Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Carribean Cruise
We were fortunate enough to be able to go on a cruise this last weekend. We went with Nate's company, they paid for everything for Nate (minus $150) and we just had to pay for me. We went with Carnival which is a total party ship. It is the only cruise line I have ever been on but it seemed like everyone was drinking all the time. Especially since Nate's company is a bunch of functional alcoholics. That aside we had a blast. It was so much fun. It was nice to get away and have some time to ourselves. It was a long time to leave Max and we were both VERY anxious to get home to him. Luckily my parents are very close and are more than willing to watch him for us. We are so blessed. They took him Wednesday morning/afternoon and we got home Monday evening so it was about 6 days. They took him to St. George for the weekend and had a great time. Of course the little punk didn't take one nap for them. He did sleep 12 hours every night though. He was in good hands and we are so grateful to them for watching him for us. It is SO nice to be able to leave and not worry about him. I know he'll be fine with them. He did lock himself in the car at Walmart which freaked my mom out a bit. He was only in there for 20 minutes and she was standing next to the car the whole time and he was just in there laughing. Such a little punk. Other then that he did great. It was so fun to see him and see how excited he was to have us home. He has been a mix between really cuddly and loving and throwing tantrums a lot. I can't decide if he is kind of mad at us for leaving or if he is just really tired, either way he is still cute.
So now about the cruise. It was a 4 day cruise (2 days of travel, yuck! Miami is so far away). We left from Miami on Thursday it was supposed to be around 4 p.m but the ship didn't actually set sail until 7:30p.m so engine trouble and then a coast guard inspection. Anyway we sailed through the night and docked at the Key West Friday morning. We were only in Key West for half a day, I wish it would have been longer. Nate and I decided to go fishing while we were there. It wasn't deep sea fishing, just light tackle. I will admit I didn't really want to go, but Nate REALLY wanted to go so I conceded. We had a blast! It was so much fun. I had no idea fishing could be so much fun. We were on a little motor boat with 5 other tourists and the captain. We just went out to sea about 30 minutes out, I don't know how many miles, and started with bottom fishing. I was cutting up chum which involves pulling rotting fish out of the cooler and cutting them up with scissors so the fish will come eat them. I starting cutting really big pieces and they were just floating away so the captain told me to cut them smaller so the fish would eat them. Well in a few minutes there was a big shark cruising around our boat. It was about 7-8 feet. We all decided we wanted to try to catch it so the captain rigged up something that involved half a dead fish on the end of a wire and we tried for a while but the fish weren't biting and the shark was gone so we gave up and started trolling. That means you get a rod throw the end in the water and drive around for a while the line gets pulled out then when it is out far enough(according the captain) we just drive around and wait for a fish to bite. Everyone in the boat caught at least one fish some people caught more. Nate caught about 5 I think. He fed the bait bucket for the next tourists. I only caught one fish which ended up being only 1/2 a fish by the time I got it to the boat. I was reeling it in, apparently not fast enough, and I felt this big tug. I thought I have lost the fish but I kept reeling and sure enough I pulled in 1/2 my fish. The other half got eaten on it's way in. All in all the trip was a success. Everyone on the boat was really cool. We all had a blast. The captain was great. He was this 43 year old guy, who looked about 25, from Brooklyn. He had been in Key West for 15 years with no plans of every leaving. I asked him if he was just permanently on vacation and he said with occasional breaks to go fishing. What a life huh? I could totally see why people do that. I could totally see myself doing that. Joe, I have found your calling in life. I think he does alright too. He said he has a place down in Costa Rica too. He gets paid by his boss and then tips from everyone on the boat. And he gets to fish all day everyday, which is what he loves. He was good too. He is out there everyday and everyday he catches something and not just one or two, enough for everyone on the boat. He knew what he was doing which made it a lot of fun for us. We had so much fun I was tempted to go fishing again in Cozumel.
