a little bit of brown sugar

Baby Reed

2011-08-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

I just found this picture of Reed and his sister Jan.

I fell in love... could you die?

Look at that chubby little darling!!

We were runnAnggg!

2011-03-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

Me and my old roommate Morgan went on a fun little "Neon Fun Run" this morning. And we WON!!!

We had a lot of fun.

Oh yeah, earlier when I said we won.... I was lying.

Sister Brough

2011-03-12T00:34:00.000-08:00

I was able to meet up with one of my good friends Mandy Brough who is serving her mission in Honolulu. They were having a Sisters conference in Laie so I got to sneak over and see her. It was so fun to get to talk with her for a little while. She seems like she is doing great.

Good Song.

2010-11-26T21:34:00.001-08:00

Meet the Erickson's

2010-08-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

Just a random picture because of the lack of blogable news.

My family circa 1990ish.

Its Offical

2010-08-03T00:49:00.000-07:00

We are officially TVA residence. After a very long exhausting day most of our stuff is where it should be. Our place is pretty nice minus the bed. There are more questionable stains on this mattress than one you would find at a Las Vegas Motel 6. I try not to think about it as I don't want to vomit. Two plastic sheets under our regular sheets and bedding and I still don't want to sit on the bed. Anyway enough about the nasty baby-maker! Im very excited to have our own place. Staying at Reeds Mom and Dads was such a huge help. We were able to save enough money to get a car and enough to rent our own place. Well my bellys full of our first of many Ramen Noodle dinners and I think Ill go try my courage at the bed.

Lesuma's Life Update

2010-07-30T15:44:00.000-07:00

Reed and I have been so busy the last little while. I am taking the last of 3 summer terms off from school so that I can work full time. I am working at the Counseling Center, and in the Psychology Department. I love both jobs. I feel like its non-stop all day every day, but its good and I am hoping to make enough money to make me and Reed un-homeless. We are going to move in to Temple View tomorrow, YAY! Reed got accepted into the Social Work Masters Program at Hawaii Pacific University. Im very proud of him. He will start school this fall.

Well thats our life condensed. Ill try and be a more regular updater. And by try I mean I probably wont.

I don't know why I insist on doing jumping pictures. I look like a total creep every time.

Ahhh...

2010-07-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

Its a rainy "cold" day in Hawaii.

I am listening to Billie Holiday.
Looking at
http://rachelashwellshabbychic.blogspot.com

Pretending I have a house, and/or money to decorate my imaginary house.

Now all I need is a hot cup of tea and then...

its my perfect day.

Blonde Brownies

2010-06-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

If I had to go the rest of my life only eating one thing it would be these. They will change your life FOREVER!

Apple-bee's Blonde Brownies

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

3 /4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter (10 Tbsp.)

2 cups packed golden brown sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

3/4 cup chocolate chips

3/4 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Flour and butter a 9 x13 x 2 pan.

Sift flour into a bowl. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and baking

soda. Set aside. Melt butter. In mixing bowl, place melted butter

and add sugar, mixing well. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing well.

Add flour slowly, blending. Batter will be slightly thick.

Spread in pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips and pecans over all.

Bake for 25 − 30 minutes.

Nope..

2010-06-13T03:06:00.000-07:00

DEAR

I HATE YOU!

Love: Me

Good Day!

2010-06-11T22:37:00.000-07:00

I had a good day.

First my PSYC class rocked my world. It was amazing. My head was going a million miles an hour with curiosity. I LOVE my major! It seems like I cant get enough of it lately.

Then after class I went to the beach and read my book, got a much needed tan, swam, and just soaked up the peacefulness.

The only thing that could have made my day better was is my sisters were on the beach with me! (ohhh cuteee!)

No but seriously...

GOOD DAY

Shortie Envy

2010-06-10T13:08:00.000-07:00

Growing up I had a bad case of shortie envy. My brother Rob was just older than me and he had the most prime collection of shorties.He had a few different kinds, but he had mostly He-Man shorties. He was so smart, and would wear them backwards so any time he wanted he could just look down and see the picture that is usually on the bum side. My brother the rockstar, pushing the limits.

