...let me just say that the lessons are seriously outdated. No offence to our inspired leaders in Salt Lake, who I'm sure are at this moment working on revamping them, but it just doesn't seem right to teach these lessons - with their antiquated stories and examples - to young women who deal with challenges which are far more weighty. So in our ward, we basically take the title of the lesson, the lesson objective, and (because they are more recent and usually much more applicable) the suggested talks/Ensign articles in the Young Women Resource Guide and plan lessons of our own making that we feel would better suit the needs of our girls.

This Sunday I am teaching all the young women, and I'm wondering if I can solicit from you some suggestions as to possible lesson progression and/or elements, object lessons, appropriate scriptures and stories, etc. Don't think, though, that by asking for help, that I'm not doing my own part of the planning. I am vigorously hard at work here. But I'm still very new to the young women organization and I could use some ideas. So, if you have any, I welcome your thoughts.

The lesson is entitled "Home Environment," and the objective is "Each young woman will strive to create a home environment where the Spirit of the Lord can dwell." It's a good topic, I think, and the lesson does make a few good points, but again, if you have any thoughts/ideas along these lines -- please, if you would, send them this way.

Thanks! You guys are the BEST!

Update: Blogger is apparently having some issues and won't let me comment, so I'll say it here: Thank you to everyone who gave suggestions...I'm working to put them to good use.

When we woke up this morning, our local NPR news guy told us that it was 10 degrees outside with a wind chill of -3. This does not sit well. Neither, for that matter, does the ice that formed on the INSIDE of our window during the night. It hasn’t warmed up much yet, and now it’s snowing again. I know our winter was late in coming, and I probably have no right to complain, but can I still publicly ask just when it’s going to warm up?

***

Late last fall, CBS brought some camera crews to town to film some second-rate actors as they trained to be full-fledged officers in the Muncie Police Department, and then followed them around as they hit the streets of Muncie chasing down criminals and pulling over drivers going the wrong way down one-way streets. It was basically Muncie’s own version of COPS, only this was called Armed and Famous. It began airing on Wednesday nights earlier this month, and though I never watched an episode (the rabbit ears on our television aren’t willing to share CBS with us), I heard more than I ever wanted to about it in office conversations and in the local paper (because coverage of the show seriously took over the newspaper).

Though Muncie-ites still liked to tune in to see if any of their friends were getting arrested by a celebrity, the whole show, from what I was told, was a joke from the beginning. It certainly didn’t make Muncie look like a decent place to live. So if you've never heard of it, or just never tuned in, you weren’t missing much. And for those of you who did – well, there’s nothing I can do at the point to make up for your lost intellect. But the good news is, the show was cancelled over the weekend. Apparently they couldn’t compete against the likes of American Idol. (Which, in and of itself, begs many, many questions.)

***

I’m sure that most of you are aware that the Super Bowl is this Sunday. And I’m sure that quite a few of you are also keyed into the fact that it will be a face-off between the Bears and the Colts. I’m not sure, however, how many of you know that the Colts are based in Indianapolis. And I don’t know how many of you truly understand what kind of havoc is caused when “the home team” is good enough to play in the Super Bowl.

Well, let me tell you – it isn’t pretty. I am not a football fan, and do not plan to watch the Super Bowl, even if only for the commercials. I don’t truly understand what causes people to be willing to pay 6,000ドル for a ticket to the game, I don’t relate to the sea of blue jersey-wearing fanatics who have taken over the city, and I don’t let this crazed local excitement creep into every conversation I have. But maybe that’s just me.

But I’m left wondering: If this is what it’s like if “the home team” qualifies to play in the Super Bowl, what will happen if win on Sunday? Yikes….I don’t like to think about it.

So, after a few very comforting comments on my last post, a reassuring email, a calming chat with Blake, a visit with a friend in the ward who only three months ago gave birth to her first, and a nice phone conversation with my mom (thank you, everyone!), I'm feeling more "whelmed" than overwhelmed about the whole pregnancy/parenting thing.

