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Saturday, November 26, 2011
Christmas Trees
We are ready for Christmas here! I got my decorations up and playing Christmas music! Woot! AND.. we got Minions!!!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Day 11- Thankful for her mission
I think about my mission often. I served in San Francisco just before it closed. I fell in love with the ocean (ironic, I know) there. Being able to see the sun set into the ocean is incredible! I learned to appreciate Book of Mormon missionaries more. I gained a great love for Joseph Smith. Hearing someone say something cruel about our founding prophet made my stomach twist and I wanted to shout the truth as tho that would fix their misunderstanding. The one thing I learned that I never will let go of- those who fall fell because they FIRST stopped reading their scriptures. They stopped praying. Then they stopped going to church. The critical importance of reading the Book of Mormon daily has never left me.
Day 10- Chicken Soup
I got some seasoned chicken REALLY cheap at Smith's. After having fantastic chicken, Matt would boil the bones and leftovers and made soup. It's best chicken soup I've ever had. SOooo good! We end up with enough soup to last a week. I'd hold his soup against anyone! Stand aside Progresso! My husband can cook!
Day 9- Thankful for games
Another reason I can never be bored- GAMES! Matt and I have such a nice stash we end up rotating which games we're always in the mood for. Lately it's been Dominion. A games that's never the same twice. Awesome. We love being competitive. We never LET the other person win. That's an insult :)
Day 8- Thankful for books
I never have a reason to be bored (hence these posts got so behind). There is so much I want to read, there's never enough time. I'm reading Wheel of Time right now, and I have a history of the Fed sitting by the couch, and a biography of Samuel Adams by my desk. So much to read and so much to learn.
I never understood why people would have a Nook or Kindle. The words are the same, sure, but there's nothing like having pages in your hand. One weekend while staying at Neil and Amy's I had a notebook that I was using for something, don't remember what. Neil wondered why I wasn't using the computer for it instead. "I'm a history major. I crave paper." I remember saying that so well because I remember how heartily he laughed. I still smile at the line coming out of my mouth. There's nothing like the smell of paper and a good story :D
I never understood why people would have a Nook or Kindle. The words are the same, sure, but there's nothing like having pages in your hand. One weekend while staying at Neil and Amy's I had a notebook that I was using for something, don't remember what. Neil wondered why I wasn't using the computer for it instead. "I'm a history major. I crave paper." I remember saying that so well because I remember how heartily he laughed. I still smile at the line coming out of my mouth. There's nothing like the smell of paper and a good story :D
Friday, November 11, 2011
Day 7- Thankful for parents
My parents are the best! I love talking with them, laughing with them, working in the garden, decorating for Christmas.... It's wonderful!
My mom and I can stay up all night and talk. About everything. Politics. What we're reading in the scriptures. How that relates to current events. Work. Kids. Frustrations. Everything. I miss it when I go too long without talking to her, and so I feel a pull to either call or stop by.
My dad has a very dry sense of humor. He's hilarious! He loves old things. When he goes to garage sales he usually came back with something rusted to put in the garden. His pride and joy- the garden. I learn so much from watching him care for the yard. One thing in particular- there's nothing quite like eating cherry tomatoes from the garden. Mmmm. Dad loves Christmas too. I still drive around at night to look at how people have decorated for the holidays. My sister and I both decorate early (well, it's early to everyone else, but not to a Hibbert.)
I have another set of parents too! I love being married! My father in law (I call them Mom and Dad too) has chickens now. We're never going to buy eggs at the store again! They can and store... more prepared for a disaster than I am. Mom Shaw taught me how to can too! I'm definitely going to be sure my kids can and enjoy homemade jams and jellies too!
They are such faith driven people! Everything ties together for them as they see God's hand in the lives of their children. I love hearing their stories about Matt's wild days because part of the story is how the Spirit kept them involved. Incredible people! Must be why Matt's so sensitive to the Spirit. He was raised by such spiritually minded parents.
My mom and I can stay up all night and talk. About everything. Politics. What we're reading in the scriptures. How that relates to current events. Work. Kids. Frustrations. Everything. I miss it when I go too long without talking to her, and so I feel a pull to either call or stop by.
My dad has a very dry sense of humor. He's hilarious! He loves old things. When he goes to garage sales he usually came back with something rusted to put in the garden. His pride and joy- the garden. I learn so much from watching him care for the yard. One thing in particular- there's nothing quite like eating cherry tomatoes from the garden. Mmmm. Dad loves Christmas too. I still drive around at night to look at how people have decorated for the holidays. My sister and I both decorate early (well, it's early to everyone else, but not to a Hibbert.)
