A Year

It’s been one year today since mom died. I was doing pretty well today until about noon. I don’t really know what to say about it. It’s not my favorite day for sure. I feel bad because one of my best friends has her birthday today. She is a good sport. She understands. The most I’ve thought about today is how I feel like it has been longer than a year. I was pretty disconnected with things for about 9 months. Those were my hardest and darkest months I think. The new year helped. I’m for sure grateful for friends and family. I feel as though I’m slowly starting to get back.

This wasn’t supposed to be a whiney post. Sorry.  Basically I decided that while today is a rough day and a hard day I would prefer to remember my mom for how great she was and how much I love her. I love her for her great example. Thanks mom! I love ya and miss you!

To wordpress or to not wordpress

So I'm exploring the possibilty of switching over to wordpress.com. I think I am going to post in both spots until I decide what to do. So here is that address if you are interested in checking it out. http://lifelawandthensome.wordpress.com/ If you have a vote one way or another let me know.

Housewarming!

I decided to finally show people the house. 

 To start off the Window Bros (my nephews have a window washing business) came and washed my windows for free! They look great! Thanks guys!

 We then all went to the children's parade for the Days of '47 celebrations. (if you wonder what that is go here) My nieces, Lollie and Morgan and my nephew Kyle were in the parade. It was fun to see them.

 This is Lollie. But you can't really see her. Sorry Lollie...

 Morgan!!

 Kyle!!

 Then in the afternoon I invited friends and family over to see the house. We had loads of food. I made BBQ pork and everyone brought desserts. Thanks everyone!

 I had the idea to have a swimming pool for the kids. I had a painting party a while ago and I turned on the sprinkler for the kids and needless to say Abby (my niece) was less than impressed. She kept telling me to go buy a pool. When I wouldn't do it she would go bug my SIL Eryn. So I bought one. However it got stormy today. So I decided to get paint and markers and let the kids draw or paint pictures that I could hang up on my blank walls.

 Morgan and Lollie get their art on!

 Thankfully the sun came out and the kids got to swim as well.

 My poor cat. My dad decided he needed "a bath" and chucked him in the pool. I found him soaked and muddy on my bed later. Then Dad decided Frankie (the cat) needed to paint a picture. Needless to say the cat had a rough day and is now covered in red paint. Thankfully its washable. The cat is spent. He is currently sprawled out on the couch. He is letting me pet him too...which he rarely allows.

 Clara and Hailey painting

 My awesome pictures to put up!

Overall I would say it was a success and we all had a great time. Thanks everyone for coming and thanks for bringing something. I survived my party...maybe I can do another one some time....maybe :)

What I learned while in Austin

This last week I was in Austin, Texas for an immigration conference for work. It was a very informative. So I thought I'd share my wisdom with you.

1. Everyone wants to be tipped, even the bellhop who picked up your dropped pen.
2. Its ok to have a 30 min 2 mile run when its 90 degrees and 50% humidity.
3. Yes you do look like a tool with a cowboy hat and a diamond earring.
4. Austin has more one way streets than common sense.
5. Going to what you think is a regular restaurant only to have it be a cantina and only ordering water is frowned upon. Order the hard stuff...a NON-diet Dr. Pepper.
6. Crossing the street to "look" at the clothes at Patagonia results in a "purchase" at Patagonia.
7. Realizing your Patagonia purchase was so comfortable you wear it twice in 3 days and again to church on Sunday.
8. Beasty girls should not be allowed to: marry, date, talk to, be in the general vicinity of really nice guys. Sorry sister you only get the tool with the earring. You yelling at your husband in the middle of the airport makes me want to poke you with your high heel. Hey guy when she eventually divorces you (since you are too nice to do it) I'm available.
9. Room service, while good and enables my bad habit of laziness, should not be used, it is expensive...unless the cute guy is working then order everything, every hour.
10. The homeless lady on the corner will call you a "white b@#$" about 13 times before the light changes.
11. No matter how often you run around the Texas Capitol building, Rick Perry will not come out and yell something crazy....he only does that on national TV.
12. Tina Fey is hilarious.
13. Just because Austin touts to be the live music capital of the world doesn't mean its good music.
14. Exploring an unknown city is fun....as long as you have google maps.
15. Seeing priests and nuns drink is weird to see.
16. Being at a Catholic conference telling people you are Mormon results in a funny face with a recovery "ohhh...that's nice."
17. You really can hold your tongue while sitting next to a staff member of a (shall remain nameless) Utah congressman. Good job. But we all know how you really feel.
18. Immigration law really is as hugged up as you thought.
19. Never practice in Chicago or Texas...their CIS offices are crazy!
20. Austin was great!! But sometimes its always nice to go home.
21. "Complimentary peanuts" results in a $5 room charge.
22. Its nice to see that Mormon's aren't the only ones who pray to start a conference and over meals.
23. Your new favorite saying, "lie to everyone but God and immigration." Said by a nice lady whose name I failed to learn helping victims of DV. Bless you.
24. I love what I do.
25. There are really great, humble people doing a lot of good for people that desperately need it.

