so pleased

first order of business... you all are going to think I am so bad... I am sending the books tomorrow. The ones that you won. I really loose track of things, but know they are going in the mail tomorrow... I should have asked for your forgiveness in advance. But I didn't, so I am now.

Que "The Checks in the Mail," School House Rock.

The 4th was fun... kind of a snooze fest though. It was good to take a long nap, and then I just baked a pie. It was a worth while pie. Peach Raspberry. A good pairing. I am happy for our independence. Don't get me wrong... I'm just not a very big holiday person. I guess we weren't big on celebrating Holidays at home, especially on the day of... Except Christmas, we do celebrate Christmas on the day of... and birthdays last all week. That was my doing though. The perpetual party

Saturday was so fun. My dearest John Walker was up visiting and we went up to West Yellowstone. The weather was so nice... it was just about to rain so it was a little windy. Light Jacket Weather! But they have really neat shops and I found these little gems.

little sewing kits. If you were to find these in Urban Outfitters, or Anthropologie they could easily have been $8-$12. They were only $2.25! I bought all that they had because I figured that they will make nice additions to gifts

Yesterday was an amazing day, and for no real reason other than that I woke up, and knew it would be a good day. But there is something strange in the universe that wants to trip you up on days like this... a print was ruined, I got ink on some nice jeans, rude lady wouldn't take my card at the bookstore (for $4), walked all the way to the bookstore didn't get what I needed, and about twenty other things. I just decided to not let any of it effect me. So it didn't

One great thing: My friend Matt replaced the needle on my record player for my birthday! What a great present! I was so happy to listen to my favorite record Earl Grant greatest hits... he is only the King of the Hammond Organ.

I realized something too. I was baking a cake for a Closing Social, and my ward bought the ingredients for the cake... so I wasn't making it for me, in fact I didn't even eat any of it, but I could not have been happier to bake it. To just take the time and make it. I realized that I don't love baking for the end product, I love baking for the process. It's an interesting thing to know

Here are the before and after of the cake:

it was gone in less than eight minutes. It was an eight minute massacre.

Also, funny enough I ended up singing. It was a talent show, but I hadn't signed up... The show started and Mallori said, "are you singing?"

No.

"Then you get yourself up there and tell them that you are.."

uh... ok.

I went and asked the kid emceeing if I could sing something, and if I could be last. He said yes to both. So I did. I wasn't planning on it... as I have not sang in public in a while. But it went alright. It isn't polished, but I do remember now that I do in fact sing. You can listen if you like. I'm singing Smile. The quality isn't great but you get the picture. I'm going to stop talking about it now.

I'm grateful for good days.