Storms

So I don't know how many of you reading this live in Utah or the Wasatch counties, but if you are then you know how awful the air quality has been. For those of you who don't live here let me just fill you in. One morning I walked out to my truck and had the hardest time breathing. I felt like someone was blowing smoke in my face. They had to call everyday last week an inside day for all schools. If you don't know what that means it means that I have to be inside with my kids when they are supposed to be outside running out all their energy, it's been an energy loaded week! The sun was shining though which was a nice change, but things just looked dirty.

Then, just what we needed, a rain storm. It rained most of the day on Friday and Saturday. I sat at the gym, okay I was actually working out at the gym, and I made the comment to my friend "I love the rain it makes things feel and look so clean." Then on Sunday we woke up to a blanket of snow more rain and then more snow.

Think about it, LIFE, sunny on the outside but with poor quality on the inside making it hard to breath. Then a storm comes which at first makes things seem so much worse and more dreary, but the outcome of that storm is a clean feeling, and a fresh blanket of pure white snow.

This is a Gerbera Daisy that for some reason keeps living, despite my lack of watering (I forget its not a typical house plant). It never fails that when things seem so gloomy outside it will bloom. This is the second time this winter that is has bloomed for me. It just makes things outside so much better. It reminds me that beauty can still come out during a storm!

LIFE is good! I haven't been able to say that much lately, but I can now. And Its only going to get better! 12 days baby and I will have the happiest day of my life!

Woo Hoo!!

Compatibility

Q & A with Jamon and Staci (all these questions were asked to Jamon and I had to come up with his answers, you know the game)


Q: What was your first impression of Staci?
Jamon: She came in and said "we're going to be great friends, your going to love me." So I thought she was a fun and happy girl.
Staci: I told the same story but thought he might have added crazy with fun and happy.

Q: How many kids do you want?
Jamon: 6 kids
Staci: 6...8...6. 6 kids (really though we're going to have as many as we're supposed to have)

Q: What was your first date?
Jamon: Well there's been some discussions to what it is. I say it is when I took her to the Real soccer game. I paid for her.
Staci: He thinks its when he took me to the Real soccer game and I think it is when he asked me a couple weeks after we were officially a couple, and it was just him and I, not him and I and Tyson, and Scottie (not that is wasn't fun guys).

Q: What is Staci's best quality?
Jamon:her spirituality,
Staci: My spirituality

Q: What is your favorite physical feature?
Jamon: Her hair, or eyes. Her hair
Staci: My hair

Q: What is your favorite meal that Staci cooks for you?
Jamon: This sandwich she makes with avocados, bacon, it's really good
Staci: My calzones (which is actually his favorite, he just wanted to be different)

Q: When did you first know you were going to get married?
Jamon: When her friends gave me the cards with the ring info on it and her roommate talked to me about it.
Staci: When we got back together. (we both interpreted the question different)

Q: What is your favorite outfit that Staci wears?
Jamon: she wears these tight long sleeved shirts that look great, or the sweater, I don't remember the colors, that has stripes.
Staci: What I'm wearing now (which was one of the "tight," long, sleeved shirts.)

Q: What was your silliest fight?
Jamon: What is the back of the bed of a truck
Staci: Which side is the back of the bed of a truck

Q: What is the most embarrassing thing Staci has done in front of you?

Jamon: She sometimes sings in public and acts silly.

Staci: I don't do anything embarrassing (singing in public is not embarrassing)

Q: What is your favorite thing to do together?

Jamon: We do a lot of cuddling on the love sac and watch tv.

Staci: We like to cuddle and just be together. (I wanted to add make-out, but my aunt was there that would judge me, and I didn't want to look like a hussie, so I didn't say it)

So Does this mean we are compatible or that I can come up with the same answers he does. Either way we are getting married and I can't wait. We keep finding out new things about each other, which I guess is what makes relationships so exciting.

PS. this post is dated in Jan 4th because that is how long I've wanted to post this.

