Bulgaria

 

Sometimes it's too cold to sit outside, so you have a picnic in the car.

  

This stud is going to Bulgaria.

I got to go to Idaho to say goodbye to Stephen.  He's such a great kid and I am going to miss getting to see him at family functions.  Even though I don't see my family very often, he's been such a standard, that it will be sad to not get to see him.  Even this last weekend, I got to see my family again, and he wasn't there.  I hate that adjustment period of getting used to not seeing the recently departed missionary.  He's going to do a grand job and bring a lot of happiness to a lot of people.  One really cool thing about Bulgaria is you shake your head to say yes and nod your head to say no.  My little nephew definitely got us a few times on this. "Do you want a brownie?"

"No." (and a shake of the head)

"Okay."

"Like in Bulgaria!!"

Classic.

Grown Up Feeling

Let's take it back...a lot of years.  Up to 20 of them, actually.

Me and my brother Bryce are at the local pizza hut with the family.  We're just discussing things, and a neighbor comes up in conversation.  Tom.  When he eats pizza, he puts the red peppers on and doesn't even break a sweat.  We speculate it's because he's Mexican.  Or we think he is.  It's either that or Italian.

But I do remember thinking how cool it would be to one day be a grown up and get to eat pizza with red peppers on it.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting at "Barro's."  A delicious pizza place by my work.  As I struggled to shake the peppers out of that little container that doesn't seem to emit any thing very easily, I was thrown back to that moment in pizza hut thinking in awe about how great it would be to be like Tom.  And there I was.  I had grown up.  I had become Tom.

And then, I was in Idaho Falls at my parents house. I heard the fire alarm going off.  As my heartbeat went out of control, I was no longer a bona fide adult.

The fire alarm in my parents home is electric.  Whenever the power went out, and subsequently came back on, the alarm blared.  Not just a normal beep.  But a blood-curdling sound.  The alarm was positioned right outside my door, and I remember waking up at night to that sound, terrified that our house was on fire.  It never was, but I usually had an emergency kit all packed up just in case I needed to jump out of my window.

When I heard that noise, yes, I was transported back to 20 years ago, or more, and got scared.  I couldn't go back to sleep.  And luckily, the power kept flickering, so I heard it about 10 times.  Then, I remembered that I don't like how windy it is in Idaho.

Every positive move towards adulthood is countered with a step back to...not adulthood.

But hey, at least I can rent a car!

The Girl in the Yellow Shoes

One of my favorite books is "Confessions of a Shopaholic."  It makes me uncomfortable with the mistakes she makes, but I laugh so hard while reading it.  She fantasizes about the oddest things.  One thing being how great the green scarf is going to make her look"  and how when she goes places, people will be in awe.  everyone will identify her by this scarf.  Maybe even speak about her in hushed tones.  Eventually, the person that loans her the money to buy said scarf for her "grandma" becomes her love interest.  But when she becomes a successful writer, her pen-name is "the Girl in the Green Scarf.

Well, for the last 4ish years, I have kind of had this same hope.  People in the elevator at work used to comment..."oh, I love your shoes!  "Oh, you're the girl with the yellow shoes!"  "Those are such cute shoes!"  I was truly identified by my shoes.  Makes it tricky when making stops in the restroom :0)

These shoes have been with me through a lot.  Countless dates, a few continets, many hours at a desk, several moves, many trips, 2 job quits, snowstorms, rainstorms, and so many memories.  But alas, they have become highly smelly.  And although I could remedy this situation, I have decided to throw them away and replace them with some other cute shoes.  It has been hard to come to this conclusion.  I do this with a truly heavy heart.  But sometimes we need to move on.  I don't think I've ever been so attached to a pair of shoes. 

Here's to you, extremely cute pair of shoes.  Thank you for being the perfect color of yellow.  For always adding a little pop of color to my outfits.  For being so comfortable.  For never giving me blisters.  For looking good with every pair of pants I own.  With every skirt I wear.  You have been the standard of my closet for years.  Your memory will live forever.  Thanks for giving me a clothing identity.  Thank you KMart, for selling me these shoes. 

Friend Status

A few weeks ago, I attended a target shooting activity with a friend.  There were probably 40 people there.  Pretty good turnout.  I was clearly a new face, and there were plenty of new friends made, which was then verified by a few facebook friend adds. 

