Fall updates

Here we are again! We have had a busy Fall thus far. We survived midterms and are now preparing for final papers, projects, and tests. Ben especially has had an eventful month. Here are some of the highlights:

Ben went to Utah for DJ’s wedding and got to spend time with Dad, Ali, and Elizabeth. He had a wonderful time.

Kipp picked Ben up from the airport and they surprised their dear friend LeGrand.

The family went to dinner at a fabulous Italian restaurant and Ben got to meet Ali's boyfriend Brandon!

Dad came bearing gifts from London. We love Galaxy chocolate! Thank you!

They had ice cream at Sub Zero

Back in Virginia Ben was nominated to run for President of the student association of the Health Services Management and Leadership department. He had to give a 90 second speech which he began with “Hi. My name is Benjamin Tingey and I am running for president. The first thing that I will do as president is change all the water fountains to chocolate milk fountains.” This is the email that Ben got showing that he won! He is one busy guy.

Ben’s birthday present came a week early. His computer is pretty much dead and so yesterday we got him a new one. The sound was really important to us because we watch movies on Ben’s computer all the time. So far he loves it!

Last night we got to babysit the Hales’ kids. What a great time! We loved that as soon as we walked in the door the kiddos came running yelling “Ben and Jackie Ben and Jackie!” It warmed our hearts! We played blocks, Ben chased the kids around the house, we gave them baths, we had a pillow fight, we read a story, Niko’s tooth came out, and I helped Niko write a note to the Tooth Fairy! We ended the night watching some BYU football. What a great evening!

We look forward to spending time with family for Thanksgiving and Christmas! We already bought our plane tickets to go to Las Vegas and California. We love you all!

Highlights

Ben and I made this blog one year ago and this is our first post! Sad, I know. We have been inspired by so many great blogs of family and friends and have decided it is time to update/begin our own. I'm not sure where to start...so we will give you a glimpse at what has happened this year. Enjoy!

May 2011: Mom, Sam, and the Tingey Family joined us to celebrate our graduation. I received my Bachelors degree in Social Work and Ben in American Studies.


May 2011: We took a trip to South Carolina with our good friends Kyle and Carly Sipherd. Ben and Kyle were mission companions there. We had an incredible time visiting their areas, the members, and the beautiful sites.

We hiked Table Rock

This was the first house they knocked together

On our way to Fort Sumter

Sitting on a swing in Charleston--the very place where Ben and his family visited after his mission and he said he would bring his wife there one day

June/July 2011: I began school at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia studying Social Work. Ben stayed in Provo for a month and then followed to sell security systems for AMP. The words he used to describe his experience include "loathing, unadulterated loathing. Hated. Mind bogglingly terrible. Pain. Lots of Pain." Enough said. We did take one day to go out and see some sites. We really only had one day because Ben worked Monday through Saturday until about 10pm and I studied all day every day. We were glad when the summer came to an end.

10pm

In front of the Stonewall Jackson Memorial in Richmond, VA

In front of Saint John's Episcopal Church where Patrick Henry said "Give me liberty or give me death."

August 2011: We joined the Tingey Family in London and then flew to Israel to pick up Elizabeth at the Jerusalem Center and enjoy the sites. It was an amazing trip! I can testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior. My heart ached to think that the majority of the people living there don't believe in Him. I felt so grateful for the restoration of the gospel. We attended church with the Jerusalem branch, a small group of Saints joined together. My heart was filled. We know that Jesus Christ lives. We know who He is and how to access the Atonement. I love our Savior and our Heavenly Father for preparing such a perfect plan and sending His perfect Son for us.

You can see more pictures of our trip here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100145048738139.2474110.17806871&l=7d1d1c05ec

At the Garden Tomb

Sitting on a camel was on my bucket list!

We got to go to the temple with Elizabeth. She got her mission call to Lisbon, Portugal!!!

We saw "Much Ado About Nothing" at the Globe Theatre

August 2011: Back in Virginia we got to move into our new apartment and see Ben's campus at George Washington University (he is studying Health Services Administration). We thank all of the aunts and uncles in this area (The DeVores, Johnsons, and Hales) for hosting us many times and for taking such great care of us--we love you!

The metro. Ben loves riding the metro everyday to campus!

His stop is Foggy Bottom and his building is right next to the station!

The George Washington University Hospital

We enjoyed a Labor Day symphony concert on the west lawn of the Capitol

This is the street we live on! We love our neighborhood--it is a short walk to the metro for Ben, I can walk to my internship, and there is a great frozen custard place just down the street. More pictures to come!