Sunday, November 25, 2012

My Type

Today I sorted through twenty years' worth of memories and I came across so many gems - I was literally laughing out loud at some of the funny things I found. 

One of the papers I found was a letter I wrote in Young Women's when I was 16, addressed to my husband, to be read the day before we get married.  Let me tell you, it's pretty classy - it begins:

"Dear Hubby,
Right now I feel like all boys are dirt and I'll never marry, so if I'm getting ready to marry you now you must be one pretty amazing guy."

Apparently I was having boy problems at the time, ha ha. 

Along the same lines, I found two pretty interesting lists - one I wrote in junior high of all the attributes I wanted my future husband to have.  For a thirteen-year-old, it was surprisingly thoughtful.  The full list has 27 characteristics, but some of them include: 
  • treats inferiors with respect
  • good with children
  • not cocky; humble
  • likes knowledge
  • can admit he's wrong or sorry
  • compromises
  • believes in equality
  • faithful; has integrity
And then I found another, less serious, paper entitled "My Type" - written sometime in high school.  This list also has 27 items such as:
  • can't have large nose
  • last name must start with a cool letter - l, d, c all good - and has to go well with my name and all my kid's names
  • first name must go well with Robyn (e.g. Bob and Rob)
  • must have clean fingernails
  • no facial hair (feels weird when kissing) - as if I knew that then
  • must like our six children's names
  • preferrably not a lard, though slightly lardish individual body parts okay (ie knees, pinkies, big toe, etc) 
Together that makes 54 characteristics that describe my future husband!  Anyone who has ever asked me before what my type is, feel free to see me and I'll give you a copy of the full list.

Holiday Dreamin

Don't you wish that the holidays could extend all throughout the year?  Think about it - wouldn't life be so much sweeter if every day you could

  • Express gratitude and pray as if it were Thanksgiving
 
  • Be filled with compassion and charity for those around you as if it were Christmas
 
  • Be inspired and bursting with exciting goals for life as if it were New Year's Eve 
 
  • Express your feelings for loved ones as if it were Valentine's Day

  • Feel full of awe and wonder at the beauty of mathematics like it was Pi Day.  He he.
 
  • Be filled with gratitude and humility as if it were Easter
 
  • Honor your parents and all they do for you as if it were Mothers or Fathers Day
 
  • Be filled with patriotic spirit and pride for our nation as if it were Independence Day
 

Just think what a good person you would be if you could embody all of the spirits of each of the holidays all throughout the year.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone

As the Thanksgiving season approaches I thought it would be appropriate to take a minute and express gratitude for just a few of the many wonderful blessings I have in my life.  I'm so thankful for:  

  • My incredible family.  I love every single one of them and each of them has unique traits that I look up to them for.  My siblings and parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents are AWESOME!  I'm so grateful for the opportunities we have to do things together and I'm so grateful for their support.
  • Fun-loving and supportive friends who keep my life entertaining.  I love each and every one of you and I'm grateful for the part you play in my life.  So many of you have been and continue to be good examples to me throughout my life. 
  • The opportunity to pursue an education, and the guidance to find a career which I'm passionate about.
  • A job which I enjoy doing, and coworkers which I genuinely love being around.  Last week I was honored to receive the Employee of the Quarter Award and as I looked around the room at all my coworkers I was almost overwhelmed by their excitement and happiness for me.  I work with the best people.
  • The opportunity to date wonderful young men so that one day I can enter the temple to join in an eternal marriage, confident in my choice.
  • The gospel and all that it encompasses.  My Savior and His ultimate sacrifice.  My Heavenly Father and the ability I have to pray to him each day.  The opportunity to gain skills and experiences by serving in the church.  The opportunity to live and grow and make choices (and repent) and learn some more.
  • This awesome country that we live in, with all of its freedoms.
  • The opportunity to see so many close friends (and most especially my best friend) find an eternal companion who makes them so happy.     


God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.  Have you used one to say "thank you?"  ~William A. Ward

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

That's So My Life

Every once in a while I have these awkward encounters that just make me giggle.  For your enjoyment, here are three little scenes from my recent life:


At a gas station, washing windows while waiting for my car to fill up.  

Random guy walks by.  

"Nice car."

"Thank you."  Continue washing windows.

Guy walks a few more steps and turns.

"And by the way you're really beautiful."

"Thank you."  Continue washing windows.

Guy walks a few more steps and turns.

"If you don't have a boyfriend then I'd be really interested."

"I do, but thank you."  Finish washing windows and retreat inside car.  



At a Walmart buying medicine because I had an awful cold.  Stop at a movie bin to find a movie so that I can veg out for the rest of the day.  

Holding two movies, trying to decide between them.  

Suddenly, random guy next to me says, "Hey I'll buy both of those for you if you'll go on a date with me tonight."  

Stare.  Head about to implode from the cold.  Blink blink.  "Sorry, what?"

Guy grins. "I don't usually do stuff like this, but I'm really in the mood for some good company tonight and I'd love to take you to dinner."

Me:  [stumblingly] "Oh.  I'm so sorry.  I actually have this really bad cold and I just stopped by to get some medicine.  And a movie.  And now I'm going home to veg for the rest of the day."

"Oh, okay.  Well if you change your mind I'll be over in the Home Improvement section."

Starts to walk away.  Turns back.

"I really will buy those for you."

"Um, I'm fine.  Thanks though."   




Today.

Driving home from work.  Singing along to the radio.  Life is pretty marvelous.

Car pulls up beside me and guy in passenger seat grins and waves.

Smile and wave back.  

Guy blows kiss.

Smile and pretend to catch it.

Guy mouths question.

Do you have a boyfriend?  

Pretend not to understand.

Light up ahead turns red.

Begin to brake.  

Guy starts rolling down window.  

Oh poop.  

Smoothly transition into turn lane.

Don't look back. 



It's too bad I don't have an affinity for guys who pick up girls at gas stations, grocery stores, on the street . . . I'm sure I've missed out on some wondrous opportunities  ;)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

A Thousand Years

I am in love with this song.


And if you liked that one, check out this awesome one below - it gave me chills.  I LOVE The Piano Guys

Saturday, November 10, 2012

These are a few of my favorite things . . .

    I love snow.  With all my heart.  I love watching it, I love playing in it, I even love driving in it.  Crazy, I know.  But why do I love snow so much?  Because of all the memories that it brings back to me:

Of playing in the snow with my family, building forts and giant snow slides, having snowball fights, playing badminton in the snow
 



Of warming up in front of a cozy fire surrounded by family and friends, drinking hot chocolate and cider and eating delicious food


Of skiing and sledding with good friends 





Of fun winter adventures with past roommates



 
















Of holidays spent with family - playing games, eating delicious dinners together, and gathering around at the end of the night to sing Christmas Carols








 Of snowshoeing, hiking in the snow, and cross country skiing with friends






  





























Of Christmas with my family



How could you NOT love snow?

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

3 Random Tidbits you probably DIDN'T want to know

1.  I went the last twelve years (50% of my life) without ever throwing up.

2.  That amazing track record has now been broken.

3.  I have a new personal record now - I've thrown up over 20 times within 3 hours.  Hurrah