Yesterday, I created a whole new level of the stomach flu. You know how I like to share every part of my life, well here it is: I puked all day.Seriously. Just thinking about it makes me want to hurl. Again. Did you know that it feels better to throw up when you actually have something is your stomach. I, for one, didn't really know that before yesterday. But its a true story.
Anyway, the point: I was super duper sick! Sometimes it takes major disasters or lots and lots of vomit to remind me how amazing my family is. Mom: This darling woman took care of my all day. She brought me food even thought she knew I was just going to barf it up, let me rest my head of her lap and played with my hair, didn't say anything when she and Dad heard me violently ralphing while they were in the next room eating dinner, bought my Gatorade, and stayed home from Ward Temple Night so I didn't have to suffer alone, ALL while she wasn't feeling so great herself! Thanks Mom!
Dad: He let me have Mom on his day off, didn't wake me up when I finally got to sleep even though he had a very important question, and called the home teacher "in the middle of the night" so he could help give me a blessings (you know, middle of the night for old people). Thanks Dad!
Stephanie: Oh sweet Stephanie! At 10 last night she knew I was tired of laying on the couch watching Boy Meets World. So she had me move to couch upstairs and we watched The Office on her lap top. Watching old episodes she had already seen with her barf-tastic sister was probably not her idea of a fun Friday. But she did it anyways. It meant so much! Thanks Steph!! Oh, I mean Delicate Rose!
And I know Ben, Max, and David would have done the same thing if they had been here ;)
Since we are already on the nasty subject, lets take it a step further. Wanna know the worst puking story ever (worst puking story ever only if you are Mom)? Well, I'm gonna tell it to you anyways! In February we went to Disney World. Well, on the very last leg of of our long trip home we were flying from Salt Lake to Idaho Falls (45 minute flight). Mom and E were sitting next to each other, and I was sitting across the isle from them. Mom had fallen asleep and E was coloring. Soon, she stopped, and was staring off. I told her to turn off her light and sleep. She told me she wasn't tired. A couple minutes later she was doing the same things so I told her again. She didn't like that, so she turned her back to me and was facing Mom. Pretty soon, that right, she puked right onto her sleeping grandma. When Mom woke up she hurried and grabbed the barf bag, but E missed. The flight attendant quickly came with a big garbage bag, and guess what. E missed again. Luckily, E's Dad switched spots with me so I didn't have to help clean it up. Best part of the flight? Defined when E's brother, C said "Emwee's fwo up smews wiwwy bad" (Emily's throw up smells really bad!). Truer words have never been spoken. Thanks C!
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Single and Mormon
"I had it all mapped out in front of me, knew just where I wanted to go. But life decided to change my plans, and I found a mountain in the middle of my road. I knew there was no way to move it. So I searched for a way around. Broken hearted, I started climbing, and at the top I found every fear, every doubt, all the pain I went through was the price that I paid to see this view. And now that I'm here I would never trade the grace that I feel, and the faith that I find through the bitter sweet tears and the sleepless nights. I used to pray He'd take it all away. But instead it became a beautiful heartbreak.
I never dreamed my heart could make it. And I thought about turning around. But Heaven has shown me miracles I never would have seen from the ground. Now I take the rain with the sunshine, cuz there's one thing that I know: He picks up the pieces along each broken road. Every fear, every doubt, all the pain I went through was the price that I paid to see this view. And now that I'm here I would never trade the grace that I feel, and the faith that I find through the bitter sweet tears and the sleepless nights. I used to pray He'd take it all away. But instead it became a beautiful heartbreak." (she's awesome!)
I know I used this song in my last post of my old blog. Can you tell I like it?
