December Craze

This month has been crazy! Finals are finally over. I had fun with some of them. My linguistics project was fun and I got an excellent grade on it, so all the work and sleepless nights were worth it. The editing one wasn't too bad; it just took me a long time! There's only one class I don't know how I did.

We finally sent out the Christmas packages to our families. Kara took me shopping for Justin, and I had a really fun time picking out his presents. I hope he likes them. While shopping, I also found a star to finally put on our tree. It was only five dollars and it lights up. The only trick is to clip it on just right or it flops over. Justin figured it out.

We cleaned the apartment yesterday and it looks great (it won't feel great until tomorrow when I vacuum). Basically we've been bumming around and watching movies. Friday we took Melanie to the airport, and since we were already up north we made some other stops. Justin checked out a golf store and we looked through IKEA. I got some great ideas for future house decorating.

Today we went to church. Justin could only stay for sacrament meeting (the first hour) because he has to work today. But it was nice to have him there. He's been working a lot of Sundays because of the holidays. I can't wait until it's all over and we can go to church together and he won't have to work really early or really late. Anyway, the meeting was ok. Not the best Christmas program, but it seemed like plans changed last minute. This elderly couple took turns sharing scriptures and Christmas stories and we sang Christmas hymns. Sunday school was all about Christmas too. Relief Society was kinda random (a talk from General Conference) but we ended early so we sang more Christmas hymns. Later tonight I plan on relaxing with Justin, maybe watch some religious Christmas movies. Last Sunday we watched Mr. Kreuger's Christmas.

Justin will be home soon (three hours is soon!). Dinner will be ready and we can finally enjoy each other's company on this beautiful Sabbath day.

Weekend Fun

Friday night after working out together, we had a double date with the Camachos. We planned to go see It's a Wonderful Life but we were late and it was full by the time we got there. So instead we saw The Nativity Story in the Varsity Theater. Justin and I mostly kissed and cuddled during the movie. It was a good movie. I didn't like the beginning too much but it got better, and the end was quite touching. I especially liked when the shepherd was hesitant touching the baby Jesus, and Mary told him, "He is for all mankind."

After the movie we went to an Evening in Paris. It was a dance and there was food: cheese, grapes, sparkling apple cider, croissants, and french bread. We stayed for an hour and half. It was a great night.

The next morning Justin and I made a big, delicious breakfast together before going to another movie on campus. This one was holiday shorts, including A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Snowman. We basically napped and watched TV the rest of the day. We were a little productive: we did three loads of laundry and Justin did some homework. But overall it was a really relaxing day spent together.

December 1

The morning of Saturday, December 1, was beautiful. The whole world outside was wrapped in clean white snow. It was soft and freshly fallen, still untouched except for in the roads. I decided to still go running while Justin went to play football. I was surprisingly in a happy mood. Everything was so lovely! The bare trees dripping under the weight of the snow, the perfectly smooth plateaus of white, the houses that looked like Christmas cards. I stopped to make a snow angel, my best one yet, and said hello to those outside shoveling their driveways. It wasn't even that cold outside. And the timing was perfect: the first day of December, the day I think of as the start of winter and Christmas. It set the mood for the rest of the day spent Christmas shopping and decorating. I love Heavenly Father's creations!

One Year Anniversary

Thursday, November 29, 2007, marked one year since Justin and I became girlfriend and boyfriend. It doesn't feel like it has been that long. A lot has happened in that one year, but it has all been worth it because it culminated to our eternal marriage in the temple.

I had planned on doing something cute for Justin, like making him a romantic note or buying something cute, but it didn't happen. When I got home, I expected Justin to be there waiting for me so we could get ready for our date night: dinner and a free classical concert. I knocked on the door so I wouldn't have to dig for my keys. No answer. It looked dark inside. Where is Justin, I wondered starting to get annoyed. I unlocked the door and stepped inside. It was dark and empty. And then I looked down.

There was a trail of almond kisses and rose petals leading me through the apartment, to the bathtub (with more petals, but the water had drained), and to the bed where a beautiful boquet of colorful roses and a romantic note lay waiting for me amid a sea of even more kisses and petals. Justin walked in the door looking gorgeous already dressed up to go out. I was so pleasingly surprised and happy. Justin is the most romantic guy in the world! I felt so ashamed that I had thought poorly of him when I first came home.

We went to P.F. Changs and then walked around the mall. We ended up not going to the concert and got dessert instead at Denny's. Then we drove home and watched Strictly Ballroom (I ended up falling asleep). It was such a sweet night being with my husband. I love him so much!