The Fall of the Birds

A few weeks ago I was driving to work on the freeway. The speed limit was 75mph and I've discovered that if you go 82 mph you can fly by the highway patrolman and they won't even blink. So I set my cruise control at 82 mph. I was enjoying my loud music when out of the corner of my eye I see a bird flying towards my car. I watched as this very large bird flew headfirst, as fast and hard as it could, into the bottom of my windshield. The same windshield that was traveling at 82 miles an hour. I screamed. It rolled off the windshield and off my car and I watched it in my rear view mirror as it landed on the road, rolled for a few feet and then came to a stop. It was dead the second it hit my windshield. I looked forward to where the bird had hit and in the middle of my windshield where the windshield meets the hood of the car was a nice fresh pile of bird guts, brains, feathers, and some green stuff? Neon green. Is that normal? Do birds have neon green blood? I wanted to get the crap off but I have less than stellar windshield wipers and I knew if I turned them on they'd just smear everything all over and then I'd probably freak out and throw up. I had to leave it where it was and I watched it the entire drive.

I called Rick to tell him because, oh my gosh, a bird just dove into my car, but he didn't answer. Instead I replayed every horror movie I've ever seen and realized that it always starts with the birds. Before T-Rex comes - the birds fly away. Before the Meteor hits - the birds fly away. Before the earthquake - the birds fly away. Before the little girl crawls out of the well - the birds fly away. So what happens when the birds start to commit suicide? I can't imagine that it's anything good. If something terrible happens to me in the near future it was because of the birds. And if it's the kind of thing that turns into a movie then I'd like Jennifer Aniston to play me. I've always been told I look like her.

Not.

For Mother's Day this year I thought that it would be a nice surprise to get my mom a lovely bouquet of flowers. We're not really the flower giving type of family. I've seen my dad get my mom roses for Valentine's Day or Anniversaries, but it wasn't like we always had fresh flowers around. I figured she would be surprised to get flowers delivered from her out of state daughter. I heard about a website that had tons to choose from. I don't know what my mom's favorite flower is but I had my eye on a bouquet of 100 different brightly colored tulips. I texted my sister to ask her what my mom's favorite flower is. She said "I have no idea but I got her some tulips." Hmm, okay, glad I asked. I'll just get her something else. So I picked an arrangement of bright blue iris and light pink lilies. They looked beautiful together. Next I had to pick the vase (from about 5 different options), the card, and I put it in a package deal with chocolates and some beauty products. Perfect! I got everything ordered and sent off to Utah. It said it would be there on Saturday. That day I texted my mom and told her she had something coming to the house. She texted me when they arrived, told me how beautiful they were, and then sent me a picture of the flowers I sent her next to the flowers my sister sent her.

Same vase. Same green and white note. Same spa package. The only things different were the flowers (which almost didn't happen, good thing I asked my sister) and the cards. Does anybody need to borrow a green vase? Cause I think my mom has a couple.

Christmas 2011

My parents came to Arizona to stay with us for a few days the week before Christmas. I had the week off and Rick was supposed to work but he got bumped from his job (when you get bumped you have 48 hours to put yourself on another job) and he would wait out the 48 hours before he put himself back on. He kept getting bumped which normally would be annoying but it turned out that he had the entire time off to spend with me and my parents, so that worked out perfectly. 

The first thing we did when they got there was open presents. A week and a half before Christmas. That's how we roll.

The best present. Did anyone else watch this religiously when they were younger? Even Rick used to watch it. That's how I know that we're soul mates.

The next day was Sunday. We all went to church together. The organist was AWOL so the Bishop announced that we'd all be singing acapella. Sounds pretty, right? It wasn't. At all. During the first song the 1st counselor got out his iPhone and turned on this app that plays the Hymns on the piano. He put it up to the microphone but we were already halfway through the song, and so we all had to start over, but we didn't realize it played the introduction first so people were singing through that, and then it started for real, so we all started singing it again. And then for the rest of the songs the music kept speeding up after every verse. Like double time. And we were all trying so hard to sing as fast as we could, and the lady conducting was so frustrated that she just stopped conducting and stood up there until the music ended. So that was fun. After Sunday School a lady came up to my parents and said "Bishop and Sister Harris!?!?!?!" Of course my parents would find someone that they know in a the middle of nowhere at a ward they've never been to.

