PAYBACK!!

I finally got Ben back! A few weeks ago I came up with a brilliant plan to get some quiet time with my hubby.
I found a place in Draper called "Color Me Mine" where you can go and paint pottery. It was pretty neat!
Ben and I were both having a pretty rough day and I decided that it would be a wonderful day to go relax and concentrate on something much simpler than the world at hand. (Plus it was $3 studio night!)

We took off after work, got stuck in some pretty terrible traffic, grabbed some dinner, and eventually got to Color Me Mine.

Now keep in mind that Ben doesn't know where we are going. Color Me Mine is set in between 2 large stores. Basically, it's a hole in the wall kind of place. We pull up and I park in front of Office Depot. Ben seems a little confused so I begin to explain...
"We're going to get a new office chair!"
Confused at why this is a date: "Oh..."
"Yeah, I figured it would motivate us to complete the office and give us more time to be creative at home."
Still a little lost, but starting to believe: "Cool. Can I pick my favorite?"
"You sure can!"

As he starts walking toward Office Depot I realize that he believed me! I begin to follow...

Then I turn and start going to Color Me Mine and he asks what I'm doing.
"I have to be honest Ben... Buying an office chair just isn't much of a date. I've actually chosen to take you to Color Me Mine instead."

At this point I really think he'd rather get an office chair. I mean you should have seen his face once he realized he was going to be painting pottery! There were all sorts of things to paint! Like coffee mugs that had hearts on them, coasters, plates.. You name it... They had it. We walked down to the end and guess what Ben found... A MONSTER TRUCK!! That's when the excitement came about. I could see the wheels turning and he sat down. I found a snake and inspiration hit me too.
And so it began...

We sat quietly for 2 hours, concentrating on the project at hand. We spoke a few times, but only a few words at a time.
"Do you have the black paint?"
"Nope."
"I'll go get it."

Then back to painting.

We stayed until they closed. Neither of us finished.

When we left I thought he was going to tell me it was lame and he didn't want to come back.
On the contrary... He was excited to go back and finish! I couldn't believe it!

The following Tuesday (1 week ago today) we went back for "2 for Tuesday" ($10 studio fee instead of $20) and again, sat for hours to complete our pieces. Closing time and we finally finish up. Available for pick up Saturday.

This time we had more conversation... But still calming and quiet.

Saturday... We forget all about our pottery. We get a phone call saying to come pick up Sunday.

Sunday. Busy day! We did however make sure to go get our pieces... Ready!!???

Here they are!

For Me!?

Post #6-

Again... THE BEST HUSBAND EVER! I've got to come up with a great idea to pay him back. Any suggestions?

So Ben tells me on Sunday that we have plans Wednesday and I need to leave work on time to be home by 7pm. I agree.
...Monday....
...Tuesday....

Finally Wednesday! I'm excited to go home and see what is in store for me. However, Ben has had a really terrible day and is not excited about what went wrong at work. He's not excited for anything!

We both get home in time to eat and change.
I am trying to figure out where we are going so I keep asking simple questions like, "Can I wear heals? Or Should I wear tennis shoes?" His answer: "Either works". There goes my idea about the corn maze!
"Should I wear a hoodie or a nicer coat?"
"Either"
Well, We're not going to a nice dinner.
"Should I layer my clothes or just dress warm."
"Les! I'm not going to give anything away. I'm not telling you OR dropping hints to what we are doing. Just get ready and lets go. By the way you are driving."
"What? I don't know where I'm going. Where am I driving to?"
"Trax on 90th"
"Public Transportation again?"
"Yep. Lets go."

We leave. I drive. I'm headed to 90th and State and it's PACKED!! There are SO many people. I look around to see what all the madness is about and see a sign that says "ReAl parking $10"
10 DOLLARS!!! FOR PARKING!!!? "Outrageous," I say to Ben.
He agrees and says "keep going. We need to get to trax on time."
We're sitting at the light on 90th. And we watch Trax fly by in the intersection ahead of us. Great! We missed it!
Ben keeps pointing out spots for me to park. I don't know why he does this! Trax has a well lit parking lot right in front of the train.
I continue through the crowds of people and finally end up parking right by the entrance to Trax.

Guess what Ben doesn't have! Money to ride Trax! As I'm digging through my purse he starts walking away from the train and back toward State Street. I ask him what he's doing and he says....
...
...
...
...
"We're going to the ReAl game! All this talk about it and you don't even get it. =)"

He was trying to get me to park closer pointing out all the spots. But I didn't want to walk up that hill to trax. Well guess what? Now we are walking about double what we would have if I had just listened (or knew where we were going I guess.)

Anyway, the game was amazing! ReAl won. We had a blast! Their new stadium is AMAZING! It's all outdoors, but feels like you are inside with how well lit it is.

I had a picture to share, but I got a new phone and don't have it. Sorry!

Not So Haunted Houses

Post #5-

A much shorter post this time.
I just want everyone to know how excited I am that my friends are FINALLY buying houses!! Dustin and Laura will close in a week or so and Amanda in mid November. I cannot wait for them to own and be able to have their own yards etc.

Here is the selling pic of Dustin and Laura's new place:

Here is the selling picture of Travis and Amanda's new place:

So now we get to take trips to Lowes together and pass along needed information for new home owners! I'm so proud of you guys! Much love and best wishes on this new expensive journey! =)

Funny Stuff (ie: Traci)

Post #4

This is going to be a long post... Because... And only because... Traci now works with me. =)

Do you know anyone who is gullible? I do. She is my cousin. My co worker. My friend.
It's so nice to have someone easier to pick on than me at work. Now all the crap I used to get is on her plate. Thanks Traci.

