Dream of Love II

If none of this makes sense to you please go back and read installment one of Dream of Love

She was really hoping that Autumn would be at the airport to get her. Not having a car at college was such a bummer. She just kept trying to convince herself that walking to campus every day was going to help her lose the last few pounds.

“Amber! You made it,” Autumn said and hugged her friend and roommate.

“Yeah, so how are things? Do you like the new roomy? Is she cool? Have you met the guys in our ward?” Amber had been fretting about sharing an apartment with someone she didn’t know. What if this girl was a total pill?

“She seems nice, but she hasn’t been around much.” Autumn grabbed one of the bags and they both headed out of the terminal, catching up with their summer happenings as they walked. “I thought we would stop by my parents place to get the things you stored there. Is that cool?”

“It’s your car.” The plan sounded good to her. She was anxious to get her computer set up so she could get online and look up Jack’s telephone number. She wondered if he was in Provo yet, and if he was still dating his new love interest.

Driving down I15 the conversation flowed easily between the friends. Most of the conversation circled around memories from freshman year, but with her one track mind, it wasn’t long before Amber was telling Autumn all about Jack.

“I mean, he is kind of the whole reason I considered BYU in the first place.” She was silent as she remembered the letters Jack sent from BYU. Her love for the school grew as she read about his wheelchair races in the dorms, rock climbing, and dances. She had never realized how his letters affected her until one day she was racing home with the burning desire to attend college thousands of miles away from everything she had known.

“So is his new girlfriend attending BYU?” Autumn asked.

Amber cringed at the term girlfriend and the idea of her being in Provo. She hadn’t really thought of that before. She had just assumed that once Jack was out there, the other girl (not girlfriend, just girl) would still be back in Colorado. She was depending on the distance to create an opportunity to wiggle back into his heart. “I hope not,” she said looking away.

The car fell silent. Unable to endure the silence Autumn turned the subject to a safer topic. “So you are the last to arrive in our apartment. You and Celeste will be sharing a room.”

“That’s cool,” she said, but her enthusiasm was gone.

Instead of talking the girls both just listened to the radio for the rest of the drive to the apartments.

“Oh we are in luck,” Autumn said excited as she pulled up. “Great parking spot, and look there is Keith, he can help carry in your boxes.”

Amber looked in the direction Autumn had gestured. In that instant, all thoughts of Jack were discarded. She was breathless, and certain that she looked the biggest fool as she stared up at the dark haired guy with his retro-glasses, tanned skin, and cute smile.

Autumn got out of the car, and Amber kept gawking as Keith walked over. By the time she tore her eyes away and got out of the car Autumn had already enlisted his help in their task.

Keith looked up as she got out of the car. Her heart raced and her cheeks reddened. “Hi, I’m Keith,” he said.

“Amber,” she said. Trying not to stare, as well as cover her blush. Autumn grabbed a box headed toward apartment 8.

“So you need some help?” Keith smiled over at her.

“If you are offering, I can use all the man power I can get.” They each grabbed a box. And Keith led the way. Amber slowed when Autumn came out of the door, and Keith moved ahead. When he was out of earshot, Amber turned to Autumn. “Wow.”

Autumn laughed and shook her head. “I know. But what about Jack?”

“A girl has got to have options, right?” She smiled wide, and then hurried in behind Keith.

Wednesday French Inspiration

Arc de Triomphe

My first 3 hours in Paris were spent figuring out how to get across the city when the metro workers were on strike (as usual). Once I was on the train I was smashed against the morning commuters with my luggage; and my husband's hand on a cute french lady's butt. But I was loving it (I didn't hear my hubby complaining either). I just knew any moment I would be out of the metro and above ground in the city that had made my heart beat faster just thinking about it.

We had the normal getting settled into the apartment, and waiting for hubby's aunt and uncle to arrive. So we went and got our selves some pastries to pass the time. Once every one was there and accounted for we had to stock the fridge and get some dinner. I had been in Paris for half a day now and I had only seen the few blocks between the apartment and the Monoprix (excluding the view from the metro window).

Once our bellies were full of the hand made pasta and some chocolate, we bundled up to go see the Arc de Triomphe. (If any of your watched the Tour de France you got to see a lot of the Arc as they did the gazillion laps up and down the Champs-Élysées.) I think I about cried as I stood across the street from the Arc. I couldn't believe I was there. Hubby served a mission for our church in Paris and always claimed he would take me. I assumed it would be like the promise he made to me that he would dance with me whenever I wanted, and always want to cuddle, and you know those promises a guy makes to help convince you he is the one you need in your life forever. Well he came through on some of them, but others are still works in progress. But going to Paris, I really believed it would never happen. He laughs at me because I told him that.

So I stood there thinking this was the greatest moment of my life, and then I saw it. Not the Arc. No the Arc was glorious, but this was the monument of all monuments. It was the one thing that Meg Ryan's character wished she didn't hate flying so much, because she wanted to see the Eiffel Tower. It was only the top of the tower with its light circling the sky, but I was elated. One of my favorite dreams was a reality.

Have you had any of your impossible dreams come true? I sure hope so, because that is the stuff that make life worth living. I hope you will take a moment to remember and relive one of your happiest moments.

Seriously Superior Award

Truth be told- I have been jealous of all of you who have gotten this award. But now I can finally be happy for you because my friend Lazy Writer must have noticed my green eyes glowing. She tossed the award over here to me hoping to appease the beast. Well all I can say is. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! :D I am happy. I love awards as much as I love comments.



So now that I've got this lovely trophy glamming up my sidebar I can rest easy and pass it on to some of the great blogs I've been reading.

Here are the rules for those of you who don't already know them:

1. Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
2. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
3. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
4. Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit This Post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
5. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

Here are the 5 bloggy friends that you should go over and read right now..... well you should finish reading my post and comment first, then go read them.

1. Becca Wilhite she will make you laugh, and smile. You feel like you are sitting by a lodge fireplace telling stories and sipping hot cocoa with an old friend. (Don't know why it is a lodge fireplace, but it is in my mind.)
2. Jenn Johannson teaches me more about writing every post without sounding like a stuffy book.
3.Meagan Brooks over at Confessions of a Writer blogs about admitting to herself that she is a writer whether she wants or it not (and she does want it). She is new to blogging but I find her posts are witty and fun.
4. Blogging Mama Andrea has random Tuesday. Anything random is so up my alley. I haven't been reading her blog for long, but a lot of others have. There is a reason why, it is fun and addicting.
5. Jordan over at Mean Mommy Academy keeps me in line when it comes to being the best mean mommy I can be. :) She is funny and generous. You should see all the giveaways she does over at the Academy. ( I love generous people).

So there you have it. There is a group of bloggers who make my day. Enjoy your reward. See you tomorrow for another Wednesday French Inspiration (Maybe I should just get over France but you see France and I have been in love since watching Madeline in the "Old house in Paris all covered in vines, with twelve little girls in two straight lines, the youngest one was Madeline. They left the house at half past nine.").

Dream of Love I

Her first summer back in Fairmont after attending Brigham Young University was quite the experience. She fell back into the same comfy friendships, and she even enjoyed a few kisses from one of her favorite beaus. But home just wasn’t the same; truthfully, she wasn’t the same. While attending BYU didn’t meet all of her expectations (like guys lining up to ask her out on all kinds of fun dates), it exceeded any experience she would have had staying at home and attending West Virginia University on her full scholarship.

Her major had changed as many times as her crushes, but she had finally settled on what she wanted in both of those categories. Unfortunately, there was a little hitch—the guy she liked was dating someone else. How could that happen she pondered? She knew he liked her, he even asked her friend Rae if it was too soon to ask her out. They were living in separate states, but were both returning to the Y that fall.

A month before the semester, he told her had met someone, and he was sorry, not for himself but for her. It was a familiar conversation for the two, only last time she was the one who had found a new guy.

So now she was heading back to Provo, butterflies in her stomach, hoping that she could convince her lost love that he still loved her. I mean he only had to see her and he would remember all of those fun times. It had to work, and if it didn’t then she would do the next best thing and just swear off boyfriends. Not dating, just boyfriends. Dating was fun, but broken hearts were just too much hassle.

This is part of a series of post I'm working on. If you don't like chick flicks you may not want to read my Dream of Love Series.

Wednesday French Inspiration

The Queen's Grand Apartment Versailles

While I can not say that Marie-Antoinette and I have the same taste in fabric prints, the queen's bed chambers at Versailles as very breath taking. Yet I can not image living as the royals did. People would sit and receive the queen every morning upon her waking. Heck when I wake up I'm a grouch. And I surely do not need to have other people around grating on my nerves. And they birthed their children in this room. While I love laying in the comfort of my bed, a home birth is not for me. I needed drugs to get me through that event and I am not ashamed. And sometimes when the king felt the urge he would share the bed chambers with the queen. Ummmm..... yeah while I may not enjoy the the snoring that comes from the other side of the bed, I am sure glad to have my Hubby there. And the only way he way he is getting out of sharing our bed is if I kick him out (which has never happened) or he is traveling for work. I am glad things have changed. Of course I'm no queen so maybe they haven't changed that much for royals I dunno.

Another thing about the decor, it was picked out by Marie-Antoinette. The wall coverings and bedding were changed every season. I can not imaging having to change it out every season. Of course Marie would not have been the one doing all the work but still. I guess if I had someone do do all the work for me I wouldn't mind changing my decor for the seasons. I do put up the Christmas tree, and I love doing that. But I normally start after Thanksgiving, it take me until A couple weeks in December to finish, and maybe by February I get motivated enough to put it all away. ( I have to have fake trees I'm allergic to pine).

These were my main thoughts while visiting the Queen's Grand Apartment, I like drugs (when having babies) and I'm too lazy(especially to change my decor seasonally Christmas trees). I guess it wasn't that inspirational.

Honesty: Is it Really Best?

If you haven't been reading and getting to know about Becca Wilhite then you are missing out. She is fun and witty, and super sweet. And she awarded me with this super award below. How cool is she? Yeah I know. Definitely go over and read her blog, and once you are done with that read her book, Bright Blue Miracle. Thanks Becca you are AWESOME!

This award has 4 requirements:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award, list her blog (or his) and link.

2. List 10 honest things about yourself and post a copy of the Honest Scrap Logo on your blog.

3. Pass the award on to seven (7) other people whose blogs you find brilliant in content or design.

4. Notify the bloggers you choose for the award and hopefully they will join in.

Now for the difficult task of choosing 7 bloggers....

1. Motherboard over at Crazyland is an amazing woman who now is the Editor of the Mormon Mommy Blogs. Crazyland is her blog where you can read all about the farm she has unintentionally started.
2. Crash writing her Crash Test Dummy Diaries tells it like it is and makes you laugh while she does it.
3. Amy of The Lawsons did Dallas makes me laugh out loud on every post that I read.
4. Annette Lyon of The Lyon's Tale writes about her journey to becoming a published author and shares her knowledge with her readers.
5. Shelle of Blokthoughts shares her thoughts and more.
6. Debbie of Cranberry Fries has giveaways and funny posts.
7. Cat of 4 Nuts in a Nutshell is impossible not to fall in love with. We are friends she just doesn't know it.

If you haven't read these blogs go over and read them, it will make you smile. And if you honestly want to learn some random things about me you can keep reading.

1 I am killing the trees. I read a lot of frugality blogs. How does that kill trees you ask? I can't pass up free stuff; a while ago they had a lot posts of free magazine subscriptions. So I started signing up for all of these magazines. I even have two subscriptions to Women's Day(true but unintentional). Don't tell anyone else but I don't even read most of them. Sometimes I look at the pictures.

2. I mix up the words prescribe and subscribe very often. (Just remembered as I was typing the previous fact). So I do not subscribe to your blogs I prescribe them. They are addicting too.

3. I waste a lot of time (and sometimes money) trying to do things myself. I think this is because I have a mother who can do everything. So I often get elbow deep in a project before I realize I should have known more before I started. Things normally turn out OK, but being a perfectionist makes things take a lot longer.

4. I still have not figured out if I should be honored or insulted by the flamboyant boys that were attracted to me in high school.

5. I can't cook rice without burning it.

6. Most people who visit my house assume I am a very clean person, who is great at maintaining my clean house. (HAHA, fooled ya). This fact baffles my sister and husband who know my true messy nature.

7. Sometimes I eat cookies for breakfast... and then I wonder why I can't lose weight? :)

8. I am in love with Superman. (and I think my daughter has developed a crush as well).

9. I have been scared of my kid sister doll ever since I saw part of the Chucky movies.

10. I feel prettier when I have acrylic nails with a french manicure square tips.

Music and Choirs

In high school if there was a music related class I was in it. I LOVE music. It moves me to tears quicker than any other medium. The thing I love so much about choir music and band music is that each person has their specific part. Separated the parts are not impressive, but when combined the synergy is AMAZING. This video displays it perfectly.I haven't shared any videos in a long time, but I couldn't help but share this one. If you have already seen it you know it is amazing. I get goosebumps every time I watch it.





Go out and find your part in life, sing your heart out, and enjoy the music if the masterpieces in which you are contributing.