I feel like my attitude has a done a complete 180 since my last post - and it feels amazing! A lot of things have contributed to these good feelings. One obvious factor is it is FINALLY Spring in South Bend! Hallelujah! Green grass, budding trees, birds chirping in the early morning hours, bunnies and groundhogs frolicking in the backyard, and geese honking at us as they strut across the middle of the street. All except for that last thing, I am thoroughly enjoying the change in season. It means sandals and dresses. T-shirts and sunglasses. The top down and the music up in the Mustang.
Oh, and GOLF! Wes and I have been to the driving range a few times, and he's even played a few rounds. I've only been able to go once for nine holes. But it was fantastic. I got sun burnt and didn't even care because it meant I was outside doing something I've come to love with my honey! I played alright. I had some really good shots and some not so good ones. I don't think I've lost anything since last season. Maybe even improved a little bit.
The next factor is related to spring in that it's the month of April. Which means we have that much less time in South Bend and are that much closer to being in Utah - 20 days to be exact. That is music to my ears! As seen on Instagram, I've been crossing off the days on my calendar. It's great to wake up every morning and check off another day. It's not that I hate living in South Bend or anything, it's just nice to have something to look forward to that I really love. Like being home :)
And this gets better because in 12 days we will be in Manhattan. What?!! Haha, a spontaneous trip was planned with our friends on Saturday night a couple of weeks ago. And before you think that we are completely nuts and irresponsible, Wes and I have been planning this vacation for a while. We were initially thinking at the end of the summer before starting our last year of school. We really wanted our friends to be able to go with us, and after looking at the calendar, we realized August wouldn't work for all of us. So we said why not after finals? They were game and we planned a trip to NY! A couple of hours later, we had plane tickets, a hotel room, and tickets to Wicked and Aladdin on Broadway. Heck yes! We are all so excited! And as soon as we get back from our vacation we will be homeward bound. The 23 hour drive is the only downside to this whole going home thing. But we are pretty much experts now in stuffing as much crap as we can into the Mustang. We better be because we are taking both sets of golf clubs, suits and work stuff for Wes, and now work clothes for me...
That's right. I have a job for the summer! And it means employment in the Fall as well. The latest development at work has really made me so happy and incredibly grateful. My supervisor approached me at work last week after she had had a meeting with the site manager. They decided to make an exception for me and put a request in to have me transferred to a local office in Utah for the summer so I can stay employed with Liberty Mutual. She wanted to know if I would be interested. Um, of course! In less than a week, it was approved and settled. I will be working in the Riverton office over the summer and come back to my job in August. I couldn't believe it at first. It all seemed too good to be true - I even said as much to my boss, but she assured me it's really happening. I am so grateful that they would even consider this for me and feel like I'm a valuable employee.
On my way home from work at the end of that week, I had several thoughts that strengthened my testimony of trusting in His timing and moving forward with faith. I had battled over the decision about summer work for weeks and weeks practically making myself sick with anxiety and worry until we decided I needed to come home with Wes and the rest would work out. Well it certainly has. If I had decided to stay in South Bend, this opportunity wouldn't ever have come up at all. They wouldn't have had any reason to transfer me. I also realized that if, when I first told my supervisor of our plans for the summer, transferring me was an option right off the bat I wouldn't be nearly as grateful as I am now. Something about having to face thoughts of the future, not knowing if I'd have a job in the fall, and going through the job hunt a third year in a row and even having to figure out what to do for the summer to stay busy and productive brought things into perspective. I know that I am loved more than I can even comprehend by my Heavenly Father. He is definitely in charge here and knows when and how to put the pieces together for me. This is a total answer to prayers and really the best case scenario for our summer. There's no way I'm responsible for any of this. Except maybe working hard at my job, but, even then, more of the credit goes to Wes for encouraging me and relying on his strength to get me there. Life is good.
Plus, we had general conference, which is always great and it was nice to have a complete weekend off to spend with Wes. Then there was Easter last Sunday with our friends. We gathered together with good food and company to celebrate our Savior on this wonderful holiday. And now it's just the final stretch for Wes with finals and then we are on our way! Oh, life is so good :) Expect an explosion of Manhattan pictures in a few weeks!!
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Polar Vortex, Snowpocalypse, or Never Ending Winter. Take your pick.
