S.O.B. (Sister of the Bride)

"Must be so hard to watch your younger sister get married before you." "Yes. Then I remember that I still get to have hot hate (kissing) with random strangers and I feel SO much better!"

Checklist

• Take out all garbage in the house-- Check (oh, need to grab the bathroom/bedroom garbage) Uncheck (I'll pull them out while I brush my teeth)
• Wrap Bridal shower gift, include witty note- Check
• Organize Kitchen table with all the wedding crap that's been stored in various places in my house-- Check
• Pile packed stuff in kitchen, 5' high- Check
• Deflate exercise ball- Check
• Tires rotated and balanced- Check! (and the guys at the Big-O tires in Issaquah did it for free!)
• Make bedroom ready to share with sister- not quite
• Shampoo mom's carpets- tomorrow? or did I talk myself out of it?
• Go to FHE say goodbye to my friends- Check
• Vacuum my apartment- tomorrow? Wednesday?
• Lunch with Elise- Tomorrow at 12:30
• Bridal Shower- Tomorrow 7pm
• Oil changed and fluids checked- Tomorrow before lunch with Elise
• Clean Bathroom- before I go to bed? (it's 3am... maybe not, but Kristen's coming home at 9 tomorrow and the sink at least should be cleaned... )
• Laundry/pack for trip- half-check
• Dinner with Jessica- Wednesday? Maybe just happy hour...
• Save Tiffany from awkward assigned date- Wednesday night, 9pm.

To the person who parked terribly

Parking Violation:

This is not a ticket, but if it were within my power, you would receive tow. Because of your bull headed, inconsiderate, feeble attempt at parking, you have taken enough room for a 20 mule team, 2 elephants, 1 goat and a safari of pygmies from the African interior. The reason for giving you this is that that in the future you may think of someone else, other than yourself. Besides I don't like domineering, egotistical or simple minded drivers and you probably fit into one of these categories. I sign off wishing you and early transmission failure (on the expressway at about 4:30pm). Also may the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits.

With my compliments.

(I wish I'd written this... alas, I did not)

Peanut M&M's

Almost 5 years ago I was a freshman in college. In my apartment if you got engaged you were supposed to make your roomies dinner, kissing meant they got ice cream and holding hands got them M&M's. The other day, while rearranging my stuff to get ready to move I found a package of Peanut M&M's on the back they said in small neat letters. 'Tony's M&M's.' I remember going across to the Creamery on Ninth to buy them along with the ice cream. And I remember feeling defined by the idea that I had held a boys hand- it was a turning point in my life. I know this sounds pretty silly. But I can count on one hand how many boys who's hand I've held. And I still have fingers left over. (Two of them). I later shoved that wrapper in a box. Too significant to toss out, but too painful to leave out. Finding it the other day brought up no painful memories, but it did make me smile.

Last night I went on the first date that I've been on in years (I was doing that whole mission thing for 14 months of it, and in Alaska for 5 months of it.) The guys we went with (Aside- one of them is a guy who was in my ward growing up and who has always been super attractive) got us (Me, Tiffany and Amanda) some Peanut M&M's. And just like that package from so many years ago I think it signifies a new beginning. I'm excited to move forward.

I say amen and it's still raining...

I was sure by now, God You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain,
I'm with you
(Praise You In this storm- Casting Crowns)

I've been pondering answered prayers as of late. Why some are and aren't answered. How I can be more patient and trusting in God's promises. I know he wants me to be happy, not just to survive, but to thrive. Not just exist, but to have joy! There's a quote about how life isn't about avoiding the storms but about learning how to dance in the rain. It seems that my day to day life is pretty easy- no major trials. But the big picture is what I struggle with. Those long term prayers that never seem to be answered.

Lord, I believe, Help thou mine unbelief.(Mark 9:24)