My Famous Person Encounter

So the other day I was at JoAnn's looking for some tote bags to give to our Primary teachers with their folders for the new year. Well I was walking about the store, when all of a sudden I saw a familiar face with a very familiar voice. I did a double take.

I thought, hmmmm, I know that person. Where do I know that person from? She looked at me and smiled as I tried to place where I knew her from. High School? No. Church? No. College? No.

And then it dawned on me, it was Brooke from American Idol. The cute little Mormom mom blondie. I about died!!!!

I went up to her and this is how our conversation went.

Me: You look totally familiar. When did you graduate?

Brooke: 2000

Me: Where did you go to high school?

Brooke: (confidential)

Me: Hmm. That isn't where I know you from. But you seriously look familiar. What stake are you in?

Brooke: ...... (confidential)

Me: Oh I know where I know you from. American Idol.

Brooke: (big smile)

Me: Yes. You are my biggest fan. I totally voted for you like EVERY week. You were so good. I can't believe Simon and Paula didn't think you were their total fave, and when you were voted off, I cried. I was so sad for you. Finally a cute little mormon mom with SOME PIPES and you didn't even win. How sad for you. What was it like meeting all those famous people? And seriously, Adam Lambert. Tell me about him!!!

Brooke: Yes people do recognize me because I am a little bit famous :). Simon and Paula were so great. Sometimes Simon was a little bit critical, like when I messed David Cook. He was awesome. His talent. Amazing. He could really put on a show. And David the other one....

Me: Wow that must have been soooo cool. So what is it like. Life after Idol. I mean what a rush. What a great and exciting time performing, going on tour, making CDs.

Brooke: Oh I do love being famous. It makes going out to places like JoAnn's with no makeup, a hat, and grungy clothes so much more fun. I try to figure out ways that people won't recognize me, but I do have a very distinctive voice. It is rare that people come up to me and aren't totally star struck or gawking. I don't mind it though.

Me: So are you like the Chorister at church? How are your kids and husband? What does your family think of all this? I bet it has been a rush. They must be so supportive.

Brooke: They are. Really.

Me: Wow, you sing, sew, and you play the piano. That is awesome. You are one amazing lady. What a great experience to have in your life to be a singer, to go on American Idol, to meet all those famous people and to be famous yourself. Wow. That is really cool. Oh btw, these are my girls. Aren't they adorable? Maybe someday your boys can date my girls and we could could be grandmas together. Or maybe we could just do lunch sometime. I always thought it would be fun to meet you. Ever since your audition, I just thought we would get along so good. And I was totally right, You are so easy to talk to. Well you have a nice day. I must be going now. :)

Ok I hope you got a kick out of that. The only part that was true was that I really did see her at JoAnn's, she was with her sisters and friend, and I was circling around the whole store trying not to yell at the top of my lungs that Brooke from American Idol was standing in line to get her fabric cut and would someone please HELP her? And then when I was done gawking, I went out to the parking lot to see what kind of car might be hers..... and then I wished that I had had my cell phone to call someone who cared or to take a picture from two isles away. :)

Anyway, just thought I would share.

Spirit of the Season

For the past few weeks I have really been trying to get into the Christmas season, but what I really want to do is curl up with a good book and a warm blanket and read my way through the holiday.

Last year it was really hard because it was Daxton's first Christmas in Heaven. However, we were surrounded by love and support and still in the "cocoon" of grief.

This year is a little different. It is his second year in Heaven. We have all the presents bought and wrapped and placed carefully under the Christmas tree. But something is missing. All the little boy toys, the cars, the trucks, the annoying bouncey balls and footballs, the tiny shoes and cute long sleeve button ups and polos.... all the things a little boy loves.

I look around at the little boys who are the same age as Daxton would be and sometimes my heart breaks into a million pieces. I know that it wasn't meant to be for Daxton to be here, but it doesn't make it any easier.

I have been to the store time and again, looking for the perfect flowers, the perfect item, the perfect arrangement to put on Daxton's grave. Alas, there is nothing good enough.

Last week on our long run we were just a mile away from where he lays. I wanted so badly to and run over to see him. But what I really want to do is put my arms around him, hold him, kiss him, squeeze him, feel his warm little body next to mine. Alas, it is not meant to be. Someday, just not today.

Tonight a friend asked me how I was doing this year. With Daxton gone. I am grateful for her. For her thoughtfulness. For remembering Daxton. And remembering it is hard.

