TENDER MERCIES

THE EVENTS OF THIS WEEKEND WERE PERFECT AND CAME AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME.

THE STRESS AT WORK IS CALMING DOWN AND LET UP NICELY ON SATURDAY EVENING- JUST IN TIME FOR ME TO ENJOY A TRIP TO THE BYU CREAMERY WITH MY DAD TO PICK UP SOME ICE CREAM. MOM, DAD, AND I SPENT LOTS OF TIME THIS WEEKEND WATCHING MOVIES AND CATCHING UP ON OUR FAVORITE TV SHOWS. (BEEJ WAS OUT OF TOWN COACHING HIS SOCCER-PLAYING HOOLIGANS.) 

AND MONDAY FINALLY LED WAY TO DISASSEMBLING THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND GETTING MY HOUSE PERFECTLY CLEAN... I FEEL READY FOR SPRING!

A MORNING WALK WAS ENJOYED YESTERDAY, AS WELL AS LOVIN' AND DINNER WITH MY DEAR SWEET HUSBAND- WHO I BEGIN TO MISS THE SECOND HE LEAVES.

I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE HIM BACK.

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES SHOWCASING FEBRUARY'S BEAUTY. I LOVE SUNNY WINTER DAYS.

BELLATRIX LESTRANGE

I DIDN'T KNOW A FAIR SKINNED, BLOND HAIRED MUGGLE COULD LOOK SO MUCH LIKE A DARK HAIRED, DARK-MAGIC-MAKING WITCH.

I PRESUME THE RECIPE FOR THAT WOULD GO SOMETHING LIKE THIS:

 

TAKE A PREGNANT GIRL THAT WAS INSANELY SICK THREE WEEKS AGO

+

ANOTHER DOSE OF FLU (ACHINESS, CONGESTION, FATIGUE, COUGH)

=

ONE ORNERY LOOKING BELLATRIX LESTRANGE

THE ONLY HINT OF SATISFACTION I AM GETTING OUT OF ROUND TWO SICKNESS IS THIS: TODAY I AM AT WORK AND THE FACT THAT I AM HERE IS ENOUGH.

I AM FORCING MYSELF TO NO OBLIGATION OF ENJOYING MY WORK, LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, OR MAKING THE MOST OF MY DAY.

TODAY I AM SIMPLY DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND THAT IS ENOUGH.

TODAY, MEDIOCRITY IS LIBERATING.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY PEOPLE.

WITHOUT A DOUBT- ONE OF THE MOST JOYOUS THINGS IN THE WORLD TO CELEBRATE.

I LOVE THIS PINK, RED, AND PURPLE HOLIDAY.

SO HAPPY I HAVE THIS GUY TO LOVE ON.

XOXO

POUR ME A GLASS

TGIF.

I WELCOME FRIDAY WITH OPEN ARMS.

I CAN TELL THIS WEEKEND'LL BE A GOOD ONE.

 

AND I WILL SEE YOU FOOLS TOMORROW!

 

HOLLA!

GETTING IT DONE

I RECENTLY HAPPENED UPON A STORY FROM A GENERAL CONFERENCE TALK SEVERAL YEARS PAST. IT SPOKE ABOUT A MOTHER WHO REFLECTS BACK ONCE HER KIDS ARE GROWN AND WITH A NAGGING REGRET STATES,

"I WISH I HAD ENJOYED THE DOING A LITTLE MORE, AND THE GETTING IT DONE A LITTLE LESS."

SHE MENTIONS HOW SHE WAS ALWAYS PLANNING AND AWAITING THE NEXT ITEM TO CHECK OFF THE TO DO LIST, RATHER THAN LIVING IN THE MOMENT.

THIS IDEA ROUSES ME NOW EVEN MORESO THAN THE FIRST TIME I HEARD IT. ADULT LIFE- EVEN YOUNG ADULT LIFE (AKA ME)- CHALLENGES THIS IDEA CONSTANTLY. MY LIFE NOW IS SO FILLED WITH SIGNIFICANT DATES- DEADLINES AND DUE DATES THAT ADD PRESSURE AND STRESS. THESE EVENTS IN LIFE CAUSE ME TO LOOK FORWARD, TO DREAM OF THE TIME AFTER THAT EVENT WHEN I'LL FINALLY BE ABLE TO... 

(YOU FILL IN THE BLANK)

REST, ENJOY, TAKE DOWN THE CHRISTMAS TREE (YIKES!), RELAX, PLAY, ETC.

BUT LIFE GETS AWAY FROM ME WHEN I LIVE LIKE THAT. I LOOK ANXIOUSLY FORWARD EVERY DAY TO THAT 2:00 HOUR WHEN I'M FINALLY DONE TEACHING. EVERY DAY IT COMES, AND EVEN THOUGH RELIEF COMES WITH IT, ADDED HAPPINESS DOES NOT. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE TIMES WHEN I ENJOY WHAT I'M DOING THE MOMENT I'M DOING IT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I LOOK IN THE EYES OF MY STUDENTS, WHEN I PRAY FOR LOVE FOR THEM, WHEN I LISTEN TO THE MUSIC THAT WE'RE DANCING TO. THERE IS MUCH TO BE ENJOYED HERE. THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE ENJOYED NOW.