Anyway, back to being single in the very un-single Mormon culture. Every little girl has a picture of how they want their life to turn out. For me, this is how I saw it: I would go to college, barely slide by, have a stunning young prince come sweep me off my feet, get married and drop out of college, make cute little mini us's, and play house for the rest of my life. I truly believed, and hope this is how it would go. But when I got to college, everything started slowly changing. First, I realized barely sliding by not for me. I LOVED college. I could feel the power of the knowledge that was being poured into my head and heart. Some days I felt like a full sponge, like I couldn't possible absorb another ounce of knowledge, and yet the more I learned the more I yearned to know more. I finally chose a major: child development. That major is HUGE at BYU-Idaho, mainly because most Mormon girls had similar ideas of how their lives would go, and they assume this fits into their plan. But that's not why I chose it. I chose it because I was passionate about it. I love the theory behind learning and language and play and motor skills. It was just so empowering. I have never tried illegal drugs, so I can't say it was better than ecstasy. But I can say it was better than Oxycodone!
There were many stunning princes all around me. One in particular was named Matt (no, that's not his real name!). He was so good to me. I remember one day I was just having a really bad day. It was at the end of the semester and everything was just going terrible. I was supposed to go over to his apt for fhe. I walked over to his large apt complex and saw everyone playing out on the lawn. He saw me and I could see how excited he was to see me. All of a sudden everything hit me. I realized that in 4 short days he would go home to Alabama, and I would go home to Pennsylvania. We both had jobs at home for the break. We made plans to see each other, but it wouldn't be the same. I lost it! I started bawling uncontrollably. Luckily, I was still like 50 yards away from him. So I quickly went into the stairwell and continued to bawl. I could see he was looking for me. But I didn't want everyone to see me crying. He texted me, and I told him someone called and I would be there in a minute. I ended up just going home. Soon, he came over to my apt and asked what was wrong. Anyone that knows me knows that is a pointless question to ask. So he just held me. I continued to cry, and he told me everything would be ok. It was then that I realized how much I loved this guy. Well 4 days did go by as fast as I imagined. We had quite possibly the most epic departure BYU-Idaho has or will ever see (but that's for another post). I went home, and after a series of events, I learned that Matt was not my one and only, my soul mate, my eternal companion. He was amazing. I knew that he would make me happy, and that we could enjoy a wonderful life together. But something deep inside told me to wait. So I listened.
I'm still waiting for my right guy. Some prospects have floated in and out, but its always the same answer: someone else is for you. Some days its draining. I can't remember where I heard it, but someone said marriage is like a jacket. Everyone that has one is telling you how amazing and wonderful it is. They constantly tell you to get one. But you don't know where from where to get one. You look everywhere, but you just can't find one.
But everyday is not misery. It could be if I let it but I choose to be happy now. Wanna know one of my favorite parts of being single? I get to choose where my money goes. I don't have little mouths to feed, growing feet that need shoes, or, lets be honest, even rent to pay (thanks Mom and Dad!). I'm about to buy a Nissan Muarno and I don't have to ask for anyone's permission. I'm going to SLC for a couple days and I don't have to consult with anyone, move $$ around to budget the expense, or even find a babysitter. Sounds like a good deal, huh? For today, I think so!
This doesn't mean that I have given up on marriage. I don't sit at home eating brownies out of the pan (most days). I know that I will get my jacket someday. Until then, I'm enjoying this life I have created for myself!
That's what it means to be single and Mormon for me.
I never dreamed my heart could make it. And I thought about turning around. But Heaven has shown me miracles I never would have seen from the ground. Now I take the rain with the sunshine, cuz there's one thing that I know: He picks up the pieces along each broken road. Every fear, every doubt, all the pain I went through was the price that I paid to see this view. And now that I'm here I would never trade the grace that I feel, and the faith that I find through the bitter sweet tears and the sleepless nights. I used to pray He'd take it all away. But instead it became a beautiful heartbreak." (she's awesome!)
I know I used this song in my last post of my old blog. Can you tell I like it?
