Christmas

(I promise that I will post a update on our lives but for now here is what is happening now)

This year has been really hard for Eric and me to get into the Christmas spirit. He has been working crazy hours and is burnt out from working in retail. Boo. I just started a new job and with all the terrible news trending constantly, it is amazing that anyone can get in the mood for Christmas. One of the best ways for me to unplug from all that crazy is to remember all the things I have been blessed with. 

On the top of that list is my husband. He is truly thoughtful, caring, hardworking, loving, and sooo much more. I am so blessed that he can come home from a 12 hour shift at work, look at the trash can ready to over flow and take it out without any prompting from me. It is the little things that truly matter at the end of everyday. He has been truly amazing through our entire relationship and takes wonderful care of me. He bends over backwards to cheer me up when I am in a funk and makes sure that I have anything I might possibly even think I need when I am sick. Talk about a keeper. 

I also feel so blessed to be back out here... in the middle of nowhere. I know I complain about the weather and lack of city appeal here, but at the end of the day this is exactly where Eric and I need to be. Here, we have a great ward (church congregation) and look forward to being able to go more frequently next year. It is so awesome being surrounded by people in the same life situation who understand what we are going through. It is also awesome that the weather here has been as good as it has been. I have not had to go into hibernation or experience my eyes freezing shut this year, and for this part of the state that is totally a win. I love our apartment and love making it a home with Eric. It has been so fun for us to hang pictures and pick out furniture together.

Eric is probably even more thankful for this and if you know him you will understand, but I am thankful for being back in this part of the country for the amount of time that has allowed us to spend with family. My sister had her third baby this year and it was amazing being able to go at the spur of the moment to go meet her little one. I look forward to the much spoiling I will be able to do now. It has also been nice to make up for lost time with Eric's family. We have gone to games, just hung out, and all kinds of things we couldn't do last year. He is sooooo excited to see his family this Christmas. It has been the bright star helping him push through the retail yuck. I love seeing him with his family and suddenly being able to understand a whole other part of Eric, that happened before I met him. (Side note: Mom and Dad, we do miss you now that you guys are the ones 2000 miles away, so just move out west already. Tirzah, I also miss having someone to swap gluten free stuff with. It was nice to have someone relativity nearby who understands this whole mess. Brad and Alex, we also miss hanging out and playing board games and wii games with. Everyone just come move out here. lol)

I could make this list drag on and on, but I won't make anyone suffer through the mind tangled mess that I would write, but I will finish with one last thought. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father and for His Son, Jesus Christ. Without them, I have no idea where I would be or how I would make it through the trials that are inevitable in this life. I am grateful for a knowledge of the atonement and knowing that I can be forgiven always. I love that no matter what happens in this life, I have a loving Father in Heaven who hears and answers prayers. I know it isn't always the way we would like, but it is the way that is best for us... and just maybe that is the truly beautiful thing about it all.