Blizzardy

Well, it snowed quite a bit this weekend.  It made me want to move to any island that would be warm all year long.  I envision myself eating lobsters that I would catch for myself and just lying on the beach all the time.  Maybe I would not want a deserted island though.  It is nice to have people to talk to and to be able to go to the store to buy things like books.  Anybody want to move to an island with me?

I didn't do a whole lot this weekend.  Friday night, I watched 24 with a friend.  Saturday, I did a whole lot of nothing with a bit of cleaning here and there.  Saturday night, I ate dinner with a different friend and also went to the movie Juno.

Today I taught the lesson in Relief Society, and it was a relief to have it over.  Tonight, I am tired and it is only 9.  I am thinking of staying warm in my bed while reading Twilight.  I know if I go to sleep right now, I will be up at 4 and that would be no fun.

Here are a few of my New Years Resolutions:

1.  Lower my blood pressure-I have already been to my doctor and am on meds now.

2.  Be more spiritual-Lots of churchy stuff for me.  I even have a chart that I put a star on for each day I read my scriptures.

3.  Be more patient and nice-I am more conscious of this even if I sometimes have no patience with my students.  I am working on it.

4.  Write and read more- I want to write three poems a month and write a chapter to my novel.  I also want to read more good books.  I think I am doing better at the reading already.

5.  Play that banjo- I bought a banjo for 90 dollars this summer but have not been good about playing it enough.  I am planning on getting a teacher in the next month.

Well, there you have it, my big five.  I have also adopted a new attitude called "Whatev."  I am trying not to freak out so much about things I shouldn't.  Sometimes I just have to remind myself to breathe and and that things will happen when they need to happen.  Being less stressed is always a good idea!

Well, I hope you have not broken your resolutions yet but I would also hope that your realize that even if you break one or all of them, that you can start again.  I think it is pretty funny that people won't make resolutions just because they think they will not keep them.  You can do anything that you want to and even if you stumble a bit, you can get back to it.  Remember that most habits take 21 days to actually become habit.  So, maybe by Jan 21 we will all be a bit closer to being real good at our new resolutions!  

Good luck, and good night! :)

p.s.  thought it would be appropriate to add some photos of New Years at the Bills for my resolution post.  There are also some deep in thought pics of me in my office.  I am thinking of how I will ever have a clean desk and be ready for second semester.

Tired

I have been back for a few days and still haven't unpacked. I think
part of that is that I have been pretty busy since being back and that
I am lazy and tired. I spent lots of time with the adopted family up
in Salt Lake on New Years Eve and Day. It was good to see Morgan and
her little kids. Her baby is so very cute. Check out her website(it
is listed on the side of my blog) and see for yourself. Such a very
happy baby. We shopped lots and watched Back to the Future. I slept
through it but woke up just in time to ring in the new year and then
ten minutes later sleep more.

On New Years Day I hung out with them more and then went back to Provo
and played some games with some other teachers. Good times. We have
decided that we should have a game night every week. I hope we stick
to that.

Then I slept and went to school yesterday. It went real well and
quickly. I am glad for that. Soon it will be the weekend again and I
am excited for that!

I am getting a bit of a cold and I don't like it. I am trying to take
as much Vitamin C as I can but it is not helping very much. My nose
runs lots and then sometimes it decides to completely clog giving me
very bad headaches! Dang it. I hope it will pass quickly too!

Well, I am making this a quick one because I am at school and need to
get back to work! One day I will list all of the resolutions.
Someday I will get time, I think! :)

The Last Greeting from Wisconsin for a Few Months!

Last day in the home land. It is kinda weird. At least the Packers won today which makes leaving more sweet than bitter. I am not going to talk much about leaving because then I will leak out of my eyes and I don't like to leak!

The packing for the trip back is actually done. Usually it isn't until 11pm that the packing is done. I wanted to be able to hang out with the niece and nephew for my last night. We plan on watching Cars. I like that movie, and seeing I talked through it the other night, it will be nice to watch it again.

I actually fly out at 5am. Yes, that is right, no mistype. I actually fly away at five in the morning. It is crazy and people should never have to be anywhere that early in the morning, but I will be on an airplane at that time tomorrow morning.

It is always hard to leave, but I know I am still in the place I am supposed to be. There is a song by Carrie Underwood that is all about sending love to home, but really knowing, that even though it is hard to be away from family, you are in the right place for you. I know that still. I am supposed to be in Provo just as much now as I was six years ago. I don't know the reasons why, but I know that God has purpose for me there! Even as I write that I get teary eyed, which means it is still true after all these years!

Tomorrow after the trip back to Utah, I will be hanging out with my adopted family, The Bills. Morgan and Sarah are both in Salt Lake. I don't see them much so I always take the time to spend time with them when I can! My friend Ben, who lives in Des Moines, will also be there. He, Sarah, and I went to high school together back in the day. It will be like a Wausau West mini reunion!

