since when has my life ever gone as planned?

The Beginning:

Many of you have wondered about the stranger on my facebook pictures that I posted awhile back.  This stranger is Ethan, and the fact is he is actually not that new of an edition in my life.  Ethan and I have been dating for a year and a half now.  One Sunday in November 2010 my Bishop, Bishop Smart, asked if he could visit with me in his office during Sunday School.  Of course I told him yes and I had all those usual thoughts going through my head that a person usually thinks when called to see the Bishop, "I don't want a new calling, I like the one I have".... etc.  When I got to his office Bishop Smart proceeded to ask me, "How do you feel about me setting you up on a blind date?"  What? Oh crap.  I should probably take this as I sign that I need to start dating.  So, I told him it was ok.  After a disclaimer saying that this was no revelation on his part, Bishop Smart continued to tell me about Ethan.  A rough and tough undercover narcotics detective who is actually a teddy bear on the inside.  Hmm, interesting... I didn't know how to feel about this.  Because of the holidays and other various things it took awhile for the Bishop to give Ethan my phone number.  In January Ethan and I spoke on the phone for about 40 minutes.  Hmm, I still didn't know what to think of him.  In March 2011 we went on our first date, and he has been around ever since.  At times, I still don't know what to think of Ethan ;-).  I didn't introduce him to Kensie for about two months but once I did she told him she loved him the 2nd time she met him.  Yes, my daughter attaches to people easily.  But ever since, every morning Kensie asks, "Are we going to see Ethan today??!"  She adores him and he is so cute with her.

Over the past year and a half Ethan and I have had many fun adventures.  We are both nerds and proud of it ;-)  But I am sure what you really want to know are the details regarding the sparkly something in the picture up above.

The Engagement:

Kensie was going on a trip with her dad and would be gone for 10 days (which is way too long for a 4-year-old to be away from her mom... ok, it is way too long for a mom to be away from her 4-year-old!).  I knew I would go crazy with her gone so long so I thought it would be fun to plan a mini trip for a few days while she was away.  I arranged my schedule to work the first few days of the week so I would have several days off in a row.  Ethan and I then talked about going to Moab with friends... but this fell through.  We then decided to go to a cabin with friends for the weekend.  Time grew closer and our friends could only go to the cabin one night.  After Kensie left I grew frustrated... I did not get all of these days off work in order to sit around my house alone and clean.  I vented my frustrations to Ethan, who by the way, cannot keep a secret from me for the life of him.  He can keep secrets from anyone but me, it is kinda hilarious.  This time, he gave in way too easily because he could not stand seeing me frustrated.  Poor guy, my lot in life is to make things difficult for him.  He then proceeded to tell me, "It's ok, I had a surprise and was going to take you to Park Ci..."  at this point I rudely interrupted saying, "NO, no, no... I don't want to know!"  I like being surprised :-)  and the darn guy ruined it.  He needs to learn to be tough when I bat my big blue eyes and not give in.  Poor guy :-)
On Friday we went to the cabin with friends and had a blast.  The next day we came home and packed our bags for Park City.  At this point Ethan revealed to my that we had big plans on Monday morning and that this was one secret I was not going to be able to get out of him.  I wanted to be surprised so I didn't try too hard to find out his secret, although I had my suspicion's.  Instead I entertained myself by guessing outrageous things that it could be such as traveling to Europe or sailing on a yacht on the great salt lake. 
We had fun in Park City by doing things like shopping, swimming, and eating.  I knew he was planning on proposing but I knew he wanted to surprise me.  Because of this I decided he wasn't going to propose during the "big surprise" on Monday.  I even thought that we could go the whole weekend without him proposing just to trick me (later Ethan told me that he had considered it but his sister-in-law told him that was too mean... thank you Chelsea!)
On Sunday morning we went back to Sandy because Ethan's niece was having her baby blessing.  After the blessing, on the way back to Park City we decided to drive up East Cannon.  At the top we stopped and got out of the car admiring the gorgeous views.  Here, on June 2, 2012 is where Ethan proposed to me :-)
The next morning, (Monday) Ethan took me on a hot air balloon ride.  I have always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon, it is on my bucket list.  Lets just say I was a little excited... maybe even a little ecstatic.  It was amazing and so romantic!

