This is an awesome video that Preston came across. It was put together by the employees of Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Oregon to raise breast cancer awareness in their hospital. Its so cute! I love it!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Love me some Christmas!
I love Christmas time! I love having my tree up and the lights on. It just helps to put me in a good mood. I love making dinner and listening to Christmas music. I love the time that I get to spend with family talking about past christmases and all the drama that is usually involved with the holidays. ;)
Nell posted this survey and since I love Christmas and I've got 30 minutes before my exam (which can't really be studied for) I thought that I'd do this.
1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
- Glade apple cinnamon candles (love them!)
-an organizer for my coupons
-cookbooks (I like the ones with quick and easy recipes since I usually don't have the time for complicated ones)
-Nuwave oven (thanks mom and dad for this one! We got this early because its such a big help!)
-giftcards to basically anywhere
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you ever received? the only handmade gift that I can think of was a sweater the Toyeka Campbell made for me while she was my basketball coach. It had a basketball on it cause I was the Free Throw Queen! (she gave me that name at the beginning as an oxymoron but then it ended up fitting. hahaha gosh I miss those days!)
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? I did it last year, I made the tie fleece blankets for all of my nieces. They were really big so that they could grow into them. and were so cute, if I do say so myself. Now I've gotta make one for Spence but I think I'll save that till next Christmas when he's older and I can see him open it.
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? There are 2 that I vividly remember. One was a Sesame Street phone where you could dial a number on the phone (it was a rotery?) and a character would talk to you. I played with that phone so much and I remember crying like crazy when it stopped working a few years later. The other one was a piano shaped like a dinosaur. I loved it but my siblings didn't!
5. What is your favorite holiday food? anything and everything! My new favorite is a pumpkin pie momma Leigh made for Thanksgiving (it was the best ever!) and the other is this sweet potato casserole mom makes. My mouth is watering just thinking about those.
6. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? I plan on trying to make some holiday goodies for my work party on Saturday night and for our sunday school kids.Then hopefully I'll make some either the monday or tuesday before my surgery. The scary thing is that I've never made any of them! hehehe Hope they turn out good. I'll let you know. I'll have to get mom and Preston to try some and let you know.
7. Favorite Holiday Songs? "NOT the stupid Christmas Shoes song"...I totally agree Nell! The first time I heard that song on the radio was the year that mom got diagnosed with breast cancer. She was diagnosed in August and was going through chemo during Christmas. I could just hear the opening notes and I would burst into tears! Now that mom's better, I still hate it!
I prefer the traditional songs and hymns. What Child is this?, We 3 Kings, Angels We Have Heard on High, White Christmas, etc. Paul Cardall has a few Christmas CDs and I just love them! Its piano music and it helps me to get in the Christmas mood but still remember the spiritual part of it. I was listening to it yesterday while taking a break from studying to make dinner and it was just wonderful!
8. Favorite Holiday Pastime? Every year when I was a kid, we would pile up into our van and go around looking at Christmas lights while singing Chistmas carols. There were so many places to go and it was all so beautiful. It really made Christmas "magical" for me. There don't seem to be as many places as before but I still love to look at them. The James Island County Park here in Charleston decorates every year and its over 3 miles of lights. There's also a little Santa's village, a place to make smores, a merry-go-round, and tons of other cool stuff. Its so much fun and its become a tradition for us.
Nell posted this survey and since I love Christmas and I've got 30 minutes before my exam (which can't really be studied for) I thought that I'd do this.
1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
- Glade apple cinnamon candles (love them!)
-an organizer for my coupons
-cookbooks (I like the ones with quick and easy recipes since I usually don't have the time for complicated ones)
-Nuwave oven (thanks mom and dad for this one! We got this early because its such a big help!)
-giftcards to basically anywhere
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you ever received? the only handmade gift that I can think of was a sweater the Toyeka Campbell made for me while she was my basketball coach. It had a basketball on it cause I was the Free Throw Queen! (she gave me that name at the beginning as an oxymoron but then it ended up fitting. hahaha gosh I miss those days!)
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? I did it last year, I made the tie fleece blankets for all of my nieces. They were really big so that they could grow into them. and were so cute, if I do say so myself. Now I've gotta make one for Spence but I think I'll save that till next Christmas when he's older and I can see him open it.
