1 Year Anniversary

Today is our first wedding anniversary. It has gone by faster than any year in my life probably. So fast.

**Thank you Lindsay Ross for coming out of wedding photography retirement for me and doing our wedding pics!! **

We were talking this morning and had a hard time figuring out what we've even done for the last 365 days...

We came up with some things that we remember.

We went on a Christmas Cruise to the Caribbean.

We bought a trailer and fixed it up.

He worked firefighting over the summer. 

I got into grad school and started my MPH program.

I worked as a CNA.

He started school again in January.

We went to Boise, ID to visit my sister. 

We went to St. George the day we got married. 

We camped in the backyard for a while in the tent my aunt gave us for our wedding. 

We had a brunch reception that was the greatest thing ever, if I may say so myself.

**Thank you Megan Klindt Photography for the reception photos!!**

We drove each other bonkers a million times.

We tried a piña colada in Mexico. ew

He's gotten sick about 3 times. I've gotten sick about 1 time (not including cruise sea sickness).

I worked as a tutor and lacrosse coach for a school here.

We've watched a lot of movies.

We started LOST on Netflix.

We fought over bed space probably 200 nights of those 365.

We planted and grew a garden.

He is learning how to make fried eggs without popping the yolks. 

We ate a lot of macaroni and cheese. 

We've started doing P90X Yoga. <-- killer

He missed out on some great family vacays b/c of work. 

He's done some fishing with gpa. 

We've named all of our unborn children....jk, but we have noted our fave names as they have appeared.

We got a hamster named Noel. 

He bought a Harley...and is selling it :)

I went to Chicago for the annual American Public Health Association conference.

We've grown a million % over the last year.



TBCH this first year has not been easy or even that fun sometimes. Marriage takes a lot of adjusting and it was completely miserable and was basically the worst thing ever at times throughout the last year. But it was all worth and and hopefully it is true that the first year is the hardest haha..

But for all the suckiness and misery, I wouldn't change anything about this. I know that my partner is the best for me and that anyone else would have made a run for it. He is perfection for me.

Happy 1st Anniversary my love!

My Birth Control

This post will be a little different than my previous ones because I have never intended to teach anything. Now you may have learnt a thing or two on the way but that was never my intention and I apologize. JK This one however, will be a teaching one.

SO LISTEN WITH YOUR EYES.

I have never been on any form of birth control - except the most fool-proof one...not doing something that could result in a birth haha

BUT as the whole marriage thing has happened...I had to reevaluate my methods. (#celibacy4lyfe)

So I really hated the idea of having to ingest something, put something in my body, stick something to my body, rely solely on my parter etc. etc.  Haha, so what the heck else is there eh?

Thank you for asking. Here's what else there is:
**all info taken from www.kindara.com**
Fertility Awareness Method - No it isn't some weird bead using, rhythm thing. Watch this:



So that is super cute, right? So cute.

Because I am mega lazy and avoiding studying for finals I just took a bunch of screen shots from their avoiding pregnancy page:

So yeah, that about sums it up - do your own research now.

But I've been charting for 16 cycles, like 9 of them married. So success!

They also have a get pregnant page if that is your jam.

I am absolutely fed up

Hear that? I am absolutely fed up. Maybe more just heartbroken, frustrated and discouraged. Maybe those are better words to describe what I am.

With every passing second our world becomes a less stable, accepting, loving, safe place. How many days have passed since the last mass shooting? Zero. 0. None. That's how many. Do we need to start counting in minutes? How pathetic. Where did our conflict resolution skills go?

What has happened? Why do we trust our leaders less now than before?

So what we have a shit president? What happened to Power to the People? Why haven't we done anything about it? Why can't we do anything about it? What happened to the days where when things were going wrong we could change them as a team, a country?

Why do we trust one another less now than before?

What has happened? Why are we so entitled and selfish and dangerously unaware of those around us and yet so willing to offer our commentary on others?

When did it become acceptable for people to expect things they have neither earned nor deserve? How did it happen?

When did we begin to need validation from individuals we see only once yearly?

When did our sense of worth move from what our parents, teachers, mentors, God and we ourselves thought of us to what acquaintance, stranger, random person you'll never meet thinks of us?

