On birthday week (and a general update)

My birthday was last Wednesday, which means that I got to have an awesome birthday week leading up to that day. We got the idea for birthday week from my awesome cousins D&S. When it's my birthday week, I get to call the shots. I decided where we went out to dinner, what we watched on TV, etc. It works really well for us, because I prefer to do things rather than get things. I made Blake come with me to see a chick-flick one day and to go mini-golfing another. It was great! On my birthday we went for a lovely dinner at the Goldener-Hirsch at Deer Valley in Park City. It was delicious and very romantic. Blake gave me some wonderful and thoughtful gifts; he knows me so well. He gave me an adorable stuffed baby Dumbo because Dumbo was my favorite ride at Disneyland when I was a wee lass, a cookbook stand, and a beginning How-to-Quilt video. Learning to quilt is on my bucket list. Thanks for a great birthday, Blake!

Cookbook stand and Baby Dumbo



In the middle of birthday week, we went to Moab with my dad for Labor day weekend. It seemed like a good idea, but I should have known that 4 days in a row with my dad would be too many. We have bad history, and it's still anxiety provoking for me to spend time with him. Also, Jeeping off-road is not really my thing.

Blake driving and feeling very manly.

Being a good sport about it while trying to keep my fear of heights in check on those crazy trails was just a little too much for me. I got out and walked a portion of the last trail I went on. Everyone else went on another trail the next day while I stayed in town and went for a walk and read a book.

This isn't us, but it's where I got out and walked. One wrong move and you roll off that cliff!

I've been having crazy dreams about jeeps falling off cliffs and getting attacked by weird desert animals ever since. I'm telling you all this so that next time someone can remind me that this wasn't such a good idea after all; I might forget.

We found a place to live in Moreno Valley, and are moving on Friday. Yikes! Packing and cleaning are overwhelming. We're making progress one box at a time. Even though it's a lot to do, I'm so happy that things are falling into place and we get to live together again. We're also really hoping that people will want to come visit us. We'll have an extra bedroom and bathroom. We're fun. We have a pool and hot tub. I'll put a mint on your pillow. Come visit us!

On maybe starting a new blog?

I get all passionate about the things that I'm learning in my classes. Even though I want to, I usually don't post them on my blog, because I figure most of you wouldn't be that interested in how to run a good therapy group, or what I'm learning about kids and play therapy, or my opinion on antidepressant medications. Am I right?

I'm thinking about starting a new blog where I can write about all those things and not bore my friends and family who read this blog. What are your thoughts on this idea?

On . . . I'm embarrassed for us . . . seriously, people?

I don't really know where to start with this one. I don't have the words.

A friend directed me to this story from the Deseret News. Next week, President Obama is planning a live broadcast for America's school children. According to the White House website, "the President will talk directly to students across the country on the importance of taking responsibility for their education, challenging them to set goals and do everything they can to succeed." (The English major in me has a hard time with that sentence. Come on, White House, did no one edit?)

Apparently some parents are upset about this and another video encouraging community service shown in a Utah school last week. They are planning on taking their kids out of school so that they don't have to see the video.

Really, people? Really? In the news story, parents are saying they'll do something useful during that time like read the constitution and are wondering what President Obama's motive is. He's the President! The President of the United States! How is it at all suspicious that he's sending a message to kids to do well in school and strive to succeed? I just don't see the harm in it.

It's these kinds of things that make me embarrassed for our state. We're really not all like this. Most of us are fairly normal people, good citizens, and all that. It's just that these are the people that make the news and make the rest of us look bad. If anything, what they've accomplished with this protest is to draw more attention to the broadcast. You better believe I'll be watching it now; I want to see what the fuss is all about.

On MLIA

I've recently discovered my new favorite website. It might just be as funny as Cake Wrecks; it's called My Life is Average. Anyone can post a couple sentences about what's happening in his/her life. Here's a sampling of my favorites from today:

Today, while walking around downtown, I saw a sign that said 'No Standing'. I stood under it. I got 6 high-fives, and a thumbs up from a police officer. MLIA

Today, my parents made me put a flashlight in my car because they didn't think the lightsaber in my trunk would help in a time of need. What fools. MLIA

Today after picking up my really expensive summer reading books, we drove past a Blockbuster. I had this great idea that they should invent places like Blockbuster where you can rent books. Then we drove past a library. MLIA

Today, my girlfriend and I just finished moving into our big new house that my grandparents gave us.There was one room left that we couldn't find a use for. We filled it with pillows and foam swords for forts. I'm going to get an engagement ring tomorrow. MLIA

Yesterday, I fell and a rock cut my arm. Today I looked and saw that the cut is in the shape of a heart. I felt like the rock was trying to apologise for hurting me, so I forgave it. MLIA

Today, my dad ran inside the house yelling my name. Alarmed, I asked what the problem was. He said the ice cream truck was coming and he couldn't find his wallet. He made me lend him a dollar. MLIA

Today, my dad found a gecko in my house. He then said to it "If you could make it past my two dogs and into my house, I'll let you live. You can kill all the bugs in my house, my little gecko bodyguard." I love my dad. MLIA

A few days ago, a friend and I discovered a new door at work. She exclaimed "WOAH it's like a secret portal to the next room." Then we realized that's what all doors are. MLIA

On a few things I love about Blake

One. While eating the dinner we made last Sunday, Blake said, "Oh, Babe, this is delicious. It's like my taste buds are making love to my brain." (chew, chew, another bite, chew, chew) "Mmm, seriously, it's like an orgasm of flavor!"

