Dedication

The temple dedication was today. I just got home. I went to the 3rd of 4 sessions. President Monson wasn't in our session, like he was the other 2 before ours. They didn't say where he was. Elder Bednar, Elder Nelson, and Elder Costa (from the 70) were there. It was neat. Emotions and ideas that went through my mind were: gratitude, love, sacrifice, dedication, ancestors, eternity, Atonement, truth. It was an amazing experience. I was in one of the ordinance rooms, so I didn't get to see any of the apostles, but their strength and power were felt all over the temple.

Reactions

This morning I walked outside and had a reaction: there was 6 inches of snow on my car and I thought a dirty word in my head. (picture of car is one parked next to me) I became mad, which doesn't happen often with things I can't control. I was lucky (blessed?) that I didn't get stuck on the way to school. It seems that Rexburg doesn't believe in using the snow plows that God has blessed us with on this earth. After class, I drove to a different part of campus to drop off a paper. Got stuck trying to get into a parking spot. Got mad again. Tonight I needed to pick something up at a friends for a project. Got stuck trying to get out of my parking spot. God mad, yet again. Tried to find a guy at home to help me push. All their wives said they should be home any minute now. Finally found someone (thanks Greg) who is the skinniest man I know. Drove to my friend's house, just around the corner. Got stuck trying to get out of that parking spot. Guess what? Yup, got mad. She had to push me out. (thank Deanna) While I was out, thought I would stop by Wendy's to get a nutritious meal (more than the mac and cheese I would have had for the 2nd time today). Slid going into a turn about and got stuck. You guessed it, I got mad. The cars that were behind me just kept on going....all drivers being of the male gender. That didn't help the madness. Finally a guy in a minivan, with probably 15 kids inside, pushed me out. Thank you! Took me 30 minutes to get across town. Should have just gone home, but you know me. Have to learn the hard way. Got to Wendy's and ordered chicken nuggets with a baked potato. "Sorry, we are out of baked potatos." I'm got more mad because that is what I had been craving a baked potato from Wendy's. So I order a salad instead. Get up to the window..."five minutes until your nuggets are ready." Grr. Look in my salad bag for a straw to start sipping my Diet Coke, hoping it will calm me down. No straw. Have to get out to go into the restaraunt for a straw. Sit in my car and watch people through the windows eating.....baked potatoes. Finally get my nuggets and head home. I'm thinking that there are probably a few potato farmers who are grateful for the snow. Me not being a potato farmer, I'm not especially grateful for the TONS of snow we have gotten. Then I realize that maybe the snow that has been the instigator of my anger will help the potato farmers grow more potatoes so that Wendy's won't run out before I get there next time. (note to dad: thanks for the nice tires, but next year lets plan on a snow machine instead of tires, okay?)

Fluffy

Overheard in Biology lab today:

What is the scientific word for fluffy?

Snow, Snow, SNOW!!!

For the love! There is snow everywhere! It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't windy. The drifts are horrible to drive through. I keep thinking of the movie White Christmas where they sing the song about snow. Well, they can have it. I looked at the forcast and it's supposed to snow for another week. Just a warning.....I may not see anyone outside of Rexburg until July. That's when all the snow will be gone. Hopefully.

Dreams

So, for those of you who REALLY know me know that I have some pretty intense dreams sometimes. I don't know if intense is the right word...maybe just really vivid dreams. The last couple of weeks I kept dreaming about President Hinckley. One dream was that he was visiting me while I was sick. He sat next to me on the bed and patted my hand. Another dream was that I almost ran into him (literally) in a hallway in the temple. Another time I was joking with him and President Monson. Weird, I know. I feel it was a tender mercy though to possibly prepare me for his passing on Monday. Other dreams the past few weeks have been of kissing boys. Random, I know.

Because of President Hinckley's funeral being on Saturday, the temple dedication has been postponed until next Sunday, February 10. My first thought, a selfish one, after hearing the news was that he wouldn't be able to come to the dedication. I quickly repented and was excited that he could be with his sweet wife again.

frEEEEEzing in rexburg

Seriously, it's so cold I needed 5 E's instead of just 2. On the way to school this morning, the news said it was -17 with a wind chill of -35. (Yes, that is NEGATIVE 35. No sane person should see that number correlate with their weather. The high today is 7 degrees. Watch out, tomorrow it's 14. Heat front coming through.) Youch. My car almost didn't start this morning. Thanks for the new battery, dad. I'm sure it wouldn't have started without it. It already sounded like an almost-dead cat being run over again and again. I was going to take a picture of how much snow there is outside, but I was afraid the camera would break. It's a record year in Rexburg. (Darn it) Packages of hot cocoa and mittens are welcome.

YIKES!

So, the semester is in full swing. I started freaking out on Monday about all of the reading I will be doing each week. Each class wants a chapter read for every class peroid. That's reading 5-6 chapters in two days, plus 5 quizzes, plus write-ups. Man, it's a lot of work. All students out there are laughing at me. I know, I know. I love it, though. Especially when I can remember what I read for which class. They sort of all ooze together. Sometimes that good, but it can be bad when they are asking specific questions and I can't remember what I read for that class because it's all jumbling together.

The temple open house on Friday was fun. I ached all over after 3 hours of standing in heels. I don't normally wear them, but I needed to be dressed like a missionary, so I did. They were low heals, but I'm not used to standing for that long any more. There were some cute kids that came through who were so excited about seeing the temple. There were a lot of non-members who went through, as well. It was interesting to see their different preparation stages.

