Ode to the Cold

Brew me a cup for a winter’s night./For the wind howls loud and the furies fight;/Spice it with love and stir it with care,/And I’ll toast our bright eyes,/my sweetheart fair.

- Minna Thomas Antrim

The beauty and brilliance that a winter storm brings to the landscape is much more evident now that we live "out in the country". We can watch as those mighty storms sweep in across the valley; one minute, darkened skies, the next - we're in the midst of one of Mother Nature's magical displays.

Last week's snow event was a fun treat and because it didn't accumulate too badly on the streets, we welcomed this storm with open arms. Right after breakfast, I dressed Benjamin in multiple layers of comfy gear & sturdy boots before we set out on a morning walk around the neighborhood. And although I don't have a picture or video, I'd say his favorite part was zipping down the slide, launching haphazardly off the end and landing in a soft pillow of snow. His laugh was contagious and I found myself wishing I could be in his shoes - well, sturdy boots.

All in all, it was a good day of snow play, stormy weather, warm comfort food and lots of fun.

And for all of those inquiring minds that didn't see on FB, here is a picture of my birthday present from Dave - the finished product. It turned out better than I could ever have imagined. And you know, it's the perfect place to stash coats and boots after an exciting adventure out in the snow.

I've officially decided that winter is my favorite season - for now.

Word of the Day - 2/25

~things i love~

Amidst a flurry of furious snowflakes, a minion of evil viruses and the whoosh as our busy lives rush by, I wanted to stop, rest and take a brief moment of repose on this sweet Friday morning. I've been thinking about things that make me happy - perhaps as a way to escape from the harsh realities with which life smacks us in the face sometimes. Here is a short list of silly, serious and wildly important things, all of which I love today, brought to you by my little word of the day.

co·pa·cet·ic adj \ˌkō-pə-ˈse-tik\
Definition of COPACETIC
: very satisfactory

This guy? Man, he has us wrapped around his little finger. This photo? It's a print from his 18-month shoot. The session was insanely bad; the photographer got about 6 pictures - and I hated all 6. I had a tired, cranky boy who was awoken from a nap to get pictures done - & unbeknownst to me, a day away from the full-blown flu. But you know, this lovely picture emerged from the ashes. And it's not bad; I think I might even like it now.

Years of wishing and dreaming are about to come to an end. We are getting our new bed today and I am beside myself with glee. We've had a California-style frame (the plain, metal one that you hide with a bed skirt) since we've been married. Before I was married, I had a smaller version of the CA frame since I was a wee child. Getting a real bed - made with real wood - it's beyond exciting. I can hardly wait for the hours of blissful sleep it will provide in the coming years.

Since I was quite small, I have been equally fascinated and horrified by this beautiful tale, which is most well-by the beautiful artwork of Maurice Sendak. However, I came across this quaint little print and fell in love with this different perspective; still somewhat scary but beautiful in its innocence and simplicity.

I love this picture.

It's from February 6th 2010; the day my world nearly shattered into a million pieces.

Want to know a secret? Although I had to wade through the deepest night of terrifying unknowns, dark nightmares and bone-aching sorrow, I wouldn't take it back - not for anything.

Why? Because along the way, I was buoyed up by the faith of a million prayers, surrounded by the most incredible support group of loving family & friends, and blessed with a calm assurance that everything would be ok. Because what I found on the other side of those absolutely desperate, lonely hours was the most incredible joy I've ever known. The image above is a vivid reminder to me that Faith is strong, Hope will get you through and Miracles have not ceased.
One year later, thankfully, we find ourselves well, solid, whole.

Blank slate. Blinking cursor. A fresh sheet of clean, white paper.

Whatever medium it may be, I love the beckoning of that empty space, eagerly waiting to be filled. And while it may seem like my blog would show otherwise, I enjoy the writing process immensely. So, I'm getting my ducks in a row, my writing manuals unearthed and my mind cleared. I'm ready to write something: something good; something great; or maybe something completely awful. Whatever the case, I'm back - and it's time to get to work.

A Year OIder, A Year Wiser

Belated Birthday Blurb

In the midst of all of the stomach flu fun last week, we missed a very important date - Dave's birthday! And while I know he doesn't like to make a big deal of it, I wanted to make a little deal of it right here; nothing showy or over the top, but just wanted to wish him a very happy, very belated birthday.

