I need some thrifty advise

I am getting some things printed out for my business and I went to Kinkos, the only copy place I am really aware of, and they quoted me at $100! I am thinking that might be a bit much. :o) So I want to try somewhere cheaper but that is still really high quality (this stuff is going up in high end boutiques) . Where else can I go? I know this is probably common sense to most of you but apparently I am out of the loop when it comes to making copies. So if you can share some more thrifty options I would be very much obliged! :o)

Shaun, Sue, and our Minivan are Amazing!!!

Shaun and Sue (Stewart's Aunt and Uncle on the Ras side) called awhile back to offer us their minivan. What they didn't let us know at the time was that they simply felt the Spirit tell them that we needed it. The hard part was that they still really needed it too. So with faith they gave it to us and shortly after the way opened up for them to get another car. Isn't that Amazing?!?!?!??! I can hardly believe that they would do that for us. Thank you Shaun and Sue, we will never forget your faith and kindness on our behalf (and we are really serious about camping together this summer)!!!! :o)
So this weekend we finally had good enough weather, and health to go get it. We drove up there Saturday. It was a beautiful drive even though I hate driving in the mountains- I get scared that we'll drive off the mountain side or something. :o) We got to hang out with their super fun family. My kids are having major Siera, Skyler, and puppy dog withdrawals now that we are home. We drove back on Sunday and I was so proud of myself for not having an anxiety attack driving through the mountain highway by myself. I swear the older I get the more I hate driving. Anyways, now we are the very grateful and excited owners of a minivan! I had no idea how we'd ever have enough money to get a car to fit our family as it is sure to grow, but now we find ourselves with one of the most gracious gifts of our lives. We are also excited that we will get to give our little truck to my sister who really needs a new car as their second car was stolen awhile back. Isn't it great how the Lord is looking out for all of us and how willing our loved ones are to give and follow the Lord?!?!? So, like I always seem to say, I don't know how we'd make it without all of you looking out for us! And Yeah for me being a MiniVan Mom! I've got to admit I feel a little more grown up driving it around town - like now I am not just a mom but rather a MOM MOM. :o)

Four Years Ago...

Four years ago today Stewart picked me up from my sister's house and took me to the LA temple to be married. A couple hours later we were officially Mr. and Mrs. Rasmussen. Yep, we were married on Valentine's day. Corny, I know, but we really didn't do it on Valentine's day for any other reason other then it was the only time it worked with our class schedule. We really are just that romantic. :o) Anyways, Here is my story of how I snagged my man...

A couple months before I graduated from high school I got a letter telling me I had gotten into BYU however, it had its limitations. It told me in order to secure my spot I had to start classes in the summer. This was not a happy thing for me. I cried and cried about it because I was planning a European vacation. I was going to kick-it with my sister in Germany and tour all the must sees. In my 'despair' :o) I knelt by my bed to pray. I felt the Spirit tell me I should be happy and stop feeling sorry for myself. I was told that "greater happiness then I yet had known awaited me at BYU". So a light switch flipped in my mind and I put my European vacation on the back burner. I figured it couldn't be that bad if I was going to discover great new levels of happiness. :o) Plus, once I realized I was the only one in my class to get into BYU over all the straight "A"ers I concluded that I should just be grateful they even considered me. My sweet and very maternal sister took me under her wing and coached me on how to thrive at BYU - I don't know what I would do without my sisters! One night she helped me register for classes and suggested that I take social dance because it'd be a good way to meet people. Thinking that sounded good I registered for social dance and little did I know that four hours away my future hubby's mom recommended that he take social dance so he'd meet new people too. Two very pivotal decisions, Eh?!?!?!? I can tell you there was no way I would be meeting him in my history 320 or in his Chem 400.

