September was the beginning of the busy. Tyler started tests and practicals, and my sister finally got the OK to go on her mission and wanted us to go through the Temple with her, so we headed up to Palmyra with her and spent the weekend. It was a WONDERFUL experience. I'd been there before with the youth of my church when I was 17, and it was so much fun, but I was expecting to feel something there in the Sacred Grove and I didn't. I came away thinking it was a beautiful place but nothing "special" if that makes sense. Special, but not special? Haha, anyway, this time I was with my kids, husband and family. We drove into the parking lot and I lost it before we even got out. It was the weirdest thing! I cry a lot (thank you birth control) anyway now, but this was something else! And a few weeks after this happened, I realized that I didn't need that "special moment" back when I was 17, because I was already on a spiritual high. But being on your own, so to speak, makes a lot of things more meaningful. I didn't feel the spirit back then because I needed to feel it when I was there this year. It helped my testimony grow. This is the true church! I've never felt anything so powerful before.
October was a bit busier. I started Lyndi in Joy School and she LOVES it. And with that, I teach two weeks out of every eight weeks. Sometimes it's a little chaotic, but so much fun! So I taught in October and then Emerie had her first birthday (man how times flies) with a little party with friends. Tyler's grandma passed away so he was out in Utah on his birthday and the ward Halloween party, which was a lot of fun! We had a party with friends when he got back. Emerie started walking, which has brought on a whole lot of new things. She was already a good climber, and so she began walking on things like the coffee and kitchen table, which brought on a whole new set of heart attacks for me. Lyndi learned to write her name and a few other things, and also learned to talk back to me :) so fun.
November was a bit calmer, just Christmas shopping, lots of studying and practicing for Tyler, and then Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was with a bunch of friends and it was way fun! I've never had it completely without family before, and it was a really good time! Emerie at this point had been teething for about 4 months with nothing to show for it, so that was a blast ;)December was hectic, yes hectic. I've never experienced such a busy Christmas season before, and I know that this is just the beginning. We had something going on several nights every week, which is crazy because we never do anything! But between teaching, baking, shopping, parties, birthdays, dr. appts., ward functions, ward callings, and traveling, it was a busy busy month. We had Christmas at my mom's house, and then it all seemed to settle down. Sigh of relief inserted here.
Tyler had 10, yes 10 practicals this semester and the girls and I noticed a big difference in the amount of time we saw him. It was a bit of a lonely semester. (I will just take a second and say how grateful I am for the friends I have made here and how much they mean to me in my times on extreme loneliness and cabin fever! I have never made so many friends that have been in the exact same boat as me before and I have really learned to rely on them!) On top of being in class from 8-5, he would come home, eat, go back and study until 8, and then practice for his practicals from 8-11 a LOT of the time. And then the weekend would come along and I would think "Yay! I get to see him!" And then meetings, or moves, or something for Elder's Quorum would pop up. Darn it :) I'm grateful for his calling, I really am, sometimes it's a little much but it's taught me patience, independence, and to reach out to others (aka previously mentioned friends) for help and comfort. And he's such a natural at his calling too, he doesn't even blink an eye when he's asked to do something, which is another thing I'm grateful for. I'm a greedy person and value my time with him, but know at this point in our lives, I have to share the better part of him with everyone else ;) But as busy as he was, he ended his semester well and we had a great Christmas break! Sorry this was so long again.... maybe I SHOULD post more than once every semester... haha.
