Matters of Non-Business.

I feel that an obligatory post is in order regarding two things: Christmas and Kingsley.

First thing's first, I am always amazed at the way the Christmas Season makes me feel each and every year. I don't feel overwhelmed by all the presents I have to buy, rather overwhelmed at how many I want to buy for people and cannot afford to do so. One of the ways I show love to others is through giving gifts. I know this because it truly fills my heart when I can surprise someone with something. I hope that if my budget ever does allow more presents to be bought, that I continue to feel excitement giving gifts and not overwhelmed.

A whole month off of school is a dream. Since Jeff and I have campus jobs, we truly get to kick back and relax during the holidays. We are able to spend time with my family which is a blast! There is a special place in my heart for Idaho Falls and I love that it feels like home. Though right now we feel equally at home in La Grande, Boise, and Idaho Falls which is triple wonderful.

And next, most important and most cuddly, the new edition to our home: Kingsley Shacklebolt. You can call him Kingsley. After a year of marriage, we were aching for something cuddly to snuggle and squeeze (not too hard because he's teensy) and our new exotic shorthair kitten did the trick. We would be lying if we didn't admit that we first got the idea from Cee Lo Green's exotic cat on The Voice, but that guy has come to inspire us in more ways than one, so it's no surprise.

No, Kingsley will not be referred to on this blog or elsewhere as our "fur baby." Though we were surprised enough as it is that we could fall in love with a cat in the first place, so you never know. Plus this is an extraordinary cat, and we are honored to have him. So who knows, you may just see us in a few months sporting this look:

Here are some pictures for your enjoyment. It's been a blast to see the personality bursting out of this tiny, grumpy looking, exotic kitten. 

Grown Up?

Almost once a week I stop in my tracks and look down at my small feet and think, how was I allowed to be in charge of my own life? J and I frequently talk about raising children and all the decisions that come with parenting, our beliefs, what we think might be effective, etc. It sounds so wonderful and romantic until I realize: with children you have to help them and be there for every single decision they make throughout the day. Not just waking them up, giving them meals and putting them to bed, but everything in between. That is such a tremendous and special responsibility. Am I, a girl with too many flaws to count, worthy of that?

Somewhere along my own infancy, childhood, and adolescence, I slowly let go of my parents hands and got to where I am now: in charge of every single decision. And I can't for the life of me figure out how it happened so fast. Now, I know we have a lot to learn and are hardly "grown up," but you get the idea. I have been dreaming about having children since way before I'd like to admit,  and I feel a special connection with them, and I know they are waiting for me. When I go to the temple I can feel their love and know they are special. So many times throughout my young adult years I have been in the midst of a life decision and thought about those unborn children. I am trying so hard to have good habits and become the person I want them to be. I believe that I came here on earth to learn and find my sweetheart and create a family together that will help us continue to learn and hopefully we can teach them a thing or two. 

One day they may read my blog, or personal journal, and think, "Wow my mom was once a kid like me." It wasn't until I was almost graduated high school that I hit the realization that my parents were once young and made mistakes, too. I hope my children can realize that a little sooner so they don't hold us to an unrealistic standard like I did my parents, which, they always lived up to. 

So here's to those little ones yet to come. Here's a thank you to them for keeping me on check, and making me want to be better when I haven't even met them yet. 

the future is bright.

when i can see the path ahead i often want to run. this is true in many cases.

this is part of the pathway we use to walk to and from campus. i can see campus from our place and i often want to run there. i love to walk fast, and sometimes it turns into this awkward walk-run: complete with back pack and sometimes large coat.

when i went to byu-i this girl saw me in class one winter day and said, "you're that girl with the green coat who i always see running on campus!" then she proceeded to tell me how goofy i looked in a big coat with my arms sticking straight out.

so it looks ridiculous. does that stop me? no. i'm just excited to get where i'm going. and not because i'm late, but because i like to get there.

this is also true for me in life. maybe it has something to do with older siblings, maybe not, but i have always been in such a hurry to get to the next stage of life. i can't wait for high school. i can't wait for my driver's license. i can't wait until i can date. i can't wait until graduation. i can't wait until college. i can't want until i meet the love of my life. i can't wait until i get married. it has often caused me to look back and wish i would have slowed down and taken things for what they were.

 i look back and feel overwhelmingly grateful for the road i have traveled thus far, and am in complete awe at the way the Lord has shown me he truly knows me and is invested in my plan.

i know the future is bright, and sometimes that makes me want to run.

i bet you can't guess the things i'm trying to run towards now.
but don't worry, i am reminded every single day to slow down.

all the busy people in the world.

There is no way that anyone is busier than I am. 

--have you ever had that thought before? I know I'm guilty of it, and I also know that I am surely wrong. In a recent interview with one of my professors, he briefly touched on that subject.

"The time will always fill up," he said. That small statement spoke volumes. He gave the example of how this term he is teaching four classes and feels that he might go mad, but even though he is only teaching two next term, he knows he will be just as busy because he will dedicate more time to them.

Some of you may be thinking, "duh!" as you read this, but this was helpful insight for me. Often throughout the day, as I am running around with my head cut off, I wonder how I will possibly be able to survive with a few children. And on top of that, what if I have a job? I know people survive, I see them do it, but the concept of one person having more time than another is a little skewed. We were all given 24-hours in a day. For me, it is a priority to sleep from 7-9 of those hours, and I go to class for about 3 a day, but what about the rest? How I choose to use them is the most important thing. And that is what has the ability to set everyone apart.

I know there are books written on that very word: busy. We seem to take pride in a busy day, but I know that people who have studied the word wouldn't say being busy is such a glamorous thing. But I can personally testify that lounging around all day can eat at the soul. So what then? I am intrigued enough to read on about it, and I will get back to you. Until then, I'm still going to try not to use the word "busy" the next time someone asks me how my week(end) was. Though I know for sure it'll be the first word that comes to mind.

a heart of gratitude.

at church on sunday a woman spoke about a study conducted where there were three groups of people writing about particular things. one group wrote about what they were grateful for, one group wrote what made them upset, and another group just wrote about random objects. it is no surprise that the group who wrote about what they were grateful for, was the happiest.

this may seem so simple, but it kind of turned on a light for me. i like to write in a personal journal, but i find that it is often when i am frustrated that i write the most. i know it is healthy to get feelings out on paper, but i wonder just how often that is necessary. this past week i have tried something called "take 20." i take 5 minutes for scripture reading, 5 for journal writing, 5 for prayer, and 5 for stretching. in those 5 minutes of journal writing, i have been finding things i am grateful for. sometimes if i need to wake up before i am ready, or if i've had a strange dream, i tend to be in a sour mood when i wake up. this morning i found that as i woke up and consciously found things to be grateful for, it helped my mood. i also find that as i allow my body to stretch, especially with the stress of balancing school with personal life, it enables my mind to be more alert and my body to feel well.

