Enjoying balmy days in January

The weather in NJ has been gorgeous for this time of year. Monday and Tuesday we had temperatures in the 60's and lots of sunshine.

Dakota has been able to train and run outdoors instead of on the treadmill and spring like weather always puts me in a better mood.

Daniel has received some assignments at work and his training is almost complete. Now he feels like he is really working and so far he is enjoying himself. I hope the constant change and different assignments will keep him engaged and his mind occupied.

Dakota is still home between semesters and spends his time playing around on the computer, running, playing piano, filling his mom's head with ALL kinds of trivia, and YM activities. Seminary has started for him. I feel bad he will need to miss a few days of Seminary next week as he really loves going. Daniel will be out of town, and 5:00 am is too early for Jewel as she has some evening activites that push her bedtime to 9:30. Her immune system is delicate and the early hours will result in her getting sick.

Jewel has her church Activity Days program which she loves. Also she will begin ballet again. She loves to dance around the house...maybe I should rent some old Perry Mason episodes and she can emulate an attorney =)

I don't have any small jobs this week and no driving Dakota to school. So it has been great being able to stay at home for more than one hour at a time. My car trip average is only around 5 a day right now. Pure heaven. Things will pick up a bit next week and then driving will be in full swing again.

Church activities: Family Home Evening, we did our annual personal scrap book page for the New Year. Each year we put a photo of ourselves and write something about our past year. A tradition started in 1996 and we love it.

Stake YW meeting and also ward leadership training meetings for Patrica from 11:00-2:30 on Tuesday. A Thursday evening Stake Presidency meeting is coming up for Daniel.

Tonight both Dakota and Jewel have their activities.

I'm slow getting my Holiday cards out this year and a package to Doris and Ken. It feels wierd being this behind...I guess I am still recovering from the intense application proecess to Rutgers. It is getting harder to recover from frying my brain and enegry and motivation are also slower to rebuild.

gratitude thought: grateful that a week has gone by without the basement flooding, the car is behaving and doesn't need repairs, food in the fridge and we are all healthy.

grateful for our callings in the Stake and the chance to learn from some fantatic and amazing people.

grateful for the most wonderful mother and mother in law, who have no idea how much they help me keep going when I'm completely overwhelmed. Their examples of surviving well are such an inspiration. If I do half of what they can, I will be satisfied.

very grateful for all the Christmas art work that surrounds our house..all done by Uncle Greg.