Oh, The Weather Outside is Frightful......

The past few months we have been enjoying beautiful weather. Most days have been mild temperatures, not much moisture, and very 'sunshiny'. To be honest, it really hasn't felt like "winter" or "Christmas" without snow. But today, Jack Frost has redeemed himself...well, kind of.


For days people here have been talking about the possibility of snow and fretting over it. This morning the temperature was very, very chilly. About noon, the "snow" began. Actually, it was more like little tiny ice crystals. Then the larger flakes began falling. That lasted about 15 minutes and then it was done. There was no accumulation on the ground at all. Well, they closed school early and acted like the world was ending.

I was going to go to the store tonight but people are acting crazy. They can't drive in this weather. They freak out. There are tons of accidents on the roads. When weather like this happens here people rush to the grocery store and start piling up on milk and bread. So, two reason why I am staying home tonight and not venturing out.

1. I don't want to drive amongst people who don't slow down and drive cautious on slippery roads. I am not unaccustomed to driving on such roads but I have no desire to deal with other drivers.

2. The stores are either empty because people think North Carolina is going to freeze over. Or, the stores are packed with people stocking up on "essentials" for the "storm". I don't know which one of these it is but I am not going to test my luck.

I hope you don't find my post negative as I am not trying to be at all. Rather, I find the behavior of people here in North Carolina very funny. I couldn't believe that they were letting school out early. Everyone at Dusty's work went home early except him and two other men who had all previously lived in cold-weather states. Funny people here. Funny. Funny.

Thanksgiving Vacation

We are having a great Thanksgiving this year. We drove to Dusty's brother's home in Ohio. Dusty's sister, Kristin, drove from NY and Dusty's parents flew in from Salt Lake. We have had a great time hanging out. The kids are loving hanging out with their cousins and grandma & grandpa.

Grandma & Grandpa planned a great 'family home morning' today and we learned about Heavenly Father and Jesus and that they have bodies. Then grandma gave us advent calendars and little journals for each child to log what the calendar says to do. Then at the end we have an envelope to open that we have to complete and send back to Grandma and Grandpa for their X-Mas gift. I wonder what is in the envelope??

Tonight is the UTAH game and we are watching it with some BYU fans. That should be fun!!

We drive home tomorrow. We'll probably leave early so that we can get home early.

We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Happy Birthday Dusty

Tuesday was Dusty's birthday. He has finally moved on to the 30's and I am left behind as a twenty-something. We joke about this because we feel so old sometimes. Like when we go to Cold Stone for ice cream and the kid serving us looks like a baby. Then we realize that that is what we looked like when we met. Crazy.

Anyhow, it wasn't a super exciting birthday. I had to go to school that night. So, the kids and I waited in the dark for Dusty to come home and we surprised him with his birthday cake and cards. Then, it was off to school for me. The kids didn't have school the next day, so he let them stay up and they played Rock Band until way after I got home from school.

Happy birthday Dusty. I love you.

Back to School

Well, it's official. Last night was my first night back in college. I am getting my Bachelor's Degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Resources. I am still going to University of Phoenix, but I am going to the campus rather than online classes.

This first class is very general and is a lot of what I learned before, but it will be a good refresher.

So, wish me luck. I am going to have to be very organized while doing this. But, the end result will be well worth it.

Happy Anniversary~11 years

To my D.B.

The time has gone by so quickly.

We've had fun.

Laughed, tickled, joked, and laughed some more.

We've had tears.

Tears of joy. Tears of sadness.

Tears of happiness. And tears just because.

We have worked hard.

Been full time students, full time parents, and full time employees; all at the same time.

It hasn't been easy. Not one bit. But we have made it through it.

We have grown up (we weren't when we got married. We tried, but it took time).

We've been pregnant and had children.

We have lost children. And grown stronger because of it.

We have moved to new houses. But our home has always been together.

We have argued and disagreed but always worked it out.

We are eternal and will always be together.

The Lord has a plan. He planned for me and you to be together, right now, going through life.

It is our journey.

I love you. I always have.

~Your Bear

1996 Junior Prom

1999 Salt Lake Temple

2008

Responsibility Award

Jacob earned the Responsibility Award this past week in school. 2 kids from each class earn it for the quarter. He got a ribbon and award. He also got some coupons for a free ice cream and a free Chik-fil-A kids meal. Gotta love that!! He had his picture taken with the Vice Principal and they sent it home printed on regular paper. I would have tried to scan it but I didn't think it would turn out.

He also came home on Friday as the "Gotcha" winner. At our school, if the kids are caught doing something nice or being good they are given a "Gotcha". They put them in a drawing and draw out one from each grade. His name was drawn and he got to pick out a prize for his whole class. He picked pencil sharpeners. Later that night after we had tucked him in bed he came out to Dusty and I while we were watching t.v. and was crying. We asked him why and he said that he only picked out 20 sharpeners and he thought that he was supposed to get 21. He was so upset that he didn't get enough for all the kids. Too cute!

Jacob is doing great in school. He is reading like crazy and loving taking the AR Tests.

Good job Jacob!!

Baptism

Today we attended a baptism of our good friends son, who just turned 8. I played "I am a Child of God" on my violin for it. I was very nervous but I did just fine.

At the same time we were also able to be there to witness a new convert and her daughter get baptised. The daughter is in Alexis' school class and they have become friends. It was wonderful to feel the Spirit in the room today. There was such an aura of happiness and peace.

I just wanted to share my happiness tonight. I am so grateful to be a member of the true church. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost and its promptings. Today was very fulfilling. And I am truly blessed.