So I believe Thanksgiving was the last update. That feels like ages ago! December was a great month. After finals for Wes and officially graduating from training at work for me, we got to go home! It was a glorious two and a half weeks in Utah. Our flights are never void of adventure and frustration. The flight out of South Bend was late because they couldn't find a crew...how does that even happen? But they showed up miraculously and we thought we just might make our connection in Chicago to Denver. Running through O'Hare happened just to get to the gate to find the doors closed and a less than pleasant woman tell us that the doors are locked and we can't go on. The plane was still there! It wasn't supposed to take off for another 10 minutes! And what's even more maddening is that it still sat there for another 20 minutes on the tarmac. This took us to the customer service desk to reschedule our flight. After waiting in line forever, we got to the desk and we got put on standby for a direct flight to Salt Lake that would leave in about an hour. If not we were booked for like a 5:00 pm flight that day. It was 7:00 am. As we sat at the gate for our standby flight, we felt like awful people because we were hoping and praying for other people to be late and miss this flight. Airports turn you into crazy people. It was Dec. 21 and we just really wanted to get home for Christmas. Thankfully there were plenty of spots on the flight and we ended up getting to Salt Lake earlier than if we had made our original flight. We heart flying...
The vacation was a blur of seeing family and friends, the usual Christmas activities, seeing movies, and I don't even remember what else. All I know is that it was heaven.
And then it was over. We flew home January 7th. We made it to Chicago once again but the short flight to South Bend was cancelled. We knew ahead of time thankfully so we had already made a plan to take the bus home. We came back to subzero temperatures. I think the actual temp was -13 degrees but with wind chill it was like -28. Crazy cold!! South Bend was basically in lock down the day before. You would be fined like two grand for driving on the roads. We missed the worst of the polar vortex, but still had to suffer through the bitter cold and un-bury our car from the two feet of snow on top of it. Somehow it started and we ran to the grocery store. The next few days were hard. Facing the cold and all that and I had to go back to work the next day. But more than that I just didn't want to be in South Bend.
School started the next week for Wes and we settled back into our routine. I don't think we had a single day above freezing the rest of the month. And it wasn't just the cold. It kept snowing somehow! Everything was completed buried in snow. February really wasn't much different either. It was unrelenting. Now, I'm used to the snow and cold and everything, but this was worse than I've ever experienced in my life. What made it even harder is we never saw the sun! It was just cloudy and dark. every. single. day. Oh, and Indiana doesn't know how to plow the roads. And now that the roads are finally clear the pot holes left behind are unbelievable! I've memorized my path to work to know how to avoid all of the worst ones.
Anyway, like I said despite the brutal winter, we got back into the swing of things. Wes is a rock star and is doing great in school, as usual. I had to adjust being back at work. Everything about it was different. I was done with training and had moved on to my official cubical and was taking phone calls all day. New supervisor and new coworkers - all of us new hires got put on several different teams. Now that it's March, I'm finally feeling comfortable in my role and I don't feel like I'm stupid anymore on the phone and answering customers questions about their insurance policies. I miss my friends that I made in training. I don't sit by any of them, and we're lucky if we can see each other and chat briefly on breaks or lunch. Oh, and my schedule. I hate it. Working 2-10 pm is really hard for me. I'm a morning person. I like to be productive in the morning and get the things that I have to do out of the way. My productivity goes way down when I don't go to bed until after midnight and sleep in. And then don't feel the need to do a whole lot since the only thing I Have to do is go to work. It's no good. Not to mention that Wes has school during the day. So we pretty much have opposite schedules. Sometimes it feels like we hardly see each other. But we're pushing through it.
What makes this all easier is knowing that we are once again coming home for the summer. Wes has an internship with a firm in Salt Lake that we're really excited about. I was thinking about staying in South Bend for the summer to keep my job so I wouldn't have to go through the job hunt again. But after a lot of thinking and praying and tears and vacillating and making myself sick over the decision, we decided it's best that I quit and come home, too. It would be too hard to be apart and just not worth it. And so we're coming home! It'll be just before Memorial Day. I will keep working hard at my job now to try and get rehired in the fall. And if not, I'll find another job. I'm not going to stress about that until I have to.
Now the only problem we have is that it is March 13th and there is still snow on the ground and 30 degrees. Where is spring?? Wes is dying to go golfing again. And to be honest so am I. I even bought two new golf shirts in anticipation! I'm just anxious to see the sun again. And it has shown its wonderful face a few times the last two weeks. Then it goes away and hides again. This winter has been declared the never ending winter. Or my personal favorite: the Snowpocalypse. Whatever you call it, I hope that it goes away quick. It's been hard on my car, my boots - two different pairs completely thrashed from all of the wet snow and salt - my skin, my hair, my mood, and my mind. As soon as it reaches 60 I can guarantee you'll see us with the top down on the mustang and cranking the music up loud as if it were 85 and the Fourth of July.
Enough griping about the weather though. It definitely makes you grateful for the good weather. On a more pleasant note, we went out for Valentine's Day to Buffalo Wild Wings (romantic, I know, but it's one of our favorites). It was free thanks to some gift cards we had given to us at Christmas. And then we bought 20 bucks worth of chocolate at the South Bend Chocolate Factory. I'd be lying if I said it lasted more than two days at our house... Oops :) We've got a sweet tooth. And so the single serve, microwavable mug desserts are the best and worst thing that we have discovered. haha. But really? What's better after a long day at work than a warm mug filled with chocolatey goodness that's ready in two minutes? That's right. Nothing.
