"I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus..."

This is a very Christmassy song, and is on all the old favourite CDs. When I was younger though, I didn't quite 'get it'. Especially the line "what a laugh it would have been if Daddy had only seen..." ARE THEY CRAZY?? That type of thing could RUIN Christmas. Of course when I "found out" (see previous post) I "got it" and found it amusing and endearing. I could happily relate to the children who accidentally spy their parents hugging or kissing. My sister Jess would feign the grossed- out adolescent but secretly, I know she appreciated it too. It's lovely to know your parents love each other. My husband also comes from that kind of home. My parents-in-law are very much in love and I know that this has made an impression on Ieuan and the way he is as a husband.

Here are pictures of our beautiful parents (I hope they don't mind!), whom we love very much. We are so grateful for their examples!

This subject isn't something I've thought particularly for a long while...until just the other day.

When Ieuan comes home from university, Isaac is invariably in his high chair enjoying/hating dinner. The sight of his Daddy turns his enjoyment of dinner into ecstasy or his hatred of dinner into enjoyment. Daddy has a remarkable effect on Isaac's mood, and it is wonderful to see. So, Daddy comes in, plays 'boo' with Isaac, gives him a kiss and then comes over to me and gives me a big hug and a kiss. Recently, during our cuddle, we notice that all is silent. We turn our heads simultaneously and see Isaac with his head cocked, and a big cheeky grin on his face that seems to say "naaawwww, you guys!/ I just saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus"

(Kind of like this!)

It makes us laugh! But, in all seriousness, Isaac loves it when Ieuan and I hug. And that's made me think. There's all kinds of security that you seek for as a family, that you think would be the most important for your child- financial security, a stable roof over your head (no, not THAT kind of stable!) a good school... perhaps it's important to you to not move around too much, or to encourage your children to associate with the same group of friends throughout their student life. Maybe, it's important for you to help your child feel secure by keeping them up-to-date with the "in" things... One Direction, X boxes, Frozen... In order to achieve these ideals, we put an extraordinary amount of effort in- working hard to earn all we would need to be financially secure and ensure our children want for nothing. We expend a lot of time and energy filling our children's lives with extra-curricular activities, and keeping busy to give them an exciting life filled with things "the other children do". All of these things ARE important. Absolutely. But not at the expense of the most important KIND of stability.

 I put it to you that perhaps financial security, a big house and the latest Frozen merchandise will not replace the stability found in a husband and wife loving and showing love to each other. A small house is fine, if your parents love each other. Scrimping and saving together is fine when your parents spend time with each other and with their children. And, trust me, happiness is not found in the latest games console. I only have a tiny child, and so perhaps I can't speak with such authority on the subject. On the other hand, I have been a child and still am the child of my parents. I have been a child in a single parent home, in a home with a new parent, and, eventually, new siblings. I have been in a home where there hasn't been a large bedroom for each child, or the latest gadgets, and I can remember plenty of times when we've saved hard as a family because our financial situation required that of us. When I look at all of the transient situations we can find ourselves in, and that I have been in myself, I look back and see security amidst it all because my parents created a stable environment for me with their time, their love for each other, and their love for us.

As a parent now, I feel very keenly, a desire to fill Isaac's life with the same joys. The REAL, lasting joys. I see too many couples mock each other, or be unkind, callous or sarcastic. Too many people seem to jump on the "slate your husband with the other women" band wagon. It's tragic.
I love my husband. I respect him as the head of our home and as my partner in parenting. I love to support him in all he does. I love being his friend and confidante. I love being his girlfriend and wife. I love building a family with him. I hope that, regardless of what life throws at us, Isaac will always feel safe and secure in the knowledge that Mummy and Daddy love each other, and that they love him. I want him to see us speaking kindly to each other, helping each other, laughing together, hugging and holding hands with each other, because that's how HE will learn to be kind to others, to show affection, to be caring and sharing... The responsibility on us as parents in this day and age is tremendous. This week I have come to a real understanding that in order for Isaac to be the kind of boy I want him to be, it needs to start with me and my husband, in our home.

So if you've been busy recently, and haven't had that end-of-the-day reunion hug when you or your husband come home, treat yourselves. A family that hugs together, stays together.

"I believe..."