When Kensie came home from Hawaii with her dad we got the chance to tell her the big news.  We decided we needed to involve her in the process.  I didn't want to just to tell her about the engagement, I wanted her to feel like she had a choice in the matter... because it involves her just as much as it involves us! So we took her to the park for a picnic.  After eating Ethan pulled Kensie aside and told her he wanted to ask me to marry him.  He asked how she felt about it and essentially asked for her "permission".  He showed her the ring he wanted to give me, she was ecstatic and asked asked if she could hold the ring while he asked!  So they came over and Kensie hid behind him with the ring in its box as Ethan told me how much he loved me and all the reasons he wanted to marry me.  Then he knelt down on one knee and Kensie with the cutest and biggest smile stood beside him and held the ring up to me... and then he proposed (again... but Kensie doesn't need to know that)  :-)

As some of you know we have had to wait a little to make official wedding plans.  But now, over three months later we finally have a date set!  We are going to be getting married In the Jordan River temple on November 2, 2012.

So there is the beginning of our story.  We are getting married!!!!!

Elizabeth

My Name

I am Elizabeth, and I LOVE my name.

I decided to forgo January Happy Thoughts and discuss my name.  Why?  Because my name makes me happy and well, I just felt like it.

Once upon a time there was a couple named Chad and Diane Shreeve.  Diane was going to have a little girl and really liked the name Elizabeth.  Chad did not like that name and said it was too long.  So when that little girl was born she was named Amy, nice and short which received her Fathers approval.  Four years later this couple was expecting another child.  By this time Diane had convinced Chad that Elizabeth was a good name.  So, not knowing whether they were to have a boy or girl, they decided on the name "Eric" if it were to be a boy, and "Elizabeth" if it were to be a girl.  So, all through utero, that baby was known as "Baby E".

On March 12, 1985 ELIZABETH ANN SHREEVE was born.  And lets just say thank goodness I am not Eric... I am glad to be a girl :-)  And I have news for you Daddy, my name is not too long to fit on a credit card as you insisted in the past.  But I am grateful that my Dad did not give up easily and I was lucky enough to be named Elizabeth and that it was not stolen first by my big sister.

Elizabeth is a name where many nicknames can form from.  Growing up I have been called Elizabeth, Liz, Lizzy, Liza, Beth, Lizardbreath, Wizzawif, Biff, as well as many more. In my adult years many of these nicknames still follow me but it seems that I have a different name for each place in my life.

Beth: When I was a child my mom insisted that no one call me Liz.  Because of this, and the desire of my Dad to still shorten my name, I have been known as Beth by my dad and all of his family.  Confession time:  I don't really like the name Beth.  When people get to know me and ask what they should call me I usually tell them I don't care and that I just don't prefer Beth.  I know all the Shreeve's are shocked by this news but don't worry.  I don't mind you calling me Beth... I just don't want anyone else doing it.  In fact it would be strange if you called me anything different because I am "Beth" around you.  If that makes any sense at all.

Liz:  I was known as Liz in nursing school and the rest of my college years and the majority of people at work call me this.  

Elizabeth:  My mom has always referred to me as Elizabeth.  And it seems that those closest to me will call me this the majority of the time.  To be honest, it is my preferred name but I am really not that picky. My best friends growing up would and still call me this along of course with the occasional silly nickname.

Biff:  This is the main nickname that I have had since about the 6th grade.  My cousin Matt could not say my name as a toddler and would call me "Biff".  Well, it caught on.  My family started calling me Biff, so then my friends started calling me Biff, and so even teachers would call me Biff.  Not the most flattering nickname, but to this day many people still call me Biff.

