names

Don't worry, I am not pregnant. But with 16 nieces and nephews and 3 more on the way, sometimes I think about baby names and if I will even have options when it's my turn :) Then I realized that there are so many things you need to think of when you name a child-like any possible nick names, being made fun of, etc. And, if there are any cousins you have to think about if the name sounds too much alike, etc. I know it's a random thing to be thinking of during finals week, but then there is the fact that you have to consider any known person with the same name and if that is a good choice or not. Oh and what if you have acquaintances (like old high school class mates) that named their kids names you like, but you aren't THAT close to them- is that ok?
My example for what got me thinking all of this- I have loved the name Bella for a few years now- but would I really name my daughter that among all the Twilight hype? I mean, do you really want her thinking that she was named after some weird fictional character who finds her true love in high school who just happens to be a vampire?
...or maybe the best part about those books is that we all know they will never be classics so it wouldn't matter as they got older....

my opinion

Just was thinking about this earlier today. Sorry if any of you disagree with me, but I think that global warming, climate change, carbon footprints are propaganda and the the debate is not "over" as some people think. Good thing Gore didn't get elected president-- he was able to create a much more lucrative career for himself based on false information. And so many other companies are just using it to raise their prices and make more money. Want an example? Look at GE.

10 years

I know this has now passed, but for me it is just as fresh as if it were yesterday. Here are some of my pictures from going home to Colorado for the 10th Anniversary of the Columbine shooting. For me, it felt so good to be there- it helped me see that we can all heal and move on in our lives, never forgetting that fateful day 10 years ago.
Sunday night was a candelight vigil at the Columbine Memorial in Clement Park. This is one of my favorite places to go and reflect on life.













Monday morning the alumni who had been at the school during the shooting was invited to a breakfast at the school and it was so good to see everyone and talk to them and see what they have accomplished in their lives. How touching it was to feel that unity as Mr. Moore began the We Are.... Columbine shout. I couldn't make it through without the tears flowing. Truly after that day, I will always be part Columbine.

Monday evening was the memorial at Clement Park. Fitting that both of the events took place in that park, as that is the location I ran to that day after leaving the school. There were some speakers who said some neat things and they also release doves for the 13 killed and some for the 25 that were injured that day.
There were a few comments that especially touched me, in addition to being there with members of my family.
Dawn Anna, a mother of Lauren Townsend who was killed that day said, "We will honor you be being honorable."
Mr Andres spoke to Mr. DeAngelis (our principal) and said to him: it is because of you that we are still Columbine.
Mr. DeAngelis quoted both Ernest Hemingway and Patrick Ireland (for those of you who don't know- he is "Columbine's boy in the window"):
the world breaks everyone and then we are stronger in broken places. -Ernest Hemingway
I am not a victim I am a victor. -Patrick Ireland

Jake didn't get a chance to make the trip with me. If I could do it over again, I would have taken him. I think that being there would have helped him to understand how much a part of me Columbine is. But, being the sweet husband he is, he sent me flowers. Listening to people speak, and being there with some of my nieces and nephews made me think of my future children and the lessons I have learned from Columbine. Never forgotten. And the remembrance of that day will always be a part of my life and my children- I want them to learn what I did without having to go through that experience. It has made me a stronger person and I have no doubt that my experiences that day weren't just for me, but for my family and my future family.

Columbine's "Boy in the Window"

I will apologize to anyone in advance who doesn't want to hear about this stuff. And I will also warn you that as a somewhat therapeutic thing for me in the next few days, I may be posting more about it.
I cannot believe that 10 years have now passed since April 20, 1999 when my life was changed forever. This 10 year anniversary has truly brought back so many emotions of that day. And yet, it has also pushed me to realize the peace and strength I have received from my Savior since that time.
I recently watched this interview and read this article that truly touched me. If any of you have not heard of his story in the past, it really is neat:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=4069745
While the last week of classes and then finals week are still ahead for me, I truly felt the need to come to Colorado and be here for this anniversary. Especially in this past year when the sense of "home" has changed so dramatically for me. Tomorrow night marks the candelight vigil, followed by a breakfast at the school for past graduates Monday morning and a memorial Monday night. I will be there and I am sure go through the flood of different emotions. But above it all, I know that God allows bad things to happen to good people because a)He will not take away the agency of another and b) the purpose of this life is to learn and to grow and c) God is our loving Heavenly Father and wants to prepare us to live in His presence someday.
How grateful I am to know this. And admist the pain and the hurt, there is healing through His son, Jesus Christ.

Never Forgotten

This coming Monday is the 10 year anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings. For those of you who don't know, I was there that day.
My experience is featured on another blog, Never Forgotten for those of you who are interested.

One of my favorite scriptures that has given me strength since that day is in Romans chapter 8:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

small celebrations

So last night while lying in bed unable to fall asleep (yes this has become a usual thing), I wrote this blog in my head. Yesterday was a good day. I realized that although my life may not be perfect right now, I need to take baby steps and celebrate the small things. Such as:
-exercise. I have not been too kind on my body lately and it is in major need of exercise. Yesterday I went on a run and it is the first step.
-every week that passes is one week closer to the beach. (Our new family tradition since our honeymoon is to go stay at my Grandpa's beach house every summer in Newport Beach, CA.)
-In 2.5 weeks I can finally breathe and be done with this semester of school. While I am taking a class in spring (May - June 5th), the whole 16 credits and working 40 hours a week has taken it's toll. And my favorite thing about the summer? I CAN READ ALL I WANT- I don't have to just read books that my professors assign!!!
-both of our vehicles which we both love dearly have 102,000 miles on it... nothing exciting, but kind of fun
-our plan to pay off our car in a year will be coming true soon. We were going to pay it off this month but realized we should wait a full year to have it on our credit report- funny how paying it off in less than a year won't show up when that is actually really good. So August, here we come.
-Easter was wonderful and we have hard boiled eggs for one of my favorite lunches: egg salad sandwiches. (Jake reminded me that I can make them at other times of the year but it is just part of the tradition).
-Jake and I have been married just one month shy of a year. I love him so much and am so glad we have come to know each other better. Starting a business together has been such an adventure. If we can make it through this we can make it through anything! (I Hope) :)
-warm weather is coming!! (I am trying to be positive and ignore the snow that is supposed to be coming).
Small celebrations are small, but fun to think about.

None Were with Him

give away today

Please visit www.giveawaytoday.blogspot.com today. We are featured on this site today only and you can enter to win a $35 gift card from our store.

Hope you are all well.... We are just trying to keep our heads above water with everything that is going on. Thank goodness there are only 3 more weeks of school left for us.

Monthly Giveaway

So Kristen and I have decided to have a monthly giveaway from our store. All you have to do is go to our website by clicking on our logo and follow the instructions to enter. You can enter up to 3 times. Good Luck!