Month in Review

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."

Hamilton Wright Mabie

Our traditions....a few new things and all the good stuff that brought joy to my life this month.

* Making gingerbread houses with my Mom and sisters (honestly my house stunk because I'm not patient enough but it was still fun.)

* Cutting down the tree (We might have done better if we'd been able to see anything)

* Decorating the tree (I love going through ornaments and remembering each year.)

* Gardner Village to see the Elves and pick out our ornaments for this year.

* Taking Christmas treats to the local nursing home. (Lizzy has now started pointing out to me.... "Look Mom, an old person!")

* Seeing Santa (twice). (No tears this year.)

* Visiting Temple Square. (We almost skipped it this year. So glad we didn't.)

* The Larry Miller sing-a-long at the Energy Solutions Arena (This was new but I'd totally do it again. Besides the free hot dogs, drinks and free tickets it was also fun and heart warming to see the telecast from Iraq and sing Christmas songs with total strangers!)

* Brown family party (Complete with the nativity, Christmas pie and a streaking cousin.)

* Goodrich Christmas Eve Celebration (Tons of delicious food and then being a little bit sick afterward is part of the tradition too. Always love the short message from Dad and the singing.)

* And of course... Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas to all... and to all a goodnight.

Ya' Know What I Love...?

I love family gatherings.

People who don't see my kids everyday actually find them entertaining....
......and are willing to entertain them.

I love that.

Fortunate Accident

Sometimes the fates conspire to save us from our own stupidity. Such was the case this morning when Aaron set his alarm clock for 4:45 PM instead of AM in order to make it to the airport for his flight to Minnesota. Someone up there must have known we needed a little push and so Lizzy came into our room to inform us in her big loud voice (she never whispers at 4:30 in the morning) that she had wet the bed. I got up and took care of it. Aaron, like most men, has the gift of selective hearing and didn't budge. I wondered briefly if he should be getting up soon and then promptly fell back asleep. Obviously, we needed one more little push, because at 5:45 Andrew let out a loud wail informing us that he, too, had wet the bed. This time Aaron nearly lept out of bed, realizing that he should have left at least a half hour ago. So thank you to whomever made my kids wet the bed and saved us from ourselves. I don't know if I will ever say that again so I'd better say it one more time. I'm thankful that my kids wet the bed. I didn't want to miss anything so I came along to snap a photo of Aaron making a mad dash.

The Match - A Guessing Game

We are in the middle of applying to residency programs. It is scary and exciting at the same time. This whole process is very different from any other job application I've ever heard of. A lot of people have asked how it works so I'm going to explain it now.

During the last year of medical school, students choose a specialty. Aaron has decided on Radiation Oncology (which by the way is very different from Radiology). He then applied to about 1000 Radiation Oncology programs. (Actually about 40). Then we wait... for interview offers. Aaron has interviewed at 4 programs and will interview at 10 more in the next few months. At the end of interviews.... we will rank all of the programs that he interviewed at... from 1 to 14... or how many ever interviews he ends up with. Each of the programs will also rank all of the students that they interviewed. It then goes into a giant national database. Someday in March... we will receive our MATCH. The system will match us up with the program that was the best match. Some students will get their 1st choice and some with get their 14th and some don't match at all. I can't even imagine that day when you all gather together and receive the envelope that tells you where you will live, work, and raise your family for the next 4 years. I think the whole thing is crazy. To shake things up a little more... Aaron's specialty also requires a transition year which is completed a year prior to residency. The interview and match process is completely separate. We hope to do our transition year in Utah. So that's it. Any questions? Good.

These are where Aaron has interviews:

Michigan (2: Ann Arbor and Royal Oak)

California

Iowa

Utah

Colorado

Ohio (3: Cleveland, Cincinnatti and Columbus)

Texas (3: San Antonio, Houston and Dallas)

Minnesota

Oregon

Wisconsin

Make a guess at where we'll end up and winner gets their favorite candy bar. Unless of course there are 2 of you that guess right... then you'll have to share a candy bar because hey.... we're poor students.

Joseph B. Wirthlin 1917-2008

I just learned that Elder Wirthlin passed away last night. I love Elder Wirthlin. I always look forward to his messages at conference. He just radiates with Christlike love. It is funny to think that I feel so personally connected to someone whom I have never met. But he seemed to always hit on things that had personal significance or that were particularly meaningful to me. I have spent some time this afternoon reviewing some of my favorite talks by Elder Wirthlin. These are all quotes that have had special meaning to me and that have helped me in different times of my life:

The abundant life is a spiritual life. Too many sit at the banquet table of the gospel of Jesus Christ and merely nibble at the feast placed before them. They go through the motions—attending their meetings perhaps, glancing at scriptures, repeating familiar prayers—but their hearts are far away. If they are honest, they would admit to being more interested in the latest neighborhood rumors, stock market trends, and their favorite TV show than they are in the supernal wonders and sweet ministerings of the Holy Spirit.

"The most treasured and sacred moments of our lives are those filled with the spirit of love. The greater the measure of our love, the greater is our joy. In the end, the development of such love is the true measure of success in life."

Love is the beginning, the middle, and the end of the pathway of discipleship. It comforts, counsels, cures, and consoles. It leads us through valleys of darkness and through the veil of death. In the end love leads us to the glory and grandeur of eternal life.

Sometimes we feel that the busier we are, the more important we are—as though our busyness defines our worth. Brothers and sisters, we can spend a lifetime whirling about at a feverish pace, checking off list after list of things that in the end really don’t matter.
That we do a lot may not be so important. That we focus the energy of our minds, our hearts, and our souls on those things of eternal significance—that is essential.

Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known. Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes.

May I learn to see life as he has seen it and love people as he has loved them. Then... I would consider myself successful.