t minus 3 hours

Adam's interview is today, not tomorrow. In 3 hours. We fasted yesterday and Adam feels confident about it. I'm having a major bout of nerves right now. I just want them to give the formal offer on the phone call instead of making us wait even longer. Get it over with already! We've only been waiting on these people since October!

Emma!

I know we're really lousy about taking pictures, so I thought I'd go the extra mile and actually make a video this time, so you all can see her smiling and hear her laughing. Enjoy!

Updates at last

I finally did a few things on my page. I have a few more to do but I thought I'd let you know now anyway. I have a new question answered and I updated my favorites page. When I first put that section up I thought it would be easy to think of categories to list favorites in. It's not easy. If anyone has suggestions I'd be glad to think about them.

Tonight we are watching Joshy while his mom and dad have a night away for Nathan's birthday. When we first put him to bed I thought what a simple task that was. Then he started calling for Grandpa. After 5 or 10 minutes Grandpa gave in and went and got him so now they're watching TV together and will probably both fall asleep in the recliner, soon. I sure do love spending time with my grandchildren.

Sorry about the scare this past week. The doctors didn't find anything wrong and I'm feeling much better. Thanks for all the calls and prayers.

Love always,
MOM

I made it a goal

So I'd better post on here. It's one of my resolutions to write on the Family and Sisters blogs at least once a week. I didn't actually set this goal until after January 1st. Since my birthday isn't until the 14th I think that the new year can start then for me.
My other resolutions are
1) Write in journal at least once a week. I really need to work on this one.
2) Drink a half gallon of water a day. I have a half gallon water bottle to help me with this. I usually drink about half of it in a day. I did meet this goal once. I've been doing this for about two weeks.
3) Exercise for 30 minutes three times a week. I haven't this one yet but I'm planning to soon.
4) Write to my friends who are on missions at least once a month. This would include my friend Amy Christensen (Spain) who gets home March 11, Sister Jennifer Lee my former companion who gets home March 25, and Sarah Durtschi who leaves for Temple Square February 18. And any other friends who leave this year.

Since Jared hid my blog, I guess I'll have to post any big news on here :P

job search update

So I'm not sure who knows this whole thing, but here's the situation for Adam's job search ... He has of course applied for a ton of jobs, and he wants to work for the federal government. He got only one interview in October with the Army Corps of Engineers which is yes, under the Army's administration, but mostly employs civilians and Adam would be in a civilian position. So no military assignments or deployments or time commitments or anything.

The interview went very well in October - Adam felt really good about that job. They said they'd do callbacks for 2nd interviews in November, but we never heard from them. So we figured it was gone. Then out of the blue in December, in the middle of Adam's finals, he DID get a callback with the USACE. The 2nd interview was the week before Christmas with the General Counsel, who is the top attorney for the entire Corps, here in DC. It was supposed to be a 45-minute interview, and it lasted almost an hour and a half. That's a GOOD thing. They said they'd get back to him after the holidays but to email his preferences on a specific list of offices that had openings.

At the end of last week, he got a phone call from the Corps office in Vicksburg Mississippi to schedule a 3rd interview. It's not scheduled yet because the lead Counsel for that office is out of town until next week, but Adam will most likely have to fly down for the interview (and could look at apartments at the same time). We will hopefully have this resolved with a final offer and commitment by the end of the month so we can turn in our notice at our current apartment.

We are figuring this is it - we just need everything to be finalized. And to be perfectly honest, we've had the "We're going to Vicksburg" vibe since the 1st interview in October. We of course would love to stay in the DC area and we'll be sad to leave, but it seems like it's time to move on. My frustration with the whole job search/interview process is that I just want it over already so I know what's going on. But at the same time, NOT knowing way far in advance means that I stay focused on the here and now because I have no idea what the future is.

We'll let you know when the last interview is scheduled and everything is finalized. If/when we move for this, we'll be headed to Vicksburg in March. Here comes the Southern tour of duty ...

