April Showers make me happy

This week was kinda an awesome week-despite its rough start.  On Sunday, my first disaster was at Branch Conference, I'm the choir director and we had planned on singing this awesome arrangement of "How firm a foundation" but 10 mins before the meeting I still don't have my violinist or pianist.  So, the show much go on and we sang a number from the hymn book with Chelsea (life saver) as our Pianist.  That is every choir directors worst nightmare.  Anyways, still recovering from that and a few other personal crisises which also happened during church, I was in Northpole with Travis and I got a phone call from my family that Liam went into the hospital because of breathing problems.  Oy.  So the next few days were busy busy as I played mom and chauffer to Lysie and a friend whom I take to doctor appointments-all the while I also finnished a group project for Sociology and got to all my classes on time.  Tuesday evening, things started calming down.  Liam got to come home, and Travis had a birthday!  <--That was actually all day but I didn't see him till after I was done chauffering and running errands and all that jazz

I must say I was pretty happy with myself, I got travis an icecream cake from Coldstones, his mom made dinner (steak and potatoes, yum!) and I also got him a fun electronic monopoly game and a lightsaber (cuz every jedi needs a lightsaber) and bubbles (Who doesn't love bubbles?).  After dinner we went for a nice walk in the beautiful sunshine and blue skies and 65+ weather, and played 2 hrs of Monopoly and watched an episode of Stargate.  It was a good night.

Wednesday, not much happened, except those creepers at work-see post titled "creepers" if you want that story.

Thursday, after I went to my Chem class and helped my friend get to and from her meetings, I got to go hiking with Lisa Anderson and  Stephanie Dayton-we went to Angel rocks.  We were kinda worried because on the drive we got pelted with rain, but while we were there it was beautiful.  We were all sweating by the top where we enjoyed the veiws and turned around.  By the time we left it was starting to rain again.  After making it back into town, I went out to North Pole to finish the monopoly game with Travis-and he kicked my trash!  He had a total of 69.9 Million at the end and I only had 6 million-the last move I made, I was holding my breath hoping to land on chance and not on his times square property--The most expensive one next that sits right next to go-- he had a hotel on it and the 8 million dollar rent would surely bankrupt me.  So I rolled and sigh of relief landed on chance.  The card read: "Celebrate New Years in The Big Apple, advance to Times Square."  Game over. But, fun way for it to end I guess.

Friday, not much excitement either, but still a good day-went to meetings in the morning, then classes and work was quiet-ish.

Saturday, it was still rainy but it held off while I did the Chena River run with my family.  I made it in 45 minutes, a 5K.  I pushed Liam the whole way while he slept in a stroller. Rulon ran, finnished in 25 minutes, and my Mom and Michelle walked it in 58 minutes with Elyse in a stroller also.  After that, I got some chores done-the world is always jsut a bit better when my room is clean and laundry is done.  Then I got to spend another evening with Travis-we had chicken enchiladas at my house and enjoyed some more stargate at his.  I know it sounds like we're lame watching this show all the time, but I'm in season 6-and almost done, and tomorrow his complete series is supposed to get here-and we're gonna try and have a marathon before we go to Cali. Still, may sound like we're geeks, but I promise we're not.  If you would just give it a chance and watch the show-you'd be just as hooked.  Its hilarious!

Anyways, today was also a productive and relaxing Sunday-Testimony meetings were really good, and its awesome how many new people are showing up for choir!  And I got my temple Reccomend renewed-I plan to go on the Branch Temple trip the 14th/15th-my choir pianist Catherine, and her beloved Jack are getting hitched the same weekend and they asked that I be there for pictures outside the temple since I can't go into their ceremony.  That was special.  I'm so happy for them.  And I'm glad I got to be a part of their coming together-I didn't do much but invite Catherine to come to church in October and be the choir pianist (that one week only-I was begging) but apparently that was all she needed to be called as my pianist and then to become more active and to meet Jack.  Jack always greets me with a Hug and a big "Thanks for finding me my wife" -AGain, I don't think I did much but it means alot to me that I meant that much to them.  Also, about the temple, how exciting that This summer, I'll be just about an hour away from the Oakland Cali temple!  YAY!!!  I've missed the temple so much-Fairbanks really needs one closer to home.  When I was in Rexburg I got to go every week!  I hope I can do that this summer-at least every other week (sing I won't have a car myself....)  And also, today, Travis and I bought our plane tickets to Cali and made some other plans for the summer.  I'm so excited!  We leave in 16 days-which are going to be some of the busiest days of my life, but I'm oh so excited about it!  YAY summer, YAY life!!!

