Sunday, December 19, 2010

Hair Flowers


I think I might be a little late to the hair flower fad, but that's not kept me from jumping in head first. Case in point (see above picture).
To say thank you for tieing my friend's quilt she had me pick out some flowers so she could make them into hair accessories. I enthusiastically picked out the above flower realizing, at the time, that it is very large; but somehow now, seeing it on my head, it makes me laugh at my own exuberance. Do you notice how it takes up half my head in all of its fiery glory? I defy anyone to have a bigger hair flower in their collection. Now I can compete with the other girl babies at my parent's church who make sure everyone in a hundred yard radius know they are of the feminine persuasion.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Here you go Kevin

To Kevin, and everyone he sends this post to - you are going to love this quilt!! I wasn't lying about the whole, starting your own blog just to rave about it, thing. And to answer your questions, yes I LOVE it, and yes, I am glad it is done. I think I might have a couple calluses from some of the needlework I did on it. Here are some more pictures I took during the construction process.

This picture was taken during the quilting stage. Do you see all that material I got to PUSH through my sewing machine? I think I might have gotten some serious muscles from this exercise alone. If you look closely at the picture you'll notice the basting I did from my last post. This basting helped keep everything together as I quilted it.
Okay, this picture is of the trimming process. I don't know what else to say about that.

I really love the row of patches you had for the back. I tried to get them straight, but you'll notice it didn't quite happen as I planned. Don't worry, it still looks fantastic.

Here is the finished project complete with edging. Are you starting to get excited about putting it on your bed and having all your friends come in to admire it? That is one great quilt!!

And of course, the piece de resistance (at least for me) is the star on the back. A quilt isn't complete without one. It's small, and in the bottom corner, if you hate it you can pretend it isn't there. But really, who would want to ignore that cutie.
Wow, I'm starting to feel a little heady. Feel free to knock me down a peg if you'd like. If not, I won't think the less of you for it.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Hey Kevin

Did I tell you that I finally got around to working on your quilt? I put it on a quilt frame so I could make sure all the layers are nice an tight. No one wants a lumpy quilt. Did I tell you the frame takes up the entire room. I basically have to crawl around underneath to get to the different sides. It's a good thing I don't have bending problems.

Did I tell you you are going to be so happy with this quilt when it's done? I am so excited for you to get it back so you can start your own blog to rave over how beautiful it is.


Did I tell you I'm trying out this new technique of basting the quilt instead of pinning it. I think the finished product will be nicer this way. Do you like the tape? It's supposed to say "Top."


So that's where I'm at so far. Tomorrow will have more progress.


For those of my four readers who just may be wondering who this Kevin character is - Kevin is a co-worker of mine from my PwC Boston days and perhaps the only co-worker I've ever really kept in any sort of contact with. I've gone to Toronto, Puerto Rico and Florida with this guy. He badgered me into getting highlights, took me to a Tori Amos concert, and walked around Old San Juan rotating his arms so he could get a good tan on both sides. I love this kid. He also happens to be my most loyal reader. So when he asked me to refinish his quilt and then blog about it, I of course said I would. So Kevin, not remotely a threat to my husband, here is a blog post about the progress on your quilt!! Are you smiling?

Monday, November 29, 2010

New Quilting Idea


While I have other projects that need to be completed, I was reminded last night of a quilt website that I absolutely adore - Thimbleblosoms.com.

I've longed to do one of her quilts, but of course, don't have the money to spend on cute fabric for a quilt I really don't need. So here's the challenge, someone out there who has money but no time, peruses this fabulous woman's website, chooses a quilt (I have to okay, because let's face it, my skills have limits at this point in my quilting "career"), and commissions me to make it for him/her. I'm not looking to get paid, just reimbursed for the material.
Any takers?

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Random Picture of Sara Stars

Do you know me? Even remotely? If you do, you will not be surprised that I have star snowflakes to help decorate for the Christmas season. If you look even closer you will notice that on the left side of the picture I cut out even more stars to attach to my shelf that also sports a star. Catching on? I'm wondering if there is a world record for how many stars decorate one house.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

I Hate UPS

Did you get that? I HATE UPS. Twice in one year, which is really a lot when you consider how many packages I don't get, have they thwarted my shipping needs because of their really DUMB shipping policy. The first time they wouldn't change the address of my package, despite it accidentally being an old address, until it had been rejected by the person currently living there. It is, what they term, a failed delivery attempt. The second time, they wouldn't change the method of receipt until, again, after a failed delivery attempt. The package is in State College, a full three days before schedule delivery, and I need it by a specific time on Monday, but I can't opt to go and pick it up. Nope, it has to have a failed delivery attempt first. So aggravating, made even more so by the awful "customer service" people who don't help, they can only calmly but firmly restate and then restate some more of their policies. No there's no one else I can talk to, and no the shipper of the package can't change it either. That is their policy and that is their policy.
I tried writing a strongly worded 500-character email, but the response was simply to restate their policy. Yeah, I know the policy. So I am left with all of this pent-up anger and impotent rage. I feel like the evil villain, Goob, in "Meet the Robinsons," standing outside Robinson Industries with a roll of toilet paper and a carton of eggs yelling "Robinson, you stink!"
So of course, I turn to the one public medium I do have, my blog to help me vent my raging frustration. Not that UPS will ever check, nor will they ever change their stupid policy, but at least I feel better having gotten it all out.
And yes, I wrote an entire blog just so I could get in the "Meet the Robinsons" reference. Still love me?

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving For Two

I grew up in a large family. And while we never grew up or really even knew our extended family, it didn't stop us from having a lot of people over to help celebrate Thanksgiving. We were the family that took in the strays from church and my dad's Marine squadron. Anyone who didn't have anywhere else to go came to our house. And they always left with a pie. My mother cooked for days, making 20-30 pies so everyone got one and us kids still had enough to eat for breakfast for the next week. That to me is the true Thanksgiving tradition - having pie for breakfast the morning after.
This year, Matt and I decided to stay in town. We figured, surely someone will invite us over for Thanksgiving. We've always had the offer before, despite always having other plans, why should State College be any exception? But with Thanksgiving eking closer and no one coming forward, I finally faced reality. It was just going to be the two of us. So Matthew and I looked at our options. Matthew didn't care. As far as he was concerned we could start a new tradition and make Indian curry for our Thanksgiving feast. As tempting as that sounded, I thought to myself, "Self, you are a full-fledged 31 year-old. You are quite old enough and competent enough to woman-up and make a Thanksgiving dinner all by your onesies."
So I bought a Turkey breast, because do two people really need a full Turkey, stuffing, the Booren's Green Jello fixings, as well as other Thanksgiving grocery needs. And when the day came, we had a successful little Thanksgiving for two, complete with pie for breakfast.