Our ward right now meets at 9:00. Our ward in Tucson met at 9:00. All of our wards in Utah met at 9:00. Remember how much I love 9:00 am church? I was excited because next year our ward is supposed to meet at 11:00. I work at 1:00 every Sunday and it is an hour drive, so I knew that starting next year I'd only be able to go to Sacrament then I'd leave afterward. I know that that's not the ideal schedule, but I'll take it. I'll gladly pick that over 9:00 am church. On Sunday the Bishop got up and the first thing he announced was that starting in January the ward would meet at 1:00 pm. Uhhhhhhhhwhat? So we met with him afterward to discuss our schedules. He was sad to hear about our work schedules, mostly because he wants to give us a calling in the Primary, but he said that I had 2 options. I should keep my records in his ward, but as far as meeting times I could either go to the "9 am ward, but that's the Spanish ward" or I could go to the "11:00 sacrament, but that's the Prison ward." Did I forget to mention that we live near a Prison?

Awesome.

So I can either go to 9:00 church that would be in a language I don't speak for another year, or I could hang out with the in-mates during sacrament meeting. Everyone is telling me to pick the Spanish ward, but honestly, 9:00 church is the bane of my existence. The thorn in my side. The eyelash in my eye. The rock in my shoe.

I can't do it for another year. I can't. I'll die. That's how good of a Mormon I am.

I'll be sure to let you all know how the in-mates are doing.

After church we went to a tiny town in Southern Arizona called St. David. My dad and brother went down there on a motorcycle trip earlier this year and in the middle of this tiny town is a tiny cemetery and in that tiny cemetery are my deceased family member's graves. David Patten Kimball (my 3rd Great-Grandpa) is buried there next to his wife. He is the son of Heber C. Kimball, who was in the Quorum of the 12 apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and who served as first counselor to Brigham Young. When David Patten Kimball was 17 he and 3 other young men came to the rescue of the Willie Martin Handcart company, who had to cross the freezing Sweetwater river. They carried members of the company across the deep freezing water, and they all suffered lifelong injuries/illnesses due to the extreme exposure to the cold water.

When he was 42 years old he got lost in the harsh Arizona desert where he had no water and no food for 6 days. He knew he was going to die, and he wanted his friends to find his body instead of being torn apart by the coyotes, so he tried to dig himself a hole to hide in. Then, his parents (who had passed away) appeared in front of him. They gave him food and water and told him he would live for 2 more years. He was later found alive. 1 day before the 2 year anniversary of his parents coming to him in the desert, he told his wife he knew he was going to die the next day, and he was able to say goodbye to her. He passed away the next morning.

Look closely at the headstone. You will see him carrying someone across the Sweetwater river.

 His original headstone.

And here I am complaining about 9:00 church. Goodness.

After we left St. David we went to Tombstone, where the famous shoot out at the O.K. Corral took place.

The next day we went to Mesa to see the Temple lights there. Every year of my life I've gone to the Temple lights in Salt Lake and froze to death but still enjoyed myself. This time I walked around outside and admired the lights in the palm trees and orange trees. It even got a little hot. It was everything I've ever wanted.

Christy had been telling me about this neighborhood in Chandler where on one street everyone that lives there has to decorate their house for Christmas. They start decorating the day after Halloween and they open it up to the public the day after Thanksgiving. They set up porta potties and everything. We all went and my parents were able to meet Chad and Christy and the boys. I've skyped with my mom a few times and Cael likes to talk to "Mama Chicken" (my mom's grandma name, given to her by my nephew because my parents have chickens). He was a little shocked to see her in person at first, I think he was trying to figure out how she escaped from the computer, but after a few minutes he warmed right up to her and held her hand the whole night.

The people who live there said they HAVE to decorate their houses, like, it's in their HOA contract, but they can decorate them however they want. So there was one house that was Harley Davidson Christmas themed, and another one that had a star on top of their roof and as you walked through their yard it told the story of Jesus' birth. It was so fun to see, and I can't even imagine how much time it took all of them.

After seeing the lights we went to the DQ to get some ice cream and so the boys could open the presents we got them.

I think he likes the movie we got him.

Miss Jodi and Sloan playing peekaboo.

Utah Family meets Arizona Family.

