I've Seen 120 Out of 239 Films

Okay. I saw this on someone's blog and it made me wonder how many of these movies I had seen. 120 for me. How about you? Mark the ones you've seen. Please no judging on the ones I have seen. Some were good, some were...not. But I was honest. Anyhoo. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list to your blog and paste this as a note. Then, put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom.

(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
() Boondock Saints
() Fight Club
() Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
(x) Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane
Total: 7

(x) The Princess Bride
(x) Anchorman
(x) Napoleon Dynamite
(x) Labyrinth
() Saw
() Saw II
() White Noise
() White Oleander
(x) Anger Management
(x) 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 15

() Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
() Scary Movie
() Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
() American Pie
() American Pie 2
() American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 15

(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
() Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
(x) Little Black Book
() The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 22

(x) Finding Nemo
(x) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
(x) White Chicks
(x) Butterfly Effect
(x) 13 Going on 30
(x) I, Robot
() Robots
Total so far: 30

(x) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
(x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(x) Along Came Polly
(x) Deep Impact
() KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
(x) Eight Crazy Nights
(x) Joe Dirt
(x) KING KONG
Total so far: 40

(x) A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
(x) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
() Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
(x) Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
(x) The Ring
() The Ring 2
() Surviving X-MAS
() Flubber
Total so far: 46

() Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(x) Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
() Ghost Ship
() From Hell
() Hellboy
() Secret Window
() I Am Sam
(x) The Whole Nine Yards
(x) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 50

(x) The Day After Tomorrow
() Child's Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
(x) 10 Things I Hate About You
(x) Just Married
() Gothika
(x) Nightmare on Elm Street
(x) Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
() The Grudge
()The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 57

() Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
() Lucky Number Slevin
(x) Ocean's Eleven
(x) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x) Bourne Supremecy
() Lone Star
(x) Bedazzled
() Predator I
() Predator II
() The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
Total so far: 64

(x) Independence Day
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
() Christine
(x) ET
(x) Children of the Corn
() My Bosses Daughter
(x) Maid in Manhattan
() War of the Worlds
(x) Rush Hour
(x) Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 70

() Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(x) She's All That
() Calendar Girls
() Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
(x) Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
(x) Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
(x) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 80

(x) X-Men
(x) X-2
(x) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
() Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
() Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
Total so far: 90

() Swimfan
(x) Miracle on 34th street
(x) Old School
(x) The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
(x) Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
() The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 95

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 101

() Baseketball
() Hostel
(x) Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
(x) Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
() Three
Total so Far: 104

() The Jacket
() Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
(x) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
() Shaun Of the Dead
() Willard
Total so far: 107

() High Tension
() Club Dread
(x) Hulk
() Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() 28 days later
() Orgazmo
() Phantasm
() Waterworld
Total so far: 110

() Kill Bill vol 1
() Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
() the Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
() Army of Darkness
Total so far: 110

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x)Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
() Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 116

(x) The Matrix
(x) The Matrix Reloaded
(x) The Matrix Revolutions
()Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal
Total so far: 120

Now Add them up and...

Put "I've seen ... out of 239 films" in the subject line and repost it.

The Reason For the Season

This video was sent to me by my sweet Uncle Mike. It was so beautiful. I knew I had to share it.

SCATTERGORIES...

Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things. Nothing made up! You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question. And you cannot use the same word twice. I'm not going to tag anyone. Do it if you'd like to do so! :]

YOUR NAME: Nancy

BOY NAME: Nicholas

4 LETTER WORD: nape

GIRL NAME: Nicholle

OCCUPATION: nurse

A COLOR: navy

SOMETHING YOU WEAR: necklace

BEVERAGE: Nehi

FOOD: Nilla Wafers

SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM: naked people

A PLACE: Nantucket

REASON FOR BEING LATE: No sense of direction

SOMETHING YOU SHOUT: Not!

A Legacy of Faith

"...And they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end." ~Alma 27:27

I came across this scripture in my reading the other day and it really left an impression on me. When I leave this world, I hope that the way I have led my life will impress upon others my enthusiastic devotion...a zeal...towards God, that I was perfectly honest and upright in all things, with an abiding faith and an eager willingness to fulfill all of God's commandments. I guess I have a lot of work to do. I'll be here for a while. :]

Proposition 8

I saw the following video on my friend Laura's blog and wanted it for my own:



I've read a lot about what has been going on before and since Proposition 8 has been passed. I've been disappointed at some of the threats of violence, vandalism, and the picketing at the temples and churches in California, Arizona and in downtown Salt Lake City. I've been surprised by some of the people that have come forward in the public eye who have either been strongly for or against it. But I think the thing I've been amazed at the most are the strong opinions expressed to me personally in support of each side of this argument. In one discussion, I was asked which side I supported. After I expressed my support of Proposition 8 (marriage to be defined as only between a man and a woman), I was shocked at the response. It was pretty hateful. I was surprised at the lengths that this person went to try to prove me wrong. In my life I have tried to be open minded and to listen to both sides of an argument before making my decision. But this is more than just making a decision based on logic. My decision is based on a deep rooted belief in a principle that I believe to be correct. While I feel for their position, I won't change mine. The world is changing but we need to stick to what we believe. However, we can do it with love. In some cases, I have had to agree to disagree and move forward. As I learned on my mission, you cannot feel the Spirit in a discussion if the discussion is filled with contention. Anger and love cannot reside in the same heart. I love you all! I hope you enjoy the video!

One Year Ago Today

I can't believe it has been a year since Laurie passed away. It still seems so much like a bad dream. But it's not. :[ Every time I go over to my Mom's house and go down the hall where her room was, I walk past Laurie's door and ring her princess door bell. And, every time I do, I expect to hear Laurie calling out and saying hi to me. I miss my sweet sister. She is the best sister in the whole wide country and our family is definitely different without her jokes and sweet smile. We miss her laughter and her hugs. We miss her peaceful ways and the way she made each of us feel special just by being around her. She had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person in the world. Not only is she a wonderful sister, she is a great friend. I look forward to the day when I can see her again. That will be a great day! I love you Laurie! Miss you much!

Thankful Thursday

Thankful: Gratitude, appreciation, or thankfulness is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

Here is my list for this week:

1) I am thankful for my sweet sister Laurie. Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of the day she passed away. I still can't believe she hasn't been here for almost a year. It seems like just yesterday she was making her daily call to me telling me she was out of glue, needed me to change her light bulb, wanted me to turn up the heat, she wanted to go to Chevron, to a movie or to scrapbook with me. I loved the calls then and I miss them now. She is such a wonderful person, the most Christlike person I know. She was always thinking of others. She loved to make people laugh. She loved a good practical joke. I loved to make her laugh. When she laughed, it was with her whole body. Her smile could light up a room or brighten a bad day. I miss her but am reminded daily of the legacy she left behind. She was so accepting of everyone...didn't matter what you looked like, she saw the heart. What a great example she was and is to us all.

2) I am thankful the elections are over. I am so tired of hearing about them. I think the elections should only last three months from start to finish. We would have three months to look at the candidates instead of two years of the back and forth bashing and such. It gets so old. So glad it is over!

3) I am thankful for the scriptures. Michael and I have been reading every night and I love it! It has been so nice to feel that extra peace from the Spirit the scriptures bring into our home. We haven't missed a night since we made the goal to do it every day.

