Snow

The snow is like a dancer, twirling
Across the front lawn
Flakes tip toe on the rooftop
Prance next door
Pirouette through the trees

There is a rhythm
A movement
That is both stunning
And startling

Difficult to grasp, to mimic

Beautiful in its grace and fury.

How To Choose Carpet

When they say Do you like it?
Say no

When they show you the samples
Stroke the soft fibers, smell the newness
Consider your options
Before answering

If they say Do we have a deal
Say not yet

It's not that you don't like the carpet
You're trying to build a home
It's too important to be hasty.
Shade. Softness on a baby's crawling knees.
It has to be perfect.

When someone asks if you have it yet
Nod briefly and smile.
You have a secret you're not ready to share.

Walk around feeling like a champion.
Know that you couldn't have made a better choice.
Then, begin to live.

It's Like a Facelift

Today in Relief Society our counselor announced an evening activity for next week. We are going to be taught how to bottle chicken. It is said to have a shelf life of 10 years, and serve as a nice replacement for the super pricey canned variety. Sounds great, right?

So, she announces the activity and then says something like this:

"You have to be careful with pressure cookers, though. I have a friend who was bottling green beans and she did something wrong. Everything exploded and she lost all the skin on her face. It was really painful, but her NEW skin was nice and firm and baby soft."

Yep. Awesome. Hope you can make it.

Holiday Greetings

Dear readers,

It is 3:47 a.m. as I type and I should be sleeping. Instead, I am blogging because I am awake and Blaine is awake and we are both feeling kind of miserable.

I have had an awesome head cold/sinus infection for the past 3 days and it does not seem to be improving. Blaine is dealing with a bout of pneumonia and I am trying to talk him into the hospital. Not that I want him out of the house, but I want him as healthy as possible. So, we both slept for quite a bit on Sunday, and now we find ourselves awake in the middle of the night, trying to pass the time. Bah.

We have had a lovely Christmas. Blaine and I are both horrible about surprises, so we opened gifts on Christmas Eve Eve. I was given two chairs, some clothes, a luxurious robe, and a tear-worthy wall plaque that reads "If I had my life to do over, I would find you sooner so I could love you longer." I love it!

It has been so nice being off of school. We have watched movies and cuddled and spent time with good friends. There are still a handful of people who are seeing our house for the first time, which is super fun.

For New Years Eve, I would like to do something riveting. Any ideas? 

If you have not yet visited our home, here is an open invite to do so. 'Tis the season.

Love! :)

Facebook Status, 2010 :)

A Little Funny

Student: Was that your husband at the library yesterday?

Me: Yes.

Student: Really? He doesn't look like someone you would marry.

Me: Really. Why?

Student: You are nice and he doesn't look nice. He looks mean.

Me: Why?

Student: I don't know. His red beard is kind of angry-looking.

Finally Following Directions

When Blaine and I were married, President Pinegar of the Manti Temple officiated. It was such a beautiful ceremony, and in the middle of it all, I am pretty sure I burst out into this little laughter/crying thing that sounded super awkward.

I was just so happy, spontaneously and completely, and I could not contain that joy.

President Pinegar offered some advice, that for our first family home evening we sit together and each make a list of the things we love about the other and then tape the lists above our bed. Instead, our first Monday night together was spent cleaning up our new home. We talked about the lists, but Blaine thought it would be a little awkward, so we moved on.

I think a computer list may be even better for Blaine because he can mark this post as a favorite and visit it as often as possible.

For those of you who don't really know my husband, there are hundreds of things that I love about him, and that list is growing each day. But, for the sake of integrity, I think I will stick with 10 things that first made me fall in love:

• Blaine and I are music soul mates. Before we were dating, he made me a cd that included Nike Boots, one of the funniest songs I know. The fact that he owned the song spoke volumes. More so, he included a bunch of other songs I didn't know and I loved EVERY SINGLE ONE.

• Blaine smiles with his whole face. His laugh is contagious and his laugh lines are incredible.

• Blaine is unfailingly generous.

• He is more even-tempered than I am. He lets me be fired up and loves me still.

• He cares for his mother in a tender, beautiful way.

• Blaine and I giggle together.

• Sorry for those of you who don't want to know this, but the very first time Blaine and I kissed it felt electric. I knew that moment that I would marry him.

• He is the first man that I have had to call my little sister about at three in the morning, just because of that kiss.

• Blaine knows how to do so much. He understands computers and wiring and plumbing. What he doesn't know, he is willing to learn. He is willing to sit and have reading parties with me.

• Blaine is a part of my heaven.