Theme of 2009: Doing the right thing is hard to do.

Right thing #1: Moving out to DC in January of 2009 to student teach in DCPS.
Hard: The unknown. Teaching in DCPS, living with randoms, accustoming myself with a new ward and new scene.
Result: AMAZING experience and opportunity with its hardships, of course.

Right thing #2: Moving back to Utah for the summer, being an EFY counselor, and living at home.
Hard: Attending a non-BYU single's ward; no friends close by; but overall, it wasn't that hard, it was comfortable.
Result: Living the cushy life at home. Life was peachy.

Right thing #3: Moving out of my cushy life and going back to Washington DC to find a teaching job and to live...for a while!
Hard: Started from scratch, unemployed for months, subbing, licensing a pain in the neck, being away from family.
Result: Blissfully happy vs. painfully humbled. It was a competition.

Right thing #4: Living in Washington DC and accepting a teaching position at Wilson High School for the rest of the school year...and beyond.
Hard: TBD...though I have no idea how I'm going to do this. Stories will come very soon.
Result: Hard to know at this point, but I am sure I will be generally happy and busy.

Overall Lesson:

The Lord's plan is truly not my own. I am constantly learning how God is in control of my life, not me. Yet I have found through so many of my experiences that doing it God's way may be difficult, trying, and even heartbreaking, his plan ALWAYS makes me the most happy.

It may be hard, but it is right...and that's what's most important.

Thanks 2009 for this lesson, bring on 2010.

Tradition, Tradition!

The Christmas Nativity play resumed its regular traditional role in my family. How I love this tradition! I don't know if it's the fact that I get to play dress-up, or the crying kids, or the all-important fact that we get to celebrate the birth of the Savior. Whatever it is, I am glad that the nativity play continues as our Christmas Eve tradition.

Singing around the piano in parts. We sounded dang good.

Watching "Garfield's Christmas,"a personal favorite of mine.

Don't worry, Anna does like me.

Nicole and Anna. Sisters; not mother and daughter.


Olivia and Adam. How I enjoy my teenage niece and nephew.

Joseph was a cow again; this time he wore the costume the whole time. Go Jo-Jo.

Shepherds, wisemen, Mary.
Angel Emma.
Jenny with her youngins'

This is so adorable. Adam will be a cute dad someday...in the way future.

Ben and I
Son and mother. Presh.
Sisters, Sisters. I love my sisters. Missed you Kath.

Gangsta' finds her way to Utah.

Getting all set up

2 baby Jesus's...at one time we had 4.

Here's 3.
Opening presents.

Story: These dolls were made by my wonderful mother. She originally made them 25 years ago and we have asked her when she would make them for us. Well she finally made them. She made 6 sets for her children. I have such a great mom.

4 of us with the dolls. We were all teary and surprised.

Here's a closer look. Yep, she made them completely from scratch.

How I love traditions and better yet, surprises!

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.

Virginia is not for lovers; it creates haters

This is why...crowded airports lead people to becoming complete haters. I almost became one of them--after standing in line for 4.5 hours and not getting on a flight to Utah.

stir crazy on snow day

Saturday, VA was hit with a huge snow storm. Honestly, it was a legit blizzard...comparable to those in the west. However, I still give east coasters a hard time because they truly freak out when there is a snow storm. They don't know how to handle it...at all. How did I handle it? Well my roommates and I were snowed in all Saturday....we went stir crazy of course!

This is what I woke up to...
Sarah came out with me...
Meliss reminds me of a kid that has to use the bathroom really bad but can't because she has so many layers on...

One of my personal favorites. Suz and Sar.

The priesthood brethren were out shoveling...

Our street.
Her hair was itchy.
Snow angels, of course.

Movie time, of course.
Snow at night from our front door.

Enriching conversations with friends.

Snow in the back
A blurred shot that I like.

Being silly. What we do best.

I trekked in the snow to get the mail, but to no avail, none had come.

Roommate togetherness.

Add the token boy in there.

Clint got so bored he braided my hair, I know, it doesn't look like it.

And because of this "blessed" snow, my flight was canceled. More on that later. But the snow day was tons of fun.

Moved on. Moving up.

I think one of the best feelings in life is knowing that you're progressing as an individual. I love that feeling. I thrive off of it.

Since moving out here, many people have asked me if I miss life at BYU. I respond with the very honest answer, "no." There have been a few moments that have lasted about two minutes where I have had a slight pang of homesickness. But other than that, I can declare that I love my life now.

Life hasn't turned out as planned...but does it ever? Regardless of the uncertainty that my life holds, I know that I am in the right place. I feel it every day that I wake up and feel excited to be here. It's amazing, but I have moved on. I always thought that my college years would be the pinnacle of my single existence. But no, it just keeps getting better and better.

Not only have I moved on, but I have moved up. It's wonderful.

Second place in the ugly Christmas sweater contest ain't too shabby.

With all our creativity combined, we donned the best outfits or sweaters for this momentous occasion...The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.

Come to mama. Yes, Meliss, you got that look down.

Prep girl Sarah

My ugly sweater outfit. I couldn't find a good sweater so this was the best I could come up with.

The Quadruplets.

Rachel has a true ugly Christmas sweater on.

So does Mary. Check out her bird.

The finalists in the contest. Can you believe I got 2nd?

Me and Ash. Love this lady.


Hope your days are merry and filled with many ugly sweaters.