The Red and Blue Train

Have you ever been part of an adventure that makes someone’s dreams come true? What do you remember about that experience? Do you remember the smile that came across their face or their precious laughter that escaped from their lips? Today I had one of those amazing adventures. An adventure that created so many smiles and plenty of laughter…a memory that will last for a long time.

Want to hear about it? Yes. Good, because I wanted to share it.

Ever since the “Red and Blue” train arrived in Utah County, Miss B has wanted to ride it. She decided that she wanted to ride it for her birthday. After much searching and collaborating, we found the time that we all could go together. So…the adventure began…

We started out by attending Brylie’s school program. Aw…this little girl is growing up. I am definitely a proud aunt. I am grateful for the opportunity and privilege to be a part of her little life. It is amazing and every day is an adventure. She was absolutely darling as she participated in her class program. She sang all of the songs with complete excitement. She was so proud to give her speaking part. Aw… I love this girl. She truly brings a smile to my face.

After the program, we headed to Provo to board the “Red and White” train.

Brylie was so excited. She didn’t stop talking the whole way. She couldn’t wait to get on board.  I love how her smiles and giggles are contagious.  It makes every adventure simply PERFECT!

She informed of what stops we had made and what stops were approaching.  I don’t think that she ever quit talking.  We rode to Salt Lake City and then transferred to TRAX.  She was so excited to get on the “bus”.  It was awesome. 

We stopped at California Pizza Kitchen for dinner and had to wait…

and…wait…and…wait for our food. 

Then it was off to the Gateway for an evening of shopping.  We shopped and shopped.  Everyone had been trying on clothes and Brylie decided to was her turn.  Dad asked her if she wanted a new outfit and of course, she said that she did.  She definitely is a Gren.  Ha Ha.  Anyway, we found a store and picked out a darling skirt and top for her.  While we were in the dressing room, she informed me that everyone in the store was going to be excited to see her in her new outfit.  She put on the skirt and top, opened the door and exclaimed, “Here I am!”  She modeled for everyone.  It was hilarious.  Aw…I love this girl. 

It was an awesome adventure!!  I am grateful for this little girl.  She makes life simply delightful and incredibly fun!!! 

~Michelle

Comic relief at the gym…

I provided comic relief for everyone that was near me at the gym bright and early this morning.  I am humiliated but as I am writing this entry, I am laughing and the humiliation is disappearing.  Would you like to hear my adventure this morning?  When I am on the treadmill, I usually read.  I prop my kindle up and read.  It passes the time quite nicely.  But the past few mornings (well, it has been quite some time) I have woke up feeling a tad bit nauseous.  I have noticed that as I am reading, the nausea intensifies. 

So, this morning on the way to the gym,  I decided to watch a TV show hoping that it would help with the nausea.  Yes, this is all going through my brain at the bright early time of FIVE AM.  My friend, Vieve, has been telling me that this particular show is something that I should watch.  I wouldn’t be focusing on words, I would be focusing on the people on the screen.  Makes sense, right?  Ok…at 5:00 in the morning, not much really makes sense. 

Sidenote:  Vieve screens all my TV shows and my movies.  She tells me if they are “Michelle appropriate”. She has taken on this task and keeps me informed with what I should watch and not watch. Bless her heart.

Back to the story…I put my headphones in my ears, plug them into my kindle and I click play.  I start to watch this show and for some reason I lose focus of everyone around me.  When I first arrived at the gym, there were three people in front of me, Vieve next to me and a lady in a gray sweatshirt one down from where Vieve is running.  Yes, I am USUALLY aware of all my surroundings.  I make sure that I know who is in front of me, who is in back of me and who is on each side of me.  I have this weird curiosity that has to know those things…or it puts me completely out of my comfort zone.   

Ok…back to the story…For some reason, I lose focus of everything around me. This TV show has me enticed. I am not aware of anything going on around me. They could have cleared the place and I wouldn’t even have known. So, it is about 30 minutes into the show, when something happens on the screen. 

I jump.

I scream.

I almost fall off of the treadmill. 

It wasn’t until I looked to the left of me and there was a girl in green shorts that jumps off of the treadmill next to me and moves down the row from me.  I look at Vieve and I feel this complete panic go through me like a lightning bolt.  I was mortified.  Who jumps, screams and almost falls of the treadmill while watching a TV show…at the gym? Apparently, I do.

The good news…I didn’t realize that I had spent 45 minutes on the treadmill without even knowing it. HUZZAH!  My nausea did not intensify.  HUZZAH!  HUZZAH!!  I hope that this happens again tomorrow…not the humiliation part but the not-realizing-that-I-am-working-out-part.

Life is good and I am grateful that I can provide comic relief to all those around me.

 

~Michelle

I fought. I fought hard.

Have you ever had one of those moments in life when you just need something?  You have this indescribable feeling inside that makes you want to cry but you don’t want to shed any tears?  If you did shed tears and you ran into someone, they would either look at you weird or they would ask what was going on?  If they asked what was going, you would just say that you were crying because you were crying…you didn’t know why…only that you felt like it.  Then, it would be awkward and we would just stand there looking at each other wondering which one felt more awkward.  But on the other hand, you just want to cry because you want this feeling to go away. 

