Wight Family: I totally won!!

Monday, September 8, 2008

I totally won!!

WOW!! I am SO honored! I had no idea you loved me THIS MUCH!!! Thanks Steph!!

Rules associated with this award:

1. The recipient must link back to the awards creator.
(http://www.thebabblingsofmere.blogspot.com/) (a student in Texas)

2. You must post these rules if you receive the award. (I did)

3. You must choose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself. (check the list below and see if you are on it)

4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere. ( Wow, thanks Steph for thinking so highly of me. I guess I pass!)

5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient. (look below)

6. You must create a post sharing your win with others. (that's what this is, I suppose)

7. You must thank your giver. (In my acceptance speech I'd like to thank my first college bff, Stephy L. for this wonderful award and for all of the other people in my life who make me smile, thus making this award possible!)

Characteristics for the Smile Award:

1. Must display a cheerful attitude (I try. Really, I do. Sometimes I'm better at it than others.)

2. Must love one another. (I do, probably even people I maybe shouldn't. Oh wait, that isn't loving one another!)

3. Must make mistakes. (I make plenty of those.)

4. Must learn from others. (I do try to learn from others. I have to say that my mom was right all along when she told me that I usually learn best from making my own, though the learning process would be faster, and somewhat less painful if I'd learn from others!!)

5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world. (I guess I qualify here. I blog to keep my friends and family updated and it kind of fits that "journal" type thing I'm supposed to enjoy doing that I totally don't, and I don't scrapbook, so this is as good as it gets!!)

6. Must love life. (I try to.)

7. Must love kids. (I LOVE most kids! Especially my Lil Elise! There is that phrase I use, "oh, other people's kids!!!" That may DQ me, but oh well!)

5 Awesome Bloggers Who Qualify for This Major Award!

Lindsay - You always always always make me smile! You love me even though I'm not perfect, and even from quite a long distance! You rock! Thank you for being my BFF. I totally miss being right next door to you and I really really really want to meet up with you again soon. We pray for you every night and we want exactly what is the best for you. Keep on smiling! I love you!
Kelly 'Sky' Walker - Even though I've not known you for a LONG while, I feel like we go way back. We would have been friends for our whole lives if we'd have just been given the chance earlier. You are always here for me to cry on, to complain about dumb things at, and you offer such a terrific attitude focus when I think of how many times you've dealt with so much crap and kept on running, literally and figuratively! I love you! And I couldn't have picked a better VT for me, not in a hundred years! My Heavenly Father really does love me, and you obviously!
Tara - You are my big shining example of what can be done with a smile on your face! You are tenacious with your genealogy and I look up to you so much for being such a great mom (even through some pretty interesting situations), and for being a great example to me as my big sister. I know you'll smile through your next calling, RSP!!!
Karen E. - You are like one of those friends that you can totally compare to a guiding star! You are so incredibly special to me and to my future. Thank you for wrapping me in your arms and taking me in and listening to me and my sob stories! I love your posts about Rhonda, her gift to you and your family (Brock) and little Austin. Such wonderful blessings! Thank you for sharing them with me.
Kaylene - Of all my friends I've had for 5 yrs plus, you are I think the most exactly like me of any. We both love to hide! I'm always looking for you. Anyway, you are so awesome at coupons and making things better in tough times that I had to honor you. You make the best out of a terrible situation and I am in awe of you all the time. I'm so glad Jim made it home. I'm so glad that prayers are answered. I'm so glad that so much good stuff, even in little forms, comes your way. You deserve it. You are my hero! (So is Jim, but in a different way!) Clip Coupons, and Smile ON!!!

1 comment:

Stephanie said...: Congratulations! What a beautiful acceptance speech and post. I think you are fabulous. I love your Glacier pictures - especially the one with you guys inside the tree! That is so cool! Hope all is well and remember to have a great day.
:); September 11, 2008 at 7:02 AM

Book Reviews

Ok, so in order to write better, I will be continuing to read more and I'll be making one change to what I do when I read, I'll also be reviewing the books I read. I am hoping that this will help with my current writer's block. I'm really not in the "mood" to write, but I'm not in the mood for much of anything. Strange how that happens!! So I'll start this tomorrow. hahah!