In our honor of his big day, I am pleased to present Dave Barry's "25 Things I've Learned In 50 Years". (PLEASE note that the Dave Barry list is not at all a nod to Dave's new age, but rather his love of all things hilarious. And Dave Barry, well - he's is all things hilarious. And if you have never heard of Dave Barry, well - that is not hilarious at all.).

* Funny side note - the list below only has 22 "things"; perhaps he wanted the readers to make up a couple more?

1. The badness of a movie is directly proportional to the number of helicopters in it.
2. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe Daylight Saving Time.
3. People who feel the need to tell you that they have an excellent sense of humor are telling you that they have no sense of humor.
4. The most valuable function performed by the federal government is entertainment.
5. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
6. A penny saved is worthless.
7. They can hold all the peace talks they want, but there will never be peace in the Middle East. Billions of years from now, when Earth is hurtling toward the Sun and there is nothing left alive on the planet except a few microorganisms, the microorganisms living in the Middle East will be bitter enemies.
8. The most powerful force in the universe is: gossip.
9. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above-average drivers.
10. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is: age 11.
11. There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.'
12. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
13. Nobody is normal.
14. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be: meetings.
15. The main accomplishment of almost all organized protests is to annoy people who are not in them.
16. If there really is a God who created the entire universe with all of its glories, and He decides to deliver a message to humanity, He will not use, as His messenger, a person on cable TV with a bad hairstyle.
17. You should not confuse your career with your life.
18. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.
19. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.
20. When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that individual is crazy.
21. Your friends love you anyway.
22. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

Photo Collage - Moods of a Sick Boy

It was a snowy, cool day, so we stuck to the house. Plus, we're all busy trying to get well. Until the funness factor gets ramped up a bit, I present the various moods of a kiddo who is still lingering on the Sick List.

Plus, I was kind of bored; taking lots of pictures, then organizing them on Photoshop seemed like a nice way to pass the time.

I Will Survive

"If you can't make it better, you can laugh at it."

— Erma Bombeck

I have a very good excuse for my weeklong blogging absence - getting rid of The Sick. I wish I could write of a week full of fun adventures, of bright moments and magical things. But our last seven days had few shining moments. Instead, there were moments that sent me to the brink, to a place filled with all manner of dark, horrible, sickly things.

The worst part was that Benjamin was sick AND so was Dave.

Two sickies in one house = lots of ick: lots of laundry; lots of wipe, rinse, repeat; lots of diapers; lots of ick. There was a major low point, an Apex of Awfulness, if you will. Dave asked if I would blog about IT and I said I had some decorum; it is really TMI, in a major way. Suffice to say, at said Apex, I exclaimed: "I'm done!". I was ready to board the first train out of Virusville and never come back - it was that bad & I was beyond exhausted.

One afternoon, I discovered the timer setting on my camera. And in the midst of The Sick, I managed to snap a self-portrait. I think I would title it, "Coping - Really?".

Oh, and did I mention? - I got sent home sick from work today. Fortunately, I just finished off a 6-hour nap, which was preceded by an 11-hour night of sleep on Sunday (I went to bed at 6:30pm!). Now I feel like a new woman, besides the achy muscles, throbbing headache and gurgling, churning stomach, of course.

Looking back on it now, this whole experience was so incredibly awful, it kind of makes me chuckle and I've realized that this is just the beginning of a long road of fabulous highs, sprinkled with some really low moments. During those "lows", I will have to think back to Erma's quote (above), and remind myself that if you can't make it better, at the very least - you can always laugh.

Love/Sick

Valentine's in the Land of Sick

Not much time to talk details, but let's just say that we sort of phoned in this Valentine's, thanks to a ubiquitous stomach flu. Dave was sick. Benjamin was sick. I was tired - with "The Sick" likely lapping at my heels.

After work, I stopped at Papa Murphy's for a pizza and much to my delight, got a great deal: a Large Hawaiian/Pepperoni for $6.50! At home, I added red onions and green peppers to the pepperoni (we're not huge fans) and although I overcooked it a bit (Read: BURNT TO A CRISP), it was good. I also had some freshly cut tomatoes, strawberries and green grapes, accompanied by tall glasses of ice water to round out our fine meal. I threw an arrangement of mini carnations and red plates on the table to jazz it up, Valentine's-style.

