My Recent Sanity

So...some of the best things about my job are the people I work with, I know that is SO cliche, but, meet Pam........

This is us at a little office outing to Bucca de Beppo where we absolutely stuffed ourselves! Don't get me wrong, this isn't a Pam love fest (love ya Pam!!), BUT it's people like Pam that make my days go smoothly.

I love people that are equally as goofy, but appropriately serious, not afraid to be totally crass or abrasive (becuase trust me, I can hold my own in that department), and have such a kind heart at the same time.......

those are my kinds of peeps :)

Bliss from Blessings #7

• An AWESOME husband that cleaned my yard last night! I came home from a work trip to California and I heard 'our neighbors' raking in their backyard. I thought to myself, "I can't believe they are actually cleaning that mess!" Then, what do my wondering eyes see appear? I tall handsome man in my backyard that's clear! No dog poop, no clippings, no tall grass or tool, just a nice clean backyard...my husbands no fool :)
• Talking to my brother that is serving in the military in Korea. Things are a little sketchy there right now, so it's always nice to chat with him.
• A nice lunch in the office with a new-bee around these parts. We got a good visit in and now I have a new friend!
• I'm so grateful that I get along with my in-laws! I LOVE getting texts from my sister-in-laws. Woot-Woot!
• A nice (FREE) all you can eat dinner tonight with friends. Can't beat that!

Bliss from Blessings #8

Better continue my blessings....I can't just leave 8 sessions out there unfinished!

• Great family time this weekend. I got to see some cousins I hadn't seen in probably 3 or 4 years and it was a good time to reconnect.
• Seeing both moms shine with their fancy new bracelets! It is so fun to make your mom happy!
• Being able to joke around with Tyler. Everytime we goof off I sit back and think how great it is that neither one of us is offended and we can just laugh our head's off.....trust me, we can get ridiculous.
• Having the opportunity to exercise my creative side as I get ready for our youth Girls Camp! Having to keep 30 12-15yr old girls occupied for 5 days can be a daunting task, but it has really stretched me in a good way.
• Maybe I have said this before but I am so blessed to be able to make choices. Tyler and I are choosing to live our lives the way we do and we can choose to live it another way if that starts sounding better. We are blessed to have options.

One Day When I Grow Up

In honor of my mother and in preperation for one day when I too will have such a huge job, I've decided to make a list of some of the wonderful ways my mom has shown me how to be a good mom.

• Sacrificed so we could have the experience. I know paying for swim, dance, and gymnastics was not cheap. She took the time to sign me up for junior forest ranger training, beauty pageants, and 4-H. She drove all over the world to take me to learn how to be a broadcaster, shoot a gun, build a snowman, march in band competitions, and be in musicals. She sacrificed.


• Sang to me. We sang in the car, while we made dinner, before we went to bed, at church, walking around the block. She gave me my voice.


• Made me cook. I hated to cook. She was determined and I dodged her as much as I could, but she eventually won.


• Didn't make things a big deal. I remember being so scared to ask her if could wear makeup. I was about to go to bed and I went in her room, sat on the bed with her and clung her pillow to my chest. She asked me what I wanted to say....I covered my head with the pillow and muttered, "I want to wear makeup". She said, "Okay...."


• Made me pull weeds. She taught me how to work and work hard. I can't count the hot summer days when we raked, shoveled, and pulled weeds on our acre of land. Filling trash bags and wheelbarrows. I remember going in my room and laying under the fan in my undies. Hot and exhausted, but accomplished.


• Let me make choices. There were things I did that I know she didn't agree with, but she knew they wouldn't kill me, so she let me do them. She let me learn from my mistakes instead of protecting me from the life lesson.


• Loved my dad. There were days when I'm sure that was a hard thing to do, but she was an example of unconditional love for my father, which made me understand how much she really loved me.


• Taught me about money. There were plenty of people that made fun of me for having Easter candy at Christmas. I have always loved having a 'stash' and my mom has always supported it. She helped me open my first bank account, made me save, and also taught me to spend. I was always encouraged to buy something after I had saved some money, especially if it was a good deal.


• Spoke frankly. I can never blame my mom for not telling me something, even if I didn't want to hear it. She is open and honest and says what's good for your head, even if it's hard on your heart (and your ears!)

