Weekend Update

Yesterday we went to a really cute movie theatre at the college that Judy and Phil went to. It was adorable, and I wish I could have taken pictures, but it would have been way awkward and "touristy" so I didn't. There was only one theatre, and it was gigantic. The lobby was tiny, with only two people working it, running back and forth to rip tickets and make popcorn. The bathrooms were like little closets with sinks and toilets inside them.

We saw Midnight in Paris and I loved every minute of it. I don't want to ruin anything, so I'm not going to say one word. Owen Wilson just never lets me down. If I am ever having a horrible day, or anxiety, or just want to feel better about anything, I just have an Owen-fest.

Today, we had a picnic with my "Uncle" Roger. He's Judy's brother, so he's a great uncle, but we've always just called him Uncle Roger because the whole family does. He is a very eccentric old man, and unless you've met him, you could never understand how funny he is. He is serious and collegiate, but really goofy. We ate on their back porch, and one of his sons (Paul) brought his wife and two daughters that are my age.
One thing I like about this side of the family, is that there is incredible push/support to get a good education, but no stress to actually get a good job. Paul is a doctor, but is just as goofy as Uncle Roger, and his wife has a Ph.D in some kind of ministry or seminary or counseling. One daughter has a degree that I can't remember, but is now living in Mexico and riding her bike a lot, and the other daughter is getting a degree in History. The three of us will probably not be getting degree-specific jobs, I am guessing.

I always tell you how much I am cooking, but here is a picture. My blog doesn't have much color most of the time.

We made beignets for breakfast, and we drink weak flavored coffee (I know what you are thinking, "You worked at Starbucks!") and there are some delicious strawberries.  It was great, but the house smelled like beignets all day, and in a bad way.

The neighbor kid comes and knocks on the door about 4 times a day. Kids are already bored by summer. "If you need to talk to me," he says, "My mom's cell phone number is......" Which is hilarious.

We have kind of been watching some heavy movies. We watched The Godfather a couple days ago, which made me remember I wanted to marry an Italian. But then yesterday we watched The Green Mile, which I had also never seen. It was one of those moments where I just cried and worshipped God, and made me so thankful for mercy.

I also had a moment when Judy asked me, "Do you think this would look good in your front yard?" And I couldn't remember what my front yard in Utah looked like. I pictured the yard here, and it took me a few tries to pull up my memory of our home in Salt Lake.

How do I reconcile? I know there will be good parts about going back. Seeing loved ones. But my heart will ache for my home here.

When I was little, we sometimes kept Cool Whip in the fridge, and I'd walk by and if no one was looking, I'd stick my finger in and eat a big glob of it.

One day my dad caught me and that was that. I couldn't eat the Cool Whip anymore.

And now I'm an adult and I can eat a whole tub of Cool Whip if I want.

Day 40

I am still glad every morning that I wake up in Iowa.

Uncle Bill came out to teach out here over the past few days, and had lunch with us (Maid Rites - they are like a sloppy joe, sort of. Mmmm) and then we went to see him speak at the church. It was really awesome to worship with the college kids out here. I looked around and told Judy, "This would never happen in Utah." About how there were so many kids going to College and Church. As in, our church. Four girls introduced themselves to us, and they were very nice. Not one single girl sat next to a single guy in the whole room of like, 100 people. It reminds me of how Colorado probably still is too. And I think it is awesome that they are killing it at the old fashioned way that our movement is kind of supposed to do dating and socializing, but I heaved a sigh of relief that we don't follow that very closely in Utah, and that we can have a room full of guys and girls who are actually friends and actually talk to each other and can ride in cars together and still stay pure somehow. :)

I am enjoying not having headaches. I don't know if I can attribute it to being here and not there, but usually May through August I have a headache every single morning I wake up. I've had maybe 5 headaches total since I've left Utah. Could be the sleep, the cleaner air, or just not having stress. If you have migraines, you know that it is such a different world to live without the pain.

God is good. I don't deserve His goodness, but I am so thankful that He chose me.

"Oh. That girl combed her hair with an egg-beater. We should pull up next to her and yell, "You look like a pineapple!" Better not. She might have a gun and shoot us."
- Judy, on the girl in the car in front of us, who had a messy bun on top of her head

"Well. We are really good cooks. And this dinner is going to be great because we are sick of eating out. Or maybe we're not."
- always rethinking her current statements. I got her to try Greek food for the first time in her life. We went to the Greek fair and had Gyros, and she LOVED it. She asked the woman at the booth to tell us how to pronounce it, and now when she wants to make me laugh, she will just be talking with her normal accent, and then twist up her mouth and say, "Yee-hi-roes" in her imitation Greek accent.

We just have a lot of fun. We've been laughing a lot today.

No place like home.

I'm getting more confused which direction is supposed to be home.  I'm happier here than I've been since...probably 2008. (Part of it could be that I'm not working, not stressed about papers, I'm on top of a mountain with my relationship with God, and having healthy amounts of sleep) But part of it is spending all this time with someone who is so easy to talk to, and wants to be with me, and spills out love when touched.

I love my friends and family in Utah so much.
But at the moment, it's hard to picture not coming back here for good.

"She used to have the cutest short hair."
-Judy, absentmindedly, on a news reporter. She always laments when women sell out and let their hair grow

I was telling her this animated story about turning lanes today while we were driving on our way to a doctor appointment and waving my arms around and laughing about it, and I looked over and she was just smiling at me. "I'm glad you're here." She said, in reply to my story. And it's moments like that. I want to freeze time. Sleeping in, and then when we finally wake up, I just go in her room and lay on her quilt and we just talk with no age-gap between us.

I've been away from Utah long enough to start to believe in real love again. To melt my heart when I see my grandparents talk about their deceased spouses. To realize that yes, you can make a love last 50 years. I don't pretend to know how to hope for that myself (perhaps the Lord will come back before that affection could stir up within me. It would take a lightning bolt to feel butterflies again) but I have to recognize that it happens for other people. And that is a beautiful thing.

If only I could steal one of those stories and sell it as a novel. I might need another summer for that.

I've been at the farm for 5 days, without the internet.


I forgot what I was going to say about Greyhound buses (they are not as romantic as DCFC makes them out to be), farm chores, and the heavy but serene beauty of being out in the real country.

I mowed the lawn on a rider-mower which I can't remember if I have ever done. And I caught a possum (sp?) and two raccoons. Vermin! ha.

I talked to Shannon (ON THE PHONE!) for half an hour yesterday. She is the first voice I have heard (other than my family) from home, in 32 days. I fell in love with her all over again. 


I am packing up my little blue bag again, and moving onward.