After dinner - and a surprisingly early bedtime for Benjamin (6:45pm!!) - Dave & I shared our V-Day dessert treats. I pulled out the leftover sugar cookies from the YW reunion breakfast, and leftover chocolate cake from his birthday dinner on Sunday.

While not the most exciting Valentine's evening ever, it was relaxing and fun to spend time together. We finished the celebration off by watching the newest episode of "Castle", a show we recently discovered and really enjoy. Whether relaxing in the house, an evening of fine dining at the Space Needle, or bungy-jumping off a bridge with your significant other, we hope everyone else had a wonderful V-Day too!

Word of the Day - 2/14

A Language Lesson

As a past English major, I have this thing for words. They are a wonderful way to express yourself... and there are loads of them to fit every feeling, thought and moment. I've been known to troll the dictionary, just for fun, looking for new & weird words. Yep, you read that right; I read the dictionary - JUST FOR FUN. Laugh if you want, but that's how I roll, or troll.

Today's word was chosen because it so aptly describes how I'm feeling on this drippy, cool February 14th (& Monday) morn. I'm hoping my word of the day changes later as the Day O' Love blooms into a day fit for a more holiday-worthy word.

For now, here is "languid":

Lacking enthusiasm, energy, or strength; drooping or flagging from weakness, fatigue, or lack of energy; indisposed to exertion; sluggish; relaxed: as, languid movements; languid breathing; Heavy; dull; dragging; wanting spirit or animation; listless; apathetic

1.5

18 months, and counting...!

Hard to believe it, but this little guy has been in our life for 18 months, as of yesterday. That milestone is a big one, as he gets to join the ranks of the nursery kiddos at church. It was not the best start today, but we are hoping for better success in the weeks to come. He is a busy kid that keeps us on our toes - but he is really one amazing little boy and we love him a whole lot.

Going Nonstop

Have you "Gymagine-d" lately?

On Friday, we met up with Michelle and her two boys, Ethan & Evan, for open gym at a place called Gymagine. My SIL, Rachel, takes her girls there and she let me in on the secret. It's nestled back in an industrial park close to our old ward building, so the drive wasn't too bad.

I'll keep the narrative at that, as the pictures tell the story quite well. Suffice to say, we all had an awesome time and it was worth every penny! And you can bet we'll be there again next week...

Death of a Blog

why do we write?

We write to tell our truth.

We write to know who we are.

We write to find our voices.

We write to save the world.

We write to save ourselves.

We write so that when we look back

And see that moment when we are

Totally clear, completely brilliant

And outstandingly wise,

There is proof -

Proof right there on the page.

~Nancy Slonim Aronie

If my blog required food, water and rest, I think it might be ok. But it doesn't need any of that stuff. What it does need is a steady supply of posts, filled with funny anecdotes and semi-interesting stories, sprinkled with a picture or image here and there.

It appears that my lack of posting is steadily killing my blog.

I've noted the following corollary - no posts, no photos, no readers, no comments.

But no more.

My blog was on the brink of death. I'm trying to bring it back to life. We're going back to the beginning; a simpler time with more frequent postings... hopefully. Three posts in one week is a sure sign that this little blog is on the road to recovery. Bring on the writing!

yea!

Five Words

Thoughtful? vs. Nice?

Nearly eight years ago, I moved in with my brother & his family so that I could save for a down payment on my townhouse. My sister-in-law, Heather, and I were already good friends by that point. But, over the course of that year, we became much closer. We cooked, cleaned, and exercised together. She would come into my room after her kids were in bed; we'd sit on my goose-down bed, talking & laughing for hours.

I can't remember when, but one particular night we stayed up late talking like best friends at a slumber party. At some point in the conversation, she told me something that completely shocked me. Five little words, but the phrase spoke volumes to me; she simply said, "You're thoughtful but not nice". And it was not shared in malice or as an insult; she was simply sharing the view from her perspective. If it had come from anyone else, the friendship would have been seriously damaged, if not completely destroyed. But not with Heather; although somewhat hurt by the comment, her brutal honesty made me sit up and think - how do I come across to people? How does what I do affect others? How do I become NICE?

Years earlier, we had attended high school together and more than a few people thought I was stuck-up. Heather even thought so back then. I heard it a lot from people; things like, "before I got to know you, I thought you were a snob" or "you are so much nicer than I thought". The idea that I seemed mean to someone is personally painful to consider; I came across enough mean girls in school to know that that kind of treatment didn't feel good.

