Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving

Well today has been GREEEAAT. I did scold Trina a little bit for leading me into the room wherein lie the homework I'm supposed to do, but I got over it, reached OVER the homework, and grabbed my lovely not-school book to read.

I told Trina I was getting up at 6am and I'd make my pie then and...guess what? I DIDN'T! It was wonderful! I answered my alarm at 5:40am - I was actually really confused because I didn't realize it was an alarm, I thought someone was calling or something. Either way, I ended it and crashed back to bed. And then five minutes later my CALENDAR went off reminding me to do the pie. I said, "Yeah right!" and went back to bed and slept for a few more hours. When I got up I got to making the pudding for the pie. Thank goodness for instant. It took basically all the work off me.

Trina and I worked a little bit, me supporting her through the prepping of the turkey, "Remove the neck? I thought they already removed the neck?" she said. "Um, I think they mean the skin." Haha and then she played with the turkey's wings and...anyway, it was fun. We prepped the casseroles a bit later (after I got to read for awhile) and we ended up eating around 2:30pm. All through dinner we went around and had to say something we were grateful for (no repeating). It was pretty good and even after we were still saying some.

My favorite part was going to the computer and randomly checking classes again, and being able to add Chinese 101!! Yes!!!! That cheered me up. And now I find it amusing I'll be starting my Chinese class the DAY after I get back from China. "Where are you from?" "China." "Oh how long have you been here?" "About twenty-four hours." Haha I am actually QUITE looking forward to jetlag. It'll make getting up easier. And going to FHE right after I get home. This is just going to be too much fun!!!

Did I mention my pie is amazing? I LOVE cooking and making it all prettified. I made the crust, put in the pudding, chilled it, then added the whip cream and oreo crumbs. I almost don't want to eat it!

I've been in a "words of affirmation" mood of late. I literally feel like running around and shaking people and screaming, "AFFIRM ME!" Kind of a weird feeling. We are going to Tangled now hopefully. I think I'll dress as a princess just to stick a pencil up Trina's nose. Just kidding. :) She vetoed it, so I feel like doing it anyway. But here we go! As a family! To a princess movie! Isn't that GREAT?! Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 22, 2010

50 Things

Holy dang...we've had a couple times in our ward either at ward prayer of FHE where we were saying things we were grateful for and I just couldn't believe how much I was thinking of as we were going through. So I challenged myself, and I challenge you, to write down FIFTY things, just to get yourself in the holiday spirit.

