Mothering
“Her mothering influence has been felt by many hundreds, perhaps thousands of people, and she has refined the role of nurturer to an art form” Julie Beck.
For years quotes like the above would make me groan and roll my eyes. Too many of my Mormon friends this may seem surprising, even shocking. How could I have such feelings about the divine roll of motherhood? I believe there are several complicated reasons for my unique views going back to my childhood.
When I was 10 years old my mother and father announced they were expecting a baby. In my young years I was nothing but excited about such news. In fact, a number of friends mom’s had babies and I was excited to be part of the trend. My father must have approached the news with more trepidation because he knew what a pregnancy meant for my mom. While no doubt excited to have more children, my parents knew that having a baby meant nearly-full bed-rest for my mother. At the time my dad was working to start his own software company and I can’t imagine what the stress must have been like knowing he was about to be both bread-winner and substitute mom for three children. No doubt there was many a prayerful night pleading to have the strength for his family and this new treasured baby.
Being a selfish child it was hard for me to see my mother in bed- especially in the beginning when she had both morning sickness and bed-rest. However, there were many positive life-lessons that came from this first pregnancy. I have memories of my sister and I (at 8 and 10) cooking meals for the family during that pregnancy. I know that Megan used to make muffins of all kinds (she still does). I remember when my dad brought home 10 lbs of barbecued beef because we had said we liked it once! I remember when Ben got mice and they had babies in the middle of the night (that was the one event my mother got out of bed for!). I remember when I tried to make maui smoothie for my mom and the blender exploded all over the kitchen (thanks to a kind neighbor for helping us with that one!). I even remember Megan’s baptism with a pregnant Mom in Winter- she did attend that event.
Clearly we learned a lot about working hard, caring for a house, cleaning, and taking care of a baby. On the negative side I learned that baby’s were hard work. Hard work that took both of my parents away from my life (again selfish child). This was amplified by our move across the country to Maryland when Anna was a year old. So now I had to make new friends in a new place while still adjusting to a new sibling.
Somehow I made it through the tough middle school years and was ready to start high school. You can imagine my mixed feelings when in January of that year my parents announced another pregnancy. This is when my little brother Sammy was born. Once again we had to go through the experience of my mother being sick and bed-ridden, except for this time we had to do it with a 5 year old to take care of. It was a good thing my dad was an independent businessman who worked at home, or I don’t know how he could have done it. I give him a lot of credit for holding down our family during those times.
Still for selfish me, it wasn’t enough. In my eyes my parents weren’t around for my high school events the way my friend’s parents were- and I blamed it on the care of a baby. I am not saying this was the right way to look at the situation. My friends would spend weekends in DC exploring, take trips to the nearby beaches (something we never did the entire time we lived in Maryland), and visit historical attractions. This was very difficult with an infant and a 5 year old.
I also had a very independent, prideful streak (and still do to a lesser extent) that refused to admit to any of these feelings or discuss them with my parents. Instead, I became super active with my friends and felt my family were a bunch of people I couldn’t really relate too. Luckily for my parents I also gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon at this time so I didn’t rebel the way I might otherwise have. At the time, Ben and Megan seemed like the similar ones, who longed to be at home. I just didn’t feel that way. Like many teenagers I felt different, out of place, and even a little lonely. I wanted to get out and explore the world. I did what I could in little Middletown but deep down inside I wanted more. This is where I first latched onto the idea of going to BYU, and I never gave up on that dream. This is also the time when I wanted to move out on my own more than anything else (my mother says I was ready to move out when I was a baby!).
Adding to my feelings was a young womens program (fantastic in many ways) that in my eyes focused way too much on motherhood. I felt like every lesson was on motherhood and how wonderful it was. These lessons failed to describe the bed-rest, labor, nightly care, isolation, and hard work baby’s need. I felt like they were living some different version of motherhood than my family presented. I grew to resent these messages, even in Conference. I have never taken well to being told what to do and with motherhood I felt it was the only option presented for women in the church. Like if I didn’t like or want to have my own babies I was a terrible person. You can imagine the conflict this created inside me.
