I Still Want a Kitty.

"Bobbie in a Box!"

Last night, as I entertained my husband with various videos of my horrific teenage years, I came across videos of my kitties. Mitzi "The Poop Cat" and Bobbie McMuff of the Heather. I love them. I miss them.

All you have to do is get me a kitty, Chuck, and I will be happy forever.

I am not regretting the fact that I didn't get one in July when I was handed cash by my husband for "WHATEVER YOU WANT." Why, oh why did I not get myself a snuggly little purring beast???

2010

More Holiness Give Me

More holiness give me, more strivings within
More patience in suffering, more sorrow for sin
More faith in my Savior, more sense of His care
More joy in His service, more purpose in prayer

More gratitude give me, more trust in the Lord
More zeal for His glory, more hope in His Word
More tears for His sorrows, more pain at His grief
More meekness in trial, more praise for relief

More purity give me, more strength to o'ercome
More freedom from earth-stains, more longings for home
More fit for the kingdom, more useful I'd be
More blessed and holy, more, Savior, like Thee

- Phillip Paul Bliss

Resolutions:

Ah yes, tis the time of year when we resolve to lose weight, to learn to play the piano, and to stop biting our nails. We entertain the ideas of what and where we will be "a year from now," and vow to rid ourselves of all vices.

I've done it every year since I was a teen. Probably even before. I'm somewhat of a goal FREAK.

The past few years I feel as if I have failed miserably in completing these goals that I so zealously pursue for the first two weeks of the year. Of course I have done SOME things right, but for the most part I have written things down and forgotten about them as soon as the freshness of the new year has worn off.

Perhaps this is why I so thoroughly enjoyed our sacrament meeting today. The last talk was given on new year resolutions. My resolutions usually consist of ten or so personality quirks, struggles, or lazy habits that I deal with. I think hard about them for a moment, and then twelve months later realize that I am in the exact same place I was previously. Either that, or I have sadly regressed.

I'm not a fan of change. I bawl like a baby throughout every life changing event. Every time I move (which, in the last ten years has been WAY more than I'd ever expected...), I stand in an empty room that is full of memories no one else can see, and I get ripped apart emotionally as I close the door on that chapter of my life. Change. Blah.

Maybe that's why my New Year resolutions never seem to work out.

Or I am just lazy.

Yep.

So this year, inspired by the last closing hymn of our 2009 sacrament meetings, my resolution is simply said,


"More Holiness Give Me."

That's what I want out of myself in 2010. And if I'm lazy about it, well that is just plain stupid. ;-)

The Obama Hummer

Y'all know I do not get political on here. We all have different views and beliefs on how the country should run, and I ABSOLUTELY respect that. BUT I have to admit that I am realllllllllllllllllllllly bugged by this "Christmas Eve Health Care Package Passing" junk.

So yesterday, a discussion of the health care drama began on my Facebook. These guys thoroughly made my day: (I'd made a snide remark about how sweet it is of our President to pass his health care plan before he goes on vacay to Hawaii...)

TIM:

I know right? Jimmy Carter only ever thought about himself. At least Obama makes the pretense of actually having some influence on what Reid and Pelosi are doing. He'll be there for the photo op at least.

ADAM:

It's so nice for him to work so hard to give us this great gift for Christmas! It's like getting your mom a Hummer! Oh, but your Mom, of course would have to make the payments. Oh, and she would have to get rid of her old car. Oh, and she wouldn't actually get the car until next next next new years day! Oh, and I forgot to mention, you actually asked your mom if she wanted a Hummer and she said, "NO!" Man, what a GREAT Christmas present!

:-)

Monday's Reluctant Sunday Sunshine

Sometimes I am not in the mood for this. Yes, even I get depressed and cranky. (Oh wait-y'all know that after the months of crankiness earlier this year...)

BUT- even though things look not-so-great in my life right now, there are still lots of things that DO make me happy. Here goes:

#1: My holiday work is over. Thank you, Costco (AKA Mikarose- the company I work for) , for being OVER. I'm tired, cranky, and getting sick again. Really? Is that necessary? I need to find a way to whip myself into happy, normal mode within the next 24 hours or my Christmas is going to be NOT FUN. Boo.

But on the bright side, I made some money. Christmas and our savings account will appreciate that.

#2: Devin and Andrea are in town. I can't wait to see them. I miss them.

#3: Shoes: I have found several cute pairs in the last few days and they have brightened my week. Thank you, shoes. - Still looking for some good boots, though. -

#4: Goodies: Yep, haven't had my fill of holiday junk yet, I guess. Tonight's FHE will be baking central. Then we'll go around to all our neighbors and give THEM junk to eat (Gotta share the love). Fun. Hopefully that will lift my mood...

