what it's like to be married

When you're dating, you have this veil over your eyes, seeing only the good in the other person, spending every possible minute together, making sure that you look and act desirable. It's a wonderful thing, but once you're married, it seems that the veil goes away. No longer are you trying to impress each other, he's going to see your hair first thing in the morning, and it's not going to be pretty, but hopefully he'll love you anyways. You get comfortable with each other over time.

Now you get to see each other in every aspect of life -- with and without make-up, post-workout sweatiness, crying, complaining, snarky remarks that you don't mean, being a couch potato, being frustrated at little things, not doing laundry often enough, buying something big without talking about it first, among other surprising things. Some things may make you angry. Some things may make you sad. But you make it through every day, hopefully talking it out and not letting annoyed feeling start piling up. You remember that you love him. You realize that he's trying. He's working so hard to get through school, to help provide for you. You need to remember that. And learn to learn from these experiences.

You have your own family now! It's just you and him. When he's not there, you're by yourself. For the first time, (and hopefully this is not the case for everyone), you find yourself rather lonely. Because although you have this amazing, wonderful, and handsome husband  . . . . he's not going to be there all the time. Dang it, that's just not how it works! And lots of friends that you had before are leaving you alone, because duh -- you must be kissing each other and cuddling all day long now that you're married. HA! A lot of the friends you had before are still in the singles world, and they're still trying to meet people and develop relationships. So, it's understandable -- they have their objectives and lives, and you've moved on to the next "level". 

So, you go to school, or you work, and you continue trying to develop yourself. Maybe you finally start working out, or trying new recipes, or getting caught up on some Netflix (does that count as improving yourself? Hmm . . .). You clean your house. And you would clean it again, but you already did that. Life is sometimes busy, life is sometimes boring. 

But then your husband comes home from work, or his monthly military training. Or maybe you were the one who was gone, and you're coming home to him. You hug, kiss maybe, try to catch up on your day. You eat, and then the evening is yours. You hang out in that apartment, just the two of you. Maybe you do something together -- a movie, a game, a conversation, a walk around the neighborhood. Maybe you've got homework. Maybe you just look at Pinterest while he plays some stupid computer game. Then you get ready for bed. 

And as you pray together and then lay down next to one other, you remember that this is incredible. The day may have been mundane. It might have been really stressful. But at this moment, with just the two of you, you remember that this is your new family, this is the man you get to be with forever, and you just love him so dang much! And so you tell him. And he says it back. And your soul is just so happy. You are SO glad you're married!

Then you wake up the next day and try to remember it all over again. And while it's different than dating because you're not trying anymore to impress each other, it's okay. You know why? Because being married to someone, and sharing all the aspects of your life with each other is on a level that only the two of you can even comprehend. It is an adjustment, because where it seems that things are different because he is not writing you love notes or doing the same things you used to do while dating, you know that he loves you because he's trying to be his best self. He works, goes to school, maybe occasionally writes you a note or brings you flowers, and that is enough. 

And it becomes more important for you to reach out to other people. A support system of married friends, possibly single friends, and family. While it seems like people have forgotten you, it is also on you to try not to forget as well. 

And then suddenly you've been married for a year. BAM! Next up, continuing to support each other's dreams and goals, children someday soon, and forever and every day strengthening of our communication, testimonies, and overall bonds. 

I know without a doubt, that being married is the most amazing thing. It has been interesting to see how the relationship between Colten and I has changed over the past couple of years. And it is such an incredible blessing to know that we get to continue this relationship FOREVER. AND EVER. AND EVER. It is the best gift our Heavenly Father gave us, and I'm excited to see how life goes for us. 

2013, The Highlights

How did it suddenly become December 31st? What?? I cannot believe how fast this year went. I know, it's cliche, but it really is amazing.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

In January we sent this guy off to Virginia. I miss him! It was so wonderful to be able to talk to him on Christmas. Man, it is such a blessing to have a missionary in your family! And almost one year down!

Then, Colten moved into the apartment we would live in when we got married, and we made this: 

But soon, we got some sweet furniture and it turned into this:

Best investment I think we'll ever make. 

We got some AMAZING Formals done . . . and unveiled my dress to Colten:

We also sent my brother-in-law Jacen off to the Alpine German-Speaking Mission (Austria, Switzerland, Germany) I don't have a picture of the day he left, but here's one of him wearing one of our coral wedding ties on our wedding day:

On March 5th (which was also Colten's 23rd birthday) I went through the temple to receive my endowments. And it was incredible. If you haven't gone through the temple yet, do everything you can to get there someday! It is beautiful and everything right. 