So as for me and my shorties, they were nothing to look at. The majority of my shorties were plain ol' white. I had a few days of the week, but never all the days. Im not sure how that even happens, but I never had a whole set of days of the week panties. And unlike Robs switch-a-roo trick to get the bum picture to the front where it could be looked at, when I tried that all I got was Monday on my backside, my regular whites on the front, and quite honestly some really awkward bunching.

If you could go back and look up Dry Creek Canyon to the Erickson home back in 1989 you would undoubtedly see two little Ericksons running around in nothing but their shorties. Me wearing my wednesday panties on a friday, and my brother "The Master of the Universe" with his He-Man and Cringer shorties on backwards.

2010-06-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs to go to my Wonderful Sister Carolyn's photography blog and enter to win a free photo session!! She is an amazing photographer, and I'm not just saying that because shes my sister. She really is!!! go enter now!!! {CarolynBeth Photography} Photo Session Giveaway

How can you not like Doogie Howser???

2010-06-09T01:13:00.000-07:00

Reed doesn't like Doogie Howser and wont let me watch it... so i'm making him do my homework. I'm gonna wait till he goes to sleep and watch it without him!

I secretly wish I dated Doogie.

My kind of night

2010-06-07T22:15:00.000-07:00

Im eating cake for dinner in my bed. I don't know which is worse. That I'm eating cake for dinner... or that I'm eating cake in my bed.

Secrets

2010-06-07T03:29:00.000-07:00

ok. so in my attempt to make my self blog more regularly i am going to start something im going to call secrets. these are going to be secrets about me that no one, or not a lot of people, know about me. so here goes with tonights.

*{secret} sometimes when im by myself driving my car around corners, usually at a fairly good speed, i pretend im a race-car driver. im quite convinced that i missed my calling when i didn't take up all those offers i had coming from nascar. ~sigh...

Thought of the day.

2010-05-07T15:35:00.000-07:00

“A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances”

(James Allen)

Happy Randomday!

2010-03-21T21:46:00.000-07:00

So I get home from another long day at school and work and I have a package. I opened it and it was from my 2 amazing sisters. The card inside said “Happy ~~Birthday~~ Randomday” it was full of fun things.

3 of my favorite smell goods.

Stickers.

Face stuff.

Much needed Biologe Conditioner.

Hair ties.

And a Wyoming shirt.

Of course I started to cry!! I have the most amazing sisters in the whole world. They send me gifts for no reason at all other than to let me know that they love, miss, and are thinking about me. It’s the little things like this that make life worth living. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love and appreciate my wonderful sisters. They are strong, independent, beautiful, amazing women. They have taught me so much and I look up to them more than they even know.

I LOVE YOU SISTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Inspired

2010-03-10T00:31:00.000-08:00

Do you have people in your life that inspire you? Inspire you by their simple acts of kindness? Their gift to capture human feelings either in photos, art, song or words? Their ability to love eternally and selflessly? Anything that people do that you wish you could do as well as them, and seeing them do it makes you believe anything is possible. I think that inspiration is an amazing thing. It is one of the driving forces in my life. I love to be inspired. By God, by nature, and by the people around me. And I try to be an inspiration to anyone who comes into my life. I love having deep conversations with my “people” . The kind of conversations that I leave not only knowing more about myself, and the questions in my heart, but leave with a million different questions that I had not even thought about. This entry is to those people in my life that inspire me. (You know who you are).