The day after I graduated I loaded up my car and drove to BYU. I hate to admit it but I don't remember the first time I saw my HUNCKY MAN or even our first dance. But I remember this encounter perfectly....two or three weeks into class I walked into dance tired and sweaty after running across campus and plopped myself down randomly next to Stewart. As if out of nowhere, I started talking. I felt like I had no control of what I was saying. I honestly don't think I even realized who I was talking to. People who know me well know I have a really bad memory especially with names but I just started drooping names and places about his Larsen family reunion. I could only guess that we had talked about it during last weeks class before the 4th of July break. Stewart was as shocked as I was that I had remembered our conversation with such detail. The bell then rang and so he asked me to dance. That was it; I was smitten. We were laughing and giggling so much we kept stepping on each others toes. I remember thinking I had to compose myself and stop being so overly happy and flirty. Before our next class together I was so excited to see him. Honestly I took two hours getting ready, I must have tried on fifty different outfits. And it was a good thing I put so much effort into it because he was staring at me the whole class. I think I was a fluorescent shade of red by the time class was over - - - we were starting to learn the cha cha, very sexy stuff! :o) Sure enough by the end of the week he had asked me out ( Yep, my cha cha moves are that good!).

Our first date was a group date with his mission buddies, it was a picnic and then a movie. He did card tricks and for some reason, it must have been the Spirit helping us out, I thought he was so cool doing those tricks, he scored major points with them. I don't think he has done a single one since! :o) Anyways, we stayed out talking until 3am - freaking out Ammon and Kirsten, sorry guys. After that we saw each other just about everyday. However, after one week of dating I decided I was going to break things off. I thought I was too young to be with a RM and I didn't want to miss the fun single life. I walked up to the temple grounds to pray about it. I told Heavenly Father that I was going to stop things from progressing so if Stewart was 'The One' he should let me know before I ended it. And just like that I was told he was 'The One'. I sure had it easy huh?!?!??! Before we even had our first kiss I knew I was going to marry him. So crazy!

Needless to say we were picking out our wedding colors after only two/three weeks of dating. :o) Seven months later we were married. I don't think we really understood how good we were for each other until we were married. Everyday we marveled at how happy we made each other.
And now looking back over our four years I can tell you life has brought us challenges but honestly the Lord held good to his word, I found greater joy and happiness then I ever thought imaginable when I found my Stew. Thanks Babe!

Here are some answers to some questions I was tagged about on Kirsten's blog that didn't quite make it in my story...

1.) Where was the first time you kissed your man? By the Big tree outside of Hinckley Hall. After we kissed I came back into the dorms and I told my dormates that I had kissed him, They asked how it was and I just smiled and said "I'll I can say is that I could kiss that for eternity!" - - of course that was followed by squeals, cheers, and me blushing. :O)

2.) How did he ask you out? I could tell he was going to ask me out - he really could not stop starring at me! So I hung around after class getting like fifty sips of water trying to give him a chance to get over to me. When he asked for my number I didn't have it memorized yet - - again a very Emily thing. He thought I might be shafting him as I said "Well, I'll just get yours. I can't remember mine". Looking back I realize that did sound bad. :o)

3.) Have you ever broken the law with this person? I plead the fifth! JK, not that I know of. :o)

4.) Do you get along with any of the ex's of your partner? I have only met two of them, and there were a lot! :o) One is my beautiful sister-in-law and another one is starting med school with her husband here at Reno next year. I am thinking it'd be fun to hang out with our new med-ies. So yep, I like all the ones I've met. Stew has always had good taste! He married me didn't he?!?!?!?! :o)

5.) What’s the most expensive thing he has given you? My engagement ring and I guess our house too. Not that we really own it- - - we've still got a lot to go on that one!

6). What is one thing he does that gets on your nerves? Not responding when I ask him a question. It usually happens when the TV is on or he's got LOTR going!

