Something that makes me sad 4.30.12

So I am avoiding a lot of things that deserve a spot here. It's my blog right?!? Here is an extremely superficial thing that makes me sad .

You see in my head I am super OCD about my desk an everything has to be perfectly organized and amazingly clean (I said my desk not my room...two completely different stories) any way...It is sometimes sad to look at all of the piles on my desk and realize that I don't have time to be that person right now. But someday...really soon hopefully!

Circle 4.29.12

Love so many things about this pic!

1. Obviously love this little girly! She is so cute!

2. Love that I get to hang out with her as much as I do

3. Love the carseat pattern! I am a huge fan of all things Polk a dot, and a huge fan of these colors. (so its a stretch for a picture of a circle)

And another picture with her awake---of course she was laughing and talking to me until I got the camera out.

Somewhere I went 4.27.12

Bountiful Temple

I have driven past this temple a lot of times, and I always ALWAYS love it because of it's location on the hill, but last night my sweet friend Amy actually drove me up to see it close.  It was just what I needed.  That few seconds of peace. That sweet reminder, that small camouflage moment for just a second.  A thought came to my mind as we were driving away..."did I not speak peace to your mind"  Yes, Yes He did. Just like I needed Him to.

Black + White 4.26.12

Probably my most favorite combination of black and white.  Someday's I forget just how much I love being able to play the piano.  I can honestly say you can tell what kind of mood I am in by how hard I am pounding on the keys.  One of my siblings least favorite memories of me is my "I am a princess" song that I would play as a teenager.  It might have started out as a way to get out frustration, but as soon as I saw how much it annoyed everyone you better believe that was it's main purpose.  So glad my Mom endured all of those painful years of me not wanting to take piano lessons and not practicing so I can have the talent now.  

Something I am grateful for 4.24.12

So I started thinking about this picture at 4:20 am when I woke up this morning and I felt a little like the kid on thanksgiving day when you ask him what he is grateful for "everything".

I thought about taking a million pictures but some of them would have just been weird.

So...here are a few things that represent a few things I am grateful for or just things I am grateful for...

1st - my book of Mormon - the same one I have been carrying around for 20+ years (yikes...that makes me feel old) I am extremely grateful for this book, for the sacrifices that were made to bring me this book, and for the spirit that it brings into my life as I study it. I am also grateful for my testimony of Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Heavenly Father, Priesthood Power and Temples, and forever families.

2nd- my study journal - for about five years now I have been keeping a study journal of all of the things that I read or see or hear. Most of it is thoughts or impressions, some of it is quotes that move me. I am grateful for the opportunities that I have to learn, and grow. Yes I will admit it ...I hate school, but I love to learn and I am so grateful that I have opportunities to do so.

Third- my "grateful" journal. Um...I like to journal. This journal is where I take the opportunity to record the events of my day and I always end with the statement "today I am grateful or thankful for..." chances are you might have been listed there once or twice (Anna since I am pretty sure you are the only one who reads my blog please know you have been listed there a lot). I would love to say that this is one of those journals that in 50 years will be extremely moving and uplifting, but I know it isn't true. Sometimes all I can manage to get out is "today I am thankful this day is over". This journal represents the knowledge that I am not alone, and that life while it has it's struggles has wonderful goodness and great blessings and opportunities that are ahead of me. This journal represents my gratitude for hope.

Camouflage blanket - this has so many representations of things I am grateful for. I am grateful to Stacey for giving some particularly hard feelings a voice, and grateful to Amy for making it real. I am grateful for caring friends who aren't afraid to call my bluff when I say that I am doing okay and they can honestly say "I know you're not, and that's okay" I am thankful for the brutal honesty of other friends who aren't afraid to tell me when I am making stupid choices. I am grateful for those amazing people in my life who wait patiently as I cry and close off to the world, just as I am thankful for those willing to cry with me.

And lastly for tonight ...although I could go on and on...I am grateful tonight for those camouflage moments in my life...the ones when even though I can't see him, I know he is there.

Vegetables 4.23.13

What I wish I would have ate...actually drank today...maybe tomorrow!

Flowers & Orange 4.16 & 19

Killing two birds with one stone.

This week has been filled with all types of craziness. Visits from an old "reason to smile", tons of hours working, a few late night runs, a tiny bit of sleep (sad when you can count all of the hours for the week on one hand and two fingers) anyway...with all of the craziness I have almost missed the beauty of spring. That's what happens when you leave for work when it's dark and come home when it's darker right?!?

But...these beauties were out one morning to greet me. Luckily I parked in a different spot that day so I got to see them. It made me smile.

I loved that they were orange. Orange reminds me of a great man. A great father, a great example, a great blessing in my life, Mike Hancock. What an amazing legacy He left for those who knew him. Even though he has been gone for almost 10 years his influence is still here. I know I want to be a better person because of him. Hugs to my Hancock family!

