Moved..Sort Of

Well, the majority of my stuff is moved. Thank you to Logan, Tricia, Danny and Melinda. I could not have done it without them. I still have stuff to do (mostly kitchen stuff) at the old place but this is the first night here in the new place. I am exhausted. I don't know if I can handle it.

I hate moving.

Hit 'em Hard!

So I really enjoy hockey games. Live, not on tv. And I love going with friends. It is too much fun! And let's face it guys, I am stinking cute! Everyday I get better and better, haha! So I thought I would share some of the fun with everyone.
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Melinda and I

Melinda and DannyMe and Danny

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I am loving how entertaining my life has become. Aren't you?

Weekend Fun

Well this weekend was long. A good long I think, but long all the same. I have a couple pictures, not many so you will just have to read about it and enjoy the images your mind decides to show you.

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It started with my weekly trip to the temple. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to partake in the blessings of the temple weekly and so blessed to have such a good friend to go with me every week. It was an amazing experience this last week. I felt so at peace and so ready for amazing things to happen. I was so blessed to be able to share that with people who mean so much to me.

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Friday afternoon I was blessed to have Logan mow my grass for me. It really needed it and I have been battling a chest cold and jokingly asked him if he would do it and he said sure and came right over. What a great guy he is! After he mowed we had an old school dinner or mac-and-cheese with baked beans...yum! For some reason that really hit the spot but we both laughed over the idea of it.

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Later that night we headed to a party at our friends Todd's house. Lots of fun! Logan had the chance to flirt with his 18-year-old admirer (which makes me laugh!) and I flirted with Todd (who is only a friend, sorry ladies!). It was just a good time. And we discovered guitar hero for your phone! We could hardly contain ourselves we were so excited. Simple pleasures.

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Saturday was conference and as you have seen, Logan's beginning in the world of crocheting. By the end of the weekend he really had a good sized piece done and his stitches were looking really good too. I was shocked when he said he wanted to learn how to crochet and more shocked when he did it for hours at a time trying to get it just right. I guess you never know what will get someone interested. He is getting his own "stick" this week. haha! Between sessions we feasted on Chicken Enchiladas, one of our favorites! Ashley even got home in time to enjoy a few herself.

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That night we went to a hockey game after the priesthood session. Melinda, Danny, Logan, Chris, Nick and I all sat right up against the glass and had guys slam into the right in front of us...it was awesome! I screamed more than I should have, especially since I was already losing my voice from my cold, and by the end of the night had hardly any voice left. It was worth it though.

And don't worry, Nick ran over my foot with his car...no major injuries though.

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Sunday brought more conference and crocheting and a brunch. So much fun! After the sessions ended we had a big Mexican meal with black beans and Spanish rice...so good! We laughed and talked and played until we were literally falling asleep in our chairs. Logan and I happened to be the only ones to catch a nap that day during conference, and apparently it wasn't long. Apparently we were on the couch and both out and everyone else just laughed at us. It still didn't stop us from being dead tired though.

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And, after many miracles in the last few days, I will be getting a working car this week. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing the whole thing is and how completely blessed and humbled I am. I have some amazing friends and am so blessed and in awe that my Father in Heaven sent them to me when he did. I only hope I am blessing their lives as much as they are mine.

24th of July, Sort Of

Well here in Utah we celebrate the great holiday, the 24th of July. While the rest of the world goes to work and lives a normal life, we party. The background is that it is the day we celebrate the pioneers who came across the country in wagons, with handcarts and walked it. We celebrate the determination and strength they had to trek all the way out west and settle the lovely place we call home.

Every year we have a big celebration the week before with the Utah symphony playing and a huge fireworks display. This happens a block from my house so we put cones in the road and driveway and save spots for friends and then part take in the festivities.

Yesterday was that day.

We had a group of about 12 of us who went over and played games until it got dark, swap is the game we played and it is one of our favorite card games. Then we watched these lovely fire works.

It was a lot of fun. I managed to get one stunning picture of the fire works.

And what fun is fireworks with lots of friends if you don't take pictures? So here is my gallery of friends.

