every morning at approximately 3:10am i receive an email from the foundation for a better life.
they send me an inspiring quote/message.
*it's a happy little ritual slash makes me feel kinda special.
***
today's quote=
“when you get in a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”
—Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896); writer
***
my year has been a testament to that fact.
{2008 was challenging for me.}
but now, here, on the very last day of the 365 big ones... i am watching many prayed-for blessings unfold.
as i approach a new, fresh, and exciting set of joys & days i find myself feeling kinda like that dude in the book of mormon, [i think it was ammon] when he said:
"therefore, let us glory, yea we will glory in the lord; yea, we will praise our god forever. behold, who can glory too much in the lord? yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? behold, i say unto you, i cannot say the smallest part which i feel."
***
here's to new beginnings, tides turning, & a gracious god in heaven who blesses us with that beautiful opportunity.
it was a {very} very merry {merry} christmas INDEED for our little family of 3 1/2.
truth be told, we were a lil {too busy} having a fabulous time to take pictures.
but here are a [few] photos of our festivities. [and the rest of the memories are written on our hearts.]
traditional christmas eve dixon-dalton dinner. {AKA clodhopper's adorable table + fun fam + heaven on a plate.}
sibs holly [minus braces] & eric being attractive. [love them with all my heart.]
christmasevie. [love her too.]
me & my girl[s] chillin' in line to meet santa & mrs. claus. {they visited a nearby mesa-culdesac.} chloe was so beyond [in love.] and our camera battery died. [tears.] santa asked chloe what she wanted for christmas. {she said a candy cane.} [her wish was granted on the spot.] and it was " just sooooo magical, mommy."
eating/laying out cookies for santa. chewy chips ahoy. [rumor has it santa likes that kind.] {so does chloe.}
[chloe also really likes wall-e jammies.] mommy let her pick this year because she couldn't find anything she liked in a size 2T. {whatever.}
cookies for santa. carrots for the reindeer. {thanks for the TDF-plates kel!}
santa & his reindeer musta have loved their treats 'cause {they were VERY good to our girl.} *she was on the nice list, i reckon.
coming down the stairs [80% asleep] with daddy. we had to wake her up at 7:20-ish. {she's her mother's daughter.} her bedhead was basically awesome.com.
slowly waking up & being very excited/animated/over-joyed. [i could watch her do this all-day-everyday for the rest of my entire life & be completelysatisfied.]
obsessed with her new farm. she performed e-i-e-i-o [into the microphone from katie] over & over & over.
pro gift opener. she was SPOILED. {thank you family...}
*chloe being tucked in. {"i go to sleep, santa comes, i wake up."}
*debra's mouth watering biscuits & gravy.
*chloe stripping down to wear her new clothes that she opened from grandma deb.
*playing with the remote control car. [chloe named him "monster."]
*"happy hour" at the dixon home. {we miss you uncle ry-ree}
*exchanging gifts & loving every minute of it.
*mexican fiesta at grandpa dunn's. {i'm still dreaming about the meal you made, audrey.}
*mandatory 3 hour naps for chloe, "bebe o-i-dia", and ang.
*laughing, talking & thinking, "this has been the most blessed day, ever."
***
thank you to all our peeps who made it [the most fun] 24 hours i've had in a really really long time.
***
and most importantly, happy birthday to our savior whos spirit has filled my angie-soul this holiday season.
[the end.]
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay, Close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care And take us to heaven, to Live with Thee there.
that’s right folks: recent developments in dunn-limbo-land-2008 indicate we will NOT be making a move to thatcher-country, afterall.
freeport mcmoran [bless it’s heart] is cutting their workforce {once again}…and it looks as though a lay off for my-dawg [and the rest of his crew] is inevitable.
thus, we have prayerfully decided to resign from the company with a grateful heart & optimistic expectations for our future.
as i have mentioned on my blog before: the past few months have been a rollercoaster ride of plans, emotions, and unexpected circumstances. but right now, my & i truly feel like all the little lessons we’ve learned during our six months in morenci have been for our growth & experience. though our time there was shorter than anticipated, we know we were sent there for a reason.
