White Christmas! In Georgia?!?

I was so sad that a couple days after I left Utah there was a big snow storm. We haven't really had any snow this winter, which I am ok with. I like the snow for a little while, but not for months and months. It is pretty for a little while, but it means I have to drive in it, walk in it, go outside for recess, and be in it. I would just rather have it for a short period of time. Winter break is the perfect time for snow, so when I missed the big snow I was sad.

As we were sitting in the kitchen eating breakfast on Christmas morning, someone said, "look, it's snowing!" I thought, "yeah right, snow in Georgia." Much to my surprise, it was snowing! These weren't just little flakes either. They were big, fluffy flakes. I was so excited! Travis and I decided to go outside and catch some snowflakes.It snowed off and on all day and into the night, but not a lot stuck. I got this picture the next day to prove that it does actually snow in Georgia.
I had a great Christmas morning spent with my family and Travis. We opened presents, ate a big breakfast, played with our presents, and spent time together. It was perfect. Here are just a couple pictures from Christmas morning as well.

Mom passing out presents.Nathan got miniature sized presents and money to go buy real ones. Dad opening his gift from Travis.Travis was sitting right beside me, so it hard to get an action shot of him.My new camera bag from Travis!Andrew got a laptop.

I'm a firefighter!

This morning, Christmas Eve, Dad, Andrew, Travis and I set out to make some deliveries to some families in our ward. As we were driving to the bishop's house to make our first delivery, we drove past this scene: two kids trying to put out a field fire and the mother running to their small house while on the phone. Dad says, "should we stop and help." I say yes so we find a place to turn around and go back. We miss the house again and turn back around. I say to dad, "I don't really know what to do." He explains that first we are going to park out of the way so when the firemen get there, they can get through. In the meantime, another man stops. He found a pile of scrap wood that we can use to put it out. So together the 5 of us climb over the barb wire fence and run towards the circle of fire. We all take different approaches and places to put out the fire. I started from the outside and started working my way to the middle and Travis went straight to the big flames. It was crazy! I could see the progress, but also see it spreading. The family was yelling, but everyone else was staying calm. It started heading towards their humble home. Travis went to fight those flames. He slowed the flames, but lost some of his eyebrows and receded his hairline in the process. (picture below) I am just glad he didn't get hurt. After getting the roadside out, I went to the back where it started spreading more. It was harder there because the grass was taller. Luckily the firemen got there soon after because the wind started to blow and the spreading increased. Further back were some woods. The first truck couldn't reach all the way to the back so a backup rescue truck had to come in. As they drove through the field, I stood watching. Then I heard someone yell my name. It was Keith Kolvig, a highschool friend. He was the one in the rescue truck to finish off the fire. His truck had a remote control nozzle on the front that blasted out the flames. The firemen told us that we did a great job containing the fire until they got there. It was exciting, but hard work. There were times when I had to step away because the flames were so thick. By the end, we were all worn out, dirty and coughing. The next day I was sore because it was strenuous work. The other lesson we learned that day: Never play with bottle rockets in a dry field.

Old Friends

Last night some of the old winterguard crew got together for a mini-reunion. I have not seen most of the people there since I graduated back in 2004. This reunion was inspired by a video Mrs. Armstrong posted on facebook of the year we did "He Lives in You." It was fun to see everyone and interesting to see where everyone is in their lives. With my 25th birthday coming up, I have been doing a lot of self-reflecting wondering what I have done with my life. After last night, I realize that I have done a lot. I have graduated from college, served a mission, found a good job, moved out on my own, bought a car, I am healthy and very happy. I have made many memories and friends along the way and I don't regret a thing I have done. Sometimes I get wrapped up in Utah culture that tells you that if you are this old and not married something is wrong with you. That is not true! I would not change the things I have done for anything. I would not be who I am without them. One of my instructors, JB, that I really respect sent me a sweet message today. He said that "I remember the timid, pretty girl I first met in the fall of 2001.... telling me "I can't..." when we asked you to throw a quad. ;-) And you've more than surpassed throwing quads in your life. I'm thrilled to see the beautiful, young woman you've become." This really meant a lot and helped me realize that the world doesn't determine your worth.

