The Good of the New

I promised I'd post something about why I love my new home!! (You were all dying for this post, I know.)

• It just feels right. Not too long after Jayson and I were married I had a strange draw to the Salt Lake Valley that I haven't had in years. After I left for college I was glad to be gone and Salt Lake didn't feel much like home anymore. I couldn't explain it. Then, suddenly, it couldn't be more opposite. I just knew that for some reason we belonged here. I explained this to Jayson and he thought maybe I was just a big homesick and sick of driving back and forth between the two places, but to me, it seemed more than that. A little less than a year later...here we are. Even though we had planned to live in Logan for three or so more years. It's good to be back. I know over and over again that we made the right choice. When I'm in my new apartment I feel so at home and at peace. I just love being there. Plus, everything has just fallen into place. We got a wonderful apartment at an afforable price in exactly the location we were looking for, I got a job (working where my mom works again, I love the people there!), and Jayson just got offered a job on Christmas Eve by his cousin who has recently started a tutoring business that is doing really well! The pay for both of our jobs is pretty good as well.
• Reason number two I love it here is that almost any member of our family is less than 20 minutes away. There are few things in life that are greater than that. We're kind of obsessed with our family.
• We are a two-car family here! My car (Jude-sometimes I feel silly telling people that. I named him after the Beatles song, and I've only recently became a Beatles fan in the past two or three years, but it just came to me one day. I was probably singing the song as I walked towards it or something. It give me great joy to sing the line "Hey Jude, don't let me down" to him when I need him to be extra reliable.) has been sitting in my mom's driveway for the past year because in Logan we didn't really have a place to put him. He seems quite happy to back on the rode, unlike his driver. I am very excited to have my own car again so I don't have to wait for Jayson to get home to take me places, but I am not the biggest fan of driving.
• Jayson has been so excited to move here because the grand majority of his friends are here, and I'm excited to get to know them better too!
• Downtown Salt Lake is like ten minutes away. I love that place.
• We are in Salt Lake Temple District. I don't know why but this is very cool to me. I love that temple. It's gorgeous, huge, and has so many memories attatched to it!
• There is a Costa Vida right across the street from my apartment.
• Our Landlady is so very sweet.
• The people in our new ward are incredibly friendly! They're honestly some of the most friendly people I've ever met. I can't even count the number of people that came up to me to introduce themselves last Sunday.
• Meeting new people always comes with moving. I love meeting new people.
• No more two hour commute for our many family events. (Although I do plan to make it a few more times to visit my awesome friends.)

And there you have it, some of the reasons we are overjoyed to be here.

One Year

As of yesterday, this amazing man and I have been married for one whole year.

I will never forget this moment. It's the moment that made it all seem real. It was actually me this time. It was actually me that was bursting through the temple doors, smiling from ear to ear as loved ones clapped as I came through with my new husband. For those of you getting married in the temple, do yourself a favor and soak this moment in. It's a glorious, joyful, and special one.

If you click to make this picture bigger you'll see that Jayson does look goofy, but not quite so evil as when the picture is small. My face...is full of a smile of pure happiness.

Now for some bullet points on some of the reasons I love Jayson dearly.
I don't write these for bragging purposes. I just write them as a tribute to Jayson and the wonderful year that we have shared as husband and wife.

• When we walked around temple square on our wedding day he carried me for parts of the way so my dress wouldn't get dirty on the wet ground. One of my favorite parts of our wedding day was just walking around with him on temple square between pictures.
• He is goofy with me.

• Last weekend when we moved I was very sick. He packed and unpacked almost al of our things by himself. What a gem.
• The more time that goes by the more I see why he is absolutely perfect for me.

• Almost every Saturday morning he lets me sleep in while he makes breakfast.

His angry is like every other person's happy.

• He is always so willing to tickle my back.
• He sings to me to cheer me up.

He is patient with me. My emotions are so crazy sometimes that I require a lot of patience to live with, just ask my mom.

He has genuine love and concern, not just for me, but for everyone.

He shares my great love for food.

He loves me, and let's me know it every day.

This year for our anniversary we started off the day by me sleeping in and Jayson making us chocolate chip pancakes. Then we got ready and did a session at the Salt Lake Temple. It was really neat to be in the place that we got married one year ago. We happened to see Jayson's first mission president, President Fillmore, (the man who sealed us) there because he was sealing one of the other missionaries from his mission that day. Then Jayson kindly let me look at the many beautiful brides on temple square. Then, he took me to a flower shop and let me pick out a flower. I chose a beautiful white lily. It was the only one in the batch that was in bloom. For dinner he took me to Chili's, just so that I could get my favorite dessert. That night we stayed at a bed and breakfast called Inn On A Hill. We had a gorgeous view of the city from there. When we got there the room was lit only bit tons of little candles everywhere and there was a bottle of Martinelli's on the table inside. He had signed up for a package to have them set it up all nice like that. This morning I was pleased to find out that the package also included breakfast in bed! The staff brought us up omlets, fruit, toast with raspberry jam, and cran-raspberry juice. It was a lovely and perfect anniversary.

Leaving Logan

So, I figured that when I pulled out of Logan, knowing that I would never move back I would feel quite sentimental.
I was wrong. It's not that I don't love Logan, because I do. A part of me will always belong there. I was just in such a daze. I went from finals, to packing, to being sick, to more packing. There wasn't much of a break. None of it seems real yet. I don't feel like I'm really gone. I feel like I'm just on vacation.
But, I know that I'm going to miss Logan. I have such amazing times there. I grew there so much. So, I thought I'd blog about some things I'm going to miss:

• My yellow wall.

