iPhoto

I just figured out how to work iPhoto, and I LOVE IT! Let me show you some of what I have been doing with it.

Before                                                                       

                   

                                                                       

   

Comments

So, as most of you probably noticed, our blog doesn't give the option to leave comments. I'm not trying to tell everyone "You are not worthy of commenting on us!" (Just in case anyone was offended.) It's broken. However, we do have email, phones, facebook, and if you are desperate enough, come see us to tell us what you thought about our posts! Meanwhile, I'll do my darndest to get the comments back up. Just for reference, the way the score stands at this point is: Blog:10 Stephanie: -5. (Yes, I did lose points to a mindless website.)

Obituary, Ipods, and The Question of Reality

On September 3, 2009, we regret to inform you that our Dell passed away peacefully in the night, surrounded by its friends, the TV, phone, and Wii. It is debatably survived by the now zombie virus-filled Toshiba, and will be missed by all those who loved it.

Seriously, though, our Dell TOTALLY died! It's battery reached the end of its life, so it couldn't charge anymore. This caused the power supply to become overworked and short out. So now, the computer has the limited functionality of lying on the floor as a flat surface to put drinks on. This would have been fine, since we have another laptop, except for the fact that my laptop has been used irresponsibly by yours truly. Now my laptop is your average zombie, attempting to eat the brains of other computers whenever it is allowed to access the internet. The virus it has also likes downloading its other virus friends, making the computer become less and less useful.

We talked it over, and since Daniel ABSOLUTELY needs his own laptop for school, decided to get a new laptop. So we looked up prices of laptops, and decided it would be worth it to just get a new one from the BYU bookstore. Daniel had wanted to get a cheaper PC, and I wanted a Mac. Realizing he is the one in school, and needing a computer more than me, I made my opinion known, but also tried to emphasize that the computer is mostly for him until I go back to school. Ultimately, we decided on the cheaper PC.

We went up to campus today before Daniel had to go to class to pick up the computer. When we got there, the guy working there told us they were completely SOLD OUT! I thought we would just go home and order one online at that point, but to my HUGE surprise, Daniel looked at me and said, "Want to look at the Mac?" What?? My penny-pinching, money-hoarding tightwad husband (Love you, honey!) ACTUALLY suggessted we look at an expensive Mac? Granted, we did get a nice grant for this semester, so we could technically afford a nice computer, BUT STILL! So we looked at the Mac, but Daniel needed to go to class, so we decided to decide on it after class.

Here I'm going to go off on a tangent for a second, since it's kind of funny and eventually ties back in. I'd opted to stay on campus and hang out while he was in class, so after he left, I went to the food court and got myself some tater tots. I sat down by myself, and as I contemplated the meaning of fry sauce and people with blond hair, I see this guy in a green shirt. I'll look like a terrible wife for saying this, but my first thought was "That guy looks good in green." Then I realized it was Daniel! To which I thought "MY guy looks good in green!" Followed by a brief moment of confusion. Didn't he just go to class? It turned out, he thought his class started an hour earlier than it really did, so we got to hang out for an extra hour.

He sat down next to me, and we shared my tots. As we ate, we talked about the computer situation, and we got into a loud, chair-throwing argument about it! Just kidding. I felt quite grown up since we both talked about the pros and cons of getting the mac, and finally, Daniel brought up the point that when I go back to school, it will be for design, so the Mac would probably be a better computer in the long run. I couldn't argue that, and since we had agreed we could afford it, we headed back to the bookstore to get the Mac. The floor worker told us the deals with getting the Mac: a free iPod and printer. I'm horribly vain, so I perked up at the words "free" and "ipod." Since we're both clumsy, we dropped the printer we have, and so Daniel perked up at "Free", "working," and "printer." At that point we were hooked! SO hooked, that when we found out the one we had agreed on was sold out, we agreed on getting a more expensive one! At that point, I was about to say no, but like I said, we were hooked. Anyway, as we're about to sell our firstborn child as payment for the computer, one of the managers came up to us, and told us he'd give us the computer on display, since it was the last one of the model we had wanted. With the idea of keeping our firstborn child as well as some cash, we jumped on that idea. So after they re-imaged it to be a new computer again, we suddenly had a MacBook, a new printer, and an iPod!

