Valentine's Day

I am close to tears... Tonight was beautiful. I haven't been so happy in, well, years. I don't want to forget any of it.

The evening "started" when I received a frantic knock, then doorbell ring, then another knock at the door. My roommate answered, because I was in the middle of something and couldn't get there. She yelled to me that it was for me - I came out to find someone standing with a red vase with roses and a balloon, waiting for me to sign for them. There was a note with these perfect flowers that said this:

"...Flowers are easy and words are hard, but here goes. You're beautiful, and fun, and you make me so happy to be with you. You make me smile every day. I never have to worry about being me, because you make me feel so comfortable around you. I like you so much I melt a little every time I think of you. You're such a great friend, and an awesome girlfriend. I should have a surprise or two for [later]. I'm so excited to see you. Thank you for being you."

Melted. Right then and there. It was so adorable, and sweet, and wonderful, and just what I needed. He came to my place around 5:30 and we prepped for dinner - he planned the menu (chicken parmesan). We talked and teased while making dinner, and snuggled while things were in the oven.

While we snuggled, he gave me surprise #2 (if we were counting the roses as surprise #1) - a whole bag of chocolatey-caramely treats. We tickled, teased, and chatted some more and listened to music. When dinner was finished, we enjoyed that together with sparkling cider and everything.

After dinner, we got ready for surprise #3 - he wrote me a song. I literally melted. I'll have to post it at a later date, he told me he would send me a copy. But in it he expressed his feelings about how I make him smile and I make him feel complete. When I asked him if he actually wrote it, he said he had - and told me he loved me.

We then went and relaxed in the hot tub at my apartment complex, "enjoying" the company of some random teenagers... haha but they didn't really bother us. Just chatting and holding hands.

Then we went back and he helped me with a lot of the dishes and then we made dessert - smoothies from frozen fruit we had used on a previous date. Watched an episode of one of his favorite TV shows and snuggled on the couch until we fell asleep a little. Then he had to go to work... and it was so hard to let him leave...

I haven't felt like I made anyone feel like this in so long... and no one has made me feel this way in ages.

I can't wait for tomorrow :)

I was speaking with a friend and she mentioned I should be keeping record of the fun and sweet things that have been happening lately... So this is my attempt, since I fail at keeping a real journal...

New Years.
Breakfast - just to catch up.
Phone call.
Sledding with an air mattress.
Ethnic Food Night.
Dishes.
Raising Arizona.
Hand hold.
Kiss on the cheek.
Asking permission to see me the next day.
"Taking" me to the fireside.
Sent me flowers.
Making breakfast.
Phone App.
Indian Food.
Midway Ice Castles.
First Kiss.
Frozen.
Italian.
Making dessert.
Snuggle bug.
Tickle Fights.
Homemade, illustrated mad lib stories.
Homemade TV screen.

Some sweet little nothings that have meant the world to me.

:)

Monday, Monday...

Today was not incredibly eventful. I didn't wake up as early as I wanted... which resulted in me looking like a hobo for a while...like, till 1:00 pm. (my bad...) But the few things I did get done were good.

a - I taught a piano lesson today to a cute little girl out in Riverton.
b - I finally picked up part of my mom's Christmas present - pictures. For some dumb reason, they weren't ready on time...
c - I ate appetizers for breakfast, courtesy of my dad.
d - I worked out and read some of my Intro to Music Therapy text book to get ready for school on Monday.
e - I cleaned up my room, bathroom, and kitchen.
f - I hung up a few more pictures.
g - I saved my little brother quite a bit of money on some clothes he needs.

Now, I am home thinking I should go to bed, and not really wanting to. A lot on my mind, I suppose. I think that is where journaling will come in handy - getting things off my mind and in writing.

Anyway... looking forward to lunch with my Becky tomorrow. And have a happy new year and be safe!

Rest of the Week

The rest of this week has been pretty uneventful. I have had a lot of time to myself - something that I really needed. I have cleaned out rooms and areas, cooked some of the last of the food in my fridge, took down the tree, and started working on my "Winterim" class on Music Therapy I'll be teaching in the first 3 weeks of the new year. I have been trying to put together some goals and things for the upcoming year and I'm getting excited about the prospects of some things coming to pass.