7.) What is the thing you do that gets on his nerves? Probably when I get mad at him when I am interrupting his TV time and LOTR time. :o)

8.) Where do you see each other in 15 years from now? Realistically.... hopefully having a few doctors paychecks under our belts (if Stew dose pediatric surgery we'll still have 12 1/2 years of school!), a couple more kids.... I think we'll have five all together, hopefully a house, me a little heavier, Stew a little more bald, I'll be driving kids everywhere, Stew will be saving kids' lives in surgery, almost debt free (house and school- I hope), and still very much in love.

Stewy, thanks for being mine. It has been the best four years of my life. I really think the world of you. Love, Your Ems

So I Was Tagged- What's For Dinner?

Okay, this tag was started so that people would share what they have had for dinner in their own homes recently so that we can all get some new ideas for what we can make for dinner. I can tell you that the same old stuff can get pretty boring after awhile. So here is what we have eaten for dinner the last week and what I am planning on cooking this week. I am surprised I actually remembered most of what we ate last week! :o)

Monday: No idea I can't remember
Tuesday: Homemade Chimigangas
Wednesday: Hawaiian Haystacks
Thursday: Breaded Parmesan Dijon chicken with rice pilaf
Friday: Lemon Dill chicken with pasta
Saturday: Left overs
Sunday: Egg noddles topped with a smoked sausage cream sauce and salad
Monday: Four cheese Hamburgers
Tuesday: Pineapple Chicken Bake with rice and salad
Wednesday: Mustard Cream sauce over grilled chicken with rolls and green beans
Thursday: Crepes with Basil chicken cheese stuffing- strawberry ones for desert :o)
Friday:Chicken Parmesan with pasta and salad
Saturday: Going out to eat for our anniversary and Valentines Day!!!!
Sunday: Beef Stew and salad

If anybody wants a recipe just haller - some of these I am trying for the first time so who knows if they will be any good. And if you want to get in on the sharing go for it!

What a Week!

This week has been really good. Mom Rasmussen flew up on Wednesday to watch the kids so I could drive over every inch of Reno trying to pitch my product to doggy stores, doctor's offices, baby boutiques, and day cares. We are so grateful she made the sacrifice to help us out. I got more done in three days then I could have gotten done in two months. It really was the miracle I was looking for.
Overall this week has been a mixture of really great highs and some sad lows- a true emotional roller coaster. The few lows were caused by the fact that the kids and Stew were really quite sick for most of the week with a really bad cold, and also because not everyone cared to give me their time of day. This is so hard for me because I invested so much into all that I am doing with my business so when they shut me down I tend to take it personally. But the highs came; spending quality time with mom Ras, knowing my sick babies were in better care then I could probably give, and after hours of 'pounding the pavement' despite how discouraged I might have felt I'd find positive, kind people who were willing to build a relationship with my business. I also have really formulated some new ideas for how to sell my product to people. I am feeling excited and eager to try them out. I am going to try out renting a booth at a fair - preferably a mother's day themed one, start putting ads in the local kid directory -even though it is pretty pricey, and start trying to have boutiques sell gift certificates for me and setting appointments for me that I would do in their stores. These ideas might not work out but it is exciting to think that at lest one of them will open a new avenue for my business to expand in. And last night I actually got a call to set up an appointment!!! So exciting... it's been awhile! So I still have a lot of work ahead of me but I feel excited to get to it and that I really can get it done.
There are two other things that I have loved that I want to ramble on about.

First, forget what that stupid groundhog said....

IT FEELS LIKE SPRING!!!!!!

I went for my run and it was amazing. I didn't have to wear my ear warmer things, or gloves, and I actually got hot. The birds were out singing and gathering twigs for their nests, and a breeze even brought with it the aroma of sun kissed shrubs growing on the hill. It was truly magical for me. Dorky, I know, but very true. I was on cloud nine! It felt so good! So Welcome Spring!!!! Also, while I was running it hit me how symbolic winter and spring are. I am sure I heard this in primary many times but nevertheless it was striking to me. Thinking a long the lines of the "Death" that winter seems to bring to the earth and then the "Resurrection" Spring brings each year it hit me what a full on miracle it is- - - I mean after 2+ months of winterness it really seems the end will never come, like you'll never be warm again. I figured that not only can the transformation of Spring symbolize Christ acts during the Atonement but it can also simply signify what great miracles and changes God can bring in our life no matter how bleak it may all appear. All it takes is a little sunshine or a little faith and BAM! Everything is bursting with life again.

