Thanksgiving with the Hermansens

This thanksgiving was so fun for me and Justin. We went to Richfield Utah were my grandparents live. We were there with my dads family who are the loudest, most out of control, hilarious people in this world. They are the kind of family that when you leave your cheeks hurt for days after. As tradition the boys went golfing while us woman took care of dinner (that sounds so archaic, but let's be honest we didn't really want them to cook). Justin has many talents and gifts golf is NOT one of them. Bless his heart he really tries hard and is actually getting better.

I love my family so much. I am truly blessed to have so many people who love and care for me. I also feel so blessed to be apart of Justin's family too. They are just as amazing. It is great to be reminded of what this time of year is all about. It is about spending time with those you love and showing them your love. It is not about the material things that this time of year can draw our mind to. I think that it is ironic that we spend a whole day just thinking about all that we are thankful for, being with family, and rejoicing in all our many blessings. Then the very next day we go right back to consumerism and thinking about the stuff that we don't have but want. I am going to try really hard this year to not get up in the whole thing and just think about how blessed I am to have a great husband, a home, and a loving healthy family.

My beautiful amazing grandma. She is such an example of the strength of a woman to me. The lady raised four out of control boys, started businesses, beat cancer, and did million things in between. She is absolutely incredible.

Movin' on up... hopefully!

Our house is officially for SALE!!!! Jusin and I have found a townhouse in American Fork that we are hoping will be our new home. The challenge now is just finding a buyer for our house now. Which I am sure will prove easier said than done. So keep your fingers crossed for us!! Also like molly and ben we don't have kids so we just take pictures of our baby mowgly.

Oh and we saw the greatest display of multi-tasking. A woman in her car was driving, talking on her cell phone, putting on mascara and holding a cup of coffee with the same hand. These are people that no cell phone laws are totally wasted on, because they will just find another way to endanger themselves and other drivers.

I am getting the hang of this.

I wanted to give a more thorough update on what we are doing here in Utah. Justin is in still in school... there is light at the end of the tunnel; he will be graduating next year. He is also helping coach the BYU men's volleyball team. We just got done got done with club volleyball tryouts and they were very successful. Since Justin isn't one for bragging and i am, I will say he is the best coach/person i have ever met. He cares so much about honesty and what is better for other people it gives me hope for the world. I am working as a teachers aid in an elementary school. It is a class of children with autism. I am also awaiting the day when I can return to being a professional student. Oh by the way that is not really our cat playing volleyball, but if he did this is what he would look like. (hehe)

As far as my new job is concerned I feel myself becoming a better person everyday I walk into the classroom. People, it seems are so afraid when they here autism and I was one of them. I have to say though these kids are the sweetest and most innocent I have ever met. Everyday they teach me what the true meaning of patience really is. I have learned that it is not just enduring, or riding something out, but taking the time to understand then resolve. It is so awesome as well when you see them win the little battles. As cliche as this sounds I feel that I was blessed with this opportunity because I am supposed to learn from these children not the other way around. One of the best lessons I have learned so far is that I do have the skills to be a mother. I have never been confident in my maternal instincts, but since working with these kids I have learned that do have some after all. I am also learning other great things about how be a good parent. Now the daunting idea of someday having kids of my own doesn't send me into an anxiety attack. To sum it up I feel that since I cannot be in "school" I need to continue to look for opportunities like these to learn new things. I just have to remember to be proactive about it.

I'm Here in the Blogging world

After much trepidation in starting one of these things, I have done it. Thank you to Sharisa and Miriam for pushing me over the edge. I am glad that I can now have a place to keep family and friends updated on our seemingly exciting life. For those of you who know me well, know that I hate my cellphone and never really have it with me or ever really look at it for that matter. So I hope that I can be better at updating this than I am at answering my phone. So here I go... Justin and I are living in Utah with our little kitty. Justin is going to school and coaching volleyball, yes volleyball consumes our lives. I am working at an elementary school in a class of Autistic children. They are funniest kids in the world. We have a volleyball club that this year is going to be the biggest volleyball club in Utah. (ya) Both Justin and I are from California and miss it so much. Justin graduates soon which means that life can really begin.
I have recently rekindled a passion for photography, I love to go up in the mountains and take all the beauty in. I have spent the last two years here in Utah just thinking about how much really miss California and not taking in the beauty that surrounds me here. Utah is breathtaking! The Mountains, really are amazing. It has really made me realize that my contentment has everything to do with me and nothing to do with what surrounds me. As long as I have Justin, Mowgly, and the other things that I love I can be happy anywhere.