My BFF (BFE)?

Okay, so I really loathe texting and internet abbreviations like "BFF", but to be fair, Ryan really is my best friend.  This picture and post is for him.  It was taken on our wedding day, March 9, 1996 next to the Seattle Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Maybe it is cliche to say that this was the happiest day of my life, and maybe it isn't even true.  I believe it would be more accurate to say that it was the beginning of all the happiest days of my life and because of him I have had innumerable happy days since.  Cheesy?  Yes.  True?  Absolutely.  The other reasons I chose this picture are:  Ryan looks hot in a tux; I know how happy he really is; He was super sweet and nervous on this day, but only a little, and we are both exhausted and starving at this point but neither of us cared much.  Plus, I like to look back and see how far we've come.  We're both heavier and grayer, but there is so much history between us now that I feel infantile in this photo.  I had no idea what was ahead of me when this was taken, but I knew it was Ryan I wanted to travel that unknown road with.  Sixteen years later, I still adore my travel companion.  I believe it would be more accurate to call him my BFE (best friend for eternity), but I seem to recall that acronym having a negative connotation growing up.  Ryan, I am still thrilled to be your wife.

A Corner of the World

Last October I had the privilege of attending a work meeting with my husband in Cancun, Mexico at Club Med.  I know, sad.  It was fabulous!  I can still imagine myself standing on the white beach, looking at turquoise waters and feeling the warm, fragrant wind move around me.  Since the drinks are free I helped myself to a million pina colada smoothies (sans alcohol since I don't drink).  They were so good I have been leery of all smoothies since.  I was able to visit a cenota and chichen itza.  I ate fantastic food, held a monkey, saw a gator outside our room, visited with natives, and came home with pesos in my pocket.  It is a trip I hope to take again.

Club Med Aerial View.  Our room was in the building in the center in front of the large group of trees.

This is the cenota I saw in the Yucatan peninsula.  If I had worn my suit I could have swam in it.  Next time.

The temple at Chichen Itza.  You can't walk up the stairs anymore, but the tour is fascinating.

A few photos of me, actually there:

 With a young man dressed in ancient gear.

Checking out the alligator outside my room.

Fave Flicks

Since I am a little behind on posts and just want to catch up, this offering may be a little lame.  Translate: no photos or links.  However, these are some of my favorite movies:

• Karate Kid (the original)
• Pride and Prejudice (the movie with K. Knightly as well as the BBC full length version)
• The Last Dragon (Barry Gordy movie, my brother and I would belt out "Rhythm of the Night" a cappella, LOVE it)
• High School Musical (Yes, I totally dig all three.  They make great background noise when cleaning)
• Elf (because "smiling is my favorite"!)
• Bride and Prejudice (not to be confused with the above, but I love Bollywood films)
• All films by Sherwood Baptist Church ~ Fireproof, Courageous, Flywheel, Facing the Giants  (serious feel good flicks)

See them all!  Seriously, you'll be glad you did! (And if you ask my husband's opinion, just ignore him, there are few places we disagree and this is one of them.)

Photos That Make Me Smile

Today I will share with you photos of a few things that make me happy.  Since I couldn't (didn't want to) narrow it down to only one picture as the 30 day challenge suggests, I drew on my English roots and chose a person, place, thing, and idea.  These are they:

People that make me happy:

I downloaded pictures from my camera last May and this is among what I found on it.

A Place that makes me happy:

 It's called Beaver Island and is in Cle Elum, WA.  Has it's own bridge to get to it.

 We rent the whole island complete with teepees and firepits...

and water all the way around.  Canoes are free.  It's awesome.

A Thing that makes me happy:

Balloon hats made to look like stingrays and a 13 year old happy to wear it.

An Idea that makes me happy:

None of the above happiness would be possible without this.

