Trent's ear

Doesn't that look interesting? It's a wax candle funnel thing that you stick into your ear and then light the end. The purpose you ask? The heat is supposed to draw out the ear wax... but it didn't really work. He had surgery on his right ear, a couple months after we were married, because he had cholesteatoma.

So he already had hearing loss in that ear since they had to also replace the 3 ear bones with prosthetic bones. Then, about a month ago, he started to lose hearing in his left ear. Its been a rough month for him and for me because I get stick of repeating myself because he can't hear me. I didn't have the patience for it I guess.

We were talking with his mom about it and she has had ear problems herself so she recommended that he go down and see her ear doctor. He got right in the same day and the doctor realized that the hearing loss was from ear wax blockage. He cleaned all the wax out of both of his ears and found years and years of build up in there. Now he can hear.

His right ear, that he had surgery on 9 years ago, was checked out as well because Trent hasn't been back to get it checked out since his follow up visit after his surgery. They did a CT scan and Trent will go back in May to get the results and see if more damage has been done and if the cholesteatoma has caused more damage.

Short Sale Invititational

Trent and his compadres at the office get together will all of their members in their business about twice a year and this month they did it in downtown San Diego. It just so happened to be around election time so they did an election themed conference.

I got to attend the first 2 days and actually stayed inside and actually learned something. I tend to usually go shopping or just hang by myself but this go round I wanted to be in the action and actually learn. Trent did say that it would be good for me to learn about what he does so that I can better explain to others what he actually does.

The first night they had a nice dinner outside on the hotel patio and Tyler Angel who works for Trent and his family band came and setup and played for the evening. It was wonderful we enjoyed our time together and I wanted to bust out my dance moves but it never happened.

The second day happened to be Ryan's birthday (Trent's brother) so they made him a cake and all the group sang to him.

I just sit in awe at these types of events because I see Trent and what he has accomplished with this company in the last 3 years and to see the fruits of his labors all attend this conference was great to see. I love talking to them and them telling me how much they have learned from what Trent and the company has taught them.

I jokingly put on my name badge that I was Trent's better half and of course received lots of comments about that. I don't think I am better than him by any means but I do believe that if you have someone at your side it makes a difference. Someone who believes in you and has faith in you to listen to all of the ideas that run through your mind is powerful.

I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed watching him grow and broaden his horizons. Its been a whirlwind of an experience and I am excited to see what the next few years brings. Bring it on!

Trent & Sarah = 9 years

Our 9th wedding anniversary is today and I am in a charge of anniversaries because my birthday falls by Valentine's Day but I totally forgot my monthly temple assignment for church was this morning so my day plans fell through. But I do have to say that I am a lucky girl to married to this man and it shows in this simple example of what happened this morning:

I got up at 5:15am to get ready to go to the temple and received a text message from a girl we know from our church and she was in desperate need of a babysitter for her twin boys because her daughter has been sick and decided to take her to the ER. I of course couldn't do it because I was leaving for the morning until noon but Trent jumped in and texted her that he would take the boys for her. I didn't suggest it at all and I was trying to figure out who I could call to help her.

Why do I feel like I have to help solve someones problem? Honestly, I'm way to nice but Trent also has that problem so the two of us put together makes a lot of people happy when they need our help most of the time.

The plan was he was going to meet me at the temple at 10:30am to do some work and then go to lunch so he was going to hand off the boys to someone else but it didn't work out. So he ended up not meeting me but picked me up and I took him to lunch at my new favorite hotel in Del Mar called L'Auberge and ate at Kitchen 1540. It was a very unique and quaint place with a lot of charm and the food was excellent. I'm anxious to return one day for a stay.

Trent and I plan on having a wonderful getaway this weekend so more on that later.......

Trent thank you for being the man that I've dreamed of and making me a very happy wife and mom! I'll write more gushy stuff in your own special letter. Haha

Love Languages

Susan did an absolutely great job presenting the "5 Love Languages" session. Right at the beginning she took us through the emotion of having our first child and the first few moments of the baby being placed into our arms. She delivered it with so much passion and conviction it was incredible. She was so concerned about it but she did wonderful.

I've read the book and have been aware of the love languages particularly the last 2 months but I still learned more about my own, Trent's and our childrens' love languages yesterday as she went into more detail and posed many different situations that I hadn't even thought of before.

It was another eye opening experience for me.

Sarah

Mine is definitely, without a doubt, Acts of Service! My secondary however is Quality Time and those two just go hand in hand in my opinion. I feel and show my love by doing kind deeds and acts of service to those I come in contact with. I tend to be the first one to volunteer myself for a lot of things, but I do it in moderation because I don't want to juggle too many projects.

