Meet TC.
Spontaneity is beginning to rule my life.
Turns out there is nothing to do in Rexburg...go figure. Last night I was sitting in my apartment on the brink of a nervous breakdown, literally. I grabbed a blanket, turned to Taylor and said "I've GOT to get out of here." So, she grabbed a blanket and followed. We took off in Kia and headed north with absolutely no direction. Then, common sense started to kick in: Kia can't travel very far (she's nearly on her death bed), we only had a blanket and less than a 1/4 tank of gas, not to mention no destination. Doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out this wasn't my smartest plan. So, we turned around.Common sense didn't last long. As I pulled back into to Rexburg the sense of imprisonment overcame me again. So, I contacted my dear friend Taylor Clark (not to be confused with female Taylor my accomplice). I asked to borrow his car. Surprisingly, the answer was simply, "Sure, where are you taking it?" Yeah, I was shocked. Totally and completely shocked. I told him I wanted to take it overnight to Mesa Falls to watch the sunrise in the morning. Stupid, right? But, he was serious. By the time I pulled out every blanket I owned he was at the apartment with the car running and warm. What a guy!
He had very few instructions: Have fun, and call if anything big happened to the car.
We were so happy.




We found TC's sunglasses and I couldn't resist. Who said you can't be thug wearing a Preston High School hoodie?

We brushed our teeth, and said our prayers like good girls--only to realize we didn't have water to rinse with. Yeah, dilemma. We made it work. I was rather proud of myself: I even remembered toilet paper. My girl's camp leaders should be so proud.
We let the car run for awhile (actually, until we couldn't' stand the heat any longer) then settled in for the night. It was surprisingly comfortable. I slept soundly until my nose was so cold it started to hurt. Then, we turned on the car and slept for another hour. It was when I woke up the second time that I realized the boy scouts were actually grown men, not sleeping in their cars, but staying in cabins (which we couldn't see in the dark) and had started to unload snowmobiles. We took that as our signal and bowed out.
Somehow this little rendezvous eased my sense of claustrophobia for a little while. That's all I needed. That, and a few good laughs. Mission accomplished.
I'm the kind of person that:
**shops at Albertson's just so I don't have to run into anybody I know in Wal-Mart.
**doesn't care how much crap the Ketchup lid has built up, I will not be the one to clean it out.
**refuses to step on the cracks in the sidewalk.
**will point out an awkward situation, before it's awkward, to avoid any uncomfortable feelings.
**will stack groceries 3 feet high on the counter if the checker doesn't move the belt fast enough.
**sits in the very far corner of the library so I don't have to make casual conversation.
**says goodbye on the phone while the other person is still mid-sentence, just so there is no awkward, "Ok, Ok, Bye now" junk.
**when someone is staring at me, I stare back until they look away.
**will not hug without real purpose.
**threatens to throw a punch every time I get defensive.
I am the kind of person most people avoid at all costs.
**shops at Albertson's just so I don't have to run into anybody I know in Wal-Mart.
**doesn't care how much crap the Ketchup lid has built up, I will not be the one to clean it out.
**refuses to step on the cracks in the sidewalk.
**will point out an awkward situation, before it's awkward, to avoid any uncomfortable feelings.
**will stack groceries 3 feet high on the counter if the checker doesn't move the belt fast enough.
**sits in the very far corner of the library so I don't have to make casual conversation.
**says goodbye on the phone while the other person is still mid-sentence, just so there is no awkward, "Ok, Ok, Bye now" junk.
**when someone is staring at me, I stare back until they look away.
**will not hug without real purpose.
**threatens to throw a punch every time I get defensive.
I am the kind of person most people avoid at all costs.
Heidi is turning 20 on Tuesday. Heidi loves Benton Paul. Heidi introduced us to Benton Paul. We all love Benton Paul. We all love him so much, we are his friend on Facebook. Benton made an announcement on Facebook he was performing in Provo at a place called the Velour.


We took Heidi to see Benton Paul for her birthday. We didn't think it was possible, but now we all love Benton even more.
We made it in perfect time to be at the front end of the line. Despite the fact none of us had jackets and we had to wait 45 minutes in the dead of winter, it was perfect timing.
This is the Velour. It's fantastic. It was all stand up and totally personal. Such a fun little place.
Benton in action. Phenomenal. Yes, we were indeed so close we could see just how sweaty he was.
Remember from a previous Benton Paul/David Archuleta entry that I didn't get to meet Benton? Yeah, that was not going to be the case this time. We literally ran to him when he came around the corner. Stalkers? I prefer... "groupies."
Well worth it. Thanks for being born, Heidi and giving us a reason to have this amazing night.
Benton, thanks for being born. Period.
Joke of the night:
-Knock, Knock!
Who's there?
-Mike Schnifferpiffits.
Mike Shnifferpiffits, who?
-How many Mike Shnifferpiffits do you know?!
***Joke courtesy of TC
Welcome to purgatory.
I do want to throw in there that this is after an especially exciting and busy weekend. But, there are no excuses. And, truth be told, this is not all that shocking.
Somebody told me once if you want to get to know a person--look at where they live. This says it all. Great. Just great.
Somebody told me once if you want to get to know a person--look at where they live. This says it all. Great. Just great.
I woke up to a text message from Michele this morning that went something like this, "Just thought you would want to know...I'M ENGAGED!"
Um, yeah. Just thought I would want to know that little piece of information. My response went something like this, "Whoa, Whoa! What?! To WHO?!!" Then she called me, thank heavens. She seems so happy. Her story is slightly disgusting as they met during her semester abroad...in Jerusalem. She made statements like, "the night we were jogging down the Nile" or, "kissed in Galilee." Yeah, like I said, disgusting.
In high school, and the first half of college for that matter, there was three of us. Jessica: engaged. Michele: engaged. Alyssa: not engaged.

