Still, Still, Still

Here I am, getting ready to go to work, overcome by the Christmas spirit.  I quite honestly enjoy working holidays. I chose a career that doesn't stop for nights weekends and holidays. And I love it. But I wanted to leave you with a few words from my heart this most holy of holy nights. Please be safe. Love your families, love your babies. Laugh together. Enjoy being together. Wear your seatbelts when you travel to you your loved ones homes. Watch your children around pools. Cut up their food into non-chokeable pieces. Make snowmen and snow angels. Be grateful. Be grateful for your families, and for all that you have. Remember that there are many who are not with their families tonight both at home and abroad so that we can be safe and secure tonight. Remember Christ our Savior. Remember the glory of his birth. Remember all he has done for you. Remember that he loves you. Be still, sleep in heavenly peace, and Merry Christmas to all. Every one.

Over the Hill

Last weekend I made it home to Logan, UT for my mother's 50th birthday. Getting there ended up being quite the adventure. I worked 6 days in a row, then I had given myself Thursday for a day off to clean my apartment, wrap everyone's presents and pack. So I slept in, went to my facial appointment, then slowly started getting everything ready. I went online at 4am (on Friday) to check in to my flight that was leaving at 6:25am. The confirmation code I entered gave me a message that I couldn't check in to my flight unless it was within 24 hours of the scheduled departure time. I thought I had mistakenly taken the confirmation number from my New Year's flight... So I opened my email again and imagine my horror when I realized that I had opened the correct email, but when I booked my flight I had booked it for Thursday the 15th instead of Friday the 16th. Oops. But, after a quick call to the airline and additional payment of $150 I had myself on the flight I thought I had been on all along. So I finished getting ready. I called a cab at 5am. Usually it takes 15-20 minutes from when you call until they get to your house. Today they told me it was going to be 2-5 minutes. Crap. So, I scrambled to get dressed, finish my hair, take the garbage out, and run out the door when he called. I left the living room un-vacuumed --it might not sound like a big deal, but  I operate under a strict policy of having a CLEAN home before leaving on vacation. I'm talking, floors mopped, fresh sheets, laundry done, beds made, surfaces dusted, the whole shabang.

I got to the airport, and as I was putting all my sweaters, shoes, etc in the security bins I realized that I was going to Utah without a coat. I remembered my Utah shoes, and I brought two scarfs with me, but no coat. Oops.  And I had to leave before finishing the rest of my brother-in-laws present. Oops. And I had left all of my diet food at home. I get sick when I eat real food after sticking to the diet plan. Oops. And I had left my mother's birthday present at home. Oops again. The whole confusion of the morning totally threw me off!!

But I made it home, and I spent Friday with my sister, then Friday night with former college roommates Jill and Kristin. Once I got off the plane, all the stress involved in getting there was instantly forgotten.  We had a great time laughing and catching up. Kristin drove me back to Logan the next morning. As we drove into the valley I noticed that I had patches of goopy blurred vision.  When I blinked they cleared and there were green goobers on my eyelids. Lots of them. And as we got closer to Logan, my eyes were fire-engine red, itchy, burning, and oozing green gunk. I had pink eye. Awesome. I've never had pink eye before, but there's no mistaking it when you've seen it at work countless times. So, Kristin drove me to my parents' house and we walked in. My mother was shocked and the look on her face was priceless. She didn't know I was coming home at all, and there was no way she could know about the bigger surprise that was to come!  But after the hellos and the hugs, I had my father drive me to the insta-care for some anitibiotic drops.  We were lucky that it was a slow day, and we were home with my prescription filled in 45 minutes. From there it was smooth sailing.  My eyes were better in about 36 hours, I no longer looked like a vampire.  And thank goodness for infection prevention skills I managed to love my nephew and the rest of the family without spreading my germies.  I had the most amazing time with my family. They are honestly the greatest people I know. The surprise party and preparation went of beautifully and it was wonderful to see people make a fuss over my mother like she deserves. She is truly one of the greatest women in history. She's amazing. Not even the pictures can do it justice, but they're better than words. So, I've described the bad, and here's the photos of what made me forget all of that as soon as I stepped off the plane:

 Boston loves his football :)

 Boston's new trick --the kissey face :)

 All of mom's favorite snacks

 The house was PACKED with peoplem it was great!

