Friends

At Max Dummar's wedding reception in Heber on Saturday night.Some High School Friends: Josh Sulser, Jon McNaughtan, Keli Thurman, Matt and Kim Bradshaw, me and Matt, and Ian and BriAnna Davis. Brittany Berg and Linzee Bonner left before we got this picture.

Kim and Karlee with their favorite friend! ;) I love these guys!

Me, Kim, and Karlee with our Matts.

Zombies are real...

...and other funny truths. Which is your favorite?

I teach the six and seven year olds in Primary. Last week our lesson was on the Second Coming, and we talked about how exciting it'll be when Jesus comes again. On the way home from church, one of the boys I teach said this to his family:

"I have no idea what Latter-day Saint means, but I did learn today that zombies are real. I cannot believe that people are going to be climbing out of their graves. Sheesh!"

I get the giggles just thinking about him saying this. Too funny!
I had this conversation with another smart boy that same week:

I was talking about all the cool things that will happen during the Second Coming, like animals being friends with each other, that all our physical problems will be fixed, and we won't have to lock our doors because everyone will be good. (I got these exact examples out of the manual, by the way.)

Him: "How do you know this stuff?"
Me: "We learn it in the scriptures."
(I could see the wheels turning in his head as he wondered if I was making this all up.)
Him: "Where's that big book you used to teach out of? We should have lessons out of that."

Me: "The big black binder? I print off the lessons from the Internet and just bring a couple pages now."

Him: (Still doubting) "Mmm."

Emma, Megan, Creed, Caleb, Me, and Logan

(Not pictured: Braedan and Gloria Mae)

I'm going through withdrawals because I won't be their teacher anymore. :(

On another note...
The other day Matt got this in the mail. The return address was a PO Box number in Houston.

• Before opening it, he thought it was a Christmas card from Mark and Kyra.
• Then he thought that maybe the Ellis' had sent it since they're from Texas.
• When he saw the phone number was an Iowa number he thought some of our friends must be playing a joke.
• (This one's my favorite.) He wondered if the auctioneer at Elijah's fundraiser (where I so innocently volunteered to host a Pure Romance Party) had gotten our address and was tricking him into buying something.

Even though it had no post mark, was written in my handwriting, and had my work number on it, it took him about five minutes to realize that it was from... yours truly, MUAH.

And one last funny truth...
A few weeks ago Matt and I were eating dinner:

Me: "Matt, I'm sorry I'm not a good cook..."
Matt: "It's okay, I wouldn't want you to be a good cook..." (Then he realized what he was saying and tried to cover up his blunder.) "I mean, you're a great cook! I love this stuff!"

Meet High School Erin

May 2003: Junior year after the seniors' graduation
October 31, 2000: Erin and BriAnna Ostmann before going to a Halloween party at Keli Thurman's houseDecember 2000: My girlfriends and I got together with some of our guy friends. Somehow we convinced the guys to let us do their makeup and dress them up in our clothes. Then they did the same for us. (Left to right) Carlia Whiting, BriAnna Ostmann, Erin Zane, Terra Luke, Keli Thurman, and Heather MossSeptember 2000: Erin clogging in Midway at Swiss DaysFall 2001: Erin racing in a cross-country meetAugust 2003: Erin's senior pictureMay 2004: Erin in San Fransicso with Jessianna Rose and Rachel LeddyDecember 2002?: Erin and Kim Belcher torturing Kacey Mahoney (Deep down we know he liked it.)May 2004: Erin and friends after graduation practiceJanuary 2004: Heidi Winterton, Erin Zane, Nikki Mogenson, Heather Moss, Natalie Johnson, Kim Belcher, Lauren Hansen, and Melissa Holm in Cedar City at the State Basketball TournamentApril 2003: The girls at Junior PromMay 2004: Erin at graduationDecember 2004: After we'd been to college for a semester. Don't we look so much more mature? ;)

• Name: Erin Marie Zane
• Age: 15-18
• Favorite Subject: Student council and seminary
• Favorite Food: Fruit snacks
• Favorite Restaurant and Hangout: Hogi-Hogi and Dairy Keen
  
• Best Friends: Kim Belcher, Heidi Winterton, Melissa Holm, Merryn Kennard, Heather Moss, Carlia Whiting, Keli Thurman, Brittany Berg, Jessianna Rose, Rachel Leddy, Peter Rose, Max Dummar, Tyler Willis, Josh Sulser, Kacey Mahoney, Spencer Jacobson, Sam Gardner, Kyle Hendrickson, and I know I'm forgetting someone…
• Hobbies: Cross-country, clogging, hanging out with friends
  
