Loves

Loves...

1. That my husband comes home almost every day for lunch. It's a habit that formed without planning. It doesn't always happen, but I look forward to the days that it does.

2. That we live close enough to my parents that we can visit often.

3. That I was raised on and my parents still live on a farm. If you're not acquainted with farm life you're missing out. I truly understand how people fall in love with their land and never want to leave. There's something about stretching out your legs and walking over your piece earth, knowing it'll always be there for you no matter what.

4. That I have two days to get the house organized while my three oldest play at the farm with their cousins.

5. That it's still fairly warm here. High tomorrow should be upper 50's. That's pretty good since it's almost January. Maybe Husband and I will go hiking.

6. When an idea for a story I'm working on just pops into my head, and I know it's the right thing to do because of how excited it makes me. That happened this week. Today I start tweaking.

7. My online critique group. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I can't say it enough. They rock. If you're trying to write and you don't have at least a critique buddy, you don't know what you're missing.

8. That I got to see an arc of Dos's book. It looks awesome. They changed the title to Red Cell. And my name is in the acknowledgments. Don't ask why. I had absolutely nothing to do with him writing that book. But it's nice to have this love in common with him and to watch him succeed.

9. The women I work with in Young Women's and the girls. They amaze me with their ideas and with how together they are. I have no idea why I'm the president when they teach me new things every day.

10. That the New Year is almost here. I'm a strong believer in resolutions. I had one seven years ago that completely altered a relationship of mine that needed it so badly. Change can happen if you have determination.

What do you love?

Raise My Glass (Metaphorically, of course.)

I was driving today when the song, "Raise Your Glass," came on. I heart this song. (Before you Raise Your Eyebrow, hear me out.) But not as much as the person who introduced me to it.

The girl who made me a wicked in-law. Except I'm not, wicked. And neither is she.

In fact, she is quite the opposite.

Tres's wife is a rockstar. She quilts, reads, shops, cooks, cleans and drives a sweet Mustang in which she blasts the base like a teenager. She planned out a 5 am breakfast when Will and Kate got married and invited everyone. And she's the queen of the midnight showing. Harry Potter or Twilight, it doesn't matter. She's there.

But it's the capacity with which she carries out her job that blows my mind. Not that I've ever seen her in action. I haven't. But here's what I have seen. Lots and lots of people who've had to visit her clinic for one reason or another or who know her professionally. And whenever I meet one of these people my heart dips a little and I ask them if they're okay.

Because J. is a surgeon who specializes in Breast surgery.

Not too long ago she participated in a Pink Glove dance with some of the other surgeons in the area, a lot of nurses, and breast cancer survivors, the Hokie Dance team (can't remember their title) and the marching band. It rocks. And every time I hear the song or see the video I get teary eyed because of what she does for those women.

Yes, people. I tear up at Pink. Anyway. Back to my point.

The women in this community are lucky to have J.

And so am I.

I thought about stopping there--only telling you about her, but then I realized that would be a disservice to my other amazing sister in laws. So hold on tight and get ready for a ride.

Also today, I happened to answer a phone call for my mom. Lucky me--it was Dos's wife. I heart this chick too, if for no other reason, than the fact that she's Adam's mom (you can read about that awesomeness here.).  But here's the thing. This girl gets me. I was super frustrated about something and I just laid it on her, as if her life isn't hectic and heavy enough. And you know what? I could hear her nodding through the phone and she just kept saying, "I know, I know," and telling me how everything was going to be fine, and that it was okay if I wanted to take a break from this heavy thing I'm dealing with. When I got off the phone I felt so much lighter. Because that's all I needed--for someone to tell me they understood, and that yes, sometimes life sucks and it's so hard but it's going to work out.

Thank you, Janna.

Uno's wife. I won't give you her resume, because you'd be so intimidated which is ridiculous because she is one of the most real people I know. But I will tell you that she's a veterinarian. When Husband decided he wanted to be a vet, I know he was nervous to tell her. She is wicked smart. And we'd gotten more than a few raised eyebrows.

You want to know what she did?

She was excited and answered all his questions and encouraged him and hooked him up with connections and made him feel so empowered. She could have patronized him and told him all the reasons he shouldn't. But she didn't.

I will love her forever for that. And for a lot of other reasons too, but that's the biggest one.

We're half way done y'all. Hang tight.

Husband's oldest sister. I won't tell you her whole story because it's hers and it's very personal. But I will tell you this. She lost her husband to cancer ten years ago. She had three small kids and no idea how they were going to make it. I watched her sit through the entire funeral and not shed a tear. But it wasn't because she wasn't hurting. It's because she's a rock. The toughest person I've ever met. In all those years, that I know of, she's never slipped her wedding ring off, never been on a date and never stopped raising those kids and teaching them the gospel. I know there are times when she doesn't know how she can keep going, but she just does.

