Time FLYS!

Well here we are, almost finished with January 2009. I can hardly believe it! I was just thinking today about my blueprint of life. Since I can remember I've planned on getting married, about when I did... and having children around our two year anniversary. Yes we've only been married for just under 6 months but that puts me at being a mom NEXT YEAR! I'm not making ANY promises here, nor am I hinting at anything. I'm just saying... I'm getting old!

Anyway... we have had some changes and things worth mentioning since the start of the year.

First of all, I got a new job! I'm working at an assisted living called The Charleston at Cedar Hills. I'm a receptionist on Wednesday's and Fridays. It doesn't sound like much but just in those two days I'm making more than I do even in 4 days of subbing. It's a lot of fun too! I LOVE working with the residents and am loving them the more I'm there. You can and should check this place out! It's the most outstanding place I've seen... ever! Here is a link: http://www.thecharlestonatcedarhills.com/index.php

Gary and I are discussing our education and trying to figure it all out. Honestly, I really do not want to go back right now. I'm working hard as it is and I feel like I should continue this path while Gary finishes. I do respectable work with the degree I have and I plan on getting my bachelors and even masters eventually, maybe just not right now. On the other hand, Gary is motivated more than ever to go back and finish his degree.

Speaking of Gary, as most of you heard he was pretty sick there for a while. He had a severely sore throat that kept him up all night for close to a week! Finally he went in and got some anti-biotics and is all better now!

I continue to have strange health issues but nothing too bad. We're waiting to have insurance to maybe look a little deeper. Overall, I feel great. I just tend to have minor set backs on a weekly and daily basis. (ocular migraines, UTI's, unexplained weight loss, worst of all extreme fatigue)

To tie that together with more GOOD news, Gary is now considered full time (even though he's always been full time...) which means he now gets benefits! We'll have insurance in a month!

Well... I think that is all for now. Life is going so well. I was reading Gary's patriarchal blessing this week and it brought overwhelming gratitude and humility to me. It reminded me how extremely blessed I am. With that, I want everyone to know how much I love you, how much I love this gospel and how thankful I am for all that I have.

The worst working day ever!

This week BYU and the Provo School District had fall break so I only got to work one day. I was excited since I knew who I was subbing for. She seemed to have a pretty good schedual and she was just a teacher assistant. Once I arived to the school I was asked to "go get the 8 special ed. students from the busses". I'd never seen these students before, how am I supposed to find them? Once the bus arrived I realized that was the least of my problems. There was a student in a wheel chair (he was non-functioning), and 6 other students that needed assistance getting off the bus. I was alone!! Luckly, one of the main stream students that I've taught before came running out to help me. I was releaved!

Once I got into the classroom the main teacher left me with the students. First of all, my contract says that I'm not to be alone with special ed. students for safty reasons. Second of all, they don't know me and didn't like that I was left with them. Suddenly there were a lot of problems! I had a student on top of a chair, another banging the radio on the floor, one playing in the teacher's desk, and then a student I was supposed to be keeping an eye on as he was tube feeding. AHHH!!! I didn't think I would survive! But I apparently did, right? Worst day as a sub!

A WHITE WHITE Christmas!

Well, as I mentioned we went to Washington for the holidays this year. Mainly because Bayli was getting baptized on the 27th! Our plan was to leave December 23rd and stay at my mom's til Christmas morning...

The 800 Mile Journey to Washington!
On the 22nd a snow storm came into Utah (and everywhere west of it for that matter) so we decided to leave early and stay the night at my uncle Preston's house in Tremonton UT. We made it there pretty quickly and went on our way on the morning of the 23rd. The roads were great!!! There was a patch of snow on the road here and there but 90% of it was as clear as any other day.
Once we got into Portland we hit some tough snow and ice which delayed us quite a bit. I got extremely stressed out and feared for my life. Poor Gary had to listen to me scream and cry as I was sure we were going to die. As a result, we stayed in a Howard Johnson in Tualitan, just north of Sherwood where my mom lives. It was a really nice hotel and we were in great need of a rest after the 13 hours in the car.

Visiting my Mom!
Luckily we made it safely to my mom's new house with ease on the 24th. Once we reached her driveway we had Scott (her fiance) come get us on the 4 wheelers because he didn't want us to slip off the driveway. Once we arrived to the nice warm home we did some catching up and took a tour of her grand mansion in the middle of nowhere. We didn't get to see it in its true beauty as the power was out the entire visit but it was a very lovely home.
Christmas morning was fun! We got to open our presents and watch Jeremy open his new PSP! Not long after that we left for our long journey to Washougal.
To make a long story short, it took us an hour to get out of my mom's driveway Christmas morning. Luckily Scott's brother (who lives next door) has a snow plow/tractor and helped us out. Once we got out of that mess we were at my dad's in no time.

Home Sweet Home!
We were warmly greeted at my dad's. Oh how I love to be home. Colton and Bayli had waited to open their gifts, which was extremely sweet of them! Luckily we got to enjoy all the gift giving again! Gary and I got pj's, some crystal Christmas decorations, games, movies and books! We all spent the rest of the day relaxing.
Unfortunately I woke up with the stomach flu so my goal for the day was to recover! None the less, it was an outstanding Christmas. I loved being with my family and having Gary with me too.

The rest of the week was enjoyed as we played games, spent time with aunts, uncles, and my family. Gary and I also ran around town a little on day care days. We even took a family trip to Powell's bookstore! Bayli was baptized too which was a glorious event! All in all, it was a WONDERFUL vacation!

We left for home and made it their safely! For New Year's Gary was sweet enough to take me to my Grandparent's house in Preston ID where we enjoyed more games and family.