How can you tell who your friends are?

- Friends tell each other about 50-percent of sales.
-Friends never brag or gloat, even if their children really are the cutest in the world.
-Friends laugh together.  Often.
-Friends don't feel pressured to fill every silence with trivial chatter.  They're comfortable just being in each other's company.
-Friends can call each other any time of the day or night.
-Friends hurt when friends hurt.
-Friends don't remember who paid for lunch last time, but it always seems to come out even.
-When a friend sends a postcard that says, "Wish you were here," she really, really wishes you were.
-Friends know us well enough to finish our sentences- but value our input enough to let us speak.
-Friends share the last brownie on the plate.

I love this book I found on our bookcase!

Stinking Skinny People

So I have mentioned before that Pintrest is my favorite website.  Well, I usually don't look at the Fitness page because it just makes me so depressed.  But today I did.  Sheesh.  Are there really THAT many absolutely gorgeous girls out there with FANTASTIC bodies?!?!  Holy Cow.  I will say, that after I looked through the pins I was a little more motivated because I want to look like them! (NEVER going to happen) Then... I made a mistake... I was on a fitness high.  I have workout one done for the day and feelin pretty good but then something came over me and I went to the food page.  Oh Gosh...  Bad Idea.  So on the fitness page the pictures are of the most perfect people, well the food page is posts of the most amazing looking foods ever.  I would love to run to the grocery store right now and get ingredients for like 6 recipes.  However, I will try and be good today :(  I hate being good!  Why can't the world be perfect and you can eat yummy things and still look good?  It boggles my mind.  I have just come to the conclusion that I don't like beautiful, skinny people hahahahah. JK!

Brian gets home from NC in about... 47 minutes!  Yea!!

An Inner Diary Momment

There has been a lot on my mind lately.  My mom, aunts and sister-in-laws all watch a common show found on Thursday nights.  No, I am not going to say which show that is but if any one knows any of us, you can probably guess which show it is.  Well, Brian and I don’t have cable so I watch the show first thing Friday mornings as soon as I roll out of bed.  J

The two main characters are named Christina and Merideth.  Since the very first episode of the series, these two girls have had such a special bond with one another and are now the best of friends.  Is it just in TV that friendships like that are found?  Sometimes I wonder.  It has been years since I feel like I have had that. 

So the other day I found a new show on Netflix.  Wow. You must think all I do is watch TV! I promise I don’t.  Mainly just at nights when we are settling down for the evening.  I found the biggest looser.  I have never seen this show before.  Well I may have seen like an episode before but that’s it.  I started at season 5 I think.  Don’t ask me why, I just did.  I kind of figure that the first few seasons of shows can be low budget and therefore maybe not as good, so you start in the middle and work yourself backwards.  This show has done two things for me. 

The first goes back to the whole friend thing.  Everyone just learns to love each other and cry when anyone leaves.  There are two guys that have been best friends for 22 years.  How is that possible?!   They said they don’t even talk anymore because they don’t have to.  They can basically read each other’s minds.  How is that even possible.  And especially for guys!  But then I thought, maybe friendships like that aren’t in the minority, maybe it is just me.  I have come to the realization that I am the alien.  Not everyone else. 

I need like a friendship recipe book to follow.  The “ How To- How to be- How to Make’ a best friend book

The second thing Biggest Looser has done for me… Marathon numero dos!

That’s right, I have decided to officially start running again.  I have said this before but this time I am determined.  Believe me, I know how much work it is to prepare.  I guess you could say I am doing this for completely selfish reasons.  I want to loose 7 pounds.  I want to be in shape.  I want to say I have run 2 marathons. I want to be able to be part of something that only 1% of the human population will ever do. 

Most people that know me know I don’t like to do things that I can not excel at.  I think that is why I haven’t wanted to run a marathon seriously again until now.  I know where I am at, and how extremely far and how hard it will be to be able to run easily and at will again.  Hopefully I can keep up the motivation. I have to humble myself and start at step one. 

Tonight is stake volleyball night.  The R.S president asked me to go with her and I said yes. I DID NOT want to, but Brian made me.  Again, it goes back to I don’t do things I can’t do well.  I have not played since the championship against St. Maries in 2007. 4 Years ago this weekend.   I don’t want to go.  I am tempted to cancel because I really don’t feel good today thanks to the stupid dentist.  I am scared.  Brian said in church that I was a great volleyball player and now I am being recruited by all these people in our ward.  I have been able to blow them off until now.  Brian may think I was good,  but I really wasn’t.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved it, and still love it, but I never made it a priority in my life after graduation like a lot of the other girls on my team.  Hard to believe based upon where I am now, I was dedicated to school and homework and grades and did very well my first few semesters of college that I didn’t want to give up any time I didn’t have.  They all had two extra semesters off before they all started school that they could play.  I don’t want to walk in to the gym and be the worst one and have people say, what was Brian talking about.  