One of these new friends has been inviting me to everything.  I didn't realize I was missing out on so much!  Fun little events - dancing lessons, bbqs, firesides.  Haven't gone to any of them, but it was sure nice of this chap to invite me and let me know what was going on.

Last week, a few of us ended up at a kind of super lame game night.  I was chatting with a few people and this "new" friend comes in and I act friendly to him, as he's gone out of his way to invite me to things.  He didn't seem to appreciate it and then came up to me and asked what my name was. 

Now, I don't want to be ungrateful or act like I am superior to remembering names, but wouldn't it seem right to remember someone's name if you had been inviting them to multiple activities for several weeks? 

Just a thought.  I know I need to do a better job of reaching out to others and also not discrediting others efforts.  In a general conference address, someone commenting about the quality of interaction we have with others via the internet.  Clearly, we're all connecting well right now :0)  But have we replaced a lot of real interactions with others with methods that cheapen our mortal experience of knowing others? 

Ultimately, I am glad he admitted in some way to remembering me.  There's nothing worse than a new friend add, and then when you see them, they act like they don't know you. We are silly people.

Pay it Forward

One time I was at the gym, and this movie, "Pay it Forward" was playing in the cardio cinema (oh, how I miss Gold's Gym).  Big mistake.  As if exercising doesn't challenge my breathing enough, I throw in some bawling.  Difficult.  This was a cool movie, with the concept of doing something nice for someone, and then requesting that they do something kind of generous to someone else.

I know I've been the recipient of far too many of these acts.  And I hope that I'm living in such a way that I really do treat others with kindness.  That I provide a little lighter load for a moment or two.  But it's a good reminder to always be on your guard for the needs of others and being willing to help.

Last night, a group of friends and I had hit up a free museum tour in Scottsdale and decided to grab some Indian food.  It was a fun restaurant and we inhaled the food.  Someone finally asked the server, "we're ready for the check whenever you can."

"Someone in the restaurant already picked up your bill.  Have a nice night." 

What!?!?  This was not a cheap bill.  6 people's worth of food.  I was flabbergasted.  Who does that?  I made 2 of my friends swear that it wasn't them (one of them is renowned for doing stuff like this, I had to fight him at a sonic drive-in so he wouldn't pay for my mozzarella sticks).  But they claimed it wasn't them.  Are there really people out there that are just that nice?  That are really looking for ways to serve anywhere they go, even to the point of a financial sacrifice?  Even this morning, I'm still in shock.  I don't know how to respond.  There's no one I can say thank you to.  It's like saying thank you to Santa on Christmas morning.  Except even then, he heard. 

Just making me think about things...a lot.  My heart is full.  It wasn't even a need.  We all have the money to pay for our own food.  And this is the way our loving Heavenly Father is.  He sends blessings to us always.  He knows our needs, but He knows our wants, and He knows what's good for us, or would be a good experience...for our growth or just to pique our mind to remember Him.  His hands are in every aspect of our lives. 

Pictures, too!

Getting away with a lot of sparkle on New Year's Eve

                                                            Chick-fil-a with the Family

                                                       Christmas view out the front window

One Time

There was this one time I forgot I had a blog. 

My dear friend Mel said:  write

So here I am.  Writing on my blog.  I'm proud of myself.  But I do know that if I am on the computer while I'm catching up on episodes of "Parenthood" on hulu+, I won't cry my eyeballs out like I normally do.  It's a good distraction.

I don't even know where I left off.

But I will tell you about a lovely book I am in the middle of...The Book of Awesome.  I am in love with this book.  It is almost 400 pages of highlights of what makes life so awesome.  Hitting all green lights.  Being the first person to open the peanut butter.  Dangerous playground equipment.  Taking naps when you shouldn't be.  The other side of the pillow.  Giving high tens.  When these things happen, it's just...awesome.  Oh man.  I love this so much!  I can't stop thinking about it.  And the author is so funny.  Such a good writing style and I just find myself giggling. 

Here's my awesome moment the other day.  I just finished reading some of the book, and was so tired.  I had this small moment of horror, man, I have to read my scriptures before I can go to bed.  But wait...I read them before work this morning.  Awesome!  Going to bed with a clear conscience. 
Also, just walking through Target.  All the bright colors.  Envisioning a house decorated with it all.  Having a purpose for every item to justify having it all.  It just is a really happy feeling walking through it.  It's awesome.