Work in Progress

So today the blog is actually a present to my(Brendan) parents. After being through so many things with me throughout my life they have never given up and I have realized that we are all works in progress in this grand scheme of things. I have throughout the last month and a half been spending alot of time sitting at my table here at my apartment working on a gift for my parents to show my appreciation. When I was young my mom taught me how to cross stitch and through the years I have done many projects, but when I was in high school I begged my mom to buy a kit for me of a picture by Greg Olsen titled Lost No More. I worked on it for a short time before I gave up and put it aside because I think I ran out of some of the thread that I needed. I always told myself that I would get back to it. When I got home from my mission two years ago I bought a new kit online and it has sat around due to lack of time, patience and motivation. I decided though, that during this time of struggles in my life working on a picture of Christ would be the extra thing that I was needing. So here is my Work in Progress(I've spent a couple hundred hours on it so far)...

I still have a long way to go, but I figured that a couple hundred hours of work was worth a christmas present... we'll see how much birthdays and such are worth... I wish you all a Merry Christmas!!!

Trials

When I was still in Young Woman's at a Night of Excellence the leaders had the Grandmothers or however was close to the new beehives right them a letter of love and guidance. I wasn't a new beehive but I was new to the ward so I received this letter from my Grandma Joy. There was something written in this letter that has always stayed with me through out my life. Every time a trial comes my way I think back to this letter. my Grandma Joy wrote.

" You have also been blessed with trials. You have watched your family struggle and have experience great heartaches in your young life. Use these heartaches and trials as stepping stones to eternal exaltation! They will become your greatest strength as you learn how to overcome the pain and still love those who make unwise choices."

The past two weeks have tried my faith to the max it feels like. I feel as if I have gone through so much heartache and pain that I can't go on. But then I remember my Grandmas words and I keep going. I take every trial and every heartache and I learn from it.

I know that my Heavenly Father lives. I know that he loves me and that he knows who I am. I know that he sends his angels to watch over me and protect me from things that I cannot handle on my own. I know that the words that my Grandma wrote to me all those years ago are true and if I listen to her words and live by that then I will have eternal life with the one I love. I know that my elder brother Jesus Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for me. He did it for me so when I am going through a trial I have someone who I can turn to in faith and he will have been there and can help me through it. I know that Christ died on a cross to take away my sins. He died there to save me. I am forever in debt to him. I know that trials are given to us to make us stronger and that there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel and all though it may be hard to take that first step into the darkness it will all be worth it in the end.  I know that there is a lesson to be learn from every trial that I have recently been through, am going through, and will go through. I may not know what the answer is now or what the answer will be later, but I know that there is one. I walk by faith. I wake up every morning and I live by faith.  Faith that I will make it thought the day, faith that my wrong doings  will be washed away. I love the Lord with all my heart. and I know that he is there for me always if I just stretch out my arm to his. I say these things in the name of my Savior Jesus Christ Amen.

Drawn for me by one of my best friends Jodee at a time when I needed it most 

 

I've Got A Real Nose!!!

So I don't have a great picture of my nose before, but my left nostril was smaller than the right which made it really hard to breath. Especially if I was sick. The picture above doesn't show the difference but it does show the knot that was there.

Tuesday November 15th I walked in to Mountain View Hospital scared but super excited at the same time. They first gave me this spray to shoot up my nose... First time I have ever sprayed anything up my nose before. I did a horrible job. I ended up swallowing it and then it made my throat burn and I was miserable. 

They then had me change into those hospital night gowns that don't have a back. I got on the bed/ table and they put the IV in my arm. Lucky for me I have had one before so this didn't hurt much. Then the nurse left and I was left in the room with my mother. Maybe about 10-15 min later the Anesthesiologist came in and talked to me about the possibility that I might not ever wake up again after they put me to sleep but that I didn't need to worry (How do you not worry about that kinda stuff) and then he left. I don't know if the stuff that was coming through my IV was suppose to make me tired or if I was just super bored but I ended up falling asleep and then when the Anesthesiologist came back in I remember him telling my mom that if I stayed asleep he wouldn't even be needed. He then wheeled me into the room where they would do the surgery and then asked me what I did for my job I was explaining it to him and then next thing I know I was in the recovery room. 

First thing I did when I woke up was feel my nose to make sure it was still there (Brendan told me they were going to cut it off and just leave slits there so that I would look like Voldemort). When the nurse came in she gave me some crackers and a cup of water and then told me that if I couldn't eat it right away to not worry but to try to slowly eat it why she went and got my mom. When my mom came in I was eating the crackers but couldn't reach the water because of the IV and where she had put it. The nurse then left again and told me that when I am feeling up to it I could get dressed and go home. I was feeling up to it then so I went to get up but couldn't because of all they stuff they had me hooked up to. My mom then called her back in. They unhooked me from all the machines and I got dressed and we went home. 

This is what I looked like that night. 

