Aggravations

So Ryan and I have been trying so hard to get a Managing Position for an apartment complex here in Rexburg and we've been so close several times! Every time we are in the final contestants for the job and we get jipped of the opportunity in the last leg of the race! It stinks... royally. This last week we applied for another one and again we were in the top 3 and they said we didn't get the job because we "looked too young". What kind of crap is that!??! This is so lame! We are qualified but can't do anything about the way we look! Uggg. I'm so frustrated about this. We really need the job. Free rent. Pay. We'd be able to make it through school easily. But I guess the Lord lets us go through the hard before we get to the easy. I can be patient.

As for Christmas... IM SO EXCITED! Ryan and I have been getting presents for each other secretively- but then again not so secretively. Ryan went shopping while I was a work so that I wouldn't know, but he couldn't keep it in and told me right after he brought me home from work! Haha. And then I tried to go shopping while he was in class but I got so aggravated when I made the trip all the way down to Idaho Falls only to discover that the gift card I needed was still at home! So i had to drive all the way back up and down again. I was SO mad at myself that I couldn't help vent my frustrations to Ryan. He, of course, thought it was ridiculous. ANd I suppose he was right. haha. But now Christmas shopping is pretty much done, our car is packed, and we are ready to head down to St. George for Christmas. I can't for Ryan to open his presents! He is going to love them!!!

Did I mention that it is snowing... again. Pray for us on our drive down.

Christmas Bells

So it turns out that my work isn't going to let me have a vacation for Christmas so we wont be going to St. George for as long as we had anticipated. So, we decided that we needed more Christmas Spirit in our home! WE GOT A CHRISTMAS TREE! Hallelujah!! It's so exciting! I absolutely LOVE christmas! I love the decorations, the meaning, the nice things people do for each other the stories, and the snow! It's all so wonderful. Growing up my family would pick another family that we knew and would sneak around their home in the cold and drop of presents for 12 nights in a row before Christmas! It was always so thrilling- especially when the family started watching for us. They didn't know who we were, but it always left me with a good feeling knowing that we helped someone else feel of the Christmas spirit. And every Christmas Eve mom would buy a new Christmas book to read to us. They weren't always about Jesus or His birth, but about good meanings and morals that have to do with Christmas time. I love those stories! Now this year will be my first Christmas away from home... and it breaks me heart. I'm going to miss my sisters' beautiful and excited faces as they open presents around the tree. I'm going to miss mom's cooking and her laugh. I'm going to miss dad's attempt to keep order as my sister climb over each other to get to their presents :) The smells, the feelings, the memories. I miss my family.
On the happy side though, this will be my first Christmas with Ryan! And that is exciting! We got a tree that is pre-lighted, so that was nice and mom sent us some ornaments! And I cut out tons of paper snowflakes for the tree and window! It's so happy looking! Now we just need to remember what Christmas is all about- being with family and serving others.

My Speed Climber

So my dear husband is an awesome rock climber! One of the best in Rexburg- I'd say! :) But I just like to brag about him. There was a rock climbing competition last Saturday at Regional Rock Walls. There was a Speed competition and a Dyno Competition. Ryan got 2nd in the speed climbing competition! He was awesome! Everyone kept saying how he "floated" up the wall! And it's true! The Dyno competition is kind of a monkey-like swing from one hold to another. The competitors had to go from easy to medium to hard dyno routes. He didn't place in this competition, but I still think he did great!
As for the rest of our week- it was hectic. I worked three very long 12 hour shifts at work. It was brutal. But the extra money is always good! The Christmas season is upon us! My most favorite time of year! But it isn't really a holiday that is conducive to modest means. I have a little front door wreath and some blocks that say joy for decorations. But I wish I could decorate the whole apartment head to toe in festiveness! We recently got one of my favorite Christmas CDs- Mannheim Steamroller! I've been playing it lots recently! Hopefully we can get a tree this week!