Thanks Christy! Now I have something to write....

This week, there's been nothing special to write about and then on my morning perusal of the bloggerverse, I saw that I had been tagged by Christy P-maker of cute dresses and all around cool person. So, I'll tell you a quick story about the young man (Jared) before getting to the ABCs of moi. A few days ago, Jared and I were on our way home from Alona's and we were talking about Alona's dogs being preggers and discussing that we needed to get Miss Sally fixed so there wouldn't be any puppies at our house. My parents asked who the daddy doggie was, and he informed us in a very grown up and mature voice, "that Beenie, he's just a maniac about THAT sort of thing". All of the adults in the car quickly looked out of the windows and tried really hard not to laugh. This is also the child that told me the story of the Headless Horseman using the words "a.k.a Bram Bones" and told me yesterday he wanted to be "a fixer" so that when other people's stuff broke, he could get lots of money for fixing it. He's a joy!

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program: The ABCs of M-E.

A. Attached or single? Attached
B. Best friend? My husband - Mike
C. Cake or Pie? Cake - Yellow cake with chocolate frosting
D. Day of Choice? Saturday
E. Essential item? books. Lots and lots and lots of books
F. Favorite color? cranberry red
G. Gummy bears or worms? Bears, I like to bite their little heads off and then put one color head on a different colored body. Strange I know.
H. Hometown? Elgin
I. Indulgence? See E
J. January or July? July
K. Kids? Two
L. Life isn’t complete without? my family
M. Marriage date? March 14
N. Number of brothers and sisters? 1 younger brother
O. Oranges or apples? Oranges
P. Phobias? Too many to name, I'm a scaredy wimp.
Q. Quotes? My new favorite is: "Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away"— Benjamin Franklin This is how I feel most days :"I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."— Marilyn Monroe And to answer your question, Mike does handle me at my worst.
R. Reasons to smile? My husband loves me!
S. Season of Choice? Spring
T. Tag some people: Connie, Crystal and Anita
U. Unknown fact about me? I'm an open book
V. Vegetable? I love most all veggies
W. Worst habit? I bite my fingernails
X. X-ray or Ultrasound? Neither, that would mean something was wrong.

Quick post

Hello all,
Every Sunday on our way to church, we listen to some sort of church music (hoping to get everyone reverent and in the right frame of mind-sometimes it works, other times not so much). Anywho, lately we've been listening to the 2008 YW CD called Steadfast and Immovable. The music is always so moving, but this year, one of the songs hit me very hard and here are the lyrics from Jenny Phillips' website:

To Become Like Him
Jenny Phillips/Tyler Castleton

You look around you
And you wonder if you’ll measure up
In this world it seems you may never be enough
Don’t let anyone convince you that it’s true
So much beauty lives inside of you
And you are enough
Just look up

Remember you are greatest
When you walk with God
When His light is in your eyes
You are truly strong
You don’t have to prove your beauty
In the eyes of men
You are divine within
You were sent here to become like Him

When you’re uncertain
Of the place you hold and who you are inside
He will share with you your part in His design
Seek for His meekness
Seek to emulate His life
And you will feel Him always by your side
You have His love
Just look up

Chorus

Holiness, love, good works, mercy
To be like Him
Charity, hope, truth, and wisdom
To be like Him

Chorus

I think this is definitely inspired, not just for the youth and the YW, but for all of us. We are enough, we have our Heavenly Father's love, we don't have to prove anything to man, we are divine.

Just a thought---peace and love y'all

Well, it finally happened....

Well all, it finally happened, I offended someone here at work. After the oh so nice email to me about my unprofessional and untactful comments about people at my desk, my heart sped to Indy 500 speed like it does when I get angry. Then I thought to myself, self, I'm not going to let this boil into something that is crazy, this is an office. So I wrote the offended back thanking her and telling her that I would be more mindful in the future. I hope this took the wind out of the sails of whatever is up her butt.

