Grandma and Grandpa Rice

This Memorial Day we went to Wells Nevada to clean up the graves of my grandpa's family. My family does this every year, but I haven't gone in a while. Although it is never really fun, I think this year's Memorial Day will be one of the most memorable because of the things I learned I from my wonderful family.
We had a family reunion while we were there which was really awkward for me because I don't really know anyone and it's not really my family... These people are my step mom's cousins and aunts/uncles so I don't really know of them and most of them have never even met me. Anyways, while we were there visiting with people we have never met in our entire lives, Kayley and I looked through some genealogy books. We found the biographies for my step mom's parents. How sweet it was to read their loving testimonies of the gospel and family.
I guess I have been ignorant over the years to never really notice it, but as I was there I noticed the sincere love my grandpa has for my grandma. You see, my grandma has dementia. It has gotten worse over the years and we have watched her slowly digress. I must admit though, she has the best sense of humor now. She said the cutest things this weekend. We were eating dinner talking about the time zone changes and she asked "Now are we all in the same place?" haha. Yes, grandma. We are all in the same place right now. While it is sometimes funny, it is often sad and unsettling. They have now moved into an assisted living center. They still have freedom and live on their own, the help is there in case they need it which gives us comfort. She was talking to grandpa's half sister, Marlene, and invited her over for a weekend. Marlene said "I don't think they would let us stay." Grandma: "Who won't let you stay?!" Marlene: "The complex you live at." Grandma: "I don't live at a complex." Marlene: "We would have to sleep on the floor." Grandma: "No you don't, we have two bedrooms. Don't we grandpa, we have two bedrooms still right?" Right then grandpa reassured grandma that it was ok and then winked over at me. He is so sweet to her. His actions speak so loudly of the love he feels for her. This is just a small example, but I couldn't help but get choked up and a little teary eyed. Maybe it's because I'm missing Adam and we've been apart for so long that I'm really not emotionally stable right now, but I got so emotional by watching this loving scene between my grandparents.

I am so grateful to be married to Adam. He is such a loving man. I know that someday when I'm old and lose my mind, he will be right by my side assuring me it's ok.

Do any of you have grandparents who have taught you how to love through their example? I would love to hear some stories.

Missing You

Adam and I have been apart for 20 days but it feels so much longer than that. I find it discouraging to look at the calendar at find only a day has gone by.
I remember in October, after we had been married for only 4 months, he left for a preseason trip for 3 nights and 4 days. I was probably dehydrated from all of tears but I survived. I remember rolling over in the middle of the night to find his side of the bed cold and lonely.
Now I am just used to the lopsidedness of our bed where there is an indent left from my body, only on the left side. I never knew the queen size bed could be so big. 
It's not all bad though. My time is filled to top capacity by working 9 to 5 and then going to school 5 to 8 pm. I leave at 8 am from Riverton to get to work in Provo by 9 and then I usually don't get home at night until 9 pm which is when I have my Adam call. We talk in the morning on my way to work and then again at night before bed.
My struggles tend to rise on the weekends when I'm not jam packed with things to do. Thank goodness for Adam's mom Karla, who plans all sorts of things for me to do. We painted an old rocking chair this week and are going to cover the cushions next weekend. I'll post a picture when I finish.
The distance doesn't seem so hard when Adam gets a sale too. $500-$1500 a day makes this separation bearable I guess. May I inform you though, we're not going through difficult time to have a bunch money that we can blow on meaningless things, we're doing it so that one day we can start a family and give our children the lives they deserve.


Only 37 days left!

Look at how much progress was made in just this week!

New

I have thought about joining the hype of blogging... and then I got too busy. I still am too busy, but after much persuasion from dear friends like Jeanie, here I am.