I came back to Utah with my parents. I'll be here until the 3rd. I left Rick at home because he had to work. It's really not as mean as it sounds because now he gets the whole bed to himself. Lucky guy!

P.S.

The day after we got to Utah Christy sent me this video. My mom and I have watched it 500 times because it's the cutest thing we've ever seen.

So Much To Be Thankful For

I am Thankful for clean, running water that I can choose to be hot or cold. Running water is a freaking miracle. Rick and I lived without running water in our bathroom/laundry room for almost a month. It was horrible, and I wanted to complain about it everyday, but when we realized we still had running water in the kitchen I felt like the luckiest person in the world. I was able to brush my teeth whenever I felt like it, and every day I looked forward to it. What used to be a chore (taking a shower, washing my hair, doing laundry, doing dishes, etc.) is now a blessing. I have running water! I can flush the toilet! We don't have to give each other billy baths! We are so lucky.

I am Thankful for electricity. You want light? Bam, just flip a light switch. You want heat or cold? Just push some buttons on your thermostat. So easy, so simple. It keeps the food in my fridge cold and cooks my oven cooked meals. I can't imagine life without electricity.

I am Thankful for food. I love food soooo much. Especially Thanksgiving food. We are so blessed to have 3 meals a day. There are too many people in this world that don't get that. My least favorite chore to do is dishes, and Christy and I always talk about how much we both hate doing dishes, and then I saw this quote and I realized how much of a blessing it is to have dirty dishes.

Dirty Dishes

Thank Heaven for dirty dishes,

They have a tale to tell,

While other folks go hungry,

We're eating very well.

With home and health and happiness,

We shouldn't want to fuss,

By this stack of evidence,

God is very good to us.

I am Thankful for clothes. During the Arizona summertime they are nothing but a nuisance, but the rest of the year they are comfortable and cute and necessary. I'm also Thankful for sales on clothes. Rick and I went Black Friday shopping for the first time this year because Rick is in desperate need of new jeans, but he only buys Hollister jeans because of his weirdly shaped legs and butt, and they can be expensive. On Black Friday everything was 50% off. 3 pairs of jeans for $75! Amazing.

I am Thankful for our cute apartment and our 2 cars that work. Of all the places we've lived, this is my favorite, I wouldn't mind it if we lived here for a long time. And we both drive 75+ miles a day for work. Our cars are old and rickety and should have broken down a long time ago but they haven't and we are so Thankful for that.

I am Thankful for our jobs. When Rick moved back to Utah he was laid off for 3 years. We had no idea when he would be called back to work, or how long it would take until he didn't have to worry about being laid off again. That made it impossible to try to plan anything for our future. It was all just a waiting game. Now we're here to stay and he's been working so hard and I'm learning how to be a railroaders wife. We can make plans for our future, finally. His job has taught me patience and taught me to suck it up and deal with the fact that he has the crappiest work schedule ever that makes it impossible to plan anything. I'm so Thankful for my job not just because of how it helps financially but I love my nanny family. This year was the first year in my life that I didn't spend Thanksgiving with my family and Christy invited us to spend Thanksgiving with her entire family. Good food (Southern style!) and good company, it meant so much to me.

I am Thankful for our Health Insurance. We don't need to use it a lot, but when we do, I'm so glad it's there. Especially since we just went to the Dentist for the first time in a looooooooong time and we need a ton of work done. If we didn't have Health Insurance the work we need done would cost $10,000.00. With our Insurance we will pay a fraction of that. We're lucky.

I am Thankful for our wonderful friends and family. They've shaped us into who we are today. I miss my Utah friends and family like crazy but I think we'll get to see them for Christmas.

I am Thankful for everything and anything that has to do with Church. We suck at going, and normally when people struggle with going to Church it's because of a Testimony issue or an issue between them and the people there. Ours is actually the exact opposite. Our Testimonies have grown by miles since moving to Arizona, I loved our ward in Tucson and I love our ward here, it's our schedules that are the problem. Rick has been consistently working either grave shifts saturday nights or morning shifts on sundays, and I work every sunday. It's hard but we're getting better.

I am Thankful for Rick. I gush about him a lot, it even annoys me sometimes, but I really just love the crap out of him. I thought I was going to freak out when we first moved here because I've never lived outside of Provo before, but I learned that Home is wherever he is.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.

