Sunday, April 25, 2010

Top 40 Pictures of Linda

I put together my top 40 pictures of Linda for her 40th Birthday.  Sorry, I only had access to these pictures from here in Afghanistan. I have some great ones at home of Lindas childhood and our early time together as Newlyweds that i wish i could have used.
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, everyone of these pictures has such a story but I am limited in time. I hope I can convey these images in a way that gives them the justice and credit they deserve to my wonderful wife of almost 19 years. Here they are starting with #40. Love you Linda.

#40-This is so typical of my wife. No matter what the experience, she is always making the most of it and is usually smiling. Here she is washing my hair while on a Pioneer Trek.

#39-Linda, Has always put family first. I love this picture with her sister. Even in the trial of experiencing a family death she understands that life is the key to happiness and happiness is the key to life. I Love her faith and love of others.


#38-This picture brings back so many memories of us together at the beginning of our marriage. I had just joined the Air Force and was graduating from Basic Training. Linda was pregnant with Breanna and we were just starting to understand what life and love were all about. She was the cutest spouse in the whole group and still is.

#37-Linda, you are so loving to all those around you. You have an infectious personality and no one close to you passes up a hug. I admire you for embracing Boyd into your family so well. You have a great ability to make all feel loved. It is obvious he loves you like one of his own.

#36-Linda, you always have supported our childrens goals and recognitions. Austin, you should feel blessed for that kind of support and I know you do. Who better to be the mother of my Son. Thanks Linda

#35-We have had many friends and friendships over the years together and these relationships have given us some great memories. For those friends we have had such good memories with, Thank You for the good times.


#34-Always the entertainer and sports fan we have watched so many BYU and Utah Jazz games together that it has become a fun and enjoyable part of our life. 


#33- You can tell that I just woke up but Linda looks great every time she gets out of bed. She must have a makeup bag nearby because she always looks like a million bucks. Everyone likes to hang out in bed with her. Even the dogs.

#32-Linda loves her sister-in-laws the same way she loves her own sisters. April, Thanks for being such a great friend to Linda through the good times and the bad.


#31-On the morning of a Family run to qualify for the Pioneer Trek we snapped this picture with my three girls. Linda is always young at heart and willing to show it by doing things with all of us and setting an example for her daughters


#30-Salt Lake approach...this is Utah 53 preparing to land....request approval.
If I pull that red handle can I jump and skydive down to the field?


#29-Another picture that goes to show she has a very real zest for life, adventure, and family.

#28-What a great Young Womens Camp Director. The girls had the time of their life and Linda did as well. She had everything planned out and still participated to give the girls the confidence they needed to complete this "Confidence Course"


#27-We had such a great time on our Cruise with our children...but the Lobsters did not make it out of the place alive.

#26-Always the Beauty. What more is there to be grateful for then a woman like Linda on Thanksgiving Day.


#25-Although I missed this Cruise Linda was nice enough to have a Virgin Pina Colada on my behalf. Next Cruise we will go together. What a nice looking Mermaid.


#24-This picture was taken in the middle of the Nevada desert at Creech Air Force Base. Thanks for visiting Honey and spending time together.



#23-My Valentine. Take a look at the Bag Lady in the background.


#22-I love this picture because it shows Lindas fierce determination. This was the point of the Pioneer Trek that the women were required to pull the handcarts on there own without  help from the men. Pioneer women had to do this many times on the trails if there husbands had left for War, joined the Mormon Batallion, hunting for the group, or had lost there lives. I cannot imagine what the Pioneer women must have gone through but I felt maybe a small portion of what it must have been like when I watched her pull, push, exert herself, and sweat. I am glad I could see it in her eyes. 


#21-Linda is the most supportive woman I have ever known. Along with balancing two jobs and running children from one activity to another she takes time to make any event important. Here we are at an All Star Game for Austin on a 4th of July weekend.

#20-Always willing to learn new things and tackle fears. Linda had a very real fear of water while growing up and she overcame it by taking a scuba diving class and became a certified open water diver. Blub....Blub



#19-During a School Assembly she had to kiss a Cow. Here she is getting ready for the big moment. Moooooooo.......... I think she used her animal whispering skills to relax the bovine. Pucker Up.

#18-Always a hard worker. We have laid tile in most every home we have lived in and who better to do it with than a happy woman like this.


#17-Mother of our Daughters, You can see the Beauty she has been passed on.


#16-Linda, you are a child at heart and always allow others to play and feel welcome in our home.


#15-This day was such a challenge. Snow started falling early in the day, we took a turn up the wrong canyon, delayed our adventure by 2 hours, and almost had a bad accident on the way home. Making it up to hardware ranch was still a blast. These types of adventures are always fun. What is life if there is not joy found in it. Linda, Thanks for being the joy of my life.




