London Fall 2005

Thursday I went to the Marjory Pay Hinkcley Lecture

2010-02-16T09:47:00.000-08:00

Renata and Mike were there as guests and so was I. Since Renata has been teaching our cohort, she and Mike came up to a group of students I was speaking with. I knew Mike and we said hello. Here is the best part. Then one of the students said in awe, "Wow Renata, you really married a Clark Kent." You know Renata, she is calm and good humored. Mike seemed a bit taken back and didn't know how to take the compliment I think. It just made me laugh to see their predictable and heart warming reactions. They really are great together. It reminded me of how they taught us if you want to have an affair, just keep it in the family!

East Coast Happiness

2010-01-22T20:45:00.000-08:00

Hey Peeps.

On this Friday night I felt a little bit of an update coming on. It has been fun to hear from people sporadically, so I thought I'd add on to your joy.

Life here in Washington DC is swingin'. I technically live in Virginia, but it's almost the same thing. My schedule is as follows: wake up at 6am, leave by 7am, catch the bus, then the metro into DC, walk 5 min to school, and plan and teach like crazy until 5pm at night. Then I head back home to VA. Usually that night there is something social going on: FHE, institute, ward temple night, "Enrichment,"someone's birthday party, a concert in the city, a new restaurant to try out, etc...you name it, DC has it. I love living here.

Backtrack: I graduated from BYU in April after a semester of student teaching in inner city DC. I loved it so much that I literally took a leap of faith and moved back east in August. After 7 weeks of unemployment and 2.5 months of subbing, I landed a job at an inner city high school in DC. I teach US and World History. I still can't believe I survive everyday, but I generally enjoy it.

Life has had its ups and downs since our time in London, but mostly I feel so blessed by all of the experiences I have been able to have since then. I am constantly in shock that life hasn't turned out "as planned" but am grateful for the many unplanned events that have occurred. Who knows what is just around the corner? Seriously.

If anyone is ever in the DC area, please let me know. I often think of London as the beginning of my many adventures.

Oh and I do miss those Digestives and Double Deckers. Yum.

Cheers. Loves. Peace.

Better Late than Never

2010-01-03T20:56:00.000-08:00

Remember over a year ago when Ali invited us to do updates? Well about that . . .

Inevitably at the start of a new year, as I look forward to the surprises to come, I find myself reflecting on the surprises and successes of the last twelve months or so. At the start of 2009 I had very few expectations, though I thought it might be nice to cut down on the number of doctor's visits in 2008 (something I accomplished quite easily).

Graduating in April. Parents are stoked they only have 2 left to go through college

I stayed busy through April, finishing off classes and an editorial internship until I graduated college. That's still a bit strange to say--makes me feel a bit old. Then I put that BA to work during the summer labeling bottles in a factory in Provo, or as I think of it "getting my proletariat on." Truth be told it was a fairly interesting and even fun job for a summer. August saw me take a cross-country, 10 state drive moving back East for graduate school and stopping in at Mt. Rushmore and Gettysburg before winding up to Rochester, New York. From there I made the big move to Boston that included a repaint (who knew brick was so difficult to cover over?) and taking on the city life--lots of walking and a 1 hour commute to church and school, at least on bad days. I'd never even been to New England before, but I made the move on faith; housing and a job fell into place quite quickly, so I guess I made the right decision.

At Little Roundtop on the Gettysburg Battlefield

Despite the sounds of it, my Masters program in Children's Literature (at Simmons College) has been quite challenging. Thankfully I've enjoyed most every minute. It's very difficult to take umbrage on the days when my homework entails reading picture books. It was my writing class, however, that I found I really enjoyed, so after much prayer and with some continued trepidation I applied to add an MFA in writing for children. Following the spirit worked quite well last time, so I figured I'd go with it again. I was also able to return home for Thanksgiving for the first time in many years. That's the perk of living relatively close to home. While in New York in November I met up with all seven nieces and nephews and we began a new tradition: launching water balloons. Families that play together stay together?

Books read: well over 50 (averages to at least 1 a week)
States traversed: 11
Graduate programs applied to: 5
Jobs held: 3
Major life decisions made: 2
Doctor's appointments: 0 (a far cry better than 2008 during the case of the disappearing and reappering Sister missionary)
Friends: too many to count!

