I knew economy was looking up when we recently go the quarterly report from our retirement account. Joe and I have been contributing for the last 3 years. How much interest have we amassed from the stock market with our money?

A whopping $2.75

Should we celebrate?

Our summer was a grand adventure in many ways. During the week we abode in a rather barren home.

Like how we got a bed after our airmattress sprung 6 different leaks? If you look close you can see me on the top. Somehow even though the mattress looks tiny on the van it still couldn't fit inside.

Like our dining room furniture?


But, on the weekends, we partied hard. We were able to take several trips. Here is the Redlands Temple. It is a small temple that only has a few sessions at a time. Guess who forgot to make an appointment and got to kill 4 hours before the next session?



Joe had a friend get married in San Diego. It really is a beautiful temple. We also visited the Mesa Arizona temple for my little brother's wedding, and the Manhattan New York temple when Becca went through, but we weren't able to get pictures. It is amazing that the temples' architecture can be so different, and so beautiful time.


Joe standing in line at 6 Flags. I forgot how much fun the rides can be and how not fun the waiting in line can be. Prime opportunity for people watching. . .


This is the rollercoaster that was my downfall. They have you hanging out over the sides and spinning vertically. I thought I was going to die. The next day I had no voice at all.


Joe had a friend get married in San Diego. It really is a beautiful temple.

Joe and I went on a grand adventure this summer. We moved to California (inland). Now after surviving a week with 100+ degree weather, we are wishing our adventure was over. Even I, who grew up in Arizona didn't fare all that well some times.

Thanks be to an air-conditioning unit we installed in one of our windows. We really feel it has saved our lives.

To begin with, we would like you to meet our neighbors:

Meet "Bob." Well, his name isn't really Bob, and this isn't really him. But it is as close as we could get. He is actually a very nice man who just happens to spend his days worshiping Apollo in his backyard and taking his best friend "Scooby" for walks around town. However, he is an older gentleman with a very, VERY tanned physique and whose favorite apparel are similar to those found above. Just add black mid calf socks and white shoes.
Actually, yesterday there was a sighting of "Bob" with some pants on as he ran his weed-eater in his yard. You know something is wrong when you do a double take because an old man has pants on.

Meet one of the pets that we have collected:



This is TP. We found him in the bathroom. We named him after his favorite mode of transportation as we dispatched him to heaven through the aid of St. John. We thought he would be better off there rather than in our house.



We have another friend we have affectionately nick-named Grinder. We have not actually sighted this little guy. But, he has ways of letting us know that he is around and making sure we don't miss him. First, he shredded the filter that goes to my wheat grinder, guess I shouldn't have left the flour in there. Not only was the filter shredded, the wheat grinder bore unmistakable signs of rodent curiosity (little yellow spots, etc, etc.). His main calling card has been "little presents." He has hit my pajama pants, my sock drawer, and my least favorite, the dish-drying rack. We, in turn, have left a few house warming presents for him. He disappeared, hope we weren't too hard on him.

In case our friends weren't aware, Joe got to move out to CA before I did. I still had a month left at the elementary school that I work in, when Joe's internship started. It was interesting being apart. Especially when one of you has a day like this.

It was going to be a good day.
Joe had finally found a place! He could move in!

Well, actually, you have to wait until Saturday.

Hurray, it's Saturday, I can have a place to call my own.
Great, did we mention that you won't have power until Monday?

Well, our kind neighbors have lent me an extension cord. A running fridge!
Oh, sorry about the fridge. We don't think the nasty pink mold has been there for long.

My mission has cured me of many fears. Off to the grocery store!
That will be $100.00 sir, Oh, I'm sorry, we only take cash

ATM fees, oh well. Small price to pay for being able to fix my own meal. Carl's Jr. and I'm done.
Good luck eating that meal in the dark!
Maglight, my friend, MacGuyver would be proud.

Sorry, my friend, MacGuyver would have had extra batteries!

So, I guess I can eat by the light inside my car. Dinner and then bed. Wait! what is that hissing sound?
That, my friend, is the sound of your airmattress finding the one nail poking out of the wall. 11:00 at night, a whithering airmattress, no lights. Can you say "good"night?

In the dreary cold months, one can only dream of warmth and sun. Well . . . . we have gotten our wish. Now, instead of spending the summer months in the moderate temperatures of Utah, we are off to California!

Beaches, breezes, and waves you say? Well, not exactly. Welcome to Edwards Air Force Base.

While in might be cool to work with the Navigation and Guidance teams working on planes like this . . .

Check out the beautiful surroundings

and this



For someone who grew up in this (and yes, parts of Arizona can look like this)

But just up the road from this . . .