I have another set of parents too! I love being married! My father in law (I call them Mom and Dad too) has chickens now. We're never going to buy eggs at the store again! They can and store... more prepared for a disaster than I am. Mom Shaw taught me how to can too! I'm definitely going to be sure my kids can and enjoy homemade jams and jellies too!
They are such faith driven people! Everything ties together for them as they see God's hand in the lives of their children. I love hearing their stories about Matt's wild days because part of the story is how the Spirit kept them involved. Incredible people! Must be why Matt's so sensitive to the Spirit. He was raised by such spiritually minded parents.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Day 6- Thankful for the loveseat
Aside from the kitchen chairs, the only thing to sit on in our apartment is a loveseat that I inherited from my maternal grandparents. Both have passed away. I think of my grandmother often as I sit in the rocking seat. She had dementia for a long while, and often thought her only daughter was her older sister. That worked for Mom, considering, being the older sister meant she could tell Grandma what to do and she'd listen (provided she was wearing her hearing aids).
After Grandpa passed away, my brother and his dear wife moved in to take care of her. Mom would bring her to Salt Lake on Sundays to give them a break. When I was at home, I'd play Checkers with her to keep her busy while Mom made dinner. Ever played Checkers with a nearly blind, nearly deaf, dementia woman? It was always amusing. She'd rub her collarbone while she looked at the board. I knew that wasn't Grandma. Mom often said it wasn't her mother, but that we had something to learn by taking care of her. Grandma was very different from the woman we got to care for at the end.
Grandma was very proud of her children. Education was very important to her. That was definitely instilled in her daughter, as my siblings and I KNEW Mom expecting nothing but our best in school. I remember one birthday Grandma was still 'there'. Several of us were in her basement, we had cake, and my uncle asked her if she had any advice for us. The only thing I remember her saying was "Well, you all have more education that I do." I find it fitting that her children are professors, doctors, physicists and artists.
The Gospel was important to Grandma. Living in Bismark, North Dakota, there were few members. For a while, church was held in the home until they had to drive hours on Sunday to get to church. They went despite weather and sleepiness. When the Bismark Temple was announced, Mom went up with her parents to see it. It was an incredible experience for them. A temple where you once had church in your home because the nearest member was too far away. I can't imagine that feeling.
I was with Grandma when she died. It was a very spiritual experience. We could tell when the Spirit was gone. I remember my mother whispering in her ear that it was okay for her to go. That Grandpa was waiting for her. We were happy that she was herself again. No longer limited by the restrictions of her age. I look forward to meeting her again and getting to know her again.
After Grandpa passed away, my brother and his dear wife moved in to take care of her. Mom would bring her to Salt Lake on Sundays to give them a break. When I was at home, I'd play Checkers with her to keep her busy while Mom made dinner. Ever played Checkers with a nearly blind, nearly deaf, dementia woman? It was always amusing. She'd rub her collarbone while she looked at the board. I knew that wasn't Grandma. Mom often said it wasn't her mother, but that we had something to learn by taking care of her. Grandma was very different from the woman we got to care for at the end.
Grandma was very proud of her children. Education was very important to her. That was definitely instilled in her daughter, as my siblings and I KNEW Mom expecting nothing but our best in school. I remember one birthday Grandma was still 'there'. Several of us were in her basement, we had cake, and my uncle asked her if she had any advice for us. The only thing I remember her saying was "Well, you all have more education that I do." I find it fitting that her children are professors, doctors, physicists and artists.
The Gospel was important to Grandma. Living in Bismark, North Dakota, there were few members. For a while, church was held in the home until they had to drive hours on Sunday to get to church. They went despite weather and sleepiness. When the Bismark Temple was announced, Mom went up with her parents to see it. It was an incredible experience for them. A temple where you once had church in your home because the nearest member was too far away. I can't imagine that feeling.
I was with Grandma when she died. It was a very spiritual experience. We could tell when the Spirit was gone. I remember my mother whispering in her ear that it was okay for her to go. That Grandpa was waiting for her. We were happy that she was herself again. No longer limited by the restrictions of her age. I look forward to meeting her again and getting to know her again.
November 5 Thanks
Saturday- I am thankful for the snow! Something I got from my Dad I think is the tender mercy and glorious simple pleasure of seeing undisturbed snow. Right after it falls. I didn't know it had snowed, I found out on facebook (lame, I know). "Oh yea, it snowed last night" Matt says when I read it aloud. He was up late doing homework and witnessed the first flakes. I rushed outside and took a deep breath and grew a big smile. This felt like the Hibbert cue of Christmastime. Time to start the music, check the lights, start decorating!
I walked around a bit and decided I had some errands to run so I could get a view of the valley. Matt and I drove up to the trailhead of Ensign Peak and looked at the valley. Gorgeous! White, blue sky, streaks of sunlight going thru the clouds. It was beautiful. Everything in the world was good. There was nothing that could ruin the moment. Heavenly Father is the most astounding artists. Never fails to put His children in awe.
