13 Highlights from 2013

Happy New Year!  2013 was a year of growth, changes, and adventures ... and we made sure to have a little fun, too. ;) Although this post is several days late, I wanted to take the chance to reflect on 13 highlights from 2013.

1.  Celebrating Papa John's 90th--My Mom's dad, Papa John (not his formal name ;), turned 90 on January 7, 2013.  Darren and I were able to join other family members to celebrate that special day with him.  I'm so glad we made it!  We lost Papa John on December 1, 2013, which made this last opportunity I had to spend with him very special and a real highlight.  There is so much I admired about Papa John, including his sense of humor, kindness, organization, and his way with words (fitting since he spent his career as a journalist and author).  I sure will miss him!

Papa John, Chris, Me, Dustin, Nick, Gabe, Darren

2.  Growing as a teacher--In 2013, I finished my fourth year as a fifth grade teacher.  While I anticipated that each passing year in fifth grade would become easier and feel more routine, a new school and a few very challenging students made last year unique.  I learned more about myself as a classroom teacher and how to handle difficult situations in the classroom last year than I probably did in all the three previous years combined.  I grew a lot, and I now have several more tools in my teacher tool belt.  Looking back on that year, I feel that in many ways it has been my most rewarding as a teacher.  In Pinedale in 2013, I began substitute teaching.  For a while, I only received calls to sub in the Pinedale Middle School, which also brought new teaching experiences.  Most recently, I subbed in a middle school Chinese class--talk about stepping outside of my comfort zone!  I am happy to report, however, that I now know how to say hello, goodbye, hamburger, and pizza in Mandarin. ;)

3.  Reunions with friends--Any opportunity I have to visit with old college friends and roommates is always a highlight.  In 2013, I had the chance to reunite with some of my closest on the east coast and in Utah.  I am so grateful for friends like these ladies in my life!

Getting to know the two cuties below was definitely a highlight!

No one ever said we don't know how to pamper ourselves. ;)

4.  Exploring Arizona--I am so glad that we had the chance to live in AZ, if only for a year.  It is a beautiful state, and we enjoyed the chance to get to know it in 2013!

Bearizona

Native American ruins near Flagstaff 

Grand Canyon

Famous Root Beer Float at Joe's Barbecue in Gilbert

39 Steps at the Hale Centre Theater thanks to a Christmas gift from Chris

5.  Family Reunions--2013 was filled with family reunions.  Darren and I had the opportunity to attend the Hubbard, Myler, Sonne, and Wintch reunions.  Growing up, family reunions were like holidays that I anticipated with growing excitement ... and I still do!

The Hubbard Clan: Nick, Gabe, Tad, Catrine, Dad, Mom, Me, Darren, Elizabeth, Jim, Sue, Ron

Visiting the Myler Farm in Idaho

Meeting Hudson Hyde at the Sonne Reunion 

How cute is the little guy in the lower left?  He loved it up there!

6.  Church Callings--I am grateful for the opportunity I've had to work with the kids in our wards in 2013.  In Gilbert, I had the chance to return to the Young Women Program and feel of the strength and testimony of those girls.  In Pinedale, I am excited for the opportunity to work with fifteen 8-9 year old girls in Activity Days.  Getting to know the youth of the Church sure makes one optimistic for the future!

7. Turning 30--I turned the big 3-0 in 2013.  It happened in the middle of a busy summer and our preparations to move to Pinedale, but we still made sure to celebrate.  I wasn't sure how I would feel when the day actually came, but I can say now that I have a great feeling about this new decade in my life.  Bring it on 30s!

My parents sent flowers to our Pinedale hotel.

Birthday gondola ride and steak dinner in Jackson :)

8.  Moving to Pinedale--I have written several recent posts on our experiences moving and adjusting to life in Pinedale, so I will keep this short.  While there were/are challenges to working and living here, we are both so happy to be living in Pinedale at this time in our lives.  The future may hold further changes, but we are soaking up all of the beautiful countryside, outdoor activities, warm friendships (if not weather), and simple life as we can while we have the chance to live here!

Leaving Arizona--The 950 miles we drove in this baby is a trip I will not soon forget!

Driving down our new street.

Moving into our second (!) Pinedale apartment

It's easy to see why they call this "Big Sky" country!

9.  Parents Visiting in Pinedale--When my parents visited Pinedale in September, Darren and I had a great time showing them around!  There is something about having parents visit a new place that immediately makes it feel more like home.

10.  New Friends--Since I can't have my parents close in Pinedale all of the time, I am so grateful for the new friends that we have been able to make here.  Dinners, game nights, bonfires, movie days/nights, and trips to the lakes have all been made possible by some young families that have befriended us.  These new friends have made the transition to Pinedale so much more fun and comfortable.  I know we will continue to be friends for a long time!