"me time" is important i know. i think where i struggle is finding just how much "me time" i need in a day. i don't necessary need 3 hours, even though sometimes i take that much. then i feel guilty that i wasn't spending it on other things, and that time is actually detrimental.

sure, i would love to spend an hour working out, an hour in prayer, an hour writing, and an hour reading scriptures, but i think 20 minutes is a grand start.

Blog Update.

Hello Fellow Readers,

My blog is going to be making some fun changes. Watch for a new look and a new theme coming soon.

Hope you'll stay awhile, and tell your friends!

a thirst for all things good.

I wrote this post awhile back, but after a recent conversation with a friend I decided to publish it

-------------------------------------------------

Since I have gotten married, I have discovered a whole new world of blogging. I am always intrigued at how each one of these blogs makes me feel. Some blogs make me feel like throwing away every piece of clothing in my closet and spend approximately 7.5 hours primping every day. Some blogs make me laugh, and some make me cry, when the author is only a stranger to me.

I started this little space to share my thoughts and hopefully write something worth reading. Of course, I don't always achieve that, but I'm constantly trying. Why? Because I believe that I am surrounded by so much good and I am thirsty for it. There is something about reading well written content that makes me feel genuinely uplifted. I believe there is a way to be beautiful, smart, and talented without making others feel threatened by you. But even further than that, I would love to find a good space on the internet to read where I never saw a picture of his/her face, or an outfit post, or even knew what they were eating, or where they lived. Yet we do this, because it somehow gives validity to who we are; it defines us insofar as we believe, and I beg to differ. In the blogging world, pictures and designs are aesthetically pleasing to our eyes. When I enter a website, I immediately look for pretty pictures, "About Me" tabs, and I let those things define who that person is as a writer and yet I do not agree with that.

However, so many people are using blogs and various websites to find what is beautiful and right with the world, and I love that. It is no wonder a site like Pinterest was created in this economy: because a lot of people are financially suffering. What a better way than to put a whole ton of ways to save money in one place, where we can refer back to them? Reusing is in style right now, and I think it is so neat. Why didn't we think of this forever ago? I want to get a sewing machine so I can try and sew scarves, which are sometimes retail priced at $30. I want to learn to take J's old shirts and turn them into something for me. I want to turn old dresses that are too short into longer skirts. I want to take old, out of style, wood furniture and spice it up a little, rather than throw it out.

There is totally a way to live with less money. I feel that my family, especially, has been greatly humbled by having to think about every single purchase, and plan where every single dollar goes. I hope that no matter my income, I will always keep the mindset of planning where my dollars go, and figuring out how we can reuse or simply do without.

So here is my pledge to you, as readers. I want to write something I believe is worth reading. I hope you will join me as I strive to find what is good and right with the world.

I notice.

I notice the difference when I wake up early and my head is clear and I am more alert throughout the day.

I notice that I am rewarded when I go to church an hour earlier for ward choir. The spirit of music is in my heart and life is a little sweeter.

I notice when I write in my journal, and strive to ponder on the positive things in my life, and what I could due to work on.

I notice when I kneel down on my knees and pray just a little longer, not worrying about what time it is or how long I'll be there.

I notice when I read my scripture with a purpose. When I have a red pencil in hand I am more likely to learn and receive the revelation and added testimony I need for that day.

I notice when I make the conscious choice to turn down unhealthy foods and eat whole, fresh foods. My body feels stronger and less sluggish.

Most of all, I notice when I don't do these things. It's so easy to get caught up and think I don't need all these little things; then I start crashing and burning and can't figure out why.

Sometimes, I know, that life gets monotonous. Why do these things that other people tell us? I know that I can't deny that it makes a difference. When I feel happy and strong, I swear, nothing can stop me.

The "Aha Moment"

photo taken from my front porch

That moment when what you are doing makes sense; the one no one can hand you, or that you cannot physically reach for or obtain. Since my life is currently measured by school terms, the "Aha Moment" is always reached at a different point in each term. 

I often think about what I would have missed out on in life if I would have given up when I wanted to. And sadly, there are still many things I regret not following through with. Each step I get closer to obtaining an undergraduate degree, the more overwhelmingly grateful I feel to be finishing what I started. But it isn't the same for everyone. Maybe it's a dental hygiene program, maybe it's a hair academy, or an advancement in work, or saving money, or raising children. Whatever it is, I hope you do it with all your heart.

I am continually grateful for order in my life. If our bedroom isn't clean and the dishes aren't done, I get stressed out not because I'm obsessed with cleanliness, but because it makes a difference to me. I get anxiety easily, and I try to embrace any reason to help me feel calm. 

So today, I embrace that I am caught up with school, [finally] not running around with my head cut off, and able to soak in what the meaning of this whole thing is. Because I know that another day, another week, I will feel worried and overwhelmed and I just may forget.

la-la-la-la-life goes on

Looking forward to a new week feels good. Last week I was holding onto yesterdays, and now I anticipate, with excitement, what is to come. Like: bring it on. I own you. And then I stumble and fall, and freak out, and that's okay. That's gonna happen sometimes.

Example:
It's Friday night, 7 pm, and I realize I need to print out some things before my all day Grant Writing class that I have to venture to the unknown territory of Hermiston, OR,  for, and catch a ride with strangers at 6:30 a.m. Naturally, our printer is out of ink. So, I talk Jeff into coming to campus with me, and we run to building after building, all to find out that each one closes at 5 p.m. on Friday nights (and 11 p.m. Sun-Thurs, whaaat?!). But I guess, really, who wants to do homework on a Friday night except for the procrastinator, and the procrastinator always pays, duh! So as I am pulling my hair out and loathing over my unpreparedness, Jeff has the idea of popping over to our friends' house, and they're not home. So, we drive to Bi-Mart in hopes to pick some up: it's closed. Finally, the unfailing, and last resort, Walmart. We scrounge up the change to buy some printer ink, and huzzah! I am ready to go. But then I dream all night. In each dream I am running from store to store, desperately in need of a restroom, and in each public restroom there is a busy computer lab with several large printers. In between each dream I wake up in a panic, check the time, and go back to sleep.

I have such vivid dreams when I am really nervous about something. When I started as a cashier at Target, I had horrible dreams about it. In many of them, I would tell the customers that I am talking on my cell phone and not to bug me. In other dreams, I would have a conveyor belt with a never ending amount of items. When I started my Shakespeare class last spring, I was so intimidated, and had dreams for two weeks straight about literature.

