Thursday Thirteen #3

Thirteen Great Moments from My Life 1. Our Wedding Day It was just so neat kneeling at the altar with all our family around and having no fear, just excitement! 2. Tyler's Placement What an incredible day, going to pick up our son; seeing him for the first time. All this joy wrapped with feeling so much for his birth family, who were going through so much pain with such courage. 3. Playing Maria in the Sound of Music It was totally fun being the lead in a play. I felt on top of the world during that time--even when I fell down the stairs during an entrance and my shoe fell off into the audience! 4. Kim's Baptism This was on my mission, becoming so close to Kim and Candee, and finally seeing Kim enter the waters of baptism--this was true joy! 5. First date with Brad After being just friends as missionaries, it was so "electric" when we met the first time after our missions, and could actually see each other in a romantic way. 6. Singing at my High School Graduation This was the biggest day of my life up to that point--so many emotions--and to be able to sing and represent my class at our last gathering meant a lot to me. 7. Receiving my Mission Call I felt an instant love for the people of Oklahoma when I got that call. It was an amazing feeling. 8. Coming home from my Mission As much as I loved my 19 months working my hardest every day, it was a great sight to see all my family and friends waiting for my plane with signs and balloons. They were all so proud of me, and I was so proud of myself! 9. Getting accepted to BYU Although there's no way my high school grades would get me accepted to BYU today, luckily for me, in 1994 a 3.4 GPA was enough! 10. Our Jazz Choir winning 3rd in the Nation my Sophomore Year A year after our legendary choir teacher died, we all felt we did that for him. 11. Getting My First Teaching Job It was July by the time I got hired, and I was getting worried. I was at my Temporary Secratery job when I got the call. I felt so grown up, having a job that actually needed a degree! 12. My first date in College Let's face it: I wasn't the prettiest girl on the block, so when I finally got asked out by a boy I really liked, I was too excited for words. 13. Brad getting hired at his current job. We knew from the beginning of our adoption process that this was what Brad was meant to do. So after quitting a perfectly good job, going back to school for a Master's, and putting off settling down, it was a big relief to get hired.

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First Kiss

So, it's your first kiss and several questions might come to mind:
Is it the right time?
Is anyone watching?
Does your partner even want to?
Is your breath fresh?
And the big question...
Am I doing it right ??

Then you lean in and just go for it!!!

Criticized

I got my first parental criticism yesterday. We were sitting in church, enjoying the program, but struggling to keep Tyler quiet and occupied. He has a really loud voice and doesn't seem to understand that we need to use our indoor voice. Plus, he loves to talk about anything and everything he sees, so you can imagine our plight. Plus, it was right at his naptime.

Anyway, I get a tap, tap on my shoulder and this lady from a row behind, whom I've never seen before gives me a note. In the note she proceeds to tell me that she's a former special ed teacher and here's how to get children to behave, blah, blah, blah. The rest of the meeting I felt like she was judging my every move.

I know she meant well, and probably those things had worked for her, but all I took from it was, "You're not doing it right!" What I really could have used is a sympathetic nod, or "Your boy is so cute, talking like that." Or anything supportive.

After crying for part of the afternoon, I learned a lesson. Even though the advice may have been good, I wasn't in a place to receive it. I didn't know her; we'd had no previous encounters. I was stressed already just trying to keep him quiet. That just wasn't the time or the place to give me that note! Today, I plan on calling my good friend who shares the same parenting philosophy as me and talk it over with her.
The lesson is: just be kind and compassionate. People don't need advice as much as they need love.

Uplifted

I went to a general meeting for my church's women's organization tonight and I feel really uplifted. The theme was "Encircled eternally within the arms of His love." The music was really pretty, and so were the talks. I'm glad I went, and so glad my Mom is here to go to these things with. God loves each of us; sometimes we just aren't still enough to feel that love.

In other news, my Cougars finally won again! Granted, it was against Utah State, but a win is a win. And it was a shut-out. I just wish all those guys didn't get injured!

