NEWS!!!

TWO WORDS!

WE'RE ENGAGED!!

Mark proposed on Monday, December 14th at our home in Stillwater!

Pictures and story to come soon! We're so happy and planning is on it's way so get ready for a wedding that will shake up Stillwater in July of 2010!

Much Luv & Hugs to you all!

Mark & Sara

Feeling November and soon will come December!

November has started out for us with lots of new things to be excited about! Our year has been interesting as always, but the one exciting piece of news I would like to share to everyone is I GOT MY FINGER SIZED LAST WEEK!!! Which only means that big moment for Mark and I may not be far away.

Since we've lived together now over four years it has been the experience I believe most should think about prior to marriage. We know not everyone agrees with this, but this was the appropriate step for us to ensure our future. Not only are we proud to say we've been together and gotten through our early 20's... still together makes us even more excited to our future big day.

To tell you ahead of time we do plan on having a wedding late next Summer. When the time comes we will be sending save the dates, but of course had to share this wonderful news as things are in the works! It will be in Stillwater and we would like to get married at my church with the reception being at my families home.

We look forward to incorporating each other's family traditions from our diverse backgrounds and will be including all family in this! As most of you would know or maybe don't I was adopted from Neiva, Colombia in South America when I was six months old. I have studied and participated in numerous latin traditions since I can remember. Mark is too of course hispanic if you didn't know, his Grandmother was from Mexico hence why he has that lovely olive tone equaling a 1/4 Mexican:) so we will be incorporating each latin country's traditions. Also we will celebrate other parts of our family that is from Germany and other countrys in Europe. So be ready to see lots of great toasts, dancing, and fabulous food!

We get asked about our future day ALL THE TIME and so I just had to send this out to keep everyone on there toes...not so much just mine anymore :)

We love you all and thank you for your support. Especially our parents they know it all and have seen our relationship grow, so we're so excited to make them proud :)

Luv & Hugs!

Mark & Sara

October to November...

Coon Lake (Scenic State Park) Hiking around MEA weekend
We toasted to my late Grandfather Clinton "Buck" Johnson
We listened to our favorite gospel/country, wore his hats, drank good beer, played cards, and had a cracklin' fire in his honor.

We headed home early because we're the biggest Vikings Fans!!!

October has been here and wow we've really enjoyed it! Last month we did our crazy trip to Las Vegas visiting our friend but of course came home to our house that flooded a week prior.

The remodeling process is going well! We've sheetrocked all the ceilings, walls, kitchen, and even bathroom. What comes next is trim work, taping, and then painting! Hopefully we can get this completed by November so we can put carpet in our hallway upstairs, stairway, and dining room. Not to mention our bathroom is getting a face lift!

It's a lot of work but we're handling it or shall I say Mark is handling the construction well as he is doing the beginning stages of it. As always so much goes on in life, but this time we're taking the higher road much quicker! The new look to our house after being there four years will give us a fresh new look for 2010.

What other news...oh I turn 27 on November 1st...I'm pretty modest about my birthday usually because I like to escape as it follows Halloween. This year we're doing a chili/turkey Vikings vs. Packers bash!! I'm really excited for Halloween (mark isn't as much for dressing up) but we're going to have fun in a couple weeks here. This weekend I'm heading to Milwaukee for my Zumba Toning Sticks Certification with my friend Annie. I've managed to swing a great hotel room & water park package to keep us entertained! Should be interesting being a kid again with alcohol involved!
*News Flashes:
*Mark went on the annual fishing trip he had a blast-we're going to eat the fish this week!
*I went to Bemidji to visit Samantha while Mark was fishing, watched her play in hale-like conditions in Bemidji brrr*
*We would like to send lots of prayers to Mark's Grandfather Jerry Thompson as he had some medical scares prior to the fishing trip
*Just this past weekend we went to Round Lake to close out the Fairview Floater-we hiked, we had fires in the cabin with cabin hats, we ate, and we slept it was awesome!!

Other than that...we're doing great the storms are calming and life as we know it is a remodel, it's great!

Best wishes to you all!

PS Hugs & prayers to all of our family (Aran & Nicole) and my Godmother Dorene for chemo treatments this last week!

Sara & Mark

It wasn't an earthquake....just a flood is all!

“Love is like an earthquake-unpredictable, a little scary, but when the hard part is over you realize how lucky you truly are.”

