The Commercials are True

On my mother's insistence, I went to H&R Block today to check our taxes. We thought we owed $2500 to the federal and state governments combined...as it turned out, we'd done something wrong, and instead, we're going to get a rebate for $800!!

My mama, Brad the accountant, and definitely God... just saved us $3300!

How's THAT for good news?! :)

Wait a minute...

I just sort of realized that if I blog regularly, I can stop feeling guilty for my lame journal-keeping skills. I've always thought, "I'll just print out a bunch of old emails for my kids to read later in life." -- isn't that how we all got to know Emily Dickinson? I guess that sounds kind of ostentatious...

Today was my last day of class EVER! In true "you-won't-get-out-of-here-without-a-fight" spirit, I had a term paper due yesterday, and a presentation in-class today. Both were great, though, which is a word/emotion I do not normally use/feel with regard to homework.

I've had a GREAT BYU experience, but I'm so happy to be finished! And for the record, my summer plans include a stack of library books (the brain-candy kind), a glass of lemonade, and a hammock. Hooray for summer!

Objection!

So I'm not sure how many people I've told about this, but I have had a really bad experience with my doctor. Lots of examples, but to keep a long story short... I decided about 2 weeks ago that when we move to Nor Cal for the summer, I'm going to switch to a midwife. I'm done with ObGyns for the moment...

So I'm looking up my doc's address for a health insurance claim form, and I came across a rating site, where he averaged half a star out of five...there were 15 reviews -- YIKES!

Turns out I'm not crazy, he's just kind of a terrible doctor. I'm not trying to ruin his life, but it is nice to be validated -- at our last ultrasound, I left almost in tears, I was so upset. Bad experience...too bad I didn't find this website 6 months ago, right???

Trying to Make It...

So I don't want to scare anyone with horror stories of first-trimester morning sickness, but yeah. Thank goodness my doctor prescribed some anti-nausea medicine (I have one pill left...out of thirty)...

We heard the heartbeat last month -- it was incredible! The doctor tried to tell me we were having twins, and then said he was just kidding. I don't think doctors should joke like that with overly-emotional pregnant women, do you?

Bundle of Joy!

We found out a few weeks ago that we are having a baby! We are so excited, and cannot believe it. We've seen a heartbeat on the monitor, and we have an appointment to hear it on Jan 13th. So far, morning sickness has me down for the count, but it will pass.

Christmas busy vs Christmas Happy

I'm making a goal this year to love every part of the Christmas season. I mean, I always love Christmas, but I often let myself get a little too bogged down with Christmas "to-do" lists. I am going to enjoy the things I do this year!!!

What Stood Shall Stand

I LOVE this arrangement. The song is about the hope of a resurrection, and I cry every time I hear it.

What Stood Will Stand
PAUL HALLEY (b.1952)

What stood will stand, though all be fallen,
The good return that time has stolen.
Though creatures groan in misery,
Their flesh prefigures liberty
To end travail and bring to birth
Their new perfection in new earth.
At word of that enlivening
Let the trees of the wood all sing
And every field rejoice. Let praise
Rise up out of the ground like grass.
Alleluiah! Alleluiah!

What stood, whole, in ev’ry piecemeal
Thing that stood, will stand though all fall.
Field and woods and all in them
Rejoin the primal Sabbath’s hymn. – Wendell Berry, from “Sabbaths”

Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum.
(And I look for the resurrection of the dead)
Et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen. Alleluia.
(And the life of the world to come. Amen. Alleluia.) – Nicene Creed