Our family is growing!

Less than two weeks ago, Adam called while I was on the way to the library and told me about an opportunity to host a Korean exchange student in our home. For whatever reason, without knowing a single detail I had an epiphany. I knew then and there that we had to do it and feeling overwhelmed, I started to cry. I rushed home, hurried and filled out the application, and within an hour we were eligible applicants. The next day Adam got an email asking if we would be willing to host TWO Korean students and we said we would make the necessary arrangements to do so. On December 23rd we were officially Host Parents and told to get ready! A few days later we heard from our new Korean friends, Sarah and Yuni.

Hi!

My korean name is yoona song.
My English name is sarah.
I want to meet you.
I will intruduce myself.
I am 10 years old.
In my family I have mother, father, my pet dog, and me.
My favorite food is steak.
My worst food is Kim chi.
My favorite sport is soccer.
My favorite subject is math, and English.
I want to go Disneyland.

How weather is in there?
In Korea the weather is snowy.
The baby is very cute.
In your house there has swimming pool?

Hi? Mr. Turney.
My name is Yun.Jung.
My English name is Yuni.
I saw your family’s picture.
Your baby is very very cute.
I want to see your's family fast.
At my family there is Mom, Dad and ME.
I like…play with little girls, listen music and cooking.
I like…salmon,spaghetti,pizza.
My birthday is 8/31(2001)
I’m 10years old, 3 grade
I like art class
I like swimming
I want to be Singer and Cloth Designer
I want to go Disney Land with your family.
My Best Friend is…..Yuna.
I go to Induckwon elementary school.
I live in induckwon.
I like dolls.
Bye

Sarah and Yuni will be with us for two months. They will come with us when we greet Sean at the airport and we will all stay for his homecoming talk so I hope they will get to meet a lot of my family and friends in Utah, as well as in Nevada--and yes, we HAVE to take them to Disneyland so maybe my California family and friends will meet them as well.

We couldn't be happier!

Day 28: What do you think about your friends

Well, they are my friends right? That means I must think very highly of them. I have the greatest friends in the world. I did want to highlight one of my very best friends in the world Caitlin Jane Bardsley-Fowler. She doesn't have a hyphenated name but I thought I'd give her one for those who may know her as Cait Bardsley.

She is the best, most loyal, loving friend a person could ask for. We have been buds since our days in diapers. We used to call each other on the phone when we were about 6 years old and we'd watch conference together and play tic tack toe over the phone.

She recently married an awesome guy that I love and think is one of the best men I know.

We are semi related and so...ya know what they say..."blood is thicker than water." ;)

Day 27: What would I find in your purse?

EASIEST QUESTION IN THE WORLD.

I am not the typical girl.

You would find a wallet.

You would find my cell phone.

You would find my Ipod.

You would find a pen and paper.

That. Is. It.

I have a diaper bag but that is more like Hannah's purse. All I keep in that is diapers, wipes, and some snacks and toys.

I'm pretty simple.

Day 26: Favorite Movies

These are just a few of my favorites. I have so many! There are too many actually!

Day 25: Last five Facebook Status updates

I just dreamed that I forgot to go to class all semester and I wasn't going to pass...I guess you never get over the stress of college. December 27th

For christmas my father in law made all his kids a bracelet using one of the buttons off his uniform as the clasp. It was the sweetest gift ever and I'll wear it everyday until his safe return from Iraq. December 25th

It's a girl! Actually TWO girls! We will have two nine year old girls come to live with us from korea starting january7th! December 24th

Adam thinks it would be a wonderful life to be married to Donna Reed. December 22nd

Does anyone want a Viewsonic TV for $350 (37 inches; 720 P--whatever that means)? We are putting it up on Craigslist in a few days but thought we'd try to sell it here first. Its been a great TV we just don't need two TVs in our house. December 17th

Day 24: Something you crave a lot

I don't have a big sweet tooth but I do love all things buttery, cheesy, and salty!

Christmas at the Turney's

We are always traveling on Christmas, and until we get some married siblings we will probably ALWAYS travel on Christmas. Because of that, we decided to start a tradition of our own. Yesterday we spent the whole day together, playing, watching Christmas movies, and eating yummy food.

Our Christmas dinner was chicken, potatoes, steamed broccoli, biscuits and gravy and sparkling cider to toast the year. We also had a delicious chocolate Turtle pie for dessert.

After dinner, I picked one present from the tree and we went upstairs to open it. NEW PAJAMAS! We dressed in our PJs and went down stairs when what to our wondering eyes did appear but a room full of presents left by Santa Claus for Hannah!

Hannah saw her Toy Story tent and her immediate reaction was to back up in surprise. Then she went to check it out and found "NEW TOYS!" inside. Buzz, Woody, Dolly, Rex, Ham, Mr. Potato Head, and some other Toy Story toys that escape me at the moment.

