Tender Mercy Tuesday: 58th Edition

Hello my dears! I hope this Tuesday has brought you something wonderful. My Tuesday has brought me big, giant, romantic snowflakes and hopes and dreams of the future.

I have two thoughts for today. The first having to do with just this past Sunday. I wasn't feel down, per se, but I did have a few struggles on my mind and things I was praying about.  At the end of my wonderful set of meetings a dear sister came up to me and paid me the sweetest compliment I think I've received since becoming the Relief Society President. It was a simple compliment, but one that I will always treasure and rely on during hard times.

The second thought is that we have an extra 24 hours to our lives this year. I've known all year long that this year was a leap year which equals an extra day to the year...however I didn't really think about the fact that we're going to get a WHOLE extra 24 hours! I mean, this is an opportunity that only comes once every FOUR years. It's kind of a big deal! How often do we wish that we had more time? An extra day? Well, this year you're getting it! Granted, it's probably going to feel much like any other day (especially for me who gets to work and meet with her bishop. :o) ) But I can't help but want to do something to make the day feel just a tad special.

So my dears, what will you do with your extra 24 hours?

Things I'm loving...

the darling Rasha at And this is what She said posted a little post this morning called "Things I'm loving" and I thought it was simply beautiful that I decided to copy her.

So, without further ado, just a few things:

• late night phone conversations with Soldier Boy
• the sweet spirit that was in Relief Society yesterday
• the dear sister who paid me the most sincere compliment that I really needed to hear
• the color green
• cooperative hair
• cute scarves
• my gym trainer
• meal plans
• crock pots
• dark chocolate Hershey kisses

Thursday Shenanigans

Hey dears! It's Thursday! Also, there are less than TWO weeks until my birthday. Luckily for you, you still have plenty of time to get me a birthday present. ;)

In other news, I have plans to be extremely productive this weekend. I know I've said that a lot in the past, but I really believe that to be true. So...without further ado: some Thursday Things. (aka SHENANIGANS!)

• I was fairly tame in college. No extreme late nights, no crazy parties. It seems that I might be making up for that now. This is difficult because I'm older and my body needs sleep more than it did as a 20-year old co-ed. ha. Life is fun.

• Solider Boy is the sweetest future boyfriend a girl could ask for. I'm so glad he's my friend right now.

• I danced in the parking lot in the rain last night. It was amazing. :-)

• Tonight I get to go to Blue Tango. I LOVE Blue Tango. Seriously, if you're anywhere close to Cougartown and have a love for dancing, then you need to get your butt there pronto. It's great fun.

• Tomorrow I get to go to Ft. Douglas. I've never been there!

• Also tomorrow I'm going to the temple w/my bestest roommate, Roommate R! :o) I'm rather excited to be there with her tomorrow.

• I went to a really good Thai restaurant last night. It was nummy. 

• My trainer is pretty fantastic. He has made me find muscles I didn't even know existed. My inner thighs? They are sore. :P

• My hair is getting REALLY long and I LOVE it. :o) It's great.

• I already have an idea of the epic summer adventures I'm going to have - it's going to be one GREAT summer. :o)

• Finally, here's a list of everything else I'd like to get done (there's a TON more I WANT to get done, but I'm trying to be realistic here)

• clean off bottom of night stand
• clean out and clean off cedar chest
• clean bathroom (maybe. still debating this one. ;) )
• Update St. Patty's day wreath for door.
• Decorate for St. Patty's day
• Start to make (maybe do the whole thing?) my new bag for Disneyland
• Make a spring table runner
• clean out fridge
• clean out pantry - organize it!

• Sounds do-able right? right. :o)

Have a great weekend everybody!

Tender Mercy Tuesday: 57th Edition

Hello dears. I hope you are doing splendidly and are enjoying "Fat Tuesday."

If you're not Catholic (like myself) then this day holds no extreme significance for you. I have, in the past, given up "things" for Lent. However, this year I am focusing not so much on giving things up, but getting things done. Occupying my life. Attempting to be patient until an unknown future date.

Life has been an interesting roller coaster ride as of late. I don't see it as being one of tons of ups and downs, but more of one with lots of twists and turns, new things around every bend. I have understood for a long time that God is omnipotent, but it still never ceases to amaze me how well he knows me and the ability he has to take me on a journey that is the best possible route for me.

