A Wonderful Dream

I know I've talked about who I was named after before, my sweet grandma Patterson. She died about three years before I was born. When I was younger I had a hard time knowing that we shared the same name and having it remind me that I never even met her. It took some time, but I have learned to love my name.

Anyways, last week my dad shared that he had a dream about her. This was the first time since she died over 20 years ago. He emailed it to his siblings and dad. What he remembered most clearly was how beautiful she was. My grandpa responded to the email saying that he has seen her and agreeing that she was very beautiful.
 

Well, just a couple of nights ago I had the privilege of seeing my grandma's beauty for myself. I too, had a dream about my grandma. Mine was a little different because there were two of her, the older one that my siblings remember from their childhood and a beautiful, young version of her. It was wonderful! I sat down next to the younger version of her and started asking her some simple questions. Right when I had built up enough courage to ask some deeper ones, a car alarm went off! I woke up wanting to go back so I could talk to my grandma more. I wanted to know if she knew who I was. I either have a feeling or am hoping that I get to have that dream again. I feel like this dream is my early Christmas present.

The Nutcracker Tradition

I love going to the ballet. It reminds me of my childhood. I remember the years of attending the Nutcracker and then when I performed in it. Every time I go to the ballet, I look back on these wonderful memories. This year was no different. It was so nice and we even got there about 10 minutes early. (Usually we are practically running to our seats!) It was so cute seeing all of the little girls all dressed up not knowing what they were about to see. It will be so fun to take the little girls to the Nutcracker in a few years.

The performance is about to start.

The Snow Queen.

After the performance is over, we always go to Rick's Diner! All they have are desserts and yes they are amazing! We had the mixed berry cheesecake, raspberry torte, and mint chocolate cake. They were all so good!

I love the ballet and I can't wait to share it with Jonathan. We are going to Midsummer Night's Dream in the spring!

Das Auto

Our cars have been doing quite a few stunts to get our attention for the past couple of months. Our Honda doesn't always feel like starting. Sometimes it's because Jonathan doesn't feel like turning off his lights and other times it doesn't have a real reason. I've lost track of how many times we've jump started that silly little car!

Well, our Nissan decided that we were giving too much attention to the Honda. It started out small by letting the back brake light get loose and flop around as I drive. Well, that clearly wasn't enough, so my front tire shredded on my way home from the Relief Society Christmas Dinner. That proved to be such a blessing. If I hadn't gone to the dinner, my tire would probably still be susceptible to shredding and would have happened either on my way to work or to turn in my last physics lab. I would have been stressing out and Jonathan would have been at work, completely unable to help rescue me. I am so grateful that it happened when it did.

With all of these car problems, Jonathan spent his first day off with no work or school fixing up our cars. I love that he knows so much about car maintenance and can do it all by himself.

It's Finally Happening!

I am finally starting to get into the Christmas spirit! Now I know that makes me sound a bit like a Grinch  but let me explain. 

I think that there is something very wrong when you go to a store in October or November and they are decorated and selling Christmas items. Yes, I am one of those people who gets mad when I hear Christmas music before December. Thanks to my mom, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and you can (and should) have your decorations up all month long. Then we have Thanksgiving. I'm honestly not super big about the meal on Thanksgiving, but you can tell that I love theme of that holiday. I put away my more ghoulish looking decorations and leave out my pumpkins and have reminders to give thanks for what we have. I don't appreciate stores trying to push aside these holidays in order to make the Christmas season last for three whole months.

This year, I've had an even harder time than usual getting into the Christmas spirit. I think it's because I've been so focused on doing well in school this semester that I haven't really done much decorating for any of the holidays. I honestly took down my 4th of July decorations in the middle of October. (What can I say, I just love our red, white, and blue!) Anyways, let me tell you what helped me snap out of this holiday slump!

Last week, my ward had it's Relief Society Christmas dinner. Jonathan and I were asked to participate in the program. We read parts of the Christmas Jar. This was the first time I have ever heard that story. It started out with a couple (Jonathan and me) having their first Christmas. Money was tight, so they decided to fill a jar with their pocket change and use that money for their Christmas gifts. It became a family tradition and grew to include their children. One year as they were taking the money to the bank and the daughter saw a woman crying. She offered the money to the woman and their family tradition was forever changed. They started using their Christmas Jar to help others. Years passed and her husband died. The evening after the funeral, she received dozens of jars in return. Some of the people shared their stories of when they were in need and a jar was at their door.

