What is this?! Is this really happening? I feel like I'm in this dream but I don't want to wake up from it because it's getting to be too good! Please, nobody pinch me! I don't want to be woken up if all of this is just a figment of my imagination!
Today marks exactly 100 days until he is home! Again... I say what?! I've been imagining this day for 635 days and its finally here. What did I do to have this happen? I must've done something right in a past life rsmthng... I'm loving every minute of it though! I can't believe that he'll be home so soon! I was reflecting on all of this today (well... 2 am this morning after work) and I just thought about all that I can do in 100 days. Here is a verrrrry simplified list:
Hug him
Talk to him face to face
Smell him
Squeeze his face
Hold his hand
Go on dates (wooooooo!!!!!)
Go on car rides with him
Sit reeeeally close to him on the couch
Watch movies with him
Cuddle whilst watching movies
Make lunch with him
Look into his eyes just because
Feel his love and just know
.... maybe a kiss here and there... maybe
Go to church with him
Have Family Home Evening with him and his family
Be complete once again
100 days seems soooo much more doable than 735 or whtvr. I feel like I'll actually be getting somewhere instead of dreaming of a far off goal in the distant future. After today I'll be in the double digits. After that... every 1o days will be a milestone. I may or may not become increasingly obsessed about the homecoming. If that is the case... I do not apologize. My happiness will be home in 100 days!
I will not go into further explaination of what the signifigance of "Katie Jo" means. Let it suffice to say that I had once the impression that after I had complained about something, anytime, the universe would coordinate the stars to align perfectly together in order to appease my wants and desires and all would be well in my life once more. It usually works!
I thought this was going to be the same case for me once I started my on-foot-hunt for the perfect white pencil skirt. It was a grueling hour and a half (I reeeeeeeally don't like shopping); I had searched Dillards, Sears, Macy's, Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, Express, New York and Company. But I finally found IT. THE skirt!
It was glorious! I found it at White House Black Market. It was as if the heavens parted, angelic choirs were singing and the fashion gods were going to listen to my plea and allow me to have this beautiful creation (I have been on the hunt for one for 8 months mind you!)... it was soon to be mine! It was going to really happen!
But it was not to be mine right now... tragedy had struck when I looked at the price tag! $78!!!! Are you serious?! It's not like it's made out of cashmere or Egyptian cotton!!!! The lovely saleswoman looked at me and my stricken face and asked me what the matter was. I told her that this was what I was looking for... however it was waaaaaaaaaaay out of my budget! She explained that they had just gotten it the previous week but that in a while it may go on sale.
NEW PLAN OF ACTION: Constantly stalk this company's website for the next few months until this beautiful skirt goes on sale! I can settle for $40... that'd be ok with me. My Katie Jo... I shall have you!
One day I would like to be able to find just plain white heels. No peep toe, no sling backs, no crazy prints, no grandma shoes. Just cute, white, close toed, heels. Is that too much to ask? Also... I am in the search of a white pencil skirt. Key words: white.... and pencil. I am in the process of trying to get articles of clothing and or accessories together for the man's homecoming talk in about 3 1/2 months. And these two things will make my ideal outfit complete! I have an amazing shirt and tights for it. I just need the phenmonal shoes and lovely skirt to go with what I do have. I did find an awesome skirt on Charlotte Russe's website that would totally work.... however, me and my outrageous curves... I'd have to try it on before buying it, otherwise I'd be an avid online shopper! I just need to find the shoes... that'll be a tricky one. So if any of you lovely followers have any insight as to where I can find these items since I really don't shop often, it would be greatly appreciated by me, a girl who is only trying to look smokin' in 3 1/2 months.
I LOVE this band. Love is very much an understatement but we'll just go with it. Yesterday I had a suuuper busy day. I was driving all around town doing stuff for the team and then to work which gave me ample time to listen to my jams on my adventures. My Love gave me his iPod to look after while he's gone which is awwwwesome because I can listen to my (our) music whenever I dang well please! Well after a fatal accident, his iPod died and I replaced it with an iTouch. He knows I have one... he just doesn't know it's his yet (good thing he loves me!). Anyways. So I decided that I was in the mood for a Lifehouse day and ooooooooooohmagah! I love them {swoon}. My best friend and I have almost seen them twice... I need to see them in concert like I need to sleep. It's a pretty bad need. As I was listening to the songs, I had this epiphany of how many of the songs fit my boy and I. Especially their newer songs! I always think of him whenever I listen to Lifehouse (he doesn't know that haha!). Story Time: A few days before TJ asked me to be his girlfriend, we were driving down from Cedar City UT to Gilbert AZ because I had to move and he was my knight in shining armor and we were listening to his iPod. I saw that he had some Lifehouse on there and I knew he was mine haha! So I turned on one of their songs and we listened to it. During the song (I only let him interrupt because I was definitely in love with him) he said "I can see why so many girls love this guys voice." I looked at him and I said "yeah, but I love yours even more."
Their latest album has really helped me through my hardest times since TJ has been off saving the world's souls. One song in particular, I feel has summed up this whole waiting experience:
My Darling Love has always said that he'll be by my side no matter what. I'm sooo lucky that I have this man of mine who will always be there for me through thick and thin. Hopefully the first concert he takes me to is a Lifehouse one *hint hint*. Only 3 1/2 more months to go!
