Thank you for the Birthday wishes

I wanted to post this earlier, but life was crazy busy today. I had to make the parent snack (yes, you read that right. It's a snack for the parents) and it was a very time consuming thing. I made the cake balls that Bobbi found via Amy's website. I didn't take a picture of mine because they turned out NOTHING like THESE. So I won't even disappoint anyone with a pathetic picture. They were yummy and I took my sorry excuse for them to pre-school. But next time, I'll have to figure out how to make them smooth. Mine were all crumbly and...just trust me on this one.

Yesterday, my 29th birthday, for those of you who didn't know, was a wonderfully surprisingly great day. I didn't anticipate much because this is the very first birthday that I haven't been with my family. Even last year, I planned to be up there for my birhtday, but this year it just wasn't feasible. So I didn't expect too much. Well, can I just say it was probably the BEST birthday I've ever had. I first woke up (I guess that's a good thing) and Matt and Tanner both wished me a happy birthday. Then we went over to my Aunty Elaines to make cinnamon buns together. I wanted buns instead of a cake so that's what we did.

My Aunt is an amazing cook. If you haven't read my earlier entries let me just tell you that she NEVER measures anything when cooking. NEVER!!! Even when we are cooking bread together, she just puts it in and her stuff turns out amazing. She is probably, next to my Mom, the best cook ever. I can't say enough good things about her. I just love her so much. Anyways, so we made buns but it took like 5 hours. Between the mixing and the rising and the cooking, it was a long process. While I was there, one of my friends came over with a gift for me. She doesn't know my Aunt but knew I'd be there and found out where she lived and came to give me this:




It was so thoughtful for her to come and find me and give this to me. It was totally unexpected. Then I came home and my good friend, Sharon, brought me over this nice treat:




So amazing, my friend Sharon. I teased her back in February about doing this for valentines day because the parented pre-school teacher was describing it and I leaned over and jokingly said "I expect you to make this for me for Valentines day". So I got it on a better day. So thank you. Oh, she also gave me money to contribute to my "shoe wish" fund.

Just a quick explanation on my shoe wish fund. I would really love to have a good pair of running shoes. I have a $20 Wal-Mart pair. They aren't worn out or anything, and they still are in good condition, but I really wanted to have a quality pair while I'm taking this running thing seriously. I got money from both my Mom and Aunty Carolyn which was enough, with Sharon's money, to get a quality pair of shoes. I haven't decided which ones yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to post the pictures of my new jewels.

I got a lot a really sweet message from Suzanne, wishing me a happy birthday, my Mom and sisters called and sang happy birthday and my Aunt Carolyn did as well. Then when I went into work that night (I know, yes, I worked), the girls had written happy birthday on the whiteboard and 2 of them bought me this Fruitopia strawberry Kiwi drink that I use to love drinking at Subway when I first worked there in Calgary and when I told them the story, I jokingly said that that's what I wanted for my birthday was this drink. I got 3 bottles of it so I am in heaven. I'm not a big juice drinker, but sometimes I just want a sip or 2.

Then when I got home from work, there was a card in front of the computer screen. When I opened it, there was American money in it from 2 very dear friends for my trip to Great Falls in a couple of weeks. I was completely taken off guard.

Then tonight, Matt and I were able to do a session at the Temple together. It was so wonderful and I was so happy that we went. We really felt good and peaceful and calm there tonight and it was a nice session. Only 16 people, including us, were in the session. I sat in the front, which was a treat for me because we usually end up near the back.

So overall, it's been a terrific birthday. I have been amazingly blessed and continue to be so grateful for all that everyone does for me. I am so eternally grateful for all my friends and all the people that love me and think about me. It's not very often that more than just my family does much for my birthday. My best friend, Jamie, and I exchange birthday gifts, but other than that, it's usually always just been my family. I'm grateful that my friends were thinking of me and took the time to show me that they care. Okay, now that I'm all welled up, I'll stop.

I just have to say about the mouse picture...I actually wasn't even going to take a picture of it, but then I thought "why not?". I bet no one could picture this and I am not very good at describing things like that so I wanted to capture it and show everyone. I knew he wasn't going to run away and try to bite me. I had thrown a ball and sock at him and he didn't move so I knew I would be able to take the picture.