• My friends! I don't have many friends that don't live in Logan anymore. It's been strange these past few days, not really knowing anyone in my neighborhood. I have the best friends anyone could ever ask for!
• My primary girls. Our class consisted of 4-6 girls each week and no boys. They were a bit crazy at times, but they won my heart. They were so adorable! On our last day they kept telling us that they'd miss us and were upset that we were leaving. It made me so sad!
• Our ward. The ward that we lived had some truly amazing people in it.
• I'm going to miss living so close to Jayson's brother A.J. and his wife Alona. I loved spending so much time with them and having our Sunday dinners!
• The USU campus. It is so gorgeous. It doesn't matter what season it is it always holds so much beauty. I am going to miss walking around those sidewalks.
• I'm going to miss going to class. This semester I'm taking online classes and I know it sounds strange but the only part of school that I've really enjoyed the past couple semesters is going to class.
• My old job. Working at BRASC was one of the best experiences I could have ever asked for. I'm so glad I got the opportunity to get to know and appreciate people with mental disabilites. There is just something so unique and special about them. They have such a wonderful spirit about them.
• I'm going to miss the walking world. I have to re-enter the driving world. Am I excited? Not very.
• That small town, historic feeling that comes this being there.
• Incredibly cheap rent
• Having great outdoor hikes and different activities just minutes away

A few things I will not miss,

• My incredibly small kitchen:

Really, that's it. That's the whole kitchen.

• The long commute for family festivites
• The inversion/nasty smoggy air

For the most part though, I really am going to miss it there!

Don't worry though, I love life now. I don't want you guys to think I'm just sad about leaving logan. There will be a part 2 to this blog that will explain why I am so happy to be here!

Full Steam Ahead!

Thanksgiving was wonderful. It turned out even better than we thought, we were actually able to go visit all three of our families without it being a hassle at all. First stop was my dad's where there was great food and a strange, but wonderful array of people. At his house it's never about who's blood or even legally related. Everyone that has a place in our hearts is family and is welcome. I love it! Then we went to my mom's. It was great to see my step-sisters. I don't get to see them too often and I love it when I do. My Uncle Jason and Aunt Kristen were also there with their two boys, who I don't think I've seen in like a year!
Last, but not least we stopped by the Kims. They had dinner at 2, but it was about 7 at night and almost everyone was still there....and more came, even after us. Jayson's mom's side of the family is very close and it's always so much fun to be there when they all get together, I absolutely love it.
So, our Thanksgiving was basically perfect.

December sure is going to be quite the month!!
First, there's the end of the semester push...which means every class wants a paper in and they want it now. We'll see how that goes.
It also means....Finals are just around the corner...AHHHHH. But, by December 9th both Jayson and I will be completely done with the semester! Plus, our Christmas break is AN ENTIRE MONTH LONG! a break that will be much needed.
Then, just a few days after finals we'll make the big move.
And...GOOD NEWS!

WE FINALLY FOUND AN APARTMENT!
We were getting a little worried (well, mostly I was getting a little worried) because yesterday we realized it would be exactly two weeks until we moved and we didn't have a place to move into. I figured we'd being staying with one of our parents until we found one, but PRESTO! We went apartment searching and we found an awesome deal quite close to campus. We'll be living in another basement with another very small stove. However, the kitchen is bigger (of course, I can't imagine a smaller one) and we're pretty stoked about it. The kitchen also has some very retro floor that I'm pretty fond of. It's also got two bedrooms, which is another step-up. Also, even though it's a basement, it's actually got really great lighting in the front room and the main bedroom is HUGE! It's very cozy looking too...needless to say, we're both pretty excited about it. Then after we move out and in it will be just a week until our anniversary! We're going to dinner and then staying at a bed and breakfast....although what bed and breakfast and where we're going to dinner is a suprise to me. Exactly one week after our anniversary is my favorite holiday of all time, Christmas!! I love everything about it. I love celebrating the birth of our dear Savior, the music, the feeling that it brings, the spirit of service in the air, the hot chocolate, the beautiful lights, the decorations, and spending time with family. It's going to be a very crazy, but very awesome month!

In other news, Jayson has decided to change his major to Computer Engineering. He has been building a website as of late where he teaches Spanish by video. I won't give out the link yet because it's still, "under construction", But we're pretty hopeful and excited about it. He hopes to have it up and running in the next few weeks, so we hope everyone will check it out! Anyway, because of this website he's been really learning a lot and enjoying working with computers. He's still going to minor in Physics because still wants to teach it eventually, but he might take a few detours on the way so that our only income in the future isn't just from him being a school teacher.

And there you have it!

Mama Time!

Today's blog is dedicated to my Mama, Cindy.

Today is my mom's birthday. My mom and I didn't always get along...almost my whole life we just had clashing personalities, ok, I was a huge brat. I'll admit it. We loved eachother, but let's just say we fought...A LOT.

Then, I turned 17. and, presto, we were best friends. We still are.

My mom is an AMAZING woman. She has great strength. She reminds me of one of the Rommely women from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, she could take on any hardship, but she's filled with so much love inside! When she was 12 years old her father died of a heart attack and, being the only daughter, became the woman of the house while her mother (My Grandma Betty) went out to work. My mom's brother Ron died of lung cancer when she was in her early thirties. She has been divorced and widowed. She's been through more than a lot of people ever have to go through already. The good news: She's as strong and as lively as ever.

If you talk to anyone who knows her well they'll say that they love her and that she is an amazing person. Even my father, who she is no longer married to her never utters a rude thing about her. You might be thinking that he just doesn't around me, but the woman he's been dating for years will tell you the same thing. It was one of the things she liked about him the most when they first started dating!! My mom will help anyone out who needs it. She is constantly extending her love to people. She has more friends than anyone else I know. I swear it. She can't go into public without seeing someone that she knows.