I have this [rather annoying] tendency to get worried and anxious [very, very] easily [and often prematurely], and I think the information overload I inadvertently gave myself by reading up on the topics, combined with the pregnancy and miscarriage trauma currently going on in my circle of ward friends just pushed me too close to the edge.

But I'm feeling a lot better now. Especially now that I've resolved to stay away from large doses of information, and to not think about it too much, except to be excited. (Also, my mom suggested that childbirth is just something I shouldn't even consider -- it's going to happen whether I've thought about it or not, so why get concerned. Good advice.)

Because I AM excited. I've wanted to be in this position for a very long time now, so it seems a waste to worry it into complete anxiety at this point. And now I'm gearing myself up to dive in that beautiful world of online shopping as I scour the internet for maternity clothes. Because apparently tall people can't just go to a store and buy maternity pants that don't end just above the ankle.

I don’t normally feel inclined to spill my guts on my blog. I like to reserve my best, most publicly appropriate self for when writing on the internet, and usually (I think) I am able to do this. But the following has been on my mind a lot recently and I think I might explode if I don’t spit it out somewhere. So, all's fair – you’ve all been warned.

Pregnancy is unfamiliar. Childbirth is unnerving. Parenting is intimidating. I know that I have approximately another six months before I become responsible for a living, breathing little person, but for those of you who know me even just a little well know that I follow a standard that states it is never to early too start feeling the weight of things! After all, there are still things I need to be doing in order to properly care for this little one before it’s born. And let’s not start with the things that must be done to prepare for its arrival!

What have I gotten myself into? Am I really capable of fulfilling this responsibility? Will I be able to take care of another person? Because sometimes taking care of myself and my husband is more than I can handle. When will those “natural mothering instincts” come out? Will “self-education by way of informational reading” on these topics really help me, or will they just keep overwhelming me?

There it is: I’m overwhelmed. I suppose this is normal, but even so, it is exhausting and worrisome. I wish now more than ever that I didn’t live 1,600 miles away from my mom. I have questions. I have concerns. And they’re not things that necessarily can be answered or solved by looking it up in a book. Because sometimes you just need your mom. Sometimes you need to talk to someone who’s “been there, done that, and even survived it” who isn’t necessarily a medical expert on the subject, but who obviously knows enough because she successfully raised you. And yes, the phone can narrow the distance, but sometimes not only do you need your mom, but you need her right there next to you to tell you everything is going to be fine, what you’re feeling is normal, and this is how you shop for maternity clothes.

Sigh.

Well, anyway, now that my guts are splattered all over this entry, I’m feeling much better. Well, at least I’m feeling more rational. But Blake, Mom, Dad, Dr. Litz – don’t think I’ll let you off the hook so easily. I’m starting to formulate questions, and I think I'm finally starting to be able to make my concerns more coherent. It’s really only a matter of time before they’re splattered all over you, too!

This was the poem today on Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac:

"understudy"

She just wants an understudy, a body
double for the days when she does
not feel like appearing in any of the roles
she has assumed and/or been assigned.
She places an ad in the paper. Wanted:
one wife, mother, daughter, neighbor,
friend. Live-in OK. Own car necessary.
No lines to memorize; everything ad-
libbed. No days off.

-- Beverly Rollwagen

It was a fitting poem for today because

I, too, wish I had an understudy:
Someone to come to my job so I could stay in bed.
Someone to carry out the list of tedious tasks I have to do so I could take a nap.
Someone to be overwhelmed in my place at the prospect of motherhood
Someone to make our dinner and wash the resulting dishes so I could just put my feet up.
Someone to take over the weight of the future so I didn’t have to carry it.

But it’s not that I don’t enjoy my role.
I like where I am, I do --
I am the lucky star of my own story.
I just wish sometimes that I had an understudy so I could take a break and watch from the wings.

For those of you who have wondered if our excitement for digital cameras has waned, wonder no more. I just posted (with the generous help of our fantastic new hi-speed internet...have I mentioned much I like our new fast internet? Because I really do) a bunch of pictures which you can view here. Enjoy!

