The right place, the right time.

Sometimes I want things a bit out of order. But tonight, while watching some tv as I waited for Tiff and Rand to come home, I flipped to Teen Mother (or Mama? I don't really know) and I was reminded of why things are the way they are.

I'm not a teen mother. I'm not afraid of a step-father that has been in and out of prison. My parents don't yell at me and have never said anything unkind to me. I am not a 16-year-old that is continually put down for giving my baby up for adoption. I have never been dumped because I had a baby waiting for me at home. I am not emotionally abused.

I am surrounded by love and happiness. I have the truth. I sometimes make dumb decisions, but I have never been faced with a challenge more difficult than I am ready to handle. I can't wait for the day that I have a little one to hold, but I am grateful that that day is not today.

There is a right time for everything.

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Promises

I promised Mindy a post. And I promised my mom pictures (because there was no color the last time she read my blog). And I am promising to be a better blogger.

.credit (I hit the random button on Flickr and came up with this beautifulness.)

Obnoxious

Fact: I'M HOH-OHM!!!! (Pretend I just said that in my obnoxious voice. I know you know what I'm talking about.)

And it is humid. So humid. I think I am going to die. But my family is nice. And those Packer people sure are awesome. That's about it. More to come.

Finals Week

Finals begin today. Which is fine, because I feel ready for them. It has been a very good semester and I will be sad to see it go. I don't know how next semester is even going to compare. My goal is to make it even better. I can't wait.

As a rule, finals week always goes out with a bang. April 2009 brought a car wreck. December 2008 brought llamas and car wrecks. April 2008 was all-nighters, The O.C. marathons, and too much food. As for December 2009, Talana is in town and staying with me, so it's gonna be a good one. Yesterday was amazing, what with church and music and games. Today promises to be just as good. So, if I can catch the bus, I'll be taking some finals, building some snowmen, eating some hot dogs, caroling at a nursing home, baking banana bread, going to the library, and watching Christmas movies. You are all invited to join me on any of these activities. Documentation will be provided of fun times.

As for the rest of the week, Alexia's getting married! Kate's getting in town today and I am going home in just 3 days. I can't wait to see my family and to finally be warm. Ahhh...Florida. I can hear you calling me. I'm coming.

Game Night

Sunday night is game night. And some weeks a lot of people come (meaning like 4, but they're really loud! So it counts.) Some weeks are smaller and quieter. And some weeks (aka today) there are firesides that interrupt. So we didn't actually have a game night. But we played some games with our friends at their house. And I have to share some things that were said. I will make them anonymous, in case certain people don't want me to share. But they were funny!!!

These were all while playing Catch Phrase.

The word is guppy
B: It's like oatmeal...
Me (sitting next to him, not on his team): How is that like oatmeal? That is a fish!
B: Oh I was reading it "goopy".


The word is Brooklyn
Me: A tree grows in ____...
J: Dirt! A forest!
Me: It's in New York...
J: Central Park!
buzzer goes off
Me: Brooklyn! A Tree Grows in Brooklyn! It's a book! And a movie!
B & J: Not everyone knows that! Is that supposed to be a common literary reference?


The phrase is Remember the Alamo
T: Davey Crockett said this!
Somebody: Remember the Alamo!
J: Wait! Davey Crockett was at the Alamo? When was this?
Me: How did you not know that Davey was at the Alamo? Disney even made a movie!
everyone (including J) starts singing the song
J: How did you know that and not me? Were you at the Alamo?


A: um....
M: Marzipan!
A: that's it!

The phrase is Mardi Gras
B: It's a party in Mexico...
Everyone: Cinco de Mayo, Day of the Dead...
B: Nope. Wait, maybe it's in Georgia!
Me (looking at the word): That's not in Mexico or Georgia!
B: Where is it?
Me: Louisiana!
B: Oh it's French!
M: Wait, you speak Spanish! How did you think that was Spanish?



If this bores you, I am sorry. But I know that Talana will laugh when she reads it.

U: Umbrellas

I really like umbrellas. I'm just saying. There's something kind of awesome about them. I once read from some guy in the early 1900s telling his son to always carry an umbrella when it looked like rain so he could take care of the woman he was accompanying. I don't know where I read that, but it was cute and I want men today to do the same. Just a thought.


