January

Ok I am not saying I am a hater of the month of January, but it is definately not my favorite month. Yes, cool people have been born in this month, and New Years is a fresh start and all, but on a whole I am not in the cheering section for January. January is cold. January is full of days old dirty snow on the sides of the streets. January ends when light is just barely starting to hang around longer, so most of it is dark. January is just blah to me. My feelings for February are about the same unfortunately. March is a wild card every year, though less gloomy. Again, I am not a hater of these months they just don't do it for me is all.

Oquirrh Mountain

Our date night this week consisted of going to the temple. We tried Salt Lake first and were sad to find out it was closed. How wonderful to live in an area where there are three other options in the same valley when such misfortune comes! We decided to go to Oquirrh Mountain. It was a wonderful evening. I really like the picture I took when we were leaving because it has the moon and two stars around the temple (I know they are actually Venus and Saturn, but still, they look like stars) the second 'star' is getting cut off right above Moroni if you can't see it. Ganesh afterwards was delicious as always. While we were eating we were approached by one of the other diners. Turns out it was a fellow missionary from when JD was serving in India, it was fun watching JD and David catch up with life and reminisce a little.

Artie

This is a picture of Artie. He is my space heater and I love him a lot. Artie helps keep me warm in a rather cool basement, particularly during the winter time. Lately my favorite thing has been to take Artie into my bed room, turn him on full blast, curl up in a down comforter and read a book. I like Artie a lot.

Basmati

Some people like a candy bar or their favorite ice cream for a treat. JD's treat this week was a little different. I got him a 20 lb bag of basmati rice. When he got home from his mission he would comment on how weird rice was here compared to India and to be honest, I thought he was nuts. This has changed over the years as my pallate for Indian food has become more refined and I can now tell a very big difference between different kinds of rice, and basmati is the best. Erin came over tonight, we made a chicken curry and had it with the basmati and it was delicious, much better than the long white rice from the store.

"T" Benson

I have been reading the biography of Ezra Taft Benson this week and I am loving it. I am not usually a biography type of person, but this book is fascinating. There are so many neat stories, and just to see how life was when he as growing up is so neat and humbling. I love learning about his family, and Flora and her family, their memories of growing up and the things they liked to do. President Benson was my first prophet and while I can't remember any specific talks he gave, I do remember seeing him on the TV at my old house in Harrisville and sitting down to listen/watch him instead of playing with my toys. Super good book, I highly recommend it.

Red Rocks

We went to the University of Utah vs Utah State Gymnastics meet last night. I love watching gymnastics. It is crazy what these girls are capable of. I had a lot of fun playing with my new camera too. Super fun night, I want to go again already.

Head Bonks

I witnessed a terrible accident this week involving my sister where she used her head as a battering ram to open our front door. The end result was two skinned knees and a large goose egg on top of her head. She was acting a little weird afterwards and no one else was home so I got to spend the day with a sister that didn't know whether to cry in pain or laugh out loud at the absurd event that led to her battle wounds. I put neosporin on her knees, and found some ice for her head and knees, and kept an eye on her until my mom got home.
I love being a big sister to incredible and crazy sisters and a reserved little brother. They are all amazing and I love them a ton. Em is moving to Casper this week and I am going to miss her like crazy but I am so excited for her to have some new adventures, as long as those adventures don't include opening doors with your head.

Baptism

JD and I have the awesome calling of teaching the 7-8 year olds in primary. Part of this calling includes attending the baptisms of our kids. Poor Averee has watched all year as everyone else was baptized, but had to wait since her birthday was after Christmas. Today it was finally her turn. The Spirit was so strong in the meeting as her uncle baptized her and her great grandfather gave her the Holy Ghost. I am thankful for the Gospel, for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and for a loving Savior who has showed the way, through example, of what I need to do to return home.

Much Joy Merry Christmas

I have been deep cleaning things lately and stumbled across this bag that we received a gift in for our wedding. I just found it rather humorous. I too would like to wish you much joy and happiness now that Christmas is over.

Warmish Winter

I washed my car today...I was wearing flip flops, and a t-shirt while I worked too. Did you notice the date to this post? Yah, it is 55 degrees on January 4th, and that outing with my cousins? 57 degrees at nighttime. It is warmish in Utah this winter.

Goodbye Christmas

Rest in Peace Pete

Once upon a time JD bought a palm tree. Oh how he loved his palm tree too! He gave it a lovely spot on a windowsill where it received just the right amount of sun and JD gave it just the right amount of water. Pete flourished in his home with his friend JD. Then something terrible happened: JD got married and had to move! The confines of basement apartments did not bode well for Pete. He missed his windowsill and the sunshine. Slowly the color left Pete's once green fronds, one even fell off. The evil wife of JD told JD to throw Pete away one day. JD grieved his palm tree, but agreed it was for the best. JD took Pete outside to take pictures of his withered and wilted friend one last time, this happened to be on a lovely spring morning. Pete watched as JD went back into that horrible basement and came out with the mean nasty wife to go to church. As Pete waited for his date with the trash, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time...what could it be? Warm, bright, nourishing....SUN! Pete opened his fronds as big as he could and soaked in the sunlight, a tender mercy before his ultimate fate. Then something amazing happened: upon arriving home the mean wife pointed at Pete, "This is the end!" Pete thought, but no, the wife was pointing out that green was returning to the palm fronds and exclaimed with joy that Pete was not dead after all. "She isn't all that bad," thought Pete. JD was thrilled to have his friend back and left Pete outside all of the Spring and Summer and Fall. Pete would watch as the beautiful, intelligent wife, and his good old friend JD would run back and forth from church, work, school, and walks and life was good. Winter came and all was not well, the snow made Pete freeze and close his fronds, there was no sun but only cold. JD brought Pete inside and while warmer, there was no sun again. Pete began to wither once more. Another move came and went but things did not improve, Pete was still in a chilly basement with little sunlight. As soon as the sun returned and the air warmed Pete was placed outside once more, but it was too late. Pete had fallen into a deep sleep, one which not even sunlight could penetrate. A forceful wind blew off all but one of Pete's fronds and it was decided that it was time that Pete must be laid to rest. Today was Pete's funeral. We will miss him greatly, but his story will live on with us forever. Goodbye Pete.