This week has been Wes' spring break. I decided to be responsible and work all week and he's been bored out of his mind. I guess there's only so much studying and video games a guy can play. Hence the need for the snow to disappear so he can start golfing again. :) I know I end most of my posts this way, but it's always true: I love Wes! I love being married to him. He is my source of strength and my everyday happiness. Despite the hard stuff and the bad weather, we are so happy. Just like these cuddle bears :)
The vacation was a blur of seeing family and friends, the usual Christmas activities, seeing movies, and I don't even remember what else. All I know is that it was heaven.
And then it was over. We flew home January 7th. We made it to Chicago once again but the short flight to South Bend was cancelled. We knew ahead of time thankfully so we had already made a plan to take the bus home. We came back to subzero temperatures. I think the actual temp was -13 degrees but with wind chill it was like -28. Crazy cold!! South Bend was basically in lock down the day before. You would be fined like two grand for driving on the roads. We missed the worst of the polar vortex, but still had to suffer through the bitter cold and un-bury our car from the two feet of snow on top of it. Somehow it started and we ran to the grocery store. The next few days were hard. Facing the cold and all that and I had to go back to work the next day. But more than that I just didn't want to be in South Bend.
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| So long, Utah. |
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| I feel like this picture doesn't do it justice, but there seriously was two feet of snow on the mustang! |
Anyway, like I said despite the brutal winter, we got back into the swing of things. Wes is a rock star and is doing great in school, as usual. I had to adjust being back at work. Everything about it was different. I was done with training and had moved on to my official cubical and was taking phone calls all day. New supervisor and new coworkers - all of us new hires got put on several different teams. Now that it's March, I'm finally feeling comfortable in my role and I don't feel like I'm stupid anymore on the phone and answering customers questions about their insurance policies. I miss my friends that I made in training. I don't sit by any of them, and we're lucky if we can see each other and chat briefly on breaks or lunch. Oh, and my schedule. I hate it. Working 2-10 pm is really hard for me. I'm a morning person. I like to be productive in the morning and get the things that I have to do out of the way. My productivity goes way down when I don't go to bed until after midnight and sleep in. And then don't feel the need to do a whole lot since the only thing I Have to do is go to work. It's no good. Not to mention that Wes has school during the day. So we pretty much have opposite schedules. Sometimes it feels like we hardly see each other. But we're pushing through it.
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| This is my I don't want to go to work but I have to selfie. |
What makes this all easier is knowing that we are once again coming home for the summer. Wes has an internship with a firm in Salt Lake that we're really excited about. I was thinking about staying in South Bend for the summer to keep my job so I wouldn't have to go through the job hunt again. But after a lot of thinking and praying and tears and vacillating and making myself sick over the decision, we decided it's best that I quit and come home, too. It would be too hard to be apart and just not worth it. And so we're coming home! It'll be just before Memorial Day. I will keep working hard at my job now to try and get rehired in the fall. And if not, I'll find another job. I'm not going to stress about that until I have to.
Now the only problem we have is that it is March 13th and there is still snow on the ground and 30 degrees. Where is spring?? Wes is dying to go golfing again. And to be honest so am I. I even bought two new golf shirts in anticipation! I'm just anxious to see the sun again. And it has shown its wonderful face a few times the last two weeks. Then it goes away and hides again. This winter has been declared the never ending winter. Or my personal favorite: the Snowpocalypse. Whatever you call it, I hope that it goes away quick. It's been hard on my car, my boots - two different pairs completely thrashed from all of the wet snow and salt - my skin, my hair, my mood, and my mind. As soon as it reaches 60 I can guarantee you'll see us with the top down on the mustang and cranking the music up loud as if it were 85 and the Fourth of July.
Enough griping about the weather though. It definitely makes you grateful for the good weather. On a more pleasant note, we went out for Valentine's Day to Buffalo Wild Wings (romantic, I know, but it's one of our favorites). It was free thanks to some gift cards we had given to us at Christmas. And then we bought 20 bucks worth of chocolate at the South Bend Chocolate Factory. I'd be lying if I said it lasted more than two days at our house... Oops :) We've got a sweet tooth. And so the single serve, microwavable mug desserts are the best and worst thing that we have discovered. haha. But really? What's better after a long day at work than a warm mug filled with chocolatey goodness that's ready in two minutes? That's right. Nothing.
This week has been Wes' spring break. I decided to be responsible and work all week and he's been bored out of his mind. I guess there's only so much studying and video games a guy can play. Hence the need for the snow to disappear so he can start golfing again. :) I know I end most of my posts this way, but it's always true: I love Wes! I love being married to him. He is my source of strength and my everyday happiness. Despite the hard stuff and the bad weather, we are so happy. Just like these cuddle bears :)
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| I painted this super cute Easter decoration thanks to my Christmas present from Wes and Shannon sending me the project! Another reason we need spring so I can put this out :) |
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Happy Thanksgiving
Today is one of my favorite days of the year! You can't beat great food, especially when it involves pie :) But more than that, it is a day of family and friends coming together and being unified in gratitude. We have our dinner later today with our friends, which will be lots of fun. I was writing in my journal this morning and thought I'd share what I wrote about what I am grateful for on this Thanksgiving Day.