So first we are going to talk a little about Halloween. Did you know Traci is terrified of clowns. I didn't until I showed her this.


I had a much smaller picture of this... On my phone. When I opened it to show her she literally jumped back like it was going to grab her! Hilarious!

While you may have had to be here for that one to think it's funny here are some other incidents that may make you laugh.

Her first week here was my first week off... Go figure. Something about me getting married... She was working in my office, since I was gone. Once I came back she had to move out of my office and into the "clinical office" Where our clinical team is always hard at work. There she met Sonya. Our director. And Leigh. A clinical supervisor. Leigh was just coming back to work after being sick the week before. Jacob, another co-worker of ours had also been sick all weekend.

Traci trying to be nice was talking to Leigh. Small talk. (Now there is something you should know... That Traci didn't. Leigh is gay. His boyfriends name is Jacob.) So as Traci is asking about how Leigh's weekend was Leigh was explaining that he thinks Jacob got him sick because Jake was sick all weekend.
Traci, unknowingly, looks right at Leigh and says: "Oh Yeah! Jacob WAS sick all weekend! He's feeling better now." (Not realizing that they were talking about 2 VERY different people)
Sonya, who knows all of this looks at her desk and starts typing, mumbling, "I wonder how she's going to handle this." :)

Leigh then looks at Traci confused and says... "No. No. Not that Jake. When I say Jake I'm talking about my Jake."

A few minutes pass and Traci looks at Leigh and says, "So you have a son?"
Leigh: "What?"
Traci: "Jake, your son?"
Leigh then takes a picture off of his desk. The picture of him and his boyfriend and shows it to Traci and says, "No. This is Jake."

So what does Traci do? Yep. She looks at the wall and creates an awkward silence!

I think I peed a little when she yelled at me for not telling her!

Then we come to yesterday. . . From Traci's perspective.
Some joke-ster in our office made what Traci called an "earring" and threw it onto her desk while she wasn't looking. So who does Traci question? Sonya. The sweetest most innocent employee we have at Maxim! Of course it wasn't her so they went about working. A few minutes later another one lands. But this time it doesn't quite make it to her desk. Traci and Sonya do some inspecting and Traci assumes that it is Stephen. So she sends him an email. Stephen get offended and Traci brings the earrings out to show them. Everyone acts dumb. She goes back into her office and another one lands! This time it says "From Leslie". I then receive an email from Traci. "Someone is blackmailing you… watch out!"

Not having a clue what is going on I write her back. "What are you talking about?"
She replies: " Ask Stephen… I’m pretty positive its him."
Just as I read that email Stephen walks into my office. He asks me if I was the one who made earrings for Traci. Again. Clueless. However this is pretty entertaining now that my name is attached to this priceless prank! So I begin laughing and send Traci an email back. "He just asked me… something about earrings? I’m so confused."

Traci then came into my office. She showed me the "earring" with From Leslie written on it and asked who made it. I told her I didn't know and she told me I did. So I started laughing that she really was going to blame me for wasting that much time! She then told me it was Stephen. Right then Stephen appeared and said it wasn't him. She then looked at Alec and blamed him. Alec took the blame fully. As Stephen walked away red faced and laughing. Next Jacob walks in my office with two of the earrings in his ears. SICK! We all begin laughing hysterically! Traci is confused and getting frustrated so I try to calm her down and ask her what happened. She went into dramatics about how the earring flew onto her desk and how her and Sonya couldn't figure out what it was...

I was laughing pretty good when she looked at me and said she knew I knew who did it! She knew the look on my face! Pretty much accusing me!
Alec then tries to calm her down and figure out who was to blame. He gets up. Throws the earring, plots it all out. Sonya MUST know who it was!

I personally think that with as much flirting that Stephen does it was him. But Traci thinks I'm covering for Alec. Traci goes back to her office and emails me again.

"I am positive you know who did it!! I know that face! I’m leaning more toward alec now because you’re covering for him…. I’ll figure this out before the day is through… actually… I’m pretty sure its alec!"

I email her back "Go to work and we’ll talk when we leave. I’ve got to get this payroll done… " See because I'm not trying to waste time at work!

She says "Uh huh… you just confirmed it."
I say "That is was Alec? I’m pretty sure I’d know if he was wasting time making earrings… I think Stephens lack of interest in this says enough. And his face was definitely red. As soon as you said it was Alec he walked away laughing and never came back. I’m pretty sure Stephen is to blame."

She says " Let me know when you’re ready to go to lunch."

I say "Ok ok… it was me. I had Nalani write my name on the paper so that I had a way out. "

She says "You’re helping him [Alec]… boo!"

I say "Ok. Do you want me to say it was Alec? I just admitted that I did it and you don’t believe me… I’ll say it was whoever you want me to say it was… But I really think it was Stephen. Ask Nalani. I don’t think she’ll cover for anyone…"

Now she's mad.
So I get back to payroll and once I finish we go to lunch.

Nothing is said. She still doesn't know who did it.

We get back from lunch and I over hear that the printer is broken. Chris! AND now the Postage machine is broken. Chris! (Who knows if he really did it or not... but its his blame.) So, Stephen says... "Chris made the earrings!!" So I told Traci and I don't know if she bought it or not. But I'm pretty sure it was Chris and Stephen.

Then later on Alec tells me that one of the "earrings" was tossed into Traci's office yet again while he was in there! Really!! 4 of them!!

This ended up being an all day event!

And still nobody except Alec has taken blame. And he's not very convincing.