I could go so much deeper here, but I won't. Just know that I love spending time with her. She's super fun and funny and I always look forward to seeing her.

And I know she doesn't think it, but I'm positive her husband is proud of her.

Next sis-in-law. Husband's older brother's wife. This one has been through a lot of hard stuff in the last few years. Things that cut deep. Things I don't think she ever saw coming. And she too, hasn't quit. She loves her kids and her husband so much. She works hard to protect them and to keep them strong. I know she feels pretty alone sometimes. I hope she knows she isn't.

Husband's younger brother's wife. I honestly don't know this girl very well. I met her once a few years back. But I am her friend on Facebook and here's what I do know. She loves her kid so much. Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen someone love their kid as much as she does. Every day she posts at least one thing about how much she loves her kid. And it makes me smile every time. And it reminds me of how precious our kids are and how they're only little for so long. That's something I easily overlook now that mine are getting older and more independant. I want her to know I appreciate the reminder.

Husbands sister. She's adopted and there's no hiding it because she's kind of a different color than the rest of them. Actually, there's no kind of about it. But you wouldn't know anyone in that family even thinks about it. I honestly don't think they do. I know, I don't. I can't imagine how hard it would be to be adopted. But I don't really hear her talk about it much. And she doesn't act like she is. She's just fun, and goofy and hip and witty and cute. She's an elementary education major and I already know she's going to rock out as a teacher, because she's amazing with kids.

I can't wait to see what good things happen next for her.

I think I'm just beginning to realize that life is hard in some way or another for everyone. And this is why Heavenly Father gave us families. Parent's, siblings, spouses, kids, sisters in law. We help each other through.

I always complained when I was a kid that I didn't have a sister. I wanted one so bad. I begged my parent's to adopt but my mom knew she had all she could handle. I kept asking anyway. She could have saved herself so much agony if she just would've pointed my eyes to the future. Because I may not have been blessed in my family of origin with sisters, but I got them anyway.

They add spice to my life and give me what I need when I need it, whether it be new silverware, or a listening ear or simply to tell me my shirt is pretty. They are examples to me, but most importantly, friends.

To all of them, from one side of the country to the other...

I raise my glass.



For any of you who want to see the Pink Glove dance video that Tres's wife is in...

The Good and the Sad

We'll get to the sad first so we can end on a happy note.

1. My friend M.H. is moving today. This is very sad for me. It's not that we hung out a ton, because we're both busy with our families and callings. But sometimes at church we'd just chat for a few minutes about writing, or life, or the future and it was nice to know that was an option. Now we will have to depend on daily emails and an occassional visit. 

I've learned a lot from this friend. She taught me about half of what I know about writing. She taught me what it means to really pray, every day and to have the kind of relationship with my Savior and my Heavenly Father that changes things for me and my family. By watching the way she treats her husband, I learned some very important things about how to treat my husband. Ditto, the kids. She's the kind of friend who really mattered in my life and who, because I know her, I am different in so many tiny, wonderful ways. 

I will miss her. Very much.

But leading into the good news: We go to a writer's conference together every year. While it won't be the one in Utah this year, we are planning to attend one closer to home. And I can't wait. Also, she's moving to Uno's ward, so it's not like I won't have a reason to see her again. I definitely will.

2. I've been swimming. Like really swimming. For an hour, at 5:30 in the morning with O.S and O.D. And it feels really, really good.

3. O.S. had his first ever band concert. He did spectacular. I think. I couldn't actually see him, there were so many kids on the stage. But he kept asking me if I loved it afterward. Cute boy.

4. Christmas break starts today for my kids.

5. I went to see New Year's Eve last night. I wasn't expecting much because I wasn't too impressed with Valentine's Day. But I have to tell you guys, it was really, really good. I laughed and I actually cried. If I'd made a bet before going in I would have had to pay up. Because this isn't a crying kind of movie. Only it was. 

My only regret is that Ashton Kutcher is such a scumbucket in real life. Because dang! That boy is cute. As is Zac Efron, though I wish he'd grow his hair back out. 

6. I figured out what to get for my in-laws. Actually, for once Husband figured it out and it isn't lame. It's really, really good. But I can't post it here, because somebody might leak it to them.

But I'll give you a hint. Think Secondhand Lions. And no I'm not buying them that movie. I already did that. If you think you know, please do not leave it in the comment box. Email me and I'll tell you if you're right. Oh, and I'm not buying them a lion, a yacht or a box of steaks so forget those.

7. I have a really funny story to tell you next time. My cousin E reminded me of this hilarious thing that happened on Thanksgiving day when we were younger. It was inappropriate then and it's still inappropriate now and it's probably one of those things that wasn't as funny unless you were there, but I'm telling it anyway.