Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Too many to list

There have been a lot of things happening this week in our family that have really made David and I stop and think about what we value and what is most important. I think that we are given opportunities to evaluate our lives so that we will be prepared for the future and in some cases the inevitable. It has also forced us to reexamine our faith and our goals and even wake up a little and realize that life changes really fast. Sometimes you just have to slow down and take a deep breath so you don't drown in tidal wave that life will ultimately send. We are deeply grateful for our many gifts, including these two great kids we have been allowed to raise. I really could not ask for more.
On that note: here are some more great things that have happened to us lately.
This last month I was able to reconnect with a long-lost friend. My good friend Maile (after whom my daughter is named) happened to be in town for her sister's wedding. I had not seen or spoken with her in over a decade, and it was a total fluke that I was able to track her down. I am very glad I did and I hope it will not be another 10 years before I see her again.
David had the long anticipated graduation for his Master's degree last month. The sad part is that he still has almost two months worth of classes left, but because he was close to finishing they allowed him to participate in commencement. It was long and boring, as most graduation ceremonies are, and I spent most of the ceremony in the lobby with the girls, but we got to yell real loud when they announced his name. So I guess that is good.
The kids actually did pretty well considering. And we got to go to lunch with David's family and mine after, so it ended up being pretty fun.
The girls wanted a "flower necklace" like daddy's. I thought he looked very handsome.
Here is Darci with some more of his "abstract art." We won't allow her to bring dandelions inside the house, so David told her to go decorate something. She chose the small grill on the porch. She calls them dande-flies, and thinks they are pretty and cannot understand why people pick them and then throw them away. She has also learned that they are the only flowers she is allowed to pick. It is like free weeding for me. Win-win.

Maile bonding with Daddy. I just liked this picture.
Mother's Day came a little early for me this year. David surprised me with a rare night out with just the two of us. We took me to a great Greek restaurant with fabulous food. Afterward, knowing my affinity for Irish culture, he took me to see Celtic Woman, a cool all girl Irish band. If you ever get a chance to see them, do it. They are amazing. It was a great evening. I am so glad we got to go.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

My Crazy 8's

Okay, I have been told by a couple of people to post my 8's, so here it goes. You never know what is going to come out of this, but it should be interesting;

8 Things I am passionate about:
  • David (that is a given)
  • Darci (also to be expected)
  • Maile (how can I leave her out?)
  • Nature and the outdoors (hence my blog name)
  • Learning (the reason I am always going to school)
  • Exercise (there is always room for improvement)
  • My extended family (I can't say enough good about them)
  • Summertime (it is what I live for the rest of the year)

8 Songs I can listen to and never get sick of hearing

  • You got a friend (James Taylor)
  • You raise me up (Josh Groban)
  • Home (Daughtry)
  • Paralyzer (Finger Eleven)
  • The First Cut is the Deepest (Cheryl Crow)
  • Southern Cross (Crosby, Stills and Nash)
  • Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield)
  • Hot for Teacher (Van Halen)

8 Past books I have read

  • 3 cups of Tea
  • Water for Elephants
  • Pillars of the Earth
  • Tuesdays with Morrie
  • Running with Angels
  • The Alchemist
  • Goose Girl Series
  • The Kite Runner (I highly recommend this one by the way)

8 Things I say

  • It's all good
  • no worries
  • good times (David says I say this when I am nervous)
  • knock it off
  • NO!
  • Yoink
  • Smiley-Maile
  • Darci-luna

8 things that attract me to a friend

  • Real
  • sincere
  • free-spirited
  • fun
  • reliable
  • kind
  • give and take personality
  • non-judgemental

8 random things about me

  • I once weighed 60 lbs more then I do now
  • I met my husband in the 7th grade
  • I really hate to wear shoes
  • I talk to myself a lot
  • I always knew my first child would be a girl
  • I was once dumped on Valentine's Day (not by my husband.)
  • I punched a girl in the nose for making fun of me. (I was not a little kid either)
  • I always like to have something to look forward to

8 things I want to do before I die

  • Own my own home
  • see my kids grow up to be happy, androgynous, adults
  • Go on another mission, this time with David
  • Travel to a lot of cool places (too many to list)
  • Have grandchildren
  • Spend more time doing things I love
  • Learn more languages
  • Write a book

8 Things I've learned this past year

  • Don't blame God when things go wrong. There is a purpose behind everything
  • You have to be spiritually prepared to see the whole picture
  • Some things never change
  • 4 year-olds are a lot of fun
  • If you are doing your best, God provides the rest
  • Stress makes me loose weight
  • I have great people in my life
  • My husband is my greatest blessing

8 people I want to do 8's

  • Shannon
  • Stacie
  • Natalie
  • Heather
  • Micayla
  • Heidi
  • Maile
  • David