My style is changing

new decorations
old decorations

A few Christmas' ago I went to "Hobby Lobby" in Naperville Illinois where I purchased a ton of inexpensive Christmas decorations. It consisted of mostly snowmen and a few other such Holiday themed items. Santa's, Christmas tree's,reindeer... you get the idea. For about 2 years I thought they were all really cute. But now I can not stand them. I feel like a 12 years old decorated our house. I know part of the reason for my choices came because those are the types of things that were on sale at the "Hobby Lobby" and were were students on a budget. But I also remember thinking that they were cute too, so I can't cut myself too much slack.

so now I am finding myself wanting to pretty much start from scratch. My Holiday decorating is getting much more formal. I love green bay leave garland, colorful glass balls inside different sized clear hurricane's and vases, deep reds and greens, festive floral arrangements, and lights. So all this juvenile decorating is driving me a little crazy. I plan on doing some decoration re-vamping the day after Christmas so that this time next year I am feeling more festive in my beautifully decorated home.

I guess I am getting older. Anybody need some snowmen?

"It's a Christmas miracle"-Vanessa

Don't tell my kids but I got them a swing set for Christmas. Actually I was the means by which I will have make my Parents the hero's with the best present, as they are the one's who bought it for them. 

There is more to this simple story of Black Friday shopping, of course. And here it is....

I started looking through the ad's for black Friday about a week ago. There is a website where you can see the future ads, I don't know how I just know it made me happy. I spotted the Toys "R' Us ad and got to the back page where I gasped. A swing set with a glider, slide, teeter-totter and 3 swings for $70? I had to get it. 

I awoke Friday morning at 4:15 and was out the door within 7 minutes. After finally finding a parking spot I walked over to claim my place in the line. As I walked up I saw the first 10 people sitting in their sleeping bags on camp chairs, they had obviously been there all night. I got a spot about a half a mile behind those crazy people... seriously. And watched as hundreds more came soon after. An hour later I got in the store and ran to where the big items were. I found the picture of my swing set. looked down and saw the sight that almost made me cry, no joke. There were no more tickets left which meant that the sets were gone. I asked a few workers to double check and they replied that they had already done so for many people and that they were in fact sold out. They had in fact done so with in the first 10 minutes of the store opening up. I mopped around the store and picked up 2 little Star Wars things for Luke, still disappointed beyond belief. But I wasn't about to have gone through it all and leave with nothing. 

Then I found myself back over where the sets were pictured on the side wall of the store. I looked at the picture once again and sighed. No swinging for Ella on Christmas morning. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a large book. In it were all the other big ticket items that they carried. There was a photo and a ticket on each page. Swing sets, sand boxes, picnic tables, etc. I came upon the page which showed the set that I wanted. On the page was a ticket. Clearly never taken out when the sales were all set up. It had the old price and had probably been in there for months. This was it. This was the way that I was going to come away victoriously. I would bring the ticket up, play dumb and attempt to buy the swing. They left the ticket in there, it would not be right to turn me away. I was ready to play hard. I went to the 20 minute line, handed my ticket to the cashier and waited. She calmly said, "This item rang up at 50% off this price"  

"Great!" I played dumb.

She took my money and asked me to wait in a designated spot. "They'll bring out your set shortly"

I sat waiting, wondering what my next move would be and how I would demand a rain check for their over sight. All of a sudden I heard a man saying, "its the nice Woman over there in the black sweatshirt." I sort of laughed inside. He called me nice. I was manipulating their system.

The man walked out with a big flat cart with a huge brown box on the top of it. "Where did you park, Ma'am?" I am sure the look of shock could be seen but all I did was lead him to my car where he put it in, thanked me and walked away.

I still don't know what happened. I should not have that swing set in my garage right now. But it did happen and it is in my garage. And I am thankful for my little miracle. O' there will be swinging on Christmas. Lots of swinging.

Me and my talents

My lesson tomorrow is on talents and it has motivated me to explore new talents and further develop the one's I have. For some reason we, well I, feel embarrassed to even publicly recognize the talents we have been blessed with. I think for some reason we feel embarrassed or shy... downplaying what we are good at. Denying any God-given skills and talents, isn't that terrible. How can we do as the Lord has asked and use our talents to bless others when we are not even able to acknowledge we have any? So, though I feel a bit strange doing so for all to read, I am going to write up some talents that I believe I have been blessed with. I am hoping that by doing so I can work consciously on improving them and will be blessed with even more talents in the future.

1. I am a good friend. I try very hard to stay and keep in touch with people throughout the years. I make it a priority to make calls and get together. I love to listen and try hard to do so empathetically. I love my friends and place a high priority on trying to be a great one.

2. I am a good photographer. I have much to learn and am really excited to further my knowledge in this area soon. I am passionate about taking pictures.

3. I am optimistic. I never thought this to be categorized as a talent but as I grow older I see that it is. I try to see the positives in everything that happens.

