Baby Baby

We are so excited about the baby we are expecting in December.

The estimated due date up to this point is December 15, but we will see how close that is after the ultrasound in a few weeks. Last week, on June 2, we got to hear the babies heartbeat for the first time. It was a strong 165. We are both so excited, and nervous for the upcoming months. December will be a busy, crazy, exciting time with finals, peak(busy season) for Isaac's job, Christmas and baby will be coming! We aren't finding out the gender until birth, which we are very excited about waiting. It will be an adventure, but one of the best ones yet!

Spring Semester 2015

This semester is an interesting one so far. And I'm guessing it will continue to be so. I am working 30 hours a week, and taking 12 credits all online. Isaac is working at Fedex still and taking 13 credits.

Mariah's courses:
Idaho History
Investments
Social Psycology
Sociology of Health and Illness

Isaac's courses:
Engineering Dynamics
Water and Waste Water Quality
Engineering Economics
Basic Geotechnics
Geotechnical Engineering Lab

So far I have enjoyed my online classes. They have left me a lot less stressed out, which is nice (for both Isaac and I). We will see if this trend continues, or if it's just like any other semester.

I still have our cruise vacation to blog about, which hopefully will happen this next week sometime.

Lagging behind

I didn't think it had been so long since my last blog post. Just all summer.

Not too much has happened with us since April. Just working a ton, loving our new place of residence, and enjoying each other's company.

Life is so fast paced it's unreal. The older I get, the faster everything goes. 

A few things that we are looking forward to in upcoming months are: seeing Wicked (the musical) in SLC on August 1st, visiting Isaac's brother and his family in October, and we may have something tropical in our future.

On another note, I chopped my hair all off about a month or so ago. Which was so exciting. I have loved it. It is starting to grow out, and I'm definitely not liking that one bit.

Everything falls together

And by fall together I mean are placed that way by a loving Heavenly Father. There have been many changes in our life lately. We were both a little stressed here and there wondering where we would be in life in a few months. Isaac was looking for a second job for the summer. We were looking for a new place to rent, with hopefully quieter neighbors. I was looking for a new job with a more consistent schedule, and with not so late of hours (secretly also hoping for better pay as well). 

We almost bought half of a lawn mowing company for Isaac to have something to do during the summer. Then he almost worked for someone mowing lawns.

We toured so many houses and apartment complexes. Drove around looking for rent signs for days on end.

I applied for so many jobs. Spent hours and hours looking for one on every job website. Asked around to everyone I knew. Filled out a few applications, sent my resume in. And it seemed like nothing was happening in any direction.  
After a few months there were still a lot of unknown variables. Also plenty of worrying, praying, and hoping that something great would happen for us, we started to see some great opportunities. 
Thanks to our friend Cardon, Isaac was able to land an internship with the Idaho Department of Transportation. A paid internship with a guaranteed 40 hours a week. So it will be a busy summer for him. He will stay on at FedEx, with the around 20 hours a week. With a total of 60 hours a week. 
We applied for an apartment with Five Star Property Management, our application got approved, however the apartment got rented that same day. We looked at a few of their other properties, but none of them seemed quite right. While driving around one day looking for signs, we found our new apartment! It is exactly what we had been looking for! Two bedrooms, laundry, bigger living room, better closets, more kitchen space, quieter neighbors, we get to stay in our ward, so many wonderful things. Needless to say, we are excited to move in a few weeks.
After continually looking around, I finally got an interview. And then a 2nd one at the same place. Now I work at Five Star Property Management. Had we rented an apartment from them, I wouldn't have been able to get a job there. It is going to work so much better during the school year, and I get 40 hours a week during the summer. Which is going to work out so well.
Between the two of us, we will be working 100 hours a week. Yay for earning money during the summer. Things happen for a reason. In the right timing. In the Lord's timing. 

2013 Recap

This blog post is something I continuously worked on throughout the year. It was something I wanted to do, so that we could remember all of the things that happened this year. Often times at the end of each year, I try and think back to everything I have accomplished that year. Sometimes it is difficult, and I often only think of the negative things. Which is the other reason I wanted to do this. To remember all of the great things that happened to us in our first year of marriage. I hope to do this in the future years to come, but next time I promise to try and include more pictures :)

January:
-My best friend came home from his mission on the 10th.
-We started dating again on the 12th.
-We had our last first kiss again on the 16th.
-I turned 20 on the 31st, Isaac did a fake proposal (just to psych me out).

