Tradition, Tradition!

Uncle Elmer strikes again! My family has a tradition, which we generally do not share until a person has first joined us for dinner. Thus, you may consider yourself quite privileged at this moment. You see, way back when my ancestors lived in Scotland, there were wandering minstrels who would roam the highlands performing their music and sharing stories for the families they encountered. In exchange, the family would provide a meal. Well, one day, visitors came to dine at the Bruce Colt home. As they were leaving, the ghost of Uncle Elmer came screaming into the room, telling my father in his thick Scottish drawl that Dad was required to have his guests perform for their dinner, or else he’d be haunted by Uncle Elmer’s screams! Of course, my father obliged, and our guests sang for their food. Since that time, to avoid another visit from Elmer, anyone who comes to our home shares their talents. We’ve had puppet shows, crystal glass tunes, fire-blowing, jokes, and lots of singing! Now that Jonathan and I have our own home, we weren’t sure if we were under the same curse. Lo and behold, our first dinner guests discovered for us that indeed, Elmer would strike again! Camille and Jared Black were thus initiated, and can now dine at our home without fear. I hope you enjoy their performance! Watch out for Elmer!

A Moment in Time

Though the weather was gloomy and gray, my whole day was filled with happy faces and cheerful, generous greetings. I spent my morning polishing apples to distribute to passing students and my afternoon wrapping up loose ends before the students disappear. Today was the last day of classes for the students, so they are all feeling that the end is near and one more semester will be successfully moved to the recesses of our minds. For them, their hearts are turning to exciting holiday plans (including a wedding), a welcome break from school work, and relief from the pressures of their work at BYUSA. For me, it was kind of a sad day. I had fun celebrating with them, eating lots of fabulous treats and playing guitar hero. But I am going to miss them; they’ll be gone for 3 weeks, after all! And it makes me realize how temporary my experience with these stellar students will be. I only get to be with them for one year, until April. Then, as they should, each student will move on to their next great adventure. Quinn will be married and graduating, and most of the others are planning internships and missions. I just feel so privileged to be a part of their lives for this small moment in time.

A New Edition

Well, since so many of our friends have become bloggers, I’ve been inspired to follow suit. However, now that I have digital “pen and paper” at my disposal, I am suddenly at a shocking loss of words! So I’ll just tell you about our new toys. (Yeah! Toys!) Jonathan and I are both awful at Christmas. We are worse than children. In our giddy excitement and anticipation, we’ve already opened half of our gifts to each other! We just can’t wait for the other person to see the cool new toy, and it is so fun to unwrap gifts! Some day we’ll grow up and be able to wait until Christmas Day, but that day may be a long way off. So, one of Jonathan’s new gifts is a high-def TV, which is now hanging rather prominently in our tiny living room. He calls it art, with a childish smirk and shimmer in his eyes. He is thrilled with all the “crazy new channels” and hidden secrets of the HD world. To accompany his beautiful TV, we’ve invested in a FANTABULOUS gift for me... a mac mini! It is so funny, I feel like I’ve gotten half of my personality back now that I can use a mac again to do all my digital fun. I have so very much missed the ease and perfection of the mac world. So, we now sleep peacefully to the gentle hum of our new ensemble of technical wonders, with visions of sugar (no plums, just sugar) dancing in our heads. Let’s hope these gifts can tide us over until the 25th.