Does that happen to you?

speaking of change.

Isn't it liberating? Like driving in a car at just the right speed, realizing the temperature couldn't be presenting a more perfect opportunity to roll down the window, stick your head out and scream in a good way.

"Woohoooooo!"

Like you've finally got your car tire unstuck from the snow (or mud) that has caused the wheels to turn, turn, turn but get no where but deeper into the ground...

Sometimes it's the little changes, but sometimes it's huge. Sometimes it takes moving away, and sometimes it takes looking at where you are right now at an entirely new angle. That last one? That's a real good one.

in which my political opinions may or may not become more clear

It has become very evident to me, in my twenty-two years of living, that there are many things in which I do not have control.

I cannot decide who will become the next president (Thank goodness)
I, ultimately, cannot control other's decisions and opinions
I can't choose how my instructors run their courses,
or the content they provide for the course.
I cannot decide for others what is right and wrong, and I certainly can't make choices for them.
And on a more personal note, I don't know where life will lead us after college, or if a job will be secure. I don't know that we'll ever make "enough" money. I don't know for sure if my children will emulate and be submissive towards the Christlike life that I have promised my Heavenly Father I will instill in them. I can only pray and have faith that such things will come to pass.
//
I could create an overwhelmingly long list of things I cannot control. But there's gotta be something I can....

A friend of mine once shared a quote with me, and I have never found a time in my life in which it is not extremely evident and pertaining.

We see things not as they are, but as we are. 

--Unknown

My (general) happiness and contentment amidst the election and all of the evils throughout the world could be mistaken for ignorance, but I assure you that is not the case.

Sure, I wish I were more informed. (Certainly no one's fault but my own)
Sure, I get swallowed up on a daily basis by the mass amounts of knowledge I do not know, and by the tens and thousands of books I have not read.

But that is not my point. My point is that we have a choice to be happy and feel free, (albeit those are ambiguous terms) and that is extremely liberating.

Is it just me, or is the above quote really true? If I'm having an off day, or receive bad news, or something just isn't going my way, I tend to view things more negatively. Often my reactions to situations directly reflect my mood/state of mind. It continues to fascinate me.

choose to be in love with the life you lead and by all means, change it if that is not the case

because you can

Life Lately

Since I don't quite know how to manage photos via blogger yet, you will just have to make due with my slew of photos, in no particular order:

My reunion with Emily at the Flying M

Our family photo Fall 2012

Fugiyama lunch date with Sam {and the chef's specials made just for us}

Friends coming to visit in La Grande!!

& a dinner chef Jeff made for all of us

J's hair after a bike ride home from campus

At the gala with the newest issue of Oregon East literary magazine where I intern

and more!

stop signs

i'm so glad that you and i
stop at stop signs

when the rest of the world
just drives on by

living free and cavalier
is nice once in a while

but we have to care
because we have a reason

we know what happens
when we don't stop.

we know because
we've done it before,

we've been there
and we're not going back.

at least,
i'm not

Testing Day.

I don't have any lucky socks, jeans, or ponytail holders. I've only got what is in my mind and I can assure you it is stuffed to the brim with Spanish adverbs, uses of the impersonal and accidental "se," imperfect vs preterite verbs, and lots of vocabulary that has to do with different sicknesses, body parts, and the doctor's office. Ironically I have a bit of a resfriado myself. Hmmm....

I'm pretty lucky in that with my particular major, I don't have a lot of scary tests at the testing center. Do not be fooled, however, because I've got to read more than there is time in the day, and write until my fingers fall off, but I love it.

What do you love about what you do?

These people around me,
are underestimated to say the least.

Their intelligence and worth
are hidden behind their potty mouths,
which make me want to hide from them.

I know they are more than they allow themselves to be.
I pray that they are. Because as for now,
they make up the world
as I know it.

I don't have to hide from them,
I don't have to isolate myself
from this strange melancholy,

because when I step inside
and get to know their interior,
I find diamonds in the rough.

Happiness is....

..getting through a week you thought impossible

..waking up to a text at 6 a.m. with word and picture that your newest niece has been brought into the world. And not being able to fall back asleep because you're too excited

..friends coming to visit, so excited to see you and venture the place you call home

..fall photo shoots full of laughs

..the complete dive of Nell's Drive In, but dreamy cream drinks and deliciously greasy food.. and more laughs

..24 hours of fun and feel good with some of your favorite people that you couldn't have planned better if you tried

..feeling loved and that you have enough

..somehow getting your homework turned in by midnight without completely crashing the party

..facetime with family, where you are so excited to talk you keep interrupting one another

..hardly being able to hold back the tears talking about the newest little Thompson baby (name TBD)

..the smell of baked pumpkin cookies filling the apartment, and for once not stuffing yourself full of them

..crisp, fresh autumn air that somehow makes life feel new

..wanting to freeze time, but knowing you can't because there are more good things to come

This is happening happiness

we don't do this
because we have to
but because we want to

in ten years we will look back
on our twenty-something selves
and laugh while we hold our screaming children
on the front porch

we will remember when we used to go on dates
the two of us
and when it was quiet
when we tripped on shoes
instead of toys

but we will know
we have never been happier

and we know it now.

We can do hard things.

I have loved to write from the very beginning. Each year in school I looked forward to the writing assessments. I always anticipated prompts they might ask. With my big family, life was never boring. I always had a fun story to recall, and loved getting to construct it and put it on paper.

And then came academic writing. Though research papers were not initially as fun, I have always been able to still find my own voice and be proud of a paper to call my own. Until my Lit classes....

Not only do I have to read something that makes little sense to me (the first three times), but I have to put it into context, summarize it, tell about the parts that were most interesting to me (and why), and then interpret the piece as a whole, and relate it to other things we have been learning.

Doing said assignments is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life. It takes every bit of  my concentration and patience. It is as though I have to squeeze out every single sentence from my brain until, one by one, it is complete. And then I pray very hard that it makes a bit of sense.

Don't get me wrong, I always feel better after these assignments are complete, but while they are in the making, you may as well chain my arms and legs down to the edge of a cliff and torture me.

This is a lesson for me. I hope to instill in my children a love for literature, so when this part comes around they are more worried about having too much to say. Fantasy? Yeah.

Warning: Dramatic Post Ahead (and apparently cheesy)

Have you heard the phrase, "Hit the ground running?"

After a long summer, such was my plan for the upcoming academic year: particularly Fall term.

