Tis the season!

It's my favorite time of the year again! And I can't even believe how fast this year has gone by. We just recently passed the one year mark from the day Jake asked me to marry him. I'll never forget the feeling of being on top of that mountain with my handsome man down on one knee with that big shiny ring, shaking and saying those five words I had been dying to hear. Time has gone by so fast and so many things have happened since! 

• We got married on March 10
• Finished the year at SUU in May
• Jake was super sick and in the hospital in May....(worst few weeks of my life)
• We moved back home shortly after, then into our lovely house we have now!
• Got our sweet pup Lucy....yes, she is our baby.
• Worked our bums off all summer (two jobs each)
• Started school again at Dixie State
• I got my amazing MA job!
• Finished another semester of college (finals just finished, we barely survived..) 

I'm sure there are plenty of things I forgot. It's been a hectic, fulfilling, and great year! We've already been through so much in our 9 months of marriage (9 months, really!?) Time is just going by too fast. 

Life has been so good lately. It's been stressful and yes, sometimes I feel like I'm going to explode but luckily for me I have my dear husband who keeps me calm and reminds me to have an eternal perspective. I won't lie, life is good when you know what the plan is! Lately I've been doing some thinking. Maybe some soul searching, maybe some digging deep down inside, whatever you want to call it. The last few weeks I've been especially trying to focus on that eternal perspective. Since it's all too easy to get caught up in the ways of the world, we've been communicating and praying for the guidance we need. I've probably said it a hundred times but I'm so glad I get to have the priesthood in my home, and Jake is SUCH an amazing priesthood holder. I'm not sure if I've ever seen someone so dedicated and faithful to what he knows is his most important calling. He's an amazing husband, head of our household, and I know he'll be an amazing dad someday. I know I don't thank him enough for all he does for us, and I know that he isn't even aware of all the amazing things he does everyday. 

Another thing I've realized this year is how important my relationship with my parents is. I've always been close with them, but especially since I got married we have become even closer. They still do so much for me and I will never be able to thank them enough. Love you Mom and Dad. 

Over Thanksgiving break my dad, my aunt and I were finally able to do my Grandma's temple work. She passed away in February 2011 and we've been waiting anxiously to be able to get the work done. (Don't tell my Grandpa! haha) It was such a beautiful experience and I could feel her spirit so strongly. I was extremely close with my Grandma, she was my very best friend and I couldn't have been happier. She was finally able to do what she has been waiting for. The temple is such an amazing and peaceful place, everytime I go I just have to sit in awe of how perfect it is inside that big white building. Jake and I make an effort to go at least once every month and it is so worth it. 

Lately, we've been really busy. Some days Jake and I don't even get to see eachother until bed time. Since we both work, we had to take night classes which made it near impossible to spend any time together, so we made a priority that every Friday night would be our 'date night.' It might seem silly, but it is the BEST DECISION we've made lately! It makes a huge difference when we actually set aside time and call it a date. No matter what we do. Sometimes we go to dinner and a movie, dinner and get a redbox, go  get frozen yogurt, drive around and do nothing, make dinner at home and go shopping, whatever it is it seems like as long as we call it a date it feels so much better. We get to unwind after a hard week and talk for hours. It has made such a positive impact on our marriage.

We were also able to get some fall pictures done recently. Of course, we had Jostlyn Stilson with Roz Photography do them. She is amazing and has become a good friend as well! We love the way she takes our pictures. She's creative and so sweet, and never disappoints! And yes, we even brought Lucy to be in our pictures. She's our baby! For now ;)

Fall is here!

Hi everyone! My favorite time of the year is finally here. It's FALL! And so many great things have happened since my last update.
For example: Fall scented candles are now in every inch of our home!

Mulberry, Apple Cinnamon, and my favorite: Pumpkin Pie!

 

 

I got these at Michael's for 3 for $10! Best purchase I've made. I also bought this wreath for our front door because I am just too darn busy to make my own! It was also only like ten bucks from Michaels!

