THIS IS NOT AN EMO BLOG ENTRY

Sometimes I feel like
I'm impossible to forget, but I'm hard to remember.

If I have ever told you I love you, then I meant it.
If I haven't, then I'm sorry...because I do.

Thank you 2008.
Come and get it 2009!

Happy new year to all and to all some new blogs...

THIS CHRISTMAS

(To make this blog 25x better scroll down to the video at the bottom, push play, and turn up the volume while you read--you know you want to)

Not too excited this Christmas and doing some shopping for myself, I might have been a little mean to the salesperson who said, "These are cute, but they look too small for YOU. Are they a gift?" by thinking, "Thanks b****, I don't need your opinion. Merry Christmas."

BUT, through a few small acts I was reminded of the true meaning of Christmas again:

#1
Talking about the family manager scene reenactment they are going to perform on Christmas Eve together...
Max: I'm going to be the shepherd. I need the hook.
Jacq: Hello, I baby Jesus.
Xander: I the donkey. hee haw! hee haw!
Barrett: ...not sure exactly what he said.
We then went through a list of who other family members were going to be.
Me: Well, who do I get to be?
Max: Nothing. You aren't invited.
Oh sad. A few minutes pass.
Max: Actually, Auntie Nana, you can be the camel but you have to get your own costume.
So sweet...he made room for me in his stable.

#2
In less than 2 days, after being informed about a family who recently moved to the area and wasn't going to be able to afford a Christmas for their children, my small group of young single adult church kids had donated enough presents, food, and cash that we were actually able to supply a big Christmas for 4 families.

#3
After a last minute cancellation, I was in charge of getting someone to play Santa for a couple hours at Thanksgiving Point. I didn't think I'd find anyone, but my friend Brady had a little Christmas spirit up his sleeve. His reward: a gift card from TP, me sitting on his lap, and a promise to watch a black & white Christmas movie with him.

#4
I went to my first ugly sweater AND white elephant gift party (even though I hate those...bad childhood memories). They weren't quite as amazing as the Christmas party from the video of my fave Christmas song EVER below, but festive nonetheless. This song should ALWAYS make your holiday smile gay and bright!

In closing, I don't have cards to mail out, but I hope the holiday spirit finds you (even if it's just a little bit) this Christmas. Remember the real reason we celebrate, be happy, and know that deanna loves you. yadda yadda yadda.

DRIVING IN THE SNOW

I don't mind driving in the snow so much. I just don't like driving in the snow behind idiot drivers.

CLOGGED ARTERY BON

EVERY time I go to the airport I can't help but want a Cinnabon. I know the more appropriate name should be the "clogged artery bon" but they smell soo sweet.
Hey what's that smell...I think I just got a cavity.

HAVE I DONE ANY GOOD?

So there is this hymn I've heard in church growing up that asks:

Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.

Check heck yes/no failure for me today.
I donated blood. Hope someone orders a pint of AB- tonight.
Every two seconds someone in America will need a blood transfusion and each donation can be used to help save as many as three lives. It feels good to give. AND I got a cool purple stretchy head band.

EAST BY WEST VIRGINIA

Thanks to my buddy Dan, I had the opportunity to visit Wild and Wonderful West Virginia (yes, they actually write that on their license plates) for the weekend.

SHORT VERSION
While I was getting East by West Virginia, I made sure I was gettin lucky in Kentucky, round on both sides and HI in the middle in OHIO, her-she-comes to Pennsylvania, all with a side of Maryland to make for a fantastic weekend road trip.

LONG VERSION
WEST VIRGINIA: That's where Dan AND Bob Evans diners reside (Denny's eat your heart out).
KENTUCKY/OHIO: I took the car while Dan was at work and drove to Ashland, KY. I went into a store and saw a shirt that showed a map of Kentucky with the country music road tour on it and it just so happened to start in the city I was in so I bought it and drove. Then I went a few minutes north to South Point, OH, where I ended at a lovely spot with 2 park benches at the end of a road where you can sit in Ohio, look over the Ohio River to Kentucky, and see a river from West Virginia pour in. It wasn't the best weather for a park day, nevertheless, the tri-state view was lovely.
PENNSYLVANIA: Might as well get in the car and drive a few (or 5 1/2) hours to Hershey, PA to go to Chocolate World and stay the night at oh-so-posh Hotel Hershey where the street lights look like chocolate kisses, you can buy Philly Cheese steaks and tastykakes galore, sip on yoohoo (not my favorite), and get free chocolate at every front desk. We tried to make it to the Falling Water house (I heart Frank Lloyd Wright) but holiday operation hours wouldn't permit, so we stopped at Gettysburg for 4 score and 7 hours of historical sites.
MARYLAND: Didn't know we'd have to drive this state. But I did eat a pulled pork sandwich with slaw from Roy Rogers fast food restaurant and fell in love. You MUST stop there if you ever happen to drive by one!

**Sorry to all the friends I neglected to visit who were so close yet so far away on the trip. I'm a jerk. Love you.**
CLICK CLICK for more photos from the trip

THE SANTA CAUSE

Last night at the local Wal*mart there were a whole bunch of kind shoppers I didn't know, some Utah Flash players, me, happy store employees, and a select few who had the goal and ambition to do something nice this year. What cause did we all have in common? THE SANTA CAUSE. We shopped to bring Christmas to needy families. More festivities will be going on this week like wrapping and delivering the presents and then next week there is a big Charity event/party Dec 15th at the Gallivan Center 6-9pm (The group will be holding a raffle and live auction where you can get some good stuff along with FREE pizza, REDBULL, and skating).
To donate time/money and learn more about this sweet organization go to www.thesantacauseonline.org or talk to me.

THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT

My life is like a box
full of chocolate.
The eggs on my plate
are perfectly scrambled.
My bed is often unmade
so it's easier for sleeping.
In the car I sing along
with the radio.
I buy my cheese sharp
from the market.
I have a suitcase ready to travel
wherever life takes me.
My box is always open
for suggestions.
December days are surprisingly warm
in my city.
This song is super awesome
(turn up your volume)...
AND THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT

Discover Ben Lee!

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT SYRUP

Don't go through life, grow through life.

I read this quote today from Eric Butterworth. Who is this fellow? I've never heard his name. The only Butterworth I've heard of is the lady who generously makes my pancakes taste deliciously thick, rich and sweet. As I found more from him, I realized I'm not talking about syrup with this guy. Here's a few more I enjoyed:

*We don't change what we are, we change what we think what we are.
*Your fortune is not something to find but to unfold.
*On human levels of consciousness one may emphasize getting and having as the prime goals, in spiritual consciousness he seeks the way of giving and being.
*The great piano virtuoso Paderewski was once playing before an audience of the rich and the royal. After a brilliant performance, an elegant lady waxed ecstatic over the great artist. She said, “Ah Maestro, you are a genius!” Paderewski tartly replied, “Ah yes, madam, but before I was a genius I was a clod!” What he was saying was that his present acclaim was not handed to him on a silver platter. He, too, was once a little boy laboriously practicing his scales. And even at his peak, behind every brilliant performance there were countless hours of practice and preparation.

HOT WIFE MATERIAL

I made a delicious dinner for the parental unit tonight. Then I did the dishes afterwards. I think that officially makes me hot wife material.