Ode to the Torture!!!

Seriously.

Why oh why do my legs hurt?

Why oh why doest my booty hurt?

Why oh why can I barely standeth up?

Why oh why do I torture meself so?

I don't know.

But 18.5 miles? That deserves bragging rights.... but I don't even know if it is WORTH IT!!!!

I HURT FROM HEAD TO TOE AND BACK :)

Happy shopping. ONly a few more shopping days left!

This month is such a special one

This morning the girls crawled out of bed to get ready for school.

I said, "Do you know what today is?"

Mikenna says, "Gingerbread house making day!"

Savannah says, "Christmas!"

I say, "Kind of. It is Daddy's Birthday!"

And we all join in on the Happy Birthday song over Honey Comb cereal and combing of hair.

Today the love of my life is OLD. Like 33 or something. Who knows. After 30 why bother counting :).

Anywho. A big shout out to my husband who is my bestest friend, confidant, love, the one I live with, laugh with, cry with, get mad at, drag to the grocery store. The one who does my dishes, my mom's dishes. Folds my laundry (8 batches) AND puts it away. The one who loves me despite ALL my imperfections (albeit a few). I love you babe!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Isabella Break Dancing

Complements of my brothers.... who knows where they got their groove, but they decided to give Isabella some groove.

We used to do this with Daxton but sadly there isn't a video. So last weekend when my brother was home from Utah we made this video.

If it looks like Isabella is a little um well tired? It is because this was done at about 1130 pm. She was a trooper. But this is seriously HILARIOUS.

I am not smart enough to download this, but if you follow this link

CLICK HERE

You will be pleasantly entertained!!!!

FifTeEn MiLeS

Yes. 15 miles. I made it. I crazy. Who would EVER run 15 miles?

4 years ago when I ran the St. George Marathon I vowed that I would never do it again.... and here I am 4 years later. Eating. My. Words.

Sedona Marathon.... here I come!

Laughing at yourself

The last few days have been VERY looooonnnnnnnggggg. I will go into detail more about that later, but it consisted of very late nights, no early morning runs, scrapbooking, funeral planning, baby showers, bridal showers, and Christmas parties......

That being said, I was at the grocery store shopping for the said Christmas party and as I was paying, I ran my card through the credit card machine. I punched in my zip code and started to follow the directions.

I wanted cash back and the amounts shown were not what I wanted. So I selected "other."

This led me to the next screen where the options "$20" "$40" "$60" and "Oth" were shown. I looked up at the cashier and said (and I quote) "That is really funny twenty, fourty, sixty, and Zeroth. Huh."

He looked at me and using his serious-try-not-to-laugh-at-the-stupid-blonde-frumpy-mom-who-looked-like-she-had-been-through-a-car-wash face and said,

"Actually I think that means 'other'."

Oh dear. Time to go home, crawl into a nice warm bed, and go to sleep!!!!!!!!!!!

I seriously about peed my pants I was laughing so hard! Good thing I haven't had 5 C SECTIONS or I might have.

Good night!

Bubbles Always Pop

After a particularly hard day I was talking to a friend via text. I told her that I would like to just go back into my little bubble where nothing bad happened to anybody and everything seemed perfect. her comment to me was:

"Bubbles always pop."

Interesting choice of words. Got me to thinking. She is right. Bubbles do always pop. And so do balloons. If they get too big or too small or too hot or too cold or touched by an object too sharp. They always pop. There is no such thing as a non popping bubble :) Are you following me? or you totally lost?

Point is, there is no such thing as a little bubble to live in. It just isn't possible. We all experience trials that "pop" our bubble or stretch us or force us to learn and grow. It is what we call life. It is how we become better people.

We may not enjoy the popping or the stretching or the trial, but inevitable it will come. We will have to endure trials we don't want to. We will have to endure unpleasant experiences. For without them, how could we appreciate the opposite? The joy, the love, the good. We wouldn't know the bitter from the sweet if sometimes we didn't taste the bitter or the sweet.

The past few days have been filled with tragedy for many families. There are so many people so close to me enduring the most excruciatingly hard trials. And yet, they persevere. They carry on. Because if we fall apart every time life gets hard, well we would always be falling apart. And where is the fun in that?

Too bad the bubbles that pop are sometimes bitter and NOT full of chocolate. Would make the hard ones easier to swallow.