Solider Boy told me a personal story last night that directly related to us and our future relationship that just confirmed to me how right this situation is for us right now. I've known it's right, but any outside evidence is always helpful to combating the feelings of doubt and fear that Satan tries to instill into my mind. I'm constantly reciting and remembering Doctrine and Covenants 6:36, "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." This scripture is pulling and pushing me through this unknown amount of time. How I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Basically, I want you to know that I KNOW that God is looking out for us no matter our situation or religious affiliation. We are all children of Him and He wants us to be a happy and joyful people. What a great thing to have - an omnipotent being rooting for us every step of the way. :o)

God bless.

p.s. If you happen to be LDS and have a favorite General Conference talk, I'd love for you to share it with me. I'm speaking in my congregation in a few weeks and have complete freedom in choosing my topic from a General Conference talk. However, I have no idea where to start - so please share your favorite talk of all time! Thanks!

surprises, Don Quixote, flowers, and fun, flirty times

I am sure that you are all waiting with baited breath to hear about my reunion with Solider Boy and the fantastic weekend that followed.

Well, if you are that person then you are in luck because I am here to tell you all about my most amazing weekend.

Thursday night was GREAT. I got to see Solider Boy, exchange valentines, and dance the night away. It was SO NICE to see him again. I was reminded of how much I really do like this boy that is in my life. He is amazing and so very kind to me. He gave me a book with the sweetest of inscriptions written inside. I felt loved. :o)

Friday I had a few surprises. #1 - Soldier Boy visited me during lunch because he hadn't gone home yet. #2 - He ended up being around for the afternoon as well so after I got off of work I got to see him some more. #3 - He actually didn't go home until LATE Friday night/early Saturday morning because he was around with a friend of his and then he came and saw me. :o) It was most wonderful.

Then there was Saturday. I took my own sweet time getting ready, and was glad for it. I looked gorgeous. I felt like a pretty princess in my dress (pictures coming, promise!) and my hair turned out quite perfectly. Soldier Boy loved my hair. Also, Roommate A did my makeup and she did a stunning job. I loved the look she gave me. Soldier Boy and I met in SLC and then went to dinner at the Blue Iguana. I LOVED my dish! I got the beef tacos and that beef was absolutely amazing. Soldier Boy got the Chocolate Mole and he also enjoyed his dish. Mmmmm...my mouth is watering thinking about that beef. It was delicious. I think my favorite part about dinner was the cute couple that owned the restaurant that came around serenading everyone. They were amazing and it was so nice to have someone sing to us while we ate.

THEN there was the ballet: Don Quixote. IT WAS FREAKING AMAZING. Ballet West did the most amazing job Saturday night. They dancing was incredible, the dancers played their characters PERFECTLY and thoroughly and THEN there was the flamenco at the beginning of Act 3. Oh my goodness. It was INCREDIBLE! I loved it! They only used the sound of a stick keeping time back stage and the stomping of their feet/clapping of their hands. There wasn't a single misstep or moment where they weren't together. I was much impressed. Kitri was incredible and did stunning things with her extensions and turns. Sigh. It was wonderful.

One of my favorite things was that not only did I have a surprise for Solider Boy that night (his boutonniere) but he had a surprise for me! He got me a corsage! Ha. It was so funny that we had the same thought for that night. My corsage was beautiful and featured a main  white rose with three small roses with it. It also had a silvery sparkly ribbon. I loved it and felt so fancy with a wrist corsage to go with my dress. Soldier Boy knows me SO WELL and it was great that we matched being all fancy and dressed up and what not. :-)

After the ballet we ended up sitting in his car just talking. We had the BEST conversation. It was exactly what we both needed and several things were mentioned that we both needed to hear. It was good times. Then, because we hadn't had enough of each other at this point in the weekend, we talked on the phone while we drove home - it was great.

Then there was yesterday. (whew, this is getting long. Good thing you all want to know all the details huh? lol) Yesterday Soldier Boy came down for Sunday dinner with Sister B + Husband. We had a really fantastic roast w/potatoes, green salad and homemade rolls with Hot Fudge Sundae cake for dessert. mmmm....It was SO GOOD. We played a long round of Killer Bunnies (sometimes that game is short and sometimes not, but it was GREAT fun.) There was much laughter, tons of flirting and cards that made my night 100% worth it. After Sister B + Husband left, Solider Boy and I enjoyed reading on the couch together, watching videos of me drugged from my knee surgery, and just talking. I stayed up too late and seeing as how I don't have today off - I'm feeling a little tired, but it was such a great weekend that I'm totally fine with it. The great news is that Soldier Boy is going to be in SLC basically all weekend so I get to spend some extra time with him and that is going to make me one happy camper. :-D

I hope your weekend was FANTASTIC!