I got an Ipod touch which is WAY COOLER than I could have imagined...(Hannah said "How cool") Adam got a new receiver and was very excited, and Hannah was spoiled with her shopping cart, mini computer, books (complete collection of Curious George and Winnie the Pooh along with stuffed Winnie the Pooh guys) clothes etc. We also got Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University which I have been DYING for! I'm so excited I can't hardly stand it!

It was so magical to see her light up! It was my favorite Christmas memory of all time and I will cherish it forever.

Day 23: Favorite TV Shows

If I were to include my favorite TV shows that are no longer with us {RIP} I would also include

Everybody Loves Raymond
and
Friends

Ok Ok, I'll add Lost too. Best Drama I've ever seen.

Day 22: What makes you different from everyone else?

I think what sets me apart, what sets a lot of my friends and I apart from the rest of the world is that I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In Utah I didn't feel very unique but I have felt the difference being in Nevada. I'm grateful for that difference.

Some people think that they need to be different, unique, set apart from everyone else. I'm more than happy to just be me. I am not particularly different but I am my own person and I am happy to be me, to be where I am in life :)

Day 21: A Picture of Something That Makes You Happy

I am so glad that I have my degree, that I was able to finish my education. I'm also very happy, and proud of my smarty pants husband, that he has such a desire to obtain an education, and that he has a such an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, always trying to get more credits. This year he will have obtained credits from three Universities.

Day 20: Someone you Love

Thinking of Grandpa Turney today as we are going into the Christmas season with him far away.

Day 19: Nicknames

I love nicknames. I shorten almost all of my friends names (unless I know it bothers them) because I think it feels more intimate. My nicknames include:

1) Wiss (My dad gave me this one)
2) Melissa Malou (another one from my dad)
3) Meliss (My mom and sister call me this, and some friends)
4) Love (This one is from Adam, he has always called me love and I LOVE it. It is rare that he calls me by my first name)

Adam's nickname is babe.

I call Hannah:

Hamma, Hammie, Ham, Han, Hannie, baby girl, baby Hannah, and most recently...NOOOOO STOOOOOP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 18: Plans, dreams, and goals

1) I want to travel to as many places as possible. I've traveled to 13 countries and all over the United States and I'd love to see more. My biggest dream is to travel to Australia so I can go back to Adam's mission.

2) To serve a mission with my husband

3) Earn a Masters Degree. I don't know what I want a degree in yet but one day I'll have my Masters degree.

4) I would LOVE to run a marathon but for now, I'll just say a half marathon.

5) To live in a place with 4 seasons again.

6) Next year it is my goal to read 100 books. We'll see how that goes...that is about double the amount I will have completed this year.

7) Speak another language. I'd love to learn Spanish. I have several podcasts on my Ipod I just need to dedicate myself to it and remember what I learned in school.

8) To write a children's book. I would love to do what my aunt Kathy did and write a children's book. By children's book I mean a picture book (except I wouldn't illustrate it because that is not one of my talents)

9) To journal and scrapbook (digitally). That is another goal of 2011, to catch up on all my documenting. I've got about 6 more books to do and I'm all caught up...then I just need to stay on top of things.

Picture of the week

{Hannah and her little buddy Caleb}

Day 17: Who would you like to switch lives with and why

Isn't it obvious? My baby. Not only would I get to be pampered, and taken care of, dressed, fed, chauffeured around...but I would get to see the innermost thoughts and schemes. I'd get to see how she sees the world. I think it would be pretty awesome.

Day 16: Another picture of yourself.

Day 15: 10 Song Shuffle

I put my Ipod on shuffle and these were the first ten songs:

1) The Goblet of Fire by Patrick Doyle (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Soundtrack)
2) Don't Worry Baby by The Beach Boys
3) Best of My Love by Emotions
4) Away in A Manger by Kenny G
5) I Know that my Redeemer Lives by MoTab (Called to Serve Album)
6) The Other Little Soldier by Josh Gracin
7) Under the Gun by The Killers
8) Come Together by Michael Jackson (Hasn't EVERYONE covered this Beatles classic?)
9) One O'Clock Jump by Frank Sinatra
10) There was a Bee-I-ee-I-ee by Countdown Kids

So there you have it--the reason I don't listen to my Ipod on shuffle. In just my little shuffle of ten songs I have a soundtrack, country, classic rock, pop, alternative, indie rock, gospel music, and kids music. Lots of diversity.

Day14: A Picture of you and your Family

{Our First Family Picture}

Day 13: A letter to someone

Dear Hannah,

Your second Christmas is fast approaching and I just wanted to tell you I love you and how magical you make the holiday season. Halloween is much more fun when I can dress up my little dolly, there is so much more to be thankful for at Thanksgiving time, and Christmas is much more magical when Santa exists and we can share traditions with our little family.