We didn't though. Instead we went on this excursion called Caverns by Jeep. It wasn't in Cozumel it was in Playa Del Carmen so as soon as the boat got to Cozumel we got on a ferry to the mainland. Once again we were only there for a half a day so our time was really limited. We could only do one thing there. So we talked two ladies that work with Nate into coming with us. I'm not sure they were really excited about it and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have come if we had actually filled them in on all the details, but they came and we were really glad they did. The deal is, everyone gets a Jeep Wrangler, 4 people to a jeep. Nate drove ours, there were 8 Jeeps total with the 2 tour guides in separate vehicles. We drove as a caravan through the city to this private beach where they fed us lunch and gave us drinks and we had an hour and a half to just enjoy. We were the only people there, 26 of us just hanging out on the beach. It was great. The weather was fantastic, I know most of you would disagree with me but it was overcast and cool but not cold. It was so nice. Not too hot and with only 1.5 hours its not like you can get a lot of sun bathing in. We ate a delicious lunch of beans, rice, chicken, tortillas. We sat on the beach and talked went for a little walk. It was great.
Once our time was up there they got us all back in the jeeps and we were on our way again. This is where we had the most fun. The roads they were taking us on were dirt and very bumpy which by itself isn't very fun. This time it had been raining so all the holes were filled with muddy water, were the 2nd to last Jeep in the caravan, followed only one of the tour guides. We would just wait for all the jeeps to get through the puddles and then Nate would floor it and we would go flying through water splashing everywhere. Now, the Jeep did have a top on it, just canvas, but no side windows just the windshield. So the enhances the effect when there is water flying all around you and dripping in on you from the roof. The Jeep we were is was totally trashed when we got it. No flooring just the metal with holes in it, which proved interesting when we were going through the puddles, poor Helen got a whole lap full of water. There were no nobs for the heat or A/C, no radio, no horn, no rear view mirror, I don't think the lights worked, the clutch was so loose Nate could change gears without even using it. At least the brakes worked. Needless to say we felt no need to worry about the condition of the car as we covered it in mud. We were laughing so hard the people in front of us kept looking to see what we were doing. It was probably about an hour of dirt roads and we laughed our heads off the whole time. It was so great! We were so glad Janice and Helen came with us so we didn't have to worry about having someone we didn't know in the car and having be careful. Plus they were so much fun. It was a blast. When we left the beach they took us to an ancient Mayan cave with a river flowing through it. Helen has bad knees so she wasn't able to enjoy the caves very much and Janice hung out with her. Neither of them wanted to swim anyway. The rest of the group was able to swim in the caves. It is really clean mineral water that is so crystal clear you could see perfectly to the bottom even in the spots were it was 30 feet deep. It was amazing. There was no color to the water so it just looked like air, you would look around the cave and not be able to see where the water started. It was amazing. They took us around and showed us some new stalactites that were only 3oo years old or something like that. There were some Jaguar bones on the bottom and a tunnel that you have to scuba dive because the opening is under water, but it is 1.5 miles long. They said Discovery channel came out a couple years ago and ran a wire through the tunnel so divers wouldn't get lost in it. They said it is also very dangerous. The caves are made of limestone and they collapse sometimes so when you are diving the tunnel you have to be careful because it could cave in on you. The cave we were in was pretty safe, there were pillars of stalactites meeting up with stalagmites which give the cave its support. The water was really cold so we swam around for a while and then I was freezing and we wanted to get back to Helen and Janice so we got out.
On our way back to the cars there is a little picnic area where they give everyone a drink and ask for tips. Nate and I got there first and we were getting our drinks when one of the ladies there showed us a family of Spider Monkeys in the trees right above us. It was a mom, dad and baby. When it was just the 2 of us they just sat there and watched us. I tried to get some pictures of them but they were too far away. Once everyone else started coming up the mom and baby scrambled up to the top of the tree and the dad freaked out. He was trying to get rid of us, he put on a good show. He was yelling and jumping from tree to tree, he ripped a branch of one tree and threw it down. It was cool to see as long as you were standing far enough away. He calmed down eventually.