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? There are 2 that I vividly remember. One was a Sesame Street phone where you could dial a number on the phone (it was a rotery?) and a character would talk to you. I played with that phone so much and I remember crying like crazy when it stopped working a few years later. The other one was a piano shaped like a dinosaur. I loved it but my siblings didn't!
5. What is your favorite holiday food? anything and everything! My new favorite is a pumpkin pie momma Leigh made for Thanksgiving (it was the best ever!) and the other is this sweet potato casserole mom makes. My mouth is watering just thinking about those.
-Oops! Gotta go take my final!
-Now that that stupid and insanely difficult exam is over...back to my survey =)
6. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? I plan on trying to make some holiday goodies for my work party on Saturday night and for our sunday school kids.Then hopefully I'll make some either the monday or tuesday before my surgery. The scary thing is that I've never made any of them! hehehe Hope they turn out good. I'll let you know. I'll have to get mom and Preston to try some and let you know.
7. Favorite Holiday Songs? "NOT the stupid Christmas Shoes song"...I totally agree Nell! The first time I heard that song on the radio was the year that mom got diagnosed with breast cancer. She was diagnosed in August and was going through chemo during Christmas. I could just hear the opening notes and I would burst into tears! Now that mom's better, I still hate it!
I prefer the traditional songs and hymns. What Child is this?, We 3 Kings, Angels We Have Heard on High, White Christmas, etc. Paul Cardall has a few Christmas CDs and I just love them! Its piano music and it helps me to get in the Christmas mood but still remember the spiritual part of it. I was listening to it yesterday while taking a break from studying to make dinner and it was just wonderful!
8. Favorite Holiday Pastime? Every year when I was a kid, we would pile up into our van and go around looking at Christmas lights while singing Chistmas carols. There were so many places to go and it was all so beautiful. It really made Christmas "magical" for me. There don't seem to be as many places as before but I still love to look at them. The James Island County Park here in Charleston decorates every year and its over 3 miles of lights. There's also a little Santa's village, a place to make smores, a merry-go-round, and tons of other cool stuff. Its so much fun and its become a tradition for us.
This past Sunday
About a month ago I decided that I finally needed to get my patriarchal blessing. I just felt like I was finally in the right place in my life to get it. I was finally really satisfied with where I was with my life. I felt like I was on the right track but I felt like I was missing something since I did not have my patriarchal blessing. So I set up our tithing settlement time and also made an appointment for that Wednesday night to meet with my bishop so I could have my interview to be able to get my patriarchal blessing. Of course, after the interview I set up my time with the patriarch for when we could do the blessing. We set it up for December 3rd because he likes to do them on Thursdays. He said he didn't think that Thanksgiving Day would be good for either of us if we wanted to stay married. We both had a good laugh when he said that.
So the day of my blessing came. I decided that I would eat breakfast since that is the most important meal of the day and I also had to work. After I finished my breakfast I would fast until after my blessing. I was excited and nervous about the patriarchal blessing. I was not quit sure what to expect. Well as I was getting ready to leave work my cell phone started to ring. I pushed ignore since I was still at work and I did not recognize the number. Well the person left a message. As I was getting ready to walk out the door I listened to the message and it was the stake patriarch. He told me to give him a call. So of course I called him back and he informed me that he had not been feeling so good this week and felt like we needed to push my blessing back until Sunday. He apologized to me but I told him it was ok. I understood he did not want me to get sick. So I called Abby and told her to go ahead and fix dinner because my blessing was pushed back until Sunday since he was not feeling so hot.
Sunday came and I was still excited and nervous. So after our tithing settlement we went down to the patriarch's office which is in the same building because our building is the stake center. He told me that he still needed a few minutes, so Abby and I sat outside his office waiting. When we went in to start he asked me for my recommend. I was just like "Oh no. It is next to the bed." He told me since we lived so close I could run home really quick to grab it. On the way home all I could think of was "how could I leave that at home" and "man, this is so bad." Well I returned and everything was ok. We talked for a little bit and then he gave me my patriarchal blessing. I cannot wait to get it in the mail so I can read over it. I tried to catch as much as I could but I know I missed some blessings.
