Photo Session (from last fall. Ha.) and Some Gratitude

Oh my gosh, it snowed today.  What the heck, winter?  We said our farewells last week with the 70 degree weather.  I put away my winter boots.  Get out, already.

(Want to know what keeps running through my head? "Be gone, Long One."  You know, from Disney's Robin Hood?  When Little John is talking to Hiss?  Anywho...)

I was organizing files on my computer and realized I never shared these photos.  I imagine our family members would like to see a few.  Our good friend, Vanessa, from Pearl Photo and Design, shot these for us on a gorgeous day last September.  I cannot get over the vibrant yellow sun reflecting off of the leaves behind us, especially on a gray day like today.

Squirrel!

  

Last night, I noticed the magic in this^^ picture for the first time.  It's funny how distance can do that.  When we first got the pictures, I didn't notice that this photo was extra special.  It's now one of my favorites of the two of us.  My heart feels so much gratitude for life as I know it when I look at it.  I think, "Oh my goodness.  I am in love with my very best (and very handsome) friend.  And he loves me so much, too.  I can see it!"  I remember the moment.  We were totally lost in our little exchange.  Everything in this picture is authentic.  I love that.

 I totally get it when people want to exclaim to the world how happy--how in love--they are.  I'm there.  Man alive, I am one blessed girl.

{Gems} Challah, Pumpkins, and Gregory Peck

My weekend came to a close with a wicked sore throat that refuses to recognize defeat.  I, however, also refuse to recognize defeat, and while I may hole up in bed for a bit, I will come out conqueror--because my birthday is next week, and I will not be sick on my birthday.  

Determined as I am to get better, I need to revamp my attitude and recognize some gems in my life. 

This week, I'm grateful for loyal friends with a great bedside manner and a window sharing a gorgeous October sky.

For red leaves, tractor rides, and pumpkin patches with white pumpkins.

For haunted corn mazes and a reminder that "lost" is an adventure.

For a date night tradition begun long ago with my best friend that always gives my week a boost.

And for homemade Challah with marion blackberry jam, eaten while I crush on Gregory Peck all over again during Roman Holiday.

Here's to hoping I can kick this cold in the head so hard that it'll leave mine.

Honeycrisp Tender Mercy Apples

Sometimes God sends uncomfortable tender mercies so that you have to grow.

The hubs and I have some woes.  I've gotten comfortable with being alone all day long, and as a result, any unplanned human interaction totally puts me in a panic.  Do I remember how to converse?? Gjdlsdoifjds flasjfldskjfr lkee!!  Preston's woe is that he thinks he is going to die.  This program is killing me slowly, he texted me earlier.  So, in an attempt to ignore our woes, I sat on our front step on a warm, overcast afternoon eating ice cream and reading a brochure about fun things to do in Indiana.  Sonny Boy lay just in front of me, stretched out in the cool grass.  He had been such a good dog, minding so well and not chasing the large Schwan's truck that kept driving by.  

A mother and her little girl walked past, holding hands and talking about her day at school.  In an instant, Sonny was on his feet and racing across the lawn to the little girl.  He let out a bark, which scared her.  She whimpered and scampered up into her mom's arms as I ran after the dog, apologizing and explaining that he really is sweet and very friendly.  The mom gave a half smile and kept walking with her daughter in her arms. Looking at the dog, I snapped my fingers and pointed inside, taking my hand to his backside as he walked.

I tell you what, I think those spanks hurt me far worse than they did him.  (Already he is curled up in my lap again.)  The poor thing just loves to play, and whimpers every time we pass another dog on a walk who won't stop to say hello.  I wanted to explain that to the mother and little girl.  My dog with all the pureness in his heart just wants to be friends.

So as we got in the house, the humbled dog hid underneath the couch and I flopped on top of it, deciding then and there that I deserved a good cry.  Forget ice cream and trips to the zoo that husband doesn't have time for anyway.  Life was stupid.  I prepped myself to let out some hearty tears when, of course, the doorbell rang.  Who was it but the Schwan's man.  After our brief but friendly conversation, I returned to the couch still in the mood for some emotion.

