25

Tomorrow I turn 25.  Normally I love birthdays, and I look forward to turning a year older, but 24 was such a good year for me.  

So many things happened that were just wonderful.  Shall I list them? 

I started 24 pregnant and nauseous and loving it.

I went on a cruise up the pacific coast with my husband and parents and loved it.

I was pregnant all summer and...loved it!

I worked in a hot brick building with coworkers who sometimes drove me crazy (this one I didn't love so much!)

I gave birth, and LOVED it!

I became a mother and I'm loving it. (I know some would say this is the same as giving birth, I think there's a lot more to being a mother, than just giving birth)

I quit that job I didn't love so much and I stay at home with my baby, which is so much better.

I've lost ten pounds nursing that sweet little baby, and I'm loving that! (Think she'll let me nurse her till she's 2?)

Does 25 even stand a chance?

once upon a summer evening

When we were in Idaho, Daniel and I had a chance to sneak away from the family reunion festivities and catch a double feature at the drive-in.  We saw Despicable Me, and Robin Hood.  We both loved Despicable me, and of course, I slept through Robin Hood, but Daniel says it was a good one.  I was looking through pictures this evening and had to post this.  Please excuse the double chin and grainy exposure.  It was pretty dark out, but it's a fun picture to remember our date to the drive-in.  With a baby coming in less than 10 weeks, I kind of doubt we'll be pulling late nights like this for a while! 

March

Isn't it weird, how many of the little details of each day are so easily forgotten with passing time. I look back on the last month (longest blogging break yet) and can't remember what filled those days. I know I've been busy, but it's almost like I can't account for where I was, or what I was doing for an entire month of my life. So here's an attempt to remember a few of the happenings.

In the beginning of March I helped with the Relief Society Birthday Dinner. (this is one of my 3 1/2 callings).

Daniel and I had a couple more social weekends, playing games and having dinner with friends.

I survived another month of office construction. There is plywood, dust, paint residue and chaos all over my office. This has been going on for three months now, and was supposed to have been completed a couple weeks ago. I'm still surrounded by this clutter, and the only benefit I've seen has been a few extra casual days. I've gotten to enjoy my jeans more than in the past but I'm just not sure it's worth it.

I ate a lot of baked potatoes.

I made my first pork chop (notice it is pork chop, not chops, because Daniel did not partake), and did not get trichinosis. I was a little concerned about this, but I trusted my meat thermometer and it all worked out deliciously. Thanks to my parents for the George Foreman for Christmas. It has been convenient, to say the least.

Also in March, I enjoyed some sunshine. I found a good half an hour walk that I take on my lunch break. Getting out of the office for some uninterrupted fresh air is a beautiful thing. Of course now that it's April, my favorite month, the rain is back making up for all those days of stolen sunshine.

We did not follow our hypothetical budget very well, and have implemented immediate changes. Sometimes it's hard trying to save money!

I spent A LOT of time working on a cute sewing project. I'll have to post a picture of my creation, because it took so much time, but turned out darling.

I watched the Prince of Egypt twice. I've also been reading the story in Exodus. I'm loving learning about the Old Testament in Sunday school this year. It makes me want to re-read Orson Scott Card's Women of Genesis series.

That's all I can think of for March. It was a long one, but I enjoyed it well enough.

So far, I'm loving April, even with the rain and wind. My birthday is in a little over a week, and in a couple weeks I'm taking a fabulous vacation that I'm really looking forward to. It involves a week on a boat in the Pacific Ocean and lots of Delicious food!

Stay tuned for more regular updates (hopefully) and pictures (maybe)!

“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.