 

 

 

 

               Then of course I had to buy some cute sparkly pumpkins for our entertainment center:

 

 

I love fall! Did I say that already? Anyways. Another exciting announcement that most people already know about is that I transferred jobs and am now working as a Medical Assistant at Intermountain Family Practice! (It's in the same building as Instacare on River Road, and we're getting our very own building Spring of 2013!) And I LOVE it! I just finished my second week there. I'll be working for Dr. Spanos, who is awesome. I've been training and doing rooming for several doctors and doing TONS and TONS of flu shots. I didn't think I was going to enjoy poking people so much! If you're not sure what a medical assistant does, the answer is easy. They do EVERYTHING. I knew it was going to be a lot of hard work but I still had no idea how much they do! Next time you go to the doctors office, smile at the MA who rooms you! I have a whole new appreciation for them. We room all the patients, get everything ready for them and the doctor, do all the vaccinations and other shots, all the paperwork, call in prescriptions and so much more. All of the girls I work with are so sweet and they work so hard. I can look up to each and every one of them and I respect them so much! I love Family Practice because they really are like a family. I've never felt so accepted so quickly and I'm just already so proud to work there. We are a team! I'm so lucky to have this job. I'm also very blessed because I didn't have to go through the year program at DXATC like I was thinking about doing for a while, they do all the training on the job! I am full benefits eligible and will be able to get health, dental, and life insurance for Jake and I (and our future family!) all through Intermountain! It's a great company that I am so proud to work for. And can I just say that cleaning toilets for those three months was SOOOO worth it?? I am lucky!

 

Another awesome thing I got to experience was....let's hear it...drum roll please....THE JUSTIN BIEBER CONCERT!!!!! Yes, I have Bieber Fever and it is so contagious! My best friend Jordyn invited me and I said yes quicker than I could even ask Jake (good thing he loves me!) The concert was in Vegas and I was even more excited to hear that Carly Rae Jepsen was opening for him! It was on September 30 at the MGM hotel. I will just say right now, it was amazing. We were screaming just as loud as all the 13 year old girls next to us and I had a sore throat for days afterwards! He was so good live, even I was impressed! He has such talent and it's incredible to watch him on stage and the way he interacts with the thousands of people in the croud. BEST.NIGHT.EVER.

 





 

 

I am so beyond lucky to have a friend like Jordyn. Not just because she takes me to Justin Bieber concerts and stuff, but because she is so loyal and loving. She is always there for me no matter what and accepts me truly for who I am. She is such a sweet soul and I have so much fun with her. I can confide in her completely and know that she will do nothing but respect me and care for me. I might not always show it as often as I should, but I really am so grateful for her and for the example and friend she is to me!

 

 

 

Another new thing going on is that Jake and I have made a tradition. We've been married for almost seven months now (can you believe that?!?) And we have tried to do a date night once a month or so. Lately we decided we would make that every Friday night. We work so much and so hard with school and work that we really don't get to see eachother much during the week, so the weekends are pretty much the only time we have together. Fridays are our night. We make it ritual to do something fun whether it be dinner and a movie, fiesta fun and fast food, whatever it is usually depends on our paychecks haha. I just love him so much and am lucky to have a sweet husband like Jake.

 

 

The final thing I love about Fall (and Spring too, if we're gonna get technical) is the Semi-Annual General Conference on the first weekend of October! This morning was the very first session and we woke up early to make sure we could enjoy it. I woke up to Jake in the kitchen unloading the groceries he got at Harmon's while I was snoozing. I'm talking the whole nine yards; bacon, sausage, juice, fruit, yummy bread for french toast and a rose for me! Then we got to watch the first session. We are so very lucky to have a living Prophet and Apostles to guide us in these days. I am grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! I know my Heavenly Father loves all of his children and chooses these messengers to help us return to live with Him again. I know Thomas S. Monson is a true Prophet and that we will be blessed if we listen to his counsel. Every day I am reminded of the Savior's love for me.

 

 



 

 









hungry for an update?

