7th Day of Valentines

Just for him, cuz I love my 

Day 2: My First Love

My First Love-
Travis Michael Payton.
There were many guys who I had interest in and concern for before I met Travis-but Travis is my first real love.  My one and only.  The guy who topped the charts.  Who swept me off my feet and had the ability to shatter my world and turn it up side down in the most wonderful of ways.  He is my best friend.  He knows me so well, he makes bad things not so bad, good things just so much better.  He's gentle, kind, patient, hardworking, smart, handsome, faithful, honest, and wonderful.  Before I met the man, I never even had any interest in this topic called kissing, but meeting him and how wonderful he was, I couldn't help but to squeak out the wonderful words "I LOVE YOU" and give my first kiss and share my world and my hopes, fears, dreams, desires, wishes, opinions and expiriences with.  He has become my world, my best friend, my confidant-my rock.  He grounds me to whats important.  He lets me cry and doesn't try to fix it (though I know how much he wishes he could) and opens my eyes to solutions, adventures, possibilities.  He has a terribly sweet and beautiful voice that still melts my heart-and laughs at my lame jokes and crazyness.  He's just the best.  I love him, always and forever!
I'm so excited to start our new life together and look forward to facing lifes joys and sorrows side by side with him.

5th and 6th Days of Valentines:

For the 5th Day of Valentines I gave 

to my Sweettart!

For the 6th Day of Valentines I gave to my true love:

to tell him that "Life gave me Lemonade when Life gave me you!"

(Inspired by the Lemonade song he sent me over 2 yrs ago by Chris Rice Listen to it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2-rKgGnx34  )

2nd, 3rd, and 4th Days of Valentines

On the second Day of Valentines I gave to my true love:
  

As I handed it to him I said without any explanation:

I've got a CRUSH on you!

On the 3rd Day of Valentines I gave to my True Love:

A Honey Bun for my Honey Bun!

On the 4th Day of Valentines I gave to my true love:

  

For my Stud Muffin

I have more coming, I was going to town with the puns while shopping for the next few days.  

I'm finding this to be a really inexpensive, low pressure, fun way to express to Travis how much I love him.  Like I said, this is our first time being together for Valentines, and with the wedding and everything coming up-this is probably my favorite thing.  Simple gifts for my sweet man that don't even take much preparation. I got the idea from a combination of other blogs and websites, but have added a personal spin to a few of them(that poem was all mine, and I've gotten creative with a few of my own materials and puns-and definitely simplified the presentation-but it works, and someday I can work up to the perfect presentation).  But definitely the highpoint in my day is when I get to see him and give him his daily treat.  Love seeing it bring a smile to his face, sometimes a chuckle, and its more than kind to my budget.

The First Day of Valentines

This year I'm trying to do a 14 days of Valentines sort of thing for Travis-its actually the first Valentines where we'll be in the same place together.  Anyways, so yesterday I started it with this:
                                        

 I wrote him a poem to go with these:

Poem said:

   

Our love is sweet, our love is true

You were MINT for me, and I for you!

I missed Day 2 because our class scheduals on Wednesdays are so opposite eachother and he doesn't work Wednesday nights but I do, so I really didn't see him at all today.  I'll give him day 2 and 3 tomorrow though, then I'll share here. :o)  And then I should be on Track.  :-P

I finally had one!

I beleive in meltdowns.

Most of the time I stay fairly well composed, I hold it all togther, I function, I acheive, and I preform my heart out.  And I Do my best.  Well, wake up-best is never enough ever because I'm human and so from time to time, when I drop the ball, and mother nature decides to remind me of my humanity, I let out a good cry.  Poor lysie didn't know what to do.  So she sang me some songs, gave me a hug and blew me a kiss.  That helped.  But I still couldn't help myself from sobbing-I was also laughing while I was sobbing because of how rediculous I am.  But, it felt good.  I was trying to not cry when talking to travis on the phone, but that doesn't work really well.  Physiologically speaking, sobbing and laughing are the same.  I was a mess, and the dear wonderful boy just let me be rediculous without judging or trying to fix me.  Thats all I needed.  I knew he cared and I assured him I would be fine in the morning.  Life goes on.  He was so sweet though tonight, he brought me in the left over steak-and didn't eat before I got out of class to join him.  And then when I was home and sobbing and crying and laughing uncontrollably my mommy opened her arms and let me join her in a good snuggle on the couch.  I'm so blessed.

My Christmas Highlight

(Photo Thanks to Adam Baxter)

There are many legends about the moon. A full moon is said to be a symbol of love and romance.  On that, 

I must agree.