Pictures of the Neices

Hannah driving us to Lovell. (Not really. She just needed a break from the car seat.)


Whitney and her daddy.

Bekah on Christmas morning.

Sariah on Christmas Eve with her hair ready for the program.

Whitney and Hannah after opening gifts.

Temple Open House

I was just asked to help with the open house that is currently going on for the Rexburg temple. I did not sign up previously because all of the slots for our ward got filled before the signup got to me. I didn't mind because I would be able to still attend. Well, a lady got my name from my stake presidency as a returned missionary. I will be showing an introductory video and welcoming guests to the open house. I'm assigned for the next 3 Friday nights. I am excited to be a part, small as it may be, of the open house.

I got back to Rexburg yesterday from my long Christmas vacation. I was welcomed back with a bang. There is a ton of ice on my stairs outside of my door. I was so careful walking down them the first few trips unloading my car. On the 3rd trip I slipped down three of the stairs. I now have a bruise on each of my arms, my hands got a little torn up, and my upper behind is sore. I haven't fallen the last few winters in Rexburg. Guess I had it coming. There is a ton of snow now. I don't think I've seen this much since I moved back almost 4 years ago. It's great to see, but not to drive in.

Classes for winter semester start tomorrow. I am a little nervous about going back full-time. I know it won't be bad. I just always get nervous about the unknown. I have 3 classes tomorrow. My geography lab (for the geography class I took 6 years ago at BYU), my advanced children development, and language and literature. They'll all take a lot of work, but I'm looking forward to learning more about children and their development.

Christmas was fun. I was at home for 2 1/2 weeks. That's the longest I've been home for Christmas since I graduated from highschool 12 years ago. It was a blast. I spent a few days with my brother Bryan and his family in Gillette. They then came to Lovell for New Year's. We were all together for that. I was able to do my favorite thing over the break: take a nap with each of the neices. They are all so cute. I'll be sure to post pictures next time. I watched Whitney, the youngest neice, for 5 of the days I was home while her mom and dad worked. She is a doll. Her laugh is great. It sounds forced, but it's not. I miss them all tons. I wish I could see them more often.

Hair Cut

I got my hair cut this weekend. It's a lot shorter than I thought it would be, but it's fun. Spikey in the back and longer on the front. It'll take time getting used to it, but I think it'll still be fun.

My Cute Buddies

These are my buddies Preston and Cannon. They live in Rigby. Their parents are kind enough to let me babysit them sometimes. Mostly we just play. They are adorable.

Secretaries

These are my cute secretaries from the English Department. I will miss them.

Kandyce McCracken

Meridith Jackman

Leianne Shepherd

Brittany Penovich

Emily Vaughan

Kayleen Erekson Rochelle Rogers

Good-byes

There are the good-byes that you are grateful for, like the annoying roommates who haven't cleaned up after themselves all semester, and then there are the good-byes that are sad. I had to say good-bye to 2 good friends yesterday. Andrew and Kandyce have been friends for most of my life in Rexburg. They are moving to southern Utah and I'll miss them so much! I hardly ever cry, but I cried when I said good-bye to them. Sad, I know. They've been such a support to me. Pretty much they are the affirmation I've needed to get through with my job. Such good friends are few, which when I think about it seems wrong. I should have more good friends like them. I guess I do, but I have said good-bye to them previously. I guess these would be considered by good Rexburg friends. Sigh.

There are others from my job that I will miss. I'll miss Eric's wanna-be "I'm from the projects" dancing. William's hunger for food, and his willingness to feed me when I go get food. Josh's whininess about how students just don't get it. I'll miss Suzette's and Joelle's laughs. Darin's large vocabulary words that he has to define for me, and then define his defintions because those had large words as well. Rhonda's silly stories about her life--she has a real talent for story telling. Kendall's "I'm happy today." Kip's easy-going attitude. Mark's poems. Judy's last-minute crises. Steve's kind ways of implying that my life is weird. Jack's dancing and prancing. Jim's and Matt's never-ending search for food. Paula's teaching me of how to swear like a champ. ;) I'll miss a lot.

422 Reasons

So, I got a list at work today of 422 reasons why I am loved at work. It was nice to see that I am loved at work. It cheered me up. I'll share a couple of them. #37-She makes me read the funny Dilbert cartoons. #45-She shared her crackers with me one day when I was hungry. #78-She has an awesome giggle. I always knew something fun was happening when I heard her giggle from her desk. #114-She doesn't make me feel stupid. #185-She is always happy (or at least fakes it really well). #188-I love how Shawnee can cracker herself up! It makes me laugh right along with her!

The list really only went to 205, but they tried real hard to get to 422. The reason for the number 422 is that I had a list going of 422 reasons why I am not married. They wanted to make sure I knew I was loved. My girls at work, and the faculty, are great!

So Tired

This week my body has decided it wants to be extra-tired. This means that I have sat at my desk at work and felt bone-weary all day, every day. Yesterday was the worst of it. I was so tired that I cried when everyone asked how I was doing. Sad, eh? I am looking forward to Christmas when I'll be able to catch up on my sleep (hopefully). I feel bad because when I'm tired I become a grump. Then I tend to grump on people. Not a good way to keep friends. At least my friends are kind and understanding. I had a rehearsal last night for our ward Christmas stuff. I sat at the piano and tried not to cry. Anytime someone wanted to start over again, I had to bite my tongue so I wouldn't scream. I wasn't completely successful. I was a bit grumpy. I have no plans this weekend, other than a tiny bit of homework. I plan on sleeping----A LOT!