1. My family - duh. More specifically- my hard-working dad, my hard-working/creative/beautiful/supportive mother, my big Tin who can freak me out just by TELLING me about a zombie show, my beautiful sister who is continually trying to be better, my brother-in-law for being a brat, and of course Trey - but he gets his own.
2. I am so thankful for my big brother Trey, for serving a mission and being a great example to all of us. I miss him like crazy and it's hard to be thankful for it, because our family sometimes seems so CENTERED on him that it's hard not to have him for two years.
3. I'm thankful that it is very unlikely that there will be a zombie apocalypse any time soon.
4. I'm thankful that I've been feeling motivated and that I've been enjoying running.
5. I'm thankful for my ward, for my awesome friends therein.
6. I'm thankful for the guys in my life, as frustrating as they are. They make life interesting.
7. I'm thankful for my professors. They've all got their quirks and some of them I have a hard time with, but they are all great people who love what they teach.
8. I'm thankful for my mind!! So much! I'm pretty sure I'd be bombing school if the Lord hadn't blessed me with a mind given to writing and learning and retaining information.
9. I love writing and editing, and I'm so grateful I found that as my calling in life in my first semester, keeping me on track to graduate in four years.
10. Holy HECK am I grateful that this semester is almost over, and that Thanksgiving holiday is this week!!
11. I'm thankful that I get to go home for Christmas! I'll see my parentals, Abigail & family, Kendall, Janna & parentals, and my home branch! Dang.
12. I am SO blessed to have an awesome job that works in my schedule with school, supports me very well, and that I actually enjoy.
13. Along with #12, I've got a great boss.
14. Along with #12 and #13, I've got great co-workers who make going to work easier when I'm in a not-so-working mood (rare, but there are days).
15. God's creatures/animals -- e.g. Leia!! Sometimes I just see that cat gliding around and think how amazing it is that we live in a symbiotic relationship with animals. It's kind of weird! But totally awesome! She's pretty fun, if annoying at times (she was very excited I came home today since no one else was here. She sat on my bed at eye-level with me just waiting for attentnion).
16. Modern technology - what would I do without my laptop? I'd probably be bored out of my mind.
17. Good books - again, I'd be bored out of my mind. I also appreciate the great authors who can write a story without adding a ton of crap in it to make it more "sellable."
18. Old folktales/stories/myths/legends. I just have to say...greek mythology is pretty awesome.
19. Hot water!
20. Hot chocolate!
21. Health!
22. Height (I just had to continue the "H" trend) -- I love being tall! I sometimes truly feel like a strong Amazonian, though that fails when someone taller than me passes....but oh well! I feel awesome!
23. I love the days when I'm not blah or depressed. I don't appreciate them as much as I should.
24. Snow...it's hard to say since it is so COLD...but it's pretty.
25. My very bestest friend Hannah. I have other great friends, but she is always the one willing to pull me out of my deep depressed puddle of misery. She cheers me up just with a text.
26. Store-bought cookie dough! Heck YES! What would I do without it? Make homemade cookies? What an unattractive thought...
27. My calling. I've never felt such an appreciation for the birth of our Savior until planning the Christmas program this year. Wow. I hate that I have these great epiphanies for MYSELF and realize others have had it and tried to give it to me but it was a personal thing and I wish others could feel exactly what I've felt in the planning.
28. I'm so grateful for all the people that have come to choir. It means so much to me after that first discouraging week of THREE people.
29. I'm thankful to have a car. We've had good times, Ury and I.
30. A cellphone!! What would I do without it? I couldn't remind people about choir, text my Biffy, text emergency questions to Trina, or just plain TEXT TEXT TEXT. :) Or call my parents. That's important as well...though I don't do it as much.
31. I'm grateful for my dad's job - and for my parents helping pay for my education. It kind of goes hand-in-hand -- but mainly I'm glad my dad has a job, because I know it was hard on him to go for months without one when he was working so hard. The Lord has blessed us so greatly!
32. Clothes. Gosh I'm materialistic...but what can I say? Picking out coordinated outfits brings me joy, no matter how vain.
33. Painting - that's really it. :)
34. Singing! I love music!! It is such a blessing in my life, I'm grateful for the voice I have to glorify God.
35. The five senses...if people really focus and observe with all five senses, the world is an amazing place (except for when there is a scarecrow staring at you and it is just creepy). I'm grateful to have use of all five, though my ears are a little iffy at times haha.
36. E-mail, vonage, etc. etc. Whatever keeps me in easy contact with my parents 6,000 miles away.
37. Airplanes!
38. Blankets. Warm warm warm...I love warmth.
39. This land of freedom. I'm not often very patriotic, but I'm grateful for the sacrifices that so many men and women have made so that I can have freedom of religion, freedom of press, and more.
40. The Atonement. How could this not be #1? This is also something I definitely take for granted, but lately I've just felt its blessing so much in my life. I hope I can take advantage of it more and more.
41. Joseph Smith. I waver so much on some things, and Joseph Smith is definitely easy for the logical left side of my brain to doubt. But when I hear of his life and his testimony, it fills me with a sense of what a great man he was, and the knowledge that he is of God.
42. The gospel in my life is probably something I should be most grateful for, no joke. The knowledge of "the plan" is really the only thing that has kept me sometimes when I've been so low and depressed that I really don't see the point anymore. "The plan" is the point. I'm glad I know that. It helps me endure.
43. Christ. He is my Comforter, my Redeemer, my Good Shepherd (pun intended), and above all my brother. I love him so much, and I am grateful that when I ask he freely offers me the feeling of his and my Father in Heaven's love. It is another thing that lifts me up and gives me extra strength to hold onto the iron rod, hard as it is at times when the mists of darkness enclose me and outer forces press against me. As soon as I ask, he blows away the mists and gives me a breather.
44. Grocery stores - very accurately called "Convenience stores" at times. Am I right? They do call them that, right? I'm grateful to have the ease of going to the store at a moment's notice for any random thing.
45. My extended family. I was so glad to see my Lamb side of the family a week ago. I love them as much as any other!
46. The piano - instant music. I'm grateful Mom gave us lessons when we were younger, and that I could take lessons as I got older. Thank goodness for all the patience of my teachers.
47. Good kitchen appliances. I could not have survived with a table and a fireplace.
48. Notebooks and pens. It's just always been something I love to have on me. I really need to use them more, however...write down the thoughts running through my head. It might be a little crazy but it'd be fun for me.
49. Journals! I've had the best laughs at myself. I wish I would be better at doing that! It makes me sad knowing that I remember so little of my life, when I know it has been amazing.
50. China. Wow, how could I not think of it sooner? My home, the place that had a large part in making me ME.