There was a total Lunar Eclipse on Solstice this year, visible in Alaska on the Eve of Winter Solstice. 

My dear wonderful Travis took the special night, December 20th, 2010 to propose :)  

Yes, we are engaged!  

I think there is some special symbolism in it.  

Just as the celestial bodies aligned that night, 

Travis and I aligned our hearts in a promise of celestial significance.  

I love that man!

December!!!!

So, I don't know where the year went-but its now December so the greif I should feel at yet another year gone is  overwhelmed by the excitement of the Holiday Season!  I'm SO excited, it hit me in class when I went to write the date and it was 12/1/2010 that it was December.  Just 25 days till Christmas!  And my Birthday is on Friday.  Which let me tell you, I'm not too happy about only being 21 and having forehead wrinkles already.  I blame the fun I had in the California Sun this summer.  I got a few really good sunburns, and the Ultraviolet light did its toll.  :P  Bleh.  But, still, 21 eh?  I could go rent a car, I could not go to bar-they both rhyme but they wouldn't be a crime!  HAH!  Jk, I won't ever be going to a bar, and I don't have the money to rent a car.  But don't worry, I will be celebrating.  Travis is taking the evening off from work and we'll go to dinner (probably with my family too) and then I talked him into going to the Newest Harry Potter with me, and get this, hehe-dressing up as Wizards!  I'm also opening the invite to any who wish to come, just you have to dress like a wizard too!  So, spread the word and dust off your wands!  I'll update on Facebook what time we'll go to the movie, I'm thinking Imax at 7pm Friday, the 3rd.  YAY!  (PS, Travis is gonna be Harry and I'm gonna be Ginny! hehehehe)

More Shots!

So, Thursday, we gave each other shots in the butt.  Its not that bad, but note:  Go in fast.  The girl who gave me my shot kind pushed on the skin till it broke.....just stab it, I promise, it'll hurt less.  After the shots in the butt, we learned to give them in the leg.  Note to future patients:  If you have to get a shot in your leg, it really doesn't hurt unless you watch, so don't watch.  Its a big needle and seeing it go in, you'll tense up a bit.  I thought I was solid, could handle any needle at this point, but I wanted that shot to stop.  It really wasn't painful except in my head.  Natural response, so just don't look.  (you'll usually get shots like Iron there, so just don't get that low on Iron in the first place anyways-and remember you have to count to 10 before the needle comes out)

And heads up:  Tomorrow, me and Travis are going Snow Boarding.  :)  I've Never Tried it, have always wanted to.  SO EXCITED!  Wish me luck!!

How do you solve a problem like Melanie?

I feel like this song from the sound of Music sometimes.  
You know, the one that goes "How do you solve a problem like maria, how do you catch a wave upon the sand, and how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand??"
Theres a part of the chorus that goes:

She is gentle

She is wild

She's a riddle

She's a child

She's a headache

She's an angel

She's a girl!!

And many another part of that song I feel like they might as well be singing about me.  However, thats what makes me SO thankful for my family, my friends and all the patient people who love me.  

The only way I can explain myself sometimes is that I'm a girl.  And as such I'm prone to emotional feelings that I don't quite know how to interpret and handle yet, so thank you for bearing with me!  

Clara is cuter.

Its October and Theres no snow yet.  What is this?
Anyways,
Conference Weekend:
   Good times with Travis.
   We Watched Conference (oops, I fell asleep on Sunday afternoon session)
   We played outside with the frisbee
   We made French Toast
   We bought cheesecake!  ( and ate it too)
   We had a stargate marathon
   And spend pretty much all day both days together, it was nice. I don't think we had had that much quality time since California.  I do love him so!

Also, my past roommate Dana had her Baby Girl!  Congrats Dana and Dallin Broadhead on the healthy arrival of Gabriella!

I must say though, Ella is adorable-no mistake there, but I'm biased and I think my niece Clara is cuter.  :P  hehehe

My September 11, 2010

Today was beautiful.  I woke up, got dressed (which I really didn't feel like getting out of my jammies, so it was a big deal, thus it gets to be listed in the days activities), got a haircut, then spent a glorious fall afternoon in Nature with my darling Travis.  I've been saying every weekend, "We need to go outside while the weather is still good" And so finally, the weather was PERFECT and the leaves are a beautiful golden.  So we went to Chena Lakes-but past where you turn off to go to the lakes but farther down the main road to where theres a beautiful river campsite and a few walking trails.  Oh, I just can't say enough, but it was beautiful.  There, we threw rocks in the water like little kids-Travis can throw then reallly high and really far (hit the sign on the other side of the river, or threw them really high so they would make cool sounds when the fell into the water, like "THWOOPM") and he's really good at skipping rocks-I've said it once and I'll say it again, I'm easy to please!  I loved it!