When did we stop respecting our elders? At the rate we are going at the least they can say they didn't singlehandedly destroy all of humanity in a single generation. 

When did some other country's citizens become more important than the men and women who are responsible for this country's freedom?

When did we get so spineless? Why can we not stand up for what we believe without some entitled cretin claiming some PC card?  When did differing opinions become "hate" instead of growth? Get a hold of yourselves, you ignorant swine. 

Why does Dr. Everett Piper, President of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, have to write a blogpost like this?

"This past week, I actually had a student come forward after a university chapel service and complain because he felt “victimized” by a sermon on the topic of 1 Corinthians 13. It appears this young scholar felt offended because a homily on love made him feel bad for not showing love. In his mind, the speaker was wrong for making him, and his peers, feel uncomfortable.

I’m not making this up. Our culture has actually taught our kids to be this self-absorbed and narcissistic. Any time their feelings are hurt, they are the victims. Anyone who dares challenge them and, thus, makes them “feel bad” about themselves, is a “hater,” a “bigot,” an “oppressor,” and a “victimizer.”"

Because we are weak, entitled, selfish, arrogant, ignorant. That is a lethal combination of characteristics. It is despicable. We are a despicable people. We are hateful. We are selfish. We are close minded. We have lost so many valuable lessons from humanity like hard work and unity, conflict resolution, not being an ass to name a few. We are individualistic to a fault. We are judgmental to the worst degree. It is no wonder society is literally crumbling before us all with more hatred and division than ever. What else would anyone expect when we ignore people in need, when non procreating couples are wedded, when we care about no one but ourselves, when the safety, health and wellbeing of our own citizens is put far down on the to do list? What else can you possibly expect?

As of yet I have no idea what I am supposed to do about it all. Seems like a hefty task. But the first step is recognizing you have a problem, right? That's more than millions of entitled little freaks have done. 

Trailer Trash - Classy Version

Alright team.


I am going to live in a trailer. Correction: We are going to live in a trailer:
Him:

And me:

and sometimes her:

We look like we could be trailer dwelling folks, right?

Well we have been looking for months for a trailer to buy. 

Finally we found one. A beaut. From the 80's. Mmmmmmmmmmhmmmmmmmmmm

Here she is:

 



 
 
 

BUT: While my partner has been gone fighting fires - hence the ashy face - I have been working my fingers to the bone to get this trailer revamped.

The plan is to paint some stuff, take some stuff out, put some stuff in, etc, etc.

Here she is midway through the prepping process:

 

Mostly I just took all the doors off of everything. I was pretending to be a carpenter/painter/whatever job takes doors off of things.

Here I am pretending to be a seamstress:

I like to pretend I know how to do things until I actually do know how to do things. It works out super well actually.


Stay tuned for the rest of the revamp of our camper. I like to call it our recamp.

UpsideDownBackWards

Baldness where there should be hair.
Blank stares where there should be engaged eyes.
Blankets and long sleeves where there should be shorts and T-shirts.
Chaos where there should be peace.
Confusion where there should be clarity.
Death where there should be life.

Doors where there should be doorways.

Fear where there should be faith.
Feet where there should be inches.
Frowns where there should be smiles.
Gums where there should be teeth.
Hair where there should be baldness.
Holes and gaps where there should be wholes.
Inches where there should be centimeters.
Lies where there should be truth.
Life where there should be death.
Locks where there should be unrestricted access.
Messes where there should be clean.
No where there should be Yes.
Questions where there should be answers.
Sadness where there should be joy.
Truth where there should be lies.
Uncertainty where there should be confidence.
Wheels where there should be feet.
Wrinkles where there should be smooth.
? when there should be ..

No one told me that I would not enjoy this:

So I am getting married soon.

There's a lot of stuff that goes into it.