ADDITION: About an hour after posting this, Adam called to tell me he got the scheduling phone call from Vicksburg: Tues. Jan. 27, 2 pm, on the phone. He does not have to fly down to Mississippi for it.

reunion notes

1. Mom put in the sisters' blog comments that she thinks the Palmer reunion should be in December with Mindy and Aaron's wedding, so if you can afford to travel only once this year, skip the July Beers reunion and go to Oregon in December. Is that now the official policy? Or is it up for discussion? Does anyone disagree or have concerns? If you do, why? I have no opinion yet - I'd like to hear what other people think first.

2. I think the Beers reunion, since it's in Oregon, should be BEFORE July 25, or at least include that weekend. July 25 is the last day the Portland Temple is open this summer before the 2-week cleaning break. If we're going to do a group endowment session, it has to be on July 25 or before, or wait until the end of August but I thought that option was out for the reunion.

3. Since the Rexburg finals don't end until July 23, that kinda puts the squeeze on the temple idea. Just so the planning board is aware of it, I guess.

4. Mindy, I checked Target for leftover clear-out Christmas stuff but everything was already gone. Sorry. I know I have blue and/or silver stuff, so when I get my decorations back out next fall, I'll see what I have to contribute. I definitely have a lot of silver garland, but it is getting kinda beat up - I've had it the entire time we've been married so 5 Christmases. We have white lights.

That's all I can think of right now.

December plans

I know it's a good year away, but when purchasing plane tickets a lot of warning is a good thing. There was a discussion through comments on the sisters blog about when/where the wedding will take place. Aaron and I have decided to get married in Portland, sometime at the end of December. (His parents don't know this yet, so that'll be a fun discussion.) There was talk of a Palmer Christmas reunion at some point, so will this be the time? Or do we all gather at the same time as the Beers reunion this summer? Mom said we should do it at Christmas, but I guess everyone should have a vote on that. As for the actual date of the wedding, we're still not sure. Aaron isn't done with school until the week before Christmas, and I'd rather be with the family for Christmas Eve/morning, so the soonest would be the 26th, or the following week on the 29th or 30th. Then we would head north to Canada for a reception before getting to Idaho in time for school to start (this year it started on the seventh).

Along the same lines, if anyone finds inexpensive Christmas decorations (since it is after Christmas now), and wouldn't mind picking them up for the wedding, that would be great. Our colors will be white, silver and blue - a true blue, light or dark, but not teal or aqua. Ribbon, garland, oranaments, lights, whatever. Just something to keep our eyes open for, since it all should be on sale.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Hooray! I manged to get on this time. Sometimes I can't get on to the website to post or comment. We'll see how it goes, now. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas; I certainly did. It was great having three grandchildren here and watching them. Christmas morning with little ones is so much fun.

I'm working on setting some goals for the new year. I think 2009 is going to be a much healthier year for me. I hope to accomplish a few more things on my 100 list.
I'm looking forward to the reunion in the summer. We still don't have an exact date for it. I sure hope everyone can come and join us.

I have several updates to get on my page and I'll work on them in the next few days. I need to answer the questions I've asked and some of you have answered. Now it's time for that special question you've all been waiting for. What did you learn in 2008? I'll work on that question first then get back to the others.

Sure do love you all.

MOM

My birthday

I would like to thank everyone with birthday calls (Trina, it was so nice hearing Rosemary talk), cards (including an e-mailed card), presents, and wishes for a happy birthday. Thank you.

We had the cake and birthday dinner on Saturday, because Nathan, Amanda, Joshua, and Tawnia were going to Salem for the weekend. And then on Sunday, I went to church. The Primary kids sang happy birthday. Eric made Chinese. Then Aunt Marli, Sarah, and certain Dicksons came over in the evening. We had great fun playing "In the Manner of the Adverb." Sam was great -- he held hands with his wife hungrily and pulled weeds reverently. And I had great fun brushing my teeth suspiciously and watching a movie defiantly. It was so funny.

