Sunday, December 30, 2012

Also

The Friday before Christmas we had a work retreat.
All the clinicians and office staff from all 7 of our offices got together for a day of workshops and good food and good company. It was a lot of fun to finally meet some of the employees from the other offices and spend time together. It was also great to get some time with the CEO and owner of the company. Work can be busy, and it's nice to have the contact with him and re-catch the vision of why we do what we do.

And also, during the retreat, they gave out awards. 
And this happened.



I was surprised and very happy and grateful.
After all my hard work this year, it was nice to be appreciated. 

Christmas 2012

Another Christmas, come and gone.
Can you believe it's the 5th Christmas K and I have known each other, the 4th we've been together, and the 3rd since we've been married? Time sure flies!

We had a great, albeit short, Christmas vacation.

We drove down Friday night to Nate and Mel's. 
Saturday was spent doing some last minute shopping, and having our Hanson family Christmas dinner and sibling gift exchange. 
Sunday we went to church together, and then K and I drove to my mom's. (And we also visited Ish on our way down!)
Monday was spent watching Christmas movies and relaxing. We had Christmas dinner as well.
Tuesday (Christmas!) we spent opening presents, and then Kyle and I drove back to Nate and Mel's for a few hours to open gifts there, and eat dinner. We got back to Poky around 8 pm, I think.

We both got some clothes, some new shoes, and movies and treats. Kyle also got me a new dock for my iPod, so we can listen to music around the house. 

We had a great Christmas and are so lucky and blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful family and friends. 
We were so spoiled this year, and we are so grateful to everyone.
But especially our Savior, Jesus Christ.
He is the reason for the season, and the One who gives us all we have.

And now, some pictures from our Christmas!

Look of pure joy opening up her crayon maker.
Present from my dad.
Christmas morning. So hot right now.
My momma's pretty tree.
Sisters :)
So much love!

Liam got Angry Birds Star Wars Jenga and he loves it! He's showing it to his guinea pig Snickers, who is enjoying her new ball.

 Baby Claire enjoying Avery's new play tent.
Avery and I had a picnic with her new set.
Whitney loves reading with Uncle Kyle.
Avery still had a mouth full of dinner, haha.
Such a cutie.
Merry Christmas from us!

Monday, December 24, 2012

I Just Wanted to Say....


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Sunday, December 16, 2012

My Heart is Sad

My heart is sad today.

My heart is sad for the families and loved ones of those precious souls (both old and young) who were killed on Friday. 
My heart is sad for Adam Lanza's family, who is now having to cope with not only a dead mother/wife/sister/aunt and a dead son/brother/nephew, but also with a barrage of hate against that same son/brother/nephew.
My heart is sad for those who got worked up over the "Wear Pants to Church" event, and who let their self-righteousness get the best of them and condemn those women who started the event to hell. 

I'm going to try to condense my thoughts by doing numbered paragraphs.

1. An article has been going around entitled "I am Adam Lanza's Mother" that I really appreciate. I will add the link, but it is written from the view point of a woman who has a 13 year old with a mental illness who has threatened to kill her and himself multiple times and is currently being placed in a mental facility. She discusses that mental health should be something more talked about. And I agree wholeheartedly. While I don't believe that blame should be misplaced - it was Adam that pulled the trigger - a myriad of things could have happened in his life that led to his making that decision, whether the decision was truly his or not.
In my Adolescent Development class at BYU, our final unit was on school shootings. We took all the different aspects of development during the adolescent years and used them to help see just what might influence someone to do that.
Say the young man had a difficult temperament to begin with, add on a family who enjoyed hunting together and owned guns, add on a liking for violent video games and the ability to get his hands on them, add on a bad break up, add on a mental illness that wasn't detected, add on being bullied - and he just might crack and no longer be in control of his decisions. 
My heart hurts for all those that don't count the shooter as a victim. Please, think before you talk. Please remember that that family lost loved ones as well. Please try not to judge.


2. That said, it is a horrific thing that happened. And many heroes were made that day. I really enjoy this quote by (Mr.) Fred Rogers that has been going around:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.”

It's so true. Let's try to focus on all those caring people who are the helpers after a tragedy occurs. That is what I want to teach my children.


Let's remember that those little ones are with Christ now.
And pray that He will help comfort those that were left behind.