No one told me a lot of this stuff. No one told me that I would have to try on the dress a million times. No one told me I would get hives all over my body for the majority of the two months prior. No one told me that I wouldn't be able to find earrings for my triple forward helix that would look good for a wedding. No one told me that I would have to go to the store 5,019 times the week of. No one told me I would have nightly panic attacks. No one told me that it would be 50+ degrees for weeks before and then snow buckets the day before pictures. No one told me I would have to talk to people left, right, and center. No one told me that floral tape makes your hands feel disgusting. No one told me that everyone would have opinions about things that don't even concern them. No one told me I would have to be the center of attention. No one told me I should fake liking being the center of attention. No one told me that I would not sleep well for days. No one told me Christopher and I would get grumpier and grumpier as the days got closer. No one told me I would have to jump through all sorts of stupid hoops. No one told me to elope.

No one told me I would be fairly unhappy through this process.


THAT BEING SAID: I am not ungrateful. I am the opposite. I am so excited to marry the greatest human ever. I am so thankful that I can do all of these things that others never get to experience. No matter how it happens, I am glad it is happening.

25d15h

I am a traditionalist. I like to do things by the book. Status quo is my fave. I am a rule follower. Very much a rule follower.


SIKE


Lies. All of those. Were lies. I am a liar.

I am not a traditionalist. Most are just stupid social customs that don't serve great purposes. I think there need to be more people willing to change things up a bit. No matter how difficult.

Like ME.


My story:

In approximately 25 days and 15 hours I am marrying the greatest human. (Yes, the firepits, frozen, and flames one) The. Greatest. Human. Never was there another human who handled my repulsion to physical touch, my tendency to bite, my strange woman's health philosophy, my inability to follow rules, and my tendency to enjoy doing nothing.

We will be sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. This is during my spring break, and over a weekend for him. He's in school and we will probably be doing a lot of homework over our honeymoon. *Yay for struggling college students* We will be sealed at 11:40 in the am and then...here is where our follow the tradition train ride ends.

So, we are not doing a reception at that time. Ain't nobody got time for that. Our reception will be in August of 2015. Nearly 6 months after we actually get married. *Yay for the wildland firefighting life* See, he will be gone June to August. So prime time for marriage and receptioning is out of the question for us.

BUT we need to do something to include our families and have a celebration of some sorts. SO, a dutch lunch at Sweet Tomatoes it is. I know...we are just oozing convention. Then, Christopher and I will get in the car and drive to Saint George for two days and then come back to real life.

It gets better.

He has an apartment with his two besties with a lease until June. In Orem. He works. In Orem. He goes to UVU has classes 6-10 pm. In Orem. I live with my dear family. In Sandy. I work 40ish hours a week. In Sandy. I don't finish until 8:15ish pm most nights. In Sandy. The solution: He will go back to his apartment in Orem and I will stay at home in Sandy. Until about August. *Remember the summer firefighting thing?* About 6 months until we will reside in the same dwelling for longer than a weekend.

**WOOPWOOP**

Anyways, that is the plan. It's been pretty stressful. Going against all tradition is hard. What are people going to think? Oh wait, I don't care. But really though. It has clearly been a worry of mine.

I had a dream the other night where after I had sent out the EVITES (HAHA Oh yea, also, we didn't send out paper invitations, we sent out EVITES...without pictures, because we didn't do an engagement shoot.....HAHAHAH) my grandma had come over for something and she said something about how rude and improper our whole plan was. She said it in an underhanded way, just mumbling under her breath and I got very defensive and said it was the way it was going to go. I started to cry as I walked up the stairs. After a few steps I stopped crying and said, "No, you know what? This is how it is working. I will NOT apologize for it." And that is how I feel.


So take up your flags people! Change things up a bit! Do what you want and not what other people expect! It is liberating.

The Perfect vs My Perfect

I was sitting somewhere last night and a thought struck me. It was a thought about the perfect and my perfect. Because those aren't the same.

Some years ago I had my perfect. It wasn't perfect for anyone else...I'm pretty sure most people wouldn't have been as happy with what what going on in my life (I mean hello? Who wants this?) but it was my version of perfect. I was so happy.

Fast forward a year or two and I had the perfect. It was picturesque. Doing above average in school, taking summer classes and working. Killing it in lacrosse. Return missionary boyfriend who I read conference talks with every week. Wonderful friends. Going to wedding showers and baby showers for those friends. It wasn't bad. I enjoyed myself and I was mostly happy with my life and friends and whatnot. But it wasn't my perfect. I thought it was what I wanted out of life and in some ways it was...but in the most important ways it was just the perfect and not my perfect.

