Hope at Christmas

This was a post I wrote just before Christmas and of course I didn't post it in the rush of everything. Here it is for your enjoyment.

It's Christmas in just a few days. December has rushed by and I'm not sure where it went. The gifts are wrapped up and ready for Santa to deliver. The treats have all been cooked (and eaten, yum!)and the halls have all been decked for the holiday.

The bulbs are on the tree.

The nativity is displayed.

The house looks like Sugar Plum Fairies have done their magic. (And the best part is it only took $5 and a trip to the DI!)

And a small decoration has a place of honor.
Yes, I know it's a toy tree. It was given to me two Season's ago from a special "Santa." They knew I needed cheering up and this tree, complete with a Polly Pocket, found it's way to my home. Who would have thought that this tree could bring such hope to me. Every year I put up this tree and hope that I can find someone to help in the way that the "santa" and other friends helped me.

Over the years, I find that I fall into ruts and lose faith that people are good and loving with positive intentions. I forget to trust in people and then I pull out a small plastic tree and it helps me to remember that there is love and hope.

On this Christmas holiday, I'm so thankful to be spending time with our families and friends. But more so for loving and caring people who weren't afraid to reach out when I needed it most. I hope to live up to their example.

Happy Holidays to all of you!

The Holiday Season

Well, the semester is finally over. It's been done for almost a week. It ended with a bit of frustration, Is it too much to ask for professors to give you actual feedback on projects and papers that have been slaved over and perfected? I'm trying not to be mad about it.

Heb and I still seem to be just as busy but instead of homework it's dancing (for me), video games (for him), Christmas shopping and holiday gatherings. Ahh, Christmas time is finally here. It is my favorite time of the year.


(We love the slightly Charlie Brown real trees.)

We've been decorating the house (more pictures to come) and trying to get ready for Christmas. It seems like the older I get the more there is to do. More gifts to buy, more things to cook, more things to attend. I can't complain though, there is nothing better than sitting at a table with good friends, eating a beautiful meal and laughing together. I hope for many more of those times to come.

Fair Weather.

I ran onto this on our school website. This is how cold it is right now.

What about six degrees is fair? I mean really?

Geez it's cold.

Christmas Movies

I have been loving cheesy old Christmas movies this week. Not the classic ones like It's a Wonderful Life but the really bad made for TV ones.

Did you ever watch A Mom For Christmas? So great. Manequins coming to life, over the top acting, and Olivia Newton John. I like it. I wonder if I can find a version of it this year. Hmm.


What's your favorite cheesy Christmas movie?

School.

If it seems like I've dropped off the face of the earth,

I have.

Look for me in the library, it is now my permanent address (or seriously feels like it).

I'm going to need some real fun next week to make up.

Gratitude.

The one thing I have really been thinking since Thanksgiving is how much there is to be thankful for. We have jobs, school and a nice place to live. There are so many people out there who don't have these things. These are tough economic times and you can't always count on having a job. I know how it feels to not have one. I am just so thankful.

What brought this all on? Well, are there dates in your life that when that day comes, a moment of sadness comes too because of what happened on that day in the past? I realized this morning that for the first time, in a long time, that day passed without a thought. I didn't feel the sadness. In fact I didn't even think of it until weeks later.

I need to post pictures and such from our holiday with Heb's family and the 12 pies that mom and I made but for now I'm just going to be grateful.

Even in the bleakest of times, it will suprise you the blessings and joy that can be found. What are you thankful for? Is there a date that makes you feel the same way?

To Someone Special

Just recently it was the birthday of someone pretty special. Someone I can always count on for a listening ear or a good laugh. Happy birthday to my favorite shopping partner, crafter and friend!



Happy Birthday Mom! All of us wish you happiness throughout the year!

Life is Good.

I am pretty excited tonight.

Two good things happened. First, that I just finished a paper that I thought I would be up until the wee hours of the morning working on but no, it's 10:30. Yeah! And it's actually pretty good. Heber, my best proofreader, said that it was interesting. Whoa. You just let me know if you want to read about podcasting in higher education.