Second, I loved the World Wide Leadership Training broadcast on raising a righteous posterity. The format was so....whats the word....chill? :o) That works I guess. Anyways, it just seemed to really hit home for me. My whole life is exactly what they spoke about; raising my posterity and hopefully to be righteous. It really was so affirming that Stew and I aren't crazy to be doing what we are doing and to know we are not the only ones "simultaneously going to school, getting married and having kids". I loved how it talked about having kids not when you feel you have gotten everything ready but when you prayerfully have decided it is right and then the Lord will make it possible to raise them and care for them. "Like paying your tithing. You don't wait until you have a lot a money to pay it, but rather pay it and then your needs are met." Not to forget the caution they gave too, don't be "reckless" either. Anyways, the whole thing was good for me because this past year has been exactly that. We are going out on so many limbs solely on faith and keep seeing how the Lord is making it all come together for us.

Can you tell I have been on a little Spiritual high lately?!?!?! :o) Anyways, it has been such an emotional and spiritually eye opening week and year for us and though it has been so hard we wouldn't change a thing!

Reasons Why Today Rocks!

Despite my kids being sick, my not having much sleep, not showering in two days, and the laundry is sitting in various piles around my house this is why today is still ROCKING!!!!

-Angeli is the cutest dancer- I love seeing her start dancing when I play music, so cute.
- Someone once invented Tylenol- if it were up to me they would win a noble peace price for bringing peace to homes across the world!
- Bridger climbed into bed with me this morning put his blanket over me, put his arm around my neck and gave me a kiss while he snuggled into me. He's always been so affectionate, I love it!
- Stewart cleaned my carpets and couch for me last night!!! What a MAN! my couch has never looked better.
- I am excited to hear how super Tuesday goes :o)
- We are having company for dinner and I am making chimichangas - so yummy!
- Mom Ras is coming tomorrow!
- It is very sunny!!! - I can feel Spring is a coming :o)
- Just now Bridger smiled and Angeli laughed for the first time today.
And I was afraid today wouldn't give me much to Rock out to!

We Have More Sick Babies :o(

We are being hit by some nasty cough, fever, booger factory bug. Stew and I are fine but the kids seem pretty knocked out. Bridger has been in that same position for three hours now. We have been through half our home videos, Nemo, Sleeping Beauty... Poor little guy! Angeli seems to not be as out of it as our Bridger. I am just hoping they are better before their Grandma Ras gets into town. We wanted her to have fun while she was here and not have to be a nurse! We are crossing our fingers!

Not More...

Do you ever have episodes in your life when everything seems to give way all at once? Do you ever feel like the Lord is asking you to go so far into the unknown you find yourself truly scared? That is my life right now. Life has been this way off and on since we moved. And within the last three days it seems that we are hitting another marathon of trials that has almost left me speechless. If it was just one of the hurtles by its self bearing down on us then that would be a major stress but with them all combined I am totally .... I guess, beyond stress...more like breathless. It just seems so odd that things can be so hunky dory and then in a blink of an eye be so utterly wrong. No one has it easy. We all have our episodes of trials and then of smooth sailing. I guess I am just getting wary of our waves of trials crashing against us. And when I wonder when it will all be better I have no clue and find myself even afraid to hope it will be better. I know we will be fine. The Lord has always taken care of us. I know someday we will look back at this time with tender hearts as we recollect on all we learned, at how our faith was strengthened, and how we grew to know our God. But for now, in this moment I can only pray that all my fears can swiftly be smothered in peace. I keep thinking of the scripture I heard in the broadcast of President Hinckley's funeral today;

"Be still and know that I am God."

