What a Week

I'm not sure where to even begin, or how much I'm going to say about it all, so I'll start with a little update/tidbit regarding THIS post. I saw someone found my blog the other day by googling "Audra McDonald Will Swenson" and ended up on my NYC trip post. So I clicked on the google search they did & found THIS article from August 8, 2008.
It just made me laugh again about the incident in NYC.

"The Age of Aquarius officially dawned again on Thursday night with the opening of the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production of Hair. And while the skies opened up during the finale -- "Let the Sunshine In" -- the downpour didn't dampen the spirits of first-nighter Audra McDonald and star Will Swenson, who plays the hedonistic Berger." - Theater Mania

As for my lack of posting, it doesn't stem from lack of things happening (that's for sure) but maybe from lack of time, or lack of wanting to post about some things.

I alluded to my birthday 2 posts ago. Thank you to everyone that helped make it a great day. Birthdays aren't that fun anymore, but it's nice to spend time with people you love and gifts are always nice ;-) Wednesday morning as I walked up the stairs to my office, I saw 2 bouquets of gorgeous flowers and a "happy birthday" balloon - what a surprise! It totally made my day! Thanks Aaron/Tasha and Andy/Jessi! I have the best brothers and sisters-in-law in the world! My mom made her delicious carrot cake - (I think only because I complained about how she must not love me enough to make it for me, but she'll make it for her brother every year with no complaints). I was at my parents house when she was making it & I grated the carrots - come to find out, that's why she didn't want to make it...because she hates grating carrots. I told her I'll grate carrots anytime. So, thanks to great family & friends, I had a fabulous day. Turning XXXV really hit me hard. The next few days were pretty crappy. And then I found other things to think about & stopped my little "I am old" pity party.

Suffice it to say Tuesday the 19th was another crappy day (click here for more info). But, it held a few silver linings like seeing my family come together to face a difficult situation head on with an increase in faith and love. Friday could have been another awful day. It was no one's birthday, but it was definitely a happy crappy day. We all thanked our Heavenly Father for little miracles that proved to be lifesaving & changing. Like the magic 8 ball says, "outlook good"

Wednesday the 20th - my Aunt Mary & cousins came down from WY to bring my cousin to Weber State for her first year of college. What exciting times lie ahead of her! I am grateful every day for my experiences at BYU & especially for the amazing friendships I made -especially my first year. While Mary & her kids were here we went to Ruth's Diner for delicious BBQ and on Saturday we went to Buca di Beppo to celebrate Andy's 32nd birthday. Having additional family here during the crappy times of that week was such a blessing. Not only did they offer more love & support, but they added a much needed element of fun & laughter. At Andy's party, people must have wondered how much we had to drink...it's funny how loud & obnoxious we can get - 12 people sitting around a bust of the Pope with a peeing statue right next to us....and an 11yr old boy ;-) 'nuf said!

August is quite the birthday month for our family - My grandma, Aunt Meg, Great Aunt Barbara, Great Aunt Velma, Me, Tommy, Andy & I'm sure someone else that I'm forgetting.

Friday night & Saturday afternoon I was able to spend some time with an old friend that was in town. We had a nice time catching up on the last 17 years or so. I think I realized again what a difficult person I must be to get to know/talk to. Thankfully we already knew each other so I wasn't as quiet (I guess that's the word, because it's not shy) as I may otherwise have been. Some people don't have a verbal filter...mine must be on overdrive sometimes. One of the best compliments someone once told me was that they couldn't imagine me not being talkative - I guess because I was so comfortable & so completely myself when I was around this friend.

Anyway, I'm sure no one wants to read my ramblings. Good thing I don't care & you can stop reading whenever you want ;-)

To round out the week, at church on Sunday the closing hymn was Families Can Be Together Forever.... needless to say, this brought up a huge well of emotion thinking about the events of the past week, thinking of my sister whose 'birthday' is next Saturday, and of how grateful I am to know this life is not the end. Oh, and I just noticed, as I found the link to the hymn, that the music was written by a lady in my ward... interesting because that song has been one of my absolute favorites ever since primary.

And somehow I still managed to do things like go to work, go shopping, clean my kitchen, get a haircut, and clean up Madison's thrown up hairball off my brand new rug (yes, he needs another haircut - although maybe not so drastic this time!).

There you go....what a week.