Reunited and it feels so gooood!

I think the hardest part of being back is answering the questions:
Hey! Where have you been?

• Oh - I just got back from Germany!

Germany?! But I thought you moved to Australia!

• Heh - yeah...that didn't work out.

So, you moved to Germany?!

• Yeah...that didn't work out either.

What are you doing back?

• *looking helplessly around* Looking for work?

Really? Didn't you graduate?

• *smiling big* Nope!

Where are you living?

• *still smiling big* Ah, you know - wherever I fall asleep!

Hahaha - really?!

• *wishing I was back in Germany*

I didn't expect my life to be where it is right now - but let's be honest...I've kinda lived my life (the last few years at least) with no real expectations. I've always been taken care of (props to Jesus!) and ended with a few stories here and there. :)

And today - as well as every other day - I am thankful for friends and family that have lived through my stories - chapters, novels, and sometimes monologues at a time - and are still willing to let me edit them over and over - without complaint.

Sometimes those friends - just happen to find you again on facebook - and after 15+ years - you meet up at a Cafe Rio in Lehi, Utah to discuss the Reader's Digest version of each other. Over nachos, salad, and mint lemonade (DEEE-LISH) - we talked, laughed, met each others' kids (Bunny's children, mind you), and relished in the past that - for the most part - only I remembered. ;) It's so nice to have history with people - even when it's been over a decade since you last saw them. <3

Sometimes those friends - are heaven sent - by way of Kekaha, Hawaii - then Logan, Utah - then Lyman, Wyoming - and now Elko, Nevada. We've only known each other for 5 years - but oh, what a glorious 5 years it has been. ;) We are blessed enough to have our cousins, The Weights, with us for Spring Break!!! It's a four hour drive - and it can't be a pretty one - so we are indeed grateful - no HONORED - that they arrived tonight. The kids are so happy to be together - and all of the adults are happy to be together too. It's days like these - that I'm reminded of the history I have with people I've only known a short time. That's a miracle to me - even more of a miracle than the fact that we're related through our white family at least 4 generations back - but the kids still look like first cousins. <3

At the end of the day like this one - the questions I hate to answer don't seem so daunting anymore. People who truly know my story - don't mind hearing about the "Choose-Your-Own-Adventure" parts. In fact, they add a few optional adventures as well.

Tonight - the adventure was break time for mommies (they headed to another showing of The Hunger Games) while Auntie (#1 status, remember?) stayed home with the 7 kiddies. I think the only challenge I have - was to get them to fall asleep by watching a movie...

We've already watched Chicken Little and now they're watching the old school Charlie & The Chocolate Factory...but I'm deathly afraid of the Oompa Loompas...so I'm hiding upstairs...writing this blog.

HAHAHA - #1 AUNTIE!!!

Practice Makes Perfect...

Brown Sugar Month came and went - and I didn't touch my blogspot...that's aptly named after - ME. 

I shared faaaaacts about myself on facebook for 29 days straight!! If that's not testimony against my ADHD - than it's certainly in favor of my OCD tendencies. ;)

People told me to start a Twitter account - but I'm so wrapped up in me that I think it would actually hurt my feelings to NOT have people follow me. Do you know how nerve wracking it is - to post a story about my heart and have only 9 people "like" it? hahaha Actually - not that nerve wracking, but it made me think twice about what I was sharing. ;) 

So, I figured - let's transfer my habit of posting on facebook - to my blogspot. Then - I can practice my writing - share my randomness in more detail - and maybe help a few people smile on the way.

Today we celebrated my niece's 9th birthday!!!

I'm trying to take over the world as #1 Auntie and eventually fade out my brother, Ladybug, as a contender - so I'd be #1 Person-That's-Not-My-Parents-or-Jesus (name under review). 

I made my niece a poster size head of herself, put it on a stick, and held it in front of my face while I sang "Happy Birthday" to wake her up - first thing this morning. If that's not creepy cool - I don't know what is!!! 

My little brother and I have made it a habit - to shout "Happy Birthday" all day to the person whose birthday it is. These are to be random as well as in answer to any question or conversation the Birthday Person is apart of. Here's one of our many successes today:

*Emily walks in to the living room*

Me: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Ladybug: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Emily: Um, thanks...hey mom?

Ladybug & Me: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Bunny: Yes?

Emily: Can I -

Ladybug: You can HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Emily: Can I have a piece of -

Me: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Bunny: *glaring at us* Can you what?

Emily: Can I - 

Ladybug & Me: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

*both of us laughing hysterically*

Like I said - #1

Our family also has a favorite game called "What If". It's a silly game of  silly questions and silly answers - dedicated to the Birthday Person. If you've never played it - I'll ask someone to post up instructions on Pinterest for you...BAHAHA

ANYWAYS - here's a list of some of my favorite questions that the Christensens came up with tonight:

• What if Emily was raised by boogers?
• What if Emily was a rainbow unicorn?
• What if Emily was a ninja? (which is funny because she's Asian - get it? NINJA? Asian? I mean - minus the "knows no martial arts" - she's already there, ethnically...hahaha)
• What if Emily was a dumb donkey?

I mentioned this was silly, right? :)

With a plethora of "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" shouts - lots of laughter - filled in with strawberry shortcake - hugs - presents - and games - another birthday for the Christensens was successfully celebrated.

<3 MY FAMILY <3