Things I didn't blog about... til now

I'm done with work for awhile... I moved my room today...
I am leaving for Europe on Saturday!
(sorry, no pictures about that - yet)

Surprise (sort of)! Happy Birthday, Nathaniel. Born: March 19th, 1984


Some of the people that came...


Some more of the people that came.


Kris and Nathaniel. They just always have so much fun together.


Grandpa got a new swing-set! Even Josh and Nathaniel can swing.


Aiden loves it and could swing all night.
See how dark it is? That is all he wanted to do.


Reagan loves it and wanted me to push her "higher" and "faster."


Landon and Emma definitely approve.


Happy Birthday, Dad! Yummy marzipankaker.


We went on a hike with the Bennetts and the Porters for Memorial Day.
Aren't they cool?


We had lunch at the "end" of the Stokes Nature Trail before we
started the 3.75ish walk/hike back.


A pretty flower.


Syttende Mai (May 17th). Norwegian Constitution Celebration in SLC.
Watch out for the vikings.


My friend Suzanne and Emily's friends Jessica & Ben
(not pictured here) came along for the festivities.


Dad and Than sleeping on the couch. Awwww...

Cache Valley is gorgeous!

Yah Poh!

So there is a new Chilean restaurant in Logan, and it is awesome!
We highly recommend it for the food and the prices. You can get an empanada
de pino (with meat/beef) for $2 and an empanada de queso (with cheese) for only $1.
It is located on the west side of Main and north of 1400 N. It shares a building with
the Liberty Income Tax place. It isn't spicy. You should go!

Just for Fun

A. Attached or Single: Thankfully attached.

B. Best Friend: Nathaniel...

C. Cake or Pie: Neither and both. I am not a huge fan of most pies
and cake may or may not hit the spot. But there are varieties of both that I love.

D. Day of Choice: Friday, if I don't have to work.

E. Essential Item: food :)

F.Flavor of Ice Cream: Cake batter ice cream with cookie dough mix-in
from Cold Stone! I'm a little concerned/excited that I may soon be
addicted to European ice cream.

G. Gummy Bears or Worms: I usually like worms more, but if I get to buy a treat
I go for Swedish Fish! Gummy Bears are also a life saver at work for the kids.

H. Hometown: West Jordan. I loved it!

I. Indulgences: Ice cream.

J. January or July: July - summer fun and being outside.

K. Kids: Working with them, driving me crazy. Hoping for some of my own.

L. Last movie I saw in a theater: Star Trek, for free!

M: Musician: Too hard to say. A few Jason Mraz songs, most of The Beatles
songs, ad Rascal Flatts are among the favorites.

N. Number of siblings: 1 or 3

O. Orange or Apples: I try to eat an apple almost every day.
I love oranges too though.

P. Phobias or Fears: The wind when it is really windy.

Q. Quote: "Have a nice life."

R. Reasons to smile: No work until Monday, then only 3 days with
kids next week. I'm going to Paris, London and Norway!

S. Season: Probably summer.

T. Tag 4: Anyone...

U. Unknown fact about me: I did tumbling from age 4-16 or 17.

V. Vegetarian or oppressor of Animals: I like meat, but am
learning more about the effects on the environment.

W. Worst Habit: Too many.

X. X-rays or Ultrasounds: Funny question. I've had at least a few of both.

Y. Your favorite Food: Nathaniel's homemade calzones,
empanadas, scones or tortillas.

Z: Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Relief Society

I have had the opportunity to serve in the Relief Society Presidency in our ward for
just over two years now, the last 10-ish months as the President. I was just released on
Sunday and have been thinking about what I have learned.

Obviously I have learned A LOT about Relief Society, the different organizations
within it, and purposes for it. I have a stronger testimony about each aspect of
Relief Society: visiting teaching, enrichment, service, etc.

When Julie Beck said we weren't fulfilling the potential of Relief Society as we could,
I thought there was some grand secret I needed to find. But after talking with the
Stake Relief Society President (who I want to be like when I grow up), I realized
that we have everything we need: visiting teaching, enrichment, Sunday lessons, etc.
We just need to maximize and combine our efforts.

In the past I wasn't quite sure what "Building the Kingdom" entailed. Now I know that it
is accomplished on the most basic and fundamental level as I participate in my ward,
specifically in Relief Society. I don't have to, and shouldn't, wait until I am older or
better or smarter or have more time.

I have served with 7 amazing sisters and was able to learn all kinds of random skills
from them. I have been able to learn from others that have served as ward leaders
along with me. I have been able to learn from the sisters in the ward as they
teach Sunday lessons, teach enrichment, fulfill their callings, share thoughts on Sunday,
serve each other and more.

I learned that you don't have to be the Relief Society President, or even in the presidency, to make
a difference. I saw how every calling can work together to make things happen/function.

I learned more about my weaknesses, as many of you probably did too. I think I have been able
to conduct Relief Society on Sundays without being nervous for several months now.

