I used to think one day...

The other day, I decided to be satisfied. I think I’ll make that my word to live by this year. Satisfied with only one small portion of dessert. Satisfied with a big hug and kiss from my honey. Satisfied with my job. Satisfied with my hair. Satisfied with my own handwriting on our mirror. Satisfied with how much sleep I got. Simply satisfied.



Sometimes when I have a great thing, I want more. I found myself wondering why I couldn’t just be satisfied with all that I do have. So I decided my new take on life will be to choose satisfaction… and it’s made a world of difference. I find myself doing things I know will help me feel satisfied.



Lately the thing that I find most satisfying is just being silly with Jeffree. When he wraps his arms around me I feel so much better, no matter how bad of a day I’ve had. When he tells me I look pregnant and makes sure to clarify that he thinks it’s cute, I can’t help but smile. When he dances during the credits of a movie I giggle, thinking that he’ll be doing the same thing when we’re in our 90’s. Sunday morning I woke up before him, which is rare. I lay there looking at the way his lips were relaxed and thought how lucky I am. I couldn’t be more satisfied.

Thanks, 2010!

It's been a fun year, full of new experiences and surprises. And so, in no particular order, here are our top ten of 2010.

*Graduating - Oh, what a feeling! It's so nice that Jeffree and I have both successfully completed school. Sure, there's more to come, but having Bachelor degrees is a nice little cushion in our lives.

*Temple - working at the Temple has been an amazing experience. We've learned so much and cherished our time there. We've met wonderful people and had beautiful experiences.

*Marriage - just being with Jeffree all the time is such a neat thing. We love always being together - laughing, crying, sleeping - whatever it is, it's just better with the most wonderful man in the world.

*Apartment - As much fun as living in a one bedroom was, it's been so nice to expand our belts and breath a little more easily with so much space. Saving money on rent wasn't a bad idea either. I'm still adjusting to no internet. :)

*Biking - okay, maybe I'm weird, but Jeffree and I had so much fun biking everywhere together while it was still warm.

*Best friends - I've had the opportunity to know so many wonderful people and form and enhance such beautiful friendships.

*Vacations - not necessarily traveling somewhere, but just having a break. I love waking up with Jeffree whenever we want to, making a scrumpcious breakfast and just being together with nothing else to do. 2010 saw a lot of that... summer, fall harvest, being snowed in for a week at Thanksgiving...

*Blogging - I love being inspired by others' blogs as well as having a place for my own thoughts. It's especially cute that Jeffree always wants to read my posts. So nice to know that he, and others, care about my thoughts.

*Baby Girl Shirley - we're so excited you're on your way, and we're certain you'll be in our top ten again next year.

*Jeffree - I know I already said marriage, but Jeffree and being married to Jeffree are indeed unique things. I love watching him with others. I am delighted when friends burst out laughing at his cute little ways. I'm enthralled with his goodness, not just to me, but in everyway. He is so dedicated to living a wonderful life. Every day I am elevated by his goodness. I love you, Jeffree Dean!

And wild and sweet

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I hope everyone had the most wonderful Christmas. The Christmas eve nativity, a picture on the stairs, and breakfast after opening presents.



Being with Jeffree always makes it such a wonderful day. Listening to him play Christmas songs on the piano and guitar is one of my favorite things. Cuddling and watching Christmas movies, hot cocoa, peppermint ice cream... the list of favorite holiday past times could go on and on. We skyped with Jeffree's parents, who are serving in Florida, as well as with my sister Karin, who is serving in Kirtland, Ohio. I'm not quite ready to go back to Rexburg away from family. I'm looking forward to moving back to Utah and being closer to everyone.



Our sweet little girl got more Christmas presents than Jeffree and I. But she needs more than we do. Jeffree did feel her this past week, and he was so excited. He's already wrapped around her little finger.



I'm thankful for so many things! Mostly so grateful to have a wonderful family and to be wonderfully blessed with a warm apartment, an abundance of the necessities of life, and an enormous outpouring of love from those we hold dear.

