What's for Dinner?

My mom's three least favorite words in the English language: What's for Dinner? I have to agree--not my favorite question either. But I've had a pretty good week of meals, so I thought I'd share them with you.

Kill Two Birds With One Stone:
My favorite has to be this 2 day meal plan from Rachael Ray. I made a pork tenderloin roast with gravy and vegetables one day. Then I simply saved half the pork and gravy for the next day's Black Bean Chili . It turned out really well. I actually only got one bowl because Brad ate all the leftovers up so fast!

Different, but Good:
I tried this one because Brad likes stuffing a lot, and this isn't just the same old tired stuffing recipe. It's called Tangy Pork Chop Stuffing Bake, and I actually liked it!

Creamy Tortellini
Because I know that Brad doesn't love tortellini, I made this last night when he was gone on a business trip. I didn't have bacon, so I just substituted ham instead. I added some chopped onion, too, that I sauteed up with the ham. It was yummy.

Tomorrow night:
We got a call from the missionaries tonight reminding us that we'd signed up to feed them tomorrow. (Heads up, Sara: I think you signed up for the day after us!) Luckily, I've got the ingredients to make this Shepherd's Pie. I'm usually not a great fan of Shepherd's pie, but Rachael Ray usually knows how to spice things up a bit, so I think it'll be good.

Do you have any favorite recipes to share?

Words

One of my favorite things about this stage in Ty's development is figuring out what's in his head and listening to his budding vocabulary.

He learned a new word today, as he looked out the window and realized there really wasn't a chair on the outside. He said, "Hey! It's not a chair outside! It's a shadow! And now it's discompeared!" I said, "Yes, it's a reflection, and when you move around, it disappears!" You could just see the wheels cranking as he repeated reflection over and over again, as well as disappear.

Later, we were listening to one of his favorite CD's, Superstar Kids, and I had to smile when I heard him yelling out these words:

• To the song, Sk8er Boi, he sings, "They had a problem cause the baggie was closed" instead of "They had a problem with his baggy clothes."


• To the song Allstar, instead of "Hey now, you're an allstar" he sings, "Hang out, you're an arm spa."

Isn't it such fun to see children start to make sense of their world? I love it!

Top Ten Reasons We Love Grandma and Grandpa Visits

10. Experiencing snakebites and hurricanes at the Texas State Museum--catching the Spirit of Texas!

9. Finding out of the way places to eat, like the Old Bakery in Austin and Texas Grill and Deli in Bulverde. Yum! (And let's not forget their first tastes of Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla)

8. Telling Ty not to listen to what Grandpa says, because it's all teasing.

7. Grandma and Ty making up songs in the backseat: "Tyler is a little (whoops!) girl (whoops!) Big Boy!

6. FHE with Spencer and Sara, sharing testimony and family stories.

5. Harmonizing with Mom at choir practice.

4. Part of a Catholic mass in a Cathedral, the Alamo, a boat ride on the River, BBQ sandwiches, stale cookies, and a drive by the temple on Saturday.

3. Comfort, TX: not what it's cracked up to be!

2. Reading old letters, talking, laughing.

And last but not least:
1. Grandma and Grandpa kisses. "What time is it?" "It's half past kissin' time, time to kiss again!"

Thanks for the fun and the memories, Dad and Mom. Come again soon!

He's Okay

I know his life really wasn't in danger. He had a blessing that promised he'd be fine and that the surgery would go well. But I let my mind wander today as I kissed him goodbye and watched him being wheeled away to the operating room.

Note to self: don't read WebMD's list of possible complications for any particular surgery anyone you love might be having soon.

Possible complications for sinus surgery:

Infection

Bleeding

Voice Change (huh?)

Blindness

Brain Damage

DEATH!

We decided worse things could happen than one eyed blindness, plus we could probably get a nice settlement if the doctor somehow missed the sinus and hit the eye, so that was off the worry list, but brain damage and death? Come on!

I made him promise to haunt me (we've talked about this before, but needed a refresher course), and we decided on some "signs" that he could cause to happen, so I'd know he was there.

My favorite moment was in Pre-op, when the doctor asked if he had any questions, and with complete sincerity he asks, "So, how are YOU doing today? Did you have a good night's sleep? Your hands feeling steady?" She just laughed, started shaking, and said, "I'm doing great!"