Wishing you the best,

Lindsay Sorensen

Happy 2010 from my niece, nephew, and me!

baby lucy

2009-08-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

for those who don't know, we had our baby on pioneer day, meaning she is ONE week old. we named her lucy jane bellisario, and we are smitten. i wouldn't trade changing her dirty diapers 20 times a day for anything in the world!

hope you guys are doing well!

London Reunion, for realz

2009-02-08T20:17:00.000-08:00

Hi friends!

I've been waiting to post something on here that was important enough as a people's marriage/baby/mission/career news, but I had nothing to compete with....until now :)

I just accepted my company's offer to transfer to the London office for 2 years! I'll be heading over around April, and I am soooo excited!

If anyone visits the UK while I'm out there, give me a ring on my mobile (ok, really just email me; I wanted to say mobile).

Cheers!
Shannon

Brad and Katie

2009-01-22T00:28:00.001-08:00

I think it is about time for Katie and I to contribute. To start, Ruth Elizabeth Laws was born on November 18, 2008. She is an easy going gal with lots of smiles. Babies are great. Katie finished school as an elementary education major in August. I will finish my degree in philosophy this April. After that is a little foggy. We have a few opportunities, including a Masters/P.H.D. in Theology and the philosophy of religion at the University of Durham in England. A Professor with whom I have worked closely here at BYU has a good friend there and has contacted him for me. This is not a cheap proposition, however, so we will probably take some time to earn some money. Right now we manage a small motel in south west Provo. We have had many interesting experiences here and have many stories to tell. To give you an idea, I have had 3 people arrested for drug distribution, one of which was deported. To say the least, the job keeps me on my toes. We will try to keep up. Our blogsite is http://www.bumpskyandbrad.blogspot.com/. Hope to here more from all of you.
By the way, I attended Brandon's wedding reception. His wife is wonderful.
Here are some photos of Ruth at 1 and 2 months:

guess what.

2009-01-09T10:14:00.000-08:00

So, I already put this on my blog, but I can't pass up ANOTHER opportunity to spread the news...

ME!, immature little me, is having a baby. And, yes, Mark is just as weird as I am. This should be fun. Miss you guys!

Update

2009-01-02T20:05:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd give a quick update on my latest goings on. The most exciting (for me) bit of news is that I got a job at the University of Southern California. I'm working in a molecular biology research lab doing work on genetic sequencing of drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) and analyzing their expression levels of various traits. The reason this is sooooo exciting is that as an employee, Paul gets half off his ridiculously priced tuition. I enjoyed my time at the dental office and I learned a lot about how an office is run, but this job is definitely more up my alley.
Paul and I have spent the last three weeks with our families and have loved every moment. Usually nearing the end of a vacation, I'm ready to be done. But not this time. We've had a blast spending Christmas in Boise, visiting friends and family in Utah, and now celebrating the new year with Paul's family in Palm Springs, California.
We've been married almost a year and a half now- time has flown by... and I can't believe it's been THREE YEARS since London! wow.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and got to spend it with those that you love.

So was it?

2008-12-27T22:08:00.000-08:00

Remember how the exhibition of Napoleon vs. Nelson was advertised as, "Spine tingling?"

I do.

So...

2008-12-02T17:20:00.000-08:00

Can I say woman's intuition rules or what!? We went to the doctor's today for the ultra fun task of an ultrasound. And I am happy to announce I'm having a BABY GIRL!!! (which I totally guessed a month and a half ago!!) I still haven't absorbed this yet and that I'll need to be into girly things. Guess I need to start teaching myself how to make those bow-headband things or learn to like pink.. I think I'll just stick with purple. So! Yeah. I'm halfway through pregnancy #2 and yes I'll eventually get to posting an update on me.. I'm up for name suggestions while I'm at it. I'm officially blog lazy.

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT!!!!

2008-11-05T21:31:00.000-08:00

She might kill me for doing this- but even if I am dead, she will benefit from my good nature! As this picture illustrates, Andrea Hunter is passing through a monumental stage in her life...

Andrea Hunter is going to graduate.

