Army Wives

***Warning..If you didn't watch Sunday's episode, this will be a spoiler***
If you didn't know.
I love this show. It is one of the only things from life B.Z. (Before Zach)
that I watch by myself--this and The Bachelor. But let's be honest, occasionally he'll watch either one of them with me. He's cool like that! It's just not a show that I wait for him to watch with me. I watch it by myself. We don't have cable (what a blessing! for real! I love life without t.v.) So once a week, during Army Wives season, I watch on lifetimetv.com.

Yesterday was that day for me. And the episode was...
sobering
to say the very least.

I texted Zach:
"Jeremy died. Sick! I'm so sick!"
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So at dinner, my husband asked about the episode and I filled him in.
With a lump in my throat.

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And today when I met him for lunch I couldn't do anything but talk about it some more.

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Yes, it is a show. And yes, I firmly believe that a show should not be all consuming (thus the blessing it is to not have cable)

But this is not "just a show." This is a reality for so many people.
The reality is that many men won't marry.
And many moms get the message that their sons are not coming home.
And they are left to make decisions that they should never have to make.
As I watched the war scene unfold, the scene in which Jeremy gives his life, I had two thoughts:

"Wow, that would take guts! I would be sick with fear! I would be so scared!!"

" They do that for me. Do I show enough gratitude?"
They not being just the soldier, but the wife/mother/friend/family left behind.

How grateful I am to those that give their lives for me every single day.
So that I can blog about my distaste for Tom Luna publicly.
So that I can blog about my religious views/feelings publicly.
So that I can feel safe in my home in this great country.
So I can live a full life.

Thank you, soldiers! Thank you, Army families.

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Tender Mercy Tuesday

Lately I've been reflecting on President Monson's talk back in October of 2010--"Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude"
I consider myself a grateful person.

But lately, I have been stressed about a million different little things and I think I need the Spirit in my life more and I need more peace. I feel very strongly that at this time, being more grateful is what I need to do.
So I'm trying to identify and give thanks for the Tender Mercies I see in my life daily.
For those of you unfamiliar with the phrase 'tender mercy,' I look at it as a blessing. But a blessing specific for me and my needs, wants, desires, etc. They are abundant in my life and I experience them daily.

So I am dedicating Tuesdays on my blog to acknowledge the tender mercies in my life.

This week here are a few tender mercies:

*In the past I have always had very few parents show up for field trips to help out. As most of you readers know, I haven't been sleeping well. (Or I hadn't been). AT ALL. By Thursday, the day of our field trip, I was exhausted. More exhausted than I care to explain or describe but I assure you this is not for dramatic flare. I had 10 parent helpers come to help out for my field trip! What a blessing to have the ability to breathe a little and actually enjoy my students before I left them for a week.

*Last week, again it was a highly stressful/exhausting week. Aleisha came by while I was at work and dropped off a plethora of platters and such for me to use at my shower. It was so nice of her to borrow them from her mom. It was so nice of her to deliver them to me. And I was especially thrilled with the line at the end of her note, "P.S. Your house looks great!" It truly made my day.

*Funnily enough. The day that Aleisha dropped things off, I was in a panic about the house. I had a late start and things were a mess and there was FROST on my windshield at the end of March. Yes, all of this was putting me over the edge. I went to feed Mal and when I walked back into the house, my husband was unloading the dishwasher and wiping down the kitchen counters for me. My adult tantrums about a clean house are illogical and definitely unnecessary. Zach never gets mad at me, he just always tries to help.

*Richard asking me how the shower went when he saw me on Sunday. No prompting from the wife. He even asked if the betting pool we had went okay, because he knew there had been some worry about that. It actually made me laugh that he paid attention!

*I had two total nights of complete sleep. BLISS! A beautiful beautiful thing! Last night was a little rough, but I'm hoping for another full night's rest tonight!

*I am getting a massage on Thursday! It worked out with the lady and what a perfect time to use my gift certificate from Natasha!

*My mom is off this week, too! That's the best. We get to go to the temple together during the daytime like normal people!

*I got to meet with my Grandpa and visit with him for a little bit last night. Our conversations are usually a little rough, he misses my Grandma and is really sad. But last night after he got done talking about how sad he was, we had a pretty good little talk.

*On Sunday the Young Women were all gone. They went to Salt Lake for the Young Women's General Broadcast. I had to go to Relief Society for the first time in ages. I was actually anxious and dreading it. It turned out, I got just the lesson I needed. We watched an amazing video that told an amazing story. You can preview it here. It left me in tears and the message it left me with has been with me, constantly, since Sunday.