I love the spirit of giving in this story. I love how their simple, daily sacrifice was able to grow and help others. I found a blog where people share their own Christmas Jar stories. (Click here. They're really good!)

I want to start this tradition for our family.

Yet Another Reason I Love the Temple (like I really need another)

My love of the temple is rather obvious to anyone who reads my blog.

Well, now I have a new reason to love the temple. I get to work there! It is so much fun. After I went through the temple for the first time I decided that I wanted to work at the temple. So, you can't just show up and start working there. (It's a house of order and that would just not work.) Just before summer started, I noticed little cards that you could fill out if you were available to serve. I got so excited! I filled it out and turned it in. 

I forgot that I had filled out the card and a little over a month ago I got a call from the temple recorder. (It's a person not an automated machine.) He told me that my bishop had suggested me to serve at the temple and he had a couple of open shifts in the laundry. I quickly agreed and was ready to burst with joy! I know that most 22 year-olds don't like doing their own laundry let alone volunteer to do laundry for 4 hours, but I'm not most 22 year-olds! I love working at the temple.

As I work at the temple, I feel closer to my grandparents. My grandma and grandpa Machen served twice a week at the Oakland temple for years. I am named after my grandma Patterson who died a few years before I was born. Before Jonathan and I were married, I would try to go to the temple every week to do baptisms. As I would sit in the baptistery, I would end up thinking about my grandma. I would get the feeling that she was proud of my decisions and glad that we share the same name.

I am so grateful that I live so close to the temple and that I can serve there.

Almost Done!

Jonathan and I are almost done with another semester! Just one week left!

Our last Saturday night doing homework!

I got to watch a tape on special relativity. I didn't know they still had those machines!

Jonathan asked me how we were going to celebrate the end of the semester. I was totally caught off guard. It's been awhile since we've been at the end of a semester that I don't really remember doing anything special... It will be fun whatever it is that we end up doing!

I plan on starting all of the many Christmas projects that I have and decorating our apartment for the season. (I may or may not still have my haunted mansion out from Halloween...) I can't wait for a break from school!

A Very Grateful Month!!!

I love November and this tradition I've started. It helps me be more positive throughout my day. I can't believe that this is the last day of November. It makes me a little sad, but I have a lot to look forward to next month. Like finishing another semester, Hannah (Jonathan's sister) graduating and will be home, spending lots of time with family, doing fun projects for Christmas, and meeting my cousin's sweet baby girl.

December will be a wonderful month!

Before I continue on with December, I need to share one last thing that I am grateful for. I am so grateful for a healthy family. This time last year, two of Jonathan's brothers were extremely sick and were focused on just getting better. Now both of them have made leaps and bounds in their recovery. I get so excited every time I see Taylor's car at school that I write him a note. (The first time I did that he thought is was a note about his parking). I am grateful that all of my other siblings and nieces and nephews have good health as well. A healthy body is such an amazing blessing that we tend to take for granted. I know that our bodies are frail, but when we take care of them they can do all that we need them to do. I am grateful that our family is so much healthier than last year.

I am Grateful for Wise Leaders

I am grateful for the many of the leaders of our nation. What really brought this to my attention was a quote from Abraham Lincoln.

Thank you for sharing this Tiffany!

I absolutely love this quote. I am grateful for leaders like Mr. Lincoln (and no, he wasn't a vampire killer). I hope that our current leaders take a page out of his book.

I Am Grateful for Institute

I am so grateful for Institute.

I am grateful for all of the wonderful people there.

Us and Brother Watkins right after Jonathan proposed at the end of our Institute class.

I love Brother Watkins. He is one of the most sweet, thoughtful man I have ever known. He takes a genuine interest in everyone he meets. The lessons he prepares, oh man are they amazing! I took a Pearl of Great Price class before I went to the temple and he would tell us to write down certain symbols because they correlated with the temple. After I went through the temple, I looked at my notes and I understood what he was showing us in the scriptures. It was so cool!