Creepers

I work at a Car rental agency-and I'm often the only one in the office at night.  There is a night lot attendant but he's usually busy in the back w/the cars or at the airport with the cars.  So, seeming completely alone, some customers think they can take the oppoutunity to have some fun and make jokes that wouldn't be made if another person were around.  It makes me angry.

Today was one such day.  Its the first customer of the day too-Cornelius.  He come in with a Friend, I don't know his name so we'll call him Mr. Stupid-but Mr Stupid was only here because he was the friend  to bring
Cornelius to pick up the rental car.

Anyways, so I'm standing behind the counter at the computer entering all of Cornelius' info from his drivers license, and apparently Mr Stupid is smiling because Corny here says "Awwww look at that, you're making him smile."

I think...uhhh.....excuse me?

"Your making him smile" corny says again

I could see where this was going, and I quickly was very glad that I have a boyfriend-makes it really easy to tell someone why I'm not going to give them my number

Then Mr Stupid says "For reals...*something somthing* but I'd love to have your number."

uhhhhhg I knew it......  So I kindly say with an aw-dang-it-curtesy-smile, "I'm sorry, but I'm in a relationship-your flattering, but sorry."   Then they kept at it-during the entire rental. I'm serious, now that I think about it, I was only at the very beggining of the process entering how many days the rental would be when they started their shenanigans.   He continued to ask my name-I told him the truth though in hindsight I should have given a fake name-becaues then I could have laughed at them-Heres how that part of the convo went:
Mr Stupid: "Whats your name anyways?"
Me: "Melanie"
Corny:  "I knew it-it had to be Melody or peggy or somethinglike dat"
Me:  "It's MelaKNEE"
Corny: "Oh-well we're gonna have to change that right here and now, because you've got a song about you here"

in my head:      ....uhhh.....

There was another point before that that Mr Stupid said I looked like spongebob-then they tried to play it off as a compliment.  Corny said "who works at a car rental just up the street" to the tune of the spongebob song "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea"    ...That actually was kinda funny/creative.  He msut use it alot.

And when I was at the payment screen Mr Stupid asked if I was a gemini.  Again in my head: ....uhhhh....
So I told him no, I'm a saggitarius, and asked why-can't remember his answer but then I told him I don't really follow those anyways....I Hope he felt dumb.

So finally, the worst part-I hit the print button and then have to walk away from the counter to get the papers-as I walk back (not making eye contact) Corny says again, "I knew it, I knew it I knew it."

"knew what?" I ask  (<---stupid question)

"You've got an apple bottom"

o_O

In my head:  AHHHHHH!!!!!  GET THEM OUT OF HERE!!!!

Then they said my a** was fine and I stopped listening and went into auto mode trying to get them to sign the papers as fast as I could and praying that there isn't anymore damage on the car so they can just leave!!!!

It was horrible!

Funny Maps

I found this on a friends new boyfriends facebook-and it made me laugh but I don't think I could put it on my facebook because it just wouldn't seem right.....

but, its kinda hilarious.

I like Africa, Antartica, Alaska, and India's descriptions the best....

Happy Birthday Dad!

Its a tender topic, and so many emotions and feelings run around with this special sacred spot in my heart.  I think of him more often now than I think I ever have before.  I see other girls and their dads, and I just miss him so much.  Today is my dad's 52nd Birthday-but 12 years ago he was in a fatal accident at work.  In honor of him on his birthday, I just wanted to share:

In his patriarchle Blessing, it says "...thy home shall be a home filled with Sunshine, with joy and peace and harmony; thy children shall grow and nurture righteousness, and they shall rejoice for having you as their father..."
I must say, I feel that that promise has been fufilled.  Though not always were we harmonious growing up, I think we do love eachother, and we love our father.  And though some of the other blessings in his blessing confused me at first, I reread mine, and one of the first things it says to me is "I bless thee to know that thy Father is found among the great and Noble."

