Monday, July 29, 2013

Wouldn't It Be Cool If...

What if you could make your body stronger by doing kind, from-the-heart kinds of activities.  Every new mama who is up tenderly caring for her baby in the night would have a no post-baby bulge to worry about.  Anyone who made you really laugh--especially if you were in desperate need of a laugh--would lose a half pound instantly.

I'm putting this on my list for the world I create.  It would be incentive for people to be nice, don't you think?

Monday, July 22, 2013

A Bit of Ashtyn Bragging

These are the cupcakes Ashtyn made for Briana to take to the cake walk at work.  Adorable, right?



I Love My Birthday. I Love My Family Even More. That's a Lot!

Spencer was massaging on Saturday, but he offered to pay Landon to do the yard.  I figured if I had to get Landon up to work, the girls should have to do the same.  We had prayer, Landon headed out to mow and edge the grass, and the girls each chose a room to clean.  I was expecting the normal:  load the dishwasher, wipe the counters; clean the sink, tub, and toilet.  But what I got was a SERIOUSLY spic & span kitchen and bathroom.

The girls and I went to lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse.  It was a bit pricy, but it was seriously delicious.

I pulled out my books and did a tiny bit of homework while the girls went shopping for ingredients to make some darling cupcakes for the cake walk at work.  Spencer came home and took a short nap, then we headed out to the ballgame.


We had fun, the Bees won the game, I ate too much cotton candy, and they celebrated my birthday after the game with an AWESOME fireworks show.

Amid all of that, I got calls from family members, texts from friends, and FB messages galore.  I am incredibly blessed!

When we got home (11:30 p.m.), the kids wanted me to open presents.  I finally did, but just after midnight, so it wasn't TECHNICALLY my birthday.  :)

Also--see that haircut?  Holy smokes!  It's short!  The hairdresser and I were not communicating very well.  But it will grow, and it's really cool (as in temperature), so there's that.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Baseball

Tomorrow is my birthday.  I love my birthday. 

Spencer--as a manager at his place of employment--was given the season tickets seats for tomorrow night's Bees game.  It was fortuitous that this opportunity came on my birthday, because I LOVE going to baseball games.

I don't know who the Bees are playing.  I don't know who the Bees players are.  I don't know what place the teams are in.  I could probably officially keep score with a bit of training, but I don't care that much.  I cheer for a hit, I root-root-root for the home team, I like to watch the mascot work the crowd.

Mostly I love the sound of when the ball hits a mitt or when the bat cracks off a ball (especially on a really good hit).  I love watching the chalk go on the field.  I love watching the players dust themselves off.  I love all the smells and the sounds of the game.  And yes, I love the ballpark treats.  I love that it's HOT, because these are, after all, the boys of summer.

I'm super excited about this game.  Happy birthday to me!

When I Was at Temple Square This Week

I had an interesting experience on Temple Square a couple of nights ago. I went looking for our Sister B (friend from Canada), and when I couldn’t see her in any of the buildings, I planted myself on a planter in the center of the Square, hoping she would walk by.

There was a not LDS church group who were gathering in the same area. Three of their women (all in their 20’s) started talking to me. Just regular talking: family, jobs, etc. We shared so much in common whenever faith-related things came up. I think they were surprised that a Mormon believed just like they did. As we wrapped up, they offered to pray with me. So they sat on either side of me, with their hands on my backs (laying on of hands?), and one talked to Father God, Lord Jesus, God Jesus, etc., all about me while the other two toned “uh,huh’s” and “thanks, Jesuses,” etc. All in the smack dab middle of Temple Square. But it was sweet and I hugged them afterward. It’s too bad that there can’t be that kind of understanding between churches as a whole, because in that moment we were truly sisters.


And none of that was particularly comfortable to me. It was very different from how I choose to worship. But I felt the Holy Ghost there, and I truly felt love for these young ladies. I hope they felt it back from a new Mormon friend.