Gratitude

Its now the day after black friday. I did that once-turns out I'm too tired to care about the sales because of all the checkout lines and the gosh dang early morningness of the whole thing. Anyways, Travis is a cyber shopper and so yesterday he got up early to buy us a fancy vacuume (the one we got free when we got married just doesn't quite cut it-and this one will last us the next 20 yrs of mairrage right?). We got it on the sears website then went and picked it up at their merchandise warehouse behind the store. Its great! Plan yesterday was to not go spend our money, but to write the thankyou's we still have to write from our wedding and to put up the Christmas Tree. The thankyous are still a work in progress, and so is the Christmas tree.

Ha-no surprise there. We did however rearrange and re organize our cluttered apartment. Today I'm headed out to donate blood, and tomorrow we will be watching the borrego's again.

In honor of the thanksgiving festivities (see, this girl appricates thanksgiving and lets it linger while still very excitedly preparing for Christmas) I'm going to write of list of what I'm thankful for (because I meant to do it two days ago but was busy making pumpkin pie and spending time with in-laws and my familia).

First I'd like to say that I'm thankful for my wonderful husband. My parents have a tradition of putting up Christmas Lists, and this year, I think I have all the I want or need. I have Travis. Lifesgood!

I'm thankful for my job. I love working as a medical assistant, and I love the People I work with, I LOVE my provider I follow-and I love having health insurance and an income.

I'm thankful for Our Housing. That we still qualify for low income housing allows us a moreflexible budget, and therefore while still relatively poor we do live rather richly and can build our savings.

I'm thankful for our Car-(and that my husband lets me use it). Travis rides the bus to and from Campus because thats where all his classes/work is, and therefore I have the car available to get to and from my work, classes, dance work, and church callings. That car is verymuch appricated

I'm thankful for school-and that both Travis and I are almost done! YAY!

I'm grateful for church callings! Through serving I am learning and growing.

I'm grateful for our Families. That they are safe, and healthy.

I'm grateful for friends-they make our lives more filling.

I'm grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, restored to the earth by living prophets and apostles.

I'm grateful for those prophets and apostles and their wise counsel and continued faith and service

I'm grateful for the peace in my life that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I'm grateful for the knowledge and blessings of eternal families.

I'm grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ. Through his sacrifice I have a chance at returning to live with God.

I'm gratful for the power of righteous prayer-and that prayers are answered.

I'm grateful for the scriptures and the increase of joy I find in my life as I search these sacred books and apply the ancient but true principles of righteousness to my life

I'm grateful for a body-despite my continued arguments with it about being allergic and having asthma episodes, we get along with eachother pretty well and it continues to treat me well in all other aspects of homeostasis.

I'm grateful for Alaska. It may be cold, but everyday as I go to work I see in its natural element what people can only try to recreate for Christmas Cards. Thomas Kinkade don't got nothing on us! (Plus, being Alaskan, I've received a bonus check every year of my life-YAY PFD!)

I'm grateful for our Country. And the service of those who protect our rights and freedoms.

I'm also thankful for goals and dreams. Theres so much I've acheived because of goals and dreams, and so much to look forward to!

Have a wonderful holdiay season!

A very Borrego Weekend

"Before I had kids, I had 6 theories on raising them. Now I have 6 kids and no theories"

The author of the quote escapes me, but I read it in a quote book and I know its a real one. Anyways, this weekend Travis and I played momma and pappa duck to 3 litte ducklings. Not that little, they were three girls ages 14, 11, and 9. And oh my goodness! It was a rollercoaster. At first their antics amused me, then they weren't listening so they annoyed me, then it was pretty funny again but I'd realize that they were jsut stalling and I'd be a bit upset again. Then-I'd give up. Then, I get up my gumption and try to be the boss to fail at that again and feel frustrated, followed yet again by AMUSEMENT. OY! What an adventure. BTW those girls are some of the wildest girls I know. They wrestle like boys!

More callings!

Tonight, Travis and I were extended a co-calling on the stake level. Sounds scary huh? Well, I was scared until they told us what it was. We've been asked and accepted the call to be stake DJ's! HAH! I love it! Once a month-maybe less (cuz theres other stake DJ's out there) we'll be going to the Youth Dances and partying the place up. In addition to the music-we're supposed to lead some games and maybe teach some dancing. Right up my alley! Love it! Can't wait! Next Dance in the New Years one. Yahoo!

