.Luminaria

We went to the Devonian Botanic Garden this weekend on a double date with Air’s parents to see the Luminaria Christmas lights display. We walked around on the paths through the snow covered Japanese gardens.

They had firepits, shops, carolers, tree sprites, lights, and hot apple cider.

It was cold, but we bundled up and brought our own hot chocolate. Much better!

I figured this would be a good alternative for my old tradition of going to the lights at Temple Square this time of year.

Bright Christmas lights in the snow are just so beautiful! I’m positive that this is going to turn into a new tradition!

.fame

Sister Amber Gusa's Gr. 9-10 Students Displaying the Prize

We received the regional monthly seminary newsletter in our inboxes last night. Air opened it up and saw this picture of my class on the front page! My students had over 100 scripture mastery's passed off last month so we won a regional competition for a "bag of beans" and some "SM snap cards".

My students are so great!

So I guess I'm famous now.... I'm really trying not to let it go to my head, but it's just soooooooo hard!

Don't be jealous ;)

.Ornamental

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is to get a special new ornament for every new year.

Our first year we found this bird in a birdcage that I love. There's something about birds on a tree that is so Christmas. Partridge in a Pear Tree?

Last year we searched high and low for a nativity ornament and these three little crystal ones were all we could find. They ended up looking beautiful on the tree.

This year we are loving our owls. They symbolize wisdom. And I believe that wise men still seek Him.

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Just wanted to say THANK YOU to all of our friends who responded to my last postage and are praying for Air-bear. You have no idea how much it means to us to have your faith and prayers on our behalf. We are hoping for a miracle, but continue to be patient in a little affliction. It's the least we can do.

loves!

.letting you in

I got a funny email entitled "Lecture" from my sister {whom I love} recently.

It read:

Amber! Mom mentioned Aaron was sick on her newsletter. Why haven't you told us? I even just caught up on your blog and there was no mention of it there. We need to be praying for him, sweetie. You need to let us know. We love you too much to not be part of your suffering too.

Love,

Big Sister

Gwen, you are one of the best sisters I've got! Thank you for looking out for Air and I. We love and miss you immensely! Thank goodness we can always count on Mom to divulge things about us to each other in the newsletter, can't we? ;) I hope it's OK if I reply to your email via BLOG?

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Some of you may have noticed that my hub has been very sick for a very long time.

Some of you who aren't around us a lot may not have had any idea.

Some of you same people, who see him every day, still might not have had any idea that anything was wrong at all. That would be because Air is a master of disguise. He amazes me every day with this skill.

So I guess I am obliged to just tell you whats going on...

Air is a very sick boy. He's been sick for so long I can't even give you a starting point {except for maybe on his mission}; but in the last 6 months or so he has been really sick. Really sick, as in he has hardly been able to leave the house. He gets nauseous and exhausted just walking up the stairs. His body is constantly aching and trying to throw up. He can't sleep and he can't stay awake, all at the same time. And well, there are still many more health issues that I know he wouldn't want me to share...

Anyway, I have a couple of reasons for never mentioning any of this on the blog. Here they are:

Reason #UNO is that I only like to document the happy and good things that are in our lives. When I look over my blog I only really enjoy reading memories of good times. Being reminded of how blessed our lives are and how happy we are. There are so many good things to document, I can't fathom spending my time writing bad things! That would be a waste of energy and a total downer to anyone who might stop by.

Reason #TWO is because we don't like to be negative or sound like we're complaining. We are seriously so blessed and happy, but for some reason, as soon as I say any remotely sad/negative comment people automatically assume that I am unhappy.

And reason #LASTLY, I haven't blogged about it because Air simply doesn't want anyone to know and worry about him. We don't know what's wrong with him yet and are getting tests done from a few different doctors. So far we only know that he does not have sleep apnea and his "triglyceride levels are through the roof". We really just need a really good doctor who will take this a little bit more seriously. But where can we find one who is accepting new patients?? I do not know that.

So with all of these awesome reasons for not blogging about it, you might be wondering why I am now, as we speak, blogging about it?

Simply stated, there is one reason: My sister Gwen made a very good point when she said, "We need to be praying for him". So if any of you love Aaron and me as much as my sister, could you please do us a favor and pray? Pray that he can feel better and get back to living a normal life, and work and finish school. Air and I need all of the help and support and prayers that we can get right now.

And if you do pray for Aaron, we thank you very much and love you too. If you choose not to pray for Aaron.... then I don't know, we'll probably pray for you ;)

.around here...

I was taking pictures of my footsies with the fire

and then Air came to snuggle

And then we took one in which Air’s foot looks gigantic! …or is it that my foot looks tiny? Both maybe.

Yikes right?

Then I shot the nativity we got from my Mom for Christmas last year {we love it}:

And our funny little crooked tree:

And the mantle decked out in Christmas:

It’s Christmas here already!!

Love, these dorks

What a pair! What. A. Pair.