I've been meaning to write this for some time, so bear with me as a sort out all the thoughts I have racing through my head!

One of my most favourite Christmas films is "Miracle on 34th Street". I love it when the baddies reveal their "I believe" badges. I love it because it makes it perfectly plausible for grown-ups to believe whole-heartedly and unreservedly in Father Christmas and all he stands for. I would, for the record, like to stand on my Christmassy soap box and shout to the world... "I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS". Even after I was told, at the age of 11 that Father Christmas was not real, I still believed and held, desperately on to all the evidences I had...

• That note he wrote me in green pen, in elaborate, cursive handwriting, when I asked him to buy my wonderful parents 'jewels' from Argos (my class knows no bounds). He told me that "You and your sister are the greatest jewels your parents could have ever asked for"...
• That sooty Rudolph footprint from the [electric, I believe] fireplace at my Grandma's one Christmas morning. 
• How do you explain how those store Santas always managed to give me gifts I LOVED??

The reason for my desperate clutching was because I had not ever even wondered about Santa's authenticity. There were no questions in my mind. Not one. He was real, I wrote to him every year, he brought gifts, left a stocking on the end of my bed... He and I were tight. 

I remember the fateful day when my mother delivered the blow. I felt a little bit like my Christmasses would never, ever be the same. And I was right. (So far, you may feel that I am bolstering the view of the "Don't let your children believe because Santa's a LIE" camp. Wait, my friends. Wait). 

It took me a couple of years to get into a new Christmas groove. I enjoyed helping my parents with the stockings. I didn't even mind helping Rudolph eat his 'Smarties' (don't tell me about carrots. Rudolph always had Smarties in my house). It was fun. But there was one thing that never changed. Every year, on Christmas Eve night, I wrote my letter to Father Christmas- partly, I suppose, to keep things going for my younger sister, but mostly, to keep some of the magic alive for myself. It was this simple, personal tradition that transformed my Christmasses from "Father Christmas" oriented to "Christmas Spirit" oriented. 

"It is a glorious thing to have old St. Nicholas in our hearts and in our homes today, whether he enters the latter through the open door or creeps down the chimney on Christmas Eve. To bring happiness to others without seeking personal honor or praise by publishing it is a most commendable virtue. . . .

Good old St. Nicholas has long since gone the way of all mortals, but the joy he experienced in doing kindly deeds is now shared by millions who are learning that true happiness comes only by making others happy—the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service." David O McKay (9th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)

I remember realising one year how my letters to Father Christmas had changed. They had gone from...

 "Dear Father Christmas,

Thank you so much for the wonderful doll you left last Christmas. It was perfect. This year, I don't want much at all, but you know me....another doll would be great..." (more or less)

to...

"Dear Father Christmas,

I've had a really wonderful year. Thank you so much for all you've done. Last Christmas was really wonderful. I've been very blessed. I feel very grateful for my family and friends and for all that I have....."

You see, I realised then that my letters weren't to Father Christmas at all. They were to my Heavenly Father. At some point, they had changed addressee- from the man who gave me physical gifts at Christmas time, to the man who gives me all kinds of gifts all year round. 

Was it wrong for me to believe in Father Christmas? Was it blasphemous for me to attribute many of the qualities of a loving Heavenly Father to a jolly man in a red suit? I don't believe so. After I lost my Christmas groove following finding out about Father Christmas, it was by CONTINUING to "believe" that helped me to find it again.

The man in the red suit is a perfect symbol for everything that Christmas should be about. He is the image that personifies the excitement a child feels at this time of year, and is, consequently, a wonderful way to help children understand their feelings and expand upon them. As a Christian, Christmas is all about Christ for me. ALL about Him. I believe in Christ all the year through and I try every day to be more like him in his goodness, kindness, compassion etc... Believing in Father Christmas takes a small part of the joy of Christ and wraps it up especially for Christmas, for all people to enjoy, religious or not. 

Father Christmas is generous, happy, kind, forgiving (no doubt there were Christmasses in all our lives where we did not deserve all we received! Yet somehow, he always came!) There is nothing unkind, or evil about Father Christmas. In his essence, he is NOT a commercial creation for the selling of the latest toys. Not at all. I would put it to you that, perhaps, if you feel that way, you have got HIM all wrong. He never brought me the lastest toys or the most expensive gadgets. He never went over the top. In my house, he was just they way he should be and he was magical. Indeed, I would say, for Father Christmas to be magical, you need very little.

