Meet The Levins

Keep a Look Out!

2011-01-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

Hey you guys! Yes, I still stink at this whole blogging thing, but now I have to keep up with it! For one of my classes this semester, I am creating a new blog that will be dedicated to marriage and family. This new blog will include some of the latest research conducted on marriages and families, advice given by professionals on how to strengthen your relationship with your spouse and unity in your family, pictures, YouTube clips, and much more!!!

This is something that I am VERY passionate about and look forward to sharing with you all! I will let you know as soon as it is posted and hope that you will become an active participant in sharing ideas, stories, and comments.

Incredible!

2010-09-07T18:36:00.000-07:00

Last week I finished reading "The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas" by By John Boyne. For those of you who have not read it, I highly recommend it. I am a big fan of reading WWII fiction and this book was amazing and provided me the opportunity of seeing through the eyes of a nine year old boy.

It is really an interesting perspective.

Here is the trailor for the movie:

One thing that I really liked about the movie is that it is actually very compareable to the book. Let me know what you think :)

Wild & Crazy Weekend...Full of Fun!!!

2010-09-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

Jeff and I had been waiting for this past weekend to come. Sad to say, it went by faster than it came :( My brother (Jared) and his family came up from American Fork to visit and we had such a blast. We were packed like sardines into our tiny apartment, but it was great!!!

We made homemade pizza Friday night and Had fun watching the kids play video games. Haha...it was so funny to see Hayden (the 5 yr old) beat everyone playing Mario Kart. Jared, Jen, Jeff and I played "Golf" (a card game) the rest of the night and enjoyed each other's company.

Saturday morning, we got everyone together in record time to got to Bear Lake (we may have forgotten the lunches we packed...but we made it). The weather was awesome and the water was cold, but that didn't stop us!

After we got home and cleaned up (there was sand everywhere and in all of the WORST places), Jared made some hot wings and we listened to the BYU game on the radio (GO COUGERS!!!)...while the kids played more games. Later we watched "Facing the Giants".

Sunday morning we went to our ward at 9:30. The kids were AWESOME (like always) during church and got so many compliments. I was one proud aunt! It was a great day all in all. It was nice to e able to go home and relax. He had fun putting together a puzzle and playing games as a family. After an awesome spaghetti dinner, we just hung out and enjoyed life. Later we watched "The Other Side of Heaven" and the kids lived it. After the kids went to bed, the adults played more card games.

Monday morning, Jeff and I took the fam to see the USU stadium and went on a small tour of the campus. Afterwards, we went to the temple and just enjoyed walking around it. Afterwards, we went back home and had lunch and got ready to go to the Willow Park Petting Zoo. We really did have a great time and enjoyed being together as a family. Can't wait till Conference weekend!!!

Home Sweet Home

2010-08-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

So, you all have to give me props. I think I am doing much better at posting, now if I can make a better effort at posting pictures...

So, after a very hectic two weeks, it feels great to be home. Now we just have to get back to the swing of things and back to a schedule. Jeff started school today and I am on the hunt for a new job. Preferably one that will allow me to work part time so I can finish my bachelors degree this year (YIPPY!!!)

So much has happend lately, life has changed. But in the midst of it all, I have really blessed in many ways and I know that bigger and better things are yet to come.

Less than a week ago, I lost my job. However, unlike usual, I didn't feel stressed about it. It was that same day I found out that I put, myself together and updated my resume and started to deliver them. The next day, I emailed about 45 resumes. On Saturday, I recieved a phone call from a Dr. that I worked for a little at the begining of last year who wants an interview on Wednesday. And today I got a call requesting an interview as well.

In short, this experience increased my testimony that the Lord really does have a plan for each one of us. I could have been upset that I lost my job, but I know that because I chose to act rather than to be acted upon, I was blessed.

We will see what happens. Stay tuned :)

School is out for the summa!

