Good Friends

Today I went down to Coalville to judge an extemporaneous public speaking event and afterward had the opportunity to see my good friend Jaysa and her husband Richard. Jaysa was one of my bridemaids, is also an Agricultural Education major, and is such a sweet friend. I haven't seen her for almost one year as we live like twelve hours apart now!

Richard just got back from a tour in Iraq and drove 42 hours straight from North Carolina to be in Idaho for thanksgiving with his wife. They both drove down to Salt Lake today to buy a new truck so Paul and I took the chance of having dinner with them. It was so good to see both of them again!! We met in Riverdale and then went out for dinner at Olive Garden...what a great evening! :)

What many people don't realize is that Jaysa and Richard have been apart more during their marriage then together. This is in part to Jaysa finishing school and Richard serving the country he loves. They are both an example and encouragment to me of a christian couple in the military.

Thank you Jaysa and Richard for your service to our country!

Yeah, its that time of the semester

Its that time...the leaves are off the trees, the air is crisp and cold, the days are shorter, and finals are upon us. Yes, only three more weeks and we will be done with the fall semester. Twelve down and three to go, the eyes are on the prize before us.

However with the end of the semester and early classes, it is somewhat hard to get me out of bed. I am definitely not a morning person and if I could have it my way I would like to sleep for over eight hours every night. I love my pillow and the warmth of my bed heater. In the mornings I am a bear and sometimes don't really care - horrible I know.

I realized today that I am starting to get lazy in the mornings. How may you ask? Well, you know you are starting to get lazy when your husband gets up before you to get ready for his class that starts at the same time as yours. This means getting up twenty minutes before you have to leave for class. :) What is even more sad is the fact that I really don't care and covet my extra Z's instead of the extra primping time or breakfast at a table instead of on the run.

Oh the joys of a carefree college life!

Pure Luck

Today I was standing on campus at the bus stop (notice I am not riding my bike anymore) after classes, with sixty other students, when a truck came up to the curb playing ice cream truck music. These were obviously college students just goofing off. They proceeded to throw out ice cream bars to the crowd and then drove away. I was standing in the very back when the next thing I know this kid six feet in front of me jumps up, smacks the ice cream bar, and it slaps me directly in the face.

Followed by this was lots of laughing from the crowd. The kid offered me the ice cream bar since my head "caught" it and apologized profusely.

The rest of the ride I kept hearing "yeah, thats the girl that got hit in the head with the ice cream bar".

Have you ever seen the movie with Martin Short in it entitle Pure Luck? That is how I feel sometimes. :)

Stay Tuned for an Important Message

Please take a moment to sign this petition because it is our right as Americans to know if our new President Elect is witholding some valuable information.

http://www.rallycongress.com/constitutional-qualification/1244/stop-obama-constitutional-crisis/

Thanks!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 223 MARINE CORPS!

Today is the 233 birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Here is a picture of Paul and I at his unit's Birthday ball this past Monday.

Also, tomorrow is Veterans day. What better time to say thank you to those who have fought for our country and to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. I hope that you are thankful more than just a couple times during the year, but make sure that this November 11 doesn't go by without you thanking someone for their service to our great country.

Case of the Mondays

This post is a little old as it is now Thursday and I am just getting to it...but you get the picture! ;)

Mondays are usually okay for me. Normal classes, not anything too unusual. This past Monday was much different, however, and because it kept on coming it deserves its own post.

