Life is Good with Family and Friends!

Last Friday, I went to the Women's Expo at UVU with my wonderful Ashley friend. I'm so glad she called me up to go. We picked up some cute clothes (and since I wasn't expecting to pick up anything at all, I think that was definitely a good thing--I love shopping) and Ashley picked up a lot of business cards! She's a smart one. Just take the cards and shop on-line instead of talking to the pushy sales-people in their booths. It was a lot of fun. I love spending time with Ashley. She's a sweetheart and a great friend!

Later that same day, Marie, Jana, and I got dressed up (well, we wore dresses) and went to dinner at a yummy bakery that I can't remember the name of, and then to the Utah Symphony Orchestra's performance of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5. It was SO fun. I had forgotten how much I love not just live music (which is always a rush) but live classical music. I'd love to go again, and soon. After the symphony, we ate ice cream and watched O Brother, Where Art Thou? at Marie's apartment. Mostly I love that I got to spend that evening with my beautiful sisters.

Saturday was Jana's birthday, so after we spent some time at Grandma and Grandpa Chinn's helping with yard-work, and after getting clean, we went shopping and out to dinner to celebrate JANA. Again, it was just a really fun day. We went to Buca di Beppo for dinner, and the food there is always yummy. The service was even pretty good, once we got a server. The weird thing was that our waiter asked for a piece of Jana's cake and then sat and chatted while he ate it. And then tipped himself 20%. He probably would have gotten more if he hadn't just assumed we'd be OK with him adding the gratuity. But that's his loss. What a great day, though! Helping family (surrounded by family) and celebrating my youngest sister. I love her to death and I'm SO grateful for her in my life. We went around the table and said what we loved about Jana. I said I loved that she was my friend. I really do. She's one of my best friends and I'm so blessed to be able to say that! Though there are many people who can, since even though she's feisty, she's friends with everyone! And it shows just by the caliber of people around that table celebrating her birth! The Parker's, Becca, Red, the Rasmussen's, Julia, Justin, Marie, Ashley and Dylan! Wonderful people, all, and all of them Jana's friends.

Sunday morning I woke up and found my mail outside my bedroom door. My momma had written me a thank you note. How sweet is that? It's Mother's Day and she's thanking me for being a "sweet daughter" and telling me that I "make being a mom easy." Right. I don't question that she meant it. My momma is very sincere. But I question her sanity! I make being a mom easy? Ha! I remember crying on her shoulder almost every night when I was in junior high. I know I fought with my siblings, I know I complained about chores, I know I asked for money, I know I needed rides constantly, I was moody and loud and annoying, but somehow that was easy?? I'm sure I make being a mom easy now. I'm not at home for her to have to listen to complain and be annoying and loud and moody. I think my momma is the best one for me. No one else could love me like she does. Jana and I joined Heather and Travis and their adorable kids for dinner. Travis grilled steaks to PERFECTION, accompanied by a really yummy salad, Jana's perfectly baked potatoes, and my pretty-darn-good homemade rolls. The kids showed off what they had made for Heather for Mother's Day. They're the sweetest kids! Hunter made her a "Super Mom" card (he drew Heather in a Spiderman-meets-Batman sort of costume), Jacob made a "I [HEART] MOM" card in nursery, and Courtney bought her some very yummy dark-chocolate covered almonds with her own money! And they were all pretty pleased with themselves. It was so cute and sweet to see these kids so excited about what they had done for their wonderful Mom. And Heather really is a great mom. I learn so much from watching her. She's really a Super Mom!

This week at work we've had what's called "Summer University," which basically means that we have to go to listen to inspirational speakers and to workshops. For us part-timers, it means enduring these little meetings after hours, in other words getting paid to be bored out of our minds. OK, not completely bored. One of the speakers truly was inspirational, and we got to go to a dutch-oven cooking demonstration, meaning lunch! I'm just glad I have a Julia friend to attend these things with me. I don't know what I'm going to do when she leaves. Well, I know I'll miss her, that's for sure, and I'll be bored at these things, that's also for sure. But I'm happy that she's graduated and will soon be employed full-time (I just know it!) and will be moving forward with her life! Yay for Julia!

And now I'm looking forward to spending Saturday watching movies with my friends and family all day long, and then seeing my David brother on Sunday (and meeting his new girly friend).

How wonderful life is! I forget sometimes how wonderful it really is. I'm so blessed to have such great people in my life!