1 - The plan is for my student loan debt to be COMPLETELY GONE by May, hopefully by April :)
2 - The plan is to exercise for 40 minutes 3 times a week. I know everyone says this every year, but I am serious. I have not liked what has happened to my body since working full time (I know it's not awful, but it's not where I want to be).
3 - I plan to be more conscious and careful of packing lunches ahead of time so I am not as tempted to eat out during school.
4 - It seems I have a proactive visiting teaching partner now. I think with her help, I can plan to be a better visiting teacher.
5 - As of today, I have 2 callings. Which I have done nothing with up until now (I haven't been trained on the first one...ever...). I am excited to actually become a more involved part of my ward.
6 - I, in the last few weeks, have been thinking seriously of working towards living 100% on my own. Not that I don't love my roommates, I do. But I would rather get to a point that I know I could make it on my own without the help of other people. So, once the student debt is gone, the only other debt I will have is some to my parents for college expenses and my car. I want to start working on the Dave Ramsey baby steps.
7 - As I stated earlier in the week, I want to work on journaling more often. I have already thought of ways to do this more effectively and plan to work on that.
8 - The bestie and I made a blog a long time ago to chronicle our foodie adventures. We have made a grand total of two posts... ever. I plan to aid in fixing that.
9 - It was pointed out to me that I don't take enough time to take care of myself. I plan to work on that as well - hopefully one night a week, maybe one night per fortnight. I'll work on it. Whether it's going out and taking pictures (like the one I'm adding to the bottom of the post), getting a massage, going home to take a bath, or whatever I need to do.

Anyway, I'm excited to begin the process of making these goals happen. I plan on taking the next couple of days and mapping out these goals. Thanks for the support you all give me each and every day :)

Twas the Day After Christmas

Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house not a tear was dry, especially the boys. The gifts were all given with thought and with care - and every last soul really tried to be fair.

OK, I suck at this rhyming thing. But really, so much of this week has been so beautiful and special.

First - the Sorensen gathering. There were 70 people in attendance - and that's not all of us! I am constantly amazed by the love and support from these people through everything. The Sorensens have had a rough go for the last 2 years. And it has only made our ties stronger. I laughed so hard at the white elephant exchange that I cried. It was perfect.

Second - the Jones gathering. I loved spending time with my grandparents and my Aunt Cathy's family. Most of those cousins are the same age as my siblings, or really close - so all of us have a buddy. I am grateful for my buddy, Ashley. She took great care in finding things to help me relax and take care of myself - since I don't do it enough. ;) We enjoyed each others' company until Santa was flying over Canada - then it was time to get the kiddos home to feed reindeer and all that jazz. AND.... I forgot to take pictures....

Third - Immediate family Christmas "morning". This was a little different than usual, but it was still wonderful, nonetheless.

My dad had to work at 2, which meant he had to leave at 1:15 at the latest to get there on time. We needed to start a bit late, though, because Jacquelle and Kira had family things (missionary phone calls, etc.) in the morning. JJ really tried to be patient, but it just didn't work. Haha.

When everyone got there, we were able to have our traditional waffles - just like Grandmother Lucy used to make. This selection has homemade whip cream, banana butter, crushed strawberries, and happiness.

And then, we had to hurry and open presents before dad had to leave.

I feel like everything was super successful. It was great to have everyone together.

As we grow older, it feels harder to get wonderful gifts for my siblings. They're like me in that they just find what they need and get it - our mom is the "gift person" and loves giving and receiving thoughtful gifts. But I think that even with that constraint there was a lot of thought put into gifts.

Now, it brings me to the after party - Mom and I ended up canning pears. lots and lots of pears. Pear sauce, pear butter - you name it, we did it. It smelled really great, and looked delicious.

And now.....today. I was lame and cleaned my room. All day. But it was sorely needed. I threw a lot of things out and organized my Pampered Chef stuff. YAY! SO needed.

Then I met a nice guy named Chris for some cocoa. We'll see what happens there. :)