I really feel like all the things I'm doing at church are preparation for my future higher calling as a mother. I look forward to that day with great anticipation, joy. And, I'm thankful for the oppourtunity now to work with the youth in so many ways. I've always been a fan of kids (even as a kid) and really, I love them. From Primary singing time, to Activity Days, so Sue's seminary class, and now to Stake Dance DJ/party leader (thats 2nd part of the title is my own interpretation of my responsibilities) I'm very grateful for the oppourtunity to serve and grow and I develop my skills in managing different ages and fanagling different schedules and responsibilities and goals. Travis and I also have the upcoming oppourtunity to babysit a for a couple of days a family of guess what-haha-3 girls. In addition to my schedule that weekend and travis' schedule, we have their school schedule-I hope it all works out and everyone walks out of it on task, happy and fed. It should be a ball.

Sum up:

Travis' callings: Stake Technology Specialist

Elders Quarum Teacher

Stake DJ

Melanie's Callings: Primary Music Chorister

Activity Days Leader

Stake DJ

Our Other Pursuits:

Travis: School-Final countdown to Graduation!

Work- UAF OIT support Center Help Desk

***Job Possibility***Trainer for UAF OIT staff. This would be a full time Staff position

at UAF and so added bonus of the Job would be free Tuition-can you say Free Masters

Degree??

Melanie: School (just 2 classes)

Work TVC OBGYN, Dance Instructor at Ballroom Dance Club of Fairbanks

Seminary Substitute Teacher

As you can tell, we've been all over the place crazy busy. It was so nice this weekend to have some one on one time. Since my Job switched to MWF we've been able to enjoy more of eachother-especially on Thursdays as all we have scheduled then is one class each. Its good to laugh with eachother.

All around life is swell. We have much to be thankful for this holiday season!

Singing time Ideas

I just found this website and I am in love! I think starting tomorrow I'm gonna try the elephant one. And someday-I want to try the mothers tears gag. Also, the hidden note that everyone has to sing louder the closer the child gets. These are awesome!

Anchorage Weekend

How terrible am I? I didn't get a single picture. Lame. But, I'm not too bummed because it was still a very successful trip.

We flew down on air-miles for several reasons.

First: Bad snow storm forecast in both Fairbanks and Anchorage.

Second: Our car is kinda unreliable, I mean it gets us around town great, but lately the lights on the dashboard randomly go out, and in the last year he had some problems with cold weather.

Third: Travis' has no sense of adventure. Ha, or he unlike me has this wonderful ability to think things through. Really though, I have this strange sense of alaskan confidence in severe weather but very unrealistic faith in our vehicles ability to travel 365 mi without a glitch.

Anyways, so we flew. Which I must admit, wasn't as adventurous, but kinda nice on the schedule. And, given the reason for our trip (CMA certification exam) it was pretty important to get there for certain.

After we landed, we checked out a car from Thrifty-which I forgot that most Car Rental people are paid commissions....so our super easy and inexpensive reservation got upgraded a gazillion pennies. Travis assures me it was still less expensive than if we had driven our car. After car rental all checked out, we went to the Temple. Oh geeze. I love that place.

It was so good to go. I always feel rushed though through the celestial room. I can't wait till the next trip-one which I fully intend to do more than one session.

After the Temple we headed to Wasilla to stay the night with the Mitchies! They are too good to us. Josh said he feels like he owes Travis because Travis' family let him live with them for like a month, but I think Josh has paid back his dues and much more. They didn

't only give us a place to sleep, they cooked us a wonderuful delicious breakfast of pancakes and eggs (something I barely even do for Travis, let alone think to do if I had guests-Amanda is a great example of the kind of hostess I hope to be), and they had a spot for us to park in the Garage. We really appriciate their hospitality and friendship.

After Breakfast, it was test time, and I PASSED! YAY! The test time allowed was 3 hrs 15 mins, but I did it in 1 hr 35 mins. It was a peice of cake. I must admit, all I studied for it was a couple hours here and there throughout this last week. I guess I figured that I've been studying the material for 3 years now, and I've passed all my classes-I either knew it or I didn't at t

his point. Thank goodness I did. Ha. To celebrate we ate at chiji's and I asked for a box to put the majority of my quesedilla in and a molten chocolate lava cake. The lady laughed at me and asked how I wasn't fat. I eat like a fat kid.