My Non-Chef Tendencies

As most of my friends know, I am a self proclaimed non-chef, basically a disaster waiting to happen when it comes to being in the kitchen. I was okay with that up until I started dating Josh two years ago, and now all I can think about is how terrible I am at cooking, and how Josh could possibly be eating plain rice, and peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches for the rest of his life. Like I said, I was okay with that, and still, I'd be fine with it today, if I didn't have someone else to think about. I'm not really one of those people that gets excited about food. Yes, I love good food, and yes, I like to have long dinners with good conversation, but I don't have that excitement in my voice when I eat a grilled onion. I don't proclaim, "This is the best onion I have ever tasted." Like my husband does.... I just like it, enjoy it, but if I could, in place of eating, I would take a pill to have all the meal, and nourishment I need. I'm just not that into food.

As of recently, though, because Josh likes food so much, and is so excited about it, I have taken an interest in Food Network. This is something that I would have never thought possible. No, I still can't stand watching Rachel Ray, Josh used to make me watch in the mornings when he came back from PT while we were in Germany. The three of us, Will, Danae, and I would sit with blank faces at the screen, while Josh happily watched as he ate his cereal. He would say, "Now look at this Alyssa, that is how you chop garlic. You hit it with the flat part of the knife first....." That is about the point where I zoned and silently confided in my toast (because at the time, I couldn't have milk) that I would never abandon it's comforting plain taste for the more exciting foods that included doing things such as making a rue, and all that other jargon I still know nothing about.

Something changed within those few months in Germany. Maybe it was the Europeans, I don't know. I felt this desire to know about food, and how to prepare it, but still, I didn't want to do the work. Naturally I'm not a person that likes to do things I don't do all that well. I'm not absolutely terrible, I'm just really unsure of myself. Like in most things... I just need to have the confidence, even if I do make a mistake. I'm more of a person who is so afraid to make a mistake, I end up abandoning the thought of doing it all together. I've always had this need to be perfect, and it rings so true when it comes to being in the kitchen.

So with all the responsibilities of being a wife, comes the the responsibility of learning how to cook. Josh and I have been married for 5 months, and Monday was the first day that I took a stab at the escapade of cooking all by myself. I picked something simple, that I hoped was simple, out of one of the cooking magazines I have. it happened to be one Kim gave me. So like I said, I took a stab at it, and it turned out great. Monday night we had Creamy Spinach Ravioli. Tuesday night we had Stir Fry (which is one thing I do know how to make), and tonight, I had hopes of making Greek Style Steak with kalamata olives and feta cheese (something that we've already tried), but Josh had other plans. Guess what we ended up having tonight because we couldn't agree on anything? Digornio Pizza.... Blah. I had one piece. I couldn't make myself eat any more. So tomorrow night we will have Greek Steak, I hope it turns out well. Here's a picture of our yummy Creamy Spinach Ravioli!

Have a wonderful Wednesday night!

Alyssa

Inspired

I know that I have always been blessed to know such wonderful people. Friends and family in their own ways inspire me everyday to make a difference in not just my own life, and those of the people around me, but for others I don't know as well. There are always those select few in your life that, while they go out and change the world in their own small ways, you observe this gift unfolding, and feel your heart overflow with excitment and love just at the realization of how wonderful life can be, and how wonderful we as people truly are. There is a person that I admire endlessly, though I haven't known her long, and we've only been together in person a handful of time, she inspires me daily to be a better person. She is a photographer, what I am striving to be, she's an amazingly creative person, a wonderful woman of God, and a lovely wife to her husband. I look at this woman, and I stand back in awe of who she is. But who she is has come with hard work, and struggle just like everyone else. She really does make it look easy though. She's a person always looking for something new, and she has been such a huge help to me, giving me the information that she has to help me along as I try to understand the intricacies of my craft and my passion. She's one of those people who we would all like to have a piece of... Someone we would all like to strive to be...

But what I am really here to write about today is not just this person as an individual, but a new cause that she has inspired me with beyond words. I feel so excited about it, that I had to share it with my readers. pocketfulloflove.com is created by Shauna Maness, and it is a brilliant idea. As it says on her new website, "Families of deployed soldiers or deploying soldiers receive a donated photography session from people like you and me." Going on she says that photographers shoot a full family session, edit the photos, and create pocket sized books of the photoshoots that will fit in the soldiers uniform, or flack vest, so they can carry it wherever they go. Genius, right? One of those simple, but necessary gifts, that I'm sure every soldier with a family will need and want.

I know Josh enjoyed pictures when I sent them to him, but this is a perfect way for soldiers to be reminded always that there is someone waiting for them at home. Remind them that they are someone's hero. Someone misses them, and someone believes in them without end.

