Unchanged

My feelings are unchanged as I look back on the week.  I'm still in as much emotional/cognizant turmoil as I was earlier.  My only progress is that I have actually taken a small step and it feels fantastic.  Tears are close to the surface as I think what this may entail.  There is still too much to do, so far to go, but the all important first step, has been taken.  I worry that the fire will need to be stoked often if I am to complete what I've set out to do.  There is so much work, so much time and energy, that will be invested in my dream.  I can't let the outside distractions sway my determination.  Hmmm, what will this journey bring?

Have you ever wondered....

if that drive you feel inside will actually launch you to the next step?  I am wondering daily as my thought and ideas fuel the fire inside of me, just how much grit and determination it will take for the momentum to actually get me to the next phase in the process.  My ideas and thoughts are a jumble of scenes and impressions and I just can't seem to make the connections that in my heart I know are there.

I know that one can only do something if he or she actually starts it.  Am I frightened that if I take that committed step, everything will change.  As humans, change is a part of our lives, but we resist it with all our might.  Is that truly the reason I hesitate?  Or is it that I know the once started, I will not be able to stop, or that I'm not good enough to finish it through?

While the ideas are there, the self-doubt and anxiousness of my personality awaken when I dream of taking it to the next step.  Do I have it in me to do this?  Do I really want to start this long, arduous process that will leave my soul vulnerable to the scrutiny of loved ones, not to mention the outside world?

So, I ask again, have you ever wondered and if that mere action has inspired or frightened you?  Perhaps it is the act of wonder that will give me the grit and determination to propel myself to the next phase, not just merely allowing the momentum to carry me wherever it stops.  I can't settle for that.  I have a goal, a dream far beyond that point.  It resides where only the wisps of my imagination can take me.  I look forward to the adventure, the ride, the destination, and fulfillment of a desire.

Pandora discover

I've heard about Pandora from a few people lately, but I was talking to Daniel this morning and he recommended getting an account and checking it out.  I was really pleased with it!  I usually just grab my iPod and plug it into my speakers at work because I can usually just use my playlists.  The nice thing about this is that I get to experience some artists that I don't have and I can see if I like them before purchasing the song/album.  Of course I had to get the iPhone application as well.

I think that it is a great option for listening to music while at work.  I had a Yahoo music account a few years ago, before I had my iPod, and it was not as nice.  We used Mozilla as a browser and it wasn't supported.  I ended up not using my second year's subscription due to that fact.

Give it a try.  I've linked it up, but it will open in this window.  I really need to find that HTML code that I used a while back.  Hmmm, perhaps I need a class?

A good day, a stressful day

Today was a cacophony of emotions, attitudes, sounds.  I had a terrific job interview this morning for a department I would love to work for.  It went well.  There was laughter, joking, serious answers, and I walked away feeling rather good.  Even if I don't get this job, I feel as though it was a good move to apply.  I couldn't have done any better.  I was in need of some comfort last night, so my dear dad gave me a father's blessing.  I haven't had that wonderful opportunity for a long time with them being gone.  Daniel wasn't in a good mood and asked if I wouldn't mind either waiting for one or go to my dad.  I am glad I did.  I was calm and really felt like it helped me answer things the way I needed to.

While that was great, I've also been feeling irritated, stressed, and just downright angry as well.  I work with some very interesting people, who just are so passive aggressive, I just want to spit.  I was so drained by their actions over the past couple of days, that I just about cried.  To go from such a high to such emotional baggage was just too much today.  

Last night I went to Barnes and Nobel; now that is a stress reliever for me.  I could spend hours there.  I picked up some Moleskine notebooks so I can make notes whenever I need to.  

I was pretty excited about having something small that I can be able to carry with me and jot down ideas and inspiration.  If you want to read about them, you can go to the website and check them out.  I made the name a link as you can see.  It will not take you to a separate window like my other links, because I can't remember how to do it in the HTML code.