My point is that the perfect, the ideal is not and could never be my perfect, my ideal. Mine is usually a much more difficult road than the perfect. 

And that is why I am strong.

Why 7 out of 10 of you should go adpot a dog from the local shelter in the next 6 months

Here are a bunch of links to things you can read to convince you to go adopt a dog from your local shelter:

http://news.distractify.com/geek/science/reasons-you-absolutely-need-a-dog-in-your-life/

• This one gives 20 reasons to get a dog
• Like:
• reduce allergies, eczema
• helps overcome PTSD
• aids with all sorts of conditions

http://news.distractify.com/avericlements/21-ways-that-dogs-show-you-they-love-you-more-than-anything-ever/

• This one explains the way dogs express their love for you
• Like:
• not eating the food off the counter
• when the leave a few inches of bed instead of taking the whole thing
• when they bring back the things you throw for them instead of leaving them across the yard

http://list25.com/25-reasons-why-you-should-consider-owning-a-dog/

• This one gives 25 reasons for owning a dog
• Like:
• fitness
• love and affection
• teaching responsibility
• teaching discipline

http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/features/health-benefits-of-pets

• And this one gives health reasons for having a dog

SO GO GET A DOG ALREADY!!

My Newfound Mission in Life

So I recently got on the Humane Society of Utah's website and saw my beautiful Blue listed again. What does that mean? It means that someone adopted her and after a month or so was unhappy with her and brought her back. I honest to goodness shed tears over that. At work. Luckily I was alone at the time.

That made me so unbelievably sad I almost couldn't even handle it. I was ready to go get in my car and pick her up right then despite the destruction she caused. I didn't even care because she needs someone who loves her and who knows her. Luckily I do not have myopia (shout out to my eighth graders who have that word on their vocabulary quiz today!) and I did not do that. I currently do not have the resources to provide a life for her that would make her (and me) happy. But I did decide to do something.

I have this dream of living on a huge piece of land with a garden and animals and basically homesteading like in Dr. Quinn. (HAHAHA). That kind of a life would be wonderful for dogs like Blue. So into that dream, I incorporated and made room for dogs like Blue and the elderly dogs at the Humane Society of Utah that will most likely die there because people don't generally want to adopt a dog with less than 3 years left on this earth.

I want to be a place where those doggies can die in a home with love and snuggles and love and a family and love. I want my kids to have the responsibility of taking care of an animal that (more or less) needs them. I want them to have the experience of death of a (furry) loved one and go through the loss and learn from it. Learn that when a family can be together forever, it includes your furry, feathery, four legged, winged, and tailed family members too. I want to be a home to the dogs who end up in the HS or shelter multiple times because people are irresponsible.

I would also like you guys to help me. I don't care where you are or what your life is like. 7 times out of 10 you can and should get a dog. Check back for all the reasons why you should adopt a dog from the Humane Society or Shelter in your area and help me out with this dream of mine because as much as I would like to, I will never be able to be a home for all the dogs out there who need a family.



**I'll get to fostering kids later ;)**

Gratitude

Do you ever take a step back and just look at your life? At your past and present and just realize how thankful you are? For the most random things?

That is happening to me right now. I mean today sucked...first day back from spring break - kill me now - maybe that is why this gratitude is hitting me so hard right now.

• I am thankful I am in Laramie, Wyoming
• I am thankful I am studying anthropology
• I am thankful this is my last full semester of undergrad
• I am thankful for my family and the crazies they are
• I am thankful for past relationships that are no longer - they "growed" me real good and without them I wouldn't be who I am now or have what I have now
• I am thankful that those from my past are happy and growing too because even though it didn't last with us, someone deserved to have them and they deserved someone who made them happy and whole
• I am thankful for my past. Period.
• I am thankful for my now - that I can be a freak with him and not worry because I know he can accept me the way I am even though those from my past couldn't do that without reservations

• I am thankful for new friends who I feel like I have known all my life even though it has only been a very short time
• I am thankful that I have no idea what to do with myself but don't care
• I am thankful that plans change - and people change too
• I am thankful for the glory of sports

• I am thankful I get summer this year for the first time since Summer 2011
• I am thankful that it is my job and I get paid to share my talents
• I am thankful I could have a dog that left such a huge gaping hole in my life when he died

• I am thankful I could become a flaming redhead because I love being a redhead #redhairdon'tcare
• I am thankful for the opportunity to create even if it is something as stupid as a snapchat drawing

Check it. What are you guys thankful for?

