Can't imagine where I get it from

I love to take pics and document our lives. I have always been a fan of this and have pics going back to my first years at girls camp. It is pretty obvious from this pic where I get this from... my mother. Here she is in Yellowstone NP filming the small details along the boardwalk. If she were standing up you would see the other cameras and bags strapped to her waist - you always need to have a backup.

I love this about my mother. Her photo albums span years even before my existence and I get a pretty good picture of what her life was like and what she values by flipping through those albums. I do it often. She has kept them organized with all the details written in her perfect handwriting on the back. Priceless treasures, for sure.

So a big thanks to my mother for instilling in me a love of taking photos and capturing the details of our lives.

(My mother - Yellowstone NP, June 2005.)

So many miracles

On Monday, July 21, Rachel and Adam invited me to attend their second video conference with the four Colombian miracles who will soon join their family. I was so touched. And as we waited at Adam's office for the minutes to tick by and the conference to begin, I couldn't help but feel that I was about to witness something special, something beautiful, something miraculous.

The caseworker appeared on the screen to greet us and finally we could hear the scuffle and sounds of little feet excitedly entering the room. And then they were there and they were beautiful. It was almost unreal to see the same little faces that have stared back at us from the fridge for so many months moving and living and breathing in front of us.

The video connection was not the best and it was difficult to not only hear but to understand the excited little Spanish-speaking voices. But still, it was so very cool. Those little ones do exist and they are amazing. I spent most of the conference running around the room taking photos from different angles, desperate to capture the emotion and the mark of that moment. (A scrapbooker to the core.) Then Rachel invited me to say "Hello." I was so nervous and I think I shouted too loudly at the monitor when I greeted them. We exchanged waves, kisses and "I Love You" signs. My heart was full but my arms felt empty. I cannot wait to gather them up for hugs and loves. At that moment, my respect and admiration for Rachel and Adam grew exponentially. They must have the patience of Job. They cetainly feel that emotion in greater waves than I do... I'm just the aunt.

I was not only awed by meeting Daniel, Esmeralda, Maria Daniela and Juan Pablo, I was also blown away by the convenience of technology. Truly, it is a miracle that allows children who live 3,000 miles away to interact for the first time with their new Mami and Papi.

I find it miraculous that the four children will soon join a new and wonderful family, that they will soon be sealed in the Temple, that technology is so very cool. So many miracles.

Rachel and Adam are currently in Colombia, so close to finally meeting their miracles. To find out more about the journey that will soon bring the McCracken kids home, visit Adam and Rachel's adoption blog. And then keep going back for updates as a new journey unfolds. :)

End of summer playlist

I feel like summer is already over and that used to be a sad thing. But now that I no longer have a summer break and now that I live in the desert where the summers nearly fry us to death, I always look forward to the end of summer.

I am excited about this new playlist as it has a nearly-end-of-summer sort of feel to it.


Incomplete-Alanis Morissette. I love this song and it really speaks to me right now, except for the sweaty party. I changed the word from "sweaty" to "steady."

The Animal Song-Savage Garden. This song came out my second year in college and I feel in love with it. Yes, I know it is a dorky song, but I don't care. And the words are, "I want to live... like animals" not "... like cannibals."

Sunrays and Saturdays-Vertical Horizon. This song is so sweet to me.

Send It Up-Vertical Horizon. I dig VH.

Thousand Miles-Vanessa Carlton. I remember when this song came out and I applied it to every crush I had at the time. It still makes me smile.

Cover Girl-New Kids on the Block. This is posted in honor of my once-favorite boy band reuniting for my listening pleasure.

Banjo Boy-Ryan Shupe and The Rubber Band. Who doesn't appreciate a good banjo song every now and then. This one is awesome. Listen to the words and enjoy.

