We're Expecting

I always thought it was annoying when people put in their Facebook status's "We're Expecting..." and then they yammer on about something for a couple paragraphs before they say, "in 8 short weeks - Santa Clause!" or something like unto it. So my title is equally as annoying and misleading. Probably more people will start to read this post than any of my other posts ever before just because of the title ;) So before you go any further - we are not pregnant. You can go ahead and stop reading here if you want :).

I did think, like many other, that it would be a little funny to trick people with the title. That's why I did it. But truthfully, Mike and I are expecting a very special guest coming this December. Sister Tatiana Ignatova. Sister Ignatova was an LDS Mission Companion of mine out in Washington DC. Her father died when she was around 10 years old and her mother got very sick and passed away a short time later when she was a teenager. Tanya remembers growing up in the communist Russia and remembers when the government changed. In 1995 LDS missionaries were permitted to enter Russia and begin teaching about Jesus Christ. Years later, now a young adult (~21 y/o), Tanya was invited to the baptism of one of her friends. While she was there, she felt something very good and wanted to learn more. She asked the missionaries if they would begin teaching her what they had just taught her friend. She began taking lessons, learning about our Savior Jesus Christ, His teachings, and of the Priesthood that has been restored onto the Earth. She even learned that there is a prophet on the earth today, that teaches us, just as prophets of old taught those in their time. She learned about eternal families, and the plan of happiness, where we would be reunited with our families and our Father in Heaven again one day. She began reading the scriptures, she began praying, and the feeling that she felt at the baptism came into her life stronger and stronger. She knew that the things that she was learning was good and when she prayed to know if it was true, she received a strong feeling inside of her tell her that it is. She decided to get baptized. With this decision came opposition. Tanya's only living family, her aunt and uncle, said that they would disown her if she joined the church. Although scared, Tanya took the 'come what may' attitude and chose to be baptized. Her family stopped speaking to her. Tanya never looked back on her decision. She chose to serve a mission and was called to Washington DC - where she touched many lives with her sincere testimony and her big heart. Two times a year when we called home - Mother's Day and Christmas - Tanya was able to call a friend back home in Russia. When my mom heard about my new companion, she was excited to make her a part of our family. She was so thrilled that she would be able to send Christmas to two missionaries instead of just one. Shortly after Christmas, it was time for Tanya to return to Russia. A few weeks prior she began complaining of a pain that kept hurting her heart. I imagine a lot like heart burn. She watched what she was eating, and was cautious of things that may be causing it. It didn't go away. So after a week we decided to call the Elder's. We explained to them the pain that she was feeling and asked them to give her a blessing that would stop her heart from hurting. That night she told me that she felt her heart was hurting not because of a physical cause, but because she was scared to go home. She told me how worried she was to return home, not knowing what to expect from her family since she hadn't seen them in so long and not knowing what she would be going back to. The next morning we went to our missionary meetings. Afterwards we went into a classroom and one of the Elders laid his hands on her head and speaking from the spirit by the Priesthood power, he gave her a blessing. It struck me as he spoke that he never once blessed her for the physical pain of her aching heart. He only blessed her for the emotional pain she was currently going through as she prepared to go home. In fact he repeated verbatim the things that she had told me the night before. But he had no idea. All we had told him was that she was feeling some sort of heartburn. I don't think to this day he knows the power of that blessing that he gave. But Sister Ignatova and I went back to our apartment with a renewed testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and of the restored Priesthood that is here on this earth, that He knows each one of us, and He hears our prayers. I have many fond memories of my time teaching with Sister Ignatova. Her example, her strength, and her testimony taught me so much. My heart has ached for her since she has returned to Russia. She came to visit a couple of years ago and since my sweet grandma and my mom have made jokes of me bringing her back so they can adopt her. Well, it all seemed like a dream until she decided to apply for school here. The process felt endless until I finally received this message:

