MLK Day!

Today I took part in a reading of some of my colleagues and my favorite African American authors in tribute of Martin Luther King Jr. It really got me thinking about what a wonderful country we live in. Though we have some terrible things in our past, like slavery and oppression, we have come so far from these stigmas.

As my colleagues read Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Bell Hooks, and Toni Morrison, I felt so much sadness for the suffering of the underprivileged; but at the same time so much gratitude to those like MLK who have helped us get where we are today! I hope that I can always be a facilitator of peace and tolerance in my words and actions and stand up for what's right like he did.

Can You Overdose on Relaxation?

Don't be jealous...but this is how I've been feeling lately. I have recently shifted from a crazy schedule of teaching three classes as an English professor for the first time, teaching piano lessons, taking 12 credits toward my Master's degree, and studying for major exams; now I teach two classes and have four piano students--period. That's my life.

It's great, right? I stay in my bathrobe until noon reading some days. I play with my puppy, and write music. I spend the afternoons and evenings with Shaye. We have a quiet peaceful home, yet I'm dying for some action in my life. :) Before I was crazy busy and dying for a break, and now I'm having a Zen moment (a very extended one) and am begging for some action.

Is it just me, or do we always want what we can't have?

I totally married Gilbert Blithe!

A few weeks ago I was watching "Anne of Green Gables" and the "Anne of Avonlea" series, which I have adored since I was a little girl. I made a startling discovery. Shaye looks a ton like Gilbert! Not only does he look a lot like him, but their personalities are also similar. Not to mention, our love story is a bit the same are his and Anne's--minus the whole "carrots" thing. :) Seriously guys, can you see the resemblence?

I think this is hillarious! I was pre-conditioned from a young age to fall in love with Shaye. Genius!

Happy New Year!

Well, 2008 was sure a great year! We got so much accomplished! Shaye has been building his business in advertising, I got my Master's in English and began teaching at Dixie State College, we went on a fun trip to Washington, and we had lots of adventures being a young married couple. We are so happy and blessed and look forward to another great year--2009! We hope you all have a great new year as well!

Holiday Friend Parties

We are so blessed to have great friends. Here are some holiday get-togethers we had with our buddies. :)

Lunch at 25 Main with the Exec Sisters (basically the best lunch spot EVER). Rachel and Sara are both due the first week of February, and Jenny has the cutest little baby, Emme! Yey!

We went to the Jennings' cabin in Pine Valley with our married friends and some Shaye's buddies from high school for a barbeque/sledding extraveganza. Such a blast!

And here are the guys. Some of them are being serious and others are being super silly, which makes this picture really funny to me.

I hosted a party at my parents' for my girlfriends from high school. I love these girls! Go Morningside clicke!

Our Sweet Mimi

We got a dog for Christmas!!! We've been talking about doing it for a while, but we finally actually got one. We got Mimi, a little Yorkie, a few days before Christmas and she is such a joy!

Since we've had such a hard time having kids, its really fun for me to have a little furry baby to nurture and play with.

I'm afraid we're turning into those worldly dog people, because I want to take her everywhere with me! I'm sure you can see why. She's so cute!

You can see how small she is compared to the teddy bear.

She'll sit in my apron like this and watch me cook.

We put a red bow on her for Christmas.

Shaye loves her as much as I do!

Singing with my Girls

Every once and a while Candace Thompson, Krista Wasden, and I will do a little singing gig. We threw together a Christmas program and performed at the Boulevard the week before Christmas. It was so fun!