For the record, this was not my idea, but it was pretty funny... :)

Justification

Today I went on a marathon 6 hour shopping trip to a single mall (Bellevue Square) with one of my best friends.  While driving home, we saw a pretty black car with black tinted windows. I said to my friend, "I really need to get my windows tinted. ...I really need to stop spending money so I can get my windows tinted"  She wisely pointed out that I didn't need to feel bad about the exorbitant amount of money spent at Sephora and Victoria's Secret today, because --what good does it do you to have a hot car if you get out of it and don't look amazing?  "Excellent point," I replied, "It's what's on the inside that counts."  And that, my friends, is how I justified nearly $600 spent at a makeup store with the excuse that it's what's on the inside that counts.

And, in case you're wondering... this is what that much money in makeup, brushes, bubble baths, and nail polish looks like:

Truths

I'm 29 and am still not sure exactly who I am.

I think that's okay.

I love what I do.

I hate my job.

I want to go home.

I miss my family so much it makes my chest hurt.

I want to go to grad school at Georgetown.

I want to go to grad school at Johns-Hopkins.

I love my family more than anything in the world.

No Thanksgiving dinner is complete without Raspberry Pretzel Salad.

Breaking Dawn was the best of the Twilight movies thus far.

It made me want to read the books again for the umpteenth time.

I will still not read Harry Potter.

I hate wearing clothes.

I refuse to listen to Christmas music before the day after Thanksgiving.

Urban Meyer at Ohio State would be amazing.

No matter how old a girl gets, she still just needs her mommy and daddy sometimes.

It is possible to passionately love and hate something simultaneously.

Music speaks in a different language to the soul.

There are too many wonderful and amazing places in this world to not be vacationing regularly.

True friendship has nothing to do with distance.

I love to crochet.

The best feeling is when you get something you didn't know you needed at the precise moment you need it.

I've had an uncontrollable urge to rake the massive amounts of fallen leaves on the side of the roads into big piles just so I can jump in them.

I've become a chemical peel junkie.

I find popping zits therapeutic.

I'm not sure why I continue to order pizza since every time I eat a bite I complain inwardly that it's not New York pizza. But I continue to eat it. All.

Best networks on television:  ESPN, Discovery Channel, History Channel, A&E, The DIY Network, and Showtime --just because it has Dexter.

That's mostly it.  Some serious, some funny, some light-hearted, all truths.

Where The Sagebrush GROWS!!!!!

So much I could get caught up on... but the most important thing ...I miss my Aggies like crazy!!!!

The student section filled to capacity one hour before game time- 2 minutes after the doors open

What I missed in a time-lapsed nut shell

I miss the spot where the sagebrush grows!

Is it a wonder that ESPN has consistently named the Spectrum the 2nd toughest places to play in the nation?!

Once an Aggie always an Aggie. I WILL make it home for at least one game this season. Until then, my dear Spectrum, be loud, with love, Toni.

First World Problems

So lately...  My full time, well-paying job and third University degree (that's being obtained at no out of pocket cost to me) are exhausting me completely.

The new facebook has made it entirely more irritating to keep up on peoples' lives that I don't really care that much about to begin with --with a few exceptions of course.

The battery on my cell phone drains way too quickly, and my charger is all the way over there.

I have to wake up after a mere six hours of sleep to go to my facial appointment.

The 'hi' setting is a bit too warm and the 'lo' setting not quite warm enough on my car's heated leather seats.

I had too much food for lunch and now I'm tired.

It takes two more minutes to go to the Starbucks with a drive-through so I didn't have time to stop on my way in to work.

My GPS made me drive through the ghetto.

I'm trying to text while at a red light and I keep hitting all greens.

I can't hear the tv when I'm eating crunchy snacks.

I have to find my own husband since my culture doesn't practice arranged marriages.

The domino's pizza tracker isnt' working and now I have no idea when to put my pants on.

I accidentally clicked on iTunes and had to wait two minutes for it to open so I could close it.

I waste entire days languishing in my warm comfy bed because I can't find a good reason to get out of it.