What did I do you ask? I have no clue. We were supposed to have a department picture (spur of the moment type thing apparently) and I don't know why everyone chose to come to my office to be around MY desk. I do know that I moved out of MY chair when people came behind me and touched me-those are big no nos in the Book of Kristi. My friend here explained that I do not like people behind me (even the boss won't stand behind me). Let me explain about that whole issue, most of you know that I don't like to be touched by people I don't know, I'm not a touchy feely person, never have been, never will. I don't like people hovering over me because it just bugs me to death. But I digress. After a bit, when it was determined that maybe another time would be better, some people had left, I was back at my desk doing my work and my phone rings. Everyone still in my office continues to talk at top volume and I tell them "Y'all!" and make go away motions w/ my hands. I can't hear or concentrate when people are talking and I'm already on the phone. Maybe this is what set her off, I don't know.

Do I care? Not really. Why am I writing about it? Because I had forgotten for a moment that people take offense at the smallest thing. MY DH heard something at stake conference one time like you choose to be offended. I may have lost my membership in the Epitome of Sweetness and Light club.

Whatever. I'm going to the fair tonight! I'm taking my camera so hopefully I'll get some interesting pictures of the craziness that is the fair. BTW, I got my hair chopped off a la Katie Holmes so maybe there will be a picture of me as well but I'm not promising anything.

Y'all have a great weekend, I'm ready for some fair food!

Peace and love y'all

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

This morning was chaos. I was sleeping peacefully, just beginning to wake up when Sally jumped on my head (her oh so lovable way of telling me it's time to go outside), and I realized it was a little too bright to be the normal waking hour. I looked at the clock, 7:00!!!! After much running and stress, Jared and I finally headed out the front door only to go right back in and get jackets. Fall has arrived!! I love what I call the "in- between seasons", fall and spring. It's not too cold or too hot, just right for doing whatever you want to do. I love spring because everything turns green and the trees bloom and it starts getting warm. I love fall because the leaves turn and the weather starts getting cool.

So, here's my list of fall loves:

1. The state fair. Yes, I'm a people watcher and that's the best place to watch the wackos that inhabit the great state of SC. Also the fair food. I don't ride anything (hello, you put it up and take it down in a matter of days, it can't be all that safe), but I will eat until my little heart's content. This brings up a funny memory, Anita, do you remember the chicken gyro burps?

2. Sweaters. I LOVE sweaters, they are my most favorite article of clothing. If I could buy nothing but sweaters I would. Sweatshirts are nice too but I really have a thing for sweaters. This is a perfect segue into....

3. Boots. I'm rather short so any height is a good thing. I need a new pair of boots this year but will never be able to find any as comfy or cool as my old boots (and I got them on sale).

4. The colors. Red, orange, yellow, brown leaves. I'm always on the lookout for bright leaves. There's a tree in our little town that turns the most vibrant shade of yellow every year. I'm always so happy to see that tree when it turns. It's like the trees are giving us one last little cheer before going to sleep for the winter. I also look better in fall colors but that's another issue.

5. Hot chocolate. There is nothing better than getting a big mug of mint hot chocolate (with whipped cream) and a book and reading in front of the fire.

6. The stars. Once the haze of summer leaves, you can see the stars so much better at night. You really get a feeling of smallness when you think of all of the planets and stars that God created, it's a source of amazement to me.

7. General Conference. This used to be an excuse to stay home and do nothing on a Sunday (which feels kind of odd), but now as I grow older, it's a time to learn something and spend time with the family. Of course, we're horrible parents because we make the kids sit through at least one session which is torture to a certain 8 year old boy that I know whose first name starts with "J".

8. Blankets. I'm always cold so blankets are a plentiful thing in my house. I love to snuggle up in a blanket and watch tv, read, stare at nothing in particular.

9. The holidays. Halloween and Thanksgiving, gotta love them. Some people have issues with Halloween but I've always loved it because you get candy for minimal effort. We are always at the trunk or treat at church and all the kids have to do is keep going from car to car to car until the candy runs out. My kids then are on a sugar high until Easter (another high sugar holiday). Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday of the year, again, very little stress but good things abound. It's a time for me to think back on the year, before the Christmas chaos begins and really appreciate what I've been blessed with. Also, going to granny's house: mac and cheese, chicken and dumplings, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs....I can't go on, I'm drooling.

