Creative Dance

Creative Dance is quite possibly, wait no, it IS the most ridiculous and pointless class I have ever taken in the history of all pointless classes!

I will never. EVER. Teach children subject matter through creative dance. Give me a break. Who actually has time to teach like that anyways?

Wanna know what's sad? I think I'm going to get the same grade in my Dance class that am I in my Math class. Honestly? That should pretty much explain how lame this class is.

Thought I would just vent for a little bit.

Waiting

Dear Thanksgiving,

You're so wonderful.
You're so giving.
You're so yummy.
You're so glorious.
You're also taking forever to get here.
*sigh*
I guess you'll be worth it though.
Just make sure Rich doesn't eat all of the candied yams this year.
And if I could have seconds of Mike's pumpkin pie I wouldn't complain...
Ok?

Yours with an empty stomach,
Jamie

365 days

365 days. 52 weeks. 525948.7662 minutes. 31556926 seconds. Get the picture?

One year ago, at about this exact same time, I was dreading what would hopefully be the last blind date I would ever go on. On a side note, I love blind dates. I was just up for a break from them for a while when all of this happened. My older sister was going on a date with a guy we both knew and he wanted to set me up with one of his friends. I love the guy like he was my own brother and I knew my sister wouldn't go on the date unless I went too so... I said yes. I couldn't let them down, right?

The night we were supposed to go out, I spent about 10 minutes tops getting ready. A brush of mascara and a swipe of plain old Burt's Bee's was all that made it onto my face. My ensemble didn't make it better either. A semi nice t-shirt, an old jacket, and a pair of faded jeans created the final "masterpiece." Oh, and to make it even better? I left my hair hanging like a dead rat from my scalp. Seriously?! What was I thinking? Oh wait, that's right. I wasn't. How embarrassed I was when every girl's dream walked through my door- the absolute epitome of tall, dark, and handsome stood right in front of me. And please note that I was standing there looking like an exploded mess with nasty hair and bad taste in clothes! Disgusto. After I stood there with my mouth open and drooling, I introduced myself to my date of the night before he went on ahead and played the perfect gentleman and introduced himself to my parents.

Surprisingly enough, we hit it off the entire date. I forgot how absolutely gross I looked and started really having fun with the guy. We hit Red Robin, walked around the mall (where I found out he loves ties too. Click here to read about my tie obsession), played a rockin' game of pool, and headed to his house for dessert. He gave me the best hug of my life on my doorstep that night and said the one sentence that always gets said after a blind date, but never ends up happening-"Let's do it again sometime." I just smiled and told him he had my number. Although I hoped he would call, I didn't think he actually would. Little did I know that it would be the very next day too! We started officially dating 2 weeks after that night and the rest is history... one year later we're still dating up a storm and enjoying every minute of it!

T has put up with all of my crazy family members and I mean EVERY single one of them, immediate and extended. He thinks all of my imperfections are just 'quirks' that make me that much more cute. He'll have food fights and water fights with me. He'll wrestle with me (even though he wins everytime). He's my chess buddy. He likes spicy food. He's great with money. He's really a big romantic. He dances. He taught me how to dance. Actually, he taught me how to enjoy dancing. He thinks I'm beautiful even in my nasty sweats and a hoodie. He thinks it's funny when I lose my voice. He's sarcastic. He's funny. He does the best Kermit the Frog impression I've ever heard. He loves Bill Cosby. He loves Calvin and Hobbes. He loves bugs (the car version, not actual bugs that fly and whatnot). He loves cars. He loves Christmas. He loves Biscuits and Gravy. He enjoys running. He doesn't mind feet or toes. He likes to create and make things with his hands. He's competitive. He cooks. He makes me happy. He went on a mission-to Finland! He's a worthy Priesthood holder. He has a testimony of Christ and the Gospel. He's perfectly imperfect, which makes him my Mr. Perfect. And guess what ladies?

He loves me!

P.s. Shout out to Adrienne who was part of the matchmaking scheme to get us together- I owe you big time!

After Dinner Mint

After dinner mints that turn your tongue green?! AND they tasted wonderfully chocolatey and minty! Now that's worth blogging about.

You wish you were us. Admit it.

Keeping Faith While Falling

You know what? Life is a big pain in my patootie (what my aunt lovingly calls a persons 'bum' at times). T reminded me that life is supposed to be hard though. If it wasn't hard, then it wouldn't be very worthwhile, now would it? I'm on this earth to learn and grow. I promised to do that.

I like to think that Heavenly Father and I had a nice little talk those few moments before I was sent down to this world. Maybe we didn't even talk. Maybe He just held me close and told me that He loved me and that it wouldn't be very long until we saw each other again. Then I think of how I would have felt, standing in line for the time my spirit and body would unite for the first time. Would my new family love me? Would I grow up to be someone that would be great... or small? What would my career be? Who would I marry? Did he already leave the premortal life before me or is he somewhere in line behind me? Would I be a good person? What kinds of mistakes would I make? Did I already know the answers to these questions? I'm thinking I was probably scared. A lot. You're probably wondering why I'm even writing about this. Maybe it's because I'm scared. A lot. You know what's funny? It's about some of those exact same questions I might have asked right before I was born.

Figuring out who you're going to spend eternity with is not the easiest thing on earth. Going to school and going through what seems to be endless lesson plans, tests, and teachers that just don't get it is hard. Even little callings and meetings sometimes seem like they take up too much time. But you know what? I'm going to kick myself into gear. No one ever became anyone great unless they did something about it. My problem? I'm scared to death of falling. But hey, fear and faith cannot live together. And I'd rather live in faith rather than fear. So open the door, let me jump out, and life-be prepared, because J is coming skydiving and she just started falling!

I only hope that the chute opens when I get close to the ground.

P.S. Check out Bobbi and Mike Photography if you're up to looking at some amazing work by some amazing photographers!

Hermana

I have talked to Misty almost everyday for the past 20 years of my life. Every. Single. Day. Do you understand how hard it is to go cold turkey and not talk to one of your best friends for over 2 months?! It's hard. WAY hard. So that's why today is such a happy day! Hermana Madsen called from the airport on her way to Guatemala! I got to talk to her for 15 whole minutes (and skip my music class). Do you have any idea how difficult it is to catch up 2 months worth in 15 minutes?! I think we got the important things talked about at least. It was great to hear her and I'm so grateful to have a sister who is serving the Lord and bringing our brothers and sisters in Guatemala the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her testimony is ever so strong, it's gotten so you can even feel it in her words across the phone. Misty is my hero and one of my best friends. But I usually just call her my sister. I only have 3 of them, which makes the word 'sister' among my favorite words.

You know what? 15 minutes just wasn't enough.

Beginning of a New Talent?

I. Am. Making. A. Bowl.

You heard me! I'm making a bowl. Out of wood. And no, I don't know what kind of wood it is. T is making something out of wood too. A pen. Then a pencil. Then maybe another pen. The bestest cousin ever is helping T out with one of his projects for his History of Creativity class. We're also going to make homemade paper so he can get an A on his project. I thought it was a genius idea. Yeah, I know, my family is awesome. I'll give you permission to think so too. AND as a plus... I got to smell like sawdust and wood chips. Which due to the nature of wood shavings and whatnot, it all ended up in my hair, my clothes, and every other crevice you may or may not possibly think of.

On a side note, I took the PRAXIS on Saturday and think I rocked it. We'll see when my scores come in about a month or so. Shout out to Elaine who helped me out!