I sure miss him alot, and I do wish that I could have him here to guide me-especially at this hard scary time in my life, but I know that God has his purposes.  I know, that my family is eternal-and I know that I will see my Father again.  It makes it a little easier to be apart for so long.

I love this song when I'm sad, and I might be a little sad right now, but here ya go:

http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=1&searchseqstart=285&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=285&searchsubseqend=ZZZ

Please, for those who knew him, leave memories of him in the comments.   :)  I like to hear the stories.  I only knew him for 8 years!

Little Sisters are the best.

It was an interesting night.  

To start off, me and Elyse were playing just before dinner, so there was a fight to get her to the table to eat.  But then when Kimmie put noodles on her plate, and she started eating before prayer I just told her "you get to pray because you ate first"  So without a fight (which lately prayers have been a struggle...she'll go off and be loud and we just ignore her) she asked for help and said a wonderful prayer.  It was word for word what her daddy said, but hey, she prayed.  Well, then we had FHE, and she wouldn't listen to the lesson and almost went to bed.  We had a very quick distracted lesson by mommy, but made it through.  Then it was a fight to get out the door for activity (which was go look at birds).  Then at Creamers feild it was a fiht to get out of the car, then back to the car-after finally getting home we had dessert, and she calmed down till she was done.  So, I decided lets burn off energy and go on the trampoline.  She was having a ball but then wouldn't listen to come inside for prayer, so she had time out in her room while we said the closing prayer because Kimmie had to leave.  Then, I went to check on her, and she was on the toilet sobbing.  So I talked to her, and then conversation eventually went this direction:

Me: When we love mommy and daddy do we tell them?  

Elyse:  Yea

Me:  Well, Heavenly Father Loves you, Thats why we say prayers, so we can tell him!

Then after some hugs and goofyness it went this direction:

Me: Where did Daddy come from?
Elyse: I don't know
Heavenly Father
Where did Mommy come from?
I don't know
Heavenly Father
Where did Robin Come from?
I don't know
Heavenly Father
Where did Liam come from?
I don't know
HEavenly Father
Where did Melanie come from?
I don't know
Heavenly Father
Where did Lysie Come from?
I don't know
Where do you think?
Jesus!
Thats right!
Where did Daddy come from?
I don't know
Where do you think?
Jesus!
Yeas!
Where did mommy come from?
I don't know
Where do you think?
Jesus!
Where did Robin come from?
Jesus!
Where did Melanie come from?
Jesus!
Where did Lysie come from?
Jesus!
Where did Liam come from?
Jesus!
Thats right Elyse you are so smart!
You forgot Jordan and Travis!



Then still a little later, I grabbed the big fanc family version book of mormon (has lots of pictures and definitions...cool book) And Then my mom was about to send Elyse to bed but I gave her the option to sit and read with me or to go straight to bed, she chose to sit w/me.  So, starting with the testimonies of the witnesses at the beggining of the book, we read.  When we came to Joseph Smiths she was getting distracted so I asked her some questions:

Do you know who Joseph Smith is?
Yea
Who is he?
A prophet!
Thats right!
Who told you that?  was is at church or did mommy tell you?
Mommy told me

What is a testimony?

  It keeps us safe

Thats right!

Then I had her read, I would read a little and then she'd repeat.   Slow going, but good stuff!  After a little of that she got antsy and went to help mommy, then it was time to go to bed, so she came back to sit with me.  I had started reading towards the back of the book because I think we're there for institute, and I was reading about the Brother of Jared.  She read with me only a little part, but heres what was soo cool about all of it, my mom asked me to take her to bed, so we go up there (had to dare her she couldn't beat me upstairs to get her to go) and I say its time for a goodnight prayer, and she protested just once, but then said the prayer all by herself:

Heavenly Father thank you for this day, thank you for family, and thank you for light,  please keep Robin safe, thank you that Jesus Loves me, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.


I love that little girl SO stinkin much.