Brad interviews on Friday for job transfers to Boise, Idaho Falls, and Denver. Any three of those places would be great for us, but I prefer Boise because of family there. And it's right in the middle of Eugene and Salt Lake. We'll see, though. Rumor has it that they want women for the Birth Parent work. (Brad is a Social Worker)

Ty has been a bit bratty since we got home from vacation. I think he was used to getting attention 24/7 with his cousins and Grandma/Grandpa. He is almost two, as well. I don't know. I just try my hardest to make sure I'm not contributing to his bratiness. I know kids go through phases, but I don't want to raise a brat.

Thursday Thirteen #2

Thirteen Things I Loved About Our Vegas Trip 1. Five days with just my sweetie and myself!! 2. Warm, tropical weather. 3. Knowing it was raining at home! 4. Crossword puzzles in the car. 5. The Desperado Rollercoaster over and over again! (until Brad got sick) 6. Squirting unsuspecting people on the log ride. 7. Free dinner and show tickets for an hour's worth of a hard-sell timeshare presentation. 8. The nice community center people who let us use their computer for free so I could check my ebay bid. 9. All the interesting people we met: Henry at the coffee shop, Maria at the hotel, the nazi Russian lady in Primm... 10. Sleeping in until whenever we wanted (and a great hotel curtain that kept the room so dark we had no idea it was so late!) 11. Reading poolside into the evening. 12. Great food (with great coupons!) 13. Knowing our little Ty was well taken care of by Grandma, and seeing his face light up when he saw us again.

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Hey Baby, Let's Go to Vegas!

In less than 24 hours my Honey and I will be on our way to Vegas for our longest vacation without Ty since he was born! I feel a twinge of guilt, but I know this will rejuvinate both of us so much that the guilt goes away. Oh how we need this break! Brad finally has enough vacation hours to take some time off, and hopefully we'll get some sleep! We're going to go on the greatest roller coaster I've ever been on: The Desperado in Primm! I'm so excited--I'd better get going on the laundry and packing!

Thursday Thirteen #1

Thirteen Things about Me 1. This is my first Thursday Thirteen and I'm so excited, I had to do it on Wednesday! 2. I have the greatest husband on the face of the earth. He is so patient and sensitive and selfless. We are best friends and full partners in everything. I am so blessed. 3. I am the mother of a very cute almost 2 year old, whom I adore like I've never adored a human being before. I worry about being able to love another child who comes into our family as much as I do Ty, but all parents of two or more say it's not a problem. 4. I am a former teacher--I taught at a Junior High for a few years before deciding to stay home with my boy. I miss the kids, but I don't miss the daily grind. 5. I am an advocate for adoption. So many people see it as a horrible thing that a birth mother could "give up" her child--I know that it's not. Our son's birthmom had nothing but love and a heart in the right place when she chose a better life for our son than she could give him. Of course it was terribly hard for her, but she did it anyway because of unselfish love for her child. 6. Politically, I am confused and disgusted right now--with both parties. I'm sick of politicians bashing each other rather than just doing something. I don't know who to believe, and I certainly can't trust the biased media! I am more prone to vote for someone I trust and believe is an honest individual than someone who is my particular party. (Which doesn't really matter to me because I tend to be towards the middle) 7. Music is very important to me, because it has such power to affect my emotions and make me think. I love listening to it, creating it, and dancing to it. I love singing with my son and seeing his budding love for all things musical. 8. I miss my home state of Oregon. I hope to settle there someday. 9. I have an almost unhealthy interest in college football, especially the BYU cougars! 10. I am a Mormon. Some people I've encountered have been taught (usually by their own preachers) that we are a cult, that we aren't Christians, that we are polygamists, and who knows what else. I don't know why they focus on us rather than their own teachings, but the fact is, all that is wrong. I don't consider myself any weirder than anyone else. Basically, I am a person just like anyone else that believes in Jesus Christ and I am trying my hardest to live a life that reflects my beliefs. 11. I wish people could just get along. Why can't we stop judging and calling people hypocrits and just allow others to think or believe differently than ourselves? 12. My weight is an issue in my life that won't go away. I'm tired of dealing with it right now. 13. My family is most important in my life. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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Favorite Places in the World

I was thinking last night about places that are most comforting to me, or most exciting or beautiful that I've been. Here are some of my favorite places in the world. Hopefully I'll add more to the list as I see more of the world (a major goal of mine). Feel free to add yours to the list.