(Photo By Carolyn Beth)

May you all not only be surrounded with those people who inspire you, but may you strive to be the kind of person that inspires others.

love

2010-03-01T22:19:00.001-08:00

The Great Aloha

2010-02-17T23:12:00.000-08:00

So much happening, so little time to blog. Reed and I had an amazing Valentines weekend. (I’ll write about it later). And on Monday my sister-in-law Caryn and I ran in the Great Aloha Run which is 8.15 miles of pure pain! But it was a great experience. I have always loved running, and have dreamed of someday running a marathon. I don’t know if this run helped me decide to run one, or to never run again. I’ll let you know when I come to a decision. I met my goal of running the entire thing. I didn’t walk once and I have to say I’m proud of myself. My wonderful husband met me at the finish line with a rose and a much needed Gatorade. I took like 3782 place, out of about 24,000 people.

Yay for not dying!

(and a hottie husband)

Pre-Run (5:30 am)

My number.

Post Run.

Dont shoot yourself Caryn. Its over!!!

Ok we regreted this move in mid air.

Note to self: Dont try and take a "cool"

jumping picture after an 8 mile run.

Over all i loved the whole experience. There has been talk of making this a tradition... I dont know about that, but atleast we did it once. GOOD JOB CARYN!

Quote of the day

2010-02-14T01:12:00.000-08:00

quote of the day from my reedie.

Reed: have you ever seen the movie Jeremiah Johnson?

Me: yeah that was like the only movie my dad ever watched.

Reed: well if i was a mountain man... i'd be the one who was even more bad ass then him.

ha ha ha i love him

Not So Smart.

2010-02-02T02:06:00.000-08:00

i hate posting without having cool pictures or something cool to write about. but im going to write anyway. so on occasion (almost every day) i do something so stupid that i question my mental competence, today was one of those days. i called my niece lily to wish her happy birthday and a man answers who i thought was her dad jerrod.

MEET:

Me Man

Man: hello

Me: HELLO!!

Man: hello

Me: HELLOOOoooO!!! (overly zealous)

Man: (silence)

Me: so..... how are ya

Man: good

Me: oh good. Do you have a cold, you sound kinda sick or something.
(I'm still thinking its Jerrod)

Man: yea I have a bit of a head cold

Me: oh yeah because you sound different.
*(come on terri!!!)

Me: so did you dress up today? (lily’s birthday party was a princess dress up party)

Man: what the hell would I dress up for?

Me: because all of her real friends dressed up... jerk…

Man: unfriendly silence
*(Come on terri!!!)

Me: soooo…. Is lily there then?

Man: no she went to the hospital

Me: What? Are you serious?

Man: am I serious???

Me: shut up, forreal!

Man: silence

Me: what happened, is she ok?

Man: she has been having gallbladder attacks; she had to get her gallbladder removed.

Me: WHAT!! oh noooo! thats terrible!

Man: yeah.

Me: well is Randa there? (Randa is my sister)

Man: no Brandie had to go to the hospital with her mom
(i don't know a Brandie)
.
.
.
.

Me:* (light bulb)* "SONOVA! ha ha ha ok thanks byeee!"

And that ended my 3 minitue conversation with a complete stranger. When I was telling my sisters about it I could not even talk I was laughing so hard. Tears were rolling down my face. It was a MUCH needed laugh, and to be honest, I might make a habit out of having conversations with strangers on the phone.

HAWAII!

2010-01-09T16:58:00.000-08:00

ONE YEAR!

I am in lOVE with this picture

So we got into Hawaii Christmas Eve, and though it was hard to leave my famiy it was so nice to be back in Hawaii! The first few photos are from Christmas Day. The next day Alayna Reed and I went on a hike to Laie Falls to burn off all that holiday food. And on December 27 Reed and I celebrated our first year of being married! We went to the beach to watch the sunset and it was a simple, perfect way to end our first year. The very last picture was taken on New Years Eve.

My Family

2009-12-23T21:14:00.000-08:00

WYOMING

Me and my Dad

The two most amazing people!!

Bricie

Me and Kadi

Grandpa Kay

T-Tommy-Thomas

What a Doll Face!!

