Mystery Girl...

I am pleased and proud to announce that Kevin, Phil's best friend since elementary school, has secured a date with the girl I approached in the temple. Hooray! I am so proud of Kevin for following through and can't wait to hear how he likes her. High hopes? Absolutely. Possible disappointment? Probable. Just gotta have faith.

After this we will remove ourselves from the matchmaker role and let Kevin live his life in peace. I promise to stop harassing the poor boy every time he graces our home. Hopefully I will have a new girlfriend...

All in a day's work

I finish scaling my second patient of the morning and proceed down the hall to let the doctor know I am ready for exam. He finishes with what he is doing and as he walks by me to my operatory he asks if I have the munchies. Perplexed, I answer no.

He washes up and greets my patient. Still puzzled over his remark I ask the office manager who overheard our exchange why he asked if I have the munchies. She laughs and tells me both the doctor and the assistant are pretty sure my patient has been smoking pot. Great! I knew he reeked of smoke but I thought nothing of it, I chalked it up to his pack a day habit, thinking perhaps cigarettes smell differently by brand...

Ignorant? Maybe. Innocent and naive? Most definitely. I don't think that's a bad thing though. I still don't think I will be able to recognize it. And I am okay with that.

The doctor's next patient is a transvestite. S(he) is currently trying to get a grasp on the ways of being a woman, though it is an awkward transition. Acid wash jeans that are too short and heavy make-up. Someone needs to help her or s(he) needs to pick up a fashion magazine. Very nice person though. And yes, last time I saw her, I made sure I called him "she" and did so well until the very end as I was presenting her to the front desk and slipped. S(he) didn't bat an eye though. For that I was grateful.

Yep, all in a day's work here at our office. And no, I don't have the munchies, thanks for asking.

**Note to Patrick: I would love to talk cameras with you, just email me please, you can find it in my profile.

Burning the Midnight Oil

It's late.

I'm TIRED.

The only thing keepin' these eyes peeled are my blessed contacts.

I'm going to go grab my man and drag us both off to bed.

PS: Isn't he adorable? Check them out here.

(Mostly) Mindless Musings

Wednesday morning. Pumpkin pancakes made and devoured (I'll post the recipe soon), dishes washed and semi-put away, Phil & I sitting at our respective laptops clicking away; this is a common scene. He, of course, is very busy and productive coding for his latest work project as he waits out the morning traffic before he heads far away to north Scottsdale. I, on the other hand, am not very busy nor productive, catching up on fellow reader's posts, checking emails, trying to think of something to say for my own blog. This is all I've got.

My agenda includes:

• Exercise, since I ate one too many pumpkin pancakes (they were good!)
• Shower and dress for work.
• Meet co-workers at the Olive Garden for a birthday lunch. Try not to eat too many bread sticks.
• Go to the office to see my patients; scale, polish and rinse away. Throw some education in there that will promptly be ignored and/or in one ear out the other.
• Return home, what's for dinner? Maybe chicken and spaghetti squash...
• Wait for Phil, eat, read scriptures, bed for me and more work for him.
• Repeat.

That's life around here. I am enjoying my part-time work status with my weekends full of photography and church duties while Phil is coding his little heart out 24/7 trying to make his deadline. He literally codes at least 12 hours a day. This is a glimpse of my life to come. Med school will soon consume us both. That is good and bad, but mostly good. Good things to come with time and hard work. And patience, lots of patience.

P.S. On the way out this morning, Phil grabs his keys, badge and sunglasses. "Something stinks over here." "Must be the trash, I'll take it out" I say. He leaves. I go to investigate.

The stink is from Mr. Phil himself. He left his lunch out all night and the contents included beans. We all know what happens to beans. Ultimate stink! Being the kind wife I am, I consider leaving it for him to take care of when he returns home. Alas, I do not. Because I am a kind wife. But I did call him to inform him of the stink and of my great sacrifice.

