And Maybe Some Snow

Breaking News: It snowed last night - all over the place. It's a good thing it's pretty.

Ah. So I can see the mountains out my window and they’re white no longer red.

I stick my tongue at the snow.

You definitely can’t swim in the snow. No bikes in the snow. You can run in the snow, but it’s tricky and I’ve been known to fall down once or twice. Driving is lame in the snow.

You know what’s good about the snow? It’s lovely. And the boots are cute. Hot chocolate with marshmallows. Warm clothes. Crappy Christmas movies. Everything Christmas. That’s actually a better list than I thought I had in me. But no, I still don’t like the snow.

Tyler. He can snowboard in the snow and he is ultra good at that. Maybe if I go with him again this year and not just on the bunny hill, I will get totally awesome and good and maybe I’ll look forward to the snow.

But right now. Snow is unfortunate.

The Best Birthday Present Ever

Forget Disneyland. Even forget Hawaii (no, scratch that, not Hawaii – why would we ever forget Hawaii?). Tyler took me on one of the best trips ever last weekend to celebrate my birthday – the not-so-big 26 on its way tomorrow.

The first stop was the great outdoors on a surprise camping trip – I swear every tree was a different color. We shot guns, we played catch, Tyler figured out that I may never get the Frisbee thing down – I think the realization came when he was knee-deep in the river while chasing my bad toss downstream. Oops. We hiked to these cool hot springs, took to our suits and lived it up in the bathtub-like water (rumor has it some people don’t even bother with clothes at all in a place like this. We did. It was kinda slimy, after all.). Back at camp Tyler’s fire and tinfoil dinners were totally perfect. Then we slept. Next to boy scouts. Who I threatened to throw rocks at in my head.

Early and we broke camp and headed for the super sunny, always awesome St. George, Utah. The goal: the redrock backdrop and wicked vocals at Tuacahn Amphitheatre. Outdoor plays and concerts are totally my thing, and this one was maybe the best I’ve seen. It was so cool. We headed back to the sweet hotel, sweet and cheap, just the way we like it. The whole things was like an awesome dream.

The trip was quick. No low notes at all. And you know what I liked more than anything? Tyler and I spent hours just talking. We didn’t try to plan out the next 40 years or anything at all like that, we just talked. About when we were dating. About Obama and the coolest cars. About all sorts of things that probably wouldn’t matter to anyone at all. We laughed a lot and we learned some more about each other. I wish every day could be so great.

Making it Better

I left the house for work this morning and 12 hours later I headed home. That's pretty on track with how the week was. It was long. I felt like a failure at times. I’ve been working 10-hour plus days writing speeches and creating billions of PowerPoint slides for a big-deal thing on the job. The worst was Wednesday. I woke up and I knew it was going to be bad and asked Tyler if I could call in sick and he said yes, but I knew he was just being nice so I went. And it was what I thought it would be – a day when your head can’t catch a break and life lost its senses.


The failure part has nothing to do with the work part though, I was alright at that. It has to do with the being a wife and friend part.

Tyler’s school days run late on Monday and Tuesday, and this day was a Wednesday – he was finally home, and I was finally going to make him something good for dinner and spend all night just me and him.

But then it was 4:59 – Ty, I’m going to be home a little late. I’m sorry.
Then 5:23 and he offered to take a look at that recipe I’d picked out for the special meal.
Then it was 5:59 and he asked if he should put it in the oven yet.
At 6:05 – I told him I’d leave in 20.
At 6:25 – I told him I needed 15.

Finally, I left – a laptop on my shoulder and barely enough energy to feel relief.

Turns out Tyler can cook. The dinner was great – my favorite touch was the celery and peanut butter set out nicely on the table. Coming home to him was the only thing that got me through the day, or the work that followed me into the night. Thinking about the trip he’s planning for my birthday, thinking about how thoughtful he is, thinking about the little things …

I love him. He makes things better. He fixed everything. Like always.

"It's Rather Easy to be Busy"

So Saturday I was listening to this talk from one of my favorite people. And I got a text from a friend who said – “this talk reminds me of you. You are always so busy.” Tyler had already had a good laugh about how soooo for me the talk was. The topic? Basically: giving yourself too much to do and being busy all the time.

Admittedly I have a list problem. I have at least five lists going at any moment. A list of things to do at work (updated daily). A list of things to do at home each night of the week. A list of things to do at home each night next week. A list of things I want to buy someday. A list of gifts family members might like for Christmas or their next birthday. A list … o.k. a few other lists. Maybe more than a few.

And they ALWAYS have more than I could possibly do. I like to think I get more accomplished than I would have without the list – I would definitely say I’m never bored. But, as the speaker said, “there’s more to life than increasing its speed.”

Am I so all about the list that I don’t have time to be all about the things that really matter? Do I get distracted from the things that matter most? Are my priorities right? Sometimes to all of those. Needs improvement for sure.
 

