Not So Lazy Days

Well our weekends are known for being the least lazy of our days of the week, probably.
It all started on Friday. I got to sleep in, but I can only ever sleep until about 9am, and then its a bit too much for me. I got up straight away, and started with the 5 loads of laundry I had to do. :) I don't mind laundry, its pretty therapeutic. But 5 loads???I don't know how we stacked that much up. There were so many towels, whites, clothes, jeans, sheets etc. WOW! Needless to say I got all but one done.
The part I do love is the folding and putting away. Because while I fold, I like to either, watch a movie, which is one of my sisters favorite things too (love ya Erin), listen to music (loud) or in this weekend's case I got to listen to a fantastic thunder storm and some rain. :) It was heaven.
Later that night I decided not to let a co-worker take the night shift from me, and I went to a get a few more hours of work in. I like the Friday night shift. Its very relaxing. I used to hate it, but I have learned to love it. I get to do my lesson planning for Sunday and get caught up on my reading. :)
I got home to a husband mowing the lawn, which he loves and listening to his ipod. Tasks and music? Who would have thought?
Saturday I think I got up around 8, Cody was not near ready to join the liveliness. So I got all ready for the day and started my last load of laundry. I think I had most of the house clean before Cody headed out to plant his veggies. :) He planted tomatoes, peppers, corn, squash, basil, cilantro, oregano, etc, and put in a new sprinkler system...I deep cleaned the kitchen, the family room, our room, the only room I don't touch is Cody's office. He is crazy, he knows where everything is, but to me, it just looks like chaos.
I got to leave for a little bit and went to my friend Jessica's parent's home. It was nice to go back to such a familiar place. Her family was my family while I was on my own, which was great. They always made me feel like one of them. I got to put some highlights in Jess' hair for her. It was nice to get back into doing foils again. I miss it, but at the same time I don't necessarily miss the salon environment. You tend to get caught up in things like designer clothes, purses, jewelry, etc. I wasn't a fan of all of that. I like my simple, fun, carefree life we have created much better. :) I do love talking to my clients and making sure they like the way they look! Jess looks so cute with the blonde, so I was more than happy to help her put it back in. Plus, it was so much fun to go hang out and play again. I had forgotten how much I miss her! Love ya Jess!

Kate & I 2004, this pretty much defines our relationship.

When I had gotten home I had to herd Codes back inside to get cleaned up. We had a dinner date with my good friend Kate. Kate and I have been BFFs since we were 12. Her husband is great, Cody and I love them both. It was good to see them again. We had a great dinner, Ry is a wiz at the grill, and Kate made some great sides. Delish. Thanks again Jones'! By the time we got home I was wiped. We both had been working hard all day long.
Sunday, and I have a love-hate relationship. I love Sunday because I love going to church, we love our ward, I get to teach Sunday school (and man do I learn a ton about the Old Testament that I never got in depth with before). And I get to hear great lessons and talks each week. But as the day wares on, I realize I am that much closer to heading back to work early the next morning...But it was a great day. It was a beautiful day outside. Cody got up and made me some cinnamon french toast, orange juice and fruit, yum! We got ready for church, and I had extra time so I baked some bread. Cody was in heaven. I made a loaf of regular, and some more cinnamon chip bread. The boy is a sucker for anything made from scratch! I got a nap in after church and I watched the sunset of the deck in the evening. It was great. Now I just have to wait it out til Thursday, when I can get back to our weekend routine.

By the time we were done with everything on Saturday, we already had a big list for this coming weekend. Wish us luck!

Its Good to Have Records

Recently I have been doing a lot of thinking about records, genealogy, etc.