It all started as I was riding home on my bicycle and talking on the phone with Paul. He was letting me know that someone, in the perfect fairyland place were we live, had let the air out of our back car tire. This was about 11:30 and we had to be driving out of Logan at 12:30 to make it to the Marine Corps Birthday ball that evening in Wendover, NV. So I was almost home and was riding on the sidewalk when our two neighbor boys were also playing on the same sidewalk. I think in their little minds they were playing chicken with me because they didn't move until I was about to plow through them. I swerved and hit my break and the next thing I know I am flying over my handle bars and landing face first in the dirt! I was fortunate my face hit the dirt and the rest of my body was on the sidewalk. To top it off, my bike came all the way over and landed on top of me. The kids were like "WHHOOOOAAA Are you all right? Did you see that?" All I could do was lay there like a slug and get a somber " I'm okay" out. In the meantime I could hear Paul screaming on my phone demanding to know what happened. He had thought I had got hit by a car. So as I am writing this blog, I have bruises all up and down my legs, my handle bars are bent, and my pride hurts just a little! :)

Our next adventure started one hour later as we left for Wendover. We were not going to be staying the evening, as everybody else was in the hotel, because Paul had two tests the next morning. So I drove the 3 1/2 hours all the way there and back and he studied the entire time. Yes, even in the dark he studied by flashlight. It made for a long drive as the radio was silent for most of the way and there was no one to talk to. If you have ever driven to Wendover you know it is boring because of all the drowsy driving signs posted every ten miles! ;)

Upon our arrival we asked the front desk if we could change somewhere, since this is a formal event, and they offered the bathrooms. That was fun...try getting a formal dress on in the bathroom!

We made the best of our night and vowed to leave early so that I wouldn't be falling asleep at the wheel. So after filling up with gas at the Chevron, around 10 pm, and getting some much needed caffeinated beverages, we set out back for home. I had just pulled out of the gas station and accidentaly ran a stop sign. In my defense, the town is tiny, the road had five lanes, no one was present, and it wasn't well lit. Well, I realized what I did halfway throught the intersection...and so did the police officer watching.

Yes, I got pulled over. I not only got sighted for not stopping at a four way stop but for having a broken brake light, not having the current insurance card (Forgot to stick the new one in), and not having a valid drivers license (since it expired ten days after my birthday, which was just recently and we haven't had the chance to make it up to Idaho). I know...what an awesome evening! The police officer was very nice however, and asked what we were doing in Wendover and just gave us a fix it citation. We have two weeks to fix the brake lights and then have someone check it is done and we send the form back in and don't have to pay! The officer was so nice and told me to not run stop signs because he wouldn't have pulled me over at all. ;)

We finally made it home at a little after one in the morning...and thus ended the Monday of Mondays! ;)

Paul's Bday!

October 28 was Paul's birthday. We didn't do too awfully much as school has been keeping us hopping these last few days. I made a vanilla pound cake with chocolate frosting, upon Paul's request. It turned out pretty good...not too heavy and not too fluffy. We went out to Chili's for dinner to celebrate with a gift card we had (Thank you Schallenbergers) and it was oh so good. :)

On this his birthday, it makes me stop and think of all the things that I appreciate about Paul. I am just so grateful for Paul and everything that he means to me. I try not to take him for granted because I know that every day is a gift from God and we really don't know the future. However, how much I try I know that there are those days where I just don't seem to realize what I have. Those days when I have tests to study for, lab reports to finish, and Jr. Church to prepare while the dishes are piled, the bathroom needs scrubbing, and there are loads of laundry I know need to be done. He probably wouldn't want me bragging about him, but he gives so much of his time and self for our home and marriage. I will be working away and suddenly hear the vacuum start or the dishes being washed. Even the small little "just take a break and play the wii" does wonders. Don't get me wrong; I don't want to switch roles nor do I want Paul to do those chores daily or even weekly. He just knows when my stress meter is high and trys to aleviate it.

I admire how he seeks God and how I know without question that every night is Bible reading time. There isn't a question if we are going to church Sunday morning, evening or Wednesday night. When a job needs done at church, he is ready and willing to help. Whether that be Sunday School class, song leading, helping me clean the church, or working on the new building. I appreciate his seeking God's will regarding our future. Paul is a hardworker and has been diligent in his studies. He loves his country and wants to serve in any capacity possible.

I love you Paul! Happy Birthday!