We're a sneaky bunch!

This was a great FHE (family Home Evening: a night we set aside for family time where there are two songs and prayers, a spiritual thought and a fun activity) After singing our Christmas song we decided to deliver the goodies we made...in the dead of night, as sneaky as we could...really we giggled like school kids the whole time...and we were wearing brighter colors then we should, but it's the thought that counts...right?



We delivered to our new friends that we get to visit at least once a month plus others. This picture is funny because as I put the goodies down I heard the song that was coming from the movie that was playing inside, "No life...without wife" Start to sing it if you know it (pause) I was singing it too. Yep I heard Bride and Prejudice, fully Bollywood, playing loud and clear. I had to take a picture!!







Here is Nick and his handsome sneaky self...he really did the better job out of the two of us...I guess I'm a giggler-who knew. All in all it was a fun night-addresses were a nightmare to figure out (that is an understatement!), but we loved it!!

Hello there everyone!! We just sent out Christmas Cards!! And we know that we did not have enough for all the people we wanted to wish a Merry Christmas to, so we hope that if you have not recieved one, know it is not because we do not love or miss you, but that we did not plan ahead and time, money and stamps ran out. We even had to hold on the tradition of sending a Christmas picture. We had three attempts that ended in failure, so it was not to be this year. But we want you to have a copy of the year summary-in the form of the newsletter, and to hear us wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year-so enjoy!!!

THE ROMRIELL

CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER January through December of 2008

Here we are again closing another year, thankful for our health, faith and family. We hope this year, though trying at times, has been good for everyone. This year has had a lot of ups and downs, from senior projects, to graduation, real jobs to no jobs to jobs again. We are thankful we made it!!

The year started off with Jennifer’s senior project, directing “A Doll House”. With ambition to direct the show in a fresh and original style, her show received acclaim, and recognition, not to mention an A+. She also got involved in the community by organizing a week long event, with workshops and talk backs that discussed issues from the play. Nick headed up his student government with full force, and pushed for the first Monty the Mountaineer Mascot. This has been a failed attempt in the past, but with Nick’s talent of collaboration, he worked with the feuding sides, and soon there was a dancing Mascot at the basketball games. The rest of the year had the same intense involvement with committees, clubs, callings, and our last theatre performance together, “Spring into Broadway”, a fundraiser for scholarships at Eastern Oregon University (EOU). Jen sang while Nick played drums.

Then our EOU career came to an end, as we sang a duet, “Hail Eastern Oregon” at out graduation in June! Jen graduated in Theatre with a focus in directing and an ESL minor. Nick graduated in Business Administration with a focus in management and a minor in music. Nick received a few awards in business and leadership and Jen received a few theatre awards. Nick also ended the year with, according to the Dean of Students, one of the highest functioning and most productive student government in the past 30 years, him being one of three of the best student body presidents EOU has ever seen. In the summer, Nick finished his 40 page research paper for his senior project (receiving an A) while Jen directed the Youth Theatre program, “HONK!” Good-Bye EOU and on to Salt Lake City Utah.

Nick was hired at American General, down in Utah. We had a weeks notice. Through miracles, family and friends, we packed up everything we owned, found an apartment, moved in, and celebrated Labor Day. With Old Faithful (our ’87 Buick) we’ve learned our way around the compass grid, gotten involved in church (ward missionary and primary counselor), community (SABU Help - an organization started by one of Nick’s co-workers from student government that helps African families financially) and Jen got a job - not in theatre - but as a Kindergarten Teacher at a Greek Orthodox private school. She’s also the music director and put together OXI Night (a celebration about the independence of Greece and the best version they’ve ever seen according to a few sources) and the Christmas program. Troubles soon hit when the parent company of American General - AIG got into some financial struggles (a big understatement). After only two months of working he was let go. The recession struck hard in our little home, but when you get knocked down-you get up again. He studied for the GMAT, and turned his sights toward grad-school. The Lord is good, for he gave us another miracle - Nick was offered his job back at the same pay and at the highest performing branch in Utah - just five minutes away from home. So this year ends on a high note. We thank you all for your support, prayers and love. We are so blessed because of it!! We love you all!!! Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

