Another Year

Today is our fifth wedding anniversary! We have been so blessed these past five years. I love my husband more today than I did five years ago when I walked down the aisle. I am excited as I look ahead to another year of marriage with my wonderful husband.

This time of year everyone is thinking about what they would like to accomplish over the course of the next year. Tyson and I find ourselves in a unique position here at the beginning of 2008, in a place we are not too familiar with- waiting. Since we met, the Lord has made our course very evident for dozens of important decisions- getting married, buying homes and property, education, and jobs. He made our paths clear and quickly opened doors for us. However, the Lord has us in waiting in this new season of our lives. We are waiting for the Lord’s direction in several important areas of our lives, for the Lord to work these things out to His glory. We know He will, we just don’t know how or when. And that is the kicker. Those of you who know me know that I am a planner. I love to plan, and maybe that is why teaching suits me so well. I plan my classroom lessons weeks in advance, I always plan out a detailed dinner menu for two weeks at a time, I love to plan vacations with Tyson, I just to love to, well, plan! And now that the Lord has us here in a holding pattern, where all of my plans are pretty much a moot point, I am finding that I have to learn patience, trust, and contentment. I know that the Lord is using this time to sanctify us both. There are important lessons for us to learn here in this place, and I hope that over the course of the next year, we’ll be open to them.

I look forward to embarking upon yet another adventure with my husband, even if it is an adventure in waiting. I am thankful that the Lord has supplied me with a partner who is willing to be my spiritual leader, best friend, and great love. Happy anniversary sweetie!

Christmas Day

Moose got a new bone for Christmas. It kept him out of our hair for quite some time!
Moose loved his Christmas present!

Tyson made an excellent christmas breakfast
Tyson was playing with the stellarscope I got him
Playing around with our new gifts

Tyson and I spent Christmas day at home. We slept in, opened gifts, and then Tyson made us a nice big breakfast. Later in the day we shared our Christmas dinner with our friends Bill and Jaque.

Christmas Eve

Laughing over the Elf Yourself webpages
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves!

Shelly and Jenny
Laurie Miller
Rabbie Miller
My handsome hubby

Steve Fuday
Nora Fuday
Butch and Susan Raber

Zachary Thayer
Jenny Fuday, caught with her mouth full
Scott Hughes

Tyson and I hosted a Christmas Eve Open House this year. We invited our church members as well as our friends from Open Door Fellowship. Throughout the night our friends stopped by to partake in fellowship and food. I always enjoy hosting people in our home. It gives us an opportunity to open our home to others and it provides me the opportunity to cook up a storm!The menu for the night included:

shrimp dip w/crackers

warm spinach dip w/tortilla chips

cranberry sauced franks

chex mix

peppermint fudge

caramel cheesecake bars

ginger-spice cookies

pecan dippers

spiced cider

hot chocolate

Tyson also prepared Elf Yourself webpages for each family that came. We had a great time watching it on the TV. Everyone seemed to have a nice time. We certainly enjoyed having everyone in our home!

Holiday Fun

This past weekend Tyson and I went to Rupert to have an early Christmas with my family. It was great just spending time together. We played games, enjoyed delicious food, and exchanged gifts. My parents got me a professional digital camera this year. I can't wait to learn everything there is to know about it. In the meantime, I'll continue to take some mediocre pictures! Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Open House Elves

Click on the links below to see your favorite Christmas Party elves in action!

Miller Family
Fudays and Scott
Lovitz Family
Thayer Family
Butch, Susan, Bob, Tyson
Dennis, Larissa, Dawson, Matt
Maddens, Tyson, Sadie

Check out the elves!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1468492713
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1428987117

Disney World

I really enjoyed spending time with Molly, and all of Tyson's family!

The Tower of Terror was one of my favorite rides.

Cia and I were exhausted at the end of this day!

Tyson and Cia outside of the Haunted Mansion

At a 3-D movie

We were riding the go-karts on the Indy Speedway, which is actually on tracks, when a girl in front of us broke down. Since we were on a track, we couldn't go anywhere. So, we sat on the tracks for several minutes waiting for help while traffic backed up behind us.
We got a little bored waiting for maintenance!

At the top of Splash Mountain
Right after Splash Mountain

Cia, Me, Tyson, Sandy

This past week Tyson and I had the pleasure of joining his family in Orlando, Florida. His family had a break in their touring schedule and asked us to meet them there. We spent four days enjoying the warm Florida sun and taking in all there was to see at Disney World. We appreciated being able to spend time with his mom, brothers, and sisters. We laughed a lot, and had a great time in the parks.

We spent time in the Magic Kingdom and rode all the classic rides- Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and many more. We also went to the Epcot Center and enjoyed walking around the villages that represented different countries. Although, Tyson’s family has actually visited several of the represented countries this past year, so they were not too excited about that part of the park. But for a small town gal like me, it was great! Finally, we played around at MGM studios. Our favorite thing there was the Tower of Terror. You sit in an elevator and it randomly shoots you up several stories high and drops you. It was so much fun, I think we rode it at least a half a dozen times!

We had a wonderful time and hope to see his family again soon. Oh, and congratulations to his family for their Grammy nomination!!