Miracles!

Jared:  "I just want you to know, I'm going to wrap your Christmas presents now."

Jenny: "Oh wow! Really?"

Jared: (smiling excitedly) "Yes!"

Jenny: "Are you announcing this because you saw my blog? Is this why you are smiling so big?"

Jared: "Maybe"

Miracles do Happen!

When One Door Closes...

According to Alexander Gram Bell, 'When one door closes, another opens'.

For us this seems to ring true, but in knowing where we should go.

I hope that we can go where we are supposed to be.

All of it so scary.

But we will always have each other.

Everything will work out. 

Repeated Teasing

Do you remember a post I posted in Dec 2010 called the not so secretive Santa??  Probably not.  But I do.

(If you really want to see it again the link to it is here.)

 This seems to be a recurring event each year, except the year right after because I told my dearest husband I would open every box that came to the door and start using whatever was inside.

We moved and apparently the rules need to be set straight again.
I WANT what is in those boxes. And yet they just sit where I see them EVERYDAY.

AND the boxes aren't even taped shut, but I have been 'forbidden' to look in them...  Even though I know what is in them...

Doesn't sound quiet fair to me.

So to try not to be a Grinch this year and open my presents from Jared as they arrived and sat by the door,  I offered to wrap my own gift from Jared.

What a great idea right??? I mean what husband would refuse the opportunity to not have to wrap presents? People pay other people (good money might I add) to wrap presents for them.  I offered to do it for free!

Well.... My husband would. He said. "No." when I offered.

My conclusion. I'm not the Grinch for wanting to open the boxes with my presents. Just excited and curious. But Maybe... just maybe the person who leaves the boxes out, opened, for weeks at a time, and says 'Don't look at them', Maybe... they are the Grinch...

The 'Real' Grinch???

Thanksgiving

We had a great thanksgiving week.

We drove up to Jared's parents with good ol' Charlie. The drive went ok.  It was raining the whole drive until we got to Cedar City at which point it turned into a pretty good little snow storm. Since I just got new tires and brakes (and oil- not that, that matters) we felt pretty safe- plus Jared was driving. It just slowed us down a bit, but we made it to SLC in no time. Well... 10 hours with stops, so in pretty good time with a snow storm to fight. I'm sure glad we decided not to go through Panquich. That would have been scary.

We didn't do too much that was exciting. We visited BYU's campus and relived old memories.  Now I just need to convince my little sis to go there...

Of course we stopped at Cabellas as is tradition with Jared's dad and brothers.

On Wednesday Jared's sister, Carrie came with her hubs (which I haven't seen since they moved from DC and stayed at our Kentucky house) -crazy. Also Taylor and Steph came from Rexburg.

On Thursday we all pitched in and helped make a huge and delicious Thanksgiving dinner. I made an awesome salad (thanks kate) and an apple pie. I really liked the pie - I've made it before but this time I added a few different spices.  Here is the recipe. It is super simple. (Hence why I added spices). I tried a different topping- a crumble, and I was not super happy with the way the crumble turned out. Too crunchy.
 All the siblings showed up (except Joel who, obliviously, couldn't come since well he is on a mission). 20 people in all.  Charlie was overwhelmed with people, food, and 'kisses' from his niece.
We also had a Christmas white elephant that night. We all wanted the 'eternal woman'. :)

Friday I joined Jared, his brothers and Dad pheasant shooting.  It was fun. I think it is more fun to shoot for something live than at clays. You just don't ever know exactly what will happen or when.  It was a little stressful for me at first because I was paranoid I was going to shot someone in the line, but it actually is harder to aim at the line than I thought. lol.

Photo bombed with my bird.

What an awkward pose... yikes. 

We cooked our goods that night. It kinda tasted like chicken, but at the same time... i've never tasted anything like it.  It wasn't bad at all. I would eat it again.

Also we had a 'girls night' (for lack of a better phrase).  We went out to eat and came back to the house to paint. It think everyone enjoyed. And Carrie was super awesome to plan it all.

Saturday came and went and we said all our good-byes :(

Sunday we drove. And as you can imagine traffic was BLAH. We finally made it home after about 11hrs of driving (or just sitting in the car in traffic). No snow this time.  It was nice to get home, but nicer since now we live closer to family. Now when I start having my 'family time withdrawls' I can drive on over to my parents. Which I have done multiple times to help with Christmas decorations etc...

We are excited to see all the family at Christmas.

Just a Boring Update

Jared- He has gone to two interviews for potential jobs. We both liked each place, but for different reasons.  We have NO idea still where we will end up and have been really just thinking and praying to find the right answer. Hopefully we will have a FOR SURE answer by the beginning of the next year. Scary!
BUT in better news both programs pay for moving expenses WOO HOO!!!!! No more me packing and then Jared and I (with the Elders Q.) loading on to a ABF. So nice!
We haven't really 'clicked' with this ward. I think there are a lot of Judgments just based off Jared's line of work, unfortunately. Because if we were given a chance I think most everyone would really like us. BUT Oh well. We will be out of their hair in 8 months.
Jared has to work Christmas eve, Christmas and the day after Christmas. Boo. But since he is on call he just needs to round on everyone in the hospital those days (which takes 4-5hrs , sometimes more depending on load and if anyone helps him), and then he just needs to respond and help with anything that comes into the ER.
So to everyone in Sun City
****DO NOT FALL.
*** DO NOT GO WITHOUT YOUR WALKER.
***DO NOT GO TO THE ER UNTIL 2 DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS.
***DO NOT GET IN A CAR ACCIDENT.
~STAY AT HOME IN BED FOR 3 DAYS. MERRY CHRISTMAS!~

We are going to visit Jared's parents for T-give so that will be fun to spend some time with them. Last time I was there was... Last Christmas. So it will be good.