I hope you all are having a great Christmas. I got a new dress, a couple of movies, and five books, including a fantasy trilogy by Terry Brooks (which I'm greatly enjoying) and "Rebekah" by Orson Scott Card. And I've been having fun with my niece and nephews.

the proposal story

So Aaron and I have been talking about getting married for a while, but had decided it would be best to wait until next summer to get engaged. He wanted to ask Mom and Dad's permission, and we didn't want to be engaged for a long time. Basically, I was not expecting anything.

We were spending Christmas Eve at his mother's house out in Cremona, with all of his family. Due to family circumstances and plans we opened all the presents on Christmas Eve after a large dinner. I was happy, watching them all open things, and collecting quite a stash myself as well. Didn't have a clue what was coming up. Thinking back on it though, he couldn't seem to sit still the entire night, like he was waiting for something to happen. Anyway, we all looked around at one point and figured that everything had been opened. That's when Aaron went back behind the tree and pulled out a little red box.

He brought the box over to me, where I was sitting on the floor, and kinda got down on one knee. I pulled off the lid and found a sparkly pink heart necklace and matching pink earrings.



I can't remember exactly how the rest happened, since I was in a daze, but I think he held out his hand with ring number one, and said something like, "I think this would look great with those."



He slipped it on my ring finger and said, "You can wear that until we get THIS one re-sized." And then he went back up to the tree, pulling a little box down from near the angel.



This time, he got down on one knee and said, "I know we've been talking about it, but here's the official question: will you marry me?" I got all blubbery like a girl and started crying and somehow remembered to say yes. (And so we're all clear, the ring isn't purple, it's a pink sapphire.)



We hugged and kissed and his family said hooray. And then I asked, all startled like, "Did you ask my parents?!" He chuckled and said yes .. that was who he had been on the phone with the day before, when I was yelling at him that he would be late for work, and he said it was his mom. And then I called everyone and walked around in a daze.

To answer the other question: the wedding will hopefully be next Christmas, or the following August. Either when he finishes school (next December), so he can move down here while I finish, or when we're both done (I graduate in July 2010) and I can move up to Canada where we plan on living.

pictures

Christmas pictures are on my personal blog now. Hope everyone enjoyed the snow in Oregon - wish we could have been there with you!

FHE

I found this in an old journal and just had to share it.

"Dec 17, 1995

...we came home and had family home evening.

I was lesson and for that we watched "Mr. Krueger's Christmas." It is one of my favorite Christmas movies. Our special number by Eric was interesting. He asked Trina and I to join in whistling "Love at Home," but we kept laughing, so we sang "Joy to the World."

Last we had activity, a round of "Do You Love Your Neighbor?" and then some catch. Then we ate some vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips on it."

Salem Winter Wonderland

Hey everyone. We aren't getting nearly as much snow as Lafayette but here are some pictures from the past couple of days.

Bush on 12-21-08



Bush on 12-22-08

Parking lot 12-22-08

On 12-21-08 Joshua couldn't take being inside anymore and so we ventured out into the wintry paradise.

On the 21st again playing with what he called icicles.

We had fat flakes this morning (22nd) and we went out to see them.

When this picture was taken the room was only lit by half a dozen candles. Joshua is holding a flashlight and that is a windy LED light on his play mat. Our power was out most of the day yesterday, but came back on at 7:30 pm.

On the 21st I wandered over to Minto Brown Island Park across the street and took some pictures. The interesting thing is this dock has always been partially submerged. In this picture it is frozen in this pond.

This tree is getting a little drowsy.

"Christmas trees" on the corner of our street.

It is really beautiful and quiet outside but very cold. We hope we're able to make it to Mom and Dad's for Christmas. At least we're in a warm home and have plenty of food and diapers and not at an airport or bus station trying to get somewhere or trying to find a spot to sleep like many other people right now.

Merry Christmas everyone!

speaking of "awwww "

I need to put this on my mommy blog, but I thought I'd put it here too since the title fit so neatly after Tawnia's post ...