Pretty much... I've been busy and running around doing various things and trying to keep my head above water.  I find it a bit too easy to find things to complain about, and these are just a few of them. But... I'll try to be better at finding things to be grateful for and focus on those.  And a still have a few things to get caught up on... Maybe later :)

Counting Down

In less than 24 hours folks I will be on a flight headed for Tampa, FL.  Five days of sunshine and beaches. And hopefully some amazing classes and seminars. I'm going for the Emergency Nurses Association Convention and can't wait. It will be an BEYOND needed break. I haven't gone on vacation since March... Which is a big deal for me.  I need to run away, I need to be away, I need to just GO somewhere new and away. I'm afraid I've caught a bit of the smothered claustrophobia bug again. I'm feeling a run down and burned out on life and my job. And I love my job, I really do, which is why it's so hard when I hate it. So, in the words of Zac Brown  Band and Jimmy Buffet, I'm gonna go "put the world away for a minute, pretend I don't live in it; Sunshine gonna wash my blues away... Mind on a permanent vacation, the ocean is my only medication, wishin' my condition ain't ever gonna go away."  I'll write again soon, after I'm "knee deep in the water somewhere, got the blue sky breeze blowing wind through my hair, only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair." Sounds nice right?  Be back in a minute :)

Where Were You

Where were you when the world stopped turning, that September day?  Thanks Allen Jackson for the inspiration for today's title.  So, where were you? I'd say it's a safe bet that we all remember what we were doing that day, the minute, the hour and the rest of the day when we found out.  I can tell you that I pushed the snooze button exactly twice through reports of the first tower being hit with an airplane. I can tell you ever footstep of that entire day. From the classes I attended to the songs I was working on that day in my voice lesson. That day taught us freedom, it's true meaning. That day taught us humility and unity. It taught us gratitude, it taught us what a Hero truly is.  More important than where I was that day, to me at least, is what I've become since then.  September 11, 2001 I was a sophomore at Utah State University hoping to get into the nursing program the next fall. I did. I had yet to fly on my first airplane flight, I had yet to see the ocean, or any place other than home and Yellowstone Park. In the ten years that have passed since that fateful day I like to think that I have fulfilled my own American dream.  I've graduated from a university. Twice. I'm working on my third undergraduate degree and am anticipating my Master's Degree in the near future.  I've been on a plane, I've lived by both oceans. I've lived in New York City. I've been in love, I've had my heart broken, I've found a home, I've loved , I've lost, I've lived. I've become an aunt, and a sister-in-law twice.  I've bought one new car, signed one new apartment lease, and spanned the continent with places I had before only dreamed about. I've become me.  I will never forget that day, I will never forget the things it taught me. I will never not be the me I learned to be.

A Photo

This photo explains a lot. First of all, why I will likely not survive if someone breaks into my house to kill me. This shelf tore itself off my wall and clattered to the floor one night when I was sleeping. It used to support a glass vase full of stones, one full of wooden cherries, and wooden block letters reading 'love'. The vase with the stones shattered, sending bits of broken glass and stone everywhere. I semi-woke up to the clatter, and thought how sad it was that someone outside must have dropped something. It sounded expensive. Oops. And I went back to sleep.  It also is a strange fortuitous metaphor for my life right now. Quite frankly it's been one hell of a week. Excuse my language.  My 'LOVE' shelf fell off my wall, broke everywhere and I didn't have the energy to clean up all the pieces for two more days. So it just sat right where you see it. This was one of three shelves on my wall, and ironically the one that was the most secured into the wall, the one I thought was least likely to fall off. I quite enjoy redecorating. I do it often. I was not particularly attached to these shelves anymore and had actually been loosely looking for something to replace them with for quite some time. This did not stop me from sobbing as I vacuumed up the pieces. I have an inkling the tears weren't for the physical shelf and broken glass.  Luckily today I had lunch with a best friend and part-time therapist (as all best friends are). We had an amazing time sitting outside at the restaurant and just catching up. Then we ventured to IKEA. Good times ensued and I came out of the store (among other things) with these:

They're clean, they're neat, they're simple, I quite like them.
And as for my live laugh love blocks, they ended up here with my other favorite:

Beauty

There is something magical in the air the day after labor day. I first noticed it when I was living in New York City. There was a palpable, taste-able change in the air that appears in the middle of the night.  I noticed it again on my run today here in Seattle.  The air is crisp and clean. It's not cool yet, but different somehow. The air is quieter, you're able to hear the smallest of birds chirp.  As I jogged along the shores of Lake Washington, a water plane made lazy circles in the sky. Commercial jetliners came and went from afar off at SeaTac, and there wasn't a boat on the water.  The water was crystal clear, calm, a mirror-like reflection of the surrounding shore.  The water lolled calmly against the short wooden logs that may have supported a bridge in years gone by,   The sail boats were moored, lined up, and still. Even the ducks were gone.  Three lone turtles bathed in the sun on a drift log a way out in the water.  Mt. Rainier stood majestically in the distance, her snow capped peaks stark against the brilliant blue sky.  The trees are still green, not even a summer breeze to ruffle their leaves. But still it's different. And I have to say, this summer-loving girl is excited about it.

