Friends: Kirstin

Kirstin and I met our sophomore year in college. There are so many things I love about Kirstin, that she probably doesn't know. This one's for you, Kirst! Haha!

I think a lot of people probably misunderstand Kirstin: maybe they see someone shy, or unapproachably fashionable. This is what I saw when I first met her our freshman year. She always looks like a million bucks, and did so even back then, and I remember being in awe of that. I remember thinking that she was quiet, and then wishing I were more like that, and less obnoxious. I think Kirstin has probably NEVER been obnoxious in her whole life.

But any initial shyness I thought I detected was quickly overcome when I saw how fun Kirst was (and IS!). She is always doing something creative and cultural, but it's more than that. When Kirst does something, she turns it into an event, and I LOVE that. Something as simple as a trip to the gas station to get slurpees, or a trip to the mall becomes an "outing". It isn't just a dollar movie, it's a dollar movie with a group of friends wearing matching argyle sweaters.

Then I learned that somehow she was able to have a crazy awesome social life, AND get straights A's and maintain a scholarship. (How are some people so good at life?) Not only that, but she's always checking out a foreign film, reading a classic novel, attending the symphony--she's not faking intelligence. She really is a well-rounded academic who loves the finer things!

One way her intelligence affected my life was in pure, constant, genius HUMOR. I can honestly say Kirstin is one of the funniest people I've ever met. Her observations about life, and about herself, can make me split my sides. I don't know how I would have gotten through college (particularly our junior year!) without her fantastic sense of humor.

I've already spoken about Kirstin's commitment to God and how that has deeply affected me, but I'll say it again. She has been a huge example of strength and sacrifice in my life. I don't know who I'd be if I hadn't had her in my life. I hope you all are as lucky as to have a friend like Kirstin.

Friends: Courtney Lee

I met Courtney while working as a camp counselor for Provo City, during the summer of 2007.

Courtney makes me laugh! She always has a funny story to tell, either about something crazy that happened to her, or about something embarrassing or awkward that someone did, or jokes about herself... and I'm usually crying with laughter by the end. I don't know if it's her facial expressions while telling the stories, or if it's simply the mental image of her (in my mind's eye, she's always tiny and panicked!) overcoming the obstacles of awkward people that life has thrown up in front of her, but she is the perfect comedic storm.

She is fiercely loyal to Derek (her hubby), and it reminds me to be better to Reed. No excuses. Derek and Courtney have such a great relationship, and I know Courtney's constant faithfulness to him contributes to that relationship. I find it all the more impressive because she didn't have that example from her father (no disrespect intended). Courtney is a person who has looked at her life, decided what she wants to become, made he commitments, and seen those decisions through to the end. I admire those qualities beyond words, and I like to think that maybe some of it will rub off on me.

Father's Day

There is a lot I could say about what a wonderful dad Reed is, but I thought I'd post a picture that seems to say it better:

Last night, Cal grabbed Reed by his hands and took him over to the guitar and actually placed Reed's hands on the strings. When Reed picked up the guitar, Cal let out this crazy little squeal of joy and started stomping his legs as fast as he could. Reed started playing, and Cal climbed up onto the couch next to him and danced in his diaper!

Man, that kid loves his daddy! And so do I!

Friends (Part I)

I'm not a very easy person to be friends with.

That is not false modesty. I have good intentions, but I am flaky and very forgetful. I don't have an agenda with my friendships, but I am also thoughtless and oblivious. And since Cal is now part of the package, half the time, when I leave somewhere, I feel like I've just laid waste to a person's entire sense of inner piece. In short, I demand a large amount of forgiveness, patience, accommodation, and charity from my friends. And I feel constant gratitude toward each of them.

I think I'd like to initiate a "Friends" series on my blog. I've seen others do it, and was very impressed by the various posts I've seen. It'll take me awhile, I know, because I'd like to document several different kinds of friends: old and new, distant, family, brief relationships and very lasting... all of them. And in no particular order. Everyone is important.

I think about people more than they would expect. Without realizing it, I find my thoughts have wandered to someone from college, or a joke someone told me who I haven't spoken with in years (literally). And I smile and think of that person. It's an interesting phenomenon, at least to me.

So yes, I think this post will begin my "Friends" series.

Meredith's Graduation

Cal and I surprised Meredith, and showed up at her graduation in Cedar City!

Unfortunately, I spent most of the ceremony in the hall with a certain wiggly toddler:
Funny side note: I had several (more than five) women ask me where I got Cal's toddler leash. One woman looked ready to buy it off me, right there in the parking lot!

I did make it back inside in time to see Mer receiving the hood:
I'm very impressed with Meredith. This represent a LOT of effort on her part. She was pregnant the first year of the program, had her baby in the middle of summer classes, and finished up while raising an energetic one-year-old. That takes a fair amount of motivation, organization and execution! Way to go, Meredith.

Afterward, Cal chased my Grandma Linebarger around a tree outside. He was very happy to be out of the grad ceremony.

Another side note (this post is more side note than substance!): My "baby" is turning into a little boy. It just amazes me to see him turning into a two-year-old. He's not my little baby anymore...and it makes me sad!

Visiting my Grandma Richey

On Friday, Cal and I visited my Grandma Richey. This visit left me surprised and grateful. The past few years, my grandma hasn't been doing well, as far as her Alzheimer's is concerned. There have been episodes where she hasn't known where she is, or who people are, etc. It has been sad, frustrating and painful for many members of my family.

I had heard that she had gone on medication, but I was never really updated after that. So when I came to visit her and she opened the door and asked how life in the Bay Area was treating me, I was stunned. She remembered so many things about me and my siblings, about Mer's and my babies, about our husbands' jobs, about how my mom and dad were doing.

In all truthfulness, I'd been on the fence about visiting my grandma. I didn't think she'd remember me, or that she'd remember the visit, but I was very wrong (and very happy to be so!). I'm so grateful that I decided to go, because we had a wonderful visit! My grandma is a person who has been very influential in my life, and I will treasure our time together that day.

Dinosaur Museum

After touring Farm Country, Diana and I took the boys over to the Dinosaur Museum. I was pleasantly surprised by how many age-appropriate activities the museum provided (I can't imagine how many kids swarm through that place every month).

Cal and Brandon immediately found some tunnels to run through:

Then we went upstairs to play with the bone magnets:

I don't know if the boys fully appreciated all the huge dino skeletons throughout the museum. They're truly awesome:

Diana & Brandon

Next, Di and I took the boys down to a hands-on room where they can play with water and sand. It's the perfect activity for kids...except ours:

Here they are, freaking out for us to get the waterproof smocks off of them.

Brandon made some new friends:

Cal climbed on EVERYTHING:

"Oh, hi!"

Both boys really liked the Dig Room, which is basically a big sandbox where there are boned buried:

Not sure what this face is all about:

This last photo is pretty amazing to me. Cal looks so grown up. He's not my little baby anymore! :(