For Journaling Purposes

Saturday we attended the temple with some good friends Melody & Johnny. We drove separately because I wanted to hit the camera shop afterward to purchase a new lens. We enter the temple juggling our things, among them the car keys. Phil usually hands them off to me for safekeeping. We paused in the doorway and each of us thought to ourselves that I should take the keys. We both ignored that lovely little thought. Phil took the keys and we each went our separate ways to change.

Waiting for the session to begin a very attractive young woman walks in and takes her place, I personally note her beauty and Phil leans over to me and says "she would be perfect for Kevin" (one of our best friends). I dismiss his crazy thought, since really, we don't know her or her situation. We had a nice session, walking back towards the locker room Phil tells me I need to talk to this girl for Kevin and get her number. I am flabbergasted and protest profusely. He is very stern and adamant that if I see her I need to get her number. I jokingly ask if he is inspired and he replies yes. Great, now I have to ask her. We returned back to the locker room to change.
I am nervous. I don't see her anywhere. As I am folding my clothes she emerges from her changing area. I quickly dart a glance in her direction, the butterflies in a frenzy. I quickly inform my friend of the situation and she cheers me on, giving me the courage I need to approach her.

I do it! Ahhhh! I actually walk up to this pretty girl and ask if she is single, dating anyone and interested in going on a blind date with our good friend. She shyly replies yes, she is single, no, not dating anyone and yes, she is open to a complete stranger approaching her in the temple asking for her number. Success! I have never felt so awkward in my life. I return to Phil triumphant.

We exit the temple, walking towards our cars. Phil starts looking for the keys.

"Do you have them?" he asks me.

"No." I reply. "You kept them."

We stop dead in our tracks and I conduct a pat down of Phil's extremities and pockets while he digs deep in his temple case for the elusive keys. Nothing.

He and Johnny return to the temple to search inside while Melody & I shoot the breeze in the hotness of Arizona mid-October. After a time the boys return. Empty-handed.

Frustration abounds. Long story short: We hitch a ride home with our friends, hire a locksmith to effortlessly "break-in" (scary actually how easy it was), order a new key for my car, pick up the car and yes still make it to the camera store for me to buy a new lens. (Pics posted soon with my new beauty.)

Crazy day and Phil & I both committed to me being the safe keeper of future keys. As of today our keys are still MIA, probably sitting patiently in the temple waiting to be found. Come home keys! Come Home!

To Do

Things have been a bit serious around here lately but I have nothing witty & lighthearted to share or a nasty dental experience that I know you love. So all you get is my Thursday breakdown.

• Plan meals for the week-Done.

Thursday: Salmon with Parmesan Roasted Veggies over Salad Greens
Friday: Minestrone with Breadsticks (Phil won't be thrilled, not a soup fan, he can deal since I am the cook around here)
Saturday: Green Pizza from a fellow blogger
Sunday: Meatloaf, Mashed Potato Casserole & Salad
Monday: Leftovers?
Tuesday: Stuffed Bell Peppers
Wednesday: Broccoli Chicken Calzones

• Exercise: Elliptical at the gym and home workout-Done.
• Grocery shopping-Fry's & Safeway
• Finalize & Assemble YW lesson handout
• Finish cleaning house-floors & dusting
• Cook dinner
• Scriptures, Gunnell Budget Review & Long-term planning (aka Save as much as possible before med school), Vote on Props
• Bed!

All right, I better get crackin!

Talent

My amazing and oh so talented brother-in-law has some serious skills. And he is offering them to you! Perfect Pencil is his new venture and I encourage you to check out his work, enter this raffle and you may just get lucky! Or better yet, send him a photo and he will draw an amazing rendition which will make the perfect gift, one from the heart which will be treasured forever.

When Times are Tough

This weekend proved difficult for me and my family. As I struggled with an unfortunate outcome I turned to a book that has brought me much comfort. When Camden died our bishop's wife gave us a lovely gift, a book by John Bytheway titled "When Times are Tough, 5 Scriptures that will help you get through almost anything". I would like to share a few passages that have helped me the most.

"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, the the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially as we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God...and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven." Orson F. Whitney

Life is hard. We all know that. While trials are bitter and difficult at the time we experience them, who would want to miss out on all that growth-growth that might not be possible any other way? The strongest parts of my testimony have come through difficult times.

