August Sum Up.

What a crazy crazy month. I finished my externship in July and played the waiting game to get a job at TVC. I started there officially on the 17th. Today Travis and I enrolled in Banner Benefits. Hopefully, we picked good. If not, annual open enrollment where we can change our plans is in November. By then we should have an idea as to whether or not the options we picked will fit our needs appropriately. I've also got a 401K started, and Travis and I each opted in for life insurance. Whats with that? Makes me feel old.

Travis has been BUSY BUSY BUSY with work projects, church projects and personal entertainment projects. He and his Co-worker Andre created a video ad for the UAF OIT department website. Their due date was to have it ready for sharing at student Orientation. Travis did very good, worked very hard, and has impressed alot of people. He'll tell you it didn't come out like he wanted it to. :-P Some of the coaches have asked him to help them with end of season highlights when the time comes, and offered payment. Pretty neat. Work oppourtunities are opening up for him as well as graduation gets closer. He might take a job as an OIT trainer for UAF, in which he would become staff next semester. That would allow both of us to pursue further education for free, more health coverage, and in the long run, free tuition for children. IDK if he'd stay there that long though, the appeal of a career at Lucas Film is also a pulling influence. Options options options.

Our Future is looking bright.

I also got to look bright this month while participating in "Dancing with the Fairbanks Stars." Let it be known that though we didn't "place" in the final scores, we came in 2nd on judges scores behind a Theatre Arts routine, and tied with another theatre arts routine, both of which were professionally choreographed. That made me feel pretty good. Also, in the overall vote, we were in 4th place, and raised 900+ dollars. Any other year, 900 would have gotten us into at least 2nd, but this year we had very sucessfull couples who raised 2500 before the show got started. Again, I feel pretty happy with myself.

Classes start tomorrow. Which is exciting, and for me intimidating. I've already posted my fall agenda....Travis also has a full schedule of classes and work. The most intimidating part is transportation and keeping my sanity between the different roles I'm taking on. I have faith that Heavenly Father will help us survive. I believe that as I'm given the oppourtunity to practice my time management skills, as long as I keep the most important things in veiw, he'll make my weaknesses strong and carry me through.

On a More somber note, there were two fatal accidents here in Fairbanks yesterday. The more heartbreaking of the two involved a 11 yo boy who was struck by a SUV while walking to school. I'll be interested to see tomorrows headline as today was the day the driver was being arraigned at court for manslaughter and reckless driving. I've been particularly interested in this story as I've had access to some of the details not released publicly-and it just brings a great deal of respect for the healthcare workers involved in his case, and a great deal of sympathy for the family. A bit of empathy as well. Things like this bring back memories. I'm thankful for the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and for the great plan of happiness. I know that families are forever, and that in trials such as this, there is comfort and peace in the eternal principles of the preisthood and ressurection. That family will have their son again.

On a more joyful note, This upcoming month, I'm pretty excited. Travis and I will reach our 6 month mark on get this, *a full moon.* I think thats pretty special considering he proposed on a full moon lunar eclipse. Any romantic ideas out there? We'll both be pretty busy surrounding the day, but I wanna do something special.

Raspberry Cheesecake Bars

So, I went Raspberry picking a while ago with my mother in law, and we got filthy spoiled. Perfect Raspberries. However, little did I know that raspberries must be used right away. Undecided on how I wanted to use them, I hurried and put them in the freezer to protect them till I could make up my mind. Its not often you get such wonderful au-natural delights.

Fast forward a couple weeks. I had seen the berries in the freezer, and thought, I really need to use those. How? I picked up some angel food cake cups on impulse one day at the store with some coolwhip to go with.

Fast forward a few more weeks. Angel Food cake cups still sitting on the top of the toaster oven. Can't decide if I had waited too long to use them or not. We're having the missionaries over for dinner tonight-do I feed these to them or not? I decided we could try it. So, this morning, I pulled out the raspberries and began to thaw them.