When we got home all the snow in the court had been run through. I don't think there was a flat space of white anywhere. I could've given a sigh, but at the sound of children, I saw two kids dressed in their snow gear going down the snow covered slide. My smile returned. I remember those days. Snow was for playing in, not for looking at. I'm ready for the holidays!
I walked around a bit and decided I had some errands to run so I could get a view of the valley. Matt and I drove up to the trailhead of Ensign Peak and looked at the valley. Gorgeous! White, blue sky, streaks of sunlight going thru the clouds. It was beautiful. Everything in the world was good. There was nothing that could ruin the moment. Heavenly Father is the most astounding artists. Never fails to put His children in awe.
When we got home all the snow in the court had been run through. I don't think there was a flat space of white anywhere. I could've given a sigh, but at the sound of children, I saw two kids dressed in their snow gear going down the snow covered slide. My smile returned. I remember those days. Snow was for playing in, not for looking at. I'm ready for the holidays!
November 4 Thanks
I'm behind. Weekends go so fast it feels like one day, yet never long enough. Despite that, I am grateful for weekends. It's been different not having Friday's off. The weekend goes even faster. It's nice to have a day to go to the temple, get some chores done, cook without feeling like the time will suck up my evening, not think about work and just relax. Just me and Matt in our marvelous ity-bitty apartment. I love the time we get to spend together. Weekends are the best for that. There's usually one day he snubs homework for a while so we can play a game, watch a show, have dinner together.
Saturday is for play and chores, Sunday is the day perspective returns. We go to the hospital and talk to those with worse health and more faith than us. Incredible people. Sunday is also the only day I'll take a nap. Naps are nice!
Saturday is for play and chores, Sunday is the day perspective returns. We go to the hospital and talk to those with worse health and more faith than us. Incredible people. Sunday is also the only day I'll take a nap. Naps are nice!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Thankful for hindsight
It's fascinating to think on how I got to where I am. After I graduated from college, unable to get an applicable job, I returned to school for a second bachelors in Deaf Studies. It got me back into ASL after a six year hiatus. I went to a deaf ward for a while, which reminded me of the love I have for the ASL language, especially in song. Ever seen the hymns signed? It's beautiful. The whole while, I was not sure where it was going, or what the point really was in the long term. I had no job in mind for this potential degree. Today- ASL helps Matt and I talk when I don't understand what's going on.
In between class, I still volunteered at the State Archives. They offered me an 18 month job (over in December). Take it or stay in school? I took it. A job applicable to my history degree. Then I got married, and I have a job that can pay the bills! :)
Hindsight is how we can see the hand of God in the path of our lives. It is always nice to see what I thought was me making a decision with His 'ok' has worked out too well to have been coincidence. I don't believe in coincidence. It's a word that often leads us to not see Heavenly Father's influence.
There is uncertainty hanging in front of me. What will January bring? I will likely be out of a job. Where will I work? Where will we go for Matt's grad school? I'm looking forward to what hindsight will show us!
In between class, I still volunteered at the State Archives. They offered me an 18 month job (over in December). Take it or stay in school? I took it. A job applicable to my history degree. Then I got married, and I have a job that can pay the bills! :)
Hindsight is how we can see the hand of God in the path of our lives. It is always nice to see what I thought was me making a decision with His 'ok' has worked out too well to have been coincidence. I don't believe in coincidence. It's a word that often leads us to not see Heavenly Father's influence.
There is uncertainty hanging in front of me. What will January bring? I will likely be out of a job. Where will I work? Where will we go for Matt's grad school? I'm looking forward to what hindsight will show us!
Thankful to be deaf
I am thankful to be hearing impaired. Sounds weird, I know. I'm thankful for many reasons.
1- As a child, I wondered often about the Second Coming of Christ. I knew the story of Christ coming to the Americas in the Book of Mormon. He healed the lame, blind, the deaf. He blessed the children. What if I'm not a child when He comes? How will I know I'll get a chance to see Him? Everyone will be there, how can I be sure I'll get a chance to say 'hello.'? Silly, I know, but as a kid, I seriously wondered and worried. I was grateful to be hearing impaired, because I KNEW I'd get a chance to see Him when He returns because He'll heal me then. It was what my testimony relied on for a while.
2- Wearing hearing aids has definitely taught me patience.
3- Frankly, I pity all you hearing people sleeping at night with all the noise. :)
4- Being hearing impaired has kept emergency preparedness in my mind. I dread running out of batteries, which lead to the dread of running out of toilet paper, food, etc.