*Aleisha had the video from Sunday and is letting me borrow it. I will be sharing it along with a brief message with my family on Sunday for our family home evening.

*Conference Weekend! Need I say more? Actually, yes, I do need to say more. I find that as I've gotten older I actually ache to hear the prophet and apostles speak. I do. There is a comfort in those men. I feel watched over by them. I feel led by them. I know I need to listen to them. I love our Prophet and I feel so blessed to be led and guided by him. I cannot wait to listen to the talks this weekend. What a perfect way to end Spring Break.

*As always, I have a home. A home that I love and a home that the Spirit can dwell in. I have an amazing family. I have the best husband a lady could ask for and I feel so blessed to be influenced by his kind nature, his hard work, and his patience with me. I feel so lucky to wake up with him every morning. We have a little extra food in our house, and a little padding (not much) in the bank. We don't have a lot, but we have exactly what we need. I have friends that bless my life. I have the gospel. I have my amazing students waiting for me when school resumes. I love them so much. There is such joy found in helping them learn or making them laugh. At times (all the time) my job is stressful. It is probably the biggest cause for my stress levels at just about all times. I think I lose sight of the big picture too often, the students. I work for them. I plan for them. I do everything for them. I have a job that can bring such happiness.

And I think that's why I need to do Tender Mercy Tuesday : ) To remind myself of what matters most.
And to be ever so grateful for it.

Soundtrack

"If you ask me, music is the language of memory."
-This would be an excerpt from the latest Jodi book, which I finished reading about two weeks ago.
It was...okay.

But I loved this quote.
And so I've decided to share some of my life's soundtrack.
Which is why it's kind of funny that my mom posted what she did on Friday.

"The Answer is Blowing in the Wind"--obviously, this song reminds me of my childhood and my mom. It makes me cry, really cry, to hear it now. And seriously, nobody can sing it as well as my mom.

"Bop" by Dan Seals. Mom and I used to dance to this song when I was little. I had a father daughter/dance at my wedding and I also planned for this to be my mom/daughter dance at my wedding. Mom and I got to dance to a portion of it. Someone cut in...it was okay, though.

"Kokomo" by the Beach Boys. Another song I sang with my mom all of the time.

"Love Shack"-The B-52's Brooke and I roller skated to this song just about every Saturday. We went to roller skating lessons at Skateworld. Does anyone remember Skateworld from back in the day? I had seriously an amazing childhood.

"She's in Love with the Boy" Trisha Yearwood. This was the first song I really fell in love with by myself. It was the first cassette tape I ever got, it was a Christmas present. Zach and I walked into our reception to this song, also. So it has a lot of memories attached to it.

"One of Us" Joan Osborne. I had an obsession with this song in middle school. It was the first CD I ever got. Also a Christmas gift. I look back at this time in my life as a rather unfortunate time. I went through a period of time where I didn't think country music was "cool." Yes, I hate to admit it. Luckily, I quickly got over that and went back to my music.

"Queen of my Double Wide Trailer" Sammy Kershaw. This song reminds me very much of working at Sheplers. My very first job. One of the guys I worked with, loved this song. If the store was empty, we would usually sing it. :)

"Kody" Matchbox Twenty. This reminds me of my first few years of college. I fell in love with Matchbox Twenty. Really, any song by them would count as a memory. ANY song. I listened to them mostly when I was sad. I was going through a rough time at first. During this time, I have a very funny memory of being on a date with a boy that WOULD NOT leave me alone. I made him take me to Fred Meyer so I could buy the new Matchbox Twenty CD and listened to it in his car. I think Misty is the only one who appreciates that story. It was so gutsy and funny of me. Matchbox Twenty brings me back to so many places and so many emotions...The Lynch's house while Misty broke up with Ryan on the phone, My Grandma's house, my car---my little black Saturn and the drive every morning to Boise State. Wow, it actually makes me ache to think about.

"Gravedigger" Dave Matthews. I fell in love with the Dave Matthews solo album. I listened to this album non-stop for three months after my Grandma Marty passed away. I really sound depressing, but I assure you, it wasn't that way. There is a beauty to sadness and a beauty to getting through it. In college, this was often how I got through it.

