Thursday I went to the Marjory Pay Hinkcley Lecture

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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!