Reading Buddy

Our move from Missouri happened very quickly and it was earlier than expected. I still had things I was planning and looking forward to. One of those things was book club. The book selection was The Hunger Games Trilogy. I was so excited to discuss them. I love those books! I was beyond disappointed when we moved before book club. Chant isn't a reader and I was feeling lonely, missing my book club girls. I needed someone who I could share my love of books with. Although he isn't a person, O.Henry has been a comfort to me. He guards my reading chair and looks over my shoulder as I pour through the pages of my beloved books. He understands me. Why O. Henry? I just thought he looked like a Henry and it didn't hurt that O. Henry was the pen name of Williams Sydney Porter. It fits. And I love him!

What Matters Most

December 26, 2006 Chant, Brinnley, Ainsley, and I arrived at our new home in Manchester, Missouri. We only lived there for 4 months, but I have been thinking about that short span of my life a lot lately. It was four years ago that I left my family and moved to a new place so far away. I was so unsure of myself and nervous about being so far from family and not knowing anyone. It was a hard time for me. I didn't make friends there and I felt so alone. But nestled among the hard times are some of my most precious memories of my girls. They got me through those long days while Chant was at school. The master bedroom had a wall-to-wall closet and the sliding closet doors were mirrors. I took the laundry to the bedroom and sang primary songs while folding laundry as Brinnley played in the closet and Ainsley rolled around on the floor. Brinnley loved to line our shoes up. They were always perfectly straight. While folding and singing I would look out the window. We had a beautiful tree in our front yard and the icicles hanging from it were so beautiful. As spring came the icicles were replaces with pink blossoms. That tree was magnificent. So beautiful! I loved the view from that room, both inside and out. My girls and that tree brought me immeasurable joy. Sometimes I miss those moments.

Now four years later I feel like some things are the same but so much is not. I have swapped my gorgeous tree for a spectacular view of the mountains. I have swapped a bedroom for a loft. I am older and so are my babies. I am no longer the insecure, frightened girl I was then. I still feel lonely at times as I try to carve a niche for myself in this new home, but just like before my children bring me joy and happiness. Now I delight in the happy sounds of the girls pretending in the upstairs loft. They brighten my day with beautiful drawings and pictures all over the house. I smile as Porter makes neighing sounds while helping Woody ride on his trusty steed. No matter what changes or where I live I will always take with me what matters most.

Word of the Year

Last year was my first time choosing a word of the year. It was a good experience for me. Although I feel like I could have done better at it, I feel like it raised my awareness and made me more conscious.

I have thought a lot about the word I would choose for this year. I have finally chosen my word: Time. I feel like that word encompasses a lot. I need to be better at using my time wisely. I think if I focus on time then other things will fall into place: more quality time with my children, more time to accomplish things like my scrapbook and keeping up on my journal, time to exercise. I want my time to count for something. I hope that at the beginning of each day I will be able to plan what I need to do that day and be focused so I will have more time with my children and more time to reach out to others. Wish me luck! And good luck to all of you with your New Years' Resolutions.

Family Christmas

The week after Christmas we spent at my parents' home. It was so good to be back! (Our last visit was in July.) It was so nice to be around the family again! The first couple days were pretty quiet. The kids spent lots of time putting puzzles together. Logan did all of them himself.
While the kids played Grandma sewed. She made the cutest hats out of extra material. She's amazing!
They also spent plenty of time outside in the snow. Porter wasn't a huge fan. He had to work his way into going outside in his snowclothes. He started by helping Grandpa shovel the snow away from the door.

Finally he made it outside and had a good time playing. Brinnley flew through the air a few times.
The last time didn't go so well. She face planted. But she still enjoyed the snow after that.

We always have a program before we open our presents. Kasey's whole family sang together and it was beautiful. Brinn sang "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause" and "I Want a Hot Cup of Cocoa." She did a great job!
Porter even sang "You are my Sunshine." It was so cute!

Dalton and Ainsley had each others' names. Ainsley picked out a shirt and sunglasses for Dalton and he got her a beautiful black horse.
Brinnley loved the magnet dolls that Lily got her. Thanks Lily!

Porter got horses from Ashley and he didn't say another word besides "horse" for the rest of the evening.

We had a great time and we are so thankful we were able to spend the holidays with family. We are excited to be closer to home and see you more. We love you all!

Santa Clause Came To Town

Christmas was wonderful! We spent the holiday at our home with Chant's sister Jen. She came Christmas Eve and stayed till Sunday. We spent Christmas Eve preparing for Santa Clause to come. We baked and frosted sugar cookies. There was enough frosting to cause a heart attach, but they were delicious!


