Remember That Black Cloud?

This is pretty much what happened to me yesterday except it was on a busy intersection. I was the red car and the other car was an 83 year old man who shouldn't be driving! My mom had asked me to go pick up my sister Laura from home and bring her to the new house which is only a few minutes away. As I was heading back to my mom with Laura, I was going straight through an intersection and a car decided to turn left and I smoked right into them on the passenger side! The speed limit was 60 km/H so I hit them at a pretty good speed.

My first thought, "Is Laura okay?" She was. She bumped her knee and it was bleeding and she was a little shaken up, but she was okay.

My second thought, "*swear word* this is my mom's car!"

The police station was just down the street so they came pretty quick and I had to fill out a police report but obviously the other guy was at fault. He should NOT have been turning as I was going straight through the intersection! I just felt so bad that I had my sister in the car with me and that it was my mom's car. My mom was more concerned that we were alright but I still felt bad I wrecked it.

It was at lunch time on a pretty busy intersection so a lot of people we knew saw us there and it was right by the high school my brother goes to and all his friends were talking and pointing at it. Lovely! The important thing is that we were okay and I am very grateful that we were protected and that we were able to walk away from it!

Hopefully everything with insurance will get all worked out. As for me, I'm heading right to a chiropractor because I am in pAiN!

Big News

No I am not pregnant (for some reason that is what everyone first thinks). My mom got ENGAGED on Saturday to Grant Clayton!! He is a really great guy and has handled our family very well. She is so beyond excited and was flashing her ring (she calls it her "bling") all day! They have been dating for about a year now and have now decided to take it to the next level. There is no date yet but it will be this summer for sure. Brad had a lot to take in yesterday when he called for Mother's Day but I know he wants my mom to be happy! And happy she is!! Here are some pictures I took of them when they told us the news.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Life is funny. I felt like 2009 was such an up and down year that 2010 was going to be OUR year! January 4 I was laid off. Great start! And here I sit in April still looking for a job and losing my mind!

First I get really angry at my previous employer for letting me go but then remember that it really wasn't that great of a job and it required me to work weekends and holidays which I hated. Then I blame the economy for failing right when I graduate making it even more difficult to look for employment. Then I get mad at myself for staying home during a summer semester while my dad was in the hospital because if I had went to school like I was supposed, I would have graduated sooner and had a better economy to deal with. This thought enters and exits pretty quickly though as I would never give that summer up for anything.

The point is, I can find blame at some point in years past which seems ridiculous but I do it. I guess its because my family has always joked that a black cloud has always followed us and that joke just isn't funny anymore. It's getting more challenging to be happy for those around me who are announcing good news of pregnancy's, home purchases, dream jobs, vacations and other great things. At times, I feel like I am being left behind and that their lives are moving forward and mine has been going backwards. I think it's because I try to control everything and I have made countless lists of goals, time lines, and things that I want that haven't happened yet and I don't know how to make them happen. And I think it's because I always think I'm older then I actually am because my whole life I hung around people who were older than me that eventually I just assumed I was that age too. People always say that it always gets bad before it gets better and that everything happens for a reason, but I feel like I'm still waiting for those blessings??

I know I need to suck it up and count the many blessings that I do have in my life. I know I need to have patience and know that I do have a purpose. I truly am grateful for this church in my life and for my amazing family and friends who I know love and care about me. And I am SO thankful for Austin. That man puts up with so much from me and still loves me!

Life is funny. I`m going to try really hard to make lemonade :)

Two Years And Counting...

Austin and I have now been married for two years! We celebrated our anniversary this past weekend by going up to Banff. It was lovely! The weather was perfect and it was so nice to get away for a weekend. We are so lucky to live so close to a beautiful place in the mountains!

Walking Downtown

Heading out to dinner

Beautiful flowers Austin got me

I'm so glad we were able to celebrate and I can't believe it's been two years! I'm excited what the next year will bring us!

Minute To Win It

There's a new show on called Minute To Win It where contestants perform ten tasks to win a million dollars. Most of the tasks involve household items so we did what anyone watching the show would do...see if we could do it!

Johnny Applestack: Contestant must stack five apples one on top of the other. Once completed, the structure must remain freestanding for three seconds.

Don't Blow the Joker: A standard deck of playing cards is balanced on top of the neck of a glass soda bottle. Contestant must use his/her mouth to blow the cards off the bottle. However, the bottom card must remain balanced on the bottle

The cards one is really tricky!! Can't wait to see what next week's episode brings...

Cake?

Over the weekend, Austin and I were heading to our friends house (Jason & Suzanne) and I had brought some cookies with me. As we were waiting for them to let us in, I noticed that the cookie container and the way I wrapped them looked kind of like a cake. I mentioned this to Austin and he broke into this song...

