That I Ever Did Receive

Thanksgiving was wonderful; Redlands welcomed me home and offered awesome inside jokes, wonderful food and deserts and best of all, my childhood journals.

I had been inspired by Caleb's previous journals to find my own and check out what crazy things I wrote as an 8 year old. So, when I got home, Mom helped me dig them out of the old boxes in the garage - it was a treasure hunt!

And after surviving a few brutal public readings and reading them through myself, my journals have inspired me to change a few things in my life. One of these things is really getting back to pencil and paper. This blog is wonderful for being accessible to friends and family, but it's terrible for actually letting the catharsis process work. So, I think I'm going to do that.

Make it Happen, Cap'n

Tomorrow marks the first day that our church nursery will have all 2 year olds; it won't make too much of a difference, but it is still an exciting benchmark.

When Caleb and I went to his English Fall Social, we were able to look around the one of the newer buildings on campus, the Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni building. There were so many exhibits and plaques that taught so much about this extraordinary man; I appreciated so much how beautiful it all was. However, I saw one thing that I knew someone would be able to appreciate better than I would.

This is the Marjorie Hinckley chair that was dedicated to the prophet's wife before she died, for her commitment to strengthening home and family. I'd heard about it on campus and I had forgotten that it even existed until I saw it in this building. I didn't think that it would get any cooler, but then I read the plaque that goes along with it.

The last paragraph is the most touching, as it is a quote from President Hinckley at the groundbreaking of this building. It reads:

"There is only one thing that dulls the luster of this occasion, and that is the absence of my beloved companion. But she has on this campus a chair, which carries her name, and I now have a building. Maybe we could move her chair into my building and we'd be together again."

I had to take some pictures of these things because I knew my mom would appreciate it the most of all. So, here we are.

Also, speaking of taking pictures for people who aren't here, Caleb and I saw the perfect thing for our friend Natalia and we just had to take a picture of it. It is called the Aerogarden and I think she would love it. Therefore, Nat, if you're reading this, we're thinking of you and your green thumb in Provo.

You're Only 16

I just wrote my first 600 words of the Nano because I figure that if I'm not doing my usual work schedule, I may as well do something. It's not the greatest piece of literature ever and it probably won't turn into the 50,000 word monstrosity that Nano asks for, but I at least feel a little accomplished.

Caleb has requested that we have a group photo shoot over the weekend; it will include friends, family and the perfect locale, wherever that may be. I feel like for this huge occasion, I should do something bright and shiny to make myself better, faster, stronger. So...

I wish, I wish, I wish for brown hair. The richer, the better. And some cute bangs.

Decompress, Holly.

The Score

I'm overflowing. I was so diligent about posting and pondering and purveying and then all the walls came crashing back up again, so my thoughts have been bottled up. Now that they've turned into jelly, I've realized what a waste that was. So, here I am, spilling over

Also, there has been an ebb and flow with my desire to scrapbook lately. And now I am on the "do it do it do it!" portion of that cycle. But not just any scrapbooking; I recently got a book called We Dare You, which really is a great book about scrapping ALL the things in life, not just the foofy la la ones. I've already done a page about the difficulty of a particular part of blending two lives together [see: finances] and I have another, more controversial page in mind. Actually, now that I think about it, I have a few that I want to do. The point is, brethren, I have to grasp at this whim while it is around. Otherwise, I'll just be caught up in life soon, with nothing to show for it.

Obviously enough, this is the month of November. I know I said I'd be doing National Novel Writing Month and pounding out words like a crazy woman. But the beginning of the month held more important things, so I've abandoned the idea as a whole. Now I feel vaguely void in that creative area of my brain; must be why I'm itching to let it all out in other areas.

I know this might be spilling all the beans. It could be a crazy ordeal and start all sorts of mishaps. But I don't care. Here goes, home slice:

So, I talked to Caleb online before I went to pick him up from work on Monday; he was in a foul mood. I always have to decide how far in I want to pry when this occurs, so this time I was set to be as supportive as I could and asked the reasoning behind the pout.

He begins to tell me how upset he is at the Health Center and BYU insurance in general. I thought it might have been an overcharge or that they'd been harassing him in some other manner, but I was wrong. He explains that he had been in contact with them all day, trying to change our insurance to maternity that very day. Apparently that isn't allowed and the soonest switch comes winter semester.

All of this is a shock to me, as I had previously thought that maternity was not an option until January anyway. A good shock. A great shock.

He reveals that he's decided that he is ready ASAP for a baby. But the insurance is not.

So, two more months.

I'm very happy.

I've Always Had a Passion for Flashing

Two names you go by:
1. H to the L.O.

2. Hollz

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. My wedding ring

2. A Shade shirt

Two things you would want (or have) in a relationship:
1. Fun
2. Understanding

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. Have parties

2. Sleep in with Caleb!

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. A big family

2. A new fish

Two favorite pets you have had/have
1. Twinkles, a springer spaniel dog

2. Joe, my favorite guinea pig

Two things you did last night:
1. Rewatched the most recent episode of "The Office"

2.Watched Sportscenter

Two things you ate today
1. Count Chocula

2. A bean and cheese burrito from Bajio

Two people you last talked to:
1. My mom

2. My husband

Two things you're doing tomorrow

1. Meeting with an academic counselor

2. Teaching a class at Archiver's

Two longest car rides:
1. From Redlands to Yellowstone

2. From Provo to Elk Point

Two favorite holidays:
1. Halloween

2. 4th of July

Two favorite beverages:
1. Chocolate milk

2. Orange juice!

Two shows last watched
1. The Office

2. How I Met Your Mother

Next two places you want to visit:
1. Bartlesville, OK

2. Redlands, CA!