11.  Old/New Hobbies--In March of 2013, I had the chance to attend a one-day writing class at Stanford thanks to a Christmas gift from Darren.  Writing is a hobby/talent I have wanted to develop for years.  The opportunity to attend this class was a highlight that I will always remember.  Since moving to Pinedale, I have started a new hobby that has also interested me for a while ... quilting!   There is something so neat, I think, about having handmade quilts to snuggle up in or put at the end of a bed.  While my quilt teacher takes me through every step, and I'm pretty sure I couldn't recreate a single square on my own, I have loved the process every Saturday.  I can't wait to see what it looks like when it all comes together!

Ready for the writing class

A few quilt squares

12.  Anniversary Trip to NYC--In celebration of our 3rd wedding anniversary and to cross another item off of our bucket list, Darren and I traveled to NYC at the end of November/beginning of December last year.  I have written a recent post about this trip, as well, so suffice it to say we had a great time!  One of the best moments for me may have been when we were getting on the plane to fly home and Darren leaned over and said, "So, where are we traveling to next?"  I'm so glad he has been bitten by the travel bug, since I have been infected for years. ;)

13.  CA Christmas--No Christmas season would be complete without the opportunity to visit family.  Darren and I celebrated Christmas day in Pinedale, and then were able to leave for CA on the 26th.  My family was kind enough to hold off on our Christmas traditions until we arrived.  We celebrated our Sonne Christmas on the 27th, and it was wonderful.  We loved being able to visit with family and warm up in the sunny 75 degree weather!

CA Christmas (I may have gotten a little carried away with a collage app I recently discovered ;)

Writing this post has reminded me how blessed I am to have had the experiences, family, and friends that have filled 2013.  I am looking forward to the adventures to come in 2014!

A few more ...

I had forgotten that Angie already texted me several of her pictures, so here are a few more to add to the previous post.  Thanks, Ang!

Inside the Empire State Building

Susan Boyle performing on the Today Show

Today Show

Dinner at Lombardi's

Trip to the Big Apple

Here are a few pics from our trip to NYC.  We had a wonderful time!  The city is so fun during the holidays, and it was great to experience it with some of Darren's family and my brother (who was able to visit from D.C.)!  I'm realizing there are several gaps in the pictures I took and only a few people and places are represented.  There may be another post coming, therefore, once we've had the chance to share pictures ... but for now, this will give you an idea of some of the fun we had!

We arrived in NY early in the morning, and our first order of business was meeting up with Chris, who had arrived in the city the night before.  That first day we spent visiting Times Square, the NY Public Library, and the Empire State Building.  We ventured into Brooklyn that night to have pizza at Grimaldi's.  Yum!

Outside of the NY Public Library with Chris

Of all the beautiful places in NYC, the library is one of my favorites.

Skyline from Brooklyn 

Cute nieces

A stud in the subway ;)

Chris had to leave the next day, so we spent the morning walking through Central Park and exploring the UWS.  It was fun to show the group my old stomping grounds (Chris was on his mission in Brazil while I was living in NY and never had the chance to visit).

49 W. 84th St.--where I lived for most of my time in the city.

We also had the chance to see Wicked!  What a treat!

The next day, Darren and I spent part of the day on our own to celebrate our anniversary.  We ate at one of my favorite delis on the UWS, Lennys.

 We visited the temple, ...

felt right at home when we saw a piece Jackson in the city, ...

and (a real highlight for me) had dessert at Edgar's Cafe where my roommate Tai and I used to write every Friday.  Darren was such a good sport and read while I opened up my laptop and, for tradition's sake, tried punching out a few paragraphs.

We met up with the rest of the group that night for dinner and the Rockettes!  What a show!

Our last morning in NYC we were up early and made it on the Today Show.  So fun!  There was a time I dreamed of being the next Katie Couric, so "being on TV" with Matt, Al, and the gang was kind of a dream come true. ;)

My parents caught our few seconds of fame on T.V.

It was hard to leave since there was so much we still had to do, but that just makes us excited to return again someday.  Until next time, New York!

Je suis reconnaissant pour ...

I was looking through an old scrapbook today and came across a gratitude list I made on Thanksgiving in 2006 while working as an intern in Geneva, Switzerland.  Since I was living in Geneva, I celebrated Thanksgiving somewhat privately that year and sent a list of things for which I was grateful to my parents.  I started the list "Je suis reconnaissant pour ..." (I am grateful for ...) and then listed the 10 top things I felt most grateful for at that time.  It was fun to read.  Many of the things I listed in 2006 would still be on my list today, but others have changed.  Since I am celebrating Thanksgiving in a similar style today (away from family while Darren is working), I thought that I would recreate a 2013 version of my list:

1.  I am grateful for the Gospel in my life.  When life throws us curveballs, the straightness of the way provided by the Gospel gives me an improved perspective, guidance, and hope.  I feel truly grateful for the experiences I have had that have made my testimony what it is today.