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Every single day and more I am grateful for Wesley. He means everything to me and I have never been happier. He makes me laugh and smile with his silliness and his ways. He makes me a better person. I learn a lot form him and his vast knowledge of basically everything I don't know about in this world. He tells me when I'm being ridiculous and when I need to be a big girl and suck it up (but much nicer than that). He loves me for exactly who I am. And that's all I try to do for him.
I'm grateful for my family. My parents have always been and continue to be a huge source of strength in my life. They helped me become who I am today. They love me unconditionally and are my biggest fans. My dad is my hero, and my mom is my ultimate example of everything lovely. I love my siblings and my unique relationship with each of them. I love listening to them. I love laughing with them. I love talking with them. Even when I am frustrated with some of them. They are examples to me. Some of them have produced the amazing little bright spots in my life - I'm grateful to be an Aunt! I love each of my nieces and nephews. They are all the smartest, cutest, sassiest, funniest, and most beautiful children to grace this earth. I love watching them grow and turn into their own little selves. I am also grateful for my extended family and the amazing family that I married into! It is such a blessing to be a Harward. I can't leave out my friends, old or new.
I'm eternally grateful for my Heavenly Father, Savior, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that I am a child of God. I know that I have a loving Father and Brother. They've provided all of us a way back to them. And not only a way back but to be better. I'm so grateful for their love. I feel it every day. I feel it when I list off everything else in my life. I'm so grateful for prayer. I'm grateful for the priesthood, for temples, for the sacrament, for church and leaders, for a prophet, for scriptures, for primary and callings. I am not Anna without The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I'm grateful for my job. For my coworkers. I'm grateful for the things my job provides for like our warm apartment and all we fill it with. A car even though I despise it in the winter. For my clothes and my body and health. It never ceases to amaze me the strength and resilience of the human body. I'm grateful for life in color and for the beauties of the world. I could go on and on but will end with music. Listening to it. creating it. all of it. I have so so so much to be grateful for! And the list grows as I get older and see the Lord's hand in my life more and more. My heart is full. So from Wes and I in little South Bend, Indiana, Happy Thanksgiving!
. . . . .
Every single day and more I am grateful for Wesley. He means everything to me and I have never been happier. He makes me laugh and smile with his silliness and his ways. He makes me a better person. I learn a lot form him and his vast knowledge of basically everything I don't know about in this world. He tells me when I'm being ridiculous and when I need to be a big girl and suck it up (but much nicer than that). He loves me for exactly who I am. And that's all I try to do for him.
I'm grateful for my family. My parents have always been and continue to be a huge source of strength in my life. They helped me become who I am today. They love me unconditionally and are my biggest fans. My dad is my hero, and my mom is my ultimate example of everything lovely. I love my siblings and my unique relationship with each of them. I love listening to them. I love laughing with them. I love talking with them. Even when I am frustrated with some of them. They are examples to me. Some of them have produced the amazing little bright spots in my life - I'm grateful to be an Aunt! I love each of my nieces and nephews. They are all the smartest, cutest, sassiest, funniest, and most beautiful children to grace this earth. I love watching them grow and turn into their own little selves. I am also grateful for my extended family and the amazing family that I married into! It is such a blessing to be a Harward. I can't leave out my friends, old or new.
I'm eternally grateful for my Heavenly Father, Savior, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that I am a child of God. I know that I have a loving Father and Brother. They've provided all of us a way back to them. And not only a way back but to be better. I'm so grateful for their love. I feel it every day. I feel it when I list off everything else in my life. I'm so grateful for prayer. I'm grateful for the priesthood, for temples, for the sacrament, for church and leaders, for a prophet, for scriptures, for primary and callings. I am not Anna without The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I'm grateful for my job. For my coworkers. I'm grateful for the things my job provides for like our warm apartment and all we fill it with. A car even though I despise it in the winter. For my clothes and my body and health. It never ceases to amaze me the strength and resilience of the human body. I'm grateful for life in color and for the beauties of the world. I could go on and on but will end with music. Listening to it. creating it. all of it. I have so so so much to be grateful for! And the list grows as I get older and see the Lord's hand in my life more and more. My heart is full. So from Wes and I in little South Bend, Indiana, Happy Thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Just An Update
I'm not quite sure how it's November already, but I'm okay with it because that means Christmas is less than two months away! Yes, we will be back in Utah for the holidays, and I could not be happier. And it will be a longer trip than last year because Liberty Mutual is that awesome - I really like my job :)
Speaking of my job, I'm still in training, but I've been taking real phone calls for the last few days and it hasn't been a complete disaster! Wednesday and Thursday of this last week were spent with a mentor on every single one of my phone calls coaching me and helping me through the sticky spots, and the not so sticky. But Friday I was on my own, as was the rest of the new hire group. We only had a few mentors walking around the room to help answer questions. The training wheels came off rather fast, but I survived! More than survived really. I came home Friday night feeling super about myself and my performance that day. Thankfully, I didn't have too many difficult calls or unhappy customers. And a lot of my questions for the mentors were just confirmation of what I was already going to tell my customer. We'll see how the next two days go, but this was a big confidence booster. It will be back to the training classroom though until December to learn all of the knitty-gritty.