Those are perhaps the most beautiful words ever spoken to a troubled heart; and I guess that is were we are at. I am so grateful that tomorrow is fast Sunday. I will have a great opportunity to be still and feel the closeness of my Heavenly Father. My brother once told me that when he feels like he has the weight of the world bearing down on him he thinks of Job. He said, "Job was a lot more righteous then me and he had it a lot worse then me and he was OK in the end. So I can't complain but rather have faith." Yes, it could always be worse, and it will always be OK.

So I am writing simply because I needed to and perhaps one of you out there will benefit from reading it too. I am so grateful that I have so many of you rooting and caring for me and my little family. I don't know how we'd make it without you. Love you guys!

I'm One of Those People

I am one of those people that isn't really great at anything. I don't think there is anything I do that most all people couldn't surpass if they tried. And during my adolescent years when you are so defined by what you are good at this was hard for me. I took singing lessons - a flop, I took art lessons- no talent there!, I took piano for 5/6 years- I cant even play primary songs, I have never gotten straight "A"s- never!!!!, I love to write but can hardly spell, I love to run but go about 10 minute miles on a good day,.... and I could go on. However, at this point in my life I have come to realize that this isn't what matters. When my life is over I don't want people to say, "Man, that girl could paint", or "Wow, She was the best singer." but rather I'd like others to simply say I made the world a better place.

Many use their talents like painting and singing to make the world better, and that is great for them, but that is not how it is for me. I think at times its my lack of talents that brightens the world! :o) I always joke that my mission in life is to make others feel good about themselves when they realize it could be worse...they could be like me. A little Eeyore-ish I know, but never the less it is true. :o) Whitney (my sweet sister-in-law) can attest to my ability to make anyone feel like they could go to the Olympics after playing sports with me, or that they could join MOTAB after overhearing me sing in church. I really am fine with that because I realize the Lord only requires of me to do my best no matter how meager that might be and somehow despite myself I can bring about some good. I find this way of thinking rather liberating and reassuring.

The World tries to tell you that you have to be the smartest, the richest, the most beautiful, have the smartest kids, be the most involved in humanitarian work.... and many of the things you can put 'most' in front of are good, but our happiness is thwarted when me are tricked into thinking we have to be the 'most' and 'best'. If only we all realized that those of us with the lest talents can still do profound things with our lives. Its who we are that makes the difference and not what "bests" we have. Christ might have been the best at wood working but He was not remembered for his wood work, but rather how He changed and saved the world.

My mom, knowing me very well, sent me a little handout she had gotten in Relief Society. It simply said "You are doing the best you can, and that is good enough!" I hung it on our fridge for years. Basically everything I do in my life will be humbling and at the very lest human, but I hope that when it is all said and done people will think I made their little world a little brighter with the Lord's help.

All the people I adore and love I do because they are simply them and true to that. My dad is my hero not because he saved lives as a surgeon but rather because he was always humble and kind, I love my husband not because he gets 'A's but because he gives me his heart, I love my kids not because they are in the whatever % but because they are mine. And none of these people would have to show me their talents and abilities but rather just be them and I will be better from it.

So next time you and I feel inadequate, humble, and less then 'most' or 'best' remember in the end that really has nothing to do with what makes you able to brighten the world. In fact you are probably brightening the world whether you like it or not. :o)

Like Father Like Son

So I have been backing up all our pictures on our computer because although it is one of my biggest fears to have my computer crash and lose all our pictures I have procrastinated it about four years now. As I am finally going through and organizing all the pictures on our computer I came across these pictures and re-realized my husband really is his Father's son...

Stewart's Daddy, Garth Rasmussen

And Of Course, My Very Own Stewart Rasmussen

Don't they look so much alike in these pictures?!?!?!? I love seeing how we all look like our parents in different ways.