The thing that she has influenced me most with is her value of motherhood. I have never been left to want for anything. She has truly given me everything. Even in times when money was tight, I always had what I needed. She ALWAYS made sure I was taken care of. For those of you who don't know, I am an only child (well, except for the many step-siblings I have!). Do you want to know why I am an only child? My mother has what is called a 1, 6 translocation. Briefly, that means that she has a very high chance of misscarriage, stillbirth, and having a child with severe mental disablilites. Did you know that she had 7, yes count them, SEVEN misscarriages before she had me? I always joke that I was definately not an accident baby, as I was five years in the making. She wanted a baby and to be a mother so badly that she went through all of that. I couldn't be more grateful for such a wonderful example. How many people do you know that would have hung on that long and went through all of that pain?

And that is my mother.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!! I LOVE YOU.

One Step Closer....

Yesterday (well, technically today, as it was midnight registration) I signed up for my last three classes of my undergraduate career (they're online classes, incase you were wondering how I was going to pull off that whole moving thing and still go to the same school). I'd like to say last classes ever...but I believe that Graduate school is in my future. My DISTANT future.

I'm very excited, and a little weirded out.

Today I turned in my graduation packet. I am really graduating.

Oh, school, I will miss you.

Oh, homework and studying for hours on end...won't miss you much.


Only 185 days...

Ode To The Sisterhood

This is us! From left to right: Sarah, Melissa, Vienna, Suzanne, Cameo, Marni, and Me

We were known throughout high school as "The Sisterhood", which I'm pretty sure is something we named ourselves. We were together everytime we had the chance, we had sleepovers gallore, and our lockers were all together Senior year. We were known our freshman year as 'The 319 Girls." We were basically inseperable. We all lived together on campus that year, save Marni who lived just across the way. We had the craziest adventures. We had Sunday night sleepovers almost every week during the summer after high school, we got to witness Cameo getting baptized, we went disco skating, we helped Suzanne run for Daisy Mae, we had a few grand sluffing adventures, we had confession sessions, we had one great Fake Christmas, and a magical spring break of freshman year… I could go on and on and on… But I’ll just show you some pictures instead:

Once upon a great time, we lived in apartment 319, save Marni, who lived just across the way.

When we lived in 319, we had a lot of fun...

Once we all got together because we had to, because we didn't live together any more.


Once we went to a Harry Potter premiere......ok, maybe 4 times. Harry Potter is a great love that we all share.
And, one time Sarah died in the Woobler.


Good 'ol high school days!

I remember the New Years Eve of our senior year of high school we went to Classic Skating for some Disco skating. It was really fun until the 13 year olds ruined it for us with their dancing. So, we decided to make a trip to a great and beautiful neighborhood that we frequently visited. There in the road we gave one giant group hug. That was when I knew I’d be going with them to college. Up to that year I had always imagined myself attending the University of Utah. But at the moment there was no denying that I belonged with those girls

This blog doesn’t even sum up the love I feel for every single one of these girls, the great times we have had, and hard times we helped each other through.

This past Wednesday Suzanne left on her mission.

The Saturday before she left we all had pizza and went disco skating and played on the mushroom of death. It was a really amazing night. We all got along, no one fought and the genuine feeling of love could be felt from everyone, for everyone. Although our lives are more separate than they once were, that night, for me, captured the essence of us once again. The next day she gave her farewell talk. That day may just be the last time we are all in the same state for a VERY long time. As in, years and years to come. This coming December I’ll be back to the Salt Lake Valley, about two hours away from the rest of the girls. This May Vienna will join me. Sarah will be off to who knows where, for who knows how long with her husband who is going to grad school. Cameo is hoping to be on a mission by then, Marni and her husband will be off to Taiwan, and Melissa will most likely stay up here in Logan. In just a few short years after that Vienna and her husband will be off to wherever Rob goes to medical school. Jayson and I will be off to wherever he goes to do Teach for America.

While it makes my heart ache to think about us all being so far from one another I am excited for everyone’s adventure and I have no intention of letting the distance dwindle our friendships. I know that often people say it's unrealistic to have such expectations, but I've always felt that there was something special between us. Something that not everyone gets to have. I realize that our relationships will change but I will always have a special place for each one of these girls individually in my heart.

Long Live the Sisterhood.

The Kims Vs. Mold: A War Story

I'm not sure how many of you know but a while back Jayson and I started to notice that our apartment was smelling incredibly musty.....

Not too long after that we looked at the bottom of our closet door and what did we find? None other than "Silent Death", (As named by Gilmore Girls) aka mold. Flaky green mold. So, we bleached that away. Then we ventured inside the closet....

IT WAS RAMPANT. Everyone started telling us horror stories and that we were probably developing lung disease, etc. I become so angered and worried about the mold that we began to pull drawers out, wash just about everything we owned, move furniture, and all that jazz. We found it on the bottom of our drawers, on our boxes, on our picture frames, on the wall, on our head board for our bed, etc. it was EVERYWHERE! We bleached it all to death. We began to get a bit light headed from the many bleach fumes and went out for Cold Stone, which is always a delicious highlight to any day.

The Problem: zero ventilation. No vents in our apartment, except one in our bathroom, and we're not really quite sure where it goes.....

Plus, the windows were painted shut. Sounds strange I know, but from talking to other people it sounds like it's a common thing in old houses. Another thing that is common in old houses is the extreme swelling of wood, which did not help our window situation one bit. Apparently this was the apartment's first mold encounter, as the windows were just painted last October, two months before we moved in.

Luckily, our Landlord was really great about the whole situation. Her grandson got us a dehumidifer from his work that was GIANT and became my best friend for a week. And...DUN DUN DUN DUN...WE GOT THE WINDOWS OPEN IN THE BEDROOM! After the humidity was out, the swelling went down. We can now even open our drawers without much force.

