The FINAL Finale

Fireworks are a mysterious thing. Every year I anxiously watch and wait. Amidst the rapid firings are the intermittent lulls. With each pause, I can't help but wonder if the {finale} proceeds. Seconds seem like hours. When the firings return, I am convinced this is the end. The crowd grows silent. Viewers hope for a more grand finale, but accept the uncertainty. Then, just as I am about to leave the anticlimactic scene, an explosion of light fills the sky. Thunderous popcorn deafens the air. Undoubtedly, I know, this is the FINAL finale.

And so it is with my semester. I anxiously await the outburst of testing that is about to take place. I don't how or why I have ten finals from only seven classes, but matters still remain. Last week I took four, but six await. Today, they will come. Ready or not, here they come. Undoubtedly, I know, this is the FINAL finale.

[ONE]

It's been...

[ONE] day since he carried me to our bed.

[ONE] week since he bought me flowers.

[ONE] month since he hung my decorations.

[ONE] year since eternity began.

He is the [ONE] who has captured my heart so deeply, so gently, so firmly. He is the [ONE] who found me when broken, wounded with heartache--unwillingly to open, but showed me what it meant to love. He is the [ONE] who believes I can do anything. He is the [ONE] who hears me, feels me, and knows me better than I know myself. He is the [ONE] who's touch, so tender, can make me cry. He is the [ONE] I can never get enough of.

Big Confession: I'm dating other people

I know. First, the shock of Vegas and now this. But it's true. For weeks now, I have been on dozens of dates with a plethora peeps. It all started about a two months ago. I received a call from a man, wanting to meet me in his office. It seemed so innocent. And so I did. Since that day, my life has certainly changed- for the better. I now have the privilege to work closely with the youth of the ward. I was called as the first counselor in the Young Women's Presidency. These women are amazing! I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my one-on-one dates to get to know them individually. Working with the youth has been a huge blessing in my life, and I only hope and pray that they may know of my instant love for them and desire for them to be happy.

p.s. For the record, I absolutely admire and adore my handsome husband. There is no one in the world I would rather be with. Eternity will never be enough for me!

Wordly Confessions

This post is inspired by my dear cousin Chelsea. I hate to admit it, but Brandon and I are the wordly ones of the family. WE {love} Vegas. Went there on our honeymoon and can't wait to go back. We loved the shopping, the Fall weather, the shows, but most of all the FOOD. We gained 5 pounds in our first 24 hours of marriage, and the numbers keep on getting bigger. One buffet after another. Ate six plates of crab legs saturated in butter and enjoyed every bite. There was much to enjoy for a party of two. Now, a place for family fun? Not exactly. Not my first choice...or hundredth. But for now, Vegas holds a place in our heart. A place set aside for sporadic get-a-ways, filled with romance and adventure.

I tend to make {small} things BIG.

Sometimes, it's the smallest things in life that become the biggest. For some couples, it's the toilet seat. Others it's the toothpaste-- maybe the brand or tube squeezing technique. I too am guilty of making the {small} things BIG. Here are just a few of the small things Brandon does that I think are BIG:

Falling asleep in his arms: No matter how tired we are, or how recently I threw my latest fit, when we lie down for bed, Brandon {always} extends his left arm over my way, places my pillow on top of his shoulder, and brings me in closely so that my head lies comfortably near his chest. It's routine. We both know we won't stay in this position forever, but it doesn't matter. Being close to him those last few moments before my minds fades into unconsciousness means everything.

His excitement to see me: Everyday when Brandon comes home for lunch, he cracks the door open, peaks his head in, looks to the left, looks to the right, and then searches the house until he finds me. As soon as I'm found, he yells the word "LOVEY!" like a little kid who just discovered candy. Then he runs towards me, picks me up off the ground, and lays on a wet one. His excitement to see me is the best feeling in the world.

Only he calls me {Lovey}: He is my Lovey, as I am his. It's the sweet, endearing name he endowed to me during our early dating days. For him to say "Gina" sounds like another four letter word. I prefer Lovey. Such a simple word lets me know I am his, as he he mine. Truly, it is the {small} things that I tend to make BIG.

Confession #3 Sometimes I'm merciless....

It was another one of those days when I should be ashamed of myself. The key word is should. Allow me to explain.

Today, as I was innocently shopping in our local grocery store, I heard an announcement over the intercom, like a voice from above. It beckoned to me saying, "Hello shoppers! The cookie eating contest will be held in five minutes. For those who would like to participate, please take your seats in the front aisle 2." Say no more. I was there. This was certainly a call from heaven.

So there I sat, waiting for the remaining contestants to arrive. I was ready for the win. Eating is my forte. It's what I do best. This was my time to shine and win the grand prize- no hold backs. The problem? Well, as the table of contestants filled, I was surrounded by my competitors, all half my age or younger.

At this point I have a decision to make. Do I resign? Let the children fight this battle amongst themselves? Or at the very least, I could take it slow and let the kids win. No mature, civilized/non barbaric adult would really take the glory away from a child would they? I did. I confess, sometimes, I can be merciless.

p.s. My husband is proud of me. Perhaps we both have issues. Or maybe he just enjoys the prize.

I confess: I did it....but I didn't like it

Yesterday was a big day for me. I broke down and did exactly what I didn't want to do; I finally showered. You know what it's like when there's something you dread doing. Everything else seems to take priority. ANY excuse seems valid. But I think my reasons are legit.

Here are my top [five] reasons why I dread/delay showering (not ranked in order of importance):

1. [wet hair:] Let's face it. Blow drying your hair is extremely damaging. The more often you shower, the more you blow dry your hair, and the faster your hair is damaged, the quicker you get split ends, which leads to more money spent to get it cut! Does anyone agree with me? Plus, who wants to blow dry their hair on a hot and sweaty day with no air conditioning? Not me, that's for sure. The solution: don't shower.

2. [wet skin on dry clothes:] You might as well have me chew on cotton. I get goosebumps putting dry clothes on a wet body. I hate the feeling of cotton sticking to my skin, and having to peel it off. Ugh, the thought just makes me cringe. Instead, I would rather run around naked until every drop of water has dried, but there's never time for that because I postpone showering until the very last second. It's always wash and go, no time for for drying. Get the clothes on and get out the door.

3. [clogged drain:] Please, tell me the truth. Would you be thrilled to shower if you knew that you were about to stand in the midst of hairy, dirty water, one and a half feet high? Nothing grosses me out more than the gobs of hair coming out of our drain, keeping me company while I attempt to get myself clean. Every time I shower I witness a month's worth of hair rise from the dead. It's like I have to shower after I shower, just to get all the hair of of my ankles. Is that encouraging? I think not.

4.[intentions to work-out:] Postponing my shower until after I exercise just makes sense. I mean, what's the use of showering in the morning if you know you will get sweaty later in the day? Sure, I could shower in the morning and night, but how likely is that? Clearly, it makes more sense to simply shower when the work out is done. The problem? Well, this is the way things usually go: I often think to myself, "Since I didn't exercise this morning, I'll run tonight, and I don't want to shower now, because I know I'll get all sweaty this evening." This thought is usually followed by, "I'm too tired to run tonight, but I'll definitely work out tomorrow morning and shower after that." And so the process repeats. It reoccurs in streaks more often than I would like to admit. Truly, I do intend to work out, but....

5. [coldness:] It doesn't matter if it's winter, spring, or summer; getting out of the shower is always cold. Sure, I could be more like Brandon and crank the heat on high to create a steamy sauna, but still, what happens when I leave the bathroom? Coldness. Pure coldness, which I of course, I dread.