An important passage that has stood out greatly comes from Boyd K. Packer.

"Do not suppose that God willfully causes that, which for his own purposes, he permits."

Read it again. There's an important difference between causing something to happen and allowing it to happen. Some things are just the natural consequence of living life here on earth.

Howard W. Hunter: "Please remember this one thing. If our lives and our faith are centered upon Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right."

I am fine now. I have gathered myself together, picked up the pieces, put on my happy face and am ready for the next task. I do know that we have a loving Heavenly Father that is acutely aware of the happenings in our life and the challenges we face. I know that He loves me and wants me to be happy. I have an amazing network of family and friends that support and love me. Armed with this knowledge one can get through almost anything.

Dear Camden

Dear Son,

I haven't written in a while. I miss you. We went to your grave yesterday. It looks very nice, the grass has been trimmed and it is growing all around your headstone, they also repaired the vase. I bring a bottle of water to wash the beautiful black granite that has your name on it. I love how it glistens after I clean it and wash away the dirt and grime that collects between our visits. After we clean your grave we also wash your cousin Jonathan's. I stood after my bottle was empty and your dad and I reflected on the time that has passed. April 2006 seems so long ago and we would have a 2 1/2 year old. We stood silent for a moment, each absorbed in our thoughts. And then my thoughts started leaking out of my eyes and I began sobbing. Your dad held me tight and I continued to release my anguish as I buried my face in his neck. We miss you terribly.

Yet as much as I miss you I know that all is well. You are waiting for us and I will have the opportunity to raise you. I am grateful for this knowledge, grateful that we are an eternal family. Grateful for a loving Savior that has made all of this possible. I know I shall see you again. Sometimes I fear I am forgetting things. Forgetting the way your skin felt and how you smelled so sweet. That worries me but again, it is for naught. I needn't worry. I have pictures of you to help me remember. I remember kissing your thin little lips, they are just like your dad's. I remember your crooked little fingers, each hand with an extra digit courtesy of your T-13. Your little eyes that refused to open and your throaty cry. I love you.

Love,

Mom

Book of Mormon Chart

I had a request for the Book of Mormon chart and since I don't have access to your profile or your email (Patrick) I decided to post it for all! Start reading tonight. Just click and save the pic to your computer and hopefully that will let you have a full page, if not then email me through my blogger profile and I will send it to you.

(And Taryn, I am so there with you at Cheesecake Factory come our collective freedom from no sugar and your no dairy. Bring it on!)

So, I lied.

Not much of a hiatus, I know. How Chicken Little of me. I did tell Phil that we need to get away though. We will do "something" next year, before med school and before penniless student living. Something to look forward to on all accounts.

I am proud to report I have been 100% sugar-free since Sunday! I am doing awesome. I even had the ultimate test today. We had a birthday lunch for a girl at work and where do we go?? Oh, the Cheesecake Factory. And cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts. (Who am I kidding? I love them all.) But especially the Chocolate Coconut Cream Cheesecake: "Coconut Cheesecake with Chunks of Chocolate, Topped with Layers of Coconut Custard and Whipped Cream all on top of a Chocolate Macaroon Crust." Heaven on a plate but not on my thighs. I am proud to say that I resisted.

I feel like I am doing pretty good! And a girl in my ward told me I inspired her to join the sugar-free ranks. My goal is no sweet elixir until Thanksgiving day, where I will commence with some pie. If this sounds familiar, it is. I said the same thing last year. But I mean it this time!

Phil & I have also set a goal to read the Book of Mormon together before the end of the year. He got a chart from one of his Sunday School teachers that breaks down the chapters. If we read about 6-7 pages a night we will make it. You should join us. Other than that it is business as usual. Phil is deep in the throes of coding for a project at work and I am deep in the throes of... not much. Maybe something will come up.

We are looking forward to a relaxing weekend full of inspiring words and spiritual motivation, the counsel of which I will ponder, pray and get buoyed up for all that life throws.

And I need to visit this little guy. I miss him.