I sat there for a second, just thinking, when the doorbell rang again.  Wondering what the Schwan's man could have forgotten, I opened the door to face our sweet elderly neighbor named Shirley. Immediately she placed two apples and an envelope in my hand, jumping into a story about her cats and how they scratched her and these are her band-aids and it happened when her husband got kidney stones removed and so he can't help their handicap son move to a new place on Friday no Saturday and she didn't want to come inside because of the dog but she'd be by with munsee apples when those were ripe but for now enjoy the honeycrisp and sorry for your time and thank you bye now.

She walked away, her body tipping side to side as she adjusted for the pain in her hips, and I quietly shut the door, taking in the moment.

Apparently, a good cry is not what I needed.  I needed some homegrown honeycrisp apples, a sweet note, positive human interaction, and a reminder that we are surrounded by good.

How many times have I walked by Shirley's home and wondered how she was doing, but let my shyness get the best of me?  This tender mercy encouraged me to be more brave, to get out and meet people and let them welcome me into their lives.  Uncomfortable, yes, but the good kind.

So, friends, have a happy, uncomfortable, tender weekend.

Chicken Fried--an end of an era

Preston and I went out to lunch today and began planning our 8 weeks left in Cedar City over pulled pork, fried onions, and ice cream.  While we sat reminiscing about summers past and realizing how short 8 weeks really is, the song "Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown Band came on.

I may have nearly cried.

(But when Preston asked me if I was going to cry, I said no, so that confession stays here.)

That song has a special place in my heart.  It accompanied many happy moments during my freshman year, my roommates and I playing and dancing and singing all of the time.  "Chicken Fried" reminds me of a magical year with the best of friends.

And nearly 5 years later, as the song played, it hit me how quickly these happy days in Cedar City are winding down--with a new, forever roommate, I am now planning for a new city with another beginning.

I could wonder at the adventures we'll have, what new song will bring that sparkle to our life as we venture out, but for now I'm wrapped up in the here and now, in the nostalgia that this song brings.

Enjoy.

(actual song begins around 1:20)

Happy

Some things that have made me happy this week

***

   Annie Lennox

Hot cups of Pero

                   $5 scalp treatments

Pinterest pins that get me excited to create

A good, hard work-out

{post-dinner cuddle sessions with the stud-hubs}

turkey, brie,

& cranberry chutney

                                   two seasons made friends

***

So very blessed.

~K

More Gems and a Tribute

It's time for some Weekly Gems:

*The sweet old lady at the SUU women's locker room who was curling her hair next to me.  We'd both swam laps that morning, and as we prettied ourselves in our own ways she chatted happily about her upcoming breakfast party at Denny's.  She wished me well multiple times, complimenting my youth.  What she couldn't know was how fulfilled I felt by her attitude in old age.

*Two batches of chocolate chip cookies in one week--both my favorite recipes.  Yes, we shared, but Pres and I got to eat our fill, too.

*Daddy-daughter date with Papa Mark last Saturday.  By the end of the evening he had at one point or another all of his daughters join him.  We got delicious food at Don Miguel, watched the SUU men's basketball team seal another win, and topped off the night with delicious frozen yogurt from Krave.  Their Red Velvet was so so good.

(I have to say, I sure enjoy this family!  I'm grateful they've welcomed me with such open arms.  And since we had a night dedicated to my father-in-law, I might as well expand.)

Some of my favorite things about Mr. Mark:

His laugh

His bright smile

The way he says "How we doin'?!"

The way he can cook meat so tender and cut it so thin

The way he calls me Miss Kels

His passion about his family's welfare

His ability to be anyone's friend

His stories, especially the ones about growing up with his brothers

Thanks for being you, Papa Mark!

(There was no picture of me with my eyes open to choose from, ok?)

To Wash My Hands, My Face, and Hair with Snow

**Warning:  Picture Overload

It's time for some weekly gems (I really need to keep a better schedule on this) but first, a tribute to snow.
I love snow.  Even as a college kid trekking all over campus I didn't get sick of snow.  (Okay, maybe once, but it had to be one of those days.)  And lately we have had some good times with the gleaming stuff.

My good friend prepping for a ride on a pizza pan.
I'm telling you, Pam works.