What I learned from my years of writing those letters is that they were all to 

Father Christmas. 

The Father OF Christmas. 

The Father of Christ. Indeed,

The Father of us all. 

HE is whom I have to be grateful for all the gifts I receive...whether that's that my parents were able to afford the doll I have always wanted, or that this year I have been able to help friends in need, or use my talents and time to bless others... or most importantly, that HE sent His son to earth to live, and die, and rise again, as an example to us all of how to be and who we can turn to for help as we walk the paths of life. We do not need to be alone. Because our Heavenly Father, gave us that first, most precious Christmas gift, we might have happiness and joy, not just at Christmas time, but all the year through. 

I am so grateful for the things I have learnt through my belief in Father Christmas. I am excited to make him come alive for my children, as my parents did for me, and I am equally excited to see them learn and discover the same things that I have. Because for me, he IS real, because all he stands for is real. So. I believe in Father Christmas. *shows badge*.

"There are men who object to Santa Claus, because he does not exist! Such men need spectacles to see that Santa Claus is a symbol; a symbol of the love and joy of Christmas and the Christmas spirit. In the land of my birth there was no Santa Claus, but a little goat was shoved into the room, carrying with it a basket of Christmas toys and gifts. The goat of itself counted for nothing; but the Christmas spirit, which it symbolized, counted for a tremendous lot." John A Widtsoe, (former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles)

Being Isaac's Mummy

As I write this, my son, Isaac, is standing next to me, holding his monitor in one hand and an orange maraca in the other. He's saying "Dadad" and other little sounds and is grinning at me with two pearly white-but-wonky- bottom teeth and I'm thinking, surely00.00202.09

(Sorry. I have a helper, as you can see!)

 So. I am thinking, surely there is nothing better than being Isaac's Mummy.

I've seen and heard a lot recently about not being too positive on social media, because then people will think you don't have hard days. Well, I'm a positive person but, for the record, I DO have hard days...days where I don't get anything done. Days where the piles of laundry reach the ceiling and I STILL haven't got around to sorting what's already in the machine. Days when I don't get anything done from MY to do list- days where the reason I can't do anything is because Isaac just wants me to play with him, or cuddle him, or be in the same room as him. And again, I say: Surely there is nothing better than being Isaac's Mummy.

I've been thinking a lot recently about my favourite things about motherhood. An experience I had yesterday sums it up. 

Yesterday was a good day. The morning had been wonderful- we spent the morning having a play date with some friends. When we came home, it was time for me to crack on with some things. Ieuan was out that evening and I had a lot I needed to get done, but I wasn't feeling great. I was tired because Isaac hasn't been sleeping well recently, and the house was messy. The kitchen floor was covered in half eaten bread sticks and dollops of fromage frais, I had washing to sort out things to tidy....it was one of those evenings and I felt a bit overwhelmed by what needed to be done. At about 10:30, I got ready for bed. I love bed time. I love unwinding with Ieuan and talking with him. We have reading time too and that's a lovely way to end the day. Anyway, I'd said my prayers and I pulled back the covers and saw this...

Now to you, this may look like a cardboard tractor. To me, it is something a bit more than that. It is a token that says "Isaac was here". When I saw it, I smiled...and didn't stop smiling, and, if I'm honest, I think I smiled tears into my eyes. I've said this to Ieuan many times, but one of my new favourite hobbies is clearing away the toys after Isaac is in bed. No, not because it marks the beginning of grown-up-baby-free-peace-at-last time. But because it reminds me of that little person, who fills my days, who is in bed, exhausted from HIS busy day. It's so easy to be wrapped up in to-do lists or errands or pulling a child down/out from a table/corner, that you miss WHAT they are doing. I am guilty of this. So, at the end of the day, when Isaac is asleep, I love to remind myself of what HE did with his day. I love to see the green stacking block behind the games trunk. I'd put it on the box earlier so he could play with something whilst he was standing there. I love to see the cardboard shapes behind the coffee table- He had probably climbed there to access Daddy's weights.