This new year will be incredible, we have so much to look forward to and my one and only resolution is that I'm going to try to be a better mommy for you.

Love,

Mommy

Book Review: A Christmas Carol

Few books cause the words to catch in my throat before even speaking them aloud and this is one of them.

"I have endeavored in the Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it."--Their Faithful Friend and Servant, C.D. December, 1843

A Christmas Carol is a holiday classic that has inspired 22 films, more than 30 television specials, more than 20 different theatrical productions--including musicals and opera, none of which in my experience capture the essence of the story. That is, with the exception of Scrooge (1951) staring Alistair Sim--a Christmas classic staple with my Dad and I.

It is a wonderful story, and I understand why so many people would be anxious to adapt it in some way, but the unabridged book is perfect.

In 1993, my dad read the book aloud to me, reading me sections during the month of December before bed. He would stop and explain words and phrases that were too mature for an 8 year old and slowly the story took place. A tradition was born, and every year after that until my senior year of high school, my dad and I would read A Christmas Carol together. He did all the voices and added extra lines that over the years became small jokes.

Since 2004, my first year on my own, I have re-read the book by myself. I will read this book every year of my life, and I will likely hear my dad's voice in my head, the characters that he brought to life with his intonations and interpretations and the love he had in his voice as he read it.

The book is humorous, tender, and sacred. Only 114 pages long, this sweet book has had more impact on me and my life, than any other work of fiction. There is a line in the book where Dickens infers that he is standing at our elbow in spirit as we read and I feel that, I feel his heart and soul in this book. I love it dearly.

Day 12: Why I have a blog

Why not? Everyone is doing it.

I have had this blog for three years. I just like to keep up with family and friends that live far away and share things that I find funny/inspirational/etc.

Day 11: NOT another picture of me and my friends

Day 11 is supposed to be another picture of me and my friends, but since I don't take pictures of me and my friends I'll just talk about some things I like to do with my friends right now:

Dinner Group:
Once a month on the first Tuesday, we all go out to dinner--yum. Sometimes we get kicked out because we feel like staying and talking longer...ok that was just once but we got kicked out of TWO places in one night.

Bunco: My friends have a Bunco game going on and I've recently become a sub. It is pretty fun. Especially when I win!

Book Club: One of my favorite nights of the month.

Baby trade: I have a great group of ladies that not only I'd trust with my life, I trust Hannah with them (which is important). They are the greatest moms and I'm learning how to be a better one because of them. They are more than willing to watch Hannah if I need to take off and I'm happy to take their kids as well.

Crafts: When Rosalie comes, she makes me do a craft ;) Which is good for me, and always fun to do.

Talk: Women need other women. Sometimes it's fun to just hang out and talk right? Free therapy with non judgmental women = happy Melissa.

Day 10: Happy Sad Bored Hyped Mad

Songs I listen to when I'm Happy

Musicals (I've seen this video about 20 times and it makes me beyond joyful every time)

Church Music

Country Music

Lady Gaga

Justin Beiber

Glee

Songs I listen to when I'm Sad (I recently did a whole post on this)

Country Music

Church Music

Classical Music

The BEATLES

Songs I listen to when I'm Bored

Classical Music

Church Music

Books on CD (Does this count lol)

Songs I listen to when I'm Mad

Avril Lavigne

Rihanna

Basically anything R&B

{Toy} Story of my Life

Toy Story 3 came out on Blu Ray 35 days ago.

I have seen Toy Story 3 well over 50 times.

Hannah. Is. Obsessed.

I can't even describe how much she loves this movie. She talks about it constantly, she ALWAYS wants to watch it. I just wanted to share a few cute stories about my day to day with Toy Story.

1) Yesterday we went to McDonalds to play in this awesome play place for toddlers. Hannah was having fun, until a little boy showed up and put his shoes in the shoe bin. Buzz Lightyear shoes. I swear this girl can spot a Toy Story guy from a mile away. She ran, picked up the shoes, and went back to play on the slide. I took them from her and the kid's dad hid them around the corner. About five minutes later, Hannah decided she wanted those shoes back so she went and hunted them down. Every time they were hidden, she sought them out.

2) At Story Time at the Library Hannah was half listening, half playing around. Suddenly she saw a kid from across the way with his back facing her, wearing a Toy Story back pack. She charged, tackled, and started pointing and naming all the guys.

3) We are shopping at walmart, and Hannah gasps with delight and starts waving frantically saying "HI GUYS HI GUYS HI GUYS..." I turn around and see a Toy Story 3 cardboard display.