The second is that I am going to be joining the Irish dance performing group at my Irish school for four performances in March. I had to audition and everything. But I made it! This is big folks.

Add Thanksgiving, being just a week away, and who knows if I'll be able to sleep tonight.

What are you excited about?

Confession

So, I have a confession to make.

I really like watching hockey. Really. Completely unexpected, I know.

Hebs and I went to our first USU hockey game of the year on Friday and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ah, the fights, grunge punk music played at full blast and primo people watching (big hair and I mean big). Hockey is one of those fast paced sports that something big could happen at any moment, whether it be a good pounding on the ice or a goal. When watching soccer, nothing really exciting could happen during the whole game or golf, don't even get me started on that. No other sport remotely compares.

I'm not sure why but when I go to a hockey game it's like this deep down aggressive person emerges that likes the loud music ringing in my ears, facial hair and players duking it out. I think it's the same person that comes out when we go to demolition derbies but we can't be sure.

We still talk about the first hockey game we went to together seven years ago. We were playing Weber and there were so many fights that multiple people got ejected from the game. It was awesome!

I think one of the best ways to spend a Friday evening is at the stinky ice rink watching hairy men in full padding chase after a small puck. Get out and see a game, I highly recommend it. What else is there to do in this frozen tundra we call home?

Is it just me or is every picture of Hebs and I just like this one. I guess we need to start hanging out with friends who won't mind snapping a picture of us.

Moments of Insanity

So, I think I may have gone a little crazy and done something drastic. I don't know what came over me.

I went from this...


To this.


I cut my hair off. All of it. It has never been this short. I wanted a change and I think I'm liking it, so far.

100

This is post 100. My goodness, what great wisdom do I share for post 100? When I think of all that has happened in these 100 posts.

To all of you out there, thank you for reading and for writing comments. I've so enjoyed writing and sharing with each of you.

And as far as great wisdom goes,
I'll just say this,

it's been good.

Halloween Hauntings

So, Halloween is not my favorite holiday. I love Christmas, Thanksgiving, fourth of July, any but just not Halloween. Really, what is so great about decorating with skulls, oozing items, scary faces? I'm just not a huge fan.

As I was thinking about this, I thought of a Halloween that may have impacted this. I was in kindergarten and I remember it fairly vividly for how long ago that was. That year I dressed up as the tooth fairy. My mom made this great costume complete with an "I love clean teeth" pin and a flowy skirt made up of many panels of shiny fabric. We got to wear our costumes to school and I was so excited. Sitting in the lunchroom, I was worried about my skirt getting dirty so I untied it and set it to the side. I had nothing to worry about, I was wearing tights and shorts, or so I thought. Halfway through lunch I look down and I realize that I can see my patterned undies through my tights. I was mortified. I quickly wrapped my skirt back around me. You don't easily get over an experience like that.

But Halloween this year was a pretty good time. We attended a party or two, saw my nephews in the cutest costumes and went to see Sweeney Todd on campus. What a great show!



Have you ever seen a cuter rodeo clown? Didn't think so.

Heb and I, in traditional fashion, had a hard time deciding what to be for Halloween. I decided to go for the Medusa look with lots of snakes and he fell back on an old classic, the Nerd. Back when we were dating, Heb dressed up as a nerd the first Halloween. I tease him that it doesn't really count if you dress up as what you already are. :)

This year


Here we are back in the day with some friends.

A Photo Project

I recently completed a project that I have wanted to put together for a long time. Are any of you like me with lists of project ideas that you are wanting to get to? This was a special one because it is a collection of photos of some of the women in my life.

My mom and grandma are some of the most amazing women I have ever met. I was never able to meet my great-grandma but I have heard the stories and come to love the person she was. It is so important to remember where you came from. These are the people who helped to shape me into the person I am today. I am thankful to be part of this line of women.