 I love seeing socks in two separate places, his books scattered around, I love to see dribble marks on our sofa from where he was laughing so hard at Mummy exercising. I love to see wet smears on the french doors, because it means at some point in the day, this happened.

I love how busy he is and I love that precious insight that I get at the end of the day, tidying up, when I get to see his adventures happen all over again.

So, I love to see this

Because it means that, at some point, "Isaac was here", doing this.

I love being Isaac's Mummy because I get to put his toys away each day, ready for the next big adventure.

Mr and Mrs Guy...

Here is the update that should have come long ago...We loved our wedding day, our honeymoon was perfect and we are living our happy little lives!

(This blog is now a little outdated but roll with it...) Well, this will only be very short, by way of introducing you to our new blog. I say new...when you get married, the whole 'mi casa es su casa' thing is very literal. I saw no point in making an entirely new blog for the purpose when I could just re-dedicate my old personal blog to the new adventures of married life. =) Things really are exciting around here. We are settled and happy in our little routine. We wake up, sometime after that we actually get out of bed, the after prayers and scriptures, I get ready for university whilst Ieuan makes my lunch for me and off I go! He's so good. Yesterday I had a 'take home exam' to hand in. It consisted of 8 mini essays, each between 500-750 words each. I had just over a week to do it. The morning of submission, I had referencing to do. No matter how many times I say to myself, "Now, Rachel, you are going to reference as you go along...aren't you. YES." and then another essay comes along and BOOM. No referencing. I got up at 6:20am and worked solidly to about 9:35. Ieuan was with me the whole time murmering sleepy words of encouragement. He even brought me breakfast in bed whilst I tapped away like a madman. His dedication doesn't end there though. Ieuan has taken to running to university to see me. He then sits next to me and reads a book whilst I do my work. I work really well with him around. He sets me targets and goals and is a constant source of encouragement and motivation. His run to university is rather epic though. It's 7 miles from where we live in Morecambe, to my university just outside the city of Lancaster. When he first ran, including a brief stop at argos for a cushion we wanted, it took him 1.5 hours. The second time was 1 hour and the last time he managed it in 55 minutes! WHOOP! We had the most fabulous weekend a while ago. We went to watch a rugby match in South Wales- The Llanelli Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets. It was...UH-MAZING. I was there wearing Ieuan's Wales rugby shirt whilst he and Rob (his brother) donned their scarlets shirts. The trip was supposed to be a last big trip before Robin's mission but since he's received his call (Australia, Melbourn mission- Vietnamese speaking) we discovered he won't be leaving until mid-August so there may well be a few more days out with him!

After the match, where I, being the new 'die-hard' rugby fan that I am, had screamed myself silly, we travelled to Richard (another of Ieuan's brothers) and Emily's house in Stoke. It was quite a journey and Ieuan and I were both VERY tired. We made it though, safe and sound. I love spending time with Ieuan's brothers, mainly because I don't have any older brothers of my own. I am good friends with both Richard and Emily so I really love to be around them and it's a real treat to go and see them. In other news, we have had so many exciting adventures since we got married, including various meals at lovely restaurants...days out, adventurous cooking and a mini holiday to the Lake district, which will be written about in my next post. In short though, although this post was a long time coming, I love being married. It suits me well, I think. =)

....with open arms.

...a stort of the post two-years moment!
So, for those of you who don't know, let me get you up to speed before I wax lyrical. I was dating this amazing guy for 18 months then, he went to be a missionary for our church and was assigned to Tokyo, Japan. There he was for 2 years, working hard, doing his thing, speaking Japanese...dealing with earthquakes, etc.

Meanwhile, (cut to me) I spent my summer 2009 in Las Vegas, then I went to University in Lancaster, met some great people including my best friend, Jess, and just generally had a wonderful time. So, 7000 miles apart but both having a blast.

2 years later...

SO, Bermuda was obviously incredible! It came at a decent time too. I am somebody who hates waiting around. I like to be busy, busy, busy. I like to have a lot of exciting things lined up one after the other. My easter break took me to fulfil the dream of a lifetime in Washington DC where I stayed with dear friends Keith and Susannah...

After easter was the rush of exams and my Driving test (which I failed). After that, I came home, my friend Amanda was Baptised...