Jason Mraz songs remind me of Misty and me. They remind me of summer and floating the river. They remind me of us stopping and getting really unhealthy drive through food after a day on the river. College life. It was really beautiful.
These songs also remind me of the best concert I've ever attended. And the pink Geek shirt I had.
Some of these also remind me of Jonnie. Working on math homework at Jonnie's some nights and we would listen to Jason Mraz. Jonnie would play "Dream Life of Rand McNally" and sing inappropriate lines really loudly just to bother me.
"Geek in the Pink"
"Remedy"
"You and I Both"

Anything by Spill Canvas and their first three albums. They remind me of the time when I spent a lot of time with Jonnie right after I had gotten my heart broken. I played a lot of poker, too :) Jonnie was my rock during this time. We listened to music, went to concerts, and I would stop in every Monday to see him at work. He would make me chocolate milk and I would sit up at the bar and talk to him. As painful as this time in my life was, I wouldn't trade it because I got so much from my strengthened friendship and I have so many rich memories. It also reminds me of being really thin. :)
"All Hail the Heartbreaker"
"Staplegunned"
"Sunsets and Car Crashes"
"Dutch Courage"

"Bartender" Dave Matthews--A lot of Dave Matthews reminds me of the drive with Josh, Jonnie, and Jessica to Jackpot for my 23rd birthday.

"Chicken Fried" Zac Brown. This song reminds me of the time in my life right before meeting Zach. I had graduated from college. I was loving my single life. I had a bunch of guy/girl single friends that I hung out with and I was having a blast.

"Already Gone" Sugarland. I normally hate Sugarland. But there is one line in this song. I heard it when I first met Zach and this line always struck a chord with me. I still turn it up when it comes on the radio and I still get butterflies in my stomach.
"They say the first time won't ever last. But that didn't stop me, the first time he laughed.
All my friends tried to warn me the day that we met. Girl don't you lose your heart yet.
But his dark eyes dared me with danger. And sparks fly like flame to a paper. Fire in his touch, burning me up, but still I held on. 'Cause I was already gone."
Zach just says that the rest of the song can't come true whenever I tell him this song reminds me of him/us/our beginning.

"Two Weeks" All that Remains. Zach loved this song when we first met. We did a lot of playing this song on Rockband when we were first hanging out.

"People are Crazy"-Billy Currington. This song reminds me of driving in the car with Suzanne and Warren coming back from South Carolina. All four of us were singing along to this song.

"Long Black Train"-Josh Turner This reminds me of our trip to Georgia. Suzanne had this CD and Zach had never heard this song. He liked it. Listened to it a lot. And sang along to it. My husband has a deep voice and he can sing along to Josh Turner. SO sexy!!!

"Love Your Love the Most"--this song reminds me, more than any other, of the time that Zach and I were dating and together. I LOVED it. I wanted to play it at our wedding. Zach said,"No way!" It was too hick. Too something. If his mom thought it was appropriate for a wedding, then we could play it? What?!? I was so mad. Then one day randomly, the song was on the radio and Zach turned it up! A few days later he said he wanted it to come on. Apparently he had a change of heart and he loved it. And we danced to it as our second wedding song.

There are obviously so many more songs that strike me, as I'm sure there are millions with you.
I'm so grateful for music if for only this reason. I love the that a memory can come back in a split second.

Are there any you'd like to share?

The Answer is Blowing in the Wind

This is one of my favorite songs and at one time it was just a horrific reminder of my serious lack of singing talent.
In the 8th grade I was required to take General Music for a music credit because of course I didn't belong in Choir and I didn't play an instrument. So the choir teacher taught this class and he had a horrendous sadistic streak now that I think of it. Anyway we had assignments to sing the scale and hit certain notes in class and he would call on us to do so in front of everyone. Everytime it was my turn it felt as though all the blood in my body went to my feet. To add insult to injury after I would take my turn he would proceed to tell me that my voice would curdle a cows milk yadayadayada. This was at the time the most traumatic thing ever -yet I still had to stay in class. Our year end assignment was to learn the song -The Answer is Blowing in the Wind and then sing it with the group. This group by the way was also equally handicapped.
But, we persevered and learned it and for the longest time I could almost carry it within a range that didn't send a person screaming.
I forgot about this song ..
Then I had Sharlee and the poor thing did not have a lullaby singing mom. So I would rock her and sing the only song I ever tried to pull off. And guess what? It worked!!! She would go to sleep to this song and when she was a little older she would ask me to sing the "Wind Song'.
So I saved this little ammunition up and used it on Shane as well and guess what? He loved to hear the "Bwoin in the Wind " song too. :). So for several years I felt as though I could sing as well as Mary (as in Peter Paul and Mary). This took away all the trauma from the 8th grade and instead gave me the best memory ever.
This is what kids will do for you.
This and so very much more. I love music. I wish I could sing and much as I hate to admit it
I will turn up the radio when I am alone and sing out loud all by myself just like I can sing like my children believed I could and I love every minute of it. I have no clue what an outsider would think of this but oh well.
So seriously sappy as this sounds I want to dedicate todays blog to my kids. Who have loved me unconditionally. Even when I couldn't sew their pants up or make a craft project for their school without it looking as if I were in preschool and down the road loving me when I have made horrendous (actually in my own opinion close to unforgivable) mistakes and when I can't carry a tune in a bucket.
They are the BEST thing that has or ever will happen to me.
and because of them I will continue to sing my songs..
How long will that be..?