So here is the finished product. Something to remind me about this heritage. It took a little extra time and effort to find pictures of each of us at about the same age and get them to all look similar, with different backgrounds and lighting but I am really happy with how it turned out.

What's Going On?

So it's been a while. Were we busy at work. Yes, but not too busy. Busy with school? Yes, but again not too bad. We've been out on vacation. Well, and I've been sick, grrr, but I made it through.

Ahh, but isn't it nice to get away? We've been so busy that we haven't taken a trip in quite a while. Summer slipped away as we ran crazy at work and fall has flown by with school.

So, we took a few days in Oregon visiting two sides of the family. It seems like we go to Oregon a lot. I don't mind it at all, beautiful scenery, time with family and some stinking cute kids.

So, here's what we learned while on vacation:
1. Heber really likes Maplenuts.

Me with baby Wren

2. We like kids, who knew?

3. Even with the rain, we like Oregon and found that we dressed like Oregonians.


4. Hippy farms really are delicious, and I want to go back.

We ate at a fantastic community farm. So delicious. They even made blue cheese taste good, which is a miracle.


Out with Nate and Nicki on the town. I so enjoyed getting some time to chat.

And last but not least, Order seafood when in Portland, even if you don't normally like seafood.

Thank you to both families for letting us stay with you.

Feeling Happy.

I don't know why but I am feeling super happy today. I rolled out of bed just excited for the day.

Could it be that...
My sweetheart came home last night from a business trip (Yeah!) Having a little time to yourself is not a bad thing but I like having him around.

In just a few days I will see baby Wren for the first time, a baby that was named after my nickname. How have I waited all this time??

I got to sleep in! Okay, I should have been working but it's been a long few days with school and work.

I have figured out some great things for my job in just the last couple of days. The websites are looking awesome!

We have a full weekend of fall activities planned, whoo hoo for fresh made apple cider, shopping at JC Penney and farmers markets.

I plugged the Twilight soundtrack into my iPod and love it!

I ran into an old friend from my political science days and realized how happy I am to be doing what I'm doing in my life right now.

I get to have lunch with my favorite person in the world at a place with sandwiches that I have seriously been craving for days. Whoever put turkey, stuffing and cranberry together, bless them.

I guess lots to be happy about. I hope it's that way for you too!

This is Awesome

I just ran onto this website in my search at work and so I did a word map for myself. Love it.


Make your own at wordle.com

I Really Want

A good cup of hot cocoa. I think best in a little cafe with some nice chocolate and cream. Anyone know a good place?

It's already cold here and the mountains look beautiful with their first layer of snow. I'm liking wearing my jackets and having rosy cheeks in the mornings.

Fall Foliage

I have been on a big kick lately of trying to make some changes to our house. I think I just get bored sometimes with what I have. Anticipating the long cold winter, all I want is bright colors to keep the house warm and cheery. I have never been one for bright green and yellow but now it seems that it is all I want.

I usually don't do this but here is my last project - put together on Wednesday. A fall wreath. For some reason, I have almost no fall decor, people say it's because we don't have children yet but I honestly don't know what that has to do with it. I decided it was time to put one together.

Here it is, with berries (one of my favorite things) and feathers (a new thing I'm trying).


The best part of all, it only cost $8.22 to put together, from wreath to leaves. Hobby Lobby may have just found a new friend. Yup.

A Sure Sign It's Fall

Today I saw these (not too out of the ordinary at USU, especially where I work)

worn with these.

It must be fall.

Community Day

It's almost the end of September. How can I have already been in school for a month? There have been a few things that have fallen through the cracks as far as blogging that I would like to post.

Do you remember back to the post about the community day that I was planning? Well, I want to finally share some pictures. It was a really good day and I was so pleased with how it all turned out. All of the long days, stress and hard work paid off.

The day of the event, back in August, I woke up to rainy skies. With everything going on outside, I was worried that it would all be rained out but it eased up enough to get everything set up and stopped completely just a few minutes before we started. The weather picked up again just 10 minutes before the end of the event. I think someone was watching out for me.