After that, we jetted off to Bermuda. We were due to arrive home on Thursday 7th July. Ieuan was set to come back from Japan on July 5th. DO you have ANY idea how time would have dragged had we been in the country instead of Bermuda?? Once you've waiting for 2 years to see somebody, you often here the phrase "...a few more days won't kill you." How true. It's not in the nature of days to be murderous but oh, if they could be! I was excited to see him again but so grateful for an exciting event that I could enjoy that would occupy my time sufficiently. On Tuesday 5th July, we were at St George's enjoying our penultimate day. I got a text from Martin Guy saying "We've got him- he looks good!" (Cue to join in the excited screaming...." AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!) It was a weird feeling. Elder Guy was home. He was in England. Not in Japan.
It is difficult to sum up one's feelings when you've lived a certain way for 2 years and then things change suddenly. I think, what I felt most of all, was a profound sense of gratitude. It's wonderful to be involved in missionary work in any way and I feel so blessed to have been supporting this missionary. Jess and I stayed up at night having chats about what things might be like and how things might have changed. Now, my plan was that, when we arrived home from Bermuda, Ieuan would call and we would talk about when we'd see each other the following day. We landed at about 7am, got home at about 10am and then I spent the rest of the morning sleeping. At around 1:30-2 ish, I got a text from Martin saying "Don't expect Ieuan to call because he wants his first conversation with you to be face to face." I completely understood but I was going crazy. This boy was currently an hour away from me but I wasn't going to be speaking to him and I'd have to wait until the next day to see him. I hate coming across as a crazy, psycho girl but there are certain levels of excitement that are hard to control!! My Daddy said to me "Do me a favour, get on a train and go and see him now but don't keep going on about it." I love my Dad. So, with his endorsement, I went on my way. I hurried around, packed my bag, did my hair and strived to refresh my jet lagged self. I then got on a train. I was wetting myself with excitement. I literally couldn't believe what was happening. I felt like I couldn't breathe. I was texting Jess, Jess, Kirsty and Mumma at the time- getting the different perspectives, getting their advice, relishing in the moment...you know, you know? It was SO exciting. I had forgotten my i-pod so it was a long train journey watching flat fields zoom past. Not fun. I read over a couple of Ieuan's last letters and sat and pondered. I had no idea what to expect. Not a clue. I had a lot of people telling me things wouldn't be the same and that he would have changed. Deep down, I felt things wouldn't really have changed but I was very aware that 2 years of writing to a missionary was very different to 2 years of writing to your boyfriend. It's not like you spend the 2 years investing time into building a loving and lasting relationship....you may build on your friendship but romance is out, really. So, I was unsure of how things would be- of how he would be. 2 years is a long time. A really long time.
Martin met me in Ely and we drove home. The entire journey was spent with my head in my lap, breathing deeply and fighting the nausea that overcame me. I had NO idea what was going to happen. I was scared, excited, nervous...all of the above! When the car stopped in the courtyard, I couldn't even look up. With a reassuring hand squeeze, I got out of the car and walked into the house with Martin. Teresa came over and gave me a hug and then I saw Richard. Widge is like my brother...I love him loads and he had really looked after me over the last couple of years.

He came over and gave me a huge hug. By this point, emotion was building up. Martin joined in the hug too and when they stepped aside, Ieuan was there. With open arms, he said "I came back!" He held me for a long time. No hand shake. No cordial nod of the head. No reluctance. From that moment, everything has been just as it always had been. That evening, Ieuan and I looked at pictures and talked. One phrase kept being said that evening- "I can't believe it's you!" In honesty, it was the perfect evening.
We went to the Cambridge open day together the following day and then the family "welcome home" party on saturday and his homecoming talk on sunday. It was all brilliant and overwhelming and...surreal. We have done some fabulous things since and...well...we just love being together! It's been such a fun summer!

In reflection, these last 2 years were the best to date. I have done so much and have had so much fun. I am so glad to have Ieuan back though! We're best friends, we love each other a lot and have a lot of fun.

SO, sorry for the blow by blow but I have a lot of friends that I know wanted to hear the whole story but I've not had a chance to tell it!

Viva Bermuda!