My theory: Stephen made them. Jacob threw them. Chris busted Jacob and Stephen. They framed me. Alec took the blame for me. And Traci still has no clue.

That's all for now.
Funny Stuff!

Surprise Surprise!

Post #3-
It's a Saturday. Ben is working. My parents are in Park City. Friends are busy. I'm home alone. I woke up a little later than planned. Stayed in bed most of the day with no plans. Every time I got up something went wrong. Korona is eating something. Kooka is barking. I spilled a glass of water. Bad day. Ben even played a joke on me about buying a new tool box. I believed him so much I actually cried.

All I asked was for Ben to make my day somehow. He said he'd try. I hate staying home alone for more than a few hours.

About 4pm now and I decide to get up and clean myself up, just in case Ben has plans to leave to make my day.

Ben gets home and I'm still doing my hair. His response: "Why are you getting all dolled up?"

I walked away crying realizing that he forgot about making my day.

He goes upstairs and gets on the computer. I sit on the couch and try to fall back asleep so the day passes by faster. About 10 minutes goes by (I think. My eyes were closed remember?) and Ben walks down the stairs. Sits on the couch. We have a short conversation and he leaves me alone again. A couple of minutes go by and he comes back down and asks: "Can you be ready to leave in 10 minutes." (See! Good thing I got ready!) After a few moans and complaints I get up and change out of my sweats. Ready to go.

We start the drive downtown. He takes me to the mall and informs me that we are going to Aldo. My favorite store to buy purses!! I picked one out and swapped all my things into it. We left and went to Starbucks. Then raced to the unknown place.

We pull up to....

"Public transportation?"

"Yep!"

"Hmm... Ok."

"We're taking the Frontrunner to Ogden. Going to dinner and coming back home."

This was the BEST date ever!! So simple. But great! We had about 4 hours of uninterrupted talking. 50 minutes to Ogden. A short walk. Dinner. A short walk back. 50 Minutes home.

It ended up being a perfect night! I love my husband so so so much!


FYI- There is SO much to do just a few blocks of where the Frontrunner drops off in Ogden. Indoor skydiving, rock climbing, surfing. A bowling alley (Fat Cats actually!). A big movie theatre. Dance clubs. And food. We hope to have a full day there when we are a little richer! We were there until the last Frontrunner trip to Salt Lake left.

Logan Adventures

Post #2-
So once upon a time my sweet husband was invited to go to Logan to help Ty load up a motorcycle that was for sale. And at that time I was called by my sweet Ty. On that very phone call he asked if I would let my sweet husband go with him. And of course I immediately said NO! It was a Wednesday night. 5pm. Logan if you don't know, is about 2 hours away. That's almost 4 hours of driving alone. Then you have to add up the time to get lost, eat, work out a deal with the guy selling it, getting it loaded up... etc... I knew even if they left at 5pm, right that minute, that they wouldn't return home until after 10pm. See I didn't really want to be home alone all night. (Oh and this was barely a week after we got married so I was a little possessive.)
He proceeded to beg. I proceeded with NO!
begging
begging
begging
NO!
begging
begging
begging
NO!
He passed the phone to Ben. Who didn't seem to care much about going or not. He just wanted to know what to do. Drive home or drive to Logan.
Ty again.
Begging
Begging
Begging
NO!
Ben again. Ben says "Les. If you come you can have the front seat."
FINE!! Let's go.

And off we go.

Can I tell you how beautiful Logan is? So Beautiful. I have some great memories there! We drove up 2 hours. Stopped twice to pee and grab snacks. Ty drove. I got front and Ben was squished in back. Talking the whole way.

We get lost... See told ya!
Ty gets frustrated on the phone. I have to talk to the guy selling the bike and Ty to find where we are supposed to be.

See the bike. Oh how I wish I had a picture of my face when I saw this piece of junk! We drove all the way to Logan for this POS. I couldn't believe it!

But it worked out because Ty got the guy down quite a bit of money and we left with the bike. Turns out it's pretty cool once it's running right. The boys have had a lot of fun with it.

On the way home we stopped at a burger place. So yummy!
We had to call on Laura to feed our poor pups! I'm so glad she has a key! She and Dustin have saved our dogs so many times!

We got home at about 1130pm. Did I not call that!?

All in all, the begging paid off and I really enjoyed the adventure with my two favorite guys!

Oh and I wish I could move to Logan! Always have! It's just so far away from work!

Just my luck!

I have so much to tell! I'm going to write individual posts so that I can keep it all straight.
Post #1- Just my luck! (Yep... This one)
Post #2- Logan Adventures
Post #3- Surprise Surprise!
Post #4- Funny Stuff (ie: Traci)
Post #5- Not So Haunted Houses
Post #6- For Me!?

Beginning with Post #1-

I swear EVERY TIME I say I'm going to sell a car something goes wrong. My first car... totalled! My second car... Stolen. My third car... well that's an exception because I sold it within an hour of saying I was going to sell it. But anyway... Always bad luck when I go to sell a car. So last week Ben and I talked about selling my car and the next day I go to lunch, like normal. Roll down my window so I can get my fast *yucky* food. Drive away and my stinking window won't roll back up!! What's that about!! I panic for a second and realize that as soon as I get back to work I can just use my key to roll it up. Yep. I get back to work as it doesn't work! I can't get my window up. Did I mention that this was on a Wednesday? Why is that significant you ask? Well Tuesday is shop night for Ben and I'm pretty sure he asked me if I'd rather have my brakes fixed or my switch for my window fixed. Of course I chose brakes. So he changed out my brakes. Spent $100 doing it. Did I also mention that I work next to a bus stop? And many cars have been broken into, cars with the window up! And now I have my car parked out by the bus stop with my window down!! And the panic sets in again.