The answer my friend is Blowing in the Wind the answer is Blowing in the Wind

On a Day Like Today

You all know how I feel
And you know I'm on the verge of tears...still.
Nothing traumatic.
Plate's just a little full.
And not enough refueling the brain/body.
Sleep isn't happening for me right now.
And just TOOOO much going on.
Basically, it's one of those days.

It is also one of those days when I go to clean up my classroom so that we're ready for Spring Break
and I go to put my Reader's Theatre scripts away and I glance at the writing in the top right-hand corner...

That's my mom's writing.
And it brought tears to my eyes.
Yes, I'm serious.
Sometimes things like that just get to me.
Because no matter how full my plate is,
no matter how overwhelmed I'm feeling,
I have this amazing friend who is just always there.
And because she's always there I have pieces of her everywhere.
These little tokens remind me of my mom and I working in here this summer. It reminds me of my constantly needing to redirect my mom. Which makes me smile. It reminds me of her bringing me and Renee Maverick hot dogs because I was starving and my amazing mother asked me on the phone if Renee would want something, too.
It reminds me of how I missed her when I had to come in and work by myself the next day.
These little tokens remind me of how incredibly blessed I am.
And then I can breathe just a little easier.
For now.

Hiding

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I wish I were this cute right now.

On the contrary. I am SOOOOO not.
So...spring break starts for me on Friday.
And I have a few things going on.
A baby shower to throw :)
A hair appointment to go to.
And a personal training appointment with my uncle. (We'll try this...again. And see.)
That is my Friday-Tuesday of next week.

So about this time next week I'm going into hiding.
I am on my own hiatus.
I am not doing anything I don't want to do.
I'm not talking to anyone I don't want to talk to.
I may not even go to church on Wednesday night.
The only people I will be speaking to are Zach, my mom, and Misty.
Possibly a few others but those are the for sures.
Until I somehow can:
a.) Actually sleep for six straight hours
b.) Not want to bite off the head of EVERY SINGLE person I talk to that day
c.) Not be on the verge of tears for my entire 10+ hour workday.
p.s. That's a LONG time to try and keep me from crying.

I know I've said it before but I've had my fill.
Had it.
I'm done.
And I cannot wait to exclude myself from the every day world as of this time next week.
CANNOT WAIT!


P.S. S. On a positive note. I found this quote today. Something I have been thinking about lately I guess you could say and I thought I would share it. It goes with the 13th Article of Faith

"In a world that is blurring morals and lines between right and wrong, the Lord's standards are clear. There are no gray areas. We don't believe in being partway honest. We don't believe in being chaste only when we want to. The 13th Article of Faith makes it clear what we believe. The difference between righteousness and wickedness is black and white."

I Don't Get It

I may be a little late to blog about this.
I think I just thought they'd go away.

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I don't get skinny jeans.
I just don't.
I am fully capable of telling when a pair of jeans look good on anyone. Man or woman.
And I just don't think these work for anyone.
I don't get it.
And I will never conform.
I will stick to my boot cut jeans as long as I have to.
I've never been trendy anyway.
And I am definitely okay with that.
Especially when it comes to skinny jeans.
And ballet flats, too?
I don't get those either.
That's a post for another day.

Quotes by Cara Elmer Blair

I am writing a day early because it is my sister and Shar's Aunt Cara's birthday.
I called her this morning to wish her a Happy Birthday and she said "I finally know what
30 feels like .. I reached over and grabbed my neighbors a@#. "
So anyway .. she is without a doubt one of the funniest people on the earth so I would like to share some quotes and actions from her past few years.