How do you know?

Without the internet in our apartment, my blogging has certainly become rarer. But we are kind of enjoying our sojourn back to medieval times of no internet.

Baby Shirley is healthy and well, as far as we know. Baby reminds won’t let us forget about him/her and will cause quite the uproar sometimes. But I am doing well, and we feel extremely blessed.

Baby is 18 weeks and has an estimated arrival date of April 20th. I suspect baby is so excited to meet Daddy that he/she will come early. Maybe the 19th.

Baby might feel bad, because sometimes we call Baby “it”. It seems to take a lot of effort to say he/she all the time. On Monday we will no longer refer to Baby as “it,” however. That’s right! Monday we find out if little Baby Shirley is a boy or girl. But first, we want to know what you think. Here are some stats:

Jeffree’s oldest sibling is a girl.

My six oldest siblings are boys.

Of my siblings who have children, 5/6 had boys first. Jeffree’s siblings’ firsts are a 3:4 ratio, girls to boys.

My classes voted 66 boy and 44 girl, but most people I’ve asked say girl.

As far as where I'm carrying, etc, I really have no idea. I can't feel the baby yet, and I haven't noticed anything weird about my body. So, your guess is as good as mine :)

So, dear blog friends, what will it be?

We've got more than enough for two

We are so excited

at the prospect of what’s to come…

So overwhelmed

at the thought of taking care of such a precious gift…

Anxious

to meet you…

Curious

of what you will be like…

Grateful

to finally have you so close…

In love

with you already…

And no matter what package you come in…

We will welcome you, our little angel.

It was a graveyard smash!

A little something to celebrate the Halloween spirit... whatever that is.

The Apology

Starring Jeffree Shirley

Happy Halloween!

Tag, I'm it!

I’ve been tagged. I’m supposed to answer the following questions about myself:

1. When you were little, what did you always want to be when you "grew up," and how close are you to making sure that happens?

I wanted to be all sorts of things. A singer. A photographer. An author. The one that was most consistently my goal was an author. As in, I actually started writing a book once. Or twice. I guess I even wrote a bunch of song lyrics, so that goes for both singer and author.

How close am I? Well, I’m the author of this blog….

2. What is your favorite thing about your mom?

She’s tough. Like really tough. In every way. She can beat me (and all my other sisters and a few of my brothers) in an arm wrestle. She had 14 children. She loves all 14 of them. She gets up at 4 am to study the scriptures. She goes to college full time. She plans weddings, helps with babies, goes to athletic events and concerts, and still has time to answer the phone when I call her. She’s had polio, strokes, and been in a wheelchair. And she keeps on going.

I am taller than her, though. Which means she needs me in some ways. Like to reach stuff up high.

3. In 5 years, where do you see yourself? And do you really think you'll get there?

Jeffree and I will own our home. Like, completely. No more house payments. And I’ll have really adorable children. Hopefully at least 2 by then. I’m pretty sure it’ll happen. We’ve got a pretty intense “plan.”

4. When you have free-time (yes, i know, what the heck does that mean?) what do you like to do?

Read. Books, blogs, status updates. I love knowing what’s going on. I also love learning new things.

5. Name three adjectives your Husband would use to describe you.

And I quote, “Stunningly gorgeous, amazing, and hunerd.”

You might be wondering what hunerd is and if maybe it’s a typo. No, it’s no typo. And it basically means whatever Jeff wants it to mean at the time.

6. What is the strangest thing you've ever done?

Strange? Strange is an interesting word. I’m not really sure how to answer this one.

7. What are you listening to right now?

Jeffree talking to his brother on the phone. Though rumor has it I’ll soon be listening to him play songs on the guitar.

8. Why do you blog?

Because I can. And to update my family.

So there you have it, Elyse. I'm too tired to think of other questions or who to tag. But even responding to a tag is a big deal for me :)