4) I am thankful for Michael. He is a good man and is so kind to me and patient with me. He is the best husband in the world! I love him so much.

5) I am thankful for fun friends and blogging. I have been able to get reacquainted with friends I haven't seen in a long time and I've been able to strengthen new friendships through blogging. It's fun to see what other people deem blog worthy. There is a variety of fun that you can find on each person's blog. Also, it's nice when you work from home to have that additional outside connection. It keeps me sane and entertained.

Well, there is my list for the week. Hope you enjoyed it!

A New Day, A New Start

I came across the following article on Sharkbait's blog and it really expresses my feelings regarding the election. Obama wasn't my first or even second choice for President but I will try to put my feelings aside and support him as long as he doesn't try to lead America astray. I hope the change he talks about is a good thing that it will be in the best interest of the country in which he will now represent. I am grateful for the opportunity to live in a country where I have the freedom to vote. And, even though my candidate lost, I'm glad I let my voice be heard. Hope you enjoy the article.


A New Day, A New Start
Family Values Talk Radio by Bob Lonsberry
Tuesday 11-04-2008 11:55pm MT
It is a sea change, but not a mandate. And that's not a hit on Barack Obama, it is a challenge. A challenge to make his rhetoric about no more blue states and red states, but simply United States, actually mean something. Unity is earned, not declared, and the simple fact is that one more 51-percent president doesn't bind a country together.

Rather, like George W. Bush, he has tremendous potential to leave it decidedly divided. Democrats are exultantly talking about a wave sweeping the country, about a new hope and an era of change, but the fact is that almost as many people opposed Barack Obama as supported him. Those people aren't cheering today, they are licking their wounds. And while the best of them will give Barack Obama a fair shake, many made up their minds months ago about him.

So President-elect Obama must avoid the temptation to do an end zone dance with his friends. He must rather immediately and convincingly reach out to people who feel like he has looked down his nose at them and their values and culture. The people he once mocked as clinging to their guns and their religion are just as American as the people who voted for him, and almost as numerous, and the country will only become united if he respects them. If he, however, marginalizes them, if they continue to be the object of his scorn, the butt of his followers' jokes, there will be no unity. There will be merely smoldering resentments that will bear fruit in two years and four.

Barack Obama must throw his efforts and his abilities into the large task of winning over the people he hasn't yet won over. And those people must give him a chance.

Something as big as a presidential election is no more complex than a Little League game. You play hard and you hope to win but after nine innings it's about what's on the scoreboard. If you have the most runs, you win. If you don't, you don't. And if you don't, you accept the outcome and politely congratulate the winner. Win or lose with dignity or grace. That's the American way.
And the American way means that, when the votes are counted and the victor is declared, it's a clean slate. This is 2008, not 2012, and there is nothing to be gained by refighting the last election or by prematurely fighting the next election. It is the duty of every American to wish the new president -- every new president -- the very best, and to do the duty of citizenship, which is to build up, not tear down, and give the benefit of the doubt.

That doesn't obligate anyone to support anything they disagree with, but it does, in the name of decency, require people to give the new regime a chance, to give it a fair hearing. In our country, the president is the president of all Americans, and if the treatment of George W. Bush didn't reflect that, then we can try to do better this time.

Certainly, it has been a long time since either political party has held as much power as the Democrats now hold. But with that power comes a temptation to misuse it, or to fall prey to arrogance. The Republicans proved that, as both parties have in their turn. This can be either the beginning of a Democratic dynasty, or the beginning of their end. Which it is will be determined by them.

Largely, it will be determined by him -- by the president elect. The Democratic leaders in the Congress have proven over two years to be caustically partisan, to be enthralled with smashing and mocking all who fail to match their high liberalism. Whether or not Barack Obama can change that -- if he wants to -- remains to be seen. But here's hoping for the best.

Election Day is our greatest day. It is the defining American day. We fight wars as a means to an end, and the sovereignty of the people and the liberties necessary to protect that sovereignty are the end. We transfer more power than humankind has ever held on the peaceful basis of counted ballots. We do it with grace and faith. The grace to act as citizens and the faith that our system will work and the right will be done.

Barack Obama was not my choice, but he is my president. That is true of all Americans. For the last eight years, there has been an ongoing campaign of destruction meant to handicap and hobble the last president. I refuse to be part of an effort to do the same to the next president. Those who didn't vote for Barack Obama must set a higher standard of civility and citizenship than those who didn't vote for George W. Bush. In defeat, there must still be nobility. That doesn't mean silent servility. It doesn't mean differences and principles are ignored. But it does mean the new president gets a new chance. It means we all must pray for him and work with him to make our country stronger and safer and better.

Pretty speeches notwithstanding, there remains a great divide, much of it created by the recent election. To the extent it needs to be bridged, it will be bridged by an effort by the president-elect to reach out to those who don't trust him, and by an effort by the people to reach out to a president who might not trust them.

The last eight years have taught us what happens when you set out to destroy a presidency for political gain. You help your candidate, but you hurt your country. That pattern must not be followed with this new president. America must treat Barack Obama better than he treated George W. Bush.

He has preached a "shift to the center," he has claimed to be "post partisan." Through the campaign, those were just words. In the administration, they will need to be more. Or all the hope and the change and the hooplah will be meaningless hype. But today is a new day, and a fresh start. And the president-elect gets the benefit of the doubt.

Tag...I'm It!

Well, I've been tagged by my darling friend Chelsea. I'm happy to do it. Afterall, I have a fabulous husband and don't mind bragging about him one bit. :]

1. Where did you meet your husband?
~We met at a barbecue in West Jordan, Utah on the 4th of July.

2. How long did you date before you got married?
~We dated for almost 10 months before getting married. We met and began dating exclusively within a week of meeting. I know! Crazeye! But when it is right, it is right! :]

3. How long have you been married?
~ We've been married for 2 1/2 years.

4. What does he do that surprises you?
~Makes me breakfast almost every morning. What a stud! He does little thoughtful things all the time.

5. What is your favorite feature of his?
~I love his deep brown eyes, his soft hair, his strong hands and his cute bum. Can't get enough of him! :] He's yummy! (I know! TMI!)

6. What is his best quality?
~His caring heart and his loyalty to those in his inner circle. He is a very loyal friend and husband and cares deeply about his friends and family. He never talks bad about people. (Exception...the head cases at work. And even then its not specifics about people but about situations.) Your name is safe with him. He, in turn, has great friends, some of whom he has been friends with almost his entire life.

7. Does he have a nickname for you?
~He has several. The ones that come to mind...Best wife ever. Sweet wife. Honey bunches of deliciousity. My dearest love. Sugar smacks. My beautiful wife. Crazy pants.

8. What is his favorite food?
~He loves steak. He is a meat lover. Anything that can be grilled, he loves.

9. What is his favorite sport?
~He likes most sports but his favorite is Hockey. I won "Best Wife Ever" award when I gave him this.

10. When and where did you first kiss?
~Our first kiss was at his house on our third date. He made me a yummy dinner and we had just finished watching a really funny movie he had introduced me to called Murder by Death. We were sitting there chatting when he got all serious and told me how much he was beginning to care for me. Then he leaned in for the smooch. Best first kiss ever!

