Major Update

Well, better super late than never.  I couldn't believe it has been since Thanksgiving since our last post.  Life has been good!  This year has flown by with difficult classes and tests but there have been some real highlights.  Christmas was amazing.  We went to Oregon and enjoyed everything beautiful there.  Yes I missed my family at home in Iowa but I absolutely loved getting closer to my new family.  They are amazing people and they already have a great love for me.  I felt so blessed so many times.

Here is a picture of one of our walks to a frozen lake.

Moving on to my birthday in February.  I had an absolutely wonderful birthday.  My family sent some books, candy, shoes, and much needed quarters for laundry among other necessities.  As my "big" gift, I got to go snowboarding.  Over winter break, I inherited a free snowboard and had been dying to use it.  That was a lot of fun.  Yes, it was my first time, yes, nearly every part of my body was bruised, and no, I did not choose to learn on the bunny hill.  Even though I hurt nearly everywhere and my hands were already swollen before we left the park, I had a lot of fun.  Jonny was really patient with me and helped me to learn a lot.  There was only one time where I tried for half an hour to get back on to the trail and just couldn't (I always tended to go to the left a little bit more) and had to crawl back ...  That was a good humility lesson.

Some other fun activities that Jonny and I have done this semester would include going to Goblin Valley, the Festival of Colors, and having picnics at the park.  I always feel that pictures speak louder than words, so here is what I have to say.