Well, I don't have much else to say. I do know that I will be writing about some of my New Years resolutions as soon as 2008 gets here. I wish it would hurry up already. Just kidding. I am always excited for the new year though because it always feels like a new beginning. Kinda like when I got baptised. It just seems like a clean slate for everything. It also brings a hint of excitement to think about what will happen in the coming year. Ooooo.....excitement!

Well, this may be it for this year. So, see ya next year. Take care of yourself! :)

p.s. The picture is of one of the festive things we have at the house. The horse is pulling a Christmas tree. It was one of my Grandpa Huven's favorite things. My sister thought it needed a nun on the back of it to guide the horse. I thought that was hilarious. You will have to look really, really close to see the nun...enjoy!

Travels!

Well, I was able to spend some time with my cute Grandma on Thursday. So very nice. I had a nice lunch with her and my aunt Jeanie. I think she is very cute in her chair next to her Christmas tree.

Friday, I went to Wausau to go to dinner with my friends from way back in high school, Marla and Kim. I am still in awe that they knew me back in my awkward days and still are my friends. Actually, I am surprised that people are friends with me now; I am still awkward. I kept telling a lot of my friends this past month that I just feel awkward all the time. It is weird.

Anyway, we had some great Mexican food including some fine fried ice cream. Love it. We then went back to Kim's house and were entertained by Ty. He had a crush on Marla and kept getting "in her face." It was funny. We just chatted and kinda watched Cars. I then stayed at Marla's house because it was crazy snowing all night and I really didn't feel like sliding all the way back to Rhinelander.

Marla had to work all night while I slept. Luckily, she will no longer have to do it because this is her last weekend of night shifts. She is very thankful for that. After she was done with work this morning, we chatted and chatted as usual. We also ate some McDonald's and watched a few episodes of The Office. I laughed my head off at the "Beach Games" episode. I had forgotten how hilarious it is. I was very proud of Pam Beesly in the show and how she tells Jim how she really feels and even walks through fire. If you are not and Office addict, you really need to borrow my DVDs and become one. And seeing the writers are on strike, you can get caught up! :) See, I can see something positive in that!

When I got back to Rhinelander today, my sister and her family were here already. It was fun to get to spend time with them today. My sister and I escaped the madness and went to play trivia at my favorite bar and after dinner we went shopping. I really love my time with her! My mom called us while we were at the bar and asked us to get ice. That is why you see my dad trying to deal with the ice in those pictures at the beginning of this blog. My mom asked for a few cups of ice, so we brought back ten pounds. We are over achievers, always have been.

One final note, those little dolls are supposed to be all of the characters from The Wizard of Oz. Marla's Mom gave them to her for Christmas. Marla and I both think they are creepy. Those dolls with the eyes just get me. We decided it may be because of all the horror films that have had those kind of dolls in them, like Chucky. Her mom likes them a lot. We do not. Marla thought it would be funny to be holding them next to the bed while I slept. I told her I probably would have wet the bed because I would have gotten so creeped out. She also was going to line them up outside the bathroom while I was getting ready this morning, but they would not stand up. I was kind of glad for that. I think we could have lots of fun with these dolls in the future. I have a weird feeling that I will get one for my birthday. Who knows? :)

Well, better sleep so I can go to church tomorrow and quit this whole inactivity I have been having. Cheers.

Bonus

I am tired.  I drove to Green Bay today and back today.  I got to see my little Grandma so it was worth it, but it has made me tired.  I am just writing a few lines before I escape to watching a DVD while in my pajamas. 

 

Two things you should know about me:  (I don't know why I picked two, maybe it sounded better than only writing one and it is all I can handle tonight.)

 

1.  I have the same eyes as some of my relatives.  No, we do not share the same pair, but our eyes are very similar.  I noticed that today when I was having lunch with Grandma Rita and Aunt Jeanie.  We have squinty eyes and the pupils are similar.  They are not necessarily the same hue, but similar colors.  I think that is a very cool thing to have in common with people.  My mom's eyes are almost the same as mine.  We even have twin yellow rings around our pupils.  (Can you tell I am an eye person?  It is the first thing I notice about people and I am intrigued by beautiful eyes.  I can even tell you the eye color of all my friends!)

 

2.  I NEVER make my bed.  I figure you are going to sleep in it again within 24 hours, so why make it?  The only time I feel guilty about not making my bed is when I visit home.  My parents(I am guessing my father makes it everyday) always have a made bed.  This is nice and all, but I am not about impressing people (maybe some of you have figured that out about me seeing I am always wearing a hat, t-shirt, and jeans, with no make-up).  I just close the door if I really think people will be judging me based on my bed cleanliness.  Funny thing is that my bed in Provo is actually made right now.  I guess I will make it if I am not going to be in it within 24 hours!  :)

 

I will write more tomorrow and put a picture of my cute little Grandma on as well.  She is just so cute, I just want to squeeze her, but in a good way!  Nighty Nite.

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