Smells of Spring

There is a tree outside of my apartment building, as well as one in my front yard at home.  It's really pretty in the spring when it blossoms, and it's pretty when the leaves appear.  I love the blossoms.  They make me happy to see...

There is only one problem with this tree and the blossoms...it has the most terrible smell.  The only thing that makes the smell even slightly bearable is the fact that it's spring and the blossoms are beautiful.  But the smell really is terrible, and very hard to miss.  I guess it's just one of those great smells to associate with Spring, right?

Let the countdown begin...

Remember how I love the Olympics?  I realized that the Opening Ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London are four months from today...yep, July 27th!  Pretty sure I'm looking forward to it!

Bubble Bath!

Last night, I was exhausted.  On top of an emotionally exhausting week last week, I started my new job, had clean checks, and stayed up late to talk to my cousin.  I was so tired!  I could hardly function, and I didn't really feel well.  I took Toni's suggestion and decided to take a bubble bath.  It was absolutely amazing.  A bubble bath and chick flick made for the perfect relaxing night.  And then, I went to bed earlier than I have all week.  I may have to make nights like this happen a little more often.

Lesson Learned...

We had clean checks today...that means cleaning basically had to be done last night when I went to bed.  On any given semester, I normally say I am going to clean a little at a time in the days leading up to clean checks, but I never do.  That means on the Tuesday before the check, I clean all night long. This time was different.  It was my mom's birthday yesterday and I knew I wouldn't have all day to clean, so I actually did clean a little at a time in the days before...some Saturday, some Monday, and the rest last night.  And you know what?  It made a difference...I probably spent more time total cleaning, but I did a much better job, and I didn't have to stay up quite as late as I usually do.  And, I passed, so that was a huge relief.  So, I think I learned a lesson.  Hopefully, I remember it in the future...

I'm Gonna Love You Through It

This song came out last fall.  Not long after, Aunt Sherie was diagnosed with her cancer.  Though there are some differences, I hear this song now and can only think of my Uncle Kelly.  Aunt Sherie went into the hospital due to a pneumonia and difficulty breathing on February 7th.  She didn't come home again until March 9th.  In that time, she was in the ICU, moved to a rehab center, and then admitted back to the ICU.  Uncle Kelly was there with her that entire time.  I think one of my cousins said that he went home only one time during all of that.  This song describes how my Uncle Kelly was from the day this all started last November.  He truly loved her through it all...every single part of it.  I admire him greatly!

PURPLE!

I have had a great love of purple the last few months.  Nothing has quite enhanced that love like this last week and my Aunt Sherie.  Her favorite color was purple...specifically lavender.  When she started chemo in December, I decided to make a hat for her.  It was probably the most fun I have had making a hat, and I did it so quickly...it only took two days!  I gave it to her on Scrooge Night.  I wish I had thought to get a picture with her that night, but I didn't.  However, Alyson did, so here it is...

This week, Aunt Sherie's fingernails were painted lavender when they dressed her.  A lot of us painted our fingernails for her as well.  These are the hands of me, my mom, my sisters, and my nieces...

The flowers on the casket were purple.  There were so many people at the funeral who wore purple.  It was amazing.  If I didn't already love purple, I would definitely love it after this week.

Family

This week, I have seen how blessed I am to have an amazing family.  On Monday we held a special extended family night.  Tuesday, those of us that were able attended a temple session together.  Most of the Wrights were there, my grandparents, all the aunts and uncles that were able (Aunt Lorie and Uncle Ed are in Guatemala), and a few cousins.  We came together for the visitation on Wednesday (not viewing, because Aunt Sherie did not want one), and most of us were able to be at the funeral today.

Having a close family at a time like this has been very helpful.  Yes, because we are so close it was extremely hard, but we were able to rely on each other and support each other and just be together.  And I'm grateful for the knowledge of eternal families.  In the words of my Aunt Sherie, "What a blessing families are and how blessed we are to have them.  I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation that was built on family."

I'm so grateful for the gospel, the plan of salvation, temples, and eternal families.