What a Wonderful, White Christmas

Christmas has come and gone in an absolute whirlwind. Christmas Eve, Doug, was supposed to arrive at noon but at 5:30 am he called to say all the planes inbound to Houston had been delayed and he wouldn't be making his connection to Calgary. We had planned to do a little extra shopping after picking him up. He didn't arrive until 4:30pm so those last minute gifts were not going to be under the tree. Unfortunately it was my present. But, that's OK! He made it in time! We made a speedy drive home and got here in time to do our traditional scripture reading and jammie opening. We were all glad not to miss out on our family time. Doug and I spent most of the night wrapping presents.

It was actually a good thing that Doug was late. We saved a lot of money on my gift. What was it? A 52" Samsung TV and a BluRay! I didn't realize how much I would enjoy these! I love watching movies now. We also got all of the Harry Potter movies on BluRay and have been having a marathon. What fun! The best thing though is that I am able to put all my photos on it. Soooo coool! It's going to be great to show my clients their photos on such a big screen. I think they will love it! I know I do!

For Reals???

I just heard the CRAZIEST story on the news this morning. A Japanese man who goes by the name Sal 9000 has married a video game character. No, I'm not kidding! Here's the link from CNN. They even went on a honeymoon!!! Here's this dude walking his sweetheart (read as Nintendo DS) around the resort. What a nutjob!!

I've never been a plant person. I usually kill anything green within my sight. It took me months to decide to purchase a plant that I have become truly enamoured with. I purchased a beautiful phalaenopsis orchid. Amazingly enough I've kept it alive for months!! I think it has to be the most beautiful plant I have ever seen. I feed it, water it, tend it with care. I've never been like this with any other plant but something about those tender yet hardy blooms brings out my inner gardener. I've seriously been considering buying more now that I've proven that I'm not an orchid murderer.
When I was in Argentina, the first time, I was taken out to a yard in a small town. They had small, almost miniature yellow orchid flowers blooming on the branches of the fruit trees. They were almost parasitic. I'd never seen anything like it before and probably won't ever again. But that was my first exposure to these amazing plants and I've been drawn to them ever since. It just seems to beautify whatever surroundings it is in. It provides an elegance that a regular bouquet or plant just doesn't seem to own. And right now these flowers are what keeps the brightness in a rather gloomy time of year.

Please turn off the snow machine!

It's been a literal blizzard here for more than 24hrs. We have gone from no snow to drifts more than 4ft high. What a mess. It's so bad out here that church has been cancelled for both stakes. Even the town wards are staying home. This is the worst snow we have had for years!!!

Help!! I am a Crackberry Addict!!!

My darling hubby bought me a new Blackberry Tour about 6 weeks ago. I love it!! I hate being out of touch and must get my email many times a day. This was the perfect solution!!! I live by the stupid thing.......too bad I lost it this weekend! I was sooooo tired when I left work this Saturday that I forgot to check the gas gauge. I ran out of gas with only 1.5 miles to go. I called my dad to come help and somewhere between the side of the road, the gas station and the house. Can I find it? Nope. Tried everything. Searched everywhere I can think of. I can't believe how attached I have become. I feel like I lost an appendage!

I like Free! How 'bout you?

Free photobook at Photoworks Coupon code is BONNIE and can be used on the 8x11.5 size book with 20 pages. Thanks, photoworks, for making Christmas even less expensive!!!

Christmas Gift Ideas!

I didn't really like dolls a lot while I was growing up but these may have changed my mind. These are so soft and cuddly and cute!!! If I had any little girls on my gift list this year I would definitely be giving gifts from blabla. Check out their line of finger puppets too. Soooooo adorable!

Have you heard of "The Pioneer Woman"?

Talk about a blogging success story!!! Ree Drummond has gone from blogger to successful published author! Her cookbook is fabulous with a combination of homespun humor, photography, recipes and folklore. It'll make you smile and fill your tummy at the same time! You have to check out her site Pioneer Woman

Why do you have a blog?

I was wondering about this the other day........what was my motivation to start this blog and why do I attempt to keep it up? I really didn't know a lot of bloggers at the time and I'm not the journaling or srapbooking type so a blog was not a natural transistion to make. I started last summer just before our annual vacation to the "Great White North". I knew that I wanted to document our adventures and I wanted a way for other members of my family to keep up with us. Instead this has turned into more of a journal than I anticipated. It's so easy to look back with a blog. I love it!!! I've even found a place that will print and bind your blog into a book. What a cute idea for a family Christmas gift a few years from now, don't ya think? I love both www.blurb.com and www.lulu.com. I plan to get this done every couple of years. I'd do it more often if I was a more prolific writer but.....I'm not!

The Actions of Others

I had the priviledge of speaking with a wonderful woman who is a married mom of six boys. We hadn't spoken since we were both teens and it was wonderful to feel that connection come back so quickly. As we talked she felt much more free to let me into some of the secrets of her life. I felt so priveleged to be able to hear her out and let her talk about things that were such trials in her life. Her husband had betrayed her 7 years ago and had been excommunicated from the church. They made the decision to stay together and work out their marriage. She is so full of faith and forgiveness. I don't know how she does it. It would have killed me! She described to me the feelings she and her husband had shared as they were sealed; a physical, life changing feeling that holds her and him up to this day. Not only that she has 3 sons who are mentally disabled and has to homeschool them because the school can't provide the programs they need. Yet almost all that she talked about was the love she had for all the men in her life. That included a brother who had cut himself off 20yrs ago, a husband who loses job after job and cheated on her, a father who was much less than he should have been and her wonderful boys. She kept talking about how she wanted to be a better model for them; to show them how forgiveness works. I looked at how she had reacted to all of these difficulties in her life and how she chose to react to them. She was able to put aside all the hurts that had been piled on her by others and see past them. Yet what I saw was the pile of actions against her. How much she had done to her and how it could have changed her for the worse but hadn't. Her heart was as pure as a newborn child. If only I could be like her!!!