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Monday – The Resolution
Previously on Frantically Simple:
Jolene wanted to know:
Maybe you already answered this, but how did you meet your husband? I love those stories.
Favorite hobbies?
Top ten movies?
If you could have ANY job in the world and still have your family, what would it be?
Is that enough for ya?Ohh, I also would like to know more about your work for LDS Family Services. I’m sure that’s a book in itself. Just something to ponder. you know, for all those hours a day when you have nothing to do…
All weekend I’ve been worrying about you! Wondering if my cliffhanger from Friday was keeping you up at night.
Because I know that the suspense surrounding my favorite movie could be a real nail biter.
Before I answer, I have to say thanks to Jolene. She has been my most faithful reader and commenter. She’s been with me since the first weeks of this blog and I appreciate it.
On to my answers:
Favorite hobbies
I consider the f-word (favorite) to be a dirty word. I have such a hard time when someone asks me my favorite anything because what I really love is variety. However in the past I have enjoyed sewing, knitting, painting, yoga, camping, cooking but not baking, running, reading and writing. The last two are pretty constant. The others come and go.
Top Ten Movies
First of all, I am somewhat limited by the fact that I don’t watch any rated R movies – I just don’t like the yucky feeling I get from them.
And here again, I like variety. In order to be in my top ten, the movie would have to stand up to multiple watchings. Sadly, I don’t think I have ten in that category.
But three do come to mind – Bubbleboy, the new Hairspray and Practical Magic.
You didn’t ask but it’s my blog so I’m going to tell you anyway: my all time favorite book (right now) is J. M. Barrie’s The Little White Bird.
What job would I like?
I have earned about $5 from my ads here so does this qualify as a job?
Honestly, I’d love to get paid for my writing. I have a couple of queries out there for magazine articles, another one for a childrens book and I am working on a novel. But who isn’t?
My volunteer work
I have done some volunteer work with girls in crisis pregnancies that are contemplating adoption.
And after writing and deleting a dozen paragraphs about it I have decide that I could indeed write a book about it. Hmm… Maybe I should.
Or at least a separate blog post. So more on that later.
And now for the good stuff:
It may not be Days, nor is it Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, but there is a story there.
A Whirlwind Romance
I was nineteen. The past few years had been spent in the painful chrysalis of trying to figure out who I was. I made mistakes. And I suffered.
It had taken some time and a badly broken heart, but I learned that I was a daughter of God and He loves me. That knowledge was everything. I started behaving more like it.
One warm May evening in 1995 I decided to go to a church dance. I don’t know why I wanted to go. Because even though I had decided to make Christ a part of my life, I still had some misgivings about the other people my age at church. The girls seemed cliquish and the guys were weird. Really weird. And nerdy. And weird.
I did not like them.
So no one was more surprised than I was when I started getting ready to go to this dance. I carefully picked out my outfit. One that said, “I’m cute, friendly, and not interested in any of you weirdos.”
In case you are wondering an outfit like that looks like, I lay it out for you:
Black Doc Martins, faded Gap jeans, and a sheer short-sleeved sweater with a modest black tank underneath.
Oh yeah, and a scowl.
So the Princess left for the Ball.
And it was bad.
Bad dancing. (Think Elaine from Seinfeld)
Bad music. (YMCA again?)
Bad food. (Store bought cookies still in their plastic cases)
Bad. Bad. Bad.
Here is where some well-meaning older adult would tell me that “Fun is an attitude, not an event” and I would punch them in the face.
Or at least sigh and roll my eyes.
Did I mention that even though I had learned who I was, I was still dealing with some issues?
I felt like the girl that gets invited to a party because the birthday-girl’s mother made her. Everyone acts like they want the girl there, but she knows the truth.
Honestly, the people at my church were probably quite nice, but I was really insecure. I was trying to reject them before they had a chance to reject me.
And it was working out quite well. Thankyouverymuch.
I was standing by the table of chocolate chip cookies and red punch when someone introduced me to Mr. Frantic. He was newly returned from serving a two-year mission.
A mission where he did not date or even flirt with girls. Where he did not watch tv. Or listen to the radio. Or read anything other than scripture and scripture commentary.
He devoted every waking minute to God’s work for two years.
The poor guy had been home for less than a week and he was feeling really awkward at his “reentry” into real life.
I could have been gracious. I could have helped him to feel welcome and comfortable. But before I could say a word, the thought went through my mind, “I wonder if this is the guy I’ll end up marrying?”
I have to tell you, I was not in the habit of thinking about marriage.
I was nineteen for heaven sake!
I had plans. Plans that included moving away from my parent’s home. Travel. Finishing up at the local community college and moving on the university. Preferably one far away.
And not BYU.
My plans did not include getting married anytime soon. Nope. Not me.
And so that little matrimonial thought poisoned me against my new acquaintance. I barely spoke to him. We each came away from that first encounter with a less than favorable impression of the other.
I thought he was annoying. He thought I was obnoxious.
Can’t you see how the seeds of love were planted?
Me either.
To be continued…
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4 Responses to “Monday – The Resolution”
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I love the story…you must have looked so HOT at the dance! I will have to admit to sporting similar attire although my Docs were fake. *gasp* I know! How did I ever face the world?
I just found you today (I can’t even remember how) and I LOVE LOVE LOVE you blog! It’s so fun to find a funny, honest, LDS blogger. Kudos!
Betsys last blog post..Happy Birthday to Me!
Love the story. Great stuff, and your answers to the other questions too. I’m thinking of some more questions for you…hmm…
World’s Greatest Mommys last blog post..And the Winnner Is…
Once again you have out done me with your story of meeting up with Mr. wonderful. I met my Mr. Wonderful not at a church dance (that would have made mom happy), but met him at Spawns Landing skipping school. Our parents loved your beau from the beginning,they thought mine was the spawn of satan. You married at 19, I married at 17, mom kept saying “you will be back in a year.” Well 25 yrs later we are still going strong and they love my Mr. Wonderful too.Is it awful that I still have Doc Martens in my closet and occasionally wear them?Love you sis, you have always made me a better person.