I went back into work and called Ben, who calmed me down until he told me how much the part to fix my window would be! $140!!! Remember that I just spent $100 on brakes?
I take my car to Ben's work and trade for his truck. He orders the part. It's not coming until Thursday. He is sweet enough to drive home with the window down AND drive it back in the cold of morning to fix it on Thursday. He replaces the part. STILL DOESN'T WORK!!! We have to buy another part. Why because I pushed the stupid broken switch so much that the motor gave in too! ANOTHER $140!!!

Luckily that fixes it and my window works better than ever now. But I swear my cars know when I'm trying to get rid of them!! I swear.

At the end of the day I have just put almost $400 into this car so it's got a few months of me sucking up before I decide if it's going anywhere.

The Privileges of Marriage

I just want to state that my BIGGEST fear of getting married was combining money.
I know we are still NEWLYweds but the communication we have about every dollar has increased and we are both watching what we spend. I never imagined it would be like this. At this point it's great! I'm so proud of my hubby (I can say that now!!) for maturing in his spending habits. Lets hope and pray it stays like this! At least until we get a routine and budget in place. Then it will be habit and less to worry about!
Before we got married I went over and over different ways to keep our money in line. All of them included some kind of "allowance" for each of us each week for random things... Now I know it may get to this point, but for now we are comfortable and spending within our means.
I'm so proud of us for all we've accomplished!
Ben thank you for supporting me and easing my fear of sharing. =) Love you! Gigga!

From my heart. As always.

A wedding is supposed to be the most joyous time in your life. A beginning of a new journey. Combining two lives into one soul. It is supposed to be, as we said in our vows, the most beautifully choreographed first step in a new life together.
I started the beginning of that with “supposed to be”… I have to admit, that even through the rain and hail, that my wedding day was just that. It was the best and most memorable day in my life so far.
I was told from the beginning that I couldn’t possibly make everyone happy. That I should make decisions based on what I wanted. To go with my heart and make it my day. I was told that at the end of it all I would be the one who treasured it most. I received many phone calls, text messages, emails and personal conversations giving the same advice. I would be stupid not to take it right?
So I did. And I have no regrets. It was my day and it went better than I could have planned. My husband and I enjoyed every moment. And after all said and done we agreed that we wouldn’t have changed a single moment.
It saddens me that wedding after wedding, advice and more advice is passed along by those who, at the end of the day, are the most upset that plans went my way instead of theirs. I am confused by the ones who have come to me and my family with complaints about the decisions I was told to make for me and my groom. The only disappointment I have now is that I let it get to me in the days after our wedding.
The biggest decision I had to make, and the hardest, is the one I am being crucified for. And not by the party that I would expect to have ill feelings, but by outsiders who don’t have a clue as to what has gone on behind the scenes, for the past 24 years of my life, and especially in the last year of my life planning a wedding.
I put my heart on my sleeve and let everyone join in on the biggest commitment I will ever make to my husband, and God. I shared the joy with those who support me most in life, those who I enjoy, respect and love with all my heart. Only to disappoint those who haven’t been there for me in good and bad times. And yet somehow my heart aches for them for not understanding my motives.
I’m sure if you are reading this now that you either, know exactly what I’m talking about, or know that you are not involved, because after all, the people taking the time to check up on me are the same people who I shared all this joy with.
Now I know that the people this should be touching are not reading my feelings right now. But that the people who care, are.
I am so thankful to have so many people in my life, who just get it. You all see what my family dynamic is. You all know who is who and where my heart lies. You also see that I have a healthy, I’m going to repeat that, healthy relationship with my mom and dad. And if you know me well enough you know exactly what I’m talking about.
So instead of dwelling on what I didn’t do, or what went wrong, I am going to clear the air with those involved. And at this moment I can guarantee that they don’t see it coming. Not from me. Not ever. But I want everyone to know from here on out, I’m not backing down or bowing out. Things will not be swept under the rug for rumors to spread about what kind of person I am. Or about the decisions I made with a clear mind and full heart. This will be resolved on my end. I will address issues as needed and the ball will be left in another court. I’m not going to dwell in drama anymore.

For those of you reading, thank you for being my friend, my family, my life. Thank you for knowing the back stories and supporting my good intentions, respecting my decisions and supporting my husband and me in the decisions we are making together. I love you all!

MARRIED!

If you didn't know, Ben and I had a wedding on Saturday the 19th! We have officially been married for 4 days now!
I know you all want to see pictures and hear stories so as soon as I get pictures I will post them and if you have a story to share please let me know and I'll post it.
I want to know what everyone's favorite moment was...

My personal favorite, besides the whole wedding in general was when Franke and Nick were singing the song they wrote for us. It started HAILING!! Not one person went inside, but instead ran closer with umbrellas to cover Ben and I, and themselves, to listen. Then once they were done with the song we all ran inside. I'm so happy for that!

Also, when the video our moms made, played and Ben was in tears. I'm so glad that those 2 things were kept as a complete surprise!

Although many that attending thought the rain would ruin my day, it actually made it! I'm so thankful that we had such a memorable day! Our first dance in the pouring rain... Just makes sense for us!

Thank you to all of you that attended!

9 days left!!

I'm so excited!!! My bachelorette party is this weekend and I can't wait to get out and party it up!! One night of fun and no worries I definitely need! Laura- Thank you so much for putting it all together!!! Kristen thank you for your help as well! I am so lucky to have all these wonderful women in my life! I really do have some quality girlfriends...

