I have long been of the opinion that the most beautiful instrument in the world is the male voice. (human, of course) There are lovely horns and strings and piano melodies. Women can inspire and Kenny G. can play every sexy Christmas tune, but none of that can fill you like a gentle baritone cadence.

My Michaelhusband sings. He sings beautifully. He sings in a way that turns me to butter every time I hear it. He once sang "On the Road Again" at a family reunion and it caused my heart to flutter right out of my chest. It would have had the same effect on the other girls if they hadn't all been blood.

In fact, at that time when I was planning to marry someone else I thought of how it meant that he would never sing to me again, and it ripped my heart (have you ever felt that? I was experiencing a lot of that those days). And then I imagined that he would find another girl and would sing for her, and it ripped my heart again. That is one reason I knew my answer - it brought me to the ground to think of him singing for any one else.

Mike has been invited to sing in the performance of Lamb of God by Rob Gardner that will be presented at Gammage Auditorium on September 9th and 10th. The description from Spire Music:

  
Lamb of God is a sacred musical work for choir, orchestra and soloists focusing on the final days of the life of Jesus Christ, His Atonement and Resurrection. It is written as a dramatic work and presented in concert format. It uses as its basis, and much of its text, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and especially John, as found in the King James version of the Holy Bible.

 This inspiring piece is something you do not want to miss. Tickets are $10-$20, so totally doable even on a tight budget. Grab some tickets through Spire Music.

Autumn Inspiration

All holidays are great (we'll take any holiday we can get), but the most anticipated holiday in our house is Halloween. Is this funny in a religious household? There's nothing really special or meaningful to Halloween, yet still, aside from sports, it, and all the festivities that come along, is one of the most discussed topics in the Stock home.

I have costumes that I have brainstormed since this time last year - that's right, I begin planning next year's Halloween before current year's is even passed. Party ideas and motifs run through my head year-round, and then daily as we get closer to the big day. Oh what? You didn't know about our Halloween party??

It's true. This October 2011 will mark the Stock's 2nd Annual Halloween Bash (one of these years we'll think of a cool name for it). We went all out - or, as far as we could with the budget we had - for the first, and it was loads of fun. We had pirates and superheroes and princesses and M&Ms and psychos and Russians and old people and bandits and bugs, and even a blind referee and his trusty robot friend:

(Blind Referee is actually Connie's boy)

And please take a moment of silence for the time, blood, and sweat (not to mention lost pins) put into this amazing mummy costume (minus the head piece that makes him slightly scary):

Sadly, Mike didn't let me tea die it for a more authentic look, but I'm pretty proud of how awesome it looks for having been made on short notice.

At this point, we're pretty amateur Halloween party throwers, but the idea is to get better and better with each year, and we've definitely got a lot planned for this one. And though our budget doesn't allow for every idea to come to fruition, we put them back into the pot for future years. (I totally plan to pull off the bathroom this year, so watch out. And Mike hopes to really make a scare with his carport haunted house again - but for real this time.)

But speaking of limited party budgets, wouldn't it be awesome to have some help in that area? And not just help there, but with the decor as well? Have any of you heard of Autumn with Matthew Mead? A GREAT magazine - definitely getting an issue for inspiration. Bloggers from around the sphere have given their best input, and you'll probably recognize some of your favorites. 

Autumn with Matthew Mead is hosting a giveaway for $250 gift cards for autumn decorating right now (holy how far that would go for us!) to get the word out about their genius "book-azine." Follow my links to go check them out and order your own issue!

(Oh yeah and come to our Halloween party!)

Where I Been At

What have I been up to so far this week?

1. Finishing out some work stuff. It really shouldn't be so hard for me to get it all done with just one kid, but for some reason it is. It's like trying to work with kryptonite in my pocket.

2. Cleaning up lots of baby vomit. Yay vomit!

3. Being sufficiently nauseous myself.

4. Eating a holy number of ice cream snickers bars (after the nausea passed, of course). Why oh why did I buy those?

5. Getting really sad about the violence across the pond. Yay violence! (not really yay, but every time I hear any "v" word I'm reminded of a Fairly Odd Parents episode and automatically "Yay v-word" goes through my head.)

6. Pining after running trails.

7. Talking to lots of inspectors and insurance people.

8. Getting to know my cool new phone.

9. Catching up on Glee Project. Quite honestly, I am not a huge fan of Glee. It is a zero percent accurate portrayal of high school and pretty much just promotes teen sex. Plus, 3/4 of the show is, "I'm gay so no one likes me." Really, we get it; you don't have to say it again every week. But anyway, Esther friend mentioned The Glee Project one day and, truth, it's so much more entertaining than the series. Yes, the kids are so dramatic and some extremely annoying, but at least I can get through an entire episode. Also, this line:

"The back of my neck says 'Jesus Christ.' Seriously."

