Update

It's definitely time for me to write an update on my life. I haven't really written since October! This is definitely a case of "no news is good news". Things are going very well for me.

Work:
I am still loving my job as an educational technology specialist. I work with wonderful people. It's the perfect combination of teaching and technology. I get to learn new programs and "play" with new tech "toys" while still working with teachers and students. I have recently been asked to be team lead for our district-wide keyboarding program, so I have spent a lot of time researching, collecting data, and planning the best way to teach our students proper and effective keyboarding skills. I am also very involved in getting our district up and running on iTunesU. I have been working with teachers at each of my schools to have podcasts ready for our upcoming iTunesU debut. Things are great, and I really couldn't be happier at my job.

Church:
I am still the Young Women's President of my LDS ward. I love working with the girls. I worry about them constantly and hope they are making good choices. I now have a full "staff" of counselors, secretary, and advisers, and they help lighten the load and set wonderful examples for the girls. We just finished our New Beginnings program, where we explained the Young Women program to parents and stake and ward leaders in the form of a news broadcast. The girls were creative and so fun to watch.

Family:
In December, my baby brother, David, announced his engagement! We are so excited that Ciera will be joining our family.

Social Life:
What social life? (ha ha) Actually, I have been set up on a blind date recently, but it hasn't happened yet. We'll see... I've enjoyed spending time with my best friend, Kristine, before her first baby arrives this month. We had a fun baby shower for her in February. And I finally got to feel baby move on Saturday night. Very exciting!

Humility

humility |(h)yoōˈmilitē|
noun
a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness.

humility |(h)yoōˈmilitē|
noun
when your three-year-old nephew gets a better bowling score than you do.

It's a good thing winning isn't everything...

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone had a great holiday filled with family and friends. I arrived at my mom's new house Sunday evening and was able to see the renovations that have been done and the plans that are still in progress. The house is very nice, and I love the trees and yard.

My brother Bobby, his wife, Katrinka, and kids, Teleya, Lochlan, and Torin, were here when I arrived. I was able to spend time with them on Monday which was great fun. I had never met Torin before. He is a beautiful, sweet, mellow baby boy. Loch is a funny little man. A highlight of the week was when Loch asked me to help him put on his shoes. Teleya is a smart little girl with a good sense of humor. And, thanks to Bobby, she is tough! I had a wonderful time with them.

Christmas Eve was spent with Mom, Ron, Blake, Matt, Andy, and Davie. We had mini build-your-own pizzas and watched "The Nativity." Then Andy and I did a repeat performance of the song we sang at church on Sunday. It was very nice. We had family prayer, then each faded off to sleep one by one. I did help Mom wrap some presents that still needed to be placed under the tree before I went to sleep. I particularly enjoyed wrapping Andy's presents. One had candy cane wrapping paper with a Halloween ribbon and a fat angel baby tag. Another had wrapping paper with flowers and berries, a plaid ribbon, a cherry, a pine cone, and a Woodstock tag. Stylish.

This morning we had the traditional opening of stockings from Santa. Two highlights: a book of funny road signs and a giant blow-up bouncy ball... what do you call them? Well, you sit on them and they have a handle and you bounce. We all got one, and we all enjoyed bouncing on them, hitting each other with them, playing volleyball with them, and being gladiators with them. After stockings, we had scrambled eggs, sausage, and E.O. Rings. Yum! We opened presents - I was elected to be Santa and hand the gifts out. My "secret person" from the family drawing was my mom, and she got me a new laser printer/copier/scanner/fax machine! So cool!

Maggie and Wade arrived with their boys, Cohen and Ethan, later this afternoon. Andy and I enjoyed playing with Cohen on the swings. Cohen convinced Andy to come back and swing in a variety of styles (backwards, standing up, twisting, extra high) by pleading with him, "Uncle Andy, I NEED you!" We also enjoyed peeking in the "haunted, old playhouse" in my mom's yard. According to Cohen it has ghosts, snakes, spiders, cobwebs, and lions in it!