Anyway, back to being single in the very un-single Mormon culture. Every little girl has a picture of how they want their life to turn out. For me, this is how I saw it: I would go to college, barely slide by, have a stunning young prince come sweep me off my feet, get married and drop out of college, make cute little mini us's, and play house for the rest of my life. I truly believed, and hope this is how it would go. But when I got to college, everything started slowly changing. First, I realized barely sliding by not for me. I LOVED college. I could feel the power of the knowledge that was being poured into my head and heart. Some days I felt like a full sponge, like I couldn't possible absorb another ounce of knowledge, and yet the more I learned the more I yearned to know more. I finally chose a major: child development. That major is HUGE at BYU-Idaho, mainly because most Mormon girls had similar ideas of how their lives would go, and they assume this fits into their plan. But that's not why I chose it. I chose it because I was passionate about it. I love the theory behind learning and language and play and motor skills. It was just so empowering. I have never tried illegal drugs, so I can't say it was better than ecstasy. But I can say it was better than Oxycodone!
There were many stunning princes all around me. One in particular was named Matt (no, that's not his real name!). He was so good to me. I remember one day I was just having a really bad day. It was at the end of the semester and everything was just going terrible. I was supposed to go over to his apt for fhe. I walked over to his large apt complex and saw everyone playing out on the lawn. He saw me and I could see how excited he was to see me. All of a sudden everything hit me. I realized that in 4 short days he would go home to Alabama, and I would go home to Pennsylvania. We both had jobs at home for the break. We made plans to see each other, but it wouldn't be the same. I lost it! I started bawling uncontrollably. Luckily, I was still like 50 yards away from him. So I quickly went into the stairwell and continued to bawl. I could see he was looking for me. But I didn't want everyone to see me crying. He texted me, and I told him someone called and I would be there in a minute. I ended up just going home. Soon, he came over to my apt and asked what was wrong. Anyone that knows me knows that is a pointless question to ask. So he just held me. I continued to cry, and he told me everything would be ok. It was then that I realized how much I loved this guy. Well 4 days did go by as fast as I imagined. We had quite possibly the most epic departure BYU-Idaho has or will ever see (but that's for another post). I went home, and after a series of events, I learned that Matt was not my one and only, my soul mate, my eternal companion. He was amazing. I knew that he would make me happy, and that we could enjoy a wonderful life together. But something deep inside told me to wait. So I listened.
I'm still waiting for my right guy. Some prospects have floated in and out, but its always the same answer: someone else is for you. Some days its draining. I can't remember where I heard it, but someone said marriage is like a jacket. Everyone that has one is telling you how amazing and wonderful it is. They constantly tell you to get one. But you don't know where from where to get one. You look everywhere, but you just can't find one.
But everyday is not misery. It could be if I let it but I choose to be happy now. Wanna know one of my favorite parts of being single? I get to choose where my money goes. I don't have little mouths to feed, growing feet that need shoes, or, lets be honest, even rent to pay (thanks Mom and Dad!). I'm about to buy a Nissan Muarno and I don't have to ask for anyone's permission. I'm going to SLC for a couple days and I don't have to consult with anyone, move $$ around to budget the expense, or even find a babysitter. Sounds like a good deal, huh? For today, I think so!
This doesn't mean that I have given up on marriage. I don't sit at home eating brownies out of the pan (most days). I know that I will get my jacket someday. Until then, I'm enjoying this life I have created for myself!
That's what it means to be single and Mormon for me.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Mommy's little gems!
Me: Mom, I think I'm a right-fighter.
Mom: Well, I don't think you have a need to be right. You are just a pissed off fighter.
There you have it folks, I'm not a right fighter! AND Mama said pissed off. You don't hear that every day!
Mom: Well, I don't think you have a need to be right. You are just a pissed off fighter.
There you have it folks, I'm not a right fighter! AND Mama said pissed off. You don't hear that every day!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
6 months ago I found out I was pregnant. I didn't tell anyone. Still haven't. One night I was doing homework and my roommate asked if I was pregnant. WHAT! How did she know? Of course I told her I wasn't. One day while I was working at preschool, I noticed a dad and little girl I had never seen before. I talked to them for a while and just knew that they were supposed to adopt my baby.
Fast forward to a couple weeks after I had the baby. I was sitting on my parents bed, talking to my parents, Delicate Rose, and my grandparents. I explained everything from how I was able to keep the baby a secret, even after my belly started showing, to how the baby's daddy didn't even know I was pregnant. While I was spilling the whole story the sun kept shinning in from the window behind me right into my mom's eyes. I was constantly trying to adjust my head to block the sun for her. I kept waiting for someone to get mad that (1) I got pregnant, (2) I never told anyone, and (3) I had the baby and gave her to her new family before anyone could see her. But no one ever got mad, or even acted surprised. They just kept telling me how amazing I was. Me? After I just had a baby and kept her a secret?
