Locked out

Today started out like a normal day. Kevin left for work and I set out for a run. I grabbed Kevin’s keys instead of mine, and when I got back from running I had 10 minutes to get ready and get out the door. The house key on Kevin’s key ring wouldn’t fit. I started to freak out a little bit. Here I was in running shorts and a soaking wet t-shirt locked out of the house. What were my options? I’m pretty good at breaking in if I have a credit card or library card so I thought I’d start there. I searched Kevin’s truck for anything thin and plastic. Nothing. Blast. Next option…..I could drive to Kevin’s parents house, and see if they have a spare key, or spare change of clothes I could work in; then I looked at the clock 8am- they were surely already at work. Think Jessica- THINK! Kevin said he was working for an hour or so in Springville and I thought I knew the neighborhood they have been working in, so I jumped in his truck, wiped the sweat off of my forehead and started searching for his work van. It didn’t take long before I found him. Thank goodness he was outside. I would have died if I would have met his co-workers for the first time wearing running shorts, a shirt with sweaty pits and a nice sweat mark running down my back. Sweet Kevin met me at the house, and after a few minutes of battling with the 1950’s lock and key….we were in! Whew! I was so relieved I didn’t have to show up to work in my sweaty running clothes and nappy bed head.

Pearl Harbor and Sept. 11th

While visiting Pearl Harbor, I realized this tragedy in our country's history was so emotionally traumatic to the people who lived through it, whether they were there when it happened, or not. Anyone alive on December 7th 1941 will never forget where they were when they learned of the devastation. I have to admit, every December 7th passes and I never associate the day with Pearl Harbor- I didn't experience it first hand, but I bet my Grandma makes the connection each year. She would have been in high school.
Now for the rest of my life....I will always think of the terrorist attacks when I hear "September 11th." Six years later and the date is just as, if not more, engraven on my mind. I don't know why I did, but I pulled up some footage of the planes crashing into the towers on YouTube today. I guess I wanted to stir the emotions within me, I wanted to feel some of the sorrow I felt six years ago. History will always provide us with stories of tragedy and devastation; the scary part is that history will be made in our lifetimes and our children's. What dates will be burnt into the minds of our children?

Adventures of the Mom and Dad

My parents just got back from Mexico/Guatemala. They toured around all of the historical sites and archaeological digs that support the stories in the Book of Mormon. John Lund, a prominent LDS church historian was their personal tour guide. The fact my parents went on this trip is not the least bit surprising to me, but I was shocked when they reported the 9 zip line rides they took through the jungle. My mom said, "I was standing in the top of this tree, well more like hugging this tree and I look over and there are monkeys swinging from tree to tree. That's when you know you are not where you are suppose to be." Mom is scared....no petrified of heights, so I was proud of her for facing her fear and allowing some adventure in. They seemed to enjoy their time there and are planning a trip with John Lund to Israel next year.

Run Forrest Run!

I have definitely regressed in my running abilities since high school cross country, but I hit a mile mark today. I've had knee trouble since 05' and it got a lot worse in the last year so my runs are always cut short with knee pain and I end up walking a lot. I've been running/walking a 2.5 mile loop everyday but could never run after this long downhill slope that killed my knees. So I came up with a plan......knee braces. I look and feel like Forrest Gump, but a miracle happened! My knees didn't hurt until the last little bit. I finished the loop for the first time without walking. I feel like a cripple now and can barely walk down stairs, but I did it! I never thought I'd be excited to run 2.5 miles, but then again I never thought I'd have bad knees at 24. : )

We're alive.....

It’s been over a month since my last post. Kevin and I got married, spent a week cruising around the Hawaiian Islands and are slowly but surely adjusting to married life.

Kevin and I have had fun making his bachelor pad into a “home”. We’ve had quite the adventure trying to find a mattress that we both like, that doesn’t kill our backs. Kevin brought the latest one home yesterday. I feel like Goldilocks. This one is too hard….this one is too soft…..and hopefully this new one will be just right!

Next weekend Kevin and I are heading up Nebo. We’re going to take Dollar and camp in luxury. We’ll load Dollar down with all of our gear/food and the three of us will make a weekend of it.

I'll try to post pictures soon. You can find our wedding proofs at www.haleyannwarner.com. Just go to online proofing.

Final Count Down......

With three days until my wedding, I feel surprisingly calm. Kevin makes it easy though. Mom, Grandma, Heather, and Aimee fly in tomorrow, and I am looking forward to spending some time with them. I love you all! I’ll post pictures as soon as we’re back from Hawaii!
Here are some pictures from Myrtle Beach:

Bridesmaids!!!

I flew to SC last weekend to be in Isabel's wedding. It was super busy, but the wedding was gorgeous!!!

