I'm back from my trip out west. Here are some post game highlights. Details and pics to follow later.
Thurs:
1. I got to meet up with my sister for my mini vacay.
2. I got off plane, walked across the aisle, and waited 10 minutes to greet Bo Peep as she deplaned.
3. We ate at J Dawgs for lunch. Yum.
4. Toured the new BYU alumni building and the roof top of the building formerly known as the SFLC (pronounced syphilis.. hence the name change.. to what I can't remember... following the buildings demolition and rebirth.. but it's still the SFLC as far as I'm concerned only waaaaay cooler).
5. Jaunt through the WILK and bookstore in search of Jimmer. I mean Jimmer. I mean Jimmer paraphenalia. And Jimmer. Sadly no sightings although I did get to touch his jersey. Well, not his his.. but replicas that they had for sale. It's just a teensy weensy crush that's all. I would maybe definitely break my age rule for him.
6. Purchased BYU chocolate milk at the bookstore. Which, is the single most divine chocolate milk to grace this earth. I'm not kidding. I think it is celestial quality. Seriously.
7. Saw Bo Peeps BFF Tierra as Motormouth Maybell in Hairspray at the Hale Theater and she ROCKED IT! No joke that girl has one amazing set of chops. I wish she lived here so I could see all of her performances.
8. Crashed at 11:30pm from sheer exhaustion.
Friday:
1. Slept in.
2. Met up with my cute sister Dinah and her precious little ones for lunch at Cafe Rio... aka Mana From Heaven. I got to be in UT last year for the birth of her youngest and he is so cute! He even let me snuggle and love all over him.
3. Ran some errands and met up with Griffs my old mission comp and BYU roomie.
4. Rode to SLC with Griffs for my mission reunion and it was AMAZING. One of the biggest highlights of my trip. Truly. I got to see some friends that I haven't seen since the mission. I even got to see the daughter of the bishop in my last area. My mission president and his wife gave us a mission conference. It was truly a wonderful evening.
5. Dinner at Cafe Rio. Twice in one day? No complaints here. :)
Saturday:
1. Conference - morning session at the hotel with my sis.
2. Conference - afternoon session at the conference center in SLC. We had two extra tickets that we gave away to a Stephanie and a Loraine. Funny story to share. Later.
3. Rode to WY to my cousins ranch aka my home away from home. I wish I could transplant the ranch closer to me. There was snow and lots of it.
4. Dinner with the peeps. Steak and baked potatoes. Homemade ice cream. Delish.
5. Games and chatting.
Sunday:
1. Breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, cinnamon rolls. Goodness on a plate.
2. Conference - morning session.
3. Lunch and family conversation.
4. Conference - afternoon session.
5. Dinner with the peeps. Beef stew, cornbread, strawberry shortcake on top of thick sugar cookies.
6. Conversation with the peeps.
**Talking, eating, and relaxing are my three favorite reasons to go to the ranch. Also, it snowed like foot Saturday night so everything was gorgeous Sunday with a fresh layer of snow.
Monday:
1. Breakfast at the ranch and then headed to the airport.
2. Lunch at the airport with my sis and she got to stay with me at the gate til I boarded.
3. Home at 11:30pm. UCONN won. Boo.
Thank you to all those who made this vacation happen. Truly one of the best I've ever had.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
confessions.
The following will be a list of true confessions. Don't judge.
1. This will not be complete by the end of the post.
2. I laugh at inappropriate times.
3. I laugh when I'm nervous.
4. I laugh when people fall. I'm not proud of that but these are my confessions.
5. Lets be honest... I laugh a lot... mostly because I find lots of things really funny.
6. I used to draw elaborate floor plans for a dream house on the margins of my paper when I was bored in school. Those floor plans usually involved a three story bedroom with a slide from top to bottom, a ginormous closet, and a pool.
7. I hate making my bed every day. I think it's stupid because I just crawl into it again every night. But... I do it anyway because I'm trying to implement order in my life.
8. I have an unhealthy appreciation for diet cola drinks.
9. I think the colors of plants are the richest on a rainy overcast day.
10. I compare my weaknesses to other people's strengths. It is totally unintentional and I don't recommend but it happens. I can't lie.
