Tortilla + Pizza Accouterments = Pizzadilla

I don't write very often. I usually only write when I feel like I have something worthwhile to say or birthday wishes to send. Well, I was reprimanded by my awesome friend upon about 1 hour of his release from serving a full time LDS mission. How are my children and generations worth of posterity supposed to know all about me if I do not update my blog more than once every several months... That being said, along with every other blogger out there, here's to posting more often and preserving proof of my actual existence... Or something like that.

On a completely unrelated note--

I had a profound experience today. I was having a conversation with an older woman, someone whom I admire and respect greatly, and we began talking about work and service. She expressed to me some level of discontent with her job situation and wished she could give her life to service and charity.   Hesitantly she disclosed this wish to me and her desire to do something that could make a difference and make her more happy. Granted, she is one of the most upbeat and positive women I know--she makes a difference with just a smile and sincere 'how are you?'. Warm, charitable, serviceable, fabulous does not even begin to describe this lovely friend of mine. But just as everyone else in this wide world, she, for just a moment felt small.

I learned a few things from this brief conversation:


No matter where we are in life--no matter how successful, beautiful, powerful, what have you--we may be, it is still possible to feel small.


Do things that make you happy, and if you are not happy--FIX IT! 


 Life constantly happens, and it takes a lot to not just let your life happen to you. 


Most importantly--I've said it before and I will say it a million times over--life is all about choices. We choose what we do and we have to choose to accept what comes of it. Happiness is a choice (probably one of the hardest ones to make). Kindness is a choice. Being present in your own life and in the lives of those around you is a choice. We choose how others perceive us and how we perceive ourselves. Every action we take, we are making a choice to be the best we can be or to maybe not be as great as we could be.


 Faith in the ability to daily improve is what drives me. I believe in choosing my own attitude towards life and I know that I am not always very good at making the positive choice. But I know that I am in control of myself and through self control and positive choices and a good attitude, I may just have the ability to turn someone else's frown into a smile. And that, to me, is worth it. 

Cucumbers and Sunshine

Guess what! Today is a very special and wonderful and stupendous day. Exactly nineteen years ago on July 16th, my soul mate was born. My longest and very best friend, Anna Elizabeth Lewis--more affectionately known as Anna Banana, Anne Banann, Anna Bear, or Sunshine--is celebrating her birthday today. I could say a million things about how utterly amazing she is. She is my rock. She is beautiful, and happy, and more kind than anyone I know. Although we do not live near to one another (we have not lived in the same state since we were 7) she is always a phone call away to laugh, cry, sing, or just be quiet with me. I see this lovely lady about once a year--and always have since she moved away many many moons ago--and we can always pick up from right where we left off the year before just as if no time has passed at all. Like I said, she is AMAZING. If I were as cool as her I would have included a bunch of photos of us growing up together (just in case you were wondering, dear, you don't have the 'awkward stage' pictures because they just happen to be in my possession.) but I am not that tech savvy, and really the only photographs that I have are not publicly acceptable. Anyways, she makes my heart smile and our souls know each other. Anna, you have blessed my life in more ways than you know. I love you forever, and cannot wait to grow up one day and live next door to one another so our darling and perfect children can be soul mates as well. Happy Birthday to the very best!!! I love you!!