Tuesday, February 19, 2008

i am

WARNING: LONG POST!!!
so i am now at the beginning of my 28th year on this earth. i love birthdays...at least for now anyway...and every year i try to recap my life thus far, and somewhat define who i am and try to figure out how my next year can be better- my own "personal progress" if you will. my 27th year of life was filled with many opportunities for growth and change in not only my life style and living conditions, but in me as a person. as i take a moment to reflect on me (something that really NEVER happens - with my sweet husband, lovely kiddos, church calling, jobs, and keeping house, constantly filling my mind and time), i'd like to write down, if only for my posterity, who i am...
i am:
* a wife, like 99.9% of the time, matt falls asleep before me. i always look over at him sleeping and thank God that matt is my companion in
all things.
* mommy, after i look over at my husband, even after i've already gotten all comfy, cozy...i get out of bed to see my children one last time before i sleep. it's always the culminating event of my day...and it gives me a sense of accom
plishment. i also feel unconditional love for these two little souls who made me mommy.
* finally okay with who i am, the other day someone made a comment that a year ago would have hurt my feelings or at least make me think that i needed to change, but i didn't feel that way at all...in fact, the thought came to my mind: LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME!
*happiest when i serve others, i love to make people happy, especially through service. i love to cook a dinner for someone who didn't feel like making dinner that day, cheering people up over the phone, giving compliments, or just making someone smile. i recently took a friend that i go to church with dinner b
ecause it was the anniversary of her mother's death, and in the thank you note that she wrote me she said, "it's been said that a good deed is a reflection of a person's soul. you are beautiful." i have to say that is just about the best compliment anyone has ever paid me.
*not the best at "picking up", i let the kids play all day and then do a 10 minuted quick clean up right before daddy gets home. sometimes, wh
en i get a really short warning that someone is coming over, i have put pans in the oven, and...sigh...shove things under the beds or in the closets! my philosophy is that if you want to see me, you can come any time, but if you want to see my house - you'll have to make an appointment! i love to have a clean house, but let's face it...it's just not possible unless i follow 2 steps after my kids all day long...and i just don't want to do that.
*a project person, i LOVE to finish something
and look at it and think: I DID THAT. that's why scrapbooking is so wonderful for me b/c i get that sense of accomplishment after only an hour or two of work.
*a chatter, i'm usually one of the first to show up (because i HATE being late), and almost always the last to leave. i LOVE talking to people and having real conversations...skipping past the small talk, and getting to real things. i'm not afraid to tell people anything they want to know about me.
*an avid reader, i totally started a book club here in OH, because i wanted to be in one, and chat about books. i read EVERY night. i can't go to sleep unless i at least read a page. if i forget to take a book on vacation, i only go through one night of lying awake for 2 hours before i can fall asleep until i go buy one the next morning. amazon.com is my FAV place to shop...i NEVER check books out of the library (for one thing...i think of people's sweaty, dirty hands holding the book, and it totally grosses me out that the dirty book is the last think i touch before i go to bed.) for another, more logical, reason...i love to own books. i dream of someday having my own library with a ladder that rolls across all the shelves and a plush chase lounge in the corner. some great books i have read this year are: these is my words, gifted hands: the ben carson story, the twilight series, harry potter and the deathly hollows, princess academy, austenland, goose girl, the wedding, the alchemist, christmas jars, fabelhaven, the 5 love languages, the sisterhood of the traveling pants, anne of green gables (i read this series like every other year!), and many more...but this is the "tops" for my list.
*a horrible dancer, but i LOVE to dance! my ring tone for my phone is abba's dancing queen. i love to get fun songs off i tunes, and the kids and i dance around the house. we do this at least once a day! they are always saying, "that's a good one, mom!" or "teach me that move!" so, they think i'm fabulous! our latest favs are ob-la-di (by george and henry chadwick), life's what you make it (by hannah montanna), cha-cha slide (the kids version: kids sing imagine album)...my kids love the clapping part and all the "left stomp this time!"
*camera shy, i LOVE to take pictures, but hate to
be in them! i had my sister take a picture of me b/c i needed one for a layout for a tradeshow, and i was SO EMBARRASSED the whole time....i seriously think this is the first pic of just me that has been taken since my wedding day.

so here is a page torn out of my life here in ohio, in my 27th year...
i am: wife, mother, photographer, designer, crafter, teacher, house cleaner, chaos manager, worrier, movie lover, cook, friend, personal shopper, counselor, strong, spiritual, prayerful, playful...i am me.