2010-08-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness. I know that this post is a long time coming. Is it not amazing how so much seems to happen in such a short amount of time??? It really feels like it was JUST last week that I finished up summer semester when in actuality it has been almost a month already. Within that short time, I was able to finish my summer class with an A, Jeff and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary and traveled all over Utah and to Boise visiting family.

Our anniversary was awesome! Because we never really got to enjoy a honeymoon after we got married, Jeff and I took a few extra days off of work to celebrate. I had no idea what to do for him, so after racking my brain for weeks, I decided to see if I could buy some Japanese Melon Pan (one of his favorite treats from his mission) on line. Unfortunately, to my dissmay, it was pretty expensive, so I did the next best thing and looked for a recipie.

Haha, call me clueless, but I had no idea that Japan used a completely different measuring system. All of the recipies I found were calling for 300 grams of flower...etc. Fourtunately, I found a blog that had translated the recipie. I felt as though I has struck gold! I prayed that it would turn out, considering I only had Jeff's description to go off of (a sweet roll with cookie topping). They kind of turned out like this:

I must admit, I was pretty impressed with myself. He LOVED it!

Anyway, Jeff had some tricks up his sleeves as well. We spent one of the days with some friends at Bear Lake. When we got back, Jeff unleashed his suprise :)

I knew that we were going out for dinner, but I had no idea where. After we got ready, we were walking out the door and there is a 1991 Cadilac limo pulled up to the front of our apartment. Haha! I must have been confused, because I continued walking to our car. So, we went to dinner at Iron Gate Grill (where we went on our first date when I came to visit). After that, we went to play miniature golf, and then finished up the evening with ice cream. We really had a great time :)

2010-04-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends and Family!!!

2010-04-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

Have no fear! Jeff and I are still alive. I just stink at blogging. I'd much rather look at everyone elses blog to see what they are up to and how cute they are :) Can ya blame me???
Anyway, so we have been married for 264 days...almost 9 months and we still love each other. We are both good and going strong. Three months to go and we will have reached our one year mark. WooHoo! We have seen many ups and downs just within these past nine months, but we have enjoyed the journey and are both looking forward to what the future holds.
Jeff and I just moved to a different apartment within our ward boundaries (because we love it sooooo much!) last weekend. Lets just say that we had some valuable learning experiences in our last apartment. Hope to get some pictures up asap. We are both working and going to school. Jeff just finished up another year here at Utah State and is getting closer to getting his bachelors in international business and economics with a minor in Japanese. What can I say?! He's a smart kid! He is also working in the computer labs here on campus and is looking to do an internship this summer with State Farm and wants to get another job as a bank teller. He is AMAZING!!!!
I, on the other hand have had to grow to love Logan. Now that spring is coming, it is much better. When we first moved here, I felt like a fish out of water and missed Rexburg soooo much, but now I LOVE my new life. I was fortunate to be able to work at my brother-in-law's berry stand on the highway for a few months as I continued to look for a dental assistant job. In the middle of September, we were blessed! Now, I work full time for Dr. Theurer (pronounced tire) and really enjoy it. I have also been able to continue my education with BYU-Idaho part time on line. Thank goodness for technology!
Jeff and I love our married student ward and have made some amazing friends. Jeff is serving as the ward choir director and is doing such a great job! I am the ward chorister and was just recently called as the second counselor in Relief Society.
We are both looking forward to summer and the chance of possibly going home :)

11 Days till new beginings...

2009-07-20T19:47:00.000-07:00

Well, my last "physical" semester is coming to a sad end. However, new beginings, adventures, and a new life is straight ahead. 11 days from now, I will be sealed for time and all eternity to the most wonderful man that truely completes me, loves me for who I am, and inspires me to new heights. Life is changing so rapidly for the both of us. We are both nervous yet excited beyond belief to be able to share in such a great experience together.
As time draws near, we look back fondly on our dating experiences and how we have grown both as individuals and as a couple through so many different and sometimes challenging experiences. Our love and appreciation for each other has only gotten stronger and more solid. Looking forward to what the future has to hold for us is exciting.

