Monday, December 31, 2012

Satisfying Dream

I had the most satisfying dream last night. I dreamed that I went to my high school reunion and was able to tell my peers about my life. While I was telling everyone about my life, I realized that I was leading a successful life. One thing about me is that I hated high school with a fiery passion. For me, high school was three years of pure hell on Earth. There were some really good people to be sure, but mostly I felt like I went  to high school with jealous backbiters who love tearing you down rather than building you up. That may sound really dramatic, but honestly, there were some pretty awful people walking the halls of Davis High. Bottom line, high school was definitely not the best years of my life. So to have this dream where I was back in front of those same people that looked down on me, and was able to lift my head high and be proud of what I have done since last seeing them, well, that felt really good. Yes, I realize that this was a dream. But I woke up feeling so much peace, joy, and even a little pride about the life that I am currently living.

Another thing about me, and this may sound weird to some people, is that I feel like when I am having an especially hard time, sometimes Heavenly Father gives me the comfort I need through a dream. This has happened quite a few times actually. Mostly it has been when I was missing someone so much that it hurt. Like when I was waiting for a missionary or missing my grandma that passed away, Heavenly Father would let me spend the entire night with them through a dream, and somehow I would wake up missing them less. Well, anyway, I feel like this dream was one of those comfort dreams that I needed. Last night I went to bed crying about how miserable I have been. It's such a hard thing not complaining about this "morning" sickness that I have been experiencing. To be sick day after day for months on end is exhausting. Throwing up multiple times a day has left me weak and irritable. I know this pregnancy is such a blessing, not to mention a miracle, but sometimes I have a moment of weakness where I just don't want to feel this sick anymore. And it's hard because I know there are so many woman that would kill to feel this sick if it meant that they got to be a mom. So I KNOW that I have no right whatsoever to complain. But it really is so hard sometimes feeling like crap 24/7 with absolutely no relief. Have you ever been starving and nauseous at the same time? It's not fun! Anyway, yesterday was a particularly hard day of feeling like I was starving yet throwing up everything that touched my lips. By the end of the day I was tired, weak, and feeling a little sorry for myself. I fell asleep with tears still on my face and then this dream comes. And I feel like it was exactly the reminder and the comfort that I needed. Yes, my day to day life has not been the greatest. But my life as a whole is so blessed. I am married to the most amazing, kind, loving, patient man. We just got into this wonderful home. We have an incredibly weird dog that I absolutely love. I am working at my dream job. And now, we have a baby on the way. We are truly blessed and living successful lives. I am so lucky. I just feel this overwhelming sense of peace right now, and I needed it so much after a day like yesterday.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

A Christmas to Remember

Merry Christmas! Did everyone have a good Christmas? Wow, we certainly did! We were able to spend so much time with so much family this year and it was amazing! We are so incredibly blessed to have the wonderful families that we do. I was talking to my mom last night and telling her how I realized that this Christmas I wasn't even anticipating what gifts I would get. This may sound insanely selfish, but in Christmas's past the thing I would look forward to most, were the gifts. Well, I must be growing up or something because getting presents was the last thing on my mind this year. I honestly could not wait to spend all of this uninterrupted time with my family. This entire month I could not wait to see all of my extended family members. I just don't get enough time with them. Justin and I have A LOT of cousins, so when we get a lot of them together at one time it is always a special thing. In all honesty, I think the biggest reason I was so looking forward to seeing my family this year was to share our BIG NEWS! Drum roll please.............................................................................

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WE'RE PREGNANT!!!

That's right folks. There is a bun in this oven! Surprised? So were we! I mean, yes we had been trying, but it had been so long I was beginning to think that there was something wrong. I found out on November 30'th and let me tell you what- that was the hardest secret I have ever ever ever had to keep! I was planning on telling our immediate families on Christmas and then sharing it with the world around New Years. However, just after one week (the longest week of my life I might add) I cracked and had to tell my family. Mostly because there were about a million times that week where I wanted to call my mamma up and ask her pregnancy questions. Well, all the Wrights were getting together that week to do our family Christmas card so Justin and I wrapped up some baby items; diapers, pacifiers, a toy, a bottle, and a onesie, and told my family that they were getting an early Christmas present that we couldn't wait to give to them until Christmas. They were so surprised! That day definitely goes down into one of my favorite days ever- my families reactions were priceless. 

Next it was time to tell the Palmers. So one night we were over for dinner at my in-laws and Justin gives me this look that says, "I'm doing it RIGHT NOW cause I can't wait one more second!" I of course nod my approval. Just a quick side note: when it comes to food the power of suggestion is freaking strong with me right now. If someone mentions a food that sounds good I crave it until I get it. Well that night a commercial came on the TV with homemade chocolate chip cookies. And I HAD TO HAVE THEM! So being the good husband that he is, Justin goes into his mom's kitchen and starts whipping up a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. When they are finally in the oven cooking Justin tells his family that the cookies are not the only thing in the oven. It took them a split second to figure it out but when they finally did it was a very good moment. Two families down. Yes!