Elder Scotty- Alive and well!

I’m off to Colorado for a 3 day work trip, but I just heard from my dear friend Elder Scotty, who is serving an LDS mission in OK. Here is a paragraph from his last letter:

“I used to like dogs before my mission. Now I hate them.

I nearly got swallowed by a humungadunga german shepherd in the ghetto a few days ago. This HUGE unchained and uncollared dog tears out of a front yard after me on a bike (I was on the bike, not the dog), with a guttural growly bark and tail firmly planted in a fixed and unfriendly position. This wasn’t a “Look! Something fun to chase!” bark, it was a “MURDER DEATH KILL AAARGH!” bark. I was much more scared than the raccoon incident. I did the smartest thing, yelp and tear off quickly on the bike. I had to be rocking at 25+ MPH and the dog was right behind me, timing his head to the pedaling motion of my sweet, succulent calf. As proof that mercy is an operating law in the universe, after 300 yards the dog slowed off and went his way. Another 300 yards away was a brave, strikingly apathetic Lawton Police officer parked under the shade of a tree picking his nose, who was shocked to be bothered with such unimportant reports of a man-eating dog on the loose. I’m going to start carrying “strong enough for a man, but made for a dog” pepper spray. Or maybe a machete.”

I love this story for many reasons but a few of my favorite reasons are:
1- There was a raccoon incident not expounded on that really stimulates my imagination!
2-Scott used the adjective “humungadunga”
3- I can picture Scott in his missionary attire pumping his legs like crazy, tie flapping in the wind.
4- The police officer wasn’t eating donuts or talking to a fellow officer; he was picking his nose.

Thanks for the laughs Elder Scotty!

Kevin and Me

My biggest adventure yet!!!!!

If I told you I was getting married in four weeks would you believe me? Well, if I would have told myself I would be getting married in four weeks just 4 days ago, I wouldn’t have believed me either, but it’s time to believe! Kevin and I will be married on August 4th in Salt Lake and will fly to Hawaii on Sunday for a week long cruise around the islands. No one thought we could plan a wedding in 4 weeks, but things are falling into place perfectly and with every day that passes we are more and more thankful we chose not to wait longer. We’re not having a reception, but if you want an announcement, email me your address! Love you all!

Back to Work

Well, I'm back from what was the best vacation I've ever been on! It's hard to put the nose back to the grind stone. Maybe if some famous rapper would come and pimp my cubicle, I'll feel more motivated to be at work. Does anyone know how I can apply?

Stormy Weather? I sure hope not.

Kevin and I leave for the airport in a few hours and the weather doesn't look good. 4 straight days cooped up in a beach house with 12 kids and 14 ADHD adults = disaster.

Krull 1983

You may have a movie from your childhood that you watched repeatedly. At our house, one of those movies was Krull, released in 1983 (the year I blessed the earth with my presence.) I grew up playing Queen Lyssa and thought I would find true romance when I could look into a man's eyes and say..."Take the fire from my hand." Now a big pull for me to this movie was of course the horses. They were called the "Fire Mares" and were Clydesdales that could run so fast flames shot from their hooves. The Cyclops and Ergo the magician were two of my favorite characters and I had nightmares about the Lady in the web and her evil Spider. Colwyn was my second movie crush. (Val Kilmer in Willow being my first.) Here are some fun pictures from this classic 80's sci fi film.

It's all coming back.....

Ain't- am not, are not, is not, have not, has not

All y'all- Intensive form of y'all

Fixin'- about to, to be on the verge, or "We had burgers with all the fixins."

Ill- in a bad mood, ornery

Cut the light on- People in the south cut things on and off, they don't turn them on or off. Occasionally they flip stuff on and off.

Water Spicket- water faucet, water tap

Mash- the south loves mash potatoes, but Mash made my list, because the south is the only place where you mash buttons.

Feel free to add more.......

6 Months

It’s been 6 months since I last stepped on to South Carolina soil. I’m so excited to be with my family and loved ones, and I can’t wait to wrap my arms around Crystal’s neck and look into her great big eyes. The babies will now be walking, the toddlers will now be children, and Crystal will have a few more gray hairs mixed in her dark black mane. She turned 19 this year. I’ve had her for almost 16 years now. Things will be different, but it will still be home. My room will still have my king size bed with the best mattress in the world. The kitchen will still be the gathering place after every meal, the fields will still be lush and green, and the humidity will still be there to greet me each time I step out of the shower. I can not wait to wake up to the sun beaming through the window in my east facing room or for the sound of crickets singing as I rock on the porch at night watching the fire flies. Returning home will be just as amazing as it always is, except one thing…..this time I get to bring the most wonderful person in the world with me.