1. I have a hard time embracing the here and now when I'm coming up on a huge transition in life. I tend to think about and plan for the future and the changes it holds, probably more than is necessary.
2. None of the jeans that I currently own cost me more than $7.
3. My mission companion found my first gray hair. I was 21 years old.
4. Because of #3, I really like to highlight my hair.
5. I asked my hairstylist to move out west with me. She didn't agree to it.
6. My mother and I just spent over a week sorting, packing, discarding, and donating everything we could possibly do without until July.
7. #6 was a great feeling. Having less STUFF around makes me feel less stressed.
8. I love my mommy, and miss her!
9. I love and miss my daddy, and am so glad that he let me borrow his sweetheart for 10 days.
10. I love Colbie Caillat's song, "Bubbly".
11. I used to listen to country music almost exclusively.
12. I rarely listen to country music anymore.
13. I still really like country music.
14. When my daughter makes her silly face (eyes crossed while looking up) it makes me laugh right out loud.
15. I love picking Ben up from school, and hearing about his day.
16. When I'm safe inside, I love a good thunder and lightening storm.
17. I look forward to seeing more blue skies after we move.
18. I will miss all of the trees and greenery here.
19. I will miss so many wonderful friends that we've made here.
20. I haven't done very well with my small and simple New Year's resolutions.
21. I only remember one snow day in all of my growing up years. It had snowed about 18 inches, and the power was out. I think if the power hadn't been out, they wouldn't have cancelled school.
22. I find the "snow days" here amusing.
23. I really like The Skinny Cow vanilla and mint Skinny Dippers! Mmmm!
24. I feel really cool when I actually, successfully put in a link on my blog.
25. I have become a BLURKER -- a blog lurker. I have been keeping up on all my friends and family's blogs, but have become lazy with my comments.
26. I, hereby, apologize publicly for #25.
27. I, personally, LOVE comments on my blog.
28. I seriously considered weaning my daughter off of her binkies today.
29. I have a soft spot in my heart for binkies: they look really cute in little mouths; they give comfort to the owners of the little mouths; and they keep the little mouths quiet(er) in Sacrament Meeting.
30. I seriously question the importance of weaning a child from their binkies.?? (Any feedback on this might prove helpful, dear readers.)
31. I have the best recipe in the world for sugar cookies. I received it from my Seventh-Day Adventist friend, whose family found the recipe in a "Mormon" cookbook, and had used it for generations. Funny, huh?
32. James just bought me these. I love them. My back doesn't get so achy now when I walk around.
33. Sometimes, when it's been a long and difficult day, my kids and I have cold cereal for dinner.
34. I don't like James to tell me that he expects to get off "early". I will stop him mid-sentence if he tries. It's just easier to not get my hopes up.
35. I LOOOOOVE it when James gets off "early".
36. When I say "early" (in reference to James getting off), I usually mean when normal people get off.
37. I have brilliant, talented, fun and funny siblings and in-laws.
38. I feel very blessed and humbled to be part of the family that I am a part of. (Both immediate, and extended.)
39. Oh, did I mention, I have brilliant, talented, fun and funny neices and nephews? Well, I do.
40. I love to watch my daughter talk on the phone. She always has so much to say, and she wanders around the house while she talks. It is definitely not a sedentary activity.
41. When I receive a massage, I usually don't tell the therapist that I am a massage therapist.
42. I love to hear my boy when he thinks nobody's listening. He says and/or sings the most interesting things.
43. I try to build up and uplift the people I am around.
44. I love to make people laugh.
45. I have a generous heart. I just haven't figured out how to fit that into my current budget.
46. While growing up, I never flossed my teeth unless I had a popcorn particle or strawberry seed, etc. stuck in my teeth.
47. I floss regularly now.
48. I am now kind of grossed out by #46.
49. I love a good salad. (i.e., spinach, craisins, almonds, good cheese, etc.)
50. I'd take a cookie, brownie, or candy, over pie or cake any day.
51. I'm feeling guilty that my son will miss his last week of kindergarten so that we can go house hunting out west.
52. I'm excited, and a little apprehesive about house hunting.
53. I throw most of my son's school work away. I try to keep anything that is uniquely his, but worksheets or things that he simply copied off of the board get chucked.