Sorry Lynn, for making you gag on your food. I hope you were okay.

Well, until next time...

Tagged by Sharon

Attached or Single: Attached. For 8 years

B- Best friend: I would have to say that I have a few best friends. Meghan is my first true best friend. The one that's been around the longest. Jamie is my best friend from Calgary and although I mean no lost love to any of you here in town, I would say Sharon and Suzanne are my new best friends. Oh, and Trish is another Calgary best friend.

C- Cake or Pie: Cake. I don't particularly like pie all that much.

D- Day of Choice: Thursday because it goes by so fast

E- Essential Item: GUM! I have to have gum everywhere I go. I don't even chew it that often, but I need to have it with me at all times in case I want to chew it.

F- Favorite color: Purple and Yellow

G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Bears. Worms are gross somehow.

H- Hometown: It use to be Calgary but now it's Raymond

I- Indulgence(s): Subway, card making, I think that's it.

J- January or July: January because July is too hot and I pefer cold over hot any day

K-Kids: 1 boy.

L- Life is Incomplete Without: Matt and Tanner

M-Marriage Date: January 28, 2000

N- Number of Siblings: 3 sisters, and 1 brother in law on my side. 4 sister in laws and 4 brother in laws on Matt's side

O- Oranges or apples: apples with cinnamon and sugar mixture on them

P- Phobias or Fears: the dark

Q- Quotes: I like all the common ones: if you don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Live like it was your last day.

R- Reason to Smile: My life

S- Season: Spring and Fall

T- Tag Seven: Anyone who wants to do this.

U- Unknown Fact about Me: I have grey hair already

V- Vegetarian or Meat Lover: More vegatarian than meat lover

W- Worst Habit: rolling my eyes, or spending more time on the comptuer than I should

X- X Rays or Ultrasounds: I LOVE ultrasounds

Y- Your Favorite Food: Spaghettii, and PB&J sandwiches

Z-Zodiac: Aries, Matt is an Aries too...lol

Misunderstood

In my previous post I realize that I talked about comments but I just want to say that I know a few people that get at least 6-10 comments on their posts on a regular basis and I was just wondering out loud what makes a post "commentable". I do appreciate the comments I get and for people reading about my life, it was just a question put out there. It wasn't meant as a complaint...tho when I read it, I know it sounds like that. I was just wondering why some people get so many comments, and others get none or only 1 or 2. Sorry for not making myself more clear. It was a semi-rhetorical question.

Fly protected car

Yesterday as I was looking for Tanner's tent thing...which can I say has been VERY successful last night and it worked...he had climbed in the car. Normally, this is totally fine and it doesn't really bother me. We played in the car when we were kids and we were perfectly fine so I don't worry about Tanner when I can see him right there. It beats trying to chase him around keeping him in the yard and not wandering down the street. So all of a sudden I smell something. My dear, lovely, Sweet, kind, considerate, gentle Tanner had sprayed insect repellent (which was still in our car from summer) in the car on the dashboard and on the back window. At least no bugs will come in our car. The car has been airing out during the day with the windows fully open. What a lovely treat...lol.

I was thinking today, what makes a good blog post in which people comment a lot. Is it a lot of friends or connections? Is it interesting things being said? Is it just the day? Maybe the length of the post? I seem to post a lot but don't get as many comments. Why is that I wonder....am I too honest? Am I too abrupt? Do I not write well? Am I boring? Are people afraid to comment? To me, it doesn't matter if I know a person or not, if I think they posted something that I think about to and or have an opinion on, I'll post a comment. I usually tell them, if I don't know them, how I came across their blog or who I know that knows them. Are YOU afraid of posting a comment???? I wont' bite, I promise. And it doesn't even bother me if you have something to say that contradicts what I post. I like to know who my readers are.

