The Mormons

I was just wondering if any one watched the documentary on the mormons on PBS. I only have seen bits and pieces so far and there's going to be another segment tonight, but I was just wondering what people thought about it.

Six Unique Things About Me

I decided to join the crowd of those posting six unique things about themselves, so here goes:

1. I'm still afraid of the dark. I sleep with a flashlight when Cameron is working night shifts. And, I always have a lamp by my bed so that I can turn on a light quickly if I need it. It's sad, but true.

2. I was painfully shy as a kid and am still very shy. My third grade year we moved to Newport News, VA. The elementary school tested me to be in the TAG (Talented and Gifted) program, but I was so shy that when I was tested I was so worried about making any mistakes that I did my subtraction wrong on purpose because I was convinced they would not do subtraction the same way in Virginia as they did Utah. Needless to say, I did not make it into the TAG program that year.

3. I have a scar on my tongue. This is also due to shyness. When we lived in Virginia I had to have a palatal expander which went in the roof of my mouth. The metal prongs on it were so thin that every time I swallowed it cut into my tongue just the tiniest bit. Eventually the prongs cut deep enough that my tongue was hitting the roof of my mouth, and so my tongue healed that way. I remember being too shy to tell mom about it, or if I did tell her I don't remember. Here's a picture. If you can't tell, I can literally pull the scar open on my tongue. Not very fun at the time, but it's fun to gross people out now.

4. I have very vivid dreams/daydreams. It's hard to describe, but let's just say that I've made myself start to cry just by imagining some one I love died. Or, I've been angry at people because of a dream or daydream I've had. I have to remind myself that it didn't really happen.

5. I am a freakin' awesome sightreader. I can pick up most songs and it sounds like I've already put in massive amounts of hours into practicing them. It's how I've made it through many piano or organ lessons. If I don't have time to practice, the teacher can't usually tell.

6. I cannot put a book down that I like. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but it's very, very, very hard for me to do. I usually have to plan when I will read a book so that I make sure that I don't have anything important to do because I will pick it up and not stop until I am completely finished. I just get so hooked that I have to know what happens. I put off going to bed or doing my homework or even eating until I absolutely have to just so I can know what happens next.

Well, there you have it.

Surprise!

Well, I had a wonderful surprise last Tuesday. Dad and Nancy dropped by! They were on their way to California to go to the NCAA tournaments. Well, Dad was. Nancy wanted to visit Jessica. I only got to see them for a little bit, but it was a lot of fun.

Right now we're doing good, but we're both stressed. I'm keeping up with school, but it's still just so stressful. There's always something to do. But, next week is spring break and I can not wait!!!! On a positive note, I was officially accepted to student teach, so that's one less worry. Cam's stressed because of his work schedule. It was never fun, but doing it over and over again just wears a person down. It cycles every four weeks and goes like this: Four night shifts, then three days off. Three day shifts, then one day off. Three night shifts, then three days off. Four day shifts, then seven days off. Repeat. His body just never really adjusts. We know he will not have to do it forever, but hopefully the end will come sooner rather than later.

Well, I've been doing everything possible to avoid this, but I've got to get back to work. It's already 11 p.m. and I have a paper due tomorrow! Good night!

Happy Birthday to Me...

Well, my birthday was not all that exciting, but it was great to have so many birthday calls and cards. Thanks everyone! Cameron had to work, so we just had a nice evening at home. Eventually I'll make him take me out to dinner. How's it feel to be 24? Not a whole lot different. And to every one else who has a February birthday, you rock! February is awesome!

Things I love vs. Things I hate

Things I love:

I loved having Dad come visit! He came about two weeks ago for work. We went to dinner a couple of times (which I also love) and we went to a show for the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. It was a live radio show, kind of like a Prarie Home Companion. It was actually pretty funny. We had a ton of fun and love when Dad comes to visit! We're hoping he'll come out during the summer to do some backpacking up Lamoille Canyon and also that we can go do some rafting trips with him.

I also love JC Penney. Every time I go to JC Penny there are cute clothes and the total is always cheaper than I expect. It baffles me because I'm pretty good at math, yet I always overestimate. Luckily, there is one in Elko!

I love playing the claw game. You know, the one where you use the little metal claw to try to pick up a stuffed animal. Love might be the wrong word...addicted fits a little better. I play almost every time I go grocery shopping. And, I won last time! There's nothing like the rush of winning...

I love not going to Salt Lake so often. Now don't get me wrong, I love the end result of going to Salt Lake (visiting with family/friends), but the travel can kill you. No matter how fun your weekend is, when you start traveling too often it just feels like you lost your weekend. We went at least once a month last year, sometimes more! We're down to going every month and a half for now and we are a lot less stressed out. And if any one misses us (hint, hint), you should come visit!

You know, I had a whole post in my head of things I love vs. things I hate, but I had so much fun going on about the things I love that I can't remember the things I hate! Go figure.

Close call

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile, but we have been sick! Cam especially. They sent him home from work he was so sick! Now for my close call. I was in class the other day (there's only four of us), and one of the students mentioned that she couldn't believe we had to get our substitute license before we turned in our application for student teaching. (It's $155 to get a substitute's license). I was just sitting there thinking, "We have to apply for student teaching! Why didn't any one tell me this!?!?!?!?!?!" Luckily, the due date is Feb. 15, so I didn't miss it, but that 's cutting it pretty close! I was pretty frustrated that my advisor had forgotten to inform me of this matter. I guess alls well that ends well.