So...as per usual, it takes me a while to get on this thing to record the most important events that happen in my life. Since I last posted (which, for those of you who don't know, was the ode to my Aunties) My life has changed dramatically. I can now not only say that I have visited Bermuda and that I have the coolest family out there but, I am a door-to-door fundraiser (yes, the kind you hate. The kind you slam doors at, cuss, and condemn) BUT also, I am in a relationship with someone who is NOT 7000 miles away. He came back! =) I will speak now about Bermuda- all of our pictures are on facebook so you can check them out there too.
Bermuda = Paradise. When one thinks of a sandy idyll, Bermuda is what naturally comes to mind. You may not realise it but when the plane lands in Hamilton, Bermuda and flies over the sea, you see that this is the place you have wanted to visit your whole life-The type of place that Travel Agents adopt as their pradisical backdrop. The inaccessible place of dreams...

This baby is the place!

As we flew into Bermuda, sparkling, clear blue water of varying hues and shades decorated bays of pinkish sand and palm trees spotted the landscape. REAL palm trees. Not the type of rubbery ones you see in B & Q but proper, tall, fruit-bearing palm trees. Imagine the excitement! =) Our whole time there was spent with Daddy's wonderful family. They were so kind to us and they ran us around everywhere and took us wherever we wanted to go. We saw some incredible things like...a Portugese man of War, a shipwreck, schoals of incredible fish, the old, colonial capital of St George, the Royal Naval Dockyard....and the list goes on. It is a stunning place! It really is. We had a wonderful time there.
Daddy, Jess and I climbed the cliffs overlooking the sea.

Mummy, Jess and I went horseriding along the beach...

Jess and I had a fantastic time, as you would expect!

England is a beautiful country with different landscapes and views but it was wonderful to be surrounded with so much family and so many new and exotic views. If we're honest, sub-tropical landscapes is not something we will be experiencing here for a while. =)

The Ode to El Aunties...

Recently I have had a couple of moments where I've been really, REALLY grateful for my aunties- Deb, Laura and Kirsty. My Auntie Deb is my Mum's older sister.

(This is Deb, Laura, Kirsty and my Beautiful Mummy at Kirsty's wedding in July 09)

Something great about my family is that when we need each other, we are SO there for each other.

There was this one time when I was..11 maybe. I was having an operation to remove a cyst in my neck. Deb worked at the hospital at the time. Unfortunately, whilst I was in theatre, Mummy had a migrane and was sick and needed some medication so went to see her consultant. Deb was with me when I woke from the Anaesthetic. I remember being sick and Deb was rubbing my back. A random memory but...how I love my Auntie Deb. My sister and I love getting advice from Deb...hearing stories about the various guys she and my mother dated back in the day. Deb has a remarkable ability to read minds and interpret facial expressions. There have been MANY times when situations have been made easier and less stressful because Deb just knows....well..she just knows. =)

Laura and Kirsty have been a huge part of mine and my sister's lives. They are like our older sisters and we've done tons of stuff together. (In May 2008, Me, Jess and Laura did the race for life. Good times!)

I have fond memories of the excitement that would come at the end of a school day if we knew Lau or Kirst were picking us up! You see, at the tender age of primary and middle school, street cred is an important thing and if you don't have it naturally then who better to prompt it than 2 stunning, cool aunties. I struggled making (and retaining) friends at school so at every birthday party or sleepover, Laura and Kirsty would be there too...because they're cool like that.

(Incidentally, this is Laura at Sam's birthday party last year, I believe. She's invaluable at parties!)

Jess and I fondly recall times in the car with them singing songs and dancing. I remember a time when a "friend" of mine was leaving the ward as his family were moving out. Laura and Kirsty casually asked if I wanted to accompany them to his ward that sunday. I'm sure they made it seem like they wanted to see their friends but I know they did it so I'd get to say goodbye to MY friend. When Mummy was in hospital having one of the children, Laura and Kirsty were there and we hung out. They took us out, I believe they even bought us ice-cream and they made sure that we had such a good time with them that we weren't anxious about Mummy. That goes not just for when there were children being born but on any occasion Mummy was in hospital. They still do all they can to help- not just in emotional ways but practical too. I mean, Laura and Kirsty both read through my personal statement for university and helped my with my CV. HUGE help!