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?
~Well, isn't that kind of personal? ;] Oh! Besides that? We like to read together, watch TV on DVD, go on walks, go on drives, cook together, cozy on the coach and chat...oh so many things.

12. Do you have any children?
~We have two precious little ones in heaven.

13. Does he have any hidden talents?
~He has a great singing voice. I love to listen to him sing and to sing with him.

14. How old is he?
~I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you. (Psst. He's 40.)

15. Who said 'I love you' first?
~He said 'I love you' first. I said it right after he did. It was a surprise to us both. We had only been dating for three weeks. I knew about a week after that that I wanted to marry him. Never thought I could be someone who loved so quickly and easily. But he broke down those walls and melted my heart pretty quickly. I wouldn't say he had me at hello (because that is just too cheesy) but it was pretty close to it.

16. What is his favorite music?
~That is a tough question. He absolutely LOVES music. All music. Well, not the trashy rap kind of music. He has quite an extensive collection and is always listening to something new. If I had to choose only a few bands, I would have to say Reckless Kelly, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Beetles, Boston, Kansas, Eagles, Toto and Jimmy Buffett. He likes a lot of Classical music as well. It's hard to narrow it down to one type or one artist. Those are a select few of his favs.

17. What do you admire most about him?
~His dedication to the gospel. I never have to wonder if he will go to church or if he is worthy to give me a blessing. He takes his responsibilities with the priesthood and his callings very seriously.

18. What is his favorite color?
~His favorite color is green.

19. Will he read this?
~He will eventually.

20. Who do you tag?
~Anyone who would like to do it.

Happy Halloween!!!

Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween! Remember to keep smiling! :]

Wanted...

Okay. I know some of you have never heard of Postum. But in my house it was a family favorite growing up. I remember many Halloween nights that included my Mom's infamous homemade Chili and a mug of Postum. Every year when Halloween comes around I crave a big warm mug full. Now for the sad news...they are no longer making it! I have about a third of a bottle left and then no more Postum. I can't find it in stores. I can't find it online for less than $30 a bottle (it used to sell for $4). What's a girl to do?! If anyone can find a bottle of this deliciousness and will give it to me, you will win 1,000 cool points and 5 gold stars! (I know! That would put you on the top of my list of ultimate cool people!) Now, a moment of silence for a fallen friend....

8 Favorites...

I've been tagged by a couple of people. Here are my answers. Keep in mind they aren't necessarily in order of importance, just how they came to mind. (I added a few extras on a couple of the questions because I couldn't narrow it down.)

8 Favorite TV shows (We have ghetto cable so we don't watch much TV. So I did all time favs)
1: Friends
2: Scrubs
3: Stargate SG-1
4: Wings
5: Will and Grace
6: Monk
7: The Office
8: Firefly
(Honorable mention: Boston Legal, Babylon Five, The Simpsons, My Name is Earl, Seinfeld, M*A*S*H, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Psyche)

8 Favorite Restaurant's
1: Sizzler
2: La Hacienda
3: Noodles and Company
4: Blue Iguana
5: Steak 'N Shake
6: Rafaels
7: Texas Roadhouse
8: Kneaders
(Honorable mention: Qdoba (went down on the list after getting rid of the Mole), Rumbi, Sweet Tomatoes, Tres Hombres, Pei Wei, Penn Station, Rodizio Grill, Olive Garden, Blue Plate Diner, Benihanas and Cheese Cake Factory)

8 Things that Happened Yesterday
1: Worked
2: Went to church. Michael taught Gospel Doctrine.
3: Watched some Scrubs and Farscape
4: Ate a YUMMY dinner Michael made for us
5: Cuddled with Michael
6: Did some blog and Facebook stalking
7: Read scriptures with Michael
8: Went to bed

8 Things to Look Forward to
1: Some scrapbook time tomorrow
2: Thanksgiving
3: Christmas
4: Getting out of debt
5: Lunch with the gals
6: Getting pregnant
7: Michael finishing his Masters
8: Buying a house

8 Things I Love about Fall
1: Day Light Savings...Love the falling back an hour in Fall.
2: Hot Chocolate and Postum
3: Getting cozy under a blanket with Michael
4: Leaves changing
5: The excitement in the air as Christmas approaches
6: Wearing my cozy furry slippers
7: The crispness of the air
8: That we are actually having a Fall this year in Utah

8 Things on My Wish List
1: To buy a home
2: Get prego again
3: Travel more
4: Have our debt paid off
5: A whole room dedicated to scrapbooking
6: To enjoy my job more and to find a way to not allow dumb people to affect me
7: For Michael to finish school and to be in a teaching job he loves
8: To finish my degree

8 People I'm tagging
1: Nikki
2: Krista
3: Polli
4: Wendy
5: Desiree
6: Chelsea
7: Melisa
8: Whoever else wants to do so

Thankful Thursdays

Thankful: Gratitude, appreciation, or thankfulness is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

Here is my list for this week:

1) I am thankful for Michael. He is so good to me. Last week he had an unexpected day off but I had to work. And, instead of chilling, he spent the day doing nice things for me. He cooked me breakfast, lunch and dinner, did all the dishes and cleaned the kitchen. What a nice man, eh? I felt like the queen bee that day! :] He is also very sweet and supportive of my hobbies and desires. I am so lucky to have a husband who is cool with me scrapbooking all weekend with the girls. He is wonderful.

2) I am thankful Nikki, Alif and Justin moved back to Utah. It has been so nice having them here again! Last weekend was our KY scrapbook retreat but we couldn't go. So we had our own mini scrapbook retreat here. I would have been so bummed! Instead, a great time was had by all. Nikki has brought the crazeye back to our lives that we sorely missed and needed badly. Glad you are back Nikkeye! :]

3) I am thankful for friends, new and old, and answers to prayers. It always amazes me how the Lord knows just what we need in our lives. After the miscarriage I was quite sad, borderline depressed. Which, if you know me at all, you know it is so out of the norm. I'm basically a pretty happy, positive person and it takes a lot for me to be otherwise. Anyhoo. I was having a hard time pulling out of it. I prayed and prayed but couldn't seem to pray my way out of it. Then, what seemed like all of a sudden, friends popped up that I haven't seen for a while, phone calls came in, email messages came in, new friends came my way, all of whom buoyed me up, encouraged me and made me feel loved. Thanks everyone!

4) I am thankful for our home. We really love where we live. Our landlords are so great. Our place is light and roomy. We live in a great area. Our neighbors are so nice. I have never felt unsafe or scared to come home at night or to be home alone. We are very blessed.

5) I am thankful for the scriptures. About a month ago, Michael and I made a goal to read scriptures together every day. It has been such a wonderful blessing! I have felt a peace come over me and our home that I desperately needed. I love reading with Michael. He is so knowledgeable about the scriptures. And I love listening to him read. I have always loved his voice. It is so deep and manly. :] I am thankful that we listened to the promptings of the Spirit telling us we needed to do so.

Well, there's my list for the week. Hope you enjoyed it! Feel free to snag the idea for your blog. I snagged it from someone who snagged it from someone else. Enjoy!

Jesus Is Watching

Another funny:

A burglar broke into a house one night. He shone his
flashlight around, looking for valuables, and when he picked
up a CD player to place in his sack, a strange, disembodied
voice echoed from the dark saying "Jesus is watching you".
He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight out
and froze.