we went there seeking an apprenticeship to jump-start a new exciting career & came home with experiences of life that will be far more valuable to our lil fam.
now don’t get me wrong…being jobless in this *awesome* economy is always disappointing. we’ve had our discouraging moments & continue to.
but it’s through these uncertain times that we learned for ourselves more than ever before what is certain in our lives.
god is good. he knows what’s best for us. and he has something chillin’ around the corner that’s going to be that much better [and with less barf-cafeteria food] hopefully.
there are times when i have questioned my faith. why did we feel so strongly to leave our previous business when we did? why did i have a “this is the place” moment in that charming little 70’s thatcher-trailor? why did gila valley feel like home when we visited that memorable sunday afternoon?
but as the days go by, i am learning the answers to those questions.
and even though i still don’t have all the answers, what i do have is gratitude.
i’m thankful to a heavenly father who knows me better than i know myself….who has sent me to earth with this package o’ circumstances that are the perf mix of what i can handle [though i don’t always think i can] and what will stretch me to be a better person & reach my potential.
back in my second trimester, [oh wait, i think i'm still in my 2nd trimester...] myron & i decided to bringchlo' to the 19 week discover-the-gender ultra sound, so she could meet her new sibling for the first time.
i'm not gonna lie...bringing bowie to doctor appointments is prettymuch [the opposite] of my favorite thing to do...
BUT...
the technician was so sweet & patient with chloebein' all up in her grill while she measured & checked out our babe....
AND...
she even printed chloe her very own {special} pictures of bite-sized olivia.
[it was precious moments.]
ever since then, chloe has fingerprinted up & held onto her little sissies photos.
*she has been known to sleep with livy. *take livy for rides in the stroller. *and even sing 'the wheels on the bus' to her.
and tonight....
i come downstairs to the [above] kodak moment.
"i coloring with bebe o-i-dia, mommy."
[aw, i just love my sweet sisters.]
*** ps: the title of this post will {probably} only be funny/make sense if your name is heidi bartle, clodhopper dixon, or bff kaytie brown. [omg: remember sweet sisters, kayt?] *oh, and remember how i can't spell worth cr*p? {lol.}
pps:
happy last SATURDAY before christmas everyone! [insert angie-mini-heart-attack here.]
i had a night full of work planned for this evening.
but chlo' & i opted to scratch that agenda &
*hit up our pjs @ 6pm
*decorate the tree whilst viewing mickey's christmas {for the 2,456,876 time}
*early bedtime for all dunn-girls [olivia included]
unfortunately my anti-awesome-brain won't stop making angie-to-do-lists...hence me insomniacly blogging at midnight-thirty [instead] of catchin' up on my slumber.
though sleepless i may be: i am happy. 'cause i love my tree. and my first born.
tonight i learned that:
pretty much {nothing} beats decking the halls with chlo-bow.
and i quote:
"ohmigosh! it's so magical!"
"oh mom, it's soooooperpect."
"ho, ho, ho...merry tristmos."
"wook at the pretty, pretty wights, mommy!"
"oh, i just wub it."
"thank you mommy, it's so delicious."
tomorrow we shall set up the rest of our few decorations.
and i can't wait for more chloe-hilariousness galore.
***
in other christmas-related news,
i've been tagged by my bff cousin rachie.
1. wrapping paper or gift bags?
whatever floats your boat, dude.
but i wrap. 'cause i think it's fun.
2. real tree or artificial?
paranoid angie prefers a fakester.
[house fires=irrational fear.]
3. when do you put up the tree?
december 17th, apparently.
4. when do you take the tree down?
usually like...the day after, while obnoxiously belting "and i cried the day i took the tree down." [forgotten carols 4 life.]
5. do you like eggnog?
barf.com
6. favorite gift received?
as a child? the heart [barbie] family w/ claud-handmade wardrobes.
as a grown up? my normanrockwell print. {as seen behind tree in picture.}
7. hardest person to buy for?
my peeps that kinda have everything and/or expensive taste.
8. easiest person to buy for?
my cute mom...
{the hardest thing with her is narrowing down what i want to get her the most.}
9. do you have a nativity scene?
yep. a little minature set...i love it.