I think there is a ‘help you find work’ place by my house.  I have applied for three jobs and haven’t heard anything on them so I am going to take it that they are a no.  The extra money would be really nice to have right now.  Yea for bills and expenses!  NOT. 

I am nervous. I don’t feel qualified to do anything.  Basically just be a target cashier.  No offense to those who actually work there!  That is just not a respectable job to have here of all places.  Land of the educated Purdue people EVERYWHERE!  I feel like I would be an embarrassment to Brian as well.   He has worked so hard and has a wonderful job and is sure to go far places.  I would hate for him to be talking to the very important people he talks with and say ya, my wife is a grocery store cashier. 

I have been extremely blessed in my life.  As soon as I graduated high school I have had a good paying job.  In Rexburg as a college student, that truly is an accomplishment.  I have never had to sell myself for a job before.  Judy asked me to come work for her before I even started school at BYU-I.  Then out of the blue I get contacted by the president at Premier and asks me if I will come work for them after I did a little bit of work for them the previous year. 

Up until a few weeks ago I have never needed a résumé.  This will be another new experience for me while in Indiana as I have to go out and find something.  I am scarred of rejection.

Well, enough about me.  Brian is in NC this week and says it is beautiful. I wish I could have gone.  My mom and I want to go on a Nicholas Sparks tour.  A lot of his books take place there so we would love to go see the magical places he talks about.  Maybe next time!

He sure does love his job and I am very proud of him!!

Crafting!

All of my post titles are so boring.  I only have one picture for the last seven posts!  I will try better.  I left my camera in Idaho and I just got it back on Thursday.  Hopefully I will start to get some pictures.

Lets see... what has happened since Tuesday...

Well Brian went on his trip to Phoenix and got back late Friday night.  He said the weather was wonderful and it was like 98 degrees but didn't seem that hot.  Dry heat doesn't seem all that hot any more after humid heat.  He got to spend some time with one of his great friend Jason and his wife.  They spent a couple evenings together and Brian had a wonderful time.

He got back Friday at like 10 and I was too tired to cook so we went to Cracker Barrel.  I have never been there before.  I have to say it is a fun little place!  I was most impressed with their mashed potatoes!  They are real potatoes and were really good!!!! 

Yesterday was our Day of Service.  Brian and I were in charge.  There was another couple that was supposed to help but they flaked on us from the very beginning.  I spent all Saturday baking.  We made sheet cakes, 48 cupcakes and cinnamon rolls.  We?  I take that back.  Just me.  Brian did help me make the hot fudge though and helped me clean up.  Believe me… our kitchen looked like a nuclear bomb went off!

So my new found love is a website called Pintrest.  My FAVORITE site in the world!!  Home of all things design and crafts.  You have to be invited but it is well worth waiting for.  I learned about it from my friend back in Idaho so since I have been home I have really been thinking of new projects I can do.  In my last post I posted the picture of my wreath I made.  I have some projects that I really want to do but I don’t know if I can afford them.  I want to make pillows and curtains but I don’t have a sewing machine and the fabric I want is really expensive.  The curtains I would want would be 40 dollars.  Not terrible compared to most curtain prices.  They can get expensive!  But 40 dollars I don’t really have at the moment.  Problem two… I don’t have my own sewing machine.  I am looking for a used one, but still money I don’t have. 

I really want to make some wood letters.  They are so expensive to buy and I could make my own if I had my own saw.  Then again, no money for that either.  I was telling Brian that I need him to tell his friends at work that they need to bring him their old wine bottles and beer bottles.  You can do some really cool stuff with the.  Brian looked at me and just laughed thinking about what the guys are going to say when he tells them why he needs them.

We both had dentist appointments this week.  Brian came out with nothing but gold stars.  Well, his last filling he had fixed 6 months ago doesn’t look like it is holding so he may have to get it fixed next time.  Well, MY filling I had done a year ago didn’t hold and is really bad.  I get to go back on the 25^th and have it fixed. Yippee!

Well other than that, nothing has happened this week.

I take that back!  The truck is broken… AGAIN.  This time the breaks are not working.  Literally.  Brian took the truck to work and at a stop light and the breaks did not do their job.  I have yet another broken vehicle in my garage and I am without a vehicle.  Brian is doing the repairs himself and getting the parts which will save us over 600 hundred dollars. 

Well here we go for another week!

A Life Full of Suprises

Well as of two hours ago I got a text from Brian that says he flies out of Indy tomorrow and is going to Phoenix.  I think he will get back Friday night.  Lesson learned: don't arrange home teaching and camp trips and scouts ahead of time or you have to call and cancel.  So the updated schedule is this week Phoenix, next week we might still have NC then the next training then the next Chile.  Then again, it could change like ten times ha!