Firepits, Frozen, and Flames - Part 11

Since they were all starting school the next week, her family decided to go to The Little America for brunch on Sunday. (Ha, Sunday Brunch with the family - so sophisticated).

She was looking for a good opportunity to casually mention that they decided they were dating and going to do long distance.

Do I just throw it in there? Like this, "I am so excited to eat! We decided we are going to date and do long distance for the next year of our lives. I think I will eat the crepes first!" OR do I wait for it to come up...?

"So what's up with you guys?" her dad asked casually.

Guess that answers that question...

"So...." Just say it! Just say it! "....yeah"

She looked at one of her little sisters in the backseat since she had told her yesterday. Her sister shrugged her shoulders...

"Well yeah, so....we are dating." She cringed waiting for the reaction.

"WHAT?! WHY?! You don't even know him!"

Well this is going pretty much how I expected. That's comforting.

"Yeah...so mmhmmm."

Her siblings piped up with, "It's not that big of a deal" and "I'm pretty sure they've spent enough time together in the last two days that they have some idea." She was so thankful she didn't have to go up against them.

They discussed it for a few minutes more and then got to the restaurant. As they sat down, her mother said to her, "You know were are just giving you a hard time. We don't really care one way or another."

That was a great sign...

Firepits, Frozen, and Flames - Part 10

They were in the movie Frozen. She had already seen it once with her sister Regan before Christmas but it was so incredible she would have gone to it 16 more times.

It had been about 34 hours since they had met, but felt more like 34 lifetimes. They, thick as thieves, sat in the theater watching the movie.

Hmm...this is great. Although now that I think about it, this movie sort of points a microscope at us. The whole "You can't marry someone you just met" thing...I mean, we aint getting married, but we did decide last night we were going to date and do long distance. Same difference really....awkward...and his name is Kristoff....coincidence? I think not....HA!

She tried her best not to sing along to all of the songs she already knew by heart, but failed at some points.

Ugh I hate people like me in the theater. SHUT UP ALREADY. This is probably the first time these people have seen this movie so let them enjoy it you waif! ...I need to stop using the word waif...

Ana was saying, "I got engaged but then she freaked out because I'd only just met him..." and they had a good little chuckle. 

She leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Remember when I didn't know you....yesterday?" They laughed.

It came to the part in the movie where the grandpa troll tells Kristoff that only an act of true love will thaw Ana's frozen heart. Kristoff then says he needs to get her back to Prince Hans and Olaf asks why but realizes Kristoff is thinking of "a true love's kiss!"

At "true love's kiss" he turned, looked at her, leaned over and kissed her.

shutupShutUpSHUTUP. Who is this guy? Is he for real? That just happened. *Gag from the immense amount of cheese* *Swoon* ohmanOhManOHMAN...watch the movie...watch the movie....watch the movie....what the??? HA! That just happened! This guy's great!!

Firepits, Frozen, and Flames - Part 9

They had been together since just after she dyed her hair red that morning. She was looking pretty good as a redhead if this narrator may say so herself. They hung out with her family, played the piano and guitar *swoon*. Since they had missed going to Frozen the day before, they had decided to go today. The movie wasn't for a little bit so they had some time to kill.

They took Rocket on a walk through the neighborhoods for a while.

Freak, this is awesome. I am so at peace right now. I could do this forever. I've never felt very strongly about having a dog when I am older but this right here makes me think otherwise...I could do this forever.

They walked and talked or walked in silence. It was chilly, but not too bad. Rocket weaved back and forth, marking everything he could. He may have even gotten someone's shoe. Rocket was never a very good walking dog. Occasionally he would wind himself up in the leash or wrap it around her legs. But it was great.