One of my fondest memories of my childhood is going to Grandma's on a sunday afternoon and having cheese and mushroom pizza on the brown picnic rug in the living room...with the light blue handled pizza cutter. On reflection, this has nothing specifically to do with Laura and Kirsty as much as the time we would spend at their house. My Grandma is awesome too. In fact, Jess found a video on youtube that pretty much sums up how cool Grammy is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVEe7TrUabg

Laura and Kirsty became mine and my sisters fashion icons. I remember times where I would want to dress like Laura and Jess would want to dress like Kirst and then, depending on where we were in our lives, we would swap and Jess would want to be Laura and I would want to be Kirsty. (In fact, I distinctly remember buying black leather loafer style shoes for about 3 or 4 years in a row at high school because...well...they were shoes like Laura's) =)

What I love is that I have very different and individual relationship with each of them. Laura and I probably have most in common in terms of interests and hobbies. My trip to DC for example? Well, it would also have been an ideal holiday for Laura...I wish she could have been there with me. We'd have had a blast. Kirsty and I have a great relationship too. I've had COUNTLESS girly chats with Kirsty. She has helped me with friendship troubles over the years, both her and Laura helped me research Universities. Kirsty did my hair and make up for my prom, she has helped me get ready for my first church dances, has lent me clothes for....just about everything and, just recently has provided me with all the advice and practical help regarding disasterously plucked eye-brows that I could have ever wanted. She's the perfect older sister.

When I was in Vegas in '09, I got my A- level results. They weren't what I wanted nor were they what I needed. I got rejected from my first choice university and my grades were too low for my second choice. I was, very literally, in the gall of bitterness and seemingly endless woe, made worse by the fact that I was away from home. Kirsty, Seth and Laura each e-mailed me messages of encouragement, love, comfort and hope! I actually felt hopeful for the future after talking to them. Kirsty and Seth, since I've been at university have been more than just Auntie and Uncle. They have provided every family-ish need I could ever have. Here are just a few experiences I have had with each of them.

Laura is amazing. She is who I want next to me when the world ends. When there's a crisis afoot, Laura is there with a plan which will invariably make life better. I have INNUMERABLE stories to tell in this vein...Last year, I was making the decision whether to study abroad or not. This is, quite possibly, the biggest decision I have ever had to make simply because for as long as I have wanted to go to university, I have wanted to study abroad. I chose my Universities on the premise that they offered a study abroad scheme and I had applied to the University of Illinois and was accepted there so everything was set and ready to go. Around the time my documentation had to be in, I started to wonder if this was what I really wanted. My parents are fantastic when it comes to things like these. My Dad will counsel me to pray but, ultimately, he will remind me of my age and encourage me to act it. =) My Mum has a very different technique. It's called Devil's Advocacy. It's usually helpful but on this occasision, I just found myself getting more and more confused. Laura is and has always been enthusiastic when it comes to adventurous things. She did a whole ton of research for me around this time and simply lent an ear whilst I vocally made endless pros and cons lists, as I voiced my concerns, my fears, my hopes etc... In the end, I decided it wasn't right for me to go. I figured I'd be better off and could be of much better use here. I'm grateful that Lau was there to listen though.

More Laura stories...
About 2 years ago, I was visiting Ieuan and his family in Cambridge. Ieuan ended up in hospital that day. It was a pretty nasty situation and rather worrying at the time. I just went through a whole load of text messages from then, actually, and rembered how hideous it all was- I stayed over at the Guys until Ieuan was safe and out of hospital. I found texts from Laura (who was working in Cambridge at the time) offering to bring me fresh clothes and stuff from home. She said she could meet me in Ely en route to work. BLESS HER HEART. That is Laura ALL over. In fact, when I used to get up in church to speak, she would always remind me that I ought to tell the congregation how wonderful and beautiful she was...brainwashing at it's best right there but I recall both me and Jess doing it!! Haha!

More recently, when the Earthquake in Japan happened, Kirsty and Laura were two of the first to contact me. Laura seems to have access to information that no one else has and so I was kept perfectly up to date during the whole situation. She comforted me, prayed for me along with the rest of my family and did all she could to make sure that I knew Ieuan was safe and that he would be blessed and protected. She avidly read the news for any developments and went on church websites too to get the latest on the missionaries. Laura's help and comfort didn't end on that day, even up until the evacuation and relocation of missionaries, Laura was there with the most up to date information. It seems like a little thing but it was a big thing for me. Laura and I love to play tennis. It is our summer activity and we look forward to University being over with so I can spend a good amount of time hanging out. (Another random memory- Laura used to come to ours all the time to watch the music channels with Jess and I on Sky...I owe my music taste to Laura and Kirsty's influence)!