• Favorite TV Show: ?
• Boyfriend: Kind of Ken Lowe for a while during sophomore year
• Prom Dates: Jason Coombs (Soph.), Peter Rose (Jr.)
• Homecoming Dates: Cody Sweat (Jr.), Reece Hopkins (Sr.)
• Biggest Problem: All the boys I had crushes on considered me "like a sister".
• Favorite Clothing Store: American Eagle
• Favorite Music: Rascal Flatts
• Biggest Worry: Not being good enough
• High School Crush: There were too many to name them all.
• Favorite Activity: Doorbell ditching, power boxing, going to Melissa's cabin or to Kim's property in Timberlakes, hiking Timp, playing lazer tag and seeing movies in Provo, going to the nutty-putty caves, water or snowball fights, having "Silly Time" with Kyle, outdoor sleepovers in December, playing games with friends, walks with Peter or Tyler, giving out Greatest Guy of the Week Awards with the "Committee", and presiding in the AGA (Anti-Guy Association--We really did like boys, I promise!). Oh yeah, and playing pranks on guys...like putting worms in their beds. (And we wondered why they didn't like us.)
• I Was Voted: Most Friendly; Woman of the Year
• I Was Involved In: Student council, cross-country, track, journalism, TV broadcasting, Improv Troupe, choir, RYLA
• I Thought I Would: Get a master's degree, attend all the BYUs, teach English in China, serve a mission, and finally marry at 27 years old.
• High School Was: Awesome! I loved it.

Your turn. I'd like to meet your high school self.

P.S. "Umm, excuse me." (That one's for you, Kimo.)

Murder Mystery Dinner #2

There can never be too many opportunities to dress crazy, right? Eric and Kristelle had us over for a Murder Mystery Dinner a few weeks ago. It was a blast getting to hang out with them, Kristelle's sister and brother-in-law, and Margaret and Tyler.

Grading Thanksgiving

Our run down of Thanksgiving week

Last Tuesday...
- Matt took his last test! D-…just kidding…A+
- We took a long lunch together. A

Wednesday...
- Was our three year anniversary. A+
- We saw Twilight. B
- Erin's sister, brother-in-law, and their son came up for Thanksgiving. A+

Thursday…
- Happy Thanksgiving! B
(Thanksgiving food's never been Erin's favorite.)
- Master Chef Matt took care of the turkey. A+

Friday…
- On Black Friday with $32, random gift cards, and coupons we got:

• Bathroom cabinet
• Smokin' hot jeans (Matt says)
• Dress shoes
• Dress shirt A+

- For our anniversary
Matt got Erin a R-I-N-G. A+++++++
(Seriously, I was teary at the store.)
- Erin biffed it running— a funny slow motion fall. C

Saturday…
- We got lettuce wraps at PF Changs to celebrate our anniversary. A+

Sunday…
- Erin's nephew, Porter was born. A+

Overall Grade: A+

Christmas Countdown

Okay, you can all make fun of me for this, but I LOVE Christmas countdowns. My family did them growing up—and what's better than having candy every day? Last year Matt and I had a candy countdown, but this year when Caleb (one of the kids I teach in Primary) told me that his family was doing a "Drawing Closer to Christ Countdown", I decided we should borrow the idea. I really just had to find a way to justify buying candy again. :)

Here's what I've come up with. Do you have other ideas?

(P.S. Matt, you're not allowed to read these. They have to be a surprise. ;))

November 28: Decide what gift you're giving to Christ this year. (service to others, working on a personal weakness, etc.) Write it down and put it in the Christmas box.
November 29: Attend the temple or plan when you will attend.
November 30: At church, talk to someone new or who you don't know well.
December 1: Visit JesusChrist.lds.org. Read one of the articles or watch one of the multimedia presentations.
December 2: Call a friend or family member you haven't spoken with in a while.
December 3: Study your scriptures 15 minutes longer than usual.
December 4: Do an act of service for a family member or friend.
December 5: Offer a prayer of gratitude.
December 6: Study The Living Christ. Memorize one of the sentences. (Study this every day next week and keep memorizing sentences.)
December 7: Listen to or watch The First Presidency Christmas Devotional. Listen for one principle that you can work on. Write down one thing you're going to do this week to live that principle. Share this with your family, and follow up with each other later in the week.
December 8: Write down your beliefs about Christ.
December 9: Brighten a stranger's day.
December 10: Share the Christmas video (the one with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing…) with a friend.
December 11: Think about one way you can magnify your church calling. Put your idea into action.
December 12: Study Matthew chapters 1 and 2.
December 13: Pray for someone in need. Ponder about what you can do to help that person. Do it.
December 14: Visit the elderly or home bound.
December 15: Get to know a neighbor—take him or her a treat.
December 16: Send a note or email to someone.
December 17: Study the lyrics to a Christmas carol.
December 18: Read another article on JesusChrist.lds.org.
December 19: Pray for safety in your or others' Christmas travels.
December 20: Memorize your favorite scripture about Christ.
December 21: Write in your journal about how the Lord has blessed you this year.
December 22: Look at Christmas lights!
December 23: Make gingerbread houses, and think about how you can keep the Christmas spirit in your home year round.
December 24: Study Luke chapter 2.
December 25: Talk to someone about the gift you gave to the Savior this holiday season.

