Chapter 3: What an Adventure

The BIG Move.

I call this chapter 3 because it has definitely been new phase in our life. We officially moved out of our beloved United States of America.

I have even provided you with a map. Orange = America and Green = Indonesia

Now show your kids and pretend like you knew where Indonesia really was.....

Through this whole process I have heard "oh what an adventure" "what an amazing experience" which  made me personally think of what those phrases really meant. 

TO me this is what it means:

“To venture causes anxiety, but not to venture is to lose one's self.... And to venture in the highest is precisely to be conscious of one's self.” 
― Søren Kierkegaard

“Adventure is allowing the unexpected to happen to you. Exploration is experiencing what you have not experienced before.
― Richard Aldington

“I'm an adventurer, looking for treasure” 
― Paulo Coelho

“Every day God invites us on the same kind of adventure. It's not a trip where He sends us a rigid itinerary, He simply invites us. God asks what it is He's made us to love, what it is that captures our attention, what feeds that deep indescribable need of our souls to experience the richness of the world He made. And then, leaning over us, He whispers, "Let's go do that together.” 
― Bob Goof

Good or bad, I'm still not sure if "this" is an adventure. It is simply my life.
-Sarah Bindrup  You CAN quote me.


Rich, Els and I traveled by plane obviously. I was dreading the 24 hour flight with a baby. However, I truly lucked out and somehow landed a perfect baby for the flight. She was fine...the entire time. No crying spells, no throw up stories, or diaper mishaps. Just a long boring flight, which I don't mind.

Els just hanging out. Being a good little girl.

                                  

      We stopped in Seoul Korea after our first 15 hour flight for the night. Perfect stop. Beautiful place -

The flights were long. But I feel very blessed to have had such a wonderful baby and positive husband through the whole process. (diapers, bottles, formula, toys, bows, wipes, food, clothes, OH mY!) It also helps that Asians generally just LOVE babies...crying or not. Korean Air was marvelous.

King of Hearts

February 2009

Ok. So I don't have a picture to prove it but Rich made me my first dinner on my 25th Birthday. I walked in from work and he had one of my favorite little dishes already on a plate. He stated "I made this just for you!" I was thinking..that is  A LOT of work for a guy who NEVER cooks. It was my first Bday though with him, maybe he called his mom and made this whole meal for me! I didn't want to call him out if he HAD made such a nice meal.

I was excited and ate the fairly delicious alfredo, that looked somewhat like this.......

However, later that night after cleaning I spotted it. The truth, that looked like this.

It was so sweet how he misled me. JK! I laughed though and wanted to remember how he "made me" my first meal. I then confronted him later on that week.

For VALENTINES DAY we went to Idaho Falls and spent the weekend there. Rich did Make me a REAL card and made it a very special day!

Janny 09'

January was a good time. Rich and I moved into our new 1st apartment together.   We put things together like any newlywed poor couple would do. Nice handmade quilt (compliments of Mom Smith)with crusty old curtains.

I even got the urge to become more of a "homemaker" by making my first homemade Lemon Meringue PIE! It was a surprise for Rich.

 I guess I got the surprise. Rich does not, I repeat DOES NOT like Lemon Meringue Pie.  OOoops.

Aloha December!

Following our marriage, Richard had to return to Washington to complete his internship. I went back to Salt lake...to my roommates. Awkward. But Temporary. Rich returned to SLC the 2nd week in December. We then had an open house in Las Vegas at Tami's house. It was great to meet his friends and more family!

December didn't end there. Christmas 2008, our First Xmas together, we went on a Cruise to Hawaii! This was my first time to Hawaii and I was ecstatic.

Santa even visits Cruise Lines........who knew?!

Our ship. Celebrity Cruise Line December 2008

                                                                                                             

Merry Christmas!

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY Rich(24) He made friends with all of the Indonesians so I asked them to make a special appearance and sing him Happy Birthday Indo style.

                                                                                                                                                                We were even able to visit Pearl Harbor on the Island of Oahu. (Attack on Pearl Harbor Sunday, December 7th 1941).

This was an amazing Beach. Where Obama "grew up"...............................or did he?