Kirsty is just as lovely and wonderful. I have had several experiences where I have needed some company, or comfort and advice and Kirsty's been right there. I remember one particular situation where I'd just been with her that evening but, after arriving home, I got very upset about something and she came back armed with a tub of Ben and Jerry's! Seth sat out in the car and waited for about....must have been well over 30 mins while Kirsty and I talked indoors (because Seth is just that wonderful too). I know I can go to Kirsty about anything. I've asked her advice on so many things from guys, medical issues, medication, fashion choices, universities, jobs and, most recently, eye-brow resurrection techniques (don't tell me YOU'VE never gone a bit wax-happy on the eyebrow region- it's an easy mistake to make).

I love nothing more than an evening with Seth and Kirsty watching a film and talking with them. At church yesterday, I had a really LONG talk with both of them. We chatted about loads of stuff and I came away on a real high! I love spending time with them.

Kirsty taught me how to dance Ceroc, Cha cha, waltz and various other things. Her cool factor has never waned. I was at a church youth convention at the age of 18 and I was still thrilled that Laura and Kirsty were there as leaders because... "Yeah, they're MY aunties!" Kirsty was one of my YW leaders too which was great fun and was a counsellor at EFY. I was homesick at the beginning of EFY and remember texting Kirsty late into the night. Laura and Kirsty were also there to launch me into YSA society. I remember my first YSA dance in Cambridge, they were both there for that and that is JUST how it should have been. =)

I often get random texts from Kirsty after she's been researching something online. These research efforts are triggered by her remembering a random thing that I've mentioned in passing that she has found out more about for me. For example, she texted me about a Saatchi and Saatchi internship available since I mentioned that I'd love to go into advertising. How THOUGHTFUL!! Probably more important than all of these things is the fact that Kirsty and I both attend the same church meeting on the 1st wednesday of every month. I'm usually enthusiastic about most things but this meeting sometimes takes it out of me. The fact that Kirsty sits next to me is a balm of comfort like no other. Just to have someone to look at who can read your mind!! Just to be able to lean across and whisper the outrageous comment that you know you are both desperate to vocalise. Just to hear her laugh at my jokes when no one else will or to tell me that I was perfectly justified in making whatever comment I made...Just having her as my Ward council buddy. THAT, my friends, is a love like no other. Until you are part of your ward council, you will never be able to fully appreciate a bond like this!!

I love Laura and Kirsty. We all have our jokes...Church in my home ward when we are all there is a great experience. Laura is the worst for this, actually. She will start laughing- sometimes you'll never find out why and sometimes you know exactly why! You'll then see the arms fold and the head bow. Some will think she is being ultra reverent. Not so. Then Kirsty will do a similar thing. Only then will you notice the shoulder shakes that ricochet down the pew. The next thing that will happen is that Grandma will try and stop them both from laughing but Grandma is laughing to so that's futile. Then Jess and I will probably start laughing too, then Mummy will join in. Pretty soon, we all have our heads bowed, much lower than usual, our arms folded and our shoulders shaking. It is not unusual for this to be to the amusment of the row behind us either. It's pretty epic. (I must add that it isn't CHURCH that's the hilarious thing). =)

As I'm typing, I am just reliving a whole ton of memories. Last one before I call it a day on this Ode. When Jess and I were younger, Laura and Kirsty Choreographed a dance that we performed. I remember feeling exceptionally cool doing it, I must admit. Years later, when I was about 18, we performed another dance choreographed by them. It was fun to do it all together again and, still, at 20 years old, I feel that the street cred I have is purely by association. I have cool Aunties. That's all there is to it. I love them and, whatever happens, wherever they are, they are always there. I probably don't tell them enough how much I love and appreciate them but suffice it to say, I love them a lot. No wonder Eternal Families are such an important feature of what we believe in. I don't fancy an eternity without them!

I leave this post with a phrase Laura taught me when I was younger (I cannot even remember what it's from) "Oi! That bloke's a nutter. Oi! Nutter!" There we go. Over and out.