When he heard nothing more after a bit, he shook his head,
clicked the light back on and began searching for more
valuables. Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could
disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard, "Jesus is
watching you." Freaked out, he shone his light around
frantically, looking for the source of the voice. Finally, in the
corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a
parrot.

"Did you say that?" he hissed at the parrot.

"Yep," the parrot confessed, "I'm just trying to warn you."

The burglar relaxed, "Warn me, huh? Who are you?"

"Moses," replied the bird.

"Moses" the burglar laughed. "What kind of stupid people
would name a parrot Moses?"

"Probably the same kind of people that would name a
rotweiller Jesus," the bird answered.

Disappointment

Funny and a bit naughteye story of the day:

The 6th grade science teacher, Mrs. Parks, asked her class, "Which human body part increases to ten times its size when stimulated?"

No one answered until little Mary stood up, angry, and said, "You should not be asking 6th graders a question like that! I'm going to tell my parents, and they will go and tell the principal, who will then fire you!" With a sneer on her face, she then sat back down.

Mrs. Parks ignored her and asked the question again, "Which body part increases to 10 times its size when stimulated?"

Little Mary's mouth fell open; then she said to those around her, "Boy, is she gonna get in big trouble!"

The teacher continued to ignore her and said to the class, "Anybody?"

Finally, Billy stood up, looked around nervously, and said, "The body part that increases 10 times its size when stimulated is the pupil of the eye."

Mrs. Parks said, "Very good, Billy," then turned to Mary and continued, "As for you, young lady, I have three things to say: 1) you have a dirty mind 2) you didn't read your homework and 3) one day you are going to be very, very disappointed."

Thankful Thursdays

Thankful: Gratitude, appreciation, or thankfulness is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

Here is my list for this week:

1) I am thankful for the opportunity I had to watch General Conference last weekend. I desperately needed my spiritual canteen to be filled. I learned so much and was filled with many spiritual nuggets. I was intrigued with how many talks mentioned the necessity of simplifying our lives. I was also very excited about the new temple announcement in Rome, Italy. You know I'm going to have to take another trip now! :] I also loved Elder Uchtdorf's talk on hope and how it is one leg of a three legged stool, the second leg being faith and the third being charity. Such a powerful talk! I also loved Joseph B. Wirthlin's talk he entitled, "Come what may, and love it!" The story he told about his daughter and her blind date was priceless!! If you didn't hear the talk, you really need to do so. Several times this week I have been reminded of his counsel to laugh instead of getting angry or upset. (And yes, I was driving each and every time it came to my mind.) Another thing that I noticed mentioned several times was the principle of compensation. In the Lord's time, every tear shed will be returned 100 x's more in blessings. Also, in the Lord's way and time, no blessing will be withheld from those who have been faithful. Each and every talk touched me. I don't remember a Conference where I felt such a powerful applicability to my life. Loved every minute of it!

2) I am thankful for VTO from JetBlue. (VTO =voluntary time off) When you don't want to take PTO (Paid Time Off) because you want to save it for trips and such things but wants some time off, it is fabulous! This allowed me to partake in #1 from this list. :]

3) I am thankful for opportunities to learn and grow. This week has opened my eyes to a few things I need to work on as a person. I guess that is another good thing about General Conference. It gently, and sometimes not so gently, prods you to review and inventory yourself. During this process you are assured to find ways you can improve. Growth is good. Not always easy, but good.

4) I am thankful for Michael. He is a good man. I love that after two and a half years of marriage, we still love being together and enjoy each others company. He makes me laugh like no one can. I love this about him! I also love that I never have to wonder about his dedication to the gospel. I didn't even question whether or not he was going to the Priesthood Session on Saturday night. It is just something he expects himself to do. I also never have to ask if he is going to attend church each week. His love of and dedication to the gospel is my very favorite thing about him.

5) I am thankful for scrapbooking. I know. Shocker! But seriously, the last few years I have felt like it was more fun to shop for supplies than to actually sit down and scrapbook. I recently have taken a different view on how to do it which has been an excellent creative outlet instead of feeling like a chore. I have gotten so much done, which feels great! I'm loving it! :]

Well, there's my list for the week. Have a great one! :]

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Thankful Thursdays

Thankful: Gratitude, appreciation, or thankfulness is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

I was looking back to the last time I posted "Thankful Thursday" on my blog (June 26) and I realized I have a lot of thanking to do. So, here goes:

1) I am thankful for my husband. He has been so supportive and wonderful to me during these last months since the miscarriage. He hasn't once looked at me like I am the bad kind of crazy for being so emotional and requiring lots of loves. He gave loves freely and let me cry on his shoulder. He loves me when I'm being quirky crazy or crazy weepy! He is the best husband ever! I feel very blessed to have him in my life. :]

2) I am thankful for great, supportive friends. I have had so many emails and calls expressing love and support over the last few weeks and months. It's amazing how people really come through for you in time of need. Even the people who said they didn't know what to say but that they loved me, really touched me. Sometimes you don't even need advice. You just need to know people are there for you and care. It's amazing how different people help in their own special way, each being so helpful! And to those who shared their experiences and cried with me, I will never forget how you opened up and shared your pain with me. It made me feel like I could share mine with others. So, thanks to you all!

3) I am thankful for my Book Club. We read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis this month and I learned so much! It really opened my eyes to things I need to change and ways I can be a better person. It's amazing what we can learn when we step outside ourselves and venture into the literary world.

4) I am thankful for the gospel and an eternal perspective. The last few years have been some of the hardest of my life. I have lived through so much death...my Dad, my sister, my little babies. If I didn't have the gospel in my life, I think these things would have crippled me. But the knowledge that this life is only a small part of a much bigger plan for us brings me so much hope and joy! I miss them like crazy but I also am looking forward to the day when I will see them again and be greeted with some serious hugs and kisses! That will be a glorious day! :] Until then, I need to have faith and keep working. I think of what Dory from Finding Nemo said, "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming swimming swimming..." That's what I need to do.

5) I am thankful for the temple and for being married forever to my sweetheart. There is no better place in the world to calm your soul and bring peace to your heart. Also, there is no better person to be there with than your eternal companion. I talk about how these last few years have been some of the hardest of my life. Along with that, they have been some of the happiest. It's strange how this can be. I think the Lord blessed me to find Michael when I did because He knew I needed his strength, wisdom and love to help me through it. Being married in the temple to Michael has brought so much joy to my life. I am so grateful that he is mine and I am his forever! Like he always says about the day we met, "Best barbecue ever!"

Just Those Few Weeks

I absolutely love the following poem. It expresses so eloquently what I have been going through the last couple of months.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Just Those Few Weeks

by Susan Erling

For those few weeks--
I had you to myself.
And that seems too short a time
to be changed so profoundly.

In those few weeks--
I came to know you. . .
and to love you.
You came to trust me with your life.
Oh, what a life I had planned for you!

Just those few weeks--
When I lost you.
I lost a lifetime of hopes,
plans, dreams, and aspirations. . .
A slice of my future simply vanished overnight.

Just those few weeks--
It wasn't enough to convince others
how special and important you were.
How odd, a truly unique person has recently died
and no one is mourning the passing.

Just a mere few weeks--
And no "normal" person would cry all night
over a tiny, unfinished baby,
or get depressed and withdraw day after endless day.
No one would, so why am I?