The dinner was delicious: lamb and rice meat balls with zucchini and red bell pepper made in our tagine. I love his enthusiasm and sense of humor. He can make me laugh harder than anyone else I know. During the above praise of dinner, I was laughing heartily, which, of course, is why he kept going.

Two. We were in the car together, I was driving, when Blake found some German music on his iPod he wanted me to listen to. The singer had put the Sermon on the Mount to music. The style of music couldn't really even be called Christian Rock; the best way I can describe it is EFY music. Apparently someone Blake knew in Austria while on his mission traded him this album for a Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD.

As we listened to the album, Blake translated most of the lyrics for me. The best part though, was that he sang along Broadway style--a big smile, mouth all the way open, voice booming. I was delighted to glance over at his happy face and see his little feet dancing across the dashboard. I just love him!

Three. We've been making some pretty big decisions lately. It's been really stressful. At these times he doesn't get over-stressed and snap at me or take his frustration out on me. He usually says something like "I love you so much. And I'm so glad I don't have to do this by myself." I love that these things are bringing us closer.

Four. He's my very best friend.

I love you, Blake!

On that day

The big news is that we have an offer on our house. Now then, let me explain the title of this post.

A few months ago I was asked to speak in church. I talked for a while about the people at the beginning of 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon, who are waiting for the sign of the birth of Christ--a day and a night and a day without darkness and a new star. The unbelievers chose a day and said that if the sign had not come by that day, they would kill anyone who believed. It came down to that day. It was the day before. If the sun went down that day--the most likely and certain thing in the world--the believers would be killed. And on that day, the sign was given. I talked about the incredible faith of those people and the fear they must have faced. I talked about how sometimes in our lives it comes down to that day, but that God always comes through.

As all of you know, we're selling our condo in Salt Lake. We have to sell it short because of how much our home has depreciated in value since we bought it; we won't be able to get enough money from the sale to cover the amount remaining on our loan. So, the bank approves a sale amount less than what we owe and forgives the rest of the debt--it's better for everyone than letting the home go to foreclosure. However, we have to miss at least one mortgage payment so that we are technically delinquent on our loan; this enables our bank to recoup the short amount from their insurance provider (this is why we've been paying mortgage insurance all along, I guess). We don't take this missing-a-payment deal lightly and were waiting until we got an offer on the house to miss the payment, so we'd only miss one. Every month we've been waiting until the last day to make our payment and then driving it in to the office.

We had been fasting and praying for an offer by August 16th. That's when our payment was due and would enable us to close in time for Blake to move with me to CA when I go back to school in September. We had a showing Thursday afternoon. Blake was in his car at lunch on Friday, about to drive out to make the payment when we got a call from our realtor letting us know that we had an offer. A half an hour later would have been too late. We haven't signed anything yet, but we've been negotiating back and forth since then, and everything looks really positive. The buyer is committed and we're just working out the details of appliances and closing costs and what not.

We're not out of the woods yet--we still need a job and an apartment in CA--but we are so grateful for this offer. Selling the house has been the biggest obstacle for us for the last 8 months or so. The relief in our house is palpable. Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes on our behalf.

On "I'm Sensitive"

While I was working on the monstrous paper for my groups class last month, I started listening to my iTunes library alphabetical by artist. I just let it go and ended up listening to some stuff I love, some stuff I had forgotten I had, and some stuff that made me laugh. Alphabetical makes for an interesting playlist.

After I finished the paper (which I did well on, by the way--4.0 for the quarter--Yay me!) I kept up the experiment while I've been working on other projects. I'm in the Js now and ended up listening to Jewel this morning while baking cookies for our camping trip this weekend. Jewel's Pieces of You album was one of the first I ever owned when I was 13 or 14. This album is one that seeks to change the world by exposing the ills of society and singing about all the pain; it's so introspective and deep! Ah, it takes me back, back to Grandma Jean's basement and my own teen angst.

All silliness and drama aside, there is a lyric in the song "I'm Sensitive" that I had forgotten about but really like. It says,

"I have this theory that if we're told we're bad,
then that's the only idea we'll ever have.
Maybe if we are surrounded in beauty
someday we will become what we see.
'Cause anyone can start a conflict,
it's harder yet to disreguard it.
I'd rather see the world from another angle,
we are everyday angels.
Be careful with me, 'cause I'd like to stay that way."

This fits in pretty well with my philosophy on life. There is a lot that's crappy and hard about life; if I think about it too long, I drown in it. Once I start getting down I have to make a concerted effort to stop my thought patterns and pull myself back up. There is so much that is sad and unfair. I choose to see the good. There is also much that is beautiful and kind. Despite the tragedy that exists in life, there is a lot of love.

I choose to believe that people are essentially good and do the best that they can. I believe people can change. I believe it's never too late to change who you are and how you treat those around you. I believe in forgiveness. I believe that we can heal.

It's easy (and human) for us to label those around us, to say "he's such a jerk" or "she only thinks about herself" or "they hate me so I'm cutting them off." I don't want to live in a world where people are bad or selfish or manipulative. That's a depressing world. I choose not to live in that world. I live in a wolrd where people are doing the best they can with what they've got, and mostly they're doing great. "I'd rather see the world from another angle: we are everyday angels."

As I've been writing this post, my playlist has moved in the Js from Jewel to Jimmy Eat World and another fanstastic lyric: "I'm not alone cuz the TV's on. Yeah. I'm not crazy cuz I take the right pills every day."