Guitar Hero Addict

So Daniel totally surprised me and shipped my gift to my parents house for Christmas. I had no idea what to expect. He was going to get me new knives, but after I requested that as a gift, he decided he couldn't really get that for me since it might appear as if he didn't really put any thought into the gift. Well when I arrived at my parents a huge box was propped up against the wall. What could it be??? Christmas Eve I could wait no longer. With Daniel on the phone, I opened the box and there was GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR!!! I LOVE Guitar Hero and have been wanting it for a long time. He got me the game with two wireless guitars and my brothers and I jammed out on that all day Christmas and the day after. I'm officially addicted. It's much more fun playing with another person, but I'm content playing by myself too :) I love my husband. He always gives the best gifts. I'm always impressed by his thoughtfulness. He listens to my desires and even when I forget them, he doesn't. Yes I am one lucky girl. I love you Daniel.

Cincinnati Will Always Be Home

Well I finally made it. It took a little longer than I expected, but with a lot of helping hands I got all of my stuff packed and moved into the storage unit. I am so grateful to have such a loving aunt, uncle and cousins that sacrificed their Saturday to help me move and clean. Had I been by myself, I would've been stuck there at least another week!
I'm in Cincinnati, staying at my friends apartment. It is a little cramped (I'm not a light packer), but I think we are both pretty excited to be roommates for a short while. It is a little crappy that she works night shift, and with no school and no job, things are already starting to get monotonous, but man am I ever glad to be back in Cincinnati. I don't have very many friends left here, but Cincinnati will always be home. My family has even moved away. I do feel like there is a purpose in me being here. I feel this is the right place for me to be right now.
What does life have in store for me for the next two months? I'm sure there will be experiences gained and lessons learned. I've been feeling especially loved by my Father in Heaven lately. He blesses me everyday. I'm very grateful to Him for giving me the opportunity to come spend time with my best friend and hopefully make changes in our lives that will benefit both of us. Change is never easy, but I believe that Heavenly Father puts certain people in your life to help make those transitions a little easier. Thank goodness for good friends, and here is to making more memories.

Yay for Christmas Parades

Why is it that the one day I need the street open so I can park my car close to the main entrance, there has to be a parade? That is one thing I will not miss about living in downtown Gallipolis. Every celebration happens right in front of my apartment and it's a nightmare trying to get parking, so you better plan on staying in doors during all holidays. Well I certainly wasn't expecting a Christmas parade today. I unfortunately had to run to the store to get some more packing tape and noticed the hordes of cars lined up and down the street. Of course I was only gone 5 minutes but by the time I got back my space was taken. Sigh. So off to the back parking lot I went. And of course there is snow all along the walkway and on the old wooden stairs that already are scary enough to walk up. They are so old I feel like they're ready to collapse any minute. Luckily I have big strong men on the way to help with the big stuff. Hopefully no one slips and breaks their neck.

Office Break

"Have you ever under the influence of alcohol questioned the teachings of the Mormon Church?" -Michael

Yes I love The Office. Back to work now.

For the Joy of Packing

Wow I can't believe I'm leaving Gallipolis for good tomorrow! I am done with finals (hallelujah), and after a day of hanging out with my gal pal Jackie and celebrating her youngest son's 5th birthday, I decided I'd better get back to work. The best thing about packing and moving is when you think you're close to being done and you're working at a good pace, you realize that you have hardly done anything and that you might possibly be up all night trying to get done before tomorrow. I certainly can't be in a bad mood though, after having such a good week (despite exams) and getting ready to spend 2 1/2 months with bestie-Mel. I also am very excited about finally escaping small towns and going back to suburbia life just outside the city.
Well I suppose I should stop blogging and get back to packing. I keep running out of boxes though. Where does all this stuff come from??

Kleptomania

Do you ever have those moments when somebody (let's say your husband) has something happen that you feel like could've been prevented (like for example somebody stealing his new running shoes) and he's telling you the story and you know he's frustrated and doesn't need the extra guilt and instead of giving the response you KNOW you should give, you give into the raging nag inside of you? Yes, that was me tonight.

I am very upset that somebody stole my husbands brand new $90 black Nike running shoes! And due to this petty theft, it caused my husband a lot of problems at work. He just had an awful day, and of course I didn't make it any better. It's the tight-wad inside of me that is ready to step into the boxing ring. I think sometimes I sit on my high and mighty throne thinking to myself how such things could never happen to me because I would be more careful and thoughtful, but really I can't say that is always true. I do have to say it really makes me lose my faith in humanity that you can't even trust a pair of shoes amongst your co workers. What is wrong with people? Don't they know we're making the same pay OR LESS and that if they wanted that pair so bad we could've directed them to the nearest Dick's Sporting Goods for assistance? People disgust me. I am angry and unfortunately I misdirected that anger at my husband and now have to call and humbly apologize (or try). But I swear if I ever find the jerk who took my husband's shoes and screwed up his whole day because of it, he'll get my right Addidas shoe and he won't like where it goes. Sorry for the vulgarity, I'm still fuming. I'm going to call my husband now. Thanks.

Lost

It's about freakin time! If you haven't heard the news yet LOST is coming back Jan 21st! I can't wait. Last season did get a little weird, but I gotta admit I'm still addicted. Heroes or LOST, which is better??? Guess we'll wait and see :)

Quote

I hate moving, but I do enjoy stumbling upon old memories while I'm packing. It sure slows down the process, but oh well. It makes it a little more pleasant and less boring. :) So I found an old binder with old letters mostly between me and my best friend from 7th grade Holli. I've only just begun to read it, but about the third page in I found a quote that I sent to her and I felt the need to post it on my blog. I'm not sure who the author is, but it is very inspiring and I hope you will be inspired by it also.

Sent May 5 2002

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcomings, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and how, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

We all have known defeat, but we have each tasted victory as well. There are many more victories to come.

Simple Pleasures

Tonight I went to some relatives' house today for Monday night family home evening. The mission was finding the perfect Christmas tree. Unfortunately the place that sells the best trees was closed by the time we were all ready to go. So we decided to take an adventure into the woods behind the house. Uncle Derek and Aunt Daphne led the way with Lacey(19), Bailey (8), Jason (5), Matthew (3) and myself in tow. As soon as we stepped outside into the damp darkness Matthew turns around and looks up at me with wide eyes and says "I'm scared!" He reached his arms upwards and I couldn't resist picking him up and offering him comfort. He seemed to feel better after I told him I would hold him and make sure nothing hurt him, but as soon as we neared the very dark woods, he decided that that wasn't good enough :) So back to the house we went and he made me promise I would stay at the house with him and not leave him. It's funny how good something like that makes you feel.
Later that evening Matthew told me that he loved me. Matthew is usually pretty affectionate with me, especially lately, but he's never told me he loved me. My heart felt like it was going to explode! I gave him the biggest hug and told him I loved him too. He told me this several times through out the night and then told me that he missed me when I went home. Nothing is purer than a child's love, and nothing feels quite as amazing as receiving that love. If only we could all have that and stay that way forever. Wouldn't the world be so wonderful?