Anyway, I just wanted to say how excited I am for my wedding and bachelorette party! 9 holes here we come!

I will start updating more often when things in my life calm down. Between planning a wedding and flu season at work I hardly have time to think. Unbelievable!

Thanks for reading my mumble jumble!

cRazy with a capital R

I can't even believe that I am not sleeping all day or ripping my hair out with all that is going on right now!
Wedding planning. Coming together, but consumes my every free moment and thought! (Even consumes some time and thoughts that aren't free!)
Work. (Enough said right!?) Not only is it flu season (my tax season as it is referred to at my job.) But it's audit season, and I just had an auditor walk in the door! AGHH!!! Plus I'm taking a week off for my wedding! 1 more week to get everything done!
Life. It never stops! But isn't it fun to think back and wonder how you made it through all you did and how wonderful it is to have accomplished what you wanted? As much as I hate running all the time and want to just lay with my, almost, husband (18 days left!) and fall asleep to a movie EVERY night, I know that I have to wake up and brew the coffee. (Yes, brew... not smell, becuase the smell only comes after you get your ass up out of bed and make the damn coffee!!! BTW- I HATE THE SMELL OF COFFEE, so I never wake up to make it =)

I'm in the most random mood... Can you keep up?

Becoming a Day!

One month from today I can officially change my last name!! I'm so excited! The wedding plans are coming along well. Stressful and keeping us busy, but they are coming along!

I also want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOTTY!!! I'm sorry you don't get to spend it with your wife or her family, but you are in my thoughts! 4 more weeks till you guys are here! HOORAY!!!

No other exciting things to tell...

BUSTED!

Bachelor party/ Bachelorette party. Saturday night. Great time. Boys at hotel party. Girls at Greenstreet. Girls close out bar. Go to hotel to crash bachelor party. Linds and Les stop at light next to hotel. Look to Right. See Ben and Ty in handcuffs. Girls keep driving. Park at hotel. Walk to Ben and Ty. They are trashed. Ben looks like he's guilty. We laugh. Girls see construsction site behind boys and bet that they were climbing like monkeys to the top. Cop walks over to girls. He confirms that boys were climbing in building. We all laugh. Boys get ticketed and uncuffed. Les says to Ben and Ty, "I hope you got pictures that are worth $500." They do. See.

Camping

We went to Joes Valley this year. It was Ben's first time. We had a blast!!!!
Thought I'd share a few of the pictures that I have...


This is when it started raining. We were all lined up to get a family picture and the thunder and rain started coming down so everyone walked/ran to the quads to be on our way...


This is after the rain... about 1/2 way through our 8 hour trip on the quads...





Remember the 1st picture? This is the view behind us... And that trail... That's where we went and got muddy... Well we went farther than just that but you get the idea...

AHHHHH!!!

So I shouldn't be taking time to do this today because I am SWAMPED at work, but I need a little moment to vent before I have a nervous breakdown!

We are painting at work... Great idea right? Well it was when the plan was to paint while we were closed, but now we still aren't done and the regional manager is coming to town tomorrow... so business hour painting has begun! (Actually, it started yesterday!) Our AC is broken, it smells like paint, we have 10 interviews today and the place is impossible to navigate because all the desks, bookshelves, etc are moved to the center of the office and the walls are wet! I just want to go home screaming!!

To add to it, I came in this morning and started my HR day with 3 interviews (Scheduled to be here 30 minutes before I am even scheduled to come in... Thanks recruiters!!!) So I have 3 people waiting on me that I'm sure are irritated that I'm late (When really I was 15 minutes early!)I have to put together their paperwork, in the mess of an office and go through a jungle of desks to get to the copier that is broken so I have to stand there and hold the top of it down while it copies so it doesn't jam... I finish my copies and go back for the interview. Interview packet = 100 pages... Original that I made copies from... NOT IN ORDER!! (Again, thanks recruiters!!) So now I look like I'm late, disorganized and obviously frazzled and irritated! (The only one being false is that I was NOT late!)

I barely get through my interviews. Go to my office and start going through last weeks paperwork that I missed. I find some payroll notes. My thought... OH FU@$!! I had a nurse come in last week and hand me her payroll... I didn't process it. She's not going to get her paycheck this week!! Not only that but this one nurse happens to be the ONLY nurse that I have messed up her benefits... so bad that she is not eligible until NEXT MAY!!! (Don't ask! 1 nurse in 4 years aint bad!) So I know she already hates me! And now... No paycheck for her! Geez!! Way to think on my toes! (And since I've been blaming the recruiters, I'm sure I can blame them for this mistake too :) This really was all my fault though!)

Right at lunch time a past employee comes in and wants to reactivate... Well, with my luck today guess what! More bad news!! You see after an employee goes inactive for 90 days they must reapply as if they are a new employee. I LOVE this policy because usually the ones that go inactive suck at life and our hiring process takes about 6 hours... Most of them won't do it again and I always have the best staff possible. But this time... I love the nurse! She is great and the clients love her too! So I look at her last date working and cross my fingers that it hasn't been 90 days... Again... remember my luck today? 92 days!! 2 freaking days late!!! Guess lunch will have to wait!

I have an orientation at 1pm with a lady that should be retired. (I'm being serious... She's not only past her working ages, but her brain is hardly working.) I'm not sure who decided she'd be a good hire, but here we go. Into an interview again.

So now I have 4 people here, all waiting for me. I still haven't eaten, the office is still a disaster and I have to make copies AGAIN and my master is STILL out of order. It's hot, I'm hungry and I still want to walk out of here screaming!

