It's times like these, I really wish I knew where my camera was. I'm currently sitting in the chair I normally migrate to in the morning. I'm sitting in Brother James' home, not  being lazy but, "making a baby." That's what my Relief Society President said I should say if I feel lazy.

A deer and her two fawns have walked past the window twice. That's normal for Rawlins. The deer and antelope here are like stray dogs in South America. They're everywhere. At least I'm not afraid these animals are going to rip my face off. 


As I sit here, not being lazy, I think about the future. In four months, we're going to have a baby! (Speaking of baby, we found out that the baby is 80% girl... we couldn't exactly tell from the ultrasound.) We're going to move to Evanston, visit home for a week, go on a pioneer trek, start a new job with three weeks of training, start Sam's first full-time student semester, take birthing classes. Oh, and Sam is going on a jaunt to Hawaii as well (at my insistence).  I'm excited by the prospect of newness. 


(How is it that I am an English major? My compositions almost never flow logically..) I was recently reminded by how important life is. We found out on Tuesday that Sam's mission president had unexpectedly passed away. It was a shock to us- and the President's family as well. 

People are what is important in life. 

I am so glad to have married someone who understands that. Sam values people more than many I know. We drove to Utah to see our friend for the last time before she goes on a mission for a year and a half. We went for people. Sam hung out with and still frequently talks to his friends that many others would purposefully avoid. He helps people move he doesn't know. I had the chance to listen to him at work the other day. I called him, and I'm not sure if he meant to answer, but he did. Well, answered the phone- but not me. I was able to listen to him talking with customers and serving them. He is good at what he does. 


That's enough of my unorganized thoughts for now! 

Us at an Ugly Sweater Party 2011

Aunt Nancy

There are just some people in life that significantly impress you practically the instant you meet them. 

I am lucky to be related to many of them. 

One such woman is my new aunt, Aunt Nancy. She is one of those people that I want most to be like in this world. 

Just meeting her, you know she loves you. That love she has is not exclusive either. She shows that toward everyone she meets and converses with. The first time I met her, I felt as though she adored me- and it wasn't forced or fake. That's just who she is. 

I could go on and on about this magnificent woman. She is a light to everyone who has been lucky enough to know her. She is incredibly talented. She is one of the most positive people I've ever known. She has had many more trials than I'm sure I know about, and I only know about them because I'm related to her close family. My sincere gushing could go on and on. 

I love this wonderful woman and hope to become more and more like her.

July 11, 2012 Whining Old Women

I can finally say that I semi-understand all the old men and women that whine about their aches and pains all the time. It just happens to be the most prominent news (from their point of view) that they and only they are experts in. We all enjoy being experts from time to time and when pain is such a major part of your day, it's rather hard to ignore. 

Of course, we've all learned in Sunday School to look on the bright side of things. It makes life better for everyone.

Instead of whining about these crazy little things I've come to learn are migraines, I will concentrate on how great life is when migraines don't take you out of the game completely.  

This past weekend my parents and brother drove down from Washington to visit Sam and I and Jemima (my pre-birth baby name- it'll change as soon as Sam and I agree upon something else) in Rawlins. It was so good to see them. It's amazing how much more value time seems to have when you have less of it. We enjoyed eating together, talking together, playing games together, taking a prison tour together, traveling together, going the Music and the Spoken Word together and simply being (while I had a migraine) in the hotel together.  (Sorry, no pictures- I can't find my camera anywhere!!!)

It was so nice being with my family. Just thinking about it makes me smile.  I admire each of them for so many reasons. 

My papa is such a hard worker. He is always doing something to improve himself and to learn. He is never bored. I love that about him. I love how excited he is about the baby. Practically, the first thing he asked me when he got to Rawlins was if he could touch my belly. Ha! I still find that to be a strange request. He wanted to feel the baby moving. Finally, on Sunday, he got the chance to feel it move. :) Made me happy.

My mama is the best mother I could've asked for. She loves me (and all her children) so much. You can just tell by what she does for us. This weekend she brought Sam and I our first baby gifts. She brought the softest blanket I think I've ever felt. I think I've looked at and felt it everyday since she gave it to me. It makes me feel loved. She was so good to me when my migraine hit. Just my mother's presence in such occasions as this makes me feel better in some measure. I don't know if it's the magical mother presence or if she had to learn that- either way, I appreciate it so much. She also has so many other talents that I'm trying to figure out-- one day perhaps I will. 

Mark makes me happy. He is so serviceable and kind and funny and good to the people around him. I just love being around him. In fact, that might be one of my favorite things about him. I do honestly miss being around him more often. He brightens up my life and makes me think more than anyone else I know.  I miss "fighting" with him. We argue about things we both don't care about, or he'll rile me up about something or another because he can. I miss that too! 

Sam- whoa! Today is our 5 month anniversary! He is incredibly kind and patient and gentle. He amazes me with so many of his good qualities. I am incredibly blessed to be married to him. He refuses to argue with me even when I'm in an argue-about-nothing kind of moods. He goes to work at 5:15 so we can have insurance and deals with truckers yelling at him daily. When I had my migraine in SLC and I needed something to eat, he went to Wendy's at least 3 times to get the chili and baked potato I requested. They were out of both, and then the third time he had to return and get the car because only the drive-thru was open. Awesome. 

Since I didn't have a camera when the family came, this is Sam and I on our cruise.. not sure what's going on exactly...