After the surgery, he took a little more time than usual waking up from the anesthesia, and after he did he was NAUSEATED! Just kind of weird, this man who does such a great job taking care of me and Ty (we're spoiled, really) in a flimsy hospital gown with tubes all over, his coloring off, goo in his eyes, not able to stay awake.

He's doing just fine now, and hopefully I'll do as good a job taking care of him as he has for me the past eight years. Sometimes a little scare is a good thing.

Brutal

I'll never forget my cousin Lauri telling about a time that she, her parents, and siblings sang in Church. Apparently they hadn't practiced all that much and the parts were a bit complicated, and it was a struggling performance. In fact, in the middle of the sloppy note-finding nightmare, one of them muttered "This is Brutal!" As she recounts, after the meeting few people made eye contact with her, and the ones who did had looks of sympathy on their faces!

I had a "brutal" moment today in Sacrament Meeting myself! Let's face it: I love to sing, but I know I'm not a great soloist. I prefer to melt into a nice alto part, finding harmony. So I was fine when the music director asked me to sing a duet. Give me an alto part and I'll be okay. Only problem: the other person she asked me to sing with is also an alto with an even lower voice than my own. Yikes! We compromised on a song where there were two solos and then a duet at the end.

As I sang my too-high-for-me melody solo, I looked at our ward choir director in the audience--also a vocal coach--and wanted to hide. Only you can't hide when you're singing a solo. I ran out of breath before the end of the phrase and everyone could hear it. I sang the wrong word on one part, and I couldn't even really hit the C nicely. I felt naked. It was brutal. After the meeting I tried to leave as soon as I could to avoid the "pity" compliments.

Thankfully, there is one fact I know to be a Universal Truth: people don't think about you as much as you think about yourself. In other words, I am not the center of the world. While I may analyze every note and breath, most everyone else has already forgotten all about it. So I didn't sing so well. So what? I can still sing my alto part and enjoy how music makes me feel.

But please don't be asking me to sing another solo any time soon!

A Vay-Cay for Mitt

Here's a fun little video of the Romneys on a summer vacation

My favorite part is the end where they're doing fireworks and he calls his son a moron!

Autism Speaks

Another forward? What's going on?!? I couldn't resist this one from my SIL June, though. I've checked out the website and it seems legit.

Click HERE to see a short 3 min video about a sweet little girl with autism, and approximately 94 cents will be directly donated to Austism Speaks.

What gets me all teared up is that this website has hundreds of videos like the one above, all from desperate parents trying to get help for their children that seem to be slipping away by the minute. As one quote from the comments on that site says, "There is nothing more fierce than a parent fighting for their child."


A little bit about Austism Speaks:
(http://www.autismspeaks.org/)

"At Autism Speaks, our goal is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders.

We are dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. We are committed to raising the funds necessary to support these goals.

Autism Speaks aims to bring the autism community together as one strong voice to urge the government and private sector to listen to our concerns and take action to address this urgent global health crisis. It is our firm belief that, working together, we will find the missing pieces of the puzzle.

Autism Speaks. It's time to listen."

Happy Things

I'm not one that usually forwards those emails that say stuff like, "Pass this on to seven friends and you will get a million dollars from Bill Gates! This is real!"

Every once in a while, though, there's one I like. This one is pretty simple: Happy Things.

1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket.
5. A special glance.
6. Getting mail.
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry).
12. A bubble bath.
13. Giggling.
14. A good conversation.
15. The beach
16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.
17. Laughing at yourself.
18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you
19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
20. Running through sprinklers.
21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
23. Laughing at an inside joke
24. Friends.
25. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
27. Your first kiss
28. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
29 Playing with a new puppy.
30. Having someone play with your hair.
31. Sweet dreams.
32. Hot chocolate.
33. Road trips with friends.
34. Swinging on swings.
35. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
36. Making chocolate chip cookies.
37. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.
38 Holding hands with someone you care about.
39. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.
40. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.
41. Watching the sunrise.
42. Knowing that somebody misses you.
43 Knowing that somebody's praying for you.
44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.
45. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

Oops!

I'm sure no one else ever does this, but sometimes Brad and I tune out a little bit when Ty just talks and talks and talks. The little guy has been talking since he was eighteen months and he's barely stopped for a breath!

Last night we were driving to the church and Ty, as usual, was chatting away a million words a minute. Both Brad and I were kinda spaced, not really paying attention. By the tone of his voice, we could tell he had asked a question, so Brad just nodded his head and said, uh-huh.