10. While on the topic of shows, not watching Prison Break. We are not on speaking terms. Really, why would you kill off the love interest?? Kill the boy! But then you think up some retarded reason that she really didn't die later because you realized your mistake in killing her off in the first place? I hate you. Plus, I was getting too attached to Scoffield. I don't believe in that.

11. This:

Speaking of which, I've gotta get back to that.

Crappy Housewife

Has everyone met Rebecca Black's hot, blonde, Norwegian older step-sister?

Catchy.

Oh the Joys

I've heard it said that every seven years or so our bodies go through a chemical change. Over the years I have used this idea to excuse away things I can't explain. "Oh I must be going through a chemical change."

It works.

Now pregnancy actually is a chemical change, and one that, for me, entailed going through puberty...again. SO MUCH FUN, right?

I'm not being completely straight with you. My first time through puberty consisted of: getting boobs.

That's it. I kept my perfect skin (I don't consider freckles flaws), colorless leg hair, and ability to go days without washing my hair or even sweating or smelling at all.

This was all just dessert, though, for having lived for YEARS as the most awkward and creepy little girl to ever ungrace the earth, and - get this - without even knowing it.

Proof:

The horrible

hideous

proof

Just desserts, I tell you. And be glad I spared you all The Bob Cut of Seventh Grade.

Unfortunately, with pregnancy all of that changed. It's like fate looked over my records and gasped, "Whuuuuht?!" And then proceeded to bless me with all I had missed out on initially. On came the acne. On came the nasty hair. On came having to remember deodorant (it's hard). The injustice!

I feel like awkward, preteen Shirley all over again. Everything looks and feels funny on me. I'm sitting inside strange skin. Is this just how post-pregnancy feels? Bleh.

I have noticed many women that hit that 25-35 range and just blossom, becoming more vibrant and beautiful each year. I'm hoping to bypass this second puberty quickly and turn out like them.

Let's play a little "I Spy" with those pictures. 5 points for finding each on the list:

hideous braided belt

what in the flower on the hat?

winnie the pooh garb

3 pairs of overalls

checkered shorts

6 unfortunate sets of bangs

little katie guest appearing in each one

Dead Men Tell No Tales, Unless They Put It On the Internets First

I would like you all to know the huge risk I am taking, the danger I am putting myself in for your entertainment: I could be shot for this. Or at the very least: ruin my marriage.

You see, about a year ago Mike and I sent out homemade postcards to our family and close friends announcing our pregnancy.

If you go to any of my siblings' houses you are very likely to see this picture still hanging out on the fridge, or even have a more honored spot. Some of my neices and nephews still ask why Mike had a big belly and what happened to it.

Most people have already seen that picture, since, after everyone received it in the mail, we put it up on facebook. What they haven't seen, though, are the outtakes.

This one was the runner-up contender for the final post card. Lost by just a hair.

Mike is all about pregnant booty.

And finally, the kicker:

I've posted this here before, but a little later, once we had found out the gender of our love child, we emailed this out to the same mailing list (and subsequently posted it to facebook):

Now, to make up a tiny bit for what I've done to Mike, the best, handsomest, strongest, most forgiving man that I love oh so incredibly much, I will show you all this:

Can you tell how much I love roller coasters? Jack makes 90% of this picture. And what's with bored loner in the back?

You know those people that you just admire for everything they are and everything you see in them? Those people are all around me. It’s crazy.

My Visiting Teaching companion, Sarah, is one of those people. We’ve been partners since I received my Visiting Teaching calling in this ward sometime soon after we moved in, two and a half years ago. The things I have learned from and of her truly make me wish to share more of a relationship outside of VT.

While I am the one that will always come with baked goods (because that’s all I know how to do) or spend way too long attempting to put something cutesy together, she always has some kind amazing knack or décor item ready to give or drop off if we’re unable to meet with our girls.

While I stumble and stutter through small talk or an awkward lesson (can’t I just have cue cards?), Sarah easily chats, transitions, and shares the best of her testimony.

Plus, she and her husband are the best looking couple in the ward.

Overall, Sarah is the type of person everyone wants to know and take inspiration from.

About a year and a half ago a special miracle occurred in Sarah’s life, and I can’t help but feel emotional and so happy every time I hear it. She and her husband recently shared part of their story in one of those “I’m a Mormon” videos that have been coming out. Please watch and see a little of why I admire her so:

It baffles me that so many amazing and incredible people are unable to have the children they desire so much, and that they are forced to go through harrowing treatments and/or adoption woes. I cannot imagine how it would be to have that lot in life.

On the other side, I hurt so for the children that are unwanted in the womb, or those that come here and do not have a happy family as I was blessed with. I am so happy for people, like Chance and Sarah, that take these children into their hearts and homes to be their own.

It’s a weird dream to have, but I hope that one day the timing and situation is right for me to be a part of bringing happiness to a lonely child’s life (and that Mike would be willing as well), or at least be able to foster.