We left after that and made it back to Cozumel by 8:00pm or so. The ship was leaving at 10:00pm so Nate (under protest) and I went shopping. We really only went into a couple stores and we didn't get very much stuff, just some souvenirs. Then we went back to the ship and ate dinner. So while it said on the itinerary that we would be spending a day in Cozumel we actually only spent about 45 minutes. It was so fun though. I would definately go back.
Every night on the ship we just hung out. It was fun the have it with Nate's company because there were always people we knew wherever we went. We spent most of our nights talking to people. Watching them gamble and/or drink. We went and saw a really bad comedian the 2nd night and that was the only show we saw. I don't think we were drunk enough to enjoy his comedy. It was bad. We kept trying to hang out in the Karaoke lounge but it was too small and really pretty lame so we just wondered around until we found someone interesting to talk too, or something fun to do. I met a lot of people that work for Nextgen, and I would say of all the people we met, Nate and I were the only ones not drinking. It was fun though. Nate's co-workers are all very nice people.
On the last day his company had a big meeting before dinner. One of the ladies, Dottie and her husband Mike are in a band and they brought their guitars with them. So they did an impromtu show for the company meeting. They got a guy that works for Nextgen that plays piano REALLY well, and another lady singing back up. Nate sang lead vocals for one song, the only one he knew. Dottie played bass and Mike guitar. It was a hit. They were actually pretty good. The sound wasnt' great and they had only had an hour to practice together but they still sounded good, and everyone loved it.
So I would say to sum it up we had a great time. The excursions were fantastic we got lucky this year and picked some good ones. The ship was fun, the company was fun. We had a good time. We are SO happy to be home and have Max with us again. He makes us so happy!
So now about the cruise. It was a 4 day cruise (2 days of travel, yuck! Miami is so far away). We left from Miami on Thursday it was supposed to be around 4 p.m but the ship didn't actually set sail until 7:30p.m so engine trouble and then a coast guard inspection. Anyway we sailed through the night and docked at the Key West Friday morning. We were only in Key West for half a day, I wish it would have been longer. Nate and I decided to go fishing while we were there. It wasn't deep sea fishing, just light tackle. I will admit I didn't really want to go, but Nate REALLY wanted to go so I conceded. We had a blast! It was so much fun. I had no idea fishing could be so much fun. We were on a little motor boat with 5 other tourists and the captain. We just went out to sea about 30 minutes out, I don't know how many miles, and started with bottom fishing. I was cutting up chum which involves pulling rotting fish out of the cooler and cutting them up with scissors so the fish will come eat them. I starting cutting really big pieces and they were just floating away so the captain told me to cut them smaller so the fish would eat them. Well in a few minutes there was a big shark cruising around our boat. It was about 7-8 feet. We all decided we wanted to try to catch it so the captain rigged up something that involved half a dead fish on the end of a wire and we tried for a while but the fish weren't biting and the shark was gone so we gave up and started trolling. That means you get a rod throw the end in the water and drive around for a while the line gets pulled out then when it is out far enough(according the captain) we just drive around and wait for a fish to bite. Everyone in the boat caught at least one fish some people caught more. Nate caught about 5 I think. He fed the bait bucket for the next tourists. I only caught one fish which ended up being only 1/2 a fish by the time I got it to the boat. I was reeling it in, apparently not fast enough, and I felt this big tug. I thought I have lost the fish but I kept reeling and sure enough I pulled in 1/2 my fish. The other half got eaten on it's way in. All in all the trip was a success. Everyone on the boat was really cool. We all had a blast. The captain was great. He was this 43 year old guy, who looked about 25, from Brooklyn. He had been in Key West for 15 years with no plans of every leaving. I asked him if he was just permanently on vacation and he said with occasional breaks to go fishing. What a life huh? I could totally see why people do that. I could totally see myself doing that. Joe, I have found your calling in life. I think he does alright too. He said he has a place down in Costa Rica too. He gets paid by his boss and then tips from everyone on the boat. And he gets to fish all day everyday, which is what he loves. He was good too. He is out there everyday and everyday he catches something and not just one or two, enough for everyone on the boat. He knew what he was doing which made it a lot of fun for us. We had so much fun I was tempted to go fishing again in Cozumel.