Then we spread the reindeer food outside for Rudolph and his friends. In keeping with tradition the kids got to open one present Christmas Eve, their new PJs.

Christmas morning found me again lying awake in bed waiting for the kids to come in. They were up and ready to go at 6:30. We ran down the stairs and headed for our stockings. Ainsley was thrilled to see Santa had left her a pair of headphones for her video game. (The side is decked out with purple sequin stars.)

All the kids got Pillow Pets. Brinnley got a unicorn, Ainsley a monkey, and Porter a mini horse. This was the one thing that Brinnley constantly asked for. And she was thrilled when she saw it sitting next to her stocking.
After looking through our stockings, Chant and I lead the kids into the kitchen where Santa had left one more surprise. There set up in the corner was a two-sided easel, one side a chalkboard and the other a dry erase board. Brinnley screamed and jumped up and down. They started coloring pictures right then. It continues to be a hit and the kids are always coloring on it.
We headed back to open presents. This was Porter's big gift. He got Woody, complete with a pull string and hat. When Porter got the paper off and saw that Woody was inside, his eyes got all big and in an awed voice said, "Woody!" While we were working to get Woody undone from the cardboard Porter hugged the box to himself and stared at the picture of Woody on the back. He was thrilled that Woody came with a hat. If anyone tried to touch him he gave them a lecture. "MINE!"

This was the one thing that Ainsley wanted. She had been asking for the Calico Critters Dalmatian Twin puppies since the beginning of November. She also asked Santa for tiny wood to make bunk beds for them. Lucky for us and her Santa just brought the bunk beds already made. She played with them all morning.
Jen got the cutest scares and the most darling slippers ever. She was behind the camera most of the time so I didn't get may pictures of her. But as you can imagine, Christmas with her was a lot of fun! Thanks for coming and sharing it with us Jen!
The kids got a Playdough set and several hours were spent at the table. Jen made awesome masks for the kids. And she taught them how to make ice skating rinks. They had so much fun. Christmas was a success and we even talked about why we celebrate Christmas several times, so hopefully it wasn't all about gifts. It truly was the most wonderful time of the year.

Commencement

Commencement: the act or time of commencing; beginning; a start. I love this definition. Graduation is a start to a new life, the rest of life, the real world.

I flew back to St. Louis so I could be there for graduation and to celebrate all that Chant has accomplished. Friday, December 17 was the awards ceremony for graduates and their families to attend. Chant was given two awards. The first award we knew he would receive. It was the Health Center Achievement Award. Only one intern from each clinic gets that award, so it was quite an honor for him. The second we didn't know he was getting. When they called Kerry Williams, he just sat there for a minute and then he jumped and said, "That's me!" It was an award for excellence in the ability to perform and teach the Logan Basic Technique. That was only given to 4 people, so again an honor. I am so incredibly proud of him!
The day of graduation we got to the school early. (Chant had to be early and we had one car, so that meant we were all there early.) We were so early he was the only graduate there. Doesn't he look lonely?
Chant and his sister Kristy.
Chant and sister Jen. (Sorry Margi, I don't know why I don't have a picture of you!)

This graduation ceremony was amazing! It started by bagpipe players leading the way for the graduates. It sounded so amazing. I had chills! Chant gave us the insider tip and I am sitting right in front of the lead man. Awesome spot! The keynote speaker was Orin Hatch. He cracked a few Mormon jokes and gave a very nice speech.
After the speakers it was time for the graduates to be hooded.
Waling to the front to be hooded. The second girl is Teran Warner, our business partner.

They hold the hoods over their arms and then when they get to the president of the college, Dr. Goodman, he takes the hood and puts it on them. The hood is gray signifying chiropractic and inside is royal blue and white for Logan's colors.
Being hooded. (Me tearing up behind the camera.)

At the end of the ceremony, the bagpipe players formed two lines facing each other and the graduates walked between to exit the auditorium. Again, Chant and Teran walked right by me. Unfortunately my camera was being slow and I didn't get a picture of Chant. Sorry Honey!
Chant with Dr. Hogarth, the St. Peters Head Clinician.
Afterward we went to lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory with our group (Chant's mom, sisters, my sister and brother-in-law, and Teran's parents, grandparents, and siblings.) It was quite the group at 16 people. I am so glad we had time to stop and celebrate their achievements. Chant worked hard through 4 years of school, late nights, taking care of kids and a wife, and church callings. I never could have done it. I am so amazed at what he has accomplished and I am so proud of him! Thank you for working so hard for us! We love you! And we are ready for what is next!

