The Holidays 2015 and Happy New Year!

Christmas and New Years has come and gone. Over the course of the season, I had many thoughts come to mind and I considered the desire to write them in this blog. They are in my journal and because I attempting a life less revolved around technology, I just may leave them there.

We had a most wonderful Holiday season. Although we missed being with family, the much needed quiet and snowy time at home did the trick. Christmas seemed to have regained this joyful anticipation of traditions, giving, and celebrating I remember from my childhood. Eden, although much too young to remember any of the happenings, put a new light on this time of year. I never realized how much fun it could be to be a parent. I also have never wanted to give as much as I do now.

Someone loves lights, ornaments, and trees.
Especially loves their tastes.

On Christmas Eve, we celebrated the coming of our Savior at church and after Eden went to bed, Davis and I sat up around the tree talking and taking in the moment. Christmas day was pajamas until early afternoon and our usual fair of fancy finger foods we do not allow ourselves often. Davis's personal favorite is the smoked salmon pinwheel. But there are plenty of rich foods to nibble on all day. Eden enjoyed her new toys but still favored Ingrid's new toy, an antler they both want to chew. That evening we had dear friends from church cook a delicious dinner of heritage chicken, cranberry sauce with figs and port wine, and scalloped potatoes  come to our house to feast and fellowship. We shared our Christmas goodies, read from Dicken's A Christmas Carol and finished up the night watching Christmas Vacation. Overall, a very enjoyable and delicious Christmas.

Christmas overload.

trying to open presents ...
JK she tried to eat them.

Enjoying Christmas goodies

Present from grandma great

The following day we attempted snowshoeing with babies and friends with babies. We walked a fair distance in the wintery wonderland before the littles protested enough. The rest of the weekend, we went did usual activities. We dove into some house projects and cleaning. Both us of us discovering there is joy in work. Something about productivity and keeping your house and building things with your hands is really truly more enjoyable to hours spent being entertained. Don't get me wrong, I do like a good lazy pants day every now and then but it doesn't seem to fulfill the way going to be tired and satisfied. Maybe we are getting even more old fashioned, who knows?

Snowshoeing!

some of our snowshoeing friends and baby friends

After Christmas, we did the much needed adult task of buying a car. Both of our cars not great but Davis's has grown increasingly questionable to tote around a family. We ended up with a 2015 Subaru Forester, which we both really like. Thus, we have joined the stereotypical western sort-of-outdoorsy folks who have recently embraced this make of vehicle. It is way nicer than both our cars. But unfortunately, we are now adults with a car payment. Boo. However, it is nice to consider how we can experience even more of Utah and the west now because we aren't able or afraid to take the road to certain locations. And getting Eden in and our of this car is so much easier.

my mom sent us a box of clothes my grandma made for me
this is one of them!

For New Years, we went to bed by 1030. It was amazing. We were given some home improvement gift cards for Christmas so we went out and bought some saws. Recently we have been inspired to learn some basic carpentry skills so we can build simple wooden furniture like book shelves. Our first project, well Davis is mostly working on it since it's been so cold, is our work table. I am hoping we both can improve on this skill. We many dreams of items to build for our house. I suppose desiring to build it ourselves to save money and gain skills will really put a bridle on the speed of which we can do these home improvements. I am glad for that though, I want to have to put in the time and appreciate whatever gets accomplished. I also don't want to live in comparison and envy.

As much as we loved the Holidays, it is nice to get back into the swing of things. We are starting this week of with putting new brakes on my car. What a way to ring in the new year! Some adult things are just not my favorite. Car repairs definitely are not. But I am grateful for brakes that work and jobs that enable us to have them.

December Happenings- in pictures

Cutest little mousey

Park time

Ingrid practicing for sitting on Santa's lap

Hipster Barista

Eden's first big snow

Temple Square Christmas lights with our lovely friends

Eden woke up so, I will leave this post at pictures. Perhaps more thoughts on Advent and Christmas later.

Merry Christmas Eve!

