Your fault. I blame you.

Blame #1:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!This guy is the big, bad 50 today. :)

In honor of this once-in-a-lifetime event, I have made a very long list of 5 things I blame entirely on my dad:

1. He taught me to love reading. More than almost anything. It's because of his influence in my life that I am almost twice as good at reading/writing as I am at math. I blame him for always getting in trouble during math time in elementary school for reading instead of learning the order of operations. :)
2. It's his fault I love oatmeal raisin cookies more than chocolate chip cookies.
3. Whenever I see low-hanging kitchen lights or someone says "Tadaaa!!" I laugh inside. He was entertaining us while he was making bread or something in the kitchen while we were younger, finished it off with a big, swooping "Tadaa!!" and smashed the kitchen light into a thousand tiny little pieces. Best. day. ever. :) It's funny to me, and I blame him.
4. He's probably magic. I don't think I've seen a baby scream for longer than about 10 seconds after he takes them. I blame him for judging guys who can't calm screaming babies. Actually, I don't really blame him. I'm just amazed.
5. I love all things basketball because of him. I can also sit through any baseball/softball game as long as it's outside. His fault.

Cool idea, huh? I bet everyone's going to make blaming lists for birthdays now. It's the new rage.

Blame #2:

I would include a picture with this, but that would just give everything away, and what fun would that be?

Dear "Jonas,"

You've ruined my life. None of the other boys are as cool as you are. How did you manage it? Now you're gone and I just really hope stuff like this keeps happening. It's AWESOME. Now I just have to find someone like you that's not actually...you...

* sigh *

I can't decide whether I should blame 1982 or 1991.
stupid. universe.

Sincerely, Dee

Blame #3:

In other news, I realized yesterday as I went to the temple that it has been 3 years this month since I first went through. I'd have to say...it's one of the best things I've ever done. :) I blame this for making my life amazing.

I really do love my life!

I haven't been the best blogger of late because I have a list longer than the brand new toilet paper roll in my bathroom of things I need to decide.

...tp was the longest thing I could think of right now...

But no matter what I decide about the things on those list, and no matter what else may or may not happen in life, I have one final point of blame: all things considered, I blame the gospel of Jesus Christ for making my life fuller, happier, and more meaningful than I could ever see it for on my own.

On that note, you should read this. I promise it's amazing.

Request for Roadtrip with Beach.

Dear next two weeks,

I really like my life. Could you hurry up and stop being so fussy so I could continue enjoying life?
Thanks.

Sincerely,
Me

My little brother is getting married next weekend, my Dad will be in town this weekend, I'm bridal-showering on the parental home-front this weekend, there's so much to do, and I am just praying we'll be able to finish it all. It just seems like in the cyclone that is our lives right now, there's a mean little gnome out there trying to trip it all up.

Hey. Angry Gnome.
Watch. your. back.
Me

Sometimes I think the idea of eloping is so...nice. Except I would kill them. Then they'd really have something to be mad about.

I'm talking about the angry gnomes, of course.

There's a very good reason I keep a journal. Surpisingly to some, it is actually not this blog. Hahha.

Dearest darlingest end of April,
I cannot wait to see your face. California, here I come. Save me a spot on the beach.
longingly,
you know who