We love Swetha Sada!! This is just news and miracles that have to be shared! Our dear friend has finally been able to be baptized. You can see Nick and I taking our old missionary poses...I just about laughed right out loud!! Old habits die hard. We were so happy for her, and it was a hard battle, but what a sweet spirit that was there that night! For those that are unfamiliar with baptism, it a commitment, or we call it covenant, a promise to God to take the Lord's name upon you, to always remember Him and to keep His commandments. And when we promise this, the Lord promises the gift of the Holy Ghost, as a constant companion. We, as it states in Romans 6, bury our old life, ways and habits and rise out of the water new, fresh, clean, and pure. We have, as Nephi described, entered into the gate that leads to eternal life. This is what Swetha, a new believer in Christ wanted more than anything in the world.


This was a story that involved a lot of faith, prayers, fasting and miracles. I won't go into details, for blessings and miracles from the Lord should not be paraded about, but I will say that everyone involved had their own testimonies, or faith strengthen. God answers prayers! We prayed and fasted as one stumbling block after another seemed to stand in the way, but miracles would come, that could only be done by a God that is involved in every detail of our lives. This I know to be absolute truth.


We have a dear friend for life now, and she has even invited us to visit her Hindu family in India! How exciting!!! We are willing and ready for that adventure!! But I just had to share the overwhelming joy and gratitude that I, and I am sure many others have felt from this event. The Lord lives, and those that seek Him and His truth will find it. We and many more have and stand as a witness to it. We know that the hard part is not over, there are many more stumbling blocks to come, but as Swetha's journey to Christ showed-With God NOTHING is impossible!

Thanksgiving!!!

Okay, so it's been five weeks and I have not posted as of late. So I thought now-during my two week break of boredom, restlessness and no kinders(tear)-I would update this blog! Here is Nick and I ready to feast at the Thanksgiving Dinner spread we all worked so hard on. We are hungry! For my family, note the crab dip right in front of me and the pickles and cheese on the far left! Yes I was keeping the tradition alive. And then I made my first attempt of potatoes-mashed!! It was a hit!!! We were so blessed to eat over at our dear friends, the Tibbs!! We adore them! It was so fun to cook...a lot of the items on our own for the first time-Catherine and I had a
blast!!! So this is Matt, taking pictures of our handy work...we had pretty busy hands...yep we made enough to feed an army!!! All this food for four...just four. We were so stuffed!!!!! At such a time we were so thankful for the blessings, friends and seconds we had!! We lived off this food for almost a week. Just looking at it makes me hungry again!







Here is beautifully pregnant Catherine, preparing everything. This is her first time she has gotten to use her china...we felt so special! We even used the tea cups and Wiesel (I think that;s how you spell it) in it...first time I have ever had that, but I hope it won't be the last! So all in all Thanksgiving was so much fun. And even though we missed our families, it was such a nice blessing to have such good friends, excited and new to this whole "Thanksgiving thing on your own" as we were.

Kindergarten fun!

Okay, as I was talking to my sister, two more stories came to mind that I wanted to share. My kids are cute...they are, but at times it seem like they become more like sheep that smrt little ones. If one student does something, then they all do the same thing. For example, they were all swinging form vines the other day. Indiana Jones seems to be the hot topic of this week, and one of the students claimed to be a huge fan of the movie and showed the class his favorite part...swinging from a vine. I've not seen the movie myself, but according to the kids reactions and the magic of pretend, he did the movie justice. One thing, however, was really off...the theme music. Picture this kid swinging from a pretend vine singing at the top of his lungs the most off key, up and down, slightly familiar theme song. I laughed right out loud. Then comes the sheep. I think I need to see the movie now...he sure peaked my interest. Then another time I was teaching and I noticed something about one of the kids. You see, it is a constant struggle to keep things out of kid's mouths at times and at this time, I looked at the student and his lips were blue, more so in the center-deep blue. And instead of asking him not to chew on markers-as I should have-I asked, "Bill...have you been chewing on markers?" He said, "No". I caught him red-handed, or blue lipped I should say. I laughed right out loud. How could you not laugh? I guess these stories are ones that you have to see, but I love these kids so much! Blues lips and swinging vines, there is never a dull moment.