We had activities, skydivers, food and ice cream made with liquid nitrogen. Over 35 volunteers help to make it such a special day. Here are some pictures.





I want to put a special something in here about Heber. I couldn't have pulled it off without him. He was there every step of the way encouraging and helping me, even if it meant stuffing name tags at 10:30 at night. And also a special thank you to all of you who came to support me. I so appreciated you taking the time, especially Mom L., Matt, Whitney and Granny Barbs.

Time Out

Ah, a weekend. It's so nice to relax a little and enjoy what is left of the beautiful weather.

While Heb was doing this....

I was relaxing here, doing some reading. I don't think it counts as studying if you do it in the great outdoors.


And here we are in the park next to the river, yes, the one where we got engaged. Thank goodness for Saturdays!

Early Excitement

I almost had a heart attack today. It was one of those moments that gets your heart pounding and that you know will lead to lots of trouble. It's good to liven up your day with sheer terror, right?

I nearly lost my thumb drive, yes, the newly acquired four gigabite drive that has already saved me once before. I keep most of my work files backed up on it so that I can work wherever and whenever the mood strikes, very handy. When my work computer's hard drive crashed, I thanked my lucky stars that the thumb drive was there for me and had all the information that would have been lost forever.

This morning, I ventured over to the library as a grad student adjusting to the growing work load. I plugged it in and saved the document I was working on. With reading coming out of my ears, I left the computer to immerse myself in Gange's learning theory and other equally engrossing topics. What I didn't realize was that the drive was still there, poking out the side of the screen for anyone to take. I mean, who wouldn't want a perfectly good 4 GB drive?

I remember back in the day when 512 MB was huge. I transitioned over after my zip disk nearly failed on me. I felt like one of the first, and paid a large sum to have the security. Now with memory so cheap, 4 GB was less than 1/4 of the cost of the old "kingston" drive.

Heading over to work, I was chatting happily on the phone with Mom L. I ran some paperwork around and checked my email before settling in to work on the assignments. I reached for the disk, not there. I check the backpack again. Nope. I checked all the other possible places and realized that it was gone and to my horror, probably still at the library or worse.

Running over, my heart was pounding at the prospect that could be before me. "Have you seen a thumb drive here?" I say to the unsuspecting student that I reached around in hope of finding the drive. Nothing. Moving to the help desk, my last hope, I ask for an lost drives. And there is was. Safe and sound.

I promise to never leave you in a computer, ever again. Let's hope for a long and data filled partnership.

It's Been Four Years.

Yup, four whole years since we got married.

In four years we've:
Lived in two houses (an apartment and a condo)
Replaced an old car and repaired the new one
Worked at more than 10 jobs (between the two of us)
Graduated from college and started graduate programs
Visited another country
Laughed and talked together
Had our car stolen and miraculously returned
Survived Logan winters
Acquired one pink computer server
Watched every Office episode
Visited the east and the west coasts
Taken up racketball and road biking
Spent countless evenings with friends
Loved each other even more than the year before

It's been good. I am one lucky girl.

Our First Week

Our first week of school is almost over. Here's a little shot of us on the first day.

I'm In Love.

I have always loved making jewelry and been fascinated by glass work. You know what I mean, the molten glass with colors swirled in to create something beautiful. I made a glass globe at a shop on the Oregon Coast last year and loved it.

Well, for our anniversary next week, Heber gave me a special gift. He found a place in Layton that offered a glass bead making class, torch and all. Isn't that a sweet husband? Now I can make my own beads!

I went down last week and have been loving it ever since. I am still working on the basics of shape and learning how the colors react in the heat but I think it is something I will be doing for a very long time. I love it.

Here are some beads I have made so far. Not bad. Now to recreate a second one to have a set of earrings. I'm still working on that.


If you want to light it up and give it a try, stop on by. I think you might fall in love too.