Monday, November 22, 2010

OPP - Other People's Projects

So remember how I wrote a post about needing projects to do? Well I am happy to report that several people have taken me up on my offer. Two women from church have asked me to finish their quilts and an old co-worker, quite possibly my most faithful follower, sent me a quilt of his to redo. I opted to start with the blanket above. I tied it and bound it. Not remotely difficult, and not remotely professionally done but I thought it turned out quite cute indeed. Hopefully the recipient likes it as well. She hasn't seen it yet.
I have to say, it's been kind of fun working on someelse's projects. And it is keeping me out of trouble, which we all know is best for humankind at large.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

This is what a 31 year-old looks like

Just in case you were wondering.
Side note - as I look back at other pictures of me, I realize I wear this blue sweater a lot.
Second side note - I took this picture on 11/28, but figured I should post it remotely closer to my birthday. It's still early for Christmas decos but not nearly as early as if I had actually taken this picture on my birthday.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Latest Creation

I was telling someone the other day that I love to sew (not clothes mind you - don't ask). I am also independent enough to want to make my own designs, but not quite creative or experienced enough to do anything super fancy. And since, I was limited to the material I already own, voila, you get the following quilt. I was pretty pleased with how well my points turned out.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Need Work, Will Travel

The last several weeks have been abysmal as far as the hours I've gotten from my current position. Today, I was told that this will pretty much be the status quo for the next two months until busy season starts again.

So here's my dilemma:
  • I need something to occupy my time for the next two months;
  • I like not working nights and weekends;
  • I can't go and buy supplies to do a project here at home (because no work, means little money);
  • My search on Craig's list netted some accounts payable/admin job for which I applied but don't really expect to receive an answer on
  • My search on Monster netted a UPS driver's helper job,which sounded like a big adventure, and would be otherwise perfect, but the words must be able to lift 70 lb packages and work in cold climates was just too intimidating for my small frame.

So while I am keeping my eyes and ears open for gainful employment I am in search for other opportunities. I should find someplace to volunteer, and maybe I will, but the other option my sister and I thought of was to someone else's projects. So, if you have all sorts of material, and no time to sew, send it along, I'll do it. Really any project that is outsourceable, and mailable - send it along - I'm game, at least for the next two months.

Any takers? I'm actually really curious to see if anyone is serious enough and trusting enough to send me anything. The game is officially on.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

An Apartment Flooded

Our apartment flooded this week. It happened Friday - a particularly rainy day. I had been sitting at my desk, sleeping really, when I woke up, got up from my computer and noticed that my feet were leaving footprints in the carpet. When my brain cleared, it dawned on me that the footprints in the carpet meant my carpet was very much wet. I looked up and noticed a very dry ceiling. Well, I guess that means the water was coming up from below, and getting worse. I called the rental office to have them send maintenance down to help me out, I called Matthew to let him know, and then I called my mother and my friend Rachel, just because it seemed so very surreal. My apartment was flooding.
I went next door to see if my neighbors were experiencing similar issues. No, it seems, this is a problem unique to my apartment. A problem that has been a recurring theme, for at least the last year. Sweet. According to my neighbor, the old tenants moved out because the flooding was such a frustrating problem. Double sweet, I thought. Maintenance came, and very kindly and efficiently helped me move all my belongings from the back two bedrooms (the only rooms seemingly affected). They secured a hotel for us to stay at while they pumped the water from our apartment, cleaned the carpets, and set up dehumidifiers to finish the drying process. They assured me no mold would grow.
Knowing the apartment had flooded before forcing the previous tenants to move, did not inspire a lot of faith in management. But Friday, an hour after I calmly but firmly expressed my concerns to some poor leasing agent, I was reassured that everything would be done to ensure my comfort; including letting me out of my lease, transferring me to a new apartment (depending upon availability), or getting the problem fixed once and for all ASAP.
My concerns were assuaged. Maybe management isn't an evil corporate empire after all, and maybe my faith in human decency doesn't have to be shaken. We can hope. In the meantime, we continue at the Super 8 motel (the only thing available in SC during parent's weekend) until maintenance gives us the go ahead to move back into our bedroom.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

You're gonna be Pop-u-u-lar

I think I have mentioned how much I love the women in my ward here in State College. I feel like I have found my people. I love the women, and they seem to love me in return, it's fabulous! I even feel sometimes that I might actually be popular here. I don't think I've ever felt that in my life - especially high school. High school (in Oregon) was not a cherished time of life for me.
In my excitement, I called my little sister to tell her the good news. Totally silly, I confess, but for a girl who has struggled with this for the better part of my life, I was excited. When I told my sister I thought I might be popular here in SC, I completely expected her to say, "oh yeah, you were lame in high school." But instead, she surprised me with, "if you weren't popular in high school it was all your own choosing. Sara," she said, "it's not that you were unpopular. No one made fun of you, you weren't an outcast." She, of course, is right. It's not that people hated me, it is more that I didn't "feel" accepted so I pulled into myself.
I think, to a certain extent, I did the same thing in college. People liked me well enough, but I wasn't confident enough in myself to believe them. I was too busy analyzing their every act to figure out if they actually liked me. is this person inviting me because they like me, or was I included because all my roommates were invited? Are they just being polite? Even the many friends who came to my surprise birthday party my sister arranged, are they here for me, or because my sister asked them to be here and they wanted something to do on a Friday night?
It wasn't until my mid 20's that I began to gain enough confidence and self-acceptance to not worry so much. Since then, I have enjoyed my relationships more and more. To the point, now, that I feel like I could actually be popular. That sounds so high school lame, but it is a big breakthrough for me.
As my mother said, when I called to tell her, "everyone should be popular at some point in their lives."
So thank you Megan for lovingly guiding me through some much needed personal self-realization. What a lovely gift!! I love you!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Legwarmers vs. Leggings and a very sweet woman

I teach seminary in the basement of one of my student's homes. The mom and I are friends and we chat from time to time as I'm leaving. A few weeks ago, I mentioned to this woman that I was looking for cool 80s style legwarmers to keep my legs from freezing over when I'm too lazy to change out of my skirt upon arriving home. I'm pretty sure I said this casually, and in passing, but on Friday, she stopped me and pulled out a pair of leggings she had bought for me. She didn't just see them and think of me. No, this super adorable woman, who works full time while fulfilling her super busy Relief Society President calling, went to three different stores in search of legwarmers for me. She didn't find any, so instead, bought me some leggings. She even left the tag on them in case I wanted to trade them in for something I liked better. I couldn't believe how ridiculously sweet, crazy thoughtful, and a little silly the whole scene was.