A few weeks ago I spoke to her about an issue where I got hosed at work and she had asked me
why I didn't say anything and that I used to not let people get away with that kind of stuff, then later that evening I went to watch her boys play basketball and they were going to ride home with me. I said"put your balls in your mom's car and I will take you .. " She said "No you better let Aunt Elise have them she needs to take them to work with her in the morning."

After a discussion about this extremely pretty woman that was married to a rather goofy looking guy and she said how does that happen and I said well he probably was really a decent person to which she replied " oh ok Shut out the lights honey I need to see your soul."
This also comes out when she sees a mismatch " Well every A@# has a seat"

"Oh buck up Nancy, I don't see any blood" after one of her boys was crying about getting hurt.
"Thanks for the news Dan Rather" after a tattling episode
"Oh ok when will you learn.. Prolificate " after one of her kids tells the goings on of the day to their dad and the problem begins to grow and grow.
"I am going to return my birthday suit .. it is too big and all wrinkled" After being asked by mom what she was going to do for her birthday.
"I am just waiting til the kid's are grown and then I am going to leave you" after her husband said I love you and was wanting her to answer him back .
"Everybody wants a baby.." after her 3 year old was throwing a horrendous tantrum
In response to telling her about Shar's blog on what we want to do after this life "I am going to be running from the devil .. bring me a glass of water or a coke!"
Then there are the times she is just funny.
My friend's mom's 70th birthday was a limo ride and Cara showed up in an evening gown and gloves and was so funny the whole night. Margaret one of Glenna's friends still refers to her as the funniest woman she has ever met
A night when we were playing charades and she had a choice of acting something out so she chose a movie.. then stands with her arms outstretched for Titanic.
Then for her next five turns ..she does the same act.
The time we had a garage sale and she was singing the lyrics along with the radio and then the song was over and people were walking in and out and nobody is paying attention and she kept singing* It's the simple things in life Like the kids at home and a loving wife That you miss the most, when you lose control And everything you love starts to disappear The devil takes your hand and says no fear Have another shot, just one more beer Yah, I've been there, that's why I'm here * over and over and over until Sharlee just lost it laughing.
Her Karoake impression of Bob Seger complete with cowboy hat and beard and cigarette singing Turn the Page.
Trying to make Todd dance at his 40th birthday party.. you don't know how funny this is unless you know Todd.
Singing "oh Dad your the best Dad I ever had" every year on Father's Day and his Birthday.
I wish I had written some of her material down as there are many many more but, you have to know her to appreciate the depth of this and sometimes you have to be the brunt of her jokes as we all know.
I just want to wish her the best birthday month and year ever!!!

Answer This...

What are some of the first things you plan on doing in the next life?
I know this seems like a morbid question, but really I intend for this to be a positive look AHEAD. In the far distant future.
I had just been thinking about this the other day.

The first thing I will do is give both of my Grandma's a hug.
I will talk to them and hug them and laugh with them...maybe? :)
I will meet my Great Grandma.
I will find others that have passed on.
I will then search for Martin Luther King, Michael Jackson, and any others that I have always wanted to meet.
I will ask questions
Like why do women have body image issues/insecurities?
and Why onions?
and Did I pick my mom?
and questions of the like.

And then...because I will be in practically perfect form at this time (which I interpret to mean that maybe I'll have talents I currently don't have. If this is untrue I am in for a MAJOR disappointment because I've got big plans.)

I am going to belt out "Fancy" from the top of my lungs.
In a live concert.
For those who love me.

That's what I plan on doing.

What do you plan on doing?

The Bachelor

No, no, no, no, no, NO!

Not pleased at all with the ending of the Bachelor last night.
I loved Chantel and I loved Emily.
I thought I'd be happy with either one.
I actually hurt for Chantel last night.
And I was pissed once Emily's true colors came a-blazing.
She doesn't even look like a Southern Belle anymore.
And I don't think Brad will ever admit it to himself.
And Chantel is dating someone.
And crying still about how things went down with Brad.
That can't be good.
Basically, my brother put it best.
"This show sucks! Don't you hate this. You waste all of these months and this is what happened!"
Basically sums it up.
It was quite unexpected. And I'm not exactly happy.

Like Mother Like Daughter

First of all, my blog is starting to become a mom and daughter show.
The only comments are coming from my mom.
And then my mom posts and only Misty comments.
I know I have more readers than that...so answer my mom's questions dang it!

