Yes, I'm alive

Umm...hi, everyone. [sheepish grin, hoping you will all forgive me someday]

So I took a break, but I've been intending to start writing again for several weeks, but I kept putting it off because I had other stuff to do...I'd do it "tomorrow" but tomorrow came and went again and again and again and now it's been over two months since I started my break, and I've only posted a couple of random things that don't really count. And that was a ridiculous run-on sentence, but the whole point was to say SORRY. I really didn't intend for it to be this long. Oops.

How about an update? No pictures because I am a slacker and the battery on my camera is dead, but hopefully I'll remedy that soon.

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1. I can't believe but this semester is less than 6 weeks from being over. It has flown by and I am so glad. I've enjoyed my classes this semester, for the most part. There has been one rather annoying project in one of those classes (thank goodness I have a good group) and some of my classes are rather poorly organized (which bugs me), but other than that, it hasn't been too bad. Busy, but not bad. I should probably take a look at all my syllabi and see which classes have a final paper I should start working on now...

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2. I'm not teaching in the nursery anymore. Now, I'm teaching marriage prep to all the engaged people in a singles ward. This seems random until I tell you that Husband is the 2nd counselor in the bishopric of that ward. He has been since the beginning of January.

Maybe I should define terms for readers who are not Mormon (so if you are Mormon, skip to the next paragraph). Hopefully I can explain it so it makes some sense. I sometimes tend to go into a lot of detail and get a little confusing, and I apologize in advance. In the LDS Church, each congregation is called a ward, and the leadership of the ward is made up of members of the ward (usually...student/singles wards are a little different) rather than a paid clergy. The person in charge of each ward is the Bishop, and he has two counselors to help him (the bishopric). I could go into more detail about the other organizations, but I won't. Anyways, Church policy is that the three members of the bishopric should be married (I don't know the reasoning), and members of singles wards (which includes most student wards) are not married. The bishop is chosen from the surrounding area and is typically middle-aged or older (more experience). Lately, many counselors for student/singles wards are young, married men. The bishop in normal wards usually serves for about 5 years, in student/singles wards for about 3 years, and young counselors for about 1 year. It sounds confusing, but it's actually quite efficient.

And that was really long and probably too detailed and confusing.

So anyways, we've been going to this singles ward (BYU 84th) ever since January. It's weird because we're around the same age as all these people, but we're supposed to set an example and it's just interesting, but they are great and we love them and we're really enjoying it, though it does mean that Husband is gone almost all day on Sundays. He doesn't get to sleep in anymore than he did in our own ward (which has an 8am meeting time) because even though the 84th doesn't meet until 9:25, he has meetings starting at 7:45 and then stays after until around 3 or 4, depending on the week. BUT, I get to sleep in! :)

The other counselor and his wife are also a young married couple. We got married last April, and they were a couple of months after in June. They're pretty fun. He is from Brazil and she is from Idaho. She and I are actually team-teaching the marriage prep class, so thank goodness I don't just have to teach it all by myself! There are quite a few people in our class, too (not unusual for BYU). I don't know the exact numbers but I'm pretty sure there are well over 20 engaged people in the ward. Most will be getting married just after this semester is over in either April or May.

I think that's all I have to say about that.

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3. I'm still working in the temple. It's still fabulous and my favorite part of my week. I have had so many wonderful experiences and been able to meet and work with so many incredible people. One sister that I work with is 94! She says she wants to make it to 10 years of working in the temple, so she's going to keep working until after she's 95. Every week she forgets that the week before she asked me if I have a boyfriend, so she asks again, and every week I tell her that, yes, I have a permanent boyfriend. She is so sweet!

This week I get to work twice...both starting at 6am! My normal shift is Friday 6-11, and I'm substituting for a sister who works the Saturday 6am...should be fun! And I mean that seriously, because I love working in the temple.

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4. My awesome husband just came home from playing basketball with some guys from the 84th ward. He brought me a Sprite. I love him.

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I'm trying to remember if there is anything else I need to include before I get to the last thing (which is the best so I've been saving it for last). I can't think of anything, but I feel like I'm forgetting something...I'll post it later if I am.

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So, the best for last...

5. Come September, we will [hopefully] be a family of three! I'm a few days past 15 weeks now, and I'm due 1 September (that's why I say hopefully...I'd rather not go two weeks late like my mom tended to do, but she admits she'd think it was hilarious if I did, after all I put her through).

I took the test on Christmas Day, even though I was pretty sure a few days before. I thought it would be clever/cute or something, I don't know. A Christmas present.

Everything seems to be going well this time around. I've heard the heartbeat and I think I've felt it move a few times in the last couple of days.

I was pretty nauseous starting at 5 weeks and it lasted until about 12 weeks, which isn't too bad, really. I lost about 10 pounds because it was so difficult to eat anything. I've gained about half of that back, so even though people who don't know think that I've gained weight, I would like you all to know that I HAVEN'T. :)

I'm feeling good these days. I am optimistic for the future, and I am trusting that Heavenly Father is watching over us.

The ultrasound is scheduled for Wednesday 15 April, just after I pass the 20-week mark. That's less than 5 weeks away! I kind of wish it was earlier, but I also understand why the doctor wants to wait that long to do the one ultrasound my insurance covers. A bigger baby makes it easier to make sure everything is normal. I think Husband almost wants to go to the mall next week to find out what we're having (yes, you can do that in Provo...it's ridiculous).

Was that enough detail to satisfy everybody? Probably more than most of you needed....

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Love to all, I'll post again soon...