Honeymoon Suite and Trees

It's a tradition every year at Thanksgiving to make Candy houses. This year mom made mine twice as big as my nieces and nephews and told me it was my "Honeymoon Suite." Jamon and I had fun decorating it. Actually I had fun designing it and I hope Jamon had fun decorating with my specifications. Hmm...I wonder if that's how I'll be with our new house. I'm thinking, Yes. Sorry Honey!

Also every year after Thanksgiving my family packs up and heads to the mountains to cut down our Christmas Trees. There's not much that smells better then a fresh cut pine tree! This year I went with my parents, brother Wade and his Family, sister Jodee, brother Daniel and Jamon. There was no snow in Cedar City but once we headed up the canyon there was patches of snow and by the time we turned to where we were going there was about a foot of snow on the roads. It was great!! Jamon and I didn't bring any warm snow clothes, so we looked great in whatever clothes we could find at my parents house. We stayed warm, but my feet were so wet.

Jamon and I didn't have to search long for a great tree, but on our hunt for a saw we forgot about that tree and found the perfect tree. Our first Christmas Tree together. It was Great!!

A Little Pampering in Houston

While in Texas Jamon and I were able to enjoy a little pampering. Not only did I sleep at every chance I had, for example, every time I got into the car or every time the TV was turned on, but Jamon and I enjoyed a little hand waxing. Camille has a hand waxing machine thingy and let us use it. Jamon's reaction was great. He has never felt his hands feel so soft, and he kept rubbing them. He prefers the rough manly hands, which I guess I can't complain.

We also went to the Houston Temple and took some pictures. I had the crazy idea that we could get some pictures taken, possibly for an engagement picture, since it was still so green and flowers were still blooming. Well, they didn't turn out the way I was thinking. Some of them look okay, but I don't think they look good enough to send out in an announcement.

Here are my girls. Haylee, Kylee, and Brynlee. I don't know who was more excited about seeing each other. Me or the girls or Camille. The hardest thing about leaving was that Kylee actually sobbed the night before I had to leave telling me that she wanted me to be a part of their family so she could see me all the time. I talked to her and got her to sleep, and thought all was good until I got up in the morning she started it all over again. She's such a cutie, and I really do miss her tons all the time! When Kylee grows up she wants to be a Rock Star. Some of her favorite songs are Avril Lavigne "Girlfriend," High School Musical's, "What I've Been Looking For," and Chris Brown, "Kiss, Kiss." She also loves to make up her own words to songs. Here is a short clip of her singing.

Saturday is a Special Day...

I woke up Saturday morning, of course early, get some breakfast and go downstairs to catch up on some TV shows that I like to watch but never have time to do so. Stephanie comes to pick me up and we head to the gym to work on our figures. We have an excellent work out so we treat ourselves to a pedicure! Loved It. We then do a little shopping and then I go home to shower and wait to hang out with my Man, who is Jamon in case anyone is wondering. I just sit down to eat some lunch when Jamon comes in the door and says "Hi." It wasn't his typical "HI" so I asked what was wrong. He told me he fell off his long board and crashed. He cut his hand and his elbow was hurting. We fixed up his hand, that was ooooh so gross. I had to cut off the skin that was hanging on his hand. It was awful. I told him that he must have been so excited to see me that's why he was hurrying so fast.

So I then drove him to the Insta-Care, where we waited forever to get him x-rayed. Three hours later we leave with Jamon shot up with morphine and his arm in a sling. He has broken his elbow. We then head to Wal-mart to get him his meds and food for the next day. On our way home we stop and get Tyson (Jamon's brother) a Jamba Juice, because he just got his wisdom teeth out. We go to Tyson's give him his Jamba and watch the BYU game with him. After we had to the movies with Jamon's cousins then off to Cold Stone for Ice cream, which by the way was the best I've had there, and then a fun game of Rummikub. Good times. Jamon and I then sit down and did some chatting when he reached over to get something and then he slipped to his knees, said some very nice things to me and then popped the question. Yup, the "Will you marry me" question. I, of course, said yes! It was fantastic. I am now engaged and wearing the most jewelry I've ever worn. It is great though. I already can tell when I don't have it on!