Truck

I almost forgot to post a picture of our truck. Cameron decided to have a six inch lift kit put on it. He loves it, but it sure is hard to get into. But it does look pretty sweet!

Goals

I really liked Todd's post on goals, so I decided to use the website he recommended to make some of my own. Nothing too big. I'd like to update my blog more, practice organ more, and cook dinner more. I'll probably add doing my homework once school starts. Like I said, nothing big, but it's a place to start.

As for news, I have received a new calling. I was released as Relief Society pianist and called as Relief Society teacher. Fairly ironic, especially if you read my reply to this post. I'm pretty nervous. And, I'm about half the age of everyone in there! I thought we were taught to respect our elders. They don't want to learn from a young whippersnapper like me!

We also had to take Cody in for another vet visit. That dog is starting to cost us a lot of money! He got a burr stuck in his ear. He's doing a lot better now, but he scratched his neck so much that tore his neck up. That's taking longer to heal than his ear!

Nothing too big going on here, but I just wanted to check in.

Cody and Cam

Cam and Cody playing together. Cody loves this! It looks like he's angry, but he's having the time of his life!

Christmas

Well, I haven't posted for awhile because we took a week long trip to Salt Lake. We had a great Christmas break visiting with family and friends. Cameron's brother came home from his mission, so that was very exciting. Also, we received some great presents. Cam got some movies, books, and belt buckles, a nice watch, and a miter saw. I got Final Fantasy XII, a memory card for my camera, some books and movies, and a Bosch mixer. I was so excited that I made some bread right when I got home. Having a Bosch makes it so much easier to make bread! We had a great Christmas and hope every one else did too!

Finals

I'm almost done with finals! They've been pretty darn stressful. So far I have to grades back and I did pretty well, but not as well as I would have liked. I'm definitely ready for a break from school though! That's our only interesting news for now!

Blessings

I had an experiences I wanted to share. It requires a tiny bit of setup first though.

A while back, Tammy introduced me to the book The Five Love Languages. Basically what I pulled from that book is that every one is an individual and if you really want to make a relationship work you need to figure out how the other person feels love. Well, one way that I really feel love is when a person takes care of little details for me. It makes me feel like they know me to the very last detail of myself.

Yesterday, I was not feeling to great. I'd been having trouble sleeping and I think I was getting a sinus infection. It was Sunday though, and I had to play in Relief Society and sacrament meeting. Relief Society is first and during the whole lesson I just really wanted to go home and sleep. I knew that I could make it through and play for sacrament, but I really didn't want to. So, at the end I finally got the courage to ask Sister Alger if she would cover for me in sacrament. Nothing special needed to happen for her to cover for me. I could have just loaned her my hymn book and everything would have been fine. But, she had brought her organ shoes and her hymn book and had thought to herself that morning, "I don't really need these. Why am I bringing them?" Like I said, that was not necessary, but it sure did help me feel like less of an idiot.

So, to bring it all together, that experience really helped me to feel like the Lord knows me as an individual. He knows my "love languages" and has been willing to show me individual love more than once this year. That experience didn't need to go that way, but it was just one small detail the Lord took care of to show that He loves little old me even if I am not perfect. And, if he loves me individually he most certainly loves all of you individually. Sometimes you just have to be able to recognize those experiences. And I guess it's not about blessings or lessons He can teach you, but just about Him showing that He loves you.

*Disclaimer: I am not a great writer at the best of times, but most especially not a great writer when I am talking about something emotional. So, I hope you get the point of my ramblings.

Testing

Testing, testing... Just checking to see if I can get my blog to work.

Kathryn

I had to do an assignment using Microsoft Photostory, and I have to say it's an awesome program! It's free to download and easy to use. You can even use it to burn a copy of the photostory onto DVD, so you can watch it anywhere. This video is mostly for Shane and Sarah. They just had so many pictures on their blog! If anyone else likes it and wants to send some pictures I will make one for them or just download photostory and make your own. Shane and Sarah if you like it I can email you a copy, even an editable copy. And yes, I know the song says Delilah, but I just like it so much.

Cody

Cody's OK! We got him back two days ago and he's doing great. He sure bounced back pretty fast!

Halloween

We got our one trick-or-treater this year, and we even advertised:



Also, here's the pumpkin Cam and I carved together. I scoop it out, and Cam carves it:



And my favorite part. Pumpkin seeds!

Cody

My puppy has parvo. The vet says his chances are pretty good, but this is a pretty serious virus. Also, it's not too likely that Kayla will get it. I'm very worried though, because this virus can be deadly and the black and tan breeds are more susceptible. I'll let you guys know as soon as we have any updates.

cody in a blanket

This is one of Cody's favorite games.

Dad

I still need to tell everyone about Dad's visit. It was awesome! We were all working, so we didn't do anything "vacationee", but it's nice to just interact on a daily basis sometimes. We went to dinner a couple times and I actually cooked a couple times! We talked a lot about (what else) politics and we even just hung out and watched TV together. One night we drove up Lamoille Canyon, which is always beautiful. It was all around just a lot of fun.

On another note, yesterday I was driving to work and I saw someone hit an eagle! It just kind of rolled off the windshield, so it was fine. It was in the middle of town too. It was just the weirdest thing I've ever seen!

Roof

Here's some pictures of my roof and one I just thought was cool that I took while I was on the roof.