Our Week

We went to the amazingly beautiful Mirror Lake, up by Kamas, UT. We wanted to go somewhere for Labor Day but just didn't know what we could do with a very small "fun" budget. We couldn't have been more at peace and happy had we been on a cruise to the Bahamas or something. It was so pretty!!! We just packed a lunch and read our books and just laid on our blanket listening to nature. We walked around the lake and talked and talked. It is my new "happy place" at the end of a long day (or in the middle of it, whatever the need is). I was just so happy.

Also, I've been back to school for about 2 weeks now. I have a great group of kids. I have already discovered the "special ones" and I haven't let them know that I think they are funny yet, but at some point I hope I can. I am getting a new group of students together to go to Washington D.C. for next summer. I'm very excited again. I never posted the pictures from that! Funny that I just realized that. Anyway, it was such a great experience. I'm more than happy to offer it again and help kids reach out of their comfort zones and travel. Just to put this out there, I am taking them in June 2010 and it's for ANY middle school aged student. I don't have to be their teacher. If your at all interested please comment and I'll contact you somehow :)

What made my day was at the Parent Info meeting for the trip, a former student and her mom where there and commented on the trip. My student said some very nice things about me, that I am actually fun and that her life was changed because she went. Her mom was so supportive too. She couldn't thank me enough and said every single penny was worth it. It really made the whole hardship of getting people to sign up, then baby sitting a group of "hormones" in the nations capital, and missing my husband so much every night, ALL worth it! I'll admit I was exhausted after just those 4 days, but I am so happy I did it. I hope this year will be just as successful.

Well anyway, on to other news.

JOHN IS DONE WITH SCHOOL!!!!!

We will send out some little homemade announcements soon and I couldn't be a prouder wife. We have gone through so much frustration working with stupid Stevens Henegar (I won't go in detail now but suffice it to say our new saying is "friends don't let friends enroll there") but at least he will walk away with his Bachelor's Degree! Also to get the word out, he is trained in Computer Science, especially networking and is on the hunt for a job. If anyone knows anyone looking for a great computer help person for their work place or even if you need help for free on personal computers in the Salt Lake area, John is for hire!

Anyway, so very happy and proud of him. Way to go Honey Lover!

Our Week

We had an eventful weekend. We had friends over for dinner and played Settlers of Catan (a great game) and I totally won and I've only played maybe 2 times. They were a blast, and it was especially fun to see my dear friend in love and adored by someone. Congrats to you!

I know I am blocking Stephanie, but it shows how much I dominate at Settlers of Catan :)

Sunday was our first time at our new ward. Everyone was SO nice! I just realized what it reminded me of. If Mayberry would have had a ward, it would have been just like this one. A good mix of old to middle to young. Relief Society was just a blast. I gave a very brief intro to myself and then the lady who so sweetly sat by me and got to know me offered to everyone all she had learned. It was fun. It takes a while to hush everyone from their visiting and I just loved that. We loved our old ward too so we are just being blessed everywhere!

Then we had Sunday dinner at my brother Ryan's with his two boys. My favorite part was my nephew Nathan saying that the salad was "hideous." Gosh he's so funny. And being able to pet a sweet dog made me very happy. It was so delicious and a big blessing because we had absolutely nothing in the house to fix. (We still hadn't brought all our food up from our apartment yet).

My Nephew Nathan, the one on the right :)

Then things got interesting. My poor John got sick. It looked like food poisoning because he thought he was dying, but that didn't make sense so we think it must have been stomach flu or something like that. I felt horrible not being able to do much but scratch his favorite itchy spot on his back and hold the trash can. My parents came over and gave him a blessing which of course made everything better and he was able to sleep the rest of the night. We had planned on going to Las Vegas for a few days on a free trip we had been given, but we decided not to go. We've spent time together and had so much fun. Better than Las Vegas anyway. We even got to make and have dinner together which may have been my favorite part.

In other news, about 3 weeks ago I lost the diamond on my wedding ring. In fact the entire basket or crown whatever it's called, was gone. We looked everywhere, I had an emotional break down of course and it was not my favorite day. We went to the Jewelers and they needed the rest of my ring to send somewhere or something. They also told us since we didn't have our ring inspected like we should have, we would have to pay almost full price to replace it. We were just devastated. I know we shouldn't have been, after all it's just a "thing" and a possession. This was the worst part though. I couldn't get my ring off, so they had to cut it off my hand! Oh it was a horrible horrible feeling. I just started balling in John's arms. And then what's kind of funny is right after I had to sign a paper and I signed it with my maiden name. Kind of funny.

So here is the good news. I get a call and they had already mounted and replaced the diamond! With a slightly larger and better quality diamond! Then we were worried, because we knew we couldn't afford the whole ring now. Well, apparently they gave us a break (and they should have since I've only had it a year and a half!) and I got it back for no cost!!! It has been nothing short of a big blessing and a lesson learned. I learned that no matter how important the meaning of a possession is, it's still a possession and will not be going with me after this life. My mom said "well at least you didn't loose John." That has stuck with me and of course by leaps and bounds that would have been so much worse.

When John brought it home all fixed and so so shiny, he got on one knee and asked me if I would stay married to him. It was so cute. I love him so much. He's my favorite person in the world and my very best friend.

A Quick Cast as Fox 13 news likes to call it

Once again, I just read everyone's updates and posts and now I have no time to do anything with mine. So quickly, I will fill you all in on what's going on.

We are in the process of moving to John's parents home. They left for Ghana, Africa Monday! We have heard from them and they sound like they are doing good. I hope their shipment with all their precious stuff gets there soon. So we didn't know exactly how we were going to do this move because our lease on our apartment isn't up until the end of September. We have loved staying here this whole week that we are going to just stay here most of the time, in North Salt Lake. It is such a nice home and triple the room we've been living in. I love being close to my family too. I can't get over how lucky and blessed we are to have the opportunity to live here. I really really love it.

John is currently looking for a job. He will be done with school next Thursday!!! Wow so happy for him. He is graduating in Computer Science, emphasis on networking (internet and labs kind of stuff) If anyone knows of a great job opportunity please let us know.

As you can see from our blog background, I'm quite excited to get back to school. I think I love my job! I have dreams and nightmares all summer long about going back to school that at this point, I just want to get it started and over with!

So anyway, today we have to get a lot done with moving before school starts. I must get going!