My Mom

I know that this is very late and the Mother's Day was last month, but hey it just means that my mom gets to stretch out her Mother's Day.

I have a wonderful mom. A mom who listened, cared, kept secrets, read between the lines, and did what was best for children. She was always willing to go shopping with me, even if it was only window shopping. She knew when I needed advice and when I just needed someone to listen to me. When I had to go to the doctor 5 times in 3 months she never complained. Here are some of my favorite memories of my mom.

When I was a senior in high school I was in Chatelaines (the women's show choir), the school musical, and taking a CE medical terminology class. One day all these thing started to pile up on each other. I had to stay after school to take a test for my med. term test, for a dance practice for Chatelaines, and a rehearsal for the school play. I came home frustrated. When I went to take my test all the computers were full, but I couldn't stay and wait because I had to get to practice. During Chatelaine practice we stayed longer then was planned and didn't get everything done that we needed to because no one would focus (at least that is what it felt like). Play practice went fine, but by that time I was already incredibly frustrated. I came home frustrated and not knowing how I was going to do everything, but also knowing that I did NOT want to give anything up. My mom that something was wrong and asked. I burst into tears and told her about my dad, and about my worries. My mom let me cry a little knowing that I needed it and then proposed a plan of action. It was a simple plan but could be done. My favorite part of the plan was my mom saying the most important thing is that you keep yourself healthy so that you don't fall behind and that starts with a good breakfast. Tomorrow I will drop you off be fore school starts so you can take your med. term test, and then I will check you out of your first period class, and we will go get breakfast. I was shocked at my mom telling me that she was going to help me ditch class, but it was exactly was I needed, a little time to relax.

I got my wisdom teeth taken out on a Friday and spent most of the weekend sleeping. On Sunday I was determined to go to church I woke took my medicine and started getting ready. Not longer after I started to feel dizzy. Dizziness was one of the side effects of the medicine, but because I had slept the two days before I didn't know that I would be effected like that. When I started to feel dizzy, I sat on the edge of my mom's bed. My mom saw me and asked what was wrong. I told that I was dizzy and that I thought I had gotten up to fast. My mom worked in a dentist office and knew better. She promptly told me that I was not going to church and to lay down. My mom could always tell when I was faking, even if it was faking being okay.

When I was in jr. high in had a really big crush on a boy (I know who didn't), but I wouldn't tell any body because I was afraid of being teased. My mom found out anyway. She was great, she didn't make fun of me, but she didn't want to know who it was. I didn't tell her because I knew that even though she didn't make fun of me, if the sibling found out they would. Finally when we were all alone she convinced me to tell her promising that she wouldn't let my sibling find out. I told her and she kept that promise. Not only did she never let them find out about that crush, she never let them find out about any crush after that unless it was okay with me. This was one of the biggest reasons I trusted my mom. Soon I not only told my mom about my crushes I told her about everything. I told her about friend trouble, school trouble, boy trouble. I was never afraid to tell her about things that I would have been embarrassed to tell someone else. She was wonderful at keeping me secrets.

I'm so thankful for my mother she has taught me so many wonderful things. I'm sure that I couldn't even name all the things that she had taught me and done for me. I love my mom.

Slightly switching gears I am so thankful for all the wonderful mother's and women in my life. My mom, grandmas, and aunts have all been great examples to me. I'm also thankful for the new women in my life my mother-in-law, and my husband's grandma's and aunt. I know that Eric's loves his mom, and  that she has been a wonderful example to him. I'm thankful for the women who helped Eric become the wonderful man that he is. I'm so happy that I now get to call these wonderful women family.  These women have welcomed me into their family and shown my so much kindness. I'm so excited to get to know them better.

Help

I need some major help with dinner, so if any of you lovely women (or handsome men) have any ideas I would greatly appreciate it.