Just another reason why it's good to live in State College, PA and belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Done with Downers

I am so done with feeling sorry for myself. I'm done with temper tantrums and funks and self-recrimination. I am eager to start a new week with the new gorgeous day. So to counter my series of I hates, here is a brief list of I loves.
  • I love coming home to a quiet apartment after teaching seminary. I love taking a nap, preparing my lesson for the next day and only then feeling ready to tackle whatever else I need to do with my day.
  • I love having plenty of work to do so as to keep Matthew and I fed and housed.
  • I love beautiful weather and being able to get out and enjoy it.
  • I love a husband who supports even failed efforts at dinner, and the re-tries that come out only moderately better.
  • I love visiting teaching and the promise of fabulous new relationships with wonderful new women. Especially when, at first glance, we have very little in common.
  • I love a Heavenly Father who comes to the rescue when I seem to be at my lowest.
  • I love my family, but I especially love my sisters and the evolution our relationships have undergone as we've grown up.
  • I love having a medium to express my thoughts where, even though it's completely public, I feel completely secure.

Thanks everyone for your love and support, even if I don't know who you are.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Complaints from a College Apartment

While these past two months of being here have been some of our happiest in our marriage to date, and while State College is beautiful, our ward is fabulous, and I even enjoy waking up at 5:30 in the morning to teach my cute little seminary students; is it okay if I complain for just a few moments? I promise it will be brief.

Here is a short list of items that will not be missed when I FINALLY make it out of this stage of life.
  • Bad carpeting. I don't think I've lived on remotely new carpeting (installed in the last ten years) in the last decade. Wouldn't it be nice to have carpet that actually looked vacuumed five minutes after you've zoomed over it?
  • Really bad hardware. I know it's a small thing, but is is possible to update your tenant's hardware every ten to twenty years?
  • White walls. I absolutely YEARN for the days I can live without white walls. Matt's not so keen on this one, but after growing up in the military for the first half of my life and living in apartments for the second half, I absolutely quit white. Let's hope when finally given the chance to choose my own color, I don't go to crazy and try fuchsia.
  • Sharing walls. While this apartment has been lots quieter than others in the past, I still look forward to the day I can run appliances at all hours, turn my TV all the way up, jump up and down with crazy abandon, all the while not feeling guilty that someone may be annoyed by my unnecessary noises.
  • Community parking. One of my only ambitions in life is to graduate into a garage. (Sigh) Someday.
  • Limited Storage. And having to use that limited storage for lame things like boxes, because I know I'll be using them in another year or so anyway, so why get rid of them? So while boxes reside in storage, our real storage items, like boxes of Christmas decorations, and boxes of memorabilia hang out in our spare bedroom/ alternative storage.

Okay, I realize these are silly things, and there are far more important things in life to lament, but for now I'll stick to these.

Penn State Football - It's Begun

Okay, these pictures may seem a bit over kill, but Matthew and I have been eagerly awaiting the start of Penn State Football solely for the footage below. We've been hearing for the last several months how crazy State College gets on a game weekend. How you don't try to drive on game day, and how the population of the city surges to rival that of the other major metropoli (is that how you pluralize that word) in the state of PA.
We've heard about it, but it wasn't until last Saturday that we saw it first hand. Cars were backed up close to two miles on our street trying to get into the vast areas they've creatively turned into parking. Pastures once used for grazing cattle, the grass in front of the stadium, no spare spot of ground within a mile of the stadium was left vacant when given the opportunity to make an easy $40 - $120 per vehicle.
Matthew's Business program had a tailgate party that Matt and I walked to (given the road situation illustrated below). It was a good time, but when the vast majority of his class mates were nursing their 4th beers at 9 am, and well into their second six pack by 10:30, we decided to call it a day and went home. While we don't negate the possibility of being sucked into Penn State Football mania, for the time being we'll save our money and follow the game from home.


This picture doesn't do the size of the stadium justice. It's absolutely gigantic!

Random Picture at Mount Rushmore

I guess I should post these couple of pictures of us at Mount Rushmore since the likelihood of me actually scrap booking them at some point is fairly slim. So here we are. We stopped there on our way across the country. I think the only pictures we took the whole time. Matt has recently been wishing we could do the trip again and take longer this time to see more sights along the way. Maybe next year. I'm not sure I'm quite up for that sort of road trip just yet.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Thoughts on School

A few years ago when Matt graduated from law school, he immediately started regretting his decision not to go to medical school, pursuing an engineering degree, or finishing his chemistry minor. He perfectly appreciated his duty as the bread winner of our family, but I knew that going back to school was the wish of his heart.
Having just become the proud owner of $100k+ of student loans, I was not super eager about adding more to the pile. But wanting to be the supportive wife, I told him as soon as he paid off the first set of loans he could go back for which ever degree suited his fancy.
So it was a surprise to both of us when a little over a year later both of us were equally crazy excited about the adventure of his going back to school, a mite earlier than either of us expected. And a year after that, here we are in State College, Pennsylvania. It is so fun to be in a college town again.
School starts on Monday and you can feel the anticipation of a new year in the air. Parents have been dropping their children off (U-Haul in tow - who needs that much stuff for a college dorm room?) all weekend long, signs are up everywhere welcoming the students back, and grocery stores are crowded as students fill up on ramen and frozen pizza.
I never thought I would be this excited to be back in this lifestyle but there is something almost palpable about the hopeful anticipation of this new adventure. It's fun to dream of all the fun new places we could land. Even our time here in State College is laced with that same sense of fun.
I especially feel it when I go to church. Growing up as a military brat, I became adept at quickly making new friends and acquaintances as well as helping other new people to feel welcome. Somehow as I got older I lost that talent - I started waiting for others to do the welcoming. But being here in State College has brought back that childhood ability. I'm introducing myself, getting involved, and making friends like never before.
So while Matthew is having his adventure learning new things and meeting new people, I'll be having one of my own, one I think is ever so much more fun!!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Days like these are so rare

Do you ever have days that seem to float by? Not that you do anything extremely interesting or fabulous, but you are so happy and serene that no matter how lost you get or how far you have to drive for a meeting (an hour and a half round trip) nothing seems to get you down? I had a couple of those days this past week. True treasures in deed. I spent time getting to know new friends, helping out others, driving to a training meeting for my new calling (Early morning Seminary teacher), doing laundry, paying bills, working, reading, and spending time with darling Matthew. Definitely not anything out of the extraordinary, but lovely nonetheless. Why can't I go through life with that sort of attitude all the time? Any ideas?