Ah! Thanks for letting me vent! I feel refreshed and ready to master this mess of a day!

Pastor

So last night we met with Pastor Josh.
The experience we had was something to be talked about. I won't bore you with all the details in my head, but I will say this.
If you are married... Go to counseling. If you are getting married... Go to counseling. If you aren't married... go to counseling.

I've always loved sitting with someone and telling them all my woes and it being all about me. It's relieving. And to feel like they aren't judging you is even better!

This was a different kind of counseling. It was with a Pastor. It was based on our belief in God and the Bible. The questions were about Ben and I as a COUPLE, instead of individuals. We are signing up to be one, so fair enough that it's not just about me anymore. =)

I have never felt closer to God than I did with those two men beside me. I've never felt more loved and accepted by them AND God.

Some of the questions asked were, well... not expected. We both, Ben and I, had to stop and think for a second. And although they were not the answers the Pastor wanted to hear, or expected to hear, we felt like we had room in our hearts (and already spinning heads) for more love and information.

I felt like someone was telling me how selfish I am. And after thinking of my answers I realized that not once did I say what I was doing for someone, but what someone did for me. (not that I don't help others out, I just noticed that all my answers were about ME ME ME. And Ben's too) We are learning from this.

In the 2.5 hour meeting I learned more about Ben and felt closer to Ben than I have in over 2 years of being with him. And there are so many areas where we can and will learn more.

Josh told us that we will be meeting with him once every 3 weeks, unless we request more, until our wedding, and after if we request. He gave us a few books to complete. I will list them at the bottom if you are interested in any of them. I'm excited to start reading and doing... The books should be to me in 3-6 days (shipping times! Gotta love the wait, but I did get 4% cash back for using ebates! =D)

Ben and I made many commitments last night, to each other, but mostly to God. I'm excited to start a "new journey" as a couple! Like I said before... If you are human (basically what I said) go to counseling! Not just a licensed counselor, but someone from your church of choice. It's rejoicing!

And for the books!
Men: What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Men (Hobson)
If you are getting married (or are married): Before You Say I Do (Norman)

Women: What Husbands Wish Their Wives Knew About Men (Morley)
If you are getting marries (or are married): Before You Say I Do (Norman)

As a couple: (Married or not) Love Dare (Kendrick)
(Married) Fit To Be Tied (Hybals)

A SnEaK pEaK

A SNEAK PEEK AT SOME ENGAGEMENT PICTURES....

Stolen Tag

I stole another "tag" from Andrew's blog... here is "Spouse Tag!!"
How fun!! I expect all of you to steal it from me so I can enjoy reading your info!

♥ What are your middle names? Ben's is Joseph, Mine is Ann
♥ How long have you been together? 2 years and 2 months, about to get married!
♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? About 2-3 weeks
♥ Who asked who out? I asked him. He declined and I just kept asking until he said yes. We went to a Bee's game!
♥ How old are each of you? 24 (He's 5 days younger than me)
♥ Whose siblings do/ did you see the most? Mine by far. His family does not live in Utah.
♥ Do you have any children together? 2 dogs... No kids yet.
♥What about pets? 2 dogs.
♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Hmm... Probably remembering to buy gifts for everyone in our families and planning far enough ahead of time to get them shipped. If not that, then balancing time with each other and friends.
♥ Did you go to the same school? No
♥ Are you from the same home town? No. I'm from Utah... Ben is from Minnesota.
♥Who is smarter? Depends on the subject.
♥ Who is more sensitive? Me by far... But I'm female so I guess that makes sense.
♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? Lately it's been Taco Bell.
♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Minnesota
♥ Who has the craziest exes? Ben I guess. My exes aren't crazy. =D
♥ Who has the worst temper? Me. I do a lot better with Ben than I do with most people though...
♥ Who does the cooking? We share this task pretty evenly.
♥Who is more social? Hmm... I would say Ben if he's comfortable, me if it's a new crowd. I like making new friends!
♥ Who is the neat-freak? I am. But I'm not a neat freak. I'm messy too!
♥ Who is more stubborn? We both are!
♥ Who hogs the bed? Depends on how tired we are. Ben hogs the blanket and the dogs get the bed
♥ Who wakes up earlier? Ben. I changed hours at work so I get to wake up later. =)
♥ Where was your first date? Bees Game. (First official date anyway)
♥ Who has the bigger family? I do.
♥ How do you spend the holidays? depends on the year. Mostly with my family.
♥ How long did it take to get serious? We've moved so fast! About 2 weeks!We said "I love you" after a month and moved in after 4 months. Got engaged at 1 1/2 years, bought a house a month later and will be married after 2 1/2 years.
♥Who eats more? Ben by far. I count calories.
♥ Who does/ did the laundry? I used to, but I stress too much so we are starting to share the task.
♥ Who’s better with the computer? Probably me.
♥ Who drives when you are together? Almost always Ben unless he's been drinking.

New Blog

So I started a new blog for my wedding... Just so that my line and parents could keep up with what was going on with plans... And I sorta forgot to let you all in on my life during the planning. Sorry.

First of all... Life really sucks without Melony! Her and Amber's birthday is next weekend (The 20th) and we will not have her here... Doesn't sound right and I don't like it! Also missing her and Scott for Fathers Day. Sad.

On another note. Ben and I have decided to put our butts in gear and get our house together.
We've been doing some work in the yard and are planning on buying a tree this weekend for our front yard. This will be the 3rd weekend we said we're going to do this and we just haven't decided which tree to buy. I think we agreed on one... We shall see if we actually end up with that one!


