OCTOBER!!!

Dude, I'm pretty stoked for October! Seriously, I've never been so happy to see October before! 

I LOOOOOVE the cooler weather!! Sweater weather, baby!

I'm stoked for all the fall flavors that come out around this time! 

I miss seeing red & gold trees, on the east coast.
I love Dia de los Muertos and going to Old Town to celebrate it!

There's just something wonderful about this time of year! 

I'm pretty dang excited!

But maybe most of that excitement comes from the fact that I'm going on a date tonight.  I met someone last week, and last night was our first date.  We went to Buca di Beppo for dinner and it was scrumptious!  Levi is so dang cute! Seriously, it was what a date should be like: "planned for, paid for and paired off" (Elder Oaks' talk).  It's something my friends have been trying to engrain in me for the last several weeks.  And with Levi, it totally was!  I like this guy... yes, even more so than Ely.  Levi has all his ducks in a row; he has a job, he understands and makes the time for a relationship (and actually WANTS one!), he's very family oriented, he's physically affectionate and reciprocates my physical gestures, and wants to communicate on all levels! I love it!  He's unlike TheBaker and Ely and I'm hap-hap-happy!! 

*Just to clarify about the "physical affectionate" part....  I'm a touchy feely person; I love to give and receive hugs, I like to rub someone's back (no, not in church, that's just weird), or I hold someone's hand when they're emotional.... I can connect better with someone when I'm touching them. So in case anyone things that it's all rated-R type of touching...you've got A LOT to learn about the power of touch!  

HELLO SEPTEMBER!! So glad to have you here!

My nephew Bub, entered the MTC on Wednesday! He'll be there for about 2 months while he learns Tagalog for his mission to Naga, Philippines.  Luckily, he's been living in Utah for the past year and a half, so it won't sting as much to not have him here or get to talk to him as often.  I'll still miss him a lot because he's just such a GREAT guy!!  He has a very infectious personality and EVERYONE just loves him!  Maybe that's my biased opinion, but it's true, I promise.  
One of my mission companions had the coolest laundry bag! All of Ash's friends had signed it with cool & uplifting thoughts, which was cool to reflect on while out in the mission field.  I remember how awesome I thought Ash's bag was because it was so full of fun and loving memories for her to enjoy every week, while we dreadfully did laundry.  She totally loved her bag and since then, I've tried to do that for my friends/family who have also left on missions.  I did that for Simi and Hermanita, but doing it for Bub was a lil tricky.  I started it down here, with the help of Sim and then he took it up to Utah to have Bub's girlfriend have all of his friends sign it, as well.  I'm glad he enjoyed this gift. Oh Bub, I miss him so!

IT'S  SEPTEMBER!!!! You know what that means!!! IT'S MY BIRTHDAY MONTH!!! Oh I surely love birthdays!! I had a long string of terrible birthdays, but now, they're A LOT better!! First off, my birthday's September 11, and everyone who hears this usually tells me that "that's a bad day for a birthday! Gosh, I feel sorry for you!"  Seriously, if I hear that one more time, I'm gonna scream! I wish they'd realize how stupid they sound.  As if I had any way of picking my birthday AND what day a national tragedy would hit?!?  Ugh, so annoying! 
Anyways, back to GOOD birthday vibes!!  My birthday will be on a Tuesday this year, not the coolest of days, but hey, it could be worse. I always like having the Viking cake (from Extraordinary Desserts) on my birthday! So we'll see.  My parents want to take me out for lunch, to eat sushi! YUM! So now I've gotta figure out what I'd like to do for my evening.... I think I have an idea.  I'm HOPING that the Baker and I get to spend my birthday weekend together (Darn school!).  I TRY not to get my hopes up for my birthday, because of my birthday past, but I just can't help it! I love my birthday! Hmm....we'll see.  I need to start thinking of my birthday dress.  I just feel like wearing a dress on your birthday makes it so much more special!  My last several birthdays have been big hits! So I've gotta do something spectacular!! Man, I'm so giddy for my birthday weekend/week!!  YEAAAAAAAH!  CANNOT WAIT!!!  

As of late, in late August....

*Once upon a time, I thought I'd join a summer softball league because Sonny threw it out there on FB.  I quickly learned that it wasn't anything like I expected, and at times I seriously wanted to quit....and even tried.  Sonny was pretty positive and encouraged me to always do my best, since he thought I already was.  I never like quitting things, so I'm thankful for his reassurance.  I'm actually gonna miss my team, such fun & funny people! 