February:
-We went ring shopping on the 1st.
 -My wedding dress was ordered and purchased on the 2nd.
-We scheduled the temple on the 5th.
-We got engaged on the 8th.
-Most of the wedding planning details, at least the big ones, were done this month.

March:
-I started birth control this month, and boy did it make me crazy.
-We took a trip to Utah with my family.
-After much thought, prayer, and conversation, I decided to change my major.
-We went and supported Cassie at some of her softball games.

April:
-On the 3rd, we toured our first place for the first time.
-I was offered a job at downeast on the 10th.
-We signed the lease for our first place together on the 12th.
-I officially changed my major to accounting on the 15th.
-My first day at Downeast was the 16th.
-I went through the temple on the 27th, and received my endowments.

May:
-We ended the semester, and took all of our finals the beginning of May (we both did well in classes!)
-We were married for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple on May 10.
-We went on our honeymoon to Park City, and enjoyed a nice week of relaxing.
-My best friend, Hailey, left on her LDS mission on the 22nd, to Richmond, Virginia.
-We quickly learned just how great married life is. Being together is our favorite place to be.

June:
-After no other birth control working, we went with our last option, the dep-provera shot.
-We were introduced into the real world when we got our first real callings on the 9th. We were put in Cub Scouts together, more specifically the bears. I also was put into primary as a "buddy" for a little down syndrome sunbeam boy. 
-On the 13th, Isaac found out he got a job at Fedex as a package handler. He had been searching all summer and finally got his second job!
-We realized just how early we needed to go to bed, just so that we could function, especially since Isaac now had to wake up at 4 am Tuesday-Saturday.
-We witnessed Isaac's youngest sister get married to her sweetheart on the 22nd. All of the Wood children have now been married off.

July:
-I had been sick most of June and into July. We started charting what I ate, and realized it was dairy that was making me sick. Almond milk became a regular part of my diet! :)
-We were able to spend the 4th of July up in Idaho Falls. We went boating with some of Isaac's family for a little bit that day, then had a barbecue at his parents house. We went to the Chukar's game with his parents and his sister Karlee's family. We went and watched fireworks with my family in our usual spot.
-On the 23rd of July, I was offered a shift lead position at Downeast, which I took. It pretty much means that I have to work a minimum of 20 hours a week, and just have more responsibilities than before.
-Towards the end of July, I couldn't really eat any food without getting sick. My health problems started linking with gallbladder symptoms. Which led to multiple doctor appointments, a hide-a-scan, and ultrasounds.

August:
-I had surgery on August 5, to have my gallbladder removed. My first surgery ever, and it went well.
-Isaac decided to start training for a half marathon in November, and boy was he excited.
-Right before school started up again, we were able to go with Isaac's family to a condo up Ogden canyon for a few days. It was filled with boating, a cousin's mission farewell, more boating, and cherry hill. Isaac got burned crazy bad, but it went away fairly quickly. We had a great time, and it was nice to have a tiny vacation from real life.
-One of our best friends, Breanna, left on her mission on the 21st, to Louisville, Kentucky.
-School started up again on the 26th. Isaac had 16 credits, and so did I.
-Isaac's last day at Domino's for awhile was on the 30th. Since his semester was going to be very challenging, we decided it best for him to only be working 1 job, with about 17-20 hours a week.
-Very quickly I discovered that I couldn't work 20-25 hours a week, take that many credits, and still find time to clean the house, so I cut my hours at work to 10-15. I had been very nervous about working during the semester, since I had never before worked while going to school.

September:
-We were able to make many trips home this month, which is always a great relief.
-My parents took us to the fair on Labor day, which was a blast. Fair food is definitely one of the best things.
-I switched up my birth control, yet again, to progesterone only pills this month. Still trying to find something that will work well with my body.
-Classes were very different for each of us. Isaac's were some of the harder classes he had taken, up to this point. Luckily, this month he found a wonderful statics tutor, who helped him understand all of the concepts.
-My classes were somewhat easy, in comparison to all of the college classes I had taken. I was thoroughly enjoying almost every single one of my classes. I discovered that I was finally in the right major, and was extremely excited about it.
-On September 28, Isaac rode in his first bike race. 50 miles. He loved it, and can't wait to do it again next year.
-I developed a sinus infection towards the end of this month. The same week I had 4 exams.
-Isaac also started thinking about changing his major towards the end of September. From mechanical to civil engineering.