We are also painting and redoing the "Forgotten Day Suite" and hope that by the time his sisters come to stay they won't feel like they are sleeping in a "dungeon".

We have begun to price out and lay out how we will have our laundry room so it's no longer in the bathroom! Another to do before the wedding. (We'll see about this! It's a big project!) Sorry ladies if we don't have it done when you come. We're trying.


Other than normal life,
the wedding planning is moving along. We went to a great new church and met the Pastor that will marry us! He is a perfect fit for us!

Last weekend we went to Park City and chose the alcohol we are going to have at the wedding... And Ben is changing his mind. So much for crossing that off the list!

Ben just set his last tattoo appointment so it will be done by the wedding. (It's 2 weeks before the wedding!! I'm nervous about that!)

We got our engagements done and will get the pictures this weekend (I hope!). We still need a photographer for our ceremony and reception. If you know anyone please let me know! It's getting down to the wire!

I am still working on the smaller details, but for the most part the big deals are completed. We know who what when where and how... We just need to define each part.

We will be going to the cabin on the twins birthday to help my gramma with her yard and see what we need to do to prepare.

There is so much going on right now I don't even know what day it is half the time!
I'll remember this blog and keep posting. =)

I KNOW YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO READ POSTS WITH PICTURES SO THE ONE'S POSTED, THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT IS WRITTEN IS A PLOY TO GET YOU TO READ ALL OF IT!!! =D


AND A "WTF!?" FACE FROM BEN!

My Big Sister

It's official! She's moved. It's been a tough few weeks, months... for all of us. I'm happy for her and her husband now. Just seeing them together and interact made me feel 100% better about the whole move. I'll see them in September for sure (For the wedding) and then hopefully soon after that. It's going to be weird without them here for all of the holidays... And small events. I guess I'll have to do the Skype thing... Like Mel requested...

Mel and Scott,
I love you two so very much and wish you the best luck and most happiness ever known. Enjoy your new journey together and know in your heart, that you are both in mine.
Hugs and Kisses,
Les

I was thinkin....

In fact, I always think... How much I love my Benji! Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with the feeling I can't stand myself! I see him everyday, and yet I miss him while I'm away for a few hours. Anyway... I just thought I'd post how I'm feeling today.
Thanks for reading!!! =)

IT'S A GIRL!!!!

Brittany is having a girl!!! I'm so excited!!! I can't stand it! I was right!!! I can't wait for her to come!!! Baby Alex!!

Congrats Britt and Vern!
Love you guys!!

BTW- I made baby Alex some head bands... Look how cute!!!

Dust To Dreams -By:Barbara Moeller

Our entourage arrived in an old army bus. Although the distance traveled was short in miles, it was made long by the lack of a decent suspension system. In route all we could think about was getting here. Now, as I look around, I wonder how anyone could anticipate coming to a place like this.

Yet here we were, an old man and me. Being the first to exit, we lead this group of mourners in a sort of somber parade. The dirty windows had filtered some of the shock of this place. Now, legs jellied and weakened, as the enormity of this disaster lay before us. Twin Towers had proudly once stood here. Now, all I could see was "broken". Nothing resembled a building anymore. There was just this streaming crater with bits of metal protruding out of it. A light-gray dust frosted everything, removing any color of life and replacing it with an eerie pale. Backhoes dug in the distance kicking up clouds of more dust. Hoses sprayed water in an effort to keep the air clean, but this was not working. The air tasted like an old country farm road after a pick-up truck passes you too fast. The water mixed with dust causing ooze that seeped and ran into the crater. From deep down someplace in this mess, steam and smoke crawled out like little snakes, then dissipated into the dusty air. Dump trucks were always backing up somewhere causing a "beep, beep, beep" that I wished could be turned off for just a minute so we could have a moment to cry in peace. I was annoyed by the grinding, crushing sounds the backhoes made. Metal moaned, rocks tumbled, something popped, then shattered. I hated it here.

This wasn't just a disaster; this was an open festering, smelly, awful wound. Our country wasn't just attacked, it was wounded. You want to look away, but you stare anyway. And somewhere in this awful, empty hole, was where our loved one had been. Now, not even this huge crater was big enough to contain the emptiness we felt.

"Barb" said the old man. "They want me to lay the wreath." We had met earlier that morning at the memorial service the military had arranged. The country also missed this man who was my friend, and the gentle old mans' son. We bonded into kindred spirits on the ride here. Now we were two lost souls, wandering around in a terrible place, uncertain what to do next.

"We can do that." I said to him.

"But I don't know where to put it?"

Where indeed! Where in this madness do you put love? Where is hope in hate? Endless "why" questions followed as I wondered how something like this could have happened. But then I remembered my friend. His face was shy, but he always smiled. He made you feel important, listened to your heart, appreciated who you were. So many emotions filled me as I missed my friend. From the deepest sorrow that knows no light to the brilliance that shines in your eyes when a friend smiles at you. It was when the love that my friend filled my heart that I turned to the old man and said: "Your son is out there. Go and find him. When you find a place where you are at peace, then that will be the right place."

His eyes filled with uncertainty. This was a "military" group. It was as if he wondered about needing permission or something to proceed. But I could also see that he wanted to go now, not waiting for the others, to find this place of peace.

"You go and find a place of peace" I said, almost ordering him. "And I will follow with the wreath. And if we act like we know what we're doing, then all of those guys (I pointed to the military entourage) will follow us."