2.  I am grateful for my immediate family: Darren, Mom, Dad, and Chris.  Darren and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary yesterday, and I could not be more grateful for these past three years.  I have learned so much about what true love means by being married to him.  My parents and brother each, in their own way, bring such blessings and joy in my life.

3.  I am grateful for my extended Sonne, Hubbard, and Myler families.  I was fortunate enough to grow up with extended family nearby, yearly family reunions, and cousins who felt more like siblings.  Through some limited family history work, I have become more grateful for my ancestors who lived their lives in such a way that have brought blessings to mine.  I am grateful for their sacrifices and legacies.  I am grateful to now be a part of the Myler family and for the love and generosity I have felt from them.

4.  I am grateful for friendship.  I have been blessed with the friendship of some true kindred spirits (you know who you are!) who have brought such richness, joy, comfort, and laughter to my life.

5.  I am grateful to be an American.  I am proud of the principles on which this country was founded.  I am grateful for all those who have fought and do fight for freedom and America.

6.  I am grateful for travel.  While I am proud to be an American, I am so grateful for opportunities I've had to see more of the world.  My bucket list of places to see is long, and it keeps growing!

7.  I am grateful for beauty in all of its varieties: in words, nature, unexpected opportunities, art, music, people of all ages, a smile, a selfless act.

8.  I am grateful for history and for the lessons it has to teach us.

9.  I am grateful for my education--all that is has taught me, inspired me to feel, and allowed me to do.

10.  I am grateful for crisp autumn days and the warmth of a blanket and the smell of hot chocolate.  I am grateful for the festive winter season, the beauty of spring, and the warmth of summer.

...et beaucoup plus!

A Conversation

Me:  I can't believe we will have been married for three years at the end of next month.

Darren:  I know!  What should we do to celebrate?

Me:  Hmmm ... I know the third anniversary is not considered a big one, but I think we should do something exciting. ((Thinking))  What if we took a trip somewhere?  Somewhere really fun?  ((More thinking, and then hesitatingly...))  We have talked about wanting to visit New York together ... ((Searching Darren's face for subtle signs of distress))

Darren:  You know what, I think we should go for it.

Me:  Really?!

Darren:  Yes.  The weekend after Thanksgiving would be perfect timing with my schedule.  Let's do it!

Okay, so I can't remember the conversation verbatim, but the point is that we have made reservations  to visit NYC at the end of November/beginning of December!  It turns out that Angie, Scott, Annalyse, Natalie, and Doug (Darren's cousin) also had plans to visit NYC before Christmas.  We decided to combine efforts and make travel plans together.  I can't wait to explore New York again with people that I love.  I have already started making lists of my favorite places to visit/things to see/food to eat.  I am seriously counting down the days!!

Images from Pinterest

Perspective

This weekend was General Conference weekend.  How I love these opportunities to curl up on my couch with a blanket and some hot cocoa (now that we're in Pinedale, that is) to soak in the inspired words of prophets, apostles, and other Church leaders of our day.  As I listened to the messages that were shared, I realized that I have let too many days go by without recording how grateful I feel for the events that have brought us here to Pinedale.  As generally happens after watching Conference, I feel that I view many things in life with a renewed perspective--thank goodness Conference comes every six months!  It is amazing to me how a place like Pinedale, that initially felt so foreign, can so quickly feel like home.  After nearly eight weeks here, I almost fear ever having to leave.  Quite a change from my last post, isn't it?

Let's start at the very beginning, shall we? (I have an urge to quote another Sound of Music song here, but I will resist.) At this time last year, we were living in Gilbert, Az, and Darren was in the middle of his first semester of law school.  While we were/are grateful for the opportunity Darren had to attend law school, a goal he had had for himself for several years, we agreed after a while that a life in the law was not right for us.  What followed was a few months of not knowing what path we should take.  I was in my fourth year of teaching 5th grade and Darren found a job that seemed like a good choice for the time being.  We began looking at homes in the Gilbert area.  Although we loved the area (who wouldn't love 70 degree temperatures in the winter, wonderful people, a relatively short drive home to family in Ca, and the opportunity to participate in the open house of a temple almost across the street from us??), we continued to hesitate in making these big decisions.  Darren began looking for other job opportunities and reached out to someone he knew from a ward he had lived in in Utah.  This friend had an unexpected connection with a company called Clean Harbors.  Darren got in touch with the Clean Harbors contact and after a phone interview, was asked if he could come to Wy for an in-person interview.  It just so happened that we were flying into Salt Lake that weekend for a family reunion with some of my dad's extended family in Manti.  We could take a 2 hour detour into Wy and then meet up with my family in Manti.  In order to keep this post from becoming a novel, I will bullet point some of the significant events that happened after that:

• Something that NEVER happens to this slightly obsessive traveler happened with our flight to SLC--we missed boarding our flight by 10 minutes.  I did not handle this event gracefully.  As it turned out, though, the next flight got us into the SLC, and then Wy, at a time that worked much better for the person interviewing Darren.  He told us he had had things come up during the day that would have prevented him from interviewing Darren at our originally appointed time.  He ended up taking us both out to dinner after work and interviewing Darren at the restaurant (a slightly nerve-racking experience for me, but Darren did great!).
• Darren was interviewed Friday night (July 19), we attended the Wintch reunion Saturday and Sunday (which was a lot of fun--see picture below), we both returned to work on Monday, and on Tuesday Darren received a call from Clean Harbors being offered the job--a great opportunity in their Pinedale, Wy location (a place I had previously never heard of).  It was going to be a big change, but it was a better fit for both of us in many ways.  We felt it was the right step to make.  Going to talk to the director of my school once we had decided to accept the job offer, however, was one of the scariest things I had ever done.  Not that any of my administrators inspired fear, but we were in our faculty training week and my fifth year of teaching was to start that following Monday.  I felt horribly guilty about bringing this change to my administrators the week before school started.  One tender mercy?  My administration and coworkers were extremely gracious.  They were excited for us.  Some of them knew of Pinedale and had only nice things to say about the area.  I told them that Darren had to leave for Wy the week of August 12, but that I would be willing to stay until mid-September if they needed that extra time to find a replacement.  Another tender mercy?  It worked out that my last day was on August 8, just in time for me to visit Pinedale with Darren to find a place to live and make the move with him!
• Darren had an old truck with "a few mechanical issues"that we wanted to try and sell before moving.  Right before we left, someone with an understanding of all of the truck's issues and who knew how to fix them offered us our asking price, which covered most of our moving expenses.
• The weekend of August 9-11, Darren and I flew to Pinedale to find a place to live.  We had an appointment with a realtor to show us some apartments for rent.  The apartments she showed us were pretty sketchy and in areas we didn't particularly like.  A few tears may have been shed (by me, not Darren).  At the end of our meeting, the realtor mentioned that there was a house for rent off of Fayette Pole Creek Rd, an area we had yet to explore.  Darren and I drove out there on our own and I immediately fell in love with the road and community.  We really wanted to make something work in this area.  We were shown the home and jumped at the opportunity to claim something on this road.  We secured the deal and traveled up to Jackson Hole to celebrate my 30th birthday (a day early) and this new chapter in our life.
• We returned to Gilbert, packed up our massive moving truck, and drove for two and a half days to become official residents in Pinedale.  We moved into our home on Pole Creek Rd. with the help of the Cornelison family (thank you Scott, Angie, Annalyse, and Natalie!).  After a week and a half of living in that home, however, we discovered it had some issues as an old home that we were not prepared to handle.  When we addressed our concerns with our landlord, we were once again met with a very gracious response, and she let us out of our rental agreement.  We then were looking for a new place to live, a somewhat daunting experience after our meeting with that initial realtor.  We went to our new ward on Sunday and I shared our situation with some sisters in Relief Society.  After listening to me, one woman gave me the name and number of a family in the ward that was moving and wanted to rent the apartment attached to their home.  Guess where they lived.  This beautiful home and apartment was half a mile up the road on Pole Creek from the first house.  We contacted the family and were able to move (again!) with the help of our new neighbors that following week.  Needless to say, we felt very blessed.  We have loved and been very comfortable in this new home.
• Finally, the people here in Pinedale, and more specifically in our Temple Peak Ward, have been amazing.  Within a week of living in our new home, we were invited to several Sunday dinners and were given opportunities to become more involved in the community.  My parents have had the opportunity to visit (which always makes a place feel more like home), and Darren and I have already started drooling over a plot of land close to where we're currently living.  I have even forgiven Pinedale for its first snowfall that came a week ago, while we were still in September!  We are home!

Riding horses at the Wintch reunion--Darren was there, too, but he's hiding behind my dad in this picture.

Moving Day--Leaving Gilbert

Wyoming sunset

Downtown Pinedale

30th Birthday Dinner in Jackson


View from birthday Gondola ride in Jackson


Autumn in Pinedale along Fayette Pole Creek Rd.

First snowfall in Pinedale (view from our balcony)

New truck for Darren--with 4WD!

Mom and Dad next to Pine Creek during their visit to Pinedale