We have had uninvited visitors lately. SPIDERS!  This house isn't build all that great.  Their are cracks in all the vents that who knows what can get in and out.  And around the doors you can see daylight.  We have had spiders with bodies the size of a hot tomaly!  NOT KIDDING!  Brian knew I would freak so he didn't show me at first but he saved it so we could examine it and determine the breed.  Not to worry, I had a great conversation with the Lowes man and told him I don't care about being humane and I just want them GONE.  We got the situation under control :)

So I finally got a picture of my wreath!  I love it.  I am trying to find a new project for me but money puts a damper on things.  I really want to decorate my living room and make pillows but number one, fabric is so much money!  and Two, no sewing machine.

Well here it is!

Another Week

Well, I came back to Lafayette to great weather.  The temperatures have been wonderful and in the week that I was gone, the colors of the trees have started to change!  The trees change more red and purple than yellow and orange.  It's pretty.  The girl I  get my hair cut from introduced me to this site called Pintrest.  I love it!  This week, I have made a fall wreath and some coasters!  I can't wait to start a new project.  Being crafty is expensive though!  I don't know how long I am going to be able to keep this up!  I did make my wreath for about half what you could buy one for but still, it can eat up your pocket change!  It looks fantastic on my red front door!  I will post a picture soon.  I tell you what, being wrapped up in a craft all day really makes your week go by fast.  It was very nice.  Yesterday we went out to a bike race at the Wildcat Creek MX track.  It was fun.  Brian says the track is VERY nice.  I think it was a race kind of thrown together at the last minute because the weather is still so nice so the turnout wasn't fantastic but it was still fun!  All of Brian's friends are getting new motorcycles.  All three of them are.  I think having him listen to his friends get new shiny toys and watching a race naturally has made him want one.  He says there is no need for one here, which is true, but I think he still wants to be like all of his buddies.  I feel bad that I can't let him have one.  I feel very blessed to have a husband that knows that now is not the time, nor the place to invest in something like that.

Well, this is the week!  The Lafayette 3rd ward's Day of Service is this Saturday the 15th!  I was really worried but we rallied the troops today and filled every spot we were supposed to.... and then some!  Now I just need to call the facilities and see if they would allow us to bring more people!  It is so good to see the work of the Church going forward!

This week is our week to get things done.  I wanted to go watch Purdue play volleyball but Brian is going to be gone next week to NC and the next for some sort of training so this is our week of productivity.  I have two ladies to visit teach, Brian and I need to home teach our three families and get everything ready for our DOS this Saturday. Did I mention Brian is going to be gone with the scouts this weekend too?  Volleyball just may have to wait.

Well, onward and upward for another week!

-Jessica

Back to Reality

Currently, I am sitting, rather laying in my hotel bed at the Fairfield Inn in Salt Lake.  The Indianapolis Colts are playing Monday

UGH!!!!!!!

I had 7 more paragraphs typed and it deleted it all!!!!!!!!

take two:

So to continue… Monday Night Football.  I fly to Indy tomorrow… On the other station, What Happens in Vegas.  Should I mention that my layover tomorrow is in Vegas? 

Should I read this as a sign?  Let’s hope that all goes well.

I have truly enjoyed my time in Idaho.  It is very bitter sweet to be going home.  I would just like to continue my life here, out west, in Idaho.  The only thing keeping me from turning off my alarm to catch my flight… Brian. He is the ‘bitter’ part.  I really hate it when we don’t see each other every night.  You know how you talk to young couples that say they have been married 5 years and have never spent a night apart?  Well that is definitely not us.  The morning after we got home from our honeymoon Brian had to go home and work and there have been several other occasions that have led us to spend many nights apart from each other. 

When he was in Canada, it was no big deal for  me to have him gone, we couldn’t talk anyways. But since he got home, I have had a part of me that has just wanted to be home.  It is getting harder and harder to be apart from one another.  Does that make me weak?  I would just like to think that it is because everyday we love each other more and more and I have had to rely on him for everything now that we are in Indiana and the closest friend I have is 26  hours away in any given direction besides Suzie. He is my best guy friend that I can talk trucks with, my golf instructor, my grocery shopping partner,  my daily walk companion,  Football enthusiast junkie partner, my personal chauffer  who drives me wherever because I am too scared to drive in the traffic, my airport dropper-offer-picker-upper. 

In movies you hear all the time that women need a great gay friend.  That way they always have someone to talk to that is not going to create drama, a shopping partner, and someone who will tell us, ‘honey, don’t wear that again.’