As I grew up my testimony of the gospel increased in every way except for motherhood. This kind of explains why I was less-than-thrilled when my parents told me they were expecting again the spring before I first attended BYU. This was my dream and now I was going to be abandoning my mother to pursue my dream. I knew the road would be rough and I was actually quite mad at them. I remember Ben being mystified at my reaction- How could I not want another beautiful baby? Again, it was a selfish reaction.
The next few months were very difficult on our entire family. My mom tried her best to be positive but with both Meg and I gone she struggled. I felt guilty and sad for my mom but I think there was a side of me that also felt relief- relief for being far away from the stress and pressure. In an odd way my first summer in college was a picnic compared to what I saw as the stress of home. I don’t remember feeling homesick at all. Strange, hah?
Somehow my mother made it through and our family survived. Of course, now I can’t imagine my life without my siblings. They are precious to me beyond words- partly because of the sacrifice paid to bring them into the world. All three pregnancies were crucible moments for our family- particularly for my parents and us three older children. I feel we are united together in a way the younger three are not. They have not faced such a struggling time, and I hope they do not have to.
Even with the deep love I felt for my siblings I still had issues about motherhood. This continued all the way through my mission. Even today I get annoyed when I feel like the message is shared without any hint at the difficulties. To make matters worse I felt guilty every time I would hear about how natural and wonderful motherhood was. What was wrong with me? Why didn’t I feel that way?Why I am the only Mormon woman who wasn’t crazy about having kids?
After much thought and prayer I finally found the answer that worked for me. It happened after reading D&C 64:34 which says:
“Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days”
I realized “I have a willing heart”, “I do strive to be obedient”. I may be different from other women but the Lord loves me for or in spite of those differences. He will help me be obedient in all I do including being a good mother if the time ever presents itself. He will help me use the skills and personality I have to build His kingdom in some way. I know that is true.
With this revelation and another spiritual experience I will not share, I stopped worrying about it as much. All that I need to do is maintain a willing and obedient heart, and if the time ever comes that I get married and feel a need to start a family, the Lord will bless me with His strength and mercy. I know that is true!
My sister is such a great mother.
Music Galore II
It is no secret that I am a huge music fan. In fact, one of my most popular posts is called Music Galore. As this was written in 2008 I thought the subject was worthy another entry. While my favorite music groups has not changed since that entry, I have been introduced to some new artists and sampled some great albums.
1. Let me start off with my current favorite album. It is by one of my top ten artists- Michael Buble. His album Crazy Love is appropriately titled because I am crazy in love with it. Particularly all of the bubbly, happy songs like this one.
2. I love Ingrid Michaelson and Regina Spektor but I’ve recently posted about both of them. Another recent cd that I love is Norah Jones new album The Fall. She has continued with her streak of smooth, cool songs that are great for everything from work to car trips. This is my favorite of the new songs.
3. I can’t do an entry on new music without mentioning the glory of Glee. I am in serious withdrawals waiting until April for my next fix! I’ve got the entire season on my DVR and I intend on keeping it there until April. I just love it! Glee combines my love of music, theater and even television. The only thing I didn’t like from this season was the fake pregnancy storyline. It seemed too far-fetched for anyone to believe. Some of the plot is contrived and obvious but the music and cast chemistry make up for any problems. I hope in the upcoming season they give a song to the deliciously evil Coach Sue Silvester (hilarious!). I think Poor Unfortunate Souls or perhaps Before He Cheats would be funny.
4. Finally, I’d like to promote a new artist that I am enjoying who is local to Utah- Benton Paul. Last year I saw him with David Archuleta and I loved his performance. He has just put out his second album and both the vocals and song-writing are strong. Recently he has been featured on a few tv shows and one of his songs was covered by Joe Jonas. Aside from his weird name, he is quite the talent!
That’s all I can think of at the moment. I will update again soon. Enjoy the music.
Things I Like About President Obama
My readers will probably be stunned to read this title of my post. Clearly I am not a fan of most of the President’s policies and opinions. I think the bailouts, TARP and the budget have been financial disasters. I also have concerns with his views on abortion, health care, the environment, and other issues. Still, with today being nearly a year after the inauguration it seemed appropriate to mention a few things I admire about President Obama.
1. I admire his life story. I’ve read his book Dreams of my Father and found it very moving. It is amazing that the son of a single mother and an absent father from Hawaii has made it to the Presidency. Just the determination he showed to gain an elite education and a law degree would be impressive on its own, let alone becoming senator and then president. Notice I didn’t mention his race as a point of praise.