We didn't though. Instead we went on this excursion called Caverns by Jeep. It wasn't in Cozumel it was in Playa Del Carmen so as soon as the boat got to Cozumel we got on a ferry to the mainland. Once again we were only there for a half a day so our time was really limited. We could only do one thing there. So we talked two ladies that work with Nate into coming with us. I'm not sure they were really excited about it and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have come if we had actually filled them in on all the details, but they came and we were really glad they did. The deal is, everyone gets a Jeep Wrangler, 4 people to a jeep. Nate drove ours, there were 8 Jeeps total with the 2 tour guides in separate vehicles. We drove as a caravan through the city to this private beach where they fed us lunch and gave us drinks and we had an hour and a half to just enjoy. We were the only people there, 26 of us just hanging out on the beach. It was great. The weather was fantastic, I know most of you would disagree with me but it was overcast and cool but not cold. It was so nice. Not too hot and with only 1.5 hours its not like you can get a lot of sun bathing in. We ate a delicious lunch of beans, rice, chicken, tortillas. We sat on the beach and talked went for a little walk. It was great.
Once our time was up there they got us all back in the jeeps and we were on our way again. This is where we had the most fun. The roads they were taking us on were dirt and very bumpy which by itself isn't very fun. This time it had been raining so all the holes were filled with muddy water, were the 2nd to last Jeep in the caravan, followed only one of the tour guides. We would just wait for all the jeeps to get through the puddles and then Nate would floor it and we would go flying through water splashing everywhere. Now, the Jeep did have a top on it, just canvas, but no side windows just the windshield. So the enhances the effect when there is water flying all around you and dripping in on you from the roof. The Jeep we were is was totally trashed when we got it. No flooring just the metal with holes in it, which proved interesting when we were going through the puddles, poor Helen got a whole lap full of water. There were no nobs for the heat or A/C, no radio, no horn, no rear view mirror, I don't think the lights worked, the clutch was so loose Nate could change gears without even using it. At least the brakes worked. Needless to say we felt no need to worry about the condition of the car as we covered it in mud. We were laughing so hard the people in front of us kept looking to see what we were doing. It was probably about an hour of dirt roads and we laughed our heads off the whole time. It was so great! We were so glad Janice and Helen came with us so we didn't have to worry about having someone we didn't know in the car and having be careful. Plus they were so much fun. It was a blast. When we left the beach they took us to an ancient Mayan cave with a river flowing through it. Helen has bad knees so she wasn't able to enjoy the caves very much and Janice hung out with her. Neither of them wanted to swim anyway. The rest of the group was able to swim in the caves. It is really clean mineral water that is so crystal clear you could see perfectly to the bottom even in the spots were it was 30 feet deep. It was amazing. There was no color to the water so it just looked like air, you would look around the cave and not be able to see where the water started. It was amazing. They took us around and showed us some new stalactites that were only 3oo years old or something like that. There were some Jaguar bones on the bottom and a tunnel that you have to scuba dive because the opening is under water, but it is 1.5 miles long. They said Discovery channel came out a couple years ago and ran a wire through the tunnel so divers wouldn't get lost in it. They said it is also very dangerous. The caves are made of limestone and they collapse sometimes so when you are diving the tunnel you have to be careful because it could cave in on you. The cave we were in was pretty safe, there were pillars of stalactites meeting up with stalagmites which give the cave its support. The water was really cold so we swam around for a while and then I was freezing and we wanted to get back to Helen and Janice so we got out.
On our way back to the cars there is a little picnic area where they give everyone a drink and ask for tips. Nate and I got there first and we were getting our drinks when one of the ladies there showed us a family of Spider Monkeys in the trees right above us. It was a mom, dad and baby. When it was just the 2 of us they just sat there and watched us. I tried to get some pictures of them but they were too far away. Once everyone else started coming up the mom and baby scrambled up to the top of the tree and the dad freaked out. He was trying to get rid of us, he put on a good show. He was yelling and jumping from tree to tree, he ripped a branch of one tree and threw it down. It was cool to see as long as you were standing far enough away. He calmed down eventually.