Other than that, he made me some dinner, and we watched a movie.  It was a great day.

Kinda Ironic given the anniversary of today, 9/11.......but I think its a perfect example of how God gives us tender mercies.  Beautiful weather and sunshine to light up the shadows and open our eyes to all the beauties and blessings still extended and offered to us.

Busy Busy Busy

My weekend, was busy-but Oh SO Wonderful with my Wonderful home!  It stinks having to say goodbye everynight-but I like having him around. And we've entered this phase in our relationship where though I still feel pretty clingy-I think I can handle going about and doing my agenda while he tends to his.  We love eachother-but we don't have to be connected at the hip to survive the day. I only got to see him for a quck lunch at my house this morning-but still had a very good and productive day!  I got all the chores my mom requested done, made a dentist appointment, relaxed, ate good food, and Helped maggie pack up and ship out!  She's off to Denver right now for a quick layover before headed on to Salt Lake City-I'm gonna miss her!  She was an awesome VT companion and Sunday School teacher and just all around lovely person.  I wish her the best on her next adventure-and kinda wish I could drive across country....but ah well.  I have my own adventures here.

:)  With that, I plan on tomorrow being productive as well-Gonna wake up early even though I don't have to and go to the dentist, then read my Medical Terminology book-and if Travis has his agenda taken care of, spend the evening with him.  Life is grand!

I can hardly contain myself

Travis comes home today.  I've missed him!  Its funny cuz I've been so busy it hasn't really phased me-but I really stinkin love that boy!  It hit me today how excited I am to see him again! I just have to endure the last 2 and a half hours of work, then distract myself till 9:30 when he's due to land.  :D  YAY!!!

Alaska Fun

So, I've lived in Alaska my whole life.  Born on Ft Wainwright, and when I was one, we moved into my current address-but this winter was the first time I caught on camera the simple wonders of winter weather-thanks to Travis's help.  I was going through pics the other day, and these just had to go on the blog.  All you out of towners enjoy!

We went For a walk with Travis' dog, we were probably out in the elements a good hour or more.  It was a lovely walk!

My Eyelashes kept sticking together! And my facial muscles are kinda numb so my mouth looks funny!

Trying to talk , note the frost on the eyebrows, upper lip, cheeks

Frost queen!

Independance Day Party!

So, for the 4th of July Weekend, I went to San Fran again.  Saturday, Travis and I went to His Work Party.  For those who might still be in the dark (I don't know how you would be, I just want to brag again), Travis' work This summer is an internship at Lucas Film.  As in the company owned ad crated by George Lucas-the man who created Star Wars, Indiana Jones-His company included Industrial Lights and Magic-which is the place that does the special effects for ummmm....Practically EVERY awesome movies you've seen in the last 32 years (it was the 32 annual picnic).

Anyways, with that as an Intro-now lets talk about the picnic.

The Company has rules about taking photos, and that we can't post photos....but I can tell you about them! I can tell you about picture we took with a bright red shiney Skywalker Ranch Firetruck-I just can't show you on the internet.  I can tell you about the picture of us in front of Ewok Lake, where we had raft races, but you'll have to ask me sometime to see it. And no, I didn't win the raft races, but our team did get first place in a relay race.  The one where you have to hurry put the clothes on run around the cone then take the goofy clothes off so the next person in your team can do the same.  We did it the fastest out of about 8 or more teams-we were pretty happy with ourselves.  We got fancy blue ribbons and everything.

After the relay races, we got to kick back by the pool, and we ate more food.  They had this field set up like you would picture a county fair-with the big tents and rows and rows of picnic tables, and a tent for getting the food, a tent for getting the drinks.  There was an Ice cream truck-with really yummy ice cream, and the weather was soo hot I was having a hard time eating the ice cream before it melted.  That was a new expirience.

Other things there were to do that we didn't get around to, they had horseback/pony rides, lots of relays we didn't make time for, they had little hiking trails, they had wagon rides around the ranch (we tried to do that, but when we were waiting the horses must have been taking a break or getting switched out-and we went to go swimming in the pool) they had a volley ball court, a field people were playing soccer in-all sorts of stuff.  It was awesome!

Here's one picture I can show-after the day at the ranch, Travis and his roommates all crashed.  I tried to take a nap, but it just didn't happen.  I don't think trying to take a nap works very well.  Anyways, poor guys just had too much fun, and came home and crashed.  Look closely, theres 3 of them!