As the evening winds down, people are dropping off to sleep again. I am sorting through the potential plans for the next couple of days and trying to determine what friends and family I might be able to visit and what family activities might be happening. I'm happy to be here, and not just because I hear there are blizzards all week at my house. (By the way, it's been in the 60's and 70's and sunny here. We played on the green grass today in shorts and bare feet. :)

Mom's Diner

When we were kids I remember many times my siblings and me saying to my mom that she ought to open a diner because her cooking is so good. As I was eating breakfast this morning I began musing about what that diner could be like. I decided that the entire menu could be set up based on the members of our family - my brothers and sisters. Each of us would have our own section of the menu, thus providing 7 different styles of food and preparation for customers. If we add on Mom and an in-law menu we could provide even more options. There would be the Bobby menu, the Erin menu, the Andy menu, etc. People would order by saying something like, "Ah yes, I would like the David breakfast please." which would include something matching David's eating habits/preferences. In the case of "The David Breakfast" this would certainly include Cocoa Crispies. So, while I take breaks from working on my final project for grad school today, I will update this blog entry with more ideas of what each of our menus would include. If you have suggestions of menu items, please comment and I will add them if I agree that they fit.

Mom
Breakfast: Mints
Lunch: Half a salad and a cup of chicken tortilla soup
Appetizers: Mints
Dinner: Stir-Fry
Dessert: Mints
Drinks: Mints

Bobby
*Every meal includes beans and rice.
Breakfast: Pancake Competition! Compete with someone at your table who ordered the Brittney Breakfast! (You've got your work cut out for you since you also have beans and rice to eat.)
Lunch:
Appetizers:
Dinner: Beans, Rice, Chopped Green Peppers, Green Beans, Bread, Bread, Bread, Bread
Dessert: Fruit Popcicle
Drinks: Sparkling Lemonade

Erin
Breakfast: Anything but eggs
Lunch:
Appetizers:
Dinner:
Dessert: chocolate, caramel, macadamia nut cheesecake
Drinks:

Andy
Breakfast: Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, and your choice of E.O. Ring or Coffee Cake
Lunch:
Appetizers:
Dinner:
Dessert:
Drinks:

Katie
*The lactose-free menu - every meal made with soy or tofu substitutes as needed
Breakfast: Eggs Benedict
Lunch:
Appetizers:
Dinner:
Dessert: Chocolate
Drinks: Water

Brittney
Breakfast: Pancake Competition! Compete with someone at your table who ordered the Bobby Breakfast!
Lunch: Salad
Appetizers:
Dinner: Salad
Dessert:
Drinks: Herbal Tea

Maggie
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Appetizers:
Dinner:
Dessert: Baked Goods (to share with everyone else, of course)
Drinks:

David
Breakfast: Cocoa Crispies
Lunch:
Appetizers:
Dinner:
Desserts: Pumpkin Pie or Funfetti Cupcakes
Drinks:

Emery
Breakfast: Granola
Lunch: Saltibarsciai
Appetizers: Crackers with Stinky Cheese
Dinner: Rabbit Food
Desserts: Pots d' Creme
Drinks: Water

In-Law Menu:
Katrinka
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Appetizers:
Dinner:
Dessert:
Drinks:

Cordon
Breakfast: Fruit Smoothies
Lunch:
Appetizers: Fruit Salad
Dinner:
Dessert: Ice Cream Topped with Fresh Fruit
Drinks: Fruit Smoothies

Casey
Breakfast: Breakfast burritos
Lunch:
Appetizers: Double Cheese Nachos
Dinner: Steak, well-done
Dessert: Candy
Drinks: Yum Punch

Wade
*Everything on the Wade menu is served in half portions. We recommend the Wade menu for those with tiny tummies.
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Appetizers:
Dinner: Venison Stew
Dessert:
Drinks:

Back to the Snow

Thursday I got the bad news that a good friend of mine passed away. Saturday I flew to San Diego to be with my friend's family and our other friends. It was a weekend filled with every emotion, interesting experiences, and great opportunities for reconnecting, reminiscing, laughing, crying, and hugging. I was so glad to be able to spend that time with friends.

I love my friend Kristine. I love my friend Ché and his new girlfriend, Stephanie. I love my mom. I love the Foster family. I love my friend Emery and the fact that she welcomed me home and let me talk for hours on Tuesday. I love all my family and friends. (I'm so full of love!) And I miss my friend Darin. It had been a while since I had last seen him, and now it will be a long time until I see him again. It was very calming to talk with people about where he is now and what he may be doing. I would not trade the nights we had this weekend to remember Darin and laugh and smile.

I was asked by Darin's mom to sing at his funeral on Monday. I was so grateful for the opportunity. I sang "Where Can I Turn for Peace?" The song was requested by Darin's brother, Devin, and it was the perfect choice. Where can we turn for peace in hard times? The Savior is the only one who truly understands all our sorrows and is always there to help make our burdens light. Devin hugged me several times and let me know how much he appreciated my singing. The look in his eyes told me we both know how true the message of the song is.