Jenny- I am me.
I had a job interview with a hospital, but found out it was for a unit I DID NOT want to be on. Oh well. I will stick with my little PRN job for now.
My running has taken a sad turn. We joined a running group and then I hurt my SI joint. (the place where your hip connects to your back). So I have only been walking :(.  It is really hard for me and was a blow to my esteem, I think I can still bike so I might start doing that more now.

Charlie- He is as spoiled as ever, and with my parents watching him while we were gone visiting jobs he has gained some weight. He is currently on a weight loss program, but since my running has decreased dramatically we are having a harder time loosing weight this time. AND then with the holidays and Jared's dad.... we are doomed.
Charlie turns 5 this month. Dang dog. When did he get so old. So now he is officially older than Jared.

Thats all there is to this boring little update.
Job interviews, jobs, and dog.  Sorry to keep things so dry.

Is It Christmas Yet?

For some reason, I'm totally over fall and thanksgiving.  Maybe because there is no real 'fall' in Phx.  Just weather in the 80's.... which by any other states (north of the rockies) standard of 'fall' it does not qualify.


While the weather is awesome... I still find myself wearing shorts, sandals and sweating. Uncool. All not allowed to happen in 'Fall'.

So I've become just a little obsessed with Christmas.  My whole family is going to be together for Christmas!  The first time in .... 5 years I believe.  (maybe just 4 years I don't know for sure).

I asked Jared the day after Halloween (which we missed due to traveling) if I could put up Christmas decorations.  He said no.  What a Scrooge!!

So while I wait for Thanksgiving to pass, I have bought and wrapped Christmas presents for relatives.  Changed the music on my parents clock from Beatles to Christmas tunes.  Started listening to Christmas music. And I decided to work on a Christmas craft I've been thinking about doing for a while.

I (somehow) found out you can buy sharpies and draw on plates, cook the plate which makes the sharpie drawings (somewhat) permanent.  I wouldn't go eating dinner off the plate (at least right away) but I totally feel safe using the plates for cookies and treats.

I got Jared to participate and it turned out to be a nice fun night for the both of us.


This is what we came up with.....

Jared is a very serious artist.  He ended up doing two funny plates of us with things we've done in Az. Mine has a running club shirt, Camelback mt. and a sunset. His has his work, a gun, and a jack rabbit and dove. (and to make it Christmas'y' he put Santa hats on us)

 I went with a more traditional Christmas plate.

We also did mugs. Mine has the words of different Christmas songs, and Jared has "HIS" cup. 

Very protective of his cocoa.

This is the simple directions we followed if you wanted to try.
1. Get glass plates from the dollar store.
2. Get lots of colored shapies
3. DRAW (it is nerve racking at first so we drew rough drafts on paper before)
4. Once done put in the oven at 400 for 30 mins.

(There was a lot of conflicting info with this.... Other sites had different temps anywhere from 350-425 and the time anywhere from 30-45 mins.
I went with what I thought would work and not break the plates.  No where did I find if you should put on a baking sheet so I did.
I also found conflicting info on if you should let the oven preheat with the plates in or not;
AND if you should take the plates out right after or let them cool with the oven. I put them in to preheat, and let them cool down in the oven.
My thoughts were - heat up slowly, less likely to break. Cool down slowly, less likely to break.)

5. After 30 mins is up turn off the oven and leave the plates in the oven until completely cool.
6. ENJOY your own creative plates.

Some little things changed. The yellow was brighter, some spots seemed to fade just a little, but overall I'm happy with out little plates.

I have yet to wash them in the dishwasher (which I would only ever try on the top rack), but have washed them by hand with soap and water and everything is almost... exactly the same. There only defect is the green on my mug. It is starting to fade off.... maybe just the green? Maybe the mug? I dont know. I will figure it out eventually. But they still are fun!

Adequate

So many times in my life I have felt inadequate. 

Inadequate = lacking the quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose.

Insufficient for a purpose. I could go with that definition.

Sometime I struggle to find my purpose. What is my purpose?

I feel like, since moving from Kentucky, I've struggled with this a lot. What is my purpose?


Lately I have been feeling inadequate to be a wife.

What are wives supposed to do?

Support their husband....right?

I feel so inadequate to be a supportive wife. The house is constantly in a state of dis-repair. Dinner is rarely prepared (unless you call a frozen pizza prepared). I don't feel I add anything to our family. 

I know I'm the only one that can change my problem, but what is the point?  What is the point to keeping a clean house? What is the point to making dinner - as long as we don't starve?  

Where did I go? I wasn't like this last year or the last 5 years.

Everyone has their ups and downs, but I've been in this funk since we moved.  I'm not sure if it is because I know we are moving again in 8 months, or something else.

I know that Jared is my rock and loves me. I couldn't live without him. But for now I struggle with myself.

I will try to change. I will try to find my purpose. Hope is not lost.