All of a sudden, screams from the back seat! Crying and sobbing, snot and tears flying this way and that. It was then that I tried to recollect what it was that Ty had asked. I know he had been talking about monsters for a while before that, and then at the end of the latest question I know I had heard "at the church?" After Ty calmed down enough to talk, we realized he had asked us if there were monsters waiting for him at the church. And here's Brad nodding, and saying "uh-huh"!

Oops.

No worries, though. We were able to convince Ty that there were no monsters at the church, only nice people. And thankfully, he's a forgiving soul. I guess we should start listening a little more. At least before we say something!

New Year's Eve

Thanks to Sara and Spencer (truly cheapskates after my own heart), we all got an insane deal for a Year's Passport to Six Flags Fiesta Texas here in San Antonio (the same as a one-time entry!) So we spent New Year's Eve riding fun rides and enjoying being together. And also realizing that all too soon we'll be there in the heat and humidity, not in our coats and gloves!

Ty liked meeting Taz, the Tazmanian devil.

His first time driving a car!

Addy + Ty = BFF

Yes, I went on this. It's called Scream. I did. A lot.

Here's Spencer and Brad right after the ride. They're happy and excited. I'm just trying to recover!

Our family in front of the "Tallest Tree in Texas!"

Holy Cow, Texas!

After a perfectly enjoyable evening, we came home just in time for the countdown--which in itself is a pretty funny story. We decided to watch the Downtown San Antonio one instead of Dick Clark's, since Dick was an hour ahead of us, and thus not live. After going on about how great the committee was that put the thing together, and how they went to extensive measures to make sure the clock was exactly on, we watched with excited as the elevator went up the Tower of the Americas. Only someone didn't know when to start the countdown, so this is what was said: "One...Oh...Happy New Year." It was hilarious! Maybe you just had to see it. But talk about taking all the drama out of the New Year's Moment!

So immediately after the New Year, we realized a big difference between Utah and Texas. In Utah, we would probably hear some small fireworks at a couple houses. In Texas, despite the fact that we do live within city limits, thus making it illegal, our entire neighborhood started lighting up firecrackers that are easily worthy of LaVell's Stadium of Fire. To get firecrackers of this magnitude in Utah would have taken some strategic planning and several hours in the car. Here, they were sold at the corner stand. I have no idea how much money these people spent, but it had to be a lot! We were starting to get worried for our house, as teens were irresponsibly lighting these things and they started exploding under cars, in the middle of people, and on another house! And it went on forever. We probably would have gone to bed earlier, but we had to stay up just to make sure we didn't need to hose down some spark.

I know it sounds like I'm overly dramatic about this, but we were both just so awed at how many different firecracker parties there were, and how large they were! It was just crazy.

A Merry Christmas

Thankfully Christmas Day ended up a lot better than Christmas Eve!

Coming down the stairs to see what Santa left him.

Santa did pretty well this year! Ty liked all his presents.

The nativity play with Addy and Mora!

Trying out his new Karaoke machine.

I had the perfect Christmas Eve all planned out:

• A non-denominational community candlelight/Christmas carol service
• A relaxing dinner out at a nice restaurant
• An exciting drive to see the best lit homes of San Antonio
• Back at home, a short, spiritual reading of Luke II, retelling the Christmas story to Ty, more singing.
• A fun, happy opening of the Christmas Pajamas
• Excitement of going to bed, knowing Santa is going to visit.

What really happens:

• Tyler wakes up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, and whines all day long.
• Braving the crowds for some last minute shopping, waiting as other people buy the "limited, closeout" item at Circuit City that we want, but our sales guy doesn't know what he's doing and can't reserve it on the computer. Finally, after asking 25 different people for help, we get the last one, but not before waiting in a whole other long line to retrieve the item.
• Going to the bank to cash some checks, the bank teller gives us $250 instead of $25, so we have to turn around and wait in line again just to return money that she gave us erroneously! She was pretty thankful, though! :)
• All of us currently on anti-biotics (for the second course) crash midday and try to rest a little.
• We're still a bit fatigued, so we decide to ditch the candlelight service.
• Time to go out to eat! Only our desired restaurant is closed.
• Because of ravenous hunger, we decide to stay on the same road, so our choices are Sonic or Texas Roadhouse. We choose Roadhouse.
• As we are waiting for our table, Brad eats some of the peanuts that they have there. Ty doesn't like peanuts and tells Daddy to stop eating them. Daddy says he can eat them if he wants. Ty starts to gag because Daddy is eating the peanuts (if you know Ty, you know that he gags all the time when he thinks something we're eating is gross).
• Daddy continues to eat the peanuts.
• Ty continues to gag.
• Mommy asks Daddy to not eat any more peanuts.
• Daddy continues to eat peanuts.
• Tyler gags big, and then throws up all over Daddy.
• Tyler starts crying.
• Daddy takes Tyler to clean up puke.
• We finally get seated.
• Tyler won't walk to the table because "The peanuts make it dirty!". He's talking about the famous peanuts shells all over the floor.
• Tyler so tired and whiny, Daddy has him lay his head on his lap.
• Tyler doesn't quite have enough room for his legs to be straight, so he keeps pushing Daddy off the bench.
• Mommy and Daddy tell Tyler to knock it off.
• Tyler keeps pushing.
• Daddy finally moves over to sit next to Mommy and gives Tyler the whole bench.
• Mommy makes room for Daddy and in the process knocks her whole glass of ice water on Tyler.
• Tyler screams in horror!
• Daddy tries to use the cloth napkins to dry Tyler off.
• Now Tyler screams because the napkin was his "pillow".
• Mommy and Daddy decide to get the food "to go"
• Once we're in the car, Ty is just peachy keen happy.
• Mommy and Daddy aren't so happy with him.
• We skip the Christmas lights drive, just wanting to go home and eat!
• We get home and Daddy's order is without his mashed potatoes, rice, and beans! He's not too happy about it!
• After dinner, Tyler screams that he doesn't know how to pick up his toys that we tell him must be picked up before Santa can come.
• By this time, we just want him in bed, so we skip Luke II, play a round of Silent Night and call it good.
• Mom and Dad have a discussion on whether he should be able to open his new pajamas even though he's whining and not picking up his toys.
• We decide to just let him and get him in them and go to bed.
• Tyler happily opens his pajamas.
• Tired, whiny boy is out before his head hits the pillow.

How's that for expert parenting and creating the perfect holiday? Good thing there's tomorrow!

Merry Christmas!

Tourists in Our Own Town

We were so happy to have visitors this weekend! Brad's mom and dad are headed over to England to spend Christmas with Brad's sister, and they were able to work out a layover in San Antonio for a few days! Ty loved having his Grandma and Grandpa F here for awhile.


It's kinda funny, because although we live here, Brad's parents are the ones that showed us around downtown. They had been here several years ago for a week-long convention, and we had never really toured downtown and the Riverwalk. We had a great evening touring the Alamo, riding the boat down the Riverwalk, listening to live music, visiting Santa, and I ordered my first ribs at a restaurant (probably my last--they're just too messy).

Okay...secret's out: we don't HATE the Utes! We just happen to like BYU better. But Ty loves his Utah hat given to him by his birth family, and so we let him wear it.

Ty was tired by the end of the evening. Brad made a little pouch for him in his windbreaker, and he slept through the whole boat tour and dinner!

Dreame Weaver

I've been dreaming a lot lately. Most of my dreams are good, like last night when I dreamt I was a journalist and visited Nie Nie's house, to see if she's as perfect as she seems on her blog. In my dream she was, although Mr. Nielson was a tiny bit conceited.

But sometimes my dreams aren't as nice. I have several recurring dreams that always fool me into panicking, even though I KNOW they aren't real! The top three are:

1. Teeth Falling Out. I know this is a common one, and dream analyzers say that it means you feel like you're out of control. Hmmm. Consciously I don't feel that way, but do tend to be a bit of a control freak, so it's not way surprising.

2. Failing Math Class. This is always at BYU, and I find out at the end of the semester that I have this math class that I thought I had dropped. Now I only have two days to make everything up, and I know it's impossible! I always freak out because I know Dad will flip if I get an F. This is probably recurring because I tend to be a procrastinator in real life.

3. Snakes. This is a fairly new one, since we moved to Texas. It's based on reality. When we were in Houston, Brad was mowing the lawn and I heard this extrememly loud, almost girly (sorry, hun, but it's true) scream. I happened to be right by the window and looked out to see a snake slither away under the fence. YIKES! Now I dream about snakes all over in the house, on the driveway, etc. I think it just represents my total hatred for all things slimy and buggy and germ-infested.