October:
-We watched conference together the first weekend of this month. It was wonderful to just be able to spend some time together and not have to worry about anything else.
-This month was crazy with midterms, projects, tests, work, and everything else that seemed to happen.
-We were THRILLED to say the least when our infrared heater came in the mail. Now we don't have to freeze this winter!

November:
FLEW by!
-Isaac ran his first half marathon on the 2nd, with a time of 1:37:35. It was very close to the goal he had set.
-I got a 95% on my Accounting test, and was oh so excited about it!
-We hit our 6 month mark of being married!
-I went to Utah with my mom and sister for a couple of days to do our annual shopping trip.
-Our ward's primary program was on the 17th, and the cute kiddos did great.
-Isaac turned 22 on the 25th, and also went skiing for the first time of the season that day.
-For Thanksgiving we drove down to Provo to be with Isaac's mom's side of the family. It was great to see everyone. 

December:
-We went to The Forgotten Carols on the 2nd, it was my first time going.

-We tried the advent calendar for the first time this year. We weren't super successful with it, but we had a lot of fun doing it.

-We celebrated our first Christmas together, and started a few traditions as a new family. 

-We went to temple square and saw the lights on the Saturday after Christmas with my family.

-We rang in the new year together, and look forward to the year 2014 and all of the wonderful things that will come our way.

College rounds 2 and 3

Another year of college begins tomorrow. Isaac is on his second year of college, and I am onto my third. He has more credits than I do, because of all of his AP classes in high school though.
This semester will be a somewhat interesting semester. It is our first semester as a married couple. I've always heard that the first semester after you get married is either the easiest one or the hardest one. So we'll see how that plays out.
Isaac is taking 16 credits. Engineering Physics 1, Calculus 2, Engineering statics, Mechanical Engineering Materials, and Structured programming. Two 4 credit classes, two 3 credit classes, and a 2 credit class. That sure sounds like a load of fun! ;)
He will continue to work at Fedex in the mornings before school, but he will not be working at Domino's this semester.
I am taking 16 credits as well. Principles of Accounting 1, South East Asia (an anthropology class), The world of Business, Principles of Microeconomics, Business Statistics, and kickboxing. Five 3 credit classes, and one 1 credit class.
I will continue to work at DownEast after school a few days a week.
We are taking an institute class together entitled, the Pearl of Great Price. Which will be interesting. I've never really done any deep learning in there. So that'll be a fun adventure!

I am kind of excited about the dynamic of this semester. I don't have to worry about the social aspect that I always have worried about. It will be fun to just sit and study and do homework with Isaac. I am a little bit nervous about my classes though, mostly just because they are different. For the past two years, my brain has been solely focused pretty much on science related topics. Now, it will be all about math, the economy, and business. I think I will like the change. I enjoyed some sciences(chemistry), but I hated how overwhelmed I felt with others(anything biology). Math is one thing that I have always enjoyed though. I like that it always has a solution. You should pretty much always get the same answer at the end of a problem. There is little unknown in math.

Isaac is excited right now about his semester. I think he is ready to move on in life, and to learn new things. He really likes a good challenge. He has what looks like a pretty rough semester ahead, but I know that he will do well. He always does! :)

Sick

I'm sick of being sick. Or having Isaac be sick. It is like a merry go round, it keeps coming back around. Isaac was sick last week with some sort of a head cold, and I had to take him to Community Care. Then I had migraines all last week. Then Isaac got feeling better, and I got an ear infection. Isaac took me to community care yesterday. Now Isaac is getting sick again, with a sore throat. It's never-ending. I am grateful that we aren't married (yet), and therefore don't have children (yet). Because I can imagine this being a lot worse. Eventually, all of it will hopefully go away. Until then, we are registering for classes next fall, working, and just trying to make it to the end of the semester. Only a few more weeks! In just three weeks we will be both done with finals. And in three weeks and two days we will be getting sealed to each other for eternity! :)

Newly employed

I got a job today! Yep. Big deal. Now, I will have income!!!! :)

I'm off to do P90X abs with my roommate...
I've gotta get back in shape somehow!

