“All I need is my one star in the sky, to wish for you everyday.”

My parents are on vacation. Their annual pilgrimage to their 'homeland' if you will. This year it's dropping Nathan and Rachel off at BYU, by way of Driggs, Idaho. I, as the oldest, married daughter, who is lucky enough to work during the summer get to keep an eye on their house and beloved poodle. Tonight, as I was driving home from shutting their house for the night, I opened the sun roof to enjoy some fresh air. Looking up at the dark starry sky overhead reminded me almost instantly, of a time a few years ago when my life was changing in a very real way.

About four years ago to the day, Daniel and I were just getting to know each other. One warm August night, before we were officially dating, we decided to drive out to the Saint Anthony sand dunes. Neither of us had been out there, and didn't quite know what to expect. We got there before it was dark, and there were a lot of people around, mostly with 4-wheelers etc. We decided to climb a dune, and watch for a while. From our vantage point we got a good show of people riding all over the dunes, but also, once the sun went down, we got an amazing starry sky. I remember sitting on the sandy hill, content to watch the stars with this new, fascinating boy. We barely knew each other, but already I knew there was something to him, and I wanted more. That night, we sat together, necks strained from looking up, chatting, laughing, and enjoying the stars. I remember wishing on a shooting star that night, hoping that I could have a chance to get to know him better. Hoping that this sweet, thoughtful, wonderful, funny boy could be mine. I'm happy to report, that I got my wish.

"I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly. "

I'd like to say a few words about my favorite movie. I like a wide variety of movies, and Daniel and I watch a lot of movies, but for over a decade now, it's been the same favorite. That favorite movie is full of wit, charm, humor and irony. Each time I watch it, I catch something new in it, and thank goodness it's one of the movies Daniel and I both enjoy. If any of you out there haven't seen You've Got Mail, do yourself a favor and enjoy it. If you have seen it, but it has been a while, you owe it to yourself to watch it again. It's worth it.

And now to wet your whistle, here are a couple of my favorite quotes from it.

"Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life. Well, not small, but valuable. And sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void."

"What will NY152 say today, I wonder. I turn on my computer. I wait impatiently as it connects. I go online, and my breath catches in my chest until I hear three little words: You've got mail. I hear nothing. Not even a sound on the streets of New York, just the beating of my own heart. I have mail. From you."

"When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does."

and last, one of my favorite interchanges from the movie:

Joe Fox: I think you'd discover a lot of things if you really knew me.
Kathleen Kelly: If I really knew you, I know exactly what I'd find: instead of a brain a cash register, instead of a heart a bottom line.
[gasps]
J F: What?
K K: I just had a breakthrough.
J F: What is it?
K K: I have you to thank for it. For the first time in my life, when confronted with a horrible, insensitive person, I knew exactly what I wanted to say and I said it.

J F: I think you have the gift for it. It was a perfect blend of poetry and meanness."

***

In other news, Daniel and I were released from our Primary and cub scouts callings today. I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty relieved about the cub scouts, but I will definitely miss the primary kids we teach. I am however looking forward to going to Relief Society next Sunday.

***

The Triathlon is on Saturday. I think I'm as ready as I'm going to be. The last two Saturday Mornings (way too early) I've been up doing practice Tri's. It was rainy yesterday morning, but it worked out pretty well. It isn't as painful to swim a 1/4 mile in a lake at 7:30 am, when the water is warmer than the air. Then, the rain didn't really make much of a difference on the bike, as I was already wet. The last part of the run was kind of uncomfortable since I was still wet, but not bad. I'll just say it was better than the previous week. Will post pictures of the actual event next weekend!

3 Years.

To Daniel:

"dulcissime, totam tibi subdo me"

Thanks for the greatest three years. I look forward to many more filled with "sunbursts of serendipity" and delightful surprises.

a snippet about breakfast on the Balcony

This morning as I was getting ready, the apartment felt hot and stuffy. We only have windows on one side of our place which makes it difficult to get a cross breeze going, so the air has a tendency to get a little stale after a while. I kept the bedroom window open last night, the falling rain serenading my sleep. Come morning however, with the use of a hot blow dryer and flat iron, I was already feeling sticky before leaving the house.

I don't like feeling sticky in the morning, so I decided there was nothing left to do, but breakfast on the balcony. I pulled one of my kitchen chairs out, grabbed my bowl of cereal, invited my two gentlemen felines out with me, and enjoyed the cool, fresh morning air while I munched on my cereal. It wasn't really raining at that point, but it felt great to enjoy the mist, and air myself out before surrendering myself to the office all day.

My breakfast was so nice this morning, that I may make this a regular occurance until the winter weather comes.

a snippet about the pickle bush

Daniel and I went for a walk last night, around dusk. It was a rainy day, so the sky was already most of the way dark with heavy clouds, but we managed to take advantage of a little dry spell. On our walk, I was on the inside of the sidewalk, against some bushes laced with water. One bush in particular was kind of pokey, and I felt the need to comment.

Our conversation went like this:

Alicia: Ooohhh look Daniel, a prickle bush...

Daniel: First off Alicia, they're cucumbers, second they don't grow on bushes.

We both laughed at our miscommunication, and enjoyed the rest of our walk hand in hand.

a couple changes

For the past 21 months, I had been growing my hair out. I loved my curls, how they bounced and scrunched nearly effortlessly, but it was time for a change. Last week, I went and chopped off the lot of it. And I love it. I always love having short hair, especially in the summer. Sometimes I just forget, and end up growing it out for almost two years.

Anyway, last Friday my mom arranged to take family pictures before Nathan and Rachel go down to BYU for the school year. Our last family pictures were 3 years old, from our wedding, so it was time for a change. So without further ado, I give you the latest and greatest Green family pictures. Do take note of the hair.

Very cheesy. But I love it.

We took pictures at the Japanese Gardens in downtown Olympia, which would explain the lovely Buddha and pagoda.

I think there's a lot of sibling resemlence. There didn't used to be, but I can see it now.