The Meandering Thoughts of Jan

I feel like I'm still in a writer's rut.  Every time I think of blogging, I'm not sure what I should say.  I kind of go into hibernation during the winter, so that could be an explanation for this.  Anyway, here are some happenings from this weekend that are on my mind... I got home on Friday after work to a very cold house and the smell of something burning, which sounds paradoxical, but is true.  Our furnace was making a weird humming noise, so I turned it off and called Danny who called the landlord.   (Our landlord likes him more, so I always have him call.)  I then bundled up in blankets, turned on my little space heater and waited.  The furnace repair man came over and after investigating the situation told me it was the motor of our furnace that was having issues, which would explain the burning smell.  He said there was nothing he could do until the morning, when he could get more parts.  We were in for a chilly evening.  Ou...

Now that we have lived in 2014 for like 2 weeks, let's talk about the New Year.  I know, I'm way behind on  blogging things. That's life.  I recapped last year in my last post, but that was kind of a sad post about 2013.  Last year , I predicted that 2013 would be another year of "even more patience and endurance testing." Check, this is true.  (Read my last post about that.)   I also predicted I would turn 30.  Umm, correct, that did occur.  I also predicted "change was in store."  In some ways yes, Danny graduated, yay!  And he got a new job, yay!  So I guess there was a lot of change for Danny.  As for my life, I didn't feel like there was as much earth shattering changes.  While my last post focused on sad things, I want to now focus on the fun things of 2013, because we really did go on a lot of exciting outings, had some great family and friend gatherings and had very adventurous trips.  So here are the notable ...

I know we are well into 2014, but I'm still in the midst of recounting last year and making goals for this year. As I've looked back on and thought about 2013, I have to admit it has been a rocky year. However, during some of these hard times, I feel like Danny and I have drawn even closer in our marriage. I sure love that man of mine. I really think what makes a strong marriage is facing the tough stuff together. I have also grown closer to my Savior, though at times it didn't always feel like it, which I will discuss more below. I can honestly say, this year has whittled me down to a rather more fragile version of myself.  I think that is what being humbled is.  I have been humbled.  I’m still working on being humble. I think with this past year, I’m understanding more what grace is.  I think you have to experience a lowly place to even feel the need for grace.  I agree with the common phrase: “Do your best.” However, I don’t think we always unders...

Dec. 2nd -  A really cool family from our past ward left these cute snowmen cookies on our porch.  I consider this continual blessings of being a primary teacher, since we taught two of their sons. Dec. 5th - I went to an ornament trading Christmas party that my friend Lauren was putting on.  This is how the ornaments I made turned out. Dec. 9th - Danny and I went to the Utah Chamber Artists Christmas Concert. It was quite lovely. Dec. 13th - Danny and Me at the Conference Center in SLC. Dec. 13th - My cute parents.  We went to the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Concert with them and had a blast. Dec. 21st - We celebrated Noelle's birthday (a day early). Dec. 21st - Baby C and Me.  We got to babysit this cute boy while his parents went out to a movie. Dec. 28th - Because I have the prettiest, funniest, most clever best friends ever.  Melina, Talena and myself on the evening of our annual award exchange. That's right, not...

You guys, I have to be honest, the holidays this year totally burned me out.  I stopped taking pictures halfway through December, because it was just so much.   We had more work parties, family parties, friend get-togethers, etc. Really, by the time Christmas got here, I just wanted a nice long nap. Danny and I had a very nice Christmas Eve.  We went to see  Catching Fire of the Hunger Games series, which we both thought was well done, though perhaps not the most festive movie.  We then enjoyed German pancakes that evening for dinner. On Christmas after opening all of our presents, we had the pleasure to talk to many out-of-state family members.  We then went to Danny's sister's house for Christmas lunch and then my parents' house for Christmas dinner.  It was a fun, full day. Call me a grinch, but on December 26th, I took all the Christmas decorations down, because I was ready for life to go back to normal. New Year's was pleasant.  On New Ye...