What will you be doing April 29th?

I have lots of obsessions.

One of them is England.

Anything English.

My birthday is on St. George's Day. according to the Gregorian Calendar. St. George is the patron saint of England.

My husband's name literally means "of Britain." 

that was just a cool fluke. I didn't marry him because of what his name means.

I have ancestors from England.

My favorite authors are English.

I call myself the American Brit.

I can do a wicked British Accent.

No joke. I once had some people going for four hours thinking I was British. 

I went to England for eight GLORIOUS days back in 2006.

So on April 29th, 2011

I will be attending a Royal wedding.

Not in person. 

His Highness must have lost my address. Silly.

Will and Kate.

I will be celebrating along with you.

Ever since it came out several years ago that Prince William was dating this darling girl, I was rooting for her. She's classy. She's cute! She's smart. She's normal.

I can't wait for April 29th! I can't wait to see the flowers, the dress, the pomp and ceremony that Will detests...

It's all for me--

The little intrusive American woman who is dying to see the moment they commit themselves to one another.

With all my heart, I hope they make it. 

I wish them every happiness and joy in all that they do.

I wish them a successful, wonderful marriage.

...even though when I was a teenager, I wanted to marry Prince William.

Well, Kate, my friend... since I found my prince, I guess you can have my old one. 

hahaha.

Congratulations to you both, William and Catherine!

Dreaming?

I had a dream last night that I was going to audition for a play.
Unless it was a dumb play.
Then I wasn't going to audition.


I dream about flying all the time.
But not recently, I don't think.


I know if I wake up happy it's because I dreamed about England.
Or Disneyland.
Or flying.


I don't dream about Ella.
If I do, I don't remember it.
I wish I did.


The Man had a dream the other night
that he had to go to my funeral, except I wasn't dead.
He didn't like the dream.


What did you dream about recently?

What I'm reading

Ugh that is such a not-creative title.

Feeling not creative right now.

Creative posts titles suffer when I'm not feeling creative.

And don't even get me started on my book writing.

It's a joke.

Anyway...

For book club this month, we're reading this:

source

I don't normally read nonfiction (except for church publications). This is a stretch for me. But a good one.

I'm not very far into the book, but it definitely gives me a new perspective on the man that used to be our President.

My conclusion so far...

He is truly a great man.

He discusses his faults as well as his triumphs.

He doesn't gloss over his mistakes or even make excuses for them. He's open about his imperfections.

He doesn't gloat over who he rubbed shoulders with... just tells the story of how the people he knew shaped his life and decisions.

He has a cute sense of humor.

He adores his wife, dotes on his daughters, and idolizes his parents, who are also great people.

He's got class.

He is a God-fearing man. A man of faith and prayer.

He wanted to make a difference. He wanted to do good. He wanted to change America for the better. So he ran for President.

I've gotten all this after only a few chapters. Even though he may have made mistakes, he did the best he knew how.

I like this guy. He's the type of guy you could have a barbecue and an IBC rootbeer with, yet ran the world for eight years.

I sincerely hope that the current leaders of our country realize who they are: servants to the people, responsible to uphold the values of this country...

not royal celebrities bearing down a heavy thumb of control on a mindless populace.

Boy am I glad I'm allowed to say that.

St. Patrick's Day and other assorted happy things

Happy St. Patty's day. Hope no one's after yer lucky charms.

Or yer brownie batter.
I made and ate brownies today. No-sweets diet be danged. Happy thing #1

I got to go shopping with my awesome SIL Adele and her adorable kiddos, in which I got a TON of lovely things at Old Navy for smokin prices. Happy thing #2

And Happy thing #3. My little nephew made my day by showing me something he found:

Ella looked JUST like him. Those cheeks! I love it.

Happy thing #4 and an important side note:

For the locals, I'm face painting on March 26th from 2pm to 5pm at the grand opening of Menchie's Frozen Yogurt at 4905 E. Ray Rd. at the Ahwatukee Foothills Towne Center (Ray Rd and the I-10) right by the AMC. Menchie's is having a benefit in which proceeds will go to support Phoenix Children's Hospital. 

I would LOVE to see you out there, supporting our local businesses and especially showing support for the amazing people who work so hard at Phoenix Children's. I will forever appreciate their valiant efforts to save Ella and all the love and support they showed us after her loss.

 *and Menchie's is close to IKEA, in case you were wondering.

The Solution...

... for "oh crap we're going to a baptism and I forgot to shave."

Oh black boots

How I adore thee.

Thy lovely high heel,

Thy supple black leather

The way thou coverest

My pasty, pasty legs.

And scruffy, hairy calves

     like the sasquatch.

And the way thou makest

Me to look far hotter

Than I truly am.

She's back

Kadence has returned.

The writing bug has bitten.

Letters shall be written.

Letters to Lizzie

a story blog by me


Hope you'll read and plead for more.

More laughs. More letters. More Lizzie.




www.letterstolizzie.blogspot.com


*If you are unfamiliar with Kadence's tale, begin at the beginning. 

To finish my story

I say that a lot.

"I need to finish my story!"

I say it when I tell people about my writing and the stories I want to complete.

I say it (politely) when I'm telling a funny anecdote and somehow get interrupted.

And I say it when I'm reading something aloud to my captivated audience and fan club

which consists of 3.5 people, I think. Maybe. I might be being overly generous to myself.

Ahem...

So,

here's the final bit in the tale of Me and the Man.

After our first date, we hung out a few times. Once, he invited me over to watch movies with him and his friends. I told a guy friend of mine (the brotherly kind of friend) about the outing and his advice was:

No kissing!

I laughed. And I laugh in retrospect. Because I went over there and we watched Red Eye scary! and there was no kissing. After it was over, he walked me to my car and gave me one of those side-ish hugs. The kind your third-grade teacher would give you when you told her you could spell "congratulations."

hoo, boy. Did this guy even like me??

Here's the answer: um, yeah. When he asked me for our second date, he asked me on Monday for a date on Saturday. That's like, 6 days in advance! Who does that? At least nowadays.

He does. 

Because he likey.

March 11, 2006

First kiss.

It was raining.

Me likey.

A few months later, I knew he was The One. I knew because I loved him and when I thought of him, it felt like a light was growing brighter inside me. And he made my fear go away. In times past, whenever I started getting serious with a guy, I would freak out and get scared.

With him, I still freaked out and got scared.

But he knew me well enough and loved me well enough to help me conquer my fear and help me learn that fear comes from a source that doesn't want another eternal family to come together. 

On August 12, 2006, I said yes.

He proposed by taking me back to the place we went on our first date. No, not the embarrassment of the masquerade party. The racquetball courts. He got on one knee.

On November 11, 2006, in the Mesa Temple, we came together. A new eternal family.

It hasn't been easy. You might even say we've had trials that some couples will never have to face.

But he'll always be The One.

He still helps me conquer my fears and doubts.

And tells me it's okay to feel sad, then wipes away my tears.

And I know that there was never a person so perfect for me.

Even when he and I and life are so imperfect.

Advice...

1. Don't go to Disneyland on any day not starting with T or W.

Trust me on this. I don't care if it's off season, raining, snowing, or Christmas Day. Just don't do it.

2. Don't stay in a hotel near Disneyland unless it's labeled "within walking distance of Disneyland." Half a mile away doesn't mean "within walking distance." It means half a mile away. And if you don't use the ahem, FREE bus ride, you will get a blister on the ball of your left foot.

3. Bring band-aids for when you get a blister on the ball of your left foot.

4. PACE YOURSELF!!!!!! Take breaks. Lots of them. Force them if you have to. Princess Aurora can wait. Space Mountain isn't going anywhere. The Dumbos on the Dumbo ride in Fantasy land are not going to fly away if you don't get in line right now.

5. The magical little "early entrance" they tell you about is Disneyland's way of staggering the onslaught of guests arriving at the park. It's not your own precious little secret. So unless you want to wait in line forever just to get in for your "magic morning", get there an hour even earlier, or come about fifteen minutes late.

6. Breakfast at the Carnation Cafe on Main Street is A.MAZ.ING! Eat there. Do it. Get the Mickey Mouse waffle, it's divine. And a hot chocolate. Double divine.

7. Have a blast. Take lots of pictures. Be silly. Sing along with "Pirate's Life For Me." Pretend you're really going to an ancient temple with Indiana Jones or on a real space flight or to the castle of your favorite princess.

And finally...

7. Don't let an email from an agent rejecting your manuscript because it didn't really "hook her" get you down. You're at the happiest place on earth. Being a grouch doesn't fix things.

gasp! AHHH!

What a day!

Continuation for "How I Met My Hubby" is paused for a sec.

Because today, some amazing things happened.

1. Got to have lunch with members of the "crappy club."

A club that no one ever wants to be a member of, but you're glad it exists. It's other mommies who have babies in heaven. We had a nice time and I'm so grateful for the support group.

2. I won a giveaway! No joke!

From this lovely lady, Carrie. Her blog is brilliant. Go check it out, she's totally cute and talented and funny. So excited. Getting some really nice loot, which I will report on when it comes.

3. Sent a query letter to an agent...

And she wants to read more!!!!!!!!

I got her email today. It's not a guarantee. I may still get rejected. But this is

HUGE!

I am so grateful to have been given such a wonderful day. I sure hope the good stuff keeps coming. My only fear is that it'll all come crashing down on me.

Never take a single great day for granted.