Love

Valentine's Day has always been my favorite holiday. There is something wonderful about pink, purple, and red mixed with hearts, lace and glitter. Does it get any better? O wait, it does. You get to spend the day telling people how much you love and appreciate them. A day dedicated to words of affirmation can't go wrong! This Vday was one for the books. I woke up to a homemade breakfast of waffles and eggs made by my wonderful roommate who had the day off but still got up early to make us breakfast before we left for work. The job for “house mom” is available if she wants to quit her job and stay at home to take care of the rest of us!

Since moving to DC a group of girls has faithfully dedicated their Monday nights to watching, analyzing, and interpreting the wonderful show that is the Bachelor. It has become quite a tradition. As luck would have it our favorite show landed on my favorite holiday. Add my favorite ladies and one good looking Bachelor and you having the making of a pretty amazing night. But the night was young and a surprise singing telegram amped the night up. Here is a link to the video. They sang “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” with special lyrics that included a lot of inside jokes. Way to put yourselves out there boys!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3JaxinZEWc

Here are the lyrics in case you can't hear over my my obnoxious cackling laugh (please tell me I don’t really sound like that!!) I blame the sugar.

And I say What about Thanksgiving dinner
Love languages and midnight shopping
As I recall, I think, we kinda liked it
And I say, How about my turkey carving

And I say what about lactation stations?
And where would we be with out cats with nice bows
And I recall, I think a great power outage
When we supplies more sparks then your fireplace.

We say that you all are simply awesome
So much goodness to start from
We say with our friend Jeff Flake
Happy Valentine's Day from the bottom of our hearts.

As if life couldn’t get any better, I was presented with the greatest Vday present ever. A purple tea pot and homemade herbal tea in the shape of hearts!! All of my favorite things in one! Meliss, you know me too well.


I LOVE love and I am grateful for a day dedicated to it. My thoughts today are with this little man who I love a lot. Today is his 4^th surgery and we are praying for a good outcome.

I have learned a lot about love these past few weeks. People’s kindness toward my family during this hard time has shown me what a difference a little love can make. A phone call, an email, a text, a blog comment, a prayer, a fast--all these things are expressions of love and the physical and emotional support they give are amazing. I am grateful for a Savior, that taught about a pure love: charity and for those that have expressed that pure love to me and my family. Nothing like a trial to help you see what really matters: LOVE!

MLK Day

In celebration of no work and MLK's big day, Melissa and I went to Frederick Douglass house in SE DC. Back in the day, it apparently used to be a white working class neighborhood but now the neighborhood is a little sketch. When you read about crime in DC it typically comes from this area. I have only been to this neighborhood once since living out here and it was to pick up some craigslist furniture. We spent a total of 10 minutes there and were accompanied by 4 men. Last Monday in the spirit of MLK day, Meliss and I braved it alone.


It was well worth the risk of danger! The house is over 6,000 sq ft. and has a great view of the capitol building and monuments. The men and women slept on different sides of the house and even though the house was huge there was no indoor plumbing--another reminder that I was born in the right century.

I also learned that F.D. was an ambassador to Haiti and an advocate for women's suffrage. He was BFF was some of the greats, Susan B. and Ida B., imagine the convos that occurred in this house. And after his first wife died he married a white women--so progressive for his time!


After our education morning, we headed to the Jazz/Wizards game along with every LDS person within a 100 mile radius of the district. The Jazz unfortunately lost. I love no work days that shorten the week! Right now I am heading home from work--it's 3pm in the afternoon...on a Wednesday. There MIGHT be snow headed our direction. I HEART the government!

Top 10 in 2010

My graduate school applications are finally in!! Licked. Sealed. Mailed. Done. I have basically been applying to grad school for two years--straight. Because taking the LSAT twice, applying to law schools and deciding not to go wasn't fun enough; I decided to apply to global health master's programs--in a country I've never even been too. Where do I get these ideas? So, cross your fingers, say your prayers, rub the belly of a Buddha and you might be rewarded with an invite across the Atlantic for a visit.

I am celebrating my new found freedom by reflecting on the best of 2010. It was a great year and I am grateful for all the blessings! So here I go in no particular order.

1. New House-Despite being buried by snow the first week we moved in, we have loved living in our new house. The extra room has given me a good excuse to buy more house decor--my bank account suffers but it's fun.



2. New Roommate: moving into the new house, we adopted another roommate and the foursome was complete. I couldn't ask for better roommates.


3. Seeing the tulip fields in the Netherlands: Checked this one off my list of things to do before I die.


3. Visits from 2 of my 3 Sisters: Nothing is better then visits from the sistas. The one that did not come knows who she is and better be making plans soon. Plus a visit from mom made the year complete. I have finally convinced my family that the east coast is fun place to visit.



4. Smart Family Reunion 2010 at Lake Cocolalla.



5. Work trips to Kenya and Thailand.


6. Announcement that these two are baking a snickerdoddle. Being an Aunt is the best--all the fun of being a parent without any of the responsibility!


7. Climbing Mt. Hood. Avalanches prevented us from not summitting but I learned a lot and was grateful for the added bonus of doing it with great friends and a very patient father.


8. After 4 trips to the West Coast, this little girl finally acknowledges my presence. I can't wait until she's old enough to understand bribes.


9. Spending 10 wonderful days traipsing around Europe with my favorite girls.

10. Spending Christmas with Woody and Buzz.


Happy New Year!