They also called in the ARS, some sort of disaster control repair company for inspection. They came for a visit this past week and we are happy to report...

OUR APARTMENT IS NOW MOLD FREE!!!

A special shout out to bleach. We couldn't have done it without you!

I had to throw away precious boots...luckily there were starting to be less than reliable about keeping my feet dry last winter anyhow.

Luckily, our mold was quite talented. Starry Starry Night anyone?

SUDAH, the great and HUGE Humidifer. His name used to be an acryonym for something, but I just can't remember what. Super Dehumidifier...something something

IT'S OFFICIAL!

Yup, it's official.

Jayson got his acceptance letter to the U this weekend!!! (Not that we were really worried about him getting in since he has amazing grades, but it's always nice to have that letter that says he's in for sure!)

Our plans for moving this winter seem to be coming quite nicely. Now we just have to figure out where we're going to work and live. Minor details really.


In other news..IT'S FALL! That means the three month holiday season has begun. Here are the reasons why I LOVE this time of year. (No particular order)

• Hot chocolate
• Hot apple cider
• Halloween
• Beautiful colored leaves
• Many family social events
• So many reasons to celebrate!
• Thanksgiving (one HUGE delicious meal with family. It really doesn't get much better than that.)
• But wait it does....CHRISTMAS! Delicious meals with family, candy, giving, presents, parties!!!
• One year anniversary!!
• Three whole weeks off of school
• New year, new beginnings
• One great big move to the SLCV that we are pretty stoked about
• Snow. (I love the snow and hate the cold. Figure that one out for me.)
• Fake Christmas. This is when my friends and I get together for a Christmas party. I'm hoping it will happen this year...It didn't last year because of all of the Wedding hallabaloo.
• Fireworks
• Christmas songs
• Festive Decorations
• Remembering The divinity of our Savior's birth
• Beautiful Christmas lights
• The pumpkin walk
• And trust me I could go on and on....

Yea, so, in case you couldn't tell, this three month holiday season makes me giddy as a school girl who just held hands for the first time.

a SUNBEAM! a SUNBEAM!

Yesterday was Fast and Testimony meeting at church because of General Conference being next weekend. I heard one of the greatest testimonies I've ever heard, and was given by one of the adorable Sunbeams:

The Church is true and The Church is true. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
He gave it all by himself, his parents didn't even need to go up and assist him.

sometimes the most powerful of testimonies are the most simple.

Dr. Suess, The Man With the Cure for the Off Day

By this title you might think it is about how I am feeling down and gloomly lately.
You'd be wrong. This post is a tribute.

A tribute to Dr. Suess.

Now, I will admit, it was the down day of today (well, maybe more like a down couple of hours) that brought this on. Today I woke up feeling fine, and then out of nowhere...BAM. I was all upset and sad and emotional. For no good reason. Sometimes I have those days and my emotions have seemed to be really out of wack these days. I have no idea why-- a. I am currently experiencing one of my least stressful semesters of college in years. b. I am really enjoying life right now. c. fall is coming and I'm really looking forward to those gorgeous leaves!
So, why all of this emotional nonesense?

I still don't know.
But because of my favorite Doctor, I don't care.

On Friday while listening to a guest speaker at the institute I heard my ALL TIME FAVORITE poem and children's book of all time being used in his talk. Yup, it was the familiar words of, Oh, The Places You'll Go! So, today when I was in my couple hour slump that book came to my mind. I read the whole thing while eating lunch and it made me feel a million times amazing.

My favorite quote of it for today:

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And then things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

Something new stands out to me every time I read it. If you have not read this, it is time my friends. It is time. It will change your life...
or at least your mood.

Also, one of the greatest, "cheer me up songs" is from none other than Suessical the Musical. Now, I realize that Dr. Suess didn't write the musical himself, but he gave the foundation for its genius.

My favorite part of the song goes like this:
...My philosophy is simply
Things could be worse!

So be happy you're here.
Think of life as a thrill
And if worse comes to worse
(As we all know it will)
Thank your lucky star
You've gotten this far.
Tell yourself
How lucky you are!
How lucky, how lucky you are!

I try to listen to this song every time I feel myself complaining or in a "woe is me" kind of mood. It ALWAYS boosts my spirits. I try to make it a philosophy in my everyday life, because how can you be sad when you are thinking of how lucky you are?


Needless to say, I love Dr. Suess.


My advice for everyone today, in the words of Dr. Suess

So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never foget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

Logan River: The Barefoot Adventure

So, all of the month of August I was determinted to float the canal.

Monday was August 31st and I proclaimed that for FHE we were going to float that canal! So, we got together with another couple, a good friend of Jayson's from his mission and his fiance, and got everything ready. We had planned it all out so well. We even got some fun rafts from Big 5 with a gift card we still had from the camping bridal shower that I had. I was finally going to get my dream! We left one car down at where the floating the canal adventure ends and drove one up to start.

and then...

we failed.