I also love Sister Harte. She is the secretary and she is another wonderful person to spend time with. I keep her updated on Chris and the rest of my family. Though lately, we talked a lot about the Giants. On Wednesday, Sister Harte came into the study room and asked me if I wanted the commemorative section in the paper about the Giants winning the World Series. That was so thoughtful and sweet of her to give it to me. I just love how wonderful she is!

Institute has been such a blessing in my life. It's helped me to gain a deeper understanding of the scriptures and how they apply to me thousands of years after they were written. I am so grateful for Institute and I am grateful that even though I graduated a few years ago, that I still can go to class.

I Am Grateful for This

I am grateful that all of my siblings live in California again. I love my family so much and it was hard when Chris and Annie moved away a few years ago. We only saw them about twice a year before they moved back. We still don't see them as much as I would like (stupid school and work taking up all of our time!), but we see them so much more.

I am so grateful that Jonathan and I get to be part of our nieces and nephews lives. They will be able to have so many different memories of all the little things we've done together as well as our big trips together.

I am grateful that Seth and Clara are now in California!

I Am Grateful for Our Fun Family Trips

I am grateful for the family trips we were able to do this year.
In January, we went to Disneyland and the ocean with the Nelson family.

Taking over Tomorrowland!

In March, I went to Tahoe with some of the Nelsons.

My awesome wipeout!

In June, we went up to Idaho with all 17 Pattersons. (I still can't believe my family is that big!)

17 Pattersons and counting!

The wonderful farm we played at.

We saw lots of buffalo.

We split this burger with 4 people. That would not fit in my stomach.

We had pillow fights.

In September, we went back to Disneyland with my siblings and their boys. (Next time the little girls will come too!)

The gang of Patterson boys.

Group picture #1

Group picture #2

I am grateful that we were able to get away from everyday life and spend time with our families.

I Am Grateful for a Superhero

I am so grateful for my favorite superhero. Now most people would disagree with me, but trust me he really is a superhero. He rescues me from my greatest fears and can defeat any adversary in his path.

My favorite superhero is my husband.

Mild-mannered salesman by day, crime fighting superhero by night!

This man is truly amazing! He is my last minute substitute teacher for my Sunday School class without complaint. He makes sure that I have everything I need when I'm running late for school. He goes to the store on Thanksgiving night to get my medicine. He stays up late talking to me. He works full-time and goes to school. He makes the best quesadillas. He (sometimes) remembers to take out the garbage. He is the sweetest uncle to our nieces and nephews. He is my best friend.

I sometimes wonder how I got such a wonderful husband. He loves me so much and does so much for me that I regularly feel like I'm living in a fairy tale. I am so grateful for the hardworking man that I married.

I'm Grateful For My Weekly Playdate

I am grateful for my Friday afternoons. After work, I get to go and play at the park with my sweet niece Mercedes. Here are some pictures of the things we do at the park.

We walk up and down a dirt hill, collect lots of rocks and sticks, splash in puddles, and go "up high".

We wear our winter coats as we hang upside down.

We make silly faces.

We go down the twisty slide.

We throw dirt like it's confetti.

We each take turns pushing the stroller.

We peek into the neighbor's backyard.

We sing and play songs as we walk hand in hand.

We race down the slides together.

We carefully put the bark through the hole.

We even ride sidesaddle.

We get in screaming contests with little boys.

We find old glowsticks.

We climb up slides.

We wear pretty shoes.

We climb around.

It has been so much fun to spend some one on one time with Mercedes. I am so grateful that Taylor and Kenzie live in Roseville so I can have this special time every week with Mercedes. I can't wait for this little girl (and her mom) to come back from Utah!

I Am Grateful For This

I am grateful for medicine and comfort items. I came down with the flu a couple of days ago and sleeping has become very difficult. Last night after going to dinner with the Nelson's and dessert with the Patterson's, Jonathan ran to the store to get me some medicine to help me sleep. (Thank you people who were working on Thanksgiving. It made feel so much better knowing that I could get the medicine I needed!) Well, it wasn't working so I turned on Pride & Prejudice and that worked like a charm!

Today, I'm having a Downton Abbey marathon while Jonathan is working. I am so grateful for all of the little things that are helping me feel a little better.

My medicine, cough drops, and delicious juice!

I love my cozy, warm comforter.

 I am so grateful for Jonathan and how much he takes care of me. Only a few more hours and he'll be home from work!