Approved for Adoption

We just found out that we've been approved for adoption through LDS Family Services! (That doesn't mean we've been selected by a birth mother, just that we're now able to post our profile online. It could still be years until we're chosen—but good things are worth waiting for, right?)

So if you ever know of a woman who's thinking about giving her baby up for adoption, we'd love to be put in contact with her. Usually adoptions that way are faster and less expensive.

Here's some links to view our adoption profile and blog:
mattnerin.blogspot.com/
LDS Family Services Online Profile



I'd be lying if I said this has always been an easy process—because it hasn't. And I don't want to minimize what others in similar situations have, or are, going through. But overall, Matt and I have felt overwhelmingly blessed in this matter, and we're pretty stoked to get this adoption thing going.

Not long after we started the adoption process, Matt and I were reading in the Book of Mormon, where the people of Alma were persecuted and had heavy burdens put on them. If Alma's people were caught praying, they were put to death. But they continued praying silently, and the Lord promised them that He would ease their trials—so much that they couldn't feel the weight of the burdens on their backs.

In Mosiah 24:15: "...the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."

After reading this, I felt like that's what the Lord had done for me and Matt in every way. The burdens that once seemed overwhelming had become bearable. The heartache I'd felt had diminished almost completely.

I've thought about those verses a lot in the subsequent months and always feel grateful for Heavenly Father's love for me. It’s reassuring to know that no matter what we're going through, we can be strengthened and enabled to handle the challenges we face.

We're also appreciative to our supportive family and friends who've helped us out by writing letters of recommendation, helping put together pictures, reviewing our paperwork, etc., etc. Thank you!

I'm back!

I've been in Orlando for the past five days for work. Wells Fargo sends a bunch of people to help out at the National Association of Realtors Conference and Expo. I thought it wouldn't be much fun because Matt wouldn't be there with me, but I ended up having an awesome time—partially (okay MOSTLY) because of:

It was so great that it made coming back to the REAL WORLD of... ...a little ROUGH.

But since getting back to the real world means I get to have this BAD BOY back,I'll trade in the life of LUXURY any day.

Murder Mystery Dinner

I have to add these pictures. They're too funny. A week or so ago our friends, Cassie and James Larsen, had us over for a Murder Mystery Dinner. It was a blast! Thanks James and Cassie—for all the work you put in to making it a great night.

The attendees on the "cruise".
I was spoiled chick who'd gone a little wild and previously dated all the guys on the cruise—except Matt. Matt was a rich hottie (Can't you tell?), and he was totally obsessed with me.
The Larsen's were my "parents" and the hosts of the cruise. James was a politician and Cassie was a bitter wife who spoiled me like crazy.
Gavin and I "broke up" on the cruise. All he wanted was my money! And Amanda was the mysterious, fortune-telling lady.
Nate was a singer and one of my previous boyfriends. Megan was an aspiring actress.
Nathalie and ? were treasure hunters.

Here's one last Halloween picture.
I love holidays!

Happy Halloween!

Matt and I sported two costumes this Halloween.

Michael Phelps and Skier Dude

An 80's chick and her GQ wanna-be-boyfriend

I love playing dress up!

It's been an awful week.

I'm beginning to think that I've lost my wedding ring for good.

Tuesday night I was at the gym and had my ring double knotted into my shoe laces (Matt suggested I do that so I don't scratch the ring while I'm lifting weights). I left the gym, called and left Matt a message from a phone on campus (I remember thinking, "I need to put my ring back on," but then I spotted Matt and got side tracked.) We walked to the car and decided to splurge on Subway. We drove to Subway, ate, and then went to our apartment. The next morning I went to get my ring from my shoe, and to my horror—it was gone.

Did I take my ring off the shoes when I got home? I don't remember.

After hours of crying, searching, checking the lost and found, praying, re-searching, and more crying, it's still no where to be found.

It's probably really bad of me to even think like this (and I know losing a ring sounds like such a frivolous thing), but in my head I've just kept thinking about when President Uchtdorf's mom couldn't find her kids on the train during World War II, but her hope overcame her despair and she searched and search until she found them. (I know…losing a ring isn't even close to equivalent, but…) Now I'm just hoping and praying that some honest person finds it and turns it in…or I find it in some random place that I haven't looked yet.