"I didn't really have any idea why I was supposed to come back home up until now. I think I might have an idea now."

"Oh?" she asked.

"Yeah, things are sort of becoming clearer."

"Why do you think?" she asked although she was pretty sure she knew the answer since she had been thinking the same thing for some time now.

"I'll let you figure it out," he replied.

shutupShutUpSHUTUP. This is totally what I have been thinking, but then I was like, "no. stop flattering yourself." but then I was like, "HA! who am I kidding?" But like if that is what he is thinking too....Holy crap holy crap holy crap

"I just have no idea what it could be," she feigned ignorance.

"I'll give you some time to figure it out."

Firepits, Frozen, and Flames - Part 8 and 8b

"Well, I'm pretty sure we missed the movie..."

They were going to go see Frozen but after talking with Regan for so long after snowboarding they had missed the start. She didn't really care. She (they) smelled really bad and she really didn't want to leave the house again. She was exhausted from her first ever snowboarding experience, but she also didn't want him to leave.

"We can just go check what we have and watch something in the theater."

Though they had missed the showtime they had originally planned on, he really wanted to go despite her offer to stay and watch a movie at her house.

"What was that movie you loved? The one you said you could watch over and over again?"

"OOH! Minority Report! Let's watch that one!"

They went to the theater and found it in the "M" section of her DVD collection. (Yes, she alphabetized her family's DVDs.) She told him to make himself comfortable on one of the many couches and love sacs in the room.

Once the movie had started the inevitable happened and one minute at a time, he ended up a few inches closer to where she was sitting on the couch five feet behind him. It seemed to be the greatest distance he had ever travelled.

What am I doing.. what in the heck am I doing. This. Is. Nuts. You only just met her man, take it slow. 

He pressed on anyway, feeling wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove, hoping she didn't notice the fact that he was moving closer to her.

*BOOM!*

Her sister and three friends burst in to the room where they had slowly but surely gravitated towards each other. Aspen jumped on her, giving her a huge hug and Autumn, Lindsay and Mau followed in after. They wanted to know how snowboarding went. (Or, like her mother, they were astonished that the two were still together after nearly 13 hours and wanted to see what was up). They talked for a few minutes, sharing the general happenings of the day. Lindsay and her friends told them about the camping trip they were going to take that weekend and then they left the room.

As the movie came to a close, there they sat, hand in hand. His mind was blown. Completely blown. His heart felt like it was going to blow up, too. Though it had only been 13 hours, they had been through so much together and he really cared about her. It seemed to them that this should be weird; but it wasn't. Everything about the day should have been weird and wasn't... which was weird.

They sat and talked for a while about nothing and everything (*gag*). It was perfect. They acknowledged the non-weird weirdness that had characterized the day.

"This should be weird. I should be freaked out right now. This should be weird. I don't even know what is going on."

"Remember when I didn't know you this morning?"

"Ha! This is weird. Or it should be."

It wasn't the most intelligent conversation the two had shared, but their minds were kinda blown. Then there was the fact that she kept having the same thought cross her mind...

"You've got me whipped.." he said interrupting the thought.

"Well that didn't take long," she joked.

"Remember though, I have three weeks on you."

"Oh yeah. That's weird. It will take me a while to get used to that."

Uh oh...here's that thought again...I really want to kiss him right now...

Firepits, Frozen, and Flames - Intermission

Here we will pause for a brief intermission.


If you haven't already, check out parts 1-7:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7


Also, if he is feeling merciful, you might get his parts during this intermission.

Check here for that!

Firepits, Frozen, and Flames - Part 7

"I would definitely use a carrier pigeon over any other form of communication," she was saying to him. "How rad would that be? Or an owl like in Harry Potter. How the heck do they even do that? How do they know where to go?" She had always been baffled by carrier pigeons.

"I don't know how it works," he replied.

"Hmmm...I will have to research that cause how cool would that be?"

"Seriously! I could send you letters by bird when you go back to Wyoming."

"Haha! That would be so awesome. It would further solidify my status as the cool kid on the block." She liked the way this kid thought.

