Idaho

A few years ago, my sister and I were driving back to school in Idaho from a weekend in Utah. We somehow ended up on some back roads instead of the highway. We had no clue where we were but the drive was nice and the weather was beautiful. 

As we drove on, we both started to get tired and hungry. We passed some old buildings that were run down and looked like they were going to be bulldozed soon. 

I thought about how cool they must have looked inside and I told Lyndsey that I should have stopped to get some photos. 

The thought that I had missed a potentially good photo opportunity was eating away at me. However, it was hot outside and I just wanted to get back to my apartment to shower. 

I'm really glad that I turned the car around.

That day I learned that sometimes you have to do things that aren't ideal...but if you put in the effort, the pay off is beautiful.

This Valentine's Day

I read five stories, shared four strawberries, changed three diapers, tickled two bellies and watched one garbage truck.

 Happy Valentine's Day!

February 14th 1999

I was sitting in Mr. Berwick's class at Rollingwood Elementary School at my desk getting ready to go to the Library with the rest of my class.
My little heart raced as I slipped a piece a paper, folded into fourths, into my pocket before we lined up at the door.
We walked across the courtyard to the library, and while everyone was busy looking at books, I asked Mr. Berwick if I could go back to the classroom because I forgot a book that I needed to return.
He let me go.
I raced back to the classroom, made my way up the rows to the very front of the classroom, opened the desk and laid the folded piece of paper neatly on top of the jumbled mess inside.
This was not my desk.
It was a boy's desk.
It was THE boy's desk.
The boy that I had a super crush on.
I wrote him a little love note from a "secret admirer" for valentines day.
I didn't want to slip in the brown paper bags we had decorated for the exchange later that day. I wanted it to be separate...it was more romantic that way.
I closed the desk, ran to mine and grabbed the book I purposefully left behind and raced back to the library.
When we returned back to our classroom, I watched nervously as he opened his desk, found the note, read it, and then looked around the classroom. Our eyes met but he had no clue.
He asked my best friends about it on the playground at recess, and through many secret exchanges of letters, I finally told him that it was me.
I wrote his love letter.
I was so nervous now that he knew, but he said, "I like you too".
And he asked me out.
I said yes.
We played tetherball together at recess, and he showed me his new Adidas that made him run faster. We would split sticks of gum over by the fence so the yard supervisors wouldn't see our contraband Doublemint.
For two days, we were a happy couple.
But as most 6th grade romances go, it wasn't meant to be and we broke up.
He went back to running around, playing soccer with his friends, and I returned to the basketball courts with mine.
We graduated from the 6th grade and ended up going to different middle schools.
Occasionally we'd see each other when our school teams played each other and we would smile and wave at each other.
Now, whenever I see a pair of Adidas, I just grin.

S is for Sunday

S is also for Sugar

I made a rookie mistake today in primary by giving my kids candy at the beginning of class.

And while we were waiting in the hall with the other classes for junior primary to let out, I gave them more candy. 

I'm a genius, I know.

Next week they get treats after church is over...on their way out the door....so they can be on sugar highs at home.

After lunch today, I was reading through some conference talks from last October. I love this talk by Elder Edward Dube. I also love this quote:

Happy Sunday!

Fridays

Today I spent the morning with Strega Nona and Big Anthony. I played with puzzles, rolled on the floor and rocked a baby to sleep.