Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

The other day I was going through my "trash" on my computer to permanently delete some items. I found some hilarious pictures of my two little sisters, Becca and Abbie. It seems they were using photobooth and tried to hide the evidence in the trash. Caught!!! Red-handed! It definitely brightened my day to find their goofy pictures. I love you Beck and Abbikins!

The Next Thing on My List

The votes are in. They have been counted and recounted.

And the winning list is "26 things to do while I'm 26." And to my darling sister Abbie....someday I will tell you 26 things you don't know about me. 

I've thought a lot about this list today as there are many things that I hope to accomplish. Some things I can't define completely at this time. Some can be accomplished by fulfilling a skill. Others may require more than just this year to master. Some things I was hesitant to put on the list, as if I was saving it for some special reason, the same way I'd save a new outfit, waiting to unveil it at just the right event. But sometimes in saving things, I miss out. So, I came up with a list that includes things I've wanted to do, things I want to continue to do and things that will challenge me in every way. I think Toby Keith said it best: "Why put off for tomorrow, what I could get done today."

1. visit somewhere new, outside the United States

2. get back to my college weight (and maintain it)

3. buy a digital SLR camera

4. get those glasses/contacts the eye dr. said I needed

5. run a marathon

6. read my scriptures every day 

7. watch the 6 hour version of Pride and Prejudice

8. plant my own herbs

9. take a dance class

10. learn how to use photoshop

11. visit Nashville (perhaps while doing number 5)

12. get married

13. continue my education

14. learn and perfect one challenging piano piece

15. give away a Book of Mormon

16. try out for American Idol (just once)

17. learn to make homemade ravioli

18. give up resetting my alarm in the morning

19. see a need, fill it, repeat

20. start the personal history of my mom and dad 

21. learn italian (at least start)

22. give up wasting time

23. go parasailing

24. hug and kiss more often

25. sacrifice 

26. live my life 

Yes, it's gonna be a good year after all.

Sixteen (+10) Candles Make a Lovely Light

I'm turning 26 tomorrow.

In celebration, I was going to do a special blog post, but I started writing and the list ideas overflowed so that I couldn't decide which list to make.

The choice is now up to you.

On my birthday, I will post a list, comprising of 26 items. What would you like the list to... well, list.

26 things you don't know about me
26 things I want to do while I'm 26
26 things I've learned in 26 years
26 reasons I've enjoyed being 25
26 reasons I hate getting older
26.......fill in the blank!

So, time for a vote, since it is voting season. Let me know which list you want to see.

And for a little Tuesday treat, here's a quick "Cartwheel experiment" update. Things were going pretty well. I even included some of my co-workers and clients, which has resulted in a few inter-office cartwheel contests. Life was good. Then I sprained my ankle last week playing tennis. Honestly, it was the first time I've ever sprained my ankle. I may have thought in the past that I had sprained my ankle, but now I know those were mere twists. Suffice it to say that the "cartwheel a day" has been suspended while my left ankle returns to a normal size. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to bringing back "The Sprain," a dance made popular by Lisa Turtle and Screech, at this year's Halloween barn dance. You won't want to miss it.

Broken, Yet Moving Still

It's amazing the power that music has in my life and the powerful memories and feelings that flood into my life from one simple melody. Sometimes it creates energy, helping me finish an 8 mile race. Other times is brings the spirit, helping me worship with conviction. It makes me laugh and cry. Every song a memory, every playlist a connected event, every lyric capturing how I felt, how I feel, what I hope to one day...

The other night I was with some good friends. We had a fun cook out, then we sat around the patio sharing parts of ourselves, answering questions - how dorky were you as a child? what's your favorite birthday memory? what movie makes you cry? what's your theme song? what song makes your heart hurt?

Tonight in the process of organizing my itunes music (maybe the question should be how dorky am I now?) I came across a song I hadn't heard since it was first introduced to me...and it made my heart hurt, really hurt. I'm still listening to it, like perhaps overplaying it will make it just another song, disconnecting it from the memory that is bringing the pain. It's a happy moment, maybe one of the best, and perhaps that's why it hurts.

It's hard to know that certain moments will never be the same. It's aches to remember moments where I was at my best, where I was who I wanted to be and wonder if I'll ever be there again. Will I be awakened and alive the way I was at that moment? Will I feel such certainty? Will it finally be right? 

I hope in that moment a new song will be playing.

And the difference will be I won't have to replay it alone.

Baby Love, my Baby Love

Life doesn't get much cuter than this, folks. Here's baby Jack, on his blessing day, looking so handsome. He's growing fast, but still little enough that he likes to snuggle up close and not wiggle around. I love that.