Sunday Sunshine

Some things that make me happy...

Saturday Night With a Boy

... Who lets me make him do girly things.

FOOT BATHS

(With salt beads, exfoliating scrubs, the works!)

He's going to kill me for this post.

Brown-Eyed Belle

The most exciting part of my work week...

And...

I want this dress.

Reflections on My No-Longer- Eternal-Bachelors

Tomorrow is officially the end of an era.

Sam and Emily

Dave and Natalie

We all know I've had lots of men in my life. Ha. HOWEVER, there have always been two guys, the bestest of my friends, who I thought would live, at least for another several years, in the world of singlehood with me. Well, honestly, I knew, and hoped that era of their lives would come to an end soon- for their sake- but for my own... well, I wouldn't mind more time at restaurants discussing the dramatics of men/women, going to movies together just to have something to do, and having more opportunities to whine about the lack of love in our lives.

Dave was the first to bite the dust. In the latter part of last year I knew he was a goner. Cute and fabulous little Natalie comes along, and all of a sudden "Amy Wednesday" is a thing of the past. SURE I'd moved to Florida- but that's besides the point. So Dave became an old married dude, (still as fun as ever), but an old married dude. Luckily I still had Sam the Bachelor in my life.

And then April came...

Sam got engaged. He threw me for a loop back in November when he told me he'd started dating Emily again. They'd dated earlier in the year and I thought she was FANTASTIC, but the timing just wasn't right at that point I guess. (I was ecstatic when he told me they were dating again. He was reluctant to tell me because, in his words, I would tell him he "was stupid." But I thought he was stupid for dumping her in the first place!) ANYWAY- so next thing I know he's flying to Hawaii and proposing to her and sets June 20 as his wedding date.

June 20 is tomorrow. I can't be there. I missed Dave's wedding and now I'm missing Sam's. This stinks. Sam and I survived nearly all of our single years together. (From the time I was 20 until now...) He dealt with me being lovesick and dramatic over Seth, DJ, Paul, Brant, JD, Chad, Ben, OTHER Paul, Chuck, and whoever else was in the mix during all that time. I can't even fathom the amount of money spent on our trips to the movies, Macaroni Grill, Mannheim Steamroller, Jazz games, plays, yada yada yada. Bottom line: He was always there for me. And I was always there for him. We had a good thing going on.

Side note: As part of a deal we'd made years before while sitting at a table at the Cafe Pierpont, Sam payed up when I was in Utah last month by taking me out to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner. He lost our bet. He DID get engaged first!

This post seems selfish for many reasons, but really, I wanted to post it to express how THRILLED I am for both of these guys. I am so thankful that they've played that part in my life. That we've all supported one another and had good times and been excited and sad for each other. It's amazing. And I am thankful for those years.

So, to Sam, who gets married tomorrow:

The 7 years of "The Eternal Bachelors" have come to an end. And I couldn't be happier.

CONGRATS TO SAM AND EMILY!!!

Ah- The Memories.

I know many of you will be sent back to flashbacks of times at BYU-Idaho and the Playmill... but here's where Jon is now. Trippy. Ha ha.

Disappointed.

So y'all know how I am making a conscious effort to save gas by leisurely driving along at 55 mph? Not only THAT, but I also put the perfect amount of air in all of Sophie's tires to ensure she's in tip top shape to get fantastic mileage. How, I ask, am I repaid? Sophie has gotten the WORST gas mileage EVER in the last week and a half. WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAT? NOT COOL.

So folks, what do I do to solve this problem? I think this weekend I will take her for a needed oil change, have them check her tires, and do WHAT ELSE? I need her to get her old, great gas mileage!

Sunday Sunshine

Well, technically it's Monday now, but I wanted to make sure I got a good Sunshine post in tonight.

First of all, it's Fathers Day. The post below fully explains the love I have for my Daddy and for all the things he's done for me in my almost 27 years of life. He is one of the most hard working and giving men I have met in my entire life, and I am so thankful for that example. Anyway- read the next post and you'll see my whole Fathers Day tribute.

Continuing:

I love days when church just fills ya up and makes ya happy! I had such a day.