Snorkeling was the BEST.

 One Beautiful beach after another. Could not get enough of the warm weather, sandy beaches, and the FOOD.

 Formal night on the Cruise. We wanted to celebrate that we were still alive after making it through a treacherous night full of adventure. The day began with 620 curves of winding sickness aka the ROAD TO HANA....or Hates. We wanted to take the road all the way to a rainforest. It seemed like a great idea at the time.

I will never forget this trip as I literally thought I was going to die. After the hours of riding in the car we finally made it to the rainforest where we could hike. We were told that there was a huge waterfall at the end. The workers warned us it would be dark soon and not to go far...if at all. So what did we do? We all started out (Grandma C, Tami, Paul, Ryan (who JUST had heart surgery), Marie, and Dean, David, Katie, Alexis,  Richard and myself.  It was beautiful. The luscious green trees, the wild bamboo segments, the smells, and wild animals. Then it started raining, then pouring rainforest style. One by one people started head back. Ryan, Rich and I wanted to make it to the top. SO we kept going. Dumb...yes! It became pitch black and raining so hard you couldn't see in front of you. To make a LONG story shortER, Rich lost a shoe, Ryan got pneumonia, I cried and almost didn't make it past a river. We were lost and they had a search party headed out for us. It was dark, cold, and exhausting. After 2 or 3 hours of finding our way back down the mountain, in the dark, Rich limping on my shoulder shoeless, we FINALLY found the others. Then we headed back in the car, back to the Road to Hana, back to our ship. MADE IT! Exciting and unforgettable.

Merry Christmas 2008

Fly Me to the Moon....

Thanks Frank.  Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=675Q9SIajBs  

One of my personal favs. For some reason I listened to a lot of Frank and Patsy Cline in the month of November. Weird combo, maybe. But enjoyable and soothing.

November 29th, came and went. It was a beautiful but chilly Fall day in Idaho Falls. Rich and I were sealed for Time and all Eternity in the morning. We then had a lunch(provided by papa Bindrup) at Johnny Carino's. Following lunch we had our reception at the historic Shelton mention previously. We were pleased that all family members were able to come (minus James Bindrup *serving his mission*) eat(2nd most important thing), and enjoy our special day with us. 

Coming out of the Temple with my new companion.

Whispering Sweet Nothings....probably more nothings.

Had to get the classic pic in front of the Falls!

No this is not Europe! Its downtown I.F. baby

Me and Marvelous

Tami and Richard

November 29th, 2008 

October Festivities

One month before marriage. What is a girl to do? Skip out on wedding details and head to D.C.

I guess we were somewhat productive. This is where we got our
 engagement photos taken

Yep, Id say it was a winner

We had the best of times. Night after eating Ethiopian Cuisine and watching an old man try to serenade us with his made up songs.

Rich had the "in" and we had a personal tour of the Capital. Ok anyone can do it.

This is the Modern Art exhibit. We spent about an hour watching people climb a ton of stairs that led to nowhere. Oh the confusion....Funny if you were there!

September FORGET her.

The month of September was a bit harsh.  New job, new roommates, new location, just engaged and I lost my new best friend. Rich took an internship in DC one week following our engagement.

On a positive note, not being distracted by Rich I was able to drive home most weekends. I then was able to get my wedding arrangements figured out.

A big Thank YOU to Momma Smith and Meghan Frandsen for booking my reception center at the Lovely Historic Shelton.  A Restored building built in 1909 with remarkable craftsmanship and exquisite exterior stone !

Flowers, Shoes, Dress, Food, Invitations, Photographer, Decor, registry, Cake, Music Playlist(thank YOU mars tech savvy sister)...............................................................................................DONE.

I was delighted that all of those things were taken care of but It takes a couple of months to fulfill the wedding checklist. I was really grateful that Rich and I chose to prepare during our lifetime to be married in the Temple.

* Marriage performed under the law of the gospel and the holy priesthood is for mortal life and for eternity. Worthy men and women thus sealed in the temple in marriage may continue as husband and wife throughout eternity. For more info please visit http://www.lds.org.

I love to see the Temple!