I have been able to convince myself to walk up to a sister's door (even though 5 times during
the 2 minute drive to her house I had decided not to) and visit with her, hopefully seeming
like it is no big deal even though I am trying hard not to be nervous.

I have learned to love and care about sisters that probably think I don't know who they are because I can still be shy (but not as shy as I used to be). I knew every sister's name and some things about each one.

I learned that my husband was more amazing, helpful and supportive than I had
previously known. He has helped around the house a lot, helped me gather my stuff so I
can get out the door to meetings, had dinner ready when I got home from work so I could
eat and run out the door for visits, listened to me, drove around with me to deliver
things, reviewed my lessons, and the list goes on.

When it rains, it pours!

It seems like every aspect of my life lately has been requiring so much more from me
(especially work and work, oh and work). Don't you just love it when that happens?
I've been working harder and working later and working more at home while trying to
squeeze in the other increasing responsibilities here and there, usually coming to find
that they have been severely neglected (i.e. preparing for our trip, planting a garden, etc.).

However, many of these things that need to be done will be resolved or back to normal
by the time we leave for Europe. Our garden should be planted (probably by Nathaniel),
my portfolio needs to be turned in, my room at school has to be moved (yes, for the 3rd time
in less than 1 year!!!), I won't be able to plan any more for our trip, and other things
will have calmed down.
Therefore, I am so extremely excited for our trip to Europe because that means so many
thing will have been taken care of AND I will have a dream vacation come true. So I made a chain to countdown the days and keep the end in sight, otherwise I might have a nervous breakdown...

One night I got home from my after-school meeting and worked until 11:00 (aside from
eating dinner, reading scriptures and some RS stuff). I was typing a report and saw that
Nathaniel had fallen asleep while reading his book. I guess he was just too relaxed
being out of school and work.
No, I tease him, but he has been rather busy learning some computer programs,
job hunting, working in the garden, reading and playing computer games in moderation,
and making dinner about every night. He even made my treat for the Relief Society Social!
I am very grateful for his help and support. I am also very grateful that he has a break from
work and school for a time because he sure deserves it.

Exam 2

Since I took the first actuarial exam in March I've been trying to study about six hours
per week for the second exam. Then for the last two weeks I stepped it up and studied a TON.
I did every question from past years' tests that have been released. I even timed myself on the
May 2005 test and got 88%. When I went to the U of U testing center on Friday to finally take
the test, I felt good about it, and I felt ready to have it over.

Once I started the test, my heart sank. The first question was easy; then I had no idea on
the next three questions. As I went on, I kept hoping that the hard questions would end and
the easy ones would start, but they never did. With about fifteen minutes left, I realized
that I had probably failed. I finished it up, took the little survey that comes up after the test,
and then braced myself for the worst. To my surprise, the message that popped up was,
"Congratulations! ... you passed."

When I left the testing center, the girl at the desk printed out my results and used a
little clamp to emboss them. As she handed me the printout, she glanced at it, did a little
double-take, and said, "Hey, congratulations. No one has been passing that one." That made me
feel a little better about myself; I wasn't the only one who thought it was a hard test.

(Here I am telling Lina the good news as I walk out of the testing center)

Now that I've passed that test, I can start applying in earnest for actuary jobs.
Hopefully we'll have good news soon.

On Saturday, we went to the house of my friend Dustin and had breakfast with him and
Cynthia, his fiance. This was partly because we will be in Norway when they get married,
and we wanted to do something with them before the big day.
Then we had a pleasant day visiting with our families and relaxing. Several people have
asked me, "How does it feel to be all done with school?" and for the last week, the answer has
really been, "I don't know." I had put off celebrating graduation and relaxing until after
this test, but now I'll go ahead and say, "It feels good."

What do we do now?

Ironically enough this picture was right at the end of Nathaniel's college graduation
pictures in the file. I decided to post it just for fun. Here you see two of his best friends ever:
Bryce Hayes, N-Dog, and Kris Bennett.
Nathaniel graduated... Magna Cum Laude. It rained, but at least it didn't snow.
Really it was a very pleasant day. The graduation ceremonies were generally enjoyable.
We were able to squeeze a nice gathering of family into our apartment and eat
surprisingly yummy Hawaiian Haystacks.

Oh, and we got a picture with Big Blue! Wahoo!It is a little weird now that we have both graduated. We have both LOVED
being students at Utah State University. We've been in school for most of our lives (and I now try
to teach school), but I was most grateful to ease out of the college world as a student spouse.
Now what?
Nathaniel has been studying, studying, studying this past week for his 2nd actuarial
exam this Friday. Hopefully he will pass and then we'll be one giant step closer towards finding a job.
Then he can be busy a house-husband as he looks for a job.
I have another long and hard month at work. I have SO many extra meetings and
responsibilities at work this month... not to mention SO many kids! Then they are going to
make me move my room for the 3rd time in less than one year. I have to do it after school
gets out but before I leave for my trip. School ends June 4th, we are planning to head to SLC on
June 5th and jump on our plane to happiness and bliss on June 6th.
Hmmm... makes things interesting.