We left after that and made it back to Cozumel by 8:00pm or so. The ship was leaving at 10:00pm so Nate (under protest) and I went shopping. We really only went into a couple stores and we didn't get very much stuff, just some souvenirs. Then we went back to the ship and ate dinner. So while it said on the itinerary that we would be spending a day in Cozumel we actually only spent about 45 minutes. It was so fun though. I would definately go back.
Every night on the ship we just hung out. It was fun the have it with Nate's company because there were always people we knew wherever we went. We spent most of our nights talking to people. Watching them gamble and/or drink. We went and saw a really bad comedian the 2nd night and that was the only show we saw. I don't think we were drunk enough to enjoy his comedy. It was bad. We kept trying to hang out in the Karaoke lounge but it was too small and really pretty lame so we just wondered around until we found someone interesting to talk too, or something fun to do. I met a lot of people that work for Nextgen, and I would say of all the people we met, Nate and I were the only ones not drinking. It was fun though. Nate's co-workers are all very nice people.
On the last day his company had a big meeting before dinner. One of the ladies, Dottie and her husband Mike are in a band and they brought their guitars with them. So they did an impromtu show for the company meeting. They got a guy that works for Nextgen that plays piano REALLY well, and another lady singing back up. Nate sang lead vocals for one song, the only one he knew. Dottie played bass and Mike guitar. It was a hit. They were actually pretty good. The sound wasnt' great and they had only had an hour to practice together but they still sounded good, and everyone loved it.
So I would say to sum it up we had a great time. The excursions were fantastic we got lucky this year and picked some good ones. The ship was fun, the company was fun. We had a good time. We are SO happy to be home and have Max with us again. He makes us so happy!
Monday, September 15, 2008
A Memo from Nate
This evening I'm typing on behalf of all those that have married above themselves. (So pretty much any man that has married a woman.)
Occasionally when mired down in the mind-numbingly mundane routine of mouse clicking my way to the next paycheck, I will surface from the sea of ones and zeros and think just how lucky I am to have met my wife.
A great scoutmaster once told me that you should always leave a campsite better than you found it...This is practical advice that my wife has taken to a celestialized level. She always leaves ANY place better than she found it. I'm often embarrassed when I arrive at a family or social event without my wife and parents/siblings/life-long friends will forgo the usual pleasantries toward me for the expected question..."Where's Maria?" Make no mistake about this. They do not ask this question to be polite. (The subtext here is less than subtle. They are saying "Why do you even bother to show up without the person that we've all been waiting for you to marry to justify the hundreds of hours we've wasted on you.) People look forward to seeing her like an amateur chili judge looks forward to cool liquid.
I can think of no better compliment to give my wife than to say that children adore her. They are drawn to her as powerfully as an appropriately powerful metaphor is eluding me right now. I see pictures of the Savior with children gathered around him and I imagine that these little ones feel something of His love in Maria's presence. My son is a true "Mama's boy". I have a perfectly goofy smile on my face as I type this because I love how much she loves our son.
I guess our relationship is a bit of a paradox. When I compare myself to my beautiful, charitable, kind, athletic, loving wife...you could say that I've been left wanting (That's the nicest way I could think to put that). Yet she makes me feel like I'm the best version of Nate possible. Maybe I'm just "exceptional by association".
Most people that will take the time to read this will undoubtedly (and correctly) point out that I have fallen well short of the minimum standard adjective requirement to describe how wonderful Maria is. I just wanted to let her and y'all know that I know that.
Occasionally when mired down in the mind-numbingly mundane routine of mouse clicking my way to the next paycheck, I will surface from the sea of ones and zeros and think just how lucky I am to have met my wife.