And that makes fifty. I'm sure I could find more but that was my goal. :) And I love this scripture (and all the scriptures! How could I forget their uplifting part in my life?!), "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments." (D&C 59:21) We constantly need to be confessing the Lord's hand in all things. I am very conscious of the fact that all the wonderful things in my life are blessings from the Lord, and it amazes me how much he gives me when I feel like such an unworthy and "unprofitable" servant. What a great opportunity this Thanksgiving season it is to consider the things He has given us, and to thank him. Even now I'm thinking of more and more things I'm grateful for (having the temples so close and the opportunity to serve my ancestors there, the opportunities to serve that the church offers, compliments, etc.). My goodness I am so blessed. How do I even presume to be depressed at times? I remember, but I'm not going to worry about it.

So now I'm going to go make a list to take to that convenient grocery store, read the books for the education I'm grateful to be getting, and then go to family home evening with my ward family. Yay! :) Love you, have a wonderful Thanksgiving! And don't forget who gives you all those blessings!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

My Weekend! St. George/Family/Road-trip...basically a blast!

Well on Wednesday I learned that my dear favorite cousin Justin (Connor) was in town. He's been in Korea for two years and their family was pausing in St. George to see the grandparentals before moving to Germany (yay air force!). Well I rather jokingly said, "Maybe I'll drive down..." but the idea caught. Why not? I can drive. I have a car which made the trip a month ago (and could hopefully do so again). So I sent to my parentals for permission and BAM I had it and it was looking to be like I was going. Sweeeeet. I canceled my plans with girls in the ward (they had a girls' night) and started planning. I had wanted to leave work an hour early to get packed and on the road earlier (Friday) but there has been a whole shabang of fun cross-shipping and stuff going on. It has gotten pretty busy this last week (thank goodness, I love busy -- but the cross-shipping was stressing me out). But thankfully I have others to shirk duties onto and finally got out of work around my usual time. I rushed home, showered, packed, and loaded up the car (I'd filled up on the way home). The day before I'd loaded up Tubby with a couple new albums and tried to do as much homework to make life easier for me (didn't work). I was taking my English textbook anyway in the hopes I'd read it in a spare moment.

Well off I drove, and I tried to be very focused in the construction areas. Is was probably the first 45 minutes or more of the drive. It was also right as I was hitting Springville Mom called and asked for details and was concerned I'd only just left...but anyway. I was on my way!!! And wow was it a great trip. The weather was great, beautiful sunset, nice scenery, good music, and there were no jerks on the road. I will say this, in my boredom, I MIGHT have taken a couple pictures of myself with my phone (while maintaining my focus on the emptyish road). As seen below, I was very comfortably situated in my pajama pants, with one leg up and one by the pedals. It was actually the first time I'd REALLY used Ury's cruise control (I usually switched to manual when going up hills).
As I said, it was a good trip. I was sending occasional updates to Trina along the way. I didn't realize how FREEZING it was though until I got to Beaver for gas (by the way, I LOVE the 38 MPG thing with road-trips) and got out of the car. GHEUAYSAHA!!!! I practically leaped back in the car. Coooold. :( I got some Wendy's and a SOBE from the gas station (by the way, I LOVE gas stations. Have I ever told you that they are one of my favorite things about the US?) and headed back on my way. Another thing that had been entertaining me was watching my miles. About halfway through my trip my car's miles hit the heavenly number: "222222." I'd been waiting forever for it to do that. FYI - my favorite number is 2. Actually, my super favorite number is 22 because it is two 2s. I even snapped a picture of it (while maintaining a focus on the road around me).
Oh, Mom, for the record. The speed limit at the time of this picture was indeed 80. Also recall that my speedometer is 3 miles fast...slow...whatever. I maintained the speed limit the whole drive (unless I didn't realize it had changed) and never even went 5 over. :)

I got to St. George at about 7:30pm. Lo and behold all my jetlagged relatives (excepting Marcia and Justin) were zonked out every which way in the living room. My favorite was Uncle Jim - he was sitting looking at his laptop. I even thought he was awake but he had just fallen asleep in that position. Ha! Well Justin kidnapped me as soon as I got there and we went to Wal-Mart and Target to buy him new headphones (his had broken - not surprising. He wears them 24/7 around his neck. He looooves his music). While we were out we said, "Let's go to a movie!" So we called and asked permission and she said, "Yeah but come and get Deanna she wants to go." Soooo we did. And somehow it turned into Monica, Maia, and Jim going as well. It was all good fun, seeing as I've met the two littlie ones like twice. We went and saw "Megamind" which I wasn't actually thrilled about because I'm not fond of Will Ferrell or kids' movies of late. But it was very cute and I recommend it - also not what you expect from the trailer AT ALL.