Elizabeth 
Meaning:Consecrated to God, God's promise, God is my oath

Biblical: the wife of Zacharias and the mother of John the Baptist
(Luke 1:5-6)

International Variations: Ailsa (Danish), Alzbeta (Czech), Elikapeka (Hawaiian), Elisabet (Greek), Elisabeth (French), Elisabetta (Italian), Elisavet (Hebrew), Elisaveta (Hebrew), Elisheva (Hebrew), Elizabet (Scandinavian), Elizabetta (Italian), Elsbeth (Scottish), Elspeth (English), Elzbieta (Polish), Erzsebet (Hungarian), Liesbeth (Dutch), Lisbet (Danish), Lizaveta (Russian), Orzsebet (Hebrew), Yeriel (Hebrew)

Nicknames: Bella, Bess, Bessie, Bessy, Beta, Beth, Betsey, Bette, Betti, Bettina, Bettine, Betty, Buffy, Eliza, Ella, Elli, Els, Elsa, Elyza, Elzira, Ilsa, Ilse, Izzy, Libby, Liesl, Liezel, Lilibet, Lilibeth, Lise, Liz, Liza, Lizie, Lizbet, Lizbeth, Lizette, Lyza, Sissy, Telsa

I am Elizabeth.  You can call me Liz if you would like if it is easier for you, or any of the above names if you really wanted to.  I don't mind.  I just don't like Beth (unless of course you are a Shreeve and are special enough to get to call me that)   :-)


References: www.babyzone.com

Happy Holidays!

Yes.  I realize that "The Holidays" are in fact over.  But now I am finally going to post about it!  First I would like to reflect back on 2011, what a year!  Overall, 2011 was happy :-)

2011: Short and Sweet

In February/March McKensie and I went to Disney World and on an Eastern Caribbean Disney cruise. We followed up throughout the year on a few other small vacations like camping and Bear Lake.  We are still living in Draper and love it here.  This has been the year of the "Stout Girls".  It is a very special time where I can just focus on me and Kensie.

Kensie started her 2nd year of preschool at Avondale Academy.  She has her same teacher as last year, Mrs. Madsen.  McKensie in doing well and is excelling in letter recognition and numbers. She turned four but told me last week that she gets to drive when she turns five.  I am looking forward to that.  She is still all girl and loves dancing, playing princesses and dress up.

I am still working at Primary Children's on the Medical Unit as well as the Children's Unit at Riverton Hospital where Primary's expanded to.  This year I became an adviser over several of the CNA's.  Last year I finally rediscovered my love of reading.  Reading has been nonexistent in my life for probably about 10 years.  But last year I read at least 7 books... which obviously is a lot for me given my past history.  In November I had knee surgery, wahoo.  But the biggest event in 2011 is Ethan.  He came into my life in March and has been around ever since.

So there you have it.  2011 for the Stout Girls was good.  Hopefully 2012 will be just as amazing!

December Happy Thoughts:

1. I love Christmas time.  I love the Spirit of Christmas and all that it entails.  This Christmas Kensie and I spent a lot of time baking treats for family like the sugar cookies in the picture, pumpkin bread, peppermint popcorn, and pretzel chocolates.  It was sad to see this holiday season come to an end.

2. Santa: Kensie was so cute this year.  She is at the perfect stage where Santa is so real and magical.  I loved it.  This year she asked for jewels and a baby tiger stuffed animal.  So, a trip to Micheal's and $2.99 later I bought the jewels, knowing I would have a happy child.  This is a far cry from last year when she wanted a castle for herself.  If only every year her list would be this simple...

3.  Family and Loved Ones:  I just wanted to say thank you to all my loved ones that made Christmas so special this year.  I appreciate the gifts and letters from all of you.  I especially wanted to thank my Mom who snuck into my house Christmas Eve while I was working and played "Santa" for me.  She made this Christmas very special knowing it would be difficult for me because I didn't get to have McKensie with me on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.  Thank you, I love you all!

Christmas Eve dinner at my place before I had to go to work

 4. McKensie's dance recital: McKensie had yet another adorable dance recital.  This time she got to perform 2 dances.  So cute!  During the 1st dance she was upset with the girl next to her for some reason and spent the whole song shaking her finger at this girl telling her "no" and that she was doing it wrong.  Haha.  The 2nd song however she danced and smiled the whole time and was adorable.

5. Below is a song that Kensie learned at preschool.  Her class did a short little performance after school one day.  Adorable.