*Family*

The Clint Erickson Family

(Clint, Becca and Thomas)

The Snow Fort Crew

My Beautiful Mom and Sister

Carolyn and Brock

Brock
(mini-B)

Old Dad and Robinson

Beautiful Carissa and Squirrel (Bricie)

Carolyn, Delsa, and newst baby Robinson

Canda and Charlie bear

Sir Charles

My trip to Wyoming was so great. I had a wonderful time. I was so happy to get back to my handsome husband, but WOW do I miss my family. I had such a great time working with my dad, helping my mom, and playing with all my beautiful neices and nephews. I have the most amazing family in the world.

2009-10-29T16:20:00.000-07:00

FOOTBALL!
That’s pretty much all we have been up to this fall. The Cougs have only won one game, but we try to enjoy it anyway. Reed has had a lot of practice at football, and I have had a lot of practice yelling at the coaches. Reed is finishing up his last semester at Washington State, and is in the process of applying for Graduate School at University of Hawaii.
I have been working on campus at the Political Science/Criminal Justice Department. It’s a great job and I’m so grateful for it. I got back into BYUH and will soon be registering for classes.
Other than that we have been watching the trees turn from bright summer green to gorgeous fall reds, oranges and yellows. I realized the other day that I haven’t experienced “fall” for 4 years. I was either in Hawaii or California and missed out on the changing of the seasons. Although it’s been fun I can’t wait to get back to the almost constant 80 degree weather in Hawaii. In less than 2 months we will be packing our lives and shipping ourselves over to what may be our forever home state.

Count your blessings!

2009-07-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

“We need to count our blessings because it causes us to look more closely and not miss those quiet blessings beyond price. “It will surprise you,” as the hymn says.” Shirley W. ThomasSecond Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency
I have been so blessed in my life to be born where, when, and to who I was born. I take for granted the opportunities that have been given to me just by being born. I have also been blessed to have family that is some of my closest friends, and friends that I truly consider my family. I have been so lucky to find my soul mate. Reed Henry Lesuma is my best friend and I think the world of him. Just to be able to have him in my life is the greatest blessing I can ever have. I am starting to learn how to make my trials and weakness' some of my greatest attributes. But I am also learning that true peace and happiness is not a destination but a journey. A journey made easier though faith in Christ, and the love of a good man. Christ is my light! And even though sometimes I close my eyes from him and see only darkness. I know that he is still there, he is my constant.
I have just been thinking lately about all my many blessings in life. And wanted to share with you everything that I am thankful for.

Temple Day~

2009-07-26T22:19:00.000-07:00

We had a much needed trip to the Spokane Temple this weekend. It was AMAZING as always. Here is a picture of my handsome Reed. We then met up with my old friend Larry (Becca) Gardner and her sweetheart Greg for dinner. It was fun to catch up with her.

My Hero

2009-07-16T23:30:00.000-07:00

This is just a tribute to my hero, my Grandma Delsa.

She is truly the most amazing person I know.

She has raised 7 wonderful children, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

But her influence doesn’t stop there.

Her love is felt throughout her ward, the community,

and all thoes she touched from her numerous missions abroad and in the US. She is a remarkable woman and I am honored to call her

Grandmother.

CAMPING!

2009-07-11T22:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Reed and I went on a little camping adventure. Our very first camping trip alone. It was so fun. We decided to go like an hour after I got home from work on Friday and within an hour we had packed all our things bought a little tent and were on the road to the river. Well y’all probably don’t know this but Reedie Boy is obsessed with the show Survivor Man. He’s pretty confident in his skills to be able to survive in the wilderness. He even makes up scenarios to see what I would do in a certain “survival” situation.

Example A: “if we were stranded in the wilderness and all our food was gone and you had to eat me to survive, what part would you eat first?” (ha ha ha)
Example B: “If we were stranded in the ocean on a boat the size of this couch (we were laying on the couch at the time) do you think we could survive?”

Anyway I just love his obsession with the outdoors; it makes me laugh to be with him. He will ramble off survival facts at anything that has reminded him of something he’s learned.

So we did a little fishing, swimming and relaxing. When the night time rolled around it got a little bad, sleeping in a small tent with a big man on a slight slope not so fun. But over all we had a great time and I can’t wait to go again

NOT MICHAEL!!