Fast forward another couple of hours. Raspberries are thawed, but not looking like they did after they came off the bushes. Dissapointment. Thinking, *no one else will know that they were fresh* turns to *I know they were fresh and I don't think I can eat them like this* plus, *I really don't know if that angel food cake is still okay to eat or not*

So, Back to the Drawing board. Drawing board results are a fast forward to this:

Mine looked even better. mhmm. Turned out EXCELLENT!

And Fast forward to this:

I give you the recipe.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

- 1 1/2 cups oatmeal (dry)

- quick or old-fashioned

-1/4 cup brown sugar

-1 cup butter or margarine (2 sticks)

-1 package white chocolate chips (12 oz.)

-1 teaspoon cinnamon

-1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

-1 package cream cheese (8 oz.)

-1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz.)

-1/4 cup lemon juice

-1 lemon zest-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

-1 can raspberry pie filling (16 oz.)

-2 tablespoons cornstarch

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°, grease 9x13 baking pan.

Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in large bowl.

Cut in butter, using fork, until crumbly.

Add white chocolate chips. Stir to combine.

Reserve 2 1/2 cups for topping. Press remaining mixture into prepared pan.

Beat cream cheese until creamy.

Add milk, lemon juice, zest and vanilla.

Blend until smooth. Pour over crust.

Combine pie filling and cornstarch in medium bowl.

Spoon over cream cheese.

Sprinkle with reserved flour mixture over top.

Bake 35 minutes or until center is set.

Cool completely. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Cut into bars.

And FYI: If you don't have cornstarch. Use 2x the called for amount in Flour. Worked great.

Thank you google, you saved dessert!

Also, I guestimated how much fruit there was-I just used what was available in raspberries from my adventure with Cindy, mixed them with a bit of sugar. Next time we do this, we're gonna try it with cherries or strawberries cuz Travis isn't a fan of all the seeds in Raspberries.

And didn't even worry about the lemon zest or cooling completely. We ate it hot. I'll have to tell you how the refergeration helps or not. The White Chocolate chips are WONDERFUL-so don't skimp on those (those chocolate chocolate chips might be pretty good too....)

Hope you Enjoy it as much as I did!

Something greater instore

I'm now primary chorister and an activity days leader. Their tough callings that require a bit more creativity than I've been used to producing. Between them and being asked to help with seminary-I've wondered to myself, "am I being prepared for something?" and it hit me yes, yes I am. I'm being prepared for motherhood. That will require the most creative mind and dedication. Between my callings and assignments and work and school and dance instruction, I'm gonna learn some hard core time management skills, rediscover that creativity I once prided myself on, learn some great things about being healthy and how to manage groups. Oy. I had Travis give me a priesthood blessing the other day just before I started my first day at TVC, and in it, I was instructed "not to feel burdened by a career, for the Lord has greater things in store for you." And that I should have joy in my experiences and make friends quickly at work. I am excited for these oppourtunities to grow and to learn and to improve myself.

I've already begun to make great friends at work. The provider I work for is a great sociable lady who doesn't put herself up on a pedstal as the physician with a doctorate, the support staff I'm working with is wonderful. Theres a wonderful MA named get this, Melanie! She had tons of expirience and GREAT accent. Then theres Amanda our RN who is just awesome. Very dedicated worker and patient with me and my newness to the whole world of healthcare and orthopedics.

Its gonna be one heck of an adventure this fall-but I'm ready to just BRING IT!

Oh, and I'm excited, Travis and I got an eliptical :D So to top it off, I won't have to find gym time, I can do my cardio at home-any time day or night, so, I'll have no excuse not to take care of myself and really start feeling great.

GEESE!

I forgot to share, I love the birds. All the geese are coming back into town. Travis took me to see them the other day-and I was SO happy. He was pretty confused, surprised at my joy, he asked "do you really love birds that much?"

The answer, no. In fact, I have a fear of small birds (thanks to Freckles, our kitty cat who brought them home....not completely dead. Will share a story at a later day). I think what I love though, is seeing the birds at Creamers Field. I told Travis where ever we end up living, I want to live close to a migratory waterfowl refuge (as that is what Creamers Field is). You see, when I was little, like starting in Kindergarten, we would go on frequent feild trips to Creamers feild (it was in walking distance). The excitement I have from then lingers. I can't explain why-I'm sure that I got bored of going on the same feild trip so often (did it all the way through 6th grade, several times a year) but I absolutely love going there, especially when the birds are visiting. And even more when theres cranes. And the cranes were about all I saw when Travis took me the other night. I was SO happy.