HEY GUYS! Turns out I am the worst blogger alive....mostly becuase we don't have the internet in our new place yet. Which brings me to our first subject of this update...WE HAVE OUR OWN PLACE! Remember how I was super excited that we were thinking about moving up to Leeds to live for free? (insert dramatic response from family here..) Well after much prayer and consideration it turns out, that was NOT the best choice for us. So we skipped out on it. One day I was looking online for places to rent in St. George and one of the first ones I came across was a cute, spacious, two bedroom apartment right by the college, Swig, the hospital, AND Dixie Fireplaces. Perfection? We thought so too. So we went and looked at it, fell in love, and within 16 hours we were putting down the deposit. It all happened so fast that we didn't even have enough time to talk about all the details, it just felt so right and we went with it. On July 1, we moved in! (Well, Jake moved in because I was working a 15 hour day at both my jobs and wasn't even there to help..) I came home from work that day and my sweet husband and moved everything in by himself, with the help of his awesome cousin Rhett. (S/O to Rhett! Thanks for all your help!) and we were the happiest we'd been since, well since our wedding day and honeymoon! We felt so blessed and happy that we couldn't even believe we had gotten such a great place. We are so in love! I know I should be posting pictures right now but of course I don't have my camera with me at the school library! Yes, I only get internet at the school library. Welcome to the student life. We are planning on getting WiFi in our place ASAP. IT IS SO CUTE!! Can I just tell you all how in love with our home I am?? Two bedrooms with enough room to spare, our master bedroom has a MASTER BATHROOM WITH TWO SINKS!! And a walk in closet. Are you dying yet? We have our own washer and dryer, a big living room and kitchen and the guest bedroom closet has so much room I can even fit all my extra clothes that won't fit in our closet. I'm a diva and loving it. I am so in love with our home and even more in love with my husband that I get to share it with! We have had plenty of trials in the short five months we've been married, (can you believe it's been five months!?) and like I always say, there is no way we could get through it all without the Lord's help. It's been a crazy adventure and I've grown so much since we got married. I've learned so many things and I even look back on the Marina from a few months ago and laugh at how much I've changed. I am so grateful for all of it.
Some more things that have changed:
I got a new job at the hospital working in Pediatrics, and I LOVE IT. Jake quit Red Rock Canyon School and is now working full-time at Dixie Fireplaces. School just started yesterday and we can't even believe another semester is here already. Am I really a sophomore in college? We are celebrating our six month anniversary here in like two weeks and I can't wait to see how we celebrate. Time goes by so fast! I'm not really 'officially' working at Swig anymore, just when they need me, and it makes me a little bit sad. I love that job. As stressful as it is believe it or not, I love the fun atmosphere there and am going to miss it so much. And the sugar cookies. dont judge. I thought I'd take a second to tell you guys (the few of you who read my blog...hi Mom) some things I've learned to make life a little bit easier.

• Don't take things too seriously. I've been known to do that in my life and by taking things a little less serious, I've benefitted big time. What is making you rip your hair out right now, won't even matter next week. The crappy job you are having to work right now is going to pay off and then you won't even remember doing it.
• Sometimes you have to do things you hate in order to do something you love. I've been having to do a lot of that lately. Working 60 hour weeks, never seeing my husband, cleaning toilets (yeah, I did that for a few months..) It's all going to pay off and getting that experience is going to get you closer to doing what you love.
• GO TO SCHOOL. Last semester you couldn't have paid me enough to say that. SUU ripped me a new one and I hated every second of it. But over the summer and coming back to Dixie has made me realize how important education is. You can't really go anywhere without it, unless you magically fall into an awesome career and it's not necessary. Yes, I know a few people like that, and if you are one of them you are awesome! However, even if you got a great job and feel like you don't need school, try it out anyways. The college atmosphere at Dixie State is so much fun and it's motivating to do the work. It helps you feel accomplished, even if its just one or two online classes. I work full time so I can't take the school load I want, but I'm still doing my best and it feels great. (12 credits, go me!)
• Remember all the horrible things that one girl did to you and you can't help but think about her and be super angry? Get over it. Yeah seriously. I know one (or a few) of those girls who LOVE to have drama and make people miserable. Yes, they are awful, but by sitting around being bitter and saying mean things about them puts you closer to their level. Let's all make an effort to be positive, loving, and even try to do that one big F word. Forgive. Be happy!
• Make friends. I'll admit, getting married made me a little antisocial for a while. Until I realized that we were almost falling into that monotonous lifestyle where you wake up, work, eat, go to sleep. And everyone's lives were going on too and you were missing out on most of it. Make time to call that friend you haven't seen in a while, stop by your friend's work for a second if you're in the area and say hi. I know it's hard, trust me, but it's worth it. Let's make time for friendships and maybe even go the extra mile to let someone know you are thinking about them. We all need a social life!