The canal has been fenced off to prevent my dreams from coming true.
But, of course, we didn't was that to spoil our fun! So, we thought, why don't we just float the river on the other side of the street? Brilliant?! no.
Poor life choice.
We floated for about ten minutes and then we see a wall....that we are headed right for! Water was pouring over it like a giant waterfall! I grap a nearby wooden fence to prevent myself from going over as I scream for Jayson to help save me! Then we had to stop the other couple! So, Jayson's mission friend Craig gets out and looks at the wall. Come to find out, it really wasn't that high of a drop off. So, we got our rafts and took them down the wall. At this point it was too shallow to float on the rafts, so we walked a little ways in the river. Then, we realized it wasn't getting much better. We decided to just walk back to the car that we parked at the beginning when we realized that we had locked those keys in the car and kept a spare in the other car to prevent theft and such, so we had to get the end. We saw a path on the side of the river and decided to try to walk it. It was made of tons of tiny little rocks that REALLY hurt our feet. The river seemed to get better so we got back in. No cigar. we would float about ten feet every now and then but that was about it, so we walked in the river some more. Finally we decided to just walk on the side of the road. By this point though, we had walked so much that even that hurt our feet. FINALLY, we found the spot where the river joins the canal and we were able to float to 1st dam. What a misadventure!!!
So you can get the extent to which our legs and feet ached I will tell you that we got in the river about 5:30. We reached 1st dam at 8:30. yes, that's right, a THREE HOUR journey for what was suppose to be about a 45 minute float.

Thus, my advice is: do not try and float rivers that you don't know much about.

So, we got back so late that we made poor Craig and Paige miss their ward BBQ. Jayson and I hadn't had dinner yet either so we decided to get Papa Murphy's pizza with some coupons we had. Oh, how I love pizza! So, we agreed to get the pizza and we'd meet up at our apartment after everyone was showered and what not.
Jayson and I finally arrived at our apartment when i see someone running with what I thought was a textbook. Then, as he got closer I realized it was in fact, a cake. Taking an even closer look I realized it was Jayson's best friend Daniel running with a cake. He ran towards us, put the cake on our car and ran away. What. The. Random.

He then ran back and explained that he had won the cake at FHE and decided to give it to us because there were too many cakes in his house. It was delicious.
And so, our grand story ends with Jayson, Me, Craig, & Paige feasting on one chicken and artichoke pizza, one pepperoni pizza, and one delicious cake.

I do love a happy ending.

School Days

Yup it's really that time again.
Back to school. I can't even believe how fast summer flew by!!!
Jayson and I missed the first day of school due to Joy's funeral, so, we started out a little behind, but it was totally worth it to be there for Justie.

Personally, the first couple of days of classes were overwhelming! Jayson said he felt a little that way too, but I don't think he was quite as overwhelmed as I was. I got all of my syllabi and notes that I missed straightened out. Now, the classes I usually have are mainly based on tests. Listen to lecture, read, study for tests. That's what I do. That's my comfort zone. This semester threw me for a loop. All but one of my classes are ordinary regular type subjects for me....but they all have HUGE projects!!! I know that it won't be so bad once I get into the swing of things, because I generally end up enjoying projects. "It's so nice to have homework besides reading" I'll say. However, when I first hear the word 'project' I generally tense up and get afraid, because it's not what I'm used to. I just have to keep reminding myself that I like projects.

This semester is also extremely weird for me because it is the beginning of my senior year, and my last semester here on campus. (I'll be doing spring semester in Salt Lake via the internet). I have been walking around campus this past week with so many mixed feelings. Feelings of joy from remembering all of the great times I've had, feelings of sorrow to leave, and excitement to go on a new adventure. I'm really going to miss this place. The grand majority of my friends are here and I am so sad to move away from them. It feels as though this is really the start of us all going our seperate ways. This gives me a sad feeling inside. I mean we'll still stay in contact, but we'll be much farther apart than ever before. There are a group of seven of us (including myself) girls that have been best friends since high school. This group's future lives are filled with upcoming missions, grad school, medical school, teach for america, and much more I'm sure.
But, we all knew it would happen, and happening it is. It's just going to be very strange.

Jayson on the other hand, says he'll miss it here, but I know he's just really excited to go back to Salt Lake, as he has more friends there than here. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited too, I am just also sad at the same time.

Which brings me to my next feeling on the semester--- that it will rock! It simply has to. It's my last one near so many people I love. Although my close group of girl friends are highest on the list of people I'll miss, there are many more that closely follow. Like I said, almost all of my friends are here! Thus, I am going to make sure it rocks.

It seems my classes are going to do the same, because I LOVE them so far. They might be challenging for me, but they'll be worth it, I can already tell. My Family Interventions professor sounds like Shrek. It's pretty great. Not to mention he really knows his stuff. I have some really brilliant professors this semester. Jayson also really loves his classes so far. He has his old Astronomy professor for his Physics professor this semester, which has been so excited about since he signed up for classes last spring and a hilarious nutritions and food science professor.

Our class line up looks like this:
Jayson:
Beginning Physics plus lab and recitation.
Nutrition and Food Science
Calculus 3. (sounds like a dread, right? Not for Jayson. Yesterday he was doing his assignment and he pointed to it and said, "look how cool! We get to calculate 3 demensional graphs!" That is when I truly knew I married a nerd. Good thing I love that about him.)
English 1010

Me:
Advanced Behavior Analysis
Family Crisis and Intervention
Child Guidance
Historic Design
RAD-Rape Agression Defense (this is a PE class that helps women know how to better handle themselves in a dangerous situation such as rape and more importantly, how to avoid it. It's really awesome so far!)

In Loving Memory

I never thought I would fall in love with someone at a funeral.
Let alone their own funeral.
But today, I realized that I love Joy Ruby Burmester Jewkes.
I have never cried so much at a funeral, and trust me, I have been to A LOT of funerals.

This woman is AMAZING!

I never had a chance to meet this classy lady before her death, not the way most people knew her. When I met her, her Dementia was in its worst stages. Even so, I do remember her sweet smile. According to her family, she always smiled. I felt that today was a great opportunity. I felt like today I was given the opportunity to really get to know her. I also felt that if she were still alive and well today that she would have loved me just as much as her other grandchildren-that's just the kind of person she was. The spirit at the funeral was so incredibly strong and I could honestly feel the love that everyone had for the people in that room and the love that she had for them. Everyone that talked described her as the most loving, cheerful, and charitable person they had ever met. Throughout her viewing people just poured into the doors for hours-that's how loved she was. They said that it must have been inspiration to give her the name Joy. I am so excited to get to meet her on the other side.