--Floating on my back on Collard Lake (Florence, OR)
--Sacred Grove (Palmyra, NY)
--Base of Mt. Timpanogos, Alpine Loop (Provo Canyon, UT)
--I-70 west of Denver, CO
--Mirror Lake Scenic Highway(Uinta Mountains, UT)
--My parents' deck overlooking Fern Ridge Resevoir at Sunset (Eugene, OR)
--Heceta Head or anywhere on the Oregon Coast
--The drive from Crater Lake to Roseburg, OR
--Arches National Park (Moab, UT)
--Ozark Mountains (Arkansas)
--Sheeps Meadow, Central Park (Manhattan)
--Portland LDS Temple grounds (Lake Oswego, OR)
--Top of the Roller Coaster at Buffalo Bill's (Primm, NV)
--Yellowstone National Park

Quotes I Like

I saw on someone else's blog a site, http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3, where you go and read quotes and come up with the five that fit your beliefs or personality best. Here are mine for what it's worth:

1. Never tell anyone that you're: writing a book, going on a diet, exercising, taking a course, or quitting smoking. They'll encourage you to death. (Lynn Johnston)

2. Holiness is doing God's will with a smile. (Mother Theresa)

3. Two men look out through the same bars; one sees the mud and one the stars. (Frederick Langbridge)

4. Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too. (Voltaire)

5. Every person has free choice. Free to obey or disobey the Natural Laws. Your choice determines the consequences. Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his choices. (Alfred A. Montapert)

Dad's Surgery

My dad is going in for a heart procedure tomorrow. My dad--who's sixty-eight but can still kick my butt in tennis--is going to have instruments messing around in his heart. They say it's a normal, routine, less-invasive procedure with a 99% success rate, but my heart still has a little fear in it.

For better or for worse, my dad has always been there. We've had our moments, but I know I can ALWAYS count on him. I just pray everything goes well. I don't think I'm ready to face my parents' mortality yet.

Life as a Cougar Fan

I have been so excited for football season. Excited and scared at the same time. Scared because I've been burned before. As much as I love my cougars, as blue as my blood runs, they can turn on me at the drop of a hat. Sometimes I feel like being a cougar fan is like asking for abuse: I know they'll hurt me, but I keep coming back for a beating.

The wallpaper on my computer is a BYU Football poster that says "Tradition, Spirit, Honor." After Saturday's game, I think it should say "Tradition, Spirit, Penalties." Why, why, why? Why is it always the same story? Arizona did not beat us in that game--we beat ourselves.

Sometimes I wish my affections were not so strong. I grew up an Oregon Duck fan--I still am, really. They're second in my heart. It's pretty easy to be a duck fan. They can give you a scare sometimes, but you know they'll come out okay. Being a Cougar fan takes loyalty and heart. I know they're going to put me through the ringer, but you can bet I'll be dressed in my Blues and Whites come this Saturday.

Labor Day

Today was really fun--my parents, along with my brother's and sister's families went to Seven Peaks Waterpark. I had never been there, even though I lived in Provo for how long as a college student? I guess it's the swimming suit thing--I never wanted to go there on a date in college, how horrifying would that be?! Now that I'm thirty and married I'm not any more comfortable in a swimming suit, but I guess I don't care as much. It's more important to have fun with my family.

I was proud of little Ty. He stayed in good spirits for the whole day...and we managed to keep sunscreen on his fair skin!

On Saturday our whole family was together to see little Carter get sealed to Scott and Mikell. It's already been over a year since Ty was sealed to us. What a neat occasion. It was neat to be together and Scott and Mikell hired a photographer so we were able to get some good pics, hopefully. I brought my SLR Nikon and took pictures while the others were being professionally photographed. I'm excited to see how they turned out.