“A fear of heights is illogical.  A fear of falling, on the other hand, is prudent and evolutionary.”

-Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory

There is always a sure sign of summer coming to a close . . . I receive my season tickets to Utah football in the mailbox.  I must admit that is the only sign of summer coming to a close that would ever put a smile on my face and make me squeal a bit.  It is probably a good thing that getting those tickets are the first sign of the impending doom of winter or I might not take it so well.  However every year my first thought is always, “how did the summer go by so quickly?”  I am happy that I was able to at least get in some fun during the short season and I even managed to obtain a sunburn that had me peeling for an entire week.

I was also able to spend some time with family and friends that I don’t see often enough.  It has been a busy time at my house with people in and out.  The last two weeks have been a blast!  I was able to have some dear friends from Boston stay at my house for a while.  It was great to have time to catch up and get Jamie addicted to a new television show . . . sorry Jamie . . . and put I promise there is no email being sent. :) 

After they left, my parents came and spent some time with me.  They actually came to get some appointments in, do some family history research and to attend the family reunion.  Only when my house was suddenly quiet again last night did I realize just how much better I was sleeping while there were other human beings there that I love and trust.  I wasn’t jumping at every single little noise of the house settling or car driving by while they were there.  It is amazing the difference of my comfort level while having the priesthood in my house at night.  Needless to say, for so many different reasons it was nice to have wonderful people in my home for a while.

I have officially been in my home for a year.  I hit that mark the first of this month.  It is hard to believe that it has already been a year but then again when I look at everything that I have already done to the house, it is seems like I have been there a lot longer.  I am really enjoying my neighborhood and my ward.  They have been so great and it is so refreshing to live somewhere that has that old-time neighborhood feel to it . . . a sense of community.  It is great to feel safe enough to go out biking or running by myself, not only because it is a great area but because there are always a ton of others out doing the same thing.  I have never left my house and not seen someone out doing some type of physical activity.  It makes me smile. 

After the ward split I was re-called into teaching Gospel Doctrine with a few changes.  There was only going to be one class and I would be the sole teacher which means I teach every single week.  The bishop wanted consistency in teaching and so he only wanted one teacher.  Honestly I don’t mind and it gives me more reason to study harder each week.  Yesterday my darling 88-year old kissed me on the cheek after my lesson and told me I was his favorite teacher ever.  He is so stinking cute.  Everyone should have a grandparent around, adopted or not, to make them feel special.  How could I not love teaching especially in this ward?!  The discussion is always spiritually uplifting and informative.  There is definitely a spirit of love and learning that envelops us each week.  I am so blessed to be a tiny part of that. 

Did I mention that I got my season tickets in the mail?!