Idaho... and Harlee!

Zach and the flying chair...

Zach and Kelsee

Zach and I spent the weekend in Idaho with his sister Kelsee, her husband, Nate, and our funny little niece Harlee. We drove up early Saturday morning - through snowy mountains and black fog. We spent the day visiting with Kels and playing with Harlee. I think she grew to love her uncle Zach; or at least all the games he'd play with her! She loved the flying rocking chair, and strangely enough, playing with a potato! One year olds are so silly! Anyways, we went up for Rafe's (a longtime friend's) missionary farewell. It was fun to be able to take a spontaneous weekend trip and to spend some time with family.

Things work out...

The lesson I learnt today, I've learnt before. Over and over again, this particular life-lesson seems to repeat itself. And the lesson is: things work out, everything will be fine. After Christmas, Zach and I had our fair share of struggles and trials. But, we are now once again assured that everything will be okay. I am so grateful that a kind and loving Heavenly Father knows us. He knows us and he knows how to best help us grow and become the strong, faithful individuals we need to be. This week has been an answer to months of praying for us, and all of these experiences have once again helped me to see how much God cares. I'm just trying to learn to be grateful that He tends to allow the trials to persist until the very moment I can't handle them anymore! Anyways, I just wanted to share with all of you that I know that God has a plan for each of us, of my gratitude for this plan, His help, and for my wonderful husband who supports me when my hope and faith falter.

Holiday Wrap-up

Christmas came, and went. New Year's came and went. The decorations are put away. And, we are trying - trying ever so hard - to get up the energy and desire for life to start again. I go back to school tomorrow. The light at the end of the tunnel is visible though... I will graduate in April. I have four English classes left, and 32 books to read for those four classes! Work is changing too. Instead of classroom teaching at the MTC, I will be working in the TE, a center for missionaries to come and practice their teaching. I'm sad to leave the missionaries I am currently working with, and to not be in a position to teach Spanish as much. But, I am very excited to experience a change of scenery. Zach is still looking for a job. His classes don't start until Wednesday so technically, he still has two days of vacation left. I think he's bored of being at home without anything to do, so maybe he's not as anxious as me about going back.

Anyways, we survived our first holiday season together. It was great. Some of my favourites were: Christmas dinner at the Jenkins' (especially the Christmas crackers!), doing frustrating puzzles with Zach, cooking and baking up a storm, and the way our apartment looks all decorated for Christmas. Anyways... until next time!

Our First Christmas Tree!

"It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas"

December 8, 2009

I love December! I love the first snowfall (even though it's cold)! I love the Christmas Tree Zach and I put up and decorated yesterday! In short, I love the Christmas season. We are so blessed to be here celebrating Christmas together. I finished my last essay today, and so I'm feeling good. Now I just have to make it through exams, and then I can dedicate nearly all my time to enjoying this season. Zach is finishing up his last assignments. He is also looking for a new job. So when he finds a job and finishes school, he'll be enjoying the Christmas season too.

Thanksgiving in Las Vegas

November 29 2009

Zach and I spent the Thanksgiving Break in Vegas were he worked filming a football tournament. I was excited to go somewhere I'd never been before. We had a good time but were so happy to come home to Utah. We stayed at a Hotel/ Casino called Arizona Charlie's. My first impression was of the place was "smoke" and it didn't get a lot better from there. Yesterday, I stayed at the hotel while Zach went to work because I wasn't feeling well. I went to get something to eat, and then went to the elevator to go back to my room. There, you need your room key to operate the elevator. Mine card wouldn't work, so I asked the security guard. She tried my card too, but it wouldn't work for her either. Meanwhile another security guard came over and they began to interrogate me. The other key was in the room, I didn't have my phone with me, the reservation wasn't under my name, and when questioned as to what my room number was said 4065 instead of 4605 (the first of which apparently didn't exist). I was so sick and so frustrated I was about to cry. The guards must have noticed, so they gave up and finally opened the elevator for me. It was then that I realized how much I wanted to come home! We went to the strip the night we got there just to see. It was neat, but one of those experiences that once you cross it off your list of things to see, you never have to do it again! Las Vegas = done! (i'll post some pictures when I find the camera...)

COOKING is FUN!

When you get married, it seems that eating crackers and cheese for dinner is no longer acceptable. At first, I was slightly distraught by this news... How on earth was I going to be able to think of things to cook Zach... and then to actually make those things (edible!)? These are scary questions facing a newlywed college student. Fortunately, I am blessed with a husband who will eat anything I make him, experimental or not! Anyways, to overcome my fears, I decided to learn one new recipe a week... and along the way, I've learnt that Cooking is actually FUN! In the past couple of weeks, I've made: Enchiladas, Shepherd's pie, Chicken Roll-ups, Lasagna, Spaghetti, Leek and Potato Soup, Tostadas, Tortilla Soup (a definite favourite), Meatloaf (even though I'd never eaten it before), and Corn Chowder. As it turns out, cooking isn't that intimidating after all, and I've really begun to enjoy making new and yummy things... The problem is that I always too much!