Other than that, here's what I've been doing:

Scavenger Hunts
Pool parties
Playing on Beaches
Exploring San Fran
Movie dates with Travis
Thursday Night Salsa/Bolero series classes @ Arthur Murray
BART and your there
Softball games
Walks with Travis-one was a 6 mile round trip walk to/From Church!

Here's a few pics:

After the Beasts Lost again-we celebrated the season at a sports place that has awesome sized apetizers half off on Tuesdays

After Touring Lucas FilmOffices where Travis works daily, we explored the area, and saw this place!

Sid and Alex with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background

Me and Alex went on a Scavenger Hunt-and looked for 10 different flowers (we found like 50 different types) but this Rose was SO pretty!

Part of the scavenger Hunt was find 4 vinyards, I like the vinyards!

The Inner Child

Its interesting, this nanny thing.  Like, I've always thought the life of stay at home mom was so glamourous.  When I was little, I dreamed of being mommy.  I was the pro babysitter-high in demand.  The kids loved me, I loved them, and 3 hrs while the parents went out for dinner and a movie just wasn't enough playtime for their kids or me.  Granted, as I'm not a stay at home mom, so this is all just observation, but, I'm discovering that it really is not glamourous at all.  In fact its kinda rough.  As nanny, I'm having a challenge with keeping just one, six year old boy entertained.  This kid constantly tests my creativity, my patience, my energy levels, my tolerance, and even in some cases my capacity for tenderness and love.  I was SO humbled on Saturday, we went to the Redwoods, and Alex fell down, twice. The first time, he barely scratched himself but cried and cried, granted, yes, falling down hurts but I was just thinking "seriously? Toughen up already!"  And then the 2nd time he fell, he busted skin and had a big drip of blood coming down.  He was dramatic and whiney and said he couldn't walk.  I was trying to be like "Hey battle wounds!  This is worth bragging about!"  But he wasn't buying it....finally, Travis-my dear wonderful patient Travis hoisted this big 6 yr old onto his shoulders and carried him part of the way.  I felt so un-compassionate.  I guess we forget what its like to be 6, and what it really is like to think that a bleeding knee is the end of the world.

Back to the glamour topic, I think the mothers who I've met through Sids ward, who invite me and Alex to play groups-have become my heros.  They're selflessness for their children is again, very humbling.  While talking to sis Andrus, it hit me how right now with my situation, when conversing with these mothers, life sounds so exciting, I'm young, I'm in school, making something of myself, I dance, I study, I travel to this place and that place, I'm just at that place where all the doors are opened to me.  But, I hope someday, when my time for motherhood comes, I can be like these mothers.  I really do hope and pray that theres some special power given from on high to us when we become mothers, because even though they say that the nurturing characteristic is just part of womanhood, I know that that alone won't be enough.  For me.  I used to think "Kids, no problem, I got this."  But its harder than it looks, no matter how much babysitting I did when I was 12.

After Travis put Alex back on the ground Saturday, I talked to Travis about it, and he said "Well, I guess I'm still just a big kid."  And I think he has a point.  I was better with Kids when I was more like the kids.  So, my goal is to rediscover my inner child.  How am I going to do this, and stay in touch with it for years to come?  Instead of watching the kids play on the trampoline and sprinkler, I'm gonna hop on with them.  I'm going to chase the ice cream truck, and ride my bike around and around and around the block cuz thats as far as we're allowed to go.  I'm gonna play at the park and paint my toes in fun bright colors!  I'm Going to collect all the catepillers and lady bugs I can find.  I will take time to hunt through the 4 leaf clover patch, and turn my music up loud and sing and dance like noone else is home.  I'm going to wear my sheets like I'm in ancient egypt or rome, and make popsicles in ice cube trays, and be daring and adventurous.  I'm gonna cover my bed in a massive arrangement of Teddybears and pillows and name everyone of them.

And this is just starters!

This Land was made for you and me!

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters

This land was made for you and me. I love that song, and whenever I think of Redwoods, it pops into my head!  Anyways, Here's some cool pics!  

Travis and I, in the tree.  What a goof ball is he!

So, obviously, we went to a forrest of Redwoods.  Its called Muir Woods.  Its was AWESOME!  The pictures just don't do it justice, Next I want to see the Sequoias-they aren't as tall as the redwoods, but they are massive in diameter, and just after getting a taste of the redwoods, oy.  I love it!  Theres something magical about seeing such magnificent sights, it really puts into perspective how blessed I am-of All God's creations, Man and Woman are his most magnificent.  What simple things trees are, biologically speaking, yet how maginificent and grand-they are.  It sure does gladden the heart and please the eye.  I love it. 