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Llamas

Remember how I told you about caroling with llamas? It was for reals. We got llamas and collected canned goods for a local shelter. However, the stupid boy scouts had already wiped out the neighborhood, so we didn't get as many as we wanted. But here is some documentation. More to come.

I know this is hard to believe, but it is for reals.

The strangest thing happened to me today...

I began to get ready for a triathlon. Nothing fancy, just some running (I know! Shocker!), but it felt good. It was hard, but I was lucky enough to go with a friend who was gentle, yet pushed me just enough. And I'm going to keep going. And when April comes around, I am going to compete in a triathlon. It will be amazing.

There are three things that I am looking forward to during this whole process:

1. Overcoming my vanity
Today was the first step. I hate being caught without makeup, or my hair done, or generally looking my best. So not having time to replace the makeup I slept in with something decent was very tough. And the thought of spandex makes me cringe. But I am going to get over that.

2. Feeling/looking good
I don't think I feel or look bad, but it might be because I don't know the difference that regular exercise can make. I look forward to seeing how I feel and look in one month.

3. Seeing how far I can go
I have no skill in endurance. This is all about to change.

And I can't wait.

Floating Away

I'm having a hard time deciding what I want out of life today.
Most days I know what I want and then I go for it.
Sometimes it's as simple as a grilled cheese sandwich or a good novel.
On other days I get more complicated and want things like happiness, motivation, and endurance.
Today I had the simple and, while the grilled cheese was yummy, it wasn't enough.

So on to the complicated.

Today I want my stress to disappear.
It will take a lot of impossible things for this to happen.
So instead, I am going to try to let that all go and simply wish for a balloon.
A hundred balloons to float me high above the city would be preferrable,
but I am more than willing to make do with one red one.



Post edit: Some random person just brought me red balloons.
My life is complete.
thank you
thank you
thank you

.via Audrey Hepburn Complex

The Promised Happy Post

The coolest bookshelf in the USA. I need it for my future home. I will also need a husband that does not think these things are tacky.


via La Vie Boston

Ten (or Eleven)Things I Hate About Tuesday

You think it's pretty, huh? Snow is tricksy like that. I bet you wouldn't like driving this either.

I am a firm believer in equal opposites.
I think the Universe is, as well, and felt the need to counteract my happy Tuesday of last week.
Stop here if you don't want me to drag you down into the mire.

1. There is snow.
Everywhere.
Everywhere.
And I had to drive in that nasty stuff.
Please remind me that I love BYU.
Because I hate Utah right now.

2. Even though it is 1 degree out, my room has got to be in the nineties.
Not a lie.

3. The last assignment of the semester (to write a radio script for my advertising class) is hanging over my head.
It's due at 11:00 am and I haven't even been able to think of what product I want to write a jingle for.

4. My phone has done nothing but receive calls today.
No texts (to or from) and no phone calls from my end.
I feel lonely, detached, and ready to trade in a few fingers for the returned use of my phone.
(Cell phone, cell phone you're my heroin...sing along now!)

5. I have been waking up each hour for the past few nights.
No explanation.

6. I feel really fuzzy right now.
Which is mostly synonymous with blue/cloudy/under the weather/Eeyore-like/cranky.

7. I was irresponsible yet again (surprise!) and now plane tickets for Christmas have jumped beyond my price range. And I hate using my credit card.

8. The cute boy I have had a crush on for months has no inclination to ask me out, despite not a few successful and fun interactions.
I am starting to doubt what little feminine charm I thought I possessed.

9. I ate around twenty peanut butter cookies.

10. A certain four year old felt that entertaining her for 4 hours was absolutely necessary, despite the long list that her mother gave me to take care of most certainly proved otherwise. And because I am cranky, I did not appreciate being asked every 5 minutes (not an exaggeration) to provide entertainment.

And because I am cranky, here is another one

11. I was so tired (from being up all night) that I accidentally fell asleep from about 5:00-7:00 pm.
So I'm gonna be up all hours.

Happy post coming tomorrow, so don't fuss.

Growing Up

I can't wait for these days. I tell myself that they're coming, and I shouldn't get ahead of myself. I should enjoy where I am. But sometimes I remember being that little kid and how wonderful it was. And that is when I can't wait to be a momma and give some little ones all the great things my momma gave to me. Naked kids, clothesline forts, and muddy floors. They're coming. And I know I'm only 20, but I can't even wait.