Mi Casa es well mi casa...

I got a house! Finally! Remember this post? Well I didn't get this house:

I got this house!

It has been the longest huggin' ordeal! I am going to die in this house because I'm not sure I can go through that again. Plus my lender was HORRIBLE! I won't mention who it was even though everything I would say is true so it wouldn't be defamation. Buuuut we'll just be safe and not say anything. :) I'm glad its over. Technically I could move in now but I want to at least do the kitchen. AND a crime was committed in my house!! The crime being the old owners tore up, TORE UP the original hardwoods! Who does that?! Ridiculous. So I'm stuck with ugly purple carpet for a while! Dumb people. But for my kitchen I will give you a hint. It involves this:

Stay tuned!

Training day: 1. A trail running wake up call

Today was day one of new training with Jenny for a 15k. So here's how it went. It blew. We were set to do 2 miles. Well I did two miles. I just walked...a lot! Which is frustrating going from consistently running 7-8 miles last June and July to not even doing two. I am a month post op from the appendix almost bursting but I have no pain from that so I can't use it as an excuse. Though because of it I pretty much had to take the whole month off. Lame. But this was day one. It can only get better from here right? So we ran a canal road in West Jordan tonight. It was all dirt road. I have ran trails before and really liked it but this was a great wake up call at #1. Remembering how difficult that can be until you adjust your footing and #2. How out of shape I am for trail running. Which means I just need to do more of it. But that's the report and hopefully Monday I will have awesome news! No I'm not getting married Becky. ;-) peace out!!

A birthday letter for mom

      Well mom its your birthday. Happy birthday! I took flowers to you this morning. I hope you liked them. I always liked giving you flowers. Anything really. You were always so appreciative of things I gave you. Even when it was ugly costume jewelry when I was 10. Honestly its been kind of a rough day. I couldn't sleep last night because I was trying to figure out how I would handle your first birthday without you. I tend to have lots of dreams about you. All I ever get to do in them is give you one last hug or we make one last joke. As hard as those are to wake up from I always feel like I had a little piece of you for a second. Isn't it nice to recognize the tender mercies we are given sometimes? I think about you every day and find that little things remind me of you. I was eating a yogurt today and it reminded me of when I ate some yogurt from your fridge that turned out to be 4 months old and I called you to complain and you said "well....nice knowin ya!" :) So witty. I loved that about you.
       Dad sure misses you mom. I am trying to do what I can but I'm afraid I am not quite to your caliber. He loves you a lot and thinks of you often. Some days are harder than others and he tries to not let it show but I can tell. You were a great example to me of what unconditional love for your spouse means. You always did for him and him for you. You both are great examples to me. If every marriage was like yours I probably wouldn't be so scared of it. :) We had an Easter party with the family last week. You would have been sorely disappointed that no jello eggs made an appearance. Have no fear I'll step it up at the next party. You showed me how to be a great hostess. You and dad should be proud. We kids didn't turn out so bad, although we all sometimes wonder about Becky. (just kidding Becky!!)
        I'm buying a house mom. not sure if you knew that. I'm sure you do. You would have loved the house. I know you would have brought me a plant on closing day, bought me things to put on my front porch, helped me plant flowers, made a face at my idea for paint on one wall in the kitchen (let's just say it involves lemon yellow and silver :D), you would have stopped by "on your way home" even though this house is no where close to you just to say "hi". But I know you are still cheering me on and guiding me and I thank you for that.
      As the years pass and life continues to move forward I hope you never think I've forgotten you. I never could. You were and still are someone I try to be. I hope one day I'll get close. I know that I will always need your guidance and direction mom, please help me even if I forget to ask. Thank you for all you ever did for me and sticking with me during my terrible fourteens :). I look forward to the day when I will see you again and give you that hug I've been wanting to give you since the day you left. You were an amazing mom and grandmother. We couldn't have asked for anyone better. I love you and miss you. Happy birthday.
                                                              Love,
                                                                 Emily