I'm so happy for my best friends. Truly. So happy for them.
So, until I find someone to capture my attention for time and all eternity:
from here on out I fly solo.
Um, yeah. Just thought I would want to know that little piece of information. My response went something like this, "Whoa, Whoa! What?! To WHO?!!" Then she called me, thank heavens. She seems so happy. Her story is slightly disgusting as they met during her semester abroad...in Jerusalem. She made statements like, "the night we were jogging down the Nile" or, "kissed in Galilee." Yeah, like I said, disgusting.
In high school, and the first half of college for that matter, there was three of us. Jessica: engaged. Michele: engaged. Alyssa: not engaged.
I'm so happy for my best friends. Truly. So happy for them.
So, until I find someone to capture my attention for time and all eternity:
from here on out I fly solo.
It was Saturday night. The night before Valentine's Day. Date night.
This is what I was doing:


This is what I was doing:


But, on the other hand: this is what I was doing. Something wrong with this picture?
Usually I wouldn't admit to any of this, but, I was single on Valentine's day. For one night I despised romantic comedies. I hated the fact all restaurants were full of couples. I hated that the theatre parking lots were over-filled. I hated that I didn't have a reason to spend hours getting ready. I hated the overpowering desire I had to watch a movie that would make me sob. I loved the night before Valentine's Day--date night.
Then, the North Wind pulled through. Like always. Thank the Heavens for family traditions. Thank the Heavens for friends willing to pull family traditions through.
Thank the North Wind for making this ridiculous, very single, date night almost bearable.
Tonight I watched the new movie "Dear John." The love story kind of tugged at my hear strings. But the story between father and son pulled so hard those old strings threatened to snap right in half.
My dad is amazing. More so than even explainable. My dad had a choice, a choice to be dad...and he took it. Not many people would. In fact, he took it when someone else had declined the opportunity. Someone who shouldn't have had so much of a choice.
Health-wise my dad is a walking miracle everyday. God's hand is in everything, guides, and directs every detail of what happens here. This, my family can say for certain. There is no other explanation to my dad's health.
I wish I could expound on how amazing my dad is. He has been through so much, probably Hell and back a couple times. I regret to say, I put him there a couple times.
When I was little I used to open and close my scriptures over and over again, hoping that they would look like my dad's. He loves God, and his family, and to him the two go hand in hand.
I've taken my dad for granted way too many times. He's never neglected me, or my needs. I am selfish and don't deserve to be forgiven as many times as he has forgiven.
And then all of a sudden
Oh, it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
I literally am everything I am because he CHOSE to love me.

My dad is amazing. More so than even explainable. My dad had a choice, a choice to be dad...and he took it. Not many people would. In fact, he took it when someone else had declined the opportunity. Someone who shouldn't have had so much of a choice.
Health-wise my dad is a walking miracle everyday. God's hand is in everything, guides, and directs every detail of what happens here. This, my family can say for certain. There is no other explanation to my dad's health.
I wish I could expound on how amazing my dad is. He has been through so much, probably Hell and back a couple times. I regret to say, I put him there a couple times.
When I was little I used to open and close my scriptures over and over again, hoping that they would look like my dad's. He loves God, and his family, and to him the two go hand in hand.
I've taken my dad for granted way too many times. He's never neglected me, or my needs. I am selfish and don't deserve to be forgiven as many times as he has forgiven.
There is a Brad Paisley song my roommate showed me the other day that reminded me so much of my dad, I bawled through the whole thing.
The chorus says:
And then all of a sudden
Oh, it seemed so strange to me
How we went from something's missing
To a family
Lookin' back all I can say
About all the things he did for me
Is I hope I'm at least half the dad
That he didn't have to be
I literally am everything I am because he CHOSE to love me.

(I just found this picture I edited awhile ago of my dad and me.)
Words literally can not adequately describe the blessings he has brought, and continually brings to my life.
I've always thought of my dad when I hear this song by Celine Dion. Today it's especially hitting just the right notes for what I wish I could express.
So, Dad:
For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am Because you loved me
You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you
You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
I'm everything I am, because you loved me
I was feeling rather alone, and kind of without purpose today. Just one of those kind of days. The boys came over after I got off work, not knowing that it was one of these days. We all ate a Symphony bar I had just bought. Then they left, still not knowing.
I spent some alone time. Just me and Kia. We tend to do that on those kind of days. She's pretty good company, her and MJ.
I got home, was just hanging out on the couch listening to some more Michael, when Taylor throws open the door and throws me a Symphony bar. He had changed the "hon" to "ath" so it was a "Sympathy" bar.
He still has no idea it's been that kind of day.
I spent some alone time. Just me and Kia. We tend to do that on those kind of days. She's pretty good company, her and MJ.
I got home, was just hanging out on the couch listening to some more Michael, when Taylor throws open the door and throws me a Symphony bar. He had changed the "hon" to "ath" so it was a "Sympathy" bar.
He still has no idea it's been that kind of day.