Movies, cakes, and Tornados.....

With it being summer and all, we have what we like to call "construction season" here and that means delays. Last Wednesday as I was driving to Billings for a date and wedding cakes, I got stuck behind a few semi's, and long lines of cars and was unable to pass because there was so much rain and water that I couldn't see far enough ahead to pass....Little did I know that at that point in time Billings was getting pelted with rain and south of Billings was getting pelted with this crazy hail. Windows were busted out, vehicles damaged, and houses flooded or water damaged. The next day I had to start the wedding cakes for my Friends Shannon and Weston, and I had a lot of work to do. Friday I had a date planned and I started the day knowing what I had to accomplish. I went into Billings for Shannons Endowment session, and then was invited out to lunch with the family. I came home and worked on cakes for several hours before I had to clean things up and get ready for the date. We bbqd and played games with Nita and Ron, and really had a nice evening. Saturday Morning I woke up early because I was supposed to be to the Temple early with Weston's pants (they needed hemmed). The sesson was beautiful and afterwards I realized my friend Kolter had taken his endowments out at the same time as the sealing so I waited for him to come out so I could congratulate him and talk for a few minutes. My friend Tana realized I needed help finishing cakes so she volunteered to spend the day helping me and we set out to do cakes. She was a tender Mercy because I wouldnt have finished them like I did without her help. The cakes were beautiful, they were finished on time.

On Sunday I met up with Chris about the same time a storm hit Billings....a very severe thunderstorm with really scary lightening and torrential rains. I was following his truck across town and was shocked at how much water was in the streets, it was really really deep and crazy! Driving took us a half an hour, and there was so much water coming down still! I was really grateful that I was following him and didnt have to focus on where I was going, but only who was in front of me. The streets of Billings were flooding, and conditions were not good for driving. He stopped to pull a car out of the street and to safety after the engine got too much water in it and wouldnt drive.....and then we got to the house. He was soaked so he had to change before he cooked dinner. The craziest part of the week though was the middle of that rain storm...a tornado touched down in Billings Montana, the first in 52 years!!!!!! This put us on the map. The Weather Channel stated that temporarily week tornado alley has been extended to Montana and North Dakota, and the week promises to be crazy. Weather all over the nation is insane, and I am amazed at how much damage it can do, and how Heavenly Father really blessed us and takes care of us amidst the storm. We went walking with his dogs and ended up passing the tornado track. (the walk was wonderful, the debris was incredible!) the following pictures are of the tornado, the Rain, the Metra (12,000 person sports arena that was hit), and areas surrounding the Metra. Life is good, and the whole city was beautiful a couple hours after the storm. Amazing!!!!

When I think about Springtime I think of a millon songs

From when I was a kid I can remember some songs that really had special places in my heart.

I can remember riding in the old Oldsmobile sitting backwards in the seat looking at where we had just come from as we would drive down the road. As I picture this memory, I am looking down at myself and I am humming, singing, or nah nah'ing some tune. I know for a fact that I didn't have a very "tuned" voice, and I wasn't very good at picking out the melody or singing harmony, but I loved to sing! Music always brought something special to my life, it always seems to soothe me, comfort me, inspire me, and help me focus my thoughts and actions. Throughout the years I dedicated myself to singing a lot and practicing and eventually I arrived at being able to sing fair enough that no one grabs their ears and screams "PLEASE STOP" hehe! Anyways, here are some songs that really touch my heart, and have impacted my life in one way or another. All of them have some emotional tie to my past, and a story to go with them. These are from when I was a child, and will forever and always go down in my heart as some of the songs that defined who I am.....

Bryan Adams: Everything I do
Alabama: Angels Among Us
LDS Hymns: The Spirit of God
Bette Midler: The Rose
Alan Jackson: Chatahoochee
Alan Jackson: Littly Bitty
Bryan Adams: Please Forgive Me
Alabama: I'm in a Hurry
LDS Childrens songbook: I love you
Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams
Billy Joel: We didnt start the Fire
Journey: Don't Stop Believing
U2: With or Without You
The Bangles: Walk Like and Egyptian
Coolio: Gangsta's Paradise
Louis Armstrong: What a Wonderful World
Judy Garland: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Julie Andrews: My Favorite Things

And so on and so forth. I love music, and Spring time makes me think of all the music that has helped me do a lot of things in life....oh and if you hear me sing and you think it is terrible, please please please be discrete in sharing it with me, I do honestly believe that we are supposed to "make a joyful noise". I love all kinds of music that is uplifting, wholesome, and energetic., and I am pleased to note that music is a large part of my life to this day, I love to work with my music, play with music, drive with music, and do all things with appropriate music. LOve LOve Love it!

Swamped!!!!!

The past week has been everything for me with my emotional gauge bopping all around the place. I swear it has been from stress to relief, pain to joy, surprise to wow it really is what I think it is, and finally lonely to accompanied. School is out for the summer (yeah I don't have to be responsible for kids, lesson plans, and grades). I spent Wednesday night (until 12 at the school and until 2 after leaving the school) inventorying my Spanish library(monotonous, but methodical my kind or organization :-)

Thursday I intended to spend working on the other paperwork and finishing inventory, but rather I spent the entire day trying to play catch up with my brain and body on two separate planets. At four I finally gave up the battle and went home, covered my windows with heavy dark blankets, threw something (not sure what i did put in there) into the crock pot, and CRASHED for about 3 hours. I was woken by the phone, and then spent the next 4 hours trying to wake up from my insane nap....at about 10 I finally resumed my work.

Friday I worked and worked and worked, finished my stuff, went out with the ladies from work, and then took a full on nap in the back seat of my car while waiting for my friend Chris to get off work so he could work on my car. Why in the back seat of my car? Well for several very LOGICAL reasons, and I promise they are really my reasons.....First, I was in Billings and I live 30 miles out (too far to drive out and back in an hour), Second, I was really tired, Third, I was super super tired, Fourth, because the closest place I could think of going to was the Church and I knew I couldnt go in and take a nap, Fifth, because I had a blanket and a pillow in my car and WHY not? Really, I think the brain cannot absorb enough O2 when you don't get enough sleep and so I basically pulled over, parked in the Church lot, and gave in! (for those of you who live in Billings and I could have come to your place, I COULDNT MAKE IT!!!!!! It was pretty bad.

Well Long story Short, he fixed my car (very kind) and I went home (after a short game of Phase 10 with Abigail). I went to bed and forced myself to sleep....it felt really good. I have slept a lot at strange hours of the day the past week, but I am going to get back into the right habit soon. I hope!!!!!!
Anyways, since I have been home, things have been crazy like the always are on the farm.....I am glad though, it is a totally different type of work when you are out here....it is slow, steady, and repetative....you learn it well, and then your body just goes on command.....then you are left free to explore the very vast and seemingly endless corners of your simple yet complex and unconquered space otherwise known as your BRAIN.....

I drove tractor all day yesterday, and I felt pretty good about it....in fact I thoroughly enjoyed up and down the field....I was in control of making straight beautiful rows....it was right down my alley.

Today was seed cutting, not as much fun, but certainly charming in its own way.....who doesnt like chopping things into pieces? especially with their hands.....anways, it has been fun, but tiring and now it is late again and I am worn out....Gettting up in the morining to take a look at a different world from off the seat of a bike.....hopefully!!!!! wish my luck!