Best Days-Matt White. This song has made several appearances on past playlists. It feels so summery to me. I love it. Warning: This song does say the word "naked." I apologize if this offends any sensitive blog readers out there. :)

She Likes Me For Me-Blessed Union of Souls. I know this song isn't a hard-core rock song but for some reason the chorus makes me want to really rock out. :)

One Step at a Time-Jordin Sparks. My favorite song right now. This describes perfectly so much about how I feel and my place in life. It also reminds me of my dear friends, Rachel and Adam, who are as I type in Colombia to bring home their four children. I have been privileged to witness so many of the small steps they have taken to come to this point. Some steps were painful, others were joyous, some were simply annoying. I love them for allowing me to walk along behind them. Te amo, amigos. (Did I even spell that Spanish right?)

Home Life/Clarity-John Mayer. John Mayer always makes me smile and now I think of my friend, Sharkbait Tib, who has a major and sometimes stalker-like crush on the guy.

Cruel to be Kind/I Want You to Want Me-Letters to Cleo. Some more songs that remind me of college life and summers.

More Today Than Yesterday-Spiral Staircase. This seems like a totally random song to include on my playlist, but it has an important story. Robert and I came across a band on our cruise to the Riviera, Hip Pocket. They were pretty good and always made us smile and reminded us of what it would be like if our cousin and our high school english teachers got together to form a band and live out a dream. They sang this song several times on the cruise ship and it makes me think of summer cruising, dancing with Robert and Hip Pocket, the hippest band on the high seas!

You're My Best Friend-Queen. Because Robert is my best friend.

Let's Hear It for the Boy-Nellie's 80s Band. I am sure this is not the group who originally sang this song, but I like this version. I really like this song.

Time of My Life-David Cook. I admit it, I watch American Idol. I don't vote, though, unless you count the five times I voted for Taylor Hicks during that season's finale. I'm not a huge Taylor Hicks fan but that year I felt it was a choice between the lesser of the two evils. :) Kind of like the most recent presidential election.


Enjoy the new list.

Somewhere around this time five years ago

I am pretty good at remembering numbers and phone numbers - I still remember several of my elementary and high school friends' phone numbers. But I am terrible at remembering important dates... and this includes my anniversary. I can't tell you what date it is on exactly. So I usually just mark and celebrate milestones and dates around the same time each year.

It was around this time five years ago that Robert officially proposed to me in a gazebo on Fort Street after only four months of dating. What I remember: it was late and I was tired after a hard day's work and a long drive down from Idaho. What he remembers: I laughed after he proposed. (Only because I was so happy and so tired at the same time.)

While it may not seem like the most dramatic proposal in the world, it is part of our story. And it is only the beginning. What follows afterward is what I cherish the very most... five years of true happiness and romance. Brace yourself for some serious Robert and Jaime photo overload. :)

It was also around this time ten years ago that Robert left to serve a two-year mission in Lima, Peru and eight years ago that he returned home. My, time flies!

Mothers' Lunch

Sweet Rachel's mother, Kathy, was in town for some time to help her put her house together before the Colombian miracles arrive. My mother drove down from St. George to spend some time with me and my sister. We decided to get the mothers together for a lunch. When they met, I was so pleased to see them wearing nearly the same shirt and even more pleased to find out they both love dark chocolate caramels. They have so much in common... including being mothers to amazing women. Haha! Kathy was so much fun to spend time with.

It was a wonderful afternoon lunch at Claim Jumper, though Rach and I got our wires crossed and ended up at different Claim Jumpers. I'm grateful she forgave me. I ordered the steak chili even though it was a blazing 103 degrees outside. Angie paid for our lunch... because she's loaded - volunteering at the elementary school pays the big bucks! :)

On another note, it's been strange weather lately. Vegas can be so cruel, taunting us with low, dark clouds and thunder and lightning and then withholding the rain. It drives me crazy. I get all excited to see the sprinkles start to fall and then the clouds roll away and nothing else happens. I suppose I am a desert girl now since the sight of clouds and rain actually cheer me up. It's just nice to have a break sometimes from the continual, depressing sunshine! :)

This pic just makes me smile. I can't help it. I love them both so very much!!



Robert and his favorite angel, Angela Joy
Pine Valley, Utah - Alicia's open house, July 5, 2008

Princess Alicia and her handsome Prince Matt

Alicia Jewel and I have been friends for half of our entire lives. That amazes me in so many ways. Despite distance and busy lives, we have managed to remain close and I love her more today than I did when I met her in sophomore choir at Alta High School.

