L.O.V.E ... Lots of Varied Expressions

L.O.V.E.

Lots of Various Expressions...

My mom has been counting down on Facebook for week now to her and my dad's 34th Wedding Anniversary. It is delightful to see her post a new picture each day. I am not sure what is extraordinary about 34, but perhaps in this scary crazy world we live in, a truly happy marriage of 34 years is extraordinary! That is one expression of love.
Love is extraordinary.

I had a patient this week tell me that his wife is his second wife. He was on a honeymoon for 39 years before his 1st wife passed away from cancer. He's been married to wife number 2 for 10 years now. 

Love is beautiful! 

Two weeks ago I was sitting in a rocking chair. I was looking down into my nephew's sweet face and tears came to my eyes. He has been on this earth 3 months. He has no verbal form of communication besides crying when he is hungry, wet, wants you to stand up, or smiling and cooing when you talk to him. He is perfect and precious. I can't believe how much I love that little man. 

Love is unconditional. 

A few years ago I fell for a charming and handsome man. We became good friends. We would talk for hours. I fell in love with him, and he said he loved me. We were never meant to move beyond friendship, and it broke my heart. He moved on, he got married, and I moved on. I never regretted anything, but sometimes I wondered if I made the whole love stuff up in my head. Recently he became a dad. I gave up the hurt a long time ago, but I didn't know how I'd react to seeing pictures. The reaction surprised me, and most pleasantly! When I saw pictures I was full of joy and happiness for my friend and his growing new family...love!
Love is healing. 

To oversimplify, a dear friend and I had a falling out. It was hard. Things seem to be patched up. Love is long lasting.   

Love is extraordinary.

Love is beautiful.

Love is unconditional.

Love is healing. 

Love is long-lasting. 

So I haven't found the "Love of my life" as I refer to him, and I ache to know who he is, when he will come into my life, if he will come into my life, and I want so much for MORE. My lesson learned tonight is that although the "Love of my life" is not yet in my life, love is in my life. 

I feel love.

 I see love.

 I am loved. 

I love. 

There is your sappiness for a quiet Friday night. 

That being said, "Romeo, Romeo, where the heck art thou Romeo?"

  Take your time, I'll keep waiting!

Why I love Weddings

 

Last week in Utah I attended a wedding/sealing 

at the Salt Lake Temple. 

Elizabeth and Scott were married for Time and All Eternity.

Besides seeing the happy couple, 
there were several perks to attending...

Exhibit A, B, C, and D....aka Chanda, Michelle, Sarah, and Shaleen.  All amazing ladies who have tackled the decade beyond the 20's with grace, beauty, faith, success, and happiness. 

I look up to them and feel very blessed to call them friends.

 

Exhibit E... A Pink Look-alike on the grounds. 
I had a snap an oh-so-stalkerish pic! 

 But back to my friends... 

 Everyone in this group is amazing. And no joke, minus the one of the middle with the beautiful baby bump, everyone is single. Why you ask? Stupid question...obviously it is because timing is just not time. You ask any one of us and I KNOW with 99.9% certainty we each can agree we have been placed on our individual paths by a loving God who is in charge.

  Take Michelle for example...

She recently planted herself in a new state, in a new job, with new friends, and is bravely moving forward. She is kind, humble, and can balance perfectly in the most sassy shoes you will every see. 

Then there is Shaleen....

She will keep you laughing all day long, she loves Cadbury mini-eggs, and her faith is as solid as a rock! Nothing Mickey Mouse about this gorgeous lady!  

 Now Chanda...

 Chanda works miracles every week when she coaches people to better health. She can out-do you in just about any yoga pose, she is one awesome aunt, serves without hesitation, and is the most talented person I know when it comes to meeting new friends.

In between the wedding and the reception, we had some time to squeeze in watching the Tour de Utah, happening just a few blocks away from the reception. We hiked uphill in our dresses and watched for athletic men to fly by on bikes. 

 That is uphill, in case you can't tell.

And they are followed by their "teams". The cars flew by us, and they were in the rear, so you know the cyclists were booking it! 

It was quite the scene! The race ended near the capital. Which meant we also had time for a random picture by the multi-colored buffalo.

  And time for a great photo bomb...

 Then more friends were seen at the reception.  Including Sassy Cassi. She is a celebrity by the way. Click here for a YouTube clip about her story. Cassi is also a former Texas Resident. It was a good ole Texas reunion smack dab in Salt Lake City! 

And a final shot with the bride before heading out to the dance floor for a little Abba and "Dancing Queen"!  Can't wait to see who the next one in the group to get married will be.  No matter what, I hope to be there to have another fabulous time! 

And finally, random evidence why the wedding was awesome is because Michelle had a cool rental car. Didn't know a Jeep is an economy car! 

Sexy Chick and her Sexy Chick shoes! 

Why I LOVE Idaho

He is the #1 reason I love Idaho.

 

 But I'll get back to him in a minute....

Idaho has Big Jud's, a burger place with ridiculously HUGE burgers. 

I mean we are talking a one pounder and more.

 

  

I however had a single patty, it was plenty big enough...

Afterall, I had Playdough ice cream to eat afterwards! Emily was right, it was delicious!

 Idaho, or Rexburg to be specific, is home to the beautiful campus of BYU-Idaho. On said campus we found an air hockey table and a pool table. Campus is pretty much empty this time of year and that gave us free reign to play as much as we wanted to.

Rexburg also has a beautiful temple. Maybe I liked it so much because the stained glass reminded me of the San Antonio temple.

 

We were in a silly mood on the grounds. 

 As in Utah, Idaho has some spectacular views that make for a good run outdoors. 

 And now back to the number on thing I love about Idaho. (My siblings being a close second)

Aunt Tamara meets her nephew! 

 We enjoyed each other's company awake.

 We enjoyed each other's company asleep.

 

 

We enjoyed outings to campus.

 

He chilled while we played pool. 

 

We went to the park!

 

He thought Uncle Devin was pretty cool too. 

We had bath time. 

 

 He had fun hanging with the boys. 

I sure do love this little guy! 

Why I love Utah!

BYU Fan are Serious! 

 

Running outdoors with spectacular views

Church activity notices posted in front yards...only in Utah! 

Cool Floating temples ... Provo Tabernacle being renovated after burning and now being turned into a temple. My grandpa said a lot of people were upset that this historic building part of the community would be turned into a place that not everyone could go to. My thoughts were that in Utah there are rare instances of opposition to the building of a temple...now Provo gets to feel like all the other temple districts do. The construction site is amazing!

Utah is also cool because it has my grandparents. 

 

Grandpa loved the bubbles at Bethany's wedding. 

Walking barefoot in the grass

 Homemade burgers with home grown corn on the cob!

Walking to church

 

 Sunday dinner with cousins