Problem Number 1

Ever since Eric and I got married I have enjoyed cooking but seems that we got stuck in a rut and have the same 7 or 8 things over and over again. If any of you have any recipes you just love, know of a good cookbook, or have great ideas for finding recipes, I would love it if you shared.

Problem Number 2

Now that I am working, I don't get home until 6 and I don't want to spend a lot of time making dinner because we are both pretty hungry already. I have a couple of quick dinners but we are starting to get tired of them. What are your suggestions for making dinner when you get home late? What works for you I have a couple of ideas, like making it before I leave and putting it in the oven when I get home, but I wouldn't say no to more idea.

Please Help!

Primary Children's

Eric and I live about 5 minutes away from Primary Children's Medical Center. I love living so close to this hospital because I volunteer there. I am a member of kids crew, which basically means I do everything that I can to make a child's day better. This could happen many different ways. I could go play with them in their room. Many of the kids can't leave their rooms for whatever reason and it can get pretty boring for them. So I will take some games, toys, or books and play with them for as long as I can. This is also a great help to parents who can't be at the hospital with their child, or who need a break. I can stay in the playroom and play with kids who come by while their parents do some research, its some much fun for me watch what they will want to do and to see their imaginations run wild. I can also help with crafts by making an example, getting supplies ready, or helping a child who is working on a craft. Helping with crafts is my second favorite thing to do while volunteering. My favorite thing to do is go hold babies. The first time I went to go hold a baby I thought It would be said so sad. I walked in and he was hooked up to so many machines and had so many wires connected to him it made me sad that such a small child was in a hospital. Then I started to play with him. I had to where a mask while I was in the room, but sometimes I would make silly faces or noises because I would forget that the baby couldn't see my face. He would start laughing and smiling and smiling anyway. It made me so happy to know that I could make a sick baby happy enough to smile and laugh.

Last week the hospital was so busy, so I had the chance to help with a very special project. One of the girls at the hospital had missed her senior prom so the hospital organized a prom especially for her. Her mom brought her prom dress and they had people come do her hair and make up. They brought in music, food, and some sort of entertainment. I got to help set up the decorations. I helped make a banner that said "Wish Upon a Star", and we decorated the room with stars and hung streamers from the door way. It was a lot of work and we barely got it done in time, but it was so much fun. I didn't get to see the prom but I heard that it was a success.

I love volunteering at the hospital. I love thinking that I am helping to make some one's stay at the hospital just a little bit better. Until very recently I love going to the hospital because I thought I was making a difference in others lives, I didn't realize that they were making a much greater difference in mine.

The Primary Children's branch is a part of our stake. So every six months our ward get the chance to go to the hospital and help provide church services. We go and have a sacrament meeting. After the sacrament meeting Eric help take the sacrament to those who couldn't come, and I get to help give primary/young men/young women lessons. Eric and I got the chance to help on a fast Sunday and it was amazing. The testimonies of those who are there are amazingly strong and the spirit that they had with them was so special and so strong. Its so hard for me to describe what I felt and how it effected me. I was amazed by the faith and trust that they had in their Heavenly Father. I was amazed by their eternal perspectives. I was amazed by their humility and the gratitude that they showed toward. I wish that I could tell each one how much they blessed my life, and strengthened my testimony. I wish that I could tell them that it was a privilege to be with them and to serve them. At the end of that sacrament meeting we sang "When He Comes Again" form the Children's Song Book. I have always loved that song, but singing it at the hospital brought a new meaning to it for me. These are the words:

I wonder, when he comes again,

Will herald angels sing?

Will earth be white with drifted now,

Or will the world now spring?

I wonder if one star will shine

Far brighter than the rest;

Will daylight stay the whole night through?

Will song birds leave their nests?

I'm sure he'll call his little ones

Together 'round his knee,

Because he said in days gone by,

"Suffer them to come to me."

I wonder when he come again,

Will I be ready there

To look upon his loving face

And join with him in prayer?