You were those few weeks, my little one
you darted in and out of my life too quickly.
But it seems that's all the time you needed
to make my life so much richer
and give me a small glimpse of eternity.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We haven't discussed it much outside of family, but finally, I feel it is time to put it out there. I was 9 weeks pregnant with twins when we had a miscarriage in July. We still aren't sure why it happened and neither is my doctor. What we do know is I had a slight fever and pretty severe morning sickness... all... day... long for several weeks. (That was fun!) Because of the severity, my doctor was monitoring my hormone levels, which weren't going up as much as they should. There are a lot of details to the situation that I'll spare you. One thing I want to share is that I do know that the Lord was watching over me the day it happened and weeks following.

The night it began happening, I felt a strong prompting to have Michael give me a blessing. During the blessing, I felt peace and a strong love from my Savior and my Heavenly Father but I also had the impression that I still had something ahead that I should prepare myself to undertake. I started to bleed later that night and thought I had miscarried. We continued to monitor my hormone levels and found I was still pregnant. I rested and ate as much as I could. Then, a week later, I miscarried two little babies. I have had to deal with my fair share of death of loved ones, but this was one of the hardest things I have ever gone through in my life.

I've talked to some who don't understand why it is such a tramatic experience and why it would be so hard to get over. I have determine that, after trying to get pregnant, then finding out you are pregnant, and then in preparing to give life, no one prepares to say goodbye. A friend gave me a couple of great books on the subject. If you know of anyone who has lost a child, may I suggest the book, Gone Too Soon by Sherri Devashrayee Wittwer. I've been reading a lot about the subject to try to understand. This particular book is so wonderful. It really helped me to understand why I was so devastatingly sad, that the life of my babies was short but part of a bigger plan, and how I could begin to move forward from the loss. The life of unborn babies is truly significant, and when a baby is lost, whatever age they may be, it is indeed the loss of someone very special.

I may never know in this life the answer to why. For now I can only speculate. Maybe they were too pure for the evils of this world. Maybe they were so righteous that they didn't need to live on this Earth but were promised the blessings of a body. Someday I will be able to see the whole picture of the Lord's eternal plan for us and will gain a better understanding of why this had to happened. There is a scripture that illustrates this so beautifully, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." 1 Corinthians 13:12 Until then, what I do know is that we don't have to face things alone. And, although there may be little control over the events that take place in life, Christ provides the power to overcome them.

There is an experience I read by an anonymous woman about her miscarriage that inspires me to strive to have an eternal perspective. She ended her story by saying, "Although the loss of my baby has been the most heartbreaking experience of my life, I have learned to cling to the miracle of his life on this earth. My experience with pregnancy and my brief role in motherhood has brought me closer to heaven than I ever knew was possible. And, indeed, that's where I want to be. For, the way I see it, heaven just needed another angel."

These last weeks have been difficult but I am so grateful for the blessings in my life: My wonderful husband, Michael, who has been so loving, patient and understanding. He is truly the best man I have ever known. I'm grateful for family and friends. I'm grateful for the people the Lord put in my path who have suffered the same fate as I, who shared their grief with me, were there to comfort me, and helped keep me sane. I'm grateful for the Plan of Salvation and the whisperings of the Spirit that let me know that I am known and loved by a loving Heavenly Father. I'm grateful for all I have learned through this experience. I know that, as we look through the "glass, darkly", if we reach up and take our Heavenly Father's outstretched hand, He will walk with us in our adversity and will lead us to the light if we will have faith in Him.

Have You Ever...

I'm not sure who thought up this list, but I got it from my friend Wendy's blog. Some of them are pretty fun. Highlight or underline those tasks that you have accomplished in your life. Add your own at the end or edit the list if you feel its too personal.

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins (Not yet...someday!)
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid (One of my ultimate dream destinations!)
6. Held a tarantula (NEVER!!!!)
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said "I love you" and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg (Does the restaurant Iceberg count?) ;]
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten tipsy on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Have lived in a foreign country
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse of both the sun and moon
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states (I am 9 states shy!)
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had/Have amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving (Would love to someday!)
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving (Someday...will be on the same trip as swimming with the dolphins)
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class (Does Tae Bo count?) ;]
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie (Does home made porn count? J/k)
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo (Almost did it two different times but chickened out at the last minute.)
81. Rafted a river
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
83. Gotten flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music (Does one of those amateur studios on Fishermans Wharf count? If so, underline it baby!)
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in a Rocky Horror Picture Show
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth

112. Won money on a TV game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild (Allergic...so no way!)
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept 30 hours in a 48 hour time frame
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read "The Iliad"
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head (When I was 3 or 4. I wanted to be like my cousin!)
149. Caused a car accident (Not a major one.)
150. Saved someone’s life
151. Have organized a HUGE event
152. Slept in your car

153. Buried a sibling

154. Eaten horse meat

155. Have experienced love at first sight

156. Flirted your way out of a speeding ticket with your boy/girl friend or spouse in the passenger seat

157. Been to Disneyland

158. Been obsessed with a band or actor/actress

159. Watched the same movie in the theater more than five times.

160. Met someone whose friendship has changed your life forever

I tag anyone who wants to do this. Enjoy! I know I did!

Mucho Apologies, My Friends

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't been posting lately. It's been an interesting summer, to say the least. Lots to tell and things have been busy. Also, it's been hard not having the laptop at my disposal. It's currently still out of commission but is getting fixed as we speak. YAY! The good news about it is I was able to access the hard drive so my files and pictures were not lost. Phew! Huge sigh of relief was probably heard by all when I found that out. I have the next couple of days off so I will try to do some major catching up. So forgive my absence in the blogging world. Love to all!

In Honor of the Olympics...

Here is a fun quiz..... What Olympic Sport Are You?

My results are in...

You Are Archery

You are a bit of a traditionalist. You like old fashioned things with deep traditions. You also like to see the result of your accomplishments right in front of you. If practice makes perfect, that's fine by you. You like to practice a skill.

Who Knew I Could Be Two Superheros!?! My Husband Will Be So Proud!!

Marvel Superhero Personality Test

Quiz results:
You scored as a Doctor Strange/Stephen Strange
You are deep, spiritual, mysterious, wise, and mature.
Doctor Strange/Stephen Strange -- 83%
Multiple Man/ James Madrox -- 75%
Iron Fist/Daniel Rand -- 67%
The Thing/Ben Grimm -- 67%
Spider-Man/Peter Parker -- 67%
Daredevil/Matt Murdock -- 67%
Cyclops/Scott Summers -- 67%
Power Man/Luke Cage -- 67%
Captain America/Steve Rogers -- 67%
Professor X/ Charles Xavier -- 58%
Silver Surfer/Norrin Radd -- 58%
Human Torch/Johnny Storm -- 58%
Mister Fantastic/Reed Richards -- 50%
Thor/Thor Odinson/Donald Blake -- 50%
The Hulk/Bruce Banner -- 50%
Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes -- 50%
Ghost Rider/Johnny Blaze -- 42%
Deadpool/Wade Wilson -- 42%
The Punisher/Frank Castle -- 42%
Iron Man/Tony Stark -- 42%
Nick Fury -- 42%
Wolverine/James "Logan" Howlett -- 42%
The Sentry/Robert Reynolds -- 25%
Gambit/Remy LeBeau -- 17%

Who am I? I'm Superman!