So now let me tell you what was really going on. As I was making lunch, Jamon was on his way over to do some proposing and crashed and broke his elbow. So when I said he was just so excited to see me, He was thinking "you have no idea." We spend his proposing time and my happy time in the Insta-Care. Then for the rest of the day the ring sat in his jacket pocket, until he had time to get to his proposing. There is so much more to this story too. My friends lying right to my face about ring stuff, and proposing stuff, and Jamon stealing my phone to get my Dad's phone number, not thinking I noticed, yea right, I totally noticed!

Well this is the story. There is a few more tiny, insignificant details I could share, but for the sake of this getting to long I'll stop. Plan on February 7th for the big day!!

I'm getting Married!! Woo Hoo!!

I am so excited!

I've calmed down a little

Poor Jamon

The Happy Couple

Tagged

I don't usually do these, but for Melodie I think I can handle it

5 things on today's "to do" list...
1- Write up 4 monthly reports and 1 service plan
2- Go Running
3- Eat dinner (I hope I don't have to make it tonight)
4- Make some RS visits
5- Do a little kissin' with Jamon

5 snacks I enjoy (I don't snack much, and when I do it's the preschoolers treats or Healthy...
1- Mallow Magic
2- M&M's (from the kids bins)
3- Pineapple Tango
4 –Banana's
5- Whatever snack the preschoolers are having

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire...
1- QUIT WORK...maybe just go to work part time (I love my Job)
2- Buy a huge house with lots of room
3- PLAY
4- Spoil my nieces and nephews...and I guess everyone else
5- Shop

5 jobs that I have had
1-Newspaper carrier
2-Inbound calling center
3-Nanny/housekeeper
4-"Flower Girl" - SUU ground crew
5-Autism Specialist (I sound so important)

Rules:Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person that tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.
1.Just who ever wants to.

4 am Woes

Its true, I'm awake at 4 in the morning, perhaps having a pity party, or just trying to have patience. Having patience this early in the morning after being woken up from a much needed slumber by people tromping up stairs and going in and out of the kitchen that you sleep under and talking in the room next to where you are sleeping, is very hard. My test these last couple of months...patience, mixed with understanding, (can you have one without the other?). I always ask myself why things are the way they are, why are things happening. I'm always trying to figure out what lesson I'm learning from this or that trial so I can learn it and move on. Am I being prepared for a future with one person who I will get to live with forever and will get to enjoy all the quirks they have? Or is it simply learning to truly love my neighbor? How do I find the balance of being a Relief Society President and a roommate at the same time? How do I reach out to girls who don't want anything to do with the church or think they are to good for the church? How do I go out of my comfort zone to reach out to those girls who need me? How do I keep the spirit with me when all I feel is frustration?

It's funny how I have a lot of questions, but there is only one answer...Prayer! Yesterday I left for work before 7 (with not that much sleep), very frustrated. The dishwasher was full of dirty dishes, as was the sink. Shoes and clothes were everywhere, along with laptops, books, backpacks, and empty snack items. I got to work and realized how much needed to be done and one of my aides just can't seem to figure out how to do data right no matter how much I show her, so I had to get down and pray. I prayed for patience with my roommates, the people I work with and that I wouldn't pass my frustration on to the kids and I would be patient with them. The day, although tiring, went amazingly. I knew I could have been a lot "meaner" with the kids but I wasn't. It was like the frustration was being suppressed (does that make sense). And even better when I got home the kitchen was spotless. I don't know what I would've done if I came home with the kitchen the way I left it.

So, here I am, laying in bed awake at now 5 am, and realizing that I am already learning my lesson which could be that I need to rely on the Lord to help me through all of this. Interesting that this wouldn't be the first time I've learned that lesson.