3. The "Wear Pants to Church" event. This has been spreading like wildfire. Everyone has an opinion. Some are not so nice. One of the main founders of this movement (entitled All Enlisted) is Stephanie Lauritzen. She blogs as the mormon child bride and I have been reading her blog for about 3 years now. She is witty and good with words. She is LDS. She struggles with her place in the Church. 
She posted a blog post yesterday that made my heart ache.
She didn't start this out of malice or with the spirit of contention. She is genuinely trying to find a place in the Church. She is trying to give a voice to those, who  like her, may feel outsiders in a religion the love so very much.
While I don't always agree with her, I see what she is trying to do, and I applaud her for her courage. And I am so sad that there are those of us, who are church members, who would send hateful comments her way. That is not the Gospel as I understand it. 

In summary, 

My heart is aching for those who are misunderstood in all aspects of life. 
Let's try to be more understanding, and less judgmental in all of our daily doings. 
Let's think before we speak and act, and be more Christlike.
My testimony is that that is what Christ would want us to do. 
Let's help build up our fellowmen.


Saturday, December 15, 2012

Some More Deets and Pix

^ I'm really good at abbreviations.


Here's a quick outline of my weekend in Utah.
Friday: got off work early, drove to Utah, joined Mel at her RS Christmas Party
Saturday: Got up early and drove to Kaitlin's house where I met 7 of my closest internet friends in real life. You all know about my MG's. These are my second group of MG's and I love them. We did a white elephant gift exchange and it was hilarious.

Top: Kaitlin, Katie, Kristin, Lara, Melissa
Bottom: Me, Michelle, Heather
Kaitlin in her sweater - I got her gift in the white elephant exchange -  a matching sweater! Loved it.
Then I went and visited my good friend's Matt and Milanne and their baby Ayla!
Then I went to Claire's 1st Birthday Party at the Aquarium!
Me holding Claire and watching the penguins!

Holding Claire and watching the rays and the fish.

Then I went to the MG Christmas Party at Lindsay's apartment. We had a favorite things gift exchange, which was the best idea ever, and just chatted before leaving to drive home in scary snow.
Top: Leanna, Adrianne, Annika, Danielle
Bottom: Me, Steph, Natali and Lindsay

Sunday was church time and nap time and dinner with the family time.
Monday was Sarah's wedding (which I already posted pictures from) and then I went to lunch with Mel and Jess (and Avery and Claire and neighbor girl Lily) at Olive Garden. And then I drove home.

I have the best family and friends ever.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

DECEMBER

Is anyone else shocked that it's practically half way through December already?? Where does the time go? I for one am excited about Christmas in a few weeks.

And before I go on and tell you about my weekend, here are a few pictures you've been missing.
K and I. Yes, that is the result of me doing my hair and Kyle shaving at the end of no-shave November.
Our pretty Christmas tree!
My snowmen craft! Love them!

 And now, let me show you pictures of my weekend down in Utah. I went down for lovely Sarah's wedding. Oh how I love that girl. And Tyler. He's pretty great too :) I spent a lot of time with friends and family and loved every second of it! (Except for maybe that scary hour long drive from downtown SLC to West Jordan in a snowstorm at 11 pm. But you know. Other than that....) 

Me and the Avery!
Claire turned 1!
Enjoying her cake :)
That smile! So mischievous. 
Claire loves her cousin Liam.
Playtime!
Can't get enough of this cutie.
Claire and her adorable smile. Love this little one.
The color turned out weird in this one, but I love it anyway.
Sarah and Tyler got married :)
It was snowing and cold but you can't even tell. Sarah was a champ and looked beautiful!
Me and Niccole and Stefanie - love these two!
Me and my BFF the bride!
And again.

It was cold!
I couldn't leave without taking a picture of the Temple in the snow!

 A funny thing to note. After the ceremony, the sealer handed the marriage certificate to Sarah and said, "here's the deed to your property". I started cracking up, it was so funny! 


 Stay tuned for some more details and pictures from my weekend in Utah!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

In Case You Didn't Know

I'm obsessed with Les Miserables.
And need it to be Christmas NOW so that I can go see this movie.



Monday, December 3, 2012

12/3/12

Saturday night Kyle and I went out on a date. It has been a little while since we've gone out specifically for a dinner date, so I was excited.
We had dinner at Johnny B Goode's, a 50's type diner. Their burgers are to die for, and it was fun sharing orders of tots and fries, and a delicious caramel shake. Yum! When we got there we originally were sat at a table, but a large family came in and we were asked to move to a booth, which wasn't a problem. However, the nice father of the family paid  for our shake. How nice! I am touched by people who do little things like that for others. 
After dinner we visited the pet store and looked at the puppies, and then went on a drive around town looking at Christmas lights. It was a great night, and it made me extra grateful for Kyle.


In other news, we decorated for Christmas. 
Here's our tree in all it's glory.


And also, I got crafty. Love my snowmen!



......
Nevermind. Blogger is telling me I've used up all my storage.
Gotta find a way to get around it. 
Help?