I know right? We are so proud of her! Now, she isn't sure she knows what she wants to do. She is open for any suggestions. Since all of you know and love said Andrea Hunter, I would like to invite each of you to leave carefully thought-out suggestions for our friend, roommate, and let's be honest, practically our sister! It's the least we can do for her after all she has added to our lives.

***********disclaimer: Andrea, I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY love you and meant this in the nicest most sincere possible way! But I knew you already knew that!

happy guy fawkes day

2008-11-05T21:19:00.000-08:00

Well, our little Guy Fawkes Reunion organized by Lindsay Sorenson was a far cry from the raging bonfires and burning effigies of London, but it was well enjoyed that is sure!

Thanks for making it a great night full of laughter, memories and catching up. It's amazing how so much time can pass and yet it is so easy and natural to be with people you love and who love
you back. People you know, and people who you know (maybe a lil too well, right Lindsay!?!?!)

We missed the rest of you...

it's that time again!

2008-10-31T11:37:00.001-07:00

Sorry, guys. These were the only pictures I could find really fast on Facebook from our Halloween. Hope you guys have a fun night! Post pictures of your costumes!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Do you remember that time?

2008-10-25T23:25:00.001-07:00

yeah me neither....

This time three years ago I went to a crummy London play. I asked for my money back at intermission and I got the, "You crazy American" look.

2008-10-25T22:52:00.000-07:00

Well, 2006 in comparison to 2005 ended up stinky. Nothing in the United States was cool anymore. Not even the fantastic plumbing. I asked Heather "Stay" one day in a depressed, wanderlustic, desperation how she survived coming back from London. She replied, "I didn't, I had to go again to get over it!"

Summer of 2007 I worked for Anasazi, a primitive wilderness therapy program for teens. Life Changing. The fall of 2007 brought student teaching in US History and ESL. It also brought the realization that I didn't wan't to teach in public schools. I was unsure of what to do as I finished teaching and started the new year. Suddenly, (literally) I decided I was supposed to be a social worker. I found and applied to programs that week. (BYU's deadline was the 15th of January) I got into BYU's social work masters program. It was nothing short of a miracle since I did not have half the pre-reqs, a similar undergrad, or any experience. I feel very blessed.

Spring of 2008 I started working at a domestic violence shelter and I revisted Europe! This time I went to Germany. Bakeries! Chocolate! Architecture! Public Transport! I started the masters program this fall. Then I got this bomb-dig internship. I am going to go to Botswana all next summer 2009 and study the role of fathers for children. Big issues there! I am pretty sure Renata worked a little phone magic for me. BLESS HER. We hope to have a sample size of over 1,000! We think we may be the first to ever do a study like it about Fathers there. Its super exciting. I joined a bowling league with some Social Work Chums. Our team name is. "I can't believe its not gutter."

Nothing much else except that I've been dating this boy for 10 months and we are taking a trip to Chicago next month. Yipee!! London Love.

2008-10-24T17:09:00.001-07:00

Hey all, I hope this fall is finding everyone well. It is hard to believe that 3 years has gone by since we all lived together. Well, as many of you know, Jen (who some of you met) and I married the spring following London and I promptly joined her in Houston Texas. But alas, Texas and the Wrathalls were never meant to be --as soon as Jen finished her MPH, we headed for greener pastures. At about that time, I, discontent without a Doctorate, applied for graduate school in Salt Lake City at the University of Utah. So here we are getting a Ph.D in Comparative International Sociology (thanks to Renata for introducing me to sociology while in London).

I teach Social Psychology at the University while I finish up my coursework next semester and then on to my dissertation. Meanwhile, Jen oversees the Utah health data collection at the Utah Dept. of Health. I can't have imagined a more eventful year since we moved here--my mother and grandmother passed away, my dad married my college mentor, and Jen's parents have both put roots here in Salt Lake. In the Spring of this year, Jen and I bought a "Painted Lady" Victorian downtown.

We're also expecting a little girl this coming March--that's all we know--she's a healthy 21 weeks along. It seems every semester brings another big life challenge. I am starting to wonder what else can happen?

deep in the heart of texas

2008-10-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

I never ever ever thought I'd be living Texas, but I am, and I love it.