And then what was that important thing that happened on March 8th . . . . OH yes: The day my last name changed! This year, my life changed as I created this new family: Me and Colten, sealed together for eternity! 

And while I'm still a Haderlie . . . 

I'm now part of the amazing Sponseller family too!

And I got to be a part of my new sister Alyc and new brother Ethan's wedding day in April!

I had a pretty quiet summer, but we had a fun trip to Southern Utah with our friends the Rubens

And an amazing trip to Michigan where we had a "tri-ception" with the three Sponsellers that got married: Gustin & Heather, Colten & Sarah, Alyc & Ethan

Then school started for both me and Colten. He took three classes, and I took a bunch, and he worked, and I rode my bike around since we had to sell our second car.

Then I got a new job! Teaching 5th grade orchestra at Timpanogos Elementary!

We did school, Colten started working at home (so I could use the car, just as it started getting cold!) and I learned how to like cooking!

We also went on a fun hunting trip where we got to see this beautiful scenery:

And then Colten and I dressed up awesome for Halloween (I was his Indian Queen, obviously, and yes, he is wearing a tunic):

In November, we got to go to the Marine Corps Ball and listen to the gust of honor, Elder L. Tom Perry, give a speech:

Then in December we had a wonderful Christmas violin recital:

And then we finished up the semester and flew to Michigan for Christmas!

We loved spending time at the Sponsellers! We flew home and had a mini Christmas at the Haderlies too:

And here we are, at the end of 2013 -- ready to take on a new year. I'm anticipating great things! I look forward to graduating this next year, celebrating our one year anniversary in March, cheering on Colten in his schooling, learning to cook more things, teaching violin and orchestra, reading more books, and whatever else this year may bring. It's exciting! I feel right on the edge of a great adventure! 

Happy New Year!

Curry for Two

Sometimes, I remember that summer I spent in India, and my mouth starts watering for curry. And although I think this recipe leans more toward Thai curry, the curry powder still smells like India to me (minus the garbage). However, this curry is great for my husband and I, because let's be honest: he's not that adventurous when it comes to food. This curry is not spicy at all, and because of the coconut milk, it's actually pretty sweet. I love it so much! And, I quote my husband, "It's so dang good."
(Okay fine, I just asked him to say something nice about my curry. He did a good job. I guess I'll keep feeding him.)

Curry

Sized for two

Assemble Ingredients:

1 chicken breast

2 potatoes (we like red potatoes, leave the skin on)

onion (I used half)

1 garlic clove (I did not use that whole garlic bulb, I promise)

1 green pepper (or you could use whatever color of pepper you have on hand)

1 Tbsp. Curry Powder

1 can Coconut Milk

2 Tbsp. Fish Sauce (found in the Asian food section)

Step One: chop onions and garlic . . .

. . . and sauté them in a little oil

{Don't forget to make some rice! (I almost did . . .) I put 1 1/2 cup in my rice cooker}

Step Two: Cut up your chicken . . .

. . . and add it to your pan along with the curry powder and fish sauce

Step Three: once the chicken is cooked, add your can of coconut milk and bring to a boil

Step Four: while the pan is simmering, cut up your potatoes and pepper . . .

{It's boiling!}

. . . and then get those potatoes and that pepper in and let them cook!

Once the potatoes are soft, you're done!

Okay, it's optional to eat it with chopsticks . . . but it's way more fun. Eat your delicious curry over rice!

Easy Crock-Pot Beef Stew

Crock pots are great. Stew is great. Easy meals are great. And this one is pretty darn healthy too!

Crock-Pot Beef Stew

Assemble Ingredients: 

1 12 oz. can of V8 vegetable juice

onion

potatoes (we happened to have red potatoes)

carrots

garlic powder

beef stew meat (I separate the beef stew meat I get from the store into separate bags and then freeze it for multiple meals)

beef bouillon

1 tbsp. flour

1/2 cup water (not pictured)

Step One: put the flour and the beef stew in a ziploc bag and shake it!

Step Two: heat some oil in a skillet and brown the beef

Step Three: while the beef is browning, start putting ingredients in the crock pot. Start with the V8, 1/2 cup water, beef bouillon cube, and a layer of garlic powder. (I don't usually measure, but it's a 1/4 tsp.)

This is what it looks like inside the crock pot with the above mentioned ingredients.

Step 4: chop up your vegetables! Onion, carrots . . .

 . . . and then potatoes. I prefer to keep the skins on. 