So, I obviously didn't get around last night to showing off our new hi-speed internet by posting again. I was too busy being surprised by Blake. I have to say -- he sure does know how to present things well. His motto must be "Presentation is Everything." Because last night, after we'd gotten dinner in the oven, he suggested that then would be an ideal time for me to go to the bathroom. The pregnant part of couldn't agree more. As soon as I'd shut the door, he set to work. I could hear the DVD player being set up and wondered what in the world he could possibly be up to. I had to wait to leave the bathroom until he told me the coast was clear, and as I did, I came into a romantically dimmed living room and was offered a seat on the couch by my scheming husband. He sat down next to me and pushed play on the remote. And what should begin playing, but pretty much the best animated short film EVER:

This has been one of my favorite movies since I saw it on PBS a long, long time ago. I had tried to get my hands on a copy a few years ago, but apparently because it was only being distributed to libraries, it was far too expensive for my meager income. I guess, though, that since then, it's been distributed more widely (and more inexpensively).

So Blake and I sat on the couch and while our French dinner of Quiche Lorraine cooked in the oven, we were taken away to the harsh French countryside made beautiful by the tree-planting efforts of one solitary, generous man. It was perfect.

Only when it was over, Blake said he had more. More? I thought. What could top this? And then he pulled out the DVD cover. Turns out he got me this: A DVD with 9 animated short films by Frederic Back, the animator responsible for The Man Who Planted Trees. We watched another one of his Academy Award winning films called Crac!, a cute tale about rocking chair, done in the same beautiful colored animation. It was wonderful, and, Blake -- I couldn't have been more surprised or pleased! I think we should visit "France" more often.

Aside from the France theme, the rest of my birthday seemed to be as much for the baby as for me. My family sent two nice informative books on pregnancy/baby stuff, The Cheerios Play Book with an accompanying Cheerios-shaped Cheerios holder (a staple in my family), and some long-coveted ABC magnets. They also sent me a little pack of monogrammed stationery which I'm excited to use.

So, it was a great day. Thank you to everyone who helped to make it so!! If any of you wants to make the trek to Muncie to help us eat the rest of the cherry chip cake, feel free...there's plenty leftover to go around.

I didn't realize before today that turning 25 could be so great! Blake's taken incredible care to make sure that this day is as perfect for me as he can make it.

He hinted to me a few days ago that he was going to whisk me away to "France" for my birthday. So this morning, in order to do so, he got up a little earlier and made me a gourmet 2-course breakfast of cheese and crepes, orange juice and hot chocolate. He even pulled out some of the nicer dishes and a tablecloth for the occasion. The table looked beautiful (I took a picture, which I can post later). Then he put together lovely little croissant sandwiches and fruit for our sack lunches. Meanwhile, the soundtrack to Amelie was playing in the background. He purchased it a few days ago as a gift for me, and last night I guess he programmed it on the stereo to begin playing as we sat down to breakfast. (Our timing was a little off, but the effect was still there...especially when I discovered that he'd been hiding the CD case underneath my overturned breakfast plate.) Though I've long been intrigued by it, I've never seen the movie, Amelie, and I probably never will, on account its rating, but Blake and I recently discovered that the soundtrack is pretty fun, so it was definitely a worthwhile investment.

But wait -- this isn't all! There is more planned for this evening, too. On the menu for this tonight is Quiche Lorraine (my absolute favorite meal) with imported French lemonade (from the international section at Meijer) and cherry chip cake with chocolate frosting for dessert (have you ever dipped your fingers into the divinity that is cherry chip cake? If you haven't, you should. It's delish. But good luck finding the mix...apparently it's not available in Indiana or California -- my family sent a box of it in their birthday package to me).

(Based on on the delicious food Blake is feeding me today, I'm getting the feeling that not only does he love me and want to feed me food I love, but he's also picked up on the fact that now that the morning sickness has made itself scarce, I'm hungry pretty much all the time and seem to live for my meals. Is this normal? Is this what they mean by "eating for two"?)

The rest of the evening will probably be spent in opening a few gifts and cards and installing the hi-speed internet we ordered (today is the official first day of our service -- what timing! Can I just say how totally thrilled I am to have decently fast internet at home?! We're definitely moving up in the world). So, because I can, I just might have to post again tonight, and maybe include a few pictures.