4. I am a good writer. I don't spend much time anymore doing this. I use to write a lot and have many loose sheets of paper floating around covered in poetic and creative word.

5. I am musical. This is funny because I know nothing about music nor do I play any instrument. But I have always passionately loved beautiful music. Even as a young girl of maybe 6 or 7 I use to beg my friends who took lessons to play for me. I was front and center at all of their recitals. I am always hounding my "singer friends" to sing for me. I have a love for music and wish I could have seen where that would have taken me years ago. I still tell my Husband that as soon as we have money to do so I plan on buying a piano and taking lessons. 

6. I am athletic. This is a good example of not using a talent and loosing it. But I can usually pick up any athletic skill and play it well. When I was younger I was an exceptional athlete... I even got "athlete of the year" in J. High. Like I said, long ago... but it still shows traces.

7. I am open-minded. I try to keep an open-mind about what others choose to do. I try not to judge others for who they are or what they do. There is almost always more to a story then we know and I try to love all people to the best of my ability. 

8. I am quick to forgive. I love to have peace and am always happy to re conciliate and forget.

9. I am a good Mom. I feel like I do the best job I can and always strive to do and be better. I love to play and be silly with my kids. Be patient and understanding. I will do anything for my kids.

10.I am a good communicator. This is especially wonderful in a marriage like mine where I married a man who communicates well with me. I am good at telling people what I feel and want in a non-confrontational way. 

This was a lot harder to do then I thought and took forever. Maybe one day I can write down another 10 things without needing to think about it for so long. I believe that in order to be happy we need to specify the talents we have been given, develop them and use them to benefit others. I am going to set goals,practice, and be persistent in developing my own. And I know many of you that can help me along the way as you have mastered so many of these and more.

I love the silliness

Last night Brad and Emily and Dave and I had a fun time playing with "photo booth" on our MacBook. I haven't laughed so hard in a long while, we thought we were so funny.
I am really grateful for those times when its late at night and you're a little bit off your game. When you think your a bit funnier than you really are and laugh a little louder at things then you normally would. Being silly is always a welcome thing to be in our home. Especially when it involves family members and a distorting camera.

I am grateful

The happiest moment of my day today cam as I reflected on the blessings I have been given in my life and the things that I am grateful for.
there are too many things to list but I will express some things I feel grateful for in my life.
My Family. both extended and immediate. I have the most supportive and fun Family and not a day goes by that I don't wonder how I got so lucky.
The ability to have children. This past week especially I feel that I can, in the most minimal way, appreciate the agony of not being able to bear children. My heart goes out to those Woman and I truly pray for them to feel comforted. I feel blessed beyond belief that I have been able to participate in the joy(and agony) of bearing children.
My Testimony. I am grateful that I have an unshakeable testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. I am thankful for my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know that Joseph Smith was indeed the great restorer of this, the Lord's church. And I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. I am thankful that we are lead by a Prophet of God in these days. I have faith that by following the teachings of the Savior I can live happily. I am grateful that I have been given the tools to raise my children, have a great marriage and be an Eternal Family.
My Friends. I have some of the most amazing friends in my life. I am humbled by being around them and feel so blessed by knowing and loving them.
And then many small things. The ocean, the cool breeze on my face in the evenings, the sun as it warms my skin a I get out of a pool, delicious foods, kind strangers, art, beautiful music, clean sheets as I go to bed late in the evening, telephones to catch up with those whom I love so much, selfless acts, leaders and teachers who give so much of their time, cameras and camcorders to capture priceless gifts of time.
And so, so much more.
I am truly blessed and am so grateful for all I have been given.

I love this shot

Some pictures that you get seem to have a perfect feel to them. I feel this way about this photograph that I took of Ella. She just walked over to me and I immediately noticed that she was wearing one of Luke's shoes. The sentiments to me are priceless. She really does love and adore her big Brother and is always trying to emulate who he is.

I'm back!

Gosh, its been a long while, hasn't it? 

Yesterday we had the privilege of having one of my oldest friends and her cute Family over for Dinner. I have been friends with Mary since I was probably about 3. We grew up in the same Ward and I have always really loved spending time with her. She and her Husband even went to School out in Chicago so we had the chance to see them a bit while we were out there, it was always nice to see a familiar face from the past. And the greatest part is that Dave really gets along well with  her Husband Jason... that doesn't always happen with Dave.

So we had a really yummy dinner that Dave made, some great company, and Mary made the most delicious key lime pie I have ever tasted. The best part was how well the kids played with eachother. Amelia, who is 2 1/2, Luke and Ella were pretty much non-existent. We got to sit at the table and chat while the kids just played and hungout in the Family room. They got along so well and had a lot of fun together. And I got to hold their handsome little baby, Finnley, which always makes me happy. 

So yesterday was a really great day which had an even sweeter ending. I love old friends, they are the best.