I always wondered if I was a superhero, who would I be. And now I know! I'm Superman! He is cool. He can fly and see through walls, has extremely good hearing and has superhuman strength. And I like the outfit. Although I can't help but hear the voice of Edna from The Incredibles saying, "No capes!"

DC Superhero Personality Test created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Superman You're a good leader, selfless, and people respect you. You have one or two weaknesses, but overall, you're the man. Superman -- 83% Steel -- 75% Martian Manhunter -- 75% The Question -- 75% Nightwing -- 71% Flash -- 71% Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner) -- 71% Captain Atom -- 63% The Creeper -- 54%

Happy Birthday Laurie!

Today is Laurie's birthday, the first of her birthdays where she isn't here with us. This is the first time in my life that I haven't received at least 10 invitations to her birthday party. She LOVED her birthday!!! Everyone knew the date of her birthday. She would plan months in advance what she wanted to do and would tell you what she wanted you to get her. She was the easiest person to buy presents for because she loved so many things. August 16 will always be a day I celebrate Laurie. I love you Laurie! Happy Birthday, my sweet sunshine sister in the whole wide country! :] Tell Dad to give you your birthday spankings for us! :]

Memories...Light the Corners of My Mind

I've seen this idea on several blogs and thought that it was fun. I have already posted memories on a few blogs and am interested in seeing peoples responses about me. :] Here's what you do:

1) Leave a comment that mentions a memory that you have of me on this post.

2) I'll go leave a comment on your post (that you have already posted or will post, because c'mon, I know you wanna play along!) about another memory we've had together.

Hope you have fun with it! And remember, only nice memories. :] No divulging the deep dark stuff. I don't want to look like this when reading your response:

May Day...May Day...SOS...Necesito Ayuda

Big problem and sad news to report...my lap top is broken! It won't turn on. All it does is make this annoying beeping sound when it attempts to boot up. I am in big trouble. I haven't had a chance to back up my photos and I just deleted the pictures from my digital camera memory card. :[ Hopefully I can get to the stuff on my hard drive. If not, this will be the look on my face.

Tagged by Tara...Random Facts about Me

Here are the rules I was given (I modified them a bit)...Share six unimportant things about yourself & Tag six random people at the end of your entry. Enjoy the results!

1. I could eat steak every day and never get tired of it. (Too bad the wallet isn't more accommodating!)
2. My husband is turning me into a nerd and I'm loving it! He has me watching all these shows (Stargate, Firefly, Babylon 5) that I never knew existed before meeting him.
3. I love to sleep when it is raining. Is there a more relaxing sound?
4. I like to have things clean but I hate cleaning. I have days of the week for each chore so I don't have to think about it the rest of the week.
5. I am a woman caught between big city living and the country. I love all the conveniences and opportunities for culture and events in living in a big city but love the feeling of a small, close knit community as well as the quiet of a small town. And I love the idea of not having neighbors that can see in your windows.
6. My dream car is an Isuzu Rodeo. I know! Even in the days of $4.00 per gallon gas, I still want one. Someday!!

Now for the tagging...How about Marissa, Nikki, Robin, Kristen, Lindsey and any one else that wants to do it.

Reflexes and Reaction Times

The automobile driving manual says the average driver's reaction time is: .75 seconds....... or 1 car length for every 10 mph...... How is your reaction time? Do you have quick reflexes? I thought I did until I got an email that told me otherwise. I was sent the following link and found it highly entertaining. I'm not sure why. But it was. I'm a Bobbing bobcat. Is that kind of like a bobcat pretzel? I hope so! Hope you enjoy.

If the link doesn't work, here is the address:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/reaction_version5.swf

Family Addition

We have a new addition to the Ellison clan. Brenner McEwan Ellison was born June 30 in Texas to my bro Nate and his wife Laura. Mom and baby are both great. We are looking forward to having another wee one to give smooches and loves. So excited for another nephew! :] Congrats Nate and Laura and kids! Can't wait to see Brenner! Love ya!

Thankful Thursdays

Thankful: Gratitude, appreciation, or thankfulness is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

Well, it's that time again. It's been a hard week. I almost skipped today but decided I need to do it.

1) I am thankful for my sweet husband. He has really been there for me this week. I have not been feeling well and had a major setback health wise. Don't really feel like going into but it was disappointing, to say the least. But Michael has been so great. He's been there to give me comfort and to feed me. I am very lucky to have him in my life.

2) I am thankful for priesthood blessings and a husband who is worthy to perform the ordinance. Like I said, I have not felt well this whole week. I have been really nauseated, had a fever and huge headache. Michael gave me a blessing that brought a lot of peace to my mind and heart. It has really helped my spirits to be higher and has given me peace.

3) I am thankful for my family. They have been really supportive and helpful this week with their emails and phone calls to check in on me. It is nice to know they care and are there for us when we need them.

4) I am thankful for the gospel. I am so grateful to know that we are not alone in this world. Heavenly Father is there for us and watches over us always. I'm grateful to know there is a bigger picture to life than we can even imagine. I'm also thankful for an eternal perspective. It sure helps when times are tough.

Well, that's my list for this week. Hope you have a great day!

Tagged and Dangerous

How to play the game: List 3 Joys, 3 Fears, 3 Goals, 3 Current Obsessions/Collections, and 3 Random surprises about yourself. Tag five people at the end of your post by leaving their names.

3 Joys:
*My Husband
*My Family
*Our future possibilities

3 Fears:
*Spiders
*Falling short
*Something bad happening to Michael

3 Goals:
*Happiness
*Getting out of debt
*Organize my desk for when I start working from home :]

3 Current Obsessions/Collections:
*Blogging/Blog stalking
*Taking pictures
*Michael

3 Random Surprises about Me:
*I like to order the same things at restaurants. Once I find a good dish, why mess with others? (Ex: Sizzler's Steak and All You Can Eat Shrimp. Yum!)
*If I find a shirt I love, I buy it in several colors.
*I am beginning to love Science Fiction almost as much as Chick Flicks (Who knew? Not me!) :]

Tag, your it....Nikki, Krista, Sierra, Michael, Chelsea, Melisa, and any one who wants to do so.

Instructional Video of the Day-A Must Buy

For any of you out there that watched the Fresh Prince of Bel Aire, you have got to watch this video. I heart Carlton! (Okay, not really. But it's funny!) Get ready to break and pop, which is different from the bend and snap. :]

Thankful Thursday

Thankful: Gratitude, appreciation, or thankfulness is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

So, I missed last week. The day got away from me. Don't know how. Some of you probably didn't notice, some did. But, one way or the other, I did. And I noticed a difference in my week. So, here I am and here I go...

1) I am thankful my training is officially over. Today is graduation day from JetBlue University (Yes, that is what it is called)with a 98.5%. I get my Crew Member badge, flight privileges and my new day-time schedule starts this Sunday. I will miss seeing the friends I have made during training more than I can say. I have made some great friends that I hope will continue to be a part of my life. But I am looking forward to being able to be home and to get on a better schedule where I can see Michael more than an hour or two a day. YAY!!!!! And on that note...

