Happy Birthday to our tiny Cougar!

My best guy friend turns one tomorrow. 

 

This was the first glimpse I ever got of him on my phone. I burst in to tears when I saw it!

 

To celebrate his big day, Scotty's family threw him a BYU tailgate party!

Tina asked me to help her figure out how to display Scotty's 12 pictures from each month of his life.  With a cardboard box and paper from American Crafts, plus an hour and a half watching Royal Pains, this is what happened.

Lane and I performed the halftime show with a special arrangement of, "Wheels on the Bus" just for Scotty P.

Scotty loooooves hi work bench from Granna and Papa! And so does his little friend Nile.

 

Okay, fine, the sweater vest was from me. So of course that's what I took a picture of.  But the elephant in the bottom right corner was from his other Aunt Katie, and I think that's secretly his favorite present. The look of delight when he grabbed it and held it close was priceless.

In conclusion, it's safe to say I'm a little obsessed with this child.

 

 

 

He has brought me unspeakable joy. I love you, Monkus.

Gratitude: The Single Most Important Thing

I am a downright hypocrite. There. I said it. The secret is out. 

But, to be fair, I think many of us are guilty of this, and more often than we realize.  Allow me to elaborate. 

I created a list today of unfair judgements I am guilty of looking at others and making:

• At a 26 year old woman, saddened by still being single: "She's still in the YSA wards. She has lots of time to meet people and date.  She has no idea what real loneliness feels like." 
• At a woman heartbroken about not being able to conceive a second child: "She has a husband who loves her and one beautiful child already.  Doesn't she know how much luckier she is than many?"
• At a mother trying to decide if she should stay home with her kids instead of working outside the home: "She should be grateful she has that choice to make." 
• At a mom who is frustrated because her husband is gone a lot and she has to take care of her family alone: "She should be happy she has a family to take care of at all."

Of course, these aren't thoughts that I verbalize. They creep in to my heart and fester at the back of my mind, causing me to feel ungrateful for what I have and focus on what I lack.  As I look at this list, I am filled with disgust at how easy it is to diminish others' pain and suffering, especially when I feel so justified in my own. 

 Next to the first list, I made a second with comments people could make about me just as easily.

• "She's only 31 years old and just barely entered the Mid-Singles scene.  She has lots of time to meet people and date.  She has never felt the agony of losing a spouse or going through a divorce. She has no idea what real pain and loneliness feel like."
• "She has two legs that walk and run, two ears that hear, two eyes that see, and a voice that sings and communicates her feelings.  Doesn't she realize how much luckier she is than many?"
• "She should feel grateful she has the freedom and opportunity to explore her ambitions, develop her passions, and strive to make a difference in the world."
• "She should be happy she has two supportive parents who love her, siblings who are her best friends, and a roommate who is understanding and kind." 

Making these side by side comparisons humbles me deeply. And I realize it is much easier for me to continue the list of all the things I DO have than further develop the list of what is missing. 

Does the longing I feel as I look at others' lives make me a horrible human being? No. It simply makes me a human being.  But, if I fail to stop and recognize how truly blessed I am, I am in danger of leading a life full of resentment and sadness, rather than one full of gratitude and joy for all that I get to do and become in mortality.

And a resentful life is no kind of life at all. 

Longest Life Update in the History of Ever

Well, two months have come and gone. I have never gone so long without writing on my blog.  I think I'm in a blog writer's funk.  Who knows if this will persist. But it's 4:42 in the morning and I can't sleep.  My blog is my memory album, among other things, so I cannot desist for family history's sake.  I'm doing it for the children.

So here we go...

Preston's Mission Farewell

I sang, "Come Thou Fount" at my cousin Preston's mission farewell in October.  I got really sick with the whole cold situation for 24 hours this fall, which happened to be exactly the day I was singing. Sweet, right? But it wasn't the end of the world. It was still a special experience for me and I am so excited for darling Preston! Sheralyn and Les have raised such great boys! When I walked in to their church, I had to do a double take when I saw Sister Olason-Tourney sitting at the organ.  She and Leonard are in my cousin's ward! It felt like I was right back home in the Goleta Valley ward in Santa Barbara!

I'm obsessed with him.

We all went shopping the week before together at Downeast outfitters during Priesthood session and showed up wearing our spoils the next Sunday.

