What a Girl Loves

Okay... this is good... so I hope all you guys are paying attention (okay who am I kidding.... no guy has ever read my blog, but..... just for fun...). The secret to what ALL girls love is......

JEWELRY.

Just kidding. I was just seeing if you were paying attention. I actually don't give a hoot about jewelry. Although I have heard that it goes over well with most women.

Actually what I was thinking about was FLOWERS. Seriously guys.... you can't go wrong with flowers. (Hint, hint: Mothers Day is coming up.)

I've always thought that daisies are my favorite, until we went to the free day at Red Butte Gardens and saw fields and fields of these.

(This would be a good picture if there wasn't some guys rear end in it.)

These ones looked pretty good too.

But since becoming a mother.....there has formed in my heart a special place for a different kind of flower. And don't even think about calling them weeds. We're talking about a gorgeous flower that looks great in a cup full of water or tucked behind Mom's ear. And it's okay to pick them to your hearts content. This is what I'm really hoping to get for Mother's Day this year. Given with lots of hugs and kisses. It's (practically) the best thing in the world.

A Somewhat Dreary Post With a Happy Ending

Tonight I am feeling sort of pensive and am pondering about life. It is an interesting phenomenon ... or at least it seems to me - that those who have much in life... continue to get more. And those who have little, those who start life with challenges.... seem to accumulate more and more of those challenges as life goes along. And it's just not fair.

I think about a woman in my neighborhood who has had 2 sons die in tragic ways, only a few years apart from each other. A few years ago her husband also suffered a major stroke and is now entirely dependant on his wife for his every physical need. It doesn't seem fair.

I think about my brother who was born with cerebral palsy which should be enough for anyone to carry.... but later developed epilepsy as well. His struggles continue. It's just not fair.

I think about a friend of mine who at a young age was disowned by his parents because of his faith. He went at life alone without having contact with his family for many many years. He has suffered extreme health problems, financial problems, personal problems and now cares for his aged mother, who eventually forgave him for his choice. It's most certainly not fair.

I guess where my thoughts carry me tonight is wondering how anyone, anywhere, with or without serious problems can endure life without a belief in God. My heart aches. I feel a sadness that I can't explain when I think about the hurts that many are called on to bear... and yet I feel able to bear it. And the only reason I feel that way is because I believe that God is overseeing the whole thing. I believe that it will all be made well some day. I believe that loved ones will be reunited and disabilities will be taken away and hurts will be healed and we will all be better for the difficulties we endured.

Amidst my dreary mood tonight, I feel a peace in my faith..... and gratitude that I really do believe that Christ rose again after the 3rd day. And that means.... we all will. It means that there is something better awaiting us and it also means that life can be better now if we allow Christ to be a part of it. With that knowledge all pain is more bearable and all joy is more meaningful.

This video is wonderful and has helped me to look at things in a proper perspective.

So happy (belated) Easter. And may you each also find peace in a knowledge of Jesus Christ.

I Love These Kids

A Few Things...

Last night I was able to see Phantom of the Opera at Hale Theater. It was FANTASTIC. Well... I thought so at least. It wasn't the Andrew Lloyd Webber version that most of you are familiar with. It was based a little more closely upon the original book and gives lots more background about the Phantom, which I thought was great. So... have any of you read the book?? I'm suddenly interested and wonder if it is good.

In other news....



Aaron got free tickets to the ballet and took Lizzy for a little Daddy/daughter outing. Her list of "what I want to be when I grow up" has now expanded to include a scuba diver, teacher, ballerina and nurse. She also told me a few weeks ago that she can't wait to be a Mom. When I asked her why she said, "I just like to be in charge of people."
Andrew and Lizzy are really into these cool worker aprons from Grandma. They haven't stopped playing with them. Lizzy has been using hers quite a bit to help Andrew who isn't feeling well. He's had a yucky cold for a few weeks now. A few nights ago he woke up with a fever and in need of some cuddles. This was our conversation as I held him:


Me: Oh honey... do you feel yucky?
Andrew: (Nods "yes" between sobs.)
Me: Can you tell me where you feel yucky?
Andrew: (Nods "yes" between sobs.)
Me: Where? (I'm looking for an aching body part here.)
Andrew: In my room.
Har har har... that kid cracks me up.


Last but not least, Aaron had a birthday and finally caught up to my 29 years. Among other gifts, he received a meat thermometer. Now he will never have to worry again about me undercooking our pork. Isn't science amazing?? Lizzy practiced and played "Happy Birthday" on the piano for him and the kids decided to buy him his favorite chips, which I now have to hide so that they don't eat them all while he's in class. I do have to say that in addition to all of Aaron's fine qualities... he sure is a good sport.

Happy Birthday, Aaron. We love you.

Need a New Photo Editor??

Lime Ricki has a new spring swimwear line. I recently received an email apologizing for the previous email that pictured a young model who appeared to be wearing no swim bottoms. I can't imagine how this was missed. They assured us that she was indeed wearing bottoms.

The Wait is Over

We finally had our match day and I'm afraid no one gets a candy bar. The closest is the Dial's who guessed San Antonio. That's right we are headed to HOUSTON, TEXAS. The other half of our good news is that we matched for our transition year here in UTAH so we won't have to pack up again for another year or so. Yippee!!!!

This has been an intense day. I never opened a mission call... but I attended a few of the events and this has to be just as intense... or more so... since it's for twice as long and effects Aaron's whole career and our 2 (3 by then) kids. It's crazy.

I confess that I'm a little nervous about living in such a HUGE city and in such intense heat and humidity, but we found it impossible to turn down the chance to go to such an incredible cancer hospital (MD Anderson). (I have to brag about Aaron a little.) I'm pretty dang proud of him. We feel like he'll have great opportunities there that he couldn't have had anywhere else. We really appreciate the love and support and good wishes from ya'll. (Maybe I'll have to live there for awhile before I can legitimately use the term ya'll.)

A Visit in the Night

It started out as Lizzy's idea.

After we talked a bit about the fact that sometimes Leprechauns come visiting the night before St. Patricks Day ... she suggested that if we left out some paint - we might be able to catch them. She was right.

We caught them.

Red handed.... er...

I mean green footed.

After that.... we got together with our friends the Schall's to make some yummy treats.

Then we cleaned up in a Leprechaun green bathtub. (Thanks for the idea Heather!)

Lastly, Aaron and I decided to make this great Irish flick our new St. Patty's Day tradition. It's a classic.... and all about being LUCKY.

I hope you had a LUCKY day as well.