Helloooooooo June!

I'm a couple days early. Whateves.

Hi old blog buddy! How's it hanging?

I'm real good right now. My life got pretty dang busy there for a little bit. Oh, yeah- I passed my licensing exam so I am officially licensed to sell life and health insurance! This is a pretty big deal for me. This means the possibility of vising the Happiest Place on Earth this year is a pretty good reality.

I'm still in a little shock over the entire experience. I took the test near the end of April and missed the mark by 5 questions. Guh. That was a kick in the teeth, but I continued to study and passed with an 83% on May 20th. I never want to say that there are pro's to having my husband gone every night, but to be honest, the timing could have never worked out better with him doing a show. Lucy and I would wake up and say goodbye to Daddy, go to grandma's/work, get home and while Lucy was napping for roughly 2 hours, I'd study non-stop. Once she would wake up, we'd move on to chores, dinner and other stuff and once she was in bed at 7, I'd study until about 9ish or whenever Jeremy got home. This is the hardest I've ever worked for an academic achievement (we can call it academic, right?)

I don't know how you people out there with kids and a job still do school. You are super humans!

I was so blown out after doing this for 6 weeks I conked out when all was said and done. For the first week afterwards it was weird to have free time. I'd put Lucy down for the afternoon nap and do... nothing. Watch Full House. Eat ice cream in the MIDDLE of the day. Organize my closet. Garden. It was very refreshing.

Things have started to pick up this week, which is where I'm at now. I'm at the end of a long week. Finally. Not to say that I'm not eternally grateful for all this work, because I am!

So, without anymore fluff, I'd like to give my Tony acceptance speech. This is the closest I'm going to get to the actual award, so here we go-

Oh my gosh! I would have never in a million years ever expected this! I'm in total shock! Okay, um, if I forget anyone, I'm so sorry, my mind is so scattered! Alright, first off, thanks have to go out to my boss, Zac. He opened a door for me that I would have never gone through without his encouragement. I have to thank him for seeing potential in me that I would have never seen by myself and I owe him a lot for paying for all my materials and multiple tests- he's simply amazing!

Next, I have to thank my family and friends for being willing to watch Lucy and do whatever they could to help me. I got so many words of encouragement and studying tips that helped me greatly. One specific piece of advice that was particularly helpful after a hard day, was to never tell myself that I couldn't do it. Always go into things saying 'I can do it!". What I needed to hear on so many levels.

And, possibly the biggest one for me, my own little family. Thanks have to go to my little sunshine, my mini-me, a piece of my heart, my little Lucy. The kid was so patient with me when I could only muster out Macaroni and Cheese for dinner and sat happily and quietly as I would study and help in every way she could. Thanks also go out to Wall-E, Lambert and Pumbaa for being absolutely incredible study buddies. One particular method I found especially helpful was using flashcards and then saying the answer out loud. I had roughly 200 flashcards with terms I needed to know and just saying the answer out loud to myself made me feel like a crazy person. I'd sit on the floor and all three dogs would sit facing me and I'd go through all 200 flashcards and explain to them how annuities are funded, or how to determine if you're life insurance will become a MEC. If they could talk, they'd probably be killer Insurance Agents.

And Jeremy. How can I really put into words all that the guy does for me? He never encourages me to be anything but my best self. I NEVER thought I'd amount to anything in my life and he's opened me up to the realization that I can truly have everything, the family, the job, the lifestyle *I* want. He's the love of my life. He's my best friend. He's everything to me.

Do you think they would have cut me off by now?

Alright, world. You've been warned. I'm coming out there and I'm going to start educating you about insurance!

Inch By Inch

You guys, I'm becoming something!

I'm almost a week away from taking my insurance licensing exam. Should I pass, this will mean big things for my little family. Things like vacations, new phones, and a slew of other awesome things. Money can't buy happiness and I'd rather be dirt poor and have my little family then be ridiculously rich and alone, but I think we can find a happy medium.

Although I suck at blogging here, I'm actually being paid to blog for my company now. I'd share the link, but we're retooling and optimizing our website right now so it's a little jumbled. As soon as I work out the kinks, I'll pop a link up. You'll be able to see my writing more frequently, but on more on the topic of health and lifestyle with some insurance tips here and there.

Also, I get really excited talking about insurance.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!

Another bit of news, along with continuing to blog/review here and there for LaughingPlace.com , someone saw my writings for my company and offered me a freelance job writing for him due to his liking of my writing style. I could be paid to write!

So, inch by inch, I'm becoming something. Not that I wasn't something before, because I knew I was. My life path has changed so much in a mere 3 months. I was reading some papers from my past and came across a passage that was something to the effect of remembering that I need to not only continue my education spiritually, but secularly. This seems to maybe be a part of that path.

Never sell yourself short, kids.

Occasionally

Occasionally my abs have spasms. This means all that extra time I spend working out is, well... doing something.

Occasionally, I sneak into my daughters room and watch her sleep. I stroke her face, brush her hair, and hold her little hand. This isn't weird because she's my kid.

