By The Sea

So I found an antique store by the SEA

And I took some pictures.

Birthday Review

First: We went to Tucanos on Thursday night.

 

I love these Brazilian cheese balls

Then we went with a group of my friends and family to the 12:15 a.m. showing of HARRY POTTER, where we snuck in lots of candy, drinks, bananas AND sparkling cider and wine cups. We smuggle with class.At midnight we all toasted and they sang "happy birthday" to me and by the end of the song the entire movie theater had joined in the chorus. Most epic birthday singing I've ever had.

Then the next morning I got birthday coffee cake and I got to open my presents- which were glorious.  (Thank you thank you thank you to my generous family and all you gave me! I was overwhelmed by it all!)

And then that evening my friends Leah and Rebecca made an amazing scavenger/pirate/treasure hunt for me. At each stop there was a letter from someone who loves me. The hunt eventually led me to one of my favorite Sushi restaurants, arranged by Buck, with a group of my friends waiting.

After Sushi everyone came back and we had cake- a cake made by my silly husband- it was a Pirate Sea Otter cake! Haha!

Then the next day I woke up and Buck took me on a surprise Birthday road trip/getaway. (I love road trips and getaways- especially with Buck :) ) We ended up in Moab Utah, where neither of us had really ever been. We spent the two days in the Arches national park and eating at restaurants and sitting in the hot tub and avoiding the man that was on the loose and being hunted for shooting a ranger. (!) How exciting!

I am so blessed! I felt so special and I don't deserve it but I am grateful.  I have the best FAMILY and FRIENDs and especially the best HUSBAND ever!

Happy Birthday to ME

This is Me:

 

{Taken 2008}

 And today is my Birthday.

And my 100th post. 

[Not sure how the stars aligned for that one.]

And now I am 25 years old.

You hear that? I survived a quarter century.

Here's to another three centuries. (Or two, I would be fine with that.)

Already it's been a great birthday. It started yesterday and it is going till Sunday. I get a whole birthday weekend! There have been surprises revealed and there are more still to come!

He Stood Apart

 

This is the man I married. Also known as my husband. Also known as Buck.

I love him.

Marriage with him has been the best.

I found a little writing that I wrote almost a year ago. It's about one of the first times I could fully admit that I was in love with him. So I've decided to post it here, because, well, according to my experiment of seeing who would post yesterday only about six of you read my blog. So why not be open?

February 2009

He stood apart from the crowd with his hands behind his back; a white rose pined to his dark suit jacket. He silently cried as he looked at the casket draped in an American flag.  The feathery snow whispered down to the fresh dirt.

I wanted then to be a part of him.

To leave the world and go inside.

Because. As I stood there I saw life and death in front of me. And purpose. I saw that too. And I wanted it.

            When I first saw him that morning I smelt the cologne. He’s never worn it before. I guess it is reserved only for special occasions. His grandpa’s tie was around his neck, held to his shirt with a ruby pin that was as red as a tomato.

I felt it then just as I had for a while, although still new.

A feeling of fierce need and devotion.

A longing to know and to become love. I was pleased yet insecure that this rare feeling was not mine alone, but that it was shared and given back.

            We walked out into thick snowfall. I saw my life in the snowflakes. Each one was so different and unique and beautiful but when all put together the result was white and blank. And so it is with my future. So many moments, unlike any that this world has or will ever see again but as I add them up the future is only white and blank. Still undetermined. No resolution.

I never wanted him to say good-bye and shut my door.

I never wanted to go home, even if it was only for a few days.

I only wanted to stay and try. To be apart of him. To feel for one uncomplicated moment what it feels to love.

Because. As I drove away I knew that fears would encroach and reality would water the flames. It is now that I have to grasp the simple emotion. From this spot I begin to grow. It’s here I put my roots. This feeling. The foundation to nurture all that could come. No matter how complicated it may get, I can always trace the trunk back down here.

To love.

My Resume: The true story

Last night I had orientation for my Ham job. It's not much but I'm actually excited.   I get to work with people and be outgoing and talk. What more could I ask for? And besides, it mostly just feels nice to know that I am going to contribute something to my new marriage. Even if it is temporary-seasonal. I don't care. I'm excited to be apart of the working class.
There. I said it.

As I was sitting there watching a video about ham and sitting next to a boy who kept humming (does he know that he does this?! All. The. Time? Someone should tell him...) I began to laugh. I mean, am I surprised that I'm almost 25 years old, have a college degree and yet have a seasonal job selling HAM?

Nope.

And it's because of all the random jobs I've held in my life.

First up: Tropical Tiki Treats: The snow cone shack. 

My parents purchased this little business and owned it for a few summers. That is where I spent my time, working, watching soap operas and hanging out with friends. I worked there for FOUR summers. All through high school. The first couple summers I was able to work with friends like Alyse and Amber.  By the end of my time there I was going to refuse service the next person to ask what "tiger's blood" tastes like. But in the end the cash got me to EUROPE so it was worth it.