I cannot believe it's Christmas Eve already. Where did this month go? It doesn't help that we haven't had any significant snowfall yet. However, that should change tonight! Snow is acceptable and very welcomed when I am off work and for the Holidays. After that, I'd rather not have to deal with it and only want it in the mountains.

front door views from yesterday

Anyways! It's Christmas everyone! I sort of slowed the settling in process to do more seasonal things like cookie baking, attending holiday parties, and working extra. For the surgery world of nursing, it's our crazy time- boy it's been crazy. Lots of over time but that also meant missing out on somethings or being very late. Not much progress of late to the house, our pictures are still piled along the walls, waiting to be hung. The basement is all but forgotten except to run down and do a load of laundry. Once I get it a little more set up, there will be a house tour. Today's post is mostly to let you know we are still alive out here in Utah.

I've been feeling good during this phase of pregnancy. I am still not showing a whole lot.  I am measuring about on target. We had a big ultra sound a couple days ago. Davis got to see the baby for the first time. Well, it's the first time either one of us has seen him/her outside of the gummy bear- looking stage. I am beginning to feel more movement. It's been a little delayed because the placenta is anterior and blocking a lot of the punches and kicks. As far as we know, things look good. It's exciting and a bit unnerving to be somewhat in charge of helping this little life flourish and yet there still is so much you can't do.  We have a few pictures from the ultrasound, most still make little one seem somewhat alien-like. We got to watch some punches, kicks, and very cute yawns. It's pretty amazing. It still doesn't seem that real in the coming year we will welcome this child into the world. After Christmas, we'll start really focusing on getting ready. We haven't done a thing yet, other than tell Ingrid she is going to have to get used to being the big sister :)

caught mid "yawn"

20 week "bump"

Davis' work party was at the aquarium this year. Excellent location for a work party, if you ask me! Dressing up provided an opportunity to take picture of the "bump". I think it just looks like I ate too many burritos. At some point, I'll cross the line of looking definitely pregnant.  Davis also took me to The Nutcracker ballet last night. It was the most professional production I've ever seen. It was so lovely, every bit of it. We want to check out their performance of Alladin in the spring.

the living room

Ingrid modeling the new rug

my family

This is the best I have for pictures of the inside of the house. But I figured a little taste might be nice. Today I want to bake some more cookies, Davis' favorite german cookies. Davis is helping with music during the Christmas Eve service tonight. Additionally, I need to get a chicken in the crock pot and take Ingrid for a walk. She has been a bit neglected due to crazy schedules and rainy days off.

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas. Such a beautiful but hard time of year for so many.

blessed

I've had plenty of time to write lately. Apparently, it is the slower season of baby birthing. People want summer babies, so I hear. I've still worked plenty, just less than the forty hours a week. However, I've been fairly lazy when it comes to this blog thing. I didn't know what to write or if I did think of something, it was mostly a bit of a downer.

But anyways, here I am to write a little something. I will catch y'all up on Christmas time and be amazed that January is already over half way gone.

This is our fourth winter away from the southeast. After  four years,  we had our first holiday season out west. Typically we've made it back for either Thanksgiving or Christmas. And this was the first year I've truly felt home sick. Well, let me rephrase that. When I think of "home", I don't think of a place, I think faces and ones I hold so dear. My little heart ached pretty hard this year at the holidays. I even spent some time looking for new jobs for Davis within a driving radius of our families. Also, I spent Christmas day and New Years at work. I just couldn't shake how sore my heart felt to be so far away. Even Davis, the perpetual optimist, always jolly, even commented how this holiday season seemed less cheerful. I am so thankful for a sweet husband and a goofy dog to call my family here in Utah. Additionally, we have made some amazing friends who have so lovingly welcomed us into their lives. I guess, in some cheesy fashion, I can say I am thankful to have family and friends that I can love and miss. Not everyone can say that.

family self portrait

But that also leads to how by Fall of 2014, our lives will look very different here in Utah. One family we grew really close to just closed on their house last week and will soon be moving on. We prayed for them at church Sunday. I got all teary eye and sniffy nosed. Gosh, I love those people. Additionally, probably our closest friends, the Moffatts, are moving back to South Dakota this summer. I am afraid I will all out ball over these ones leaving. There are other ones leaving and plenty who talk of leaving, it's a pretty transient community. Not to mention we are in a definite minority here. All this makes it hard for me to want to stay. I'm okay right now, I am sure this summer I will be a total mess for a bit. The heart ache at Christmas is passed but I am keeping a leery eye to the future. I don't know what God has in store for us here in Salt Lake City, but I want to trust him to provide what we need.