Comments

I am just going to say this once: I love comments.
There are some of you awesome people out there who are regular commenters that make my day. But I have Google analytics. Out of the 60 or so of you that come each day, I am 100% sure that more than one or two people should be leaving a comment.
I'm just saying.

And if you know me, or don't know me, and think you're being creepy by reading my blog, let me assure you, you are not!
I blog because I want people to read what I write.
And sometimes I am insecure enough to need validation.
So, if I do know you, or don't know you, I will be really excited and like you a ton for commenting.
Really.
Try it and see how I greet you next time we meet.

It will be with this much excitement.So get ready.

T: Travel

We all know that I want to travel. Ever since I learned about the world and all the incredible things it holds, I've wanted nothing more than to see it all. Although I one day want to see it all, there are a few places that are calling me a bit more strongly than the others.

1. Australia
Obviously. I don't know when this obsession started. It might have been the first time I saw some science documentary about the Great Barrier Reef. It might have been when I saw Support Your Local Sheriff, or when I first heard an accent. Anyhow, my love has only increased with things like Baz Luhrmann's epic movie, Lisa Mitchell, and Finding Nemo. Oh, and can you say Koalas?

2. Great Britain
Ever since I read The Grey King by Susan Cooper, I've wanted to go to Wales. King Arthur has done nothing but make me want to haunt Cornwall, Orkney, etc. And Tamsin made me want to move to a farm house in the middle of nowhere. Sigh.

3. Italy
Is there anything more magical than Venice? A city built on water? I don't care that it smells bad. And all the history! Fascinating!

4. Greece
The clean white walls and clear water is calling my name.

5. New Zealand
Lord of the Rings made me want this one.

6. Norway
The North has always called my name. Fjords, East of the Sun, West of the Moon setting, the Northern Lights. Yes, please.

7. Portugal, Spain, France
They are all grouped together because I just want to go. Nothing specific, just the romance.

8. Peru
Llamas, Inca ruins, the Andes.

9. Brazil
For the Amazon

10. Egypt
Pyramids. Duh.

T: Turtles

I just realized that I need to hurry up and finish my A-Z series before 2010 gets here! So I'll knock off a couple today.



This summer, I was out in our backyard when I found a little pit that had some eggs poking out. So of course I ran inside to get everybody. Momma and Sam came out, inspected the little pit, went back inside to do some research, and that was how we wound up with 20 little turtle eggs.

After lots of care, the baby turtles were removed from the pit (where something had obviously been bothering them--there were broken shells all over) and moved into little containers with moist dirt and put into a safe place on our back porch.

Samuel and Mom faithfully kept the dirt moist and cool for the little eggs, and the day after I left to drive back to Utah for school, they hatched! I am very sad I missed it, but they are still there (19 eggs hatched) and they are still tiny, waiting until they're big enough to survive on their own. I'm not sure what kind they are, but I have heard from a few good sources that they are quarter-sized and cute.The pit


Samuel moving the eggs to their new home
(we had to mark the top of the egg before we moved them because they attach their shell to the top of the egg, and if they get flipped over, they'll detach and die.)

Warning for my mom: Do not read this. Do not look at the picture and imagine it is me.

Most people that know me would be quick to agree that I am not an outdoorsy/active kind of a girl. I prefer to be inside, warm and cozy with a book and a blanket or dressed up in my high heels. But this is all about to change. "What's that?" you say. How can this be? What would inspire such a change?

Rock Canyon Park, people. Climbing up the rocks and repelling. At night. Seriously, so fun! I can't get over it.

When Heather texted me to invite me to go, I was immediately in.
But then we started talking about what it all entailed, and it sounded a little too adventurous.
So I called Dave, one of the guys we were going with, to get some details.
And he totally talked me into it without trying to.
Going up was a bit hard on my underdeveloped lungs {the doctor's words, but my own fault},
but getting to the top was worth it.