Hi Jen,

I have just received my passport from the Embassy ... with the visa!!!! Thank you & your family for the prayers!!!! They made a miracle in my life!!! When I had an interview, the officer told me that my links to Russia are not enough but he gave me the visa anyway, he said it is because of my honesty, because when I had my previous visas I did exactly what I told at the interviews. First I told that I would go on a mission for 18 months and would come back and did so. And second time I told I would visit my friends for two weeks and did so. So thank you for your prayers. They really made miracles!!!
So I can come after December 6th, I don't know the exact date because I am trying to find a cheaper air flight but could not find yet.
As for the housing, do you know if there is someone in Provo who I can stay with together with my friend. I will try to find someone but I would appreciate your counsel!!!
My friend did not have her visa interview yet. She will go to the Embassy next week. So if you'd like to pray for her, I would be very happy. Her name is Marina Danilova.
I will wait for your answer. Love you a lot!!!
Big hugs from me to you and your family!!!
Tanya

I am so looking forward to her arrival and so excited for her to stay with Mike and I until she finds a place. I am eager to share our first Christmas together with her as I know she will only add to that wonderful Christmas spirit. I am so excited that we are expecting her so soon and can't wait for December to arrive!

Riding a bike - something they don't do in Russia.

Visiting with Grandpa & Grandma Jarrett

Visiting with Grandpa & Grandma Reeder

Daily Commute

Today I was sitting at my desk at work, listening to my jams (the Ensign on 'the Mormon Channel' app) and I just sat back and thought for a second, "I have a good job." It startled myself because I don't know how many times I have thought that. It's not a bad job, but I don't recall ever really just 'appreciating' it before. The thing that makes it the most difficult is... my daily commute. :(

I just payed $260 to ride in a UTA van pool from Draper to Hill Air Force Base. It's a monthly rate that fluctuates depending on the number of riders, the van mileage, and the price of gas. So it could go down, but I think it will rise steadily the next couple of months. Next month it will definitely rise because we had a guy drop out. Lucky guy. So I drive my car from Orem to Draper, catch the van, and ride the last half of my commute in the van. Even though the van is expensive, it's still cheaper than driving myself up there alone five days a week. I did that for about a month and was filling up with gas every other day.

My Schedule

I wake up at 4 am, leave my house at 5 am, get to work around 6:15, leave work approximately 3:45, and get home at the earliest 5 pm. That's 12 hours I am gone every Monday through Friday :( My friend Tabbi referred to it as: "An east coast commute without the benefits." I had to agree wholeheartedly.

Benefits of the Van Pool:

* I don't have to drive. This decreases my chances of getting a speeding ticket by 100%. If you know me, you know that this is very important.
* I am saving the Earth. I like to do my part and recycle. While this isn't a huge factor, it's nice to know I am contributing :)
* I can usually sleep for at least 15 minutes on the ride to the base in the morning.

That might be all. It's all I can think about right now. Here is a fun fact: the government pays for their employees to commute. So most of the people I ride with pay only a small amount to commute. Contractors, like me, don't get any money to commute, so we pay it all in full ourselves. Lame. I pay taxes too. Where is my benefit?!

Anyway, today, even though I have been complaining about the commute, I am grateful for my job. I like the experience I am gaining, the skills I am learning, my awesome coworkers, and the fact that I can listen to TV shows or the radio while I work. But, if you know of any technical writing positions closer to Orem, please let me know. Thanks (from both Mike and I).

Pumpkin Walk 2012

Monday I rode with Alisha and her girls up to Logan for the Cache Valley Pumpkin Walk as well as for Austin's birthday. Let's be honest, mainly Austin's birthday but the Pumpkin Walk was a bonus. We had so much fun playing in the leaves, decorating sugar cookies, going to the pumpkin walk, and celebrating Austin's birthday with gifts, cake, and ice cream.

We went to the Pumpkin Walk during the day because it was a downpour for a good part of the day. It would down pour and then stop, and then start, and then stop, almost in exact five minute intervals. It didn't ruin our good-time but sadly, it did ruin some of the scenes in the Pumpkin Walk. We saw lots of props blow over, backdrops fall down and things flying all over. Sad.

