Headaches and Joy

Yesterday was full of headaches and joy. ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Who knew that was even a possibility?

Tuesday night I had a really bad migraine. [Don't even worry. The Armitsteads took good care of me. Thanks, guys!] So yesterday I was experiencing the "aftershock." This includes a blurry brain and small headaches off and on throughout the day.

Work was a zoo. We normally have 25 kids on a busy day. Yesterday we had 50 [and we were short one member of our staff.] There were some deeply gashed knees [Hopefully there won't be stitches required...], a bad case of heat exhaustion, jammed fingers, and a WHOLE LOT of messes. [And there was also that incident with the jammed screw... Where are the strong men when you need them!?!]

BUT amidst all of this stress and mess, we all had so much fun! It was one of the best days of work we have had this year.

We did an awesome foil painting craft... [Not to be confused with what our calendar said we would be doing.... What a type-o!]

 Wore sweet protective gear...

 Got the first paycheck of the year...

Performed [slightly awkward and possibly accidental] magic tricks...

And climbed to new heights to achieve our goals. [Getting a new role of paper towels, in this case.]

Today I relearned a wonderful fact of life: Hard work is good for the soul.

I grew up in a home where hard work was taught and practiced. I am so grateful for this. Mom, Dad: You obviously rock.

When we are moving and working and serving, we have the opportunity to remember what life is all about. [You've got to love those perspective moments.] There is joy to be found in work. A stagnant, pampered life is dull and boring and leaves no room for real growth. The bloody knees and elbow grease is what makes life so interesting and worth living.

I am so grateful to be working again. I love my cute little kiddos. They make me crowns [because I am obviously a queen] and they make me laugh.

Life is good, headaches, bloody knees, and all. :)

Much Love!!

The Insomnia of a Flower

Summer is coming to a close, but the adventures continue, OF COURSE!

Sparkler fun.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Yeah.... 

This is me "Looking like I'm being mauled." Yeah, I'm a good sport, I guess.

I've started work part time at Ave Maria again. I love teaching CTR 4. And we got a new car yesterday... I think those are the only "Big News" pieces I have to share.


Sometimes I love insomnia. Why?

1. You suddenly remember everything you forgot throughout the day. [And it keeps you awake trying to figure out how to remember them... But still, pretty nifty!]

2. You figure out life's most trying mysteries. Like: How you you draw a house with an X in it without picking up your pencil or retracing lines? [True story. I even had to turn on my light to try it out.]

3. Blogs start magically forming themselves in your brain. [When you weren't even aware you wanted to blog about anything. Haha]

I solved this last night by having a notepad by my bed. ... I'm not sure how effective that was, but I did wake up to some really interesting notes like "10 Things Visiting Teaching" and a house with an X in it. :) So I'll call it a success.


Honesty time: I've had a really hard time getting a concrete blog down lately. Mostly because I have been really frustrated and I feel like the things written would not have been helpful/ productive/ uplifting for anyone else to read. And that is what I really strive for with this blog. [With a dash of satire, sarcasm, and humor for good measure.]

But I've been working really hard to have a change of heart. Through some serious self-inventory, pondering, prayer, scripture study, etc. I have had help to come to the conclusion that:

 I am a flower, NOT a marshmallow.

... Yes. My brain does, in fact, work this way. I'll splain it. :)

The kind of person I want to be, the kind of faith I want to have cannot be magically chemical-ed into existence overnight like a marshmallow. It has to be grown and worked on. It is hard work and it takes time and patience. [Plus, it is much more natural.] I have not been very patient with myself. I think I forgot what these one-eyed bunnies are showing us.

My foot is not better and it has been a year since I saw my first specialist. BUT I have been healed and have grown in ways that are not visible.

I am a flower.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is one of hope and of joy. We can grow and change and be healed. :) "Isn't it great?!" Gosh, this really is a perfect plan.


Doctor # 12 is referring me to 3 specialists that I have never seen before. A vascular specialist, a neurologist, and a thermogen. So in the next couple of months, I will be exploring these new fields with [hopefully] some conclusive results.

As always, I am so grateful for my support system. I really have the best people in my life. Thank you so much for all you do to keep me [mostly] sane. :)


Much Love!!

Favorite Lumber Jack

Prepare to be jealous... Sort of.

Yesterday I hollowed out a book!

 With a lot of help from a certain handsome bearded man. [Who kind of resembles a lumberjack.... Or a Pontipee brother from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.]

Now I can hide super secret stuff in it... Like... Haven't figured that part out yet. Now taking suggestions! Haha

9 MM? The Queen's jewels?

 

Then we went on a Sonic date in the Stang with the top down! 

AND as if all of this wasn't enough, Tyler brought me flowers! Why? Just because. [No one has ever done that for me before...]

How do I deserve all of this? Beats me.

Thank you, Tyler. :) You're my favorite. [Yes. This post is all about you. Hope you're blushing.]

Much Love!!

D-D-D-Disney!

The Disney Land trip was a party from start to finish!

... Even those brief moments when we were unconscious :)

We lived off of turkey/cheese sandwiches and hot pockets... Oh. And melted fruit snacks.

 
We are college students. We know how to do thrifty. ;)

I feel like this picture captures just a little of the excitement that is Disney Land.

I just have fond memories of the Dumbo ride. What a joyous experience!

One of our favorite activities was playing "Spot the Mormons."

Yes, because of the general lack of clothing in California, we stick out like a sore thumb.

And maybe our shirts helped... A little. ;)

I was doing that whole wheelchair thing so we got to hop a lot of lines! We only had to wait 20 minutes for splash mountain. Yeah, we rode it a couple of times. ;)

Disney Land was a blast! But I have to admit that my favorite part of the trip was Newport Beach. :) I certainly fell in love with the ocean all over again.