Somehow he decided my permission was enough, and we went off. Everyone else did indeed follow us. What was startling is that emotion had place here. There were places that were scary, sad, lonely, even frightening. More often than not, we felt love there. Love where life had been taken away. An irony you were glad to feel in this place. Then we found a bit of shade and indeed here was peace. We tasted it through the dust, it silenced the noise of the work that continued around us. Here we mourned, laughed, cried and then remained for a time in stillness. I sort of knelt down and breathed in the perfume of the flowers. The sweet smell ushered into my heart the sweetest memories that true friendship brings.

When I stood up to leave, this place was different somehow. It was no longer a disaster. This time when I looked around I cherished the backhoes. For this time they were not dust and noise. This time, when I looked around, I saw the faces of the operators. Theirs was a face of determination. Even though each scoop dug seemed to only barely scratch the surface, they dug anyway. The task before them was impossible, but they kept going. No one scoop made a difference, the disaster was too big, but they dug anyway. There was a miracle happening here. All these people who couldn't possibly make a difference, WERE making a difference.

I no longer saw the mess, I saw hope for what it could be. I no longer saw dust, I saw people digging into the dust to clean up this mess. I no longer saw death, I saw life in the people who had not given up. They kept digging, scoop after scoop. In the rhythm of their focus life was beating in this place.

Suddenly I was filled with life. My heart contained only the things that are important to me. My children, my friends, my family, music... the smell of cinnamon rolls baking. The only thing inside me, inside my heart, was a tender, healing, gentle, love. I will never be the same. I long for that feeling to come again. And it does come, in bits and pieces. The things that make my life busy take their place in my days and in my heart. But, like the backhoes, I now dig into the business and replace it with determination. A want to take away what is bad in life, and make room for the good instead. This is my hope for you. Dig through the clutter and find what matters. Know that under pain, is life. Hope is in hopelessness, and bad does not take away good; as long as we hold on tight to what is good around us.

-Barbara Moeller

Barbara.

Can I just say, "I LOVE SPRING!!!" It's my favorite time of year! Flowers blooming, sun shining, the occasional spring shower... I am absolutely in love with this time of year!

Anyway... I wanted to tell everyone about a lady in my, soon ending, public speaking class. Her name is Barbara. She's in her mid-late 40's and her daughter is also enrolled in the class with me. 16 weeks ago we did introductions to the class and I was amazed with the courage she had as she shared with us many "embarrassing, demeaning" things about her life. Her daughter sat in the back of the classroom with her head hanging to the floor as her mother spoke about their lives. Barbara began by telling us that for a place to sleep at night they volunteer at the homeless shelter downtown and hope that by being there they will be first in line to receive a bed, even if they had to share or sleep on the floor... at least it was warm.
Barbara had been diagnosed with cancer about 5 years back and when she lost her job she was forbidden to use the health insurance she needed to keep her alive. She tried to take legal action against the company for firing her due to her health issues. She lost. Soon she was trying to pay out of pocket for her chemo treatments and her house went into foreclosure. She got an apartment for her and her daughter, but because she was consistently passing out due to exhaustion, she lost her new part time job. Eventually, they turned the the homeless shelter for somewhere to call home.

This was 5 years ago.

Barbara and her daughter are spending as much time together as they can. Instead of spending money on her treatment they are getting an education. One class at a time. Barbara is going to school for her daughter, since she won't go without her mom, afraid she might go "home" to an empty room.

Yesterday we had "final speeches" A special occasion speech. As the class saluted their families and friends, gave wedding toasts and anniversary thank yous the two of these women sat quietly, listening and waiting for their turn to speak. Amy, her daughter, spoke first. She thanked her teachers for all the support and love they have provided for her and her mother as they Lived their lives to the fullest together. She thanked them for the patience they have for her mom's "bad days" and for the understanding and respect they showed for her slowly withering mother.

Class in tears... Barbara's turn. All semester she had done an amazing amount of research for her speeches. She had presented them well and ALWAYS gone over the 5 minutes we were assigned. Nobody minded, since she was sharing the small things in life that we forget to enjoy... like snowflakes and homemade ice cream. She began her speech this day with a story. A story about a group of people who have helped her and her daughter share their story, stand on their feet without shaking and who have given hope in her hopeless world of pain and cancer. She pointed out the the class and said, "I'd like to thank you all" You have accepted our weaknesses as strengths. You have been supportive and understanding about all of our inabilities. You have created a comfortable atmosphere where we can come and feel, "home". She looked around the classroom with her eyes filled with tears and said, "I am thankful that I don't have to pay a tuition check and take pictures of my daughter in cap and gown. I am thankful that I get to share the journey of learning with her." She then told us of the last true friend she can remember having. He was killed in the 9/11 attacks. He was eating at a restaurant in the Twin Towers when the plane crashed. She said she lost her soul that day. She was filled with hopelessness for mankind and has been filled with venom ever since.

She held up a plastic bag with a piece of cement in it. She told us how she went to New York after the towers fell and while she was there she was given a cement brick in remembrance of her friend. She'd had this since the towers, and her friend, fell back in 2001. She told herself then that whenever she felt hope she would give a piece of the brick to the person who helped her feel that way. Yesterday I received a piece of that brick and her journal entry about her time in New York. I will share that with you when I have more time to type it.

I don't know if Barbara and Amy realize what they have brought to my life. More than hope... Knowledge and strength. An appreciation for all that I am lucky enough to have in life. A view of what it means to struggle and a will not to be in their position, but an eye opener of the attitude needed to survive should I fall into the luck they have.

I hope that you will check back to see the journal entry she wrote. It put a realization to 9/11 that I've never had. An appreciation that I've never felt for the people who helped clean up the "mess" that was created...