2) I am thankful for my husband Michael. He has been SO wonderful during this last month. He has picked up where I have slacked and has done so much to make my life easier over these last four weeks. I really do have the best husband in the world. Thanks for your help in keeping the house in order, for sacrificing your time, and some nights your sleep, for me and this new opportunity. Thanks, sweetie, for being there for me and being so supportive! You truly are the best husband ever!! I love you!!!

3) I am thankful I was able to go to Colorado for S & K's wedding. It was a beautiful day. I'm so glad they finally got married. I couldn't be happier for them both.

4) I am thankful we were able to see Michael's brother A while in Colorado and that he is doing so well. He had a major accident last year and almost died. He was in a coma and wasn't expected to live. We even went to Colorado to say our goodbyes to him. But, in the week we were there, he slowly improved from being on all sorts of machines to help him breathe and his heart to beat to doing it mostly on his own. And he has continued to improve. It has been a long road back for him and he still has work to do. But we are thankful he is still with us and is continuing to fight his way back.

5) I am thankful for future possibilities. For the first time in several months, I feel like I can actually put some of our goals into action and get to working on them. One of those goals is getting out of debt. Another is...well, none of your beeswax. Just messin'. I look forward to the many wonderful things in store for us and our future. (No, that's not an announcement. I wish! So just calm down.) ;] We are looking forward to many free trips to fun places and to see people we love along the way. The future is bright. Gotta wear shades.

Well, that's my list for this week. I hope you've enjoyed it!

Ya think?

I saw this a while back while surfin' the net. When I read it, I laughed out loud! I wish I could take it sometimes. Maybe it would alleviate my ever increasing road rage. Sometimes I wish I could say some of these things to people when they annoy me. But, the world isn't ready for that quite yet. But I can still think it and smile. I hope it gives you a chuckle, too.

1-2-3 We Love Daddy!

In honor of Fathers Day, I wanted to post one of my favorite pictures of my parents with Laurie, their first child. I love this picture! I also love the way my parents reacted when the doctor suggested that they should put Laurie in a facility instead of bringing her home. They said that she was their child and they were bringing her home where she belonged and they were going to raise her to be a part of the family. I am so grateful for that decision! I can't imagine how different life would have been in our home. I'm so grateful for my parents. They are good people.

Today I want to express more specifically that I am so grateful for my Dad. He has always been a great example to me. He has also been that voice in my head pushing me to work harder and to expect more of myself. It seems strange that it has been three years since he died. He is still such a part of our lives. That's probably because we know exactly what he would say to us in each situation. He was always counseling us and guiding us in our decisions. I sure miss him just as much today as I did the day he died. But time does soften the blow a bit and helps you learn how to deal with the loss without it crippling you. Fathers Day will never be the same for me without him here. But I am glad it serves as a day that I can honor his life and show my gratitude for the wonderful father I was blessed to have in this life and will have forever. I love you Dad!

Too Bad You're Crazy

I saw this on a friends blog and had to include it on mine. Michael introduced me to Stargate when we first got married and about 3 episodes in I was hooked!! So, if there are any Stargate fans out there reading, you will enjoy this.

Thankful Thursday

Thankful: Gratitude, appreciation, or thankfulness is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

Well, another week has come and gone. Lots of reasons to be thankful. Here they are:

1) I'm thankful we are able to go to S & K's wedding (Michael's brother) this weekend in Colorado. We were worried with my training that it wouldn't be possible. But I found flights that will work and we are heading out this weekend. YAY! I can't miss a day of training, so it will be a short trip for me. But I'm just thankful I won't miss it!

2) I'm thankful for my new sister-in-law. I absolutely adore my sister-in-law to be. She is one of the most genuine, nicest, sweetest, likable, and funnest people I have ever met. They have been dating for longer than Michael and I have known each other and I'm glad they are finally making it legal. She already felt like part of the family. Now she soon will be official! YAY!

3) I'm thankful for my sweet husband. He has been so great to me during the long, late hours of training. He has made me lunches and done extra around the house. He is always great about house work but he has done more than his share. It has really helped to keep me sane. And tonight, I came home to him still being awake. He wanted to have some Nancy time (no, not THAT kind) and so he waited up for me. I was pleasantly surprised and really happy because I have been missing being able to spend time with him at night before we go to sleep. Thanks sweetie! I love you!

4) I'm thankful for the friends I have been making in training. It has been so fun to get to know so many people from all walks of life and become friends. Many of us have exchanged blog addresses and become Facebook friends. It will be really nice to have that network of friends as an extension and an outlet of my job.

5) I'm thankful for Heavenly Father teaching me patience and giving me a glimpse into the term "enduring to the end" from both sides of the spectrum. I was looking back over the last several months and just how long it took and what I had to go through to get hired on with JetBlue. I turned in my application(which I swear was like 40 pages long) on January 16, had three interviews, an extremely extensive background check (a 10 year background check which included pages and pages of information about the last 10 years of employment, housing, schooling, and professional references, etc.), then came a phone call with a recruiter, an email telling me I was hired, another phone call with a recruiter, and finally Orientation and Training, which started on May 22. I am so grateful I got chosen. I feel really blessed to have been. They told us that in 2007 they received 100,000 applications and only hired 3,000 people. I'm not writing this to say I'm so wonderful. I'm just glad it worked out for me. :] I wondered! I remember back a month or so before training started I got really overwhelmed in wondering if things would ever just happen already! I had already been hired on but my start date still seemed so far away!! I remember praying really hard for faith to see things through. I knew they would but I just needed a little inspiration and peace. After that prayer, I felt so calm and I knew everything would be okay. I just needed to be patient. It's amazing what you can learn about yourself and the world around you if you listen and absorb life's lessons.

Well, that's my list for this week. Happy blogging!

A Bit of Humor

During training on Friday we were shown a clip from a comedy act by Brian Reagan. It was a little longer than this one but you'll get the drift. It was really funny. Some of the people in the class were laughing so hard they were snorting and/or crying. I, of course, was laughing and/or snorting at those people. ;] Just teasing. Anyhoo. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks, Kristen, for letting me snag it from your blog! :]

Thankful Thursday

Thankful: Gratitude, appreciation, or thankfulness is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

Okay, so I missed last week. No excuse other than I'm not quite adjusted yet to my new work/training schedule and I've been just plain busy. Anyhoo. Enough excuses. Here is my list for this week:

1) My new job: I searched for a while to find it and waited even longer to start it. But, even with the waiting, I have a good feeling about working for JetBlue. I love that everyone I have met over the last week in Orientation and Training has had a great love for their job and the company. Granted, I'm sure there are those who don't feel this way and I'm sure they wouldn't introduce us to them as examples of employees. That would be just plain dumb. But it is a rare thing to find so many people who not only like their job, they love it! And it is kind of infectious (in a good way, of course). ;] I hope it will be as great of a job as I think it will be. One way or the other, I am thankful for my new job.

2) My husband: I decided I am going to stop apologizing for listing him every week. Why? Because he is so wonderful and I want him and everyone else to know just how great he is at least once a week! He is so supportive and kind and loving. It has been harder than I thought it would be to be away from him in the evenings (Training is from 4pm to midnight). But he helps me with his positive attitude and making the most of the time we do have together. He is the best!