A great scoutmaster once told me that you should always leave a campsite better than you found it...This is practical advice that my wife has taken to a celestialized level. She always leaves ANY place better than she found it. I'm often embarrassed when I arrive at a family or social event without my wife and parents/siblings/life-long friends will forgo the usual pleasantries toward me for the expected question..."Where's Maria?" Make no mistake about this. They do not ask this question to be polite. (The subtext here is less than subtle. They are saying "Why do you even bother to show up without the person that we've all been waiting for you to marry to justify the hundreds of hours we've wasted on you.) People look forward to seeing her like an amateur chili judge looks forward to cool liquid.
I can think of no better compliment to give my wife than to say that children adore her. They are drawn to her as powerfully as an appropriately powerful metaphor is eluding me right now. I see pictures of the Savior with children gathered around him and I imagine that these little ones feel something of His love in Maria's presence. My son is a true "Mama's boy". I have a perfectly goofy smile on my face as I type this because I love how much she loves our son.
I guess our relationship is a bit of a paradox. When I compare myself to my beautiful, charitable, kind, athletic, loving wife...you could say that I've been left wanting (That's the nicest way I could think to put that). Yet she makes me feel like I'm the best version of Nate possible. Maybe I'm just "exceptional by association".
Most people that will take the time to read this will undoubtedly (and correctly) point out that I have fallen well short of the minimum standard adjective requirement to describe how wonderful Maria is. I just wanted to let her and y'all know that I know that.
Friday, August 22, 2008
11 years ago...
Well, it is hard for me to believe but it has been 11 years since my sister passed away. It seems like so long ago to me. I can't believe how much has happened since then. I was 15 and she was 16. We were best friends. We had all the same friends, interests, we spent our spare time together. I was getting ready to start High School (10th grade). It was a great time in my life. I was so happy. She got sick one day and never got better. I remember that day so clearly, I don't think I will ever forget it. My brother and I were working together as lifeguards and had been to a meeting that morning. We went straight to the hospital after. She was in a medically induced coma for comfort and had been for a few days. The doctors were working on her. It wasn't looking good. We waited all day long. In the early evening hours the doctors were on their last resort surgery. By this time there were several of our family and close friends there. We filled the waiting room and spilled over into the hall. My uncle offered to buy us all (my siblings) dinner so we went to the cafeteria and felt a little light hearted and hopeful. As soon as we had gotten our food someone came and got us. When we got up stairs my parents were in a seperate room with just an intimate few people. The doctor came in and told us that they had tried everything and she didn't make it. The room closed in around me. I was heartbroken. How could this be? She was so young. She still had so much to do. I still needed her so much. How could I lose my best friend. All I could hear was sorrow and pain. In that little room we all ached together. That is an experience that you never forget.
The next year was the longest year of my life. I started high school 3 days later. I just went through school in a daze. I didn't make many friends. I didn't want to make many friends. I had a few very good, close friends who had been through this with me. How could anyone else understand. I cried a lot. I spent a lot time in my room alone. I didn't talk much. I didn't have much to say.
Since then I have missed her so much. I have done so much that I would have wanted her to share with me. I had my first boyfriend, my first kiss. I graduated from high school. I went to college. I dated a lot. I got into nursing school and then graduated. I met and married the most incredible man I know. I have been happily married for 5 years now. I have a beautiful son that makes me so happy. I have grown and changed and learned so much. I wish I could share my life with her. I wish I could call her up on the phone and just talk to her. I wish we could raise our children together. I wish for time and memories that we missed out on.
I am surprised sometimes how much I am still affected by it. Time does help but the pain never really goes away. It seems that every year, August is a hard month for me and I can never figure out why until it gets to be the 22nd and I realize how sad I am.
There is a moral to the story. Cherish the time you have. Love the people you love and let them know, often. You never know how much time you will have together and there is nothing worse then not getting the chance to say something you wish you could have said. Life is hard sometimes I know. It is also really good sometimes. If you can remember the good things and forget the bad things, you will be happier. Enjoy the little things. The precious hugs and kisses from your little ones. The times when the person you want to share the rest of you life with looks you in the eyes and tells you how much they love you. The funny things that happen. The lessons you learn. The challenging times that make you stronger and better. Remember that we don't get to choose when our time is up. We just have to make the best of the time that we have.