The next people to find out were not scheduled to find out until after the holidays. However, when you are running to the employee bathroom every hour to puke your guts out, your coworkers start getting suspicious. So I figured that it was best to tell them where I kept disappearing to, so they didn't think I was the worst employee in the history of ever. Most of them admitted that they kind of already knew, or at least suspected. And can I just say right now, telling people is fun! haha

Soooo. Now enter Christmas. We had three family parties scheduled so three different opportunities to deliver the news. At the Olsen family party we had Santa sit Grandma and Grandpa Olsen on his lap, ask them what they wanted for Christmas, and then told them that they had a gift from Justin and Kristi on the way but that it wouldn't be there until the summer. At the Paulsen family party we had my mom announce it after the prayer and before dinner by saying that someone in the room was about to be a grandma. This announcement took a minute to figure out who she was talking about, and then all joy broke loose. At the Wright family party I walked in with a onesie  pinned to my stomach that said 'My First Christmas'. Both Pa and Grandma gave me a hug without noticing it, but when Aunt Robin came to give me a hug she picked up on it right away. There were some tears shed at this one and it was very touching. So yeah- basically this Christmas rocked the socks off of all of the others! Not only did we get insanely spoiled, we also got to share some of the greatest news ever. 

Here are the answers to the questions I know you are all asking yourself ;)
-I am due August 10'th
- I am only about 7 weeks along so it is pretty early to be telling people. However, at the doctors appointment we saw the heartbeat (that was surreal!) and she said that once you see the heartbeat your chances of losing it drop to under 10%. I  felt like those were good enough odds to tell people. Plus I am a horrible secret keeper. You've seen my Facebook. I'm an open book. 
- I am sooooo sick! My record is throwing up 5 times in one day. I HATE brushing my teeth!! It gets my gag reflexes every single stupid time! And 'morning' sickness? Psh. Try 24/7 sickness! I have to constantly remind myself that the sickness is a blessing though because it means that the baby is there.

Well, if you made it through that post I applaud you. Sorry it was so long and tedious but I had a lot to say haha. Basically to sum things up we are just happy and blessed and yes, a little bit sick. We had a wonderful Christmas and so much fun telling our happy happy news to everyone. And now I can shout it out from the rooftops! I'M GONNA BE A MOMMY! 

Ps- I didn't document everything this week but here are some of the pictures that I did get. 

 Me and Brother
 Me and the Hubs
 Hannah and Jaycee
 Aunt  Teri reading 'You are Special'
 Ella opening her Christmas presents
 Cass and Jess
 Tyler teasing the sisters
 Zach and Jess
 Me and Zorro
 Everyone got matching pj's
 We felt like we should be in a choir
Matchy Matchy Sisters

 Announcement
 Baby's First Christmas
 Sisters
 Brothers
 Special Brothers
 Very Special Brothers
 Kyle and Kelly
 Jess and Kailey
 Zach and Kailey playing with Zach's frickin' sweet new toy (and Pa in the background)

Dad and Justin playing with my dad's new shocking game. It is so intense! 


Sunday, December 16, 2012

Feminists


Many of you have probably heard about the LDS feminist group who have declared today as "wear pants to church day". You can watch this video if you don't know what I am talking about. This is one of the debates where I just have to throw my two cents in. And I must admit, that I think this is completely ridiculous.  Commenting on the dress code LDS spokesman Scott Trotter said in a statement: 'Attending church is about worship and learning to be followers of Jesus Christ.Generally church members are encouraged to wear their best clothing as a sign of respect for the Savior, but we don’t counsel people beyond that.' This feminist group is seriously making a big stink over nothing. NO ONE told them that they couldn't wear pants to church. As Latter Day Saints we are encouraged to wear our best clothing, and if pants are your best clothing, than that is absolutely fine. A coworker of mine told me that back east women wear pants to church all of the time and it's no big deal. Well guess what folks, it's not a big deal here either. So if it's no big deal, what are these women really after? Attention of course! Because that is what church is about right? While these women are wearing pants to church and are trying to make a point, possibly get some attention, and maybe even make a scene, I hope they remember the Savior and His perfect love that he has not only for them, but for everyone on this Earth. Sacrament Meeting is not a place to bring your "protests" but a place of worship and personal reflection. Let's keep the sacred things sacred people. 

Another "itch that I need to scratch" is something that Justin and I saw circulating around on the internet this last month. Maybe you have seen this.....

This quote has really gotten under my skin. I know that God has a plan and he DEFINITELY had a plan for this particular moment in time. So to say that women would have been better than the three wise men is completely sacrilegious to me. Yes, there are a lot of men in the nativity story. So is that why feminists are getting their panties in a bunch? Because what of Mary? Aside from Jesus Christ, she had one of the most important roles to play. She was entrusted with something so incredibly sacred, it almost always brings tears to my eyes. What an incredible, faithful, women she was. The only way that Jesus Christ could have been born was through a women. Not to mention that this quote highly discredits what type of men the three wise men were. I found this quote on lds.org, "Imagine traveling across the desert. The journey is long, your camel ride is bumpy, and you’re not even following a map! Instead, you follow a star. How would you feel? Would you have the faith to keep going? Two thousand years ago, the Wise Men did exactly that. They saw a brilliant star in the east and journeyed to Bethlehem to honor the Christchild with beautiful gifts."
These men were courageous, selfless, and incredibly faithful men. And I for one, feel like I have a lot to learn from them and would never wish in a million years that the story of Christ's humble birth were any different. 


The Divine Calling of Motherhood

It's late. I need to be in bed right now, but the pull to write is stronger than the pull of my night time meds, so .... here I am. T...