.I find myself wanting

Its that time of year again. My wish list is growing ever speedily.

Here's a few:

I’ve had my eye on this pair of earrings for a while now:

And this blouse:

And I swore I’d never say these words, but my feet want some of these this winter (still can’t believe I’m admitting this):

Speaking of shoes. I still want all of these.

And now, for some of my more expensive (and therefore not happening) wishes.

These people are killing me by making a Kitchen Aid mixer in this color!! As if I didn’t already want one enough! (be sure to note the price at the bottom EEK!):

Air and I have been dying to go biking on the sweet trails here in Edmonton! This one is a beaut:

I want to get some things framed at my work. Sadly I have to pay the same price as everyone. So lame:

This baby:

Kinect for our XBox (so great for working out!):

And last, but not least…. Laser hair removal! Someday, guys. Some. Stinking. Day.

Oh, and hey friends and family in the States! It’s Black Friday, so you should probably go buy my gifts ASAP!

Thanks and Loves!!!

Ambs

.On Meditation and Distractions

I work alone mostly. If you come to the store where I work, you can find me in the shop at the very farthest back corner of the store. Working quietly alone. Unaware of everything going on at the front of the store. Who else is working. What their jobs are. How many customers are shopping and what their questions are. I couldn't really tell you.

When I'm alone in the shop I turn down the volume of the 'store music' and work in the quiet. In my thoughts.

I like it that way.

When I'm helping customers it's the most communication I have at work some days. We pick out mat colors, pick a frame, glass, talk about mounting and preservation. They pay. Done.

I go back into the shop and work.

assemble frames

cut glass. cut mats. cut foam core.

clean glass

mount the customer's picture

put all the parts together

step back and view the beauty of a finished product created by myself

smile, and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment

clean

wrap it up

This process almost always goes off without a hitch for me while I'm working in my "meditation phase". I don't like a lot of distractions, so you can imagine how it is on days when I'm not alone in the shop. My coworkers are often making mistake after mistake as they work with the music blaring, talking endlessly. Mostly about things that I can't really relate to--like what happened at the club last night with their drunk boyfriend who they can't stand because blah $#&%! blah %$@#$ blah. I smile and nod... and sometimes tell them things that they find shocking.

Like that I don't drink.

From my observations at work so far, I find that this is how things go wrong. Frames get messed up and customers get really angry, simply because of these girls being too distracted by themselves.

Distractions are often what cause problems in my life. Maybe I'm just a horrible multi-tasker; but I can easily get distracted from doing the things that are the most important to me by doing stupid things with my time. Being with my love and taking care of him while he's been so sick lately is most important to me. Studying the gospel and meditating is important to me. Staying in touch with my family is important to me. Friendships are important to me. Sleep is important to me.

Speaking of sleep...

.Ambs and Air Discover Antique Heaven

You wouldn't believe this place.

Isles and isles of rows and rows full of shelves and shelves of the best knick-knacks, odds and ends, fun finds, furniture, pieces, parts, tools, accessories, decor, books, memorabilia, clocks, appliances, toys. Any nostalgic object you can think of. It was there. I'm not even lying right now.

*view from the top floor looking down

I want to buy it all... but at the same time I don't want to buy hardly anything.

I’ve seen that show Hoarders, so I know where that can lead.

Then again, I really do want to buy it all.

These people are killing me!!! Who thought of this?

There I was, minding my own business when I asked Air to pull over to check out this place we’ve passed by a few times. And then BAM! I’m hooked, and life will forever be changed~!!!

Ok, I’ve saved a few of my favorite things for last. Ready??

Drum roll please.........

This adorable antique stroller with a fringe on top (like from Oklahoma)

An original Saturday Evening Post with a Norman Rockwell on the cover

This beautiful yellow/gold Victorian style sofa

In conclusion:

I need a bigger house to decorate.

And no, I’m no hoarder. Yuck!

.Just Dance

I love this game!

It's my new favorite thing to do with the family.

Have you tried it yet?

Is your coordination as bad as mine?

Please say yes.

.chooze

*view from my bed

My alarm clock went off this morning at 5:15.

This is normal of course but today something different happened.

I rolled over and opened my eyes, searching for the "snooze" button.

My eyes saw a different word.

Today the alarm clock said "choose".

It did! I couldn't believe it either!

I blinked my eyes in disbelief a few times to adjust my vision; and then there it was, that faithful word "snooze" was back.

So I pushed the button and rolled back over for ten more minutes of heaven. Probably not the best choice I could have made?

When the alarm went off again I couldn't stop thinking about how odd that was and how clearly I saw the word "choose".

I have been thinking about choice all day today.

Every morning I choose to wake up and go to seminary (after snoozing a few times, of course). I choose to be a gospel teacher for teenagers. I choose it and I love it.

The teenagers choose to do the same thing. I am always so impressed with them for making that choice.

Our choices are everything, and thanks to agency we have the right to choose whatever we want.

I choose to be a member of my church and to keep high standards for myself because I know that this will bring me closer to purity and to God and happiness than any other lifestyle I could choose to have. I love that I don't have to deal with things like addiction or guilt or hate when I keep God's commandments. Those same commandments end up as more of a blessing in my life than anything. And as I get older it gets easier and easier to make good choices. Another blessing of having the gospel written on my heart.

Choices so far have taken me to a really great place. And that motivates me to keep making those choices, because I know that life will just keep getting better if I do.