Wes had fall break recently, and is still plowing through school like a boss. I'm so proud of this guy. We're almost to the half-way point: CRAZY! We've been loving our callings in the Plymouth Branch. It really feels like home there! The young men just celebrated 100 years of scouting, and the primary had their program a few weeks ago. I love those kids and all of the wonderful people we get to see each week. Singing time in primary is proving to be a challenge, but I absolutely love it! I have such fond memories of primary, and the songs I learned there are still some of my favorites. Teaching and singing primary songs is such a wonderful way to teach the gospel and to share my testimony.
Besides our callings, school, work, and songwriting for me, we are pretty boring. haha :) Halloween was spent watching The Witches. I fell asleep, what else is new, but before I did, Wes made fun of me for being just as scared of this movie as I was when I was a little girl and would watch it with my brothers. It's a freaky show, okay? :) We did snap this picture that night but that's about as exciting as we get.
I'm sorry for being a poor blogger this year. But Happy Halloween. Happy Fall. We may not have much to write about these days, but life is still so great and we are so happy. I have found a really great groove right now - I don't miss home and school and what I had in Utah. (still miss home and family obviously, but that constant ache and longing isn't quite as strong) Being home for the summer definitely improved that. I have fully adjusted to life in South Bend and know how to be me. And it is good.
Speaking of my job, I'm still in training, but I've been taking real phone calls for the last few days and it hasn't been a complete disaster! Wednesday and Thursday of this last week were spent with a mentor on every single one of my phone calls coaching me and helping me through the sticky spots, and the not so sticky. But Friday I was on my own, as was the rest of the new hire group. We only had a few mentors walking around the room to help answer questions. The training wheels came off rather fast, but I survived! More than survived really. I came home Friday night feeling super about myself and my performance that day. Thankfully, I didn't have too many difficult calls or unhappy customers. And a lot of my questions for the mentors were just confirmation of what I was already going to tell my customer. We'll see how the next two days go, but this was a big confidence booster. It will be back to the training classroom though until December to learn all of the knitty-gritty.
Wes had fall break recently, and is still plowing through school like a boss. I'm so proud of this guy. We're almost to the half-way point: CRAZY! We've been loving our callings in the Plymouth Branch. It really feels like home there! The young men just celebrated 100 years of scouting, and the primary had their program a few weeks ago. I love those kids and all of the wonderful people we get to see each week. Singing time in primary is proving to be a challenge, but I absolutely love it! I have such fond memories of primary, and the songs I learned there are still some of my favorites. Teaching and singing primary songs is such a wonderful way to teach the gospel and to share my testimony.
Besides our callings, school, work, and songwriting for me, we are pretty boring. haha :) Halloween was spent watching The Witches. I fell asleep, what else is new, but before I did, Wes made fun of me for being just as scared of this movie as I was when I was a little girl and would watch it with my brothers. It's a freaky show, okay? :) We did snap this picture that night but that's about as exciting as we get.
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| Gotta love the forced smile from Wes ;) This pic was requested by his lovely mom, Shannon, and probably would not have been taken otherwise. haha :) |
I'm sorry for being a poor blogger this year. But Happy Halloween. Happy Fall. We may not have much to write about these days, but life is still so great and we are so happy. I have found a really great groove right now - I don't miss home and school and what I had in Utah. (still miss home and family obviously, but that constant ache and longing isn't quite as strong) Being home for the summer definitely improved that. I have fully adjusted to life in South Bend and know how to be me. And it is good.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Truly Blessed
Well. We've been back in South Bend close to two months now. In that time, Wes has started his second year of law school after his very successful first year and summer internship. He left me for a week to continue interviewing with firms in Salt Lake for next summer. All of his hard work paid off when he accepted an offer last week from a great firm, Stoel Rives. He is really excited for summer and his time with them, and I am so proud of him!
After a couple months of job searching, I started last week with Liberty Mutual in their call center in Mishawaka. They're a really great company to work for, and I think I will really enjoy my time with them. I'm just happy that I have a job again and can contribute to our family!
