I have to write a 5 page paper to turn in tomorrow about my internship, comparing it to the book, The Tipping Point.
I don’t want to write it. It’s summer! I just wrote a talk, isn’t that enough writing for the break?
And yeah, I know, I know, Mom… “If I wasn’t messing around on here, I could have written it already.”
But I didn’t, and it’s ten o’clock already. Hmm.
… is what T.J. and I are assigned to talk on this Sunday at church.
That’s right, we got called to speak. I guess it’ll be a good experience for me. Although I am dreading having to write (and give) the talk, I know I’ll learn a lot from it.
Well, what do you think I should talk specifically about? The first thing that I thought of when I heard the topic was going to the temple and doing saving ordinances for others. But in advertising we are taught to not go with the first thing that comes to our heads. That is usually the easy way out and the most common thing about what you were thinking about.
So, I kind of want to do something else. I think I want to talk about being an example to others and the difference it will make.
I was reading in 2 Nephi 1 last night where Lehi is pleading with his children to keep the commandments and follow the Lord.
“Awake,” he says, “Awake.”
Through Lehi’s powerful testimony, dedication, and most importantly perseverance, he was an example to his children and was a Savior on Mount Zion for his posterity.
What do you think? Should I go with this? Do you have any other examples or scriptural references?
Oh by the way, you should read the rest of this chapter and imagine your father or Bishop saying the words to you. It really is a powerful chapter and helps you realize what you need to be doing in your life.
So, T.J. and I haven’t been the greatest at doing a “scheduled Family Home Evening” each week. Since we pray and read the scriptures together, and hang out together everyday, all day, we kind of forget that we should do it. Well, one of my goals for the week was to have FHE.
Monday came along, but we kind of brushed it off until T.J.’s brother Dustin and his wife Lindsay stopped by. We all decided to do FHE together using an activity in our “FHE for Newlyweds” book. Here’s how the rest of the night went.
Dustin and Lindsay didn’t participate too much, they mostly just laughed. Although Lindsay compared Dustin to a moose, but I’m pretty sure that’s just because her favorite animal is a moose.
The point of the story here is that, although we need to be doing FHE, I’m not really sure if this one needed to be had. But I must say, it was memorable, if nothing else.
I didn’t feel like going to work today. But alas, I rolled out of bed thirty minutes late because I knew I shouldn’t miss work. I threw on a t-shirt and put my hair in a bun. So, my number one rule was already broken: If you want to have a good day, you have to look the part. I know that sounds silly, but when I put effort into getting ready, wear a nice outfit, and do my hair and makeup, I just feel better about myself and thus, am in a good mood and am optimistic. But when I wear a t-shirt, old vans, put my hair up, etc., the day usually does not go as smoothly.
So I dropped T.J. off for work so he wouldn’t be late, then went to park the car. I called home to chat with my parents for a few minutes before work. While I was on the the phone, I crossed the street (at the same crosswalk I have crossed everyday for two years, shown above) and then noticed the cars were going really fast. I looked at the light and saw it was green, but for some reason, I didn’t run or pick up my step. I just kept talking on the phone, like a lethargic idiot.
Then it hits me.
Not the car, but the thought that I better pick it up or else I will be hit by the car.
Screeches.
Running.
More screeches by another car.
Embarrassment, humiliation, adrenaline.
It was awful. And remember, I was already in a funk.
And that is the story of Katie and the Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very Bad Day.
What do you get when you cross (a wanna-be) Martha Stewart, with a Betty Crocker cookbook, and a homemaking LDS woman? ME!
Yes, I know that is the lamest introduction ever. But I really have felt like a “housewife” lately. Here are some of the projects I’ve worked on lately (with lots of help of T of course).
1. We redid our bathroom. We got a lot of gift cards for our wedding, so we finally put them to use by buying paint, a cute shower curtain, towels and mats to match. The green turned out to be a lot greener than planned but it is growing on us. (The photos make it look even brighter, I swear it’s not a bright lime green!)
2. We also redid our bedroom. We were unsure of what color to pick, but go [bold] or go home right? So we did one wall a redish orange and the other walls a grayish brown. We also bought a duvet and pillows to draw it all together. It’s been great because we got all of our stuff on sale, so we’ve been very thrifty.
Oh, you’ll notice that we haven’t put up any art or photos on the walls yet, but we’re planning on having T.J. do a few modern paintings for both the bedroom and the bathroom.
3. Another dinner party is in the making for tonight. I invited the girl I sat next to in Relief Society. She probably thought I was nuts for inviting a stranger over for dinner. But I’m determined to know the ward, so this is how I’m going to do it! I asked her to bring another couple, so hopefully it will be great. I’ve never made (or tried) stuffed green peppers, but it sounded delicious, so that’s what we’ll have tonight, along with homemade rolls (you’d be proud of me mom, they’re not like Penny’s “homemade” rolls where she would just thaw them), and a fruit salad.
Anyway, that’s what I have been up to. Enjoy the pictures. Next project: find new curtains for the living room!
[slideshow]
You can call me Sinus Linus.
I keep waking up with a lot of sinus issues. I won’t go into details. But I am wondering if this is happening to anyone else? Is it just something in the air right now?
So, I finally wrote in my journal yesterday with all the deets of our engagement story. I know it’s late. But better late than never right?