2009-06-25T23:02:00.000-07:00

NO!!! Not Michael! This is tragic! Heartbreaking really. I’m going to dress in all black for like the next month….or would he want me to dress in white? He does like white. Either way I’m sad

This is my very favortie Michael Jackson song.

Listen to it!!! It'll change your life!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBVY_49KtHk

How can you not love this face?

2009-06-14T02:34:00.001-07:00

I was just looking though pictures and found this. This was one of our engagment pictures. I just cant get over how beautiful my husband is. I should say handsome or something more manly, but either way... wow.

December 27, 2008

2009-06-11T01:12:00.000-07:00

Ok so I figured I would skip the rest of the dating/ falling in love stuff and cut straight to the point. Bottom line is he loves me, I’m the best thing that has ever happened to him, and we truly are living happily ever after. We were married on December 27, 2008 in the Salt Lake City Temple and it was the best day of my life. I don’t think there will ever be a day to top it, and honestly I’m not looking for one. I am completely content knowing that we are eternally bound together and our love will grow forever.

the story goes on and on....

2009-05-06T01:47:00.000-07:00

So after the game reed and I continued “hanging out”. I found myself falling deeper in love with him every day. He occupied my every thought and even found his way into my dreams. I dreamed of our wedding day, and the life we could share. He became the reason for my life and he didn’t even know it.
One night after a church function of some kind Reed asked me if we could hang out later that night. Of course I said yes! I quickly ran home to get ready. I threw a batch of brownies in the oven and went to fix up a little before he arrived. He finally came over with his brother Vaughn in tow. Now don’t get me wrong I love Vaughn, but I was hoping it would be just Reed. After they finished off my pan of brownies we all sat down to play the guitar, sing, and “talk story”. The night was going perfectly. I could feel the bond between Reed and I growing stronger and stronger. Then out of nowhere reed says, “so I leave in two days to California to play football.” My mind went numb as I tried to understand what he just said, and if he said what I though he said, what it would mean for us. Fighting back the tears I finished out the evening with some dignity intact. I walked him to the door, hugged him one last time, closed the door, and collapsed on the couch. For the first time in my life I was heartbroken. I couldn’t believe that I had let myself love this man so entirely and he was just leaving. Not being able to sleep I walked to the temple to clear my head and try to get a grip on myself.
The next day came way to soon. I knew what I had to do before he left, and today was the last chance I had. I called reed and set up a time I could talk to him before he left the next day. He came over looking all to beautiful and it made it just that much harder to say goodbye to him. We walked up and down Laie Point about a dozen times before I could get the courage up to say what I had been practicing in my head for hours. I told him how much I cared about him. How I felt drawn to him from the moment I met him. How I really felt that he was to be in my life for a reason. I told him I loved him. After a little moment of silence reed told me he “cared about me as well”…..and that’s about it. I had been bracing myself all day for the fact that he just might not feel the same way about me as I did him. We parted ways promising to keep in touch.
I honestly thought that was the end for us. I just had to get used to the idea that this man I had loved all this time didn’t love me back. Well we did keep in touch a little. I couldn’t decide if it was harder to talk to him once and a while, or if it would be easier to cut it off all together.
After a few months I ended up moving back to Wyoming for a little while and I talked my friend Mandy into taking a road trip to California with me to see reed. I told reed that we were coming to California to visit some friends and that maybe we could stop by for a visit. Honestly we didn’t know anyone in southern California, and we were going with the sole purpose to see Reed. It was such a fun trip and I got to spend some very quality time with Reed. One night we stayed on the sidewalk for 7 hours looking at the stars and talking. Although I didn’t think I would I ended up telling him again how much I thought about him, and that I still loved him. Once again I was denied.