Music that Moves Me

I must admit, I am not as into music as my husband is.  He can name songs and artists within seconds of the song starting.  I personally usually only care about how a song makes me feel, not so much about who sings it.  So, songs that move me:

• Amazing Grace ~ Il Divo
• Who doesn't love hot Italians and bagpipes?  This one gives me chills.
• Life is a Highway ~ Tom Cochrane
• My girlfriend Lisa and I blasted this one all summer long the year she could first drive.  I'm 16 again.
• Wheel of Fortune ~ Hans Zimmer (Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack)
• Listening to this makes me want to get up and do something, it energizes my core.
• Power Windows ~ Billy Falcon
• Billy reminds me that being broke and in love is better than anything else.  Makes me want to cruise with my hubby.
• Operator ~ Jim Croce
• My heart breaks a little for lost love when I hear Jim spill his guts.
• The Joker (Space Cowboy) ~ Steve Miller Band
• That's me, Gangster of Love ;) 
• I'm Gonna Be Somebody ~ Travis Tritt
• Travis gave me courage to plan into the future as a high school student when ever I heard this.
• This ~ Rod Stewart
• • Our song, my handsome hubby and I, "This" encompasses what we feel for each other, and I'm not sure if it's entirely the lyrics or if it has a lot to do with Rod's tone and sincerity as he sings them.
• Come Thou Fount ~ hymn
• I love this hymn.  It is no longer in the current version of the hymnal for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I won't fault them for whatever their reason, but it reminds me that I am not perfect, but still important.
• Wide Open Spaces ~ Dixie Chicks
• Trees make me a little claustrophobic so I listen to this when I want to feel a little more elbow room.
• Defying Gravity ~ Wicked
• Fantastic musical!  You will understand all the fuss when you take yourself to the next show.
• Courageous ~ Casting Crowns
• I love these little Baptist boys who made the film by the same name.  This song reminds me of what I want for my sons to be.

I am sure there are more songs that move me, but I don't want to be at this all night.  You get the point and I've had fun spelling it out.

My Genetic Donors

Today you have the privilege of meeting my parents.  I recall lots of memories of my father, Alan, from when I was a child.  He was goofy, had big muscles, drove a semi truck, loved football, defended our country while serving in the army during Vietnam, and bit his hand when he was angry.  We children were scared of his leather belt which usually followed the hand biting.  But aside from that he was an extremely dedicated man.  He always told us that everything he did he did for us.  I can see that perpetuated now towards his grandchildren.  Dad always had words of wisdom like, "You have to drive for every idiot on the road.  Make sure you are the defensive driver out there because most people aren't."  And, "If you are ever in an accident because you were putting makeup on while driving I'll whip your @ss."  Which my sister and I both believed and which I have passed on to my children as well.  My other favorite fatherly quirk took place on those occasions when we would be looking for someplace to eat for lunch.  He would ask us where we wanted to go, listen to the answer and then promptly reply, "Nah.  You don't want to eat there.  Let's go [insert restaurant here] instead."  It took many years but eventually we learned to just say, "I don't know Dad.  Where do YOU want to eat?"  And then we didn't have to worry about it.  My Dad refers to himself as a good ol' Okie boy and I'd say that about covers it.  He never finished high school but he's more talented than some college grads I know.  He was an uber Scoutmaster in the day and still speaks reverently about the boys he served.  My Dad can garden, cook, shoot pool, and a gun.  He also does a mean cannonball.  I am grateful for my Dad.

This is him in a wig, most likely in the early 80's.

And without the wig, but some sweet sideburns.

With two of his grandchildren and his pooches in Ashland, OR.

Cooking with Harmon in Modesto, CA.

And one of my all time favorite photos of our 'pin-up' Dad with my siblings in Oakdale, CA.

My mother, Karen, is slightly more reserved.  Perhaps not the jokester my father is, but I can recall with greatest fondness one evening in the third grade that I stayed up late working on an English assignment.  It was to write a poem.  I don't recall any of the actual parameters of the assignment but I recall Mom suggesting that it be about something I liked.  Well, at the time it was pickles.  No surprise if you read my previous post.  So she continued to coach me in describing them and we came up with crunchy and tart.  Of course we needed something then to rhyme with tart and being a child I gave her the next most feasible line: "and make you fart".  I remember her laughing hysterically.  I can't recall if I actually turned that in.  My Mom was an RN in her early days.  A college graduate and an impressive artist.  There is little she can't do artistically.  Even her penmanship is fluid and graceful and unlike mine, entirely legible.  Somewhere along her life's path she quit nursing and became a paraeducator for the CA school system.  She did that for 20 years and had to learn passable Spanish in order to retain her employment.  We often attempt broken Spanglish with each other when we can, but I'll admit, she is better at it than I am.  My mother never has anything negative to say about anyone.  In fact, I believe she goes well out of her way to say or do a kind thing every day.  She has ironed my husbands dress shirts for him (me) for the last 7 years all at her own request.  She taught my oldest daughter to read when we lived with her.  And while my Mom can't cook to save her life, she's happy to take you out to dinner.  I am grateful for my Mom.

