Double, Double Toil and Trouble

Pumpkin carving...

We carved pumpkins...and yes, I carved that little tiny one...just because!

Curiously Backwards

"You're just the romantic age," she continued--"fifty. Twenty-five is too worldly-wise; thirty is apt to be pale from overwork; forty is the age of long stories that take a whole cigar to tell; sixty is--oh, sixty is too near seventy; but fifty is the mellow age. I love fifty."
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald

139 days -- love & photography

I was excited to look in the mailbox yesterday and see our wedding photographer had sent us a "gift" -- a CD with the full-sized images from our wedding.

As much as I like my photos (because after all, it was our wedding day -- the beginning of a wonderful adventure) I was disappointed in them. I had expected something totally different. I'd be lying if I told you I didn't cry when I saw them -- I totally did. Like a big baby. And every time someone asked to see photos after that I got all blubbery about it again. My photos did not turn out how I wanted them. However, the photos sufficiently documented the day. As much as I strongly recommend others to invest in photography (let alone wedding day photography), I had to remind myself it was only physical. What mattered most was that we were married -- and besides, how often would I really be looking at my wedding photos (besides right now -- of course)?

What do you think about investing in photography? Is it worth it? How do you feel about your wedding day photography -- love or hate? Regrets? What expectations do you have for a professional photographer? (Answer me people! :) )

Banana Bread

Here's my mamma's recipe for yummy, yummy banana bread!

My first time giving it a try and I think it was a success! 

ingredients

All the ingredients you'll be needing (minus the bananas -- they'd been in the freezer and were a little yucky):

-1/2 cup shortening

-1 cup sugar

-3 real ripe bananas

-2 eggs

-1 T sour milk (sour cream)

-1 t baking soda

-1 t salt

-2 cups flour

-walnuts, chocolate chips, peanut butter (or whatever else you'd like to experiment with!)

Of Art, Optimism and Endurance

On Wednesday, Terry Morrow, taught us about learning.

He drew us three different graphs. One that steadily traveled upward. One that traveled upward with several flat-lined plateaus. And another that traveled upward complete with high and low spikes.

Terry said our graphs would all look a little different. Some of us would catch on easier. Some of us would get stuck for a while, and have to learn how to get out of it. And others, would just have a few really awful days.

Happy Halloween (or something like that)

I saw this on my way home from school...scared me a little at first!

Well Said Alice

"I could tell you my adventures -- beginning from this morning," said Alice a little timidly: "but it's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then." 
-Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

This book is lighthearted and fun to read. Definitely a classic.

Always,

David -- Simplicity, part 2

I laid next to Nathaniel in bed one night. He listened as I cried. He asked if I was stressed...did I feel anxious again? Was I unhappy?

I shook my head. And I cried some more. It wasn't quite that.

I was scared. Again.

Air caught in my throat, my voice choking as I told Nathaniel how nervous I was to have an anxiety attack again. The semester was starting -- that meant stress, which for me, translated directly into anxiety. Anxiety that was paralyzing.

Blessed

Because...

-Yesterday Nathaniel and I babysat for a family we go to church with. Their children are adorable and not to mention hilarious. We cuddled and watched Finding Nemo. Their funny comments and sweet hugs just about melted my heart. I'm such a sucker.

Ms. Jakubik

I had an art teacher in high school who encouraged me to pursue art in my upper education.

I won't lie -- I laughed at her. I thought that was a little ridiculous. What in the world was I going to do with art? Mind you, I was 17.

Goliath -- Simplicity, part 1

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." - Leonardo da Vinci

****

I gasped for air as tears rolled down my cheeks. I shook. My world was spinning. I laid curled up next to Nathaniel feeling hopelessly and painfully alone, void of the Spirit or any sensation of peace. I felt terror as a mental illness closed it's grip around my neck.

Anxiety attack -- again. One of what felt like thousands. A plague, that I felt would never leave my life.

4 months (plus a missionary side note)

I'm grateful for a wonderful 4 months with Nathaniel -- especially that it's only the beginning!

happily

Poor Francis

As I was getting ready for bed yesterday I stepped on something that felt rubbery. I quickly looked down and saw something scurry under the bed. My heart pounding, I leaned down to see what it was. Thinking I'd see a mouse, I was quite surprised to see a scorpion.

Even though my stomach had just flipped upside down and my heart was jumping out of my ribcage, I ran to the other room to grab my camera. I jumped back onto the bed and dangled half of my body off as I held my camera. I was surprised to find the scorpion didn't move as I took picture after picture of mis-aimed photos trying to capture one that would prove what my foot had just touched.

Pros & Cons (and a Halloween side note)

Pro: I got an internship at the local newspaper.

Con: It's unpaid.

Pro: This internship means I'll graduate on-time.

Con: We're gonna be poor...like poorer than we already are.

Pro: We're married.

Con: Can't seem to find one! Just trying to be grateful.

****************************

Patience

I attended a religious studies class today at the LDS Institute of Religion. Every Friday we eat lunch and watch an old conference talk and then discuss the talk after -- have I mentioned conference is this weekend, that you can watch it on TV or on-line and that I'm so excited? Because I am.

Today we watched Elder Uchtdorf's Continue in Patience. Boy howdy...it was amazing.