Occasionally, people misconstrue things I do. There's one area in my life where I offer service, love, and support, but this is taken as an attack. In no way would I ever put someone down and don't give advice unless asked for it. At first, it makes me sad that someone I really don't know would assume that absolute worst about me, then I remember that it's their loss. I'm a really good friend, great confidant, and give good hugs and long talks.

Occasionally I wonder if I am enough.

Occasionally I want to squeeze the things I love so hard they burst! Has that ever happened to you? You love something so much you just want to squeeze it to death?!?! It's a thing. It's been called "cute aggression". Don't worry, though- I won't. Obvs.

Occasionally, I stub my toe. I stub my toes too many times for an adult. I walked my foot right into a wall this morning and it hurt. Really bad. No swear words were said.

Occasionally I open the door out on to the terrace at my office and step outside for a fresh breath of air. I lean over the balcony just as a massive swarm of birds takes off from the tree nearby, and as I step backwards as they come my way, I avoid the poop storm that showers the area where I was once standing.

And occasionally, I remember God is up there. Watching out for me. Always looking out for me. Even saving me from bird poop.

The Sneeze That Almost Popped My Eyeballs Out

I'm sick today. But, it seems like everyone in Utah has a bug. I call it the "we all got too used to the unseasonably warm weather, and now that it's cold again, we are all sick- physically and mentally". I've diagnosed it to many people.

But truly, I'm sick. Not sick enough to stop functioning, but not well enough to not feel like I really will fall asleep, eyes open. Sidenote- my siblings used to fall asleep with their eyes open and when I'd check on them at night, I can attest that there is nothing more terrifying than a toddler looking back at you when they are obviously asleep. 

You know how everyone says that if you sneeze with your eyes open, they'll pop out? Ya know, you heard stories on the playground about the kid that was trying to escape school by climbing the chain link fence and when he got to the top he accidentally got his thumb caught and ripped it clean off (actual true story), and the story about the kid that sneezed with his eyes open while he was going down the slide and his eyes rolled down the slide (not actually true... I hope). 

I can't honestly say I've ever tried to sneeze, eyes open. Ew.

My sinuses are completely blocked. Both nose holes... inflamed. You really take breathing out of your nose for granted, especially living somewhere so dry. Take a second and thank your nose for being clear and healthy. Anyways, I felt a sneeze coming and figured I could push it out through my nose to maybe... you know what, I don't even know what I was thinking. I didn't keep my eyes open, they were very firmly shut, but I FELT MY EYES POP OUT OF MY FREAKING HEAD! I have never been more confident, 100% sure that I would have lost my eyeballs if I had opened my eyes even a little!

GROOOOOOOOSS!

Also, I just have to put a plug in for mom purses. If you asked me to show you what was in my purse five years ago, you'd find my MAC, Urban Decay, no sugar gum, trendy wallet, fruity lotions, and a giant array of lipstick and glosses. Once I became a mom, the MAC was exchanged for smarties, the no sugar gum became individual packages of Teddy Grahams, the lipsticks and glosses- a small pharmacy, and not least, fruity lotions were replaced with more sensible lotions sensitive enough for a baby, but strong enough for dry skin. 

I'm telling ya- with the onset of this cold, I've been nothing but well prepared. I lean over to my trusty purse, and not only do I have medicines to ease the discomfort, but I even have a tasty snack. Win-win!

Love, Love, Love, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

Has anyone else felt bitten by the Valentine's Day bug?

You know, I always, without fail- let out a sad sigh when Christmas is over and suddenly there's a barrage of pink, white, and red in all the stores. I'll admit I feel like they're screaming "CHRISTMAS IS OVER HURRY, HURRY, HURRY! GET ALL THE PINK AND WHITE HEARTS, ALL OF THEM NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!"

Okay, it's a little dramatic, but I'm a smidge dramatic, so it is what it is.

But, as the days start to get warmer (or for Utah's case this year, a LOT more warmer), my little flower bulbs start bursting through the ground, and I can see the pussy willow's start to emerge from my trees, I start to get all warm and lovey inside. Our plans for this year's Valentine's day will not stray from last years, which I could not be more thrilled about. I had actually forgotten what we did last year until my husband reminded me. We go to HuHot for dinner as a family, just our little threesome-yay! Livin' for Friday.

So aside from my own plans for love day, I've actually witnessed a lot of love recently. I forget this time of year is birthday heavy for my family, which is wonderful because we're literally sending messages of love and happiness between us all, and it makes me eternally grateful. Everything changes when you have a kid. Have I gagged that statement down your throat enough? But really... from the normal routine of waking up and getting ready, to birthdays, to vacations. Even eating. After you have kids, if you think you're going to have a quite, hot meal all to yourself, HA! You won't.

I digress.