What are your recurring dreams?

A Moment

"I'm sorry, Mommy."

A million things go through my head of what he could have done. It's morning and this is the first thing he says to me.

"Sorry for what?"

"Next time I'll give you hugs, too. Hugs and kisses, cause you're my best friend."

Ahhh...melt my heart! Last night when we were doing hugs and kisses before bedtime, he gave me kisses, but he decided he didn't want to give me hugs. I didn't really think much of it. But apparently he did, because that's the first thing he said to me this morning. Sweet thing.

There are moments in motherhood that make me want to pull out my hair. And then there are moments like these that make those other times totally worth it.

Let's Go Bowling!

March Madness online was so much fun last March. Come Bowling with me this year! I set up a group at ESPN.com to play Bowl Mania. Basically, you choose who will win the bowl games, and assign your confidence level to each game. It'll be so fun. So join us. Yeah, that means YOU! (It's just for fun, so even if you don't know anything about football, still join us) Everyone is welcome!You have until the first bowl game day, Dec 20, to make your selections.

Click HERE to get started. If you already have an espn profile, just sign in. If not-or like me you can't remember--sign up. It's free. It will ask if you want to start or join a group, so search for ours: Go BYU Cougs. Password is: riseandshout.

See you there!

Because I Have Nothing Else to Say...

Things I Sold This Week on Craigslist:

I bought these tables back in Utah, but they just don't fit the decor of the home. Oh well. I got as much as I paid for them.

This came with the house. I don't think the kitchen works with an island. Plus it's on wheels and swerves everywhere.



New kitchen has one over the oven.

This was a great D.I. find back in Utah (thanks, Sam), made twice of what I paid for it!

One of our lingering wedding presents. (If you happened to give this to us, I'm soooooooooo sorry! We just already have a couple.)

Sad to see these go, but the house came with the front-loading type.

Things Spoken For, Just Waiting to be Picked Up:

This is my most emotional sell. I slept in this bed all growing up. But it just wasn't working in our house. We needed a twin bed instead.

King bed frame, never used because we bought a whole bed.

Bathroom shelf--no emotional ties, no need for it.

No Calls Yet:

Used this in my classroom as a teacher. Surprised there are no calls!

No surprise here-the mirror I got to replace it with is way cuter.

Absolutely NOT for sale:

My TyTy: Black eye is almost all gone, just some shadowy remnants.

Rise and Shout

I know it's a few days late, but I couldn't go without saying how proud we are of the Cougs for their victory over the Utes and their new #19 BCS ranking!

In the Beginning...

Thanksgiving Day, 1997, is the day I first remember hearing about him. It was transfer day, and to pass the time while waiting for my new companion, Sister Hansen invited me to the mission home to help her prepare for the Outgoing Missionaries' Dinner. As we set the table and prepared the food, we talked about Mission News and a little bit of the gossip (Sister Hansen didn't have the tightest of lips, bless her heart). Names of Elders and Sisters came in one ear and out the other as we talked and joked. But one name stuck with me: Elder F*******, whom, she said, was such an inspirational and faithful missionary. She told me about how President had put him with THE toughest, most socially backward missionary in the mission--the one no one else could handle--and how the that missionary cried when President Hansen asked him how Elder F was as a companion. He said that Elder F was the only one who treated him as a normal guy, and he loved him for that.

She also talked about a miracle that happened to Elder F when he was bit by a brown recluse spider, and watched the infection spread rapidly up his leg. Before going to the hospital, he asked for a blessing. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the infection recede as rapidly as it had spread, until it was no longer there.

The fact that he was the top baptizing Elder in the mission at the time was also impressive, but that he was so kind and faithful was what impressed me most about this Elder I had never met.

Fast forward a few months and I was transferred to a new area with a new companion. When I learned that Elder F was our district leader, I was glad, because I had heard so many great things about him. I remember him calling that first night to welcome me to the district and to tell me that he was happy I was here and that he'd heard good things about me. I remember thinking what a nice guy he seemed to be.

You know how sometimes you just click with people? That's how it was for me and Elder F. During the 3 months we served around each other we became fast friends. We supported each other through lost investigators, tough companions, and the stress of mission life.