Thank you, Blake, (in the words of my sister, Chelsea) so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so MUCH for giving me such a wonderful day! I love you!!

On Saturday, Blake and I went back to White Feather Farms to get more cheese. Let me introduce you to our purchases: (Clockwise from top left) Muenster, Havarti, Amish Mini Colby, British Double Gloucester, British Mellow Yellow Cheddar, and Gouda. (Mmm...Gouda is so gooda.)


My favorites so far are Muenster and Gouda. But they are all really very tasty. Sitting down with Blake to eat cheese and crackers brings back fond memories of the days when I totally lived for French club solely for their annual cheese tasting night. And the times my siblings and I would go through the Tillamook Cheese Factory cheese sampling line many, many (many, many, many) times. And the stops for squeaky cheese from the cheese factory in Beaver, UT on our way to visit my grandparents. And the Cheese Night my roommates and I held one year at BYU, inviting anyone who wanted to come to feel free, so long as they brought some cool, exotic cheese with them to share. So the truth's out... I like cheese. A lot.

Our purchases represent only a small fraction of the different kinds of cheeses available at White Feather Farms. So if any of you cheese aficionados out there have any suggestions of kinds to try, please feel free to share your suggestions.

Meanwhile, I think it is completely and utterly fitting that these fellows, from their post on the refrigerator, can watch over our cheese eating endeavors:


In other news, we had our first "real snow" yesterday (yes, we Hoosiers are all very aware that it is rather late in the season for a "first snow," but lest you think we've been entirely skipped by winter this year, let me remind you that we've had our fair share of sub-freezing temperatures and bitter wind chills. Oh, and rain. We've had lots and lots of cold, miserable, flood-inducing rain. ...But back to snow...) We got 3-4 inches, most of which was dumped on us early yesterday morning. That made the drive to church...interesting. Because remember in Muncie they don't plow the streets. Or, for that matter, do they think to put salt down until it's already too late. (You'd think they'd have figured out a system by now because it's not like winter is a foreign concept in this part of the country.)

Anyway, this is the view from our front porch yesterday evening. Pretty, isn't it? I have to say...of all the different kinds of snow we could have received, I'm very pleased with what we got. Perfect, beautiful snow.

January, as you may be aware, is a month filled with State of the Union and State of the State addresses. I thought I'd chime in with my own -- a State of the Family Address.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Family and Friends -- It is my honor and privilege to be here this chilly January day to report to you the State of our House and project the outlook for our small family in the coming year.

I want to first thank you all -- family and friends, known and unknown readers -- for your prayers and otherwise general good thoughts aimed in our direction. They have been felt and appreciated. I also wish to thank you for frequenting my blog; your comments and readership inspire me to keep writing.

The past year has been a good one, though not without its own set of difficulties. We began it buried under snow and sliding on ice as we braved our first winter in Indiana. Once we thawed out, we discovered more opportunity to explore the place that has been our home for the past year and a half. Though we may be here devoid of mountains and droughts, we have more than our share of corn and soybean fields, quaint covered bridges, and Jar Museums. And rain. And humidity. And bitter wind chills. (Aren't we lucky?!)

We were blessed this summer to be able to travel back to the west to attend the wedding of my brother, Tyler. It was a joyous and memorable occasion, and we here in Indiana are pleased to welcome Amanda as our sister-in-law. Another very fun trip was taken at Christmastime as we traveled to Texas to spend the holidays with Blake's family. It was the first time in 2.5 years that we'd all been together, and it was as wonderful a visit as we hoped it would be. As we look forward to the coming spring, we find ourselves growing anxious to welcome yet another new sister-in-law as my brother, Riley, marries his high school sweetheart, Chelsea. Thanks, you two, for another happy reason to head back west.

The autumn brought a new school year and a welcome shift in employment for Blake. With the offer of a generous graduate assistantship, allowing him to work in the same building as wife, he was able to scrap his crummy and unreliable job at Sylvan Learning Center. He has since thoroughly enjoyed this more stable job, and I have enjoyed his regular company during lunches. The fall also brought the happy discovery of Thursday night television. We quickly became quite addicted to The Office and the rest of NBC's Thursday night line-up. (We were most pleased, it would be timely to report, that last night's Office was exactly as it should have been, Scrubs "The Musical" was absolutely hilarious, and I actually stayed awake for a full episode of 30 Rock, which turned out to be most enjoyable.)