I've read lots of books lately. I'll summarize them, and leave my thoughts about them, I have no idea if anyone will be looking at this post or not.....

Master, by Toni Sorenson: Oh my what a wonderful book. I loved this one. It was full of details (though I wanted more), description of landscape, miracles and the life of Christ with the feel of a novel. You could see the life of the Savior and the apostles and the time of the Romans. It was well written and I couldn't put it down. Better at the scriptures at keeping my attention, but full of the same stories.

The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini: Khaled has a unique way of sucking me into the world he created. His words are descriptive and hypnotic. I could not put this book down AGAIN. This actually is the second time I read this book. First read through I read it in about two days total. I sat down with it right after work on day two and read through until 4 am. I even had work the next day. EXCELLENT read. Second time around I spent more time "chewing" instead of "swallowing it whole". Again, a wonderful, masterful read. I love how he ends his books. It is like a sugar or adrenaline let down though. You get so high and so excited and then you crash. The emotional wrap up is like after crying your eyes out for an hour and then rehashing it, but you can't cry, it is nearly emotionless.

A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini: Again, another marvelous novel!! I had a hard time putting this one down at times too. I get so caught up in his characters and their lives and emotions and the mystery of the middle eastern culture. Maybe at times I feel like I could relate to the women because I sometimes want to cover all up and walk around like a ghost, no one can tell my emotions if they can barely see my eyes. But, hey, having a bad day every once in a while is no reason to take up wearing burkhas!!! Again, another great book. I will read this one again, and I'd recommend it to friends.

Almost Sisters: The Company of Good Women, Nancy Anderson, Lael Littke, & Carroll Hofeling Morris:
Of all the books most recently read by me, this one boosted my heart and boyied up my spirits! I did not devour this book, I savored every moment with these dear women. The language is smooth, the story is catching, and the characters build as the pages turn. Deenie, Erin and Juneau are just like "us". They are very human and their flaws show to us and to each other. Their journey is continued in two more books. The cliff hangar ending of book one sent me immediately to purchase book 1 and 2 (I borrowed this copy from a friend) for me and for a friend! Don't wait to buy these books as a set, you'll hear Deenie's words of wisdom in your ears when you go to sleep and want to put them on your walls. You'll see Erin and her quirky beauty in your friends and want to tell them all about her! You'll see Juneau when you see your little girls and wonder about how they will turn out.

I Lost My Love in Baghdad: A Modern War Story, Michael Hastings
I just finished this book not ten minutes ago. It is so fresh in my mind. The language is harsh. Lots of F-bombs. If you can handle reading those, or get through them it is a great story. It is a love story; it is a biography; it is a documentary. I enjoyed this book, the end is really intense. The beginning was fast paced as well. In the middle I had to put it down for a couple weeks. If you are having "drama" of your own, don't read this yet. Get the drama over with and then pick this one up. I enjoy war books, histories, details, the nitty-gritty of all that. Hastings is a powerful writer, a gutsy guy, and an apprehensive lover (but how many guys aren't?). I felt like I was in Iraq. Dirty, hot and very very tired. His accounts are well written, quoted and placed. He risked his life so we could have this account, the accounts from his embeds, his news articles. And he lost his love, his only love, in a dangerous place that we are for some reason involved in. Stunning. Factual. The title says it all really. I Lost My Love in Baghdad: A Modern War Story.

