We decided to begin a blog as a method of journaling for ourselves, and to help our family and friends stay up to date with the things going on in our lives! It seems fitting to begin with a quick update.
Mark and I (Alyson) met at Utah State University three years ago when he was driving the Aggie Shuttle I rode home each day. We are still living in Logan, and have now been married for almost two and a half years.
In January, Mark began his PhD in Wildlife Ecology. We are so grateful he was offered a position at USU. We love being close to family, and Cache Valley is the place both claim as home (though I like to tease Mark that Preston, ID doesn’t count because it’s not part of Cache County). Grad School has been a little overwhelming, but Mark is beginning to learn the ropes. He is especially excited for his hands-on research with the Greebs on the Great Salt Lake. In our ward, Mark is a teacher for the ten year old children. They can be a handful at times, but he loves them.
I also serve in the primary of our ward, but as the chorister. I’ve had this calling since we got married. It’s been challenging, but I do love getting to know the children. We absolutely adore our ward and are grateful we will be here a while longer for Mark’s schooling. I am also in grad school, but happy to say I’m on the homestretch! I am earning my Master’s in Family and Human Development through Arizona State University’s online program, and I will graduate in August. I hope to be able to attend my graduation ceremony in December so I can finally see the ASU campus! In addition to school, I also balance three part time jobs: teaching piano, answering USU’s main phone number, and teaching English to children in China with VIPKID.
The other member of our family is our puppy, Flynn. Flynn is an 11 month old Havanese. He’s still overcoming some puppy habits of course, but he is a sweet, smart boy. He knows a variety of commands including sit, lay down, play dead, roll over, crawl, up, off, speak, stand, go to your bed, leave it, kisses, heel, and close the door. We are working with him on overcoming his fear of other dogs (specifically energetic dogs, he loves dogs who will just stand in one place), but he loves meeting new people. He is a very loved puppy!
This stage of life is busy, but we find time for fun too. All three of us are excited it’s finally warm enough for long walks. Mark and I spent a lot of time just going on walks when we were first dating, and we still love to walk and visit. We also enjoy giving in to our sweet tooths, and watching movies together. This summer we hope to spend some time fishing now that Mark is officially a Utah resident. We are excited to share our adventures here!
Our Story: The Bell Family 