Throwback Thursday: Our first dance

Today was a long day.  Probably one of the longer ones I have had for years.  We had parent teacher conferences from 3:00 to 8:30.  I thought we were done at 8...let me tell you how disappointing it was to hear I still had another half hour at school!

Anyway, I got home and Ashton immediately left to play some church basketball.  I decided I needed a nice long shower to unwind.

I had some nice, calming music on when the song from our first dance started playing.  Overwhelmed by Tim McMorris.  I can't believe it has been more than 4 months since Ashton and I were married.  That day still consumes most of my thoughts.  It was a dream come true type of day.

 "There's something in your smile that gives me strength to carry on."

"Oh, I've dreamt that a time like this would come fulfill my life."

"From the first time I saw you
I knew that you’d be mine
And from the first glance you gave
My world it slowed, you stopped the time

And in that moment I could see all of the things that we would be
You were the girl I was waiting for, that’d I’d ask to marry me

Like the beauty of the sun you light my life so I can see
You make me laugh and show me how, just how good this life can be
And in our moments filled with joy, is where I live, where I am free
Lay in my arms, I’ll hold you tight, just like you like, continually

And I am, overwhelmed, by you
Am, over come with joy
You've, taken me higher, and shown me what love can doWhere would I go, or be, without you

I could sing a thousand songs about you still that would not do
There’s a million tiny things that make the things that you do, you
I wouldn't trade our time together, wouldn't trade for anything
Cause nothing else here in the world can bring the happiness you bring

And I am, overwhelmed, by you
Am, over come with joy
You've, taken me higher, and shown me what love can do
Where would I go, or be, without you"

The words to the song so perfectly describe my love for Ashton.  Sometimes, I am convinced that I feel so much more than the normal person.  It isn't unusual for me to talk about how things make my heart feel.  From the time I met Ashton, my heart knew and that love quickly consumed me.  It overwhelmed me in the most amazing way.  I love how this song captures the overwhelming feeling of true love.

We are still learning about each other and I am continually amazed at how made for each other we are.

MFEO

Throwback Thursday: When my dad wrote me a wedding song

My sweet dad wrote a song for our wedding.  I know that I have seen a video of it, but I can't remember where so for now, here is the recording he made of it.

He performed it at the reception and it was one of my favorite things from the whole day.  This song is a treasure I will listen to forever and ever.

And since I don't have a video of him singing, enjoy this video of him dancing, because it is amazing.

Or you can just love the pictures of him learning the wobble.

So much goodness.  And these are just a few of the many reason I love my dad.

Throwback Thursday: That one time I went to Egypt.

Having a throwback for Thursday is the cool thing to do and it lets you share with everyone those adorable baby pictures you have.

Well, I am going to start adding it to my blog, because I love to reminisce.  Simply put, I have a nostalgic heart.

Today, we are going to throwback to my trip to Egypt in 1998.  I was 10 years old so my Egypt memories are very limited and I didn't really understand all that was going on around me.

Anyhow, my Thorkelson cousins and I had the opportunity to travel to Cairo, Egypt to represent the United States in some type of international children's chorus (Don't ask me how we got so lucky.  I know my grandpa arranged it).  It might have been a competition?  If it was, we were disqualified pretty early on because we didn't have an original song - we had prepared "It's a Small World". (Once again, this is just how my 10 year old brain remembers it)  And I apologize - my pictures in this post aren't the best quality since they are pictures of pictures.

***Update.  I googled it.  I participated in the First International Children's Song Competition.  How cool is that?!

I think we were there for about a week and we got to experience some amazing things:

• We had a forever long layover in New York on our way to Egypt.  My aunts had us sing "It's a Small World" over and over and over again.  Plus, we were all matching...Super adorable, right?

• When we arrived in Egypt, they had a welcome crew for us.  We spent our first hour in Egypt dancing with the Egyptian versions of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, and other popular American characters.  It was more scary than it was fun.  I wish I had a picture of this!  One of my most vivid memories is doing some type of conga line and having Pluto's nose bouncing off the top of my head.

• We met other kids from around the world.  None of us spoke the same language, but that didn't stop us from making friends.