"If I knew you were coming, I'd a baked a cake, baked a cake, baked a cake. Oh, if I knew you were coming, I'd a baked a cake..."

After I got over the initial shock of this random song & dance, I burst out laughing asking him what that was? He then looked at ME like I was crazy because I had never heard that song! I then had him sing the song for Jason and Suzanne who also had never heard that song!

A couple days later we asked a couple of Austin's siblings if they knew the song because I assumed it was a "family song" or something. They didn't know it either so then Austin thought he made it up! Haha! Well, I found the song so if you have heard of this song, I would love for you to tell me about it!

Click Here --> IfIKnewYouWereComing...

EH O CANADA GO

The Olympics are my FAVORITE! I love everything about them! I LOVE the different events. I LOVE all the festivities. I LOVE watching all the athletes compete. I LOVE how so many countries come together to participate. It's so amazing to see. I'm in such awe of those athletes that have worked so hard to be the best they can be in their sport and see the passion that they have. Everytime someone wins a gold medal I tear up because you can see the joy beaming off their faces!

I especially love the Winter Olympics because it feels so close to home and this year the Olympics are at home! I've never been to Vancouver but I am thrilled the Olympics are being hosted there. I'm so excited for everything to begin so I can cheer on my country that I am so proud to be from.

The opening ceremonies last night were amazing! I thought they did such a great job and this poem was my favorite part. Enjoy...

We Are More

by Shane Koyczan

Define Canada

we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One

who inspired little number nines

and little number ninety-nines

but we're more than just hockey and fishing lines

off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes

and some say what defines us

is something as simple as please and thank you

and as for you're welcome

well we say that too

but we are more

than genteel or civilized

we are an idea in the process

of being realized

we are young

we are cultures strung together

then woven into a tapestry

and the design

is what makes us more

than the sum total of our history

we are an experiment going right for a change

with influences that range from a to zed

and yes we say zed instead of zee

we are the brightness of Chinatown and the laughter of Little Italy

we dream so big that there are those

who would call our ambition an industry

we are vineyards of good year after good year

we reforest what we clear

because we believe in generations beyond our own

knowing now that so many of us

have grown past what used to be

we can stand here today

filled with all the hope people have

when they say things like "someday"

because we are more

than a laundry list of things to do and places to see

we are more than hills to ski

or countryside ponds to skate

we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait

we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes

a country that is all the ways you choose to live

a nation that can give you variety

because we are choices

we are millions upon millions of voices shouting

" keep exploring... we are more"

we are the surprise the world has in store for you

it's true

Canada is the "what" in "what's new?"

so don't let your luggage define your travels

each life unravels differently

and experiences are what make up

the colours of our tapestry

we are the true north

strong and free

and what's more

is that we didn't just say it

we made it be.

AbOuT TiMe!

My best friend Ashley Costley comes home tomorrow from her mission and I can't even tell you how EXCITED I am!!!!!!!!



I usually feel like time flies when my friends are on missions, but not this time! I had such a hard time with not being able to talk to Ashley on a regular basis and be able to hang out with her. She was one of the girls I met on my very first day at BYU Idaho and were friends for the years to follow. We first lived across the hall from each other and then later became roommates and now I honestly feel like she is part of my family. We have traveled to places like Nauvoo, Tennessee and had many road trips to Canada and Phoenix! We even joined French Choir one semester for extra credit! (So random!) She was there for me whenever I needed her and when I got called to be Relief Society President, you bet I put her as my first counselor and wouldn't have been been able to do my calling otherwise. She was living in Calgary with my family while she was doing her internship and unfortunately it was during a difficult time for my family. She was there when my dad passed away and I could not have survived without her there! I was so glad to have her and Remi there for my wedding and that we were both able to go to Remi's wedding a few months later. She has been gone for 18 LONG months and I am so proud of the work she accomplished on her mission. I was not the best writer, I think because I would get so frustrated having to explain everything in a letter. She has always been such an amazing example to me and she is the funniest, kindest, most amazing person I know! I'm so grateful to have her friendship in my life and again I am SOO excited for her to be home!

New Toy

I love my new camera. More blogging to come...

SYTYCD THOUGHTS

I have been a HUGE fan of So You Think You Can Dance since day 1. Fan might even be too soft of a word. Obsessed would probably be more accurate! Since I have been watching the show since Season 1, I feel my knowledge and terminology for the dance world has increased. I have even become obsessed with certain choreographers and have developed the talent to know who the choreographer is by just watching the dance routine. I watch the contestants beginning at their auditions and follow them through to the performance show at which point, I feel like I know them personally and get emotionally attached to my favorites. I love pointing them out in movies or television shows or even as back-up dancers during performances. (Janet Jackson's tribute to Michael at the VMA's AMAZING and filled with all my favorite choreographers!!) It has been exciting to watch the show get better and better and the talent get stronger and stronger but Season 2 will always be my favorite and Season 6, well, here are my frustrations with Season 6.