Soon someone realized what was going on and was TICKED. Naturally, it was the dog. He was mad I had neglected him for all those months that all of this was going on. He ran up to me and bit me. But he didn't let go. I could feel his teeth digging further and further into my skin. I ran to the front door and flung my arm so he went flying off outside and then hurried and shut the door. Somehow he found his way back inside again, and I started running up the stairs to get away.
Then, with my heart still pounding, I woke up.
Fast forward to a couple weeks after I had the baby. I was sitting on my parents bed, talking to my parents, Delicate Rose, and my grandparents. I explained everything from how I was able to keep the baby a secret, even after my belly started showing, to how the baby's daddy didn't even know I was pregnant. While I was spilling the whole story the sun kept shinning in from the window behind me right into my mom's eyes. I was constantly trying to adjust my head to block the sun for her. I kept waiting for someone to get mad that (1) I got pregnant, (2) I never told anyone, and (3) I had the baby and gave her to her new family before anyone could see her. But no one ever got mad, or even acted surprised. They just kept telling me how amazing I was. Me? After I just had a baby and kept her a secret?
Soon someone realized what was going on and was TICKED. Naturally, it was the dog. He was mad I had neglected him for all those months that all of this was going on. He ran up to me and bit me. But he didn't let go. I could feel his teeth digging further and further into my skin. I ran to the front door and flung my arm so he went flying off outside and then hurried and shut the door. Somehow he found his way back inside again, and I started running up the stairs to get away.
Then, with my heart still pounding, I woke up.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Delicate Rose is a creeper.
Preface: A few weeks ago Bubba was at our house. I decided to take a nap. After a while it was time for me to get up. Bubba told my mom that he was going to yell "TIME TO GET UP!" Being the amazing person she is, mama told him not to do that, but instead to quietly tell me to wake up and kiss my forehead. So he came down and gently told me to get up and kissed my forehead and cheeks. He was so cute! So I pulled him up on my lap and told him how adorable he was, and kissed his lack of forehead and sweet air-filled cheeks. Seriously, he's the cutest 4 year old!
Last night I fell asleep watching TV with Delicate Rose. She was ready to go to bed, and to her credit was kind enough to want to wake me up and get me to go to bed. Well, if you know anything about Willoughby's, there is 2 things about us and sleeping. 1. We can sleep anywhere: airplane, cars, movie theaters, school, ANYWHERE. 2. We are hard to wake up. Like super hard. So Delicate Rose tried and tried to get me to wake up with no luck. She remembered how cute I thought it was when Bubba woke me up when he kissed my forehead. So she decided to try. But when she started to lean down, she remembered when I would talk to Seymore, and how jealous she was. So naturally she started mocking his sucker fishy face. Of course this is when I wake up. Delicate Rose was standing above me, coming toward me, making a fishy face. WHAT. I was seriously ticked. I can't tell you what happened as a result of my ticked-ness because this is a family friendly blog!
Last night I fell asleep watching TV with Delicate Rose. She was ready to go to bed, and to her credit was kind enough to want to wake me up and get me to go to bed. Well, if you know anything about Willoughby's, there is 2 things about us and sleeping. 1. We can sleep anywhere: airplane, cars, movie theaters, school, ANYWHERE. 2. We are hard to wake up. Like super hard. So Delicate Rose tried and tried to get me to wake up with no luck. She remembered how cute I thought it was when Bubba woke me up when he kissed my forehead. So she decided to try. But when she started to lean down, she remembered when I would talk to Seymore, and how jealous she was. So naturally she started mocking his sucker fishy face. Of course this is when I wake up. Delicate Rose was standing above me, coming toward me, making a fishy face. WHAT. I was seriously ticked. I can't tell you what happened as a result of my ticked-ness because this is a family friendly blog!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Seymore Finley
Dear Seymore,
I knew we were meant to be since the moment I saw your fat little body swimming around that Walmart tank across from the dog food. You looked so big next to all your siblings. I just knew I had to have you! I called a worker over so I could get you. Three employees, an argument over your price, and a bag filled with water later, I finally had you in my hands. You were so cute! However, I must admit, I felt a little childish walking through Walmart at 11 pm, holding a giant gold fish with the most ridiculous smile on my face. But I couldn't help it. I just loved you!