After the movie we went home and....you guessed it - went to bed! :) Grandma had blown up a big air mattress while I was gone and it was very comfy. It was actually electric - it fills itself up and when you have forced out the large majority of the air it suctions the rest of the air out. Very easy to use, I loved it. It was good sleeping, and I slept in until 7:30am! Gasp! And then I got up and ready for the day, put up the air mattress, folded my bedclothes, etc. etc. I had gotten up a bit earlier in the hopes to read my English reading. I got a page or two in before Maia turned on the tv and there was no way I could read (and I was too lazy to leave). It was mostly Disney until Marcia told her to change it because it was stupid and mindless and didn't teach you anything. She makes good points. So we watched a Community (I'm a failure, Mom. I felt like, "shouldn't I leave since I don't watch this anymore..." but I just blocked the crap and watched it and I still feel no inclination to go back to watching tv). It was the Community where...little pill-popping brunette loses her pen. My goodness! I forgot a character's name! Anyway...onward.

Marcia and Jim had gone off shopping because they were having a hassle trying to get everyone proper garb for family picture taking the next day. Grandma took Justin and me later to take them coupons and to take Justin to get a pedicure (he's got bad toenails too...must be a Lamb thing. Thanks, Dad). Justin made me stick around with him for that (I didn't mind - I did say he's my favorite. Though I would note, Maia had insisted Grandma bring me back with her. Oops!), and I chatted him and the ladies up. After that Jim took us around the corner to "Port of Subs" where we had...brunch.

The rest of the day was lazy and we didn't do much until Kirky and family arrived. Justin had come to the horrible realization that I'm not very musically cultured (to his music anyway) so he kidnapped Tubby and added about seventy songs (I think) to him (Tubby). It was rather amusing. Everyone was betting and speculating (the adults) about when Kirky and family would actually show up. They were in Las Vegas for the night visiting Erica and said they'd BE to St. George at 11am. We get a call, they left LV at 11:15am (about what everyone expected). It was rather amusing.

Once they arrived and we'd all been reacquainted I believe we dawdled a little more and then went to the nursing home for Great Grandpa's 95th Birthday Bash! It was veeery thrilling. One of Jan's daughters (Kira) and HER daughters were there and then us. G-Grandpa is just too cute of an old man. But it was so sad. Grandma came in once and smiled at Grandpa and he was smiling at her and she said, "Are you trying to remember who I am again?" And he just smiled at her (yes). He can't even remember his own daughter...that is so sad.

Justin and I were doing the rounds being sociable with everyone (within our family anyway). Marcia kept telling us to go talk to Preston. He and Roxanne were off to the side...well, Justin did that, and I went to Grandpa (Bear). He had me sit on his leg, "Here sit on my bad leg, it's good for it." Uhhh, ok....I sat very tentatively on it and chatted with him about editing. He told me, "Oh well you need to be careful with those books some are very naughty. [Romance novelist #1] and [Romance novels #2] and [Romance novelist #3] write very naughty books." I said, "Haha how do YOU know, Grandpa?" He looked all flustered and said, "Oooh...well, I found out VERY accidentally. Very accidentally. That's what I told my bishop." hahahahaha After awhile I said, "Uh do you want me to stand up now?" and he nodded and nodded and pushed me up and gasped for breath (jokingly).

Justin and I after awhile retired to the couch and we were both so EXHAUSTED we were just trying to pass out. Someone took a picture but I am waiting for many relatives to start posting said-pictures on facebook. In fact we spent like a half hour taking pictures and pictures and pictures which I am excited to see.