Well, my husband is definitely NOT gay, but he plays the part of the Gay man right now.  Shopping with him is definitely not the same as shopping with my mom or out with the girls, but Brian is my shopping partner.  He doesn’t like or enjoy it, but we make sure we always make a pit stop at Dick’s to keep him happy.  It is a sacrifice for him I am sure to go with me, but I really just don’t like to go by myself, but thank you Brian for always be willing to go. 

I think Brian is becoming more in tune with what is in style.  It seems like every few days I ask him, “what do you think of this outfit, does it match, what should I wear with it, what jewelry do I wear?”  When we were first married he would always tell me ya, whatever, everything just looks great.  I love you Brian but there are times that I would really rather have a woman’s opinion on fashion matters, but I don’t have those right now so Brian is it.  He is getting better, and more honest about what looks good and is getting very good at putting it in a way I won’t take offense. 

He has also had to become my ‘best girl friend.’  He listens to all of my drama.  He is my shoulder to cry on.  And unfortunately for him, I think I tell him things he would wish he would have never known about. AKA… women isses…

Anywhoo… the moral of the story is that I am truly grateful for Brian and I hate it when he is gone.  I get so lonely. 

Idaho, Idaho Idaho.  I love you!  When I got to SLC my dad came and picked me up and we just talked to whole way home.  It was great to catch up.  The drive even went by fast!  And those of you that know me, I hate driving in cars.  I am not patient.  Mom and Logan greeted me in their BSU shirts ready to watch the game.   We had a BBQ and enjoyed the game. Don’t worry, we recorded the R.S  broadcast and watched it Sunday. 

Sunday I got to go to our own ward.  It was so nice!  It was nice to be back in a ward where you know everyone and everyone loves you.  We went for a really nice drive in the mountains up past Warm River.

Monday I got to go to Zumba!  Idaho Zumba is so much better than IN Zumba.  I actually got a work out!  It about killed me to tell you the truth.  If I were to Zumba with the way Brian and I have been eating, I seriously think I would be in great shape.  There is too much good food in Idaho and I think I will be taking home a few more pounds with me.  I enjoyed doing Zumba everyday I was here. I spent most of Monday at Premier talking to all of my friends.  I love the ladies that I worked with.  I even got my hair done.  I have the best hair girl.  I love her.  I only started going to her about a year ago and she is my all time favorite.  Is it weird to say that I wish we stilled lived in Idaho because I really think that we could become the bestest of friends?  It makes me really sad.  I find someone I really think we could really be great friends and I move to Indiana where I can’t find friends. How do I rate. 

Tuesday I spent the day with my mom in IF.  It was so nice to just go shopping all day and go to lunch.  I didn’t buy a single thing but to have regular, normal, familiar, girl talk, was so nice.

Wednesday I met Sheila, Grandma Gibbons, Mark, Jackie and Ezra for lunch in Pocky.  We met at Café Rio.  I didn’t even know they had one there.  It replaced Pocatello Pizza Place!  It was our all time favorite pizza place that caught fire a few years ago and the owners never did have enough money to restore the building. 

Thursday we went to the temple.  I have only been in Indiana 2 months but I have realized how much I miss the temple.  I took advantage of it while I had it so close.  There have been many days where I just need to go to the temple but when the closest temple is 3 hours away in the city, you just can’t decide to go whenever.  We did a session with my grandma and grandpa and then did some sealings. It was so great but it really made me miss my Brian.   We had a nice dinner at Wingers and then went home and gathered things up to go enjoy an evening at the Sand Dunes.  We played Botche Ball and had a fire and made S’mores.  It was so wonderful. It was great weather this week!  Like mid 70s or 80 every day!

Friday we went to the football game.  Sugar beat Kimberly for the first win of the season.  I think I was the good luck charm.

Saturday we went to Island Park to watch conference.  It is so beautiful there. We had the best four-wheeler ride.  Such a great weekend.

Sunday night was difficult.  We played canasta. Don’t worry, my mom and I won. J But as I went to bed, I broke down.  My last night in Idaho.  It was like leaving for the first time.  Today, Monday, not much better.  I realized that I was leaving a place I love for a place I don’t want to be.  It was hard to say goodbye to everyone.  My dad drove me down to SLC as mentioned above so I don’t have to take the Salt Lake Express at two in the morning.  I hope Brian makes lots of money so someday I can just fly in to Idaho Falls and not have to inconvenience people to get me to and from the airport 3.5 hours away. 

Needless to say, this week has been the best!  I don’t want to go get on a plane. I have realized though, that home is where your family is, my Brian.  I just hope that someday the Lord will allow us to come home.  Home to Idaho.  Even somewhere just out west will be better ha. 

Thank you to all that have made this week so great.  Thank you to my Brian for working so hard to allow me to come.  Thank you to my mom and dad that have done so much for me and created a life full of wonder and memories that I will cherish forever. 

I get to see Brian tomorrow!  YEA!!!!  I think he is going bored silly without me home!