#14-Another School Assembly. I don't even want to explain this one. Ha Ha....



#13-Is Linda in there somewhere? We were at a Murder Mystery dinner date and one of the actresses loved us so much she wanted to take a picture of us but could not resist being in the picture with us. "Just like me, they long to be, close to you"



#12-How many BYU Football games have we been to? It is always a blast to go with my best friend.




#11-I think this was one of the worst weeks of her life. Her Cileac disease had flared up, had to take the children to the Doctors again, did not have any sleep, and I was deployed to Incirlik, Turkey. I am sure there were many other things on her mind as well. To top it all off she was involved in a multi vehicle accident and this picture was taken just after as she was filing her statement. I dont know why I like this picture but to me it represents some of the things she goes through in life. Even in misery i still think she is the cutest woman and can endure through all.


#10-My two wedding workers. I have seen Linda grow in new ways after taking her Job as a Wedding Coordinator. She has greater patience with others, great organization, and always looks happy doing it. Who would not want her to plan a wedding.



#9-A Jam session in our Las Vegas home.



#8-Hey there Disco Lady.....Sophisticated Mamma.



#7-Linda's Maiden name is Honey, for those that did not know, and she couldn't resist seeing her namesake on the Honey Bucket. We just had to get a picture of this.


#6-I love this picture. Linda looks relaxed, has a nice Tan, and is glowing as usual.



#5-Alright....she sent this picture to me after she had been on a cruise and visited a Wildlife park. I do not like snakes but figure if she was willing to take a picture with one than it should be in the top 5. You dont need to take any more pictures with snakes in them. Thanks anyway.



#4-How many times and ways can I say that she loves life and that a picture is worth a thousand words. Here we are in Alaska next to a Glacier fed Lake.




#3-GO BYU


#2-Out of all her individual photos I think I love this one the best. I see within it all of the wonderful years she has lived on this earth. Her maturity, beauty, wisdom, experience, and trials have truly made her the most beautiful woman in the world to me.


#1-What can be better to see than how it all began. Our Marriage was the happiest day in my life and now know that all of our experiences together have made that love grow in ways that I have been unable to see until recently. We are learning things about each other every day and it always feels like the first together. That is what best friends are for.
Linda, Thanks for truly making me the happiest and luckiest man in the world. I certainly would die for you but look forward to living with you from here through eternity. You are my best friend, my confidant, and my soulmate.
I love you
With Love, Grant 

Recent Pictures of Grant!

Grant reenlisted TSgt Hyland while he was in Afghanistan. Here he is giving the oath to have him protect his country.
Riding in the armored car on a volunteer mission to a refugee camp on the north side of Kabul.
Here he is helping some of the refugees. I love this picture.
Riding in a plane from one city to another.
Who knows what he is doing here. LOL
Here he is working in the office.

               Grant ran 4.2 miles in memory of Pat Tillman who was killed in friendly fire a few years earlier. Pat left the limelights of the National Football League to serve his country in Afghanistan. His number when he played football was 42.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Happy Birthday Linda-Top 40 Love Songs

I have so many more of these songs for you i am just happy i can share them with you.
Linda, Here are myTop 40 Love Songs for You, Happy Birthday
40- Chasing Cars-Snow patrol
39- You are my lady-Freddy Jackson
38- Keep on Lovin you-REO Speedwagon
37- Truly Madly Deeply-Savage Garden
36- You’re Still the One-Orleans
35- Happy together-The Turtles
34- And I love her-The Beatles
33- Wonderful tonight-Eric Clapton
32- Up where we belong-Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
31- I want to hold your hand-Beatles
30- Here and Now-Luther Vandross
29- Just the way you are-Billy Joel
28- Silly Love Songs-Wings
27- I just called to say I love you-Stevie Wonder
26- No more cloudy days-The Eagles
25- You’re the Inspiration-Chicago
24- We’ve only just begun-Carpenters
23- I will always love you-Whitney Houston
22- Come away with me-Norah Jones
21- Wouldn’t it be nice-Beach Boys
20- Heaven-Brian Adams
19- In your eyes-Peter Gabriel
18- Every woman in the world to me-Air supply
17- Without you-Mariah Carey
16- You and I-Michael Buble
15- In the name of Love –U2
14- I honestly Love you-Olivia Newton John
13- You’re my best friend –Queen
12- Take my Breath away-Berlin
11- Open arms-Journey
10- Endless Love-Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
9- Save the last dance for me-Michael Buble
8- You’re the one that I want-John Travolta and Olivia Newton John
7- Close to you-The Carpenters
6- Hold me now-Thompson Twins
5- Time after time-Cyndi Lauper
4- I melt with you –Modern English
3- Still the One-Shania Twain
2- Oh girl-Paul Young
1- Hold on-Michael Buble