A Push in a New Direction?

Today a woman in my ward, whom I rarely speak to, came to visit me. I invited her in and offered her a seat on the couch as I sat across from her and tried to guess why she was there. With a look of total embarrassment, she asked me if I would be interested in being a co-owner, or even a managerial-type employee for her flower shop that she was re-opening. I was, quite frankly, shocked. Not knowing her exact intention, I informed her that I had no monetary resources to pour into this business, and that as co-owner, that would normally be expected. She was slightly taken aback and quickly apologized saying that she understood why I would think that, but she did not need anything like that from me. She simply wanted my advice, skills, and help to restart her business.

Having gotten that out in the open, I was more comfortable to continue the conversation, and figure out why a woman who barely knows me would ask me to be a co-owner of her business. I told her that I was flattered by her offer, and that it was nice of her to think of me. She replied in the most surprising way, saying, "I don't think it was my own idea. I only know that I trust you implicitly and that I felt I needed to ask you to be involved."

This one stuck, hard. Putting aside this interesting tidbit about her trusting me (which I still can't figure out), this whole week I have been focusing on transitioning. I was even thinking about going back to school for a second bachelors degree in graphic design. I had been looking for new opportunities, trying to find the right way to proceed, and all of a sudden this woman knocks on my door. I am scared in a way. It all seems bigger than I can handle.

So, I already know that I won't be a co-owner of any business but the one I already own, but it might be interesting to be an employee and get my hand in a new skill. Especially since being a florist ties so nicely with being a wedding planner and decorator.

So, I have some thinking to do and sadly I have a headache. It is going to be a long night. In the morning I am substituting for my mom's 1st grade class because she is having a hip replacement tomorrow morning. I AM TOO TIRED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT SO MANY THINGS!!! I am scared of this decision, nervous about my mom, and terrified of 20 six year olds on the last two days of school. Will this week ever end?

Recent Bragging Rights

It's the 2nd Annual Attempt at a Garden Event! Okay, so I put in the garden a couple of weeks ago, but I've been too busy to post some pics. The plants are growing well, and there is even a baby strawberry growing.







In other news, we did an enrichment activity where we learned cake decorating, and I will just tell you that I was pretty proud of my cake. I don't mean to sound proud, but it looked the best out of all the cakes there. Granted, I frosted it a little thinly, but other than that it looks pretty okay. When I brought it home and presented it to Alexander, he made me take a picture of it before he let me cut him a piece, so here is a picture of my recent accomplishment. :)





Also, I do have to brag about the mother's day gift my siblings and I made for our mom. We should have won an award for how awesome it was. We made my mom a CD of us singing primary mother's day songs, telling our favorite memories, and telling her why we love her so much. Alexander worked really hard on formating and making it technically perfect, I made the CD cover, and Jen was the director of what tracks should go where. We finally finished it just in time for family dinner on Sunday and presented it to her as we began to eat. She put it in the CD player and instantly began crying. Not only that, but my dad was also crying. Us kids sat there in silence, taking in their every reaction. The CD runs 15 minutes, which I think is just about perfect for this project. All my mom could say was that it was the best day of her life. Here is the pic I put on the front of the CD cover.

Divine Yummy-ness

We now offer Chocolate Fountains!!!



Yay!!! We tested it out Saturday night, and boy was it amazing! Dad and I set it all up and he bought special dipping food and we had a little party (for Jen who left for Ukraine this morning). Let me just tell you that I think that this chocolate must be the food of the gods.

http://www.elegantlyexpressedwedding.com/
chocolatefountains.html

In Memoriam: Peach, Sliver, and Wilberforce Sharkbait

Our beloved friends, Peach, Sliver, and our new friend, Wilberforce Sharkbait, all recently passed away this week. Sharkbait died on Thursday, May 1st and Peach and Sliver followed him this morning, Saturday, May 3rd.

We welcomed Peach and Sliver into our home 2 years ago when they were left on the doorsteps of the girls' apartments at Alta. They were tiny feeder fish, so small that you almost could not tell what color they were. Despite all the odds, these two friends persevered and lived through the tumultuous time of our wedding and moving into our new home. They continued to grow larger and the solidified a special place in our hearts.

