Day 6

I am so grateful for creativity and crafts! I have always loved making things and being creative. After Stake Conference today I had the idea of making this quote to go above our sink in our kitchen. It was super easy and I thought it turned out pretty cute! All I did was print off the quote on some white sketch book paper, soak the paper in a mixture of warm water and vanilla then rub some cinnamon on it to give it some texture. I blow dried the paper until it was completely dry, glued it to some grass green construction paper and hot glued some goodies I had left over in my craft box from previous projects. The little bow is made out of hemp and the squares in the corners are 1" x 1" glass tiles with some great visual texture. After the hot glue set I simply put in a frame and this is how it turned out! The frame and color scheme is a great addition to our small kitchen. The metallic frame correlates with the stainless steel toaster and spice rack, and the fabulous green compliments our red pots and cutting board!

Day 5

I love my running shoes and not just because they have pink on them :) This morning I went on a fabulous run with a beautiful view of the Rexburg Temple. In the past few years I have gained an appreciation for running. I hated it at first, but once I pushed myself to just go out and do it, it became a stress reliever and a way to feel a sense of achievement. Running has been such a great way to clear my mind and a time to ponder. So if you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it.

Day 4

Today I am thankful for "dollar theaters", well I can't really say dollar anymore because they cost $3 now, at least the one in Rexburg. Chad and I went on a little date tonight and saw the movie Tron! Anyways, dollar theaters are the greatest because you can have that theater experience of watching a film on the BIG screen with the fragrance of freshly popped buttered movie theater popcorn without burning a hole in you wallet! I remember when Chad and I went to the movie theater in Texas and it cost us, I mean Chad ;), $9.50 for each of us and even more money for a 3-D movie! Isn't that insane? So yes, dollar theaters are definitely something I (and my wallet) am grateful for in my life as a poor married couple.

Day 3

Yes, that is a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Today I am thankful for soup. I came home today for lunch with a bowl of warm tomato soup and a gilled cheese sandwich waiting for me. My sweet husband prepared this delightful lunch special just for me, he is so great at stuff like that! Soup is the perfect cure for a cold, wet, windy day in Rexburg, it is warm and the aroma is to die for. MMM MMM Good, enough said.

Day 2

Today I am thankful for families. Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts, but no matter what I will always love them. I was inspired from this decorative "Family" plaque I was given as a late wedding gift from my good friend Caley Park! Family is such a comfort word and it is so exciting that I can have my own family now. I love this quote from President Thomas S. Monson, "When the seas of life are stormy, a wise mariner seeks a port of peace. The family, as we have traditionally known it, is such a refuge of safety. 'The home is the basis of a righteous life and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfil its essential functions'.

Day 1 of my "30-day thankful challenge"

Today I am thankful for temples! I am so thankful to have a temple so close to home, only a few blocks up the street. It has been a great physical reminder of what is really important in life and what matters most! Temples have always given me such a calm feeling and I know it's because the Spirit dwells their. As Chad and I were driving home from the Idaho Falls temple this evening we were talking about how lucky we are to have not just one temple, but two temples within thirty minutes from us. Not very many people can say that, well except for Utah ;) What a wonderful time in our lives to take advantage of this great blessing.

Mr. & Mrs. Allen!

Oh my goodness, so much has happened since September! Chad and I were finally married in the Denver, Colorado temple on December 28, 2010! WAHOO! We did it! It was such a spiritual experience that I will never forget. I feel so blessed to have such a great support of family and friends! Our wedding day was the most perfect day and I couldn't ask for more (well...except to be able to eat more of our reception food of course). One of the best parts was the fact that all my closest friends from elementary school and beyond were able to be apart of that special day. Two of them had just gotten off there missions on November 30th and December 10th! The BEST part of that day was the fact that I was sealed to my best friend and will spend time and all eternity with him! Chad has always been there for me throughout the years and a year ago from now, we would have never guessed that day would come. We have been through a lot, especially Chad, but it has all happened for a reason and in the Lord's time. We are so thankful for a loving Father in Heaven that answered our personal prayers in times of darkness and been the light to guide us towards Him. Thank you to EVERYONE that have helped us along the way :)

I am officially Mrs. Tehra Lee Allen and we have moved back to Rexburg where Chad is attending BYU-I for Computer Information technology. I am currently in search of a full-time job and hopefully I will get some answers by the end of the week! We have settled into our cute little apartment just down the road from the temple and we've enjoyed every (well almost every) moment of it besides the below zero wind blowing cloudy weather! I definitely forgot how cold it gets here in the winter! So all I have been telling myself lately is, "we are here for a reason" and "things will work out." I just need to stay positive and keep on living life!