The Bost Man's Birthday

Last week was a happy happy week for the love of my life, my little nephew Boston. He turned 1 and is getting so big so fast!  I love this little guy so much, and I'm so glad I got to go home for the occasion!

Timeless

Great works of literature are truly timeless. I've spoke of it often lately, but this will be the last for a while. I've finally finished my journey with A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith.  It is amazing to me that words written by a woman nearly a century ago still ring so true to my heart when I read them now. This is the power of well written words. Timeless literature, eternal quotes. Some truths never change, and that is oddly comforting to me at this time in my life.  I've started reading books with a set of colored pencils nearby. Every time a passage speaks to me it gets highlighted. For those books I read more than once, each time through gets a different color.  I'm going to leave you with the two of the last highlighted portions of the book.  The first a prayer of a 15 year old girl named Francie:

"'Dear God,' she prayed, 'let me be something every minute of every hour of my life. Let me be gay; let me be sad. Let me be cold; let me be warm. Let me be hungry...have too much to eat. Let me be ragged or well dressed. Let me be sincere --be deceitful. Let me be truthful; let me be a liar. Let me be honorable and let me sin. Only let me be something every blessed minute. And when I sleep, let me dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is ever lost.'" 

The second a conversation between mother and daughter after a 16 year-old Francie gets her heart broken for the first time:

" 'Say something,' demanded Francie. 'Why don't you say something?'

'What can I say?'

'Say that I'm young --that I'll get over it. Go ahead and say it. Go ahead and lie.'

'I know that's what people say --you'll get over it. I'd say it, too. But I know it's not true. Oh, you'll be happy again, never fear. But you won't forget.  Every time you fall in love it will be because something in the man reminds you of him.' "

The last paragraph especially. Sigh. It's true. Timeless words so eloquently spoken and woven into a story that will stay with me for a long long time.  These are the reasons I'm in love with the smell of old book shops. These are the reasons I'm so passionate about losing myself in a good book whenever possible.  In no other way can you completely transport yourself to another place and time. And in the best of books: quotes, paragraphs, pages that last with you for a lifetime.  Not sure which of my pile of 15 books is next, but I'm excited to find out!

Idle Hands

Do you ever feel like you're simply existing?  I've had several moments recently where I catch myself doing things and think, "What on earth are you doing?!"  Nothing is the answer. Nothing or mindless tasks that waste being awake time. How easy it is to become stagnant and complacent. How quickly a 'break' can turn into habit.  There's nothing wrong with taking a little me time and with just doing absolutely nothing every once in a while.  However, I generally like to fill my 'me' time with a nice walk or workout, a good book, cleaning something, etc. Tonight after I got home from a delicious sushi dinner I found myself lounging on the couch, Sportscenter on in the background, staring mindlessly at my facebook screen. I snapped out of it, and wondered why I was wasting my precious time zombied out in front of not only the tv, but my computer as well. (Don't worry, my cell phone was not far away either.)  Off went the tv, away went the computer. I soon found myself in a bubble bath with the remainder of A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. It didn't take long before I found myself a teenage girl in 1910s Brooklyn, New York.  A much more scintillating way to spend the evening. Much more stimulating for the mind and soul.  Once I was sufficiently prune-y I wrapped myself in a fluffy warm towel recently out of the drier and finished getting ready for bed.  After all, if I have nothing better to do than practice my zombie impression in front of two dimensional screens with little imagination, I may as well go to bed so I can wake up at a reasonable hour and spend some exercise time with nature :)  Along these same lines, I recently committed to a triathlon next spring with a friend of mine ...yikes!  But it will be good. For the times when working full time and school full time aren't enough to keep me from being too idle, I'll have more to do!  Apparently it's needed. AND training for and completing the triathlon will get my bum in great shape for my 30th birthday extravaganza next summer in Greece!  Who wants to look squishy in Greece?!  Not this girl!  Soft I'll always be, and proudly so, but no more squishy!  Wish me luck folks!!

On another note... the love of my life, my sweet little nephew turned 1 yesterday!! Happy birthday little man! Look forward to pics and party info soon :)

During My Break From School

"She wanted to shout it out. She could read! She could read! From that time on, the world was hers for the reading... Books became her friends and there was one for every mood. There was poetry for quiet companionship. There was adventure when she tired of quiet hours. There would be love stories..."

