When Adventure Meets Elegance

AUGUST 2009

ODE TO MY BROTHER

Though I have six incredible blood and 11 amazing in-law, they are not the ones I wish to honor at the moment. Rather it is my CE-4000 Computerized Brother that I wish to speak of.

My Brother

This dedicated and hard-working machine is helping make Spicy Designs possible (yes, a very little part indeed, but helpful all the same...so Spicy tells me). And that makes me feel good. It makes my Brother feel good too. Who knew that a surprise Christmas gift of 2 1/2 years would come in so handy!? Thanks E. You are my hero! (And I shall kiss you for that...)

I know it seems to some of you as if I have fallen off the planet... Sorry about that. Not much I can do about it at the moment... I'm doing all that I can of what I find most important at this precise time. Patience. (And prayers.) Here is what some of my evenings during the week (or Saturday mornings) look like...

And this is what my "PROJECT ZONE" (aka the Dining Room Table) looks like. This picture actually makes it look pretty clean and organized...

And that is all for now. Small doses. Precious few minutes of non-regulated time. Just know that I think about you all (over the hum of my Brother) and love you more than words can ever express.

Peace out.

FAMILY REUNION: PART 2

The Second Biennial Sorensen Reunion

E and I are headed out tomorrow at noon for St. George. We are going to grocery shop, food prep, and chill with my parents. Then it's on to Lake Powell for the rest of the week Wednesday morning! Whoop-whoop!

Lake Powell 2009

(This will be me starting Wednesday afternoon...though minus the blue...and beard)

Here we go!!!

A FEW FAMILY PIX

A POEM BY A. H. SORENSEN

The tidal wave has come once more
Pushing me to the ocean floor

The chances of survival: None
This time the massive wave has won

Gulping, gasping, pleading for air
I turn my head and see you there

Reaching - Sweet Angel - from above
Ready to left me with your love

But I cannot grasp your fingers
The fear and despair still lingers

I doubt myself, faltering faith
Fear and Faith, there cannot be baith

Tears streaming, heart beseeching - Pray
Deeply, calmly, gently you say:

It is time now, to stretch, My Love
It is time now, to move, My Love

The swirling waters disappear
I focus now on me, you, Here

My one last effort drains my soul
But we both see the common goal

Your strength and praise - Lift - pull me through
And now I know what I must do

Have Faith, bolster down, hold on tight
Just keep trying with all my might

And as a token, sweet and true
I once again look up at you

A gentle kiss left on my lips
Brings comfort, peace, and utter bliss

The hard and dreary times will pass
But time with you will always last

I love you, Sweet Angel

SEPTEMBER 2009

SINGING THE SONG OF AUTUMN

I love that the weather is changing and prompting me to drink more hot chocolate. I love that I get to wear sweaters and jackets soon (though it's tragic that flip flop season will come to an end...) I love that this particular day is cloudy and occasionally rainy. I love the smell of rain in cool, crisp air. I love that the mountains already have colorful trees adorning their peaks. I love thinking about our pumpkin carving party.

In short, I love Autumn.

AH...CAMPING!

Very little beats escaping the hectic lives we lead like CAMPING. Not Steve and I are in love with our precious Wobbly Hobbley Canyon! We enjoyed an overnighter this past weekend... Something we all needed!!!

THE END!!!

MY SECRET GARDEN

“Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”

~President Thomas. S. Monson
Finding Joy in the Journey

OCTOBER 2009

NEWS ARTICLE

That's my man!!!

click here

WHAT'S COOKIN'

Piping hot beef stew with fresh bread, straight from the oven. Green salad with crisp cucumbers and juicy cherry tomatoes. Funnel cake dusted with powdered sugar.

This is the way to enjoy a day such as this. And I enjoyed.

REPOST

Well, we were too busy and poor to do anything fancy for Halloween this year...so no costumes. Lame, I know, but life happens. We did enjoy some wicked good tacos, compliments of E, and watched baby Z enjoy her pink puppy suit. And of course, we passed out some candy.

A good Halloween, though I promise to plan a rockin' party next year! :)

To honor the occasion, I thought I'd re-post pix of our best Halloween costumes so far...

Wow. We look young. Crazy to think this was the fall before we got married...so Oct. 2005!

NOVEMBER 2009

OH, CHOCOLATE! DON'T FAIL ME NOW!

Ever had one of these days? I have lots.

WHAT MATTERS

One should always find oneself on a Road of Self-improvement. Whether it is a road of choice or one gently laid down by a Heavenly Hand is not what matters. What matters is that one is constantly striving to walk, even with the tiniest of steps, down that road. Because if one stops, one becomes stagnant. And 'stagance' is the essence of Pride and Laziness.

I am trying. Oh, how I am trying!!!

DECEMBER 2009

TIS THE SEASON

let the christmas festivities begin! we spent friday evening picking out the perfect tree (thanks, s, s, & z!!!) and drinking hot chocolate and watching elf. i love, love, love that movie! it got me excited for christmas and snow and festive decor.

time to tree hunt!

"the tree" for me & e

"the tree" for s, s, & z

e carrying in s, s, & z's tree!!!

da boys "making adjustments"

the happy fam with their awesome tree (yes, z has a hatchet...)

our reward for "hard work" (homemade hot chocolate in the works)

saturday morning e prepped our tree and positioned it in the house. it's huge and drop dead gorgeous! we are spending today spangling the thing... apparently obtaining a tree and decorating it is a three-day process!

our tree

we enjoyed some spontaneous fun yesterday afternoon by packing up some tinfoil dinners and boiling hot water and driving up the canyon. we slid around in the truck, built a huge (and so warm!) fire, and tested the ol' sleds for some pre-running. it snowed the entire time! z was hilarious and very entertaining. she was fascinated with the snow and did really well with sledding (i think she's a bit of a speed demon...like her mom!). e and i "ice-skated" on the edges of the stream. the middle section is still flowing. it was awesome! so relaxing and fun.

sledding

z chillin' with the big kids

the fire!

s & s

me & e

the tinfoil dinners baking in extremely hot coals. yumm-o!

z spilled a little hot water on my chair...she said, "uh oh" and tried to wipe it up with her finger

and as for the "grounded" aspect of life, i have been extended another calling (yes, that puts my current total at 3 right now), though I have been assured that I will be released from primary sometime in january. i have been called and accepted to be the YW CAMP DIRECTOR!!! whoop whoop!!! e and i are stoked! it's ward camp (my fav) and they are considering "roughin' it," which i prefer, and i'm toying with the idea of making e the cook. i have to run it by my supers, but he said he'd love to head the food (the girls would help with cooking it, of course!), so i hope they say yes!

life is good. we are blessed, madly in love, and having a grand ol' time celebrating this miraculous holiday season! loves your way!

***UPDATE***

It has been another wonderful holiday season - full of love, uplifting service, and amazing food! :) I just thought I'd post a few pix from the past couple of days to illustrate just how much I love the traditions of the past, present, and those we are establishing for the future. And a huge thank you (and we love you!) to all of you who are taking part in these traditions with us!

O Tannenbaum!