20 comments:

Samantha said...

I wish you posted every day. I have had a trying day, partly due to my children being sick. I sat down at my computer this evening, read this post, and I feel like I can go on. Thank you. You are an amazing person. I hope you have another incredible year.

Mortensen Family said...

OK Lara- you are wonderful! thanks for posting about YOU. I have always admired alot about you, and I think you know yourself pretty darn well! I enjoyed reading this and I also just wanted to say, your picture is beautiful! You really are beautiful inside, and out, and have been a good friend to me all these years. I appreciate YOU.

Anne said...

Happy birthday Lara! I hope your trip was fun. Sounds like you guys are doing great!

PS I want a library with a ladder too! I think Beauty and the Beast ruined me!

belle black said...

lara, i hope you had a wonderful birthday! you wear a lot of hats and wear them well. your goodness is (and always has been!) an inspiration to me. thanks for your example!

Carma Lee said...

I thank God everyday that Matt married you. I love YOU - thanks for BEING YOU! Stolayevol!!!! Mom E

Heidi said...

You always amaze me. I have been on the receiving end of your service and I am so grateful you love to serve. You did things at times I thought I was about to break down. Thanks for posting this. You are an inspiration to so many people. ((HUGS))

Stephanie said...

I love you girl! I have not seen your dance moves {or lack therof according to you}, but I would love to have a dance party sometime, I bet you great!!! {speaking of...step up 2 is out! next friday??} Your talk on Sunday was a great example of the goodness in your hear, the song you sang was an example of your wonderful talents and your "person" was an example of what a true friend is. I love Lara!!!!

Stephanie said...

please excuse my typos...

"therof" = thereof
"hear" = heart

Caralee said...

That was really neat Lara. Thank you for sharing. Oh how I love you and all the things that make you- you!

Auburn said...

Loved that post!! Loved loved loved it!! BUT - you forgot on your little recap list at the end to add SISTER ;o) Love ya.

Kristi said...

That was a super fun post to read. I love and miss you!

Jake & Sarah Salmon said...

I love you Lara! This picture is really cute of you! Miss you!

Halvos said...

Ok,that makes me feel SOOO much better that you don't have your house together all the time. Where in the world do you find the time to do SO MUCH?? You are absolutely amazing Lara! Scrapbooking ALONE would take up way too much of my time...but to design it, do photography, keep up on your kids, be a mom, read books, do laundry, make dinner, the list goes on and on--seriously?? How do you do it?? You are one inspiring person Lara. I love you! And that picture captures you--very sweet and beautiful and innocent! Thanks for posting all that fun stuff--it was long, but very fun to read about you!

Anonymous said...

You are beautiful, inside and out, Lara....and I am so proud to call you a friend. Hugs...

Alicia

danahollis said...

This is a really neat post.

You truly are a gift as a friend. You inspire me to be a better person.

You shine from the inside out!

HUGS!
Dana

Tracy said...

Lara- I LOVE this post!
Reading everything you wrote makes me miss you! I can relate so well to the things that are important to you. Also, I read every night too. In fact, I just finished another Nicholas Sparks novel about an hour ago (have you read him?). I have to admit my books come from the library. lol! Still friends?!

Soelbergs said...

Lara - I feel so bad I missed your birthday! I always think of you around Valentine's Day! I loved reading that post. I can't wait till you guys move back here. I just feel like we have a lot in common and we can benefit from each other's talents. You can take pictures of my kids, I'll teach Gracie dance, we can be in the same book club, can chicken together, and sing together again. I'm still looking for a lot in Lehi for you guys!

Emilee said...

I loved that! I should invite you to my online book club that I am in. I am not that great at reading though, I try, but right now I am so tired all the time that reading puts me to sleep...anyway! You are getting so grow up and wise, not old. Life is great! I will be sure to skip the small talk next time, I hate that too... :D

diana said...

i've slacked on reading your blog, but dropped on by for a quick visit. what a great post to come back to. i love this age of discovering who we really are and what really matters... it's wonderful!

Ben and Shawneen said...

What a neat post! thank you for sharing that. and by the way Happy Birthday that I missed! I always remember yours because it is around Valentines day right? I hope I am right that would be funny.