So let me get to the point of this. He told me that most people will make a copy of it and store the original away and use the copy as scripture and highlight things and write notes on it. I want to encourage everyone to take out your blessing and read it. If you haven't made a copy of it then do that so you can write notes on it. There might be some blessings you have forgotten about in your blessing. I can't wait to get mine so I can do the same.
So the day of my blessing came. I decided that I would eat breakfast since that is the most important meal of the day and I also had to work. After I finished my breakfast I would fast until after my blessing. I was excited and nervous about the patriarchal blessing. I was not quit sure what to expect. Well as I was getting ready to leave work my cell phone started to ring. I pushed ignore since I was still at work and I did not recognize the number. Well the person left a message. As I was getting ready to walk out the door I listened to the message and it was the stake patriarch. He told me to give him a call. So of course I called him back and he informed me that he had not been feeling so good this week and felt like we needed to push my blessing back until Sunday. He apologized to me but I told him it was ok. I understood he did not want me to get sick. So I called Abby and told her to go ahead and fix dinner because my blessing was pushed back until Sunday since he was not feeling so hot.
Sunday came and I was still excited and nervous. So after our tithing settlement we went down to the patriarch's office which is in the same building because our building is the stake center. He told me that he still needed a few minutes, so Abby and I sat outside his office waiting. When we went in to start he asked me for my recommend. I was just like "Oh no. It is next to the bed." He told me since we lived so close I could run home really quick to grab it. On the way home all I could think of was "how could I leave that at home" and "man, this is so bad." Well I returned and everything was ok. We talked for a little bit and then he gave me my patriarchal blessing. I cannot wait to get it in the mail so I can read over it. I tried to catch as much as I could but I know I missed some blessings.
So let me get to the point of this. He told me that most people will make a copy of it and store the original away and use the copy as scripture and highlight things and write notes on it. I want to encourage everyone to take out your blessing and read it. If you haven't made a copy of it then do that so you can write notes on it. There might be some blessings you have forgotten about in your blessing. I can't wait to get mine so I can do the same.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
My Epiphany
So today at church I had an epiphany. It was after sunday school and I was letting the primary president know that we would be teaching next week but the 2 weeks after we wouldn't. I let her know it was because of my knee surgery. One of her counselors, Sis. Pierce, was standing near by and she wanted a little bit of info as to what was going to happen. I told her about and her next question was who my visiting teachers were. I told her that I didn't know because in the 2.5 years that we'd been here, I'd only recieved 1 letter from them and that was it. They did talk to me once in the hall about 4 or 5 months ago but that's it. She then quickly offered to bring dinner to us the day of my surgery and another counselor, Sis. Frances, offered to bring it the next day. It was at the moment that I almost broke into tears because I finally felt like people in our ward cared.
We've lived here for over 2.5 years and have spent 2 years in the primary so needless to say we don't know that many people. Most of the ward activities end up being during test times so I'm not able to go. Also the relief society isn't the best at keeping the primary sisters up to date on activities and such. Most of the time, I find out about activities because of an e-mail that's sent to the sisters THE DAY OF the activity to "remind" them about it, so needless to say I find out about many activites after they've already happened.
I know that I'm not the most outgoing person (I know some might laugh but its true. If I don't know you, its very hard for me to talk to you) but despite my best efforts, I haven't felt like we really belonged. Maybe its due to the fact that most of the people in the ward are either married couples with kids or older people. Our primary is huge but there are literally less than 10 youth in our ward. There is only 1 other young couple in our ward without kids, but they're trying to have a baby. Its so difficult being in a ward where there are always play dates being planned or mom get togethers or craft activities to make kids clothes and knowing that I'm not invited. Its difficult to talk to most of the sisters about things because the conversation always gravitates towards they're kids and the only way I can remotely relate is that I'm an aunt, but I know that's not any where close to being a mom and dealing with everything that goes along with it.
Last year when I had my surgery, people in both the primary and the Relief Society were aware of it and I never got one phone call, offer for dinner, etc. I know it might sound selfish but I really felt like no one in our ward cared at all. Mom was only about to stay for a few days after my surgery because of work and that first week after surgery was horrible. When you've only got 1 good leg, its very difficult to make something to snack on, let alone a whole meal. Because of Preston working and then having to come help me and take care of the apartment, needless to say we ate a lot of take out.