Anywho, we didn't throw a routine birthday for Lucy this year. This year the SuperBowl feel on our little sweet thing's birthday, so when you pair that with me recently reading an article about why it's not a good idea to throw a big bash every year for your kids (super fascinating! Wish I could find it to share), we did a little party, ate homemade eclairs (AMAZING), and celebrated our tiny bug. Even though we didn't have a big ol' party, she was showered with love through texts, phone calls, emails, Facebook messages, and even got a letter from her cousin serving a mission. Can I tell you how excited a two year old is to receive a letter? If you have any doubts, come over to our house and let her read you her letter from Jason. A lot of it is her pointing at each word, making a nonsensical noise, but getting to the end of the letter and saying boldly and loudly "love you!!". My heart almost explodes from all that love. Literally.

Another example of love I've seen recently is in my ward. I have to be honest, I don't know the woman who's been an absolute shining beacon of love and service to everyone in our ward, and it's my fault. I admit it- right now I'm a Sunday Mormon. Okay, well, not totally. I don't have a ward calling at the moment, but I do have a stake calling- I'm over Primary Music, so I go around and help choristers in any way possible, including meeting with them during the week. When it comes to activities outside of regular church hours (for me, between 9am-4pm on Sunday), I usually don't attend. I know. I'm horrible.

Like I said, I don't know Marci Terry personally, but the stories I've heard about this woman are incredible! She's always serving everyone else. She is the first to arrive when there's a service project to be done, she volunteers to help clean the church building, makes cookies for people feeling down, the list goes on and on. Oh, I should also mention that she has Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction- a rare disease that causes your digestive system to cease function.

This incredible person not only gives herself unconditionally, but she has a horrible disease. You guys, that sucks! And, you know what, I can't honestly say that if I were in the same boat, I'd be sitting on the floor crying and complaining. I want to be like her. Such an amazing person!

Okay, so here's where the love comes in- a friend of mine has made a gofundme page for her here-
http://www.gofundme.com/lvg9cs

I know these days asking for donations is hard, but for this woman, a gigantic burden would be released. Even if you can't donate, please read about her. She's seriously awesome. I want to meet her and give her a hug.

And, ya know, love is contagious. Spread it on.

In a Flash

I'm writing this on my phone, specifically with swype, so please ignore any typos.

This blog is brought to you by the letter F. F is for falling. This blog is also brought to you by the number 15. That's how many stairs are in my home. Also, that's how many I fell down this morning.

I want it to be known that as soon as I felt my foot fly out from underneath me (thanks so my stupid, slick, but oh-so fashionable socks), I did think "SAVE THE BABY!!", who I had been holding at the time. About half way down the stairs, specifically after the baby started yelling "Weeeeeee!", my second thought was, "Did I remember to take my multivitamin?".

Important thoughts.

As I careened down the stairs, not unlike a large toboggan, it occurred to me that I'd have to make a stop eventually. As I flailed my legs to find anything to ease the impact, I ran out of time and thumped hard at the bottom of the stairs. It's also fascinating how many thoughts you can have while falling for a grand total of, like, five seconds.

I asked Lucy if she was okay, to which she replied "More mommy! More weeeeee!". Wouldn't you believe it- I didn't do it again.

She was mad.

I was mad at my socks.

So that brings me to the present. On my back, Heat pack handy, baby playing within eyesight... most of the time. Since when did I lose all my resiliency? I did this many times when I was a kid and it never took me out of commission.

I now hobble and have the gate of a 100 year old woman. And, although I injured nothing but my back, I'm suddenly speaking like I've graced this earth for a grand century.

If you're feeling up to it, come on over and we can discuss the Roarin' Twenties.

We're Shaking It Off

My niece, Kaylee, gave us the new Taylor Swift album last night.

Guess who’s the most excited for it?!?!

You’d assume it would be me since I’ve loved the two songs released from the album so far, but you’d be wrong. Lucy is definitely more excited, which, if you know me, it’s hard to exceed my level of enthusiasm.

Kaylee watched “Love Actually” with us last night, too. I love family movie nights! I was also so glad to be there when Kaylee saw it for the first time. Also, Alan Rickman—HOW COULD YOU CHEAT?!?!?!

Oh, oh- you know what’s a surprisingly good movie? Dances With Wolves. I’m actually surprised. Did not think I would really enjoy it in all of its four hour glory. Also, the moment I find out that someone is directing AND starring in their own film/play, I instantly gain caution. I should actually mention that I haven’t finished the movie yet, I mean, c’mon… who has four hours to sit and watch a movie, unless it’s Gone With The Wind? We’re about half way through, and despite it’s slow as molasses start, it’s pretty darn good! Looking forward to finishing it tonight.

So, I’m working to become an Insurance Broker. Yeah, I’m kind of surprised, too. My boss is confident I can do it, and my confidence level is getting there. There is A LOT to know, but if I can do this, it opens a TON of doors for me, the most important one at the moment, being able to earn full time money only working part time. My boss is confident in me and is sparing no time or expense to help me in any way. I’m sure I’ll have updates.

I’m going to finish up this blog with some words of wisdom that I’ve learned in the last month-ish. There really is a limit to how many episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse you can take. Don’t try to be a hero.