After graduation, Sam sold out corporate-style and joined the giant Dow Chemical, so we moved to Katy, TX just outside Houston. I got a job doing ABA therapy with several small, wily, and cute children with Autism. Eventually though, living in a family ward got us to thinking we should probably have a family, so we decided to have a baby. I started substitute teaching in January to (hopefully) expose myself to a little less on-the-job physical beating. Sam went to China for the middle two weeks of April. Pregnancy, loneliness, and a sinus infection kept me crying for a day and a night straight, but I soon recovered with the help of a few inspired phone calls and the FABULOUS ward we're a part of here. Five days after Sam came home, our baby decided she was sick of being cooped up and decided to enter this world, a month early, and bum rather than head first. One hasty C-section later, we heard the healthy cry of Miss Anna Sophia Cosby.

Anna hung out in the NICU for a week while her lungs took their sweet time getting ready for life outside the cocoon. Since then, she's filled our home with sweet coos, long gazes, chunky barfs, cute giggles, nasty poops, and wide-eyed-wonder at her new little body (usually in that order). We love her a lot and it's hard to imagine life without her.

Sam studies for the GMAT with every spare moment and will someday apply to business school. Will it be for next fall, the fall after that, or the fall after that? It depends on the day, but once the decision is made, we'll let y'all know.

In the mean time, we LOVE reading about all of your lives. I'm a huge blog addict. If you are too, you can check ours out at livingeden.blogspot.com. And if you ever want to see some great national treasures like the Johnson Space Center, or the Beer Can House, we're the perfect place to stay. Happy posting!

Love, the Cosby's

Abbi's Update

2008-09-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

Hello all! It's been so good to hear from you guys. I think you all are such amazing people, and it's exciting to think of how you are all spread out doing good. Thanks Ali for spearheading this!

I'm still in Utah, living in the Salt Lake area. I'm working as a private kindergarten teacher at a KinderCare. I love it! I feel so lucky to be where I am, because I don't have a teaching certificate (I majored in MFHD) and yet I still get to do this. It's been kind of a crazy road that got me here in this job, and I never would have thought I would like it as much as I do. Perhaps someday I'll get my teaching certificate and work in the public school system, but for now I feel very content where I am.

I got married in June of last year to a great guy named Chad. Right now he is working as the Chief Resident at Primary Children's Hospital and we are applying to different fellowships for the upcoming year. Who knows where we'll be in a year, but in the meantime, if you need a place to stay in Salt Lake, please let me know, because we'd love to have you stay with us! Or if you are just in the area and want to hang out, we'd love that too. Here's a couple pictures of us together from a recent trip we took to Alaska:

P.S. Tasha is on a mission in Taipei Taiwan and will return on December 9! Yay!

Courtney Fjeldsted

2008-09-26T23:11:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's me Courtney Fjeldsted, the formerly Courtney Simnitt. PS, it's pronounced Fell-Stedd. So, I have been married to Paul for just over a year now. We completed both of our senior years at BYU this past year and graduated in April '08- both with degrees in Biology. About two weeks after graduation, we moved to Los Angeles where Paul is attending the University of Southern California for dental school. We'll be here for the next four years enjoying the sunshine and beautiful beaches. Right now I'm working at a pediatric dental office and really enjoying it. It's a "high end" office and every once in a while low-key celebrities bring their children in. Like, for example, Jan from The Office, Kate Beckinsale, Noah Wyle from ER, and others. While I like my job, I'm looking forward to the day when I can be a stay at home mom- Mary, you're so lucky! :) LA is like nothing I've ever experienced- it's about as different from Provo as anything could be. Sometimes I feel like it has a slight resemblance to London, but London is much classier and LA doesn't have much historical significance. And then there's the traffic... bleh. I don't think we'll put down permanent roots here, but we're truly enjoying it for the time being and keeping busy-- I don't think anyone could possibly ever be bored in LA; there is always something to do.
Thanks to the people that have posted thus far- I'm excited to hear from those who haven't post yet!

Underground Fun

2008-09-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

I'll post an update on the Stay-Cosby family another day. In the mean time, I thought you'd all enjoy this:

Animals on the Underground

Update. Update.