 Here are our cute toes. This picture features my burned knees from sitting in a wheelchair for 2 days.

Malena and I played in the water :)

And Quinci made a shell mosaic.

Gosh, I just loved it!!

Quinci even licked me because she didn't believe that I was really salty. I was.

And to finish off the trip, we stopped by Gual Berto's in UT before flying back to home sweet home Colorado. :)

It was a much needed break from reality for all of us. What a blessing. :)

But it sure is good to be back home [eating real food!]

Also, I got a new calling! CTR 4 Primary teacher! I am SUPER excited! [And a little nervous because I have ELEVEN 4-year-olds!] It will be an adventure, I know it.

Thank you for the love and the prayers. You all keep me going! :)


Much Love!!

A Great Day to Be Alive

You should know.  I am in love with Instagram. My name can be found on the left. If you have one, let's be friends. Pictures are so fun. :)

Also, for those of you who have not met Ronnie, my soul mate, I've taken a picture.

Joseph and I sometimes have matching taste. So we decided to put on all of our matching things and take a picture. ... It's ok to be jealous.

Name the movie: Penny loafer fashion moment!!!

Tyler and I decided to make the creamy cupcakes with chocolate mix this time. [You make cupcakes and while they are still hot you squirt whipped cream in them. They get all gooey and creamy inside!]
The good news: the cupcakes were delicious and creamy.
The bad news: We tried a cream cheese frosting recipe from the internet and it was... Yucky. At least Tyler liked it!

WELCOME HOME TRAVIS!!! My dear cousin, Travis, came home from serving a mission in Argentina. This is Jo and I looking at a picture of him back in America. 

Tyler served in Brazil. He was really missing Brazilian food. I found a little deli/store called Little Brazil in Westminster. Obviously a trip was in order!

I have never seen someone so excited and happy in my life. :) He wanted it ALL. Haha

I saw Doc # 12 yesterday. We are trying some medication. ... I am trying to be open-minded. [In case you didn't know, I really don't like medicine.] I am just grateful to be back with a doctor again who is trying to figure out the problem. What a blessing! :)


Last night, the Wilsons, Armitsteads, and I went to the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. It was very dark, but still a very good movie.

This morning I learned that just a few miles away at another theater, there was a shooting. 12 killed, 54 injured.

The truth is that tragedies like this could happen anywhere and anytime. We cannot live our lives in fear because that is choosing not to live the time we have been given. But being so close to the situation is really eye-opening. That could have been our theater. Events like this help us to realize how much we take our lives and the lives of our loved ones for granted. Each day is a gift.

I am overcome with gratitude. I am grateful for my life, my happiness, my loved ones. I hope and pray for those affected by this terrible event. I am also grateful for the gospel and the perspective it gives me. I am so blessed.


... On that happy note.


Tomorrow Malena and I fly out to Utah to begin our journey to Disney Land! I've got a doctor's note for a wheelchair, and we are ready to cut in lines and have a blast! :)

Much Love!!

Adventures

Summer is wonderful. It is all about adventures and trying new things.

Tyler and I decided to try painting this week.

He was very enthusiastic.

We discovered that painting in the wilderness [AKA a park by his house] is really relaxing! :)

 And he has some SERIOUS skills. 

We painted Africa. Inspired by Jamon.

Trying new hairstyles is always an adventure too.

What a cutie. :)

 

Friday Savers adventure with the boys!  Always eventful...

 

Girl shirts... Yeah...

This weekend was the YSA Conference here in the Denver area. It was 2 days of Spiritual high. :) We had so much fun! We got to look at a Ferrari, take a picture with a real, stuffed lion, and laugh A LOT!

The theme was "A Joy Beyond Measure." It focused around the song, "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?" And because it was for Young Single Adults, it also focused on marriage. Haha Typical. There were classes, food, and other various activities. Super uplifting. :)

We became very close. ;) Can you tell?

 Ok, fine. We smiled for one, too. :)

Last night, we did what we do best. We all sang around the piano. [Tyler even joined us.] Dad and Ben were just too cute singing their Spanish hymns. I sure love my guys.

After over a month of waiting, I will finally see my next doctor this week! Doctor # 12. Hopefully he will have some great insights about the problem. :) But in the meantime, I am sure the adventures will go on, pain or no pain.

And this Saturday begins the DISNEYLAND TRIP! Woopie!

Life is so GREAT! :)

Much Love!!

Bringin' Home the Bacon

This blog is just catching up on missed Raisins. :)

Jackson is a cutie.

It was Slip N Slide time.

Great news: Tyler and I beat Jenga... WITH the Hobbit as a foundation. I certainly think that had something to do with our success. ;)

 

I've found the answer to the world's problems. On my breakfast plate. My eggs were trying to send me a message of peace. I'm just doing my job as a world citizen to pass it along. Peace, folks.

Dear Quinci,

I am so excited that it's nearly Disney Land time. There were 5 billion ladybugs in the garden I was weeding. I take this as a good sign.

Love, Michelle

I've been in a cooking mood of late. Mini peach and pumpkin pies have been popular lately. I just need to find a good recipe of dough so it requires more effort.... Haha

We got Jack to do some funny faces. :) Enjoy.

Yesterday, before church, Hann and I walked out of our rooms wearing the same thing... 

I changed. Don't worry.

 Mom spit water all over herself at dinner because we laughed so hard.

This morning we broke out the power tools! Yeah!

Too bad I'm accident prone... The bruise on my thumb isn't as bad as losing a finger though! ;)

Tyler went on a manly adventure this weekend with Jamon. They hiked 4 Fourteeners in 2 days! I am just so glad he came back. I'm especially glad that he brought me the best thing ever:

 A bacon T-Shirt. Best boyfriend ever? Obviously. Thank you!!! :)


Much Love!!