54. I guess I'm not a hugely sentimental person when it comes to "things."
55. When my toenails are painted and looking nice, I feel pretty.
56. I like to pick nail polish with fun names (i.e., My Auntie Drinks Chianti).
57. I had to look up Chianti to know what it was.
58. My next door neighbor thinks my name is Laura.
59. I could be a better neighbor.
60. I only found out #58 last summer. I didn't have the heart to tell her, since we had already been neighbors for four years.
61. I occasionally answer to Laura. ;)
62. My current ward has been wonderful. They have loved me and my family, and have helped me to grow in so many ways.
63. I used to think of my self as somewhat of a tomboy.
64. #63 now makes me laugh out loud!
65. I guess I could be a tomboy, so long as there was no dirt, sweat, bugs, pain, etc. involved, and if I was allowed to look really cute all of the time.
66. I don't think of myself as a girly-girl.
67. I am so grateful for the friendships and connections I have made with the women in my life. I have learned so much from them.
68. I have learned that most of us have more commonalities than we have differences.
69. When I arrived in Michigan (for my mission), I found the sight of McDonalds, Taco Bell, KFC, etc. strangely comforting. Somehow, I felt that I couldn't be that far away if they had the same restaurants.
70. When James and I visited Brazil, I remember being struck with the thought that "people are people wherever you go." (I think that's from a song.) It was a strong impression that we truly are brothers and sisters no matter what part of the earth we inhabit.
71. I didn't capture those thoughts very clearly in #70. It was more significant than that. Oh well.
72. I had a mission companion who couldn't stand to be in the same room with me.
73. I was her trainer.
74. I don't think I handled that situation very well.
75. I've learned that communication is sooooo important. On more levels than one.
76. I'm REALLY hungry right now.
77. I find the marquee at our neighboring cemetery and the messages on it entertaining, and occasionally creepy. (i.e., two Christmas' ago it said, "Love your children buy burial plots now", last Christmas, it said, "We sell holiday wreaths. Inquire within." I never could figure out which headstone to knock on.)
78. Currently the cemetary marquee reads "A VIRTUOUS MAN PLANS AHEAD". I so totally want to change it to read, "A VIRTUOUS MAN PLANTS A HEAD".
79. O.k., so my humor can be a little off the wall.
80. I find it much easier to call someone if their phone number is already programmed into my phone -- not just for the convenience, but somehow, mentally, it helps with my phone-o-phobia.
81. I have areas in my house that accumulate STUFF.
82. I hope #78 didn't offend anyone.
83. I am currently listening to the sounds of my children playing.
84. I programmed the TV that's currently in my son's room so that it only plays PBS.
85. If I had to vote today, I would have no clue who the best choice would be -- or rather, who the least bad choice would be.
86. I need some new socks.
87. I hardly watch any TV anymore. We only have the local channels, and it seems that there's never anything worth watching.
88. I hope my home sells.
89. I love my home.
90. My children are pure delight -- except when they're driving me crazy, of course. ;)
91. On my cell phone, the ring tone for James is some sort of Fiesta music. It's fun and lively, and makes me want to dance -- that's why I picked it, it reminds me of James.
92. I love being with people who delight in my children. Somehow, it magnifies the delight.
93. I love to hear James' co-workers compliment him. It's important to me that they recognize what a wonderful person he is.
94. I can watch a good movie over and over and over. James usually has no desire to watch something he has already watched.
95. #94 usuall works out really well for us, since he's never around to watch a movie with anyway. And, when he is, I don't mind watching it again, if I've already seen it.
96. I was teaching pre-school when I met James and we became engaged. I showed the kids a picture of him, and one little girl exclaimed, "Miss Leslie!! You are one LUCKY woman!!" She was only 4 or 5, but I couldn't agree with her more.
97. I thought I would never forget the names of the kids that I taught, but, unfortunately, I have forgotten. :(
98. I need to wrap this up. It has taken waaay too much of my day!
99. I love my life.
100. I am grateful for each of my friends, whether in my family, my ward, my neighborhood or my cyber-neighborhood.
Family pic 2020
2 months ago
