Shower for Miss

Last night my mom and sisters and I threw Melissa a baby shower. We are not boy experts, having only one in our family and all nieces so far, but it was fun to plan something for a baby boy. We had so much good food, talked for hours and patted her tummy more times than she probably cared for.

My biggest regret is not getting a picture of her cute pregnant self. (I also neglected to get one with Allison - (Hi Allison! I know you are reading this) or Hills.

I drove my sister Lacey home after the shower to her in-laws where she is staying for a few days. Out of nowhere a deer ran out from some bushes in front of our car. Luckily we stopped in time, but really, we barely missed it. We sat there for awhile with our hands on our hearts in the middle of the road and kept asking each other, "Are you okay? Are you okay?"

Today I am sitting at my desk, feeling so grateful for such an enjoyable night. For safety in the midst of deer jaywalks, and the fact that we can ask each other, "Are you okay?" Because sometimes the answer is no, but at least for now, we are all okay.

On Kindness

I think there is something that should be said about kindness.

I don't know what point in your life it is when you come to the mature decision that you want to be kind, but I wish I had reached it much, much sooner. You can teach good morals to your children, you can teach them how to dress, you can teach them politeness, but I think kindness is a decision each person has to make and I believe, it has to be an entirely conscious decision. You are not kind. You choose to be kind.

I say this because I married a very kind person. Or rather, a man who chooses to be kind. Every time I begin to say something negative about someone else I try to catch myself because of him. He never joins in the slandering. He listens, like a good husband should but he cannot add to the negativity. It is simply not in his nature. He is especially kind to me. So kind that, because I am not quite as good as him, I push his kindness on purpose at times - yet he always, always responds with kindness.

I used to want to be popular and beautiful and famous. But because of him, I really just want to be kind. Consciously kind.

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The Shack

"Each relationship between two persons is absolutely unique. That is why you cannot love two people the same. It simply is not possible. You love each person differently because of who they are and the uniqueness that they draw out of you."

This is not the sort of book I typically read. Most often I research my books ahead of time by reading reviews, or discussing them with my sisters - who read more than anyone. This time though, I was at the airport and a co-worker recommended the book to me.

I am on the fence about whether I liked it or not. I surely didn't love it, but I feel like there were some important things I learned from it. From a literary standpoint, it was a disaster. Most of it was dialogue for the sake of dialogue, when only one character was saying anything worthwhile. The main character struggles to develop because other characters are so strongly developed. Admittedly, this book has a lot of flaws.

I was reading it at the dentist, and he asked me what it was about. "Theology" I replied, although I wasn't entirely sure. It is a Christian book, but not really theology - I am not sure where I would put it. At the beginning it states that you can decide for yourself whether or not the events are true. I hated that. Either it's true or it's not - it was too bizarre to be creative nonfiction, and if based on real events, I am not sure what those events are. I was bothered that I couldn't place it in any genre, and that no truth is admitted.

Still, there were some beautiful, redeeming themes that made it a worthwhile read - (if you have already read the Western Canon :) So much was based on forgiveness, moving on, and most of all God's love. Although I definitely don't agree that God is a black woman who cooks all day, some of the text reminded me of God's own love for me. There is a part similar to the miracle of Peter walking on water. That has always been one of my favorite parts of the New Testament, because I think we are all so much like Peter. I also love any sort of fable or tale told within a story and there is a great one about an Indian maid.

Honestly though, I probably wouldn't recommend this book. There are so many more books that made me feel so much more alive than this one, although that was its blatant aim. However, if you enjoy reading Christian literature, you might love it.

Have you read The Shack? What did you think?

Emerson Lynn

This girl made my Lake Powell trip worth every second.

I promise, she is the cutest thing.

Upon Return

Earth's crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God,

But only he who sees takes off his shoes;

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Upon my return from a week at the Lake,

this poem is the only thing in my thoughts.

The Help

"Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, we are just two people. Not much separates us. Not nearly as much as I thought."

I bought my first copy of "The Help" for my grandma for mother's day, 2010. My dad recommended it and asked me to buy it for her and write a note inside it from him, since he was in Connecticut at the time. I bought it without thinking about reading it myself, but after several friends and family members who were shocked when I told them I hadn't read it myself, I bought a copy for myself, and finished it in three days.

This is the kind of book where you fall in love with the characters. Usually when books are told from different points of view, I always have a favorite voice that I can't wait to get back to. (Think Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, or The Poisonwood Bible) But Aibileen, Minny and Miss Skeeter were all my favorites, in their own way. Their voices were unique and fresh and their characters very believable. I could feel their love developing throughout the pages in a realistic way. I felt a stronger appreciation for the sacrifices these women experienced in order to bring about a much-needed change.