I spent a lot of my day pondering how wonderful it is that I know that I am a daughter of our Heavenly Father. I am so grateful that I can wake up every day knowing the things that I know, and that I actually have a path and direction to follow in my daily life. I never have to question where I came from, why I am here, or where I am going, because I KNOW. I know that I have the divine qualities of my Father, and I know that there is limitless potential in the person that I am. I am so blessed to know that the choices I am making here are blessing me eternally, and that when I stumble, the Savior is right there to pick me back up and keep me going. I cannot comprehend not knowing these things. They are such an innate part of me at this point of my life, that to understand what it would be like to NOT know these things is incomprehensible.

In my current situation I am surrounded by people who deal with the very things I cannot comprehend. At times I ache to tell them (and it's my duty to) of their divine existence, I want to explain to them the blessings that come into a life of obedience and faith. I want to show them who they can become and make them aware of how genuinely happy a person can be.

I am blessed.

My Project

This was my project for the week. And while it didn't turn out EXACTLY as I planned, (I didn't have some key pictures and I wanted to type the journaling...), I was pretty happy with the outcome. So, here it is, my "Little Brown Paper Bag Book" for my daddy on Fathers Day:

THIS is my favorite page of all. Thanks to Chuck and his Photoshop skills, and my brilliance, I created this "Speed Chuckie, Speed!" page. When I was a kid my daddy would "drive crazy" down Ash Drive in Layton on the way to our house. So, if you'll notice, the map is of that area of Layton, the car is our old Honda, and inside are mine and my daddy's faces. HA! He laughed. I laughed. It is funny!











The End.

Saturdays are Good For...

I have recently rediscovered the joy of Saturdays. It has been months since I've had Saturday off, and now, because the other-person-who-plays-the-role-I-do (what? There's another one?????) wanted to trade, I have Saturdays AND Sundays off.

HOW BLESSED AM I TO BE IN THE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT AND HAVE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY OFF???

Wow. My life is cooooooool.

Summer Saturdays are good for:

* Brunch at Perkins, First Watch, Cracker Barrel, Dennys... you get the point...
* Sleeping in.
* Lifetime movies that are poorly acted and yet you still are drawn in and watch them.
* Long needed and deserved pedicures.
* Making out. Shut up.
* Doing laundry.
* Making the outside of the house look pretty while wearing a cute little dress and getting some sun.
* Staring at the pool that's growing black algae yet still looks so appealing...
* Making grilled cheese sandwiches.
* Ponytails on the top of your head.
* Cleaning your room.
* Managing your finances.
* Vegetating and finding old reruns of American Idol Season 2. Yeah.
* Swimming in the algae pool till 11 PM.
* Singing at the top of your lungs because no one is home at the house you share with five other girls.

I love Saturdays.

Sunday Sunshine

* I love puddles. Here in Florida puddles are everywhere. I love driving in them. I love jumping in them. I just love puddles.

* I am conducting an experiment. As of yesterday, I started driving 55 mph - which ironically is the speed limit on my most traveled road- to see whether or not is really DOES save gas. As of yesterday, gas prices here rose to $4.02/gallon. I've had it! I am ready to buy myself a cute little pink Vespa to drive around Disney. Ha. But anyway, I am going to find out if going 55 on C.R. 535 will indeed, save me gas. I normally go about 70-75 on that road, so we'll see if this helps!

But the point of me telling y'all this is : In the 24 hours that I have been participating in this experiment, I have learned something great that has NOTHING to do with the fact that I could be saving my precious gas. Because I know I will only be driving 55 mph, I leave earlier when I need to be somewhere, I drive at a decent pace with no need to be on the lookout for cops, and I have time to, if you will, "stop and smell the roses." It is truly amazing how I feel no stress on a road that I am usually frantically trying to conquer. Life is MUCH more enjoyable like this. Ahhhhhh.

* Kensie learned to wave "bye bye" a couple days ago. Love her.

* I have a project underway... it is going to be fantastic. Next Sunday I will be able to post pictures of the finished cuteness. Yay.


NOT PART OF SUNDAY SUNSHINE:

* To any family members who may be speculating about my trip home in October: Sorry to disappoint you folks, but I will NOT be announcing a wedding that will take place that week. I am way too high maintenance in the world of wedding to ever do something like that. Ha ha. Anyway- just thought I'd clear that up since rumors have been flying...

