- We made the news! -

What are the odds of this happening with 21,000 people in the audience??? Jason just got a text from a friend that told him his picture was on Deseretnews.com this morning. Thanks to my great friend Mindy who wasn't able to use her tickets, Jeron and I, Jason & Stephanie, and my parents got to go to the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional last night in SLC. There were three pictures on Deseretnews.com this morning. One of the prophet, one of the choir, and one of us. It was so neat to be there and to feel of the true spirit of Christmas that filled the conference center. It was decorated so beautifully for Christmas. I was excited for Jeron to get to see the prophet. A highlight was when he waved to the crowd before he exited the stage. Jeron looked so handsome in his suit, I told him that the prophet might call him out of the audience to bear his testimony. Too bad he wasn't tall enough to be seen in this picture. Kyler really wanted to come too, and although he could pass for 8, we didn't want to have to lie if they were to ask him his age at the door. Deron was kind to take the little boys home and let Jeron and I have this opportunity.

We enjoyed walking around Temple Square after the devotional and seeing the beautiful lights. Jason made it a memorable ride home by making us all sandwiches on his lap in the car. He had packed a cooler, so that we wouldn't have to break the sabbath to eat on the way home. (He's always setting the example for us all.) We also enjoyed watching The Miracle on 34th Sreet on the way home. Grandpa was patient while we sat in our driveway for 10 minutes or so to watch the ending before we got out of the car.

We had a fun family weekend in SLC. We went down to watch the Aggies play BYU at the Energy Solutions Arena and decided to make a weekend out of it. The game didn't go our way, but we still had a lot of fun. When we went to check in at our hotel, the Aggie players were there loading the bus for the game. The kids had fun swimming at the hotel. Hayden loves hotels. When he heard me mention staying at a hotel, he said, " What did you say, mom? Did you say hotel?" Jeron got to go to Rodezzio Grill with his dad and uncle, Nik. He was even brave enough to eat a chicken heart. Ky's comment was, "Now Jeron has two hearts in him." Jeron's relpy was, "No, I don't really think so, because I chewed it all up." Carly and I took the wild little ones to The Old Spaghetti Factory (a family favorite). We rode around on Trax Friday night, which was also a highlight for the kids. We were also able to get to the zoo. It's amazing that we had nice enough weather in December to go to the zoo.

It's always fun to be downtown in Salt Lake City during the holidays!

- Where have I been?? -

I thought I'd give a quick update. Sorry I haven't posted for soooo long. I've been thinking about it, but I've been busy, and my computer time is limited these days. My grandpa fell and broke his back a few weeks ago, so I try to spent a lot of time helping him and my grandma right now. Deron turned in his resignation at GGP and has been working/studying at home for his new position with Farm Bureau Financial. He has to pass four monster tests, so he's up in our office on the computer most of the time right now. (This is why I don't ever get any computer time.) It's with mixed feelings that he left GGP. He has been a Business Development Rep. for them for nearly three years. He loved this job up until a few months ago when the economy started really heading south. I could tell that things were getting rough, but when his boss quit a month or two before he did, things got pretty tough. He really enjoyed working with his boss and is thankful for the friendship that they will always have. He will miss all the great people he worked with. However, near the end of his employment there, he was being required to bring in the moon, the stars, and more, which was wearing him right into the ground. It was no fun to see him so miserable and stressed out all of the time. He was incharge of the Cache & Newgate malls, which are located in small, conservative towns, but his goals were the same as those who covered the upscale malls in big cities around the U.S. where tenants flock in without fail.

He's excited about this new challenge and opportunity. I'm just hoping that this will be the end of the unknown and that things will work out well for him. We're happy that he found something that allows us to stay here in the valley where our kids are so settled and happy with school, friends, sports, etc... I am thankful for his desire to work so hard and do whatever it takes to support and provide for our family. It's no fun to have to hit the books again after so many years. When he graduated from college, I'm pretty sure he thought he was done with school. You never know what life is going to throw at you.

It's crazy that he's home more, but I feel like he's never around right now. I am missing his help with the Christmas decorating. I'm slowly getting one room decorated at a time. It makes me appreciate all that he normally does around the house, but I'm supportive of the fact that he has to study for now.

Good Luck Deron, we love you!