December 17

Editors note: This post was started on December 17, but due to a late night movie (In Time--it was entertaining, but not award-worthy by any stretch of the imagination) I finished the post on December 18 :)

I was watching the news tonight when the story was brought up of what happened one year ago in Utah County. I can't believe that it was one year ago. Today has a special feel to it.

One year ago today (December 17) people around Utah awoke to the news of the Provo Tabernacle literally burning down before our eyes. It marked a sad end to a once beautiful and historic building (which will be restored in the next couple of years to become even more beautiful).

But the fire in Provo couldn't have been any further from my mind that day in 2010. While many people I know were gathering on the streets around the Tabernacle to witness it in person, I was sitting in the waiting room at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center waiting for a procedure called a D and C to be completed on the Mrs. I didn't see any flames from the Tabernacle, but my lifeless stare out of the window of the waiting room was often interrupted by the billows of smoke I could see from the downtown Provo area.

Prior to December 17, 2010 I had never even heard of that procedure (I still don't even know what those letters stand for).

I try not to think about that day too much, but I still reflect on it every now and then because it was such a major part of our lives.

I remember walking across the street during the procedure and getting a Steak and Cheese sandwich (The Italian Place makes Philadelphia itself look stupid) and I remember the feelings of hopelessness that were running through my head. I was scared for Annie, I was scared for the future.

I've been to that Italian Place recently and the stark contrast in feelings from last year's visit is so refreshing.

I'm so thankful that this December we're celebrating 16 weeks of strong fetal development.