A sweet recent story about her that her husband told at the funeral:
Her sweet husband kissed her before bed each night for their entire marriage. She had dementia for ten years and every night she'd say she loved him back to him up until the last few months or so. Finally, it had been an entire month since she had said anything and he kissed her and said, "Joy, I love you, do you know that?" She said nothing. He tried again. "Do you know that I love you?" Finally, she replied in a whisper, "yes." That was the last thing he ever heard her say.

Here is her obituary so that you can also benefit from getting to know her a little bit:

Joy Jewkes
Joy Jewkes 1927 ~ 2009 Joy Ruby Burmester Jewkes, age 82, died August 17, 2009 at her home in West Jordan, Utah from complications of Dementia. She was born June 28, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Joy is the oldest child of Frederick Joachim Christian Burmester and Friede Josephine Barthel. She lived all of her life in West Jordan. She graduated from Jordan High School as the valedictorian of her class. She married Curtis Jewkes December 9,1946 in the Salt Lake City Temple. They were married for 63 years. They are the parents of 11 children, all are still living. Eight of them live in West Jordan: Bryan (Rolayne), Jordan, Susan Maxon, Annalee (James) Hunter, Jeffrey, Wendy Brady, Robert (Aimee), Morgan; Connie (Herb) Butterfield, Herriman, Mark, Los Angeles, CA and Blair, Cedar City; 37 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren. She is survived by sisters: Donna Williams, Downey, Idaho and Delores (Farnes) Egbert, St. George, UT; brother, Richard Burmester, Pocatello, ID. She was preceded in death by her parents. She helped her husband start, and operate their business, the M.C. Jewkes Co. Wholesale Office Supply, for 40 years. Joy constantly sustained her husband as a father, and in his many church responsibilities. She was always active in the LDS Church where she served as president of the Relief Society, Young Womens' and Primary. She also taught classes in each of these auxiliaries. Joy served four missions for the LDS Church. She and her husband, with another couple, were called by the Social Service Department of the church, to set up and establish, for the entire church, the LDS Substance Abuse Support and Recovery Program. They served two full time missions while doing this program. They also served as guides on Temple Square for five years. She served her proselytizing mission to the Navajo and Zuni Indians, in Gallup, New Mexico, at the same time her husband served in the Southern States Mission. This was after they had been married for five years. Joy was a stay at home mom. She nourished and taught her children, plus a few strays along the way, how to live a full and happy life in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She fixed three meals a day for her family. She was always good to her children, and welcomed any of their friends in her home. Joy was a good housekeeper. She said her home was clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be enjoyed. Her children and their friends often called her "Sugar". Joy was always a first class lady. A touch of class! She was beautiful in all respects. She loved everyone she met. She had no enemies and served others constantly. She was full of love, and energy. She was always ahead of most people, doing what was right at the right time. No matter what time anyone else got up to start the day, they would find her sitting by the heating vent reading her scriptures. The family would like to especially thank Debbie, Lisa, and Tonda, of Life Path Hospice Services, for the tender and loving care they gave to Joy and her family. Funeral services will be held Monday, August 24, 2009, 12:00 noon at the LDS Chapel, 7925 So. 2700 W., West Jordan, UT. Viewings will be held Sunday, August 23, 2009, 5-8 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 So. Redwood Rd. and Monday at the church, 10:30-11:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment, West Jordan City Cemetery.

Squeaky Swings and Tall Grass

Wow.
I can't believe that school is starting on Monday. This week has been a frenzie of people moving back to town. I'd forgotten how many people are usually here. When contemplating the thought of campus becoming more populated I cringed. But now that it has happened, I realize that it was just what I needed. It reminded me of the fresh new feeling I get every fall semester. A brand new start. Brand new starts have always been beautiful to me. They hold so much mystery and so much promise. I don't know what this semester will bring, but I have a feeling it's going to be one of the best yet. So, a big thanks to all those who have flocked back. You gave me back my excitement for starting school. It also just hit me that this is going to be my last semester, my last four months living up here...EVER. I'm really going to miss it here. It's so gorgeous. I'll miss living five minutes away from the canyon, and I'll always remember how I've grown here. I've met so many people here that have greatly influenced me. I came here when I first left my parent's house, I'll have spent my first year of marriage here, I was engaged and proposed to here, I lived with my best friends up here, and so many other memories that I'll cherish forever.

You see, up until this weekend I have been DREADING going back to school. I didn't get a very long summer this year, as I took some classes over summer semester. By the end of my classes I had a hankering for another two months of carefree feelings, warm weather and homeworkless nights. Then it hit me (thanks to my dear friend Mel). Just because school is starting doesn't meant that summer has to be over. It doesn't mean I have to stop enjoying my warm nights and all the fun things you can do outside in that warmth. As Melissa pointed out to me, according to the calendar, summer is still on for another month at least! So, I have decided to stop letting school take those precious weeks of summer away from me. Yay for summer, yay for school. I guess they can now co-exist happily in my world.

Here are some fun pictures of fun summer times that I never blogged about:
Bear with me, there are A LOT of pictures.
Here are some of us when we hiked Adam's Canyon

Rock Climbing with My work friends!

BRITTANY

ME

JAYSON

AMY JANE

This is when we hiked the Wind Caves.

The story behind this picture is that once my best friends and I were making up names for our future husbands. My future husband's name was Skipbo Pearson. On our hike, Jayson decided he just HAD to climb these rocks, and I lifted the camera to take a picture, and what name should be right next to his head but.....