I'd like to write about everything, but I definitely don't want to ruin the excitment of visiting Shauna's new website. You can help, I can help. We all can help, and I'm so excited. We can all donate money to help soldiers and their families, donate money for a photoshoot and memories that will be held dear to everyone's heart. So, PLEASE! go check it out!

pocketfulloflove.com

Get inspired!

God Bless!

Alyssa

We've survived the first week in Boise

It's been almost a week again since I last posted. I feel bad for the very few who read this, but in all honesty, this past week hasn't been all that exciting! This week was filled with unpacking, visits to the bank, plenty of visits to the grocery store, and setting up our home... Oh, and alot of XBOX playing on Josh's part. I mean alot, alot. I even asked him if he could go a day without playing XBOX. His response, "Of course I can.... But why would I want to?" This response was in all seriousness, straight face, and probably totally mortified that I would even think of such a question. Alas, he drove me crazy this week. I love my husband dearly, but he's not one that likes to go out and about like I do, I like to wander town, and go into stores, he likes to stay holed up in this apartment playing Fight Night 3, I think that's what number it is? I'm sure I drove him crazy too, telling him I couldn't listen to the same repeated song on the game over and over again, and the continual, can you help me with this really quick please? Oh, and the, "Are you ever going to turn that off?" But, today is his first day of Lineman College, so I'm left alone here with the devil's cat, who right now seems to be sedated. The cat seems to turn even more crazy as soon as Josh leaves the house.


Yesterday we went out for a little photoshoot, it turned out to be too nice, yes too nice for a photoshoot. How is that possible? Well, it was so bright outside Josh couldn't keep his eyes opened long enough for me to take the shot. We even did the, "I will count and then when I say go, open your eyes"thing, but that didn't work either. I wasn't feeling it, so we left and around Borders for awhile.

Here is one of the shots of Josh that turned out pretty good!

I might be biased but I think he is super cute! Oh, I love him!

And here is one he took of me!

One more of Josh. This is what he though about me taking pictures!

Move In Day Fiasco

I had this nagging feeling Thursday night that something would go wrong Friday either on the way to Boise, or once we got to the apartment complex. A small little thought crept into my head while driving the approximately 543 miles from our old home in Montesano to our new home in Boise: “I bet they gave the apartment to someone else. That would be my luck.” I was wrong though, No, in fact, they hadn’t given the keys to someone else, but they didn’t give the keys to us either…

Josh and I drove 85 miles an hour most of the way to Boise to get to the apartment complex on time, at least by 6 p.m. Which was closing time for a week day. I think I almost had an anxiety attack when I found that map quest’s directions told me to get off the freeway at a certain exit, that was 22 minutes from Boise. We were on a two lane highway going, no not the posted speed limit of 55, but no more than 40, because we were behind some old man in a little white car. I thought the directions were wrong, but they proved to take us exactly where we needed to be, and I was proud of the fact that my mom and I found it ourselves, without calling Josh. Josh took the way we normally go, and ended up being behind us by a few minutes. I obliviously waited for Josh and after he arrived we walked up to the leasing office to find the door locked and a sign on the door that said something like, “We will be closed Friday April, 18 and Saturday April 19, due to maintenance, we will be back Sunday April 20, at the normal time. Until then if you have any maintenance emergencies, call the below listed number and you will be contacted next week in the order that we have received the calls.

As most people that know me, know that I have a temper, my temper doesn’t usually build into something over a long period of time, either. I’m instantly mad when things like this happen, usually so mad I want to scream. I thought better of it, though. We made alot of phone calls to alot of numbers, but none of these were successful, at one point on Saturday morning we found that the maintenance number we were calling for "maintenance emergencies" was the wrong number. We got ahold of Carl, but no one at the apartment complex. Carl was nice, and said he was sorry he couldn't help us out. It was nice someone cared:)

So... Saturday morning we decided to check back at the apartment again, and to our surprise the door was unlocked for a baby shower... But again, no one to help us out. Are you serious? Was all I thought. I was mad, I hold everyone to the high standards that I hold myself. The parents were fuming, it was almost comical if it had been television, but it wasn't, so of course it wasn't funny to me, well it did get a few funny comments out of the whole thing!

Anyway, we were looking around for someone and what do we see right smack dab on the desk? The keys to our apartment... our mothers promptly took them off the desk and wrote a clever little note about how disappointed they were and signed it "The not so happy parents of Josh and Alyssa Lillegard" We moved in with ease, and here we are. I will have a few pictures of the apartment up soon! We're busy unloading from boxes and running errands. Sorry no exciting things to talk about. Hopefully soon! I miss you all so much!

