Purple is as Purple does

I made a really really cool tie-dye t-shirt at the family reuinion this past weekend, and in the process turned my hands completely purple. It was kinda cool... but it took about two days for my hands to return to normal.

Because I am a rather scatterbrained individual, I wore the shirt to FHE tonight - we were playing water kickball. I didn't do too shabby.... I even made it all the way around the bases, slid into home, and then turned completely purple. Yes- I neglected to wash and dry the t-shirt after making it.

I got home and the first thing my Mom said was "Well, at least we know with you around we'll never get bored...."

It's probably the most blond moment I've had in years. I pulled off my shirt when I got home and I looked like I had fallen down the stairs and then been beaten. Almost my entire body was purple - my left thigh, stomach, back, chest, arms, hands, and neck - I did a good job of it.

So I was trying to make the most of my situation by coming up with a good story to tell everyone at work tomorrow (as to why I was purple)- while I climbed in the shower. I figured it definitely couldn't hurt to try and get it off... so I grabbed a bottle of rubbing alcohol and wash cloth and hopped in. The rubbing alcohol has blessed my life- it got all the purple off! (Well almost, part of my arm still looks slightly discolored.) Granted, I probably smell like I'm drunk- but at least I'm purple free :)

So I have a new testimony of rubbing alcohol. And my own idiocy. I could try to blame it on my lack of sleep or something, but I don't think that quite cuts it. Bascially my Mom was right - she'll never have to worry about being bored while I am around.

Acid Free Paper!

So I went to family reunion today... and was pretty much blown out of my mind.

First off... I had like, 6th cousins there. Weird. And apparently the Livingston family is run like a business. Actually, it is pretty much a business. There are 9 board members, (we voted in three today,) and they organize family reunions, family history and geneology, have quarterly meetings, count minutes, take donations... basically they go the whole nine yards. After a family meeting where we toured the family website, we had two guest speakers, (if I'd known what I was getting into I wouldn't have shown up till the very end) - the first speaker, (I didn't listen to the second one) talked about family records, writing histories, and preserving photos. He got very excited about how important acid free paper is. Apparently everything is bad for photos except acid free paper. You shouldn't display them, write on them, cut them, touch them, have them in color, or look at them. You should print them in black on white on acid free paper, and store them. Or you can back them up on lots of CD's and copy them onto multiple computers. Go figure.

Needless to say, I slept through most of the 'meeting.'

My cousins finally showed though and we had a blast. We jumped outside on the blow up slide and jump house, learned how to do some scottish dancing, and ate ice-cream. Basically Stephanie and I are the best scottish dancers ever! I wish everyone could have seen our mad sliding skills.

So I guess the speech about acid free paper was worth the last half of the reunion.... right? :) I love my cousins. They are so much fun to be around!

Weight of Dreams

This song pretty much describes how I'm feeling right now, so instead of trying to explain I'm just going to post the lyrics:

"When the weight of all my dreams, is resting heavy on my head, and the thoughtful words of help and hope have all been nicely said... but I'm still hurtin', wonderin' if I ll ever be the one I think I am.

I think I am.

Then you gently re-remind me that you've made me from the first, and the more I try to be the best, the more I get the worst; and I realize the good in me is only there because of who you are.

Who you are...

and all I ever have to be is what you've made me. Any more or less would be a step out of your plan. As you daily recreate me, help me always keep in mind, that I only have to do what I can find. And all I ever have to be.... all I have to be.... all I ever have to be.... is what you've made of me. "

I GOT A JOB!!

Ok.... it's official. God knows what's better for us than we do. I've had a devil of a time finding job, and I had to look for over a month, but I finally got one and it's better than I could have ever dreamed. I'm working on the cleaning crew at the Fieldhouse at BYU, which in and of itself is not that exciting... especially since I may kill myself trying to make it on time to work every morning at 4 AFRICAN AM!! But: I'm getting more hours than I probably would have anywhere else, it's flexible, and I'm getting a STATS course out of the way which will keep me on track for graduation.

If I had gotten my way I would have found a job a month ago, and been working some 30 hour a week, lower paying job and not taking this class.... but thankfully God has a way of saving me from myself. The only way I could get the job was to take a class, and luckily I had one that I was supposed to take but didn't because it was too expensive online: coincidence? I think not!

I am grateful that sometimes Heavenly Father doesn't give me what I think I want or need. He gives me something better. Isn't he great?

Rock Climbing

So last saturday I went rock climbing for the first time ever. It was so much fun :D. And we didn't go to a quarry, we went outside, which made it all the better.

This is my point of view looking up towards all the people who decided to go on a mini hike.... It was a pretty sweet view.

This is Bennett.... he was trusting enough to let me hold his life in my hands while he was the lead climber, and then he saved me from killing myself while I tried to climb up the rock. Thanks :) This is him probably laughing at my attempts to get myself over the 'hard spot.' It probably wouldn't have been that bad if I were more adept at climbing... but I wasn't quite tall enough.... drat mother nature.

This is me.... at approximately the place where I got stuck. I didn't do too badly for a first timer though I don't think.... and I had a ton of fun.