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Litter Bugs Me

Tonight as I was driving home from the store, I saw a guy casually drop his cigarette out of his truck window - his hand hanging there looking very innocent. It made me think of this guy I worked with when I lived in Boston - a guy who called himself the Bronze Adonis. We were out to dinner while travelling for work. The restaurant was a very nice steak house as only a town teeming with old East Coast men can produce. While eating, a woman sitting at the nearby bar unwrapped a piece of candy and, like the man in the car, innocently and casually threw the wrapper on the floor.
Unfortunately for her, everyone at our table saw her do it. And even more unfortunately for our little litterer, the Bronze Adonis said aloud and in a very irritated voice what the rest of us at the table were already thinking, "Who does that? That is so bush league!" The now embarrassed girl, heard the remark, and while trying to appear just as casual, bent down and picked up the discarded wrapper. I remember at the time feeling sorry for this poor girl, but also feeling some small victory for litter haters everywhere. So when I saw the man in the truck, I had the strongest desire to yell out my own window, "Who does that? Litter haters unite!!"

Sunday, July 25, 2010

It's Sunday which means I'm feeling contemplative

Here is a send out going to everyone in my little world asking for your own stories. As I sit on my couch in yet another student apartment, it's hard not to notice how different my life has turned out from my high school imaginings, college dreams, or even mid-twenties ideals. I'm not despondent, I know everything happens for a reason, but, when I was in high school, I figured I'd be married by 23. In college, I thought I'd have children sometime during that decade. And in my mid-twenties I assumed I'd be in a house by age 30. So with all of my ideas of what a lovely life looks like thrown out the window (don't worry, I'm still convinced I have a lovely life), I'm wondering if others too have been thrown a big curve ball by life. Who else would never have thought they'd be where they are or doing what they're doing? Someone, please tell me your life is not what you envisioned either, and why it's still so much better than your early imaginings!!
As always, this question is open to people who know me or people who have happened on this blog while looking for actual helpful advice on that darned skin problem. I'm no respecter of nice helpful friends, be they new or old.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Weekend Trip

Something fun about not having children, other than making up fun reasons for why you don't have any, is being able to take trips to see family and friends without hours of planning and preparation. This past weekend was just such an example. Friday morning, I drove down and spent time with darling college roommate Ada. Her in-laws live in a gorgeous home outside of Baltimore with a pool, plenty of space inside and out and lots of nice cool air conditioning. I could easily see why she spends a month there every summer. I love visiting her and remembering all the fun things I love about her - especially her hugs.
After visiting with Ada, I drove over to another college friend's house, Leah. Leah and I have kept randomly running into each other over the years, each time realizing we have more in common than we had previously thought. I love Leah for her easy openness and her honest acknowledgement that she is just as wacky as I am. I tell you, I get along so much better with people who recognize their own neuroses. Hey, we all have them, isn't life so much more fun to just embrace them?
After saying good-bye to my new best friend Adam, Leah's 3-year little boy, I made my way through downtown D.C, past the worst pedestrian's maybe on the planet, through every single red light, and behind every person going 10 miles an hour to see my darling Isabella and Marie from Wenatchee. Isabella, one of the high school kids I tutored, won a state-wide essay contest on what Gear Up means to her and thereby won a trip to D.C. with Marie, one of the Wenatchee High School's Gear Up administrators, to supervise. I absolutely fell in love with Isabella while living in the Wenatchka so of course I made time, while I was in town, to see them. It was wonderful to get to spend some solid time with them, trying to impart any last minute words of wisdom, like "make who you marry the most selfish decision you ever make," and "texting while you are having brunch with someone is kind of rude, put your phone away." Hopefully she remembers something of what I tried to impart.
Saturday afternoon, after a very quick run through of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum I drove down to Fredericksburg, VA to see my brother Phillip and his lovely family. I am so super duper excited to have them within easy driving distance. I am going to love getting to see them and fall in love with them every two to three months. We played games, chatted, played more games, ate, played even more games and slept. Oh, and Sunday we went to church. What a fun weekend. My new favorite thing about Phillip's family is the way he and his wife are teaching their children to serve - often by volunteering them. But the children don't complain or shirk. They go and do. It was amazing to witness!
So thank you husband for letting me go and take our only car with me. And thanks to my wonderful family and friends for hosting me this past weekend. It was a wonderful excursion!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

State College Women

Although the humidity just might kill me I think I am going to be highly entertained here in State College, PA for the next two years? Why is that you ask? Well, partially because there is a dollar theater and I can finally afford to go to the movies again, but mostly because I think I have found some kindred spirits in my new ward. We had a Relief Society social last week and the women at my table provided sometimes interesting, sometimes informational, and oftentimes hysterical conversation. I fell in love with these women and am so excited to have the next two years to make new life-long friends!!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Fun Thoughts

Has it really been a month and a half since I have posted? Sorry, I've had a lot on my plate. One such item being a road trip from Portland to Pennsylvania. Along the way, we visited Matt's grandparents, my brother Paul and his wife Brie, Mount Rushmore, and Nauvoo (an LDS church history site). We enjoyed our trip that took us through scenic locales like Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota (the eastern half, because the western half is really quite lovely), and Iowa. By the end of the week we were so done with driving and road trip snacks. But at least we could still say we loved each other. So that's a plus. But here are a few highlights of the trip.

We stopped in Utah to visit Paul and Brie in Provo over the weekend so on Sunday we braved Paul's singles ward he has been assigned to. In Relief Society, one of the cute little counselors asked if I was Brie's mom. Her mother!! To make matters worse, this isn't the first time I've been accused of such a thing. The other time happened five years ago when I was living at home while on sabbatical and one of Paul's high school friends made the same mistake. Thankfully I didn't take too much offense to it because it seemed a little too absurd, but even still, I find it noteworthy enough to make mention of here. So, although I don't feel old enough to have a three year-old, I guess I am old enough to have a 21 year old. Sweet.

The other observation I wanted to make here is that Wyoming, but especially Iowa have really great rest stops. It seemed to me that the less exciting a state, the greater their efforts to make the time spent on their roads as pleasant an experience as possible. This in contrast to Washington state, that had, as at least one of their rest stops, a male and female port-a-potty. So, if you do have to travel through some rather, dare I say it, drab states, don't despair, at least your bladder will be thankful, if not your other senses.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Patience is not my virtue - but I'm trying

Anyone who knows me remotely well knows I am not a patient person. Give me someone to help and I have the patience of Job but when regulating my own personal affairs, I have some issues.