Okay, so now I'm waiting for Daniel to get home from work, and have started to wonder if this all really happened, or if I recently had a massive nervous breakdown and am now living in some kind of catatonic fantasy world. Really, that's what I wanted to get to. I think my sanity has been compromised. If I really did have a nervous breakdown, could someone tell my catatonic real self they love me? If not, Sweet! Free iPod!

Serious Post

(Just a note: This isn't us announcing anything. I'm totally not pregnant, and I don't want anyone to incorrectly assume so.)


I am approaching a point in my life which I have been either trying to rush or avoid for the past year. I've been acting out of terror, knowing that this moment has to come, but afraid of what will happen when it does. I've tried rushing it, trying to get it over with, or I've tried hiding from it, never wanting to face it. The moment has finally come, and all I can do at this time is flow with it, and wait for whatever comes next. Right now, the most terrifying thing to me is making all of this public. I'm tearing down walls I built to keep myself safe. To make things right, though, I have to let someone in. I have to talk, and I don't know how to be as honest and open as possible any other way. Maybe this is dumb, but it feels right.

The moment I have been anticipating has come. I've waited over a year for it, never knowing exactly when it would happen, but knowing it would. I wasn't even sure what exactly it would be. I just knew it would be from the Lord, somehow. Something would be set into motion, and I would be involved in it. It seems so simple, now that it's here.

It began Saturday night. Daniel and I were talking about our short-term plans, and he gently reminded me that as I am not working right now, it may be hard for my emotional health this semester. (Yes, I finally quit. It felt right and necessary to quit my job at NuSkin.) I realized the truth in his words, and thought about what would make my life have more meaning this semester. I don't have kids, so I wouldn't be able to wrap my life around them like I had planned on doing by now. I remembered that I felt most whole when I was in Young Women and would help organize and participate in service projects. I looked up United Way to see what I could do for them, and decided on making and donating a quilt to a program designed for At-Risk Youth. Since my quilt-making skills are far below average, it takes me quite some time to get my quilts right. Based on this, I figured I could get one done by Christmas, and donate it as a Christmas present.

Last night, our home teachers came over, and shared a lesson with us which brought to my mind an experience, the details of which I will not share at this time. What I will share from this experience is that the Lord heard the prayer of me as a small child when I only had the simple faith of a small child. He didn't have to, and could have let the consequenses of what was happening continue. He did hear me though, and this reminded me that he doesn't forget me. I sometimes forget him.

Today I got the supplies for my quilt, and began working on the blanket. As I cut the fabric and shaped the blocks, I had ample time to think. Since I was keeping busy, I wasn't able to dwell on much, which was a blessing to me. At unpredictable times as I felt a twinge of guilt, thinking of some of the things I have said or done, which at the time seemed harmless, but looking back, realized I had said or done something which may have been considered rude. The worst ones were when I realized I had good intentions, but didn't listen to the Spirit, so ended up hurting the ones I was trying to help. Like I said, I was busy, so didnt dwell on these experiences too much.

Before Daniel went to bed tonight, we were talking, and I realized that I have been placing my life on hold, actually, a better phrase would be that I haven't been living my life, waiting to have a baby. In waiting for this, and being consistantly dissappointed, I haven't been enjoying anything in my life that the Lord has blessed me with. I realized all of this, and came to the conclusion that I need to stop waiting for this event that just isn't happening. It's time to stop letting myself hurt so deeply over my loss, and stop wasting the precious days I have on this earth. In all of this, I don't feel a sense of obligation to do any of this. Instead, I feel the river of peace which, for me, means it is time to go and do.

At this time, it is so simple. It is time to get up, and listen to the promptings of the spirit as I do what the Lord requires. I could run and try to hide, but this isn't the time to do so. I could say "no," but that would not be right. What I will do is flow with this river of peace I feel, and let it take me wherever it will.

Epiphany

I was reading a book just now, and in it, one of the characters talked about the concept of immortality. The way he phrased it was like this, "Can you imagine never dying? Never fading? Existing, as you are, for all time?"

I always understood simply being immortal as a step down from having eternal life, but never understanding why, exactly. I guess I thought that being simply immortal had the disadvantage of not being with the Lord. In a sudden moment, while I was reading, I came to understand that being simply immortal means I'm in this state, undying, forever. Of course, in the Resurrection, the world will most likely be a much different place, but at that point I will not have progressed or have further opportunity to grow. I will live forever at that point, but, being without the Lord, my existence would mean almost infinitely less than if I had obtained eternal life.