The theme of this year's Pumpkin Walk is "Let the Games Begin." So basically - games. It was so much fun to see how people took that theme, and the things or scenes that they came up with. Here are some pictures of this fabulous annual event.

Madagascar

 the Bachelor

 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

 Candyland

 Micky Mouse Olympics

 Nacho Libre

Clue

 

Harry Potter Chess

Wipeout

the Hunger Games

This one was so detailed and went for so long. It was pretty awesome though. I have never read the books but it had lots of scenes from the movies that I recognized.

Duck, Duck, Goose

I just thought that the ducks were real cute in this one.

I Spy

Such a great idea for kids!

Snowball Fight

I loved the way the 'snow' looks.

Hi-Ho Cherry-O

And, I just loved this game. It looks perfect.

Alice in Wonderland Croquet with the Queen

I thought that the queen looked spot-on!

Harry Potter Quidditch

 and of course ending with...

Presidential Campaign 2012

It's always so fun to go and see how talented people are! The things that they do are pretty incredible!

Auf Wiedersehen Leavenworth

Auf Wiedersehen. Goodbye.

We spent our final day in Leavenworth wandering the main street and getting in all the shopping we could handle before it was gone for good. So we headed to the Leavenworth city center.

Sure will miss this beautiful place. We went to the Danish Bakery "Konditorei" and got ourselves some Danishes. Konditorei in German means cake shop. Like most bakeries, they wake up each morning bright and early and begin the cooking. I know because one morning I went there before anyone else was awake and the only people up were these bakers and the men watering the street plants. Anyway, their treats are so yummy!

Mike and I purchased an assortment of their famous Danishes. They definitely were yummy. They had Apricot Danishes, Lemon Danishes, Strawberry Danishes, Blueberry Cream Cheese Danishes (my favorite), Cherry Custard Danishes, Burnt Cream Danishes, and Cream Cheese Danishes.

They had so many treats! I can't believe how many things they made each morning. Some of the fun additional pastries and treats they offered were: Cherry, Apple, and Raspberry Cream Cheese Strudles, Traditional Baked Cinnamon Crisps, Almond Kringle's, Cream Bollen's,  Cannoli Shell's, Pralinas, Florentina's, Schillerlocken's, and Cashew Squares. I imagine they all taste super yummy but they were all so pretty too!

All of the shop employees told us that we "had" to try the Munchen Haus" for lunch. It was a pretty simple place - more fun than yummy, but still pretty good. They served traditional German Bratwurst and Hot Dogs along with a dozen different types of mustard. At night they have live music because most people enjoy the beer that they brew so they create a way for people to stick around longer, but because we went for lunch we missed the live show (both of music and of drunk people). 

This is my favorite shop in all of Leavenworth. The Oil & Vinegar Cellar. Yummiest combinations EVER.

Just another painting that we saw on of the side streets. The paintings really are on every single building.

The Nussknacker Haus.
Above this shop with Nutcrackers they have a Nutcracker Museum, which has over 6,000 Nutcrackers. Doesn't really sound like a lot, but it really is.

For our final feast we went to dinner at the Renaissance Cafe.

When we first got there we were pretty skeptical about the place. I got some really strange food called "God's Food." It was not very good. But then I also got a sandiwch - it was AMAZING! 

To end the night we went to the Leavenworth Summer Theater and saw the Sound of Music. I had never even seen the movie to this classic before so I was in for a treat. I found out in was a story based in the mountains of Austria. What a perfect setting for this play. We were in an Austrian themed village and the play took place at an outdoor theater up in the mountains of Leavenworth, it was the perfect setting. The play was excellent and I loved the story. It is my mom's favorite movie and I now understand why.

Leaving Leavenworth.

Our beautiful (super long) drive home. Washington was beautiful, Oregon was beautiful, Idaho was horrible.

Practically every bit of land in Washington was covered with  Apple Orchards and Pear Orchards and
Grape Orchards (?)/Wineries. It was so fun to see them all. There were so many!

We set up some S'mores on the dashboard to cook while we drove home.

FINALLY HOME TO UTAH!!!!!
Vacations are so much fun but when it's time to be home, it is so nice to finally get there!