I look pretty good right for just having surgery but it still hurts like crazy. I wont bore you with the rest of the horrible details but I will share pictures and what day they were taken 

Wednesday 16th 

Little bit worse right haha

Thursday 17th 

I didn't take a picture Friday 18th but this is Saturday 19th 

Looking good huh :) I can smile but man does it hurt to laugh or yawn or anything else. 

I didn't take a picture Sunday either. 

Today Monday 21st I went back to the doctors to have him take the splints out of my nose. 

I went in and the nurse greeted me at the door and said come back here. So I went back to the room and I sat down. She then grabbed the flashlight and some scissors and tweezers things, told me to tip my head back, and then she grabbed my nostril and pulled. I flinched and pulled away. She then said, "If you don't hold still I'll never get these things out of there." I'm crying by now cause not only did it hurt but I was mad at her. My mom then came over and held my hand while the nurse proceeded to take the splints out of my nose. When she was finally done this is what I found in the bucket I was holding on to.

Huge huh? yup those things were up my nose. The nurse then told me to go make an appointment to meet with the doctor the next week for a follow up. 

Now a little side note. I have a strong dislike for that nurse right now. If she would have told me what she was doing before she just decided to pull on my nostril then I wouldn't have flinched and I would have been able to hold still and it wouldn't have been that bad for those things to be pulled out of my nose but because she was a jerk and didn't tell me what was going on I did end up crying and am very mad at the nurse and when I go back in next week I will let that doctor know how things went during today's appointment. 

P.S. That nurse is lucky I didn't break her nose or bite her. 

  

Brendan's Poems ( I love them so much)

For those of you who don't know Brendan writes poems they are amazing!!! I love them so so so much! These are the ones he has written for me they are no in order from when he gave them to me but they are still so good. I hope you enjoy :) 

A Testimony (Sent to me on Skype)

A testimony for my wife,

The Lord and Savior gave his life,

Each day as we gather for prayer,

Surely you can know he is there,

Talking us through the hardest day,

I know he will show us the way,

Making the path narrow and straight,

Open passage when we are eight,

Now TOGETHER we follow true,

Years on the path our Savior drew.

Owen (While we were Skyping one night)

Once there was a girl

Who sent me on a whirl

Each day she treats me right

Now she'll be dressed in white

Poem For You (after I had begged him forever to write me another poem)

Pondering on your beautiful smile 

Only one, for which I'd walk a mile

Eager to see the glee in your eyes

Making me warm like the summer skies

Freeing me from the pain in my past 

Opening up a love that will last 

Ready I am to promise to you 

Years upon years of unending blue 

Open your eyes and there we will see 

Unending blue smiling back with Glee 

If Only They Knew (Sent of facebook, I believe this one is the first one he wrote me)

I've begun to see the light 

From the darkness of the night

Opened my eyes, cracked a smile 

Now I'm sure it'll stay awhile 

Looking forward instead of back 

You my girl, you have the knack'

To bring light into my life

Haul away the strain and the strife

Even out a harder day 

You my girl, you have the way 

Keep you close I always will 

Now the world it seems so still

Every day, I'll say it's true 

Witney, (I truly) love you 

            Lasley, I 

I Can't Sleep  (Sent to me through a text one of those nights that I really needed a pick me up)  

In a perfect world of love 

Cheering angels from above

Aid heartbroken, lonely, sad

Normal people for our dad

Teaching those who need a hand

Stepping near us in the sand 

Lord, our Savior, knows the path 

Easing us from daily wrath 

Eager to give, help and hold 

Pulling us in from the cold.

A Girl Named Witney


I once met a girl named Witney
and then one day it just hit me
I'd love her for life
I'd make her my wife
I'd forever have her with me

The Only One 

As I continue day by day
there's only one to whom I'd say
I love you I forever will
I'll love you in heaven still

Beauty 



Beauty stems from heaven above
Emanated by your love
And assured by your bright smile
Unending like the river Nile
Teaching me to always want
Your beauty’s eternal font

Yes


You soon will be
Eternally
Sealed to me!

Witney


Where has the time gone?
 It seems like the dawn
The start of your life
Now that you're my wife
Extends to the past
Yet ever will last

I Think I'll Keep My Day Job

So Brendan always writes me poems so today I thought to myself... Self, I will write Brendan a poem today... here its is.


Love me tender love me right
All I want is for you to hold me tight
I will always love you with all my might
And hug you and kiss you all night
And when we go to the park and fly a kite
I promise I will try not to bite
Promise to never want to fight
And I will bring some light
To a marriage that will always seem bright
Because we want to do it right

Yeah I think I will keep my day job

I LOVE Surprises!!!

Saturday October 1st

I was talking to Brendan on the phone and was having another one of those moments (for those of you who don't know what one of those moments are for me that is when I am in tears not wanting to be in Idaho Falls anymore and really just wanting to be in Boise with Brendan). While I was crying Brendan asked me if there was anything he could do for me. I told him that all I wanted was for him to have his arms around me. His response was "Witney my arms are always around you". I then told him that I didn't want to pretend anymore that I just wanted everything to go through so that I could just be with him. We then just continued talking and Brendan got me to stop crying and then he said he was tired and wanted to go to bed. Understandable considering he worked all day long and it was close to midnight. So we went to bed.