Of course it goes without saying that his election as the first African-American president is a tremendous moment for our country. I was just reading a book about the Jim Crow South and find it amazing that things could be so different between 1950’s and today. It gives a girl cause to hope for good things to come in the future.
Another aspect of his life story that I appreciate is his diversity. Growing up in Hawaii and Indonesia has given him a real-life understanding of the world, and the way many foreigners view America. While I am nervous about his views on global governance, I do think Obama’s worldview is helpful and admirable.
2. I admire his family. From all I can gather he seems like a loving husband and father. He has frequently expressed his love for Michelle and the girls, which I love to hear. I think it is a good thing that the Obama’s have been out on a few dates as President and First Lady. It sets a good example for other American couples.
President Obama has also came out in support of marriage to the chagrin of many liberal followers. In the 2008 Presidential questionnaire he said:
“I do not support gay marriage. Marriage has religious and social connotations, and I consider marriage to be between a man and a woman.”
It would be easy for a man abandoned as a boy to repeat the destructive patterns of his father. I admire that President Obama chose to be a transitional character and be a good father and husband.
One of my favorite quotes of his is about the family:
How many times in the last year has this city lost a child at the hands of another child? How many times have our hearts stopped in the middle of the night with the sound of a gunshot or a siren? How many teenagers have we seen hanging around on street corners when they should be sitting in a classroom? How many are sitting in prison when they should be working, or at least looking for a job? How many in this generation are we willing to lose to poverty or violence or addiction? How many?
Yes, we need more cops on the street. Yes, we need fewer guns in the hands of people who shouldn’t have them. Yes, we need more money for our schools. Yes, we need more jobs and more job training and more opportunity in our communities.
But we also need families to raise our children. We need fathers to realize that responsibility does not end at conception. We need them to realize that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child–it’s the courage to raise one.
3. I agree with his views on immigration. I know this is a hotly debated issue but it is one I tend to differ from Republicans on. I feel our current system is too difficult (my sister-in law was from Canada and it took her a year to get a greencard after marrying my brother and she had an attorney). There are many hard-working, good people that deserve a shot at the American Dream. If you look at the history of immigration in this country, the immigrants have always proven the doubters wrong. They have always been a benefit to our country. President Obama shares this view:
“For all the noise and anger that too often surrounds the immigration debate, America has nothing to fear from today’s immigrants. They have come here for the same reason that families have always come here–for the hope that in America, they could build a better life for themselves and their families. Like the waves of immigrants that came before them and the Hispanic Americans whose families have been here for generations, the recent arrival of Latino immigrants will only enrich our country.”
4. I admire his desire to help the down-trodden, ill and hurting. I believe he sincerely wants to help others with his programs and policies. Do I agree with the actual policies? No, but I can still admire the heart that inspired them. Perhaps I am naive to their liberal wicked desires for control (or so many conservatives claim) but I prefer to believe the best in people until proven wrong.
I admire the desire of many liberals to relieve suffering and pain but the problem I have is that the cure often becomes worse than the disease. The government should be minimally involved in our lives- it should be just enough to protect rights and keep people from starvation and revolt. Beyond that there are other, more effective avenues for assisting the needy, preserving the environment and educating our youth. It seems to me that the government works best as an overseer rather than a manager. For instance, the national parks need some government enforcement to prevent wildlife poaching and destruction; however, the parks service is notorious for its terrible management of park funds and other resources.
Those are the four attributes that come to mind immediately. Perhaps I will add more later as I give it a bit more thought. I’d love to hear your ideas on the President but be clean and as non-combative as possible!
Ps. If any of you are in Massachusetts vote Brown!
Nothing Unexpected
A few weeks ago my friend Camille did a blog posting entitled Ten Things You Might Not Know About Me. I have thought about this entertaining post for a while and wondered what my ten items would be. To be honest, I can hardly think of anything that would surprise my friends. I guess I am a pretty out-in-the-open person. Most of my friends know what I like to do, my weird quirks, and my other interests and likes. I don’t know if that is a good or bad thing? Maybe I am the kind of person that is reliably simple. I have never been a big dreamer. A friend of mine has this bucket list of things she wants to do in life such as visit every state and read the “1000 Must Read Before You Die” books.