• I rode a "felucca" on the Nile.  It took us to a papyrus making museum. I remember being pretty shocked at how dirty the water was.

• We went to the Egyptian Museum.  According to my memory, we saw the mummified King Tut.  It was so spookily great.  Did you know that mummies still have their hair?

• I rode a donkey to the pyramids AND the Sphinx and then a camel back.  This was definitely my favorite part of the trip.  Let me tell you though, riding a camel is terrifying.  I think I cried it when it was time to get off - you are so far from the ground.

Random things I remember:

• The pizza from Pizza Hut was super salty.

• I think we were supposed to be there for a few weeks - but my childhood memory recalls some drama that my family came across that we weren't supposed to?  So they cut our trip short.  Maybe I made this part up, I have never talked to any of my cousins about this.

• Our hotel was amazing.  Breakfast was my favorite.  I got to watch them make my omelet every morning.

• There was a little girl on the flight home who wouldn't leave me alone.  I tried to get my cousins to help, but most of them were asleep (it was a long flight).  I think the little girl just wanted to play card games - which is hard when you don't speak the same language.  At one point she spilled her soda on me.  It was not my favorite.

I hope that there is a box somewhere at my parent's house full of more pictures, the journal I kept while there, bottles of sand from Egypt, the certificate saying I was a part of the competition, samples of papyrus, and other touristy type souvenirs.

Shortly after we got back, The Prince of Egypt came out.  I was obsessed and saw it a few times in the theaters.  I eventually had the entire soundtrack memorized, but you probably did too.

Looking back at all of this I am in awe at what I was able to experience at such a young age.  And what a neat adventure to be able to share with my cousins. 

After that trip I decided I wanted to travel to every continent.  I discovered my love for different cultures and being immersed in something completely unknown and new.  It opened my eyes to how big the world is and is something I will most definitely never forget.

is it that time of year?

I was just putting new music on my ipod and was surprised at how tempted I was to put on Christmas music.  Normally, I focus on one holiday at a time, meaning that I don't listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving.  Maybe, just maybe, this year I will let it come a little sooner?  It will definitely have to wait until after Halloween, but...

I think I just might.

1, 2, 3, 4

1. This morning as we were singing the National Anthem, one of my students grabbed my hands and started swaying (this is how he dances) with me as he sang. I couldn't stop laughing. The same student later grabbed me during Signing Time as Rachel Coleman was singing "Outside" and ran me around in circles. haha It was unreal.

2. I went home this last weekend. BEAUTIFUL. The weather changed just in time for me to come and enjoy it. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend at home. I got to see my Cougars play at Qualcom. I got to go to the beach twice. I got to eat Mr. Taco. I got to see all my favorite people. AND I got to spend lots of time with my family...although we didn't play any charades this time. Guess Christmas will provide plenty of opportunity for charades :)

3. Someone started singing "You are my sunshine" in class today. One of the first girls I ever worked in up here in Utah used to sing that to me as I would take her to the bathroom. She was the happiest girl who just would light up with music. This song and working with students with disabilities reminds me of a talk once shared in my first semester in the special ed program. It's called "Jesus Hears Me." If you have a few minutes to spare - read it. I cry, even now, as I read it. I forget how close they bring me to the Savior everyday. I have a sweet girl, much like Heather, and her blue eyes, sweet giggles, and few words of "tickle tickle" as she tickles at your back, have an innocence unlike any other. She smiles as she gets off the bus. She smiles as she gets back on to go home. She smiles as she is stretched and made to stand in her stander for 20 minutes. She knows she is special. She knows she is loved and she shares that with all that know her.

4. "To infinity and beyond!" - Toy Story is a favorite in my classroom. We have been slowly watching it and I am surprised at what my students can quote. My dancing boy from earlier is the one who quotes Buzz Lightyear all the time. I will start with "To infinity..." and he will always finish it. My favorite part though is when the toys all gang up on Sid. He is holding Woody in his hand and Woody spins his head creepily around and says something like "We are watching you...So PLAY NICE!" and seriously, at least 3 of my kids said "play nice" with Woody. Kinda cute.