This is probably why the Lord has seen fit to regularly give me opportunities to work on this dismal shortcoming of mine. I was telling my mother the other day, that I quit Patience 101. It's DUMB. I thought about it later, and realized, after Years of struggling, a few things I think God wants me to be learning. You see, I've always looked at gaining patience almost as a punishment from God. Sort of as though He's in heaven looking down on this poor unfortunate soul saying, "Dang it Sara, you will learn patience whether you like it or not! You won't get married when you want, you won't have children when you want and you won't get a house when you want. You just have to wait!!" I've thought that if I could just learn patience then the Lord would see my efforts, grade them accordingly and let me move on.

But I'm coming to learn that this is a completely false notion. God doesn't withhold blessings just to prove a point. What sort of loving father would do that? Instead, He has a very specific plan with certain milestones coming at very specific times. I've learned that after all is said and done, I kind of like God's plan for me. I really wouldn't want it any other way. But I'm also learning, I need to cultivate a spirit of patience to get through the interim periods with my sanity in check. I need patience for me, not to prove something to God.

I love journals. I love being able to read my mother's from when she was my age and I love being able to read through mine. It's sometimes painful to read, but definitely helps me to learn from my own mistakes so hopefully I won't be cursed to continue to repeat them. I learned through a recent reading through the last three years that I tend to sabotage myself. I give myself random, arbitrary deadlines and then curse God when my life doesn't go according to my silly little plan. This, obviously isn't helping anyone; not my supportive friends and family, not my poor husband, and most especially not me. So, I write this post in an effort to gain some perspective and patience. Life is wonderful, children AND a house are somewhere in the future, and until then, let's party like it's 1999!!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Just Say "You Lose!!"

My current calling at church is teaching Sunday School to 17 and 18-year olds. They are a large but generally highly entertaining group of kids. A few weeks ago we were talking about how to resist temptation and I told them about about a girl who took resisting temptation to new levels. Whenever she felt her good girl resolve slipping, like if she didn't feel like praying, she would tell herself that's just what Satan would want her to do. At this point she would counter his effects by saying with strong conviction "You lose Satan! I'm going to pray anyway!" (said with passionate karate chop motions.)

My class thought this was pretty entertaining, so I challenged them to have a "You lose" moment some time during the week. The following Sunday I got a report from one my students who found his own resolve slipping during his Statistics class. Should he or shouldn't he cheat. So in the middle of class he yells out "You lose!" My other students who happened to be in the same class all busted up laughing while the remaining students were left to wonder what in the world was going on. Now, granted, this boy might have just taken an opportunity to yell at random. But even still, my terribly profound words of wisdom will hopefully be ingrained on their young minds. At least for a few more months.

Monday, May 10, 2010

I Quit Sponge Rollers

So this is kind of silly, but I have decided that sponge rollers don't play nice. A few months ago, my sister mentioned she had tried them with crazy cute results. It brought back all sorts of memories of me as a little girl with really adorable Shirley Temple ringlets. So I went to our local dollar store and invested $3 in sponge rollers. After putting the curlers in, I remembered the other half of the memories of me as a girl suffering through a very uncomfortable night's sleep. The next morning I woke up, took out the curlers and found, to my horror, super duper tight curls that more resembled little pigtails than Shirley Temple ringlets. Only after 12 hours did they finally relax enough to look cute.

Several months later I thought rolling in the morning leaving five hours for drying time would give me the curl I wanted without the pigtails I didn't. No good. Even after blow drying the sponge rollers for ten minutes, only half of my hair was actually dry, leaving my hair looking lame (see above picture). I'm so done. No super duper Shirley Temple curls for Mother's Day. Thankfully I have hats to hide disastrous hair results. So blegh to sponge rollers. Yeah to hats. That's the final determination.

Does anyone want a bag full of slightly used sponge rollers?

Friday, May 7, 2010

I Love

A few things I love these days:

@ I love being able to connect with women who are virtual strangers to me. I love being a woman and all of the natural bonding that comes along with it.

@ I love sunny days. Thanks Oregon for having the wettest April in recent history. And thanks Oregon for reminding me what a joy warm, sunny days can be.

@ I love working part time. Sometimes I forget what a charmed life I lead to not have children and still not have to work full time.

@ I love having time in my schedule to be able to say yes to service opportunities.

@ I love my 17 and 18 year olds to whom I teach Sunday School. I love the exploration of the Old Testament we get to do together.

@ I love the book my husband recently finished. "The Adventures of Jonathan Wordsymthe"

@ I love that I have a explanation to all the joint pain, muscle pain, weight gain, and sluggishness I've been feeling for the last couple of months. Hypothyroidism. Who knew everything would be answered by one simple disorder. I love that my salvation comes in the form of a simple pill I take once a day. I also love that this said pill was free to me because my very kind doctor allowed me to use my mother's thyroid medication she had received but was no longer using. I know it sounds awful and my husband was horrified that my mother was dispensing drugs to me, but I love free drugs that make my whole body sigh with relief.

@ Finally, I love the hope I am allowing myself to feel that this pill might also be the key to my infertility issues. Turns out my thyroid is completely out of whack and may have been for multiple years without my ever knowing it.

Confessions From my Parent's Basement

Tonight, I went to a Relief Society activity filled with food, spa treatments, movies, and lots and lots of girl talk. It was fun to get to know a few of the women in my parent's ward and it made me a little sad to have to leave in a few months to be a Penn Stater. There are some really fun women here and it could be a lot of fun to become invested here. Hopefully in a few months I will be able to say the same thing of the women I'll meet in State College.

But even with the really cool women inhabiting the area, not to mention my wonderful family (including amazing parents, adorable nephews and two nieces) I will be happy to move on.

I love my parents and their basement, I really do. Thank you parents for letting us mooch off of you for the last couple of months. But, is it too materialistic to say that I miss my stuff? My spices and cooking supplies, my bed, my TV. Not that my parent's have inferior belongings, they just aren't "mine" anymore. And I am eager to get back to my stuff.

I'm eager to get into a routine again. For some reason, living in a temporary location makes routines difficult for me - even though I'm pretty sure it's all in my head.

I'm eager to invest myself into a new place. Eager to explore my surroundings and fall in love with what makes it unique. Eager to get to know new people and become part of each other's lives. Eager to become involved in the community.