Step Five: Get everything else in the crock pot! I put the beef before it was cooked all the way through, just browned on the outside.

Then I got all my vegetables in. Another vegetable that could be added is celery, but I really just don't like celery. 

Step Six: after 4-6 hours on low, enjoy your delicious beef stew! 

(Also, note that the longer you cook the stew, the more tender your beef will get

This is perfect for us as the days get colder, and the end of the semester draws near. This took less than twenty minutes to prepare, and then just a few hours later, just set some bowls and spoons out and you're ready!

Creamy Southwestern Chicken Soup

Well this is different -- I'm going to post a recipe! After leftovers for lunch today (and they were EXCELLENT leftovers), I decided that this needs to be shared!

THUS:

Creamy Southwestern Chicken Soup 

(from the Lion House "Soups and Stews" cookbook)

Makes 6 servings (my husband and I ate it last night for dinner and today for lunch . . . it lasted two meals for us.)

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

2 cups heavy cream

3 cups milk

2 teaspoons taco seasonings

2 teaspoons paprika

1 chicken bouillon cube

 2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced 

(I just cooked it in a little oil in a frying pan.)

1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles

1/2 cup cooked rice 

(I used Minute rice = 1/2 cup rice + 1/2 cup water +3 minutes in the microwave!)

1 can corn

1 can black beans 

(remember to rinse so you don't get gross black bean slime all over your soup -- I rinsed the corn and the beans together.)

Step 1: melt the butter in a pan until foamy, then add the flour and let cook for minute.

Step 2: add cream and milk as well as taco seasoning, bouillion cube, and paprika. Stir and let it thicken.

Step 3: add chicken, chiles, rice, corn, and beans. Warm through.

Step 4: eat your delicious soup! I like to eat it with tortillas -- or tortilla chips. Mmm.

This soup is easy -- it didn't take long to make, probably 15-20 minutes or so (which was ideal since we were making it on Fast Sunday). Besides the chiles and cream, I usually have all the other ingredients on hand. Also, I have made this before without the chiles, and it was still spectacular. 

One more note -- this soup gets really thick. If you have leftovers, I would highly recommend re-heating the soup in a pan on the stove since the next day it will look like a solid brick of beans and corn. Wow, I just made leftovers sound delicious . . . but I promise, they're still good! 

And this is how Colten said I should show my recipe:

We are Instruments

This morning I was reading in Alma chapter 35. As I came across verse 14, I read, " . . . having been instruments in the hands of God."

I know i've read and heard this phrase countless times before, but this morning was when it struck me that we are all the orchestra here on earth, and God is the conductor. He has shown us the way we need to go, but in the end -- it's up to us to learn our parts.
With all the experience I've had playing in ensembles, this really struck me. If you don't know your part, you're letting your section down, and ultimately the whole group. Just like us in our families, we want to stay all together as a section -- so that at the end of the concert, we can all look at each other and know that we did well.
Of course, we have to follow our concertmaster: Christ. He shows us all the bowings and fingerings, and as we keep an eye on him and an eye on Heavenly Father, our conductor, we won't get lost.

Holy moly, isn't that awesome!

Thanks for indulging me in a gospel + music analogy, it made my day.

In other news: On Wednesday I am starting a new job! I get to teach an "exploratory" elementary school orchestra class -- basically meaning that the kids will get rotated so they just learn the basics on the instrument. Luckily, everyone gets to learn the violin -- so I don't have to teach the cello or bass (or worse  . . . how to read alto clef! {just kidding [but really]}). I am nervous, excited, and ready to have this experience. It'll only be an hour on Mondays and an hour on Wednesdays, but this is an amazing opportunity that just fell into my lap, an opportunity to be an instrument. Yay!

Why Kids Need to Learn Music

"...music has the power of producing a certain effect on the ethos of the soul, and if it has the power to do this, it is clear that the young must be directed to music and must be educated in it. Also education in music is well adapted to the youthful nature; for the young owing to their youth cannot endure anything not sweetened by pleasure, and music is by nature a thing that has a pleasant sweetness."

--Aristotle, Politics

As a violin teacher of young kids . . . this is awesome! Lately, I've been trying to figure out how to build my studio . . . I adore teaching! It makes me so happy. 

So, I suppose this would be a good opportunity to put a plug in for my teaching. If you or anyone you know in Heber or Orem wants to learn the violin -- I am your woman!

Check out my cool music teachers website: https://sponseller.musicteachershelper.com/

And that is all. Give your children music lessons! Because, like Aristotle said,

 "music is by nature a thing that has pleasant sweetness."