I never did. The only thing I have passionately wanted to do since I was a little girl was graduate from BYU- and I did that nearly 8 years ago. Yes, I’ve wanted to to get married, have a family and contribute to society for most of my life; however, I was never specific about what type of family, home or career I want. I knew that I wanted to be dynamic and interesting- make a difference in the world. For the most part I think I have done that but even today I do not have specific things that I dream about doing or secret surprises about my life. I don’t know why, I just don’t? Does that make sense?
The fact that I can’t come up with a bucket list or even a list of surprising things makes me wonder if I am the dynamic, interesting person I wanted to be. On the other hand, if the world knows your interesting then does that make you any less interesting?I don’t think so. I like my life. For the most part, I am happy and content.
In the end, I can only live my life in the best way I know how. Whether it surprises others is out of my control.
So, here are a few things that are interesting about me. If a few surprise you all the better.
1. I enjoy jazz music. I just recently downloaded a singer called Jimmy Scott, and he is amazing. My new favorite. Here is one of his songs. What a voice! He had a genetic abnormality that made his voice never mature. I think it is beautiful.
2. I hate tomato juice. V8. Yuck!
3. I am a cheese snob.I hate Velveeta, cheese singles wrapped in plastic, nacho cheese…you get the idea.
4. My favorite flowers are lilies and orchids. (flowers welcome anytime!) I love pink and purple.
5. I am foodie and have recently become a huge fan of Julia Child. (More to come on that later).
6. I’ve had 3 surgeries in my life.
7. I went to the principal’s office twice growing up, both times were in middle school. Both times over silly things.
8. I occasionally like to watch a cheesy romantic movie on lifetime or hallmark channel- especially with a good friend like Camille.
9. There are more times than I would care to admit that I have almost purchased stuff from an infomercial. Somehow I always stop myself.
10. I am the one person in my family that is not a good photographer. I can’t seem to keep the camera steady enough.
11. I think most handicrafts are really dull- sewing, knitting, quilting, even scrapbooking…not for me.
12. I enjoy wrapping presents. I used to hate it but now it is one of my favorite parts of buying a present.
13. I wish I had a pen pal that I could write juicy, rich, letters to. Sadly I must be happy with my blog.
14. I love kitchen appliances and already have a food processor, kitchenaid mixer, stick mixer, toaster, rice cooker, electric fondue pot, electric tea pot, and crockpot.
15. I dream of having a nice kitchen with beautiful french pots and knives that really do slice a tomato a centimeter thin with ease.
16. I want to go to England some day and take the Jane Austen book tour, see all the sights from the movies and her life (and Elizabeth Gaskell while I am at it). Then I want to take the chunnel and go to Paris for another week visiting the art, cafes, bridges and markets.
17. I hold onto grudges way longer than I should. For instance, when I think back to my high school choir teacher I still feel a little upset. Silly I know, but she was evil.
18. I wish I could have nice furniture, clothes, purses and shoes. In reality, I probably couldn’t justify the expenses even if I had the money but a girl can fantasize.
19. If I had money I would install a year round infinity pool in my house.
20. I have a Dwight bobblehead that smiles at me while I work. My friends gave it to me with love and excitement. In an odd way it reminds me that I am loved and to laugh at life.
Please make some comments. Let me know how surprising your life is…
I am a Bandwagon Fan and Proud of It!
As anyone who has read my tweeting of late knows- I have been sick. For the last month and a half I’ve suffered from a sinus infection that refuses to go away. Even now after my second dose of antibiotics I am still phlegmy and not 100%. Cross fingers that I will be 100% by the end of the week. Needless to say the last month and half have been difficult and at times discouraging. Thank goodness I have a job that is flexible and understanding (although the billable hours have been low, I’m surviving). I went to the doctors on Monday and he said sinus infections are not considered chronic until they hit the 3 month mark! Can you imagine feeling miserable for 3 months! Shocking and depressing to even think about.
One of the things that depressed me about being sick is that it caused me to abandon my exercise/healthy eating regimen. I had lost 5 lbs and was doing great. Now as I improve, I must start again….what a discouraging thought, starting again.