11. I like lipstick and fun eye shadow colors.
12. Oh, and I like crazy nail polish colors. Dark blue... BYU blue is currently my favorite.
13. I may or may not have a teensy crush on Jimmer. Okay... true confession.. I do.
14. I really really like to watch birds in flight. Especially when there are tons of them migrating. So neat.
15. Reading is the best because I get to be another person for a while on a really fun adventure.
16. I'm a blog stalker.
More to come. Stay tuned.
1. This will not be complete by the end of the post.
2. I laugh at inappropriate times.
3. I laugh when I'm nervous.
4. I laugh when people fall. I'm not proud of that but these are my confessions.
5. Lets be honest... I laugh a lot... mostly because I find lots of things really funny.
6. I used to draw elaborate floor plans for a dream house on the margins of my paper when I was bored in school. Those floor plans usually involved a three story bedroom with a slide from top to bottom, a ginormous closet, and a pool.
7. I hate making my bed every day. I think it's stupid because I just crawl into it again every night. But... I do it anyway because I'm trying to implement order in my life.
8. I have an unhealthy appreciation for diet cola drinks.
9. I think the colors of plants are the richest on a rainy overcast day.
10. I compare my weaknesses to other people's strengths. It is totally unintentional and I don't recommend but it happens. I can't lie.
11. I like lipstick and fun eye shadow colors.
12. Oh, and I like crazy nail polish colors. Dark blue... BYU blue is currently my favorite.
13. I may or may not have a teensy crush on Jimmer. Okay... true confession.. I do.
14. I really really like to watch birds in flight. Especially when there are tons of them migrating. So neat.
15. Reading is the best because I get to be another person for a while on a really fun adventure.
16. I'm a blog stalker.
More to come. Stay tuned.
Monday, March 14, 2011
lessons from dad.
I keep having all these really cool/funny/interesting ideas for blogs... things I want to say but when it gets time to typing them all out I suddenly get lazy. Don't judge. I'll get around to them I promise... the following is at the top of the list.
So just this Sunday I taught Relief Society on the topic of charity... which honestly was a lesson meant first and foremost for me. Somehow, I am in constant need of a reminder to reach outside of myself and love those around me... particularly those I find hard to love. At any rate, while preparing for my lesson I kept hearing the voice of my Dad in my head.
But before I share that story I feel like I need to back up and explain a character "issue" of mine. I tend to get, umm.. a little bit passionate when I think people are the victims of unjust life circumstances (e.g. racism, sexism, poverty, abuse, etc.) and when people I care about are hurt by another I literally lose rational perspective in defense of the loved one. Literally lose it. Lose it. Lost. Gone. But I digress.
Back to Dad. (Some of you may have heard me tell this story... so feel free to skim or check back later for other fun posts.) I don't remember the exact year but it was shortly before grad school started or not long after... I was sitting in my Dad's office, as I like to do, engaged in a one on one conversation with him. We were talking about the topic of adultery and discussing a particular situation of a family that is now anonymous in my memory but known to me at the time. One of the spouses had cheated on the other and was separated from the family. And I was M-A-D. Bitterly angry. It wasn't pretty. I exploded in a verbal tirade about what a terrible person the adulterer was. About how their family was suffering. About what an idiot... and other choice phrases... they were for all the insanely horrible choices they had made... for the pain and suffering they had caused all those around them. My voice was loud and my tone cutting. I felt angry from head to toe. And then when I went up for air my Dad took the opportunity to quietly and calmly say, "Aimee, where is your compassion?" The words stung me. All I could think was ... what do you mean where's my compassion? I have plenty. Being unable to respond as I was so stunned with my Dad's response that he proceeded to explain that the adulterer was in need of compassion for the choices they had made. For the fact that they would be alone in the process of repentance. Everyone else would be supporting the victim but the cause of all the hurt needed someone to love them. They needed someone to pray for them. They needed someone to take compassion on them.
I'm not gonna lie.. it took a while for the words to sink and for me to process them. "Where is your compassion?" They have haunted me since. Often when I am sitting in counseling sessions, across from others who have made poor hurtful choices, those words come back. When I am tempted to be offended or light up a verbal lashing about an offender I hear Dad's voice questioning me. "Aimee, where is your compassion?" When I was preparing for my lesson I couldn't get his voice and those words out of my head... "Where is your compassion?" As I studied my lesson I came to realization that having compassion is a huge part of charity. It is the act of showing empathy, particularly to those who have offended or done wrong... to my "enemies". It is the pure love of Christ. It is a requirement if I want to live with God again. A requirement. And frankly, I need others... I need Christ... to be compassionate with me. I will be forever grateful to my Dad, who guides his family by the power of the priesthood and listens to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost teaching me to be a better person. His decision to speak with boldness and with the Spirit has made ...and continues to make all the difference. I cherish our chats together. So, to my Dad... I say thank you. And Daddy, I love you.
