Things

This here blog of mine (I've stopped even pretending it's OURS, since Chris only sees it when I tell him to) is a mystery to me. What is its purpose? Lots of people have one to update their mothers on life and their baby. But I neither have a baby nor do I live in a state--or city, for that matter--away from my mother. I feel like other people's blogs are more event related, and they put up cute pictures and stuff. It's not to persuade, or inform, so I guess it's to entertain. It is mostly just my musings, but I feel like I'm trying to be awesome by using the word musings, and I hereby pledge to never do it again. Please forgive me.

We here come to another mystery of blogdom. Who am I writing to? Am I writing these things with a specific audience in mind? I suppose I am, I'm hoping my friends will come look at it as I do theirs. And also hoping that I don't end up the inspiration for a scary movie about an internet stalker.

Now let's get onto what I really came to blog about. (And there is another thing--blog as a verb. What is with these blog things, anyway?)

The point is:

1. I don't know if I ever gave the end result of the job interview I wore the really cute outfit to, but I did indeed get that job. In fact, I am at it right now. I work at a wedding invitation store at the mall, and it's lovely. It's not very busy right now either, so I get to do things like homework . . . . and mostly I just spend time on the internet.

2. Today I was at Michael's (the craft store, not the house of a friend named Michael. I'm not sure I even have a friend named Michael), and decided while I was there I would pop in the Home Fabrics store next door. I have AWFUL curtains in my house, and I want to make new ones. But I don't know how I will ever pick anything, because this place was FULL of beauty. They had flocked taffeta, for crying out loud! FLOCKED! My favorite fabric embellishment!

3. I have never been so excited about Halloween in my entire life. I don't know what it is. Probably that I live in a little house where trick-or-treaters will visit, hopefully in throngs! I'm loving it! Last weekend I went and bought a whole bunch of stuff, and I'm looking forward to decorating my little house! I will definitely take pictures and put them up, as it will no doubt be a job I am proud of.

4. As I write this, I'm learning the intricacies of working at my new job. Don't laugh, there really are a lot of things to learn at a wedding invitation store! However, basically all of the new things I've had to learn have been while the same couple is here, and I feel so bad! Each time they've come in, there's been something I don't know how to do, and they sit and wait patiently while I figure it out. It's terrifying, but they are so nice. So this is a big thank you to Garrett and Melissa, who I'm sure will never read this, but thanks for being nice to me. It's a good thing they're engaged and in love, or they might have gotten a little testy while they waited.

5. Today I found myself detesting my life. That's a little dramatic, but I walked outside and realized what BEAUTIFUL weather it has been lately, and I've enjoyed none of it! Admittedly, some of this is my own fault, as I do have Saturday and Sunday free to enjoy the outdoors to my heart's content. But during the week, I blame life for not allowing me an Autumn celebration. My life forces me to be indoors much too much, and only go outside when walking from the car to a building to another building, and it is practically dark by the time I get a spare moment to go outside. I need to make more time to spend time with nature. That will be a little goal of mine.

I was walking through the South end of BYU campus today, which is lovely in every season, but it's starting to be Fallish right now, so my affection for it is even greater than usual. And I started to yearn (can I yearn? Am I that dramatic? If I can detest, I can yearn, right?) for the years that I hope are to come in my life--when I am a mom. I will then spend my fall afternoons going on walks, riding bikes, playing in the yard, and taking picnics to the mountains. Is this picture of motherhood too idealistic? Probably, but guess what? I don't have kids yet, and I would like to think the experience of raising children is as magical as I imagine.


6. And last of all--gosh I love this little Christopher of mine. My wonderful aunt Crystal enlisted us to teach the annual marriage lesson to the Young Women in her ward. She thought that even though we're newlyweds, young women like that kind of stuff and would rather hear from people closer to their age than from their leaders. I don't know if that's true. They did pay attention quite well, but whether that's due to the youngish teachers, one of them being a handsome young man, or the titillating subject matter, I do not know. But this is not the point I'm making.



The point is that while preparing for this lesson, and coming up with lots and lots of marriage advice wisdom for girls who are 12-18, I realized how glad I am that I married this kid. We talked a lot about making lists of qualities you want in a husband, and how sometimes in those lessons people tell you to make a list, and then tell you that none of it matters except getting married in the temple.

I happen to disagree with this. Getting married in the temple is immensely important, and I think it should be something you never lose sight of, but there are things which are non-essential to salvation that are still important. For example, I've always known that I would marry someone who would make me laugh, and who would laugh at me, and who would be smart enough to carry on a conversation on many topics. A person without these qualities can still get married in the temple. But it was important to me, so it was important. I learned this concept from a smart friend of mine named Alexandria. If something bothers you, even if every person you know tells you it doesn't matter, they are wrong. Because if it bothers you, it matters. And if it's important to you, it's important.

December 11, 2006--Birthday date

The other thing we emphasized a lot is time. Take time to get to know each other, take time to date. [Note: If any of you are friends of mine who got married quickly, I do not judge you. Everyone has their own timetable, and mine just happened to be a little more drawn out than the average BYU student. I have no doubt in my mind that people who date for 3 months and then get married will have wonderful and fulfilling marriages. But that's the point I'm making--this is SUCH an individual process, and you have to figure out what works for YOU and YOUR situtation.] The point is that I've never heard anyone express regret that they dated for too long before they got married. And for me, I liked having that year to have Chris as my boyfriend. He's my husband now (and still my boyfriend, I guess, but I'm not going to introduce him as such), and will be for a very long time. Once you get married, that's it--so take the time you need to be dating, and then to be engaged before you go on to the wonder of being married. [Again: Please do not be offended if you are one of those quick marry-ers. You are wonderful and so is your marriage. I just believe that mine would not have been if we had gotten married quicker.]

December 28, 2006--At the Fresno Temple for Teenwhiz and Dale's wedding

Getting married is serious business, and if you don't want to hang out with that person for a VERY long time, it should be reconsidered. When I look back on the months of anxiety I had over making this decision, I have to laugh because I can't believe it. I can't believe I almost didn't marry this Chris kid. Because I sure love him a lot. But I'm also glad I took so long to figure things out, because I had a lot of time to be SURE. I took a lot of time to think and pray and decide what I wanted. And when the moment finally came that I KNEW this was what I wanted to do with my life, that was it. I have not again doubted or questioned that this was what I wanted and what I needed.

I realized recently that I was very very vocal about all my reservations in getting married. I think everyone who knows me knows what a crazy time it was in my life. However, I was not quite as vocal about the peace and excitement and relief that I experienced when I finally made the decision and felt so good about it. So here it is, my declaration of knowing I married the right person, in the right place, and at the right time.

January 17, 2008--coming out of the Mt. Timpanogos Temple



(And my goodness it's better than dating!)