#5: I'm a fan of Fiber One Bars. They taste good.

#6: Home: I love my house. I am thankful that we have it. It's warm and cute and I love it. I like being home. I am a homebody. I'd rather be here than anywhere else. Yep.

#7: Kallie. I spent the night at my aunt's house on Friday and I just love this girl. Always have, always will. It trips me out to think that she is in COLLEGE now, but whatever. She makes me smile.

#8: Christmas Cards: I love checking the mail this time of year. I get excited for it every day. Hearing from old friends and family makes me happy.

#9: Survivor: Chuck and I don't watch much TV. We watch The Office and Survivor. Oh, and The Bachelor (JANUARY 4!!!!!!!!!). This season of Survivor was fantastic. Loved watching the three hour finale last night. Fun. And happy.

#10: 9 Months! Friday is nine months of marriage. That means that if we'd had a honeymoon baby we'd almost, or already be parents. Frightening. ;-)

#11: Family Dinners- We had a great Christmas party with the Shreeves at Greg and Susan's house last night. I am always jealous of Susan's great table settings and decor. Someday I will be a great hostess like that... stuff like that makes me happy. AND seeing my cousin Blake- who I hadn't seen in at LEAST two years, also made me happy. His girls are absolutely adorable. I love family functions. (Good thing... cuz we have FOUR families to rotate between...)

#12: Village Pizza: WE HAVE A RESTAURANT ONE MILE FROM OUR HOUSE!!!! Pizza Saturday night was awesome. And pretty cheap. YUM.

#13: Movies: We haven't been to a movie in a REALLY long time, but this week, we hit up THREE movies.

- Princess and the Frog
-Everybody's Fine
-The Blindside

Loved them all. Thank you, smell of popcorn and sticky floors. I love you.

#14: CHRISTMAS IS THIS WEEK! Off I go to lighten my spirits and do some shopping. I should clean my house first. Nah.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!

And PS: Writing down what makes you happy and what you're grateful for REALLY does help. I'm thankful for that, too.

The Bikes. The Riders. And The Naked Man

Not sure how this story was never told on my blog back in the day when it happened, but here goes...

Once upon a time Chuck and I liked to ride bikes. My bike of the Playmill days came out of storage, and Chuck's came from a random University of Utah student who sold who-knows-where-he-got-them-bikes on KSL.com. $60. We won't complain.

So one lovely autumn evening my hubby and decide to "ride bikes" into Saratoga Springs. Harmless.

Ride ride. Ride on the bike path through the trees and the brush. Pretty. Exercise. Happy.

Peddle peddle. Ride. Ponds that would be attached to Utah Lake were we not in a drought for the last however many years begin to appear.

Ride. The sound of scrambling. Brush swishing. Splash. Big pond ahead. Man. In pond. Naked.

At least he was covering his... uh hem... parts...

He mumbles something and we quickly mutter our hellos as we try to find anything else to pretend we're distracted by.

Peddle around the pond... HURRY UP!

Trail. Ends.

So NOT ONLY are we riding past a naked man, but we get STUCK there- right on the edge of the pond- because THAT had to be the EXACT place that the bike trail decided to end.

Brake.

Clumsily hop off bikes and maneuver them around.

Lets just ride past him AGAIN!

Bye Naked Man.


... SHRUG ...

It's Snowing Sunshine!

I feel like one of those girls that Miss Seriously So Blessed mocks with my weekly SUNSHINE post. But oh well...

HAPPIES of my week...

1. The house is clean. Chuck and I spent this Sabbath afternoon doing it, but I am thankful that we finally had a bit of time. Yes, we CLEANED on Sunday. And we're happier/more spiritual people because of it. I feel at peace tonight and it's WONDERFUL.

2. I made money this week. I want to shoot myself after a week of driving to Bountiful every day, but it is nice to know that I am contributing monetarily to our little family. I'm thankful to be replenishing an empty savings account.

3. THE SNOW: I LOVE it. It's cold and miserable, and I LOVE it.

4.



This boy makes me smile. I love him. Lots. He makes me laugh and he makes me happy. It's great. Today, after he shoveled snow, he told me about someone who was asking for me at the front door...

He also does a mean pigeon impression.

I'm so happy that he makes me laugh. What fun we have.

5. I still ponder the event of three weeks ago a lot. I think about Emily all the time. I pray for Elizabeth and Brett. I get a bit emotional when I see new babies. It's rough. BUT I am learning. I'm learning lots of things that I am grateful for. It still just stinks. Plain and simple.