The Sweet Sounds of Jazz

Thanks to incredible parents and students, our annual fall dessert fundraiser was a huge success. This year's theme was very close to my heart...JAZZ! Some favorite songs from the program included "Linus and Lucy", "Bumblebee" (performed original by The Real Group), and "Moonriver."  Also, we had student soloists who absolutely rocked the house- one kid sang "Fly me to the Moon" and he brought down the house.  We combined on the last sang with the Chamber Orchestra for Ellington's, "Come Sunday."  That was a little rough due to me being anxious and making some significant conducting errors, but hopefully it wasn't as noticeable to everyone else!

I have the most amazing choir council.  My president's mom made me this beautiful Hawaiian lei that I will keep forever.

Fall Carnival

The stake YM/YW are in charge of a fall carnival every year the week before Halloween.  It's a huge community event.  All of the wards set up booths for the kids and we have corn dogs and prizes kids can redeem with ticket.  I decided to be economical with my costume this year and use the queen bee outfits Traci made us for Girls Camp!

This beanie killed me.

Best ever twins costumes!

Paige and Grant's 4th Birthday!

A couple of our mini besties had a birthday! We just love Paigey and Grant!

Halloween

After only 2 hours (!!!) I finally got my nails the way I wanted them for Halloween week. Please note the spider web.

We went to Grandma's for her annual Halloween dinner!

Is this woman a doll or what?!

Are you kidding me with that bow tie?!

Michelle and I saw "Thriller" with some of her friends!

I switched it up for Halloween day at Highland by being "Diva Queen Bee" so I'd have an excuse to wear the outrageous purple fake eyelashes my brother put in my stocking last year!

I think my students were a little surprised that I actually dressed up.  I normally don't enjoy dressing up that much, but this year was kind of fun!

Young Women in Excellence: My Personal Pathway to the Temple

Our final stake YW activity of the year turned out beautifully.  I can take zero credit for the amazing decorations, but I had to share pictures of them to remember for the future.  Traci was in charge of the decor, with a lot of help from Janeen.

Traci asked leaders to display their wedding and/or temple dresses.

Each girl got a little handkerchief dress with a poem.

I was in charge of the year end slideshow and the special musical number.  Preparing for the musical number was an incredible experience.  I found a simple arrangement of, "I Love to See the Temple" with a descant.  We got about 13 girls from different wards to come to practice the Sunday before.  During that rehearsal, I felt prompted to share with the girls my testimony of the temple.  I told them, "It will be ten years this June since I went through the temple for the first time. I never thought I would be alone after ten years of going to the temple.  But it's because of the temple that it's okay that I am alone." I then talked about how the temple has supported me, comforted me, and strengthened me.  As a presidency, we talked a lot about making sure the girls realize that, while marriage is one of our most treasured eternal goals, everyone's pathway to the temple is unique. Receiving temple endowments is a very sacred, personal experience and it should be our focus, whether married or single.  As a mid-single YW leader, I feel like sharing my own experience is maybe the most valuable thing I can contribute and possibly the only thing a young woman who goes through a similar experience will remember.  I want to help girls to realize that happiness is living the gospel, plain and simple.And if I can do that...this trial of my faith will be of great worth to me. 

I love, admire, and look up to these women so much.

November Randoms

Allie and Chris are some of Michelle's and my best friends and neighbors. We have dinner together, go to Yogurtland, and watch Cosby every Tuesday.  We've been going strong for at least a year now.  Allie made soup the other week and provided the most incredible gluten-free bread I have ever eaten.

Lane generously donated his time to come perform at our mattress fundraiser!

...along with many students. It was a fun day and we raised $5500 total as a dance, choir, and instrumental department.

My dear Nicole and I had a sleepover.  Nicole is one of the most Christlike, beautiful people I have ever known.  She makes everyone she is with feel like a million bucks.  We are so lucky to have her in our family!

Jessame's sister invited Michelle and I to a "Favorite Things" party.  We each bring three of something we absolutely love under $10 (it's supposed to be three of the same thing but I couldn't help getting three different designs).  I am a stationary freak for those who don't know.  Paper Source has the cutest cards.  Michelle got me some for Christmas two years ago and I absolutely love them.  Can't wait to see what I exchange these for at the party!

After 2.5 years in my cute little apartment, our landlady sold the condo and we had to find a new place to live.  We find a darling little place that happens to be in my exact stake! I don't know how that happened, but it did. And I am so, so grateful.  We have to furnish it, though (we got a slamming deal at our last place).  Michelle told me about this consignment shop on State Street. A. Mazing.  I found this couch/love seat set which seriously looked new for $625.  I made an impulsive decision to buy it after only 20 minutes of walking in to the store. Michelle bought our kitchen table after only about 10 minutes! But I don't think either one of us regret it at all.  I am going back there for all my furniture needs!  I've never had my very own couch before. I kind of feel like an adult or something.