Quotes from my journal during this time:

• I like our Elders. I have a lot of respect for them. They're good guys.



• Of course the Elders had a Golden Investigator just walk in to church today. Man, they're being blessed! Elder F is just a baptizing machine!



• The Elders came with us to Karen's house today. We did it as a last-ditch effort and came out with her committed to baptism. Crazy! Elder F is so good! He's just amazing to me. Sometimes he can be really cheezy, but he's so sincere. He's a great friend. We just kinda click.



• Today was district meeting. Elder F gave us interviews. We just talked a lot about the area, and he asked me how I felt about how things were going. I told him how much I looked up to and admired him and what an example he was to me. He said the same things about me...the spirit was strong as he shared some experiences he's had on his mission...I have so much respect for him. He's had so many problems and trials on his mission and he's overcome them all.



• Okay, just gotta write one really cute thing about Elder F. They went to a flower shop to check on someone who works there, and while they did, he sent a flower to his sister. Is that too cute, or what?! How many brothers do that?



• Okay, I might as well come out with it, because I'm sure that anyone reading this already has guessed, but I really like Elder F. He is really a special, special guy. I'm at the point where I would love to marry this guy, and I keep wondering if I will. It's really strange for me, cause I think it's the spirit, but wonder if it's just infatuation. I guess it doesn't really matter, because we're on missions right now, serving together, and that's all. CRAZY STUFF, HUH?! I never imagined that I'd think about this stuff on my mission!



• Well, just erase everything I said about Elder F (marrying him at least). I'm sure it's just infatuation. I need to cool my jets for a while. I don't want to be one of those girls that goes ga-ga over missionaries. YUCK! Life is confusing!



• We went to the Elder's baptism tonight. During the song, a little girl came and sat on his lap and I about died. He was so cute with her. She was only four and she was singing along, reading the hymnal. It was cute. And I was looking at that and he looked up and gave the biggest smile to me. Aughhhhh. I need to get a GRIP! I need to FOCUS ON MISSIONARY WORK! Hello, Schultzy. Anybody in there?!?



• My heart is in a lump. Elder F is getting transferred to be a zone leader in Joplin. I'm gonna miss him so much. What an impact he's made on my life. What a spiritual giant! This is what I hate about missions. I hate saying goodbye. I guess I really have to trust the Lord that He knows what He's doing, and that if our paths are to cross again, they will. Actually, it probably will be good cause I'll be able to focus easier, but he was also an inspiration at the same time. Gosh I'm speaking about him as if he were dead! Oh well.



• Enough of this guy talk! I'm on a mission. I don't know what's gonna happen in the future--I'll just have to wait and see. Now's NOT the time to worry about it, is it?



• Well, a new chapter in mission life has begun. I'm a trainer now! Transfers were good. I got to say goodbye to Elder F. He's such a good guy. I'll miss him. But I've got a job ahead of me. I'm nervous to train. I need to have a lot of faith and work really really hard.

Time traveled on, and I did see Elder F every once in a while at mission meetings, and as he became Assistant to the President. We always seemed to be able to pick up right where we left off. It was never awkward between us; we enjoyed a genuine friendship. I was able to focus on missionary work and not let thoughts of him be a distraction for most of the time. But as the time approached for him to go home, I worried. Again, excerpts from my journal:

• I'm totally sad. I feel like I'm losing one of my best friends, and my heart aches. I mean, I know that what happens, happens, and that the Lord will take care of me, and the Lord will take care of him, but it still hurts to say goodbye. This is probably totally the end--I mean we'll still have great memories and fond feelings, but he'll probably get married, and hopefully I'll get married, and that will be that.



• I've had a really neat morning. I prayed to stay focused, of course, but I caught myself thinking about him, so I knelt back down again. I asked for peace about my feelings for Elder F and I got this incredibly peaceful feeling that it's all going to work out with him. It's strange, because this affirmative answer is what I really want, so I'm always wondering if I'm just making myself feel that. But I really feel like that was my answer! Who knows. All I know is that I feel confident that the Lord is in control...I can let go for right now and feel peace. So I will.

And I did. I served the rest of my mission working harder than I ever had. I scarcely had a thought about Elder F, and when I did, I just felt peace.