It should be okay.

But for someone who grew up in this . . .

A desert summer could be daunting. I just hope that Joe doesn't dry up like a little Jamaican raisin and blow away.


But then there is this . . .


The Joshua Tree National Park. And so, there must be a road trip because after all, it is a National Park and U2 is well U2. California here we come.

The last few weeks have provided ample time for reflection. Who can ignore the holiday season, even more so when your Thanksgiving break is spent around the hospital bed of someone who has made such an impact on your life. Two weeks ago today my little sister Brooke had to go into the hospital. She has had recurring bouts of intestinal trouble that were dire enough this time to result in being flown to Phoenix, dealing with acute kidney failure, a 4 hour long emergency surgery that took most of her small intestine, and 2 weeks on a ventilator. It is times like this that perspective comes to you a little clearer. I am grateful to report that as of today, Brooke is off the ventilator and holding her own. She has an uphill battle in front of her, but things are looking a little brighter.

This and a few other circumstances have me reflecting on how focused our society can be on ourselves. So much so that we often miss each other. Have you noticed how everything seems more dramatic when it happens to you? I have so many things to do. I am so stressed out. I have so many demands on my time. I have to . . . I, I, I.

Joe and I attended Sacrament Meeting at a church near the hospital last week and was greeted by a smiling, friendly, humble man handing out programs. I had never met the man before, but could tell that he had had some challenges in life. I watched his face as he welcomed everyone who walked in that door. To us who were visiting, it was very comforting. However, as the meeting started there were a few people remaining who hadn't taken their seats. Two women in particular walked into the meeting hall. This gentleman donned his smile and quickly stood with his hand out reached to greet them and share a program. The two women didn't even notice the man, and quickly walked by leaving him standing there with his hand outstretched.

How often do we become so wrapped up in our own world that we fail to notice those around us?

My challenge to myself and you this Christmas season is to take some time to really see those that are around you. Then reach out to them. Maybe just with a smile and a hello, a handshake or a hug, ask "How are you?" and really want to know the answer. It is this kind of reaching out that generates the love that Christ come to this earth to teach us about.

Have a great Holiday Season.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the culture of Shim, there are a few things you should know:

1. Food is good
2. Food is better with friends
3. It is shameful to not have enough food

In an attempt to properly transmit the culture of Shim, we recently gathered with a group of friends (2) to enjoy each others company and sustenance (1). The following picture can verify that we have also taken hold of principle number (3). Do you think we have enough for 10 people?

It was especially enjoyable to have this event spear-headed by the special weekend appearance of Mattie and Allie. The only thing that could have made it better if we had been joined by Chris and Erin.

We enjoyed the cuisines of the world with Jamaican Curry Chicken, an authentic Swedish appetizer, and of course, Betty Crocker’s wonderful brownies.

Lest it be said that we are strickly gatherers for laughter and riotous living, Matt Manwaring unfolded to us the mysteries of the universe

But, as that quickly became a much too heavy subject for us, we returned to riotous living and dedicated the remainder of the evening to a Fuzion Frenzy fest.

After being called to repentance from several friends for our serious lack of bloggage lately (or at all), we have turned from our old ways, but in order to catch up, things may not exactly be in chronological order. (They may be slightly reminiscent of our good friend K Stone).

Erin & I have been snowboarding lately & I thought this was pretty awesome. Check it out.

Okay, so I'm going to start my update of my life by recapping the last 2 months. Then eventually I'll have some postings of the past 4 years to catch up some of my friends who I haven't kept in touch with well. I know that you probably think "what's the point?" Well, I like to think that some of you actually give a crap about what's been going on with me. So here's to being optimistic.

So this year so far...

As many or none of you know, I'm studying Electrical Engineering at BYU. I've been studying 11+ hrs during the weekdays and 4+ hrs every Saturday. Oh, I've been sleeping and eating in between. Now I know many of you are thinking "so what? I plug in tons more hours. " Well, I'm new to this study your life away thing, and I'm only taking 13 credits. Now I know what you ALL are thinking. "Wow Joe, I didn't realize you were such a moron." Well, neither did I. Although I should have seen it coming.

I will say that despite my many many flaws Erin still seems to think that I'm a good husband and that I have many redeeming qualities. Bless her heart. She's been pretty busy lately with conferences and parent meetings and faculty meetings that it surprises me sometimes how she turns to me at night and tells me how big of a slacker she is or that she doesn't get enough done. I don't think I'll ever get it.

I guess that's all for now. School is one long set of sprints, Erin is pluggin away teaching speech therapy, & life is pretty good.