On another note, a lot of people have posted about Sterling Low. It made me realize just how big of an impact a young person can make in the world. Not just him, but all of us. Those who know the Low family have nothing but kind, loving, thoughtful, generous things to say about them. I keep thinking over and over the line in the Hymn "tho hard to you this journey may appear, all is well, all is well...". What a blessing it is to know that the Lord loves us enough to have provided the Plan of Happiness for us and the knowledge that we can be with our loved ones again. The Lord will never leave us comfortless if we but turn to him for comfort and peace. I hope and pray daily that comfort and peace will bless the lives of everyone in the Low family. Having gone through something so tragic is a very difficult thing. I think a lot of people think of the parents, siblings and wife first, but it's important to remember that he was a nephew and soon to be uncle, a grandson, a cousin and friend. I think sometimes those people get left behind when someone dies. I hope that everyone in the family, immediate and extended, feel that comfort and love and peace. I know that he must have been a very valiant servant to have been called home so early. There is a greater work for him on the other side, and tho it is difficult to see or understand the big picture sometimes, it is a blessing to know that we will all see each other in the next life. I can't wait for that day to see the people that I love that I've lost. What a joyous day that will be.

So, I think that's all for now.

Pictures, events, and a draw

There has been a lot that has happened in the last few days so this may be a big, jumbled post, but bear with me.

On Sunday we went to my Aunt's for dinner and Tanner saw the ensign and said "It's President Monson...Yea!!! We follow the prophet". It was so sweet.

OH WAIT WAIT...the night before the reason I was up so late was because of this little sneaky devil



I came home from work and saw that the mouse trap under the computer desk was flipped over and so I went a little closer to see if the mouse was in it...nope. So I went to put something down on the counter and I hear this little "squeak, squeak". When I turned around, there was the mouse on the back of the loveseat just sitting there. I threw a sock and ball at it and it didn't move. So I went and woke Matt up (this is at 12:30am) and he put it in a bag and put it in the garbage. He discovered it was injured and put it out of it's misery before he threw it out. I HATE mice!

Anyways, so then yesterday I thought of a great idea of how to get Tanner to sleep in his room. We bought this tent thing at IKEA a few years back for him to play in and it ended up just holding all his stuffed animals. When we moved here, I had put it away thinking nothing of it. So I thought "if I get it out, I wonder if Tanner will sleep in it". So yesterday, I asked him if I pulled out his tent, would he sleep in his big boy bedroom in his tent. He of course was excited about this and couldn't wait for me to get it set up. So these are his new sleeping digs:




Yesterday, I went into the new, local quilt shop, which, by the way, has BEAUTIFUL fabric. Probably the most beautiful I've ever seen. I love this store and I think it will quickly become a favorite place of mine. Anyways, I bought a magazine that had some really cute apron patterns...I have a little fetish for aprons lately. I had my name entered into a weekly draw and guess what???? I WON!!! This is what I won:





The fabric on the top (the brown polka dotted stuff, the striped one and the 2 other polka dot fabric), is what I'm thinking of making a duvet cover out of. I think I'd like it to be reversible so I'll do the polka dots on one side and the stripes on the other. I have a picture of what I want it to look like in my mind but I can't really explain it. ALSO....my name will be entered for a sewing machine at the end of the month! Can you even stand it??? I can't. That would be so exciting. I don't have a sewing machine and my Mom is suppose to be getting one of the 3 she has repaired for me but she just hasn't had the time. I think I'm more excited for that then tomorrow.

So because I'm feeling really really really good today, I'm having a draw of my own today. 5 cards for a lucky individual. All you have to do is tell me in the comments section what has been your favorite card you have recieved and if you send cards yourself. I will keep the draw open until Sunday. I'll post the winner on Monday. Only 1 post on the contest will be counted. Here is a picture of the cards. There is a thank you, birthday, friend, love and misc. card.




So I hope you all enjoy this fun filled post.

Afraid

Hearing about people dying is always a very difficult for me for a lot of reasons. Mostly, I think, becaue it puts my life in perspective and makes me think about what I would do in that kind of situation. Death has always been a very prevelant thing in my life (I know that sounds really horrible, but it feels like people and family members die like flies in my family) and it's sometimes really really hard. I was thinking about this family friend of ours who's son died this last week.