Isn't it beautiful?

Isn't life beautiful when everything starts to work out? Just when you are at your wits end, and you have so many things you are worrying about, everything always comes together. Maybe not the way you expected, or even wanted, but in the way that was the best for you.

A few weeks ago, I was stressed out beyond reason. I needed to find a job, Isaac and I need to find a place to live, I was overwhelmed with school, stressed about random wedding things, and I didn't know how in the world I was going to do it all, or if it would even work out.

But alas, it all has worked out so far. We have found a place to live, we sign the contract next Monday. I am going to move into there, and then Isaac will slowly move his stuff in and then we will both live there after we get married. It is so perfect for us. It has a washer/dryer. It is a half of a block off campus, and the size that we wanted. AND, it won't break the bank! :) It is unfurnished, and luckily we have all of the furniture that we will need. Between my parents, and others giving us many things. I can't wait to marry my sweetheart and move in together! It will be an adventure.

I have had several job interviews, and currently have been offered one job, possibly two. I will be able to work, and help out with the finances! WHOOP! :) I should have a job by the end of the week. Not a moment too soon.

School has been fine. I am making it through my last science class. Since I decided to change my major, I no longer have to take summer classes (bonus). I was also able to withdraw from Anatomy & Physiology. Which was a blessing in disguise. As it has freed up a bunch of my time, and made it easier for me to accomplish so many things. It has also decreased the stress in my life by about 100 million percent. Which in turn has made it easier for me to be able to have a little bit of time to do small things for the wedding.

It's amazing what happens when you have faith that everything will work. When you have someone by your side who helps you with everything. I am so grateful for Isaac, and for the amazing person that he is. He is selfless, and always so willing to help me with everything. I am also grateful for our families and for all of the things that they all do to help us out. Most of all, though, I am grateful for my Heavenly Father. He wants me to succeed more than anyone, and I know that he places things and people in my life to help me succeed to my best ability. That's why He has given me the opportunity to marry Isaac. To learn and grow in ways that I cannot do by myself. So that I can realize what is really important in this life, and to learn what I came here to do. But also, so that I can feel the encircling power that love is. Every day, I am more and more aware of what love is. A portion of it is caring so much about someone, that you will do anything for them. You will put their happiness above yours. Wanting them to be successful, and doing anything to help them get there. It is through the love that Isaac shows me, that I realize just how much my Heavenly Father loves me.

Decisions

Recently there have been a few things that have changed. Decisions are hard. As is life. Something that I've thought I wanted since I was about 15 years old, suddenly I just don't want anymore. The con's far out weigh the pro's. I'm trying to make up my mind and figure out something else for my life. It's almost like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. And pretty much like there is no stress anymore. Well, not any overwhelming stress that I can't handle that is. We'll see what the future brings with all of the decisions that are coming my way.
Easily enough though, I know that I will be able to handle this and make the right decisions for my future. Changing my major never sounded so good. I'm not positive what I'm going to be changing it to yet, but I have a few options that I am looking into. Pharmacy just doesn't really fit into what I want anymore. It will take a long time to get through, will be extremely expensive, and if I decide not to work when I am out of school, there will be no point in racking up that much debt. So I'm going to get a degree in something that will help me in raising my future children, and help out my future family. I am not positive yet, but I am meeting with an adviser tomorrow to figure it out.
We'll see what the future brings! Through lots of prayer and research, I'll be able to figure it all out. Change is sometimes scary, but it is going to worth it. Wish me luck.

July

Wow. What a month. I'm sure glad it flew by, and it doesn't seem like it even came to begin with.
I've been meaning to blog about so many things the past few weeks. But I just haven't had time. Working these two jobs, sleeping, and eating are pretty much what I have time for. I do have a few things that I want to document though, but it is going to take a few posts.