This quote can sum up just about everything the last several months for Mark and I :)

It has been a struggle prior to our vacation...our house flooded due to a running toilet!! It wasn't too terrible, but enough to cause another headache for us. We're praying each day to keep the reminding ourselves how lucky we are.

Acknowledging how lucky we are to be with a person through these earthquakes of life is hard to remember on those hard days, but it will get us to our next good one.

Sara & Mark

September will the best ever!

Football Season has arrived, fall weather is showing its face, and we're only 16 days until our trip to Las Vegas!!!

This month is going to fly by I can already feel that in the air and with how things are going it's only the up and up for us. Life is really good and we're looking forward to our future events. Football season is one that we both enjoy and after last nights win against Texas we're so psyched for the real season to begin.

Our trip to Las Vegas is just an added bonus to our month it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and Mark and I are definitley going to enjoy the sunny weather, gambling, and relaxation at our friends home. After we return we have our annual Oktoberfest in Stillwater and it's the best time with our friends and our parents. So until our trip we will be hibernating over the Labor Day weekend and the following weekend as well.

We've been have a few good news to share for our family latley so I have to share:
*My sister Sam did receive a notice for "Players to Watch" for her BSU Soccer Team
*Mark's cousin Aimee & Trevor celebrated their daughters 2nd bday in August- Happy Bday Taylor!

For me, personally I'm so excited as always for the holiday seasons to arrive because that means time with my family and friends, I love every minute of it! So keep up the fall fun and look forward to another great season ahead!

Hugs!

Sara

Recent Summa Pics 09

The whole crew of fellas!

Doing what they do best!

Mark & I at Dan's wedding

Our new roomate Jeremiah

down listening to live music on the St. Croix River

This was in Afton at my friends 3yr wedding anniversary

The best transporation for a float!

My cousins Danny, Dillon and Bobby at the parade

My Uncle Greg's Lbjack Parade Party 09
also it was my Dad's 61st bday too!

Daniel & Tamara Schultz with Jason, Mark, and Danny

Finding a new nich!

Greetings! We hope everyone is enjoying this Summer and all are happy and well!

As our Summer started out with Mark's burn accident it definitley made a unique twist to what we're use to. Some traditions went out the door such as spending time in Stillwater for the 4th of July, but instead we enjoyed it up at Fairview. We usually spend Lumberjack Days weekend together, but Mark was at his friends Bachelor Party.

"Always account for variable change"....

Our lives have changed for us the past two months in so many good ways, it's hard to keep everyone up to date but I'll do my best. We had Mark's physical challenge in June and than emotioinally in July we hit our six years together that was a real kicker! The weather hasn't been a factor for us as most, but playing catch up with how our June went has been interesting. We replaced our roof in June and it looks amazing, we couldn't be happier to have a fresh look on our house. Secondly, we demolished the old Thompson garage as well. Mark started with new sod and seed so we will be so happy to show pictures of our much bigger yard!

Mark and I play volleyball once a week down in Lakeland, MN and enjoy the thrill of competition with our friends, but sadly only have two weeks left to enjoy it! Two weeks ago we took in another inmate or what like to call our "half way house". Times are tough for many people and when our close friends need a place to live for a short time we never can say no :). So our friend Jeremiah has moved in and Mark is pretty happy to have another guy in the house. We're eagerly looking forward to our trip to Fairview on the 20th to have some alone time and enjoy what is left of the summer at our favorite place.

I will add that our anticipated wedding of our close friend Dan Schultz had to be the highlight of our Summer! Mark and I with many of old and close friends attended. It definitely made us very excited for our future day!

Finally after 3 1/2 years we finally get to go on vacation together in September!!! Thanks to some major jackpots our close friend Matt scored last week (while living in Las Vegas)....he's flying us out for a visit!! We'll stay at his home with another couple he is flying out too! Free airfare and place to stay is such a generous gift from him and we cannot wait to leave in just a little over 30 days. Lots of fun in the sun and playing at night will be a much deserved vacation as we work very hard for our living. We can't always afford major trips together so we will definitley spend the next month working out, saving money, and planning for our great vacation!

We have great plans for Fall and that includes: our trip, visits to Bemidji to watch Samantha play Soccer, Mark's Annual Thompson Fishing Trip in October, I will be going for another Zumba Certification (Toning Sticks), and Mark starts his 3rd year Apprentice Progam with the IBEW Mpls in two weeks.

Lot's happening and only so many weeks left of August but we're going full force and lovin' it!

Hugs!

Sara & Mark

Summa Pics!