That being said, I was disappointed for a few days after finishing it. I suppose after all of the hype it received I would feel different after reading it - that it would resound with me even weeks afterwards because of its profound prose and heart-stringed sentences. Then I realized that the beauty of this novel is its subtle truth. Kathryn Stockett didn't go overboard with her literature, nor did she underwhelm me. She told the truth. And after reading the truth, you don't just think about it for a couple days after finishing it - you think about it anytime there is a need for the truth in your life. It took some time for that to finally settle inside of me but now that it has, I can honestly recommend The Help to anyone who believes that the world is changed in small ways by simple people.

What did you think of The Help?

Hotel Room at the Wynn

I realize that not everyone wants to see the hotel room I stayed in on my trip to Vegas. However, I enjoy seeing hotel room photos on other blogs, because sometimes their simplicity translates into design that would work for any home. I also wanted Kevin to see what he missed out on by not coming :)

My trip was wonderful, but the next week I anticipate being even better. I am taking my first vacation since our honeymoon with my family on a houseboat in Lake Powell. Forgive me if posting is slow, and happy weekend!

The Vegas

Last night I returned from a four day business trip to Vegas. I have been there several times throughout High School and College with friends, but never really got the full experience. Those times I was always concerned with money and heat. This time was so different. I had a beautiful hotel room at the Wynn (I will post photos of that tomorrow - totally worth its own post,) the company took us out for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday at the most amazing restaurants, and I met some truly incredible and successful people. If it weren't for Kevin and everyone I love being in Utah, I would have loved staying in that dream of an experience forever.

My breakfast at The Sugar Factory. Crème brûlée crepes with raspberry sorbet. Exquisite.

Largest H&M in the world. Do yourself a favor and go to Vegas just for that H&M.

Shopping spoils.

Love to be Had

"He’s not perfect. You aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn’t going to quote poetry, he’s not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break. Don’t hurt him, don’t change him, and don’t expect for more than he can give. Don’t analyze. Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad, and miss him when he’s not there. Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don’t exist, but there’s always one guy that is perfect for you."

- Bob Marley

People ask me sometimes if being married now is a hard adjustment. Every time I want to laugh. Of course it is hard. I come from a family of all girls - he grew up in a Bachelor pad. We don't agree on everything, we don't agree on a lot of things. We are two different people from very different worlds who dated for a year and a half and are sticking it out to be together forever. But ask me if I love it?

Yes. Every second of it.

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The Harder it Gets

I keep this quote above my desk at work. It reminds me to "Take Heart." A phrase that marries courage with faith. Something I need everyday.

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On Falling in Love

It's not as though we fell in love all at once.

There was the time I drew the heart tattoo on his arm, so he would wake up.

The time we waded through the New Hampshire river, discussing bad proms - and I worried that he would hold my hand because I wanted him to - - but I didn't want him to.

The time we danced under the stars in the summer night and fell asleep on a hammock under the same stars.

The time we were afraid to say goodbye, but we said it because you have to say goodbyes and they don't mean forever but they feel like it.

The time under the umbrella in the pouring rain and I was leaving him.

The time I sat on a plane with eyes brimming with tears and a heavy heart and clashing fears.

The time I saw him after months and I still fit in his arms the same way and my words and thoughts and love couldn't remember him fast enough.

The time he woke up on Christmas morning with bright eyes and messy hair and a surge of overwhelming overtook me.

The time he cried with me because we realized that we could do this. We could be together if we chose that and we chose that because we wanted it.

You don't fall in love all at once.

What would be the fun in that anyway.

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Julie's Wedding

Julie and Dj's wedding was lovely. Although it was the snowiest day in April, the sun came out for them to get a few pictures on the temple grounds. It was so beautiful seeing their happiness. They have been in love for four years, spent two of those years apart, and finally were able to be married. They are our best friends and we love them so much.

photos by Lora Grady Photography

Project Runway

I tried to be productive this weekend. No really - I did. We got sushi one night, played games with Julie and D.J, had family over for dinner and played tennis. But most of my weekend was consumed with watching the ENTIRE season 7 of Project Runway. (All 14 episodes). I could either feel super embarrassed about the fact that I spent 14 hours in front of my computer, eating Pocky's and in my pajamas, or I could celebrate the incredible artists that awed me through their designs and their production. (I think I'll choose the latter).

I decided if I had to be on one reality show, it would have to be P.R. The skill of the designers both artistically and technically is really inspiring, and although some of the designs were less than inspired, and the winner was my least favorite guy all season (Seth Aaron), I can't wait to go back and watch every past season.

Do you watch it? Want to have a marathon with me?

And if I won this, I would cry happiness tears.

Life Together

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with life.

And then I try to look into the future and I picture us together,

and no matter what we're still together,

and somehow life doesn't seem so hard,

or so long.

It just feels like the things we do make life hard,

But being together is who we are. That's our real life.

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Baby Shower

This weekend, Heather and I threw our dear friend Rachael a baby shower. We kept it simple with a crepe brunch and a small candy bar. The guest list was small and personal, all of us being best friends. The perfect way to celebrate a new baby.