A couple of weekends ago Jayson and I went shooting with some of his best friends, it was really fun!

DANIEL

ERIC

JAYSON, ME, ERIC, BRETT

BRETT

This is my cousin Josh and I at the airport when he came home! He had just returned from his mission in Riverside, CA. I'm glad to have him home!

These are some pictures of our Bear Lake trip over the 24th of July

KELLI & MACKAY (our neice and nephew!)

this is our very own tent! it's small, but it has served us well.

This is suppose to be a remake of our first Bear Lake adventure picture, where we first told each other we loved each other.

I love that Jayson is just a kid at heart.

NEPHEW SAMMY

KELLI

SAMMY & DREW

These two arrived at camp with their goggles on. It was adorable.

we love to ski!

Redneck Jayson, at my dad's property.

WE. LOVE. SUMMER.

Rights of Passage and Goodbyes

This past Saturday, this lucky girl on my left went through the temple.


and...
I got to be there! It was truly an honor.
This was an amazing experience. She is one of my dearest friends and she is leaving for a mission in October. I can't believe it! This right of passage of going through the temple has made me ponder all of our great times together, like laying in the hallway of our old apartment making funny noises together, doing the charleston on the balcony and hiding ourselves from a boy we liked that we just made fools of ourselves in front of. I also remember what made us both really want to go on missions: being there when our dear friend Cameo felt the spirit for the first time. I'm sure going to miss those times with her, but I am so excited for her. She'll be such a great missionary.
This past friday the Summer Program ended at my work. I held the tears in during the closing talent show that we had, but they sure wanted to come. When the participants were doing their talents it brought it all back to me. It reminded me of everything they've done for me this summer. The participants there have built me up, made me a better person. They showed me that they are capable of so much more than they are given credit for, and they helped me realize that I am too. I'm going to miss their smiling faces, funny dances, and kind deeds. I'll miss being followed around by a certain participant. I didn't get to go on many outings with the summer kids, but almost every day I was there with them during singing time and snack time. What joy they have brought to my life this past summer. They are so incredibly easy to love. After work on Friday I was sad and onnery for hours. Poor Jayson. Good thing he's such a good sport.
One more goodbye has taken place just today. About twenty minutes ago my step-grandmother (Justie's mom) passed away. It is something that is very bittwersweet. She was diagnosed with dementia about ten years ago. When she was diagnosed she said that she hoped she didn't live another year, and ten years later, she remained. Our prayers go out to the Jewkes family. Please keep them in yours too. I have spent a bit of time with this woman, and from what I understand she was quite remarkable before she was diagnosed. I don't doubt for a minute that she is in spiritual paradise, being a missionary right now. I can't wait to get to talk with her and get to know her.

Coincidence?

Hi everyone, this is Jayson writing this post (suprised? I would be). Karissa asked me to write this post because this last weekend we had an experience that was very dear to me. Let's just say that miracles do happen. One of my converts decided to fly out from Philadelphia to visit Utah, visit the sights, and get sealed to her deceased husband in the Salt Lake Temple. She was here for over a week, but since she was staying in American Fork with a senior couple from my mission, and Karissa and I both work, we had to make some special arrangements in order to spend some time with her. On Tuesday of last week we had work off because we went to the airport to see Karissa's cousin Josh come home from his mission. That night we also planned on going the the Oqquirh Mountain Temple open house. Karissa happened to book the reservation for more than we expected, so it just so happened that Ruby (the convert) was able to come with us to the open house. It was really great being able to see her again after a year of being home, she is one of the strongest converts I have. That experience on Tuesday was cool, but it was nothing compared to the miracle we saw on Friday. We drove down Friday afternoon so as to be to the Salt Lake Temple by 2:45; I had to be early because Ruby had asked if I would be one of the witnesses. Now, when we had seen Ruby on Tuesday, we told her that my former mission president (the one I had when she was baptized, and the one that sealed my wife and I together) was a sealer in the Salt Lake Temple. She hadn't known that, and had scheduled somebody else to do it. When we arrived at the temple on Friday, as we spoke with the gentleman at the recommend desk, Karissa leaned over, and looked at a paper on the desk and said "Oh, so President Fillmore will do the sealing?" The man confirmed that this was true. I thought to myself, "Hmm, maybe Ruby changed it or something." But as she arrived, we found out that none of us had anything to do with it. We later discovered that the man who was originally supposed to perform the sealing had asked President Fillmore to fill in for him, only a few hours before the sealing was to take place. So that day, I had the privilege of witnessing my former mission president seal one of my converts to her husband for time and all eternity. I was allowed to see the ultimate goal of missionary work fulfilled, and I got to watch a man who has had a fairly large influence in my life perform it. Not only that, but everyone in the room had some connection to the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Mission, and it was almost a small reunion. It was definitly a testimony to me that miracles do occur in this day and age, and that the Lord is involved in our lives, sometimes in ways we dont even know.

Much Has Happened in the Past Two Months

So, I was reading blogs last night and I was scrolling down and looking at other people's blog lists. Then I saw on their lists when my blog as listed it said I haadn't updated for TWO MONTHS! I was outraged, because this is not true. I realized that this probably meant that no one had been reading my blog for that long, and let's face it...I post so you guys can read! I already know about everythig I post. But do not fear, I have fixed it for now. Just thought I'd let everyone know that there are about 4 or so posts since 2 months ago that you might have missed because of my broken blog, if you're interested in reading them. Ciao.

A Little Note

So, as a random note, a couple weeks ago or so, my good friend Ashley Elkington brought it to my attention that my blog was uncommentable. For some reason the comment link was broken, so I fiddled around with my blog a bit, and, with the help of Ashley,...PRESTO! My blog has been fixed. Just thought I'd put that out there incase you had given up on trying to give us comments.