Ok so I never went to Primary growing up, so I don't know those cute songs. Anyway. Sunday is a very special day for me! I get to have my spiritual "battery" recharged, I get to partake of the sacrament, teach my cute kids, and just have a day to relax and come closer to my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Sunday is also a day when I get to have my weekly dates with my BFFMG! Kendahl!
Yes! This wonderful young woman is my weekly date! (shhh! don't tell TJ... well he knows and he approves... whtvr!) She has honestly been such a heaven sent for the past 9 months (!!!!) of TJ's mission! I'm the senior waiting buddy but she always helps me in so many more ways than I help her! I'm so grateful for her friendship and her occassional butt kicking to get me back on track! She hit her year mark last month (exactly!) so she only has 11 months left before her manly man is back! We have fun on our dates; we share events from the week before, parts of our weekly letters, words of encouragement (or sarcasm at times), laughter, and our weekly resolution. She has been such a strength for me and I'm so blessed to have this daughter of God in such a crucial time in my life! She is an amazing friend (she texts me first thing 98% of the mornings) and I love her so much! Not to mention, she's absolutely beautiful! I gots ta get my hair did for our date tonight!
Yep! That's right! My man is getting old today. Turning a whopping 2-2! I'll be joining the AARP club with him though in 3 months. This is his third birthday I get to celebrate with him and his last one on the mission!!! Hallelujah! Here I am with a glass of fine aged Martenelli's on the rocks trying to think of how best to tell him happy birthday. I have already sent him a birthday package which he should have recieved. Looking over the past 3 birthdays with him, I can't help but just think about how he was those three times. The first one I spent with him, he had a party that a bunch of friends were invited to and he put the pressure on me to make him a cake. I decided to make a chocolate cake with a mango filling and frost it with red buttercream. Well... the red turned to pink and trying to make my man's perfect birthday cake was just not happening. He came to my house from work to see myself with my hair disheveled, puffy eyes from crying and a frazzeled girlfriend with a pink cake. He grabbed me into his arms and said "I love my cake so much! Thank you for making me a cake for my birthday." I then commenced with crying because I was so bummed about the cake. For his party, he shmoozed with everyone but, in his own words, made sure that I was the center of attention for his birthday. He loved the party, he loved the cake, and he loved the presents but most importantly, he loved that I had put in so much thought for his day. And he's been like that the entire time we've been together! Last year for his birthday, he spent a good 30 minutes on a tape telling me how much he loved every. single. gift I had sent him. I am so lucky that he is sooo appreciative even if his lame woman makes him a pink cake. "I don't care that it was pink. It still tasted delicious!" He's a fat kid in the making! The past two birthdays that have been while on his mission, I have tried to think of ways to celebrate this day by doing something that reminds me of him. Today, I have decided to wear two mismatched socks just for him. He loves me.
{good thing I'm going to match his socks for him!}
So Taylor, my Darling. Happy Birthday Love! You're getting old, but hey, you'll be a very cute grandpa if I do say so myself! I can't wait to spend your birthday with you next year! I'll be sure to save to make it super special! I love you and I can't wait to see you in less than 4 months! Cheers Babe! Here's to you!
So I don't know about ya'll but I've never been told "it's not me, it's you." Well maybe I have... in a very indirect way. Anyways, yesterday after what I thought was just going to be an informational interview with my chef at work, turned out to be a conversation about how I seem inconsistent as to my happiness at work and how I come off across to people. Apparently I have come across as rude and unapproachable quite a few times to those with whom I work. I kept my defenses to myself and just listened to the oppositions arguement as to what he saw going on. It was interesting to have my perception changed to see it. "It" being the bigger picture. After much reflection last night and more today, I've come to realize how much my vision had narrowed the more stressed and frustrated I had become that I hadn't tried to see if I was coming off across as an unapproachable and disrespectful cook. I had allowed my pity parties for one with a side of "wo is me's" cloud my personality and tarnish my positive outlook on life which over time had slowly started to create me into a bitter monster cook at work who, matter-of-factly, wasn't progressing hardly at all.
I came to realize that my negative mindset, frustration-induced "I'm not good enough" and "I can't do this" thoughts has so far made it impossible for me to overcome these obstacles that have constantly been in my way. I don't know how to get over these hurdles and progress forward. What I do know now is that I need to change my outlook, have an attitude adjustment and start believing in my abilities in order to get the things done that are necessary for my job. I need to step up to the plate. I have accepted that it is me. I need to change. I need to find what I can learn from this job and start believing in myself or else nobody else will.
My Darling! Hi! I just felt like saying that I love you and how excited I am to be yours forever. I saw this video and thought of sharing it with you. I know that we'll be that cute old couple 50 years from now. I know that my life with you will be the happiest I could've ever hoped for. I can't wait to grow old and wrinkley with you. Go through life with you. And have an eternities worth of memories to share with you. As long as it's you, I could never ask for anything more. I know that our adherence to the gospel will ensure a long and happy life together! I can't wait for you to ask me to be your wife and I can't wait to say yes! Being sealed together will the biggest blessing either of us could have ever wanted in life. I love you so very much. You're my everything! Yours Forever {and ever}, Marlee Michelle