Mom at her sparkly best in OR.

With a baby Nolahn in 2005 in Chimacum at a pig roast.

Mom with her two oldest granddaughters in Port Townsend, WA in front of her own freehand artwork.

With Nolahn a few years later in Port Hadlock, WA.

Mom with Regann and I the night Regann received her YW medallion.

Love Stinks When Scratched

My first love, most seriously, was not a boy.  Don't panic, it wasn't a girl either.  I fell in love with collecting scratch and sniff stickers in third grade.  Oh sure, there was a boy named Robin who kissed me in that same grade, but I wanted to spend all my time and allowance money on dill pickle scented stickers.  Other favorites were taco scented, coconut, root beer, chocolate, popcorn, peppermint, and candy apple.  But never banana.  That one was gross.  I am guessing this has something to with why today I collect mini bottles of perfume.  I seriously love things that smell awesome.  Scent transports me, relaxes me, wakes me, causes me to remember people and places I had long forgotten.  One day I found myself at the grocery store and they were selling Smencils, gourmet smelling pencils.  I think I spent $20.  I begrudgingly allowed my children to each choose one for themselves, but made sure that I still retained one of each scent.  Rude, I know.  But after all these years I am still madly in love with sniffing.

Oh what's in a name?

This post will be extremely short compared to yesterday.  My maiden name is May.  My married name is Anderson.  Several years ago my husband and I began a new tradition of arranging the details for two family outings, one for my side and one for his.  I wanted there to be continuity in my family outing and since I was making up newsletters for it I dubbed it "A'May'zing Outings" in honor of my maiden name and my May family heritage.  When I opened this blog I pulled on that same idea and combined both halves of my life unmarried/married.  Hence "A'May'zing Andersons".  That is all.

15 things ~ Screw your courage and READ

This is a recent photo of me.  Taken on the front porch at my mother's home in Port Townsend, WA.  She painted the background images on the sheet behind me and the old picture frame I am holding.  We plan to use these items lots in the future.  It was a blast.

I am a wife and mother.  I adore being both.  My life is defined by my family and I want it that way.  Everything I do is for them and so in turn, is really for me.  Selfish, I know.

Fifteen "interesting" facts about me:

1.  I do not now, nor ever have owned a cell phone.  I loathe the way technology both connects and disconnects people at the same time.  I don't know that I will hold out forever on not having a cell phone, but for now I feel justified in it.

2.  I collect mini perfume bottles and squished pennies.  At last count I had almost 300 of each.  I collect the bottles because little things that smell fabulous are my weakness and every squished penny tells a story of where I've been and is a mini scrapbook of my life and outings with my family.  I started both collections in the 80's.

3.  I am a huge fan of etymology, the history and explanations of where our words and phrases come from.  Not to be confused with entomology which is the study of bugs.  I despise bugs more than cell phones.  But I like terms like "fancy pants", "down the tubes", and "in like Flynn".  Also a fan of things coined by Shakespeare like "in a pickle" and "screw your courage to the sticking place", which means, of course, take courage, only said in a more fabulous way.

4.  I seriously considered Botox for the lines between my eyebrows but ultimately decided that I depend on the expressions of my face to assist in getting my point across in person.  I chose against it.  For now...

5.  I am not a fan of holidays.  I know, what's wrong with me, right?  Well, I prefer to celebrate the traditions of my own family and the things that we invent that mean something significant to us.  That's not to say we don't celebrate "regular" holidays, certainly we have Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving in our home every year.  But I really look forward to our Ensign Ranch camping weekend every January, my family Box R reunion each year, our camp outs on Beaver Island, Camp Zarahemla and others.  Too bad for you these aren't main stream events, they are way cooler than Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and Halloween all combined.  By the way, I severely dislike Halloween.