Well, I coined a new phrase instead: hit the ground, fall on my face, then comes that classic weight out of the sky and boom, I'm stuck. (Drama at its best)

I believe (or have thus convinced myself) that it is okay to feel resistance during school. It's okay not to swoon over every single assignment, and it's okay if you don't connect with every single classmate and professor, but as a whole it should be positive.

The thing is, I usually love school. At least after a week or so, I feel so glad about what I'm doing, and soak up everything I get to read, all the lectures, and that feeling I get when I finish an assignment.

This time around? I'm distracted. In fact, distracted is the perfect word to describe my whole life right now. And you know what? It's distracting in itself, because my mind is wandering to other routes, other options, and it can't do that! I've already been there. I've already done that...

After my first week of school I was so completely and utterly disappointed with my classmates. I felt that all they did is complain about every single reading and every single assignment, and I felt that they did not care about getting to know me, or making the best of school and all that comes with it.

But then I realized, that student is me too. And I'm embarrassed. I don't want to talk to anyone about what I read for class, because I can't seem to wrap my mind around it. I don't want to talk about the assignments, because I don't know where to start. And I also don't know where to end this post, because I haven't come to a conclusion yet. But I will......

Stay tuned.

What's important changes when J is ruthlessly sketching and cutting away in hopes to finish an art project that is due in just minutes time. I can no longer tell him about the things that happened so far in my day, because they pale in comparison. i.e: the bugs that kept hitting my face on my walk to school, the girl in Lit. class who was picking her ears and eating it (what????!), and, "Does my ponytail look ok?" or "do these jeans make me look fat?" So I sit quietly reading in my office and peek at him wishing there was something I can do, but really can't, because he doesn't even have time for me to dip this delicious parmesan garlic & herb pita chip in hummus and put it directly in his mouth. Chewing is of least importance and the crumbs can jeopardize the quality of the art. And then I notice he is whistling to the reggae song as he works away and I suddenly realize that even now, even though there is good reason to lose it and get frustrated, he is still calm.

So I step outside of me and observe my pita chip eating self, reading an article about the zillions of ways people make grammar mistakes, and wish I could be more like him. But we all know I can't, so I look up and say, "Thank you for J," then try to act like him, like I'm keeping my cool for just a few moments, until I run off to class and more bugs start flying in my face.

Sunshine.

Today I do not want to do homework. I want to dream of the weekend, DIY projects for my future home, plants I want to buy and display, pumpkins on my porch, starting a family, and so much more. There's something about looking out the window and seeing colorful trees, beautiful mountains, the sun shining, all while the apartment is the perfect temperature. Moments like these make life sweet and are irreplaceable. You can't necessarily plan them, or tell how long they will last, all you can do is embrace and enjoy them. (Though you can always count your blessings)

It makes sense that all of life can't be this way. It makes sense that we have to have ups and downs in order to tell the difference between the two. I think the trick is knowing when to take hold of a moment and turn it into a happy one, because sometimes try as I may, I can't make myself feel cheerful.

Which brings me to the kind of opposite subject: gloomy days. It's okay not to be happy all the time. I was always one of those people who only felt worse when someone told me to smile and just be happy, or not worry. Oooh it could make my blood boil. While I know they mean well, it is not always well received. If I am down, it always means the most to do things like write in my journal, call a family member, or talk to Jeff. All these things help to put life in perspective for me and are things I appreciate very much.

Don't get down if you don't have the urge to click your heels after every single day, but rather find things you look forward to. Take a trip to the local library and pick out a colorful book, choose a movie/television series you can look forward to every week, make a special trip to the grocery store for a treat, try a new recipe, or see how much cleaning done you can get done in 5 minutes. You'd be surprised...

Whatever the case, know that you are loved. At least by me. (insert a picture of a pretty red heart)

The Same Lessons.

You may have heard the phrase, "not all that glitters is gold." I love that.

It comes from a poem written in 1748 Ode on the Death of a Favorite Cat (yeah!), the following is an excerpt:

Not all that tempts your wandering eyes
And heedless hearts is lawful prize;
   Nor all that glisters gold.

"Wow, almost three hundred years ago," you might think. But it is not so long ago when you consider these lessons have had to be taught and learned time and time again. Shakespeare teaches us that, and many, many more. This poem is actually quite sexist by today's standards: directed towards women and their love for shiny things. Erring them to be cautious in that which they consider a worthy prize.

What does that say to you?


To me, it shows that humanity is the same. Sure, we have progressed by leaps and bounds in some aspects, and digressed in others. It shows that I was not born in the wrong era, but that I need to conquer my own. We need balance and a higher order in our lives to give it purpose and meaning, because try as we may, material things do not.

Brotherly Timeline.

1990
I was unaware that my five older brothers were swimming in our pool in Las Vegas doing celebratory canon balls at my arrival

1992
They were sure it was broken. My brothers said a prayer at home and my arm was healed before the hour long drive to the hospital

1997
I didn't miss mom and dad as much when Clayton would let me jump on his bed and and dance to Louie Armstrong while eating popsicles

1999
Tyler taught me a few rad tricks and we put on a magic show: Malony the Great

2000
The excitement of the millennium wore Henry and I out so much we fell asleep before the ball dropped

2002
I open my purse to pay for my things and the store clerk sees Joey's senior picture and asks if it's my boyfriend. I blush

2003
Bad hair cut. Chris tries to cheer me up by hesitantly saying a girl's hair wasn't everything. But I knew he was lying and I cried

2006
Starting high school in a town I knew my brother's legacies still lived in. I was different

2008
One more year until graduation. I looked forward to getting a Marmot sleeping bag that doubled as ceremoniously becoming "one of the older kids"

2008
Braces again. Now Henry and I look even more like twins: I couldn't be more proud

2009
Wedding number four: Kyle this time. I knew I'd be next, and dreamed about when that day would come

2010
All of us at the cabin on Christmas Day, laughing and crying as we open the handmade gifts we made for one another

2011
At my wedding dinner: I weep endlessly as they all take the time over the open mic to tell me how much they love me and are grateful for the man I found to take care of me

2012
We're spread out over five different states, but they are still my best friends in the whole world



disclaimer: i don't know if my brother's were doing canon balls when i was born. but we had a pool, lived in LV, so why not?

the life of the student.

Writing lists that desperately need to be crossed off; grabbing warm papers from the printer and running to class; leaving the house without a jacket and regretting it as soon as it's too late to turn back; getting to know people you learn to call your close fiends; going to sleep in the cool mountain air; waking up chilly while the rest of the world is asleep; looking out the window wondering what the day holds; dancing in the tiny apartment; looking forward to the weekend like nobody's business; new glasses; weekend trips home; nights out with friends; snacking; lectures you can't write fast enough for; going to bed early; bike rides through campus;  completing assignments that once seemed impossible; daydreaming: is there really life after school? In the meantime, this gig isn't so bad.