Before I started working, I had a lot of time to basically do whatever I wanted. I was anxiously looking for work, of course, but even after I secured my job there was still a three week wait before I would start. I enjoyed reorganizing our apartment and deep cleaning it after our summer absence. I got back into the kitchen and started trying new recipes - thank you Pinterest and wonderful food bloggers. And, as I already sort of announced, I worked on recording and writing music! In case you missed it, I posted two songs to Sound Cloud already and another one is coming today. Check out my Facebook page for the links.
I also had time to just reflect on the wonderful summer we had and to really see just how blessed we have been in our first year of marriage. I could not ask for a better husband and family. I know that I am loved by my Heavenly Father, and He is so good to me and my family. Wes and I are truly blessed.
After a couple months of job searching, I started last week with Liberty Mutual in their call center in Mishawaka. They're a really great company to work for, and I think I will really enjoy my time with them. I'm just happy that I have a job again and can contribute to our family!
Before I started working, I had a lot of time to basically do whatever I wanted. I was anxiously looking for work, of course, but even after I secured my job there was still a three week wait before I would start. I enjoyed reorganizing our apartment and deep cleaning it after our summer absence. I got back into the kitchen and started trying new recipes - thank you Pinterest and wonderful food bloggers. And, as I already sort of announced, I worked on recording and writing music! In case you missed it, I posted two songs to Sound Cloud already and another one is coming today. Check out my Facebook page for the links.
I also had time to just reflect on the wonderful summer we had and to really see just how blessed we have been in our first year of marriage. I could not ask for a better husband and family. I know that I am loved by my Heavenly Father, and He is so good to me and my family. Wes and I are truly blessed.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Good stuff to come
Now that we're all settled back in Indiana, I broke out my birthday present (awesome recording equipment and software) from Wes. After a really long and frustrating two days, my own little recording studio is all set to go in our apartment. It's kind of a surreal experience listening to your own voice and music and lyrics played back to you like it's supposed to be there but so cool! My poor fingers had blisters on the tips from playing my guitar so much - that's what happens when I don't play at all for four months and lose my calluses. I'm a bit rusty, but it's all coming together every day. Who needs a day job? I've been working on a few covers and a few originals as well, so watch out for those appearing soonish - either here or FB. Exciting. I know.
So earlier this week, I was just hanging out by myself while Wes was at school and wrote down a few thoughts on my latest endeavor, a little bit about the writing process for me, and music in general. I apologize if it's a little random and sporadic but that's just the way my brain works. (You don't even want to know what my journal looks like)
Music is the universal language because it comes straight from the heart. To the heart. It can express the feelings inside you better than just plain words. A few simple chords or notes can take you on a journey. Bring pictures and images to your mind. Take you on a journey of times, places, people, memories, and feelings. And every time you listen to the same song or hear the same tune, it can be an entirely new experience. What is incredible to me is that this is not unique. I'm sure that everyone has been moved by music somehow somewhere.
Music is truly a gift from God. I believe He gave us voices to sing and hands to play. I hope I can use this gift to simply bring joy - to my life and anyone else that cares to listen. I hope you do (listen) and that it does (bring you joy).
I'm not sure why this is exactly, but I don't always write from a happy place. It's more often melancholy and afraid. unsure and questioning. Those states and emotions fuel my creativity. Not that my music turns out sad but it's born on those sad, rainy days when I take a moment to think and reflect on life. When I'm happy and in a good place, I want to do and be. do fun things and be with people I love. At those moments, the world is right, and I don't need to reflect but just live my beautiful life. When I try to write about those happy things, it just comes out cheesy and insincere somehow.
This is purely for me. But music was meant to be shared and enjoyed. I don't hope to become the next youtube sensation or even a name out there. It's fun to dream of those things and making it big in the music industry, but that's not important to me. What is important is being able to express ME and what's inside me with anyone that wants to listen. I feel like sharing my music is the next step to progress it further. So thanks for reading and soon to be listening :)
So earlier this week, I was just hanging out by myself while Wes was at school and wrote down a few thoughts on my latest endeavor, a little bit about the writing process for me, and music in general. I apologize if it's a little random and sporadic but that's just the way my brain works. (You don't even want to know what my journal looks like)
Music is the universal language because it comes straight from the heart. To the heart. It can express the feelings inside you better than just plain words. A few simple chords or notes can take you on a journey. Bring pictures and images to your mind. Take you on a journey of times, places, people, memories, and feelings. And every time you listen to the same song or hear the same tune, it can be an entirely new experience. What is incredible to me is that this is not unique. I'm sure that everyone has been moved by music somehow somewhere.
Music is truly a gift from God. I believe He gave us voices to sing and hands to play. I hope I can use this gift to simply bring joy - to my life and anyone else that cares to listen. I hope you do (listen) and that it does (bring you joy).