What have I done to keep myself sane- you ask? Well, among other things I have been watching the college Bowl games. My brother in-law got me started (and he taught me a lot about the game along the way!) during my breaks at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Of course, I had to watch the BYU winning game (MAACO Bowl), but I’ve also caught many others including the great matchups of Ohio State vs Oregon (Rose Bowl), LSU vs Penn State (Citrus Bowl), and Boise State vs TCU (Fiesta Bowl). I’m actually excited for the BCS championship tomorrow between Texas and Alabama.
It’s funny because I haven’t followed any teams except perhaps a passive interest in BYU. Some would scoff at my type of fair-weather fan claiming that intense devotion and passionate following is the only way to be in a sports fan. I have several points in response: First of all, I have had a lot of time on my hands trying to get better. Second, I enjoy almost any type of intense competition (wrestling, golf, and MMA I just can’t get into- sorry boys!). Ever since I was little I liked both watching and attending sports games/matches. I’ve been to Orioles and Oakland A’s games for baseball and Kings and Jazz games for basketball. I also had the thrill of attending a variety of events at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake (I will do an entire post about the Olympics in Vancouver. I LOVE the Olympics. It’s wierd but it is the most intense competition there is.
The Olympics is really the only sporting event I never miss. Everything else is hit and miss. I will have a year where I get into the NBA playoffs, March Madness, the World Series or like this year the college bowl games. In my defense my skitsafrenic approach makes me surprisingly informed on a variety of sporting events. When I went on my cruise last year the boys at my table were all surprised at the random sports trivia I knew.
My approach also keeps sports in balance and for the entertainment it is meant to provide. I keep the players at a distance and enjoy the competition before me without the time-sucking effort of fanatical idealization. Look at Tiger Woods, if he had been kept in his place and simply appreciated as a source of competition- not a hero, or an idol, or a spokesman- than perhaps his temptation and fall would not have been so great. He should be enjoyed as someone who plays an exciting game of golf- and that’s it.
So that is my defense of my bandwagon approach to sports. In a weird way I am grateful for the bowl games and the pleasant distraction they have been this fall. Next up Vancouver Olympics 2010!!!!!!
2009 in Review
I must admit to being tardy in my Christmas/end of the year posting. Since I was sick for 2 weeks at the beginning of the month I have been behind on everything else. I still have a great deal to do work-wise, but I am making progress. Luckily I work for understanding people including and especially my father who is patient and understanding with me.
Even with all of the illness and work I have managed to squeeze together a great Christmas season. It all started at the beginning of the month when I volunteered for Festival of Trees. I have been working on the planning committee this year, which has been a great experience. The Festival of Trees is an event that raises money for Primary Children Hospital in Utah, which is a hospital that treats all children regardless of ability to pay. It was a neat way to serve the community and make new friends along the way.
I also continued on my two favorite traditions- going to see Christmas Carol at Hale Theater Orem and participating in the Messiah Sing-in in American Fork. Both of these traditions just make Christmas for me. I also had my Christmas tree which I call my Memory tree. It is full of ornaments that have significance in my life, that remind me of good times and memories.
Now I am finally getting that done. Thanks for all of your comments through the year. Please continue. My blog gives me great happiness and satisfaction throughout the year.
2009 in review
Work-
Probably the largest part of my life revolves around my work. I am fortunate to still be self-employed as a property manager/events coordinator/sales tax filer (that’s a mouth full hah!). Basically I do whatever it takes to make a living and stay free and unfettered. I LOVE being my own boss, setting my own schedule and motivating myself to succeed. I have never taken kindly to being told what to do and work is no exception. I love my job!
The most exciting work development of 09 has been my transition from vacation into long-term rental sales in August. Due to some problems, we decided to forgo vacation renting and find tenants interested in at least a year. Without any training I was able to find wonderful, reliable tenants for three homes in a matter of weeks. I feel blessed with such results and it is one more proof to me that I am doing what my Heavenly Father wants.
With the long-term tenants requiring less management, I have been taking on more responsibilities for Grabber including doing some sales tax work and handing out free warmers at events around Utah Valley. I love the art of making the sale and in many ways it brings me back to the street contacting we did on my mission. Whether it is real estate, warmers or Book of Mormons, I enjoy talking with people and trying to help them.
