Yeah for Christmas!!

A couple weeks ago we got to go to temple square, Katie and Jason had extra tickets to the Christmas devotional and were gracious enough to invite us so we went to the devotional and got to listen to the First Presidency speak. I think we enjoyed Elder Eyring's talk the most. It was especially funny as he told of his kids throwing foil balls at "Samuel the Lamanite," and that they had to constantly remind them that he could not be hit upon the wall. After the devotional we ran around looking at the lights as we froze our buns off. It was a lot of fun, and the lights on temple square are gorgeous. We are getting excited for Christmas break and to spend time with family.

The Reason for the Season

So our parents (John and Linda) gave us The Christmas Sweater by Glen Beck. I thought I (Kirk) would read it, and I absolutely loved this book. It is an easy read, but man does it remind you of the Savior and his mission, and our stubbornness at times. I would recommend this book to anybody. And here is just a short quote from his little author's not at the end of the book which I loved.

"I wonder sometimes how many of us don't face ourselves because we are convinced that we're worthy of only a certain level of happiness. We are limited by our imaginations and thoughts of worthiness and joy. We become comfortable in our misery because it is all we know. Or maybe it's just that we don't look for the 'real' us because we're afraid that there isn't any real us to find. . . . At Christmas we celebrate the birth of the Christ child, but by doing so, sometimes we miss the real meaning of the season. It is what that infant, boy, and then perfect man did at the end of His ministry that makes the birth so special.

Without His death, the birth would be meaningless.

For years, I didn't believe in redemption as anything other than a word you hear from a preacher. I didn't think it was real. Even if it was, I didn't think that I was worthy. That is a lie. It is real. It's not just a word; it is a life-changing force. I am worthy. You are worthy. We all are. I guess the real lesson I learned that last Christmas with my mother was that the greatest gift is any gift that is given with love. I so clearly remember the look in her eyes as she saw my sweater rolled up in a ball on the floor of my room, and I remember realizing all that she had done for that gift. I refuse to stand at His feet and see Him with the same look in His eyes as he asks me, "Son, is that the gift I gave you?"

Pick up you redemption. Cherish it. Wear it. Share it. It has the power to transform lives." (end quote)

Glen Beck gives a very personal look into some of his life experiences. In doing so he gave me a good reminder of my Savior and his redeeming power. I would strongly recommend this book to all. Have a wonderful Christmas season and may you spend it with those you love, remembering He who loved us enough to die for us.

We Are Finally Blogging

Well we are finally joining the blog wagon! Kirk and I have had a lot of fun this last year and a half of marriage, we are loving it! I just can't believe how fast it has gone! Well to catch you up....we are now living in Provo, UT (after many a moves:) A couple months after we got married Kirk decided that he wanted to go into dentistry so he finished up his teaching degree and we left our small town of Rexburg and came to Provo! He now is attending the Y and taking all of his science classes (which he is doing really well in) for dental school. He will be taking the DAT in June and then we will begin applying!! It is an exciting and nerve racking time:) I finished my degree in Photography right before we got married and was working at a portrait studio as a photographer here in Orem. I really enjoyed it. Kirk enjoys it even more:) I make him go out with me all the time and take pictures! This one above was the most fun! We took a drive one Saturday around the Alpine Loop here in Utah, it takes you all through the canyon, it was soooo beautiful! We found this little stream and spent forever there playing with the pictures till we finally got our perfect one! We love it! Kirk started to get grumpy right before this because I had dragged him all around that canyon taking hundreds of pictures. But as soon as we got to this little stream he was having so much fun! He is becoming a little photographer himself.

As for me I am just finishing up dental assisting school. It has been a lot of fun I have learned a lot! I am starting my internship with a dentist in Pleasant Grove next week and am really excited about it. I am still going to do my photography though! Just on my own now wich I am excited about.

Our Day Taking Pictures

A few pics of us!

He was about to kill me by this time:)