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith (p. 166-167)

The third book I've read since the quarter ended, there are bazillions more to fit into every spare minute I have, and I'm loving it.  The other one I just finished was The Freedom Writers' Diary ...amazing.  I love summer breaks!! 

What's on your summer reading list?

Just a Quick Note...

On the therapeutic power of cleaning and organizing your living space.  I've just finished deep cleaning and reorganizing one of the five rooms in my apartment, and I already feel worlds better. Not that I was feeling bad before, it's just a whole new refreshing internally-cleansing feeling. Aaaaahhhh. Feels nice :) I think I'm really going to enjoy this 6 weeks off of school. No homework, time to clean my life!!  Good times.

Oh, and also... My sister started her own blog now that she's all grown up :) Check it out here:

http://scottandheidiperkes.blogspot.com

Gone Country

So, in lieu of getting caught up over the past few weeks, here are the photos from the Kenny Chesney and Billy Currington concert I went to a few weeks ago. Good times, with great friends!  This is the concert and the outfit that inspired this post... it was all worth it :)

Oh! And also I survived my first quarter of my BSN program!! Did you know that this year the Guinness Book of World Records named the Bachelor of Science in Nursing the most difficult of all four year degrees in the country? Pretty cool.  And also, I'm registered for next quarter ...for my nursing classes and a US history class!!!!  I'm way more excited about the history class than any of my nursing stuff... but it will all be good I'm sure.  Can't wait!

Oh!  And also ...again ...I'm thoroughly enjoying my new car :)  It's a 2008 Altima... great stuff!

A Sad, Sad, Sad Day

Dear Nellie,

I hope you know that when I kissed you goodbye today I did so with a tear in my heart, even though there was not one on my cheek.  I cried all those out yesterday when I found out I was going to have to let you go.  You've been my best friend for a long time, and I'll miss you terribly. Oh, the fun we had together!  Remember the day you were first new and we went to the Sky View soccer game to show you to my friends Jenny, Becky, and Kristy? They've all grown up now and have families and children of their own, but last time I saw Kristy she asked about you.  Remember how cool it was to finally park in the high school parking lot? That was the first place I locked your keys inside you --definitely not the last place :)  Remember when I drove you to my High School graduation? The first of three graduation ceremonies you saw me through.  And oh, the first day of college when you got to stay and play with all the other cars in the parking lot? That was pretty great. remember the time we went with Jill on a trip to San Francisco on a whim to see the Yankees play? Lol, and remember how your sun visor decided to fall off on the way there?  And I know some people think we were lost in SanFran, especially when we ended up on the other side of the bay at the naval base, but I know you really knew where we were the whole time.  And we went to Boise and Reno so many times to watch our Aggies play, those were the best!  Remember the trip to New Mexico?! Our treats spilled on the pavement of the gas station after we stopped to feed you dinner, and that crazy lady tried to help us? Remember how at that same gas station in the middle of nowhere southeast UT I left your keys locked inside you again on the way home?  That turned into a long night...  Remember when you drove me to the temple for the first time for myself?  I do.

Then there was the day we left for our longest journey. You probably remembered that I was crying and scared as we left our home for New York. I don't think you could have carried one more single thing for me and Heidi. We had you packed pretty full, and you carried it all without one single complaint. It was a long drive, but my GOODness we had some amazing memories on that trip.  Remember ALL that corn in Nebraska? Remember Iowa and that crazy driver in Pennsylvania? Remember crossing the bridge into Manhattan, our favorite city in the world? Remember that time we ran a stop sign to go the wrong way on a one way street, then ended up lost in queens? Remember how hysterically we were laughing and hoping we didn't die?!  And how everyone was so shocked to see your license plates from Utah? You were a first for them, that's for sure.  Remember the trip home with Danielle? You had an unplanned stop for us in the middle of nowhere Iowa, but it turned into a comical story, so it was ok in the end.  We had a pretty good month in Utah at home before we set out for our next destination, Orange County California. I remember how much you liked it there in the warm sunshine, and you even had your own garage! Pretty fancy!  Remember the amazing drive up the Pacific Coast Highway, our favorite road in the whole country?  Words can't describe how great that was. I'm glad you were there to share it with me.  Then, you brought me to Seattle. I know you remember Seattle and all the fun we had there. Remember how much fun it was living so close to Pike Place Market and the ferries? Remember how I told you all about the new friends I was making, and how I thought I was falling in love? Remember when my first kiss with him was right next to you?