It is not that I am sad or  angry about anything.  The feeling is indescribable.  It is a feeling in my heart that just wants and needs to get out.  Well, this is how I have been feeling for quite sometime.  I know that if I had a good cry, I could get rid of this feeling but I do not want to cry because I don’t have a reason to cry.

I had a meeting tonight and as I was driving to the church, that feeling inside me intensified.  I could feel it get stronger and stronger.  The tears started to well up in my eyes.  I fought them with all that I had.  I had to conduct the meeting.  I had to be happy and excited about everything.  I am happy and excited about everything except for what I am feeling.  Did that even make sense?  Anyway, like I said the feeling got stronger and tears started to come.  I fought.  I fought hard. I made it.  The tears stopped.  The feeling is still there but the tears stopped.  WHEW!!

Then, I walked inside the church.  There was this sweet lady that I know.  She jumped up off the couch, grabbed me, gave me a hug and shared with me some of the most tender thoughts.  She truly was inspired.  I am grateful for those who act when prompted to do things because…tonight, I was truly blessed. 

I did have to leave her presence because the tears were coming back but I fought.  I fought hard.  They stopped.

Then the warm fuzzies came.  The feeling went away until my drive home.

I will fight.

I will fight hard.

Why? 

I don’t like to cry when I don’t know what I am crying about.

I will just count my many blessing for the sweet friend who gave me a hug and shared her thoughts with me tonight.  I am blessed.

~Michelle 

Happy Birthday Brylie!!

Aw…today is a special day for one of the most amazing people that I know.  It is my niece Brylie’s birthday. 

This little person has the capability of changing a cloudy day into the most amazing day full of sunshine. 

I am so grateful that she came into my world six years ago.  She has changed it completely!

As I gave her hugs and kisses today, my thoughts turned to the day that she was born. 

It was one of the most amazing days.

It was peaceful and calm day but a day full of excitement. 

I remember holding her for the first time. 

She was just so little and precious. 

I loved counting her ten little toes and ten little fingers. 

She touched my heart that very first day and every day since. 

I am so blessed to be a part of her life.

She is so full of love and excitement. 

I love her hugs and her sweet kisses. 

I love when we talk on the phone and she asks me a bazillion questions.

I just love having her in my life. 

I am truly blessed. 

Happy Birthday Brylie!! 

I love you!!

~Michelle

My name in bright lights!!

Sometimes when you are trying to find a little bit of sunshine in a moment where the sun is not shining and the tears are a plenty, you find one thing that makes you smile.  It was so simple and so small but it did bring a little smile to my heart. 

It has been a very long four weeks.  Four weeks that I do not want to relive…ever.  For the past four weeks, I have visited doctors, I have had medical tests, I have had antibiotics, and I have had plenty of days that have been filled with tears.   I have said many prayers and have had many prayers said in my behalf.  I am grateful for my family and friends who have been the most amazing support during this not-so-fun trial.   Today, I received another round of medication.  Hopefully, this round will be the last that I have to have. 

Anyway,  I was waiting in line to pick up my “new best friend”  for the week(another round of medication), my dear friend, Vieve, told me to look up.  It was my name.  Instantly, I smiled.  I have always wanted to see my name in bright lights…too bad it was just to let me know that I  prescription was ready. 

Doesn’t that name look awesome?  I loved it.  It truly made me smile.  Even thought I really enjoyed seeing my name in the bright lights, I hope that I do not have to see again…anytime soon.  As for now, I am ready to be done with this trial.

Have a happy day!!

~Michelle

Thursday’s Thoughts…Discipline

The following  quote is in line with the thoughts that have been on my mind today.

I can do anything!!!

~Michelle

Let’s spread warm fuzzies!!

Hey everyone!!!

It is National Letter Writing Month!!!  I was really excited when I found it this information.  I love writing letters and I love receiving letters.  I love the excitement of picking out a card or stationary, writing the letter, addressing and placing the stamp on the corner of the envelop.  It is so much fun!!  I love the warm fuzzies that I receive when I place that cute little treasure in the mail receptacle.  Do you know what is even better than all of that?  Hearing from the person that it brought a smile to their face and a tug at their heart!!!  I LOVE IT!!

So…to celebrate National Letter Writing Month, I want to encourage everyone to write at least one letter and mail it to someone special.   Express to them how special they are and how much they truly mean to you.  I know that you will feel that same type of excitement when you realize that you brightened someone’s day and that you tugged at someone’s heartstrings.

If you choose to celebrate this amazing month of writing letters, I will send you a special gift in the mail.  I truly will!!  

Let me answer a few questions…

What do I need to do to receive a special gift in the mail? 

• Write a letter, or two or three…it doesn’t matter how many…and mail them.. 
• Re-visit this blog entry and write a comment about how it made you feel when you dropped the letter(s) in the mailbox.
• Email me at luv2stamp0225 (dot) msn (dot) com with your address of where you would like to receive your treasure.
• THEN…wait patiently for your little gift to arrive in the mail.

Let’s band together and spread warm fuzzies throughout the land!!

Happy Letter Writing!!

~Michelle