4th of July & no restrictions!!
7.10.09 - Laser Tag Send off for Matt

Eau Galle - June 2009

6.16.09 - Mark's Bday

His party/bonfire

Camping at Eau Galle with friends

Sam's 20th Bday Party

7.10.09 (Will Eckhoff's Wedding)
Harried Island- St. Paul, MN

Mark celebrating Sara B's b-day!

(Mark's 27th Bday Bash)

Visiting cousin Tae

Fairview Floater

-This was the day Mark burned his foot-
a great before picture of me and our oldest friend Dan Schroeder

Dad, Sam & I on Harriet Island - St. Paul, MN

Six Years!

This blog has been off my radar since Mark's accident but finally we're getting back on track!

Since our last update Mark has been put back to work as of July 7Th! His foot has healed almost completely with no major scares and is able to walk, play volleyball, and as he says "NO RESTRICTIONS". It did take over a month to get to back full use of his foot, but after patience and lots of healing cream he's good to go. So again thank you for all that have helped made this go smoother than we thought it would.

Now off of that subject, can you tell we're SO OVER IT! lol I will put a few pictures up of some recent outings and really now we're able plan for some more fun activities after last month was up in the air of how our summer would be.

4th of July we spent the weekend up at Fairview with my parents, family friends, and Holly. This was our first time away in 4 years since we haven't been in Stillwater and truthfully we didn't miss it that much. Technically the 4th of July was the day Mark and I started dating six years ago, so a getaway was awesome! We got to Christen the Fairview Floater by jumping in that cool water and enjoyed two days soaking up the sun on it. My Dad and Joe did canoeing with doggies and we all really enjoyed the beautiful 75 degree sunny weather. My Mom and I soaked up the sun with Mark while watching the Parade of Boats on the 4th followed by an evening of lots of fireworks around the lake. Mom and I marched around to patriotic songs on the deck, it was a rather interesting sight I'm sure!

Since the 4th we have been trying to plan upcoming visits to friends around the state and camping opportunities. Mark is back to playing volleyball and man is he a man on a mission. After a month off and where we play the competition is rather harsh. Last night he had a good taste of how much we as a team have improved and now he needs to get back on board too. So this will be awesome to see him back to being active again.

As Mark and I have had our share of bumps since June we haven't been able to do any camping alone yet this summer so this weekend we're going for it! Our six year anniversary is July 26th :) next weekend and it's of course Lumberjack Days in Stillwater. This annual festival always keeps our weekend full and therefore don't get to really celebrate it on the actual day, so this weekend we're outa here! We're heading to Glen Hills in Wisconsin, it's a campground with a Golf Course, beach volleyball, lake, etc. It's a place where my family brought us every summer growing up. It's so inexpensive and it's a really well kept County Park.

We've got the anticipated wedding of the summer, our oldest friend Dan Schultz is getting married on August 1st. Mark is in the wedding and we're so happy to celebrate this in just a few weeks.

Check out the pictures of our latest and hope all are doing well!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US! Six years my gosh!

XOXO
Mark & Sara

Burns are the worst!

Hello everyone!

First off thank you all for the wonderful emails and calls to Mark during this interesting past month. For those of you who that may need a recap on what I'm talking about here's the jist.

On Friday, June 4th about 11:00 pm Mark and I were out camping with close friends. Their was a larger fire on the beach everyone was around and Mark was trying to put one more log on the fire. While stepping towards it he burned his right foot on the sand surrounding the fire. Immediatley he ran to the river for relief. My father did pick us up and we went straight to the Lakeview Hospital emergency room.

After the weekend we referred to Regions Hospital in St. Paul to their Burn Center. Mark did have 2nd and small 3rd degree burns on the bottom of his foot and all of his toes. He was being treated with bandages, pain meds, lots of healing cream, and was not able to walk for almost two weeks. His foot did have a slight infection so he had to elevate it and not walk on it unless need be.

It was a long two weeks with him not being able to work and being tied to our couch but he got a much deserved break. Our last appointment was with Dr. Moore at Regions just this last Friday. The healing is going well and no longer needs to do his dressings. He is working on walking without his crutches and working up to wearing a regular shoe until his next appointment on July 2nd. As his new skin needs to recover fully and he hopefully will have healed by the next appointment and more and be able to return to work :)

As Mark is able to walk for up to 4 hours now we will be doing our first camping this Saturday down at our close friends the Bonine's land. We will in be in Eau Galle celebrating Sara's 27th bday. Don't worry as Mark will be far away from fires this weekend! :)

T=Tah for now!