From left to right: Jason, Nick and David

Above: Logan and I Below: Jason and I

Melinda and I, we have to get a picture of the roommates! I love her.Jason and Danny wanted a picture together because they were feeling left out.

The next part of this story is not so much fun. On our way back from the fireworks I tripped on the curb and fell face first. Everyone laughed but I just laid there feeling like a complete idiot. In the end I bruised up my shoulders and chest, got road rash on my forearm and knee. My knee was killing me so one of my friends walked me across the street and then piggy backed me home. It was super nice of him and it didn't hurt that it wasn't horrible to have to hang on tight. But it still didn't help the fact that I felt like an idiot.

After all the leg issues were taken care of, alcohol applied and band aids carefully placed, we started the first and roasted marshmallows. It was so much fun to just hang out with friends and enjoy being together. I have some great friends people! So what if I will get teased forever about tripping over a curb? In the end I say it was worth it.

Got Laundry?

I do. I have laundry. Until recently I enjoyed the ability to do laundry at odd times, in sweats and when I needed to. But, that was until the washer broke. And we all know that if I do something I don't do it half way. The washer needs to be replaced but that is not in the budget at the moment. So, to the laundromat I go. Luckily Danny, Melinda's husband who lives in the basement apartment, his family owns a laundromat. So every few weeks we go close the laundromat and do our laundry.

In some ways it is very nice to throw everything in at once and be done in an hour or so, but on the other hand, when we pack a car FULL of dirty laundry and then wash it and pack it full of CLEAN clothes and have to load and un-load that you forget that little bit of a benefit. But the blessing here is that we have a way to do our laundry without spending lots of time or money.

Don't worry, between the three of us we use 8 regular washers and one super sized (for towels) and at least that many dryers. And that is when we combine our whites. Be thankful today for your working washing machines. And I will be grateful that I have access to a washer. :)

Silver Lining

I like to think that there is always a silver lining to every dark cloud. If you are sick, it is that you remember that it is a blessing to be healthy. If you get a flat tire, that you really need to be aware of your tires so that you are grateful for full tires. I like it that way. I like to think I am an optimist.
I am about "this" (imagine fingers just barely apart) close to losing that optimism. This year has just chewed me up ans spit me out. I am working really hard to make things work and to keep a smile on my face, but I just hate waking up everyday to something else that has gone wrong, not worked out, or is suddenly a problem. The umbrella that I am using to keep that rain away, is getting a little beat up, you know?
I am not saying that there aren't some good things in my life, there are. Just more not so great. So, in an attempt to help remind myself that there is a silver lining, I am listing the GOOD things in my life at the moment.

1) My roommates Melinda and Danny. Ok, so they aren't really roommates, but live in the basement apartment. They are so wonderful. Melinda has been letting me use her car while mine has been in the shop. All three times. It has been two weeks this time and she has been so nice and wonderful. They also are my gardening partners and I have enjoyed the hours of weeding and planting. I am so grateful that they are in my life.

2) I am grateful for little kids who love "secrets" from me. I tell the greatest secrets. I say something silly and then tickle for all I'm worth. I see kids I know in the store and they will run up and ask for secrets. I love it. I love that they love it.

3) I love that the other ladies I work with call me "the baby whisperer" and " the story teller". I love that they see strengths in me and remind me of them. I like that I am reminded of them even after years of being away from kids.

4)I am grateful for people who love me and let me use their washing machine. Since ours went out a month ago (oh the joys of not having the money to replace it!) I have been very blessed by people who have allowed me to "borrow" their miracle of machine to wash unmentionables.

5) I am so grateful for people who really have no idea that they make my day. A smile or a seemingly unimportant little compliment means a lot. Especially when times are hard. So thank you to all of those.

6) I am thankful that my sisters have blogs. It seems small, but that little connection means a lot.

7) I am thankful that I have 3 callings at church. Compassionate service coordinator, a temple calling and on a pilot stake committee that is for single adults 27 to 31. The goal for this wonderful new committee? To meet and marry your eternal companion. haha.

8) I am grateful for food storage.

That is my silver lining.

Previews

Well this is a preview post I suppose. Previews of Melinda and Danny's wedding (that I did!)



Previews of my website

and Previews of a 30 degree change in weather.

Watch for these and other posts to come.