A Christmas Miracle and a Very Merry Half-Birthday To Me

Once upon a time, when I was a freshman one of my dearest friends who was then Sarah Lougee (and is now Sarah Carr) had gotten herself into a pickle, just as I have with this syllabi research project. She had a Stats midterm and thought she was doomed. She studied for an entire day and a half or something like that, went to take her test and to her great astonishment, she did very well. She came home and declared this her Christmas Miracle.

This week I got my Christmas Miracle. Remember that syllabi grading project that I thought was going down the toilet? Well, I saw how important this was to the guy that was in charge of it and I knew it was a great chance to get his work presented and I decided that I just couldn't let him down. So, on Tuesday I stayed up (while missing the Harry Potter premier, mind you) until about 2:30 grading syllabi. Then I woke up around eight and did the same thing until I had to work at 2:30 (I even took my morning shift off of work, not very typical for me) and worked on the project for a couple hours after work. When I started I was half finished. I did HALF of my entire project in a 24 hour period. I finished it. I didn't think it was possible. Just goes to show that prayer and determination can go a REALLY long way.

Also, this past Thursday was my half-birthday. That's right, I actually care. I have always enjoyed my half-birthday, and many make fun, but I say, why not celebrate? Usually I find some small way to celebrate so that others don't have to get involved in my lameness, like buying myself an ice cream cone. But this year, celebration was thrust upon me. I actually didn't even realize it was my half-birthday until half way through the day and was satisfied because Jayson and I had tickets to FINALLY see Harry Potter that evening. Then, low and behold...I got off work a half an hour early! Then, because of that Jayson surprised me by taking me to Chili's for dinner! He's been wanting to for quite some time I guess, but it can be difficult as I don't get off until about 6:00 pm and I've been working on that crazy project. I am one lucky girl.

HARRY POTTER IS WONDERFUL! For those of you who don't know, Dumbledore is my favorite character. I hate remembering that he dies and, you better believe I cried at the movies when he died. When I read the 6th book I cried from his death to the end of the book. So, naturally, my favorite scene was when he makes that giant ring of fire as him and Harry are getting the horocrux. Also, did anyone else love Luna's dress to the Christmas party as much as I did? I love her so much. Ginny started to grow on me in this movie. I haven't liked her in the movies in the past (though, I love her in the books!).
My greatest pet peeve of the movies: Why don't the just give Daniel Radcliff some green contacts?! It drives me INSANE! They're going to kick themselves for that one in the 7th movie.
All in all though, I really did enjoy the movie. How could I not? It's Harry Potter.

All Around GOOD News!

Wowie! It has been a long time since we last posted. Since then we had our six-month monthaversary! That's right folks, we've been married for six months already! (well, ok, about seven now!) And what better way to celebrate it than with out favorite dining place....

CHILI'S! OF COURSE!
We live for blackberry lemonade and white-chocolate molten cake.

Also, Jayson is now employed!!! He works for the city of Logan. He's the guy that delivers new garbage cans when people need them because of damage, excess of garbage, etc. He does it throughout the ENTIRE Cache Valley. He really likes it so far. He gets to wear BRIGHT yellow and orange shirts. He also got to meet the mayor. Plus, it pays really well for Logan! Also, they might train him to drive the garbage trucks! I'll have a garbage man for a husband! Sweet.

Probably the most exciting thing that has happened since we last blogged is that we got a new nephew!

Dominic Craig Christiansen

This is his sister Kelli, our neice, holding "Baby D", as she calls him. She can't quite say Dominic yet! They're both so adorable. She was so cute with him at the hospital. She kept wanting to hold him. While she'd hold him she'd whisper, "baby. baby."

There really is something SO precious about newborn babies. There is a spirit about that, to me, really testifies that there is a God. They are so pure and new. Their very presence just brings me joy.

Other than that life is pretty normal and swell. I really LOVE my job. The participants are so easy to love. One in particular likes me to play piano (even though I can barely read music.) So, I clunk away at the keys and he just looks like he is having the greatest time of his life. For a moment I felt like I was a famous piano player entertaining the happiest guy on earth. They just have a way of making you feel so special! I thought it was them that I'd be helping, but honestly, it's mostly the other way around!

As for school, I was doing this project that I was really starting to despise. I was grading syllabi, over sixty of them. I wanted so badly for it to be over. It was one of those projects that I really felt like it was running my life and I couldn't wait for freedom from it. I wished so much that it would just stop.

Be careful what you wish for.

The project is basically over for me now....it kind of fell apart. Well, not the project itself, it will continue, but they have to find someone else to finish it off because with all of the stuff I have to do there is no way I'll finish by the time they want me to. This is entirely my fault. You see, I have a very LARGE problem. I think it's due to over-confidence. I have a terrible habit of taking on too much at one time. I always think, "oh yea, I can totally handle that!" Then comes the trouble. It always inhibits my performace in just about everything. However, this time I hindered someone else's project. I feel SO terrible about it. I really really do. I really let down the people in charge of it. I hate that.

OTHER EVENTS:

We have spent two very enjoyable weekends in Duschene at my Dad's property. I love it there. I always just get just a great feeling when I'm there. It's one of those places that you go and you just think to yourself, "this is our place." I just know that so many great times are going to be had there. So many great times have already been had there! We also had the opportunity to go to the Oquirrh Mountain temple with two of my closest friends, Cameo and Suzanne. It is absolutely gorgeous there. I am obsessed with the chandeliers there! It is truly such a gorgeous place, filled with the spirit.

Speaking of Suzanne.....

She has been called to serve in...

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI!!!! Congratulations Suz. You're gonna be a rockin' missionary!