The BEST Thanksgiving. EVER.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. It has always been a big celebration for my dad's side of the family. And boy do the Gulletts know have to have a great time. We're the kind of family that goes places and takes them over. You know the kind, with matching shirts and all. That is my family. And I proudly still have our 1992 family reunion shirt. :)

In 2002, I was a missionary. Every family wants the missionaries over for Thanksgiving. Let's face it, missionaries make it better. Well, I didn't really want to visit with other families. I felt like my new family members were all the other missionaries. So we came up with the idea that all the missionaries in my zone (plus a few extra companionships) would do our own Thanksgiving. Our preparation day was changed to Thanksgiving so we could enjoy ourselves. We were permitted to be in p-day clothes, watch 1 football game, 1 G-rated movie and whatever we wanted within mission rules. We just had to be home by 9:30pm.

We found a family that let us take over their basement...which was more like a cabin in the mountains. They had big screen TVs, a kitchen, a foosball table, games, comfy furniture...whatever we wanted. Everyone signed up for food, drinks, paper products, etc. It was the best Thanksgiving. I don't even remember if the food was any good. I remember the feelings. We were happy. We were laughing. We were playing. We were relaxed. We were STUFFED. No one was homesick. We felt loved. It was such a great day. We stayed 'til we had to leave. We all cleaned up and left by 9pm. It was talked about all over the mission.

Thanksgiving is still remembered by those same missionaries. We talk about it. We laugh about it. We dream about doing it again.

I'm not sure any Thanksgiving will ever be like that Thanksgiving. And I'm content knowing I will always have my memories.

Former North zone (plus extras) missionaries, today I send pumpkin-roll-thoughts and mashed potato love all over the world. I am thankful for the wonderful memories we shared.

Off the Radar

I haven't really wanted to blog. That's not true, I haven't found the desire to share what's going on. And really I haven't had my camera close.

Things that have happened since Marky's 1st birthday.

Marky started walking. Like took off over night! And he would just laugh the whole time. Now he's way more stable. He's into EVERYTHING! I find him in cabinets, bathrooms, closets, drawers (especially the one under the stove), refrigerators, boxes, laundry baskets, the laundry room, under tables and desks or sitting on the stairs (boxes block him from going up, but he still sits and enjoys the view). Toys are everywhere. Seriously, I found one of my refrigerators unplugged today. The one that holds the frozen treats and extra food--you know I plugged that one back up, quickly. He dances. If you haven't seen the video of him dancing on my facebook page, go there NOW! He's most certainly my kid. It is seriously SOOO fun at my house. He is a blast.

We moved. Kind of a good move. We live four blocks from the shop, two to three block from Taco Bell, Wal*Mart, Publix and El Apache, and about three minutes from my parents. That's my favorite part. Mark comes home every day for lunch. YAY! We're in a different ward (Orange Park 1st) and in a larger (but a lot less expensive) house than before.

Marky started really using his signs and started talking more. He loves to say "HELLO!" He'll try to sign "more" and it turns into "yay." So then, while signing it, I say "More? You want more?" and he'll say "Moh. Yeah. Yeah" while nodding his head up and down. But he is starting to really communicate and it is SO fun to see.

Right before we moved homes, Mark was thinking about moving the shop first. His rent was way too expensive for what we needed, so he looked around, found something for a great price, called his landlord and let him know we were going to move. His landlord came back and offered him a severely reduced amount to stay. So we decided it would be silly to move. However, just after we got settled in the new house, the landlord called back and told Mark he sold the property. So he has to move anyhow. But this is good. We're really excited about the new changes. Best part, between the new house and new shop, we'll be paying about 1/3 of the amount were originally paying.

I have a new calling coming. I've known about it for over a month, and I keep not getting sustained. I get to church, on time (don't faint) and expect it...then BAM! I get smacked upside my head with a whole lot of NOTHING. I kinda think the Lord wants me to be there on time. So I have two new callings: arriving at church on time; and the other. And if I can get then first taken care of, He'll then start me in the other calling.

We have each other, we're happy and we're close to just about everything. What more could a girl want? Except an island in the kitchen...oh wait, I have one of those now, too. Not a big island, but it has a plug and storage underneath. So its my baking island. And that makes me happy.

New Beginnings

About 5.5 years ago, just after my wedding, one of my best friends from childhood broke up with me. It was so sad. It was a misunderstanding. I haven't stopped thinking of her all these years. I have dreamed about us being friends and doing things together and would wake up sad.

She has recently lost her beautiful mother. I found out through another friend. My heart hurts for her. I was so sad I wasn't there for support. However, I didn't waste another minute. I looked at my phone and her number came back to me. She invited me right over and I went running.

Things we had to catch up on:

Her engagement

Her wedding

Her pregnancy

My pregnancy

Her sweet son born June 2009

My sweet son born Sept 2009

The good things that happened while we were on a break. Some not-so-good things.

Funny thing, I was getting weighed in at an OB appointment and saw her birth announcement on the wall right in front of my eyes. We went to the same office. And not a big office, either. I was thrilled for her and sad we couldn't share those pregnant moments together. We were only a few steps away from each other, and didn't know.

I could never truly describe how happy it makes me to be reconnected with my dear friend. We have a new place to start. My husband is also thrilled, he and her husband were friends, too. Marky doesn't even realize all the good times he's up for. Now our families get to go on double play-dates. I'm thrilled for this new beginning.