Valentines...

EVERYONE seems to be blogging about Valentines... so why not follow the crowd.

As one of my co-workers put it one I told him my plans (snowmobiling with my family), "Well that is not a very romantic Valentines weekend!"

But OH how I was able to think about LOVE. And not just lust, or all the gooby feelings I have for my Seanypoo, but honest-to-goodness REAL LOVE. And it hit my at some of the oddest moments...

As I'm getting suited up to go on my first snowmobile ride of the season, I couldn't help but be a little dis-heartened. I was assigned the weakest snowmobile that is older than poop. I'm sitting there talking out loud a little bit with my mom, OK I was complaining slightly, and I think my mom pointed out, that it would be a much nicer ride for ME when Sean was driving. Sean did not end up going, but about half way through the ride I realized that our 2 guests were on the best snowmobiles, and my dad was on one of the worst. My dad has the most experience; he also enjoys riding more than anyone I know; he should have been on the very best machine. He really was never thinking about himself, and although sometimes I may not fully understand what is going on, he is always looking out for ME and willing to sacrifice for ME. A father's love is something I was very much schooled in this weekend.


On this same ride I was easily cruising along (I really loved being on pinky and being able to enjoy the scenery) and I was REALLY enjoying the scenery. The trees were covered with snow, there was white all over, and it was just me and my thoughts. I really took this alone time to think about the greatness of God. What an amazing world He has created for us to enjoy in so many different ways. How awesome it is that He has given us a path to follow, and examples of those who have gone before us. If you have never been snowmobiling, then you have no idea how bumpy the path can be. Because you are riding on a white path surrounded by white snow, and traveling anywhere from 20-40 miles per hour, it is very difficult to tell where the path is flat and where it may be bumpy. Luckily I was second in line, and was able to see my dad hit all the bumps. As he led, it became easier for me to know when I could speed up, and when I needed to slow down. There were so many religious ties to one silly snowmobile ride, I could hardly stand it. Godly love was hard to miss.

And lastly, after the long drive home, I was flipping through channels waiting for the Olympics to come on, and chanced upon what I think was The Bachelor. In a mere 5 minutes of watching I witnessed a women decide to sleep with a man, who admittedly was in love with 2 other women, after years of dedication to only 1 man. Then I saw another women (in love with the same guy) explain how she simply could not stop thinking about him all the time, even when he was not there (aka dating other women. aka sleeping with other women!!!). Since it was just Sean and I home, I grabbed the remote and blabbed out, "That is called INFATUATION, not love." I looked at my husband, felt nothing but recognition, and realized that sometimes love is boring. Boring but so real. It was awesome to realize that not every second with Sean has to make my stomach flutter for me to know that I love him. I don't have to want to mac his face to know that he is the guy for me. And I don't have to fight for him, because he is already mine.

So all in all, no, Valentines wasn't the most romantic event of my life, but it definitely was full of love.

I've Never

Since our ward just split/changed... and we got a whole bunch of AWESOME new young women, we decided to play some get-to-know you games this Wednesday. I admit I went with a pretty surly attitude, not because of the changes or the new girls, but I had just kind of "had-it" with the day already. Of course I showed up and had a great time (like people keep telling me 80% of life is just showing up), but I was amazed as we played the "I've Never" game how many of my old standby's didn't work.

In case you've never played the game, you stand in a circle of sitting people, you say something you have never done, and anyone who HAS done that thing has to switch seats (hopefully you get one and someone else has to say something they have never done). As I played, I realized that a LOT has changed since I played the game in high school:

I've never broken a bone.......... still stands. Hope I never do.
I've never been to Paris............ went in 2004 and had an amazing time.
I've never kissed a boy..............OK I failed that one not-so-long-after my 16th bday.
I've never ridden a rollercoaster.... Devin Boyle made me go on almost everyone at Lagoon.
I've never swam in the ocean.......... I guess I've still never been in the Atlantic
I've never left the continent............ Obviously I went to Europe, and have been to Japan too.
I've never been (insert a year or two older than my current age)...... you just stop saying your age after 20, it is kind of weird.
I've never had a little sister...... still stands!
I've never been back East....... Chicago airport for 5 hours doesn't count. Still stands.
I've never killed a sibling........ not literally anyways (but this doesn't usually move too many people).
I've never not been born on Friday the 13th...... still stands but again... you just don't say your age.
I've never been skydiving........... but I watched Sam's video so that comes close enough for me.
I've never kissed a frog........... I really bet I did at least one time at Girls Camp, but I would never admit that during a game.
I've never been to Arches or Zion National Park....... Went to both in my first 2 years of marriage.

Anyways... it was rewarding to think of all the things I have done, and quite recently too. The YW came up with some that would never have hit my radar ... I've never been married; I've never had kids; I've never owned a car; I've never owned a home. It was really enabling to think on all I have done, and all the tonz of adventures I have ahead of me.