I got a letter. About two weeks ago. I checked the mail that day, and it was sitting on top of the stack right inside of the mailbox. Before I reached into grab it, I just wanted to cry. Almost six months of waiting for it, and there it was. Part of me was worried it would confirm my worst fears, or that it would be better than I had hoped for. It made me realize just how much I love him. It didn't say anything too significant, but it was a letter. And, that in and of itself was significant enough. My favorite sentence, "I hope because of my neglect that you don't think my feelings have changed towards you, because they haven't one bit. I love you Mariah. I know that I haven't showed it recently, but I do. I love you." He is such an incredible missionary. I love when he shares his experiences, struggles, and successes with me. Knowing all of the great things he is doing makes this time so much easier. "I am definitely not the same 19 year old boy that arrived in the MTC 18 months ago. It is hard for me to notice the changes because I have seen the whole process but I can tell that I am different." I am so incredibly proud of him. He is learning and growing so much, becoming even more amazing than he was when he left. He loves sharing this gospel, and I can tell just by reading his words that his testimony is growing.
He comes home pretty soon. One whole semester, and then he will be here. That is the weirdest thought, I am getting so used to him being gone. But, boy, am I excited!! :)

Lucky

I am such a lucky girl. I've got so many people who love me and who help me out constantly. I don't know what I would do or where I would be without any of them. Also, I love my job at domino's. For the most part. It is
I started this post on Sunday July 1st. And then fell asleep with my laptop open, so there were about a trillion f's across the screen. I think I wanted to finish that sentence with fantastic? Who knows.

All I know is, on Sunday I didn't really know how incredibly lucky/blessed I really am. I could only fathom a very small portion. I have so much to be grateful for, and instead of telling you all about my past week, I am just going to make a list of things that I am SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR:

1. My life. I am so blessed to be here today. It is amazing

 how one experience can change your outlook on

 even the simple things like having more time here.

2. My family. I am so grateful that families can be forever,

 and that my family will be together forever. With that, I am 

grateful for the temple and my ability to go there often.

3. Isaac DeMar Wood. I can't even explain this one. 

The impact he has had on my life is not even explainable. Even though

 I haven't seen him in 18 months, the impact he has on me continues to 

grow. I am a better person because this man loves me.

4. Miracles.

5. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have no idea

 where I would be without it. It means the world to me.

6. My jobs. In this economy, there are so many that don't

 even have one job, and I am lucky enough to have two. To help me

 pay for college, and also all of the things along the way that come up.

7. My loving Father in Heaven. Who knows me, loves me

 unconditionally, and is always watching out for me.

8. My parents. My dad is the most incredible man ever.

 He would do absolutely anything for me, and he loves 

me so much. My mom is amazing, and does 

a lot for me. I love them both so much.

9. America. Not only am I grateful for it, but I am grateful to live here. 

There are so many freedoms that I have that I have taken for granted in the

 past, that so many men and women have fought to protect. I am also

 grateful for the founding fathers, and that they were led and 

guided to write an amazing document such as the Constitution.

10. The power of prayer. Not only am I grateful that I can pray 

to my Heavenly Father, I am also grateful that He answers 

our prayers with so much power behind them.

 

Five

My life lately consists of about four things, (okay 5..):

1. Work, 34ish hours this week, Yipppppeeeee.

2. School. I am on to my second summer class. Yay for sitting in a classroom for 2.5 hours, 4 days a week, for 4 weeks learning about American History..

3. Reading for my history class, I have not one, but TWO books to read.

4. Naps. Everyday :)

5. Missing my sweet missionary boy. 7 more months people!

It may be boring, but, well it's busy. Time is FLYING...

Also, this song, is my absolute favorite these days. Maybe it's the voice..

Yep, definitely the voice.

Psych!

Right now I'm taking Intro to Psychology. It started yesterday, and is my first summer semester class. 4 weeks long = crazy business. There are four exams, so that means one a week. Yay for that. It is just the bomb, because I have class four days a week, for two and a half hours each time. It is just fabulous. not. On the bright side, it will be done with pretty quick, and isn't too boring. It is a little bit interesting. 

Domino's work apparel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haircut, and parted on the wrong side now.

This week's favorites:

Chick-fil-a waffle fries w/ Polynesian sauce!

Working at Domino's :)

Just plain having a job, or two really (ie money) again

Country music

Skype video call on Mother's Day with the missionary

my new haircut

new Carrie Underwood CD

Isaac's basketball shorts