Now before you think I'm wallowing in self pity, please know that I AM NOT. For some reason the situation around the death of this very young person evokes A LOT of feelings.

I thought about what I would do and how my life would be different if that were me. The bottom line whenever I think about death is that I am afraid. Terrified, actually. I, for a long time, have not liked going to sleep because I am afriad I or someone in my house might die when I am asleep. I'm not afraid of death itself...in terms of meeting the Savior and seeing my Dad again, but the reason I am afriad is because:

1. I honestly don't think anyone else could love me as unconditionally as Matt does. I don't think that I have been the easiest person to love and I know that he loves me no matter what and he always tells me I'm perfect to him. I'm not sure my heart would ever be full again without him in my life.

2. I think that I've had my fair share of death in my immediate family. Losing my Dad...well, that's a whole other post which I would never write about because it is such a personal, intimate thing for me that I would never choose to expose my feelings on that to "bloggerland" stalkers.

3. I COULD NOT ever leave Tanner. Now I know what I'm about to say may come off egotistical or arrogant but I'm sure those of you who know me and my life, will understand where it is coming from. I truly don't believe that anyone else in this whole world is as capable of taking care of Tanner or loving him like I do. I don't believe that anyone else could ever truly appreciate the struggles that we have endured to have him here and to get him to where he is and who he is. I just would be sick if Matt go re-married and she was horrible and spiteful or resentful of our experience and journey with Tanner.

4. I am afraid to be alone. That is one of my deepest fears. I just can't be alone. I don't think that I could start over again with the whole dating thing etc. That would be so hard, I think. I'm not very young...I'm not old, either, but it would take more effort now.

5. We can't afford for any of us to die. That sounds terrible, but I don't know how we'd pay for a funeral. So that's my sanity right now is knowing that we can't literally afford for any of us to die.

I'm sorry that this is a bit of a morbid post, I just needed to write down my personal feelings on the situation. This post is a bit more intimate than my normal posts but this is just who I am and what I feel.

On a different note here are a couple of Tanner sayings:

When his friend Shelby came to the door he ran to the bathroom (where I was at) and yelled "MOM, MOM, my girlfriend is here!"

Then later that evening, we were getting ready to go to Cardston to the high school play and he said "Who's going to babysit me while you and Daddy are gone?" and I said "No one is, you're coming with us" and his cute face lit up and he said "I get to come?". He loves going to Cardston and know's it a special place and he loves seeing the Temple. We can tell he's excited to go there already. We take him there for pictures and last year we went for a picnic there. We're going to try and do that again this summer. I think it's a really special thing to be able to take him there. Even if he can only go inside the foyer or on the lawn. He know's it's a special place.

Work was so slow tonight and so I got A LOT done. We have this weekly cleaning chart to do and I did all of it (except 4 things) on Wednesday because it was slow that night too. Well, tonight, I re-did all the things again plus did the 4 things I didn't get to on Wednesday. Plus, I cleaned a bunch of other things too. It was such a nice feeling to be able to get it all done. Sometimes the other girls are not as productive and then it leaves little time to do the extra stuff that could be done if they'd stop chit chatting or texting their friends while sitting around doing NOTHING!. Aghh...there's a reason it's called W-O-R-K people. It's not a slack off job. If you can't mulit-task and chat and work (meaning cleaning) then don't chat. Anyways, enough said about that. It's just that the girl I worked with tonight is like that ALL the time and that's why I think I get more done when I'm working with her because I try to do all the things I know she won't. She usually just watches me clean. Which is fine by me. Okay, now I'm done the work rant for real.

I have an amazing husband. When I came home on Tuesday, he was home and had cleaned the whole house. Plus he usually makes supper now and he let's me sleep in after a night shift on the weekend. He's so wonderful. I just really really really love him.

Okay, so that's it for now. Until later.

Unfair

I realize that it probably wasn't fair that I singled out certain people in my post about my 5 favorites. I just want to make it clear that I DO enjoy reading everyone's blogs and it's not because I don't like you that you didn't make the top 5 on the list. So to be fair, I will write something that I like about everyone's blog that is on the sidebar.