6.  I lost my last grandparent in October.  She was the woman for whom I received my middle name "Jo".  I am grateful and fortunate that I met and knew all of my grandparents in this life.  Not everyone can say that.  I have memories and stories about each of them as well as wisdom gained from them.  I miss my grandparents.

7.  I am a huge fan of BBC films and productions.  Wives and Daughters, North and South, are two of my favorites.  They are my best guilty pleasures, the thing I turn to when I have a few minutes to spare and want to be transported to another time and place.

8.  I love to write.  I plan to finish a book one day.  I once was awarded a merit based scholarship on essays I turned in.  One was about my grandmother (see #6) and her fabulous cioppino and flatware, it's better than it sounds.  The other was about the hymn "Come, Come Ye Saints" from the hymnal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I cried the entire time I wrote.  The Spirit of God was strong in its witness to me of the challenges and blessings the Saints received.  My teacher didn't think I would fair well turning in items about my religion and my family, but turns out he was wrong.

9.  I am a fidgeter.  I can not stand or sit still.  I am always swaying, wiggling, tapping, drumming my fingers and twirling my hair.  Not all at once, but all without thought.  My cousin Kathy once shot up in the bed we were both sharing one night at Grandma's house and said, "What's that?"  Really panicked.  I of course went still when she asked but then continued my movement when she laid back down.  Soon she realized it was me and not some creature under the bed and laughed out loud and asked me if I even knew how to be still.  Apparently I don't.  Sorry Kathleen.

10.  I am a spelling ninja.  My siblings still call me on occasion when they can't find a word in the dictionary due to the inability to spell it to look it up in the first place.

11.  I love cilantro.  I know for most it is either a love it or hate it item.  My mom thinks it smells/tastes like feet.  I disagree.  I eat it on most things and go overboard with it in my salad.  In fact, I've been known to make a cilantro salad with a little bit of lettuce.  Ground coriander is one of my favorite herbs.  A few years ago I learned that coriander is what you get when you grind up the seeds produced by cilantro.  Coincidence?  I think not.

12.  I have never been able to do a pull up but long ago I could do an aerial cartwheel.

13.  I have been both a participant and staff for Wood Badge, the highest level of leadership training for adults that Boy Scouts of America offers.  As staff your day starts at 5:45 am and typically ends at 12:30 am the next morning.  We do this for 6 days.  It takes me waaaay out of my comfort zone.  It is exhausting, but entirely worth it.

14.  I have borne three babies that each weighed over 9 pounds.  All boys.

15.  When I was a teenager my girlfriend and I wanted to lose weight by running so we covered our legs in Icy Hot because if we slowed down it would burn so we were  motivated to keep running.  Unfortunately it was really uncomfortable, both the running and the heat, and we ended up jumping into the irrigation ditch at the neighbors to remove the stuff.  I have never been much of a runner and never used Icy Hot again.

30 Day Blog Challenge

Day 0: The 30 Day Challenge Explanation and Description
Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts
Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3: Your first love
Day 4: Your parents
Day 5: A song to match your mood
Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7: Favorite movies
Day 8: A place you’ve traveled to
Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend
Day 10: Something you’re afraid of
Day 11: Favorite tv shows
Day 12: Something you don’t leave the house without
Day 13: Goals
Day 14: A picture of you last year – how have you changed?
Day 15: Bible verse
Day 16: Dream house
Day 17: Something you’re looking forward to
Day 18: Favorite Place to Eat
Day 19: Something you miss
Day 20: Nicknames
Day 21: Favorite Picture of yourself ALL TIME Why?
Day 22: What’s in your purse?
Day 23: Favorite Movie
Day 24: Something you’ve learned
Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26: Your Dream Wedding
Day 27: Original Photo of the city you live in
Day 28: Something that stresses you out
Day 29: 3 Wishes
Day 30: a picture of yourself this day and 5 good things that happened since you started the challenge


I have never attempted this before, but since the hubby is, I guess I will, too.  However, since I have Wood Badge training this week, I will be starting this on Sunday, May 20th.