I could not decide what to name you. The possibilities were endless. But you had to have just the right name because you were so perfect to me. Finally, your ever-lovin Grandma (my mama) suggested Seymore. That was it! Seymore Finley. I loved it almost as much as I loved you!
Getting your new fish bowl ready was the start of this tragedy of a story. The directions said to wash out the bowl sans soap. So I did. Then it said rinse the rocks and put them in the bottom of the bowl. So I did. Then it said to fill the bowl half-way with water and put in some chlorine neutralizer. So I did. After I put the packet in, I thought it seemed like a lot. So I read what it said on the packet. AWWW!!! Put in 1 tsp for every 10 gallons of water. This was only a 1 gallon bowl. The packet contained enough for 30 gallons. Oh man!!! So glad I read the packet before I put you in the water! I emptied out the bowl, rinsed it thoroughly, rinsed off the rocks, filled it back up, and put you in your new home.
You looked so big in that bowl! You just swam around and tried to get to know your new surroundings. But when I would put my face next to the bowl, you would swim over next to me and make that precious fishy sucker face. My heart melted every time! I would make the face back to you. Delicate Rose asked if I could talk to you. Of course I could! You were my baby! She laughed, but it was just because she was jealous. I don't think you ever stopped making that sucker face. Oh and those eyes! They were the biggest, most intense black eyes I have ever seen. It was like you were staring into my soul every time you looked at me. I loved that black patch behind your head. Chances are, it was cancer, but it made you unique and mine.
Uncle Chief Navajo Jack teased you endlessly. He would call you Seymore Butts. He would say he wanted sushi. He would pretend he was fishing in your bowl. But I know you didn't mind. You only have a 3 second memory, so every time he teased you, it was like it was the first joke he ever made.
Seymore, tonight I went in to check on you. And there you were. Laying lifeless at the bottom of the bowl. Most fish float to the top when they die. But not you. You were too fat to float. It is not a fat joke, just a fact. A fact that made me love you even more. I tapped on the bowl. Nothing. I shook it a little. You moved, but just from the waves I created.
Chief Navajo Jack and I had a little service for you in the bathroom. He said some heartfelt words while I did the deed. He sang God Be With You Til We Meet Again and Swing Low Sweet Chariot. It was really touching, coming from him who teased you the most.
Those 17 hours I had you were short, but I will never forget them. You changed my life in a way no other fish could. We truly connected. I anxiously await that day in Heaven when we will once again be reunited. You will forever be my fish, sweet Sey!
Love,
Courtney
I knew we were meant to be since the moment I saw your fat little body swimming around that Walmart tank across from the dog food. You looked so big next to all your siblings. I just knew I had to have you! I called a worker over so I could get you. Three employees, an argument over your price, and a bag filled with water later, I finally had you in my hands. You were so cute! However, I must admit, I felt a little childish walking through Walmart at 11 pm, holding a giant gold fish with the most ridiculous smile on my face. But I couldn't help it. I just loved you!
I could not decide what to name you. The possibilities were endless. But you had to have just the right name because you were so perfect to me. Finally, your ever-lovin Grandma (my mama) suggested Seymore. That was it! Seymore Finley. I loved it almost as much as I loved you!
Getting your new fish bowl ready was the start of this tragedy of a story. The directions said to wash out the bowl sans soap. So I did. Then it said rinse the rocks and put them in the bottom of the bowl. So I did. Then it said to fill the bowl half-way with water and put in some chlorine neutralizer. So I did. After I put the packet in, I thought it seemed like a lot. So I read what it said on the packet. AWWW!!! Put in 1 tsp for every 10 gallons of water. This was only a 1 gallon bowl. The packet contained enough for 30 gallons. Oh man!!! So glad I read the packet before I put you in the water! I emptied out the bowl, rinsed it thoroughly, rinsed off the rocks, filled it back up, and put you in your new home.