6. Lotion is a good thing. It feels nice on my skin.

7. THE LAUNDRY IS DONE!!!!

8. I've eaten more peppermint ice cream with hot fudge than I'd like to admit so far this season. And we still have two containers in the freezer that are beckoning me constantly...

9. This week was the Scera Youth Theatre's Christmas concert. I have really enjoyed working with my class. It's been a fun learning experience and I am excited for this next semester when I get to make my directorial debut. I have no idea what I am getting myself into here. Hmmmm.

10. I love to people watch. And ya know, right now I have lots of time to do that as I stand in my however-many-square-feet-piece-of-floor-in-Costco. There are men who are in there every day during their lunch break. Random.

11. I am excited to have something to look forward to this week. SATURDAY NIGHT. At that point I'll be done working, I'll be able to prepare for Christmas, and I won't be commuting over two hours every day.

Please let this week go by fast.

Please let this week go by fast.

Please let this week go by fast.

Please let this week go by fast.

Please let this week go by fast.

Please let this week go by fast.

Heaven Sent...

A bubble bath and do-it-yourself pedi.

I needed that.

One More Thing...

Gotta add a bit to my Sunshine. I LOVE the dentist! LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE the dentist. I got to go this morning and it made me giddy with excitement to get my teeth scraped and cleaned and flossed... ahhhhh.

And I got a new toothbrush. THAT makes me happy too.

That is all.

Time for Sunday Sunshine...

It's Sunday again. And I am BEYOND happy about that.

The past two weeks have been, plainly said, TOO BUSY. Not fun. Crowded. Exhausting. Overbooked.

You get the idea.

I know to the majority of you, the fact that I had to work full time this week means nothing. (In fact you're all most likely rolling your eyes thinking "OH, POOR AMY.") Y'all do it ALL the time, so who am I to complain? But geez- I DO NOT understand how anyone- wives and mothers especially- can keep up on the everyday things when they are working full time. I only have a husband and got WAY behind on everything these past two weeks. Laundry was piled all over the house, dishes hadn't been done, oatmeal pots (I didn't even have time to put the oatmeal in a bowl- I'm a heathen) sat in the passenger seat of my car after the morning dash EVERY morning this week.... WHEN WILL IT STOP?

Not till December 20. Soon. But it seems NOT SOON ENOUGH.

Not only does the craziness make me tired, but it also makes me fat. A week on a cruise, a week of dinner parties and eating out and blah blah blah- those abs I was beginning to see are now, once again, hidden under an awesome layer of fat. Boo. Chuck kept saying, "Tomorrow we'll start eating healthy again." Today it changed to simple, "In January we'll start eating healthy again." Boo again. And where is my time to work out with Bob Harper? It doesn't exist.

However, I do thank COSTCO for The Biggest Loser Workouts (3 DVDs!) that I purchased for $7.99 each. Someday I'll have time for them again.

The rant and rave is over.

Onto the things that make me happy right now...

1. Caring and AWESOME friends. So many people continue to check up and me and express their love and concern for my Biff. Thanks. It means the world to me.

2. In less than two weeks now I will have time to breathe again.

3. A clean house. Chuck and I finally had time to clean up our house today after church. It looks pretty. And I love it.

4. Tonight, while listening to Christmas music, Chuck and I were able to put up our "little tree." The thought is that at sometime in the next few weeks we'll get a big tree up in our front window, but for now, we're enjoying this tree in our family room. We had a great time opening up the ornaments that Chuck's aunt Jill got us for our wedding- it was lots of fun! Now we have SOMETHING festive up in our house! (Now I just have to get the hay and pumpkins off our doorstep...)

5. Last week I forgot to mention something I enjoyed most that week: I was able to go to the temple with my dear friend Heather as she attended for the first time. What a fantastic opportunity that was. I love her. And I am so happy that I was able to be there during that special event. Memories of the hours we spent parked in front of the Bountiful Temple on Sunday nights as teenagers flooded through my mind as we were finally able to be INSIDE together. Happiness.

6. My husband is funny. I am so glad for that. He makes me laugh and we have fun.

7. Sleep. I live for my sleep right now.

That's all. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

Sniffle.

I don't work. I don't really have what you could call a "job." I pick up little things here and there, but for the most part, I don't work.

So WHY is it, that the week I AM working FULL TIME hours (Thanks, Costco), I am horrendously sick??? LAME. It's hard to stand there and look pretty when your nose is running like a faucet and your eyes are puffy and red.

Yuck. That's all I have to say to that.