3) Bratwurst: I know! It's a weird thing to put. But it's what came to mind. I don't know why but I never would have thought of grilling and eating Bratwurst until meeting Michael. It's not that I didn't like it before. It just didn't occur to me to buy them. But they have quickly become some of my favorite grilling meats. We grilled some Brats for lunch today before we went to work and I am wishing we had some leftovers. They were yummy!

4) My cell phone: I have always been a fan of my cell phone. But being in training has reaffirmed this to me. It has been really nice to have my cell phone. I can still receive and send texts during training and can make calls on breaks. It sure has made me feel not so isolated having it.

5) My car: I am so grateful that my car finally passed inspection. It had some kinks that had to be ironed out but it got there eventually. YAY! I look forward to another year of driving pleasure. I say pleasure because I will eventually be working from home. So any driving I do will be for pleasure! :] Gotta love it, baby!

Well, there you have it. My list for the week. Have a great one!

I've Been Tagged

What I was doing 10 years ago:

Ten years ago, I was working at Hires as a waitress(server), going to SLCC, and saving up for my Study Abroad in London, England which I went on later in the same year. I was living with roommates at The Springs and dating DW. It was a fun time full of parties, Sunday night scum matches, swimming and hot tubbing (we had two pools and two hot tubs at our complex) and good times.

5 things on my to-do list today:

1. Finish my notecards and homework for class.
2. Pick up my paycheck.
3. Wash my car.
4. Go to training.
5. Put away laundry.

Snacks I enjoy:

Ice cream, Oreos, raisins, cashews, brown licorice (although I'm not too happy about the new brown licorice Twizzlers has put out), Snaps, and Crunchies.

Things I would do if I was a billionaire:

If I were a billionaire we would build our dream house here and maybe a beach house somewhere on the Oregon coast. We would travel a lot, inviting friends and family with us. I would love to donate to a few of my favorite charities or to start my own. I would finish my Bachelors and then go on and get my Masters and Doctorate in Family and Human Studies. I would volunteer more with Special Needs kids. I would buy an Isuzu Rodeo. I would hire someone to cook and to clean our house.

Places I have lived before:

Utah, California (for part of a summer), Oregon, London England, Kentucky, and now Utah again.

People I want to know more about:

Anyone who wants to play along...tag you're it!

My First Day on the Job and My Sweet Husband

Well, it finally came. My first day with JetBlue Airways. We have a two day Orientation, including learning about benefits, about JetBlue's core values, and filling out paperwork. I am really excited to get going with this job. Along with a lot of perks and benefits, it is going to be so nice to work from home! Can you imagine how much money I will save on just gas alone! Not to mention nylons and fancy shmancy clothes. It is going to be great! And the travel benefits are absolutely killer. I am so excited! It is going to be a great opportunity for me. The training is not going to be a piece of cake, though. They went through what is expected of us over the next 6 weeks during training and the in facility supervised work. There are several tests to pass, one which you have to get 100% in order to move on. So I am going to have to be a little worker bee and do my homework and study like crazy. :]

Back to my first day. I was a bit nervous. Why? Well, many reasons: New career, new field of work, unknown expectations and all the other things that come with starting a new job. Anyhoo. I was discussing this with Michael the night before Orientation and he was so sweet. He said some really nice things about me and my skills and abilities. It was a good pep talk. And again, when I was about to leave for work the next day, he said lots of nice things and then gave me a kiss and sent me on my way. I left the house with a smile. What I didn't expect was what was waiting for me on the drivers seat of my car...a notebook to take notes (which was red, my fav color), a set of pens, a really sweet card filled with loads of wonderful compliments and encouragement, and a Pepsi. I, of course, got all teary eyed. Do I have the best husband or do I have the best husband!?! I do!!! He is so thoughtful. I really am a lucky girl to have found such a wonderful man to be my eternal companion. :] Thanks again, Michael, my sweet husband!

Happy Birthday Michael!!

As most of you know, Michael turned the big 4-0 today. I decided that the celebration needed to be a memorable occasion. So, I began to make plans and then put the plans into action...A surprise Luau barbecue in our backyard. This is Michael still in shock and me dressing him for the occasion:

I originally was going to have it today, his actual birthday. Then he decided to make some plans of his own. So, I had to move it to the day before and we ended up having two different celebrations, both of which were really fun. I must say that I was pretty amazed that the surprise was actually pulled off. He had no idea! I was happy all worked out and fun was had by all. We had some good food, great conversation, and even a little ukulele playing by Krista. We were both grateful for all the people that were able to make it.

On to his actual day...His plan was to go to The Mayan for lunch and then to see Prince Caspian afterwards. I hadn't been to The Mayan for a while and was pleasantly surprised. The food was a lot better than I remembered. And Prince Caspian was a good movie. (But, I still liked the book better. In anticipation of the movie, Michael and I decided to read it together.) Afterwards we had cake and ice cream. And when I say cake, I mean Michael's favorite--blueberry cheesecake. Yummy! It's a birthday tradition of Michael's family. I got the recipe from his Mom and have kept it up since we got married. I like traditions. It was a fun day.

Thankful Thursday (written on Saturday) :]

Thankful: Gratitude, appreciation, or thankfulness is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

Here is my list for this week:

1) My husband: It's his birthday today so I wanted to make him number 1 on my list. I'm grateful he was born. :] He is truly the best man I have ever known. He is sooo wonderful to me. So kind and caring and loving. He is the best husband ever!

2) Good friends: I had a surprise birthday party for Michael on Friday. He was supposed to go to work that day but ended up having it off. I got him out of the house thanks to Ben but was left only 2 hours to do what I had planned to do in 5 hours. Luckily, some friends came to the rescue and helped me get things set up. It was much appreciated! The party was a success because of them.

3) Family and friends: When throwing a party, you want things to go well and for people to show up. (I know! Strange concept!) Anyhoo. We had a great turnout for the party. I am grateful to all those who made the effort and sacrifice to be there. It meant a lot to me and to Michael. I'm also grateful everyone helped to keep it a secret. He had no idea! YAY! Thanks!

4) My calling: For the last year and some I have been the Primary Chorister. It has been fun and definitely a learning experience. There have been challenges, as with any calling, but I have been grateful for the little experiences that made the effort and time spent all worth it. I was called into the Bishop's office on Sunday and was released from the calling. Afterward, I got to lead the children one last time as they sang in sacrament meeting. It was a bitter sweet experience. I am going to miss some of those kids a ton! Some not so much. :] There's always a few trouble makers that make things interesting. All in all, it was a good experience and I am happy I had the opportunity to serve.

5) My car: It is always fascinating to me when I hear of people who don't have a car. It seems like a completely foreign concept to me. I must confess that I am completely dependent upon my car and don't know what I would do without it! I'm grateful it keeps running and passed inspection last week. YAY!!!

This concludes my entry for this week! Have a great weekend!

Mom, We Love You!

In honor of Mothers Day, I decided to post one of my favorite pictures of my family. Let me know if you need help figuring out who is who. Ah! The good old days! I also wanted to thank my Mom for being such a great example. She is a woman I have always admired and continue to strive to be like. Growing up, she always made each one of us feel special and loved. That is no easy feat when you have six kids. Not only that, she was a mother to all our friends. Anyone who came into our home was treated like family. She has always had a never ending supply of love to give and gives it freely. She is also a bit sassy and I love that, too! She is the best Mom ever!

Love you Mom!