Enough of my ranting, although when I look back, I didn't write very much.  It has taken me over an hour to get this far with all the interruptions with dinner, baths, and Daniel making Halloween costumes.  I put my Facebook status as Moleskine notebook and a little quiet, but I think that is just wishful thinking today.  Let's hope tomorrow will be just as good, and better than today.

Itchy Witchy, Witches Galore!

So, I took Friday off because the Abbie and Nigel were home for UEA.  We got a lot accomplished and had a great day.  We first cleaned in the house (although to look at it now, you wouldn't know it!), took Nigel for a haircut, and spent an amazing amount of time at the new D.I.  Now, it was grand opening weekend for their new location and I can't believe how insanely crazy it was.  They were giving away free t-shirts, balloons, and even had a clown making balloon animals.  The kids were in heaven.  We ran into three women from our ward and had so much fun going through the books, clothes, etc.  Poor Nigel is growing so fast that he has outgrown all of his pants length-wise that he had a the beginning of the summer.  So, I had to go up another size, but they are huge around his waist.  I picked up a couple of pair at the D.I. that were in good condition so I'm not spending so much on pants he will outgrow in two months.  Yikes!  As for Abbie, we got her a couple of new, brand-name pants that were in mint condition!  Yeah!!  She loved it too, and I'm glad she isn't quite at the stage where anything from D.I. is taboo!  Of course it all started because I needed to run to the distribution center that is now in the same new building, just next door.  Crazy!  The kids had fun though.

After that fun adventure we rode Frontrunner to Salt Lake, then hopped on TRAX and met Daniel at his office at the U.  This was the first time for Nigel to ride the Frontrunner and he was pretty excited.  Here we are at the station waiting for the train:

After we picked up Daniel, we went to Garnder Village to take some photos.  It was packed, probably because of all the activities they had going on for UEA, but it was so cool.  The entire village was decorated for Fall/Halloween and the kids had a ton of fun looking at all the witches.  Here are pics from our adventure:

Too Cute to Spook

Bicycle riding witch

Abbie and Nigel and the Baseball Playing Witches!

Okay, they are so done with pictures!

Last night we went out with some friends to MacCool's for dinner.  Yummy!  Then back to their house to play cards.  Thanks for dogging us Shelly!!!  We still love you though!

Today was stake conference, so that has ended the weekend nicely.  I took a nap, something that usually doesn't happen!  We are on the late schedule at church, so I took full advantage of being done by noon!

I hope you all have a fantastic week!  Love to all!

I am lucky!

I just have to say that I am very lucky in having Daniel for my husband, friend, partner, lover, supporter, inspiration, and the list could go on and on.  I've had a lot on my mind lately, and he has been patient and supportive of my ideas and decisions.  Thank you my love, for not laughing, but showing me how great you are, and reminding me all the reasons I fell in love with you in the first place.  You just made me fall in love with you all over again!

Oh my goodness!!

So, until I saw this on another blog, I wasn't too sure if I wanted to see the movie.  I have always had a hard time seeing a movie after I've read the book, it just never seems to live up to my own imagination.  I think I will enjoy this one as much as the books:

Now, if I can get Shelly and Mary Ann to go with our husbands, we can make a night of it, if not, it is going to be a girl's night out!!!

I'm not much of a movie person.  I would much rather read, but occasionally I will find a movie that I love.  I love Pride and Prejudice from A&E, or even the Kiera Knightly version.  But then, I'm a sucker for all things Jane Austin.  I also love the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  I didn't read the books until after I saw the movies, so that was kind of difficult not to imagine Aragorn as someone other than Viggo Mortenson.  I don't know that I'll be able to picture Robert Pattenson as Edward, because I have my own picture in my mind.  Oh well....that is the issue with movies from books.

We've had our first snowstorm of the year.  It was pretty cold and rainy yesterday, so it wasn't surprising to wake up to a blanket of white.  Nigel was so excited!  He could hardly contain himself when he saw it.  He wanted to go right out and play.  Being that it is Sunday, we had to tell him that we needed to go to church, and that playing outside wasn't an option.  Besides, I need to figure out where the snow suit is!