So just this Sunday I taught Relief Society on the topic of charity... which honestly was a lesson meant first and foremost for me. Somehow, I am in constant need of a reminder to reach outside of myself and love those around me... particularly those I find hard to love. At any rate, while preparing for my lesson I kept hearing the voice of my Dad in my head.
But before I share that story I feel like I need to back up and explain a character "issue" of mine. I tend to get, umm.. a little bit passionate when I think people are the victims of unjust life circumstances (e.g. racism, sexism, poverty, abuse, etc.) and when people I care about are hurt by another I literally lose rational perspective in defense of the loved one. Literally lose it. Lose it. Lost. Gone. But I digress.
Back to Dad. (Some of you may have heard me tell this story... so feel free to skim or check back later for other fun posts.) I don't remember the exact year but it was shortly before grad school started or not long after... I was sitting in my Dad's office, as I like to do, engaged in a one on one conversation with him. We were talking about the topic of adultery and discussing a particular situation of a family that is now anonymous in my memory but known to me at the time. One of the spouses had cheated on the other and was separated from the family. And I was M-A-D. Bitterly angry. It wasn't pretty. I exploded in a verbal tirade about what a terrible person the adulterer was. About how their family was suffering. About what an idiot... and other choice phrases... they were for all the insanely horrible choices they had made... for the pain and suffering they had caused all those around them. My voice was loud and my tone cutting. I felt angry from head to toe. And then when I went up for air my Dad took the opportunity to quietly and calmly say, "Aimee, where is your compassion?" The words stung me. All I could think was ... what do you mean where's my compassion? I have plenty. Being unable to respond as I was so stunned with my Dad's response that he proceeded to explain that the adulterer was in need of compassion for the choices they had made. For the fact that they would be alone in the process of repentance. Everyone else would be supporting the victim but the cause of all the hurt needed someone to love them. They needed someone to pray for them. They needed someone to take compassion on them.
I'm not gonna lie.. it took a while for the words to sink and for me to process them. "Where is your compassion?" They have haunted me since. Often when I am sitting in counseling sessions, across from others who have made poor hurtful choices, those words come back. When I am tempted to be offended or light up a verbal lashing about an offender I hear Dad's voice questioning me. "Aimee, where is your compassion?" When I was preparing for my lesson I couldn't get his voice and those words out of my head... "Where is your compassion?" As I studied my lesson I came to realization that having compassion is a huge part of charity. It is the act of showing empathy, particularly to those who have offended or done wrong... to my "enemies". It is the pure love of Christ. It is a requirement if I want to live with God again. A requirement. And frankly, I need others... I need Christ... to be compassionate with me. I will be forever grateful to my Dad, who guides his family by the power of the priesthood and listens to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost teaching me to be a better person. His decision to speak with boldness and with the Spirit has made ...and continues to make all the difference. I cherish our chats together. So, to my Dad... I say thank you. And Daddy, I love you.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
belly overhang, thigh rolls, & big cheeks.
I've been thinking a lot lately about how cute little kids are. I mean one of my favorite things is when kids have had their baths and they have on these tight little pajama bottoms and their shirts barely cover their little distended bellies. It makes me want to squeeze them to pieces. Really, not many things cuter than that. Unless of course you count kids with thunder thighs. Juicy. Or really big pinchable cheeks.... face cheeks that is. So precious when fat face cheeks are paired with little pouty mouths and dainty little noses. I can't get enough of wanting to squeeze and love on them.
Somehow all of those things lose their appeal when you are my age. The cuddle appeal somehow disappears. A tragic reality. Truly.
PS.... I have also decided that teeny weeny baby hiccups are about the cutest sounds to ever grace my ears.
The end.
Somehow all of those things lose their appeal when you are my age. The cuddle appeal somehow disappears. A tragic reality. Truly.
PS.... I have also decided that teeny weeny baby hiccups are about the cutest sounds to ever grace my ears.
The end.
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