4) At Grandma's house, we find Buzz and Woody in a toy box that one of the kids got back in 1995 from McDonalds. Hannah carries them around the whole week.

5) Finally, my favorite story. This morning, after an evening of vowing never to watch Toy Story 3 again (or at least for ONE DAY) I got Hannah out of bed and we walked downstairs. Hannah went straight to the closet where I now keep the DVD so she won't love it to death, pointed and said "Toy Story please." Oh it was too cute and I am a sucker for those big blue eyes (especially when the cute little mouth says please) so I watched it again today, and I'm sure we'll watch at least part of it tonight with Daddy.

The thing that really bothers me about Toy Story 3, is that NO MATTER HOW MANY MILLIONS OF TIMES I'VE WATCHED IT I ALWAYS CRY AT THE END WITH ANDY. I can't take it anymore. I may have a mental breakdown because it is so tender. My heart bursts.

In 17 years, when it is my baby I'm watching pack up for college, when she no longer wants to watch Toy Story 3 five times a day, I'll sit down and watch it, and probably lose my mind, thinking of the little baby asking "Toy Story Please."

{This is what Santa is bringing Hannah. When she goes inside, she will find Buzz, Woody, Rex, The Aliens, Jessie, Bullseye, Dolly, Buttercup, etc. All her favorite Toy Story friends that Santa got for just 5 bucks each--Thanks Black Friday}

Day 9: Something that made you proud in the last few days

{Adam studying hard}

As of today, Adam has officially completed a successful semester of his graduate program.

I know I've talked about him and his degree a LOT on this blog before but it is a huge deal and I'm very proud of the work he does. He works HARD LONG LATE hours trying to get everything done and all so he can get a fine, formal education. Adam's parents inspired him to work hard and get his undergraduate degree from BYU-I and in four years he's also gotten a masters degree and is working on his second. By the time he is done he will be qualified for several wonderful positions within Clark County.

Yes I am proud, that being said babe: It's time to take a break. No more school for a while ok?

Day 8: A Goal for this month

{Spend more time with this guy}

At this time in my life our schedules are CRAZY. Not only does Adam have a full time job as a teacher (which requires lots of time outside the classroom) he also tutors after school at Tanaka, has a second job at We Serve where he works at concerts on the weekends, is trying to finish up his degree, and just got called to be the second councilor of the Young Men organization at church which will take him away at least 8 times a month. He is a busy guy. I stay pretty busy too between book club, dinner group, bunco, etc. I'm out at least once a week as well. Last week, I was out Tuesday night and Adam was out Wednesday- Sunday. By Sunday I was pretty depressed and missing my guy. Our schedules have been so out of sync!

{LUCKILY}

After this week (which will be just as crazy as ever) Adam gets a one month break from school and We Serve so he'll only be focusing on being a teacher/tutor and getting used to his new calling. In a few weeks he has winter break and we'll be able to spend a few good days just the three of us and Hannah goes to sleep at 6:30 so I'm looking forward to doing some catch up with my man.

Day 7: A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

Day 6: Favorite Super Hero and Why

Boring.

I don't like super heroes, or super hero movies. If I had to pick one however, I would pick:



Because he is rich and attractive...and the movies are by far the best superhero movies.

{How Firm a Foundation}

For an early Christmas gift, my mom bought Hannah the entire Children's Songbook collection of primary songs from the distribution center.

Today I have been in the process of both importing the CD's to Itunes and creating a playlist of the favorite primary songs for Hannah to listen to. Some of the favorites include I Am a Child of God He Sent His Son and I Feel my Saviors Love

This year in Primary we sang a song that really touched me called I Know that my Savior Loves me. I was overcome with emotion listening to the small voices testifying that they are wrapped in the arms of their Savior's love for them.

Listening to these songs, my testimony grew of the power of a firm foundation. I have been fortunate and blessed in my life to have been taught from infancy that I am a child of God, that He loves me. It has been the foundation that I have built my life upon. I was blessed to be given that firm foundation and I hope that Adam and I can convey effectively to Hannah and our other children that they are children of God who loves them. My testimony grew today, as I listened to the songs I learned when I was 2-12 years old, some of them I haven't listened to since, but the words and the music were imprinted on my heart and I recall the feelings I had listening and singing the words for the first time.

Day 5: A Place I've Been

I couldn't chose ONE picture of a place I've been but many pictures from one beautiful place: Tallin Estonia.

It is not the obvious European destination. Unlike London or Paris, Tallin doesn't have a reputation for being big and famous but it reminded me of a place you would find written in a fairy tale.

I went to Estonia for a very quick, 12 hour trip. We took a sleeper train from Moscow, arrived in Estonia by morning, then that evening we were leaving the country bound for Russia once more. It was lovely and will forever stand out in my mind as one of the most magical days of my life.