My ordinary life....

As I was washing my hands this afternoon, I looked in the mirror and noticed how perfectly fanned out my eyelashes looked. You know how some days your mascara goes on just right, and others, not so much? It's a girl thing I guess. Well, today was one of those just right, not too much, not too little, beautiful lengths mascara days. As I was sitting here admiring my lash work (still scrubbing my hands) I started to picture what it must be like for all those celebrities out there who have a whole team of stylists and make-up artists fussing over them day and night. Surely they don't have those 'bad eyelash' days. I'm sure they don't. AND I'm sure they don't have bad hair or wardrobe days either. Right? I mean, who knows, maybe they do.... but I would think they are paying someone a pant-load of money to make sure they don't. So then I had to laugh, because, while they are out there being beautified by teams of experts in some luxurious place waiting to make their next million, I am scrubbing the chicken juice off my hands from preparing dinner and admiring my mascara applying skills. Such is life. So THEN as I was drying my hands I got to thinking about how, while they spend hundreds (maybe even thousands) of dollars on a single pair of shoes, I'm hesitant to buy myself a cute new pair of $25 sandals because that money could go towards groceries or something we really needed. While they are worrying about what designer dress they are going to wear to the Academy Awards, we are worrying about making it by on $26,000 a year. It might sound like I'm whining (maybe a little bit), but all this got me wondering if I would really be any happier in their shoes. I don't think I would be. Less financially stressed? Definitely. But happier? No. It's the simple things in my life that bring me the most joy.... Like my baby's sweet smile, my husband's love, the three of us laying on the bed laughing and playing, taking a ride in the hills in our old 1991 Ford truck, digging out the garden together because we can't afford to rent a backhoe, and yes, even the occasional good mascara day. These precious memories and feelings will be imprinted on my heart for eternity, and I would take that ANY day over fame and fortune :)

A Day at the Beach.... Or the Farm.

Did we actually go to the beach? No. but today felt like a beach day. We moved to Cedar City about six months ago, and to be honest the weather has SUCKED (for lack of a better word). It has been cold and windy, windy and cold, rainy and cold, snowy and cold, or just plain cold! Ugh! I know I shouldn't complain, but really, it's time for some warmer weather, because I can't take being cooped up inside with my baby for one more minute!!!! Well, today brought just that - warmer weather and sunny skies. It felt so good to put on a short sleeved shirt, do my hair in a summery do, and take little Bens boo outside for a stroll. We live next to a couple of dirt roads that lead to a bunch of stables and old barns and stuff of that nature. There are horses in the corrals, chickens that roam around freely, and a couple of goats in pens. Seriously. True story. It was heaven walking around in the warm sun, the slightest cool breeze brushing by every so often making the weather perfect. We walked along the dirt road, me in my summer blouse, jeans and flip flops, and Benson in his jeans, t-shirt and tennis shoes. Monkey (that's what we frequently call Benson), can't walk on his own yet, so I had to hold his hands as we walked. It was fun though, he loved being a big boy and walking down the dirt road taking big marching steps and pausing every so often to touch the weeds (rather than having Mom carry him the whole way). As we walked down the path you could just smell spring. One of my favorite smells in the springtime is the wild grass that grows in the fields with the little purple, white and yellow flowers (technically, they are weeds). So basically I love the smell of fresh weeds (not to be confused with fresh weed) Weird right? I honestly love it though. It reminds me of my youth and my home back in La Verkin. Anyway, that particular aroma was definitely in the air during our walk today, and I LOVED it! Benson got to see the goats, and that made his whole day. He absolutely LOVES animals - real, or stuffed, he loves them. He even just loves picture of them. He gives this high pitched squeal and kicks his legs whenever he see's them. Anyway, so he got to touch the goat and laughed hysterically anytime the goat Baaaaad (is that even a word)? Guess it is now. Oh, and he ate his first handful of dirt. Bliss. Thanks mother nature for being so good to us today :)