Family-
Work has not been the only satisfying facet of my life. The most exciting news for my family this year was the birth of my fifth niece Sparrow. Ben and Nahanni welcomed their new baby girl in October, and she has been easy and sweet. My only regret is not seeing her. Hopefully I can get up to Portland soon!
Another big development for the year was my sister Anna’s acceptance into my alma mater BYU. In August Anna moved to Provo and began her schooling. Now she is 35 minutes away, which allows us to spend a great deal of time together (sometimes I’ve been as much as 4 times in one week!). I love having my sister close by.
I have also had the opportunity to visit my sister Megan and the rest of my family in California many times. Megan even hosted Emily Whitman and myself at her house for nearly a week in September for the first ever Roommate Reunion! It was great!
Friends-
In some ways this year has been challenging friends-wise simply because a number of my best friends have moved/gotten married recently. I miss my friends when they aren’t nearby. Luckily, I have also found ways to connect with friends far-away. Some highlights include visiting with Raelene in January after my cruise, seeing Emily at the reunion and 2 other times, a visit from Julia Graves in October and getting to see my old roommate Stefanie J in Hawaii in June. Visiting with old friends may be my favorite thing in the whole world!
Travel-
While my 09 travels do not compare with 08, I have taken some great trips throughout the year. It all started with my LDS singles cruise in January. It was a particularly bold trip because I went without knowing anyone and ended meeting many new people. Plus, I got to visit Cabo, Mazatlan and Puerto Vaerta. The best thing about the trip is due to the high fees I hardly used my phone or checked email for 7 nights. What a nice break!
In June I was fortunate to take another Hawaii trip with Camille. This time my sister and her friends came along, as well as Stefanie and Camille’s friend Angie. As always, we had a magical trip. I can’t even describe how wonderful the beach is and how much I love Sunny Hawaii! Aloha!
Finally the year ended with several trips home for the holidays combined with my October trip with Emily at Megan’s. I always love coming home and being near great family and friends.
Other-
In between all of this travel I‘ve been keeping busy with my voice lessons through Hale Theater Orem, and my real estate classes through Stringham Real Estate school. I also love any chance I get to go to a movie, cook new recipe, read a good book or watch my favorite TV shows. If I get to do any of those things it is usually a pretty good week!
At Christmas time I feel so blessed to have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to know that His sacrifice saves me from sin and unhappiness. I know that my Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us that if followed will bring us happiness here on earth and bring us salvation in the eternities. I am grateful for my testimony of the Savior and the chance I have at Christmas to sing “Joy to the World the Lord is come!”
I hope each of you has a Merry Christmas and that we will chat again soon. Thanks for all of your support and love during this year of growth. Visit me soon in Draper and I can show you a great time!
Merry Christmas and God Bless, Rachel Wagner
Global Warming/Climate Change Conference
This weekend the president is in Copenhagen, Denmark for the Global Warming Summit. I think summit is a bit of a misnomer because it is basically a big ra-ra meeting for global warming policies and theories. There is no discussion- no substantive debate. Listening to the President and other liberal leaders you would think that everyone but total wackos agreed with the concept of climate change. I have done some studying on both sides and the issue is by no means a set-in-stone theory. While the globe has been shown to have warmed over the last 100 years the debate on what that really means and what should be done about it is still in the air- or at least it should be. I’ve seen an Inconvenient Truth and to be honest I was surprised that it won an Oscar. It is basically Al Gore in front of a power point for 2 hours- not my definition of exciting. Nevertheless, the content was interesting and disturbing; however, it was framed without any realistic opposing points of view. Al Gore’s ideas are stated as a matter of fact- as if explaining a recipe, or like a how-to-guide for fixing the earth!
You may find it radical for me to be asking such questions but isn’t that a sign of the effectiveness of climate change/global warming smear machine? What is wrong with asking a few questions. I believe in recycling, carpooling, and every sensible act we can do to take care of the environment. There is little debate that car fumes, factory emissions, and other pollutants are not good for the planet; however global warming activists go far beyond taking action to reduce pollutants- they want a fundamental lifestyle and policy change world-wide. It makes me nervous that such sweeping, global decisions are made without any quantitative discussions. Is that too much to ask?
Here is a video that explains well what I am trying to say.