Sunday October 2nd

My phone starts ringing at 8:46am. I at this point am slightly confused because it was Sunday morning and I didn't think I had set an alarm. When I finally woken up enough to realize that it was Brendan calling me I answered it and started talking. Conversation went a little like this...

Witney: Good morning

Brendan: Good morning beautiful

Witney: Are you heading to Nathans?
(knowing the night before that he was going to go over there for breakfast and conference.)

Brendan: I'm on the road yes

Witney: When did you wake up?

Brendan: I have been up for a while now.

Witney: Did you get up at 8?

Brendan: A little bit before then I couldn't sleep.

Witney: oh man I hate it when that happens.

then some more stuff was said that I don't remember...

Brendan: Witney I love you more than anything, you know that right?

Witney: Yes I know and I love you more than anything too.

Brendan:  You know that I would do anything for you right?

Witney: Yeah I remember you telling me that once haha.

Brendan: Once?

Witney: Ok maybe more then once I lost count once I ran out of fingers.

Brendan: Witney... you don't need to pretend anymore... come outside.

Witney: What?

Brendan: Come outside Witney.

I then got out of my bed looked out the window and there was Brendan driving into my driveway. So I ran outside gave him a huge hug and said. "What are you doing here?" (by the way I'm crying) and then we hugged and kissed and I was so excited to see him.

I found out later once I had calmed down from all the excitement that when I had told him that I was done pretending he had set his alarm for 4:30 at that moment so that he could wake up early enough to come and spend the day with me.

Today was the best day ever. I got to spend it with my best friend and even if it was only for a few hours it was better then not being with him at all. I love you Brendan Owen thank you for everything you do for me.

Thank You!!!

First off thanks to all of you how commented and left your opinion it helped in making up my mind.

Although pretty much all of you put without I have decided to keep the collar and do both pictures with the collar and without the collar, because guess what, it tucks it quite nicely and I like it best both ways :)  Again thank you very much for your opinions.

I Need Help

Good news I have choosen my dress! But i don't know how to keep it. The dress is beautiful but I can either keep the collar or take it off... I like it with both so I need your help.


I am going to post two pictures of the dress one with the collar and one with out please vote and than let me know :)

Engagement Pictures? Anyone?

Thanks to a beautiful day and my very best friend (besides Brendan) Missy our Engagement Pictures are done :) here is a few of our favorites.

 

 

These are not all of them but my personal favorites I hope everyone enjoys them as much as we do!

You Wanted Me by David Osmond

This is a beautiful song that Brendan and I have fallen in love with. As soon as I can by it on I tunes I will be!

The Day That Changed Everything!!!

Every story has a beginning and here's ours.

February 4th, 2011 was a night that Witney Lasley hopes she will never forget because this was the night that she found her love for eternity.

Ring!!! Ring!!!

"Hello" says Witney

"Hey beautiful" said Brendan like he always does.

" Witney, can we go to the Jungle Room tonight?" asked Brendan

"Sure" says Witney

"Sweet, see you in a little bit then"

Knock!!! Knock!!!

"Hey!!!" says Witney

"Ready?" Asks Brendan

"Yup"

As they

          walk

                  down

                          the

                                stairs

                                         Brendan turns to go to his car.

"What are you doing?" asks Witney

 "Going to the car so that we can drive there" says Brendan

"ummm... I don't think so" says Witney "It's right up the hill"

PLEASE!?! Brendan begged

NO!!  Witney Answered

"fine" Brendan said with a worried look

                                                           Benson

                                                   the                           

                                            to

                                   hill

                            the

                        up

           walked

    they

So

When they arrived to the Jungle Room there was already people there so they went to the Desert Room instead. They walked and talked about nothing to important until...

"Witney" Brendan turns Witney to face him "I wrote you a poem last night can I tell it to you?"

with a smile Witney replys "Of course"

Witney will you stand with me

Into all Eternity

Love me when you're standing tall

Lean on me when feeling small

Yearn to hear me speak your name

On the rooftops, there proclame

Until death, is nothing when

Marriage is not by the pen

Ask of me eternal life

Require it as my wife

Run to me when I come home

Yes I did I just said home

Mine and yours that soon will be

Ever more, a family

Brendan than got down on one knee and said

"Witney, will you marry me?"

Witney fell to her knees, wrapped her arms around him and said...

YES!!!

Brendan then lifted her up and gently kissed her. He then whispered in her ear

"there's one little problem"

"What!" Witney said alarmed

"The ring is in the car" Brendan said with a smile

"I knew it" Witney shouted

and they both laughed at Witneys stubberness.

They

      then

               walked

                         down

                                 from

                                        the

                                            Benson

and to the car

When they got to the car they got in and drove to Nature Park. Where Brendan got back down on one knee and put the ring on Witney's finger.