I could probably think of more things to write, but I'm starving. I'm in the school library and my stomach is grumbling like you wouldn't believe. People are starting to stare.

I'll make a super effort to post pictures of our new place ASAP! I promise :) love you all!

-Marina Goodrich

p.s Since my blog posts are always ugly and boring...does anybody wanna help me make them cute? thanks!

Blessings come by the handfuls

Remember my last post? The one about how depressed I was Jake and I couldn't find jobs and it seemed as though we were never going to catch a break. Well, this blog post title sums it up perfect. Blessings do come, and when they do, they come by the handfuls. I won't waste any time getting to the good part. After a month of applying at every place we could think of, countless interviews, we thought for sure we were destined to be unemployed and poor forever. One day last week, I got a call from the cute little owner of Swig. {yes, Swig, my FAVORITE place ever!!} She wanted me to come in for an interview. Sure, this wasn't a high paying dream job, but it was something. And a better something than working at somewhere I hated. ^^Remember I love Swig? Ten minutes into the interview she told me she wanted to hire me and that I would start the next day. That was the first blessing. The second came the very next day WHILE I was at my first day of work at Swig. Jake was waiting for me to get off work and so he drove across the street over to Dixie Gun & Fish to waste some time. While driving there, he said he felt prompted to go into the Fireplace company right next door. He'd never been there before but decided to follow the prompting anyways. He walked in and struck up a conversation with the owner. After talking for about an hour, the owner told Jake he could tell he was a good man and a hard worker and offered him a job installing fireplaces and being the handyman around the store. Although it wasn't a 40 hour a week job, it was a start. And a good one. The NEXT day, Jake and I were getting ready to leave for Salt Lake with his family, and I got a phone call from Dixie Regional Medical Center informing me that I have been chosen for the position I interviewed for last week. Marina has two jobs: check! Jake also is able to go work for his brother's pipe inspection business for the oil rigs. He makes extremely good money and is able to go up as often as we need-making more in three days than he would in two or three weeks or work. His brother offered to let him go up as much as possible!
Next blessing: Jake's grandparents have lived in their house in Leeds for like, pretty much forever. Two weeks ago they moved down to Bloomington to be closer and to get the help they need. The house in Leeds is owned by Jake's aunt Liz and they were talking about how they are going to clean it out and get rid of everything but didn't know what to do with it. We didn't think too much of this talk besides how sad it was that his grandparents had to leave their home of 50+ years. A few days later, being so caught up in finding a new apartment of our own, Jake's mom told us that aunt Liz offered us to live in that house. For free. FOR FREE! At first we were a little apprehensive because it's Leeds, but the simple fact that we are going to live in a three bedroom home without paying rent and we will save SOOOOO MUCH money that the extra gas money won't even matter. Not only that, but we can use the money we would've paid for a deposit and first and last months rent on a place would allow us to buy couches, a TV, and a few other nice things we wouldn't normally be able to afford and start setting up our home! We will hopefully be moving in towards the end of this month after some painting, cleaning, and redoing that good old fashioned popcorn ceiling stuff. Is it just me, or are we being blessed way beyond what we deserve!?
I have a feeling this post is going to be a long one. I have so much to be grateful for and I just feel it coming out of my fingers and there's nothing I can do about it.
I also want to tell a little bit about this last weekend. We went to Salt Lake with Jake's family to go to the zoo and have a little family get away. This was perfect because Jake and I needed to go to Manti that Saturday for my good friend Paige's sealing. We woke up Saturday morning a little later than we should have and were stressing out about getting there on time. After driving way too fast through the way too middle of nowhere towns on the way to Manti, we made it in PLENTY of time. I was lucky enough to catch Paige in the entrance of the temple while she was waiting for Tommy to get there, and seriously everyone-she looked so beautiful! There is something about a girl on her wedding day that just makes her glow. I know I had the same thing on my big day and I couldn't be more happy for her being married to the love of her life in the House of the Lord. It was such a beautiful day! Her sealing was amazing and the Spirit was so there I almost teared up. After the sealing, I annoyingly chased her down to get a picture and then we left so we didn't intrude. I'm just so grateful she invited us to the sealing! After that, we went and got lunch at a small diner there in Manti and headed back to the temple to do an endowment session. All I have to say is the live sessions are INCREDIBLE!! I loved it so much. After the session, we wanted to do some sealings. We sealed about 40 families together and it was one of the greatest feelings ever. I have never been so sure of something as I am that the Temple is the most amazing place on Earth, you can feel the Spirit in every inch of the building and the work that goes on inside is incredible. Guys, life and the gospel is so good. Jake and I are so blessed it's unreal. I am constantly reminded of the love the Savior has for me and has all my interests in mind, he blesses us all! It might not be the second you expect it, or even the answer you were expecting, but something will always come and it will always be the best for you. Sometimes our plans don't match up with His, but that's because His are always better.
One last tidbit on this blog post before I end it, I just want to brag real quick about my sweet husband Jake. Every single day I am beyond amazed at how endlessly sweet, caring, compassionate and forgiving he is. He takes such good care of me and never fails to do everything in his power to provide for me. He is more than what I could have ever wished for a husband. I'm not just saying this stuff, it really is so true that sometimes I don't even believe it. My husband is amazing.
I'm done ranting about how awesome my life is for now. K, that sounded really bad. I'm just feeling super blessed and super grateful lately and I know whenever times are hard I can come back and read this to know how good life really is. I also hope there will be someone who stumbles across this post who is feeling down, and in my hoping this post doesn't come across as snobby or braggy, maybe this can shed some light and let someone know that blessings DO come. They will make all the waiting worth it.
XOXO