It's Been Too Long

I'm back in the blogging game! Things have been so busy with work, school, church, and of course my thriving social life ;) that I haven't had time to update my blog. But, I am off-track now, so I'll have a little bit more time to do some things I want to do - between homework and study groups, that is. So much has been going on, I hardly know where to start...

Emery and I have been singing up a storm again. Saturday we sang at our LDS Stake Conference. We performed "I Will Stand as a Witness of Christ" by Sally DeFord. It went very well, and we loved the opportunity to sing, as we always do. Elder Cecil O. Samuelson - member of the 1st Quorum of the 70 and president of BYU - presided over the meeting.

We were blessed to have our dear friend Clara Neu accompany us again due to her recent foot surgery that has prevented her from leaving to serve a church service mission in London, England with her husband. I suppose it is very selfish of me to say her breaking her foot in two places was a blessing, but I admit I was thrilled when I learned she would be here just a bit longer. She will be missed when she leaves in a couple of weeks.

We met some new friends on Saturday night at Stake Conference: Kristin, Andrew, and Dennis. They came over last night to watch the LDS First Presidency Christmas Devotional with us. We cooked s'mores and hot chocolate. Yay! Emery and I love new friends!

Friday night, Emery and I had the unique opportunity to be fairy godmothers at our friend Shae's wedding reception. Yes, Shae had a princess themed wedding. Yes, we did dress up as fairy godmothers - blue prom dresses, pink feather boas, glittering wings, crowns, wands, glitter everywhere, the works. (I'll have to post a picture when I get one.) We sang the song "Impossible! It's Possible!" from Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella". Later in the evening I sang "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from Disney's "Cinderella" as she and her husband, Dave, danced. At one point in the night, Shae sang a solo which was followed by an elaborate, very fun dance performance by Shae, Dave, their siblings, and friends. It was actually a very entertaining evening. Shae did a great job putting together the program. We had a good time, despite the fact that everyone was staring at us (and yet, avoiding eye contact).

Saturday, Emery and I also babysat three of my nieces - Kersee, Mandie, and Heidi - while my sister Erin and her husband attended a convention for the business they are involved with. It was fun to spend time with the girls. They are very cute. Kersee is so smart - she wrote a story about the snow storm we were having, how her mom's car got stuck in the snow, the four men who helped push the car, and her mom yelling "¡Gracias!" out the car window. Mandie is a crack up. She managed to only fall off the chairs she was sitting on twice. (No permanent damage, Erin, don't worry.) Heidi loved seeing the snow falling out the window, and I loved hearing her babbling attempts to tell me all about it. By the way, the snow storm was fantastic! I don't know if I've ever seen the Salt Lake Valley look so incredibly beautiful!

Friday was my last day teaching for a whole month. My class and I went off track. We had a little holiday concert after lunch at which I sang "Jingle Bells?" (as performed by Barbara Streisand). The kids and my teammate Mrs. Simmons demanded an encore. It was a good time.

Oh ya - Thursday night I rushed down the hill from class to watch Kristine perform in her graduate student concert! She was great - the culmination of so many years of dancing. She is almost done with her master's degree in modern dance - just her thesis to go.

This is my last week of classes for the semester. I have one final next week as well, then I'm off for a couple of weeks from both work and school. Grad school is going well, but it is definitely keeping my busy. I don't know how some people get through all the readings assigned. But, I'm doing my best. I have a couple of projects, some online discussions, and my Instructional Design blog to work on this week, so I actually better get to work.

I will update again as soon as I am able! Until then, I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season!

P.S. I tried to add some links to topics mentioned in my blog in case some of you don't know what I'm talking about or would like more information. I'll try to do this frequently in my blog from now on, so keep an eye out for that.

Birthday Cake, Anyone?

At 9:30 this morning I woke up to the doorbell ringing. (Yes, I slept in until 9:30... I was up late, okay?)

I looked out my window in my sleepy state, and I saw what appeared to be a candle as tall as my house sitting on top of a cake! I wandered down the hall and said, "Emery, do you know anything about a giant birthday cake?"
"No."
"Get up, and get some clothes on. We're going outside."
I went quickly down the stairs and spied my brother Andy. He signaled toward the backyard, and this is what I saw:
























Nobody says, "Happy Birthday!" like Andy!