Friday, May 30, 2008

"When Deyna Met Ryan"

I met Ryan Robert my freshman year of college, almost six years ago. I was nervous on my way to my first college track meet in a van with a group of new teammates and Ryan sat down next to me. I had never spoke more than a few words to him so I really didn't pay any attention to him at first. He didn't join the team until after football was over so I had only seen him a few times before. I had brought my MP3 player with me and I got it out and started listening to get relaxed for the ride to Seattle. Right away, he asked if he could have one of my headphones to listen with me. I didn't think he would like the country music that I had on it, but he never complained....he just kept making fun of my "country accent". We sang, talked about track and life (I was pleasantly surprised that we had a lot in common) and it helped me calm my nerves for the weekend. I thought he was goofy, intelligent, really fun, down to earth and pretty darn cute :)

We talked a little throughout the weekend, but not much. Then, when we were all getting back in the van to head home I heard Ryan say "same seats". I remember smiling and thinking "does he really want to sit by me or did he just really like his seat"!! We talked the whole way home and it was a great ride. To be honest, I was glad to make a new friend and it was nice to know that I had new teammates that I got along with really well. I looked forward to the next trip.

Then, about a week later my roommate Gayle's boyfriend, Patrick, told me that Ryan had asked for my phone number and he had given it to him. I don't think I have ever been so nervous or curious about a phone call. "What did he want to talk to me for." He called me that night and we talked for a few minutes but I still didn't think much of it. He said he just wanted to say hello :) I thought he was very attractive and I knew that our personalities were alot alike, but he had an ex-girlfriend that was still on the track team with us and the last thing I wanted to do was cause problems with my new teammates. So, a few days later he asked me to go out on a date and I turned him down. I didn't give any explanation, I just said "no thanks". Sorry Ry! He actually asked me a few more times in the next week-he was determined...I think he just really wanted me to give him a good reason why I wouldn't just go to the movies. Finally, I told my roommates what had happened and and they convinced me to forget about everything and give it a try...have some fun. Thank you Gayle and Camelle :)

We started hanging out almost everyday and became really good friends at first. He made me laugh and smile all the time and I really enjoyed his company, no matter what we were doing. I always give him a hard time, because I didn't even think he really liked me for the longest time because it took him well over a month before he even tried to kiss me or show any signs of romantic interest because he was so nervous! But I have to say, I am really glad that we got to know each other as friends before we started a relationship because I think it has made us stronger together.

Their is so much more I could say about the early years, but I'll save that for future posts :) So, to sum up my "When Harry met Sally" love story...I married my best friend. I feel extremely blessed because we have made it through so much together and he still gives me butterflies in my tummy. Mushy I know, I'm feeling a little emotional today...but it's true and I want to make sure that he knows that I'm very proud of our story and our relationship. It took us a little while to get things figured out and we spent some time apart for a while, but we always remained really close friends. If anything happened in our lives, we wanted to tell each other. He was important to me. I always knew from the very beginning that we would end up together. I couldn't explain it, I just knew.

It is fun for me to think back to the early days of us because I feel like we are still the exact same people we were when we met. If anything, we have changed each other for the better. One of our friends Matt said in our wedding video that he has loved watching Ryan and I together because I never tried to change him. He said that girls Ryan had dated in the past had always tried to change the way he would act or try to get him to quit being so goofy. But I never tried to do that.I was always attracted to his personality. That is one of my favorite things about him. He still makes me laugh and smile everyday and I do have to say that I think I do the same for him :)

Thursday, May 29, 2008

just thinking outloud

Change. It’s a word that both inspires and terrifies. On one hand there’s the opportunity for growth and adventure. On the other, we can be called out of the familiar and the comfortable.And yet, all of life is change.

Lately I have been flooded with thoughts of my family and friends and the changes that everyone has been experiencing around us. In the last few years many people we know have grown by getting married, having babies, losing loved ones, learning some of life's hard lessons, facing life battling health issues and doing it with such power and grace, and learning to color between the lines...this is life.

All of this thinking has caused me to realize that I need to start trying not to rush through my life lately and to really enjoy, focus on the positive and take advantage of the situation I am in. That situation is...being in my first year of marriage with a loving husband and having great friends and two amazing families that support Ry and I in everything we do. I want to work on channeling all of my energy and emotions into where I am today. Honestly, I have been inspired. Inspired by people in my life that have been through so much and can still see the good in everything. I know things happen for a reason and I want to work on focusing on the positive instead of always trying to focus on what that reason is. I heard this song on my way home from work tonight and it helped me put things in perspective....

