The Proof

I just realized I don't have an "after" picture of what my hair looks like now, and since I broke our digital camera while I was at girl's camp, (oops) I guess that will have to wait. But, Nate took these with his Blackberry before and during the haircut, and they document the event pretty well.

Now that I see the picture, I could have almost had shoulder-length hair even after the 12 inches were gone. I suppose I really seized the day going chin-length, and layering the back of my hair to near extinction.

Lovin' Those Locks

I have never been the kind of person who freaks out at every haircut. My hair is not my security blanket like it is for some people. It grows back. Always. It's one of those few things you can actually count on.

So, the first time I heard about Locks of Love while I was in high school, I made a goal to one day donate my hair. Heck, little kids who are losing their hair to cancer need my hair more than I do, right? Well, I have been thinking a lot about that goal lately for two reasons. One, there is a lovely woman in my ward who is battling cancer, and two, it seemed like the perfect time because my hair was probably the longest it had ever been. So.........I did it. Over twelve inches, gone in five seconds.

It is wonderful.

Top ten reasons I love my short hair:

1. I don't recognize myself in the mirror. Not in a bad way, in a I-have-to-glance-back-in-abrupt-confusion-to-make-sure-it's-really-me way.

2. I am forced to get over my neck insecurities. Whenever I wore my hair up I always worried people were staring at my neck.......odd, I realize that. I no longer have my hair to cover my neck, ears, sides of my face, forehead, you get the idea. I will learn to be comfortable with my own neck!

3. When I brush my teeth, my hair doesn't fall from behind my shoulders into the sink, indubitably at the exact same time I spit, ending up in wet, toothpaste-foamy hair. No more!

4. Five words. One Hundred And Twenty Degrees. This is Phoenix, people.

5. It still goes behind my ears, and in two little pig tails, barely. SO easy to deal with. I never realized what a burden my hair was becoming.

6. Our year's supply of shampoo and conditioner is now a three year's supply of shampoo and conditioner. Sweet.

7. It is so light and airy, I feel like I'll never get a headache again. (This, unfortunately, has already been proved false, but it still FEELS like I won't).

8. I feel liberated. When she cut that 12 inch ponytail off, she may as well have been removing a backpack full of rocks from off my shoulders and paying all my bills while letting me take a four hour nap. It was so exciting.

9. Nate loves it. And honestly, his opinion matters most.

10. When I do feel a twinge of regret, and I'll admit, I've had one or two, it's been a great experience to think about my hair being a blessing to a child. In the end, my "sacrifice" really wasn't one at all. I feel a little silly that I ever thought of it that way.

To those of you considering losing the tresses, I say go for it.

Wedding Superstar!

The photographer who took the pictures at my wedding has a website with multiple "example" photos from weddings he has done. And, for the past three years, he has had FOUR pictures from my wedding as his examples! It makes us feel so famous! So, while they aren't all necessarily my favorite pictures from that blessed day, because they are the ones he has up I wanted to share them. The first three are from my bridals at Thanksgiving Point. You can tell by the third picture that I got a little goofy that day. The one of the boys is right before the reception, I think. I love that photo, I wish you could see their faces more close-up.

That was such a good day. I can't believe it's three years next month! What I want for my anniversary is to relive that day exactly as it was on July 19, 2005. That's not too much to ask, is it Mom?

Anything that flies.

I haven't always been afraid of birds. I trace it back to my mission, where the families we taught that had birds didn't keep them in cages, and they zoomed around our heads as we attempted to teach with the Spirit. I also remember an Elder on my mission who was afraid of lady bugs and butterflies, and when I asked him if he was serious his companion piped in, naming all the things this Elder feared, laughing to tears, "He's afraid of everything that flies." Well now I am, too.

We went to the Wildlife Zoo with Nate's family (HUGE animal people, and me, NOT an animal person) and I was actually enjoying myself. Shocking, I know. So then they decide to go into the birdcage and feed the birds some apples. I stayed outside, happily watching with a bird-proof cage in between myself and any danger. Then, when they gave the two-minute warning before time was up, I had a strange impulse to go in. Why? No clue. Fear of future regret, perhaps. This was my chance. So I went in, Nate shoved an apple into my hand, and a bird landed on it and started to nibble.






I think I blacked out for a minute, but I'm pretty sure the only reason we have a picture of this is because I kept screaming to my mother-in-law, "I want proof!" And here it is.

Has anyone seen my glass slipper?

Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dream will come true.

I can't think of many things I have in common with Cinderella, she is so sweet and I am so not, but I like the quote this result comes with. (Anyone who knows me, feel free to laugh at the "soft-spoken" part). However, patience is something I have really been working on, especially when things go wrong, so it was nice to be reminded that dreams come true! :)

I found this quiz on a friend's blog, if you want to take it.......

http://www.greatestjournal.com/quiz.bml?Q=16354