Dad Ras, We love you! Thanks for not only giving me 'the Love of my Life' but also being such a good dad to me and grandpa to our babies! Oh, and not to mention passing on those gorgeous eyes too!

I've Been Tagged - Toddlers Making Messes Across the Blogging World

This is an interesting sort of tagging. I have been asked to share my kids notorious messes. Since I am barley entering the toddler parenting phase I haven't had too many "huge" messes but here are my latest and greatest.

The sharpie has been my enemy since we've moved here. Bridger has taken to many surfaces in our house. My frig has remnants of his last sharpie extravaganza. But all writing elements have decorated my walls: markers, crayons, colored pencils, my eye liner, my lip stick, ball point pens...

Last week he got this sugar/salt rub type stuff and spread it all over my kitchen. It was in every nuck and cranny of the stove, all over the floor, all over the dishes that I had just washed and were drying, and himself.

Today he poured a can of corn all over the counter, helped wash the dishes and poured a big bowl of water all over the counter. It got in all my draws, what a mess water can be!!!

After every meal I have to mop my floor he throws his food everywhere the moment he decides he is done. I hate that!

A couple weeks ago he decided he would change his own diaper and got poop all over his crib and himself. That was really grouse.

He recently took his pop-sickle to my just wash sliding glass doors and his sisters head. At lest she thought it was funny.

He found my tiny beads and poured them all over my bedroom. That was such a headache to clean up. And as soon as we got it cleaned up he did it again. I think it happened a total of four times.

And I could go on but I will spare you. I heard a saying once that seems to sum up what being a mom is like:

Kids are like sponges
They soak up everything you've got.
But give them a squeeze
And they'll give it all back.

At the end of the day when we do our family scripture study, prayers, and story time and my kids cuddle up to me and Stew. I feel nothing but love and admiration for my beautiful babies. And when the morning comes I am excited to see what new things they will learn and how often I can get them to laugh no matter how much of a mess they make in the process. And good thing I feel that way because I have got at lest 4 more years of toddlerhood!

If you have some great messes to blog about then consider yourself tagged too. :o)

President Hinckley Has Passed Away.

It is finally sinking in that President Hinckley has died. It feels a little weird to write this but I think my first reaction was of happiness for him that he could now be with his sweet wife again. Those feelings were followed by my gratitude for the Gospel in which I am able to know he actually is with his wife and Savior again. What a beautiful reunion that must be for him. I then felt gratitude that I do not have to worry about the future of the Church's leadership because I know it is the Lord's church and thus lead by Him. But I am now realizing how much I will truly miss President Hinckley. The little things are sad to me, like the fact that I will never get to hear him speak at conference again. I will miss his voice; it was always so cheerful and yet tender and reassuring. His smile always made me smile. I will even miss the way he waved his cane. He has been the prophet for most of my life and I truly loved him and revered him as my prophet.

For me, one of the greatest blessing about attending BYU was the Devotionals in which the prophets of our day spoke to the student body. I remember the first time I was in the same room as the prophet was during one of those devotionals in which he spoke. It was my freshman year at BYU. Our teachers let us out of class early so we could get there in time and we had to wait forever to get in and get seated. The Marriott center was crowded and noisy with thousands of students, but as soon as he walked in the room fell silent and everyone stood in reverence. I felt the Spirit wash over me and I could not hold back the tears. I don't think I have the words to really describe it but I felt the Spirit testify to me with such strength that he was our prophet, that he was ordained by God and communed with Him in our behalf. I felt so much love, gratitude and reverence for him. And then, just like always, he waved his cane as we sung in unison "We Thank thee Oh God for a Prophet". I will always remember that tender experience and hold a special place in my heart for him.

I like the words of Orin Hatch,"His life was a true testament of service, and he had an abiding love for others. His wit, wisdom, and exemplary leadership will be missed by not only members of our faith, but by people of all faiths throughout the world." I will always be thankful for President Hinckley. He was a great prophet. 1910-2008