She would tell you she disagreed, but this woman is a REALLY good mom, and continues to influence my life to this day. One day, when I grow up.....

Pretending to be Vietnamese

You read it correctly! I made a Vietnamese Spring Roll....the bonus....we got to do this at work for Asian Pacific Heritage Month! The rice paper was super sticky, so I was pretty proud of my quality. I'm such a nerd.

Bliss from Blessings #9

Due to my particularly "Debbie Downer" post last Friday.....I'm loading up on blessings!!

• An awesome weekend with my mom! We cooked, laughed, and talked all day Saturday and it was much needed mommy time.
• Early morning drives on the weekend. Even though Tucson is a good jaunt away from our house, getting up and driving as the sun wakes up....is actually kind of fun. Roll the windows down and let the puppy slobber fly!
• Acting like a crazy person and trying to carve shapes in my mom's pies as vent holes. She makes a very pretty 'wheat' design usually, but I decided to switch it up and make a full-on peach tree. It was a good time.
• Seeing my little nephew and snuggling him up!
• Seeing my cousin's little girl and snuggling her up!
• Washing my little weenie dog, getting in bed, and snuggling her up!
• Listening to inspirational words all weekend as I watched the 180th General Conference!
• Peace and quiet at home with the boy on a Sunday night
• My amazing friend Shaylin! I went over to take her some food and she sent me home with a HUGE ham! This was not supposed to be a trade, but she is too nice to resist!
  
  

I Can Always Count on Jane

Friday was a stinky day for me.....work was pretty awful, Tyler went on a boys trip, and my hips were feeling particularly large that day. :)

I got a call from my friend Lyndsey who was also having a stinky day (woot woot!) and she wanted to go grab some dinner at Paradise Bakery. We both got some yummy sandwhiches with pasta salad and soup, plus some yummy cookies to make us feel better about our lives...hahaha.

I decided I would wrap up the night with a good cry so I came home, curled up and watched my girly movie: Sense and Sensibility

Please believe me when I say this is one of the best movies ever!!!!!!!!!! You all need to watch it!

I can always count on Jane Austen to make me feel like a hopeless romantic and I love every second of it!

Bliss from Blessings #10

• Having a mom that knows so much about animals...she will really come in handy when we have kids, I'm sure.
• A wonderful Cara Cara orange today on the drive home! I peeled it during lunch so I could just pop those sweet pieces in my mouth as I drove. It was the best orange I have had in a LONG time.
• An extra computer at work! I brought mine home to work from the house on Friday and forgot to take it with me on Monday morning! Thankfully I could grab the extra and just use my ID.
• The ladies at church are such a blessing! They are full of support and inspiration and I know I could depend on them if I needed something. It is wonderful to be a part of their lives.
• It was a blessing that only one puppy got sick while I was at work today...yikes! Unfortunately it was the big one that made a mess, but at least I didn't have to crawl in a small crate to clean it up...it was in a very convienent spot on the kitchen floor. Oh....the small things :)

Bliss from Blessings #11

• Having the opporutnity to sing in a small group again. The other 7 people are SO talented and it has really helped me get back on my game. What a difference it makes when you just take about an hour a week to focus on building your talents!
• Unexpected rain the other day! I love the rain!
• Feeling like I am at a really good place in my personal life. I am happy and I am surrounded by people I want to be with. It's a nice place to be.
• We are so blessed to live in the area we do. So far it has been a very safe and family oriented place to live. We don't expect it, but when we realize it, we recognize the tremendous blessing it is.
• Having friends that are such wonderful mothers....you are such examples!

Bliss from Blessings #12

• The foresight to buy ridiculous teal shoes that I couldn't justify in anyway but just had to have. I have used them so much and I am finding so many things they match with! YES!
• Forgiveness for not following my legitimate promptings. I will buy a pair of shoes, but I will ignore the whisper to call someone and check on them. I have let myself down by not being there for friends when they really needed me lately. No matter if I talked to them 20 minutes ago, I am making a resolve to follow my spiritual promptings.
• Going and coming safely during my trip to Minneopolis this week. I can't help myself, I always say a prayer before take off and before landing. I am very grateful for His watchful eye and protection.
• I am grateful for the renewed energy to be a better person. No more slacking for me.
• The weekend ahead is sure to be interesting. So many projects, so little time, and meager desire (haha). We'll see what happens but I am oddly looking forward to it.