You know it is bad...

You know it is bad when people randomly come up and tell you, "It wasn't that bad."

Those of you who were in my ward today already know what I am talking about.

For the rest of you... this is what happened...

I was asked to fill in for the organist in sacrament meeting. The opening hymn was not only an uncommon one, it was an incredibly difficult one to play on the organ due to the bass cleff notes that were all over the place. To put a long story short, I COMPLETELY BOTCHED the hymn. Once I missed a few notes I just got all flustered, and I just couldn't get anything right. I hate to admit this, but it was so bad that I literally wanted to cry. I knew the congregation had to have noticed, but it was just more and more confirmed to me as the day went on. The bishop even said over the pulpit, "We want to thank Sister Scott for filling in on the organ. We all know it is hard to fill in when we keep switching the hymns at the last minute." (Obviously, he wouldn't have said that if I had actually played the hymn well, or at least semi-well.) After sacrament meeting I had several people come up and say things like, "It wasn't that bad" and other such well intentioned words. One woman, who is rather quiet and has never even spoken to me before actually took me by the arm and said, "You are so brave. I just felt so bad for you up there."

So, yeah, it was bad. But thank-you to all those of you who tried to make me feel like it wasn't that bad.

I Finally Updated My Blog!

MINI-WEEKEND IN ST. LOUIS

When Sam and I first moved to Missouri we set a goal to attend the temple once per month. Seeing as our closest temple is nearly 3 hours away (the Winter Quarters temple in Omaha), this has been quite the commitment - mostly because it requires us to give up one Saturday a month.

I am proud to report that we have not yet missed a month!

In March Sam and I had only one Saturday available to go to the temple, and one week before we were to go, we learned that the Winter Quarters temple was closed for cleaning. My first thought was, "Well, its the thought that counts, right? If the temple were open we would go, but it isn't, so I guess we'll stay home and play!" But my conscience wouldn't let me think that way. After a few battles back and forth between the little devil on my left shoulder and the little angel on my right shoulder, the little angel won. So Sam and I packed our bags for a little overnight trip to St. Louis.

Of course the main purpose of the trip was to go to the temple, but since neither of us had been to St. Louis, we spent the afternoon in downtown St. Louis. And who can go to St. Louis without a trip to the famous gateway arch?

We rode to the top of the arch in one of these tiny egg cells with a couple of strangers. Thankfully the ride to the top was only 4 minutes, and thankfully neither one of us has claustrophobia. Sam was wearing his CTR ring and one of the "strangers" in our cell recognized it. They were a couple of Mormons visiting from Washington. Those Mormons are everywhere!

Here is the view of the "Mighty Mississippi."

I'm so used to gorgeous white capped mountain rivers in Idaho that I found the Mississippi to be disappointingly ugly.

I think they should call it the "Murky Mississippi."

SOME UPDATES TO OUR HOUSE

We got a piano and I LOVE it. I feel like such a grown-up having a piano of my own.

The only thing I don't like about having the piano is that everytime I sit down to play I am reminded of how much better I used to be. I never thought I would lose my ability to play, but I have learned the hard way the lesson taught in "The Parable of the Talents." If you bury your talent, the Lord will take it away.

I've been doing a bit of painting around the house.

When we moved into our house the downstairs bathroom was a boring sage green, and the upstairs spare bathroom was an ugly lavender. I hated both of the colors, but I hated the process of painting too...

...But you know how sometimes you just get it in your mind that you want to do something? Well, one day I just got it in my mind that I was going to paint these bathrooms. They were random, spur of the moment projects, but I am very happy with the outcomes!

DOWNSTAIRS BATHROOM BEFORE:

DOWNSTAIRS BATHROOM AFTER:

UPSTAIRS BATHROOM BEFORE:

UPSTAIRS BATHROOM AFTER:

SOME OF MY RECENT KNITTING PROJECTS

Like always, I've kept myself busy with my crafts. As of right now, I think that knitting is my craft of choice. (Jewelry making still comes in as a close second, but currently knitting is my favorite.)

Most of what I make I give away as presents. (I apologize to those of you out there who are sick of getting homemade gifts from me.) Here are a couple of pictures of some knitted projects that I have given away as baby gifts.

100 Things To Do In This Life...

I've done 53 out of the 100 things. How many have you done?

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (Centennial High School Marching Band, District III Champions!)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (only on the Wii)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (no - but I had a stranger buy my meal at a restaurant... it's a long story...)
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in movie
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (does a fish count?)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Talked your way out of a ticket

ATTENTION ALL BOISEANS!

New Year's Eve Party!

12/31/08 @ 8:00 p.m.

My Parents' Place

(They have moved since I lived at home, so if you don't know where they live let me know and I'll get you directions - I just don't want to post them on here)

Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share.