Bridals...with Jeff

2009-06-16T13:07:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law just started studying the art of photography about a year and a half ago and has taken some fabulous pictures of her family as well as other families, children, and babes. She has continued to improve this talent and I absolutely LOVE her pictures and what they capture. I really wanted her to take my bridals, and she was happy to oblige. We had such a blast...we even decided to include Jeff in some of them. Looking at them over and over again gets me even more excited about not only marrying this man, but sharing the rest of eternity with him. Here is the product of our adventure.

These first few were taken at the courthouse in American Fork

Close up

Throwing a little bit of Jeff in the mix :)

I really like this one!

This is taken at the same building as the first few. I thought it was a cool stone wall!

I can't decide which one I like better...black and white or color. I love them both!

This is my favorite one with Jeff in it :)

Jen knew all the cool places to take pictures! This location isn't too far from the courthouse.

Same ivy wall.

Haha! We had a blast with this one. The way we were posed reminded us of an old pioneer picture, so we went with it...man it was hard not to smile!!

One of my favorites as well!

Jen did such a great job! If you want to view more pics, her site is:

jenstaffordphoto.blogspot.com

2009-06-15T20:30:00.001-07:00

Yay!! We have a place to live :)

So, this past weekend I, with one of my neighbors and a roommate, traveled to Logan so I could fill out the application and pay the deposit (at 6:30 am Saturday morning) for our future home...for who knows how long. It was a very exciting process! Jeff and I have been looking and looking and we finally found this place about a month an a half ago. At first they didn't have any openings, but just within the last few weeks things changed! What a blessing!!! It is an older town home that is 2 storeys, has 2 bedrooms, a full bath, a kitchen, dining room, and living room. It's kind of a mess right now, but we are getting new carpet put in, new paint, and new light fixtures before we move in. We are so excited!!! Here are some of the pictures my roommate took for me. Thanks Cami!

Ooooo....we have a dishwasher! Seriously, it's a luxury :)

And a fridge...and a stove.

Will you just look at that counter top space?!

Dinning room

Part of the living room

The rest of the living room...we even have a little wood stove to keep us warm :)

Bathroom sink...not too fond of the counter top design, but I can't complain!

The rest of the bathroom.

Hall way closet

Bedroom...complete with fancy orange carpet that is being replaced.

Bedroom closet space

Same closet, different room.

2 1/2 weeks down, 2 to go!

2009-06-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

KOREA

My handsome man has been away from me for 2 1/2 weeks on a studay abroad trip for school and has 2 1/2 weeks to go. I totally can't wait to see him again! He has been all over the place; Korea, some major cities in China, and he is going to Vietnam too. I am so grateful that he is making this sacrifice before we get married. I don't have very many pictures yet from his trip...too busy having a blast, but here are are a few cool ones from Korea. Enjoy!!

The inside of a cool palace.

World's largest dinner bell. J/k, but it would have worked for my family :)

Beautiful pond.

Haha!! I thought this was the funniest thing!! It's a public drinking fountan...take a cup!

We aren't the only ones who do reenactments...

Pagoda

Group shot. Say Cheese! Jeff is the 2nd to last standing on the right.

Bamboo Forest

The astronomy tower built around 500 a.d.

Traditional Korean food...Mmmmm!!!

Cool angle of the fish market.

Up close and personal with the fishies!

Goodbye Korea!!

First Post

2009-06-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

So...I pretty much stink at keeping a journal and since I use the Internet as my down time from school and work and life in general, hopefully this will be a good plan "B". Besides, I really enjoy my friends and family's blogs.

Just a little about myself, I am getting married in 50days to the most wonderful man. It's amazing what love does to you! Besides my family, I never knew that my heart had the capacity to love someone so much!! He really is the light of my life and I am so happy just knowing that we will be sealed together for time and eternity!! I couldn't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else.