We didn't write, or call, even when I got home. It wasn't until about six months after coming home from my mission, back at BYU, that I thought about Elder F again and decided to call him up. Again, we just picked up where we left off, and we seemed to click. Only he was dating someone else, and I was pretty busy with school and work. A couple months later, he was no longer dating the other girl, and I wasn't as busy, so we went on a double date to the Manti pagent. And the rest, they say, is history. One month later we were engaged; four months later I became Sister F.

It's now eight crazy, happy years later, and we're still going strong. And Elder F, or Brad as I call him now, is still a little bit cheezy at times, but still genuinely sincere. And I love him for it!

Happy 8th Anniversary, honey!

One Hundred

How fitting that my 100th post is on Thanksgiving Weekend. I have so many reasons to be thankful. Here's 100 of them (in no particular order):

1. The Love of my Savior
2. Forever Families
3. My patriarchal blessing says my husband will be kind to me, and considerate of me, and we will love one another with all our hearts. It is spot on: Brad could not be any more kind or considerate. And my whole heart belongs to him.
4. My little 3 year old ball of energy and sweetness and just a tidge of Drama King.
5. Despite all the feminine problems, I LOVE being a woman.
6. Finally settling down in our new beautiful home.
7. Even though we get frustrated with the corporate side of things sometimes, Brad has a job that he LOVES, and that's important when he'll be spending 30+ years doing it!
8. The fact that no matter where we go, the Church helps us instantly belong.
9. The diversity in San Antonio--I've never been a minority before, and it's enlightening.
10. Being able to afford a few little extras every once in a while.
11. Sunsets
12. A back porch where we can watch the sunset.
13. A mom and dad that raised me so well.
14. A sister who, despite a ten year age difference, has always treated me like a best friend instead of an annoyance.
15. Great in-laws--couldn't ask for any better!
16. A sunny disposition.
17. The gift and power of Music.
18. The opportunity to graduate from BYU (it only took six whole years!)
19. Friends and family scattered all across the country.
20. Blogging, which has brought me back in touch with some of those dear ones.
21. A really good king-sized mattress.
22. Pretty linens to go on that king-sized mattress!
23. Chocolate.
24. Blue Bell Ice Cream.
25. Spencer and Sara living 2.5 minutes away from us.
26. Sara's yummy pecan/pumpkin dessert served warm with Blue Bell Homemade Vannilla on it that we had for Thanksgiving yesterday.
27. That my first turkey turned out okay.
28. That I could call my mother-in-law early in the morning on Thanksgiving when I was panicking and grossing out over the raw (and not quite thawed) turkey.
29. A great relationship with Ty's birth family.
30. The fact that Heavenly Father has a plan for us, and loves us, and wants us to be happy, and that everything that we go through is for our best good.
31. DVR
32. The Food Network
33. An upstairs laundry room, so I don't have to haul laundry up and down the stairs.
34. Not getting sick when everyone around me did this week (I'm still crossing my fingers, and taking my vitamins!)
35. That the furniture people are finally coming tomorrow to replace the defective couch they sold us!
36. The Beck-to Harline play in last year's BYU/Utah game.
37. The hope that BYU will win again this year, though hopefully not in such a down-to-the-minute way--I can't take the suspense!
38. The internet.
39. High speed internet.
40. Ceiling fans.
41. Air conditioning.
42. Two cars that run.
43. Brad's work car, that helps to keep his personal car running.
44. Craigslist.
45. Cameras.
46. Our only live plant, Norman, a Christmas cactus that was given to us by our first landlord, is still alive, even though we have greatly mistreated him at times.
47. Smiling at people, and having them smile back.
48. Singing in the ward choir.
49. The fact that we will get reimbursed for our moving expenses.
50. LSU losing to Arkansas.
51. A&M beating Texas. Go Aggies!
52. The craisins that Sara put in her green salad. Really yummy.
53. The memories made with awesome grandparents that helped to shape who I am today.
54. The support of my parents in all my activities as a kid.
55. The holiness and sacredness of the Temple.
56. The selfless and consecrated service my parents have given the last eight years and counting.
57. The feeling I get when people really enjoy my food.
58. Are we really only on 58?!?
59. The smell of cinamon at Christmastime.
60. The first time each spring when I smell a hyacinth.
61. Every time I see a golden retriever and think of good old Mindy.
62. How blessed am I to have been born in this time period, in this country, in this church, in this family!
63. I enjoy reading magazines. My current subscriptions: Ensign, Reader's Digest, Oregon Coast, Family Fun, Parenting, Kraft Food & Family, Better Homes and Gardens, and Woman's Day. (Some are free, and some were gifts)
64. I like the way my birthday rhymes when I say the numbers.
65. I like that my middle name, Cay, starts with a C.
66. I had a great adolescence. So many people hate that time in their lives, but I loved it.
67. Singing alto is fun and I'm glad I can read notes and harmonize.
68. The opportunity I had to teach for three years. I loved being a professional, and helping provide for our family.
69. The leadership opportunities I've had.
70. That Heavenly Father answers my prayers.
71. That other people pray for me.
72. The sisterhood of Relief Society.
73. When Tyler gives me a spontaneous hug or kiss or I love you mom.
74. The hope that we have at least another child in our future.
75. The lack of stress over whether we will have another one--faith that God has a plan for our family and will lead us to where we need to be when the time is right for another child. He's always led us before, He'll continue to do so.
76. Our family's cabin in Florence, Oregon: my favorite place on earth.
77. That my mom made me practice my piano, and continued to pay for lessons, even when I didn't practice. She'll never know the gift that that ability has been to my life.
78. That people can always change.
79. Forgiveness.
80. Times like this morning, after making a fort, just playing, the three of us, our family, together.
81. Phone calls just to say hi.
82. Phone calls just to say hi that are on our Verizon network, or after hours or on weekends!
83. That bleach took away the grape juice stains on our countertops!
84. Playing on sports teams.
85. Feeling part of a community.
86. Loving the community I live in.
87. Finding great deals.
88. Thinking about Harold doing the Black Friday shopping for Susan at 4am.
89. Reading the short heartwarming novel, Christmas Jars.
90. Poetry.
91. Time to myself after bedtime.
92. H.E. Buddy Bucks (a little reward for kids at the local supermarket. Ty loves them!)
93. Texas pride.
94. Never forgetting my Oregon roots.
95. My mission to Oklahoma and Missouri
96. Great pictures.
97. Great college roommates.
98. My favorite Sacrament hymn: As Now We Take the Sacrament
99. Laughing with my husband.
100. Finishing this list!!!!