After the party we all separated. Justin/Deanna/I went with Kirky and family to Costco. I thought it was just for sustenance until we ate later so I didn't eat anything. Main point of this story is that we were talking and for some reason Justin noticed a kid (a fat kid - let's be honest) and said, "Look Tub-Tub bought [insert name of game]." I'm sure he wasn't intending to be RUDE and I said lightly, "Justin that's rude!!" and Erica noted, "Yeah welcome to America, people are LARGER here so you can't just say that." Justin accepted it and said, "It's not like I was calling him fat-a or something..." Agree. So we were doing our own light scolding but a lady from the table beside us who had obviously been eavesdroppping said, "DON'T be rude! I don't care WHERE you're from, RUDE IS RUDE!" (Somehow it had been mentioned he hadn't been in America for awhile) Ummmm...hello? I don't care how rude he is I was annoyed that she was being defensive of something that was none of her business. Don't defend her. I thought SHE was rude and...UGH. She just really irked me. And yikes. I guess I haven't quite forgiven her yet. Oops. I should probably work on that....so Justin said, "Yes ma'am..." and apologized or whatever. But when Maria and Kirk came back (it had just been us teens while they looked around) and we were leaving, the lady said, "You need to teach that boy some manners blah blah blah blah blah" -- again with the irking. Way to make him feel terrible about himself. So I grabbed him by the shoulder and marched him away before I was snotty in return. heh. I'm very respectful of my elders.

In the car we had a nice little chat about it haha. Maria was like, "I was confused. I thought she was going to say Preston. But then I was like wait...Justin?" haha that angel-faced innocent Justin of ours? Never! I should stop talking about it. Forgive and forget. Right-o.

More dawdling and then Kirk/Maria/family went back to Las Vegas to drop off Erica. Lots of pictures. Justin and I decided we were going to dinner since everyone else had apparently eaten when we thought we were eating later. So we went to Cafe Rio (once again "Take Deanna with you!" - I didn't mind taking her (actually Marcia told Justin on Friday night when we were off by ourselves "You can't monopolize Tess!" haha) but everyone made it out like we hated her and didn't want her with us and I think Justin was getting a hard time for asking for money and blah blah blah...he was just really off for the rest of the night). When we got back I headed home.

The ride home was mostly uneventful until I got gas. Once again, it was freezing, I was tired, and I spaced on putting the fuel cap back on. Well...that's gone forever. I went to Wal-Mart when I got back to Orem but there weren't any (I saw where they were SUPPOSED to be but they were all gone. That made me feel better that other people are fuel cap losers). Anyway, that loss was a bit much for my cousin-missing tired constantly-emotionally-strained nerves and I sobbed and sobbed for much of the trip home (mainly after I went to one gas stop and the lady bluntly...okay she was a LITTLE nice about it....that they only had fuel caps for trucks). So I sobbed and sobbed until Stephen had assured Trina who had assured me that I didn't need to worry about it until I got home. Yeah I still need to get one...but either way. I learned something about myself this weekend. Initially, I overreact to everything. Give me a little while and forget my initial reaction and I'm normal, but at first I stress and panic over things to the point that people stare. Oh yeah - funny note --- the first song that popped up on Tubby on the return trip was "On the Open Road." Oh and I lied about uneventful - going back over hills was very windy and hard on Ury. Poor guy. Also, what with people never closing the doors hard enough, I finally pulled over to reclose all my doors. I didn't realize how windy it was until I got out of the car and nearly got blown away. DANG. Poor car. No wonder he wobbled (the steering wheel).

Well that's my weekend. I feel like I had more to say about the days after...oh yes. Last night was what I feel to be my first "late-nighter" getting homework finished. As I mentioned before I didn't get everything completed that I had wanted to, and I don't do homework on Sunday, so I had to cram it all on Monday. It worked out okay, until I finished and realized I had even more to do. Jooooy. But it is all good now. :) Bring on Thanksgiving! I am already done with one of my classes until after the holidays. YES!!

Love you. I have to flee from before Trina and Stephen's home teachers now.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

My goodness...

I was observing to Trina that I kind of look like I've been photoshopped into all the pictures I'm in. No joke. My awesome unnatural size just kind of makes me POP out. I shall be putting all such pictures on here from now on. For seriously though...I think I rather like it. Proof of that I'm not even just TALL I'm overall BIGGER in all proportions. hahaha

Monday, November 8, 2010

Grateful


So I have just been having Problem-Magnifying-Syndrome for a little while, and along with some discouraging depressing thoughts I was just sinking. Well I was at my lowest last night when I came in from ward prayer. But there was Trina at the door welcoming me home (we'll just ignore the fact she'd locked me out). Either way, that was all I needed, because I was crying and she chased me into my room and dragged talking out of me. It was good to let loose - a great release of pent-up depression and such. Felt MUCH happier today. So I'm grateful for my sister. She's pretty great. Happy Birthday, Trina!