I had always loved having a journal, ever since I was little. My mom would always buy me these cute little journals when she got a new journal, so it was something we kind of did together. She was always a good example of journaling. She had what she called a Gratitude Journal, which is kind of self explanatory, but she wrote the things that she is grateful for, or that had made an impression on her that day. So she has multiple records of things, which I am thankful for, because she will be able to show them to the kids in our family, so they will know what she was like before they could remember, or before they were born.
My mom also has boxes and boxes of photos, which my sisters and I like to go through every once in a while. Its fun to remember those funny things we did. I don't think they have gone through them yet, but when they do the kids will love the hair, especially Erin's...the hair and the earrings in all their glory from the 80's. :)
Cody has kept a journal as well. Also he kept all of the emails, letters, pictures and his journal from his mission. Cody also gave me his tags when we got engaged, so now I have them. But I am working on putting everything into a book for him, but who knows how long that will take.
So I have been able to get to know him all over again, and its been a lot of fun. I know how Cody was as a teenager, on his mission, some things from after, and the passed 2+ years we have been together. ( I realized on Sunday that this passed Mother's Day was my 3rd in the Fitts home, crazy!). Cody is pretty much the same, minus the rap music he used to love in high school. His goals are similar, his focus is similar, and the things that are important to him have always been the same, which I am thankful for, he is such an example to me. :)
Cody has also been entertained by my old journals. He leaves them alone most of the time, unless I share them with him. I mean, I guess he should be able to read them any time, we don't do secrets, but its weird to just read through someone else's things. So he has heard all of the things from when I was a teen, and even before. And he usually just says, "Yep, that sounds just like you." or "You would say that..." Or "Wow, you have dealt with a lot". Its rather funny and its a great way to dig a little deeper.
These things mean a lot to me. I love being able to look back and see that we are the people we have always been. Our values are completely the same, and in some ways the bar has been raised (which I guess it should). I am also glad that one day when we have kids and grand kids, they will be able to have all of this stuff. They will be able to get to know us, and they will learn from the experiences we had. I always loved hearing stories, and now I just wish I knew more, now that my grandparents are gone.
But the apostles are inspired, and they tell us too, that it is important to keep record. And also, this is what inspired me to do a blog way back when. I don't care who reads it (we have found out that there are more of you than we thought, hehe), but if you do...thank you!
These are just some of my favorites that I have found in Cody's things.

My cute little skinny Cody. He didn't look much different than this when we met.
This was a crazy story to read. This is the scorpion that stung Cody's hand one day.

He tells me about these all the time. When he thinks of butchers, or butcher shops, this is what he thinks of. Pretty sick.

He still has this tie, and he still wears it. It will be fun to pass on to our future missionaries one day.

Goofy Cody. He loved everyone he served with, and we have seen some of them randomly. Its always nice when I can place a face with the names. His favorite comp married a girl named Kylie too. :)

Well, if you need a good laugh, maybe you should go through your old things. Laughing is almost a guarantee. :)

Life Is a Miracle

It is one thing to know that God is there. It is quite another to have a blossoming relationship with him and his son, Jesus Christ. If ever there are questions of why things happen, we need to be able to trust that there is a finite reason for everything, that there is a grand design, a plan. There is always something to be learned, impressions to be made, and lives to touch. If you don't know that for yourself yet, you will. Whether it be by experiences of your own, or experiences of others that you must witness. It will ALL, the scriptures do not say "some" but ALL will be for your good. One day we will understand it all, maybe not at the time, but it will all click at some point, hopefully. Seems hard to believe, but I KNOW that is true.

There is a woman that has touched my life tremendously. Who I look up to very much. Many of you have seen here on the news, or in an article, or on here own blog. If Nie hasn't touched your life yet, let her do it now. Click here. It is a beautiful message. And if ever you feel that life is too hard, and there are things that cannot be overcome...think of her. Pray for her. You will find yourself having love for someone you have never met. I do. And if you haven't seen her in a while, get reacquainted, introduce your friends. She is a wonderful example of a disciple of Christ, as are many others.

Prayer is amazing. Our Father in Heaven and our Savior are so merciful, kind, and loving. I love all of it. :) And not much else in this world matters.