Home Sweet Home

December

December First was week three until Andrew would come home!

The YSA Branch always has a Christmas dinner.

The Interfaith Nativity Festival was the first weekend of the month. Mom, Dad, Anna-Marie and I were able to sing in the Institute Choir. What an amazing spiritual moment to see so may nativity sets and hear the songs of Christ. When I looked out at the people it put a smile on my face to see Diana, Carrie and Joe, and his parents. Of course you can't forget FRIENDS! I love the Young Women in our Stake!!!

I was able to put some time aside to help Delores, a good friend of our family, put up her Christmas Tree! For me it was such a small service, but for her it was the world!

My family had fun attending the Wauseon Branch Christmas Party!

Finals were the week Andrew would be flying in and I was so excited because if they were after I would have not studed at all! Haha.

Five days, four days, three!!! TWO!!!

I had to work the night James, Diana's boyfriend, landed in Ohio. But when I came home it was like some big pow wow!!!

ONE more day and the house was up and moving around getting ready for Andrew to come home! Carrie, Joe, James, Diana, Anna-Marie and I had a sibs nigh at Toney Packos and visited the Toledo Art Museum! I'm positive every time I go, I get caught using flash on my camera!!! Haha. This is a clip form Andrew's last email he sent to my famliy. 'I can't wait to see more miricales the next few days, amidst our busy dinner and lucnh appointments with church members! I need to accept the fact that everybody's hosting a party specially for me and that my loving little zusters, ana-kun and sarah-kun, mama and Diana too are hleping to make the house tip-top shape for my arrival. It's a unique feeling, I hope that I can do more for each of you and help you feel happy, but this will be great!! I can't wait to meet br. James, yes? two J's: br. Joe and maybe soon to be br. James!! Quite funny I'd say!!... I can't wait to prepare for Defiance College and Wal-Mart deli??'

On Saturday, December 18th, Diana, James, Anna-Marie and I have decorated signs and were all ready for when Andrew arrived off the plane. We had to talk two vehicles to pick up Andrew! Carrie and Joe went up in their car, and Mom, Dad, Grandma, Diana, James, Anna-Marie, and I went in the van. It was so much fun going to the airport, and trying to figure out which terminal we had to go to. Carrie and Joe made it before we did but it was all one happy evening! We were able to find a wheelchair for our sweet Grandmother which I pushed her in. ;) When we saw Andrew, we were all scraming! I'm positive they called security to watch out for the massive group down in baggage clain! Haha. Here are some right before Andrew lfet to go to the MTC for a two year mission to the Belgium Brussels/ Netherlands Mission.

NOW when he returns!

So, have we changed?!!?!  

On the way home Anna-Marie and I called dibs on being with Andrew in the van!!! It was the sweetest feeling when Andrew sat in between Anna-Marie and I in the back seat! It was like old times taking road trips... Andrew had said to me right before we got home, 'Sarah, it doesn't seem like you have graduated and are in college now.' I said, 'It feels like we just picked up where we left off at... two years ago!'

That Sunday we filled two rows at church! ;) It was a tender moment having the whole family together. It was nice to have one of Anna-Marie and Is YSA friends come for work on that same weeked. She was a big help with taking pictures! We took family pictures during Sunday School but it was totally worth it!

It was kind of odd having James leave. He felt like a part of the family already. Little did we know!!! ;) He was such a trpuper with dealing with our crazy, happy, loving family that not onlly made sugar cookies, and then delivered them to neighbors and family during the Holiday, but sang at their door step! James was totally fine with that, because that is what his family does too! We had and early Christmas day for hime to open our presents for him! Diana gave hime a super cute one!

We had another visitor for the Holiday come and visit Anna-Marie and our family. Gail moved to Navada because of a job offer. She really likes it there even though we really miss her. She came to cook Indian food with us! It's the best and we were excited!

It had snowed so much during December. So Christmas Day was just a lovely day. We didn't have any expecting phone call to make since Andrew was with us now! As we woke up to sweet smells of pies and gathered downstairs to open wonderful heartfelt presents that we each gave each other. But Christmas won't be the smae if we didn't go to the American Legion to help prepare and serve meals for those that wouldn't have a meal of family to go to on Christmas Day. It has been our famliy tradition for as long as I can remember... about 15 years!

Diana and Anna-Marie were off to Utah with a car loaded of clothes, books, food, and so much more!

Thanks & Giving

November

When Andrew was set apart to be a missionary of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints, our Stake President said for us not to count down the days.... Well I just had to put it on the clendar! November first was week seven until Andrew would come home!

Because of me working I had to miss quite a few YSA activities which I was bummed about. But there was on last Youth Dance that I just couldn't miss...! It was in Liam so it was even more important to go to. They always have the best decoration/ ideas and they still do. I was pretty ecited to see I was not the only YSA to sneak into a Youth Dance, Aaron joined in on the dance too!

Anna-Marie and I were still able to keep our tradition from High School. We would eat lunch together in the parking lot at school. So now in college we get lunch and eat it at the park! It's the cutest thing. Just imagine two young women siting in a small car in a big park parking lot eating, talking and best of all, Laughing!

It has been a goal of mine to attend the Temple every month. I enjoy spending the time with my parents, but this time my friend Mary and I were able to go together with her parents!