Truth be told, I was painfully shy back then - and (although some may not believe it) sometimes, I still am. I love doing things for others whether it's baking cupcakes, writing a note or creating a craft project - but that is more the THOUGHTFUL side of things, I suppose. Or maybe it's nice too, who knows? I've tried to figure out how I am not nice, and what I can do to change. Try as I might, I feel I often fall short. And those five little words hover in my subconcious as a painful reminder of my many deficiencies.

So, why share this now? Maybe she was right, maybe she was wrong - I don't know for sure. Dwelling on one's faults is not the best use of time, but her words, all of these years later, continue to haunt me. When I do something for someone, in the back of my head, I finding myself asking the question: "is this being nice or just thoughtful?". I guess I shouldn't care what others think of me; that's very much a high-school mentality. But at the heart of the matter, I want to be better and want to be both... if that's even possible.

It's The Little Things

Birthday #37 Wrap-up

I've decided birthdays are really, really awesome when you are a kid and then steadily decrease in funness after the age of 18. I think parents do an amazing job of making you feel special by throwing parties, showering you with love and gifts, bringing cupcakes to your school and generally causing a major hoopla, all in honor of the day you were born.

After you leave home, people are not so keen to whoop it up. Meanwhile, your childhood memories get you ramped up for a day of total merriment, and when that doesn't happen, well, it's kind of a bummer. And at least for me, it's not an "I'm getting older, what a bummer" but rather a, "No one remembered or cares - bummer". That is part of the reason I personally take it upon myself to do the weeklong celebration... so I can make my birthday extra special and memorable.

Maybe I'm the only one that feels that way. But after talking to some friends, I know I'm not alone. That's why even the smallest gesture on one's day of birth is a very big deal to the birthday person. I think any woman would agree with me; when it comes down to it, it really is the thought that counts.

"The Rose"

(Not to be confused with the song of the same name, this rose is part of my birthday tale.)

Last Monday was my birthday and I had to work - kind of a double whammy. I think birthdays on Mondays should be illegal. As my hectic, unfun work day was coming to a close, I was frantically trying to finish an order when Dave casually walked into my office (a secure location with keypad entry). I looked at him and said, "How did you get in here?" and he replied simply, "I have my ways". He smiled and handed me a bud vase; I kid you not, I nearly started crying. It had been a crazy, busy day and everyone at work forgot it was my birthday. But my husband? He brings me flowers. And you know what? That simple gesture made my day.

The "I've Got Big Plans" Surprise

(My husband is not a woodworker. We have no tools, no shop, no aspirations to just build stuff. Well, at least not until recently.)

When we moved into the ward, Dave was assigned a hometeaching companion. His companion happens to be Darwin, my boss from the UW, one of the past bishopric counselors from Everett 5th ward days, and the guy that claims to be the reason that Dave & I are together. He's a funny guy and is always asking us for a woodworking project that he can do for us. Dave announced the new companionship to me and I chuckled. Dave likes his HT visits to be short & sweet; he delivers the message, finds out if they have any needs, and then leaves. Darwin is a great guy, but man, he is so talkative and friendly, I knew they would have marathon HT visits. And you know what? I was right.

Shortly after the announcement, Dave told me that he was going hometeaching. And then a few nights later, another hometeaching visit was needed. And another. Being the uber-supportive wife that I am, I waved goodbye with a smile each time.

Over the past month, I periodically asked him what we were doing for my birthday, to which he woudl respond, "I've got big plans". After that comment, I started noticing a slew of clues. Being the suspicious sort, I started putting the puzzle together:

1. Dave & I have been talking about getting an entry way bench for our house, but due to budget stuff, we would need to wait a while.
2. Marathon HT visits started happening.
3. Dave would ask to take the truck for the visits. Oddly, the seats would come back folded down.
4. Darwin came over one night after HT because he wanted to see our new house. He casually around and then seemed to focus on the space where we would put the new bench. We were about to go upstairs to see the rest of the house and he was like, "don't need to see it, gotta go!" And they both left for some more "home-teaching".