Three Tickets to Peoria: The Company of Good Women, Nancy Anderson, Lael Littke, & Carroll Hofeling Morris:
Like my above review, another charming book! I started this one on Monday morning and I finished by Wednesday morning. I love these ladies. They write with such reality. So plain. Erin and Cory's plight in this book really surprised me, but it turned out well. Just as I thought it should, every detail. I personally find the authors' work inspiring as a future writer myself. I am also inspired by the character's spiritual strength and real-ness. Deenie continues to amaze me, and yet not surprise me as she is the definition of a Utah Mormon Super-Mom, right down to the depression and the sense of loss. I love how in this second book each woman again has another trial, but so does Gabby! In the first book, she was everyone's idol with no flaws. This one we see it all. We feel it all and we wonder many things that should, hopefully, be answered in book 3, Surprise Packages which is due out anytime now! You can pre-order online at deseretbook.com or anywhere you buy good books! (I personally shop online at amazon for books that aren't going to be read more than one or two times, if at all possible.) Good luck to any of you COB's!!

My Gratitude Box

I was thinking the other day, while we were up in the wilderness, that I have so much that I'm grateful for, and I need to write that down somewhere.... Hmmmm.. blog that!! So here we go.

In no particular order:
Brand new SOCKS, I really do love them. They aren't stretched out, they smell AND look good.
My new hat. Camo with ARMY in pink. Cute.
That I live in Eden. It is always beautiful here. Really, come visit. You will find something that you think is beautiful any day of the week!
Elise. She always makes me laugh. Ok, sometimes, she makes me feel so much like a MOM, but the rest of the time she's great fun.
A wood burning fireplace. It really is cozy and it beats the furnace with heating. Strange, but true!
That I can sing. I might not do it well enough to make big bucks, but I'm good enough I like to hear me!
Elise lets me sing to her every night before bed. I am so grateful that she loves me that much. No one else asks for a bedtime song and that is OUR quiet personal time EVERY night.
My husband. Not only do I have one that is taking care of me, but he likes to and WANTS to. We get to be together forever and we both want that to be a happy thing. And I'm grateful that he is letting me just sit here and type.
For my testimony. Jesus loves me, and you too. He suffered for my sins, he knows what it's like to have a cold and to want children; he knows what it's like to BE ME. He died and resurrected so I could too, and so will my family, and we'll be together forever. He restored the true gospel to the earth again through Joseph Smith, a boy with a big WHY, and trust and faith that he really could get an answer if he asked.
That I had time to wash laundry, that I have a washer and dryer that work, and soap and water to put in the machine!! Cause washing it outside in this weather would not get done!

January 31, 2008-
I'm greatful that I have a car, and a husband that drove me to SLC today to the viewing of my dear prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley. His passing on Sunday shook me. I guess in my childish and selfish mind that I truly thought he'd live forever! Or at least to 125. I was, just as many other people have expressed, immediately impressed after my initial shock that he is with his dear Marjorie, and that is just where he needs to be. At peace, with his loved ones.
And microwaves, cause Mike just got home, and I've done NOTHING for dinner as of right now. How about Mac'n'Cheese???

Elise's Guess Game

Ballet Guess Game.
I changed the rule. Now no yab yapping yapping yapping. And NO asking somebody else the law, and especially don't ask me to show my own self and No Cheats! Just let me do the rest of the magic.
SO, lets start with how many pets I have.
Next I want you to guess how many pets I have counting 2 horses, 2 chickens, 1 dog, actually I don't have any chickens. I do have 2 ducks and 13 little quails and 14 chicks and have you guessed yet??
Hurry up?
Stick around on Ballet Guess Game, we'll be back after these eleven messages!

Next time on Ballet Guess Game will be right back on Taco Bell at Tuesdays, weekdays and Fridays. Oh, and especially Wednesdays. See you next time!!!!

Publishing Updates

You never knew it did you? I love to write. Really. And I'm so serious about it I have a personal list of books to WRITE.

So, in my endeavor to write better and be a published author of a book before I turn 30 (that is in less than 2 years) I have started to write book reviews. This month I submitted, albeit at the request and suggestion of a good friend of mine, a book review of a book I just love. And I'm in the local newspaper!!

Ogden Valley Newspaper July 15th issue. Go ahead, I accept praise all day! ;) Love you all for checking in on me and routing for me! ~Vicki

Wight Family

Monday, September 8, 2008

I totally won!!

1 comment:

Our Salt Flats Trip, 2006

Glacier Photos Days 1 & 2