I guess, in essence, I'm eager to feel like my life is moving forward. It's been hard for me to live a temporary existence. I was raised very much to do something with my whole heart or none at all. I want to give of myself and invest, but knowing I'm only here for a few months brings out the less attractive, antsy side of me. I'm trying very hard to see this time as the blessing I know the Lord intends it to be for me. Trying to see my family as much as I can and make sure I fill my canteen with all the momma and grandchildren and sibling time I can possibly fit in there. Trying to enjoy not cooking every night (shouldn't be that hard right?). Trying to make sure I learn everything I should from this experience before it's too late. So hopefully in a couple of months when we're en route to our next adventure I don't look back and realize I didn't put my whole heart into a very special period in my life.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

We Are . . . Penn State

That's the cheer they gave all weekend long. While Penn State is a supremely large university, the MBA program is not - less than 100 students per class. But what they lack in size they make up in passion for their school. We were overwhelmed this weekend by the loyalty both students and alumni have for their alma mater - the enthusiasm is definitely infectious. We are certain this is where the Lord wants us to be at this time in our lives and could quite possibly be a life changing experience for us. While the physical location is absolutely gorgeous, rolling hills and trees everywhere you look, the energy of the school just takes hold of you and makes you too want to shout, We Are . . . Penn State! So wish us luck. Luck that we'll be able to hold on to that energy and luck that we won't kill or be killed by the drunk underclassmen roaming around cursing like sailors.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Yep, this Hospital will do just Fine

I think I've mentioned that Matthew and I will be moving to State College, PA in a few months so he can attend Penn State's Business School. We made the decision, but determined it would still be a good idea to come check out the area. So we flew in a few days ago for admit weekend. Thursday night after going to bed early to make up for the lack of sleep thanks to the red-eye flight we had taken the night before, I woke up with searing pain in my lower abdomen. It felt like my body was being ripped apart. These were no ordinary "monthly" cramps. I can't say I have ever writhed in pain until that night. Matthew was absolutely wonderful when I woke him up crying. He gave me a priesthood blessing and got me to the hospital. He didn't panic, complain, or ask if this was really necessary, but stayed extremely calm and supportive.

After several hours of waiting and tests and waiting and vital signs being registered my very competent doctor came in to tell me that I have a cyst on either ovary and the pain was most likely caused by one of them rupturing. He sent me home with some pain pills along with everything I would need to show my Oregon OBGYN so she can remove them. Whew, what a relief. Not that I am super excited about having two sizable cysts, oh and a polyp to boot, in my body, but after several hours in the hospital I had started feeling remarkably better and had begun wondering whether I had made all of the pain up. It was nice to know that 1. There was in deed something the matter, 2. That it is extremely fixable, 3. It can wait until I can be at home, and 4. Penn State's hospital is well equipped with both pre-heated blankets and kind and competent staff.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

A Birthday Surprise

My mother is a funny woman. You really can't predict how exactly she's going to react to any given situation. In college when I got a 100% on my Accounting 100 final she replied simply, "That's nice." Nice?! That's all I get? That's nice?!? When I told her I was thinking of moving to Seattle from Boston she about jumped through the phone line to kiss me she was so excited. When I told her I was moving from Seattle to Portland she again underwhelmed me with her enthusiasm. I called her on it. Why was she so excited about me moving to Seattle but not Portland. She gave me some lame excuse about how it's harder for her to get excited about things as she gets older. But, she explained, it's also a lot harder to get her really upset. Life is a trade off, I guess.

So this year, for my mother's birthday, we as her children and husband, decided to get her a new flat screen TV. She's been absolutely pining for one for years but can't seem to justify the expense when she's got a perfectly good TV already. She gave up asking her children for one and started asking instead for donations to her TV fund. She figured that if she saved for a year she'd have enough to buy one for herself for Christmas.

About a month before her birthday, we started plotting out the purchase. Matt and I would be the organizers, Josh would install, and Father would make the final decision on the purchase (since it would it be his TV too). We had it all planned out - all except my mother's reaction. Would she give another lame, "That's nice," or would she really be excited?

On the morning of her birthday one of her best friend's and I took her out to run some errands and take her to lunch while my dad and brother Josh did the installation. It was all ready and time to come home. My stomach was all a-twitter with anticipation. On the way she commented that birthdays just weren't exciting for her anymore. I could hardly contain myself. We got home, with me jetting into the living room to get into position with my camera at the ready. She finally came in and screamed as soon as she saw what we had done. The cheesy grin, the look of pure joy and the random shouts of "I love my TV" were everything we as her family could ask for. It was the perfect response.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Double Dating

Last night I had the privilege of going on a double date with my sister Megan and her two boys; Aaron - 7 and Edward - 4. At first when she asked me to be her son Edward's date, I was nervous and skeptical. Edward doesn't immediately scream ideal dater. I don't often get to see the grand children on their own. Normally it's only when everyone is together. I have gratefully discovered that children can be COMPLETELY different in large groups at grandma's house versus on their own at their house. My almost 4-year old nephew Seth loves to hate me when at grandma's house and is constantly pushing me away. I think he likes to be a pill. But when I go to his house he runs up and hugs me and wants to show me everything. Likewise, my almost 5-year old nephew Edward is easily the most willful and anti-social grand child when at grandma's house.
So imagine my surprise when I showed up at his house to find a super sweet and eager date. They recently moved houses and he was all about showing me everything in his new abode. I immediately started calling him "date" which seemed to please him and he was all too willing to hold my hand (like all good dates do). And like a good date, his hand was nice and warm.
The plan for the evening, was dinner, dessert (gelato, mmm yum) and a movie. Standard date fare. Dinner proved a little tricky as some of Edward's less adorable 4-year old traits came out. He didn't want to stay in his seat and refused to eat the dinner his mother had ordered for him. He ended up filling up with soda and the free chips brought to the table.
My favorite part of the evening was near the end of dinner. Edward's mother was quickly becoming frustrated with her son and was on the verge of taking him home. The two conditions she presented him that would allow him to stay on the date was to stay in his seat and eat at least a bite of the his burrito. I think he understood the seriousness of the situation because he calmed down a little and submitted to one bite. The bite being some spanish rice with some cheese. He protested and won the elimination of the cheese but was still forced to eat the rice. He grudgingly allowed the fork to enter his mouth but once the food was deposited his eyes instantly swelled with tears. You'd think his mother had forced hot sauce down his throat. He was on the verge of spitting it out but the look his mother gave him and the threat of going home was enough to keep it in. I would have felt sorry for him but one bite of spanish rice was not asking much and it was kind of entertaining to watch this small child agonize over not wanting to eat and not want to go home. In the end, thanks to large quantities of soda to wash it down, the food was eaten and disaster was averted. Edward was allowed to stay out for the evening.
After dinner we headed for gelato and then on to a movie (that while cute was maybe not the most engaging for a 4-year old) and for the rest of the night Edward was a perfect angel. I was so impressed. He even left me a very articulate voice memo on my phone expressing his appreciation for taking him to the movie and giving him popcorn. Silly boy. I love my nephews and I love opportunities to spend some more one-on-one time with them.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Penn State it Is

After months and months of dreaming and planning and doubting and praying and waiting, we have finally made a decision. It helped that Penn State made an offer we couldn't refuse (free tuition with a stipend). So it's off to Penn State we go. Who knows when or how we'll get there. All of those details have yet to be decided, but in the meantime we are just excited to have made that fateful decision and to feel good that State College, PA is where we are meant to be. Yay!!

