I love technology

(ha, after I wrote that title I just thought of the song Kip sings on Napoleon Dynamite)

But yes, I love technology because, this is what I saw first thing on my screen when I was skyping (can I really make that a verb? oh well, just did) with my sister Beth last Sunday

that's right, I'm going to have another new niece or nephew coming soon! Both my sisters are prego right now. Andrea's due in February and Beth is due in April. Andrea & AJ find out what they are having in just a couple weeks and Beth & Tom say they're holding out to find out until the baby is born. We'll see if they make it. Yay, for new babies!

Random

(I wish I had this, but let's be practical here, it probably wouldn't have as many heels... just doesn't make sense when you have to chase after little kiddos at school everyday)

For those of you that know me (and let's be honest probably the only people that read this are people that know me), you know that I love shoes. And I'll be quite frank, my shoes aren't necessarily the most posh or expensive shoes but I love them nonetheless... especially when I get them for a good deal, which is probably why I have so many. I can't resist a great bargain (and cute shoes). There are some shoes that I probably wear at least once a week and others that I've maybe worn at most 3 times. And though I have many shoes in my closet right now (I counted over 50 pairs-- and that's not including all my boots that are down the hall in a different closet), I have been very limited on what I can wear lately.

This random tangent came up because today I was wishing so badly that I could wear a cute pair of red heels to church today. Instead I have been wearing this beautiful thing (luckily without the hideous sock)

on my left foot for the last 2 months. But I guess it could have been worse, I could have had to wear this
Oh wait... I have had to wear one of those back in high school. Anyway moving on. . .

Point of the story-- I miss wearing all my cute shoes. And even more than that, I miss wearing TWO shoes (that match). I have to be selective about what shoe (notice it's not plural) I wear because 1- my really expensive and attractive shoe on the left makes me walk lopsided and therefore make my hips hurt if I wear a shoe that is either too flat or taller than my bootie-shoe and 2- I don't want to wear out every right shoe that I own so I try to limit the ones I'm wearing out to the same few pairs (I figure I'll wear the left one out next summer when I get my other foot done and then probably then just chuck them).

And sadly, though both my feet have not necessarily been in walking order for the last 2 months, it has not kept me from buying shoes. I'm hoping to wear the complete sets soon.

I got the the okay from doc to start walking this past Monday and he said I can try wearing regular shoes but sadly my foot is still too swollen and the shoes I have been given permission to wear have to be very supportive which basically leaves my running shoes, not necessarily the best shoes to go with my work outfits. I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel though (at least the light that will last about 8 months until I get to go through this again ;) So yeah, basically I miss wearing cute shoes.

Other things that I've really been missing in the last couple months:

-wearing TWO shoes

-not walking like a gimp or as my dad referred to it- like I was walking like my grandma, who used to waddle, before she got her knees replaces

-being able to run up the stairs

-being able to run. period.

-working out/going to the gym

-my independence (not having to ask people to carry things for me or do things for me)

-not feeling like I need someone go with me to the gas station or grocery store

-not having things take twice as long to do or to walk places

-walking long distances

-sleeping any way I want, rather than worrying about whether or not my foot is elevated

-being able to do all the fun things my friends and family are doing (camping, hiking, swimming, fourwheeling, boating, concerts, etc)

-not having to worry about people or things accidentally bumping into my foot wherever I go

-basically, being able to go and do whatever I want, whenever I want

This kind of came across as a "downer" post but that's not how I meant it at all and am actually quite happy right now. I mostly just wrote things down as a reflection and as a way for me to remember these things I've thought over the last couple months

What it's all about

I was sitting in my new ward in sacrament meeting today and we had a man from the stake and his wife come and talk to us. Before they got up their adorable daughter with Down syndrome got up and gave her "talk." She's in 5th grade and she had written it all by herself. It was one of the sweetest things ever. And then her mom got up after and spoke about her love for her daughter and what a joy and a blessing she is in their life, even though when she was first born and they found out she had Down syndrome and they thought it would be a very trying thing their life. Her talk was mostly about the hard times in our lives and how much we have going on in our lives right now but not to give up hope and faith. She kept tying things in about her cute, sweet daughter. I of course starting crying. There I was in the middle of sacrament meeting in a new ward, where I basically know no one, crying my eyes out. I bet I looked like a crazy person but I don't care because it just really hit me and made me so grateful for the amazing job I have and the amazing children I get to work with everyday. I really needed that little reminder and pick me up. I've been loving my new job but it's also been kind of tough and stressful- just trying to get everything that goes with a new school year worked out and running smoothly can make you go a little crazy. Seeing that sweet girl and her mom was exactly what I needed today, to get me energized for a new week and to help me remember what it's all about. It doesn't matter that my room is still not organized exactly how I want it, or that I feel like I constantly have so much to do, or that I'm not pleasing every parent every second of everyday. All that matters is that we're helping those children grow and progress and most the time they do more for me than I probably do for them. I love those little tender mercies and the things that really help us reflect on what's important in life.

What a day...

Should have known it was just going to be one of those days-and apparently for a lot of people too- when I witnessed TWO different accidents on the way to work (very thankful it wasn't me), then locked my keys in my car once I got there (thank heavens for AAA!), then accidently spilled water water on my new phone which made the screen go all wacky (thank goodness for Debbie and her bag full of rice trick), and then saw 3 more accidents on the way home from work (once again thankful it wasn't me). I'm glad there's a long weekend coming up and that I still have a lot to be thankful for.