I've concluded why I struggle so much to prepare meals and cook in the kitchen... I want to have someone right by my side with me helping me and serving right along with me! Is that funny or what!?!

I give and give, and love to fill my bucket, but its hard to see my children not understand my love language. I wish I could just tell them that cleaning their room all by themselves would show me that they love me but I've tried and it didn't work. I wonder what age that will happen?? When will they recognize that they need to be of service to me or others to show that love language to me?

Trent

Trent's love language is Physical Touch and his secondary is Quality Time. As his wife, in order for me to show him I love him I need to grab his hand when he least expects it, rub his back, etc. For both of us we really enjoy just being together and it doesn't matter what we are doing. That is why we travel a lot especially alone as a couple.

Reeghan and Paetan

My girls are both Quality Time and their secondary is Gifts. Reeghan always uses the line when every she gets frustrated with us that she wants to leave our family. I know its not a good line for her to use, but I finally figured out that she just needs me to spend "time" with her, which I have really neglected to do, especially the last few weeks. She's growing up so fast that I want to take this time to show her that I really do love her. Its also important to use eye contact while spending time with them as well.

Paetan, on the other hand, is only 5 and she can still change her love language(s). As Susan talked about her daughter Emma, who is a very well rounded person and responds well to all 5 of the love languages, I thought of Paetan. Paetan enjoys all of them and I've recognized that she feels love in all 5 of those areas, which is a good thing. At times I wish I really enjoyed Physical Touch or Gifts but those two are at the very bottom of my list.


How do you figure out what your child's language is?
First, ask yourself this question: What are they constantly asking for?
Next, ask your child:
How do you know Mommy and Daddy love you?
Or you can give them an actual 'love language test' as is found in the Love Languages books (In the kids edition of the book, there is a "kid friendly version" of the test)

As I push away the girls while I am working on 'busy work' or my own little projects, it tells them that I don't love them and I'm withholding something... am I conditionally loving them? A great idea, to overcome this, is to spend 30-40 minutes before you have to go tackle a "to do" and spend that time focused on them and what they want to do and need and then after a time limit is set then you can go do your "to do".

This not only fills us but more importantly it fills their love bucket as well.

It's a very interesting ideology and I am so fascinated by it and wonder what other people's love languages are so that I can use them to better show love towards them. So let me know, ok?

Susan and I plan on presenting this in our workshops and retreats that we will be doing in the future but go ahead and go by the book. The book is written for adults, kids, teens, and even a Men's edition. Its written by Gary Chapman (same name, but no, the author is not my father-in-law)

Threasher Shark

I missed out on Trent's shark catch while I was in Utah but I am sure their may be more coming. Once you catch one I am sure it doesn't stop there.

He had just got home from his week long seminar in Las Vegas and couldn't wait to go out kayak fishing early the next morning. He usually gets up at 4:30am and heads down to LaJolla shores.

So the catch goes a little something like this:

He went out about 1.5 miles off shore and got the shark and it pulled him about 1/2 mile and it was on his reel for about 40 minutes and he told me that it was quite the bicep workout holding on the line.

He brought it up and then it all the sudden shot down straight into the water and had to hold on to it another 5 minutes and brought him back up again and then he gafted it. Which means he killed it.

Put it onto his kayak and then took it to shore everyone gathered around him and oohhed and awhhed about it.

I am glad I wasn't there to see all the cutting and filleting the shark. He showed some pictures of him using my kitchen and refrigerator. I guess this is just the start of it though.

Trent's 30th!

I just struggle with making surprises happen and this time I was sure it wasn't going to be able to surprise Trent for his birthday... and I didn't, but this time it wasn't me, but Todd who spilled the beans to Trent! Oh well, we still had a good time! We celebrated at Dave & Busters which is a glorified Chuck E Cheese kind of place. Its right up Trent's alley for fun and entertainment.

I had Trent's brothers and sisters come that were married with their spouses and then had a few friends, Conrad, Monica, Austin, Dustin and Sarah. It was a fun night for all besides Lindsay and Buster and Kyle and Amy they had trouble with their food bills that was sure entertaining to watch!

Most of the group went and played games but a few of us ladies hung back and enjoyed great conversation! I thought it went very well and Trent has made a lot of changes in the last 6 months working out and gaining weight! I'm so proud of him for accomplishing this goal! Its no surprise to me that he would do it and do it well! That is the kind of man that he is! I admire him so much and try to live up to his will power to make changes for the good!