This isn't a real post...

...this is just me wanting to share something with you that makes me happy. Shel Silverstein's poetry. Did you know that he published a new book of poems in 2011 called "Every Thing On It"? I got a copy from Jacob for Christmas. I feel like this book is naughtier than ever! But it's also a lot more open and serious than ever too...in a Silverstein sort of way. Some of my favorites I can't share because they just don't make sense without the images, but I encourage all of you to buy and enjoy this book. Here is a taste:

"School"

Rain and hail,
Cold and snow
Are good excuses not to go.

"Happy Ending?"

There are no happy endings.
Endings are the saddest part,
So just give me a happy middle
And a very happy start.

"The Game"

I'm glad you came.
Let's play a game
Called Crook and Police Dog Rover.
I bite your eye,
And now you die,
And now the game is over.

"Don't Change On My Account"

If you're sloppy, that's just fine.
If you're moody, I won't mind.
If you're fat, that's fine with me.
If you're skinny, let it be.
If you're bossy, that's all right.
If you're nasty, I won't fight.
If you're rough, well that's just you.
If you're mean, that's all right too.
Whatever you are is all okay.
I don't like you anyway.

"Liar, Liar"

"Liar, liar, your pants are on fire,
Your nose is as long as a telephone wire."
That's what they told me when I was a tot,
But now I am older,
My nose ain't no longer,
My pants ain't no hotter...
And I still lie a lot.

and my favorite...

"Underface"

Underneath my outside face
There's a face that none can see.
A little less smiley,
A little less sure,
But a whole lot more like me.

He opens the book with the following poem which, to me, defines him as an author. What a legacy. Thank you, Shel, for your brilliance.


"Years From Now"

Although I cannot see your face
As you flip these poems awhile,
Somewhere from some far-off place
I hear you laughing--and I smile.

Oh, Life

Want to know what I have discovered? You never know what's REALLY going on in people's lives. How quick we are to judge based on what we see and how wrong we usually are. Behind beautiful pictures, positive status updates and smarmy blog posts, everyone is facing their inner demons. We don't know what they are. We can't say that they are harder or easier than our own; each person at some point will be pushed to their very breaking point. This is life, I suppose.

I follow a somewhat (ok...extremely) irreverent blogger (with a pretty dirty mouth) named The Bloggess. (Don't link to her if you aren't prepared to see rude language). Why do I follow her? Beside the fact that I think she is a brilliant and witty writer, I have come to love her optimistic pessimism. Her latest post really hit home for me. Here is a sample of it:


"I see a girl intent on enjoying the sun while it still shines, smiling vehemently, indignantly, and entirely celebrating a shining perfect moment even as alligators swim underneath. Victor said she seemed oblivious, but she’s not. She knows the alligator is there.

The alligators are always there.

They remind her to smile and enjoy those perfect moments whenever they arise, because life without fear is not a life fully appreciated. She smiles – not because she’s unaware of the alligators – but because she’s aware of them and because she knows how wonderful it feels when they release their jaws from your ankles."




May the Gods bless us all to keep balanced, to enjoy the sun, to acknowledge the alligators in our life, but smile anyway. And may we understand that everyone is doing the exact same balancing act we are...in their own way with their own alligators.

Veteran's Day

Meet my hero
CDT Olson





The rules he lives by: "Honor the gods, love thy woman, defend thy country."

(At Basic Training Graduation 2005)


Because of him, i tear up every time i hear the national anthem.

(After 2nd tour 2010)


His dedication to country has defined my life.


(Taken after our wedding 2008)


i have never come across such brave and selfless men and women as my husband and those he serves with.

(On deployment in Kuwait)


i am proud of him for his previous service.

(Before 1st tour 2006)


i am proud of him for his current contract with the ROTC.

(Military Ball 2010)


i know that he will continue to make me proud as he continues his career with the military.

(ROTC Ball 2011)


To Jacob, and all veterans, i love you. i honor you.

Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of

Sometimes sisters are for this:








And sometimes sisters are for this:



i thank the Gods for my sisters. i love them. i hope to be as good of a sister for both of them as they are to me. i pray that we can always be as close, no matter what happens or where we are.

New Season

Last weekend was beautiful, sunny, warm, picnic weather. Today was cold and rainy. I realized that while it used to be light as I left Pocatello, now sunrise happens just as I hit Rexburg. I started working on my files for the 4th quarter. And I had to admit that winter cometh...quickly.

But first, I have to enjoy Autumn. I love this season; it might be my favorite. I am sure I will post more on my love of Autumn...just as I do every year. I came to terms with the chilly fall day today for the following reasons:

There were home made biscuits and gravy for lunch today. So warming on a rainy day



The spine-tingling book I am reading seems appropriate for the holiday and the weather



Fun new sweaters for work




My pumpkins are flourishing. This one is about the size of a cantelope.



Halloween is coming! I began decorating today.



Now I get to snuggle under my down comforter with the cool, fresh, clean air blowing in through the sliding glass door off my bedroom.

Hello, Autumn. And goodnight, all.

Feeling Ambitious

After I graduated from high school, I struggled coming home for the summer between college semesters. As surprising as it seems, I didn’t worry about living my parents rules again or clashing with them now that I was an “adult;” my issues stemmed from the fact that I no longer had friends living in Las Vegas and had nothing to do besides work and chill with the family. One summer I decided to occupy my time by making a quilt. My mother and I found a pattern for a lap quilt using applique on some of the squares. Rather than follow the original pattern, I determined to utilize my acquired skill of embroidery to add pattern onto these particular blocks rather than doing applique. We bought all the fabric and embroidery floss necessary and I set to work.

Even though I worked my heart out, I had overestimated my speed at embroidery and by the end of the summer I had the necessary squares embroidered, but none of the other fabric cut out or pieced together. The project sat in a bag in a box in a closet for about 7 years, until I finally pulled it out. Although I have much work yet to do (especially considering the fact that I want to hand quilt it once I have the top finished) I feel pleased with the progress I have made.

This is what my weekend looked like in between conference sessions:




This is a detail of one of the 14 blocks I embroidered




Can't wait to post pictures of my lap quilt when I am finished--hopefully it won't take another 7 years.

Love, Love, Love

"I love you without knowing how, or when or from where.


I love you simply, without problems or pride:



I love you in this way because i do not know any other way but this,


in which there is not I or you,


so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand,


so intimate that when I fall asleep, your eyes close."



-Pablo Neruda

Pictures by Stephanie Patterson Photography