10. mail or email christmas cards?
whatever you're feelin'...love 'em both.
11. worst christmas gift you ever received?
no recollection of ever being disappointed.
[i'm easy to please.]
12. favorite christmas movie?
while you were sleeping. [hands down.]
13. when do you start shopping for christmas?
december 18th perhaps?
14. have you ever recycled a christmas present?
not so much.
15. favorite thing to eat at christmas?
the world.
hence my doctor's eye brow raise whilst glancing @ my weight this month.
16. lights on the tree?
pre-lit marthastewart w/ clear style.
17. favorite christmas song?
i really like o come all ye faithful.
but only if it's sung by carol brady/florencehendersen. [jk.]
18. travel at christmas or stay home?
there's no place like home for the holidays. *with the exception of benson, az.
19. can you name all of santa's reindeer? ya. [mickey's christmas will do that to ya.]
20. angel on the tree top or a star?
something of that nature is penciled in on my target's day after christmas shopping list.
[us dunns currently have a topless christmas tree.]
21. open the presents christmas eve or morning?
christmas eve: the traditional jammies.
christmas day: santa's gifts+everything else.
22. most annoying thing about this time of year?
the overly-complicated, commercialized part.
23. favorite ornament theme or color?
randomly random is forever my skeam of choice.
24. favorite time for christmas dinner?
whenever's clever.
if you're making me food: i'm there dawg.
25. what do you want for christmas this year?
hmmm...
a crystal ball into which you can see the future, my hard drive/computer to be magically fixed, & peace on earth good will toward man. [por favor.] merry {merriest} christmas, friends!!
once upon a time there was a super cute couple named the haddoxes. -they have awesomeblogs. -amazing taste-n-style. [fer reals.] -numerous gifts & talents. -a {perfect} christmas tree. -a model-baby named paisley. -[and a dog called chloe.]
one chilly winter night, this sweet little family showed up at the dunns' doorstep. they were looking adorable & [bearing festive gifts.]
first, was a container of mouth-watering {to die for} melt-in-your-mouth katie-homemade caramels. [AKA heaven in wrapper.] *she even made tiny-custom-chloe pieces.* they are beyond delightful. {and addicting....in a *very* good way!}
the second gift = a super nice real-life psp+games+case!!!!
angie and myron were completely overwhelmed & touched by such thoughtfulness & generosity.
truly: there aren't really words to describe how much this amazing gesture made the dunn's day/week/month/life.
angie & her emotionally pregnant self has {already} cried a river of gratitude.
and myron has a perma-grin as he holds/pets his new toy.
just as the dunns were feeling [a little down] by a disappointing theft their upmost faith has been restored in the sheer goodness of humanity.
***
thank you katie, steven & paisley, for having huge hearts this holiday season!
you have [no idea] how much we appreciate your rockstar-ness.
merriest christmas from our little fam to yours!
*now, peace out* [while i go {devour} another caramel.]
dear child of god that broke into our vehicle yesterday,
i hope you're enjoying the 500+ dollars worth of electronic equipment you stole from us.
[don't worry, we didn't really need it.]
we wish you all the happiness with that shiny new-ish psp that we saved up to buy so that myron could check our family blog/his email on the weeks he is away at work.
truth be told: if you would have just knocked on the door, [i probably would have given it to you.]
check back tonight though: we'll leave the zune's chargers & hard case [pictured above] so that you'll get more for your pawn.
have a merry christmas & we will too...{despite} your very unfortunate behavior.
with love, angie
***
ps:
really though: we're {almost} over it. [afterall: it is just stuff.]
morenci loaned me back my newly-non-bearded husband for another week.
[all is good & well in the world.]