Each day I'll try to do his will

And let my light so shine

That others seeing me may seek

For greater light divine.

then, when that blessed day is here,

He'll love me and he'll say,

"You've served me well, my little child:

Come unto my arms to stay."

I love this song so much more now. The second verse is the one the effected me the most. I couldn't even sing I just listened and thought about how much The Lord love little children and about the atonement. I started thinking about how he suffered for them and knew exactly what these children felt. I also thought about the children who would be returning to our Heavenly Father before Christ comes again, and I thought about how he would do the exact same thing.

I am so thankful to be living so close to this wonderful facility and the I have the opportunity to serve there and for those that I have been able to serve. I am so thankful for the wonderful lessons that I have learned and for thoses who have strengthened me and my testimony.

The Raa Play

I'm not a fan a Shaq, but this commercial was on the other day, and I found it funny. Enjoy.

New Job

I worked at DownEast for almost a year, but in November 2011 I quit. For the most part it was a very good job. I loved what I did and I loved the people that I worked with. For most of the time I worked at the Layton Hills Mall, but when Eric and I got married I transferred to the Gateway mall.

After about a month of working there Eric and I both knew that something needed to changed. I was working mostly nights and I worked every Friday and Saturday night. Working nights wasn't that different before, but that was before I was married and nights weren't the only time I had to spend with my husband. I literally worked every Friday and Saturday night. I knew that I would have to work some I was even prepared to work one weekend night a week. I thought that was reasonable, but that wasn't how it worked. The problem soon became that Eric and I didn't really get to spend time with each other, and we had a big decision to make.

We knew something needed to change but we weren't sure what. We fasted and prayed about this decision. Our options were for me to talk to my manager about the problem, stay at that job until I found a new job, or just quit. The answer we got was just to quit. It was very hard for me to do, but I felt good about it and I knew that it was what I was suppose to do.

4 months later I have a new job that is going to be so much better for me and for Eric. I now work for a law firm called Jones Waldo. I will be a law librarian. The thing I'm most excited for is I have a set schedule. I know exactly when I will be at work. I don't have to say, "I don't know, I don't have my schedule yet." I don't know many people yet, but the people I do know seem really nice, and my boss seems very understanding when it comes to school schedules.

I've been in to fill out my paper work and for some training. My first real day is next Monday. I'm am so excited to start at my new job and for the new responsibilities. I know that this job will be so good for me and some much better for me family.

6 Month Anniversary

On March 2 Eric and We will be married for 6 months. I never posted about our wedding for many reasons, but it all boiled down to being busy. I think that this is a good occasion to post about it.

We were married on September 2, 2011 in the Salt Lake Temple at 9:40 am. I love the Salt Lake Temple and have always loved it. My wedding was extra special because my great grandfather sealed Eric and me for time and all eternity. I also had the special experience of having my great aunt be the one took me around the temple and showed me what to do. She is a temple worker at the Salt Lake Temple and was assigned to help the brides at the time I was married. I know that it wasn't a coincidence, and that it was a special little gift from a loving Heavenly Father.

After we were married we took pictures outside the temple with family and friends, and then a few with just us. As we were walking around the temple grounds we had random people taking pictures of us. It was kind of weird. These are some of my favorite

 

Eric's cousin, Savanah, was so excited.

I love how blue the sky looks.

Once we were done we went to Heritage Park for our luncheon at the Brigham Young Farmhouse. The food was delicious, the day was gorgeous, and it was wonderful to be surrounded by such wonderful friends and family. I was really nervous that it was going to be uncomfortably hot, because it had been the past few days, especially with and outdoor luncheon and reception, but the weather was perfect. It was the perfect temperature outside without a breeze. I didn't have to worry about anyone sweating in their wedding clothes our the wind messing anything up. Here are some pictures from our luncheon.

With my Grant Grandpa who was our sealer.

With Eric's cousin Adam and his wife Brooke.