Keep Calm & Count Your Blessings

I saw this picture while I was wasting time on Pinterest and decided I should blog about it. This picture means something to me for two reasons:
1.) I've gained like a whole mess of weight since getting married. Everybody told me it would happen, and I guess a small part of me wanted to test that.
2.) I kind of have nothing better to do than eat cookies. All day long.
Jake and I are going through SOME kind of trial. A month ago, he got sick. Long story short; he had neck pains that turned into whole body pains that turned into a very very serious infection that turned into a very scary abscess that nestled itself right at the base of his skull, cutting off his artery and several nerves located there. After weeks of being in pain, we finally took him to the hospital where they started him on heavy IV antibiotics and ran a bunch of tests. Antibiotics couldn't get to the abscess-and it was starting to move down his chest (which could have eventually killed him-yes I'm serious) and one surgery and six days later, he was allowed to go home where I had to give him antibiotics through the PICC line IV in his arm for a week, and now he's finishing up his pill antibiotics. During this time, we had finals, and also moved from Cedar City to St. George. Sometimes I don't know how I survived it-but then I tell myself there are so many people who go through SO much worse.


Lately, it's been hard not to be discouraged. Jake and I are both still looking for jobs and nothing has come through. Luckily, he has been able to pick up some side work for a few people which gets us by. I've applied for countless jobs, even had an interview at SkyWest for a position I thought FOR SURE I would get, and heard nothing back. I've emailed resume after resume, talked to manager after manager, and nothing has happened. I know what you're thinking, how does that even happen? I know people who are practically illiterate with multiple jobs, and I can't even get ONE MEASLY JOB. 