*** i've assigned us each tasks for the weekend.
myron lee: *entertain our offspring. *relax & dvr catch-up. *prepare your wife food whenever she wants/needs it. *find the perfect renter. [por favor] angelamichelle: *work [like mad] on custom projects for a client. *shower daily. *breathe. *grow a baby.
chloemae: *be cute. *potty train yourself. *take naps. *be a gem & ditch the binky.
oliviakate: *kick your mother hourly. *keep a strong & steady heartbeat. *take it easy. *grow.
the out-of-town family christmas cheer is set to go out tomorrow.
as pictured above, it is chilling on the kitchen counter patiently waiting to be taken to our postman [who kinda reminds me of ringo.] {shining time station era.}
oh man: i love this season.
but let me tell you: my christmas spirits just rose 500 levels after reading this article that my sweet friend jeanne recommended.
trust me: it's worth the eleven-ish minutes. [or less if you're not a slow reader like me.]
***
have a happy night! {and sleep in heavenly peace.}
this morning while lying in bed, olivia & i had a little [heart to heart.]
i told her *in my mind* that i loved her like crazy.
[and she kicked me in the gut.]
i told her how i know she was sent to me at the exact right time the world needed her.
[and her cuteness kicked me again.]
i told her that I can just {feel} how special & amazing she is.
…and to not be alarmed because i’ll {most likely} wear a moo-moo for the first two months of her life.
{ask chloe.}
i told ‘er that she has many-a TDF hand-me-downs to look forward to & that she has LOTS of kisses from her big sis waiting for her tiny/adorable cheeks.
we continued to silently-chat about our three+ remaining months of being co-dependant & how even though pregnancy totally=an angie-physiological-disaster, i am {indeed} intensely humbled & blessed by [every moment] i have & {have had} to be her madre.
and then she decked me in the side again: which {i believe} was her way of saying: “word up, mom.”
confession: i am having a love affair with my new laundry detergent.
for the past few years i have been a die-hard *gain: original {powder}* fan.
but i've been cheating on it's fragrant fabulousness & trying new things because me thinks it was makin' my clothes fade faster than they should.
while my house & clothing smelt gloriously gainish, my fuzzed-up faded ghetto-ness was getting a little old.
i've been through a few different flavors [tide, surf, among others] & i think i've found my fave.
all. straight up. liquid. concentrated version. {on sale.}
but this. this. {this makes my blood boil.} seriously. so. annoying.
do the makers of liquid detergent really think i'm going to get a paper towel out & gently wipe the little plastic cup clean every time i throw a load in?
they should know i'm [way] too lazy for that.
and they should also know that i am [way] too OCD to have a blue gooey spill utop my washer 24/7.
this week we’ve taken several dunn-family-car-rides around mesa/gilbert hoods to spot christmas lights.
report: chloe is in love.
she yells “tanta’s house, tanta’s house!” at every stinkin’ casa on the street. even if the house has one simple string of lights festively adorning the roof…she freaks out…”look mommy, soooooo pretty!”….and then we better drive fast to the next one…or else it’s “hurry, go, daddy, go…see ‘nothertanta’s house?.”
we sing [once there was a snowman] on the top of our lungs & blast 99.9.
[it’s tender moments.]
and I tell you what: it does my heart good.
***
this christmas season is a little random for us. we are half-packed ready to move, but still not sure where the lord wants us to set up our christmas tree. we’ve had several bites, but no lease agreement for our house signed as of yet. the economy hurts our feelings daily as copper prices plummet & fellow-miners get laid off. the uncertainty is just palpable. we are strong in the faith that 2009 brings fabulous things, but with all this grown-up-stuff it’s semi-easy to feel a little ba-humbug-ish.
and then we take a ride with chloe
& we believe in santa again.
the magic is indeed in the air.
the chilly weather makes me oh-so happy.
and we have beyond-millions to be grateful for.
this december i’m hitting up dear elder joseph b. wirthlin’s advice. it’s gonna be a busy month filled with trips away for myron, contract-work-a-plenty/growing a child for angie, maybe moving, maybe not….but come what may & we’ll love it, i say.
and while doing so:
i’ll keep you updated on our life,
our plans {or lack thereof},
and...our sugar cookie baking.
it’s gonna be a spontaneous & {oh-so cozy} christmas.
me & the redhead have [unfortunate] colds this week.
like the sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, fever, can't take nyquil 'cause you're pregnant stuff.
[i'm not a fan.]
i'd definitely hafta agree with my adorably cute {and also ailing} mother on this one.
***
so, here's my plan for tonight.