I LOVE THE DAILY CHALLENGE THAT LIFE IS. AND RIGHT NOW, IT IS A CHALLENGE AT IT'S FINEST. MY BODY IS CHANGING, IT FEELS DIFFERENT THAN IT EVER HAS. I WANT THIS BABY TO COME, I WANNA MEET HER, AND YET I'M STILL THREE LONG MONTHS AWAY FROM THAT HAPPENING. I'M INCONCEIVABLY BUSY AT THE STUDIO, CLEANING SOLOS, RUNNING DANCES, PICKING UP COSTUMES, RHINESTONING PICTURE FRAMES, AND ANSWERING PARENT QUESTIONS ALL DAY LONG. I'M WORKING FAR MORE THAN FULL TIME- MORE THAN I'VE EVER WORKED IN MY LIFE- WHILE NEARLY 7 MONTHS PREGNANT. AND EVERY NIGHT MY HEART YEARNS TO CLEAN, AND ORGANIZE, AND HOMEMAKE- I MAKE BRILLIANT PLANS TO TACKLE THOSE TASKS TOMORROW AND INEVITABLY RUN OUT OF TIME AND ENERGY.

LAST NIGHT I LAID IN BED AND CRIED. I FELT SO UNPREPARED TO HAVE TO FACE ANOTHER DAY. I WAS EXHAUSTED- PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. AND I KNOW DARN WELL THIS RACE ISN'T CLOSE TO OVER.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND FELT AGAIN APPRECIATIVE OF ONE OF GOD'S KINDEST GIFTS TO US ON THIS EARTH: A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.

SLEEP IS SO HEALING, SO REJUVENATED- THE DAILY RENEWAL.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE? TODAY WAS GREAT. EVEN IN THE MOMENT. I ENJOYED EACH CLASS THAT I TAUGHT, NOT JUST THIS TIME WHEN I COULD FINALLY SIT DOWN AND REST A SECOND.

I REMEMBER HEARING FROM THE CHURCH-FAMOUS JOHN BYTHEWAY AT A FIRESIDE IN COLLEGE. HE TALKED ABOUT MARRIAGE AND GAVE WHAT I THOUGHT THEN TO BE A VERY HARD TO SWALLOW PIECE OF ADVICE. HE SAID:

"IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY NOW WHILE YOU ARE SINGLE, YOU WILL NOT BE HAPPY WHEN MARRIED."

AT FIRST I THOUGHT THIS CONCEPT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. NO WAY. MY ROMANTIC HEART WOULD NOT BELIEVE IT. BUT AS THAT INSIGHT STEWED INSIDE ME OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS OF MY SINGLE LIFE I LEARNED ITS TRUTH.

HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE.

CIRCUMSTANCES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS DON'T MAKE HAPPINESS- DECISIONS DO.

HAPPINESS IS IN YOUR HANDS. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.

THIS IS PROBABLY MY MOST FAVORITE CHALLENGE IN LIFE. THE BATTLE I FIND MOST WORTH FIGHTING FOR. MY DAD ALWAYS SAID THAT I CAME OUT WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE, AND YOU BET IT'LL STAY THAT WAY TILL I LEAVE.

I'M GONNA VOW TO ENJOY THE DOING A LITTLE MORE, AND THE GETTING IT DONE A LITTLE LESS.

THE LAST TWO DAYS

THE LAST TWO DAYS HAVE INCLUDED A LOT OF GOOD.

MOST DEFINITELY THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR, THINGS THAT BRING HAPPINESS, AND THINGS THAT MAKE WAKING UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF A NEW DAY VERY MUCH WORTH THE EFFORT.

HERE IS ME THIS MORNING AT SCHOOL WONDERING IF I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS...AGAIN. TEACHING IS EXHAUSTING...AND REWARDING.

GURU'S SWEET POTATO FRIES MAKE ANY DAY A GOOD ONE. I SERIOUSLY ATE THIS ENTIRE PLATEFUL, AND I'D DO IT AGAIN TODAY IF I COULD.

FINDING BJ ASLEEP ON THE COUCH LIKE THIS WHEN I GOT HOME FROM MY SECOND ROUND OF WORK FOR THE DAY. HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S NAKED. ONLY I KNOW IF HE REALLY WAS...

USING SOME OF BJ'S CHRISTMAS GIFTS THIS MORNING IN THE SHOWER. SEA SALT SCRUB FROM THE DEAD SEA DOES A PREGNANT BODY GOOD. MY SKIN HASN'T EVER FELT THIS SOFT. I GUESS THOSE ISRAELI PEOPLE WHO RIPPED US OFF SELLING US THIS REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SHRIMP TACOS NOT ONLY TASTED FANTASTIC, BUT THEY ALSO SAVED ME FROM ANOTHER NIGHT OF COOKING THIS WEEK! THANK YOU MINIATURE SHELLFISH!

