September 11, 2011

Ten years ago, America was rattled. Fathers, sisters, brothers, mothers, sons, daughters, and friends were killed. Let us be thankful for what we have in our lives. And for who we have. Whether we realize it or not, our lives are based on relationships. Savor those relationships. Cherish the people you love. Forgive those who have hurt us. Pray for people all around the world who experience heartache daily.

My husband should know that he makes me laugh constantly. That his goofiness and his optimism keep me going every day. And that marrying him is the single most perfect decision I have ever made.

My sister should know that she has been my best friend since the day she was born. That although she is younger than me, I have always looked up to her. And that she is going to be an amazing wife and mother. 

My dad should know that the example he set for me growing up is what has shaped my testimony of the gospel. That his efforts to spend quality time with me are what really made the difference in creating our relationship. And that his complete acceptance of Ed into the Huntington family means the world to me. 

My mom should know that I could not have survived being a teenager without her. That the support she has for her kids is unparalleled. And that she has created a relationship with me that is the epitome of what a mother-daughter relationship was meant to be. 

My brother should know that I absolutely love spending time with him. That he and Amy's friendship to Ed and I our first year marriage helped me through the hard times of life. And that I will smother his daughter Ellie with love for as long as I live. 

My in-laws, Karen and Norvel should know that I will be forever grateful to them for how they raised their son to be such an amazing man. That they have touched the lives of all those who have come in contact with. And that Ed and I strive to be as gracious and generous and they are one day.

My friends, new and old should know that my sanity relies on you. That I owe so much to you all for putting up with my flakiness and drama. And that my friendships mean more to me than almost anything else. 

Ed is talking to his dad on the phone and I just heard him say that tragedy is not what should make us turn to God. He said we should be aware of His presence in our lives every day. That He is with us through the thick and the thin, the easy and the hard, but we forget this fact too often. 

I am so thankful for my relationships and for a Heavenly Father who is concerned with my life and my happiness. I hope that the families of the victims of 911 can be happy and that they are able to cherish their last moments with their loved ones. And I hope my loved ones know how much they mean to me.

toads and surprises

Are these toad ties not awesome? the answer is yes. Had to spice this babble post up with something.

Well I have a feeling I am going to love this semester. My classes seem pretty awesome and fairly challenging, but not too hard. I have some great teachers from what I can tell so far and I have two classes with Tess and one with Ed! It should be pretty fun.

The other day, Ed kept looking over at me in our philosophy class with this disgusted look saying, "you existentialist" as if I was some devil or crazy person. I was so confused why he was acting so disapprovingly of me and sneering and shaking his head in dismay. After class he told me that in one of his previous classes that day he learned what existentialists are and he did not approve of me being one. His description was as follows: raging sex addicts who live in communes, do drugs, shun their families, friends, or anyone who is going to hold them back from their entirely selfish desires and pleasures. They steal, plunder, orgasm, get high...anything that will keep them satisfied for a bit.

HA! No, Ed. I am pleased to inform you that I am a very mild version of an existentialist. Not to mention Christian. With morals. I mostly just believe in making your life meaningful. If the sex addicts want to have sex addictively, they can. But as for me, I will find meaning in my own moral, religious, pleasant and helpful way.

Phew, glad my husband no longer thinks I belong in the 60's and 70's with Charles Manson.

He's a funny one, that Ed. He keeps surprising me lately. Last night we are laying in bed. I am positive he is asleep and I'm just laying there like normal pleading with Heavenly Father in my mind to help me fall asleep. All of a sudden he rolls over and says, "Thank you for letting me do this tomorrow." I was sure he was talking in his sleep so I tried to get more talking out of him so I could get a good laugh. He goes on to thank me for letting him get up early to go volunteer at a triathlon. I was really confused why he would be thanking me for that and he says, "because I might wake you up early on your one day to sleep in". Haha, interesting logic there Ed, but thank you for taking the time to thank me even though I don't deserve a thank you.

But here's the big surprise: This week he asked me, "Have you noticed me lately?" 

Wait, What? Wow, I must have really been neglectful this week. It caught me totally off guard because usually I'm the one acting like I'm starving for attention. I'm always the needy one annoyingly asking for massages, backscratches, venting about my job for 30 minutes straight until I realize he stopped listening at the 5 minute marker (and I don't blame him). Stuff like that. So when he asked me if I had noticed him, I knew it was a big deal. Dang it. Terrible wife right here. But hey, sometimes you go through waves of being good and sometime you suck and it's just the way life works. I've definitely got to be better though. Any suggestions? 

I guess it's good to be surprised by your husband. Being married, you get to know each other so well, too well sometimes. I know exactly what will make him mad, happy, or annoyed. I know when he will probably tune me out when I'm complaining, but I keep going anyway to make myself feel listened to. I know when he wants sexy time and he knows when I don't want it. Don't cringe, it's just real life. He even knows now that the only reason I shave my legs is because I've finally broken down to him feeling them at church and giving a long drawn out sigh of disappointment. To know all of that is awesome and fun, but to be surprised is pretty refreshing. I guess it would suck to be surprised in a bad way, like you're just now figuring out that your husband is a cereal killer, but in my case, I'm pretty thrilled to be surprised by Ed in such simple but sweet ways. Thanks Ed. I love you and I notice you. You don't need to thank me for "letting you get up early" but I appreciate it. Now I need to surprise you.