What is your favorite thing about fall? Let me know.

Peace and love y'all!

A Good Mormon Wife? What the heck is that?

This morning I was reading an entertaining article in the Deseret News by Orson Scott Card entitled A Bad Wife or just a Busy One (It's in the Mormon Times section if you want to take a look at it). Anyway, the general gist of it was that Mr. Card's wife had an issue with him taking his shirts to the cleaners because as a good Mormon wife, she was supposed to iron although she hated it. There's also talk about division of labor and stuff like that (read the article folks!). That got me to thinking-what exactly is a good Mormon wife? and am I one of those people?

Sometimes we think about a good Mormon wife and what she supposedly does. She bakes, knits, cleans, has a spotless house, does her visiting teaching every month (the first day), her geneology is up to date (from Adam), she volunteers at the school, hospital and library (every day), she's read the scriptures at least twice this year (all 4 standard works), her husband comes home to a four course meal and her children are always polite, clean and on their way to being the next Bill Gates or Nobel Prize winner. That must be tiring. I need a nap.

From me, you will get a blank stare when you ask who my great great great grandmother on my father's side is (dad who is it?). I also laugh if someone asks me if I sew or bake my own cakes and cookies or if my oh so delicious brownies are "home made". My brownies, by the way are home made, I make them at home from a Duncan Hines mix, my idea of darning socks is to look at the hole in them and say "Darn!" if not something else better left untyped, sewing is something that I have never got the hang of (I've never really tried, it just seems cheaper to go buy something). When Mike and I got married, we had a deal that he would do the yard work, the house work and everything else if I changed poopy diapers. That deal worked really well until Jared was potty trained, now I have to actually do some stuff that I don't like doing, like housework. Mike still does the bulk of the cleaning, I'm more of a "picker-upper". However, he doesn't do the homework with the kids, that's my job. I cook and draft him to wash dishes. He cuts the yard and I actually don't do anything with it other than say "honey, the yard looks really great, good job!". I am also the supreme planner, scheduler and kid taker and picker upper. Ask me what the kids or Mike has going on and I can tell you the rough schedule until the end of the year (including the holiday schedule and who will have Kiersten on Christmas Eve this year).

Where are you going with this Kristi you ask? This is where I'm going: We as LDS women sometimes put too much pressure on ourselves to be "perfect". We all have different strengths and weaknesses. We need to celebrate ourselves, not dwell on our failings. I think my mom keeps a spotless home, Connie has the most loveliest decorations, Christy P. makes the most beautiful dresses and outfits I've ever seen, Trish makes the most to die for desserts, I could go on and on with things that other women do that I don't. I'm glad they do them.

The answer to the question what is a good Mormon wife to me is: a woman who loves her family, does her best to do what she's supposed to and appreciates the gifts and talents of others. Am I one of those people? Although I may fall short at times, I'm trying and I think that's all the Lord asks of us.

That's my post for the week. Peace and love y'all!

A Few Pictures for this evening

Hello all-

As Kiersten sits here reading over my shoulder, I'm finally able to post some pics of the dog and Jared in his new hunting garb.

This is Sally, our new addition. She is a sweet puppy who saved Mike and I from a particularly vicious roll of toilet paper last night. I woke up this a.m. to find the scattered remains by our bedroom door and a very tired Sally by the bed. When we come home, it's a dash to the door (for her to potty) and then jumping and playing. She seems to be getting along with Buster pretty well. She jumps on his head and he seems to tolerate her.

Jared and his new camo. He's actually more excited about hunting than he seems in this picture. I think he's just so tired here that he doesn't care. But you can't see him can you?

More later, that's all folks!

