10 Years Ago

Much of my blog is based around my dear husband Taylor. Sometimes I mention him ad nauseum. He's honestly the best thing to ever happen to me. But did you know I had a life before Taylor? Did you know that in my first semester at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, I met a boy, fell in love, and became Mrs. Perry? It's true, and it happened on March 26, 1999 - 10 years ago today.

This is me in December 1998. My first semester of college. I was a humanities major at Ricks College. I attended on a merit scholarship, involved myself in drama and French club, was involved with Lambda Delta Sigma sorority, attended dances often, went to the devotionals, played in the Rickstix drum line and loved college life. I was the alto section leader in the Ricks College Choir.

I recall my time at Ricks College with great fondness...for unforgettable memories and dear friends.

How did we meet? At a choir retreat at the Teton Lodge, I started flirting with a boy named Steve. He had caught my eye a time or two in choir (always late to class, but dressed sharp) We cheated to be on the same team for activities, and on the van ride home from the lodge he held my hand. We went to a dance on campus that night...and afterwards a snow wrestling match turned into our first kiss. This picture is from the night of the Cabaret dance where we said our first "I love you's."

Three weeks after we met, he came home to Salt Lake with me to meet my family. Christmas Eve, he proposed to me. We excitedly planned our wedding in the Salt Lake Temple for March 26, 1999.
We were married until 2003, when we divorced for a variety of reasons. Out of respect to him, I will not go in to those reasons for our separation. We had some good times, we had some great time, but we also had many horrible times.

Some may call my speedy courtship and marriage a mistake. Some may call it a "starter marriage." My time with him is part of who I am today. I became an adult much more quickly than I had intended, but I have loved the roles as a wife and mother that I have assumed. As I looked through the boxes in my home in Georgia, I could only find these few pictures from this period in my life. My old wedding pictures are stored deep away in California, and it really feels like a chapter of my life I no longer need to dwell on . I will always be grateful to him for bringing Rosie into the world.

6 Months in Michigan

I can hardly believe that our family has been living in Michigan for 6 months now! Here are a few of my favorite things about living here:

-Living in the same state as my husband!
-Fireflies!!! (Rosie and I counted over 70 of them last night)
-Diet Vernor's Ginger Ale
-Partying with the Pearces
-Leo's Coney Island
-Mike, Erin and Will
-The spectacular rainstorms and thunderstorms
-Hillary, Steven, and Elodie
-Jerusalem Garden in Ann Arbor
-Plymouth Township Park
-Pizza Papalis in Greektown
-The Henry Ford Museum
-Easy access to the rest of the country via Detroit Metro Airport on free flights

I don't know how long we'll live in Michigan. Taylor's under the impression that we'll figure out a way to move back to California in 6 months (as long as his airline survives the merger and he can get a bid for the ATL base and commute from ONT). If we do move back, I wonder if we'd be any better off financially than we are here (and we're currently NOT making it financially). I really miss my friends and family on the other side of the country and have felt a lot of loneliness here. We have made a few good friends, and I crave the time we spend with them. I am grateful for the good times we've had in Michigan (and the places we've visited while living here).

I just don't really know what to say...

With news like this ...it's hard to be optimistic about the future of my husband's career. I have no idea if my husband will be out of a job by the time the NWA/Delta merger happens. But with all the regionals that have gone under in the last two months, it doesn't look good for Pinnacle.

Otherwise, life's been kinda tough lately. Work stress is high, financial stress is high, and my health is hit-and-miss. Rosie's done with first grade on Friday, I'll be done with my semester officially within the next few days, and Taylor's been in SLC helping my parents move downtown this week. I'm trying to take joy in the little things. The new Coldplay album is fabulous, my air conditioner works, and I ate a really, really good orange yesterday. Michigan is beautiful and green, and I try to enjoy it as much as I can handle the humidity. We've had some breathtaking thunderstorms this week, and we've luckily not had to deal with flooding and power outages as other neighboring areas have. Lately I've been thinking about some quotes from Gordon B Hinckley:

"Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."

"My plea is that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we 'accentuate the positive.' I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort."

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us,...if we put our trust in Him, if we pray to Him, if we live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."

Rundown of Friday-day

I woke up feeling a bit icky, stomach flu or something. My body protested and protested to get up. But I finally did, had to get Rosie ready to go to Idaho for the weekend. Steve slept in, and wanted to meet me at work, so I met him there and said goodbye to Rosie. I already miss her. Can't wait to see her tomorrow night, however tomorrow is Father's Day (and since Steve is her Father....it's definitely a day she gets to be with him)

I was feeling out of it at work. One of those days that you try to focus and feel like you don't get anything accomplished. (course, being dizzy, feverish, and taking trips to worship the porcelain god don't help) I listened to more of Jeremy's CDs...Erasure, Dido, Seal, DM....stuff that I miss terribly since my car was violated. I finally called it quits and headed home about lunchtime, and crashed for a nap till about 5ish. (sugarplum fairy, sugarplum fairy...oh wait that was John Lennon...anyways happy b-day Paul McCartney)

Thought about Dan a lot. He's been working on "BLACKBIRD" for me on his guitar, and now the link is on his LJ for the recording. Can't wait to hear it.Time for some lyrics...haven't done that in a few days.......(Forgive me EM, for the LJ spam. I need a demonstration on the correct way to post lyrics)

There'll be times when my crimes
Will seem almost unforgivable
I give in to sin
Because you have to make this life livable
But when you think I've had enough
From your sea of love
I'll take more than another riverful
And I'll make it all worthwhile
I'll make your heart smile

Strangelove, strange highs and strange lows
Strangelove, that's how my love goes
Strangelove, will you give it to me
Will you take the pain
I will give to you, again and again
And will you return it

I'm not trying to say I'll have it all my way
I'm always willing to learn
When you've got something to teach
And I'll make it all worthwhile
I'll make your heart smile (Strangelove, DM)