Eric's  mom Laurie sharing memories of Eric.

Our reception was at the Lion House in the garden. It was gorgeous. We had white table clothes with table runners that had a damask pattern and red ribbons tied around the chairs. The center pieces were made by one of the mission couples in Eric mission, Judy (she also did my bouquet). They were three  vases with either red, silver, or black beads in them and they had a red ribbon tied around them. Simple but so pretty. For our refreshments we had chocolate cover strawberries, mini  chocolate, or strawberry cheese cakes, and either chocolate mint cookies or German chocolate cake cookies with a mango juice mixed with sprite (Eric's idea). I highly recommend the Lion they are completely willing to work with you, and are completely honest with what they can and can't do. Plus they didn't try to charge you for stupid things (we looked at a place that charged you for cutting the cake, but wouldn't let you do it yourself). Here are some pictures of the details.

 

 The centerpieces

 My bouquet

 The Cake

The guest sign in

Our refreshments

We took pictures until our reception started at six. My aunt Michelle sat at the table were had our guests sign pages of a scrapbook for us (made by my mom, grandma, aunt Michelle and me). We stood in line with both of our parents greeting people for the full two hours. My arm got tired from holding my flowers and I had to keep switching hands Eric thought it was funny but he did offer to hold them for me. After the line we cut the cake. Yes, we were nice and didn't smash it into each others face. I really didn't want cake on my wedding dress. We danced to You're the Inspiration by Chicago. I tossed my bouquet. I threw it so hard that it went over a tree branch and almost hit the photographer. Our sisters fought over it, but not our 18 year old sisters, our ten year old sisters. In the end Kalli (Eric's sister) let Aly (my sister) have it. Eric's Aunt Debbie was a life saver and brought us a Subway sandwich for us knowing that we would be starving. After that we left. When we got to our car it was completely covered in shaving cream, a silly string. Eric was not happy, that was probably the only thing he wanted. Here are some more pictures.

 Cutting the Cake

 Out Dinner

 Catching the Bouquet

First Dance

I honestly couldn't ask for a more perfect day. It was truly the best day of my life. I'm so thankful for a wonderful husband and for all the people who helped make our day a little more special. I know that this was kind of long but it is more for me, so that I don't forget that special day.

Rant

Yes, I'm going to go off on a rant (okay two rants), sorry. If you don't want to hear it, you don't have to read it. I just want to get it out of my system.

Clothing Sizes

One day at work I had a woman come up to me a very rudely say "Doesn't this store carry any real sizes!" I politely asked what size she was looking for and found out she was looking for a large. I told her I would check in the back, on my way to the back I checked the item she was looking and found it out on the floor! She didn't even look!

All sizes are real sizes and I have had every single possible size come to me asking if we had that item in a different size in the back. I have had every single size get frustrated because they couldn't find anything they liked in their size. It is not the store's or employees' fault if your size is not in stock. It could mean that it is an old item and not being made anymore to make room for more seasonable items, and all new items that are coming will come in all sizes. It could also mean that you have exceptional taste and are choosing items that have been very popular.

Body Styles

I have a class on adolescent development. For one of the classes we talked about how adolescents are often confused by the media on body image. We had to do an activity were we watched an hour of a TV show geared towards teenagers and count how many were underweight, average, weight, and over weight. It made me mad at how many of the students were aggressive toward underweight females. I know that eating disorders are rampant and very dangerous. I know that all body styles are beautiful and that we should appreciate all of them. All of that doesn't mean that someone who underweight has an eating disorder, or an healthy life style. That is simply how there body is. Just like all body types. All are beautiful no one should be made to feel that they are doing something wrong because of their body type.

One of my favorite shows is What Not to Wear, and the reason is because Clinton and Stacey always tell women that they should embrace the body they have now, and when something doesn't look good to blame the clothes and not their bodies. I think that this is something all people men or women, young or old should do.

Sorry for my rant.