I'm not sure why this is exactly, but I don't always write from a happy place. It's more often melancholy and afraid. unsure and questioning. Those states and emotions fuel my creativity. Not that my music turns out sad but it's born on those sad, rainy days when I take a moment to think and reflect on life. When I'm happy and in a good place, I want to do and be. do fun things and be with people I love. At those moments, the world is right, and I don't need to reflect but just live my beautiful life. When I try to write about those happy things, it just comes out cheesy and insincere somehow.
This is purely for me. But music was meant to be shared and enjoyed. I don't hope to become the next youtube sensation or even a name out there. It's fun to dream of those things and making it big in the music industry, but that's not important to me. What is important is being able to express ME and what's inside me with anyone that wants to listen. I feel like sharing my music is the next step to progress it further. So thanks for reading and soon to be listening :)
Saturday, August 17, 2013
M.I.A.
This was a random late night post a few weeks ago when I couldn't sleep and then never posted...so it's a little late and inaccurate but I'm going to post it anyway :)
So it's probably about time that I join the blogging world again. I've told myself that it's okay I haven't kept up on it because my blog is called 'In the Land of Michiana' and I'm not there right now. Or it's because I've just been having too much fun livin it up in good ol' Utah. In reality I've just been lazy and realize that most of the people that read my blog know exactly what we've been up to this summer because they've been right there with us.
We leave for Indiana in just four days. Mixed emotions... Last year was pure excitement followed by harsh reality. This year I know what to expect, mostly, and it will be easier. I'm excited to be back in our apartment because it's ours. I have lots of ideas for better organization and new recipes to try - thanks Pinterest. Wes and I have a new hobby to enjoy together: golf. I never pictured myself playing golf or being one of 'those couples' that plays golf together, but it's actually a lot of fun, relaxing, and a much better way to spend time together than say watching mind numbing tv.
The thing I dread is the job hunt, which I started over a month ago. I'm not very patient when it comes to jobs because I've been told my whole life "who wouldn't want to hire you?" and being a college grad makes you more of a snob when it comes to what you'll apply for. I had a very discouraging day when another position was filled by someone other than me, and all of a sudden the grounds keeper position or cage cleaner position (yes that really is a job title at Notre Dame. I think it's for some lab or vet's office) were looking pretty darn promising. Thankfully I have somebody with their head on straight all of the time and he helps me to remember to be realistic and then finds 30 jobs I could apply for on Google. Love my Wesley. I will go back to the bank if nothing pans out. I'm just hoping for more money, or possible tuition benefits, or something that actually uses my degree.
On that same bad day, I was also having mid-college crisis thoughts again that go something like "I don't know what I'm good at, or what do I want to do with my life, or what good is that piece of paper anyway?" I'd rather ditch the job hunt and make writing music my day job. Talk about THE life. That plan is even more tempting when my birthday present was a bunch of recording equipment. Maybe Wes is really telling me to do that! Anyway, once I got a grip after a few tears, I reminded myself that my college education happened the way it did for a reason. I felt really good about the decision to major in exercise science and better yet I loved it! Don't doubt answers that have already come. If it felt right then, it's still right now. (One of the best Elder Holland talks - Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence.) I will find a job and it will be what's right for this year. I just have to have patience, more faith and trust in the Lord's timing, and more patience. Wes also reminded me that he's the reason I don't have the job I had all lined up after college. It always feels good to blame someone else :)
So that's what's happening now and in the near future. This summer has been so wonderful. I true summer because it included no job, family, friends, and sun. I've got the best tan I've had in a while without even trying because I've just been at the pool a lot with two highly active, crazy, adorable, smart, sassy, lovely girls all summer. Developing my mommy skills has been a lot more difficult than I expected. I've watched children almost my whole life and have done a lot of babysitting of nieces and nephews, but never in a full-time sort of way. It's exhausting to say the least. All mamas out there be proud of the work you do every single day because no one else can do it better than you. Being a mother is possibly the most selfless job or role there ever was and ever will be. There are constant decisions of doing things for you or for your kids. Children are naturally selfish and that makes it that much harder when you've given them everything you can already and they just want more of you. You without the technology or distractions. There's a difference. I'm grateful for this summer and the chance I've had to get a glimpse into a mom's world. One I'm going to stay out of a while longer, though baby Max is enough to change my mind in a heartbeat, or a smile, or a gurgle. I want one of him :) I wouldn't mind stealing easy-going Alex either.
Besides the kiddos, summer has included lots of family, food, shopping with the sis, reading Mormon romance novels - can I say real life love is so much better? :) - and golf. It also included a road trip to Cali for a most beloved Aunt's wedding and an anniversary of my own! Birthdays and parties and Sunday dinners. Where it all went to so fast, I do not know. I wish in so many ways that it was still just the beginning. I love my family so much it hurts to think about leaving them, again, and not coming back til Christmas, again. But at the same time it's fine. They're just a phone call or Facetime away. I've got the one I absolutely can't live without leaving with me so it will always be okay. Time to look East. for home. for a new school year. for new adventures.
