So...Jan 31st comes, and I'm thinking--not only has the New Year started, I already missed January!!! Woops! Let's take a step back to Christmas, shall we??--We had a blast going to Texas for what may have been our only complete family Christmas event. Every single person in each of our families was there, and we had so much fun! We started off in Houston, and got to enjoy seeing Sam with his first true experience with Santa. All he wanted and cared about were his French Fries. It was pretty funny. We went shooting, played lots of games, and had just a great time. Then, we headed down to my place in the Valley. We first met up in San Antonio, where I had the privilege of seeing two only members in their family get sealed, the 'young man' was an old friend of mine from High School, who was baptized when he was 16. He is such an example to us all-and the sealing was so special. It gave me a chance to play with my FABulous Christmas present from Alan--my new Camera...I'll show off my pictures here in a second. We got home, had a fun Christmas with the family--I'm pretty sure Jackson was the favorite for the Holidays:0)...We had a game day, movie nights, made excellent shrimp over a giant bonfire, Alan killed, plucked, and cooked his first chicken, took a trip to the Pulga (a flea market...so fun!), celebrated New Year's with lots of friends and family, had a scavenger hunt, and threw Rachelle a baby shower. That was an incredibly long list, so maybe I should just break it down with pictures. Alan's brother and sister in law, Scott and Theresa came down for a few days, and we had so much fun with them! I think Scott may have done a better job at killing the rooster than Alan, but don't tell! They were "so country" for a day! Very manly...I, myself, couldn't even watch. I had my sister take pictures for them. Speaking of her--I can not believe she is up here at school already! She is living in my old apartment,with my old roommate whom I adore, and I am pretty sure she is loving it--although she keeps trying to get Alan to do her Econ and Stats homework:0) It's been fun having her around. Alan is in his last semester. I am constantly amazed at the things he understands, but it's such a blessing for us--and I think it is hard for him to keep focused when he is working so hard to get a job in Chicago for "the future"...we're both just too excited about "the move." I think we have found a place to live-about 5 minutes from the campus, and one mile from the train station for Alan to be able to get to work in the city....it seems pretty ideal, and the payments aren't sounding like they'll break us too quickly!

We have been so good with our personal and family goals: We work out every day (P90X), and are budgeting better than ever! It's amazing how little you Want to spend, when you've worked so hard at not spending....If that made sense.

We taught the Combined Lesson Sunday on learning to Recognize the spirit in our every day lives, and it was so much fun to feel like we were back on the mission again--teaching out of Preach My Gospel, asking questions, and really feeling of others' testimonies through their responses. It was amazing to me just to look back on this week alone, as we have been preparing to teach this topic, and recognize the Roles the Spirit has played in our lives alone recently. Alan found out His mother was diagnosed with cancer this week, and my dear friend that has been struggling with cancer for about 2 years now, has just been told there is nothing more they can do...The Comforter has been an active role in our lives, as we have felt peace in our knowledge of the Plan. Yesterday, we got a phone call telling us one of our friends was killed in a car accident Fri night, on his way home from Work. He hit a moose in the intense fog we had, and was killed instantly. It broke our hearts as we thought about his poor wife. They were married just before us--not quite a year ago. I really don't know what I would do, but again, the Spirit has helped us by bringing to remembrance lessons we have learned and peace we have felt before. We have felt all we can do is simply to keep living life to the fullest and make as many wonderful memories as we can. It has been week for learning, and just trying to feel better. Alan planned a GREAT date night on Friday, and it was one of the best times we've had. We gathered all the change we could find, rented a PBS documentary on The Pentagon (if you really know us...hehe), bought dinner with the change, pretended the power was out and did everything by candle light, and glow in the dark sticks, played blackjack, where the tokens each have a 1 minute massage value, (I collected 22 tokens, Alan collected 8--what can I say? I'm good with cards.), and we made our own ice cream out of snow that we collected from the like 9 inches that fell that day! It was a real blast--I really do have the best husband. We are trying to be better about getting on our schedule after so many changes, me being so sick, and our callings. Trying...

I swear I have changed Visiting Teaching routes about 6 times in the last 3 weeks, submitted over 25 names for callings, updated our directories, and tried really really hard to help the sisters feel how much we love them.... It's been a very busy month. We now have a whopping 115 sisters in the ward, and about 15 babies that will have been born between early Dec and April. It's amazing the service that I have seen extended from the Sisters in the ward. I learn so much from each one of them. It's just overwhelming to think that the Lord would allow me to be a part of each and every one of their lives. It truly blesses my life each day, though. I suppose there isn't much else to say except we are so blessed, and I hope you'll take the time to count and consider your own blessings. It's such a joy to be a part of this gospel, and to associate with the Lord's earthly angels about their business. I just feel today....Grateful. So here are some pictures of all the things and people we have to be grateful for in our lives.

The fam in our SNUGGIES!

Could there be a cuter boy?!

Alan and his first chicken-murdering experience

My attempt at recapturing creativity in my photography...Let me know what you think of the pics. Obviously, I'm just beginning to get back into it!

So...I suppose the only other news is the birth of our newest nephew, Jacob, and the fact that we will be leaving this little town of Rexburg in oh...a little over 2 months now. Until then, we'll just keep working hard and getting ready for our next adventure.