On Thanksgiving Day, Mom, Anna-Marie, and I were able to spend the day going through lots of tolls just to pick up Diana form the Chicago Airport! Diana had the opportunity to spend the summer with the study abroad program through BYU and went to South Africa! While she was there she hit the front page of the Dispatch!!! http://michellehsolomon.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/18-11-10.pdf

It was different being on the road for Thanksgiving, and not having Dad with us, but it was sweet to have Carrie and Joe invite us to their home before we went back home. Carrie had an amaizng meal made for all of us, plus it was good to see Joes parents too. We were on little sleep and when all of us girls get together we tend to laugh. A LOT!!! Haha.

In My Eyes

In order to be a real writer you must have your classic collection of Mokeskine from Barns & Noble, which Diana loves, and the best pens ever, Pentel R.S.V. P. I know I'm not the best at writing but I'm trying so I'll sum up Five long and at the same time, very sort months into one post. But I don't think that will happen. So here goes lots of fond memories that the ink on the pages will never fade!

October

All I really did was read lots of textbooks for my first semester of college and work! http://www.northweststate.edu/ I was able to start my first job at The Barn Restaurant. It was so very unexpected yet at the same time it was truly a blessing. I have Anna-Marie to thank for helping me get in. Anna-Marie has worked there for more than 5 years. http://www.saudervillage.org/Food/barn.asp

I always enjoyed Seminary, but Instiute is way better! I have learned so much. Brother Josh Allen is such a great teacher. The church has some cute and funny clips about Institute. Check them out!http://institute.lds.org/videos/

The Wauseon Branch had it's annual Fall Festival at Rudy and Peg Allen's home. They are such great host.

May family was able to celebrate my Grandmothers 73rd Birthday! It was a wonderful evening to spend time with my family!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

How does time go by so fast?!!?! Well I don't really know. It just does! I haven't written on my blog. :/ But don't worry, I'll write this week, and put up some super cute pictures too!

The Fulton County Fair

I don't know how I missed not putting up pictures from the fair?!!?! Well it was a busy week with late nights and early mornings, which I'm totally not good with! Ha. So here are a few pictures!

 The best, hardest workers on the Jr. Fair Board!!! Zach, Me, Cyrus, Adam, Levi, and Michael.

 The last night of fair... I had to have my own fun!!!

Stake Conference

Being able to attend Stake Conference (Adult, Youth and Regular Session) was just amazing!!! The spirit was so empowering. Elder Richard J. Maynes from the 70 spoke at each session. He is the type that likes to use the chalk board and the cool diagram! The Adult session was about the Celestial Kingdom, Earth, Church, and how we fit into each of them! We need to look at the good traditions that we are doing, continue them, and then the bad ones... work on them!

The Youth session (ages 14-25) He told us to imagine ourselves  when we are 80 years old and a news guy wanted to interview us. What would be the top 4 decisions we made that impacted our life? It was mostly geared toward the Young Men... missions!!! The experience is priceless! I thought of Elder Pratt! Elder Maynes said that all the preparation for a mission is tagged with you and when you come home you are basically a spiritual giant!!!

Then the Regular session was super amazing too!!! Ha. It was amazing to hear the Primary children sing! They are so cute! WOW, Sister Maynes, President Smith, Beck, Wilkin and Sister Eckel all talked about reading scriptures, prayer, the temple/ being worthy to attend, youth being able to step up to the plate, what is our role in life, going to higher ground. It was the best! They all gave great analogies too! Elder Maynes said that Joseph Smith was an investigator of the church; Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father were the missionaries. It is so true. We each have questions and they can be answered. We have to be humble and exercise our knees!   

Then to top all that off, an Elder came up to me and asked if I was a Pratt. It was odd, but then he told me he knew my brother!!!! It was Elder Wright! He told me that Elder Pratt was his Zone Leader in the Missionary Training Center! !!!! (MTC) Also with Elder Carter, they were in a room with Elder Strong!!! :) (He was transferred to Youngstown) So I had to talk a picture of them!!! (An Elder decided to get in the picture with them) They will be released January 5th! (I think that is the wrong word to use?!!?!) It would be the coolest thing for Elder Pratt to come home and see them before they return home!!!!  Talking to the missionaries brought back happy memories of Elder Pratt’s letters while at the MTC!!! ;)

When we finally started to walk out the door of the church, it was such a nice feeling to see the trunk door open and little sacks that had our lunch inside! (Mom, you’re awesome!) I’m still on a spiritual overload and trying to put into action what all was said. Good thing I took lots of notes so I won’t forget! ;)

Standing from left to right is Elder Lythgo, Elder Carter, and Elder Wright.

Ab's, Abby, Abigail!

For some reason I have this amazing friend named Abigail! She was my hero when I first meet her, at Young Women's Camp. Now that we have moved on in life we each have taken directions. Abby to BYU-I and my self, I'm still at home! So that means Abby comes to visit her family. (Really to visit friends!)

  When I heard she would be coming home for the summer I was so excited! She on the other hand wasn't too excited, but it all worked out. We were able to have a party, sleepover, and attend church together. What more could you ask for?!!?! Every time Abby and I see eachother I have my camera ready for a picture. I love talking pictures and of course being in pictures! Haha. You say camera, I say cheese!!! ;)  I want to remember every memorie we have shared together! So the day before Abby left I told her we needed a picture and she just rolled her eyes and said, 'okay!' So here it is! I love you Miss. Abigai!