One of my constant struggles is learning to love the pot I’m currently planted it.
I know next to nothing about gardening, but I do know, that as a flower or plant grows, you move it into a bigger pot or space and continue to do this as it continues to grow.
I often feel that I am an over-flowing bush crammed into a many-sizes-too-small pot.
My roots hit the side of the hardened clay over and over as they twist and grow and fill every ounce of dirt in my present container. Where is my next pot? Can’t you see I’m ready to the point of busting a root to get out of this spot I’m in?!
In my impatience, I forget that there is a Master Gardener in charge of my re-planting.
Clearly there is something about this soil I am in now that I need to yet absorb.
It is not just lousy dirt I am in. There is a richness here if I stretch myself enough to get to it.
My blooms will be more glorious if I can find and drink in those things.
Bradford and I have have a few unofficial traditions for this time of year. I love Halloween so 
I look forward to doing as much Halloweeny stuff as we can manage during the month.
One of our favorites, or mine at least, is pumpkin carving. Each year we go to the pumpkin patch (as mentioned in a few previous posts), pick out a pumpkin or two each, and then another night we set out and carve them. All while eating delicious treats, of course. This year we had donuts and eggnog.
We usually roast the pumpkin seeds too, and this time I think they were the best we’ve ever made. I couldn’t stop eating them. In years past I’ve been underwhelmed by them but I really enjoyed them this time. Yum.
It’s always a surprise what faces we carve. I never really know beforehand what I want mine to look like. It just comes to me as I go. You can go ahead and call me the Michelangelo of squashes.
My favorite part is setting them on the porch and lighting them.
Every year I get nervous that some hoodlum will come and smash our dear pumpkins during the night. But so far, the only time we ever had our pumpkins smashed it was by our own hands (all documented in this post from 2008)… Apparently we are the hoodlums I’ve been afraid of all this time.
Oh. We named them Humphrey and Bogart.
I can hardly wait ‘til next year’s carving session.
Today is… Well, just one of those days.
Instead of getting into details (because it feels a bit weird to me to dive into specifics on the world wide web) and instead of speaking in abstract generics, I will just dwell on the things that have currently been golden in my life. Because there is gold.
Bradford has been one of the biggest gems. Recently and in the past 6 years that we’ve been dating. Last night I think he sensed I needed a little extra something, and rather than feeling impatient with my glumness, he asked to take me to the pumpkin patch today. Right smack dab in the middle of my work day. On a Monday. I love the pumpkin patch. Every Monday needs a time out for the pumpkin patch (or its equivalent). I think there would be less murders in the world…
Even though I have a teensy (or not so teensy) bit of anxiety whenever I’m away from work during the day (since that is when everyone and their grandpa seems to need me-once I’ve stepped away from my desk), it was so good to spend a carefree couple of hours with Bradford. Just what the doctor ordered (except not the ones I work for… they kind of want me to work during work hours).
My little sisters came to visit this weekend. My mom had 4 tickets to General Conference for Sunday afternoon so she sent them out to me so me and my sisters could use them. It ended up just being Lauren and Elyse and me that went, but we managed to have fun even though we missed out on our other sisters being there with us.
They drove down from Rexburg Friday night and we spent the weekend together. We ate delicious food, watched one of my favorite movies, and had an exciting 3:30 AM excursion to my work’s sample closet in our PJs (Elyse had an *almost* asthma attack and there was only one inhaler left in the whole closet! whew…). It was good having them here. Even though I was a little lonely once they drove away. It hasn’t been until recently that I’ve started to appreciate my family and understand that they can be important, even the most important, people in my life.
Last week I had the opportunity of visiting with an old friend who I haven’t much talked to or seen for about 4 years. I met her babies for the first time and got to hold her four month old, darling, smiley, squishy chunk of a daughter for the entire visit (that extended into the wee hours of the morning). She fell asleep halfway through and I was more than happy to hold her sweet warm, softly snoring body in my arms.
I’m so grateful for friends that are always friends. It made me a little sad that I had failed to keep in better touch when she moved back to Oklahoma a few years ago. I was even happier, though, to find that I still have a kindred spirit in her. I love her and she is without a doubt one of the best friends I could hope for. She encompasses my favorite kind of friendship- the easy, effortless kind that is simultaneously honest and deeply soul connecting. The kind that encourages me to be myself, and allows me to be my best self, without even realizing it. The kind that makes me feel like I’m a pretty OK person after all. I needed that visit with her. 
I am also, as always, grateful for my dad. Throughout my life he has been one of the people I admire most. Even just in talking with him for a few minutes yesterday afternoon on the phone I was reminded of what an awesome guy he is and how lucky I am to have him as my dad. Not everyone has a dad like Sir Padre and I am realizing more and more how essential that is.
The most important thing, that I realize I often take for granted, is my relationship with God. I would be so much worse off if I didn’t have that. As long as I have God I know I have everything I could need. That’s another tidbit I am learning and re-learning lately.
This has made me feel better. It is so easy for me to feel bogged down and worrisome about the stresses and complications that are guaranteed lots in life, but I know that for every bad thing there is at least one other thing that is good. I need to remember that.
That’s something I’ll work on.
I realized that I haven’t blogged (or recorded in any way, really) a couple weddings I went to this summer. One being my little sister’s and the other was one of my best friends. Shame on me.
In July Caitlin married a boy she met in her ward last autumn and had a lovely wedding and reception down in Manti where Neil (her husband
) is from. The whole family was there, except for my brother-in-law Matt and his and Michelle’s kiddos. They were able to come out the next week though to Kentucky where we had an open house for Caitlin and Neil.
It was so good to be around family for awhile. And to visit Kentucky again. I absolutely love that place.
From Kentucky, I flew to Alabama and drove my little rental car down to Au
burn where I was the “best man*” for one of my best friends ever, Chris, who married a girl he met in his ward (also last autumn, fancy that!). I was so glad I could make it. He has been such a constant in my life, more like the brother I should’ve had (I always day dreamed about having a twin brother and I think he could’ve been it) than a mere friend. I also got to see his family again. Which was weird and awesome. I haven’t seen them since I was fifteen (10 years ago!) and it was fun to catch up. His grandma, who I’d never met before, made it her personal duty to introduce me to every single person in the reception hall, whether she knew them herself or not. She also made me perform a mini photo shoot for her out on the patio (because she wanted to remember me) which had me cracking up for a half hour. Also, she has a glass eye that she named Gladys. I think I love her.
I was seated at the groom’s family table for the reception. Chris’s dad also insisted on my being in the family photo’s. It was so thoughtful of him but made me feel a bit out of place. Mostly since the photographer wasn’t thrilled about the idea for some reason. It seemed she couldn’t wait to tell me to get me out of the shots. She must be a very by the book person…
While in Auburn I had some time to myself to explore the campus, which is gorgeous, and learned that a person could very well drown just by walking outside (that is SERIOUS humidity, guys), and ate some incredibly delicious southern food, including the best red beans and rice I’ve ever had the privilege of stuffing in my face.
It was a great summer.
*The only thing that really designated me as the “best man” was that I helped Chris set up his hotel room before the reception (they didn’t have an official bridal party). Chris said that by helping him it made me his “de facto best man.” I’ll take it. For the hotel room, we got the usual bubbly drink and chocolates, as well as some rose petals and a few Asian fruits and treats Chris loves from Malaysia where he served his mission. A few days later, he told me that the rose petals had stained the sheets and carpet red… Whoops. I guess that’s a tidbit of information I’ll need to log away for any other future weddings I help out with. Sorry Marriott!