Perhaps that's why it's phrased "eternal life." It is an eternity of purpose and meaning, therefore an eternity of life, rather than just an eternity of existence. For quite some time, I've struggled with the idea of existing vs. living. We can exist without living a day of our lives. We can exist, intentionally or not, without purpose and meaning in our lives, denying ourselves the joy we would otherwise feel. That purpose which brings us joy and sorrow is what causes us to live rather than to simply exist. I think I'm finally beginning to understand...

More Gold's Gym

Okay, to update on this fiasco, I finally ended up driving to the cooperate office, where they told me it would be impossible to cancel my current membership. As a consolation, they had me sign something that says I dont want to continue my membership after the contract is up. (Oh, and they normally charge $5 for it, but she said she wouldnt have me pay.) On top of that, they said my account was delinquant! Way to kill my credit without contacting me at all...I fixed that issue, so hopefully in 3 months Golds Gym will be a distant memory to my poor checking account.

I HATE GOLD'S GYM!!!!

Just so EVERYONE knows, GOLDS GYM IS EVIL! I've been trying to cancel my membership, but they REFUSE to answer the phone, and last time I tried, after being on hold FOREVER, someone picked up the phone, was talking to someone else in the office, AND HUNG UP! They didnt even talk to me! The first time I tried, they said it was impossible to cancel my membership! If you want to be gripped by the very chains of Satan as he laughs and pokes you in the eye, go to Golds Gym. If not, run like the dickens away from them!

2 years!

It has officially been 2 years since Daniel and I "officially" started dating. That's 24 months, so I am going to list 24 reasons why I thik he's cool.

24. He's a good cook. Like, I come home "too tired" *wink wink* to make dinner, so he makes it.

23. He always takes the stairs two steps at a time.

22. He has curly hair like me, which helps our chances at having cute curly-haired children

21. He speaks Spanish and English, which is WAY more than I speak. I still struggle with just English.

20. He says weird things in his sleep.

19. He's amazing with kids, and a sucker for little girls. (Just ask Kyla and Mimi.)



18. He gets me to do things I wouldn't normally do, like ride in a chairlift.

17. I get him to do things he wouldn't normally do, like allow me to cling so tight to his arm he loses circulation while riding on said chair lift (notice my terrified expression while smiling)



16. He's my favorite shoe shopping buddy

15. He has a cool scar that makes little kids stare silently at his arm for prolonged periods of time.

14. He's good at proposing to me



13. He can sleep through the fireworks on the 4th of July

12. He's generally very easy to get along with, no matter who you are.

11. He took me to Monsters vs. Aliens 3 times! And didnt even really want to go once!

10. He looks good in a tux

9. And is very silly



8. He loves his family

7. He doesn't yell at me. Ever.

6. He has good insites when it comes to scriptures

5. And makes sure we have couple scriptures and prayer every night

4. He's good at just about everything

3. He noticed me a year before we started dating

2. He holds and honors the priesthood

1. He took me to the temple and now we get to be together forever!




I know, I know. I talk about my husband a lot. He is just really cool!

The Office

I'm not sure who all watches The Office, but I'm totally buzzing about the season finale! I DID NOT expect that! (Sorta jelous of Jim and Pam, but I'll someday get over it.)WOW!

Monday, Monday

Today, I had a pretty remarkable experience I'd like to share.

Before I went to work today, I was not feeling well emotionally. Had I had even the slightest sign of a headache or stomachache, I would have gladly called in sick. I felt very terrified of going to work. I couldn't figure out why I was so upset and worried about work. I guess kept thinking people were out to get me and I kept imagining the constant criticisms I would receive while at work. I did not feel safe, and I was almost in tears by the time I got in the car to drive to work.

I realized I had been so nervous, I had forgotten to eat, so on the way to work, I stopped at Hogi Yogi, thinking that MAYBE I could keep down some ice cream. While pulling in to the parking lot, I said a very small, humble prayer, asking for the strength to get through the day, for the wisdom to know what to say to my customers, and for help in general, since I knew I could not get through the day by myself.