5-Ever heard the questions 'would you rather be deaf or blind?' I would rather be blind. I'm thankful I live in a time that I can have hearing aids. I cannot imagine my life without music. Having a mother who encouraged me to play the piano has been a great blessing in my life. Playing calms me. It helps me think. I have been able to play for callings and my mission.
I still look forward to the day I'll be healed, but in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy this all I can! :)
1- As a child, I wondered often about the Second Coming of Christ. I knew the story of Christ coming to the Americas in the Book of Mormon. He healed the lame, blind, the deaf. He blessed the children. What if I'm not a child when He comes? How will I know I'll get a chance to see Him? Everyone will be there, how can I be sure I'll get a chance to say 'hello.'? Silly, I know, but as a kid, I seriously wondered and worried. I was grateful to be hearing impaired, because I KNEW I'd get a chance to see Him when He returns because He'll heal me then. It was what my testimony relied on for a while.
2- Wearing hearing aids has definitely taught me patience.
3- Frankly, I pity all you hearing people sleeping at night with all the noise. :)
4- Being hearing impaired has kept emergency preparedness in my mind. I dread running out of batteries, which lead to the dread of running out of toilet paper, food, etc.
5-Ever heard the questions 'would you rather be deaf or blind?' I would rather be blind. I'm thankful I live in a time that I can have hearing aids. I cannot imagine my life without music. Having a mother who encouraged me to play the piano has been a great blessing in my life. Playing calms me. It helps me think. I have been able to play for callings and my mission.
I still look forward to the day I'll be healed, but in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy this all I can! :)
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Halloween Finale
A few more treats I made. I made some for Wrides but neglected to get pictures. They had scenes, green frosting for grass and white moon and such.
There was a party for Grandma Neff's great grandkids. Matt and I decided to crash the party.
Conner takes candy from the flaming skeleton man.
Matt's face without the mask was lots of makeup so you didn't see flesh in the holes for eyes and mouth.
Pirate Pete. Someday when I have a yard.... We have a blacklight on, but you can't really tell despite the supposed blacklight cobwebs.
Our front door. Awesome, eh?
Matt didn't have time to make jack-o-lanterns. I'll have to chop those two up and make pies or something. These are the two I made.
I took this one to work for the Halloween party pre-carved jack-o-lantern contest... I was the only one who brought one. Lame. If you can't tell (hopefully you can) This is the Joker.
This is Puss in Boots with baby eyes.
Scary Matt. Lots of kids weren't sure if they wanted to take candy from him. He took his mask off a few times and smiled so they'd realize he was nice and take a sucker.
November 1 Thanks
I must confess I"m borrowing this idea from my sister-in-law. I have wondered how I can make this Thanksgiving different. Listing some things I'm thankful for is the best way to approach the trilogy of holidays. First we think of what we're thankful for. All of it comes from God. Then we honor the birth of the Savior that make it all possible. Then we can start a new year fresh.
This will be my first Thanksgiving as a wife. What better place to start?
Matt. My prince, my husband, my best friend.
We'll have been married 6 months on the 7th. It has gone by really fast. He is my world. I want to be the best wife ever for him. He is the best husband for me!
He calms me when I get frustrated with myself. He says "I love you" a LOT. :) He complements my cooking even when I'm thinking "It's from a box. Took no talent or skill, what are you complementing it for?"
Matt is GREAT with kids. I love watching him play with the nieces and nephews. I can't wait to watch him play with our own kids. The other night we went to Wrides for a quick Halloween stop. Joe, Ethan and Hyrum were jumping on him and playing and it made me smile to see. He's going to be a great dad.
Matt is SO empathetic. I marvel when we go to the hospital and see him interact with the patients. He fills me in when I don't hear enough to give any applicable input. (Happens often.) He prays for them when we get home and he thinks about them long after we've left.
He makes me laugh, he keeps me smiling, he likes to cuddle, and there's never a dull moment.
This will be my first Thanksgiving as a wife. What better place to start?
Matt. My prince, my husband, my best friend.
We'll have been married 6 months on the 7th. It has gone by really fast. He is my world. I want to be the best wife ever for him. He is the best husband for me!
He calms me when I get frustrated with myself. He says "I love you" a LOT. :) He complements my cooking even when I'm thinking "It's from a box. Took no talent or skill, what are you complementing it for?"
Matt is GREAT with kids. I love watching him play with the nieces and nephews. I can't wait to watch him play with our own kids. The other night we went to Wrides for a quick Halloween stop. Joe, Ethan and Hyrum were jumping on him and playing and it made me smile to see. He's going to be a great dad.
Matt is SO empathetic. I marvel when we go to the hospital and see him interact with the patients. He fills me in when I don't hear enough to give any applicable input. (Happens often.) He prays for them when we get home and he thinks about them long after we've left.
He makes me laugh, he keeps me smiling, he likes to cuddle, and there's never a dull moment.
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