Eighteen Reasons I'm Grateful to Be an Aunt

I have been an aunt since I was ten years old.

It's been a marvelous ten years. Finding myself in the position of child number eight, I've been able to enjoy numerous child watching and playing experiences. Over the years I've had lots of chances to  periodically hold babies and change diapers and make train sets and have the most delightful conversations on topics like panacles and monsters.

It makes me feel extraordinarily lucky to interact with so many little people making their way in the world with the guidance of wonderful parents. And I've learned so much and received so much pleasure as I've seen them interact with each other. It just makes me grateful in general. But there are 18 specific reasons that come immediately to mind.

So here are the 18 reasons I'm grateful to be an aunt.

1. William


2. Joseph

3. Michael


 4. Isabelle


 5. Rose

 6. Isaac


 7. Emmanual




 8. Claire


9. Marie




 10. Oliver
 

 11. Peter



 12. Walter

(Photo credit to Leah and Shane)

13. Jacob

14.Charles

15. Lilly

16. James

17. Eve

18. Every single addition to our family to come soon and far in the future, going on
 forever

Deferment

I have officially deferred from BYU. They have recognized my application for mission deferment and will give me back the full-time student status in two years. We're getting this show on the road!

Lillies and Shopping

Shana is the best deal finder and fashion consultant, so it makes sense that I would enlist her to help me accomplish the tricky task of shopping for missionary clothing. We went for our first round of shopping yesterday and the task, which I assumed would be extremely challenging, was a whole lot simpler than I expected. And that is pretty much because Shana is the bestest.

Anyway, we were finding deals left and right, but the catch of the day was by far the boots. Because I'll be spending the next two springs and winters in Salt Lake, a good pair of boots is imperative. After all, in that part of the state it can potentially be very chilly and from October-June there's a risk of snow and slush. The list of items needed describes the boots very specifically and at Nordstrom's Rack we found several pairs that qualified in a general sort of way. However, Shana found what she felt were the perfect boots: black leather, with thick rubber soles, great arch support, sheep skin lining, and made just dressy enough by low heels. I wasn't sold on them though. Like a lot of items produced by Uggs & Co., there were little details that made them a bit showier than I liked, e.g. gold colored zipper in the back, little silver nails around the tip of the boot that look like rhinestones (apparently they're supposed to show the boot is "well-made"), and the brown rather than black heel. Shana pointed out that the good attributes far outweighed the negative and she assured me that the $170 I would be spending for these originally $600 boots was well worth it. It wasn't too difficult to convince me of the beauty of the bargain. So we proceeded to make the largest single purchase of my life (yup). The cashier rang up the boots last and to both of our surprise $0.01 appeared on the screen. We paused, and then she announced, after scanning it again with the same result, the company policy was that they must sell all items for the price that comes up when they're scanned. So... I basically got a pair of  $600 boots, made in Italy, for one hard earned penny.

Fancy Schmancy

It is probably no surprise that funding has been my biggest worry about the mission from the very beginning of the decision process, and not just what needs to be paid while I'm in the field, but everything I have to buy before I even go. But everything has been falling perfectly into place, and this latest tender mercy has made Christ's Sermon on the Mount very real.

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

(Matthew 6:28-30, 34)

I hope they call me on a mission

I Know a Name

Whether you call him Father, or Dad, or Daddy, or Papa, or Pop, or OTP, or Boompa, or Grandpa, he's still just as sweet.

Happy Father's Day!

A Little Sentimentality

1 a.m. in the girls' German House apartments was always lively—a time when creativity and levity were at their peaks. Our whiteboard and quote wall were witnesses to that. Although I was known for mixing up words, which put me on the quote wall unfortunately frequently, there's nothing really worth remembering from that particular memorial of our evening apartment bonding. However, I was looking through photos I took this last year and I came across a collection of poor quality photographs. They are photos of the caricatures I drew on the whiteboard of all the roommates 10 years from that point. Although the board was ever changing, these portraits had the longest stint up there, even longer than the fruit representation of ourselves. (I am not responsible for these.)

 

 These were my one shot at artwork last year, so I've decided to share them as it is almost two months since the dissolution of our little German House family. 

In fond memory of the apartment 350 during Fall 2012.

From Left to Right: Lizzy, Shelby, Cheyann, Ary, Kari, Lauren

Liebe

I love....

dancing in the rain.

 

the German house.

fun, kind, lovely roommates.

crazy, enjoyable, alcohol free parties for every occasion in the social apartment (AKA our apartment).

being silly.

This semester has been good and blessed. The last final has been taken. The airplane ticket has been purchased. The housing contract has been sold. The boxes are empty and ready to be packed. The tears are waiting to be shed. 

Life is good. I love it.

Geld

Now, this quip does not reflect my actual hopes and dreams, and "demotivational" posters are usually a little more sarcastic than I like; however, I found this amusing. It is particularly applicable to my BYU acquaintances, many of whom seriously seem to want to challenge the old adage, "money can't buy everything." There is a relatively large population of students here who simply want to become rich. Wealth is their life goal. It's caused all sorts of "interesting" discussions and arguments recently. I find this depressing on so many levels. But I guess we all have our weaknesses. 

The Butterscotch Brownies I made yesterday were one of mine. That weakness was, however, consumed by  me and roommates & Co. while we watched Sabrina during the later hours of the day. It's a weakness I was sorry to be rid of. Epiphany! I now have sympathy for the aspiring wealthy...as long as they don't have a desire to date me.

Gesundheit

Forewarning: this may very well be sappy.

Well my wonderful MLK day weekend ended with an ear infection that has confined me to bed for almost the entire day, and I will most likely bask on the couch all of tomorrow as well, if not Thursday too. It's odd to be missing classes so early in the semester, but I've emailed all of my instructors and my boss and even the professor with a "you may never miss class ever, unless you want it to hurt your grade" policy has let me know that this absence will not count against me.

So what does one do as a sick college student? Especially when one is a sick college student who has always been loathed to ask anyone for help. And I mean anyone.

I've been ill many times since coming out to BYU; it's my body's usual reaction to sleep deprivation and mental and emotional stress. However, this is by far the most painful malady I've ever had while living away from home; I'm really quite sick. I have difficulty eating, laughing, smiling, and talking. I can't even read for very long without getting exhausted. As I sensed the pain in my ear and the fever increasing, I thought of all things I would be experiencing at home under the same circumstances. Loads of pity, someone willing to read to me or to play with my hair, people to be around, food prepared for me, a father and many brothers (plus home teachers and family friends) who would give me a blessing and good advice at the drop of a dime: I would be in the lap of luxury, resting in as much comfort as a sick person can expect to be in. And I'd be missing out on all of that.

But ironically it has been the most relaxed sickness I've had. It could be that I'm just too incoherent to be stressing out, although I really don't have too heavy a work load right now and I've been getting sleep (...believe it or not Mom, I've gotten mostly enough sleep, especially now). However, what's really made the difference is that my roommates have been full of concern, offering and giving help and sincere sympathy for my plight. Many of my fellow German housers have already given me a lot of assistance and encouragement with the insistence that I let them know if I need anything more. I'm surrounded by some really excellent men, who are ready and willing to exercise the priesthood on my behalf. I even had one friend offer to give me a back massage and to read to me. Although I declined said offers, I was grateful for her willingness to provide those services.

So what does a sick student do at BYU? She just tries to be as grateful as possible. God always puts the nicest people in my path.