On my first call, I noticed my voice sounded much braver and much more confident than I actually felt. I remembered things about one of the new programs the company is launching, and I had forgotten to read through the manual before going in today. I was able to more effectively explain policies to customers who were not familiar with them, and I took little notice of the hostility some customers had toward me after enforcing these policies. The Lord answered my prayer, and provided me with much more than I had even asked for to begin with. Based on how I was feeling before work, there was no way I could have gotten through the day without having a complete meltdown. I just wanted to get through the day and go home, but the Lord gave me enough resources to not only get through the day, he helped me enjoy the day. Instead of worrying about the customers who were upset with me, I was able to gladly accept the gratitude from the individuals I had actually helped. For example, I walked a woman through placing an order online. This sweet lady didn't even know how to type the web address into the address bar, but learned quickly and was a pleasure to talk to. After she successfully placed her first online order, she thanked me so wholeheartedly that I spent the next half hour just smiling and happy. This was far beyond anything I had asked the Lord for or even expected. I'm very thankful He was watching out for me and made my day more than just bearable, even though that is what I asked for.

Me and my Daniel

I haven't posted anything in a while. It's not entirely my fault; I see blogs as a place to brag about one's kids, and, as it stands now, we don't have kids and our hopes aren't too high on that one right now.

Saturday marks our 1 year anniversary. I've been taking some time to contemplate who I was a year ago compared to now. I was younger, and for the first time in my life, had found out exactly who I was and why I am here. On my wedding day, I saw promises given in my Patriarchal blessing fulfilled. In the temple, I can vividly remember the way Daniel looked at me, and the way I felt about him. I realized that the Lord had brought us together. A verse from scripture came to my mind, "What God hath put together, let no man put asunder." At that time, I understood my purpose in life. I realized that my place in life was next to my husband as a partner and comfort to him. Some might criticise what I discovered. I am a bit saddened to know that these kinds of people don't see things as I do.

From the time we met, and in some instances before, there was always something special about me to him and him to me. My very first memory of my husband took place when I was a Beehive in Young Women and he was in Priest's Quorum. We were at a combined YM/YW activity at the indoor pool in Winnemucca. We were playing some water game, where one team was trying to keep the ball from another. Somehow, my scrawny, non-athletic, beehive self got stuck guarding Benjamin's athletic (and since he was in High School, obviously cool) older brother. Needless to say, I was intimidated. I remember someone trying to pass the ball to either me or Daniel (who knows?) and I saw that I could catch the ball if I jumped! So I jumped, reached up for the ball, and it stayed in the air...Daniel, using his tall-powers, had reached over me and caught the ball himself. I was SO mad and embarrassed that I quietly got out of the pool and called my mom to take me home.

The next memory I have of him was when I was a Senior in High School, and Daniel had just gotten home from his mission. My seminary teacher had him come talk to the class about his mission. I remember listening to him as he spoke, thinking, "wow! He's actually really cool!" (I find it interesting that all I really remember about that particular morning was how Daniel was excited about investing the money left over from before his mission.) In a slight twist of irony, I also remember thinking, "I would really like to go on a date with him. Whoa, Stephanie, he just got home from his mission. You're in high school, still. Don't even let yourself go there." It turns out he was thinking similar things about me.

A few days after that, a friend and I went to visit the grave of a friend who had died a couple years before. While we were there, who should show up but this increasingly intriguing man? Out of no where, Daniel came walking up to us, and he and I had a real conversation. Even then, his sweet demeanor and wonderful personality made me feel safe. I think that was the first of many times he made me smile.

A few months later, I got in a pretty bad car accident. After we were married, Daniel told me that when he heard about this, he was worried about me, but he didn't know why since we barely even knew each other.

Then I went to college for the first time. Daniel says that the Sunday before I moved to Idaho is when he first really noticed me. I shared my testimony with the ward, and he says that it was my testimony that made me stand out from the crowd. Then I moved, each of us thinking the other would find someone else.

I didn't even think about him again until he asked me out on our first date. At the time, I was living with my parents in Winnemucca again. If it weren't for our moms, that date would never have happened. He called, I was in a bad mood and didn't answer the phone. (as it was ringing, I remember thinking, "Ugg! It's never for me, and of course it wouldn't be a guy asking me on a date! Someone else can get it!") No one else did, and Daniel didn't leave a message. When my mom got home from work, she looked at the caller ID, rushed into my bedroom, and said, "Stephanie! The Gibsons called! You have to call them back!"

Figuring my mom was nuts, I said, "No."

"Steph, you should really call them back."

At the time, Tawnja was our Relief Society President, so I angrily replied, "Mom, it's probably just Sister Gibson wanting YOU to do something for Relief Society. YOU call them!"

Lo and behold, a few minutes later, my mom comes into my room saying, "Stephanie, it's for you," (To which I thought, "great. I get to do something for church..." Like I said, I was in a bad mood) and then followed with, "It's a boy!"

