Birthday Pics!

Thanksgiving/Jenny's 29th Birthday

So Thanksgiving was wonderful and busy for us. Wednesday night was our traditional ward Thanksgiving dinner, which I helped with. I am on on the activities committee now. So lots to do and cook! We didn't think we would have enough food due to how many people came. About 250 people came, which is wonderful and there were a lot of investigators there as well. So we worried that there wouldn't be enough food due to more people than we planned for. But the Lord blessed our efforts and food and multiplied it. I don't know how there was enough, and everyone got plenty. So I am truly grateful for a mindful and loving Heavenly Father. It turned out great and was a fun activity. Thanksgiving day we went to the Baker's home for Thanksgiving dinner. It was so nummy! I love turkey dinner, it's my favorite. A few other ward members were invited as well (the Thackers and Giffords). So it was wonderful to be with families this year. Not lonely or depressing, although I miss my family terribly. After our wonderful dinner we played games and the kids loved it. We are grateful for our ward family who has taken us and and loved us! I love the Matthews ward! Friday I took down Autumn decor and put up Christmas decor. What a job. But my home sure looks festive and cute. That evening we went out to a appointment with the missionaries and then went to see A Christmas Carol at the theater. I has Jim Carrey in it and we liked it, but decided it would be very scary for kids. I must admit it got a little scary for us. We are wimps. We saw it in 3-D at the IMAX theater which is amazing. And my ticket was free because it was my birthday, or close enough to it (the night before). Saturday was my Birthday! I woke up and put up the Christmas tree while watching Hallmark Christmas movies. Then did chores around the house (yes I still have to do chores on my b-day). Around four I opened my gifts! I loved everything I received. I am so blessed to have a generous and loving family including my in-laws. I mostly got money, but also a few other things. Jesse gave me a parfume that I've been wanting since we discovered at Disney World. I smelled it in France @ Epcot and loved it, which I don't love perfume. Well I thought we could just get it at a department store, but no one carries it. It is rare and imported from France. So after searching in stores and online he found it on e-bay. It's called Eau De Shalimar (not the original Shalimar). I love it. Cami gave me a GC to Kohls, which I bought a sexy cute gray pencil skirt and gorgeous black heels. Char made me a custom watch that is so cute. I love it! I was wanting a new watch too. Thanks Char. I love watches! And the rest is $. After presents we went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. I love it! And then did some shopping at Southpark mall, which Jesse wasen't in the mood to do, but barley endured it because it was my birthday. So it has been a eventful Thanksgiving break and tomorrow it's back to work. I am excited that it is officially the Christmas season. Now it's time to go shopping:) And also I started selling Gold Canyon Candles again. They are the best candles and I've been burning them for probably close to 10 years, so why not sell them. I sold them for a few years in UT and decided to start again here in NC. Most people here have never heard of them, so that is to my advantage. Happy Holidays to my Family and Friends! May you remember the reason for this time of year and give thanks each day for a loving Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ!

Fall Pictures

Hello Family and Friends,
It has been a few months since my last blog. Sorry! Facebook it easier sometimes. So the past couple of months have been great. The fall is here and now all the leaves are mostly on the ground. The weather here in N. Carolina has been great. I started a new job at another dental office and left the horrible stressful cooperate office I was at for 1 year. I work with Dr. Crowley and she is awesome. It is different working for a women, and better in my opinion. My co-workers are great and I truly am blessed to be there. Jesse is doing well in school. Nearing the end of the semester now so he is studying a lot before Thanksgiving break. He will have finals soon and then three weeks off for Christmas break before starting another semester. This is the hardest year of Pharmacy school, but because of his prayers and all of yours he hasn't been stressed. His sweet dad also gave him a priesthood blessing in Aug last time we were home. He was told he would handle the stresses of school and blessed with more intellect and comfort to get through this year. And he truly has been. Heavenly Father blesses us so much and I am so grateful for the knowledge of a God who loves us and a Savior who loves us and lets us repent so we can live with them again. As I have more experiences in life and get older I have truly come to know them, and have felt their love and concern for me. I can't imagine a life without the gospel and the basic truths we know!
About one month ago Jesse and I had the opportunity to fly in a small plane. A guy in our ward (Joe Baker) is a pilot for Delta and has been flying for 30+ years and also teaches flying. He has 2 small planes in a hanger in Rock Hill, SC about 20 min away. He invited us to go with him and his two youngest children on a Saturday to see the fall foliage. We had a blast! He has two planes, but one in an open air bi-plane, and it was raining. They both are only big enough to barley fit two people. So we flew individually in the 1939 Luscombe plane. He did a touch on go on the grass with me to turn around. And the planes are so lite they get up in the air within 10 seconds on the runway. So cool. The gas fumes tend to make you a little more nauseous though. I don't get sick easily, but Jesse does. We were both fine though. It was a cool experience and we hope to do it again soon.
We also celebrated our 7 year anniversary Oct 19th. Wow, 7 years. So weird we've been married that long. We went to the Renaissance fair the day of our anniversary and had a nice time. They come to Charlotte every year for 6 weeks. The weekend after our anniversary we went to the mountains to see the peak of the fall leaves. We were in for a surprise, not knowing it was 30 degrees and starting to snow. So with out backpack and hoodies we got up the and froze out little butts off. We went to Grandfather Mountain which I've been wanting to go to since we moved here. It has a swinging bridge that goes over the gorge and is 1 mile high. But due to the icy weather is was closed. Admission was half price because of that, and there is a nature museum and some wildlife to see. So we hung out there and had a great time. We also went to Linville Falls and saw beautiful views and waterfalls. It was all under 1 mile of hiking. It was cold, but we had a good quality time together.
Halloween was a nice day. We went to the temple in the early afternoon in Columbia SC. Then went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant, which was actually good Chinese. Here in N. Carolina they don't make it the same as in the west. So if you want good Chinese here you have to go to a nicer eat in restaurant and pay a little more. Then we came home, put our cute carved pumpkins out, and watched Blackbeards Ghost which is an old school Disney movie. It was a quiet and nice Halloween. And we didn't get any trick or treaters as usual. My pumpkin did get smashed in though :( Stupid teenagers. Oh and Jesse and I received more church callings. Jesse is now first counselor in the Sunday School Presidency and well as a teacher. And we got called to be on the activity committee. I am still a nursery teacher too. Well that about it with us for the past couple of months. I was sick last week, so getting over that. I am excited for Thanksgiving next week. It's one of my favorite holidays. We will be spending it with a family in the ward. The one who we went flying with actually! They are awesome and have four kids from age 7-21. Well I hope you all are doing well and may the Lord bless you in this Holiday season!