In early November we were overjoyed to discover that our family of two would become a family of three. Unfortunately, this happy report was closely followed by the horrible news that a miscarriage was inevitable. Four miserable, morning-sick-filled weeks ensued before the doctor, as curious as we were as to what in the world was going on, ordered an ultrasound which informed us that there was indeed an alive and wiggly baby growing in utero. We are now anxiously awaiting the month of July and the arrival of the first little member of our family.

We are at an exciting time in our lives. Blake has officially begun the final semester of his master's program. He is expected to graduate from Ball State University on May 5th of this year. In the meantime, he will continue to plow through a few more courses, forge ahead with his research and thesis, and apply to every job opening that comes his way. We here in our home are greatly looking forward to the day interviews are offered to him, followed closely by offers of a first post-graduate career. Not only will we find it most pleasant to have a job to look forward to, but it will be equally as delightful to know where in the heck we will be living (and when we we will have to pack up and get there) six months from now. (Not to mention the unburdening of stress I will feel once I know where our child will be born!)

We are happy. The year 2006 offered us much, and we gathered all we could of it and ran! The new year is looking equally, if not more, promising. There is much to anticipate and much to be grateful for. We sincerely hope that all is happy and well in your homes as well.

Thank you, and have a lovely day!

[Hearty applause, followed immediately by wishful thinking]

I like Thursdays. Thursdays are past the hump of the week and are only one day away from Friday and weekend freedom. Thursdays are couch lounging in front of The Office, and maybe also 'Til Death, Scrubs, and 30 Rock, if we're feeling particularly lazy. Thursdays are nice. I like Thursdays. Just so you know.

Last night at mutual we Bee Maids had a "Little Girls Night" (there are only 2 Beehive girls -- one semi-active, one completely inactive -- so the Beehives and the Mia Maids kinda stick together. I personally am a big fan of the term "Bee Maids." It tickles me every time I hear it). For this activity each girl and leader was asked to bring three items: an early childhood photograph, a beloved book from childhood, and a favorite childhood toy. First we had to guess who the photos were of, and then we went around and shared what we brought and why we loved them. And for the rest of the time, we read stories. It was good times. I was able to dig up a rather smiley picture of myself at about age 6 months. No one was able to guess who I was (despite the rather obvious early '80s studio backdrop), but everyone agreed that boy could I grin! Before we moved to Indiana, my mom let me take with me a rather large collection of the picture books I grew up with. It was great fun looking through them, but terribly difficult to decide what to bring (my mom was very good to us and read to us all the time). I finally was able to narrow it down to two: Caps for Sale and The Story of Ferdinand. I don't still have too many childhood toys, but do have the Raggedy Ann doll I was given for my 1st birthday, so I brought that. I think that one qualifies as a favorite -- especially if you take into consideration the dirty stains all over its cloth body, the yarn hair that I once had to sew back on, and the obvious rubbing away of the "I Love You" heart on its chest. It was a fun activity, and got me excited to soon be a part of my own child's impending childhood.

For the rest of the evening, Blake and I made time to just relax (I guess we were both feeling the vibes of the coming Thursday). We both desperately needed some ice cream, so with our little bowls of Edy's Double Fudge Brownie, we put our feet up and watched a portion of the American Idol premiere. Not that we're fans, mind you, and plan to schedule time each week to watch it. But I have to admit that this episode was pretty hilarious. Especially when that Napoleon Dynamite-esque kid from Midvale, Utah auditioned. I don't know what made him think he could actually sing. Maybe the fact that he made freaky bug eyes while he did had something to do with it. I don't know.

But for now, I have to get back to my Thursday. My lovely, lovely Thursday.