Remember how Heidi came up to drive with us back to UT? It's a good thing she was there that time too, because there sure were a lot of tears on that trip too.  Hysterical even perhaps, but you never minded, you just were quietly always there.  After that I you got to have a vacation in Utah for a while with Aunt Heidi and Uncle Cody while I went back to Manhattan. I wanted to bring you, but I didn't want you to get hurt on those crazy roads, and I know you'd feel bad if I spent so much money to leave you parked there while I was at work. Besides, you took good care of Cody and Heidi, they needed someone like you to watch out for them while they were on the road.  And I came back to you. I was so glad to see you again, I remember we just drove up the canyon for a while together!  Then we headed back to the Pacific Northwest where we made our home.  I know you liked it here as much as I do.  You had a pretty great little car port to protect you from the rain. And remember the time it snowed and everyone was amazed that you and I made it up the hill to work together in all that ice with cars all off the side of the roads?  I never had any doubt that we'd make it. We always have, we showed them! Silly Seattle drivers anyway. I know you were a little sad when we had to give up your Utah license plates for the Washington ones, but after I assured you I wouldn't become the typical terrible crazy WA driver everyone else with those plates had, you were ok.  Besides, I saved your Utah ones in my closet, so they were never really gone. Remember the time I drove you from our house in Seattle to Kristy's house in Idaho then to Mom and Dad's in Utah and your tire was making that awful noise the whole way, then we found out that the ball joint was completely shredded?  But we still made it the whole way!! The mechanics were surprised, but  not me! You always came through.

But there was more than all that. You've been with me for so long, I can't begin to type all the memories we've had. But I treasure every one of them.  You held me as I laughed with joy and screamed in frustration. You held me when I had my breakdown the weekend after my best friend's dad died. All I needed to do was cry that day in the parking lot, and you let me lean my forehead on the steering wheel and do just that.  You were my escape when I needed to get away. We'd just go; through town, up the canyon, to the beach, where ever, just you and me.  We had eleven years of amazing memories. Eleven years, can yo believe it?!  Why do all good things have to come to an end? I'm not sure, but I know that they must.  So you go your way to car-heaven, and think of me often as I will think of you. You've been a great friend and a great companion, and you will not be forgotten. It broke my heart to even think of having to leave you at that service center, but I know you'll be happy, and you've lived a long and full life.  So with that kiss goodbye on your door frame I left you. If you would have been alive I know you would have been confused and hurt, but I trust that you are in a better place now. After all, if dogs go to heaven, I'm sure cars do to!

Your Friend, with much love,
Toni

My Legal Experience

So... I just survived my first meeting with prosecuting and defense attorneys. SCARY!! Although not as bad as I was anticipating.  I just kept hearing the reassuring words of a co-worker of mine over and over in my head, "Just remember you're the expert witness. You're the expert."  Thanks to Meghan for the reassuring reminder :) One of the side-effects if you will of my job, being a witness on legal cases that we see. In this instance the alleged incestual rape of a 17 year old girl I took care of a couple years ago. (Yeah, a couple years! Thank goodness for good charting!!) And ...might I say ...there are some fine looking people walking around the county prosecutor's office!  Glad I dressed up!

Outside...

There are times when nothing is more therapeutic for a girl that some time spent in solitude with nature. Time to reflect on one's own small-scale in the grand scheme of things.  

 "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you ...while cares will drop off like Autumn leaves." --John Muir

Such was my nature therapy mini-road trip last weekend to the Olympic Peninsula.  There is just something about being outside in the fresh air away from the stress of life and the chaos of urban life that is just good for the soul. And oh, to see the ocean again!!! Now, I live in Seattle, land of mystical lakes rivers and forests with the majesty of the Puget Sound, but it's been quite some time since I've seen the actual ocean. Like, with actual waves, and an actual beach! It was a much needed break. 

Heidi's Wedding

Better late than never, and a picture is worth a thousand words... so here is 13,000 words on my sister's wedding (plus a few). It was the most perfect day, everything was beautiful and wonderful and I couldn't be more happy for my wonderful sister and new brother-in-law!

 me and my brother

 Logan Temple grounds ...so pretty!

 My lil' Bosty

 the happy couple coming out of the temple

 me and my favorite newpew

 such a stud

 Heid and her two bffs getting ready for the reception

 my madre, me, and my wonderful aunt 

 my super hot shoes

 I'm not sure why these are sideways ...they weren't when I uploaded them and now I can't fix it...

Best of all things to the both of you. I love you forever and always!!