For the Romantic...

So I have been sick since Tuesday. I thought I was getting better, but apparently I was fooled :)

I have had plenty of time to do nothing at all. That part hasn't been bad. My sweet Dan has been taking such good care of me. I'm sure I'm forever indebted to him.

I have been on a Jane Austen Extravaganza this week. The true romantic in me. So far we have watched Pride and Prejudice(Keira Knightley version), Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility(BBC version). I still need to watch the other Sense and Sensibility(Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet) and Emma(Gwyneth Paltrow). Yes there are a few other movies, but I don't have them and I really don't care for them too much. So what is your favorite Jane Austen story? I love how beautiful the stories weave together. The true agony of love, loss, poverty and wealth. Of rank and characteristics of good and evil. Of the hopeless romantics in the characters. I love how the men in the stories are honorable and genuine in there love and devotion. My favorite male lead is Mr. Knightly. I may be bias but I think that he is the most like Dan. :) Dan is my My Mr. Knightly! My Mr. Ottosen! :) So I have saved Emma for last. He loves Emma deeply, he knows what he wants but he does everything in wisdom and great love. He is genuine and kind. Definitely makes the best husband. He adores her!!!

I do love Mr. Darcy too, but it takes him a while to get off his high horse and be a real man. When he realizes the error of his ways he really is a wonderful man. He loves her sooooooo deeply. Edward and Col. Brandon from Sense and Sensibility are good too. It was hard for me to get used to the idea of Col. Brandon with Maryann. There age difference was a little too big for me but he only had the most decent of intentions. I really enjoyed Edward (he is so upstanding and honorable)....I just wanted to see him in the story more. Now Persuasion has really grown on me. It keeps getting better. I like Capt. Wentworth. He was devastated by the loss of Ann. Even though he was so hurt he continued to love her against his judgement. The struggle for love and longing to be with the one you love after you think that the other has moved on. In all the Jane Austen books I don't care for the the rank and inferiority of birth and status( the snobs) and that you don't have certain rights as a woman. It must have been really tough to live back then. I love how they spend real time as friends and family. I love the slow pace and time to ponder. Each story has a bit of jealousy and longing. Excellent kisses too! I love the atmosphere, the green countryside with the beautiful cottages and mansions. The respect and politeness in public, the great respect for marriage. If I could sum it up in one word it would be

Romantic......

On Friday February 26th we left Rexburg for Utah to go to Dan's Great Aunt Faye's Funeral. She was an amazing woman. I was really fortunate to meet her twice. She was so kind and very funny. On Friday we stopped in Salt Lake City and had a fun family evening. We showed Grace the Salt Lake City Temple, visited Trolley Square and ate at P.F. Chang's.

YAY for Chicken Lettuce wraps!!!! We stayed at the Radisson. (Gracie's first time at a hotel) She loved it and was so excited that she had her own special bed at the hotel. We had a great breakfast and headed all the way to Roosevelt UT for the
veiwing, funeral and family dinner. TONS of people! Lots of family from all over to celebrate her life. We then found out we would be staying in Vernal UT that night (even further away). We had a really nice time and were very blessed to visit with Dan's mom and his brother Kirt as well as lots of extended family. We were able to visit the Vernal temple ( where my brother Jacob and his wife Rebecca were married. It was beautiful! (That was the only time Dan and I had been to Vernal before) We headed for the long trip back to Rexburg. On our way home we decided to take a little detour at the last minute and were able to visit the Bountiful temple and then I decided to make Dan's lifetime and visit Logan UT. He got to serve his mission there for 3 months before going back to serve in the San Jose mission. We searched for the house he lived in. He found it and the same family from 16 years ago still lived there. He was so happy. They remembered him and pulled out a missionary rememberance book they had with pictures and a letter from Dan in it. What a special moment and memory. He showed me places around town, the Logan tabernacle and the Logan Temple. WOW!!! That was my first time ever seeing it! Impressive!! He showed me Utah State University and where he took a class. We continued our long drive home. Lots of talking, stories and goals. Lots of fun as a family. I wish we could get
away every month :)Sweet girl

Grandma Ottosen and Grace

Aunt Faye's and Uncle Don's headstone
(with her flowers)

Uncle Kirt and Grace