Well, the Crazy Week-Long Economic Development Course is over, I've had a 3-day weekend to recover from it, and I think that finally -- after 3-ish months of emotionally draining pregnancy scares, physically draining pregnancy-induced nausea, holiday travels and fun, crazy work schedules, and otherwise general upheaval -- my life will start to stabilize again. Hopefully this will mean more posts here. I know they've been dreadfully sparse as of late, but now that my immediate future is looking relatively calmer, I'm hoping to remedy that sparseness. Plus, we've only just signed up for hi-speed internet (the cheapest on the block, but hi-speed nonetheless) which will replace our pokey old dial-up sometime next week, so that should make the whole blogging experience much less...painstakingly slow.

Aahhh...so it's good to be back. Blake and I had a few adventures over the weekend. We were on a Quest for Culture, which is something [not too] surprisingly difficult to find in this little nook of the Midwest. On Friday, our searching took us back to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Rumor had it that the year 2007 at the IMA meant free admission every day. So we went to scope it out. And also to see the European gallery, which was closed for renovations when we went during the summer. My, oh my! Is that gallery HUGE! We spent, goodness, 2.5 hours JUST in that gallery. It got to the point where I had to stop and rest at every single bench we came to -- and there weren't nearly enough benches! (Okay, so there were plenty of benches...I just have issues.) I told Blake that when we make it up to the Chicago museums, we'll have to pencil naps into our visits. But all fatigue aside, there's some pretty amazing stuff there -- Picassos, Rembrandts, Monets, you name it.

On Saturday we happily stumbled on a bit of culture that we weren't even looking for, but were pretty thrilled to find. I'd heard a rumor that there was this warehouse of a grocery store on the south side of town called White Feather Farms that was only open on Saturdays from 8-12 and which sold fine cheeses at cheap prices. It took us a while to find the place because, seriously, it's nothing more than a shack of a garage. But inside is piled more imported European food stuffs than I've ever seen at one time. They also sell spices at remarkably good prices, which I'll probably be back for one of these days. But, oh -- the cheeses! After drooling over all the different cheeses at beautifully low prices, Blake and I walked away with some Havarti, Gouda, and a delicious block of mellow cheddar. We've been living on cheese and crackers ever since, soaking in the charmed life of Wallace and Gromit, and planning our next visit this coming Saturday.

In a whirlwind of releases and sustainings over the last two weeks, I've lost my titles of Relief Society teacher and Activity Days leader in exchange for that of Young Women's 2nd Counselor. I'm sad to have to walk away from my Activity Days girls, but I'm happy to think that, as the counselor over the beehives, I'll be gaining a few of them back in the next few months. (As for no longer getting to teach Relief Society...I'm not too sad about that. Let someone else enjoy the blessings, I say!) After attending two YW Sunday meetings and one mutual night activity, I can't say that I'm totally able to fulfill my Quest for Culture here. Although, on second thought, maybe I can, especially if by "culture," one can be meaning "teenage hormones." Boy howdy, are those hormones ever-present and incredibly strong! I was thinking, as I sat listening to weepy sniffles in YW on Sunday, that hormonal teenage girls aren't too different from hormonal pregnant women. They are both able to cry at the drop of a pin, they are both overly concerned about their body image, and they both experience unexplainable mood swings. I think I'm going to fit right in.

Whew. Day Two of the Crazy Week-long Economic Development Course our office is putting on is in the homestretch, and I have serendipitously found a moment to tuck myself away in the office we are occupying here at the convention center to tell you all so. Judging, though, by my current energy levels and the fact that I'm getting somewhat desperate for a nap makes me seriously question my ability to make it to Day Five. Hoo boy.

But all fatigue aside, things are going pretty well. And, unlike my energy levels, my confidence levels at running the show here are thankfully pretty high. At least this year (unlike last year) I know what I'm doing. And that's good.

Next to the happy fact that I not only know my responsibilities this year but am also able to successfully carry them out, the food here is probably the best thing about this week. One of my jobs was to make all the catering arrangements, and I don't mean to boast (okay...maybe I do, just a little), but I did a pretty darn good job. The breakfasts, lunches, evening reception hor d'oevres...they've all been spectacular. Like yesterday for lunch we ate lemon chicken, and it was absolutely divine. Baby and I have been eating pretty well. (And not only are we eating well, but we're also getting to enjoy it. I may be speaking prematurely, but maybe -- just maybe -- the morning sickness is ready to take a hike.)