Now that I've thought more on the topic, I decided I really do love birds that much (Just not the small ones who come into my house and fly at my face when I thought they were dead). One of my newest movies, is Rio. The birds and the dancing and the music. And those were larger birds. I can handle larger birds. But please, no chickadees or I guess songbirds you would classify them as...or chickens. I definately don't like chickens (bad expirience with the them too).

Anyways, now for your viewing pleasure, my bird pictures!

Loves

So, I haven't doen one of these in a while. But I do love my Loves lists.

I've been in a bit of an ucky funk, and today, I got to talk to someone else who was also in an icky funk, and talking to her made me realize I need to write down a loves list, cuz believe it or not, despite my public displays of excitement about starting work, I've been a grouch, Travis will probably confirm this.

So, hopefully All grouchiness will be gone when I'm through.

• I love Travis.
• I love how Travis helps me out with getting places on time.
• I love how Travis loves to finnish what he starts.
• I love the relief I feel after listening to church music when I feel gloomy.
• I love Seminary. It may be early, and there may have been a girl who probably hates me now (I confused her for her sister) but I really do love helping with Seminary.
• I love the peace felt from studying the scriptures.
• I love my goofy activity day girls.
• I loved the surprise on a fathers face when he saw his activity day girl dressed up like, well, a girl. (We had a lesson on modesty and dressed up and did hair. FUN)
• I love singing-childrens hymns, favorite hymns, songs with a solid beat (Adele Baby!)
• I love the kids in primary.
• I love little spirited Chloe Overracker.
• I love dressing up my hair
• I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes with a successful Dance Performance
• I love the feeling when you open and put on a brand new deoderant in a new-favorite scent.
• I love the sunshine we have today
• I love the way opening the curtains changes a room
• I love when my house is clean
• I love clean and folded laundry
• I love the physician and nurses/MA's I get to work with.
• I love that I'm making money.
• I love the sound the leaves are making as they swish in the wind
• I love being able to make a difference in someone elses day.
• I love random catch ups with loved ones
• I love cuddling with Liam and Elyse
• I love when Amanda comes to visit
• I love finding a really good and easy recipie
• I love when what I'm trying to cook turns out delicious-so that travis repeatedly says "WOW THIS IS SO GOOD" over and over and over again
• I love Dancing with expectant mothers. (Your not just daincing with one, your dancing with two!)
• I love positive people
• I love having a badge, and a desk where I can set a picture of me and Travis.
• I love preisthood blessings that help me refocus on whats important.
• I love a clean apartment-with all the dishes done and put away

I am feeling better. This is good for now. :-)

The Fall Agenda.

Some have called me crazy. I even wonder about it at times, and this fall is one of those times.

Here's my commitments:

1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Activity Days

Monday-Thursday, Work @TVC Orthopedics! (YAY!)

Tuesday Thursday, Human Diseases Class

Thursday Nights, Phlebotomy

Monday and Wednesday Nights, Teach Dance at Ballroom Dance Club of Fairbanks

Some time in all the middle of this: Online Computer Class for Healthcare Systems

And to top it all off (I'm actually pretty excited about this),

I'm helping Sue Hull teach Seminary.

She needs a sub at least one week of every month.

Cool Huh?

I'm perfectly confident that I can keep up with all this. Where I'm concerned is that Trav and I have one car. Hopefully, all his classes will be clustered together and it will be easy to coordinate our transportation agendas. I know I'll definately need his helping keeping up with household duties, like-dishes (They NEVER END) and laundry, and cooking meals.....

Those are the basics. If we can manage all that, and make it through till Trav graduates-(as I just realized that this scheduale will pretty much carry through the whole year-minus my extra classes), but if we can handle it, I've decided we're super.