Revisiting an old Passion...or two.

We all know we are supposed to develop our talents, otherwise we will lose them, right? Well, one activity that I have been told I have a talent for, and has at least always been an outlet for stress, joy, and just expression, is writing.


In high school I kept a poetry journal. I gave some speeches and things in high school. I've always written in my journal (some periods of my life are more descriptive. :D). In college I was a writing tutor. Letters are so rewarding for me. And yet, somehow, I've stopped writing.

I've recently had some opportunities to tutor various people with some writing assignment or requirement they have for work or for school. Turning on that part of my thinking, and looking at organization, flow, content, relationship between sentences, paragraphs, even words. It makes me so excited!! It got my juices going again and I realized how badly I want to write. Not a novel, mind, you. My sister can take that route (she's even published! Here's her blog and more about her book Perilous).

No, I'm much more a essayist. I just LOVE having a question to answer, a concept to explain, something to expound on that requires some research, some deep thinking, trial and error, revision, revision, and revision. It just does something to me!! I have always loved words and I suppose it's controlling words and implementing them into a pattern and method that I designate so they present the image I want everyone else to see: that's magical. And I'm definitely a sucker for the old-fashioned pen and paper.

So, I've decided to write again. I have a few topics in mind. Some are emotional and sentimental. Some are practical and things that I really do want to know more about, so why not give myself an actual assignment? I can't say I miss school; but I do miss the required expression of thought. I need to be and do better about that. So I am.

Anyone else experience a sort of reawakening in their talent or interest realm? How did you deal with it? What was it?

As a side note, anyone follow the Jeopardy shows with IBM's Watson? Fascinating. Language at the core.

So ya want some snow, do ya?

Since I've known Justin I've heard stories about these "fabulous New England winters." Ya know, so much snow that you can't open your door and you have to climb out through a window just to shovel? It was nigh unto famous in my mind.

So, naturally, when we moved out here, one thing I thought for sure I'd get to see was some great snow. Piles of it. I mean, I grew up with snow, and we got snow in Utah, but nothing I was used to compared with the impression I got from the stories I heard Justin tell. Well, let's just say, last year was a "mild winter" and this year, I was so excited about a little dusting that I bundled Caleb up and went out to "experience" the snow.



His favorite part was eating it. He loved being able to look up and see the snow coming down, too.

Then, what do ya know, here in January we've had two big snow storms, and something about Mass...snow here doesn't melt. I told Justin that back home, a "big" snow storm meant school closings, being stuck inside with hot chocolate, movies, and playing outside. Here, it means shoveling and work. No fun. No wonder people get so tired of snow.

Well, after last night's storm, I decided to document the difference. I would lose Caleb in these drifts if he could burrow his way into them! The big picture on the bottom is from the snow plow collections, and the bottom right is the walk up to the front door.



Needless to say, I've experienced my "real New England winter." :)

Big News!!

Okay, we haven't told y'all where we're going! Some of you may have heard through the grape vine...but I wanted to do an actual announcement. You read for this? (nah, nah, nah)...

We will be moving to... OHIO OHIO OHIO OHIO OHIO!!!
It was not an easy decision to make. We talked about it, we'd make a tentative decision, and then we'd think of something else to consider; we made lists, both mental and physical; we prayed; we talked some more. It was very much a "go where you want" decision, and that made it all the more difficult for us. But, in the end, we decided on Ohio. And we're excited! We have lots to do to prepare for the move, so not only for the school deadlines but for my sanity we had to decide soon. I've gotta have time to make MY lists of things to do and get them done!

And, once again, we will be moving to a different state (though this time not cross country) only weeks after having a baby!! AND, (best part!), we just had our ultra sound this week (drum roll, please) and we found out (you ready for it??!!)...the baby is perfectly healthy! Everything is developing as it should and baby is right on track.

What? That's not the news you were looking for? haha, alright, I'll indulge you. :-D

We're having a GIRL!! (again, some of you probably knew that from the grapevine, but I'm super excited so I had to announce it) That's right, a cute little girl. I'm blown away. What will she look like? I think knowing that my next baby is really a "mini me" makes it a bit different than having a "mini us." I'm also very excited to see Caleb as a big brother!

We're both really excited for the changes that are coming to us soon...and we're ever so grateful for the continuous blessings we receive from our Heavenly Father. It's amazing to feel how aware He is of us!

So, Happy New Year everyone! What big changes, plans, even goals? does everyone have going for this 2011 year?

Merry Christmas!!

I know it was a festive time of year, but unfortunately I didn't get a lot of pictures taken. Last year's Christmas was like picture overload, but this year I don't have hardly any. Well, I've got some from leading up to Christmas, but not many from from Christmas day.

Anyway, Merry Christmas everybody! It was a fabulous day for us; Caleb decided to let us have the honor of opening all his presents and he just sat in a circle surrounded by all his newly acquired treasures (thanks to Grandma and Granpa!). It was a lot of fun! Justin's family has a tradition of doing a Christmas EVE dinner, so that was fun for me to be able to do. Luckily, I had the help of him and his brother, Devin, and I was healthy enough to do it! That was fabulous! I was so proud of how it turned out (...you'll have to wait for that random picture...), especially my homemade dinner rolls.

I especially enjoyed Christmas Eve this year. We read the Christmas story, Caleb version, then we read it for real once he was in bed. We ended up singing hymns and reading other stories for about an hour. It was wonderful and I'm so grateful for the spirit it brought into our home as it reminded us of Jesus Christ's birth and why we celebrate Christmas. How blessed we are!

Christmas morning Justin made our now-traditional bacon quiche tarts and then Caleb decided we should open all our presents. It was all over within an hour and we finally put Caleb down for a nap about 3 hours after his normal nap time. Oh it was joyful!

We hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas wherever they were. Now we have the New Year's to look forward too!

We're Goin' to Okla-hio-ma-sota!

So, Amber and I woke up on December 1st to find acceptance offers from 4 dental schools! Hooray! We have been accepted at Ohio State, Case Western, University of Oklahoma, and University of Minnesota. Oklahoma and Ohio State were two of our top three. (The only one of our top choices that we have not heard from yet is University of Iowa.)

So, I was not actually expecting such a good showing from dental schools this early. I was always expecting to accept whichever school accepted me. Now we have the blessing (and curse) of choosing a dental school. So, any input? Where should we go?