Friday, March 5, 2010

Am I Cool Enough for an iPhone?

This is the question I have been asking myself since losing my iPod in December. I'm up for a phone upgrade and it could be nice to have them all in one, but am I cool enough to join the iPhone club? In the Apple commercials I always seem to connect with the PC guy. I've always had basic phones, don't really text or surf the web. So can I pull it off? I couldn't when I thought I would be charged $500 for one, but when I found out I qualified for a $200 one, all of a sudden my heart started shifting. Maybe I'm not the Apple guy now, but maybe I could be if I had the phone. I've become a red heels girl, surely I can become an iPhone girl to boot. (Do iPhoners use the phrase "to boot?")
Either way, I've made the plunge. Though narcissistic that I am I decided I didn't want the one easily accessible at the store, no, I wanted to buy one online so as to get it engraved with "Sariasis." So I bought one, and three days into anxiously awaiting it's arrival I discovered I sent it to the apartment I haven't lived in for two years. Turns out, after hanging out with various Apple and FedEx representatives for an hour, you can't reroute a package (at least not an iPhone) until FedEx has made at least one delivery to the original address. At first I thought this was absolutely ludicrous. What if the person who's now living in my apartment accepts the package? Am I out of luck? The nice man at FedEx told me they shouldn't accept the package, it won't have their name on it. To which I responded (quite sensibly, I thought), no one asks after the name on the package, neither the carrier nor the recipient, because who sends a package somewhere they don't live? I know I don't, why would anyone else? They didn't really have any satisfactory answer to that so I went back to Apple, where a very sweet girl assured me that, while that is the policy (for security reasons I think I understand), if someone should be there to accept the package, Apple will do some investigation and hopefully get me my phone.
I was appeased and am now praying that whoever lives at my old address isn't home on Monday to make off with my new endeavor into coolness. And if they do, I pray they will be nice enough when either Apple or me come knocking to retrieve said endeavor. Tune in next week for the exciting conclusion!

A week later . . .
Turns out they let anyone have an iPhone whether they're cool or not. FedEx was kind enough to reroute my package without it going to the old address first. Yay!! I excitedly powered it up only to find out that the seemingly super simple activation process was not so easily mastered. So off to my local AT&T Wireless store I toddled. Turns out the process was not easily mastered by them either. It took two very nice individuals a solid hour plus to figure out what had gone wrong and how to correct it.
But ah wonders of wonders they did and I went home to finish the job only to find out that while I had a new phone I didn't have contacts. Somehow they had gotten lost in the transition. Not that I have that many friends, but I really am that lazy that I didn't want to have to re-enter all of them. So I called AT&T this time to spend yet another hour plus on the phone with yet another very nice person. This young woman was quite possible the most hysterical customer service person I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with. Though at the end of the hour she could not help me. She directed me to the Apple customer service that had closed moments before. Argh! Though not in the "I hate this stupid @!&$* phone," but in a "Sheesh, silly Sara and her silly this-phone-had-better-be-worth-it" sort of way.
I then spent the next hour or so fiddling with my phone and all the cool new apps I found. And somewhere along the way, I found the magic key to unlocking all my contacts. Ah Heaven itself. I wished there was a way of getting a hold of my cute AT&T rep just so I could tell her the happy news. I just knew she'd be so proud of me. It's too bad there is no way of doing that. That's a very long story to say that after multiple hours invested with the nice people of FedEx, Apple, AT&T (both in store and on the phone) I now have an iPhone.

Anyway, it's been a couple of days, and while I'm learning to overcome new addictions associated with the phone, I have to say, it's kind of cool. And maybe I can be cool too.

Monday, March 1, 2010

We are Here! We are Here! We are Here!

That's what I feel like shouting at the top of my lungs, just like those loveable Who's down in Who-ville. After a month of packing and many more months of contemplating, we are now officially on to the phase before the next real phase of our lives - e.g. living in my parent's basement while we wile away the time before really and truly moving on to the next phase of our lives - Matthew going back to school.
Complicated? Maybe, but I'm glad to be here. Glad that Wenatchee sent us off with beautiful weather, glad that after a few days of gloom in Sherwood, Oregon is welcoming us with beautiful weather, and glad that I have several months here with my family before heading off again. I feel like now is the time to soak in all the family time I can possibly handle while trying to work closer to full-time, before having to ditch out.
Because who knows when we'll be in driving distance again? We're seriously considering Penn State (more news after this weekend) and I was noticing that only 4% of their graduating class gets placed in the West. Not the Northwest, just the West. Which doesn't necessarily mean anything, but I'm not putting a lot of faith in us ending up here after school. Who knows though. Life has been surprising thus far.
Wow, that's a lot of rambling to say we have made it to Portland and are excited to be here. There's lots of room in the basement if anyone feels like visiting!?!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Last Minute Thoughts of My Fair Town

Today was my last day of church here in Wenatchee. As such I was able to good-bye to some while others said good-bye to me. I realize that sounds like semantics, but I'm learning that the two are not always the same.

Anyway, as I think about my 21 months in the fair city of Wenatchka I am most thankful for and will miss the following the most:

1. Beautiful weather - it has been sunny and 50 for the last week. We've had some dreary weather as of late, but most often it is gorgeous. I'm thankful that in the last two weeks I'm able to enjoy the Wenatchee weather I have come to love.

2. I love the people who inhabit smaller towns. Not that big town people are inferior, but I love the people who inhabit smaller towns. They are down to earth, happy to help, and welcoming of all new people. From the people at church to my little high school friends, to the random assortment of people I've met around town. Small town people, as a general rule, are just good folks.

3. I love Wenatchee non-traffic. I love that at 5:30 it takes me 8 minutes to get across the bridge instead of 4. I've noticed that I get stressed out now when I drive on freeways in big cities. All thanks to the lack of traffic here in my town. Also thanks to the lack of driving I do these days. I'm still able to walk just about anywhere I go.

4. I love always finding a good parking space and never having to wait for a table when I dine out. I always feel like a VIP - it's fantastic!

5. I have love love loved the opportunities of service I have found with my cute high school kids and my most precious church kids. They mean the world to me and I will most likely miss them the most. Just them alone make my time in the Wenatch completely worthwhile.