Side note. I have loved doing this because it has helped me to be more aware of the life that is happening around me. Sorry if you don't like it.

Hair 4.18.12

This is actually a fun post to share something but fit right along with the photo of the day...

I chopped all my hair off on Saturday! 7 inches and some change. Gone. I still getting used to not having it as I have never had short hair before.

I was really scared that cutting it would add extra pounds to my face, maybe it did?!? But I think I was really really scared that I would love it and I would never have long hair again.

It has been a fun change anyway!

Sunset 4.15.12

I am so stinkin lucky! It's true. I am a firm believer that AZ has some of the best sunsets. How lucky am I that I got to grow up seeing them everyday I wanted to for 20+ years



Honestly...I miss the sunsets...two reasons, most of the time I am still inside a building when it happens, and well...Utah has some pretty ones but they just don't get as pretty as the ones in AZ.

I think I love sunsets so much because in my mind (which has been crazy...once) its Heavenly Fathers way of saying "Whatever challenges the day brought you, know that there is beauty in it"

How I am feeling today...4.14.12

Somedays the miles between here and home are way to long. Somedays I just wish I could be back there. Today is one of those.

Stairs 4.12.12

So funny story time....

So the company that I work for operates out of a basement office in a golf course club house, a club house that looks like a castle. So to get into our office I kiss the sun goodbye and walk down two flights.

My first day of work I was walking down the stairs trying to get ready to make a great first impression, and somehow I tripped and instead of walking gracefully down the stairs as I had planned I fell down the stairs...yep go me!

Good news ... the stairs are hollow so you can hear everything anytime someone steps on them. Better news.. . Our receptionist wasn't in yet so no one was in that part of the office to hear the fall!

4.10.12 - Cold

I am loving this wonderful spring weather...I thought this picture was a perfect resemblance of cold. Not to worry though, the forecast is calling for sunny skies again tomorrow.

Younger me 4.9.12

Pictures of me looking sweet as a child are few and far between. Here is one of the few. This was taken the day we went through the temple as a family.

24 years ago today.

Never has the covenants we made there as a family meant more than it does at this time in my life.

I am so grateful for the sacrifices we made to get there, especially my Dad. I am also so grateful that I KNOW that if we live worthy we can live TOGETHER. FOREVER. SOMEDAY.

Family...I love you all. Remember that day.

Dad...See you on the other side when I make it there, someday.

Inside 4.8.12

Um...so I realized something through this picture, maybe not realized maybe recognized is a better word.

I carry around alot of stuff I don't need with me everyday. In my wallet I have a couple of cards for accounts I've closed, insurance cards for the insurance I don't have anymore, and tons of store rewards cards for places I never shop.

My life is kind of like that. I realize that. I know I am carrying around some things I don't need, but I struggle with letting go. But....I am working on it. I think I will start this morning my cleaning out my wallet.

See a fabulous day!

Shadow 4.7.12

So I didn't take the pic yesterday but I thought it was great anyway.

This was taken the weekend of my Dads birthday. My sisters are so creative and thoughtful and decided to heart attack my Dads grave for valentines. They spent hours creating adorable hearts with a picture of everyone.

We did the attacking early on the morning I came home. We decided to take a picture of our shadows to remember we were there because we all had a very "morning" look to us aka crazy hair, no makeup, pjs. You know.

Enjoy!

Photo a day!

Life is busy and crazy and hectic and crazy... And somedays at the end of the day I can't remember a thing I have done. Do you ever have days like that?

So in order to be a more active participant in my life I decided to jump on the "photo a day" band wagon. I know I probably won't be perfect but I am going to try. Real hard.

I thought I would publish the pics here because what good is a picture if it never goes anywhere? Enjoy!

If you can laugh at it...

A few years ago at TOFW Brad and Debbie Wilcox shared a thought that I loved..."if you can laugh at it you can live with it". Love it.

Lately (like the last 8 months - yikes are you for real...somedays it still seems like Yesterday) I haven't been taking the opportunity to laugh much.at anything.

BUT....

Yesterday I couldn't help but laugh...and thought I would share my ridiculousness.

I have been really really really busy with work and some other things I am involved in that this last week sleep and I never really got a chance to be well acquainted with one another. So I woke up yesterday, Saturday morning, early, and completely exhausted and already running late. My handsome little cousin Owen was getting baptized at 9am (how cruel are we) and it was one of those "not showering is not an option" days.

So I hurried and showered super fast an hopped out of the shower. I am very religious about my getting ready to go routine but yesterday it was a little different:

1. Wrap my hair tight in the towel so I don't get my makeup and face stuff all over in it.

2. Spray my toner on my...armpits...

3. Put my deodorant on my...face. It wasn't until this point that I woke up and realized what I was doing. Maybe I subconsciously thought it was a good idea to help with my shiny face??

Couldn't help but laugh at myself. Today it doesn't seem as funny, but trust me yesterday it was hillarious!