Then: Target Portrait Studio

This was the fall of 2004, right after my first summer block as a college student. I came home on my off track and acquired this little gem of a job. My boss was insane and the kids I tried to photograph threw the props at me. Thankfully my dear friend Carrie also landed a job there and we were able to goof around (and get in trouble together.)

Also: The Corn Maize

During this time we both also worked at one of those corn mazes for a month or two. I worked in the concessions. I dressed up like a viking bar maid for Halloween that year to work.

Next up: Jacob Lake Inn

This was in the fall of 2005 on my off track again. I got a job working at a lodge down near the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I lived and worked there, isolated in the middle of nowhere- with all my other co-workers. Needless to say we had many adventures and we all became close friends. Because of the location I was able to spend my days off being someone I never had before: a hiker. The biggest feat? Hiking the entire Grand Canyon, rim to rim, in one day. 26 miles. Everyone thought I would die, including myself, but I ended up being the first person out. TAKE THAT.

Then: Heart, Mind, and Soul

During the school year in 2006 I got a job as a waitress. It was at a brand spanking new restaurant called "Heart, Mind, and Soul" in Rexburg Idaho and the owner was a British man with a lot of money. I was the first waitress he hired. For our interview we went to JB's diner and got milkshakes. I had no experience but he didn't care- he was hiring based on personality. So I felt special. :) The restaurant was so different from anything that whole grain town had seen. There was a non-alcoholic "kissing bar," love sacs everywhere, couches with T.V's playing old black and white films, and a stage where people came and played acoustic music. Except on Monday night- karaoke night. I really enjoyed my time there and my British boss was going to put me as a singer in his band. But my last day came the day after a close friend was killed. They let me go home early and have the next week off, which was the last week of school and then I decided to go home and serve a mission. When I returned home after serving, I found that Heart, Mind, and Soul had disappeared. Sad day.

Oh yes: Retail

Before I left on my mission, as I was home preparing, I worked at Old Navy. I folded a lot of clothes. And I had to wear an elf hat.

Post Mission: A bad experience

I got hired at a dairy shop in Rexburg. I had to dress up like a cow and stand with a sign on the street corner. In the middle of winter.

I lasted two weeks and then quit.

Yes, this is a TRUE photo: that's ME in that cow costume...

So: Service

Then I got on fast track, meaning I had no semesters off, and so I didn't work, but just focused on graduating. But during that time I held some positions that were job-status worthy. I worked on campus with Service Activities. One semester I was a program manager for "Serving the I" and then I was a Coordinator, so I was over a few program managers, and then I was the Marketing director. Go service!

And: Internship

I got to do an internship my last semester at the state Juvenile Corrections Center. It was a learning experience and I loved it. I still miss those delinquent girls.

Lastly: Teenagers

Got me job out of college working at a residential treatment center for teenage girls. I really loved it and I was close with the girls. So I was kind of depressed when they LAID me OFF. They also laid off half the employees. Sheesh. It was sad. But I did get to work with my friend Mandy. She was laid of too. 

Did you really? I lost mine...

Now. Honey Baked Ham.

Go figure.

So. Did you actually read all of this? Because if you did you should comment. Nobody comments anymore. I'm starting to wonder who is out there reading this, because, well- when I look at my "stats" I can see that people from India and Russia and AMERICA are reading this. Who are you?

What a Ham

Good news. I found a job.... well, a job for three weeks anyways. It's incredibly seasonal and equally somewhat embarrassing but, what's a girl to do? So I'm going to be the proud cashier and worker for Honey Baked Ham Co. Hey, someone's gotta sell those Christmas hams. And besides, you know what they say: Beggars can' be choosers. I'm grateful anyways.

In the meantime I have become an addict.... of.... Documentaries! It's been a week and so far I've watched and learned about:

Tornadoes

Thought this was the most terrifying photo ever

The Amish

Decided that I want to raise Amish kids.

Our amazing bodies 

And how a person can learn about things like the body and not believe in God is beyond me.

LARP-ing

One of the reasons I want to raise my kids Amish- These video gamers go for a weekend and act out video games...

Walt DisneyWorld

Because we are going there soon.

"Very Young Girls"

A doc about the young girls who get captured into prostitution.

Pirates and their ships

Because I find it fascinating how pirates have become to be so revered today when they were awful people. But aside from that, I'm kind of obsessed anyways, in the romantic adventure way that isn't even true.

The Dark Ages

Man were those some dark times! Too bad some people still live in apostacy

Teenagers

This one follows five types of teens in a high school in Indiana. Oh the drama

And today

The life of a National Geographer photographer

Because that is still one of my dream jobs.

Next up:

Africa, the holocaust, genocide in Sudan, Lewis and Clark expedition, and .... who knows!