WE REALLY DID GET THIS HOUSE...

After getting beaten out on our offers twice they finally took this one.

It's kind of out in the middle of nowhere but we love it and are really excited about making it our home! We can't wait for you all to see it!

Love you all!

Liz's Travel Plans

I just thought that I would update you all as to my plans for my two trips home this fall/winter. For Ali's wedding I will be flying in on Wednesday night the 12th and leaving on Sunday the 16th. So whatever gets planned in between, just let me know.

As far as Christmas, I will be flying home on Monday night the 22nd and will be leaving on Sunday the 28th. Not sure what everyone's plans are, but that is when I will be there.

Love you all!

Liz

Christmas...

I know, it is still early August but mom and I were talking on Saturday morning for a bit and decided we needed to start thinking about Christmas plans. The bigger we get as a family the harder it is to get us all on the same page. Regarding sibling gifts mom and I talked about the draw a name out of a hat idea. I love that we always get everyone something, but I'm not sure how possible that is now... Thoughts? Also, we need to make at least six new stockings this year, so when do we want to do that, Thanksgiving? Plus there is the whole who is going to be in town when issue. Again, I know that it is pretty far out, but lets at least begin the conversation. I know that Liz said she would be coming home and staying for about six days (very exciting) so it might be nice to know what the rest of us are all doing. I can't say for sure what our plans are until we know if Tyson's work schedule but I figured that if we started the conversation by December everyone should be pretty clear on what everyone else is planning on...

HELP!!

Ok, so this is kind of funny, but seriously I am asking for some advice here.

Don't know how many of you have seen the cover article for the Ensign this month, but it is all about how to cope with being single. Anyway, my bishopric feels very strongly that our wards need to really hear this message and selected a few people in the ward who they feel are living happy productive single lives to share their experiences with the ward in relation to this article. And for some reason they think that I am one of these people. Apparently they don't know me as well as they think that they do.

I honestly avoided the article like I do most articles of that nature because really I never feel like they say anything new and you know that they were written by either therapists or married people. But I gave in and read it last night knowing that I have to speak on this subject next week.

The article makes a few good points, but still nothing new. But it uses the word cope and dealing with loss in relation to being single and I guess that I have never really felt that way so I don't understand that. I don't fee like I cope, I just live my life and I don't feel like I have lost anything, just that I don't have something yet that I want. So I guess I have a hard time relating to people that do. Granted, I am not thrilled to still be single with no real prospects, but I don't see the point in being miserable about it either. I have bad days, but the good ones are much more frequent.

What they have asked all three of us to focus on is the first subsection of the article about acknowledging and dealing with the pain. Not sure what that means . . . but I feel like you acknowledge and deal with it by living your life your way and making goals besides just getting married and having a family.

Anyway, help please. Please if you get a chance read the article and let me know what you think or any insights that you may have. I am really not sure where to go with this.

Thanks, love you all!!

Lizzy

Jacob's Army Reserve Photo

On Monday, July 14, 2008, Jacob was sworn in as a member of the Army Reserve. He will be an intelligence analyst and has already received his first advancement as a result of earning his Eagle Scout Award. He will begin basic training on June 26, 2009 at Jackson Army Base in South Carolina for 9 weeks and then transfer to Huachuca?? Army Base in Arizonza for 15 weeks of job training. Then he'll go to school for one semester and then off on a mission. He has a busy couple of years ahead! We're pretty proud of him and excited for him!

Liz and Cletus

Ok, my friend just sent me this picture . . . this was at my new years party about a week after Cletus came to live with me. That night we put his BSU shirt that mom got him for Christmas on him for the first time. He was darn cute in it too . . . anyway . . . thought that I would share.

Happy Fathers Day!

I love you dad!! I hope that you have a great Father's Day!