A Charlie Brown 4th of July

I love the 4th of July with all of my heart and soul. It is my favorite holiday. Everything about it is magical, and I cry EVERY time. I used to be able to keep the tears in until the very end of the day, but every year that goes by they just sneak up on me. I get goosebumps as I stand on the side of University Avenue with my hand on my heart watching the flag go by, and then those Jets fly overhead and I see my Mom and Grandma wiping their tears, and my brother (who will remain nameless) trying his hardest not to cry. I just can't help myself. Even Rick cries - and he's an INDIAN! We love America an embarrassing amount.

This year I knew it would be different. I knew it would be hard being away from my friends and family, and I knew that nobody celebrates the 4th of July like Provo, but I didn't know it would be this depressing.

We woke up at 6 (yes 6, that is how much I love this Holiday) because the night before we had spent a lot of time online searching for parades. We found ONE in the entire city of Tucson, and it sounded promising - 48th annual parade, breakfast at 7 with the parade starting at 9. Perfect. We got ready, put the address in our GPS and we were on our way. The address took us to a neighborhood that wasn't near any of the main streets in Tucson. 

As we got closer we saw a booth with a handmade sign welcoming everyone to the 48th annual Pima Neighborhood Parade. They told us to pull up and that breakfast was $3. The breakfast was held in someone's front yard and everyone but us was wearing matching t-shirts. We wondered if we were crashing a family reunion, but were too curious to leave. After talking to the lady who took our money (The head of the Neighborhood Committee) we learned that it was a parade put on every year by every one in the neighborhood.

We finished our breakfast and left to go see if there was anything else going on. No cars, no people, no signs, not even any flags were out. Tucson was a ghost town. It was time for the parade to start so we drove back to the neighborhood. As we pulled up, we spotted 4 cop cars, and a tv news crew.

We thought that maybe this was going to be bigger than we had originally planned. If the Police are there then it's REALLY a parade. I was excited. We got out, and in the middle of the street was everyone from the neighborhood dressed up, ready to march. I was confused because if everyone in the neighborhood was IN the parade than who was going to WATCH the parade? The answer - Me, Meeko, and some other lady. I stood there, in awe/disbelief as the parade started.

The best part was when the lady standing in her lawn with her horse made her entrance. The horse was absolutely terrified and I'm surprised it didn't kill someone.

The parade lasted for approximately 45 seconds, as the 50 people walked around the block. Not pictured is the guy dressed like captain america, and the rootbeer float float, consisting of a small child in a red wagon dressed like a can of rootbeer with white balloons on his head. You know how they give out candy at parades? The rootbeer float float gave a real rootbeer float to the lady standing next to me. They would have given me one but my arms were full because someone's feet were too hot.

I have to give credit to this sweet little neighborhood for making the best out of it for 48 years, but compared to Utah I could not believe that this was really happening.

When we got home we decided to head to the pool and relax. As I was laying out I told myself that no matter how homesick I was and no matter how sad that parade was, I was going to make the best of it and I was still going to have a great 4th of July. I then saw something out of the corner of my eye. A baby bird had just fallen out of the tree next to me, and was on the ground. It couldn't fly yet, and it was really struggling. With my new positive mindset, I ran over to save the helpless life. Rick told me I needed to put the bird in the shade somewhere. I picked it up and as I was looking for a good comfy spot for my new friend, it died in my hands.

Seriously, that all just happened.

The good news, though, is that Meeko found his soul mate and now he's in love.

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

The Best and Worst Moments of 2010 

In no particular order

My best friend Lacey telling me she's pregnant (and due soon, can't wait)

Finishing School

My mom finding out she has MS

Being hired as a MA

Passing the National MA exam

Having my car door handle break from the inside and be stuck open so the door can't close (this happened like an hour ago but it's still December 31st for a few more hours so it totally counts)

Jessica having her baby

Going to Disneyland

Going to Arizona for the Brimhall Reunion

Being so close to having Rick join the tribe but having it still not happen

Going to Lake Powell for the first time

Having Church at 9am

Having Meeko join our family

Out with the old, in with the new.

Our 4th of July Weekend

We hope that you had a great 4th of July weekend. Ours was great. It ranged from fireworks blowing up in the crowd at the stadium of fire to speeding down the road drinking slurpee's. One thing I love about being a photographer is that an image can express something as good as words. Hope you enjoy these images.

-Rick