*I've been spending a lot more time with Mr. Red lately.  Man, I couldn't be more blessed to have him in my life.  Since my best friend has been in MIA, it's been nice having confidant I can share everything with.  We've been talking about how to better handle stress, since I tend to fail at it.  I know I need to be better at taking a step back, taking a deep breath, and analyze why I'm mad/stressed and what I'm going to do to deal with it.  We talked about a lot of different things and it was good to just clear my mind.  I've been so mentally exhausted, this past week.  It's been good to release all of that tension and learn to still release all of it. I'm learning and it's gonna be a process.  I haven't been doing such a good job at "releasing" and I've been filled with so much tension.  Stressed about so many different things has started to catch up to me and it's no wonder my Meniere's has been terrible lately.  I need to find an outlet, fast.  He's such a happy guy and the way he explains his happiness is definitely something worth trying.  I'm not saying that I'm not happy, it's just that I've been a lot more stressed and frustrated, lately.  That is not good!  Ugh.  It's a process and won't come overnight, but I'm hopeful for a good change to come about. 


*I had a date last Thursday evening.  I went to see Bourne Legacy with the Baker.  It was ok, both the movie and the date.  I'm still learning things about the Baker and vice versa.  I appreciate the way he communicates with me.  I know communication is very important in a relationship/friendship, but sometimes I tend to fail at that when feelings & a man are involved.   Sometimes, when I get frustrated, I don't know how to communicate my feelings properly.   Not all men read minds like Mr. Red (seriously, he can read me so perfectly that it scares/fascinates me), but I also shouldn't be comparing guys.  Anyways, Baker...I like him and he likes me.  We're doing this lil thing called, "dating" and I'm learning what that's all about....learning about him....learning about myself..... man, it's different.  I'm glad he's so patient because I tend to fail at that, he's willing to talk through a problem and find a solution and how he can be part of the solution.  I really like that.  Well, we'll see where this all goes..... so yep, I'm dating someone.  Wow, that thought still seems a lil foreign to me.  I guess it's because Baker & I have been friends since last year, but I never thought it'd really get to this point of "dating".  Oh well, I'll get use to it...  

G'nite.  Tomorrow my "plan" starts....wish me luck! 

Other than that....

*My poor body, it's just so weak and not working properly. UGH... oh well, it could be worse, right?

*I hung out with TheBaker last night.  He's so cool to kick it with.  He came over and we talked for a couple hours on the couch, listening to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Nat King Cole.  I like hangin' out with TheBaker.  I learn so much from him and he's so kind & patient.  I like that we can just have a friendship without the complication of feelings getting in the way.

*I had more of my AWESOME soup for breakfast. Seriously, I love the stuff!  

*Class is tonight...I always love seeing my fellow peers. I have the best times with them!

You gotta spend some time, Love....

*LOVE this song. 

*Hung out with a new friend last night.  "TheBaker" is such a KIND guy.  We hung out last Wednesday and then hung out listening to some ol' jazz music, like Nat King Cole.  I'm not necessarily attracted to him, but there is a beauty about his face when he speaks.  I like watching the way his facial muscles twist and turn when he talks.  It's so easy to talk to him, it's different than most other guys.  I don't feel judged or criticized, ever.  I thought I would have been intimidated by what he's accomplished and him, in general...but, far from it.  I thoroughly enjoy conversing with him.  

*I got to talk to Mama McK a lil this morning.  She is always such a blessing to my life.  I love her so dearly.  I am grateful for her wisdom and counsel today.  It will definitely come in handy in the next few weeks.  

*I have a greater appreciation for Motherhood.  I went over to my friend Reed's house last night, so that she would be able to take her husband to an early morning medical appointment.  They have 4 kids under the age of 5.  I slept well last night, but was still a lil tired this morning.  After I took the older 3 to school all I wanted to do was take a nap.  WHO. WAS. I. KIDDING.???  Mom's don't take naps...and if they do, they're not the best naps.  Then it came time for lunch.  A separate meal for myself? Of course not.  Geez Ehu, get the hang of this?! No wonder why parents are encouraged to make healthy meals for their kids, because their Mac&Cheese with PB&J sandwiches and milk will also become your meal as well. What is this thing called, "Time" that you speak of???  

*I feel so blessed to know that my Heavenly Father knows what I need, when I need it and how I need it.  I have had a great deal of peace and serenity to my mind and heart, these last few days.  I couldn't be anymore grateful for it.  In a time when I should feel overwhelmed and stressed, I feel at ease in knowing that all will be well.  All will be well.