She was staring out the window of their SUV
Complaning, saying "I can't wait to turn 18"
She said "I'll make my own money, and I'll make my own rules"
Mamma put the car in park out there in front of the school
Then she kissed her head and said "I was just like you"

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good timesSo take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Before she knows it she's a brand new bride
In a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by
He tells her "It's a nice place"She says "It'll do for now"
Starts talking about babies and buying a house
Daddy shakes his head and says "Baby, just slow down"

Cause you're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin', One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'
And she keeps apologizin, 'He says "They don't bother me.
I've got 2 babies of my own. One's 36, one's 23.
It's hard to believe, but...

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Baby Shower Weekend

Last weekend I went home for my sister's baby shower. We weren't sure if we would get a good turn out because it was a 3-day weekend, but a lot of people came and it went really well! Tiff has decorated her nursery with a fish theme (really cute by the way) so we decided to go with that theme for the shower. We made fish shaped ice cubes for one of the games, had teal blue punch with fish floating in it and matching blue jello, gold fish crackers, gummy worms for bait :), and lots of yummy desserts - including my favorite...Special K bars! We decorated my mom's patio with red and blue sheets and table cloths and mom even found some red and white rope to tie the curtains off to look like a sailboat. We put the presents in one of my mom's chests with a fishing net so it looked like a treasure chest. My favorite little touch was the fishing pole centerpieces that my mom made...a red flower with a little stick with fishing line and a fish made out of metallic stickers hanging on the end. She is creative! I hope my sister was pleased with everything! Here are a few of my favorite pics from the weekend:

Adysen in her favorite Princess dress striking a pose...not uncommon for her! She loves the camera...and that dress.

Doing a little reading with the girlies on the step to their new bedroom.

Mom set up a big coloring space for the girls, but i think the boys had more fun with it. Dad drew a logging truck that was pretty impressive :)

My husband is a really good uncle! We played a little dress-up with the girls and I didn't get this picture until after he had already taken off all of the play jewelry. Dang!
Here is the patio where we had the shower. Thank goodness the weather held out! It was so fun to see a lot of family and friends that I don't see very often.
Me and my sis. She doesn't seem that big to me because she was so much bigger last time with the twins but everyone has been giving her a lot of slack about her size. I think she looks pretty dang beautiful. She has so many cute maternity clothes.
This was Bayleigh's hunting outfit. She ran upstairs and got dressed because she said she had to go hunting for some deer. The recorder was her weapon, the socks on her arms were her hunting gloves and she even put her camo pants on so they wouldn't see her. She is one funny girl.

Their were quite a few kids there and they really enjoyed the trampoline. We also set up a fishing game (where you throw the pole over and someone puts a toy on the other end) and that went over really well! It was fun to see all of the kids running around and playing together while all of us adults watching Tiff open presents and play games.

All in all it was a good weekend. I was able to spend time relaxing with the family and watching the girls run circles around each other. Ryan got to spend some good quality time with Dad and Steve and we even got to see TJ for a bit on Monday. I'm looking forward to my next trip home in June for TJ's graduation already. I hope everyone enjoyed their 3-day break!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Nothing like going home...

We are going home (home as in Colville) today!! I am grateful because we weren't originally going to be able to go until tomorrow, but Ryan decided he could take tomorrow off so I am too and we are flying up late this evening. I'm looking forward to this visit for a number of reasons:
5. the main reason we are going: Tiff's baby shower on Saturday...it's a boy! I'm excited to see family and friends that I haven't seen in a while
4. now we will get to spend an extra day with Adysen and Bayleigh tomorrow when we babysit them while my sister is at work
3. Ryan will get some "guy time" this weekend with my dad and brother in law
2. We will both get Friday and Monday off from work...need I say more!
AND the #1 reason I am looking forward to the visit... is their is NOTHING like getting to spend time with family and those special people that can always make you feel better. I have been feeling pretty crummy healthwise lately and the thought of being surrounded by family makes me feel better already. Now if we could only get that nice weather back that we had last weekend we would be in good shape!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Weekend!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Law of the Garbage Truck

Good Story....

"One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.

We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!

The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so..... 'Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.'

Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it!"