The Meandering Thoughts of Jan

I had a photo shoot this week with a couple of my adorable nieces (ages 4-5) .  I was most appreciative that they were willing to participate and that their mothers  (my sis-in-laws) were willing to help as well by bringing the girls and helping direct them a bit.  Halfway through, one of my nieces got a little shy and decided she had enough of the photo shoot.  I don't blame her, I don't love my picture being taken as well.  Since we were at her house, she got up and went straight to her room. We decided to take a little break and see if we could convince her into coming back out for the rest of the photo shoot.  Her mom and I went to go talk to her.  This is the following conversation that ensued, which I'm still chuckling about. Niece: (With her head buried in her pillow) I'm shy, I don't want to go back out. Me:  You aren't shy, you are one of the friendliest little girls I know! Niece: (with some tears at this point) Yes I am! (Note: ...

Jan. 9th - At the end of the work day, I found this wintry scene on Temple Square rather pretty and peaceful.  Promptly after taking this pic, I slipped,  flailed and skidded down the sidewalk.  However, I avoided falling,  so that is what is important. Jan. 11th - We had a temple day with the Danny's family.  Here's our couple pic in front of the Mount Timpanogos Temple. Jan. 14th - Sometimes my job requires weird things of from me.  This time I got to pour orange soda into a glass over and over again for a photo shoot. Such resume building skills I have. Jan 17th - While out running work errands, my friend Tina and I stopped at Waffle Love in Provo for lunch.  They gave me the most beautiful waffle I have ever seen. Almost too beautiful to eat. Jan. 22nd - Here is the first video I have posted to Instagram. Noelle and Baby C came to visit me. Baby C put on an adorable musical performance, which I just had to shar...

I feel like I'm still in a writer's rut.  Every time I think of blogging, I'm not sure what I should say.  I kind of go into hibernation during the winter, so that could be an explanation for this.  Anyway, here are some happenings from this weekend that are on my mind... I got home on Friday after work to a very cold house and the smell of something burning, which sounds paradoxical, but is true.  Our furnace was making a weird humming noise, so I turned it off and called Danny who called the landlord.   (Our landlord likes him more, so I always have him call.)  I then bundled up in blankets, turned on my little space heater and waited.  The furnace repair man came over and after investigating the situation told me it was the motor of our furnace that was having issues, which would explain the burning smell.  He said there was nothing he could do until the morning, when he could get more parts.  We were in for a chilly evening.  Ou...

I know we are well into 2014, but I'm still in the midst of recounting last year and making goals for this year. As I've looked back on and thought about 2013, I have to admit it has been a rocky year. However, during some of these hard times, I feel like Danny and I have drawn even closer in our marriage. I sure love that man of mine. I really think what makes a strong marriage is facing the tough stuff together. I have also grown closer to my Savior, though at times it didn't always feel like it, which I will discuss more below. I can honestly say, this year has whittled me down to a rather more fragile version of myself.  I think that is what being humbled is.  I have been humbled.  I’m still working on being humble. I think with this past year, I’m understanding more what grace is.  I think you have to experience a lowly place to even feel the need for grace.  I agree with the common phrase: “Do your best.” However, I don’t think we always unders...

I feel like this past week I've been waking up from a weird rut I've been in for who knows how long.  This blog is called the Meandering Thoughts of Jan, so come meander with me, because I feel like I need to sort out some thoughts as I’ve been trying to sort out my life.  I've been contemplating the (sometimes not-so-lovely) art of getting older.  Lately I've been feeling much older than my actual age.  This kind of dawned on me a couple of weeks ago when I was buying some new tunes.  My tastes have chilled out quite a bit, which isn't a bad thing.  In fact, quite a few musicians that I’ve enjoyed for years now seem to be chilling out right along with me.  It reminded me of a conversation I had with my mom back when I was about 23.  I was telling her about a concert that I had either been to or was coming up.  She smiled and listened and once I had completed my raving about whatever band at the time, she said, "You know, when you are young...

A friend posted this article on Facebook today.  I read it, unfortunately at my desk at work, and it brought me to tears.  Luckily, it was the end of the work day, so I could slip out the door without coworkers noticing. Though Danny and my story (or causes for infertility) are very different from this couple, the feelings are the same.  One day I might share our story, but not with emotions still raw while in the midst of things.  I do have to say, I agree with the many issues he mentions, especially in our very family oriented religious culture.

Danny and I went on a snow adventure to test out our snowshoes.  We've had them for a year, so it was about time.  We headed up to Mueller Park.  The trail was pretty packed down, so snowshoes weren't needed too much at the beginning, but we ventured off the beated path into deeper snow and had a blast.

Is it seriously only Wednesday?  I feel this week has already been much too long.  Pardon my complaining, but in the past 3 days between Danny and me we have had one fender bender, one broken phone that cost more than it's worth to fix, a new job, one nerve wracking discussion with one's boss, a couple of tearful nights and a few college papers to write. I'll keep it a mystery on which events were experienced by whom, but man has it been stressful.  I've also come to realize this is not the week to be on a sugar fast.  Anyway, after work today I crashed on the couch and woke up a couple hours later.  I was exhausted, but hooray for having a couch I can actually sleep on now.  There's my silver lining. Speaking of the sugar fast, I'd be willing to stop such nonsense to try one of these lovely desserts , especially if I could visit the countries they are from while enjoying such delicacies.  I've now added this dessert world tour to my life bucket list...

Have you ever had those moments when you ask yourself, "How did I get myself in such a odd situation?"  I had one of those moments just the other day. A week or so ago Danny picked me up from work like usual.  He had the driver's side window rolled down, a common occurrence.  I mentioned I was chilly, so Danny tried to roll up the window, but nothing happened.  We attributed it to the short in the wire and figured we would wait a few minutes and it would be fine.  Alas, it was not fine. No matter how many times we turned the car on and off, the short was permanent.  We soon figured out the electronics to the whole driver's side door was out, including the button needed to pop the latch to fill the gas tank.  Not only was our window stuck, but we also couldn't fill up our car.  Luckily this all occurred when we still had a half a tank of gas.  I had a minor freak out since it was supposed to rain that night and I didn't w...