A New Semester of School...Wish Me Luck!

My next class for the Pathway Program started online today. I'm taking an English 106 class and I'm taking the second part of my Book of Mormon class. I was a little nervous to start another class, but this will be good for me. We have our first Gathering on Thursday. A Gathering is where we meet and discuss what we have learned while doing our lessons online. It's a fun opportunity to meet others who are in the same boat as you. I'm so glad I have wonderful classmates because I thought I was going to be the only one in the world doing this program. Thank goodness I'm not! :)

I've never been really good at writing. I'm good, but not that good. I mean, I can write stories at home on the computer and English has been one of my best subjects, but when I've been given a topic that I have to write a paper on, that's a whole different story.

A cool thing about this class is that all the students are part of a "Speaking Partner Program." While doing the lessons each week, we have to meet with a student who is learning to read, write, listen to, and speak English. We are supposed to video chat with them through Skype which will be cool (if Skype works). I've never been the best teacher so this will be a learning experience for me. I mean, I've taught my husband what I was learning last semester because I had to do a thing called "Teach a Friend" for my homework assignment, but working with someone who is learning English sounds like a bit of a challenge. Say a prayer for me, because I'm going to need it!!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy new year. Chris and I hung out at home for New Year's Eve. We played Phase 10 and watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince with his friends from work: Cyrus, Brian, Danielle, and Beth. The rest of his friends were out of town. It was good to see everyone. This was the first time I met Danielle. I like her. She's cool. We had pie, chips and dip, soda, sparkling cider, and pizza. It was so fun. I didn't think I would make it until midnight, but I did, with a stomach ache.

I was thinking about all the resolutions that I need to make for the upcoming year. Some resolutions I've made are: to cook more (I'm a horrible cook and I need to be better at that), to help out more around the apartment, to read more in the Book of Mormon every day, to play my piano every day, and to attend the temple more often with Chris.

I love this holiday season. It gives us all an opportunity to start fresh and to begin again (sort of). I love that we can all become better in the new year. I encourage all of my readers out there to think of something you need to work on and work really hard on it this next year. I will take this challenge too because I have so many things I need to work on, along with my other resolutions I've made.

I hope we can all strive to be those better people this upcoming year! :)

Merry Christmas!

Chris and I had a relaxing Christmas. Chris made breakfast and we opened presents. It was so fun. We got presents from both of our families. I don't really have a favorite present, but it's been a blast. We also got to call my sister, Heather, for her birthday. It was nice to talk to her. I hope she had a good day. It was also nice that Chris had Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off. I got to have him all to myself!! :)

We got to Skype Jared with Chris's family. They Skyped us and then they went on their other computer where Jared was. It was so fun to talk to him. I wished we were back home for that, but it was so cool. I miss my little brother a lot, but I'm so glad Jared's doing well.

Christmas always gives me the opportunity to think of how much my Savior, Jesus Christ, has done for me. I'm so grateful that He suffered not just for my sins, but for the sins of the world, and I'm so thankful to know that He lives. I'm grateful for good parents and good teachers who have helped me on the path to righteousness. I'm thankful for good sisters and good in-laws who keep me on that path of righteousness. I'm grateful for the temple and that I can be with my family forever. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't be with my family again after this life. I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon and I know that it's true. I've read it so many times. I love that when I read it, I always feel the Spirit and I learn something new every time.

Christmastime brings up so many childhood memories. I remember when I was younger, every Christmas morning, me and my sisters would get ready for the day, put on our pajamas we received from our grandma and grandpa, eat breakfast, open Heather's birthday gifts, and then we could open our Christmas gifts (in that order). Plus, I'd always get a rubber bug or critter of some sort in my stocking from Mrs. Claus (my mom said she has a sense of humor). One year, my sister and I got big rubber spiders in our stockings. I reached my hand inside it. I felt it, threw it on the ground, and screamed as loud as I could. ;) The next morning, I opened the coat closet to grab something and I found one of them on the top shelf. Then, I went into the kitchen for breakfast, and I found the other one on the kitchen counter. My dad was laughing at me and told me that they're fake, but I'm still scared of them to this day. That's really embarrassing, but it is the truth so don't laugh at me! ;)

I was sad that I wasn't with my family for Christmas this year since we are really close, but I'm also grateful to start new traditions with Chris. :)

Christmas Eve

Tonight, my family Skyped Chris and me from Shelley, Idaho. My mom's family goes to my mom's house every Christmas Eve. They do a little program. I loved seeing my family. I miss them a lot. The only people that weren't there were my cousin, Brynne (she spent Christmas with her husband's family in Utah) and her brother, JD (because he's on a mission in Seattle, Washington). The program was awesome. My aunt did the Top Ten things we did this year. We did a cousin ornament exchange. I got an ornament from my cousin, Sam. It was a cowgirl boot since I live in Texas. My cousin, Brigham (I call him Buggers) had Chris. We don't know what it is yet because it's still in the mail. So, we should be getting it soon. My cousin, Shane (I call him Shaners), and his brother, Luke (I call him Duke), told us jokes. They are funny boys. I miss them. We got a breakfast sandwich maker from my Aunt Patti. I'm so excited to use it. She always gives the grandkids awesome gifts. We got pajamas from Gran. Dad brought them down when he was here. We put them up in the closet until Christmas came around. I sure miss my fam.

I cannot believe tomorrow is CHRISTMAS!!! I also can't believe that it's my sister, Heather's, birthday tomorrow. She's going to be 15. I feel so old! This year has gone by way too fast.

Chris didn't have to work today and he doesn't have to work tomorrow!! I am so excited to spend Christmas Day with him. He is the greatest husband I could've ever ask for!! :)