Thanksgiving Poetry

In honor of Thanksgiving, I decided to write these...

THANKFUL

The beauty of the earth, plants, water, skies...
Humbles me
As the bees buzz, flowers bloom, leaves change, I...
Never feel ungrateful
Kind words, deeds, and thoughts shine from family and friends...
Filling me with love
Under any stress, I know my family...
Loves me

FAMILY

GUARDIANS OF MY BODY AND SPIRIT
REACH FOR ME DURING RAIN, SNOW, OR SUNSHINE
ALWAYS MAKING SURE I AM SAFE, CALM, STRONG
THINKING OF MY NEEDS BEFORE THEIR OWN
INTERESTED IN MY SPIRIT'S WELLNESS
TRUSTING ME AND KEEPING ME CLOSE TO CHRIST
UNDERSTANDING WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH
DILLIGENTLY MOVING ME TOWARD MY GOAL
EXUDING ALL I WANT TO BE SOMEDAY

Thank you...

In Pieces

Gone are the girls,
With their fair hair in curls,
To far lands unknown,
Until they're more grown.
Gone are my nieces,
I'm broken in pieces,
Pieces residing in Illinois,
California, and Provo.
Gone is one brother,One brother-in-law,One sister,One sister-in-law,and

my two little nieces.
And I'm broken in pieces.

I'm in Love...

...again.





It all started at 8:45 p.m. on May 1, 2009, when I heard the high-pitched cry of a brand new baby. That's when I knew I was in love.

My heart swelled, and a foolish grin rose unbidden onto my face as I listened to the sound of my second niece entering this world.

At 8 pounds, 8 ounces and 19 inches long, Olivia was a quite a big, chubby baby. But the only person I can think of that can rival her cuteness is her cousin.

Photos are a curtosy of Christian. Thanks, CBZ!

Why does it keep snowing in April?

I wrote this last night, when we were still recieving the 12+ inches on the ground.
This is the second April in a row that it's snowed during, and the first that actually stuck!
You ready?

The sky is white with brewing clouds. The wind blows softly and the sky suddenly starts falling.

Slowly at first, but with undeniable certainty.

As time goes on, the whiteness falling from the sky turns fierce.
Great, big, beautiful flakes swirl to the earth at a frightening speed. The ground begins to mirror the sky as they build on each other.

The trees start to groan, reflecting the feelings inside the houses.

"Why does Winter have to pout?" the flowers wonder, just like the Provo people.
"It's our time to shine," the blossoms cry, mirroring their thoughts.
"After all," states the grass, having just been freed of the crushing weight of a Utahn winter, "it is the middle of April. Why can't Winter let Spring show its face?"


Today the skies are blue. I hope that means warmer weather.

Bring on the warmth!

Some Thoughts for Sunday

After some debate, I've decided to finally post this.

(The debate was because these thoughts are pretty personal)

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound!
While babysitting Friday evening, the two oldest girls, Hannah and Ella, got in a fight. After multiple happenings, a distraught Hannah and I were talking. Hannah left me with some interesting thoughts.
Hannah: Why does she get to play when she didn't help build it (a fort out of blankets and chairs) at all?! It isn't fair! She shouldn't get to play! We set the timer for her to come downstairs, out of hiding, and she didn't come! We already added a few minutes! Why should we give her another chance? She doesn't deserve it!
Well, Hannah, we don't deserve it either. Another chance, I mean. Why should we get to repent and start over after making mistakes? We shouldn't deserve the Kingdom of God after making mistakes! But somehow, miraculously, we can return to His kingdom. For some reason-incomprehensible love, probably- a perfect being, Jesus Christ, willingly gave us a way to live as exalted beings when he suffered our pains, sicknesses, heartaches, EVERYTHING, in the Garden of Gethsemane.
That's another thing.
He didn't just say, follow these commandments and I'm sure you'll be able to make it back.
He bled for us.
He cried with us.
He eventually died.
For us.
Imperfect beings. Humans. Worldly, vain, prideful, undeserving, 'natural' men.
He felt our pain.
He bore our sins.
And He overcame death.
Even with the weight of the world on His shoulders, Jesus Christ "loosed the bands of death," providing a way for us to return to our Heavenly Father.
Miraculously,
through His grace
(the atonement)
we can be saved.
Amazing Grace.
*Pictures by Greg Olsen*

The Snow is Melting!!!

Wow. And to think I was anxiously waiting for the first snowfall only two months ago.

After the snow falling constantly for about three days every other week, I declare I am officially tired of the snow.
For a while, anyway.

Snow, snow, go away, don't come back another day!

Sun, my old friend! How nice to see you for a complete TWO days!!! YES! The temperature has been at 50 degrees for THREE DAYS STRAIGHT!!!

Rain, how have you been? This is the first time I've seen you for what, a YEAR?

Are you two up to the job of cleaning up the constant 15+ inches of snow on our grass? Of locking the snow up and stopping it from ruining my spring fever completely?

Of stopping me from being COMPLETELY ANXIOUS for the first day of spring, which happens to be on my BIRTHDAY?

Maybe that's why I have such a spring fever this year- because my birthday falls on the first day of spring. That would explain why last year I was so happy when it kept dumping snow on us until the end of April, beginning of May- my birthday was on the last day of winter.

This is the first time I've ever envied the people living on the other side of the street- they get direct sunlight, so they can see most of their grass!

NOTE: Thanks for bearing with me as I vented my feelings, guys.

The Snow is Here!!!

The clouds swarm the sky. It looks like a big blanket is covering the Heavens. Big, cottony flakes lazily start drifting toward Earth. As the ground starts being covered with a feathery coating of white, the howling wind starts shrieking through tree branches. The flakes now head to Earth in great earnest, joining the ground at a chaotic speed. As they begin to gather on surfaces, children scream with joy. After all, there are only 12 days until Christmas. The snow is finally here to stay.

How many different internet tags are there?

Well, I just got tagged by my mom. She apparently thinks I'm quirky. :D
So... six quirky things about me...

1. I am very picky about the texture of foods- I may not like a food, even though I like the taste, because it's slimy, or sticky, or has a just plain WEIRD texture.
2. My joints pop a TON!!! I don't know why, but I can crack most my joints two times a day or more... and when they pop, it is LOUD!!! It sounds like I'm injuring my neck, or fingers, or my hips(or whatever other joint pops)!!!
   
3. Everything has to be perfect. If something isn't quite centered, for example, it bugs me SO much!!! (Ha ha, I just centered the keyboard :P)
   
4. I really enjoy little-kid's games. If a little girl wants to play Barbies, I'm up for it. If some kids want to play a game where we have magic powers and end up basically conquering the world, I'll gladly comply. Maybe that's why I love to babysit.
5. My right foot is half a shoe size bigger than my left foot.
6. I absolutely LOVE to read! My family has this little joke about me: If they can't find me anywhere, I must be in my room, or in a bathroom, or even outside, doing what.... reading a book. :D

Well, now that you all know some of my quirks, I get to tag six others. Let's see...
I tag: Celisa, Emily, Trina, Sammy, Aaron, and Christian.