1. a obnoxiously long relaxing shower 2. sweats & a cozy debra-made flannel blanket 3. a few hours of dvr goodness 4. sunny D a-plenty 5. vitamins for good measure 6. windows open while i slumber 7. 2-year-old in crib until [at least] 8am
{and that's my final answer.}
ps: vicky didn't get voted off, people. boycott anyone?
i love this guy more than life. & i shall festively list 29 reasons why.
***
1. for starters: he's hot.
2. he is highly animated & extremely passionate about life. these are two genes he {definitely} passed down to our chlo-ster. [and i love him for it.]
3. he's a guy's guy. a man's man. a boy through & through.
4. he really likes to be on time & productive & rise from his bed early-ish, but he's also okay with sleeping in, and being lazy with me from time to time.
5. he makes really tasty, good food, [on command.]
6. his uncanny ability to make an awkward situation {a lot} less awkward via his hilarious humor. {this is good: because i am the queen of awkward situations/comments.}
7. his sincere desire to serve his peeps on his weeks off. anyone need a ceiling fan hung? or a bed moved? or blinds installed?
8. he is truly one of the tenderest most hands-on daddys ever. [he is currently busting out "popcorn popping" with chloe....hilarious animated actions included.]
9. myron is not afraid to stand up for his beliefs. he is firm. and bold. and strong. and very opinionated. [and proud of it.]
10. he is always up for a QT run.
11. he'll live in an 8x8 prison cell, eat less-than-desirable cafeteria food, put up with MUCH-less-than-desirable surroundings, drive a haul-truck that smells like nicotine & BO around the mine for 13+ hours a day, miss his family dearly, and rarely complain about it...all to support, protect, provide, and honorably serve his girls.
12. he is a loyal friend. he'd be there for his bros {especially bryan a., brian n., seth, todd & julio} rain or stinkin' shine. fer reals.
13. he's an adorably obsessive researcher/shopper/gift-giver. whether it's finding the most inexpensive electronic item, or a perfect greenhouse for clodhopper that he wishes he could afford to buy for her.
14. he balances me out, calms me down, and makes me smile.
15. he shares my extreme love of 90's alternative music. [foo, chili peppers, fountains of wayne, seven mary three, cake, weezer, etc.] *oh, except U2, he LOATHES U2.
16. he is rough & manly & so dang attractive.
17. he is serious about his sports: suns, asu, ufc. he also means business when it comes to ps3. *ask him about his rockband, no smoking.
18. he believes in living the gospel truthfully & honestly. [what you see is what you get.] no going through the motions for myron: he does it 'cause he wants to.
19. he's thoughtful. [and i have a-half-a-dozen sweetest voice mails saved on our answering machine to prove it.]
20. he is tight with my little brother eric. {a pre-requisite to us getting married.}
21. he loves his family h-core. his mom. his dad. his sisters audrey & bridget. the dogs. [which are also humans.] his grandparents. his cousins. his name. his heritage.
22. he has the most amazing green eyes, freckles by his eyes, and smile lines by his eyes. by far: my favorite myron-trait.
23. he knows that if you put a can of pepsi in the freezer for 70 minutes, it'll be iced perfection. {and he's willing to wait that long for perfection.}
24. he loves ireland. he thinks he's irish and maybe a leprechaun. {we are contemplating scheduling my c-section for march 17th.}
25. myron is the most non-high-school guy ever. he loves people for who they are. social-status, religion, appearance is never a factor.
26. myron went from amazing-chef-debra for a mom to crappy-cook-angie as a wife. and he n'er complains, always encourages, and loves me just the same.
27. he is a good mix of confidence & down-to-earth-ness. he's humble, but tries not to sell himself short.
28. he isn't perfect. [no one is.] but he is, in fact, perfect for me.
29. myron is my human security blanket. {and i kinda find myself needing said blanket often.}
*i am thankful for a fabulous week. *for out of town peeps who came to visit. *for delicious food a-plenty + pie. *for the {four} delightful thanksgiving feasts we attended. *and the kind hands who prepared them. *i love you, family o' mine.
*i am especially thankful for the above two humans. *they are my [greatest] blessings.