Before I could ask, "wait, what!?" She gave me the phone. Sadly, when I got the phone, as surprised as I was, my bad mood made me want to say, "If this is you asking me on a date, NO!" Thankfully, Daniel was so nervous his cute little voice was shaking on the phone. By this point, I'd developed a rule that I could only go on dates with shy, awkward guys, since they were less likely to lie to me. When I heard him try to sound composed and in control, I was, on the inside, giving a girly squeel. You know, the high-pitched, "AWWWWWWWW!!!!" There was no way I could say no to him. I'm glad I didn't say no. I'm also glad neither of us gave in to our fears about our relationship and called it quits.

It was when he first said "I love you," that I knew I wasn't letting go. He didn't say it out loud. (To be honest, I don't really remember the first time he said "I love you" out loud and knew that he meant it.) I was planning a trip back to Winnemucca to spend a weekend with my parents. The night before I left, we were outside my apartment, and were talking about my trip. I've always been pretty reckless, with limited care about what would happen to me if things went wrong. I saw how my actions could affect others, but when it came to keeping myself safe for no one else besides myself, I just wasn't able to see why. So as he and I talked about potential car crashes, and I joked around, not really caring what happened to me, Daniel looked at me with an expression I've not been able to describe, and said, "You need to live for you." In his eyes, I saw him say, "I love you. Please be safe." At that moment, the Spirit was there, confirming what felt I saw. On my trip, if I found myself speeding or driving carelessly, the spirit would whisper, "There's someone out there who loves you. Don't let his prayers be in vain." These thoughts prompted me to slow down and drive more carefully.

After a rocky courtship, we were engaged and finally married. He proved to me that it was possible to open my heart and to love. He proved to me that it was possible to be loved without needing to be anything else but myself. While being married, he has proven to me that love can last more than a few days. He has helped me see that I am not my parents. His love, in many ways, has saved my life. His pure devotion and absolute loyalty are things I thought no one could possibly possess. I'm a better person because of him. He and the Lord have raised me up to much more than I could ever have been alone. I love them very much.

Cool Skit

This skit is really deep and really cool. It wasn't done by an LDS group, but it still captures many concepts we believe in.

How We Sleep

I think today, I'll tell weird sleep stories.

Last night, we were both sound asleep, I was dreaming about work, and all of a sudden, my knee and hip totally locked up! It hurt like crazy! So I'm wimpering and groaning in pain, and Daniel wakes up in his half-awake daze, "What? What? Are you okay? Am I okay? What's going on?" while I'm in pain wondering why the phone number I was putting into the computer isn't going in. Also, I couldn't figure out why NuSkin turned off the lights in my building. I remember saying, "my hip hurts!" then it popped, stopped hurting, I said that my hip popped, and we both went back to sleep as if nothing had happened. Then I realized I wasn't at work.

Another night, Daniel was asleep, I came in to the room, he sat straight up looking confused, I asked him if he was okay, he said yes, sat there for a minute, then fell back on to his pillow.

Daniel came home from work one day to find me asleep on the couch. As he went into the kitchen, I started yelling at him for not setting up the ADR right! (The ADR is a weird program we have at work. It's convenient for everyone involved, but can be a total pain when it messes up.) Apparently I just talked to him about it and other nonsensical things for a while, got quiet, then woke up happy to see him.


We're weird when we sleep.

Daily Update Which is Increasingly Less "Daily"

So for today's supposed "Daily Update," let me start by saying, WINTER NEEDS TO DIE! I am SO tired of it being cold and paying the heating bill! Plus, there is seriously nothing to do during winter except stay inside and pretend it is warm.

Sorry, I just needed to vent that one first, otherwise it would keep leaking into this particular blog. We're doing good, Daniel is getting closer and closer to graduation, and I am looking forward to him working instead of me. Don't get me wrong, I like working, but I don't like the feeling of being stuck in a job I don't want to be at in 10 years. The job I have is great, but it's not what I want for the rest of my/his/our life/lives. (Yeah, didn't quite know how to phrase that.) For everyone dying for us to say, "we're pregnant!" Totally not the case, so please don't die. (Ha ha! I bet I tricked someone!)

Anyway, my short blog needs to end by saying, watch Four Gregs! It's full of random hilariousity, and the site itself is fun. If you haven't seen Homestar Runner before, start now. I love it.

http://homestarrunner.com/4gregs.html