God Bless,

Alyssa

Packing Up and Shipping Out

Here it is again, a week since I last blogged. Did you miss me? I missed writing, but I haven't had really anything to right about, and for once in my life, I haven't had time to do anything. Anxiety levels are rising daily as we get closer to moving to Boise. I think I am actually on schedule, though. I finished packing stuff at my mom's and surprisingly, there is only a small pile of stuff to take. I thought I would have wanted to take more, I do, actually, I think, but the lack of space, and the thought of having to pack it up again in August, or October seems really daunting. We started packing Saturday, and I had a plan of each day what I was going to do, and has that happened? No, not really. Does it ever? No, not really:) We stayed in town again last week, and we lived off cereal for breakfast, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, and soup for dinner. Josh had the flu, but also, what was the point of buying stuff that we will just have to get rid of when we leave this week? Even as I sit here I am eating a peanut butter sandwich. Interesting information? Of course...

Friday was my last day at work, and the fact that I knew I would cry the whole day came true. I've known for years that my last day working with the kids I would cry, but that realization didn't make it any easier when the time to say goodbye came at 3:30 on Friday. Most days I'm ready to be home with Josh, but Friday, I didn't want to leave. It had occured to me that I wouldn't be a part of their daily lives anymore like I had for the last five years, and those kids wouldn't be a part of mine. I've become so attached these last few years that I don't feel like the same person when I'm not around them. They've really become a part of who I am. It was so hard walking away Friday.

But a new adventure awaits, and hopefully it will be a fun one. I'm excited for this summer, but sad to leave my family and friends. I'm sure they will all be okay with out me, but they make my life such a better one when I can see them frequently.

I probably won't be able to write for awhile, but don't give up on me. I will get internet in Boise as soon as I can, so I can blog, if not for readers, but at least to hold on to that last shred of sanity I have left!:) Enjoy your week. I will miss you all.

God Bless!

Alyssa

Attention to Details

Anyone girl, or woman who has a man in her life knows that men have a total lack of attention to details. I'm not saying they don't care about details in a broad sense, but details about something going on in his own life, or someone else's for that matter.

I learned really quickly that Josh, like most men, has converstations with people and then later, when I asked him what the conversation was about, he doesn't remember. I'll ask him who he talked to, and he knows that, and I will ask him what he talked about... There's the question that they respond with the deer in the headlights look. Maybe not so much surprised, but that completely blank stare, like at that moment, everything that was talked about with this person has totally gone out the window.

Example: Someone we know is getting married, and I had a few questions about what they talked about. I asked Josh, "Well what did Joe say?" Josh's response. "I don't know, I don't really remember?" "Well was this a word of mouth invite, or did he give you an actual invition?" *stare* "No.... The invitation is in the truck." I get excited because I love cards and stationary and such, "Well what does it look like? What color is it?" Again that sort of blank stare, I should have been ready for what was coming, "I don't know, Alyssa, tan and pooh? Something like that, I don't really remember?" I love those colors, don't you? The conversation ended right there. I have yet to see the invitation that is stashed away in the deep pit he calls a console in his work truck. (I used blue and pink everyone could tell who was talking). I love men, I really do. Most conversations are likethis. Me feeling like pulling out his teeth would be easier than getting information, and my beautiful husband offering up nothing unless I drill him endlessly, and only then the details are vague, like someone who had gone drinkinng the previous night, and yet, he hasn't.

I know they don't care about the details, but I do. I love details, maybe it's just the woman in me, but I like knowing details on everyday happenings and I need to know the details of important things, but they don't offer up details on important things either. Josh will say, "Oh, you didn't know that? Everyone else did." Nope! No one told me.":) I need to figure out which questions to ask, and what I need to throw in the towel on, I guess! Just another little tidbit from everyday life.

I hope your week is starting off well! Have a blessed day!

Alyssa

New Life

It seems like it's been forever since I wrote a blog, a week and a day to be exact. To tell you the truth, there hasn't been much to write about, even this will be short! I've been working long hours this week, well not too long by normal standards, but when you work in a daycare 9 to 4 might as well be 48 hours straight.

I'm only posting because I feel guilty, although, like I said, only three people read this,and one of them that reads what I have to say is enjoying herself in Hawaii right now, at least, I hope she still is. And the other, who will not read this for awhile, just brought a new life into this world, and that is the reason for my post!

I am so excited to say that I am officially an Aunt, and Josh is officially an uncle! No, my 17 year old brother did not impregnate a young girl, and no, my sister-in-law katie, did not get pregnant at college. So really, I'm not an aunt by blood, but in my heart I definitely am. I found out via myspace that my soul friend Danae had her baby, which might I add was over due 10 days, this afternoon. I haven't gotten a call, or an e-mail, but I'm pretty sure Will and Danae are drinking in every possible breath, and every amazing quality that Abbeigh exudes. She's beautiful, I just know she is. That little girl has alot of love surrounding her, even from so far away. Josh and I are so excited to watch her grow, and I'm even more excited for Will and Danae. There is so much hope for a new soul, so much promise. Life is such a blessing. So here's to a beautiful, brand new life!

Have a blessed Friday and remember all the gifts God has given us!

Alyssa