Crafts

Recently I have been getting into the world of crafting. I am far behind the trend on these, but I needed magnets, so I might as well have cute ones.

 My friend Deborah gave me the inspiration for these. Look how cute! The wreath is hanging on my office door. I am going to make three more balls and they are going to hang at different lengths on the office window.

Snap shot

Nothing poetic today. Just a verbal snap shot of life.

I am sitting here on my computer, having just finished cleaning the oven and listening to some conference talks.
The CA is working in my office, and I am thinking about what I get to do tomorrow to celebrate my mid-week day off. Meanwhile, my husband is taking a nap in our room, even though it's 10:00 pm.

"

These past few days he seems to be making up for the past 3 years of no rest by falling asleep around 7:00 pm, waking up at 10:00, and then back down by 10:30. Oh, but don't fret, the guy deserves every minute of that beautiful sleep. Until last week, he never stopped working. Literally....he never stopped working. Up at 6:30 for Marine Corp PT, shower at 8:00, out the door by 8:30. Class, homework, hand in an assignment, class, group work meeting, homework, quiz in class, 20 minutes for lunch, one more class. Work for 5 hours, 30 minutes for dinner if he can make it home by 7:00, stop by the store to pick up milk for his wife (that lucky girl happens to be me) more homework, listening to his wife talk about her day as if it were half as difficult as his, if he's really unlucky she'll then make him play a game of Sequence with him, and then maybe just maybe asleep by 12:00. He has amazed me one long day after another. That has always been Shawn's strength, being diligent, not afraid of working really hard. He does whatever it takes to achieve what he knows is good. Now that the craziness is on hold for a few weeks and he only has two classes and work, he is taking full advantage. This last week it has been a joy to see him literally devour the first book since his mission that he has read just for the pleasure of it.Wonder what book a future Marine Officer chooses to read?

Way to go husband!

the start of here...

So this whole blog thing is a hard one to figure out. Honestly.

I love reading blogs. All different kinds. I love reading the brand new bride's updates about her newly budding family.  I love reading about someone's poetic take on the little moments in their day, where their words literally transport you to this magical view of the sparkles their child's laugh sends into a room. I love reading about the recipes and cuisine experiences that elate someone into their own little heaven. I love staring at the photographers pictures that literally do say a thousand words. I feel at home when I read about the believer's testimony of their God.

All of these beautiful blogs that I follow seem to have their own identity. They have a theme, a purpose, their own little wave of feeling that their readers come to love and expect, like the mother wants to give updates on her families life. The photographer wants an audience for their extraordinary talents. The cook or baker loves to share their newest creation. The poet can't help but send their words out into the universe, touching hearts on their way. The crafty women needs to give every other crafty women another great project. The comic makes everyday life feel lighthearted and easy.

But what about me? I know I want to share. Everyone's life is too beautiful and too unique not to share it with everyone. But who am I? Am I the poet, the photographer, the chef, the wife, the crafter, the believer? Which side of me do I want to portray to the world? After much thought, this is my answer to my own question.

I am Laurie Noelle. 

Noelle because I was born near Christmas.

The holiday that never fails to transport me to my own personal nirvana.

I am the wife of the most remarkable country man Idaho ever sent out into the world.

I am a women of faith, a daughter of God. 

I can't help but give gratitude to my Father in Heaven who blessed me with this opportunity called life.

I am the granddaughter of Al, Muriel, Dolores, and Glannin, who's blood runs through my veins. 

I have their strength, their laugh, their dreams, even their "elegant neck" as grandma always says.

I am a student at the most incredible university on the earth: the Lord's university, BYU.

I am the daughter of two amazing people who have ingrained memories in my mind so deep and pure
that it causes me to hold back tears of gratitude and pure joy whenever I earnestly think about them.

I am the cellist, if I ever get the courage to pick it back up again after 5 years.

I am Charlotte's sister, whose face literally emits peace and love. 

All you have to do is look at her to feel accepted.

I grew up with that blessing.

I am the gardener who grows flowers in pots because I don't have a yard....at all....

I am Deborah's best friend, who has seen me through the highest and lowest points of my life.

I am the girl who lets different kinds of music give her the courage to express different parts of herself. 

I am the mentor and advisor to choice daughters of God when they come to spend their first year at BYU.

I am the girl who get's to watch the remarkable story of her Michael and Stephen Suhaka's

lives unfold, marveling at who they have become and what they accomplishing with their 

growing families, and learning more from their experience then I think is fair. 

Being the youngest has that advantage.

I am the women who at age 23, still can't spell or type accurately.
Infact, there are probably a few mistakes in here.
Learn to love it.

I am the girl who learned to love musical theater at the age of 5,
glued to a PBS screening of Porgie and Bess.
Seeing Les Miserable on Broadway when I was 7. 

I didn't recover from the overwhelming experience for two incredible weeks.

I am the girl who's role in the family was both Sunday dinner biscuit maker, and peacemaker.

I am the singer who is to scared to sing, and the actress who is scared to act.

I am the lover of anything gourmet, both the making of it and the eating of it.

I am the girl who could spend 30 minutes looking at one photograph, 

trying to figure out what it is about capturing an experience in a single image makes that it look so special.

I am all these things and more. 

That is my identity. 

This is Laurie.

This is me.

And I can't wait to share who I am.