Now, I happened to find my mom's post on pet peeves incredibly funny.
I don't find my mom as funny as other people do most of the time.
But I laughed and laughed at this.
At her rudeness pet peeve.
At her darkness pet peeve (laughed out loud, all alone, for several minutes)
At her excuse maker pet peeve.
I love my mom and I laughed a lot.
It is in part because I can here her saying these things, but still,
Isn't she a riot?!
And I was impressed my mom was able to blog it all on her own.
I made her an author this week.
And I surely thought she'd struggle.
She still can't figure out how to use the remote for Direct T.V.

Anyway, I laughed at my mom.
You can read VERY similar posts by me
here (I cannot stand having dishes in the sink.)
here ( I cannot stand excuse makers.)
here (Snotty Mormons and women, which women were definitely who my mom was implying when talking about rudeness at church and other places...mostly women-- of that I'm pretty sure. Mom and I aren't big fans of the female gender as a whole.)
here (I CANNOT STAND cops)
and you can read this exact sentence:
"Thank you for making me a little OCD about needing to open windows, turn on lights, and tidy up!"
in a letter to my mom here.

And that's why, as much as I want a son, some day I need to have a daughter.
So that she can take all of my very opinionated principles and carry them on.
Love you, Mom!

PET PEEVES
Also known as other people’s bad habits that I cannot stand
Today on my way in to work I came across one of my biggest pet peeves
TWICE!!!! So this is what you get today. A list of my pet peeves
1. Cops….(Traffic Cops) Waiting, lurking actually, beside buildings on routes that people,
namely myself... take to work. Just waiting for a screw up and a chance
to write a ticket !! This act then ruins the individuals day and possibly next 3 years
due to insurance cost. I find this line of work similar to a snake.
2. People who do not tip or give a decent tip in a restaurant. Don’t eat out if you think
you are entitled to keep the tip. Freaking greedy people !!!!
3. Rude people in CHURCH... oh man does anything more need to be said of that?
4. Dirty dishes in the sink. Seriously in today’s world... the dishwasher is right next to
the #%$^ sink!!
5. People who think that they can make a mess in the cafeteria ,break room at work,restaurant, public restroom or church because they don’t have to clean it up. Oh man CLEAN UP after yourself!!!
For heaven sake use the motto “Clean up after yourself “in all walks of your life !!!
6. People talking on cell phones in movies.. Cell phones ringing in a funeral.. (yes this actually happened last Saturday as a matter of fact) ,, Taking a cell phone call right in the middle of a
Live conversation with a person right in front of you!!!
7. People who do not know or care one bit about me .. having opinions on the way I live, my religion, my kids, my marriage, my weight anything about me.. You don’t like me so quit paying attention to what I do.. for !#@$# sake. This also goes for people who do this to members of my family. If you don’t know the whole picture and don’t care enough to- then
your ideas and opinions are invalid.. and DON’T state them to me or to other people whowill eventually regurgitate it back to me.. because then we run into the other pet peeve again.. RUDENESS. And then I want to Be RUDE as well and yes I am sometimes which also makes me peeved.. allowing rude people to make me a rude person. Control yourself and I am speaking to myself here as well.
8. Laundry …… I am definitely not my mother’s daughter when it comes to this. I despise it. everything about it. Loading it , folding it, hanging it, putting it away.. having to redo things
when the stain doesn’t come out.. oh man that one will put me right on the brink.
9. Darkness in the daytime.. oh man nothing sends me over more. Turn on the lights open the blinds it is DAYTIME.. Do not sit in your house, your desk, the basement or bedroom in the dark. Freaking creepy .. Darkness is for movie theatres, sleeping and HELL!!
10. Excuses. Oh dear wow this one send me too. The excuse maker nothing is ever their fault. Everything they do is caused by someone or something other than themselves. Jeez own your mistakes as well as your achievements. Life is in your own control.. It is not someone else’s fault you a. Don’t go to Church b. Were late for work c. Didn’t get your homework done d. Fooled around on your spouse. e. Are fat , sad, miserable, in debt, negative etc.. Seriously own up.. and move on !!!
11. Did I mention COPS!!!! Number one pet peeve.. NUMBER 1…

I know that many of my habits are other's pet peeves and I am aware of this. Today is my turn to talk so you get my side of the coin.
Now it is yours.. I would love to see comments from you on this one. I like to compare. .:)