New friends

Yesterday I left Utah to spend my Christmas break in Georgia. I had a day full of meeting new friends. First I met Bessie and her husband, Ernest. I met them while sitting at our gate. They were in their 60s. They are both from Georgia, met in Utah and that's where they live now. Ernest served in Vietnam and Bessie works in the medical field. She is a stylish old lady and he is a jolly old man. He talks to everyone, loves children, and has a hearty laugh. I sat and talked to Bessie for a good 30-45 minutes. We talked about all kinds of things. My favorite thing that she told me is not to tell men how great they are because it will go straight to their head. She was telling me how lucky she was to meet her husband. While we were talking, another couple in their 60s came and sat down next to Ernest. He started talking to them. Ernest and the other man were hilarious! They just fed off each other. Ernest mentioned how Bessie had him do something and the other man said he had one for himself and she was redhead and spent his money too. Then later they talked about visiting the gift store and how there was a $300 pair of jeans. The old man said that they were worn out and had holes in them. It made me laugh because it was such an old person comment.
On the plane, I made another friend. His name is Rodarious and he is 12 years old. In the first 30 minutes of the plane ride, he told me his life story and he didn't stop talking to me the whole plane ride. Even if I put my head phones in to get a break, he would tap me on the shoulder and ask another question. He has been in and out of foster homes and living with relatives his whole life because both his parents have been in and out of jail. He was in Utah visiting his grandmother. When he arrives in Florida, he will go back to a "program." Then he gets to live with his mom starting in January for a couple months, but he doesn't want to because he is scared his anger problems will come back. Today he gets to go visit his dad in jail. He mentioned to me that he just wants to find someone to adopt him. At some point in our first conversation, I mentioned that we used to have foster kids live with us when I was younger. A couple hours into the plane ride, he asked me if my parents still took in foster kids. That made me begin to think how lucky I was. Here is this 12 year old boy that just wants a stable family. He would rather go live with my family than his own parents. It made me wonder how many other children there are out there in situations like these. They just want someone constant in their life to love them. I am lucky to have a mom and dad that have supported me in everything I have done and love me no matter what. Rodarious also asked me if I was going to adopt any kids. That is something I will have to think more about in the future, but it has opened my eyes more to the option.

911 Call

I promised a post about my drive home from the airport, so here it is. After dropping Travis off at the airport last Sunday, I drove back around and sat in the park and wait to see if his flight would be delayed and he could jump on the later flight. After waiting 30 minutes or so, he called and said that they would be leaving on time and I should just head home. I thought this was crazy because there was already a lot of snow on the ground and it was still snowing.

Anyways, I left the airport not looking forward to my long journey ahead in the snow. Because the roads were snowy/icy, I had to drive slow and I was on high alert. (I do have to say, my car is amazing in the snow. I love it!) I had a lot of experience in Canada driving in the snow, so the part that scares me the most is not my own abilities, but the cars around me. I saw some idiot drivers going to fast or just doing stupid things.

At one point, I was driving alongside another car and up ahead of us there was another car. All of the sudden, the car in front of us started spinning. He was in the far left lane and he spun across all 4 lanes of traffic and hit the barrier on the left side. The car beside me swerved around him and kept going. I had to slow down so I wouldn't hit him, but I didn't want to stop too fast or I would lose control too. I pulled over to where his car had come to a stop. Then a million thoughts started going through my head. I looked at him and he looked dead. He was just bent over not moving. I decided that the best thing to do was to go ahead and call 911 so they could head over right away.

I sat in my car and called 911. "911 What is the location of your emergency?" "uhhh...I think I am on 215" "What happened?" "I just saw a man get in an accident." "Does he need medical attention?" "uhh...can I get out of my car and go see?" At this point the lady probably thinks I am crazy. I don't really know where exactly I am and I ask her if I can go talk to the man. I go up to him and I open his door. I tell him that I called 911 and ask if he needs medical attention. He said he hurt his arm but he is ok. I tell the lady his response and she says "ok, let me transfer you over to police dispatch."

"Police dispatch, what is the location of your emergency." We already went through this. I don't really know. I just follow the signs from the airport. I say, "I think I am on 215." She asks which exit. I ask the man if he knows where we are and he looks around and sees a Pepboys sign and says we are by Pepboys. Great. Then I remember that I just passed California avenue. "Are you going north or south?" "I don't know. I am coming from the airport and headed towards Provo." The lady probably thinks I am crazy. I just can't really think at this point in time. Hopefully I never see an accident that is serious or we are in big trouble. "Is the accident on the left or right side of the road?" "Right" (that was easy) "What kind of car is it?" I ask the man what kind of car he drives and he couldn't really think either. Finally he gets out that it is a Sebring. "A Chrysler Sebring" "What color is it?" "Silver" Are the questions ever going to end? She went on and on...you get the idea.

Finally she said. "The Police is on their way. Now, you need to go get in your car and turn your hazard lights on or leave if it is safe to do so without causing another accident." First of all, my hazards were on. Second, she wants me to leave this poor man here all by himself?!? I tell him the police are on the way and he can just wait. He replies that he is not going to wait because he will freeze to death before they get there. He told me that he wanted to try to drive away. Here I am, little 24 year old Amber, telling big 50 year old man what to do. I said, I don't really think that is a good idea. I think you should wait until the police arrive. I remind him that his bumper is no longer attached to his car and that he has no trunk because it has been crushed. He was like, "no, no, I think I can go." (he was a little crazy) So me, not wanting to get hit and realizing that my car was blocking his view to oncoming cars said, "Well, let me move my car so you can see." Not knowing what else to do and remembering that the police said I can leave, I start to drive away. I drive slowly so I can watch in my rear view mirror what happens.

I see him start to drive, but he doesn't make it far. Not wanting to cause an accident myself, I continued on. I don't know what happened to that man. Hopefully the police found him and didn't think I was just some crazy person calling in a fake accident because they got all my information too. I never heard from them so I assume they found him. It was an exciting morning if nothing else.