The Mother of All Posts

Hello all! It's been forever and a day since I last posted, but it's been extremely busy here at work (those unemployed people just won't leave me alone!), and at home I don't feel like looking at a computer. BUT, the bossman is out today so I have a little bit of spare time to tell you all what I've been thinking lately and since I'm a listmaker, here's my list:

1. Saturday, Jayne, Connie and I and maybe some others are going to the beach to get inked (henna people!). I've been ruminating on what to get that is "me". We're also going to do some shopping and lunching. I'm so excited, I'm bouncing in my seat like a little kid. I get to go somewhere with cool females!!!! I am bummed that my fellow ESAL Crystal is not going to be able to come, but we'll figure something out between the two of us.

2. I was watching TV about the HADRON whatever over in Switzerland that they fired up this week to simulate the Big Bang. Detractors are saying that it's possible that the collision of the whatevers that are moving at the speed of light will cause a black hole that will swallow the Earth. I don't think that will happen but wouldn't that be a neat disaster movie?

3. The political conventions are over (thank goodness). I didn't watch them and I'm still undecided as to who to vote for. I'm more of a debate watcher. This leads to a rather largish gripe that I have which I will share with you. PEOPLE OF ALL POLITICAL PARTIES LISTEN TO ME!!! Please do not send me an avalanche of anti Obama, anti McCain junk. Some of the stuff that has hit my email box here and at home is actually bordering on offensive. I understand that all people have the right to their own opinion and it's a great country where we get to vote; however, you will not sway me with anti whoever crap. Vote the way you want and I'll vote the way I want. If we agree, great. If we don't, that's great too.

4. Back to the fun stuff---Kiersten got her expander put in her mouth last week. It's quite an interesting little gadget that I have to "turn" every day for 22 days. She is still having an issue talking, it sounds like she has a big jolly rancher in her mouth. But, it's getting better. We were laughing together at the orthodontist about the way she sounds and Dr. Green said we were having too much fun.

5. Jared told me this morning he "has allergy symptoms". He is learning new words and loves to use them. We were going through World Market on Saturday and he was saying "that's so awkward!" about everything. Sometimes he got the context right, sometimes not. He's also turning into a guilt tripper. It was funny during the Olympics, he would want us to record something and if we didn't, we would hear this little voice go "it's okay. I didn't REALLY need to watch the BMX stuff."

6. Hunting season is upon us, which means I will soon be a deer hunting widow. Actually I don't mind so much as it gives Mike a chance to do something that he loves (hang in a tree and kill defenseless animals), while teaching our son a necessary life skill (hang in a tree and kill defenseless animals). Mike bought Jared some really cool new camo last week when they went goose hunting. I know that they're supposed to look tough and tree like, but Jared just looked so darn cute! I have a picture somewhere that I'll post.

7. Kiersten asked me the other day when she could start wearing makeup and get contacts. Oh the horrors! My baby is growing up! Mike and I talked about it last night and we're going to tell her 13 for very little makeup (don't want her looking like a streetwalker), like mascara and lipstick. Then after the braces are off we'll talk about contacts again. She, of course, thinks it's a travesty that she has to wear braces and glasses at the same time (this was put into her head by her father and I would gleefully smack him for saying such, but I refrain. I am the epitome of sweetness and light).

8. Life in the Chesley household has changed in the past month, we added a new addition to our family, little Sally Mohawk the puppy. I have never had an inside dog so this is a totally new experience for me, getting up in the wee hours to take her outside to wee. (Do you think that's why they're called the "wee" hours? I made a funny!) Thanks a bunch Alona for letting us have the precious miss. Her favorite person in the whole family is of course, Mike. It's quite entertaining to watch her when he comes home. As soon as his wheels hit the driveway she is at the door waiting for him. When he comes in, she looks like she's having some sort of fit and if he leaves the room, the little lady follows him. I call her his shadow, they work on the computer together, watch Outdoor Channel together, and play with the laser pointer together.

Well, I guess that's all for now. I have been thinking more, but those are kind of deep and not much fun so I'll let them pass by for another day. So everyone, here's a brand new post for all of you who have been waiting for one. Hope you like it.

Peace and love y'all!