2009-04-10T00:29:00.000-07:00

I know its been so long since my last entry. I’m sorry I’ve been so not busy that I must have just forgotten. Anyway ill pick up where I left off. After our first date Joe asked if I wanted to go to the kahuku state football game in town. This is how the conversation went

Joe: so you wanna go to the football game this weekend?
Terri: oh that sounds fun, where’s it at? (Thinking is Reed going to be there)
Joe: in town
Terri: cool who are they playing (I wonder if Reeds going)
Joe: Punahou
Terri: Oh yea I might go ( I hope Reeds going)
Joe: yea Kahuku is da best
Terri: yea that’s what I hear, so…. Who’s all going (please say Reed please say Reed)
Joe: oh probably just Reed and this other guy I know from work.
Terri: well it sounds like a good time,Ill for sure come (trying to sound cool)

So they come to pick me up in Joes little red car with the cherry steering wheel cover and were off to town. When we hit Hauula we take a right up the mountain and it was then that I realized that we had to pick up Joes work friend. Thinking that reed will get in the back with me I hurry and stick in a piece of gum and touch up my lipstick. Much to my dismay reed does not get in the back with me, but Joes friend did! Going without a shower for days I’m sure Mr. Creep is keeping one good eye on me. The whole way we got to hear about his stint in jail, and his drug problem. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not judging, but this is not the perfect start to the romantic football game that I wanted. Upon arrival we got out and reed walked with me in and we started our awkward “excuse me, excuse me” stumble down the aisle to our seats. He sits by me (thank heavens) and we get cozyed in to watch the game. The woman sitting beside us looked over at Reed and said “oh my you two make a stunning couple. You are a lucky man.”
Looking at Reed I was waiting for him to say something like “oh were not together.” Or “oh this is my sister.” Or something. But he smiled at her and said “I know”. I was so happy I can’t remember the rest of the football game.

So we get back to Laie and the boys want to catch the BYUH Friday night dance. We go in and Reed starts to cut a rug. And man I’m telling you Reedie boy has got some moves! I stand in the corner so as not to embarrass myself, but Reed insisted that I come dance with him. Well if any of you know me you know that I don’t dance. Not that I so much can’t dance. But just that I don’t. I tell Reed,

Terri: I can’t dance
Reed: oh common that’s what everyone says
Terri: no seriously I can’t I’m okay over here
Reed: common ill teach you
Terri: you’re going to regret this decision
Reed: you can’t be that bad
(I bust a move)
Reed: okay you can go back to the corner now

So after the dance we go over to kahuku to celebrate with the rest of the north shore residence, and I pick up a homemade candy lei. I open the candy necklace and I give Reed a piece and start ripping into one myself. It was a new white chocolate kit-Kat-bar. And it was delectable.

Terri: oh my gosh this is freaking good
Terri: seriously I have never had one of these before and it’s amazing!
(I look at reed and he’s looking at his dark chocolate kit-Kat-bar and then looked at my white chocolate kit-Kat and said
Reed: so that’s how it is hu? You racist? (he started laughing and I started to sweat in my arm pits!)

our first "date"

2009-02-21T01:27:00.000-08:00

So after the subway meeting we met again in Laie 11th ward. Reed was giving a talk the following Sunday. I remember looking at him the whole time. I didn’t recognize him right away from being the man from subway, but I again had this instant attraction to him. It was like i was being drawn to his perfect brown eyes. He gave an amazing talk and it was off to Sunday school. I sat in the back corner where I always sat. (With my bad ear to the wall so I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone on my bad side) and here comes prince charming with his friend. They sit on the wall about 4 seats from me and we made eyes at each other the entire time. I remember I was chewing watermelon bubbleishous and to this day that flavor takes me back to the Sunday in October. So after Sunday school the women stayed in the room and the men went to priesthood. That was my last chance to talk to this strangely familiar man. Instead of staying for relief society, which I was planning to do all along, I went out to the foyer and sat on the big red couch. I didn’t know if he would come over, but I had to give it a try. He did come over and we reintroduced ourselves. That’s when we realized we already knew each other. He and joe were going to skip priesthood (sinners) so I ask for a ride home. Anything to give me extra time with this charming brown eyed boy. On the ride home I invited them over for brownies and a movie the following night. He accepted my proposal and tomorrow couldn’t get here fast enough. Reed ended up coming and to my surprise he was flying solo. This was great, but not what I had planned. I invited my roommates earlier that day, but because he was alone they were not needed. They didn’t get the sudden change in plans and still stuck around. Seriously cramping my style. After the movie, with the roomies, we went out to the porch to “talk”. When I say “talk” I was meaning kiss. We were admiring the waves and scenery when all of the sudden……he didn’t kiss me. What the heck was wrong with this kid! This was the most romantic setting I had ever been in and I got nothing! The night was still a success and I loved every second I got to spend with Reed.