The first major change for Season 6 was that it was airing in the Fall instead of the usual Summer broadcast. I'm sure they make more money in the Fall but I think this change caused them to make too many alternatives. One was having three permanent judges. It was bad enough that in Season 3 Mary Murphy was a permanent judge but at least we still had different choreographers come on every week. It was a different perspective and some people I like more than others so it worked out. Now they have Adam Shankman, who I actually used to be a fan of but now it is so lame to watch the same judges every week and give the same comments. I don't like it. (My all time favorite judge to comment...Tyce Diorio)

Another change was how they introduced the Top 20. Before the competition began they had the Top 20 dancers come on and show their talent in their own genre. I actually thought this was an excellent idea because you were able to see the dancers strengths right off the bat. Then, the first two weeks they did the performance show as per usual except because of the MLB Playoffs, the judges had to cut two dancers on the same night as the performance show. This made me mad because it is supposed to be America's Favorite Dancer and the judges just got rid of four people who might not necessarily have been voted out. I guess they did what they could but I didn't like it. Oh and this year they had 3 tap dancers make the Top 20 and no offense to anyone that does tap, but it was kind of annoying to have them on. (Nigel is a tap dancer so he was ecstatic) If they did their solo the music had to change and microphones in the floor were turned on and they weren't very good at anything else. They were gone in the first couple weeks!

The performance studio has definitely been getting nicer as the seasons went on, but this year they added a backdrop screen that can show images or different scenes on it. Originally, I liked it because it looked nice but then I realized it distracted from the dancing way too much! I want to see good dancing and a good performance but it turned too much into...well I actually don't know what it turned into, I just didn't like it.

Mia Michaels, one of the best choreographers on the show (Wade Robson being the other) decided to leave the show at the beginning of Season 6. It is really too bad because her routines were always amazing and I loved when she was a guest judge because she actually knew what she was talking about. It really felt like there was something missing this season, and it was MIA.

Somewhat of a continuation of my previous point, the choreographers didn't seem to be producing that great of routines. Season 2 there were 3 or 4 routines that were nominated for an Emmy and routines that I still search for on YouTube because they were that amazing. (Ramalama-BangBang) This year no routines stuck out to me. My favorite routines have usually been the group routines at the beginning of the results show, and I honestly cannot think of one I remember. Having said that, there has been some really good routines from Travis Wall and Sonya Tayeh the past couple of seasons.

Another change was that this season, they had 6 people in the finale where its usually the Top 4. I really don't know why they had a Top 6, it seems like too many but again I think it is because Christmas is next week so they had to end the show this week. Dumb. Which leads me into my final point...

The last performance show for the finale was WEAK! First off, it was only an hour long and they did have every contestant dance with each other like usual but they did not have an all girls number like usual or an all boys number like usual and they cut out a very important part of the show...the rehearsal footage! This is where you see the choreographer working with the couple and see the falls and actually see the personalities of the contestants! They took this footage out of the Top 10 episode too which I was quite upset about. I was really looking forward to seeing the footage of the cute married couple from Provo during their rehearsals! How adorable is that to be competing on the show with your spouse??? I love it and apparently a little too much. And to make matters worse, the dancers didn't even get a SOLO!!!! Are you kidding me?? How are we supposed to vote (well, I actually can't vote here in Canada but I would if I could) on our favorite dancer if we don't get to see them showcase their individual talent. Oh I was mad! The finale is usually what I live for in the season and I was so disappointed in the performance show and even the results finale was lame too. They tried to fill it with performances of Leona Lewis (who just stood there...hello...its a dance show!) and Mary J Blige. Jennifer Lopez also performed, which I actually really liked BECAUSE, she used previous contestants as her back-up dancers! GREAT idea! Then because there were SIX people in the finale...it took forever to get to the winner, which I was REALLY happy about it! (CONGRATS Russell!) The weird part was though, that Russell injured himself early on in the show and so the remaining dances had to be old footage instead of live performances. The show must go on but kind of weird for a finale???

All things considered, I still love the show and I absolutely LOVE dancing. This just shows how passionate I am about it. Or does it show that I am out of my mind and have too much time on my hands at work?? (I can't believe how long this turned out to be...how embarrassing) Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed getting all of this off my chest as my dear husband is probably grateful that I didn't deliver this rant to him! Thanks for listening!