You looked so big in that bowl! You just swam around and tried to get to know your new surroundings. But when I would put my face next to the bowl, you would swim over next to me and make that precious fishy sucker face. My heart melted every time! I would make the face back to you. Delicate Rose asked if I could talk to you. Of course I could! You were my baby! She laughed, but it was just because she was jealous. I don't think you ever stopped making that sucker face. Oh and those eyes! They were the biggest, most intense black eyes I have ever seen. It was like you were staring into my soul every time you looked at me. I loved that black patch behind your head. Chances are, it was cancer, but it made you unique and mine.
Uncle Chief Navajo Jack teased you endlessly. He would call you Seymore Butts. He would say he wanted sushi. He would pretend he was fishing in your bowl. But I know you didn't mind. You only have a 3 second memory, so every time he teased you, it was like it was the first joke he ever made.
Seymore, tonight I went in to check on you. And there you were. Laying lifeless at the bottom of the bowl. Most fish float to the top when they die. But not you. You were too fat to float. It is not a fat joke, just a fact. A fact that made me love you even more. I tapped on the bowl. Nothing. I shook it a little. You moved, but just from the waves I created.
Chief Navajo Jack and I had a little service for you in the bathroom. He said some heartfelt words while I did the deed. He sang God Be With You Til We Meet Again and Swing Low Sweet Chariot. It was really touching, coming from him who teased you the most.
Those 17 hours I had you were short, but I will never forget them. You changed my life in a way no other fish could. We truly connected. I anxiously await that day in Heaven when we will once again be reunited. You will forever be my fish, sweet Sey!
Love,
Courtney
Sunday, June 17, 2012
What! Why did you change your blog?
I get asked this question all.the.time. K, well, not really, because no one knows I've even started a new blog yet. BUT I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I will get question over and over again. So we'll just answer it now.
1. My old blog of getting frumpy. It lost its sparks. So sad, I know. But I'm not the crazy college girl I used to be. I am now a grown up. How weird is that! The point is, I can't blog about seeing Eddy on campus, or talking to Charlie out my window at 2 in the morning. That stuff just doesn't happen anymore. Which, in a way, is good, because my heart can't take all that drama anymore.
2. My blog was because all sad and woe-some.Talking about real life stuff is way to dreary.
3. I'm at a new starting point in my life, so to speak. Just graduated, moved into a new ward, started a new, great job. Its all a fresh start. Why not start with a fresh blog!
4. I'm hoping to become as cool as C.Jane. She's pretty much the best. I'm working on a vlog that I can send to her. But how do you vlog to someone as dynamic as her. K, lets be honest for sec, I googled synonyms for powerful and one of them was dynamic, so I took it! I know, it doesn't make that much sense, but stop that!! its my blog, so I'll use whatever words I want to describe C.Jane.
1. My old blog of getting frumpy. It lost its sparks. So sad, I know. But I'm not the crazy college girl I used to be. I am now a grown up. How weird is that! The point is, I can't blog about seeing Eddy on campus, or talking to Charlie out my window at 2 in the morning. That stuff just doesn't happen anymore. Which, in a way, is good, because my heart can't take all that drama anymore.
2. My blog was because all sad and woe-some.Talking about real life stuff is way to dreary.
3. I'm at a new starting point in my life, so to speak. Just graduated, moved into a new ward, started a new, great job. Its all a fresh start. Why not start with a fresh blog!
4. I'm hoping to become as cool as C.Jane. She's pretty much the best. I'm working on a vlog that I can send to her. But how do you vlog to someone as dynamic as her. K, lets be honest for sec, I googled synonyms for powerful and one of them was dynamic, so I took it! I know, it doesn't make that much sense, but stop that!! its my blog, so I'll use whatever words I want to describe C.Jane.
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