Anyway, I should actually go head back upstairs and make sure no microphones are exploding (not that that's happened yet, but you never know).

Signs of its coming:

• multiple visits to the doctor;
• a small handful of ultrasounds;
• constant nausea and an all-too-occasional food offering in the bathroom;
• the consumption of an inordinate amount of pretzels because, despite the fact that I'd rather not put anything in there, my stomach informs me that I'd-better-or-else;
• pants that are getting a bit too tight;
• the strange need to cry over the silliest things;
• crazy cravings for things like clementine oranges, cottage cheese, and sugar-free gum;
• an excitement that causes me to shudder occasionally in happy anticipation for July 16, 2007.

Yep...something's definitely coming this way...

We flew back yesterday from our lovely stay with Blake’s family in San Antonio. It was a long day (air travel makes me antsy) with A LOT of luggage (which was, I guess, to be expected, considering Christmas and Blake’s birthday, plus a bit of pre-birthday for me, happened while we were there), but we made it back safe, sound, and in one piece. Here are a few quick highlights (in no particular order) of the trip:

• San Antonio was warm. Not incredibly tropical, but warmer than Muncie. And that was nice.
• We got a boat tour of the Riverwalk and that was not only beautiful in the evening with the neat old buildings along the river lit up by Christmas lights, but it was absolutely fascinating. Our tour guide was a little cheesy, but he had some very interesting things to tell us about the history of the river and the inhabitants along it, as well as its practical ability to prevent floods from damaging the city.
• We visited the Mexican Market where Blake and I bought a pretty and brightly colored vase along with some trademark paper mache flowers to put inside it. These will definitely brighten up our little apartment.
• Fredericksburg was a lot of fun, like I mentioned in my last post. And, again, so was that store, Bath Junkie. I think if I keep wearing this honeysuckle perfume, I just might turn into a honeysuckle plant. By the way, if you ever do get a chance to visit Fredericksburg, might I suggest you go in the springtime. Blake and I discovered when we drove through on our way to our wedding open house a year and a half ago that on the outskirts of town are wildflower farms. So pretty!
• It was great visiting with Blake’s family to get to know them all better. I’ve decided (again) that I really like them all. I couldn’t have picked a better family to marry into.
• Christmas!!! I do love me a good Christmas holiday. And a very generous Santa found us both in Muncie AND in San Antonio. I feel very loved.
• My favorite cousin, Julie, got to drive down from Austin to spend a few hours with us on New Year’s Eve. It was great seeing her again.
• After-Christmas shopping was highly successful. I love the incredible deals I can find in the clearance sales after the holidays.
• The part where the whole family got to help Blake's youngest brother, Neil, get his finger- and toenails clipped was quite the adventure. Neil is a strong 14-year-old, who has Down Syndrome, and who is totally awesome, but who absolutely hates getting his nails clipped. And that might be an understatement.
• Doing a session at the San Antonio temple was very...uplifting. And needed. And oh my, is it a gorgeous temple!
  
• Blake’s birthday was fun. I really enjoyed the part where he liked what I got him, and shrieked a little to prove it.
• The food. Was. Fabulous. Between the fried turkey his dad whipped up, the sweet and sour chicken his brother, Eric, made, and the brisket, ham, and traditional Walk Around dinner (not to mention the gourmet breakfasts) his mom was able to so beautifully throw together, we all ate incredibly well.
• Ah! Sleeping in! It was nice to wake up at 8:00 and not feel guilty about it.

Today I’m back at work trying to tie up loose ends before our ENORMOUS week-long economic development course begins next week. I’m still not sure how it all came together last year, and this year, the powers that be decided that I’d do a good job running the show. We’ll see about that one. My head is spinning just thinking about all the piddly things there are still left to do. I will be glad when it’s over. So just as a heads up…I don’t know how much you’ll be seeing of me and my new blog posts in the next two weeks. I’ll pop in when I can, though.

Happy New Year!!!