What's Next?

Well everyone, I am sure there is family and friends, wondering what is going on with us! First off, we had a great weekend with friends. Friday our neighbors were having their annual Halloween party, in which they invite practically the whole street and some over to carve or paint pumpkins while enjoying tons of different soups and chillies. It was a lot of fun and very yummy! Jamie and I had to head out a little early because I had to take a dreadful test. Saturday I woke up bright in early at 6:30 am (which is a big deal for me since Saturdays are the only day I get to sleep in) in order to do some baking! Our good friends were being sealed that morning and I was asked to bring some bite size type dessert for the open house afterward. I found a really yummy recipe for Oreo truffles. AMAZING!! And they were so easy, so I am definitely keeping that recipe. The sealing took place in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, it was really beautiful, and we were glad we were able to be there for the event. For the open house we enjoyed another soup buffet, and I really enjoyed it! I have never been a big soup maker, so I was really happy to try out some very yummy soup both Friday and Saturday! And my dessert was a hit!
Sunday was the primary program, and our whole class did very good, it was fun being apart of a primary program again, something I hadn't done since I was 11 years old!

The main reason for this post, was to inform people what direction life is taking Jamie and I. We have been very unsure lately so I haven't shared much information. But we are starting to weed out all the possibilities.

April 2010 Jamie will graduate from BYU with a bachelors in Portuguese, and a minor in Business. It has been bit of a bumpy road for him, so I am so proud of Jamie and his accomplishments and hard work, these past couple years. The other unknown, was what would come next after graduation. Every week I would hear a new Idea and thought, (which really overwhelmed me)but I think Jamie had an experience this past week that helped narrow down things. Last week Jamie received a call from a friend telling him about a director of a school coming to UVU to discuss their international business masters program, and he invited Jamie to come along with him. The School is ThunderBird school of Global Management in Glendale AZ! We had heard of this school before, and it had been just a passing thought, but Jamie had a great opportunity to learn about this school, the requirement, and he even got to eat lunch and talk with the key note speaker. I think it really gave him some direction and excitement about this school. They count Jamie's mission as one year of work experience, and because he speaks a language fluently, he will have an advantage. Nothing is finally, but if we go this route, Jamie will graduate and start studying for the G Mat while I finish up school then apply.

What about me? Well I finish school in June of 2010, but can not walk until August. So in August I will officially graduate with a bachelors in Public Health/ Health Promotion with a minor in Gerontology. I will then start working. Currently I am leaning more on the Gerontology side of things. I am currently working at an Adult Day Care once a week that specializes in Alzheimer, for my internship. I really enjoy working with the seniors that come to stay with us from 10-5 each day. These seniors do not live in institutions, but with family member, who either work, or just need a brake during the day, since all of them need constant care.

We had our first death since I began working there, and I was really worried when that would happen, and how I would take it being that I struggle with that topic. Sweet Ellie passed away two weeks ago, and surprisingly when I found out, I was a little sadden, but more happy for her. Ellie was 88 and pretty far in her disease. Unless you got real close to her and asked her direct questions she would sit all day with her eyes closed talking out loud having full on conversations speaking both sides. Someday she would talk really loud and I would leave with a headache, but she was really sweet, and would sometimes swear like crazy at the people she was "talking" with in her conversations, the funny thing is that in her life, I would be truly surprised if that women ever said a swear word, that's what the disease will do to you. I will miss Ellie, but I am really happy for her to be able to move on from the trap her mind had kept her in.

So that is what's new with us, and hope that gives people a better idea about what's next in life for the James! At the very least, I am glad that I have a better Idea!