We've been fasting and praying for a while now and I've come to the conclusion that Heavenly Father must be holding out for something good. Jake keeps reminding me that we are living our lives the way we are supposed to but we have to be patient for the Lord's plan. Sometimes I get carried away and forget that His plan really is so much better than my own. I'd for sure say that Jake is the rock in our relationship, he keeps me strong and I am so grateful everyday that I have such an incredible husband who loves me unconditionally and always encourages me to keep going. I know we will be blessed and I'm definitely learning to be patient. In the mean time, we are receiving many small blessings:
-Tax refund that saved our butts
-Jake's brakes that went out-miracle the mechanic managed to save his rotors and it only ended up costing us $34 instead of $250.
-Jake's valet job in Las Vegas at Caesar's Palace that lets him go down any time he wants and work.
We really are so blessed. Sometimes I feel like I don't acknowledge that enough because I'm not receiving the big things right now but I do know that I have the biggest blessing of all through being married and sealed to my best friend (mushy gushy say that in every post, I know) but it's so true and I'm forever grateful for him getting me through the days. There is no shame in humble beginnings-and I know that. I just hope some things come through for us in the next few weeks. In the mean time, we are enjoying all the time we get to spend together and our first summer as a married couple! Jake is currently in Las Vegas working at his valet job for the next three days-this is the first time we've ever spent a night apart and yes I am dying and wondering how I'm going to sleep alone. We're pathetic and totally in love. :) Until next time, XOXO!

Spring of 2011- boy met girl. boy kissed girl. girl fell for boy. boy fell for girl (yes, in that order.) Best, most exhausting summer of my life. At least up until that point, anyways. Fall of 2011-boy and girl both 'conveniently' started school at SUU. boy EXTREMELY falls in love with girl. girl gloats in her success. Winter 2011-boy asks girl to marry him. girl says yes. Spring 2012-BOY MARRIES GIRL! and that's where we are, ladies and gentleman.
SIDE NOTE: We both went to the same elementary school and high school. Cutest thing ever? I think so. 

Jake and I were married March 10, 2012 in the St. George, Utah LDS Temple. Best day of our lives. Since then, we have been an all you can eat buffet of live, laugh, and love. Marriage is the best, and anyone who says otherwise is either lying or sorely misinformed. It's the most fun I've had in my entire life, who can argue with waking up to your {incredibly handsome} best friend every single morning for the rest of your life? We are two very happy, overly lovey-dovey people who are doing their best and making it in this tough world! I'm going to try my VERY best to keep this updated so our friends and family can keep up with this married couple that is even worse at answering our phones. #sorrynotsorry <<<yes I did.
For those who aren't caught up on our lives right now: Jake and I just finished our first year at SUU and moved back home to sunny St. George! And we even love St. George so much that we won't be returning to Cedar City. Ever. We love being home so much and are so excited for our first summer as a married couple! We are job hunting like crazy, I have a job interview with SkyWest on Tuesday and I'm SO EXCITED because I've applied there like 5 times! Jake is doing some side work for a few companies to keep us afloat until he finds a better job. We aren't super poor YET which is a huge blessing.
We are just so extremely blessed and I know that is because we live the gospel. Lately is seems as though the opposition is EVERYWHERE and you can't even SAY you believe in God without someone attacking you with some stupid argument, and it's sooo frustrating. Since when did believing in something become a bad thing? I firmly believe The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. Sue me. But don't really. I am tempted to go off in some tangent where I rant about how judgmental people can get, but this is my blog so I don't have to defend myself. I believe what I believe and in turn I am so blessed and happy I couldn't imagine living any other way. Believing in things is what makes life worth it.
To end this short post, I'll say thank you for stopping by and checking on us! Also check out my soon-to-be blog I'm making with one of my very best friends Courtney Anderson. It's gonna be a really great compilation of all things marriage and funny and all the adventures we have in life....and probably some great things we see on the internet. LOVE YOU ALL