Mark & Sara

June it is!

(Mark looking over the St. Croix from Dan Schult'z place)

(Samantha and I down @ the River for my Zumba 1 year shots)
(1 year - down 60lbs)

(Sam enjoying the new floating dock @ Fairview)
(Holly & I at Fairview Mem. Day Weekend)
(The Momma's down at the Rivertown Art Festival)
(Smores over a candles last night on Mem. Weekend)
(Mark and Holly)

(Ladies enjoying the Fairview Floater)
(Job well done Mark!)
(I should say this was a fun day constructing this)
(The beginning)
(This is my girlfriend Emily & I on my last night in Fayetteville, NC)

Blogging has been the last piece of our lives lately, so much has happened good and bad, but on the positive we will stick with the good!

Reflecting over the past couple of weeks we have done the following:
*Had a "see you soon" dinner with the Rognesses as they departed for Colorado
*Playing Volleyball twice a week (one day training the other playing)
*Mark finished his schooling until September and now is working full time yeah!
*Attended the Rivertown Art Festival in Stillwater with my Mom & Holly
*Celebrated the Schultz's great expectancy - congrats Tammy & Dan!
*Headed up to Fairview (Family cabin) for the great Memorial Day Weekend
*Samantha and I did a road trip up to Thomson, MN to visit my Cousin Hans and family

Now to brief you on our excursions; our weeks have been more filled with activity since Volleyball season is here. Also Mark, Holly, Samantha, and I are participating in the 5k for the Lumberjack Days Race on July 25th; I've been having Mark join in the fitness wagon more (hehe). I did hit my goal weight of 60lbs by May 15th. I put up my 1 year picture, it's been a crazy ride but well worth all the squats, crunches, and classes I taught-couldn't be happier to fit into clothes that don't hide me anymore lol.

Our trip with the family up to the cabin was beautiful all weekend long. We constructed (Dad, Mark and I) the new addition to Fairview; the floating fairview dock! The ladies enjoyed sunbathing and cocktailing on this magnificent creation all weekend long. Mark enjoyed fishing with my Dad and Holly, but the nats really did enjoy them while they were out. They did catch a few fish, none to keep but they definitley made that their mission that weekend. It was a fabulous weekend together up north and have put pictures up too. We will be heading back up on the 18th and can't wait!!

The following week after Memorial was busy as Samantha and I headed on Thursday up to visit Hans, Margaret & Tae for an evening and day. We took saunas and enjoyed cocktails while gabbing about our lives; margaret is so sweet and a great woman to gab with. Friday morning we took a drive to Duluth for a walk around Lake Superior it was sunny and 70, baby tae enjoyed it too! We met with Hans for a coffee at a local place and we're so happy he's got a great new job that he enjoys-way to go Hansi! We headed back to the house and played outside and had lunch with Margaret and Tae, but left a little early as Tae was being a tich fussy no worrys though he's so darn cute we didn't notice him being fussy :)Samantha and I really have enjoyed bonding on our road trips. We spent the first night together at Fairview over Memorial Day weekend and caught up with life. It's amazing the common interests we have; turns out 7 year age difference doesn't matter! :)

Upcoming in the next few weekends are WEDDINGS! This weekend we will celebrate my oldest friend Micah Peterson to get married in Stillwater. This should be quite the celebration with almost 500 guests attending OMG! Next Friday the 12th we're hosting a BBQ at my parents house for Mark's 27th Bday! Patriotic theme with fun in the sun activities and of course camping out in the backyard. Should be all time! Last wedding we will attend is in Milaca, MN for my old co-worker Lori Powell. This will be a more casual event in the woods so we will have a blast I'm sure.

We'll now we've caught up and June it is---our favorite month I tell you!

Till next time....
Tdiddy & Sarasweets

Spring has Sprung and May's beyond it's way!

From the best of my knowledge I will try to recapture all of the great new activities and unfortunate news we're going through this spring. After the Crowe wedding we've been contemplating our next moves and that means Summer plans and I also went on my trip to North Carolina.

But first will back up onto some news that is coming from our sincerest sympathies to Mark's Great Uncle Edward (Sonny) Ostrom and Great Aunt Kathy Ostrom. On May 3rd Mark received a phone call from his Father saying his second cousin Jeremiah Ostrom has passed away, while being at a friends cabin over the weekend. We just were with Kathy & Sonny amongst the other Thompson Family celebrating Bethany Thompson's (Mark's Cousin's) college graduation the day before. This is such saddening news for this family, our thoughts and prayers with you during this time and days forward.

