Sun

I love the sun. So very very much. One of my favorite things about Sundays as a kid was coming out of the cold church building and sitting in the sun heated car on the drive home. Bliss. I still absolutely love a sun-warmed car.

The last couple of weeks have been rough. Not awful, just busy. Pressure from work and school is keeping both Keith and I running. Lots of things to get done and not a lot of down time. On my way home one afternoon I had a list of things to do that evening running through my head. I had a one track mind towards the paper I needed to hash out as I walked in the apartment.

Keith met me at the door with a big grin on his face and took my backpack from me as he exclaimed "you didn't miss it!" I was confused. Didn't miss what? I had a paper to write. I was stressed and needed to be productive.

Keith led me over to the bookshelf and sat me down on the floor. "It's a sun spot!" he explained. Right then and there the stress melted away. For a few minutes as we sat there on the living room floor in our sun spot everything was right with the world. Bliss.

Gramma and Grampa

Tomorrow my wonderful Grandpa will turn 90. Today he is bringing my wonderful Grandma, and his wife of over 60 years, home from the hospital so they can spend her last remaining days together.
I know God and His angels are tenderly watching over them. And when she leaves she will be in His loving care.
I can't adequately express what I feel, but I just had to try.
I am grateful for them, beyond words. Grateful for every laugh, hug, piece of advice, game of Shanghai, and sweet conversation we have ever shared. The way they have lived, and continue to live, has touched each member of their family, and their friends. It has touched me. I can't properly express my gratitude for them. I am thankful for the time I have with them. I am grateful for their love, support, and faith. I am grateful that they are mine.

Oh how I love you both.

Haiti Earthquake

Yesterday a massive 7.0 earthquake has hit Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Hospitals, and the Parliament building, along with thousands of homes have completely collapsed. Over 100,000 people are feared and unknown numbers are still trapped under rubble and or wounded without the means to get aid. Click here to get more information.

I urge you to help in anyway you can. Give to a humanitarian organization you trust and who is already are helping, in Haiti. The Red Cross and the LDS Humanitarian Aid Fund are two that I recommend. At the very least let this move you to help those who are in need around you. We all can give a little more. I can give a little more. And we can bless lives.

And pray. Pray for our brothers and sisters who are suffering immensely.

Here is an article on LDS Humanitarian Aid's response to the earthquake.

Update: Here is a brief article with information about Haiti and ways to help.

Northwest Christmas

Keith and I spent Christmas week with my family in Puyallup. It was so wonderful to be with family. Everyone was there minus Joe who is at the end of his church mission in Russia. We all talked with him on the phone on Christmas and it was great.

Alex cleaning the chimney. We also trimmed and gave shots to the sheep. I don't have any pictures of that because I was busy sticking needles in unhappy sheep.

It wasn't all work and no play though. While in Puyallup we also went on some hikes in the woods, made Christmas cookies and other goodies, and played Beetles Rock Band. Mom was the star on vocals. She still remembers all the words to all of the songs from back in her teenage Beetle-mania days.

The week after Christmas we spent a few days cross-country skiing in the northern Cascades. Fun (and very cold) times.
Mom and Dad still smoochy after 31 years.


We got back to Provo New Year's eve and spent the evening with Keith's family.

Happy New Year to everyone! We hope you have enjoyed your holidays!