Spouses or significant others are welcome.

Dallas, Chicago, and a Little Surprise Getaway For Sam

THANKSGIVING in DALLAS

Sam and I spent Thanksgiving this year in Dallas with his sister Chloe, her husband Tyler, and their new little baby Kellen.

Is he adorable, or what? This little cutie was even born on my birthday, so I am extra partial to him.
Chloe humored me and dressed him in this little hat I knit for him.

This was the first Thanksgiving dinner Chloe and I ever made, so we were proud of ourselves that EVERYTHING turned out. There was sure a lot of food for the 4 of us.

One afternoon we took a picnic / walk around a local lake. (I don't remember the name, but it was pretty.)

We also visited the place where JFK was shot.

BEARS FOOTBALL GAME in CHICAGO

Sam got his Christmas present early this year - he got to go to a Chicago Bears football game LIVE in CHICAGO. This has always been a dream of his, and it was fun to watch him as his dream came true. I don't think I've ever seen him more excited. Just look at him. That big happy smile tells all.

While we were in Chicago we took a day to do some sightseeing too.

We checked out the Navy Pier.

And of course we had to take a walk down Michigan Avenue - Chicago's Magnificent Mile.

(This picture of the Omni Hotel is for my mom, because "Guests of the Oprah Winfrey show stay at the Omni Hotel, in the heart of Chicago's Magnificent Mile!" -I love you, Mom!)

Sam's favorite part of the Magnificent Mile was the Dunkin Donuts.

He LOVES Dunkin Donuts, and they don't have one in KC, so getting a donut was must!

And a trip to Chicago wouldn't be complete without seeing the famous Chicago Bean, or whatever this thing is!

(Our reflection in the bean.)

We also visited the Museum of Science and Industry.

The museum had a special "Christmas Around the World" exhibit. This tree is the tree to signify England.

It's hard to read the plaque, so this is what it says.

"In England Father Christmas fills stockings or pillowcases with gifts for children. Youngsters pop open Chirstmas crackers filled with chocolate golf coins or a trinket to signify good fortune. English tables overflow with dishes including mince pie, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding. The first Christmas card is said to have been sent from England in 1843."

Now I know why Sam's family has some of the Christmas traditions they do. I can't want for the Christmas crackers and mince pies!

This is the only picture I got with my friend Stephanie.

Thanks again Stephanie (and Ben) for letting us come and stay with you and for showing us a good time. We had a BLAST!!!

A SURPRISE GETAWAY for SAM

I LOVE surprises. I love getting surprises, and I love planning surprises.

Sam was getting a bit overwhelmed with everything on his plate, so a couple of weeks ago I planned a surprise night away for us.

I picked him up that night from work and blindfolded him. He was a good sport to stay blindfolded on our way to the.....

GREAT WOLF LODGE!

The indoor waterpark at the lodge was AWESOME. Whoever said this place was meantfor kids was way wrong.

What We've Been Up To....

I know, I know, I know. I'm a really bad blogger. But can you blame me? After I spend all day behind a computer at work, the ABSOLUTE LAST thing I want to do is come home and get back on the computer. I still look at all of your blogs during my lunch breaks, but my computer network at work won't let me make comments on your blogs. (Commenting gets blocked as some sort of "on-line chat.") So anyways. I just wanted all of you out there in blogger-land to know that we are alive and well and we are still keeping tabs on what is going on with you and your lives.

So this is what we've been up to in the 3 months and 1 week since I last posted....

For my 27th birthday Sam surprised me with a fancy evening out. We went to dinner at Piropos, a fancy Argentine restaurant, and then to see the Broadway production of The Lion King. Sam and I have been to several Broadway musicals, including Wicked, but I'd have to say Lion King was my favorite, hands down!

Here we are, all dressed up for our evening out.

For Halloween this year I dressed up in my default costume - Pippi Longstocking. I had more people tell me they loved my hair that night that I've ever had in my entire life. Since I got so many compliments, I'm thinking I'll start wearing pokey braids more often. :-)



Sam has gotten really involved in his Tae Kwon Do class.

He is up to his purple belt now, but these pictures were taken a few months ago when he got his orange belt (or his "o-rain-gey" belt as his instructor pronounces it).

As for me, I've been keeping my free time busy with crafting, as usual. A few months ago a friend taught me how to knit, so I've been getting really into that. Here are a couple of pics of some of my completed projects:

I even knitted myself this sweater!

I do love knitting now, but I still haven't given up on jewelry making. Here are some pics of my latest designs:

Liverpool: The Birthplace of the Beatles

I'm not exactly the hugest Beatles fan, but for those of you who are, these pictures are for you.