14 Days Of Love by Emma (Reused)

Last year my friend Megs from Mmmboppin' had a "14 Days of Love" series on her blog. She highlighted some of her favorite bloggers (Including ME!!! Yes -- ME!!!) and asked us to write out 14 things we love. Then, during her February Countdown to Valentine's Day, she spotlighted one of us per day.

I had sooo much fun with it, I initially thought I would just like totally copy her this year and get 14 of YOU to do the same for MY blog. But, who am I kidding? I am too disorganized and crazy-busy to pull something that well-orchestrated off on my blog at the moment. In lieu of that, I figure, what the hay -- I'll just copy her by actually copying her, which would mean I would copy me and what I wrote for her, but since it's me, it's not really copying her then, is it? Whoa~ Stop the ride. I wanna get off.

Moving On. Here is my post as featured by Megs last year. Enjoy, and Happy Valentine's Day!!! Bloggy Love to all of you, dear readers!

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14 Days of Love, By Emma

Here are 14 things I love:

14. That split second after I've finished sneezing and realize I haven't peed my pants. Truly a celebratory moment!

13. Biting into some dark chocolate, confirming I've made the right candy selection.

12. Hot Irish men with accents... (have you see, "PS, I Love You"???)

11. Finding just the right tune from John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Keane or Jamie Cullum, etc. that sums up how I am feeling right then and there, and then downloading it to my iPod, setting it to repeat and listening to it 200 times in a row until I know every word, every breath, every ooh and every ahh... (What do you mean, "Compulsive"?)

10. Cheese! Glorious Cheese! (Get a "big" brie wheel from Costco. Bake on sheet of foil @ 250, 10-15 minutes and delve in with Triscuits... OH.MY.GOSH.GOOEY.GOODNESS!!! You won't regret it!)

9. Making late night runs for Mexican Food... yumm-o! (Washed down by a Diet Coke, of course!)

8. (Something I have NEVER told ANYONE till now) Caltoy Hand Puppets that I secretly started collecting a few years ago from thrift shops. Seriously - they are so stinkin cute! (I only have 6 so far...not sure what I am gonna do with them... I may just have to blog about this.)

7. Finding a decent smelling bath gel for like a buck and then pouring HALF of its contents under running hot bath water for a luxurious long soak!!! (Now, if only I had a deep-enough tub to actually submerge the girls!)

6. Massages... they are like crack-cocaine. For reals. If you haven't had one, get one.

5. When my kids look at me, talking with their mouths full, telling me I am like the best cook ever and can I please, please, please make this again?

4. Improving my time on the treadmill or trail...It's empowering!

3. Vintage spoon rings. This is a new obsession... totally cool. Best ones I've seen are on Etsy, for reals!

2. That moment leading up to like the best kiss ever... A little nibble on the ear, face to palm, mouth to tongue... Whew! Is it like getting hot in here or is it just me???

1. That moment when I realize that I *AM* on the right track, and that I *CAN* do hard things, and that my Heavenly Father *DOES* love me... and that in the end, no matter what happens... I *WILL* be okay. Yeah... I love *THAT* moment.

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Ok -- 2 of my favorite comments from that post (I've just gotta share) are these...

JWise said, "wow!!! Amazing list. No wonder you love this Emma. Anybody who can use the words "crack-cocaine," "mouth to tongue" and "Heavenly Father" in 6 sentences knows what's what!"

RhondaLue said, "I heart Emma. She makes me laugh...and she makes me feel normal! Lol!"

haha! Happy Valentine's Day!!! Mwah!!!

The "I Can't Believe It's Not a Bucket List" List

Bucket Lists have been all the buzz ever since the movie with the same name hit the big screen. I went. I saw. I laughed. I cried. (I gushed over the use of John Mayer's song, "Say" used in the soundtrack). And yes, I made my own bucket list of sorts. Even though the movie's been out on DVD for a few years now, the term "Bucket List" is easily understood and readily accepted as common culture in today's society. Cassie was talking all things Bucket Lists over at her blog, cuz one of her teachers has assigned them to make a list of 100 things! Talk about a daunting task.

Anywhooo... got me thinking, "but what about the things I've already done, that I never even ever would have imagined I'd do once upon a time?" (Like that grammar there, did ya? ;) )

Looking back, sort of realizing the many things I have already accomplished has really been strengthening for me. It confirms my beliefs that I can do hard things and lends affirmations that there is a plan for me and that my Heavenly Father loves me. Not everything on my "reverse" bucket list is something others might view as particularly positive. Nonetheless, these are the things that I never ever even would have imagined, and in some way or another they have made me stronger.

I never imagined I'd ever...

• fall in love the first time at age 15.
• have my first heartache at age 15. :)
• have 3 oral surgeries as a teenager.
• be involved in 3 car accidents as a teenager.
• get accepted into the Indiana All-State Honor's Choir 3 consecutive years in High School.
• have a lead in a High School Musical Production.
• do missionary work in Bloomington on the IU Campus.
• go to college in Hawaii.
• get married at age 19.
• have a baby at age 20.
• move back home to Indiana.
• move to Utah. (Once I told my paw that I'd NEVER move Utah. He said, "never say never". I said, "mark my words...[evil laugh]")
• Learn to cook, or cook well.
• work for the airlines.
• have 2 more children.
• become ill and have 2 more surgeries.
• get my real estate license.
• get a divorce.
• get my Title/Escrow license.
• become a certified public notary.
• have a second chance at 50 first dates.
• become a "born-again" virgin (tee hee)
• get my concealed carry permit.
• get a gun.
• write a novella (still needs publishing, but hey! it's written!)
• become good friends with the now-wife of my then-boyfriend.
• be the target of neighborhood meanness.
• be the receiver of many generous people who have helped me over the last few years without expecting anything in return, and many times while staying anonymous.
• go back to school
• get straight A's
• feel love again...

I am sure there is much more that I have surprised myself with over the years, but these are just the first thirty or so that came to mind. What about you? What have you done or accomplished that you never would've guessed "once upon a time"?

Lists

Many of you know my old Blackberry poopered out on me and I got a new Droid to replace it. Well, Big-D just happens to have the same phone.

One day last week...

Me: "So do you know if there is a Droid App for like memos and stuff?"

Him: "Probably. Why?"

Me: "I need one. To make a list."

Him: "You mean a list of lists?"

Me (blushing slightly): "Yes. As a matter of fact, it is for my list of lists. Remember?? Someone accidentally wiped everything off my old phone?"

Him: "Oh... yeah...Sorry."

Does he know me or what? My list of lists... hahaha!