Top Five Reasons I'm More Southern Than My Husband

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Why I'm more Southern than my husband:
1. I am more country. I like country music. Like it like A LOT! So much. I am an elitist about it. It's the best kind of music. Zach likes country okay. Just okay. He'll listen to it with me and he'll belt out a tune or two with me in the car. Especially if it's old country.
2. I love peaches. Zach hates them. Zach is from Georgia. This does not make sense.
3. I like grits. I had never tasted them until I went to visit Zach's family for the fist time. Warren-G made me some grits for breakfast my first morning there and I fell in love. I also fell in love with Warren G (I hope it's still okay for me to call him that.) I'm quite obsessed with him. Apparently, I like grits "Yankee style" though. I like them with sugar and not cheese/salt/pepper. Oh well, I like them. I get them for breakfast when we go out. Zach gives me his side of grits if he gets it. He does NOT like it.
4. I love the heat. I could live in the heat all of the freakin' time! Seriously. LOVE IT! I don't love the humidity but I like it warm. Zach is not so much a fan of the warm.
5. If I grew up in a Georgia town I would have been all about the honky tonks. You know, like the one in Hope Floats. Where EVERYONE wears a cowboy hat and you line dance and everyone knows everyone. Those. My dream is to hang out in a place like that and Zach has promised to take me to one...some day. Not like the Shorty's or Buffalo Club we have here. No, a real honky tonk. Apparently Zach spent his high school days going to raves? Seriously? Seriously Zach? I am SOOOOOOO much more Southern than you!

And that's why you married me.
I can bring back some Southern to your life.
And we can have Southern babies. They will be more Southern than either one of us...and I am definitely okay with that!

Quiddler

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Remember how Zach and I got new games this weekend.

Well one of them is Quiddler.

I've been wanting it for a while.

So Monday...while I'm at my mom's watching The Bachelor.

My brother and I wind up having a conversation like this:

Shane: When is this over?

Me: In a few minutes, why?

Shane: I have a story to tell you guys.

Me: I have to blog when I get done.

Shane: I have a story to tell.

Me: I have to blog. How long is your story?

Shane: 2 and a half minutes. Can you wait 2 and a half minutes?

Me: I can wait two?

Shane: (comes over and squeezes my face) I will wait until you answer that question correctly.

After much struggle

Me: Fine! I can wait two and a half minutes.

Shane: Good. You could have heard the story by now, if you wouldn't have been so difficult.

Shane begins walking away

Me: I know but I also want to get home and play Quiddler with Zach!

Shane: (Turns around quickly and with force) WHAT?!?!

Me: (laughing hysterically as I realize where my brother's mind is) It's a card game.

Mom: That is a funny name for a game. "Twiddler"

Me: It's Quiddler!

And that's how conversations usually go at the Larson house.

And just out of curiousity, Mom, how would a game like "Twiddler" go?

The Bachelor

Thoughts on the women tell all:

*Who is Stacey, I don't even remember her?

I do know that her hair looked greasy. She looks trashy.

And why did she think she was in any place to bad mouth Michelle.

*Jackie? I'm sorry I ever liked her. What a mouth. And an annoying mouth at that.

Shut up girls!

*Did you feel sorry for Michelle? I'm still unsure, but there comes a time when enough is enough.

*I don't like Ashley H.'s "new" look. Even though she went back to brunette.

If you're a natural brunette and you leave. You really aren't welcome back.

*I think tonight just solidified my thoughts. It's Emily. He told her he loved her last week. He had a stronger southern drawl and he said "Mercy!" Twice. He's spending LOTS of time with Emily.

*I am okay with the choice of Emily. I've loved her from the start. However, I love Chantel.

*Brad is still my favorite bachelor. He is the only one to pick my two favorites at the very end.

Which will make for a painful viewing.

But I'm so looking forward.

What were your thoughts?

Highlights

Highlights of the weekend:
Starting reading the new Jodi book. Thanks to a wonderful husband who surprised me with it on his way home one night.
It's out of my comfort zone by a lot...but as usual. Jodi never ceases to amaze me. I love the writing.
I am in love with the characters.
I'm just waiting for the two female characters to fall in love with each other.
I got to spend Friday night with Misty...and Grace.
I got to look at baby clothes with Misty.
I may or may not have baby fever.
Not that I ever really didn't have it.
I got to spend almost all day Saturday with my husband. He even followed me into Maurices so that I could just see that I can still fit into my normal sized pants.
And yes, for the record, I can.
We used several gift certificates.
1. We used up our final wedding gift cards to Bed Bath and Beyond. We got ourselves a scale and finally something to go on the wall above the television in the living room. So excited.
Now to start the little fixes and decorations.
2. We used a Sonic gift card given to us this summer. We've bought several bags of ice on it. We used it for indulgent drinks on Saturday and we still have enough for another bag of ice!
3. We used our Phoenix Fire Games gift certificate. We purchased two new games. Played one. Will probably play it again tonight. We also get 10% off the next time we go in.
Cause we're awesome customers like that.
And we're not even pale, greasy, and totally geeky!
I love my husband for wanting two player games so sometimes we can play just us :)
I got to babysit/play with baby Emma.
It was heaven.
She is above average on the cute scale and I cannot get enough.
Awesome. Powerful. Testimony meeting on Sunday.
Sunday nap. Enough said.
Dinner with the family.
Downtime with Zach.
Quick re-cap: I love my weekends. I love my husband. Combine them and you have near perfection.