Bigger Dreams.

At the end of the day, in the quiet of the night, my heart's desires are so much different than my day dreams.

No no, it is not to have a closet full of elegant, classy clothing, or to have hair a mile long; it is not to be Emma Watson; it is not to have a big, perfectly Pinterest decorated home; it is not to have so much money, that I need not put thought into every purchase; it is not to travel the world. Albeit some of these things would be rather nice...

It's funny, because most of the time, when asked about my goals I get a little self absorbed and naturally start thinking: I want to get a degree in Writing and work at my own leisure for magazines who pay me to kayak down a river and write about it. Or for Parents magazine, who swoons over my every word about my parenting views. I want to live in Portland in a cottage and someday see what all the hype is about New York City. Etc, etc, etc. But I think there is a little more to life than that.

My goals have much more substance and worth, and are absolutely 100% possible through my Heavenly Father: I want to be completely selfless, making the needs of others genuinely my best interest. I want to have lots of children and make raising them lovingly and righteously my heart and soul. I want to be a patient wife for a very, very deserving husband. I want to be a family of best friends like my own family is.

I want to, and I am working on this, sincerely believe that what I have is enough. I want to have so much Faith in my Heavenly Father, that I don't look down asking why, but always looking up hopeful and patient and trusting in His magnificent, immaculate plan. I want to continue to wonder and awe at seemingly small things that make all the difference.

I want to be Christlike in every way and always see the good in others. No one is purely good or purely evil, and I know I can choose to find and focus on the good in others when I try.

I want to build relationships with those I am geologically close to. It might sound weird, but have you ever gotten to know someone you didn't realize lived so close, and then they moved away, and you thought how good of friends you could have been all along? I long not to be so completely self absorbed, that I cannot go out of my way to bring bread to my neighbor, or try to get to know someone in my church that I didn't know before. All too often I am wishing I were elsewhere, with old friends, neighbors, or family. And while it is okay to miss them, I believe it is important to be grateful for where I am. How are we supposed to know that others have needs if we stay in our own bubble thinking about all the things we wish we had?

I shamefully admit, that I get distracted and sometimes nearly swallowed up by the many distractions around me, and I am constantly fighting a losing battle with social networking, and other "good" things, but there are most definitely "better" things, and the "best" things that I solely believe must be done every day to direct our hearts to what is right. Why, in the LDS church, do we stress reading the scriptures and praying so much? For starters, our hearts are directed to our Savior for those moments, and from there we learn and gain insight and inspiration. With that comes understanding, clarity, and peace. With each passing year I cannot feel more grateful for that escape. Every single day is about building our character and the most minute things are constantly shaping us.

I am a firm believer in education. I feel so grateful to be learning and growing, and that Jeff is by my side through it all. I know the situations I am in are preparing me to be a better wife, friend, and mother. I also firmly believe that when our time on this earth is through, what we achieved on paper will not matter to our Heavenly Father: diplomas, job certificates, and other recognition. I know he looks upon the heart and I want to be able to tell him I honestly did my best to become like Him, however that was achieved.

If Only.

If only you could step outside of your own self for just a moment and see you.

The way I see you. The way God sees you.

It would bring a tear to your eye no doubt, to see you for who you really are, and not just the angles you see in the mirror, or while you are upset, or realize that even when you're laughing you have flaws: could your smile be any bigger?

It would be a relief: like when you have just cleaned the whole house and you finally get to sit down to see what you have done. Or like turning off the last light in the house before you can jump into bed. It would be like realizing that your sweet, screaming child has finally fallen asleep. Or like getting off of work and clicking your heels together as you run to your car to finally head home to see someone you love. Only better, because it's you! And I dunno about you, but sometimes being "me" is pretty tough in general.

There are several people that I have always particularly admired for being comfortable in their own skin. The people who laugh even if they have a big smile, who make jokes and enjoy their own toes, even though they are strange. Those people who accept your compliment with a genuine thank you. The ones you don't have to pin down, look in the eye and say, "Yes you are! You ARE beautiful! Believe it, or I'll punch you!"   :) And I mean the ones who accept it regardless of whether they are wearing a rag or JCrew. The ones who have an iPhone or a phone that, you know, just makes calls and stuff. The one who has thick flowing hair or just an okay amount. The one who has blemishes on their skin, or the one whose skin is glowing, or is so physically fit. (Because I can guarantee, they can tell you why their skin is glowing or just how they got their hair that thick, or their guaranteed workout secrets, but you are you, and for the most part, you are gonna stay that way and have to start loving you for every single thing you see as a flaw in yourself.)

I was one of many Mary Kate and Ashley fans growing up, and I watched a YouTube video when they were about 16, maybe a little younger, and Mary Kate was talking about how pretty Ashley is. She was saying she would look in the mirror and feel so ugly, and then see Ashley and how beautiful she is, and was very jealous of her. Granted they are not identical twins, watching the two of them in that interview, they may well have been the same exact person, because they sure looked/acted like it. Their differences are so minute, and Mary Kate was still able to see them. It shows that even if God granted we look almost exactly like that person we envy, it still wouldn't be good enough. So that is where we come in.

You know those people you love? The ones who have flaws, but you don't see as flaws, because in your opinion they just give them character and you couldn't possibly love them as much as you do without them? Oh, that's just me? Well hopefully you get the picture :) ....because it's time to start looking at you that way.

The way I see you.
The way God sees you.

Go ahead and try. Or even... stop trying if you know what I mean.
It might just work.

People Are Good.

It was Anne Frank who said, "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart."

Yesterday evening I was going through an area I had already knocked, making sure to talk to the people that weren't home earlier in the day. As I was passing homes and noting which ones I needed to stop at, I passed one in particular that I made a note that symboled I had already talked to someone there, and that they weren't interested. The old man was sitting outside, and though I didn't remember what he said, I remembered he wasn't very nice, so I tried to shuffle by in hopes that I didn't anger him again.

On my way walking back to the car I was on the phone with Jeff and the same old man was still sitting outside, but got up and flagged me down. I was a little nervous as he approached me, and very seriously asked me if I was the same girl who stopped at his door the other day asking if he was interested in our pest control service.

"Yes, that was me," I replied. Did he wait there for me to come back? I couldn't help but wonder.

"Well I was very hasty when you came to the door the first time, and I wanted to apologize."