2009-02-17T23:01:00.000-08:00

Before we go on to the happily ever after we want to share where we started, first up reed:

Well the events that led up to me meeting Terri, it was the early evening of October 25th I was handing out flyers for the Fiji concert that the Fiji club was hosting at BYUH. We started off in Hauula at Tamura’s and Masa’s. We then went back to Laie to check out the other people who were handing out flyers as well; we then stopped at food land. While walking back to the car that was parked in front of Subway I looked in and spotted Terri before trying to open the door. I swear I almost broke my neck at how quickly I looked back at her. But there she was with her friend drinking water, all red and sweaty from just running around Laie but still as beautiful as ever. I told my friend that we should go in there and give those two girls flyers. But he eventually convinced me to go by myself. So I went in with my newly returned home missionary confidence, passed right by the other people in there, and went straight to Terri, and handed her and her friend a flyer. I mainly used that as an excuse to say hi and meet her. By the time I shook her hand and said hi I got all nervous and my missionary confidence of meeting new people flew right out the door, probably because of my other motives lol but yeah… I then found out that we already had connections through one of my mission companions, Dan Barnes who was from Smoot (the great Reed Smoot that I was named after lol). So I then used that for an excuse to talk even longer to her. I kinda left there feeling like she would never be interested in me because of how beautiful she was but was hoping like crazy that she would come to the concert and we could get to know each other more, which by the way she didn’t. That was when I first met the love of my life.

Now terri:
On the night of October 25, 2005 me and my roommate Rachelle went running our regular route around laie, down to PCC, though the back gate, though the byu back roads around by the temple and then past Foodland shopping center back to our final stretch up the hill to laie point. While crossing the laie shopping center my roommate wanted to stop at her workplace and get a drink of water. This was not a regular thing, and I protested because we were almost home anyway, but mainly it was because I didn’t want anyone to see me nasty and sweaty! Well we ended up going into subway, got a drink of water and were sitting facing the window relaxing, probably making the other customers uncomfortable. We continued a conversation that we had started before the run about Rachel’s boyfriend sean. She was rambling on and on about how great he was and their history together when all of the sudden a tall dark and handsome man walked in and interrupted our conversation. He introduced himself as Reed Lesuma, shook our hands and gave us a flyer. My heart stopped and the shaking of the hand part, because at that second I knew that I had know this man before. We continued small talk and that’s when we found out that we had a something in common (Thank you Dan Barnes!). After all of our talking we said our good byes and he left. We were close behind and walking out the door my roommate said, “I’m sorry I’ve been talking about me this whole time. So what’s your kind of guy?”
I looked behind me at Reed and said “him, he’s my kind of guy.”
I was just reading though my journal and I wrote this just a few weeks after I met reed.
“so I met this kid a little while ago at subway after me and Rachel went running. We met again at church and we have been hanging out ever since. His name is Reed Lesuma. He is an awesome person. I think that he might be the reason I come out here to Hawaii. I don’t know we’ll see.”

now comes the happily ever after.

2009-02-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

hey y'all, i'm terri and my husbands name is reed. we were married for time and all eternity in the salt lake city LDS temple. it was the most amazing day filled with covenants, family, love and laughter. neither of us would change a thing about our wedding day, and we're loving every day we have together. now comes the happily ever after.

*a little bit of brown sugar*