As for me, I LOVE my life. I have the worlds best husband. I can't imagine what I would do without him. He is so loving and understanding. He truly wants me to be happy and he works hard at making that a reality. I have a the cutest little boy in the whole world. Yes, I am totally biased but it's true. He is such a good boy. He makes me laugh so hard. He is so smart and so sweet. He loves me and loves his daddy and loves to get hugs and kisses. He is so sweet and innocent. I am so lucky to have this perfect little family. I have the best parents ever. My brothers and sisters are great, we are close and we love to get together. I have the best in-laws ever. I think all the time about how blessed I am to have been given such a great family and then I married into an equally great family. I have wonderful friends. I love them all so much. Most of all I have the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He loves me and watches over me. I know that because of Him I can see my sister and all of the people that I love again. I know that this life is hard but there is peace and comfort through Him, and a path to eternal happiness.
The next year was the longest year of my life. I started high school 3 days later. I just went through school in a daze. I didn't make many friends. I didn't want to make many friends. I had a few very good, close friends who had been through this with me. How could anyone else understand. I cried a lot. I spent a lot time in my room alone. I didn't talk much. I didn't have much to say.
Since then I have missed her so much. I have done so much that I would have wanted her to share with me. I had my first boyfriend, my first kiss. I graduated from high school. I went to college. I dated a lot. I got into nursing school and then graduated. I met and married the most incredible man I know. I have been happily married for 5 years now. I have a beautiful son that makes me so happy. I have grown and changed and learned so much. I wish I could share my life with her. I wish I could call her up on the phone and just talk to her. I wish we could raise our children together. I wish for time and memories that we missed out on.
I am surprised sometimes how much I am still affected by it. Time does help but the pain never really goes away. It seems that every year, August is a hard month for me and I can never figure out why until it gets to be the 22nd and I realize how sad I am.
There is a moral to the story. Cherish the time you have. Love the people you love and let them know, often. You never know how much time you will have together and there is nothing worse then not getting the chance to say something you wish you could have said. Life is hard sometimes I know. It is also really good sometimes. If you can remember the good things and forget the bad things, you will be happier. Enjoy the little things. The precious hugs and kisses from your little ones. The times when the person you want to share the rest of you life with looks you in the eyes and tells you how much they love you. The funny things that happen. The lessons you learn. The challenging times that make you stronger and better. Remember that we don't get to choose when our time is up. We just have to make the best of the time that we have.
As for me, I LOVE my life. I have the worlds best husband. I can't imagine what I would do without him. He is so loving and understanding. He truly wants me to be happy and he works hard at making that a reality. I have a the cutest little boy in the whole world. Yes, I am totally biased but it's true. He is such a good boy. He makes me laugh so hard. He is so smart and so sweet. He loves me and loves his daddy and loves to get hugs and kisses. He is so sweet and innocent. I am so lucky to have this perfect little family. I have the best parents ever. My brothers and sisters are great, we are close and we love to get together. I have the best in-laws ever. I think all the time about how blessed I am to have been given such a great family and then I married into an equally great family. I have wonderful friends. I love them all so much. Most of all I have the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He loves me and watches over me. I know that because of Him I can see my sister and all of the people that I love again. I know that this life is hard but there is peace and comfort through Him, and a path to eternal happiness.
200 things...
I've italicized the ones I've done.
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby’s diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said “I love you” and meant it (Lots)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment (most of the time)
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight (almost, in High School. I was a lot stronger then)
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don’t
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie (yeah Gangrene Film Festival)
60. Gone without food for 3 days (are you kidding, I can't even go 3 hours)
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy ( do books count?)
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone (my pinky toe)
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten Sushi(regularly)
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap (I've always wanted too)
112. Cooked a dish where four or more people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or on stage (kind of)
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class (Its GREAT)
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Run away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet (see #60)
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics (SLC 2002)
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Worked as a dog catcher
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