Keeping Track of Time

My life can be measured by songs, books, and movies. I think about the words to a song, a scene from a movie, or a chapter from a book and I am taken away, back to a specific time and place. Some of these are not merely a moment or a good memory, they have become a part of me. So, here is how I keep track of time.

Elementary School: The Indian in the Cupboard and A Wrinkle in Time (Where my true love of books started, in 6th grade in Mrs. Hamilton's class. Thank you Mrs. Hamilton, I will forever be in your debt.)

1989: Richard Marx- Right Here Waiting for You (Singing at the top of my lungs in my brother and sister-in-law's apartment. That song still holds great meaning to me.)

Early 1990's: Cher- Jesse James, If I could Turn Back Time (In the living room with a candle stick)
Wilson Phillips (Still have the whole CD memorized)
Steel Magnolias (Always have and always will love Julia Roberts. In fact, Julia was the name I always picked when playing dress up and my imaginary boyfriend was Kevin Costner of course)

Late 1990's: Cindy Lauper- True Colors
Belinda Carlisle- Mad About You, Heaven is a Place on Earth
The Standards (I have every CD they made in that decade and their autographed picture hung framed on my bedroom wall where I could see them at all times. I always knew I would marry a Williams.)
Jack Weyland- Charlie, Nicole, Lean on Me
Ariana Series
Julia Roberts- Runaway Bride, My Best Friends' Wedding
A League of Our Own
Ever After

Summer 2000: Where the Heart Is (book)
Soundtrack to Hope Floats (That soundtrack and book got me through the first few weeks in an apartment I had all to myself. I love the song Garth Brooks sings on there!)
Never Been Kissed (First time I held hands with a boy)

Freshman Year of College (2000-01):
Bon Jovi
Vertical Horizon
Savage Garden

Sophomore Year of College (2001-02):
Maren Ord (Got me through a hard time of missing my Honey while he was on his mission)
Serendipity (My roommate almost lost her arm because I was squeezing it so tight- will they find each other or not?)

Summer 2002: A Walk to Remember (Bawled my eyes out!)
Sara Evans (Every morning while getting ready for work, for the entire summer)

Hawaii: Michelle Branch (Cannot listen to her without thinking of sitting on my little bed in my tiny dorm listening to the palms lighting tapping each other in the breeze)

2003: Rascal Flatts (My first real concert, which I almost passed out at, and one of the only real dates I went on with Chant before we were married)

2004-2006: Gilmore Girls (I cannot think of that show without getting emotional. My best friends. We celebrated every holiday by getting a new season. I now own all 7. They are part of the family. We even made a trip to Connecticut to see their neck of the woods. Thanks for getting me through some rough times girls!)

Missouri: Twilight Saga (books and movies) (Another emotional one for me. These are the first books I had picked up, aside from textbooks, since high school. My dear friend Becca told me I had to read them and she lent them to me and that was it. I remembered what it was like to lose myself to another world and become engulfed in the story and characters. And I haven't stopped reading since. I also think of going to the midnight showings of New Moon and Eclipse. Miss you guys!)
Hunger Games Trilogy (My last books in Missouri. Ones I took forever to pick up and when I did I instantly fell in love. Yes Jena, you can say "I told you so.")
Mindy Gledhill (Thank you. I love you!)

If you've stopped reading, that's okay. Maybe this was more for me anyway. I look at my life and think of the people and what was going on that made these things so special to me, and all I can think is I cannot wait for the books, music, and movies to come that will touch me the way these have, that will come to signify Utah the way these have represented places and people of my past. And I say bring it on because I am ready to add to the list!

Moving Forward

I have been without my best friend and the love of my life for 9 days. It has been challenging, dealing with a new place and being the sole parent of three kids. But we are surviving just fine. The most challenging part has been the mental side. I am feeling homesick for my friends in Missouri and nervous and unsure of myself in this new place. I have met a few people and one dear girl even brought us dinner Monday night. I am so grateful to Michelle for that service and show of friendship. It came when I needed it most. Monday was a hard day for me and Tuesday rough as well. But last night I talked to my amazing friend and sister-in-law, Jenny. She said something that I needed to hear. It is okay to miss the people and place that I left behind, but I need to move forward as well. I cannot merely be here, a shadow that floats from one room to the next hardly leaving the confines of my home or talking to others. So, today is a new day. It actually started last night. I watched this:


And I have been reading this:

And I am wearing this:

It is turning out to be a good day! And I am even going to take Michelle's Tubberware back to her today. Ha! I am going to be social. It really is going to be a good day!

P.S.
I am noticing a theme. Okay, so I am a little obsessed with werewolves right now.