Itty-Bitty Blessings

Now what is a Jello Jiggler, you might ask? We'll get to that. Little buddy has started eating solid foods- mashed up carrots, sweet potatoes and squash, which I mix with rice cereal and homegrown milk. He loves it! As I feed him, he kicks his chubby legs and lunges toward the spoon, a habit that is both messy and adorable. Here is where we come to the Jello Jiggler! Mike and I were at the store, and I wanted to buy some new ice cube trays so that I could freeze little portions of mashed veggies for baby meals. Mike suggested just using one of our current ice trays, which clearly wasn't as fun as buying a new, special one for baby food... But it did appeal to my sense of economy, so I agreed. We got to the register and were chatting with the worker, when she suddenly said, "There are free Jello Jigglers at the other counter!", to which I responded "Oh, okay, thanks!", having no real idea what a Jello Jiggler was... She asked her friend to pass us a m...

Actually, I don't believe in soul mates. But the fact is, the last time I posted on this blog was just after my first date with Michael! Mr. Assertive asserted himself all the way to the altar... And boy am I glad! Now we've been married almost two years, and we recently added a lot more cuteness to our lives. "Exhibit A" of cuteness! I started this blog way back after my mission because I kept seeing so many little miracles around me, and they were too good not to share! Now I'm returning for the same reason. I know that God is involved in my life, and that knowledge has carried me through many personal questions and heavy experiences. There is always something to learn. So here is my "New Mom" update! Wow, I really love this. Staying at home with my little one is so soul-stretching and heart-changing, in the most cosmically mundane, dirty diaper kind of way. Sometimes when Mike asks me how my day was, my response is simply, "Uhhhh.......

Guys, I can't even TELL you all that's happened in the last month. What an incredible time. This blog post will be more personal than most, but I need to explain some more delicate things in order for you to understand why this week was one big, long miracle. (No worries, names have been changed to protect the identities of all involved.) I'm also kind of trusting that the majority of people that read this are the Relief Society sisters from my home ward, soooo... It really began last week, when I had a lunch date with Mr. Assertive. We had a great time and even got to dance together at the ward dance that night. On Sunday, Mr. Assertive came over to chat and have a Sunday music party, and then later in the evening, The Serenader did basically the same thing. The Serenader and I had already been on a couple dates, and I was fairly interested in him, but he just wanted to be friends. And that was totally fine with me! The Serenader, however, caught on to the fact that Mr....

How did those insurance commercials go again? You know, with those cute little kids playing on a bright green lawn, then all of a sudden growing up and needing to buy life insurance for their own sleeping newborn, a corny jingle, and then that all-knowing narrator saying "Life Comes at You Fast". I might volunteer as an extra in one of those; it seems such a fitting life slogan. The first two weeks of the semester have already flown by and I'm trying to get a head-start on homework for the third. Lots of reading, lots of new people, names and homework assignments to remember, but there are also lots of invaluable late-nights talking to Brinley, my roommate, about the unfolding drama of our lives. I swear things happen faster here, leaving hardly enough time to process all of our increasing experiential development. My mind, heart, and soul are EXPLODING in the most positive, exciting and exhausting way possible. After my first day of classes, I had to breathe deeply ...

Layers. That is what I have been thinking about this past week. Not the "multiple sweatshirts, socks and scarves" kind of cold-weather layers, because I don't think about that as much now that I have a toasty down coat. (Good Christmas present, Mom!) I mean layers of meaning, time, culture. Just the other day, I was driving back from Sandy with my aunt and Grandma from a fun Chinese luncheon, and the freeway took us right by the Lehi Roller Mills. As we zoomed past it on the freeway,  I laughed to myself and thought how ironic it looked: a white, faded flour mill with it's red, old-fashioned script all surrounded by Wendys, Taco Bell, and other fast food restaurants. They serve the same people-feeding purpose, occupy the same basic space, but originate from totally different eras. It was like a sudden snapshot of "Lehi Now and Then", maybe even "Life Now and Then". What immense layers of life surround us all the time!! Though I am living, learni...

No, I actually didn't. (Touch a blue rhino, that is.) That was just the random title that I wrote in my cousin's missionary email today, and it kinda stuck to me... Aside from that creative burst, I'm feeling GOOD today, for multiple reasons. First of all, finals are over!!!!! I'd write a whole paragraph on how relieving that is, but it'd just be cliche. Second of all, I attended two Christmas programs today, one of which was the homecoming of my dear friend. This sparked a lot of Christmas reflection, and those swirling thoughts and feelings continue to warm my heart. Third, do you realize what was on TV today?! Sound of Music- -The Sing Along version!!! How did I not know that existed?? My world is changed. For reals. And my Mom made me a cheese log, which I ate while watching Sound of Music. *sigh* Life is too good. Let's not forget, however, some of the BYU campus gems that I've been saving up to write about. Here goes! A week or so ago, I was walki...

As usual, the selection of little blessings for this week is somewhat akin to the selection of drinks at Swig. (The hip high school drink place- Kirsten took me there last week. They let you choose from a billion types of soda and then mix it with crushed ice or ice cream or syrup flavoring or who knows what else, making their menu literally endless.) Therefore, this week shall be a list week. 1. Went to my first Jazz game. The real miracle? I actually enjoyed watching the game! I don't want to ruin a good thing by speaking prematurely, but I think I may have a seed of basketball love growing in me. Yay for progression and change! 2. This week, after (Mysterious Moment X, which cannot be explained on a blog post), I felt deep satisfaction when I remembered what good people I've chosen to surround myself with. What a joy to be in a time of life where I can live fully, based on the dictates of my own choice and conscience, and can trust my friends to do the exact same. 3. ...