2008 Synopsis

It’s that time of year again and unfortunately it has snuck up on us. This past year has past by in a breeze…

In January we packed our bags and all of our belongings and headed east to Cleveland, Ohio where Neil began work at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital, in the Cardiothoracic ICU. The Cleveland Clinic is the number one hospital in the nation for heart care. It has been a challenging experience for Neil as he helps patients recover from open-heart surgery. Neil's unit also just moved into a new building dedicated solely to heart research and care. He seems to meet people all over the world, including prominent people from Egypt and India, who come to the Clinic for their renowned doctors and procedures.

In March, I also found employment at Lakewood Hospital in their Child Care Center. It’s a nice relaxing change from teaching where I enjoying singing, reading books, and playing with infants 6 weeks-18 months old

Besides work, church has kept both Neil and I very busy. Neil serves as a Sunday School teacher, I serve as the ward Seminary teacher, Valiant 12 teacher and we both serve on the ward activities committee We both have had multiple opportunities going out with missionaries and teaching many families in our area.

When we aren’t busy with all of our responsibilities, we have really enjoyed all the fun things to do in Cleveland. From visiting Kirtland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Science Museum and participating in many sporting events like Indians games we still have a long list of things we would like to do. In March, May and July we were lucky to have some family members come and visit. It was fun seeing my dad, sister Rachel, and my sister Laura and her family. We always are excited to have visitors.

This year, besides traveling cross country by car, we have also been able to travel to Paris, IL to visit my sister Malinda and her family, Charlottesville, VA where we checked out a possible graduate school for Neil and in November we were able to travel back to Utah to visit my family for Thanksgiving. Next year we are already planning to travel to back to Utah for Neil’s brother Sean’s wedding! We always love being with our family.

Amid all the craziness of life, we are always grateful for the month of December when we get to reflect on the miraculous birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and the blessing God gives us each and every day.

Economic Stimulant Package?

Although the government is only now admitting that the economy is in a recession, our friends at the North Pole have seen this coming for years. "We've being trying to put the 'recess' in recession, but I'm afraid even Santa has had to make some cut-backs this year," one elf told me, asking only that he remain anonymous. "Our latest rounds of lay-offs have sent 63 elves and 2 reindeer packin'."

My elf source has not confirmed which reindeer were let go, but I believe it was Dasher and Dancer, as I spotted both in downtown Cleveland earlier this week. Dasher was outside UPS, presumably wondering what "brown could do for him". Dancer's parents neither confirmed, nor denied that their son had been fired by the big man up north, but they did say "with a name like Dancer, how would YOU expect to find work outside the North Pole?" Santa Claus could not be reached for comment.

In other news, a typo on Capitol Hill has raised some serious questions about what the government can do regarding the downturn of the economy. One congressman was overheard saying, "I don't know how it got in there, but it's too late to call a special session of congress now with the holidays just a few days away." I am of course referring to news that the House and Senate both passed an economic "stimulant" package instead of the intended "stimulus" package. "I thought it sounded funny at first, but when no one else said anything I went along with it. It seems that for weeks now we have been debating, not whether to bail out Americans with money, but with high doses of caffeine. Well, what's done is done," said the House Majority Leader. Indeed, Congress has already purchased millions of cans of caffeinated sodas and energy drinks for the sole purpose, (and I quote from the bill) "for immediate distribution to all American Christmas stockings, to be consumed in haste for the provision of an economic stimulant."

Honey, I'm Home...for the Holidays!

'Twas the night of our first post,
and all through the blogs,
nothing was more exciting
not even festive cheese logs!

We hope you enjoy the little video tour of our home! Happy Holidays!