Enough of this sad talk. We are so blessed. I mean, I just look out the window at work sometimes and am totally blown away. When the inversion isn't being oppressive, this is what my community looks like.

work and a view

I can't help but be amazed at the mountains that hug Salt Lake Valley.


This past weekend, the Moffats, Davis and I decided to get away. There are some supposed Ice Castles up in Midway. Midway is past Park City, which is currently in the middle of Sundance Film Festival. The Ice Castle is slightly misleading, it's more like an icicle fort. It's a bit of a tourist trap but we are glad we saw it. We also walked around Midway, checked out a couple antique shops and had delicious Mexican food and beer for a mid afternoon lunch/dinner. We decided to skip trying to find famous people in Park City, we probably wouldn't be good at recognizing them plus we didn't want to get stuck in the traffic. Davis and I also had tickets to hear Ravi Zacharias speak that night.

entrance

turns out wearing sunglasses in the castle was a great idea
Ice and snow is very bright

stalactites of ice

slot canyons of ice

our group after successful navigating the maze
(it wasn't hard)

 So, there it is. Life as of late. The heart soreness has passed for the time being. Everyone is back to work and reality. Our year is already filling up with trips, family visiting, friends, and so on. We have much to be thankful for.

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices

I have been thinking about Christmas a lot lately. Who knows why, it's not like the whole of the "Christmas Season" explodes in our faces through lights, music, parties, food, shopping, presents, and so on. My original thoughts were how I see Christmas differently than I did when I was younger. My parents and grandparents worked really hard the whole time cooking, baking, buying, working, and still trying to get us kids to see the real meaning of Christmas. Now that I am an adult and it's more or less up to me to do the work of celebrating, it doesn't seem as thrilling. I still love all the traditions, memories, and fellowship that come with this time of year. I can't help but wonder what the what has happened to Christmas. I so badly want to take a step back from the decor, cookie exchanges, gift giving out of love and/or guilt, endless parties with people you may or may not know or like, the blaring commercials trying to convince everyone that Christmas will suck if you don't get the one right present or a million presents, elf on the shelf (whatever that is about), and so on. Sorry for the huge long sentences.  I don't really see these things as evil, it's the fact that we make idols out of them and forget what Christmas is really about. How many times have you heard that phrase in a cheesy hallmark made for TV movie?

Ingrid loves Christmas
she loves to tear up paper

Anyways, what really got my brain synapses firing and my heart stirring came through a text message of a friend who works in the ICU here. We invited she and her husband to our annual Christmas dinner but she was on call that same night. She explained she probably wouldn't make it because their census was high due to the increased number of suicide attempts at this time of year. I had somewhat forgotten this sad fact since my patient population is a bit different this year. But it's true, underneath the illusion of perfect Christmas season, people are perhaps more lonely, sad, angry, lost, and hopeless this time of year. Their situations seem more dark and hopeless in contrast to the bright twinkle lights that surround them. It really isn't the most wonderful time of the year for some people. It is a poignant reminder that all is not right yet.

Lamb Wellington from the feast

Not that I think we should have a decorated tree in our house all year but Christmas should be thoughtfully celebrated and clung to year 'round. It shouldn't be confined to a day, an event, a month, a shopping period of sales, or whatever. God is God throughout time and transcending time. The hope of Christmas applies moment to moment. Just when we want to give up, feel utterly alone, lost, unloved, ugly, dumb, angry, discouraged, and hopeless should be when we teach ourselves again and again Christmas. Not the Christmas of whirlwind activities, fake smiles, and presents that turn to dust but true Christmas of the Bible.

Harper, the Christmas Cherub?

