Dear World

My heart aches right now. I wish I could be close to my family, so I could be with them through this trying time. I've mentioned before my cousin, Jake, who was fighting cancer. His story is here. He passed away about an hour ago.

Thank you to all of his neighbors and friends who were there for him and his family during these past months. There are no words to express how grateful I am for you taking care of my aunt while she struggled through watching her child die. She still needs you. They all do. I wish I could be there for them, but I'll have to rely on you.

God bless.

High Time

I suppose it's time I blogged again. So much for the 3 posts a week goal...

Last week Mark's mom, Kathy, came to visit. She stayed for a full week, and for 4 days of that Mark was out of town. Lucky me!! We had a fabulous time together. Some of the things we did:

• Rode the tram and took a short hike on top of the Sandia "mountains" (<- that has "" because I'm from Utah)
• Santa Fe - museum, dinner, shopping
• House hunting
• Cooked and ate delicious food
• Read fun books
• Exercised
• Relaxed
• Explored Petroglyph National Monument
• Went to the temple

We may or may not have done other things, too. But we had so much fun that I've forgotten the small details of what we were doing to have fun :)

Things have been pretty quiet around here since she left. One big fun fact is that we've borrowed a bicycle for me to ride around town for my workouts. I went 14 miles today! The bike only has one speed (it's kind of run down, and used to be a 24 speed mountain bike), so it takes a while to get anywhere. The speed it's on is good for going uphill. However, it's hard to work up speed on a nearly flat surface. Downhill is obviously fine.

One other fun fact is I may have a job by the end of the year! I'm going to the same event that got Mark hired at Sandia (the Science and Engineering Expo) at the end of October. Until then, I'll stay content with the relaxing and peaceful life I live.

Labor Day Weekend

Mark and I had our first ever Labor Day weekend in Albuquerque. My parents were able to come visit for the weekend - and I think they enjoyed the motorcycle ride down. They arrived on Friday, and we went to lunch at Fuddruckers (soooo tasty!). On the way back home we went shopping, and by the time we got back it was time for dinner. We went out with my mom's cousins, which was super fun, to a New Mexican place where we all got to try New Mexican for the first time.

Saturday was a way fun day, and the one that we actually got pictures. We went on the longest tram in the world, to the top of the Sandia mountains. At the top we spent a few hours hiking and exploring around. It was probably the best view of the city! Here's a bunch of pictures from that.

This one looks like I'm climbing, but I'm really laying on some funky rocks :)

After the tram and hiking we went to the temple, where Mom and I were so hot that we almost passed out doing sealings. Because of that, we spent the rest of the night at home looking at pictures and hanging at the pool.

They left this morning to start their motorcycle trek back home. It was SO great to have them here, and I look forward to many more fun visits in the future!

The Amazing Plan

Due to a happy event (yay for winning blog giveaways!) I have recently come upon a large stack of Hallmark cards. It's Hallmark's current goal to bring card giving back into society. It has since been overlooked by the communication abilities of facebook (birthday reminders) and twitter (little feel-good notes). But, as they say, one always loves receiving a piece of mail that isn't a bill or junk. Since winning a giveaway on Casey's blog, I was challenged to send out at least 7 cards to people I care about. I sat and wrote them one night while Mark was away on business. I mailed them the next day, full of love and inside jokes. I sent a couple to some good friends. I sent a couple to my parents, and as an extra surprise mailed it to their workplaces rather than their home (I'm a clever gal). I sent one to my Grandmama, whose birthday was coming up. And then I waited.

I knew the cards had started arriving when I got a text from an unsuspecting friend. She commented on some of my notes, and said she really needed the card that day. I smiled, of course, and told her I love her. She has been one of my best friends these 15 years or more that I have been reasonably socially acceptable. Her card went something like this: "Are people giving you that 'things get better with time' B.S.?" ... on the inside... "It's shopping. Things get better with shopping."

Next came the text from my dearest mother. "I've figured out your evil plan!" she says. Ha! I took her by surprise! That was my biggest hope :) Now, to see how Papa takes it... I'm pretty sure Mom hasn't suspected Papa to get one at his work as well.

A text and a phone call from two more of my friends. Can I just say how much I love hearing from them? It's hard living so far away from everyone, because they get to thinking that I don't care anymore about their day to day lives. But I do!! I love hearing about all the small little things that are happening with them.

There's still more people I hope to hear from because of this adventure, but I can't wait to post any longer. I'll bet the suspense has just been killing you :)

Also, even if you maybe didn't get a card, it's ok to text or call me at anytime. I'm truly 100% available for a "hello"!