Safe Landing

I just wanted everyone to know that I finally heard from James Thursday night and he did actually land safely in China and get connected with his Study Abroad group. We happened to be on the internet at the same time and got to speak over Skype using our webcams. That was terrific, except there's a small delay between here and China - imagine that. So it's like the news people who ask a question and three seconds later the other person responds. It was good though. He says to tell everyone hello and thanks for everything! I'm sure he'll post himself eventually when he has consistent connection to the internet. I'm not sure how often we'll get to use Skype since the time difference between Utah and where he's at is 14 hours. So when I get home from work at 9:30pm, it's 11:30am his time and he should be in school. When I leave for work at 7:30am, it's 9:30pm his time. What a horrible mix, eh? We'll figure it out eventually I'm sure.

Now, to update on my life... I am working two jobs. One is with an elementary school for six hours a day everyday doing reading intervention programs, and the other is with the Cannon Commons Cafeteria on campus. I work in the bakery there cutting desserts and serving them every MWF night. It's a lot of work but it keeps my mind busy. James and I both went to school full time this summer and I took a couple sewing classes which I loved! The picture with us outside is in front of our new apartment building and I am wearing a skirt I made in my beginning sewing class. The other picture is of us in our kitchen while James was cooking a great chicken dinner.

We had regional conference today for all of Utah and Wasatch counties. It was a wonderful meeting. Presidents Uchtdorf and Packer spoke as well as Elder Marlin Jensen and Sister Ann Dibb who is a counselor in the general young women's presidency but also President Monson's daughter. I love the smaller conferences because the General Authorities are so relaxed and funny. President Packer said something I really liked. He said that "no matter how much the church grows, it will always be the same size: a ward, a stake, but the center of the church is always the family." Isn't that great? The family really is the focus of the church. President Uchtdorf talked about where we are spending our time and how we are setting and accomplishing goals which was great, because it was something I needed to hear. I have a bunch of things I want to do while James is gone and surprise him, but I need to be reminded that while it seems like he's going to be gone forever, I don't really have forever to get those goals done. So, it was good encouragement to keep working hard.