Peach was known as a beautiful Common (that's his breed) goldfish with bright scales and a smaller tail. He loved to eat and dinnertime made him very excited. He was also a camera and attention hog. He loved the limelight. Sliver was a lovely silver colored Comet goldfish with a long flowing tail. He preferred to stay in the back corner of his tank and gladly gave the attention to his best friend, Peach. One of their favorite pastimes involved pulling each and every plant in the tank out of the rocks and letting it float at the top of the tank. They began with a rich array of plants, but ended up with two that they either liked, or couldn't pull out. Together they made an excellent team.

Wilberforce Sharkbait was a recent addition to the family, given to us by a dear friend. He seemed to greatly enjoy the company of the other fish and at night the three of them would lay side by side. Sharkbait was a glorious orange and white colored fantail goldfish with a bite out of his fin (hence "sharkbait"). Though we did not know it, he was already dying of a horrible parasitic disease when he arrived. He lived his last few days happily and in the company of good friends.

Sadly, we did not realize the quick spreading and contagious disease soon enough to save our lovely friends. We did the best we could to make them comfortable and prepared for the worst.

When Peach finally gave out, he lay on his side at the bottom of the tank. At the very end of his life, struggling for breath, Sliver floated to Peach and lay down on top and died there, next to his best friend.

Although they were only fish, they were the only pets Alexander had ever had, and I had grown very attached. Sensing the end was near, I took pictures of my dear ones while they were still happy and active. This is how I will remember my friends.

Peach


Sliver


Wilberforce Sharkbait (doesn't it look like he is smiling?)


Typical arrangement: Peach out in front, Sliver hiding in his corner ;)


New Friends Sleeping Side by Side

Week of Adjectives

Monday: very sick, dizzy, nauseated (food poisoning)
Tuesday: dizzy
Wednesday: emotional, stressed, scared
Thursday: stressed, worried
Friday: resigned, hesitant, hopeful

This is a Blessing, Right?

IF ONE MORE PERSON IN THIS WARD ASKS ME TO DO ONE MORE THING I JUST MIGHT LOSE IT!!! That is if I haven't already lost it, which I may have already done. So it all starts with my real calling as Enrichment Leader. Yesterday I spent at least 4 hours working on enrichment stuff. This morning I arrived at church early so I could put the relief society calender (that I had spent at least 1 1/2 hrs on) in with the sacrament meeting program. That was done, great! I was feeling better already. I then had a run in with the 1st counselor of the Primary.

I was asked to sub for the chorister for the next couple of weeks. So instead of enjoying Sunday School, I went in to scope out Primary. After watching a train wreck of Junior Primary singing time and deciding that I hated the way these women ran Primary, I returned to Sunday School only to worry the entire time that I was being set up for a new calling as Primary chorister. After the meeting I calmly walked down to Relief Society where I was bombarded with a hundred enrichment things, and an "oh dear, will you lead the music?" While leading the opening hymn I was struck by how funny it was that more and more people are turning to me for things they need. I also felt blessed that I was able to help. It made me feel better. It was a set-up.

After the meeting and after speaking with 5 more women, I finally stepped into the hallway to see a sister who looked a little distraught. I asked her if I could bring the treat to book club and she looked relieved. I felt I had done enough, but she kept talking. Apparently she serves with her husband as the youth activity coordinator (her husband is Stake YM Pres) and they are in charge of the pioneer youth trek. This morning we found out that our ward is being moved to a new stake and that 4 other family wards are as well. This couple will still be doing trek, but now they have 4 new wards to work with, none of which had been planning for a trek. So now the trek has been enlarged by 4x the youth and not enough help as Ma's and Pa's. This sister asked me if my husband and I would like to be called as a Ma and Pa, I told her I would love it, but my husband can't walk for more than 30 minutes. She was obviously disappointed until she had a new idea. She will call her assistant to be a Ma and call me as her assistant. Ta Da! Trek is on June 4 and if I am called it won't be for another week. I would be organizing and working with registrations (hmm, this sounds like a job I once had...) and keeping this woman sane. Sounds exciting.

It's a good thing I'm so wonderful or else I might be overwhelmed. ;)

I think I might just die.

Fresh Ideas

I know my last post made a lot of people worry, but I just wanted to let you know that the fever has passed and I am back to normal (well, relatively).

Yesterday I made a bunch of new centerpieces to put up on my website. I am trying to shake the old fashioned look and be more hip and modern, since that's what I really am anyway.

I am putting pictures of my centerpieces up here. Please let me know what you think and if you have any new great ideas. I WOULD APPRECIATE AS MUCH FEEDBACK AS I CAN GET, FROM ANYONE :)

Thanks!!!