She recently married Matt Morrow, an amazing man who seems to cherish and appreciate all the same things I find so beautiful about her. We stopped by their open house in Pine Valley on July 5 and it was like no time had passed since we last saw each other.

Some things I love about Lic:

-She is a fellow princess and loves pink as much as I do.
-She was in the same room the night I had my first kiss... No, I did not kiss her and it was not one of my greatest moments or fondest memories - thank you for bringing it up!
-We have kissed many of the same lame high school boys and still managed to remain friends.
-She has been skinny-dipping with me more times than anyone else in the world, including my husband.
-She still appreciates and enjoys the scrapbook I made her in 1998.
-She loves Disneyland as much as I do and we have been there together TWICE.
-She always sends me the greatest cards and has the most adorable handwriting in the world.
-She does not have a mean bone in her body.
-We have everything and nothing in common and for us, it is the perfect balance.
-She is a natural blond. I would trade hair with her in a second!
-She attended many of my ballroom concerts at SUU and was an entire cheering section for me unto herself.
-Her faith and courage is inspiring and limitless.
-I was there for the birth of her first child.
-She has forgiven me without question every time I have hurt or offended her.
-She always let me ride shotgun in her little blue sport convertible in high school.
-The name "Audrey B" makes her shudder just as it does me.
-She introduced me to the Wendy's kids meals and I quickly discovered it was the perfect amount of food with a delicious frosty surprise at the end.
-She was there the night we got Spencer's car stuck in the road in an attempt to roll it away from his house. It was probably her idea.
-She was always my partner in crime, like the time we snuck into Brad Jensen's house and took all of his possessions from his bedroom, piled them into her convertible and dropped them on Scott Robinson's front porch. Then we rang the doorbell and ran. We hit a garbage can driving away from the scene of the crime.
-She never withholds compliments and/or praise.
-Her favorite bra is buried alongside mine near a stream up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Don't ask me why we did it. I can't remember now and it probably didn't make much sense even then.
-We are still friends, despite sharing a room together during my last year at Ricks College and despite living several states apart.

Congratulations to Alicia and Matt! I love you both and wish you the very best!!!

Our fabulous fourth

Our Independence Day was a little different this year. Every year since I have been a member of the famLea, we have spent this day in Kanab , Utah, riding our famLea float in the parade, wearing matching t-shirts, playing and eating at the park. This year, the famLea stayed home and so Robert and I spent the holiday in St. George with my family and Jimmy and Shauna and kids.

We did the traditional hamburger dinner and then met famLea II on a hill overlooking the St. George valley just in time for fireworks. The show was so far away that the fireworks could barely be seen in the distance, but we had such a good time together eating cookies and tossing around those little pop-its that it really didn't matter. It was extra special for me to have my grandparents, Mom and Pop McCloud, there to share in the fun. It is such a blessing to have them living so close to us.

A blast from my past

I can't help but love New Kids on the Block. It's like I'm swept back into sixth grade, some place I probably wouldn't want to go again. But still... this video cracks me up, especially the strange moves at the beginning. Enjoy!

The last lunch

This is Leah Marchione, my confidante, office roommate, twin, CCSD sanity and sweet friend. We have worked together for several years and recently she moved to Texas with her husband. While I am so happy for the good things this move will bring to her life, I am also very sad to see her go.

One of the things I love about Leah is that she enjoys the Applebee's lunch menu as much as I do, including their dessert shooters! We tried to make it out to lunch each week where we would discuss everything... politics, families, work, friends, religion, memories, values, beliefs. I always looked forward to our lunch fun and I ALWAYS ordered the same thing... chicken penne pasta with a caesar salad and a chocolate mousse shooter for dessert.

Leah is one of the most wonderful women I have ever met. She is full of integrity, professional, genuine, intelligent, kind, thoughtful, charming, grounded, brave. Since we enjoyed our last lunch together on July 3, I have been asking myself how I will ever survive my job without her presence and her friendship.

Good luck to you in Texas, Leah. I will miss you dearly and love you always!