Anyone Watching?

Are any of you folks watching the new reality show on MTV to find the next "Elle" in Legally Blonde on Broadway? I'm kind of addicted... the whole thing is actually pathetic to me, but hey- I enjoy watching people who do the same thing that I do... it's fascinating... and terrible. Ha ha.

http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/legally_blonde_search_for_elle_woods/series.jhtml

More Bragging...

Biff posted lots of new Kensie pics on Facebook today... so I had to steal them and post them to my blog. I love her.


Cute Easter Baby!!!

Remember the PINK BOOTS I got Kensie before she was born?!?!?!
(She's now outgrown them...)

Ha ha.

Already learning how to drive!

Nostalgia

Just remembering how much I loved these markers...

Sunday Sunshine

Ah, I love Sunday. Annnnnnd I have decided that I am going to spend each Sunday reflecting a bit on my week. So welcome to the first edition of :

"Sunday Sunshine"
By Me

The other night I was reading from this month's Conference issue of the Ensign, and was inspired by the address of Ronald A. Rasband called "Special Experiences." His talk focuses on those experiences that we have in our lives that strengthen and fortify our testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ; moments that increase our faith and knowledge that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true and living church.

In the last few years I have had many of these "special experiences" in my life. Most often they are quiet little moments in my world as Heavenly Father speaks to me through the people around me. Such moments happened frequently as I lived on my own in Hong Kong, and they happen almost daily now as I look at the world around me in awe.

This week I had such an experience:

I am a shy person. It seems ludicrous to people who know me well, or who know me as a performer, but I can be PAINFULLY shy. It's something I have pondered A LOT in the last few years, and this week I was taught a very important lesson by a four-year-old girl.

Friday I met a little girl named Kira. I work with her mother, Salem, and she's the darndest cute thing on the planet. This little four-year-old girl came to visit us at work on Friday when her mom was unexpectedly called into work.

"Who's that?" Kira said to her mom as I walked into the dressing room.
"That's Amy."
"Ammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy!" Kira ran towards me, threw her arms around me and gave me a big hug and kiss on the cheek.

It is such a tiny thing that Kira did, but her actions impacted me significantly. As I have tried to work through my "shy issue," I have often been reminded that if I look at those around me as I SHOULD, like my brothers and sisters, I really have nothing to fear. (Heaven knows I'm not the least bit shy around my Biff...) Anyway, Kira was the perfect example of this to me. The girl had NO idea who I was, and yet she greeted me with a big smile, a hug, and I kiss on the cheek, and had no qualms about it. I thought, "If only I could be like that." I want to be the person who can go up and give someone I hardly know a hug. I want to be the kind of person who can carry on a good conversation with someone who, when it began, was a perfect stranger, I want to the the kind of person who can compassionately mourn with and serve the people that I am only acquainted with. They ARE my brothers and sisters- literally. YOU are all my brothers and sisters, and it is such a blessing to know that. That alone is reason enough for me to not be the silly shy girl that I am.

I looked into this little girl's face and saw the love, innocence, and exuberance of the Savior. Kira did what He would do. She did what I SHOULD do.

... So if you don't know me and happen to meet me this week... be ready for a big kiss on the cheek. ;-)


On another note, I was going through my notes on "The Miracle of Forgiveness," and found these quotes that I absolutely love:

"Many people die with their music still in them.Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out." -Oliver Wendell Holmes "I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument, while the song I came to sing remains unsung." - Tagore

President Kimball concludes with this thought:

"My plea therefore is this: Let us get our instruments tightly strung and our melodies sweetly sung. Let us not die with our music still in us. Let us rather use this precious mortal probation to move confidently and gloriously upward toward the eternal life which God our Father to those who keep his commandments."

Good stuff right there.

On a lighter note:

This weekend I domesticised myself even more. I love Break the Fast because it gives me the excuse to learn to make stuff with hungry, not picky, Mormon boys as guinea pigs. :-) Anyway, I finally made those Lemon-Lime Bars I posted a few weeks ago... and they turned out beautifully, if I do say so myself.