Kim: I love that you have your pregnancy counter on your blog. I love seeing it grow.

Rebecca: I love your pictures and reading about your life.

Lahni: I really love the videos you put on your blog

Malauney: I love that even though you think you have nothing interesting to say (which I don't agree with) that you keep blogging and keep us updated.

Tara: I love that I can read and feel connected years after we first met. I enjoy hearing about your life and what's happening.

Adrienne: I love reading your blog and the feeling of real life I feel when i read it. You are very real and I like reading about the everyday in your life.

Jen: I love that you always seem to have positive things to say.

Sarah: I like your layout on your blog and all the pictures. They aren't always of your kids and I like that.

Juliette: You life is so interesting to read about. Though you don't think that it is, I love reading what you endure. You are like a pioneer to me (in a good way).

Michelle: I am amazed at how well you handle your life and how successful you are in life.

Julie: You are just all over an interesting person. You have a lot of talent and a lot of knowledge on a lot of different things.

Amanda: I love your stories of Slade and your pictures are always fun to look at.

Brooke: I love that both you and Marc post on your blog. Your blog is the only one that I know where both partners blog.



I think that's everyone.

unbelievable

I was reading my friend, Christal's, blog this morning and what she posted...this is unfathomable to me. I can barely believe that this is true but it is. What is this world coming to????

On a different note, I found out this morning that a family that I grew up knowing, their son died a couple days ago. He was, I think about, 23 and married less than a year. I can't even imagine what this family is going through. I know that losing my Dad was very difficult, but to loose a sibling/son at such a young age...it's hard to grip my brain around it. My prayers go out to them at such a difficult time. He must have been a very valiant servant of the Lord to have the Lord call him home at such a young age. From what I know, he passed away in his sleep so at least it wasn't a painful thing. Well, I don't know that for sure, but I just assume that it wouldn't be. It is such an amazing blessing to be a member of the church and know without a doubt that we will see our loved ones again and that the Lord has a bigger plan for all of us. Though losing a loved one is a tremendous heartache, it is so wonderful to know that the Lord loves us and that maybe, perhaps, they are needed more on the other side.

Anyways, that's it for now. OH!!! I almost forgot my friday 5.

I will tell you my 5 favorite blogs that I stalk...in random order.

1. Bobbi-Jo...because she always has such great ideas.

2. Tiffany..because I love the way she is sarcastic and real

3. Christal...because she has lots of great things to say and I LOVE the music on her blog. I also love her pictures. Pictures are important to me, even though I don't post personal pictures, if I like the pictures on a blog, I'll check back more often. Weird...I know.

4. Jamie...because she is one of my best friends and I love her craftiness

5. Sharon...because I always feel when I read her blog, we are having a conversation. She writes how she talks. And she is very whitty.

I do check out all my other friends blogs every day, but for some reason, these are the ones I get most excited about. Maybe also because they post more regularly too. But not to make anyone feel bad. I do enjoy all my other friend blogs These are just 5 of the ones that are my favorite.

I hope everyone is having a great spring day!

Just wait...

Come back and check my blog out later today (maybe late afternoon). Do I have a post for you!!!!! I'm just running out the door so I can't post it now.

Still here

I just wanted to say that I'm still here. Just not too much to say. Just going through another "thinking" or what I like to think of as growing process. Trying to be patient in finding out what's happening with Matt's job and where our life is going to be in the next little bit. I'm not stressed about it. Matt is moreso. It's funny that we rarely seem to feel stressed or worried at the same time. We just take turns and this time, it's his turn to be stressed and mine to be the calm, rational, realistic one. I haven't been feeling that great lately. NO! I AM NOT pregnant so get the thought out of your heads. I can't sleep and I'm tired (I know, from the lack of sleep I'm sure). I'm not feeling as motivated to do things either. I'm just, as I like to say when I feel slow, chugging along.

I think I need to get on the treadmill very soon or have a run outside. Maybe tomorrow when Matt get's home...

OH! Could someone tell me how to add a link in a post. I would be really appreciative. Thanks. Like if I said go here and the word here is highlighted to take you directly to a link...if that makes sense.