These Happy Golden Days...

Fall is such a beautiful month... I just want to take the brilliant sun, the crisp air, the pristine blue sky, the majesty of the fiery mountains and keep them with me forever. Of course, it's tricky to make time enough to get out and really enjoy the season, but with Ben's help I've been able to manage it a few times... :)....

I didn't have time to really elaborate on Ben last time, but he's become a big part of my life and you should all definitely know about him. First of all, he's one of the busiest people I know with two majors (German and physics), two jobs (teaching German 101 and a physics internship), a huge calling and inter-mural soccer, and that just scratches the surface of all that he's doing/some how staying on top of at the moment. He works extremely hard all the time. He's one of the most considerate people I know, always going out of his way to serve people, and his highest goals and priorities all have to do with putting the Lord first, and doing His will, no matter what. And he doesn't just say that. He lives it. We see each other every day, even if it's only a few minutes, to study the scriptures together (we're working on the Gospel of John), talk, and if we're lucky, we snatch a few minutes outside to enjoy the beauty of fall together.

On Friday Ben came over to help me make some apple strudel for the German house's Oktoberfest event, before he rushed off to his soccer game. I met him on campus, and we went to his apartment, made dinner, then walked back to my apartment just talking for hours. Saturday morning we both had church meetings to attend... I had an enrichment activity (or relief society meeting as they now want us to call them) that went really well. Lots of people came, we had an amazing bagel/fruit breakfast organized, and we talked about the importance of visiting teaching. It went so smoothly... Katherine, the girl in charge of enrichment, was so organized and on the ball. Everything fell into place, and all I had to do was be there to help and support from the sidelines. As soon as our meetings were over, Ben and I drove up to Alpine to enjoy the last of the fall leaves in the area. The weather and the way were breathtakingly gorgeous - tall slender birches, stalwart mountains covered in patches of snow, and a beautiful waterfall. After a picnic, we left and just did homework together the whole rest of the day. It was simple, yet one of the best weekends of my life...

Other news... well, it's hard to think of anything else as exciting as all of that... Thursday I had my first International Dance Lab, where I participated in a mock-competition for foxtrot. I wore my brand new standard ballroom dance shoes for the first time, and felt like Cinderella. I had two partners, since I'm the tallest girl in the class, so I got to dance three times before I got cut. I was quite happy to leave when I finally got cut, since I had a ton of hw to do and I came home to see Ben. Shortly after I got back Laura, Cara and Janneka came over to visit, and it was really good to catch up with them.

I only have about one more week of teaching German 201 before I'll have to switch to German 202. It's really pretty sad, since I'm just starting to be really confident with my students' names (yes, I know that took me forever, but I just couldn't help it). School is stressful, but okay... my drama class is still my favorite, and we just started reading Faust, which I absolutely love...

Anyway, I love and miss you all, even though it probably doesn't seem like it because I've been so bad with my correspondence lately, and I hope you are all doing well and that you have a wonderful week!

Love,

Margaret