Since I didn’t have this blog when we were engaged, I thought I’d share the story with you.
Background: We had talked about marriage, but hadn’t set any dates or planned anything. We also didn’t want that long of an engagement, and T.J. said he didn’t have money for a ring, so I figured he wouldn’t propose for a month or so. But back in December, we had looked at rings and I just was so eager to get engaged and start the planning! Oh and one last thing, since we had talked about marriage, I wanted to the proposal to be a complete surprise. I’m not a fan of the cheese. I just wanted it to be all of a sudden and out of the blue.
It was Friday January 8th, T.J. took me to Red Robin for dinner. While we were waiting to be seated, we walked through mall (I bought an amazing down coat–another awesome thing from the night) and when we were in Gap, I saw T.J.’s feet dancing in the dressing room and heard him snapping and singing. I asked him,
“T, are you dancing?”
“Uh… yeah… I just had a good day at work.” (Really he was excited for the rest of the evening.)
Strange, but that’s why I love him.
I was pretty tired after dinner so we just went home for a while and watched The Office. All night he talked about how he wanted to go to Chili’s to get our favorite lava cake dessert. I was kind of confused why we would go to another restaurant that night, especially after eating a lot of dinner, but he was so persistent. He just said he was craving it and so I went along.
When we got to Chili’s, we ordered and he left to go the restroom (he actually went and arranged with the waiter what he wanted to happen). When our cake came out, there was a note addressed to me. I looked around thinking someone “sent me a note” like a mormon version of “sending over a drink” or something flirtatious like that. Then I looked at T.J. and asked,
“Wait, is this from you.”
He nodded. I opened it up and thought he was just being cute like normal. Sometimes he writes me notes and poems, so I didn’t think anything was up.
There was a poem inside (his Grandpa used it to propose as well), but I couldn’t finish reading because I noticed T.J. reaching in his coat pocket.
“T.J. what are you doing? WHAT are you doing?!?”
He didn’t say anything back, he just nervously smiled, eyes wide, eyebrows raised.
Kneeling down on one knee, he asked if I would marry him… Or something like that, we don’t really remember the wording. And I don’t remember if I said yes right away, I just met him on the ground, kissed and hugged him.
We were so excited/anxious/nervous to eat our cake. I couldn’t get the fork to my mouth without making a mess.
Anyway, it was great. I was completely surprised and loved how it was out of the blue and random. Oh and he arranged with his coworker, Abby, so she could take pictures of the whole thing. I didn’t even realize she was there until after he proposed!
This is Jana and Billy.
They are T.J.’s and my idols. We don’t actually know them, but we think they are the cutest and trendiest couple ever.
When we were engaged, we compared everything we did to them. We even tried to reserve the art gallery they had their reception at, but unfortunately it closed down. I wanted her dress, her shoes, her hair. T.J. wanted his suit, his shoes, his sockless feet. I know it is tacky to copy others, but if you’re gonna copy someone, it might as well be them.
We didn’t actually end up copying anything that they did, but we still say things like, “Oh that is so Jana.” We probably sound like stalkers, but I promise it’s nothing too weird, we just adore their style.
Anyway, when I met T.J. at his office today, he walked out with his pants rolled up. Seeing that it hadn’t flooded today, I had to ask him why the heck he did that.
“I’m Billy!”
Oh my gosh, T.J. is so precious. He was so excited to show me his fashion statement. Now, I do not want to say anything negative about my husband. But I will just say, I may or may not have begged him to roll them back down before we went outside.
That is all.
When you aren’t dating, going to a new ward at church is great. I would try to meet people and get to know everyone’s names. I’d scope out the boys and try to get asked out on dates.
When you are dating/engaged, it’s a little less enthralling. Last year I only got to know a few girls in my ward, and only knew the names of my home teachers.
When you’re a newlywed, going to a new ward is a new experience. Suddenly, the social scene doesn’t play a big part anymore, because you have your best friend and husband right next to you. Trying to get to know a whole ward seems tiring and useless… at first.
But I’m sick of not knowing anyone! I hate not having people sit by in Relief Society. I mean I introduce myself to people and everyone is friendly, but as soon as the meeting is over, we go our separate ways.
My favorite thing in college used to be going to a new ward and meeting everyone, attending activities, and having parties. Why does all of that fun have to end when you get married??
Answer: It doesn’t have to and I won’t let it!
So last night, in effort to make new friends and have fun as a married couple, we invited a girl in our ward over. My darling friend’s husband is away for a year in the National Guard. We pretty much became instant friends through Facebook and blogging and I’ve been dying to hang out with her. Then, I asked her to bring any couple she knew from the ward over as well, so we could get to know a few other people.
I made homemade enchiladas (thank you, Betty Crocker), spanish rice, and a fruit salad. I was so excited to finally use our Fiesta yellow plates and fruit dishes. I just love being the host and throwing a dinner party. When you have people to cook for, it is so much more fun! But sometimes when I am cooking for two, I don’t have too much motivation. Anyway, dinner was great and it was fun to get to know our new friends. It was nice to talk to people that were in the same situations as us, and to hear their stories and relate to them.
T.J. and I decided we want to do this at least once a month, so we get to know more people in the ward (and so I have someone to sit by in RS). So, let me know if you want to come over and we’ll get the party started!
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