Well, that is it for now.  If anyone has any other good books that they recommend, I'm on the lookout for something as engrossing as Twilight.  I'm not in the mood for anything heavy.  I get enough of that from the news!

Love to all!

My cute family....

On Wednesday, we went to the ward Scout Court of Honor.  It was fantastic because it was held outside next to a campfire.  It was only at the church bowery, but still very nice.  Since Daniel was in charge, our little family banded together and got everything set up.  I was able to document us all working as a family should!We moved chairs from the Primary room to the bowery.  Even Nigel helped, one chair at a time.

Daniel has always been in scouting since he was young.  Here he is conducting and handing out badges in his scout uniform:

It was a great night, although I was beat by the time we got home. We were pretty busy that night!  The kids had fun, and I enjoyed the patriotic feeling of scouting.  

More later!  Love to all!

October Desktop

Now, for many of you, you know that I love to change up everything about my computer.  Now if only I could get on the ball with my house.  It gets so overwhelming.  The computer is easy, two or three clicks and you are there.  Here is what I'm sporting on my desktop this month:

All of the pictures are from last year. We haven't done the pumpkin patch yet, mostly because I don't want them to spoil.  It is still a bit too warm for that.  I wish this silly, crazy weather would decide what it's doing!  

Tonight we are going to a scout court of honor.  Dan is in charge, so we are going to help him out with everything.  I'm the unofficial photographer.  There is an Eagle rank advancement as well, so it will be a nice night.

So, spruce up your desktop!  Have a great day!  Love to all!

Filling my bucket....

Every six months I need my bucket filled.  General Conference does that every time.  I am still misty eyed.  The talks were wonderful and I feel that there were many that spoke directly to me.  I love conference and can't wait until all the talks are posted online.  I always download them to my iPod and listen to them, especially when I have a lesson to do.  It is nice to have them whenever I want/need them.

Here are the newest layouts that I've made:

I sure do love my kids!  They are so cute!  Abbie did string art through most of conference, and she was so excited to have it completed.  She really wants to take it to school tomorrow and show it off.  I'm proud of how much she learned while doing it!

I hope everyone has a great week.  Love to all!!!!

Yeah for General Conference!!

I so loved General Conference today!  Every 6 months I feel like I need a shot in the arm, and that is certainly what I got today!  Since I teach the Relief Society lesson on the conference talks each month, I always try to pick out what talks I'll be getting.  I'm sure that Elder Oaks talk on the Sacrament will be one that we get to do!

Daniel is at Priesthood Meeting right now, so I took a little time to do some pages of the autumn colors we saw a couple of weeks ago.  Abbie making string art and Nigel is snuggled up in a blanket because of the rainy weather.  It is a hot chocolate evening and curling up with a good book!!  I wasn't prepared in getting a new book at Barnes and Nobel yesterday while we were there, so I suppose I will do some more scrapping.

I normally don't post too many layouts with credits because I usually only have family and friend traffic on my blog, but I really liked this kit by Andrea Dickenson.  Here it is:

The picture is from September, but the quote seemed appropriate.  It is from Elegant Word Art.  The next layout, I don't know where the kit came from, see how bad I am at credits!  That is why I never post to galleries!  I am the worst!

On family news, Daniel is doing great at the new job.  I think that he is just so happy to be out of where he was, that he would be happy almost anywhere.  Now, that is totally exaggerating, but he is happier.

Abbie is doing great in school still.  I am really proud of her because she is focusing more on her reading.  She did great on her spelling test this week and still manages to amaze everyone with her math skills.  My mom told her that she needed to read as much a she does math because she may need to do both at the same time someday.  That may have helped!  She is doing great!

Nigel is still loving school too.  He sings constantly.  I may have to post a video of it sometime.  He is hilarious!!  This little body, growing up so fast!  He loves going to his friend's house every morning for babysitting.  This change has been phenomenal, an answer to prayers!

I should get going.  I need to run to the store before bed tonight.  Hopefully Daniel will be home soon and we can go together.  Have a great night!  Love to all!