Marriage. Marriage is what brings us together (errr....or apart) today.

To keep with the theme of my last two posts I'll just start out with, God answers prayers. Then I will add the old cliche, (say it together everyone) Be careful what you pray for! This latest prayer answered is actually a good thing but it kind of stinks a little bit.

A strange thing has been happening to me. I have been making and receiving a lot less phone calls. Not to mention skype calls. I have a theory. (Sorry to those of you who have already heard said theory). You see for the last....eh....6 or 7 years I have had my own army of knights in shinning armor. They are my good good friends (usually male) who are ready and willing to ride in and save the day what ever the circumstance. All I need to do is call and for the most part I have their undivided attention. Oh how I have been blessed with good friends. I really am a lucky girl. At different times through out the years my army has changed sizes as warriors have joined ranks and others have moved on to new adventures. Generally, however, it has consisted of the same knights and their trusty steeds. This cavalry of friends is really good at fulfilling pretty much all of my emotional needs. If I need to vent, cry, cheer, or laugh I can call any one of my dear friends and it does the trick.

My theory is a two parter.

The first part is that I have become so accustom and comfortable with my life and my cavalry of friends taking care of me that I haven't had much of a desire to look in other places (i.e. a romantic relationship) that would force me to be vulnerable or commit in order to have my needs met. I mean really. Why would I do that? These people know just about EVERYTHING about me and I can say whatever comes to my mind and they love me just the same. Who wouldn't want to stick with that?(and just to set the record straight, I am talking emotional needs. Not the "needs" some of you may think of....keep it clean people. keep it clean!)

Well here's the second part of my theory. Last April at general conference when the brethren kind of came down on the young priesthood for putting off important things like...uh...ehem...marriage. There. I said it. I felt a little of that chastisement as well. Although I don't hold the priesthood, I may be guilty of enjoying my single young adulthood a little to much. Yes, some times I get lonely and think it'd be nice to get married, but for the most part I am happy with life. As I listened to the prophet's voice I thought, "but I don't really have the desire or motivation to get married". So I decided to pray. That's what always gets me in trouble. Kidding! **looking up to the heavens**

Anyway, I decided to pray for a desire to get married. After that, I decided to be more open to dating, blind dates, and the like. (If there is interest I wil post a little more about those blind dates in future posts. LOL or maybe I should say HOHOHO!) I have struggled a bit and may have lost sight at times of my goal but heavenly father had his own plan to answer my prayer in the works. Suddenly those members of my army I talked about before....yep. Those friends who gave me their attention whenever I needed it started to, well, allow their attention to be diverted.

You know how on those action movies there's are a list of secret agents and one by one they have the red letters over their pictures saying TERMINATED? Yeah, it's kind of like that. 

 

All worthy things to divert these friend's attention. I am actually happy for every single one of them. Getting back to the theory, Heavenly Father is removing every last thing or person that may be holding me back. Tricky tricky.

Who's left in my little army? Just me. Is that desire I prayed for coming? Little by little maybe. But until then I am trying this suit of armor on for size to come to my own rescue when need be!



What do you think?
I guess we will see what happens in the future. Do I think I will get married right away? Probably not. I still have at least a year or so in me, but I have made a few goals. The first one is to be a little more open with that facet of my life. So that means I will keep you better updated......(Maybe. This is gonna be a hard goal for me). The other goal is to embrace romance and all it's mushiness a little better.

You see, I am NOT a romantic. Yes I get twitterpated when a guy I am dating does something sweet for me, but when it starts getting to ooey gooey I get really uncomfortable! When it is clear a man is trying to be more romantic to win my affections I sometimes panic. I am going to get over that. I also am going to try to be a little more mushy my self. I realized when talking to a trusted friend that I have a really hard time saying mushy things. It is all because I hate to be in situations where I lead people on. And romantic situations are definitely in that category. OK. enough of that. I am going to be better. The end.

So the moral of the story? My phone bill is going to be AWESOME! Oh. And always floss. You never know when you are going to have to flash those pearly whites. (Don't judge. It's 2 AM)

I am sitting in my room blogging on my adoption blog and I heard one of my favorite noises so I had to stop and share.

