Up and down...life is like that

So here it is...another flat tire. This is twice in one month. The first one could have been deadly. I was driving on the express way, going 60 mph talking to my handsome hubby. The one light-which I have never seen red, turned red-causing me to stop and as my light turned green I ended my conversation with nick and tried to climb to my original speed...then bang, my car pulled to the right, both hands were on the wheel as I gained control. Lucky, I had two hands and that I was at a low speed, or it could have ended not as nicely. Nick was surprised at the phone call he received with only a few second interlude. So I am on the side of the express way...teacher slacks and all...trying to change my tire. Laughable really. I know I had done it at some young women or relief society event a few times in my life...right? Well, God is in the details of our lives. As the sun lowered and darkness seemed to spread as quickly as my stress and panic; here came a truck with a couple in it, the husband who happens to work at discount tires. Five minutes and the dirty deed was done. My lovely friend and visiting teacher companion came to my aid and followed me home as I drove my big car over the weakening donut. Well a similar scene was played yesterday and today. My back tire, I guess, felt neglected and wanted attention, negative attention, so it too went flat. This time it picked up a lonely nail and became intimate friends with it. A horrible hole resulted. SO God sent me another guy, who works at the Saint Sophia Church who changed the tire (I didn't even try). Then my beautiful school Secretary followed me to the tire store, and my Principal drove be back to pick up my car with its new tire. What would I do with out the kindness of strangers and the powerful women in my life?

So in the ended I have felt a little flat this week. School work is getting Nick stressed, and worried. I have more issues with my bank and school is getting me down as well as the need for the change that I am hoping for. What a spiritual high from General Conference-then comes the trials...and they are not bad trials, they are just all at once it seems. But we have so many blessings...I thank heavenly father for them everyday in Spanish in our couple prayers. Exciting things are happening...and these little bumps in the road will flatten us at times, but God always sends us ways to get back up on our feet again.

SO I thought that I would update with a few fun photos from...February. Yep that is right, March is almost over and I am giving you February. Should I feel guilty...no...life is what I make of it and right now I am making...will with all the spare time that I allow myself to have, updates on our lives in moments, snap-shots or spotlights (reason for the new title change). Some fun moments: Seuss Day! So as you can tell from the pictures I as thing one. What a blast! All my students dressed up in their favorite book character and for a week we held "specials" where we were able to give extra care to our students. I taught all the students several songs from Seussical the Musical, which they performed that Friday. Rock stars, they all want to be rock stars-American Idol what have you done? So it was a loud performance-maybe not all in the same key...but...they were cute. Nick even celebrated by letting me read to him his first Seuss book. I am sure he has read or have had read some Seuss book before now, but he claims he hasn't. So he even got into the spirit-"couldn't help it when my wife is running around all in red with blue hair". Another fun moment came in Valentine's Day. We ate at Braza Grill. Okay, let me just say that Nick and I have been trying to eat healthy as of late and trying to prevent the genetic diseases that are seemingly awaiting us sometime down the road. We are veggie and fruit 'aholics' and are eating meat sparingly. So...here comes the night of all you can eat MEAT! The night started off wonderfully with a live acoustic guitar player and a fruity drink...then it went all down hill from there. Nick and I pride ourselves at never discriminating against anyone or thing-meat included this life motto and we dare each other to never turn the stick to red. You can imagine the end of the night. If not, let me help you. We were sweating, sweating meat and we were so scared to move from our seats when we were done, in fear of a digestion eruption, so we stayed there, eyes closed, telling out stomachs to let all the consumed food to pass through. As we finally got up, and thanked our host, he gave us one look and with his look of concern asked if we found everything to be okay, "We found it to be a little too good". What a night! Why do we put ourselves through this? Was it really worth the pain, sweat, tears and pounds. Well...that is still to be determined. After we left the restaurant we looked at each other and could not stop laughing...we looked ridiculous, so then we decided to dance off the meat outside of our favorite store, Barnes and Nobles. We giggled the whole time as we danced or more like waddled like stuff turkeys.
I had to put this picture in of Boston eating my chicken! IT made my week. This is a rooster that Nick had collected when he was in his collecting chickens phase (hence the reason we have the theme of roosters in our kitchen-not by choice but by necessity, where else were we to put all those rooster?)One thing that we dislike about being away from family is missing our nieces and nephews growing up. Seeing this picture made me not only laugh and realize I have one of the cutest nieces in the world, but that in little ways I can still be in their lives. So there you go, an update on some fun moments. More to come...sooner then later.
Nick and

life has flown by...

So here's a few pictures that I figured out how to post from my phone. . We don't have the internet at home in attempt to save money. So blogging has become difficult as a result. If anyone has figured out how to blog from their phones please let me know. So here is a fall picture stating that the season was too short and is missed. ..plus its my favorite season so why shouldn't it be spotlightes? Then one picture represents the Christmas season. Then the other is for me ready to make a huge change in my life in several areas in my life. So enjoy. More to come. ..hopefully.

September and October has come and gone...

Life here has been crazy...in a tearing you down, struggle and trail, refining sort of way. We feel stronger and joyful because of these pass two months-and things are just getting started.
So Nick is going to school for this masters at the U. This relationship is a love hate one, dysfunctional in most ways, but this is a wonderful gift of an opportunity that helps him take another step closer to his goal (Professor/Dean/President) we'll see where ambition takes us. He loves learning and this is been wonderful!
We celebrated our fourth year of marriage-and as a tradition I try on my wedding dress in an attempt to relive such a beautiful and scared day...and to make sure it fits...both were accomplished. I love Nick so very much and we celebrated our eternal unit with our favorite things; technology (we each got new cell phones-which also will be used as birthday presents), Food (we went to a fun Mediterranean restaurant and stuffed ourselves), Movies (Prince of Persia-loved it) and we of course we danced!
I am still working at my beloved Saint Sophia School, were right now I have a wonderful little class of ten and in the afternoons I have a friend/aid that helps me out. We just finished OXI night and it was even better than ever-it drained me pretty well, and I feel like I am just recovering-but it was a success. On to the Christmas program.
I also teach violin and cello lessons on the weekend, plus I work for the Hale by teaching acting classes. It is really fun and a perfect creative outlet for me. Plus the students are awesome and amazing which makes teaching even better!
We are loving our condo, and are still in it. We have had wonderful fall colors, rudely interrupted by a overly prompt snow. Thank goodness this was short lived...knock on wood. So there is a perfect surface up-date...oh and now I am 27...one year older and wiser too I am sure. That is our life, and life is good!

I love the mountains

So I finally felt it. I am finally understanding what others mean! I finally love the mountains. It has taken me such a long time to fully see them...to not feel trapped by them...and to realize their beauty. When Nick and I were driving we saw the sun rise...and not just in a "driving-glance-too-busy" look, but I really saw them. As I looked at the pinks, oranges, yellows and blues swirling and bursting against clouds and...silhouetted by these mountains...huge and magnificent plate created land forms that were wondrous and making me wish I had these as a view from my condo. I fell in love this morning. It was that simple and that fast. We are surrounded by them...and for the first time I feel lucky about it. Sure it traps in pollution that will affect me in some way in the future...but they are mountains-ROCKY MOUNTAINS! I can't wait to go camping in them this weekend-I feel like hiking and singing! In any case, I love the mountains and count them as a blessing. I still miss my beautiful Midwestern up-bring-but this desert mountain terrain I can get use to.