Thanks Wenatchee for being such a hotbed of life lessons, growth and support. I have enjoyed you and will always hold you in high regard. Even if, on the date of departure, I say to the rear-view mirror - "see ya suckas."

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Grandparents and Their Surrogates

I may have mentioned before this adorable couple in my ward. They are as round as they are tall and are of that indeterminate age when I can't tell if they are my parent's age or my grandparents age. They are retired so I just assume grandparents. And whenever I see them they say how much they adore me, which isn't that what grandparents are supposed to do? So, they along with some other special individuals have become my adopted gp's.

I've never really known my grandparents. On my father's side, my grandmother died in childbirth with him, and my grandfather died when I was 2 or 3. On my mother's side, my grandfather died when my mother was a teenager and my grandmother (while the longest lived) was away in New Mexico living close to her 50 (or so it seems) other grandchildren. One of my only memories of her is that she called me arrogant when I was a teenager. It was probably deserved, but at the time I remember thinking what an awful thing to say to your grand daughter. And it has obviously stuck with me. We also never visited her (much to her dismay); so I have to confess I never really knew her either.

As such, over the last few years, I've latched on to gp-like figures. In high school it was our home teacher Brother Morton (I loved that man) and in Wenatchee, home of, it seems, every senior citizen when they're not spending the winters in Arizona, I have the the cute Eldreds (mentioned above) along with this sweet sister I get to visit teach. They say lovely things whenever I see them and treat me just how I think my grandparents would treat me were they alive and able to know me. I think my own gp's must be as grateful as I am for these heaven-sent individuals. So, if you are of gp age, be nice to the younger people you meet, you could very well be acting on behalf of grateful gps in heaven.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Moving

Since last writing, Matthew and I have decided the best course of action is to move back to Portland. The temporary job market (especially for attorneys) is practically non-existent, meanwhile, with all the connections Matt had to make looking for a job, we feel he has a better chance of finding something worthwhile to do with his time there. And since we'll only be there a few months, we figured moving in with the parents made the most sense.
My mom is so funny. She tried to sound so nonchalant when I brought it up, but has since been calling to make sure we're still moving and to give updates on her progress in getting everything all ready for us. I love her!!
So in a few short weeks we'll move everything to a storage unit and say goodbye to our beloved Wenatchka.
It seems odd to me that for the last few years I haven't been able to stay anywhere longer than about 20 months. I always figured my military-brat days were over when I got married. I thought Matt would settle me down somewhere. I guess not. In fact, military life was never this hectic. At least growing up we stayed somewhere for 3 years. Though for the adventurer in me, I wouldn't trade it for anything!
Matt's still in the process of interviewing and hearing from schools, but when we know, I'll let you know as well. Thanks everyone for being so supportive and for being excited to see me when I call and say I'm coming to town!!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Timing is Everything

These last couple of days have been interesting. Thursday, we got an email from the stake president (regional bishop you might say) to ask if he could meet with us on Sunday. Friday, Matthew got laid off from his job. The story goes that his boss was planning on letting him go due to a shortage of incoming work the very night Matthew told him his plans for grad school. Supposedly, he and his wife (the firm administrator) sat on the information for a day before deciding to let him go anyway. They could be acting vindictively but for me and my belief in humanity, I'm choosing to believe their story. However, with the lay off we have little incentive to stay in Wenatchee. So with that in mind we fasted and prayed today on what the next step should be. Also today, the stake president released Matthew of his calling in our ward as the Elder's Quorum President (he said it just felt like the right timing) and the Bishop (also feeling the Spirit before he knew about our situation) asked if I would speak in church next Sunday on overcoming adversity.

Now as I see it, we have here just too many seemingly aligned coincidences to go without notice. The one thing that has been perfectly clear through this weekend (although we are still sans any specific plans for the future) is that the Lord is intensely aware of our small lives and that He has a specific plan for them. Who knows if we are just supposed to be learning how to get by on less or what the process is for claiming unemployment. Or maybe we're supposed to see the Lord's hand as he prepares a wonderful temporary job that will lead him to bigger and better things in the future. That part of the plan has yet to be revealed. But for now, faith in the Lord's awareness and love are enough.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

I can finally let my secret out

And no, I'm not pregnant. Last summer Matt and I decided that although his current job here in the Wenatch is a good opportunity it isn't the direction he wants his career to take. So after, some soul searching, talking to good parents, and serious prayer, we decided the best course of action for Matthew to take is to head back for yet another graduate degree - this time an MBA. I always thought I'd kill Matt before I'd let him go back to school but everything so far has been falling into place and we both feel really good about the decision.
He did well on the GMAT, sent in his applications fairly early, and got a good response from his employer when we broke the news. He's applied to BYU, Penn State (no not Wharton), Michigan State, and MIT. I'm not not sure Matthew is leaning towards any particular school. They all have their pros and cons and I think Matt could go to any of them and feel perfectly happy with his choice. I'm just excited I can finally openly talk about it. It's been a major topic of conversation around our apartment for what seems like forever but since Wenatchee is a small town I was sworn to secrecy lest his employer find out before he was ready to commit to this endeavor.
But now that it's out, let me just say publicly that I hope and pray that when some new employer reviews his resume and sees Micro Biology undergrad, law school, patent license, and business school they don't think, crazy person who doesn't know what they want to do when they grow up but rather, this person is uniquely and perfectly qualified for just this position.
Wish us luck.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Weak Sauce

I've realized over the last week that I am grateful for many things but my weak sauce sense of willpower is most definitely not one of them.

In December, like most people, I totally OD'ed on sugar so I decided I was going to give up sweets for the month of January. Yeah, I only made it 10 days before choking. Matthew said he was going to be good about supporting me, but kept talking about how great Apple Crisp would be. It didn't help that my resolve was already somewhat shaky at this point. But with the excuse that I was helping my husband more than hurting myself I gave in and made the dessert. It was really good too.

I'm also really bad about not reading the end of a book before I'm there by honest means. It's the reason I've never gotten into the mystery genre. I enjoy knowing the end of the beginning too much to be a good mystery reader. Sometimes, I'll even read ahead just to see if certain characters I like/dislike are still there further down the road. Sad, and almost offensive to some, I know.

Thus, because of this complete lack self-control, I am immensely grateful for two things. 1. That I don't have serious weight issues. I'm not sure I would be any good on a strict or even semi-strict diet; and 2. That I've grown up LDS and thus have never tried alcohol, coffee, tea, or tobacco. They pose no threat to me now, but who knows the troubles I'd see if I had to give them up today. Perish that thought.

Any way, I just felt the desire to fess up to my weak sauce willpower. If you are like me, just know you are not alone.