God of the universe, creator of all things, out of love, sent his only Son to humble human birth as a baby in order that we can have eternal life. But not just hope for when this life ends and all sorrows and troubles shall cease, but a present and living hope as well. God cares deeply of our momentary afflictions and our present sufferings. And since Jesus walked this earth as a man, he is no stranger to our weaknesses, heartaches, toothaches, arguments, tears, and so on. He lived as we live. Hope, peace, and love for the moment to moment. Hope, peace, and love for the future.

snowshoeing on Christmas Eve

Also, let me take this a bit further. Remembering this truth at Christmas isn't just the little bit extra that gets us through a tough spot. Faith in this is everything for salvation. It is all our hope, love, and peace. A part from Jesus, we have nothing and can do nothing to free ourselves from the broken patterns of this world. Christ had to be born a man, live the perfect life we cannot live no mater how hard we try, be crucified for our sins so justice could be satisfied, and overcome Satan, sin, and death through His resurrection. This had to happen that we may be saved and have hope, life, peace, and love. That is why I celebrate Christmas. That is what I teach myself  when I become sad and angry at work on Christmas Day. That is what I cling to when death touches my family or suffering knocks on our door. I want to celebrate Christmas, giving glory rightly to God, all year long and all life long.

O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Merry Christmas!

hello from narnia

I have been thinking about Christmas a lot lately. I was thinking I would blab a little on the blog about it, but I right now I just want to put up snow pictures. For your eye pleasure, here a few more i-phone photos of our ordinary days. Don't worry, a Christmas ramblings will come shortly. Probably later today even, since I will be killing time trying not to think about going into work at 11pm tonight.

city creek canyon (or narnia)

state capitol building from top of memory grove/city creek canyon

another beautiful, cold sunset in the neighborhood

Davis made my flapper head thing, it was for his work
Christmas party

and it snowed again. it's so pretty.

So in other news, work has been a little slower for me. I have been canceled a few times. I am not complaining, it works so well with my winter-i-want-to-hibernate-and-drink-hot-tea-and-never-have-to-drive-in-the-snow-can't-stop-being-southern-mindset. It's also given me a little extra time to think about Christmas. This time of year just often becomes too busy. Also, this will make my mom happy, I finally had snow tires put on my car. It won't change my mentality about driving in the snow but it will at least make it a little safer. 


Happy Friday!

the ordinary days

I often just write about the big events, visitors, happy parties, and so on. When I look at pictures I've taken, it's mostly of ordinary days. I don't write about those days as much, that's the sigh we all live in more often than not. The drawn out days between Saturdays, the mundane of moment of getting by the best we can. The worry that weighs us down through the week, the fourty-eight hours of hope which are quickly snatched away. Or maybe that is just me?  I just look forward, failing to see God's presence in the moment, desiring a change in circumstance to bring me more comfort. Constantly, my mind is filled with plots and plans for the future. Trying to move my chess pieces just right to win an easy life. How does one live in the "already but not yet"?


I heard on the radio recently that if you want to make your weekend seem longer you need to make more memories. Our brain measures time by events. Therefore, the more you do, the more memories you make and then your time will seem more full. Or just maybe your weekend won't feel as short when the sun sets on Sunday evening. (Need I say more more?)

I am not sure what I am trying to say. Maybe all I want to convey is that the little pieces of people we get is never the whole picture. We always want to present the best version of ourselves and seem awesomely put together. We want all our time filled and have a sense of importance. We want purpose. We want hope. We want love. We look to those bigger events, happy parties, and the break from the ordinary to fulfill us. We look to fellow man for our ultimate love and approval. Yet, we still feel so weary and empty in our hearts.

Maybe at Christmastime I get overly thoughtful and sentimental. I just can't help but think all of humanity is in the time of waiting, hoping, and longing. At least that is where I am. He came once before in form of man and has promised to return again to bring us home, to fulfill all His promises. Living in a weary world, Christmas brings that thrill of hope when all our longings and ordinary days will be forever satisfied in His presence.

But until then we live in the present with an eternal perspective. I cling daily to the cross and yet rest in my heart that all will be made right one day.


Here are some ordinary day pictures :)

the day we fit a 6 ft tree in the back of the VW GTI

garland I made, inspired by my sister-in-law

ingrid has matured enough to get a dog bed and not eat it

decorated the tree
topped with our toilet paper roll and aluminum foil star

it snowed and got really cold

I am too scared to drive in the snow

So, I walked to the trax station at 530 am
so I could take public transportation to work
(and not drive in the snow)

lonely commute in the early morning

I worked a night shift two days after the snow
and the roads were cleared to my liking
it was so cold/beautiful that morning

 

 

 

went with some friends to see LDS church's Savior of the World
Christmas production. Temple Square had some serious lights.

today's view. white and grey. light snow falling

using her bed properly

Those are just pictures of my ordinary days.