There were a few bumps. {Or rocks. Whatever.}
It was a bit cold.
I was wearing five layers, including thermals and a down coat, and it was still chilly.
Climbing over to Dave so I could go down was a bit nerve wracking.
And there might have been a point where I relied on the rocks more than the rope...resulting in some bouncing and a fit of giggles from Heather.
And I wish we had had a camera for that one.
But all in all, I would have done it ten times if I wasn't so darn tired from climbing up and if it was 50 degrees warmer {not a lie. We're talking in the twenties at least.}
We ended the night with hot chocolate and Glee.
Utah is awesome.
I want to do it again tonight.

Squeak Squeak

Please remind me that I do not have $50 to spend on mouse shoes from ebay. Stupid Winona.

Ten Things I Like About Tuesday

Me and Dawna doing what we do best

1. I got a letter from Dawna. For those of you who don't know, Dawna was one of my first roommates here at college. It took us about a week to discover that we were each other's missing half. And then she left me to serve a mission in Scotland. Nice for her, bad for me. Her letters are the highlight of my life right now.

2. My World Religions class is UH-MAZING! Seriously. Take Alonzo Gaskill. The 8:00 am hour is so worth it. I am constantly amazed at how much he knows and how much I have learned about the beautiful religions in our world. It also helps that he is very funny.

3. Tuesday is Taco Night at Del Taco. 3 for a dollar. And way better than Taco Bell.

4. Jessica made pumpkin cookies. I think she is trying to make me fat. Curse her.

5. I finally checked the mail (first time in a week) and we all know how much I love getting the mail. That little box was chock full of goodness. It was amazing.

6. I got to take the kiddies I watch to the park. Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove is amazing! Why didn't we have something like that back home when I was a kid? Why do we still not have something like that?

7. This book I'm reading, about the Salem witch trials, is fascinating. I'm almost done.

8. I listened to Lisa Mitchell's Wonder album at least 4 times. Not an exaggeration, thank you very much.

9. Bishop Burton gave a wonderful devotional that I only got to listen to half of because I 1. didn't realize he was coming today and B. had to work.

10. I found out about Llama Caroling this weekend. Each group of carolers gets a llama and a shopping cart to fill with food for the needy. Don't ask me how I found out about this. Just embrace the awesomeness that is BYU.

The llamas in my Biology class last year

Moral Discipline

"Mere wanting is hardly a proper guide for moral conduct."

For some reason, this has been jumping out at me recently. Every Sunday for something like 3 weeks now, somebody mentions it. And every time, I am overwhelmed by the power and truth behind this simple statement.



I am so grateful for inspired prophets and apostles.

Read the whole talk here.


Add to Your Faith Virtue; and to Your Virtue Knowledge by Walter Rane

Countdowns

Ten things you want for Christmas:


1 an ipod dock
2 a cute winter coat (like Taza's maybe)
3 lots of sheet music
4 books
5 college completely paid for
6 the sun to go down around 8:00 instead of 5:00
7 my little brothers to stop growing up
8 Talana to move out here and be my roommate
9 a boyfriend
10 a spaceship

Nine musicians/bands you love:


1 Sugarland
2 She & Him
3 Lady Antebellum
4 Ingrid Michaelson
5 Regina Spektor
6 Lisa Mitchell
7 Miranda Lambert
8 Couer de Pirate
9 Zee Avi

Eight things you do everyday:


1 wake up a half hour before the alarm clock
2 check my email
3 read my Book of Mormon
4 drink 3 liters of water
5 talk to Michee on the phone
6 take a nap
7 read the New York Times
8 listen to lotsa music

Seven things you enjoy:


1 sweets
2 books
3 my family
4 making people/me laugh
5 dressing up
6 swimming in the ocean
7 friendlies

Six things that will always win your heart:


1 laughter
2 silliness/spontaneity
3 getting my car door and other gentlemanly behavior
4 smiles
5 great hair
6 thinking that I'm funny

Five favorites:

1 Candy: anything chocolatey, really.
2 Fast food: urgh, gross.
3 Snack: today it is clementines. yesterday it was cold cereal.
4 Movie: Support Your Local Sheriff
5 Place: home, temple, ocean

Four smells you enjoy:

1 the ocean
2 cucumber/melon baby lotion
3 bakeries
4 fresh rain

Three places you want to go:

1 AUSTRALIA!
2 Europe (don't make me pick a country. I want it all.)
3 South Pacific

Two holidays you love:

1 Christmas
2 Halloween

One person you'd marry on the spot: