Something about Spring

Things I find myself grateful for as of late:

+ Exercise: About a month ago I joined a gym with my neighbor/good friend. We've been going just about every day and I have become addicted. I LOVE the feeling I get after pushing my body past where it's comfortable, to a point where I am aching all over. It feels SO great. Thank you, gym, for changing my life.

+ My friends: I'm pretty sure I have the best friends in all the world. It doesn't matter how busy we get, or how much time passes between phone calls, because when we do talk it's like no time has passed at all. We trust each other and support each other and I am blessed to know you. Thank you, my dear, wonderful, friends.

+ My husband: He has been working SO hard lately and still makes time for Isla and I. He is my best friend and every day I thank my Heavenly Father for blessing me with such a good man to be my companion. I am grateful for each day I have with him. Thank you, Michael, for all you do. I love you.

++ This one is most important, so He's last. My Savior: With Sunday being Easter, I spent a bit of time contemplating why that holiday is the most important, yet has largely been reduced in the world to bunnies, eggs, and marshmallows shaped like baby chickens. The day should instead be focused on the Man who makes it possible for us to change, to be forgiven of our mistakes and sins, who comforts us when we're sick or hurting in any way, who gives us EVERYTHING that we have every single day, who understands anything and everything that we experience because He has already experienced it. I am grateful for my Savior and the knowledge I have of Him---that He lives, that He gave His life for me so that I might live forever with those I love most. Without His influence in my life I am nothing, but with Him I can do anything. Thank you, Lord, for everything---even the things I cannot see. Thank you for loving me beyond my comprehension, and for teaching me to love myself despite my imperfections. Thank you for giving me reasons every day to be happy.

Ducks and Spiders

During my trip to Maryland last month, I heard the following story and couldn't resist sharing:

When my sister was about 3 years old, she heard my father "release gas." Not wanting to let on that it was him, he turned to her and said that she had just heard a duck. Her reply: "A duck pooping its pants?"

P.S. My sister is hilarious and apparently always has been.

Yes, indeed

I was starting to feel bad about not keeping my home as clean as I would like, but then I read this quote and realized that not keeping my home clean was actually an act of charity. I am so generous.

"The only advantage in not being too good a housekeeper is that your guests are so pleased to feel how very much better they are." ---Eleanor Roosevelt

A veritable "light-bulb" in the night

While Michael falls instantly to sleep, most nights I lie awake in bed for HOURS trying to will myself into unconsciousness. I must say, though, the wee hours of the morning when I'm half-asleep have proven to be great times to think things through. On one such night, not too long ago, I found myself thinking about what I want to be when I "grow up." When I was younger I had three goals: being a wife, mother, and piano teacher. As it turns out I've accomplished all 3 of those already, so I figured I needed some additional goals. I fully acknowledge that being a wife and a mother is a life-long thing, not simply a one-day-only event. That being said, I felt there was something else I should be doing.

During my various stints in college I threw around a LOT of ideas, including (but not limited to): dentistry, psychiatry, music teaching, sociology, home & family living, music, music, and more music. None of those felt right. While on my mission to Arizona I thought I might find some insight in to what I should major in. Nope. I got a husband and a child out of that mission, but no major. So imagine my surprise when at around 1 am on this night mentioned earlier, while lying in bed, I should receive the answer to this question.

I have had a very personal interest in psychology for a number of years and have felt on numerous occasions that people's perception of "therapy" and the type of people who need it, are way off-base. I have also noticed a growing number of young women with pretty much insane views of themselves, what they think beautiful is, etc., etc. SO. I want to major in Public Health Promotion, with a Business Management Minor. With this degree I'm hoping to set up a non-profit (or work within an organization that already exists) to promote mental health awareness among young women. I would love to travel to different schools, working within the health curriculum already established, to teach special classes on mental health. I haven't worked out all the particulars of how to do this and what exactly I want to teach, but yeah. That's the basic idea. I also want to learn self-defense and teach that to young women.

Nighttime is the right time for me to think. And to learn.

Hargiss' Lately

In the last month Michael and I have been blessed to see a bit of my family. We were in MD for a week during Michael's Spring Break. While there we ate a LOT of good food (a staple of any worthwhile vacation), went to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, toured parts of Washington D.C., had a great "Baby Party" for Isla with some of our wonderful friends, and mostly (and I think most importantly) spent time with my family. Here are some pictures of our fun:

Jacob had a good time carrying Isla around for the day. He's a good brother.
This is at the Air and Space Museum in D.C.

Also at the Air and Space

Air and Space

Air and Space

View of the Washington Monument from inside the Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial in D.C.

Vietnam War Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial

I love the feeling I get when I'm in our Nation's Capitol. The people of this country may not be perfect, but I know I am blessed to live here. This is a choice land, and I love it. So many people have sacrificed SO much for our freedom---I will be forever grateful for them. Places like the Vietnam War Memorial serve as a much-needed (and too often taken for granted) reminder of these sacrifices. We should never forget how blessed we are.


While in MD, one of my best friends took some pictures of Isla. To see some of them, click here. I'm thoroughly convinced that I have the prettiest baby EVER. She should be the new face of Gerber. Here are some of my favorite pictures that didn't end up on the website:






This past weekend my brother Jacob came out to UT for a visit, and to see General Conference live. I have such a blast when he's around. I'm glad Phillip lives close so I can see him as well. It's fun to see Jake interact with Isla---he is going to make one lady very, very, lucky someday as an amazing husband and father.

Believe it or not, he put her to sleep for me :)

And last but not least, here is a video from last night in which we are attempting to feed Isla some rice cereal for the first time. Our fabulous neighbors (the Coleman's) were over for the blessed event. I swear every time they leave our house I turn to Michael and say, "We have the best neighbors ever." Everyone should be so lucky.