Journaling

At a recent Enrichment activity, we were asked to resolve and commit to a thing that has been hard for us. One thing that is hard for me is consistently journal. This week started out a bit hard but ended well. I got overwhelmed at the prospect of having three tests within only a couple of days of each other. But I managed to make it through the week and even though I still have a test tomorrow, I feel very confident in my knowledge and that I will be able to get a good grade. I am really enjoying my classes, especially ballet. I really needed to get my butt in gear again because I was lazy this last year after having Lorraine and ballet is a really good workout. Last night I had three girls come to my house for a study group. I was so happy to have them in my home. I realized how much I needed to socialize with someone my own age. We only ended up sitting around talking and did very little studying but it was still just wonderful to have some good people in my home.

Morgan and I have been doing really well and I am really grateful that he is so supportive of me on my bad days. Unfortunately, we really didn't get to spend much time together this week but hopefully next week will be less busy and we will maybe even get a date.

Lorraine has been great this week. She has nine teeth through the gums now! I think she even has a couple more trying to cut. She is also getting better and better at walking which makes me nervous because I know that it will only be a matter of time before she is running! I am really lucky that she is happy and healthy. Below are couple pictures I took tonight in the dress she got from Grandma this Christmas.




This week has started better than last, I went to church this morning (finally). I was having a really hard time with the time change of church and the last couple of weeks I couldn't get my butt out of bed for the most important meeting of the week. Even though Lorraine kept me busy running around I was still able to receive the sacrament and go to Relief Society. I am really grateful for the Relief Society. My RS president is one of the sweetest women I have ever met. She gave the lesson today and it was focused on uniting our RS by doing visiting teaching. I know that most of the visiting teaching lessons I've received in the past have left me feeling more guilty than uplifted but the one today gave me the encouragement I needed. I really do love the women that I visit teach. I just have allowed myself to get lax and lazy about making sure I see them each month. I am grateful for the women who visit teach me, who have never missed a month. It really is a blessed calling to be a visiting teacher. Let us all be better at it.

I hope that all y'all are doing well! I wish the best for all who read my posts! And if you ever need anything please let me know. I may not be able to actually be there to help, but I can definitely talk and listen!

Mary Kay Consultant

I am a new Mary Kay Consultant and I am trying to get my business going. I have a website where all can come to purchase and shop!

www.marykay.com/shannondeane

I really need your help to start my business, if you are here in Buena Vista, I would love to hold a skin care class for you! If your not, then at least take a look around my website.

I love Mary Kay because their products WORK! They are not the type of product that you would get at Wal-Mart that is watered down and doesn't work or last as long and it's NOT nearly as expensive as the products that you would get at the cosmetic counter in a department store. The skin care products are simply amazing. They have helped clear some of my acne scars that I got after I had Lorraine. They make my skin feel sooo soft. I wouldn't be trying to sell these products unless I believed in them.

January Fun

It has been a really long while since I last posted. This year will be the year when everything gets better, I pray. It was a rather eventful start of the year. Morgan and I spent New Year's going to Denny's for dinner and then went to bed early. Morgan was recovering from a cold and I was getting it. We were in St. George, Utah for the first day of the year and then we went back to Las Vegas to visit with my family before we came back to BV. We really enjoyed spending the holidays with all of our families but we were definitely glad to get back home to our life.

I have gone back to school this semester. I am taking 13 credits and enjoying all of the classes that I am taking. School is a lot easier this semester because I only have classes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I am taking three history classes, orchestra, lessons, and ballet. I think ballet is my favorite because it gets me to be more in tune with my body.

Morgan has finished his rough draft of his Master's thesis! I am glad that his program is almost over and he can graduate. He is working on getting a "real job," as a professor at colleges around the country. He has already applied to eight or nine colleges already. They are in Texas, Pennslyvania, and Florida. But we are open to living just about anywhere so long as it pays more than what we are making right now. We are definitely excited about being able to live somewhere new.



Lorraine turned one on the 18th. We celebrated by having cake and ice cream with a couple of close friends come over with their kids. She had fun with the cake! She is also walking around now! She also says yes and no, momma, daddy, hi, and even please sometimes. She waves hello and goodbye. She is just the happiest little girl I've ever seen! It's been to see her grow over the last year and I can't wait to see what she has in store for this year.

1-Year Old Pictures

Looking All Cute

"Scrunchy Face"

Model over the shoulder

Doll Face

Smiling a bit

Excited about the sled

Clap your hands

Beautiful Little Girl

Seeing Santa for the First Time

Today was the Army Christmas Party and Santa came to pay a visit. I am so glad that I brought my camera. It was so fun to see her on Santa's lap even if she didn't really know what was going on. She scored a cute cozy bear and a great little book!

Lorraine looking at Daddy trying to figure out if it was ok to be sitting on somebody else's lap.
Lorraine thinking about getting off Santa's lap.

Finally she looked at Mom, though she doesn't look too happy here. But she was a trooper and didn't even cry!

Helping Mom in the Kitchen

So Lorraine decided to pull stuff out of the cupboard and climb on in.

"Oh hey Mom, how are ya?"

I guess it's time to come out.
Hehe!

Table Food

These pictures are of Lorraine after eating pasta and marinara! Oh my was she messy, I threw her in the tub after this meal.

Smiling at Daddy.

Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving this year was a blast! We spent it with dear friends of ours the Callihans! We very much enjoyed the feast and their great hospitality. They don't get to see their grandchildren very much and they just loved having Lorraine there. They are her adopted grandparents now. Unfortunately I forgot about having a camera and we didn't get very many pictures.

Our family
Mommy and Lorraine

Daddy and Lorraine

Sipping on a bottle in the lap of Tom

Grinning away!

Cute Pictures of Lorraine

It has been a very long while since I last posted any pictures of Lorraine. She is growing up so fast! These are of her playing in the laundry basket after pulling everything out of it. Even though it was clean laundry and it was already folded I had a great time watching her play. She is about 10 months old now and just the happiest little girl. She is loving to eat anything that Mom will give her. She loves to crawl around the house and climb on everything. Soon she will be walking and I will be out of mind trying to keep up with her.

The Fourth Picture

Interestingly enough this is the fourth picture in my files on this computer. I took it a couple of days ago after I got my hair done. I tag Carrie, Anika, and anyone else that wants to post their fourth picture