I went to lunch with Linda one day and told her my suspicions. The Friday prior to my birthday, he had to work late. I was super tired, worn out and getting increasingly frustrated with a busy toddler as the hours rolled by. When Dave finally got home, I was bathing Benjamin and nearly in tears. He walked into the bathroom and was smiling. I was not. He asked if I wanted to go see my surprise gift and I snapped, "No!" (such a nice wife, huh?!) and walked out of the bathroom. Well, he told me what it was and I then quickly retorted that I already knew, that I figured it out.

And just like that - POOF.

Talk about taking the wind out of someone's sails. I am so not proud of my behavior. The look on his face said volumes - it was like a dagger to my soul. I quickly tried to fix it by agreeing to go see it. We went to look at it and it was so wonderful. I apologized profusely for my childish antics, but the damage was done. I am a mean, mean birthday girl and don't deserve a darn thing.

But you guys - despite my less-than-lovely behavior - Dave was excited to show me his gift. I was pretty amazed because the bench is beautiful. He told me he has been spending the last several weeks designing and building it, but there is still much more to do. And although I don't deserve it after my little episode, this is the sweetest thing that Dave has ever done for me. Gosh, I love that guy - who loves me even at my worst.

Making Whoopies!

Valentine Treats Gone Wild!

I've wanted to try these out for a long time. Until a few weeks ago, I never had a great reason. After baking up these magnificent morsels, I knew I was in love.

Whoopie Pies are the Pièce de résistance of snack-ish desserts. A cookie/cake hybrid, the chocolately goodness envelops a creamy, rich center. Think Suzie Q's or Oreo Cakesters, but on a much highly level of delectability. These things are A-MAZING.

So, I did what any good friend would do - I made a fresh batch for my girlfriend breakfast on Saturday morning. This little pre-Valentine treat is sure to please - and they are a great alternative to the normal eggs & bacon dish, right?

For those inquiring minds that want to know, Epicurious is the place where I found the recipe for the delish dessert. OR - just click HERE!

Total Funness Potential

Total Funness: Make your own JP original!

I don't know why it is, but I NEVER seem to have time to blog when I'm at home; it may be because of an ever-growing Things-To-Do List... well, accomplishing those things WHILE being stalked by a nearly 18-month-old little boy. And I often wonder why I can't just sit down for a few minutes to jot down my thoughts. Ha!

But, at work? I always seem to find a minute - and the inclination - to write (on breaks, of course!). Unfortunately, that is also why, as of late, there has been a sad absence of fun pictures (with the exception of my beautiful artwork above!). So, somewhat pictureless, here I am in all my blogging glory. It's Friday and I really shouldn't be here, but was called in to fill in for a lady, who decided to show up. So, I'm not needed, shouldn't really be here, and I'm ready to go home. But before I zip away into the still-dark morning, thought I would put something down on "virtual paper".

Weekend plans are shaping up nicely. After work, it's off to pick up Benjamin, followed by this list of potential fun-ness (and by potential, I mean I may or may not get to do all of it):

• Play stake women's volleyball.
• Make a special treat for one of my BP YW - sweet #16 doesn't come along very often, and even though I'm not her leader (or even in the ward for that matter), I know how much it means to get little surprises on one's birthday.
• Design and make three thank-you cards and a birthday card - & deliver with the treats.
• Have lunch with three of my favorite ladies
• Mend pants, iron shirts, do laundry, clean bathrooms, do dishes, sweep, mop, sort mail, pay bills, vacuum the house, organize the garage, and save the world. I know it's a bit ambitious, but I have fun checking off my to-do list, so we'll see what happens!
• Watch "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" before it's due back to Red Box
• Make dinner for my parents. Their request? My special recipe for White Chicken Chili that you can find HERE. Made it for Christmas Eve and everyone loved it, even my dad who is the pickiest eater I know!
• Go on our Friday Date Night - this week, it's a night at the gym and I'm actually really excited to go! Could be Zumba, F.I.R.E. or a dip in the pool, but all sound good to me.
• Dinner reservations at ClaimJumper
• Tri-Birthday Breakfast with my Girls; going to SawMill at Mill Creek Town Center with this group is the perfect equation for an absolutely lovely outing.
• Decide between the Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred or the Jackie Warner's Circuit Training. Both totally kick my butt with rocking planks, deep squats and hundreds of lunges.
• Dinner with Dave's fam at Crossroads - where the variety of food court establishments will leave your mind reeling!

I'm excited for all the funness coming our way!