Unfortunatley, I could not make the services as I was leaving a few days later to Fayetteville, North Carolina. This trip came as it was also my Grandfather's two year anniversary (Robert Ross)since his passing; isn't timing everything.

Mark has always been by my side during passing's of my loved one's and will say I was heart achey that I couldn't be with him for Jeremmiah's services. However, this family has grown this much closer together and that is what happened with mine during any difficult times, reaching for each other is the best medicine and gives hope to us for brighter days ahead.

My vacation to North Carolina was an awakening to myself and I enjoyed every moment spent with my girlfriend Emily. We soaked up the sun, did wine tasting, relaxed, and recaptured parts of ourselves that we sometimes forget. This is a trip I will never forget, thank you Emily and Herrlein Mom & Grandpa for a wonderful trip. To my new friends that I met, I can't express how meeting new people can shine new parts to your life!

Coming home Mark and I have got big plans and changes to go forward with and my trip helped me realize that things can only get better. I hit my goal of weight loss, job security at both places of work, and developing new ways to enjoy life. We're on our way to 6 years together on July 4th, so we can only say this summer we're making it all count!

Here's just a taste of what we're going for:
*Running together in the Lumberjack Days 5k on July 25th with Sam & Holly
*Camping at Glenwood Hills with Family/Friends 2x
*Taste of MN Concert series July 2nd-4th
*Traveling to: Fairview, Waterrama, Freeport (Lori Powell's wedding) and camping not quite sure where but can assume (O'Golly, Along the St. Croix River, and Southern MN)

It's all very exciting and with that some new changes as well. Our roommate Annie is moving to a new place as well after being with us for a year and a half. We wish her all the best of luck and success for her new chapter. We're noticing that a lot from our close friends; from moving out of Stillwater and moving onto new ways with their lives. It's so great to see this and wish them all the best!

So gooshy I tell you, but no complaints here we're happy, healthy, and looking forward to Memorial Day weekend with the Family next week, it will be all time!

Till next time...
Mark & Sara

A Crowe Event!

The weekend of 4/25/09 was filled of celebration and couldn't be more happy that our seregant family The Crowe's was able to celebrate with them the marriage of Claire Crowe! Claire is my boss and Mark's old boss, making sense yet??? lol daughter and my close friend/co-worker. She was married at the St. Paul Cathedral on Saturday afternoon it was a lovely ceremony. Claire was actually Mark's boss too at one point so we have quite the history with this family since I started working for them in 2005.

After the ceremony we celebrated in Downtown St. Paul at The Lowry Theater actually where Tony & Tina's wedding is being held for shows. The Lowry is a second home to us so enjoying a reception we had no problem celebrating! We did close or shall I say I helped close down the dance floor as usual, but enjoyed seeing this family celebrate especially after what they've been through since 2007 (if you know May 2007was the month of infamy). For those who ask we handled seeing you know who rather well and then some!



I do have to give myself a "Happy Belated Gotcha Day" as I did get to share that celebration too that same day! The dress I'm wearing in the picture was a gift for my "Gotcha Day" from my parents, thanks guys!

Zumba Convention Video

This is the Zumba Convention Video from 2008, this is just a taste of what I'll be doing in September!


2008 Zumba Convention from Zumba Fitness on Vimeo.

Zumba Fundraiser 4/18/09

This past weekend was amazing! Saturday I participated (not instructing) at Anoka County's Fundraiser for Sexual Awareness Program. We did a Zumba Master Class for 1 1/2 hours raising over $2,000 for it's organization!!!

I've put a picture of the participants and myself included. I'm in the front behind instructors in a turquoise tank top & black pants. Zumba has changed my life the last six months and look forward to being more involved in the Zumba-Minnesota family. After discussing the 2009 Zumba Convention in Orlando, FL with fellow instructors, it is a goal of mine to get to this convention!! The Zumba-MN family seems to be so excited to represent our state!!

The different styles, rhythms, and work-out benefits of Zumba just keep growing in this profession, so I'm going for the glory to specialize in Zumba Toning and Zumba Aqua. The convention is over Labor Day Weekend, it's definitley not a vacation besides the two Certifications I will be doing several styles from: Brazilian, African, Mambo, Boracha...specialty classes. It will be worth it and look forward having one heck of a Zumba Party in September!

Ditch the workout,
Join the Party!!

Sara

Spring 09 Pics