This past year has been very difficult on us and to realize that someone in our ward really did care meant more to me than I can ever express. Its amazing what one little act of kindness can mean to someone. I know for as long as I live, I'll always remember what Sis. Pierce and Sis. Frances' did today.
**Update** Preston went to a concert on Saturday and that it turns out one of my visiting teachers was there. Preston talked to her at church on Sunday to talk about the concert and it turns out that all the info she had on us was wrong. They even listed my name on her visiting teaching list as Abby Lee - go figure. Anyways, she's also volunteered to bring dinner! Hooray for visiting teachers!
We've lived here for over 2.5 years and have spent 2 years in the primary so needless to say we don't know that many people. Most of the ward activities end up being during test times so I'm not able to go. Also the relief society isn't the best at keeping the primary sisters up to date on activities and such. Most of the time, I find out about activities because of an e-mail that's sent to the sisters THE DAY OF the activity to "remind" them about it, so needless to say I find out about many activites after they've already happened.
I know that I'm not the most outgoing person (I know some might laugh but its true. If I don't know you, its very hard for me to talk to you) but despite my best efforts, I haven't felt like we really belonged. Maybe its due to the fact that most of the people in the ward are either married couples with kids or older people. Our primary is huge but there are literally less than 10 youth in our ward. There is only 1 other young couple in our ward without kids, but they're trying to have a baby. Its so difficult being in a ward where there are always play dates being planned or mom get togethers or craft activities to make kids clothes and knowing that I'm not invited. Its difficult to talk to most of the sisters about things because the conversation always gravitates towards they're kids and the only way I can remotely relate is that I'm an aunt, but I know that's not any where close to being a mom and dealing with everything that goes along with it.
Last year when I had my surgery, people in both the primary and the Relief Society were aware of it and I never got one phone call, offer for dinner, etc. I know it might sound selfish but I really felt like no one in our ward cared at all. Mom was only about to stay for a few days after my surgery because of work and that first week after surgery was horrible. When you've only got 1 good leg, its very difficult to make something to snack on, let alone a whole meal. Because of Preston working and then having to come help me and take care of the apartment, needless to say we ate a lot of take out.
This past year has been very difficult on us and to realize that someone in our ward really did care meant more to me than I can ever express. Its amazing what one little act of kindness can mean to someone. I know for as long as I live, I'll always remember what Sis. Pierce and Sis. Frances' did today.
**Update** Preston went to a concert on Saturday and that it turns out one of my visiting teachers was there. Preston talked to her at church on Sunday to talk about the concert and it turns out that all the info she had on us was wrong. They even listed my name on her visiting teaching list as Abby Lee - go figure. Anyways, she's also volunteered to bring dinner! Hooray for visiting teachers!
Friday, December 4, 2009
What I learned from Tiger Woods
So I am sure everyone knows what has been going on with Tiger Woods. Well the other day my Dad and I were talking about it and he said something that I had never really thought about. He told me that Tiger Woods has the life everyone would want: money, fame, cars, houses, and model for a wife. My Dad told me that he probably did what he did because he doesn't have the gospel in his life. Which I never though of, but then the next day I was listening to the local Christian station here and there were talking about it but they had a different take on it and it goes right along with what my Dad was saying. They started out by saying the same thing: Tiger Woods has the life everyone wants. They said he has a beautiful wife, he has lots of money and is famous. But then they said that what they think is happening is that he is not content with what he has. That he has to have something better, but that we all do the same thing. We might not cheat but we all always looking for the next great thing we can buy. We are always wanting something better. We always want the next big thing. Then I started thinking about me, and at the time I just bought (and was about to return) this new alarm clock that talks and you talk to it. I am such a tech dork and I like having cool things. But after listening to what the radio station and the DJ saying how we are never content, I am determined to stay content with what I have. I should be content because I have a roof over my families head, Abby and I each have a car, we each have a job, and we do not go without the things we need or sometimes the things we want. I should be content with what I have and not try to keep up with the Jones'.
Funny
So my Mom and Dad came into town for Thanksgiving. During the Thanksgiving Holiday my Dad told me a joke I thought was funny. I will try my hardest to word it right:
So in Heaven after Jesus and Satan both said they had ideas for a plan, God told them to go and get a proposal ready to present in two days.