Life According to Mum

I'm so glad we had this time together
Just to have a laugh or sing a song
Seems we just get started and before you know it
Come the time we have to say, "So long."
Carol Burnett show

Well here goes. I am still not sure that any of you will fall in love with me, but I do know some of you that read Shar's blog love me already. Some of you don't, and that's truly okay. Shar loves me so that is all that truly matters to me in this endeavor. :) As this is out of my comfort zone.

I would like to write on good memories today. I think partly because my dad is not feeling well and I was talking to him today about some of his good memories and my Aunt Lorraine is in a fight of her life and she, too, is part of some of my very best memories.

1. First memory of my life...I was four years old and my baby brother, Danny, was in a walker and I fed him extra Numzit for his teeth and actually told my first lie, I believe, to my mother. It was all over his face and I told her he spit up something red. This was my first memory because my om caught me in a lie...4 years old.

2. Simple good memory from my childhood was a really cold winter with a ton of snow. We grew up in Garland, Utah and Danny, Cara, and I were all outside playing in it. We were pulling a sled around and making snowmen. We were out there for what seemed a very long time and when we came in, my om made us real homemade hot cocoa. Never in my life since then, have I tasted a hot chocolate that can rival that.

3. I had a really good childhood. We had lots of outside play time and dinner at the table with my family. My Grandma and Grandpa lived right next door to me. My parents were really good friends with my Aunt Lorraine and my Uncle Chris. They were not just brother-in-law and sister. My cousins were close to mine, Danny, and Cara's ages. We took so many camping trips with them, I cannot even begin to count them. Fresh trout for dinner and those cinnamon monkey bread things and sleeping in tents! Later on my dad got a brilliant idea to build us our own camper. Which in and of itself was amazing.

4. Me trying to make my grandma laugh because she had the coolest laugh ever. I used to mess around just to hear her laugh. My sister has a contagious laugh like that.

5.My mom and I riding bicycles together down the canal bank road.

6. Waiting up at night for my dad to come home from swing shift because my mom swore she heard a noise.

7. My mom bringing Will home in a little blue blanket with his full head of black hair. 5 days prior to that I had run down the halls at my high school yelling to my friends that I had a baby brother.

8. Meeting Todd and knowing by, I believe, the 3rd date with him that I was probably going to marry him. The best thing being the first time he told me he loved me.

9. Sharlee...This is an amazing, ongoing memory maker. I truly don't know how I lived without her for 3 years. She was such a pleasant and fun surprise in life. I took her everywhere with me. She was truly, instantly, my little friend. Now, watching all the things she does in her life and still being able to be a part of it. She is a walking adventure even in the everyday things. She is a lover of life.

10.Shane...this, too. What a whirlwind! The boy thing was indescribable and mind altering. I had to really pay so much more attention to what he was doing all of the time. He could be in a predicament in 10 seconds flat! I swore he was trying to kill me when he was little. But he was truly an amazing, wonderful ride! I still love to hear his next idea, trip, ball game,or work story. He has taken our family to unexpected places in his life.

I guess my point is this: The everyday little things are the things that create memories. And a life filled with good ones is a pretty big gift. Also, what we choose to keep as memories and what we choose to throw out, carves out the type of person we will become and how those around us will see the world.
"Memories are the treasures that we keep locked deep within the storehouse of our souls, to keep our hearts warm when we are lonely."--Becky Aligada

I think I would like to try to let go of some of my memories and try to carry the good ones with me more and I encourage you to, as well.

Do you have any good memories to share?

My New Favorite T-Shirt

Courtesy of Austin and Natasha.
It reads:
Real women love the South. The rest marry Yankees.
If you didn't know...I do have a sense of pride being married to a Georgia boy and all :)
Even though I'm more southern than he is...more on that later...

Point: I love this shirt.