Holiday Music
One of my favorite things during the Christmas season is the music. This year I even broke the cardinal rule and started listening early in November ( I know what a rebel!). I have over 300 Christmas songs on my ipod, so I can put it on shuffle and listen to holiday tunes most of the day. I like a variety of songs including everything from All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey and Santa Claus is coming to Town by Frank Sinatra to For Unto us a Child is Born from Handel’s Messiah and I Saw Three Ships by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Sometimes I wish I could listen to Christmas music year-round. I love the happiness and memories the songs evoke. (I also love Christmas movies- Christmas Carol in all its variations, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Polar Express, and even Charlie Brown Christmas- so great!!!).
Unfortunately most of my songs are m4a not mp3 so I can’t share them with you; however, I am including a few mp3’s that I have. Enjoy and have the best Christmas time ever! Oh how I love this time of year!
Selfish Christmas Shopping and In N’ Out is Here!
As many of you know the fast food chain In N’ Out has made it to Utah. There are four locations opening in the next few months including one in Draper. In fact, it is about 2 minutes from my house, which is mostly a blessing but also quite the temptation. So far I have avoided the deliciousness mostly because of the long lines- the drive through still has long wait. Opening week the drive through wait was over an hour!
For the past two weeks I have been sick and miserable (and still have a strain of it hanging on for dear life!). Finally today I decided to treat myself. I dropped my dad off at the airport and did a little shopping- finally bought some snow shoes, a slipcover for my ugly sofa, some shampoo/conditioner/makeup, an entry-way mat, and Christmas cards. I went shopping thinking of getting gifts for Christmas presents but to be honest I have already gotten most of my presents. I have a few more to make but that’s about it. This leads me a little room to buy some presents for myself! Let’s face it sometimes a girl just needs to spoil herself!
These are the shoes I bought. They are called Bogs, and I know they are ugly but they are ultra comfortable, and will be super in the snow. I am excited about the purchase because most boots/winter shoes are hard for me with my wide calves and high arches! I’m very excited about them.
After all this bustling about I decided to brave the line at In N’ Out. In reality it wasn’t too bad a wait. I went inside and it took maybe 5 minutes to get my order.Then I thoroughly enjoyed a regular hamburger with grilled onions, french fries and a chocolate shake. It was terrible for me but yummy- and worth it! The shake tasted good on my sore throat and the comfort food was great. It made me happy. The whole afternoon cheered me up. I needed a nice productive happy day with good food.
By the way, I also got a lot of work done today but I think you’all are tired of hearing about my work…
Things I think are funny addition
So earlier this year I did a post on things I think are funny. I mentioned in the post an episode from the Mary Tyler Moore Show that I liked called Chuckles Bites the Dust. In that entry I gave the following description:
The plot is about the TV station’s clown Chuckles who dies from being stomped on by an elephant after wearing a peanut outfit in a parade. Because of the odd death of the clown everyone at the newsroom laughs and cracks jokes except Mary. She stays serious until the funeral. While listening to the eulogy Mary gets the giggles and everyone can’t believe her rudeness. The more she tries to hold it in the worse it is. Here is the eulogy that gets her going:
“Chuckles the Clown brought pleasure to millions. The characters he created will be remembered by children and adults alike: Peter Peanut, Mr. Fee-Fi-Fo, Billy Banana, and my particular favorite, Aunt Yoo Hoo. And not just for the laughter they provided—there was always some deeper meaning to whatever Chuckles did. Remember Mr. Fee-Fi-Fo’s little catch phrase? Remember how, when his arch rival Señor Caboom hit him with a giant cucumber and knocked him down, Mr. Fee-Fi-Fo would always pick himself up, dust himself off, and say, ‘I hurt my foo-foo’? Life’s a lot like that. From time to time we all fall down and hurt our foo-foos. If only we could deal with it as simply and bravely and honestly as Mr. Fee-Fi-Fo. And what did Chuckles ask in return? Not much. In his own words, ‘A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants.’”
I have had many times when I get the giggles and am about to pee my pants with laughing. One time on my mission this lady started playing the piano super loud, in a rather vitriolic fashion- so much so that it made our cute little Chinese investigator jump about a foot in the air. For some reason it made me start to laugh and finally I had to grab my companion and leave to the restroom. Doesn’t everyone have those moments? That’s what makes the episode so relatable.
I finally found a clip of the episode online. So enjoy!
