Winter 2010-2011

Wow, I had almost forgotten what it was like to blog!  There have been many times that I have gone online and then thought, I am just too tired to think of what all to write about.  So I am not going to really think at all.  I am just going to ramble for a little bit.  :)

This has been the hardest semester of school.  Not because of the content per se, but because it feels like I have been going forever and I am only halfway done.  I was recently told that after this it goes much faster.  So I am trying to keep that in mind, and the fact that this semester is over halfway done.  And then I will only have 2 more semesters and 2 more Spring Terms.  In 1 year and 3 months I will be finished.  :)  I can do it!

This has also been the best semester as far as my personal life goes.  I moved into a new ward in September and I have been loving it.  It is an olderish (25-35) single's ward and I actually feel sort of young in it.  It is very culturally diverse also.  I remember telling people after the first Sunday that there were some good looking black men in this ward.  There were just some good looking men period!  But one guy in general kind of caught my eye.  My friends and I actually started jokingly calling him my church boyfriend.  The first time we met was at an FHE.  It was right before Halloween and so we were supposed to dress up.  I dressed up in my Hawaiian outfit with a flower in my hair.  When we started talking he asked me if I was taken.  I was confused and told him that.  He then explained that because my flower was in my hair on the left side, which apparently means that you are taken.  So my friend quickly switched it to the right side and informed him that I was not taken.  :)  I was a bit embarrassed after this, so we quickly left.  I then proceeded to see him a few more times over the next couple of months, but nothing happened.

Until right before Christmas.  It was at a Ward Prayer and we ended up talking for quite a while afterward and flirting.  Then the next night our ward was going to see the lights at Temple Square, so when I saw him at the carpool he invited me to ride up with him.  He also informed me that he had a ticket to go to the Jazz game.  I told him that if he had an extra ticket, that I would go with him.  He said that we could arrange that.  So we had our sort of first date.  And it was my first time at a Jazz game, and they won!  After the game he asked me to go with him to his work party two days later.  We went to that and have not missed a day either seeing each other or talking if one of us has been out of town.

He is so wonderful and amazing!  I have always had a couple of "lists" of what I am looking for a guy.  One that has things that are must-haves, like a testimony, priesthood holder, wants to have a family, kind, etc.  But I have also had a list of qualities that I really liked about all of my ex-boyfriends and friends that are not essential, but I wouldn't complain if they were there.  Such as liking to cook, liking to drive so that I don't have to, not being afraid to meet my family.  And amazingly, he has it all.  Of course he isn't perfect, but neither am I, so I don't expect him to be.  But it is amazing how much better for me he is than any of the guys that I have previously dated.

So about him, his name is Romeo Andriafanomezana (yes, that really is his name, and yes, I can pronounce his last name).  He is from Madagascar and has lived here in the states for 8 years.  He is currently in the National Guard and that is how he became a citizen.  He is divorced and has a son who is 6.  His son is so adorable and such a good kid!  And they both love me!  He speaks French, Malagasy, and English and is wanting to learn how to speak Spanish.  He has been in Canada for the last two weeks with his new job (which have been very long two weeks for me).  He is being deployed to Iraq in June.  But I don't let him talk about that much, I am very much in denial.

I have really been enjoying dating an African man, I love their culture and all the people that I have met.  So that alone has made this winter one of the best so far.  :)

And because a post can't be complete without some pictures, here they are.

 My first Jazz Game

 Romeo at Christmas with my family

 Must have a picture with a nephew.  :)

 Me and the man

 Me and my roommate, Lindsay.  Love her!

 Above Sundance my first time snowshoeing

The whole group after snowshoeing