"Oh, it's okay! I understand," I tried to say with a nervous smile. My feelings get hurt so easily, I was almost embarrassed that I even remembered him. I was taken by complete surprise, I thought he was going to yell at me for wandering around his neighborhood.

"No, it's not okay," he replied. "You are a lady and I need to act like a gentlemen."

Then he proceeded to ask me how much it cost, and more about our service. After I told him, he pointed to his pockets and told me once he got a few more shekels in his pocket, he would like to give me a call. I also learned he is 91 years old, living on social security from 1984. Nonetheless, it wouldn't be likely that he would have more shekels in his pocket anytime soon, but he genuinely wanted the service, and wanted to keep us in mind.

Whether he does or does not even give me a call back, I appreciate that he went out of his way for an apology, and it sincerely warmed my heart. Sometimes I joke that I have a place for every single person, stranger or not, in my heart. My heart swells in sadness, and happiness for every situation I encounter. While I run into a lot of people who are frustrated that I interrupted their day, (which I really cam't blame them) I also find people that are genuinely so thankful that I stopped by and can help them with their pest problems.

Last night especially, I needed to be reminded that I can't judge someone solely by the way they react when I knock on their door. This dear old man in particular is a good person, and I'm glad I had the chance to change my mind about him.

So that is why we are told not to hold grudges.

Some Summer.

It turns out our summer will be spent sailing selling pest control in Washington. Yes, I am (we are) that annoying person who knocks at your door, asking you questions, and then trying to ask some more before you shut the door.

I wasn't gonna do it, in fact, don't tell me "I could never do that," because that was what I said, too. I kicked back in our twice-as-big, furnished apartment and browsed the internet all day looking for jobs.... for almost two weeks. I wasn't so worried about getting a job right away when we got to La Grande, because I knew there was time and that we still have two more years of school. But here... we have until the end of September and time was ticking. 

I am no salesman. I am the opposite, but there are a few qualities about me that I decided I had it in me. And ever since Madeline came out in motion picture in 1998 my motto has been, "I can do anything." If you whisper it like she did, and once in awhile say it aloud, you really can do anything. I couldn't bare the thought of staying home all day earning nothing while Jeff worked until 9 every night in the 100 degree weather. 

I repaired rock chips one summer at a tent by the mall and while it was technically sales, I feel that it hardly counts. People approached me though, and I didn't have to bother them in the middle of their car repairs, paint project, family time, or the occasional man opening the door in his underwear, yawning. Nonetheless, I did have to be knowledgable about the rock chip repairing process, and why they are important to repair; I did have to work with insurance companies, and I did have to talk people into paying cash when their insurance was only liability.

I am personable and genuinely interested in talking with and learning about people I have just met. I especially learned that about myself working in customer service for so long. I could change a person's demeanor with just the right comment, and they could do the same to me. I lived for what I called those 30-second conversations that started with small talk; or the occasional person that jumped straight into their life story, current problems. I met the quirkiest, rudest, nicest, most interesting people every day and I will forever learn from my experiences in retail. Again... this is different... but it all helps.

We are now referred to by the Pointe Pest Control crew as Team Alexander. I know everyone is annoyed with us, because it looks like we are getting more sales than everyone, but really, there are two of us, and expenses don't cut in half when you're married. Somehow, they double and even triple at times. Needless to say, we are doing all right. We have a few number goals, but really, I just want to do my best every single day and not give up. When all is said and done, I will be happy with that. We are praying to make enough to get us through the school year, so we can continue to work at our campus jobs that we love, and focus on schoolwork: the task at hand. 

Who Gives a Fluff About the Oxford Comma?

It's warming up everywhere and I feel like the world is getting happier. Personally, my favorite time of the year is Fall, but nonetheless I am pleased by summer's arrival. So much so, in fact, that I can't keep my nose in a book for more than ten minutes without getting distracted. I am writing a creative biography on the life of Ann Wigmore (she is incredible), and it is due via e-mail on Monday. Monday is Memorial Day, a holiday, (sneaky professor's) so thus I can choose to enjoy my holiday at the park with friends, or furiously typing at my computer all just to compose a lousy first draft. As of now, I am choosing the latter, because typing blog posts and dreaming about the weekend is much more fun.

There are only two more weeks of school until finals and I couldn't be more excited. This year for us, summer entails many adventures and I am looking forward to them tenfold. As long as I am with Jeff I am content, but having plans and getting away makes me very excited. Well, most of the time I am content with Jeff. Today he was being a silly pest and I told him to go home, but I can't really do that anymore. Which is way better, so I'll take it. :)

One of my summer plans, beside tackling a long list of books to read, is to start envisioning/outlining what I want to write for my first annual participation in National Novel Writing Month!! I cannot believe I hadn't heard about this until this year, but I am more than excited to do it. Next Fall I will be immersed in great amounts of schoolwork, but I feel that a plan will help me stay on track a bit. With some flexibility, hopefully I can spend the wee hours of the morning writing my novel, rather than finishing homework like this trimester. And if you have any ideas for a novel, I am completely open as of now! The possibilities are endless.

Well, have a great Thursday night, here are a few Photo Booth pictures for you to enjoy:

Hmm, looks like we've got a singer in our hands, folks!

This little gem showed up in my mail. Don't mind if I do vote for Ron Paul, if he would just pull through!

We were obviously on different pages about the pose.

I've always been told I have big eyes. I think I see it now..

My BSU, BYU-I, CWI, EOU Life

Lately, I have had to constantly remind myself not to wish away these last two years of my undergraduate studies. I look back to when I started in the Fall of 2009 and it feels like forever ago because I have come so far. Midway through my first semester at BSU I remember telling my mom, through tears and confusion, that I just don't know if the university life is for me. I really just wanted to take some writing classes so I could improve in what I actually cared about. I also had thoughts of going to San Francisco to make bank as a nanny, try massage school, reflexology, or enroll in a hair academy. Most of my teachers are BSU were really strange, the environment put me into a sort of culture shock, and I didn't feel like I was in the right place.

I had the powerful feeling in December of my first semester that I needed to let BYU-I know I was coming to my accepted Winter/Spring track after all and I packed up to move to Rexburg, which felt like home to me. There I met my two darling Texan roommates and one adorable girl from Boise.  I didn't have many friends and didn't attend many social events, even though it is safe to say probably half of my high school attended BYU-I.  I studied and worked hard to improve me and I reaped the benefits of that. For the first time since elementary school, I felt like I was getting school and that I was succeeding in it, because I was I was growing in tremendous ways I did not know were possible. And that wasn't by some miracle, it was because I was doing all that I could to do well, and God was making up the rest.