Their conversation had flowed from the serious to the funny to the ridiculous. One minute they were discussing her papa (a touchy subject amongst some) and the next carrier pigeons or owls or the movie Frozen.

"You haven't seen it yet?" She felt bad for anyone and everyone who had not seen the movie Frozen.

"No, but I hear it's pretty good."

"Good? That's an understatement. It is the best. Ever. I love it. Oh man it is so good. Like Tangled status. It is one that I would go to the movie theater again for."

"That good, huh?"

"Absolutely."

"Well then," he began, "what are you doing after snowboarding?"

Is this guy serious? It's not like we've already spent 8 hours together. That is usually more than enough time for me to piss off every around me. Why isn't he itchin' to ditch me? Welp if there was any doubt whether or not he liked me it's gone. But let's be honest here, there wasn't really any doubt...

"Let's do it," she said. "I'll check movie times on my phone."

Firepits, Frozen, and Flames - His & Hers

We thought it might be fun to do a his side/her side kind of thing.


So check it www.firepitsfrozenflames.blogspot.com

Might be entertaining...

Firepits, Frozen, and Flames - Part 6

Silence. No verbal communication. Skiers and snowboarders and wind and noises of the mountain. No speaking.

Silence. I don't mind silence. I think I told him that. Hopefully he doesn't mind it either. I don't think he does. I can't feel the discomfort from him that I feel from others when I remain silent. He doesn't feel the need to fill it up. Silence doesn't need filling.

He suggested they take a break and head up to one of the lodges and see what there was. They left their snowboards down by the lift area and walked quietly, observing their surroundings, lost in thought.

They got up to one of the lodges and there were two firepits with some chairs around them. No one was seated there, probably cause it was cold and the fire didn't do a whole lot since it was windy. They sat down by one of the fires. The fires had the little decorative rocks that she had always called humitrophises. They got really hot and worked really well as hand warmers as they would soon find out.

"Are these those things you wrote about that your sister named when she was little?"

How the freak does he remember this!? It was a tiny paragraph on one of my blog posts last spring from an assignment I had to do for my Beginning Acting class....I only remember cause I wrote it. 

"Ha! Yeah! These are pretty much the same thing! Humitrophis. Haha, that's so funny." She was astonished he remembered such a small detail that she wrote. This whole thing was weird for her....or it should have been, but it wasn't...which made it weird. 

All she knew was that she felt comfortable.

I feel comfortable. It's weird though...it isn't the kind of comfortable I feel with people I've known for a long time, but the kind of comfortable I feel with my dog. Like I know there is no judgement or expectation or assumptions. It's just pure contentment and love. Well that is a weird way to put it...You're a freak. This is weird...or it should be...but it isn't....that's weird. 

Firepits, Frozen, and Flames - Part 5

"She just cares about things that Linds and I never cared about. It's harder for her than it ever was for us."

"Like what kind of stuff? Like is she....I don't know how to ask, like more girly or something?"

"Well thats a given, haha, but that's not what I am talking about now. Like for example, when I was a senior, Linds was a sophomore and Regan was in middle school we all got our ears pierced again. Lindsay and I got our cartilage and Regan got a second hole on her ear lobe. My friends were pretty judgmental but I couldn't have cared less. They said all sorts of stupid condescending things but it did not bother me at all. Regan's friends however, were just as judgmental and probably more vocal about it. It was a lot harder for her to let that go. She is just more sensitive. She's a better person than I am for that, but it makes life harder for her."

It had basically been the best first date she had ever had. They had spent the day alternating between talking as they rode the chairlifts, snowboarding down the mountain, walking down the mountain (it took some quad strength she didn't really have), and taking short breaks and talking as they just sat on the mountain as other skiers and snowboarders passed them.

Though she had just met him officially that morning, she didn't feel it. The conversation was completely comfortable and natural. She felt at ease saying those things her mother would tell her to keep to herself on a first date. It was remarkable.

This is awesome. Seriously. What the??? I don't have to conceal all those things that I would normally conceal until we raise. This is great. I mean this conversation is actually meaningful. I usually don't have meaningful conversation until weeks in. It's only been hours. What the???