Here's a quick look back in pictures.
So it's probably about time that I join the blogging world again. I've told myself that it's okay I haven't kept up on it because my blog is called 'In the Land of Michiana' and I'm not there right now. Or it's because I've just been having too much fun livin it up in good ol' Utah. In reality I've just been lazy and realize that most of the people that read my blog know exactly what we've been up to this summer because they've been right there with us.
We leave for Indiana in just four days. Mixed emotions... Last year was pure excitement followed by harsh reality. This year I know what to expect, mostly, and it will be easier. I'm excited to be back in our apartment because it's ours. I have lots of ideas for better organization and new recipes to try - thanks Pinterest. Wes and I have a new hobby to enjoy together: golf. I never pictured myself playing golf or being one of 'those couples' that plays golf together, but it's actually a lot of fun, relaxing, and a much better way to spend time together than say watching mind numbing tv.
The thing I dread is the job hunt, which I started over a month ago. I'm not very patient when it comes to jobs because I've been told my whole life "who wouldn't want to hire you?" and being a college grad makes you more of a snob when it comes to what you'll apply for. I had a very discouraging day when another position was filled by someone other than me, and all of a sudden the grounds keeper position or cage cleaner position (yes that really is a job title at Notre Dame. I think it's for some lab or vet's office) were looking pretty darn promising. Thankfully I have somebody with their head on straight all of the time and he helps me to remember to be realistic and then finds 30 jobs I could apply for on Google. Love my Wesley. I will go back to the bank if nothing pans out. I'm just hoping for more money, or possible tuition benefits, or something that actually uses my degree.
On that same bad day, I was also having mid-college crisis thoughts again that go something like "I don't know what I'm good at, or what do I want to do with my life, or what good is that piece of paper anyway?" I'd rather ditch the job hunt and make writing music my day job. Talk about THE life. That plan is even more tempting when my birthday present was a bunch of recording equipment. Maybe Wes is really telling me to do that! Anyway, once I got a grip after a few tears, I reminded myself that my college education happened the way it did for a reason. I felt really good about the decision to major in exercise science and better yet I loved it! Don't doubt answers that have already come. If it felt right then, it's still right now. (One of the best Elder Holland talks - Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence.) I will find a job and it will be what's right for this year. I just have to have patience, more faith and trust in the Lord's timing, and more patience. Wes also reminded me that he's the reason I don't have the job I had all lined up after college. It always feels good to blame someone else :)
So that's what's happening now and in the near future. This summer has been so wonderful. I true summer because it included no job, family, friends, and sun. I've got the best tan I've had in a while without even trying because I've just been at the pool a lot with two highly active, crazy, adorable, smart, sassy, lovely girls all summer. Developing my mommy skills has been a lot more difficult than I expected. I've watched children almost my whole life and have done a lot of babysitting of nieces and nephews, but never in a full-time sort of way. It's exhausting to say the least. All mamas out there be proud of the work you do every single day because no one else can do it better than you. Being a mother is possibly the most selfless job or role there ever was and ever will be. There are constant decisions of doing things for you or for your kids. Children are naturally selfish and that makes it that much harder when you've given them everything you can already and they just want more of you. You without the technology or distractions. There's a difference. I'm grateful for this summer and the chance I've had to get a glimpse into a mom's world. One I'm going to stay out of a while longer, though baby Max is enough to change my mind in a heartbeat, or a smile, or a gurgle. I want one of him :) I wouldn't mind stealing easy-going Alex either.
Besides the kiddos, summer has included lots of family, food, shopping with the sis, reading Mormon romance novels - can I say real life love is so much better? :) - and golf. It also included a road trip to Cali for a most beloved Aunt's wedding and an anniversary of my own! Birthdays and parties and Sunday dinners. Where it all went to so fast, I do not know. I wish in so many ways that it was still just the beginning. I love my family so much it hurts to think about leaving them, again, and not coming back til Christmas, again. But at the same time it's fine. They're just a phone call or Facetime away. I've got the one I absolutely can't live without leaving with me so it will always be okay. Time to look East. for home. for a new school year. for new adventures.
Here's a quick look back in pictures.
Birthday Dinner: Cheesecake Factory. Don't mind the horrible orange lighting.
These two cool cats were my best friends all summer. AJ and Alex
Birthday Girls!
bubble blowing - a summer must have
Fourth of July fireworks watching. Yes, Stevie is one of the kids
California cabin stay. Sooooo awesome. Wish we could stay for a month!
Cute Noah was my backseat buddy
The happy couple
Dad and Nana. You can kinda tell they're related
cute Max
Block towers and cities. a daily occurence
One year anniversary with this guy :)
Cali and Isaac. building sand castles
Crazy first day of school faces. I think this picture portrays their personalities perfectly. Love these two and it's been the best summer with them!
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