AND LASTLY, SEEING THIS SIGHT IN MY BATHROOM. BJP+EJB FOREVER.

JUST WONDERING

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER WHEN YOU'RE ALL ALONE?

DO YOU WATCH AMERICAN IDOL AND LAUGH YOUR FACES OFF?

I DO.

DO YOU PERFORM YOUR WILDEST DANCE MOVES FOR EACH OTHER?

HE DOES.

DO YOU SMOOCH AND SEDUCE?

WHO ME???...........OF COURSE!!!

DO YOU SMILE?

ALWAYS.

BJ SAID IT WELL LAST NIGHT AS WE LAID DOWN TOGETHER ON THE COUCH TO WATCH A MOVIE. "THIS IS THE BEST PART OF MY DAY. RIGHT HERE. THIS IS ALWAYS THE BEST PART OF MY DAY."

AMEN BROTHA!

GLORY, GLORY, MORNING TIME

ONE OF THE PROSPECTS THAT EXCITES ME MOST ABOUT BEING A STAY-AT-HOME-MOM NEXT YEAR IS THAT EVERY DAY I WILL START MY MORNING IN MY OWN HOME.

 I NOW START MY MORNINGS BY PRESSING SNOOZE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES, SHOWERING FOR TOO LONG, TAKING WAY MORE TIME THAN I ACTUALLY HAVE TO GET READY, AND EATING MY BREAKFAST IN A FREEZING COLD CAR AS I DRIVE DOWN STATE STREET. THIS ASPECT OF MY LIFE WILL NOT BE MISSED.

I LOVE THE MORNINGS. AND I LOVE TO BE IN MY HOME FOR THIS SACRED TIME OF DAY.

BJ HATES THAT OUR CHURCH STARTS AT 12:30 THIS YEAR. I LOVE IT.

YESTERDAY I HAD TIME TO LAY IN BED AND WAKE UP SLOWLY. AFTER THAT I SAT ON THE COUCH AS I SLOWLY ATE MY BREAKFAST. I HAD TIME TO READ, WRITE, AND PONDER, AND OF COURSE, LOUNGE AROUND IN MY FAVORITE PLUSH BATHROBE.

I THINK EVERY DAY WOULD BE CHRISTMAS WORTHY IF THEY ALL COULD BEGIN LIKE THIS.

 THE ANGELS SING ON MORNINGS LIKE THIS WHEN THE BLINDS ARE DRAWN OPEN.

I REMEMBER THE WAY MY DOG HUDU USED TO LIE ON THE GROUND IN THE SPOTS OF SUN THAT FLOODED THE CARPET IN THE MORNING. I REMEMBER ALWAYS FEELING ENVIOUS OF THE WAY HE COULD COMPLETELY SURRENDER HIMSELF TO THE ENJOYMENT OF THE MORNING AS I WAS CORRALLED OUT THE DOOR TO SCHOOL.

COME JUNE I WILL BE LIKE MY LITTLE DOG, BASKING EVERY DAY IN THE GLORY OF MORNING TIME.

A HOMEMADE PHOTO BOOTH

DEAR WEEKEND,

WHY DO YOU PASS SO QUICKLY? STAY A WHILE LONGER PLEASE. I LOVE YOU.

-MRS. PUGMIRE

YOU ASKED FOR IT

I AM TWENTY-SIX WEEKS PREGNANT TODAY AND FEELING GREAT.

BJ STEPPED IN FOR AN IMPROMPTU PHOTO SHOOT LAST NIGHT AFTER I GOT HOME FROM WORK- ABOUT 9:30 PM. I WAS DISCOURAGED AFTER I POSED FOR PHOTO AFTER PHOTO BECAUSE I DIDN'T LIKE WHAT I WAS SEEING ON THE DIGITAL CAMERA PLAY-BACK SCREEN.

A CLOSE FRIEND OF MY MOM'S FROM TAIWAN HAS CALLED HERSELF FAT BEFORE. TO US, SHE'S A TINY ASIAN WOMEN THAT IS NOT FAT IN THE LEAST BIT. HER REBUTTLE TO OUR DISAGREEANCE IS THAT HER "BELLY STICKS OUT FURTHER THAN HER BOOBS."

AFTER LOOKING AT THESE PICTURES, I WISHED MY BOOBS WEREN'T STICKING OUT QUITE SO FAR BECAUSE, RIGHT NOW, MY BELLY AND MY BOOBS ARE TIED.

AS I TOLD BJ LAST NIGHT, I FEEL LIKE MY TORSO LOOKS LIKE ONE GIANT BLOCK.

PREGNANCY HAS BEEN A STRANGE JUXTAPOSITION OF BATTLING FEELINGS OF DENIAL, ACCEPTANCE, EXCITEMENT, AND WORRY ABOUT THIS BODY METAMORPHOSIS.

AND PLEASE EXCUSE THE CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE BACKGROUND. IT IS FEBRUARY 4TH AND I HAVE NO PLANS IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE OF TAKING IT DOWN.