Summer occasionally asks for the "Awwww" song. She says it rather drawn out. It took me awhile to figure out what she was referring to - she wants us to sing "Angels we have heard on high" where we sing "Gloooooooooooooooria, in excelsis deo." She apparently doesn't realize there's a "Gl" on the beginning of the "awwww" part and that we're actually saying a word.

P.S. Adam has a job interview in 10 MINUTES. Prayers today that it goes through! And his last final is tonight, and all of his papers are turned in so as of 9:01 pm he will be officially DONE with law school!

YAAAAA HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Sweet

Yesterday I sang a duet with a girl in my ward for our ward Christmas program. It just so happens that this girl is the older sister of one of my former students (small world I know). We sang, and did well (and then today I came down with a cold.) Anyway, I saw her at FHE tonight and told her about all the compliments I had gotten (and therefore she had gotten also since we sang together.) A few minutes later she came up to me and said, "hey I've been meaning to tell you this.... I mentioned to Emily (her sister that I taught) how we were singing together and she told me that you were her favorite teacher and always would be." That pretty much melted my heart. You can all say "awww" now.

Joshua's blog

Joshua posted on his blog. If you have not seen it...you should.

safe and sound

So yesterday I got up shortly after five in the morning, and got the last few things loaded into my car. I was out of Rexburg by six, out of Idaho by seven. All the mountains in Montana that I was worried about were clear - no snow at all. The roads were perfect, and I actually made it to my halfway point (Great Falls) in less than five hours. It's a good thing that part of the trip went so well, because the rest was a little less fun.

I got to the border, and they made me go inside. I had had to in September too, but it wasn't a big deal. This time was more complicated, because I was planning for staying so long. And, after they looked in my car, seeing all my stuff (since I didn't put any in storage), made it look even worse. And it didn't help that I've gone through the process of permanent residency before, so they can tell I've wanted to live up here before and am aware of the process of being able to stay. I had to explain the track system at school, and just pray that they believed my story. The girl seemed reluctant to let me in, but she said, "Don't make me regret doing this," and then gave me a temporary visitor's pass thing, saying I can't work or go to school (which is expected), and I have to leave the country on or before April 20th, since that's when school starts. I'm not going to make her regret it, because I do plan on leaving Canada, and I plan on taking all my stuff back out of the country too. But it was a stressful little bit, while she asked me all sorts of questions and all that.

So the border took up an hour of my time, putting me back on schedule. The next hour and a half was fine, but after passing through Lethbridge, it started to snow. At first there was more snow blowing around on the road than the grass, but eventually it got harder and harder to see the edge of the road, and then it became difficult to even see where the lanes were. We all generally drove behind each other in the slow lane, so it would stay partially clear. But, even after all that slowing down, I still made it to Aaron's apartment only 30 minutes behind schedule. The drive through the snow was scary enough, I don't even want to think about what it would have been like after dark. But I'm here, and I'm safe, and VERY grateful that I drove out yesterday and not today!

Packages

Well... packages are on their way to Florida, Maryland, Texas and Canada. I even had to fill out customs on the Canadian one. Woohoo. It came to a whopping $30 to mail the four packages, so I hope you are all happy and that they get there before Christmas. They asked if I wanted to get e-mail notification when they had been delievered for an extra charge. I said no, because I figured that you would all e-mail me and let me know when the packages got there. So... this is my asking for e-mail (or blog, or phone call or smoke signal... just kidding) confirmation that the package arrived.

Thanks!

And for all of those who will be in Oregon. Please, just let me know that I've arrived home safely with your presents on Christmas morning and that it isn't just a fabulous dream!

New Family Photo

Hi all. Here's a picture our hometeacher's wife took of us today. Isn't that nice? (Actually, we never have that much good luck taking pictures of the kids. Laurel worked a little PaintShop magic to get both of them looking at the camera...)

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

Happy Birthday Dad/Grandpa! We love you and are looking forward to spending Christmas with you and Mom and all those other guys (just kidding, we love all of you too)

Love,

Eric, Laurel, Stephen Frank, and Allie