Anyways, Other than the trees, we also went to the beach.  By then my cameras battery had died, so I couldn't take a picture but, despite the cold wind and water and flying sand (Northern California beaches aren't good for sunbathing or water sports....) the sight was beautiful.  I love the way the ocean melts into the sky on the horizon.  Its not a clear defined horizon but the blue of the sky and ocean melt together into this hazy deeper hue of blue-and it was one of those sights that inspires, and makes me wish I was more artistically talented. One of those scenes I wish I could recreate on paper and have on my wall to enjoy for forever.  

Save me SanFrancisco!

So, I've rather been enjoying some long lost down time!  Thursday we landed, dropped Travis off at his Apartment and headed back to Livermore-I just showered slept and plunked on the computer for the day.  It was awesome!  Friday, I went for a nice adventure walk, got a little more comfortable here, and went with Sid to his ward party-again, there was lots of down time, but I decided I really like it!   : D  Saturday, Sid helped me figure out the Train and busses to get to The Presidio, and then we adventured with Travis and his roommate Anton, and went to a violin preformance at the Oakland Temple Insterstake building-it was a wonderful preformance by Jenny Oaks Baker.  Note to 4th Branchians, tell Eva!  Eva I think would REALLY like her, we heard peices from her album "Then Sings my Soul, "  best ones if you ask me were Nimrod(Absolutely beautiful, despite the name) and Finlandia (a classical peice that also happens to be the hymn "Be still my soul").  Beautiful woman with a beautiful talent.  Sunday, I went to Sid's Family ward, which rocks, I like them alot.  And then Later I went to the TriValley YSA ward Fireside at the bishops house (Sids Bishops daughter goes to that ward, so, made my connections! YAY).  Which was good, and fun as there were games afterwards.  So now, I'll know a few people when I go to church there.  Woohoo!

Coming up, on Wednesday me and Sid are driving to Utah to get Alex.  We'll be there Thru Monday night, which I'm kinda happy about.  You see, Monday is not only memorial day, but its also May 31st.  12 Yrs ago May 31s was memorial day, and this year not just the 31st, but Memorial Day itself marks the 12th anniversary of my dads passing.  I feel it to be especially fitting that I can go to his graveside this year, just as the calendar has come in one full circle, I feel that my life has reached a point when I can come back full circle, and look at the events in my past without self pity.  There was a time when I wanted to blame everything that happened to me in the last 12 rs on the fact that my dad was taken from this life-but now I can accept the reality that things happen for reasons we don't understand.  And that hard things happen, and that unfair things happen, but that the atonement will make it all alright.  Maybe not now, but with time, with faith, with obedience, I can find peace and assurance in my hope for eternal life.

We made it!

So, I have this habit of not packing till the day I leave (or in some cases the night I leave), so Wednesday morning came around and what did I have to do-everything!  But, long boring story short, I managed, with some time to spare. At 8 Travis and his mom came and picked me up and I had to say goodbye to Elyse and Liam and mommy, that was kinda hard.  I feel like I'm missing such a big chunk of time, like they'll be all grown up when I see them at the end of the summer-so that was kinda hard.  What I didn't expect to have a hard time with, was wanting to go see Robin.  I mean, she's just half an hour away!!!!  I think i'd be better handling it except her mission home called Wednesday morning asking if they could test her for Celiac's disease (inability to really digest gluten)-GAH!  My sister is just half an hour away and sick and I can't go see her and make it better.  :P  Bleh, thats what I think about that.


Anyways, coming into San Fransico was awesome, the weather was bright, warm and clear and we saw the golden gate bridge from the airplane.  I guess part of me wanted to see it because people have said its so cool, but from pictures, to be honest, I wasn't that impressed.  However, flying past it, and then driving past it later, I decided its actually really cool-its a big arrangement of the red steel and cables, but it just has this charm to it....I like it, and want to go see it up close again.  Travis lives practically at the bottom of it, and his front window has a veiw of the bridge, the bay and the big beautiful trees.  Alot of them are eucalyptus and so it smells really nice there too.  Saturday the plan is to figure out the busses back into the presidio and then to explore the City with him and Uncle Sid.


So excited, and loving the sunshine, can't wait till my cousin Alex is here so I can take him around with me to explore-for the meantime, I'm just enjoying the down time.  Its a strange feeling, I havn't had this much down time in ages, theres no chores nagging at the back of my head, no homework pressure on my mind, no appointments or meetings scheduled-its pretty sweet.  It probably won't happen again for a while, so-soaking it up now while I can!  YAY!