Sheesh!

No need to call Child Protective Services.

Tyler got his first shiner yesterday...in Nursery, of all places! I guess he collided with a girl. This was taken yesterday--it looks way worse today. Bad enough that everywhere we went today people asked him what happened to his eye. All he would say is, "I'm okay now. I'm okay." One lady asked if it was an accident and he said, "No, I just ran away from her." I know people are thinking I'm a child-beater!

His legs are constantly bruised like this. This is not an unusual amount of bruises. Oh well. His dad had broken multiple bones by this age. I guess a few bruises aren't too bad!

Loving It!

I cannot get enough of DVR! It is the most convenient and time conserving way to watch TV ever! Every night after my boys have gone to sleep, I spend a little time with my TV and get to watch some great shows commercial--and guilt--free! My big obsessions right now are two channels: HGTV and The Food Network. I love House Hunters and Designed to Sell on HGTV, and Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals and Quick Fix Meals w/ Robin Miller on the Food Network.

Sara and I can hardly wait for Thanksgiving this year! I've never made a turkey before, but I'm watching all the shows to see which way to do it. I think I'll do the herb-stuffed Turkey and Sausage-Artichoke Hearts-Sourdough stuffing, pictured above. Yumm-O!

How can it be wrong when it feels so right?

I know I'm supposed hate Walmart. People blog about how they don't go there. I really do try to support local businesses. I've seen the documentary where it shows the poor Chinese workers slaving away for basically nothing. I feel bad for the businesses they shut down. I hate the crowds.

But I still go. And I still find some great deals. And I'm finding more selection and cuter and cuter stuff. Like my new accent pillows:

On a side note, it's funny how my "Contemporary Cottage" tastes have become mainly just the Contemporary part and less of the Cottage part in this house. Just the combination of the new furniture and the current light fixtures, paint colors, and draperies that has helped it turn out that way. It's kinda fun decorating a house!

Anyway...back to Wal Mart. What are your feelings on the place?

Home Sweet Home

Favorite thing about buying a house?

No mortgage payment until

January 2008!

That allowed us to treat ourselves to some new furniture:

Cute, huh? We are loving our new house and although it's still a big mess of boxes right now, it's already becoming "Home."

So come visit, y'all!