When I came home off track I had no idea that I would be meeting the love of my life and that I wouldn't be attending another semester at BYU-I. I had a plan, I was happy with it, and moving forward, and that is why Heavenly Father felt I was ready to have the tremendous blessing of Jeff in my life. That is not to say that I did not have trials and confusion through that time. I took a year off of school before enrolling at the community college Fall of 2011 while Jeff and I were engaged, and that year I also grew in so many ways. I couldn't wait to marry Jeff. I pushed things before they were right, I questioned myself and again, my potential and my worth. I had a new lesson to learn and that was not one that involved education.

Here I am, at a great school and married to my best friend, and life still has its gloomy moments. I have been to so many different schools, and sometimes I question what the worth of a Bachelors degree really is. I don't have to have anything to prove I am smart and can work hard. But yet I do. School and a schedule give my life momentum and structure. As of now deadlines make my world go round and they will until a new chapter of my life is ready to begin. But I'm learning and growing everyday and I'm so grateful for this opportunity with truly nothing holding me back but my own doubt at times. Heavenly Father has held my hand through this seemingly long and complicated path to get where I am now. And while the adversary comes in to bring us down at our lowest times, he also comes when we have made a plan for ourselves and are working to better our lives. And I'm not going to let it stop me, not after how far I've come.

Ben Folds put it best when he sang:

I don't get many things right the first time
in fact I am told that a lot.
Now I know all the wrong turns
the stumbles and falls
brought me here.
And where was I before the day
that I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday.
And I know that I am the luckiest.

Monday.

She walked outside to feel that the earth was just beginning to wake. Very few cars, some bodies slowly making their way to campus and other various obligations. She had risen early and was hopeful for the hours to come.

When the weather dropped after dusk she was finally able to open the windows and cool down her 80 degree apartment. She walked around feeling like she was floating on summer, smelling freshly mowed lawns and clean air, listening to cars drive by from a distance. In just a few hours the trains would be going, they were beginning to feel like a lullaby that welcomed sleep amongst her worry-some late night thoughts.

It is a gift to know and to feel and to be, but sometimes during the height of the day it is easy for her to forget.

A List of Little Things I Love.

I love the solitude of a quiet little home in the evening, just long enough to finish the lingering dishes and tidy up a bit.

I love folding the last of the laundry revealing the entirety of my bed, which was in fact made today.

I love walking to class, not in a hurry, because the sun is shining and I want to soak up every minute.

I love waking up at 5:30 to do homework because the rest of the world is still sleeping and my mind is clear and ready to work.

I love my love for making dinner without question the nights I need to spend a little extra time on homework, which happens more often than I would like.

I love him, also, for being my tutor when I don't understand my schoolwork. He never fails to help me know I am not alone in this.

I love reading Shakespeare and actually laughing during a humorous part because I understand.

I love when a stranger in class makes an effort to get to know me and becomes another friendly face on campus.

I love the Lord and Savior for hearing and answering my prayers through the little things I love every single day.

A Friday Letter.

Dear Fridays in general,
Fridays this term have been tough. Weekly quizzes for Math are on Fridays, Tutoring class at 3 p.m. on Fridays, and Screenwriting homework is always due at 5 p.m. on Fridays. Today I am handing in a revised Act I of my screenplay. But here we are at the last Friday of the term... and it is surprisingly bittersweet! No class on Friday's next term, I hope that's as fun as it sounds! Speaking of Math...


Dear Mathematics,
You aren't so bad! I'm going to finish with an A in Geometry and it may be one of the most wonderful accomplishments that I've had yet...


Dear Oregon,
I was telling Jeff that if I had rain boots, I probably would have worn them every day but maybe 5 days the two and a half months we've lived here. Granted that winter's in the northwest are rather wet, I still rest my case. I need rain boots! And conveniently want some, too.


Dear Jeff,
I am learning that the Draw Something app is quite popular and that more people than just you are addicted to it. I'll try not to get so offended when you try and play under the table at dinnertime. (Just kidding) PS- Can't wait for Spring Break!


Dear Boise,
I can't wait to savour your Thai cuisine once again. And friends in Boise, can't wait to see you!


Dear Idaho Falls,
What is it about you that I hold so dear? Oh yeah, my childhood memories and my family is located there! So excited to visit HOME!

some things about muah.

A friend Jessica wrote a post featuring 11 questions about herself, then tagged me and asked me to do the same! First, I want to tell you why Jessica is so great. I met her my freshmen year at BYU-I and she was my Spanish tutor, but quickly became someone I loved talking with about everything and laughing a lot. She helped me find a love for learning Spanish (that still hasn't gone away!), shared homeschooling ideas, healthy food ideas, running, and just about anything! I still can't wait to live near Jessica someday so we can share more ideas and homeschool together...

To start these random questions I will first include a random picture of myself. This is me a couple months ago, so excited after Jeff and I ventured to Washington and found a coffee table/entertainment system where we put my computer with speakers for a near theatre experience when we watch movies and shows. It also holds all of our school books and other junk collected from the day. Its job is important as you can see.

Here are the lucky questions....

1. What is one of your favorite meals you made in the last month? Recipe?

The other day I found this recipe for lentil hard-shell tacos via Pinterest. Jeff and I modified it to what we had in our fridge and we do not regret doing so, it was delicious!
Basically, we just started with a little oil, an onion, and a clove of garlic over medium heat until it started to smell good. Then we added 1 cup of red lentils,  2 1/2 cups of Better Than Boullion chicken broth, a packet of taco seasoning (I feel like that's cheating, next time we'll just mix up some spices) and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. We generally like our dishes meatless so we also steamed asparagus and put it in our tacos as well. Then we added some lettuce, tomatoes, and on Jeff's part anything spicy that he could find.

Beat that taco bell.

Sound weird? It was sooo yummy! I will say the key here was the hardshell tacos part.

2. What was one of your all-time favorite dates?

For Jeff and I's third date, I decided it was time to make him dinner. Taniesha and I cooked for him and his friend (now my good friend) Rus. And of course the dinner wasn't that tasty and everything really could have gone better, but they didn't notice because they are gentlemen. After that Jeff and Rus took us up to a hot springs in the mountains. The drive there Jeff and I talked for about an hour solid and learned so much about each other. I told him one of my dreams was to take a cross country bike ride and I think that is when I stole his heart because we have been inseparable since that time. Almost every day since that day, we continue to find things we have in common and we have so much fun talking about our dreams and ideas.

