Just an update - and a good grade on a test!

Martha here!

This week I took my first test in my Anatomy & Physiology class I'm taking (well, first for this semester. It's a two semester class.) I was totally stressed out about it, but I ended up getting an 88!!!!! I was very very relieved!

Jessica was sick this week and missed school Tuesday and Wednesday. It was interesting trying to juggle school and my job and taking care of her. She ended up spending some time with my sister (Thanks, Marian!) and a little by herself. She is feeling much better now, but she is stressed about getting her make-up work done.

Oh, yes, I did mention a job. I am working as a Peer Tutor in the Math Lab on the AB Tech campus. It pays squat, and I'm only working 8 hours a week, but it will help our stress level, I hope. I really like tutoring, even though I am having to re-learn algebra (don't even try me on Calculus right now!)

Just a note for you baby lovers about Carolyn. She is getting better and better at standing, so I am trying to put her down on her tummy more. Makes sense, right??? The reason is that she doesn't know how to crawl yet, and I really want to give her some more practice with that before she starts walking. Our hardwood floors make crawling difficult, so we'll see how it goes.

I even found a way for her to be happy while I was typing this. She is in front of my chair (almost under the desk) eating Sweet Potato Puffs--and enjoying them immensely! (Sweet Potatoes are her FAVORITE food!)

(Yeah I actually posted something!)

B-man has a B-day!

Benjamin celebrated his 14th birthday on January 28th, 2009. He is growing up so fast we can hardly keep up with his birthdays anymore.

At 14, he is the same age Joseph Smith was when he had what we in the LDS church refer to as the First Vision. Benjamin is definitely starting to question the world around him and to begin to wonder about his place in it. As we all do at one point or another.

It is exciting to be part of his life.

Yesterday, he went with his youth group to the Columbia, SC temple to do temple work. Last week, he was very reluctant about the trip as he says he has nothing to do for the 2-1/2 hours that it takes to get down there and then another 2-1/2 hours to get back. I encouraged him to take a book with him.

Yesterday morning he was dressed in his Sunday best before I even had breakfast. (They met at the church at 10am.) Apparently, he was no longer feeling reluctant about the trip. I found out when he got back that he had taken my advice and brought Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird with him and was reading it until it simply got too dark to do so. He rode back with the Alcayaga's and had a good time. When it got too dark to read, Tracy Alcayaga kept him busy in conversation. (Benjamin is not normally very talkative.)

Today, I had the opportunity to ordain Benjamin a teacher in the Aaronic priesthood. A very good experience. It's neat to see him move along in his responsibilities in the church.