First, some late night sledding.


We live across the street from a hill.  One of the most popular sledding hills, I would say, since a person of any age can be found sliding, slipping, or rolling down it at any hour--which we prove.



And I must apologize for the beyond horrible quality of the pictures.
What can a girl sledding at 10:00 p.m. do.

I included this fuzzy thing merely to point out that the white blur is a laundry basket.

Next, I always want to live on the Bountiful benches on my drive up to them.  Then I change my mind on the way down.  But they're beautiful, aren't they?

Lastly, I had a brief relationship with the sublime a few weekends ago while at my parents'.  It was late and I was alone outside to take in the beauty of fresh snow.  So I snapped some pictures which mean more to me than they will to anyone else.

(Not to ruin the moment, but extra life points to my dad
for shoveling this driveway by hand year after year.)

Ok, and one gem real quick:

*Finding out my sister-in-law, Lauren, and my BFF,Chelsea, are expecting!  Congrats you two!

PS-- See you on the slopes on Saturday!

Reckless Abandon and an Open Palm

I learned a new word this week.

Pestiferous:  constituting a pest or nuisance; annoying.

Thanks dictionary.com.  You're an asset.

Gems from the week:

Being able to finally kiss Preston again after his week long battle with the flu
Good times with my work friends
Ben and Jerry's

Also, check out this amazing gal from over yonder in the Midwest.  Love her blog.  Want to read her book After Nathaniel. Cling to her every word.  Especially this set:

"Love with reckless abandon and an open palm."

~ Kristina Clemens

I've shared this quote with many of you.  Yes, I'm still obsessed with it.  No clenching and holding back for fear of loss.  I'll love hard and then submit.

Here's to another neat week.

~K

A Surprise and Some Gems

Few things are more neat than a 16 year old boy truly giddy with surprise.

My youngest brother, Cougar (yes that is his real name and I'll tell you how he got it some other time), is in the Musical Productions class at Davis High.  At the end of their semester they do a musical revue, showcasing their talents and just plain having fun.  It is a great show, but Preston and I were not planning to drive the 4 hours north to see it since we've done a lot of traveling lately, and Storm Gandolf was letting loose.  I told Cougar this and he was heartbroken.  He is the only one home, and as entertaining as our parentals are, he is bored stiff and lonely.
Being the adventurers we are, we made a rash decision: we'd brave the extra-snowy-even-for-Utah weather and surprise him.

And I'll tell you what, it was a success.
We waited in the lobby after the show got out and then Preston "bumped" into Cougar.  Cougar looked to say sorry and then his face lit up in shock.  He looked behind Preston to see me, and then he let out a squeal (a very manly squeal of course) when he realized it really was us.  Boy oh boy I could replay that scene in my head a million times over.
The rest of my family didn't know we were coming either, and they were equally happy.  It's so nice to be wanted.

We spent Saturday sledding, and I have not had that much fun sledding in years.  My parents were like kids. I almost choked laughing watching my mom fall off her sled and slide backwards on her slick coat with her legs stuck straight in the air all the way down the hill, a little "poof" of powder at the end finishing the scene.  What a hoot.

Boo yeah.  Record for longest run.  Take that, 20 pound kids.

I wasn't kidding about all the powder.  White washed e.v.e.r.y t.i.m.e.
Oh yeah, and my mom's a champ.  She has a torn ACL, but that didn't stop her!

Some "Gem Moments" from the weekend:

*Cougar's face when he saw Preston and me
*Preston cleaning snow off surrounding cars in SUU's parking lot after the basketball game while I sat in our warm car
*My brother, Luke, carrying a little girl and his own sled up the hill
*Musical Productions singing "Homeward Bound" with their orange in honor of Duncan Howard, a sweet boy who passed away at 22 after living with cerebral palsy
*Preston (who has an odd obsession with facial hair), lying sick in bed:  "Now is the best time to have a mustache.  You don't want to kiss me anyway!"
*WINNER:  Running short on snow pants (we play dress up more than anything), my mom SARAN WRAPPED her legs to keep them dry.  Yep.  And it actually worked.  Glad goes pretty far.