2008-09-25T10:48:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! (supposed to sound like one of the cleaning ladies, who always greeted us in the morning when the kitchen was closed with a, "Hi guys!") Grrr... For those of you who I haven't talked to in a very long time, I am now married (see picture above, for proof) to a guy named Mark Bellisario. And guess who set us up?? None other than Heather Palmer Fujikawa. Remember how she dated Tyson during London? Well, Mark and Tyson have been best friends since high school. Luckily Heather got us together a couple of months before Mark graduated and left Provo. Thanks, Heath!

We live in San Francisco (literally) because Mark is going to school at UCSF, so we'll be here for THREE MORE YEARS. Whenever you need a place to stay for free in the city, let me know! We're happy to have visitors and can show you the ropes.

I'm posting this because I fully expect for everyone to post something about their lives. And if you think no one cares, you're veerrrry wrong. Obviously Ali does, and so do I. Post away!

Taking advantage of a nap...

2008-09-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

What a great idea, Ali! Okay, so I think most of you know I married Chase Baldwin in December 2006. He got an internship in Manhattan the following summer, so we lived in Brooklyn for a few months, at which point I became pregnant. Livia was born on April 12, 2008--one week before finals! THAT was a little crazy, let me tell ya! But Chase and I got through those busy weeks and graduated at the same time this past April. Chase got a job as a financial analyst in Mountain View, CA (just south of San Francisco) and we moved out here in June. I'm a stay-at-home mom now and loving it, though I admit I miss school...

Livia is now 5 months old and just last week learned how to sit up on her own. This picture was taken on Friday, during her first experience with solid food. Woo-hoo!

Ok, Ok, my turn. I am procrastinating doing homework...so why not?

2008-09-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

Well my life is very similar to Ali's though I have now been off the mish for 13 months! Crazy how fast time goes. I loved it so much...you know a lot of learning and growing. I somehow thought that when I came back, life would so easily fall into place, but how wrong I was. It has been an adjustment being home, but I am still learning more and more about myself. I graduate in April! So freaky, I know. I am still a history teaching major and now I am doing an ESL minor. I am student teaching in the winter. I am currently applying to teach in Washington D.C. so we shall see what happens! I must tell you all that I work at the Kennedy Center for International Study Programs (that was the place where we picked up backpacks and ISIC cards). I help people apply for programs and they often ask me where I did my study abroad and I tell them LONDON! They get excited and ask me millions of questions. So I think about London study abroad quite a bit, and every time I think about it, I think of all of the amazing experiences we had together. So I'm not trying to turn all sentimental, but I thank you all for wonderful friendships and wonderful memories.

Just to get things started

2008-09-23T00:08:00.000-07:00

Since I want all to participate in the updating, I figured I should leave an example of how this is done. Here goes...

(a picture is always welcome!)

I just got home in May from a mission on Sao Paulo Brasil (the Sister Williams version is in the picture). It was the best time of my life- literally! I learned a lot about myself and what the Lord sees in me. I hope I can always strive to be that person. I am now back in school studying Public Relations and Portuguese. The ultimate plan is to go into International PR... I found out I really love that stuff, so that is comforting! I will do fall and winter semester, then devote next summer to my internship, then finish up next fall. Graduation: December of 2009- so close yet sooooo far away! But I'm grateful for where I'm at and the opportunities I have right now. I am doing PR on campus for the College of Nursing, and also have the weekend passtime of working at the Gap. Oh the fun never ends!

..... now- it's your turn. What have you been up to?

Welcome London Friends

2008-09-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

Hey all you london-ers

Well, I decided that I didn't want to lose contact with all of you, and I am certainly not up to the task of planning a full-fledged reunion... especially considering people are EVERYWHERE! So, in true new media fashion I started a blog. Now the purpose of this blog is to keep everyone updated on everyone else's whereabouts and happenings. Keep in mind that this blog will only be as effective as we make it. I would love for everyone to become a contributor/author, so just leave a comment with your email address and I will add you. Also, I know a lot of you already have blogs (myself included) so I will put links to those on this one as well. But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep updates coming. I love you all too much to miss out on the good in your life!

I look forward to hearing from you all!