Sunday Sunshine... Ponderings of My Little Heart

Perhaps it's the sentimentality brought forward by watching Little Women with my roomies on Friday night, or the fact that I am leaving Orlando in two weeks, but I have been hopelessly reminiscent the last few days. Time and time again tears have filled my eyes with the gratitude I feel for my life- and most importantly, the PEOPLE in my life. I'm a lucky girl. I've had years in Layton, Rexburg, West Yellowstone, Provo, Hong Kong, and Orlando to create wonderful memories with these people that I can not forget.

For some reason, Friday night, I felt absolutely shaken by the beautiful memories of my life with the girls in Colonial House #304- going on TEN years ago. I'm almost certain that none of them feel as strongly about our time together as I do, but gosh- what amazing women I was able to live with for those several months- when I was learning about life on my own and trying to find where I belonged in this big world. It makes me laugh, now, that Rexburg, Idaho, of all places, could have such a profound effect on who I became. But the simple fact that my dad insisted that I go away to college (like I wanted to) changed my life forever.

So here we are ten years later... I haven't seen a few of these girls in five or more years, but they still impact me. I think of them and pray for them often. I love them, and love that when I DO see them it's just like the old times- when we were 18-20 and doing the weird things that girls of that age do together. (For some reason stealing remotes from The Chalet was REALLY cool...)

So, to Alicia, Stacia, Hillary, Joella, Audrey, Cecilia, and Lisa, who joined #304 a year later, I send my love, and thanks for being the women that you are. For some reason you've just all been on my mind a lot this week. I love you all!


OK- so- here're the other HAPPIES in my life right now:

#1: I get married NEXT month. Today begins February. I'm getting married NEXT MONTH. Crazy!

#2: Little Blessings Mean a LOT: Tuesday night I went out with my visiting teaching girls for dinner at Uno Chicago Grill. DIVINE- by the way. I'd never been there. ANYWAY- so the five of us sat around chatting, and when I ordered, I decided the SPLURGE. I've been incredibly frugal lately because every single spare penny goes towards that event that's happening NEXT MONTH. Yeah- so I ordered myself an oreo shake, onion "strings," and a personal pizza loaded with every topping I could ever desire. Sure, the check would come and I'd cringe a bit- but DANGIT, I needed comfort foods.

So time passes- we all sit around the table- chatting and giggling yada yada- when we realize it's been a LONG time since we ordered our food. We're talking an HOUR here, folks. Just about the time we realize we're STARVING the manager comes to our table (looking terrified by the way... little did she realize we're all just nice little Mormon girls...) and tells us that our order hadn't been put in. Our food was going to be another twenty minutes, and because of that, dinner was on them. WE GOT FREE DINNER.

I know it's small and insignificant to the rest of the world, but geez, could I ask for a better blessing? Heavenly Father knows how important my money is right now. I pay my tithing every week, and cool things like this happen. LIFE IS REALLY GOOD.

#3: Chuck was a sweet boy and went to my cousin Melissa's baby's blessing today. My family is awesome for welcoming him around... even when I'm not there. And the best news is: He survived.

#4: The world is full of possibilities right now. And with those possibilities, also comes stress. I'm thankful for a boy who's worked hard so that he can pay the bills. I'm feeling very inadequate right now in the area of helping provide for our little family. I am SO excited to be coming home to Utah, but I'm at a bit of a loss what to do with myself. If I had a stable job with a stable income, we could buy a house with no stress at all. But unfortunately, my line of business isn't quite so predictable. Anyway, buying is on the table. If my savings were able to go towards a down payment instead of a wedding, we'd be set. Sigh. But anyway, the point of all this is that I am thankful for a Heavenly Father that we can go to and expect to help us out. We're definitely in need of his counsel and blessings right now. I love Fast Sundays. I can breathe a little easier now. :-)

#5: Heather, Trever, and Ava come to Florida on Wednesday night! Wahoo! That should be fun. Other fun stuff: The Wilhelms will be in town this week too. Ah, how I love them!!!

#6: 10 days left at work. This is both a really happy thing, and a sad thing too. I'll miss my friends, and my paycheck. (I'm feeling the stress coming back...)

#7: We had a great lesson in Relief Society. Hannah read us the story "You Are Special," which I'm sure all you ladies have heard a few times. But it's full of good stuff for us. Love it.

#8: I REALLY love my engagement pics. And I've LOVED hearing all of your feedback. Like most of you, the close up one is my favorite. I ADORE that picture. BUT I think we're using one of the others for the announcement because of the format of it all. You'll just have to see when it comes to your house! Chuck is cool. :-)

#9: We can mail out our announcements in less than three weeks!!! This whole wedding thing IS getting close! (Did I mention that it's NEXT MONTH??!?!)

#10: Edy's Slow Churned Praline Caramel Crunch has made my life thoroughly delightful this weekend. Best part: It's not half bad for you! ;-)

#11: My first bridal shower is here on Wednesday! Fun! Andrea Daveline is a sweetheart and organized a little shower/open house so I can see all my friends here in Orlando before I leave. It should be happy.

#12: Valentines Day is coming. :-) So what if I'm 2,000 miles away from mine. (Stress... bubbling up again...)

#13: I'm almost finished with "New Moon." I REALLY liked this book. Only know what? And some of you may thing I'm NUTS for thinking this way, but I like it better with Edward OUT of the picture. He's creepy and weird. I like Jacob. So what if he's a werewolf. On to Eclipse...

#14: Like I mentioned earlier, I watched Little Women on Friday night. I ADORE that movie (1994 version). It reminded me how much I want to play Jo in the musical.

#15: There's a new episode of The Office tonight! Yippee!

#16: I still love oatmeal. I love waking up in the morning, eating a banana, and then cooking oatmeal. Yummy.

#17: I was at the Distribution Center on Tuesday and hit the jackpot!!! They had just got a shipment in and had TONS of sturdy, good sized, boxes. PERFECT FOR MOVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY!

#18: I have become the Omelet Queen. For some reason I have become obsessed with making them. I'm getting pretty good at it, too!!! Wahoo! And it all started with an experiment when all I had were Egg Beaters and some veggies. Awesome.

#19: I cleaned my room yesterday. I also vegged the entire day. OK- so I made a trip to Wal-Mart. But I didn't even shower. Sometimes you need days like that. Am I right?

#20: This week is my last full work week. The following week there are three girls sharing my role- which means fewer shows for me. Exciting!

So there's the update. All is well and happy amid all the crazy and fun decision making. Is it March 25 yet? (No, Amy, but it IS NEXT MONTH!)