3. When did you do something brave?

I'm going to have to say this summer when Jeff, Mikelle, Hannah, Renee, her sister-in-law and myself all went to Sliding Rock in Alpine. A quite unfortunate thing about myself is that I get progressively LESS brave as the years go by. I don't know what happened, I was such a fearless little kid, but I just don't have the guts anymore. Anyhow, Sliding Rock is basically a small waterfall with rocks under it that enable one to slide down very quickly and kind of get submerged in water along the way. It sounded so fun, and looked so fun, but was really scary. And of course the law of attraction kicked in and, because I was scared, I hit my tailbone on a rock at the bottom and sitting down, especially in church, was really difficult for the next couple months. At least I can relate to people now when they say their tailbone is bruised. I never did quite understand before.

4. Who is your favorite TV character?

I can't say I know a ton of TV character's, but I do get a kick out of Jess (Zooey Deschanel) on New Girl because she is just so wonderfully awkward all the time and it is entertainment to me for sure. She has also got some definite style and swag. And she's a teacher, which would be so fun.

5. What do you want to name one of your children? Why?

I am definitely sentimental when it comes to naming my future children. I am all about names with personal meaning. I want to integrate my sister's and brother's names in for middle names, and for first names reuse ancestors names, or relatives that I never knew very well, things like that! I want to name one of my daughter's Amy because I think the name itself radiates beauty and my Mother and sister-in-law are named Amy and they are incredible people so she would be destined to be a strong, and happy person. Right? ;)

6. Favorite breakfast meal?

I come from a family where fresh fruit/vegetable juice is like our caffeine. I really can't start the day without it, and I will probably never try. Lately our favorite recipe to put in the juicer is: oranges, apples, ginger root, lemon, carrots, and celery. It makes me literally smile with every drink.

7. If you could change your name, what would you change it to?

I'm particularly happy with my own name, but for the fun of it, I would choose Magnolia or Anne. Magnolia because it's a beautiful flower and it makes me happy to think about. Anne because my parents debated whether to name me Molly or Anne Caroline. Anne is my maternal grandmother's name and Caroline my paternal grandmother's name. Not only do they sound good together, but the meaning is beautiful, too.

8. Favorite Disney villain?

I kind of just shudder when I think about Disney villains, because they really throw off the journey of innocent, sweet character's lives (like Scar with Simba, ahh) but in the end, they were necessary to their learning experience and they always lose. Opposition is necessary even in Disney, what do you know?

9. What is your most embarrassing moment?

I choose 6th grade-11th grade for this answer. Just kidding. Sadly I do embarrassing things every day, and it is not hard to think of embarrassing things I do. But I'll just get it out here in hopes that no one is reading this. I went on a retreat for a club I was apart of in 9th grade and I (unknowingly) clogged the toilet. Those who discovered it ended up spending at least an hour cleaning it up, while I was basically hiding under the couch like a coward.

10. Favorite type of food?

The past few years my love for food has increased 10 fold and it is both wonderful and horrible. If I could choose, I would have pasta for dinner once every two weeks, sushi once a week, Thai food once a week, Indian food once a week, some sort of soup one day a week, salmon cooked by Jeff's dad once a week, and you get the picture. I cannot choose.

11. Least favorite chore.

I shamefully admit cleaning the tub and I'm not sure if it's because I just don't spend the sufficient amount of time scrubbing, that I don't know how, or that I am just not trying hard enough. Ok I really know the answer, but it will get better.

7Ks and other thoughts.

Jeffrey and I discovered our mutual interest for running soon after meeting one another, and I convinced him to run a 5K with me shortly after we started dating. We ran together all over Boise and had a lot of fun doing so. It was never very consistent, but on the weekends when we had the time.

We decided to sign up for a jogging class together this winter term and it has been so much fun. The majority of our running has been on treadmills at the school gym due to the weather. At first we were constantly being interrupted by the football players morning work out who make it awfully hard to concentrate with all their ruckus. It's almost like a game now to get out of the gym before 8:00 a.m. and we are always really close. One of these days maybe we'll be out of there before they do their chant after their warm up, "GET SOOOOOME!"

Part of our running grade is to run a 5K and we ventured to Boise this weekend to participate in Speed to Feed Idaho for a local food bank. We have been so excited for the 5K and we talked about it after almost every run. A couple days before the race I had a pile of kleenexes near by and suddenly realized, "Oh no I can't be sick now!" And it continued to get worse. The night before the 5K I felt like I was going to die, maybe because I enjoyed myself some Sa-wa-dees with Jeff, Jared, and Sam for her birthday :) but still, it was a bummer. Jeff and I warmed up for the race and my throat started an icy fire and I felt like I was going to throw up. Luckily the race setup was ideal. It started right outside of BSU so we were able to stay inside and be warm until it started. And there was a great energy about the place.

As soon as the race began I started to feel better. I took it slow at first, and after saying goodbye to Jeff and watching him slowly fade away in front of me, I found a good pace. Then with about a mile or so left I had a huge burst of energy, and my old friends endorphins kicked in and I finished the race pretty strong. Jeff was there to cheer me on at the finish and I saw my time. 37 minutes seemed quite slow compared to the rest of the winter and Jeff felt the same about his time, 32:30. We shrugged it off, but while we were drinking some water this guy came up to us and said, "Do you think that clock is off? There is no way I could have finished in 37 minutes." It kinda made us laugh because it wasn't a huge deal to us. Then we went to talk to the race director about how our instructor could contact him to verify that we ran the race, and he told us we all ran a 7K. So about 2,000 meters, or 1 mile further than a 5K. Woohoo! It may not have been a PR for us, but it was still accomplishing. Jeff, especially, felt pretty stoked about his first 7K. He has been the best running partner and he always makes me motivated to get up and go. This may be our last official 7K, but there will be many more 5Ks, 10Ks, etc, to come for the Alexander's.

My Husband is a Chef.

It's Friday night.

I took a bubble bath and washed my hands clean of the worries of the week.

Jeff is cutting onions with ski goggles because we are tired of stinging eyes at dinnertime.

Tomorrow I get to prepare my first ever Relief Society Lesson.

Tonight we are going to play Scrabble, just the two of us
and no one can make fun of our lack of clever words.

Sunday we get to make dinner for the missionaries, and we're stoked!

I dragged Jeff to go get hot chocolate with me on campus and it was closed.
We skipped all the way home.

Sweet shirt J!

Red potato curry.

Who needs Indian Food restaurants when

A) Jeff can modify a Nepalese dish based off of whatever

we have in the kitchen

B) There are like 1,000,000 Mexican & Chinese restaurants in town

(Okay B isn't really relevant but it's true. In the near future we are

hoping to hit up Cinco de Mayo and Moy's Dynasty.)