In a whirl

Hey everyone!

It's been an embarassingly long time since I've updated. My head is still spinning from this past school semester, which I barely survived (academically speaking).

Here's a list of big highlights you may have missed:

1. I never mentioned it here (shame on me) but on November 7th I got engaged! If you're curious, here's a link to our wedding website. It has the story of how we met and how he proposed, etc.

2. Zach and his parents came down to Arizona for Thanksgiving, because he has grandparents just a few hours north of Mesa. It was a crazy and hectic week, but we really enjoyed it.

3. Zach was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder called Graves Disease. We're still sorting out all his symptoms and new prescriptions, but are relieved to finally have some answers. He hasn't been quite himself the past few weeks, but things have taken a turn for the better.

4. Zach's best friend started asking my roommate/second cousin out on a few dates. They are now talking non-stop, and we all hope it goes somewhere! Zach and I feel like two little matchmakers.

5. I spent the few days before Christmas with Zach's family in California! The weather felt like a miracle after Rexburg's ice and snow. We had fun at the beach with a few of our friends, and I got to help decorate the Emmons family tree. It was his mom's birthday on the 22nd, so I helped celebrate there too.

6. Also on the 22nd, I got a new niece! Chloe Lynne Olave was born and gave us all quite a scare. She was in the NICU for about three days with liquid in her lungs. Happily, she made a good recovery and came home on Christmas Day. My parents and younger sisters are here in town with us, and it's been lots of fun.

7. I finished my internship well, and was promised a job as the substitute librarian when Linda goes to Ethiopia (probably end of February). Exciting? Absolutely!

So now I'm just chilling in my apartment, which would be empty except that my younger sisters are staying with me. Hallelujah for that! I really need a job, so I'm applying online for a job at Pizza Hut.

I'm also compiling a large list of books I want to read now that school is over. I plan on reading most of the "hot item" books from the junior high. =]

Today is Fast Sunday. I think we have good things in store.

I'm teaching Relief Society today, Lesson 45. It's amazing. Wish me luck!

I found this beautiful video on YouTube. Don't let the familiar soundtrack distract you!

Life = more than homework

... right?

It's hard to keep a long-term perspective on things when you're bogged down with homework. I just feel like this:

But ya know. Life goes one.

Anticipating the holidays!

Okay, so I promised my roommates I wouldn't put up my Christmas tree until mid-November. But it's going to be hard to keep that promise!!!! It's cold and wintery and I just want it to be Christmas.

On the other hand, it's still pretty exciting seeing all the Halloween and Fall stuff everywhere! We found a jack-o-lantern tablecloth in our closet, and we freaked out. Hooray for being festive! The only real problem is... I don't know what will I be for Halloween! =]

Last night Zach and I went to the Spirit Week rodeo. Sooo fun. We brought apple cider in a thermos, and ate homemade fried burritos on the way there. Delish. We both agreed we were jealous of the riders' skills, especially the five year old in the barrel racing competition. =] It was kind of funny though, they didn't play country music in the background! It was Black Eyed Peas, Jimmy Eat World, etc. lol. College town.

I decided I love kids books a lot. I've been reading a bunch of young adult books from the Jr. High library as part of my internship hours (I know, awesome, right???), and they are so much fun. I was rolling my eyes a lot at first, but... come on. Who can resist slipping back to the hope and innocence of being 13?

Armageddon Summer, by Jane Yolen & Bruce Coville

"Did we do wrong in believing, Marina?" Mom asked suddenly.

"Never in believing, Mom," I said. "Just in what we believed."

Half Moon Investigations, by Eoin Colfer

"All eyes were on me again, and not in a nice Oh, look at that handsome young man in the shiny shoes, I wonder if he's single kind of way. It was more of a nasty If he doesn't come up with the goods in ten seconds, let's lynch him kind of way."

Once Upon a Marigold, by Jean Ferris

"Whose idea is this?" she demanded. "In the first place, I don't care if Christian is royalty; I'd marry him if he were a goatherd. And in the second place, he hasn't asked me. And in the third place, I'll not have him railroaded into something he doesn't want to do. Where's Mother? I'll tell her myself that there's going to be no wedding today."

"But I want one," Christian said, trying to get out from under the pile of dogs. "The only thing I want in all the world is for you to be my wife. We can sort out the rest of the stuff later."

"Oh," Marigold said.

Her sisters grabbed her and dragged her off to get dressed.

Competition?

Today Enoch picked me up to babysit Emma Leigh. As soon as I walked in the door, the first thing she said to me was, "Where Set [Zach]?" He came later because he was taking a test.

I brought cookies to share with her, one for each of us. She made sure to set aside Zach's cookie on a special plate from her tea set. The whole time it was on the coffee table now, she kept reminding me that it was "For Set." lol.

A few minutes ago we had a little argument. It went like this:

"That's my Zach."

"Nooo, my Set!"

"Um, no. MY Zach."

"NO, MY Set!!!"

Needless to say, he has made a good impression. lol.

We love Emma. Babysitting is our favorite time of the week

Happy in Love!

What I Learned Today:

Rhetorical means more than "don't answer that."
My only class today was Eng 450, Rhetorical Studies. (Which sounded like a funny name for a class that gives exams, until I thought about what "rhetorical" actually means.) I love my teacher, and the people I sat next to are very friendly and easy to talk to. It sounds like an intense-but-worth-it kind of class. The only real thing that I'm worried about is how time-consuming it will be, and the fact that the teacher wants us to bring our laptops to class. (I have enforced a strict no-folding rule on my cracked laptop. That means if I want to take it to class I'd have to hold it open on my lap while riding my bike. lol. Doesn't that image make you think of a circus?)

Word of the Day: Super
After class, I coasted on down to Main St. to the Jr. High for my internship. I was super excited, and I wasn't disappointed! The atmosphere is super laid-back. I don't have to dress up too much, my supervisor is super nice, and I get to spend all day organizing, labeling, checking-out, and recommending books to super cute kids. Hooray!!!!

Tomorrow's Forecast: Partly sunny with a high of 19 textbooks and a low of 2 class periods