The Christmas Break

I really meant to post over the break but let's be honest, I really mean to do a lot of things that I don't end up doing.

This was just another one of those things.

I am - based on my posts for the last couple of years - pretty good at quick recaps with photos.

Due to some awesome circumstances over the break this will also include videos.

So, here goes.

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At the beginning of November I decided to surprise my family when I came home for Christmas by coming a week early.

I used my self-control super-power and did not even hint at it.

I took pictures as I went because that is how I roll...and I was super proud of my use of public transportation without asking for help.

Independent woman - right here.

Step 1: Bus from Durham Cathedral

Step 2: Train from Durham to Newcastle.

Step 3: Metro from Newcastle to Newcastle Airport.

Step 4: Newcastle Airport waiting for flight to Paris.

Step 5: Paris airport - 15 HOUR LAYOVER!!!

Don't worry, I had a chocolate croissant and a HEAVENLY lemon muffin for breakfast. 

Step 6: Paris airport - waiting for flight to SLC. 

There is my plane!!!

Step 7: Arrival in SLC and TRAX from airport to North Temple Station.

Step 8: Frontrunner from North Temple to Provo.

Step 9: Call Cita from train and ask her to pick me up for old times sake.

Yeah, there was much screeching and happiness in that phone call.

Step 10: Arrive in Provo, get picked up by Cita and have the Padre show up at the station to also give hugs.

SURPRISE COMPLETE!

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The next weekend we headed to St. George to spend some time with the familia Juan.

St. George was an absolutely awesome idea because it was about half-way from Provo and Vegas, and it was a wonderful escape for all of us.

The day before we left I splurged and bought a GoPro camera.

It is right up there with my favorite purchases of all time.

I was adamant about buying it when I did so I could practice using it on the St. George trip.

Here are some of the results.

Timelapse of part of the drive down.

Oh, I didn't mention, this was also the week of the BYU vs. U of U bowl game and that there were A TON of people heading to Vegas?

Yeah, I am pretty glad we stopped in St. George.

Timelapse of watching the game.

The Padre and Trav had a pretty good time there in the middle of the shot.

Various pictures from weekend fun.

This is how Deruda slept all night.
No comment.

The view on the way back.

Swimming video!

This was my favorite part because Trav actually was totally fine holding the camera.

More on that later.

Overall, a marvelous weekend!

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Soon after we got home from St. George, Step-On-This and I WENT TO TOWN on the house.

This is just what we do, we come home, we re-organize, we re-decorate, and we bask in the awesomeness of our work.

This year I taped our efforts with...you guessed it, my new gopro.

Gosh, I will never get sick of this camera.

I also took a timelapse of Christmas morning.

We missed Juanita, Morgan, and Trav but she was just too close to having baby 2 to travel.

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Speaking of baby number 2 - Luke, I am your aunt!

On January 7th, we got a 5 am text that they were in the hospital.

Step-On-This and I immediately left for the land of Vegas and arrived minutes after Luke was born.

After spending some time with our new nephew we took Trav back to the house for some quality auntie time which included watching the penguin movie about 3 times.

He was struggling at first with all the changes but we had a good time.

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The rest of the break was spent working on my thesis (updates about that on a different blog), learning Adobe Premier, and spending time with my family.

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Several times over the break I began to have anxiety attacks about my flight home.

I checked and re-checked my itinerary about 20 times and everything seemed ok.

Sunday night I was thinking about how I would be leaving Tuesday and planning all of those last minute things I wanted to do before I left.

Going to the gym one last time with Cita,

hitting Cafe Rio one last time,

watching a movie with the Padre,

and finally packing all my stuff in a relaxed, orderly manner.

Well, at about 11 I was trying to fall asleep but had this INSANE anxiety attack and DESPERATELY felt that I needed to check my itinerary....AGAIN.

It is a good thing I did because I found that I wasn't leaving on Tuesday but Monday.

I would have missed my flight.

I ran into the parentals room, had a meltdown, a priesthood blessing, and we made a plan.

Including the one above, there were a CRAZY amount of miracles that day.

I was able to get everything done in the 6 hours I had in the morning.  In fact, I finished with enough time to burn my MA thesis in the backyard.

(another miracle here - we didn't realize how big it would be...the snow kept us from lighting the yard on fire)

Dad had felt impressed to go into work the previous Friday to get a project completed.  Sunday night he got sick and called into work, before I found out that my flight had changed.  Because he had his project done and he was ill he was home to help me keep my sanity and take me to the airport.

Mom has a student teacher who was supposed to be evaluated so there was not way she would be able to come to the airport.  The student teacher's professor forgot and the evaluation was canceled so my Mom was able to come.

In the airport I found out that my flight from Paris to Newcastle had been canceled and rescheduled for the next day.  Rather than be discouraged I decided to use it as an opportunity to see Paris - that didn't happen but it was a miracle I didn't lose it again, believe me.

There were 50 empty seats on my flight from SLC to Paris and the woman next to me decided to move and take one in the back, giving me two seats and the ability to lay down most of the flight.  That was a awesome miracle and I was so grateful.

In Paris, I found out that because there was a flight to Newcastle that evening Air France would not cover a hotel room.  Initially I was very concerned because reception would be closed and I didn't have my key.  But I said a prayer, waited in the airport all day, and flew to Newcastle that evening.

I was able to get a taxi to the DSU and walked to St. John's (a bit tiring after my day but not too bad) and I had the resident tutor's number in my phone so she was able to let me in my room and I was in my own bed by 1 am on the 27th.

So, found out my flight change at 11pm SLC time on the 24th and arrived in Durham and was in bed by 1am on the 27th.

It was the craziest couple of days that I have had.

BUT, also the most miraculous that I have had in a while.

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It took a couple of days to recover from jetlag, crazy emotions, and homesickness but the whole experience really testified to me that Heavenly Father truly looks out for us, He is loves us dearly, and that being here is the right decision.  If I doubted at all before, those days of miracle after miracle to get me back home in Durham would (and has) changed my mind.

Long post but there it is.

Cheers.