I've never asked anyone to pray specifically for something (so this is a pretty lame reason to start with), but if you want to pray that I'll find my ring, I won't complain. I'd better stop blubbering now. :(

He Hit the Jackpot

Matt went to Las Vegas this past weekend for a SOMA (Student Osteopathic Medical Association) conference. He's in charge of the SOMA organization at Des Moines University, so he and three other students flew out for a few days.

It was pretty funny. Since we only have one phone we had to be pretty creative to get to talk to each other. Needless to say, we had a lot of catching up to do.

This is how yesterday went:
Erin: "Matt! I heard about this blog, and the husband and wife were in a plane accident…."
Matt: "The flight attendent on our flight was making fun of Salt Lake…"
Erin: "At the Sarah Palin rally there were protesters and…."
Matt: "Our hotel was seriously the nicest one in Vegas…."
Erin: "Matt, you have got to see the amazing furniture Nick and Chrissy got for so cheap…"
Matt: "Ojis won $300 the first night and lost it all the second night."

And here's how romantic we are after being apart for three days:
Erin: "Matt, I was going to do something really nice for you and make you lots of good food…"
Matt: [He was probably thinking…"Yeah right, in my dreams."]
Erin: "…but I didn't."

Matt: "I brought you something…"
Erin: [I knew Matt was just as good as NieNie's husband! ;)]
Matt: "...free bathsalts from our hotel room."
Erin: [Even better. He totally hit the jackpot.]

But seriously, it's great to have him home again. Maybe Matt will post more about his trip... ;)

Most Important Day Ever!

If you don't know, today is a VERY important day. Precisely four years ago today—October 22, 2004—Matt and I held hands. So basically, this day is the whole reason Matt and I got married. :)

Check out these pictures:

This is on Halloween 2004. We'd been dating for about a week.

Roller skating for FHE (September 2004)

This is the day after Matt and I met (Labor Day 2004). Some people from our ward went hiking to some wind caves, and Matt and I ended up hiking together for most of the time. I'm in the front in blue, and Matt's on the right in the blue hoodie.

In honor of this day, I'm going to post an entry from an old journal. Matt and I were reading through some of my journals a while ago, and we thought they were all pretty funny, and really, really cheesy (but hey, I was barely 19). So, hopefully this'll entertain you a bit.

I did write in my journal the day after we first held hands. But I rewrote it in more detail in December 2004, so that's the one I'm posting.

"On Friday, October 22, I saw Matt at Jonathan's (his roommates) swim meet, and he asked me if my apartment was going to go to Nic Packer's choir concert that night. I said probably. I was excited that Matt wanted to hang out with me, but then he asked, "Are your roommates going?" So I was bummed because my roommates had been trying to convince me that Matt was coming over to see me, but that comment made me very doubtful.

Our cross country team went to Johnny Corino's that night for dinner, which is where I shared my predicament with Shane Warner and Devin Barlow... See after getting home from talking to Matt, Lucas called me and asked me on a date for that very night! Dah! What was I to do?! I liked Matt and wanted him to get the point that I liked him, because my roommates told me I treated all guys that same... After consulting the roomies, I turned Lucas down. As it turned out we—the cross-country team—didn't even get back in time for the concert or to have gone on the date.

When I did get back, my roommates had left a note to come to our FHE bro's apartment. I did. They were finishing a game. We went to the lounge to watch a movie. I sat by Matt; there were five of us on the couch so we were pretty crowded. Matt and I were flirting and talking through the movie, and I really wanted him to hold my hand. I tried to always have my hand available to be held. There was a blanket over all of us on the couch.

After about an hour of wishing he'd hold my hand, I noticed our arms were right next to one another under the blanket. I wanted to know if his hand was near mine and if he was trying to hold my hand. So I took my thumb and kind of browsed the area around my hand and 'poke', I thought I felt his hand. I brought my thumb back. And what seemed like 15 minutes later, I'd convinced myself that that wasn't his hand (but instead was my other hand), so I surveyed the area with with my thumb one more time. This time I was sure it was his hand.

Fifteen minutes later, when I'd given up completely and decided that I was a moron and that he didn't like me, BOOM! He took my hand! (Ahh! I was in heaven.)

The next day his sister, Laura, came to visit him...We all went to the football game together. It was very cold, and a blanket was over all of us. Matt said, "Is your hand cold?" I said, "Yeah." And he took it and held it between his. Later he asked, "Is your other hand cold?" I said yes, and he warmed that one as well..."

(Wasn't Matt such a smooth guy? I was the first girl he'd ever held hands with, and I think he did well.)

Happy four years of holding hands!