I think it’s time to re-evaluate. Maybe time for a little un-organizing…

Loyal, Strong and How About Them Aggies

Ok, so they're about to lose. Again. BYU football, I'm feeling a little sick in the stomach. Don't misunderstand, I am true blue. I will pick the Cougs to win every time. But I gotta tell you, I’m a little tired of being the biggest loser in the office poll. I mean really, there’s not one of you guys who can catch the ball?

During my college days, I had the coolest job ever doing sports media relations. My main gig was track and field, but I also spent every football game up in the booth tracking players. Anyone who knew me before that point is now wondering how that ever worked out.

Well, I had a great friend in that booth who started with the basics. That’s the defense, that’s the offense. There’s the quarterback, there’s the cornerback – they’re on different sides of the ball. I learned every name of every player who played that year. I learned that it’s a deep threat (a wide receiver who is really good at catching long passes) rather than a deep throat (a person who talks low, usually a man). I once shed a few tears after I stood in the end zone and watched a one-point devastator against TCU. I love BYU football.

But there will be no tears this year, I'm not up for that much emotion play after play. We’ve deserved to lose. This is not the blue and white I know. I sure hope they find their groove sometime soon. I still hold out hope they will pull out the stops next game ... or the next. If not, I may need to take a breather from the weekend action. Just until the team and I have regained our composure.

All of a Sudden

For a few years after I got my driver’s license – I would be driving along and all of a sudden realize I could drive. It was a little disconcerting. It was like I missed a part, and there I was semi-grew up. Maybe I’m the only one this happened to…

Anyway, I eventually got used to the fact that I could drive. Progress. This weekend, though, I had another one of those “Oh my gosh, I grew up moments.” Tyler was brushing his teeth in our master bathroom, and I was lying on our bed watching him. Out of nowhere, I realized – we own a washer and dryer. That is so weird.

The thought train came down to how life has changed in the last two years. How did it happen that I can not only drive the car, but I can also own it? When did I get old enough to have a mortgage – and buy a refrigerator? Since when do I can peaches on a Friday night? And gosh, when did I become a wife - with an amazing husband?

I know there was life in between then and now, but sometimes it all seems like a blur when I sit back and actually think about it. Like a lot of those things that mattered so much are pretty insignificant, other than the fact that they are part of what made me into me.

Man, I am so glad some of things I had planned for and prayed for didn’t happen. And I am so glad some of the things I didn’t think I needed were given to me and turned out to be the most important things of all. My relationship with God has taught me that He has a plan for me, even if at times I haven’t a clue what it is. He loves us, He doesn’t give up on us and He knows everything. Thank goodness. What a wreck I could’ve made out of the whole thing without Him.

There You Have It

Since you got a tour of our house, I thought I’d follow up with a tour of our life. Now, if you’re looking for thrilling this might not be the post, but this week is as close to typical as it gets: 

Monday. Class for Tyler on Monday nights, so I went for the sweetest bike ride with my dad. We went up the Provo Canyon. The leaves are on the cusp of changing and the air had a hint of fall, but it was still warm and light enough to see. It was perfect. He’s one of my best friends for real. I followed the ride with cleaning the house. Kinda like a good run, I like it most when it’s over.

Tuesday. Visits for my church calling while Tyler worked the night away. Eleven doors knocked, one answer. But that one answer was an old lady who seemed a little lonely. I was glad about that.  

Wednesday. Wednesday and pork chops with peach and pecan sauce, served over rice with broccoli from the garden and a homemade smoothie (contributed by Tyler). Things turned out pretty well. Then the grad student studied and I read right next to him.

Thursday. Thursday and the morning was going along just fine until that unfortunate incident with my car. It was the other guy’s fault, not too much damage, but I may have to do something about my neck … My head rang. All. Day. Long. Later Tyler subbed in an indoor soccer game and he scored three goals. He is very, very good at soccer, and I love that he got to play. He loved it too. With 10 minutes to spare we got to a wedding reception for Tyler’s family friend. They dyed the white roses a bit blue and I thought it was lovely. Then Tyler iced my neck and rubbed my back and called the guy that hit me and figured it all out. I never knew having someone to take care of you could feel so great.

Friday. I canned some peaches. A lot, it seemed. It took until, well, now actually. So long. My mom gave me the steps and the kitchen and the tools, and I went for it. Lucky Tyler got out of it with a night shift. Jury’s still out on if it’s worth it. I'm a little proud though. These peaches are going to taste soooo good.

We’ll be up early tomorrow for a fundraiser race with my dad – a little 5k. It’s to help a family with finances for their mom who’s dying of cancer. A good cause and it sounds fun. And then we get to hang out all day. It’s what I’ve been waiting for since Monday.

Did you make it to the end? Me too. I’m very tired. In about two hours Tyler will come home, and we'lll talk until we fall asleep. I can’t even wait.