When the day arrived both Jesus and Satan were working hard to finish their proposal. When Satan was almost done with his proposal his power went off. Satan could not believe it. Once he got got he computer back up he was very disappointed when he realized he could not retrieve any of his proposal. There were only a few hours until it was due.
When time came to present Satan asked God if he could have an extention for his proposal. He explained that when he was almost done with his proposal he lost power and lost everything. God told Satan that he could not have an extention. When Satan asked why God just replied, "Because Jesus Saves."
So in Heaven after Jesus and Satan both said they had ideas for a plan, God told them to go and get a proposal ready to present in two days.
When the day arrived both Jesus and Satan were working hard to finish their proposal. When Satan was almost done with his proposal his power went off. Satan could not believe it. Once he got got he computer back up he was very disappointed when he realized he could not retrieve any of his proposal. There were only a few hours until it was due.
When time came to present Satan asked God if he could have an extention for his proposal. He explained that when he was almost done with his proposal he lost power and lost everything. God told Satan that he could not have an extention. When Satan asked why God just replied, "Because Jesus Saves."
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Knee Surgery Update
So thankfully since Preston's got a job, I'll be able to have my knee surgery as planned this Christmas break. Spending 2 Christmas' in a row on crutches is not what I had planned but there isn't anything that can be done about it. My last exam is on Dec. 14 and I'll have surgery on the 16th.
Preston won't be able to get off because he doesn't have any vacation time so my mom has graciously offered to come down and take me to surgery and stay the rest of the week to take care of me. His mom also offered but since my mom lives closer it'll just be easier. Plus there's just something about having your mom around when you feel awful that helps you feel a little bit better.
My pre-op appointment was on Nov. 16th and I talked with my orthopedist about what's going to happen. There are 2 options: he can try and repair the torn meniscus or he can just remove it. He won't know what he'll have to do until he gets in there and sees the damage that's happened over this past year.
If he repairs the meniscus, I'll be on crutches for 6 weeks and have to go through physical therapy again (not exactly the most pleasant thing I've had to do!). If he removes it, then I'll be able to start trying to walk a few days after surgery. The bad part about having the meniscus removed is that my knee can still bother me and it also increases my chances of developing arthritis in the knee, which could end up meaning a total knee replacement later on down the road. If my knee still bothers me after he removes it, I've got a window of about 6-12 months, where I can have the meniscus replaced aka have another knee surgery.
I don't know what's going to happen and it frightens me. I'm praying that he'll be able to repair the meniscus and this will be the end of my problems but with all of the locking and the bones rubbing against each other that I've had this past year, I'm afraid that he'll have to remove it. I'll just have to wait 3 weeks to find out, which is going to be torture because patience is not a virture that I've mastered yet!
Preston won't be able to get off because he doesn't have any vacation time so my mom has graciously offered to come down and take me to surgery and stay the rest of the week to take care of me. His mom also offered but since my mom lives closer it'll just be easier. Plus there's just something about having your mom around when you feel awful that helps you feel a little bit better.
My pre-op appointment was on Nov. 16th and I talked with my orthopedist about what's going to happen. There are 2 options: he can try and repair the torn meniscus or he can just remove it. He won't know what he'll have to do until he gets in there and sees the damage that's happened over this past year.
If he repairs the meniscus, I'll be on crutches for 6 weeks and have to go through physical therapy again (not exactly the most pleasant thing I've had to do!). If he removes it, then I'll be able to start trying to walk a few days after surgery. The bad part about having the meniscus removed is that my knee can still bother me and it also increases my chances of developing arthritis in the knee, which could end up meaning a total knee replacement later on down the road. If my knee still bothers me after he removes it, I've got a window of about 6-12 months, where I can have the meniscus replaced aka have another knee surgery.
I don't know what's going to happen and it frightens me. I'm praying that he'll be able to repair the meniscus and this will be the end of my problems but with all of the locking and the bones rubbing against each other that I've had this past year, I'm afraid that he'll have to remove it. I'll just have to wait 3 weeks to find out, which is going to be torture because patience is not a virture that I've mastered yet!
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