It is something that always makes me smile when I hear it. The house is usually still and quiet like the calm before a storm and then all of a sudden there is the sound of a herd of unknown animals above my head running from the door to the refrigerator followed by the cheers of 6 boys and then westling and runnning. Usually I jump up to greet my favorite visitors but this visit was unexpected to me and I had a few plans. (Ehem, you wouldn't know by the fact that am still unshowered in my pajamas at 1:30). But I know if I go up stairs I wont get a thing done. So here I sit finishing my blog posts before I go hug and play with my favorite sunday visitors. 

 

(I wish I had pictures of the other boys on Tressa's computer, but this is all I've got!)

BAHAHA I was about to hit publish when I heard a thud right above my head sounding like it was going to come through my ceiling on me. Heck with it. I am going upstairs!

The Lord really does love me!

After reading the following email all I have to say is neener neener!

Bishops,

Due to the upcoming weather conditions, we are cancelling Sunday church services for all units in the Columbia Maryland Stake.  Please encourage members to be safe and hold a devotional as a family on Sunday.  As discussed, once the storm passes, please report to me how your members weather the storm, conditions of missionaries in your unit, and the condition of the meetinghouse.  This storm may provide a great opportunity to serve others.

Thank you.

James Mitchell

And here's a picture of milo and me to celebrate my canceled talk!! YEHAW!

Thank heavens for rain!

I am laying in bed thinking that I have to write my latest tender mercy from the Lord down. Since I am to lazy to get out of bed and my cell phone is right here, you blog readers get the pleasure of hearing about this simple answer to prayer.

It is a well known fact that I am ALWAYS busy. (But really now a days who isn't?) Usually I am able to handle all that I take on, but there are times I find myself on over load. Tonight just happened to be one of them.

I have a lot to do in the next two days and I knew it is impossible. I got ready for bed tonight and started saying my prayers asking for heavenly father to help me be able to slow down a little bit. No sooner did I get off my knees and read my emails did I find the answer to my prayers. I had been put in charge of the activities for the ward party on Saturday and the chairmen of the committee were expecting great things. Was I ready? No. Had I even thought about it in the last few weeks? No. I had been out town and it was the last thing on my mind. I am working all day tomorrow playing catch up from my trip and then the very next morning the festivities were scheduled. There was no way they were getting done. But when I checked my email, there was one sent at the same time I ended my prayer that said the ward activity had been canceled.

One more reason to love the rain!

It's a silly little thing but a huge relief for me and tender mercy from the Lord.

Now, if he'll find a way for me to get out of my sacrament meeting talk.....

yum

Recently, many people people have tried to "nonchalantly" mention I should get a man. It was only until this moment that I decided I might agree with them. I need an ice cream sandwich and don't think I really want to move right now.

Bye Bye Baby

Well, I knew it had to end but I hoped my sister and her husband would just leave cute little Milo when they went home. But I guess they like him so they are taking him home tomorrow. It was a lot of fun having them here! I seriously have 270 pictures of the MES from the last 8 days. I love love loved hanging out with Elizabeth so much. We talked and laughed and shopped and just hung out. It was nice. Here are some fun pictures of their visit......Sorry there is not a lager variety of members of the family featured in these pictures.

Loving shopping with the baby.

Happy 4th of July!

I swear the whole city came to watch the fireworks at the lake front. I hear they were awesome but I was to busy taking pictures of the baby to notice.

Milo's first time watching fireworks. Eventually his parents removed their hands from his ears and he did just fine.

The whole reason for the trip. (Congratulations Tressa! We love you!)

Milo loves his Aunt Tressa

Yep, I was the Aunt who fed him a crayon. I think he loved it. And Mark, if they were toxic children would not be allowed to use them in the first place. So there!

He picked that shirt out all on his own. I swear! (if you can't read it it says "my aunt is awesome")

Not a fan of sunscreen.

My beautiful Sister Rachel and I at six Flags

The swingers! We were the brave ones who rode the flying carousel. The flying carouselers just doesn't have the same ring to it.

At the six flags water park.

The coolest baby on the block!

He's a natural!

Family picture time!

My mother's quick snap shot after our awesome photographer took her pictures.

And who could forget Doug and the raccoon?

We had a great visit! I probably could have split all these pictures up and did a post on each activity but it's late, I'm tired, and you are probably grateful for that.

FINALLY!

Saturday was the day! I finally met my cute little nephew after five months. I pretty much adore him. My sister and her hubby are out here visiting for the next few days and because the babysitting fee would be ridiculous, they decided to bring the MES along. He took one look at me and started screaming bloody murder! Yeah, I think this is the start of something beautiful!