Some pictures from today...Thanks Amanda!

A Dissertation on Thankfulness, by the Grinch

Yes, I am the Grinch, or Scrooge, whatever you want to call me. I have been so fussy this holiday season. Instead of being thankful this Thanksgiving, I was feeling sorry for myself. I was really hoping to be pregnant by now and announce it to the world at Thanksgiving. I'm not. I was thinking about various other things that have occurred over the past year and how my budget for Christmas presents this year is pretty much nonexistent, how I still have 34 pounds to lose, how I wish I could spend my Grandfather's last Thanksgiving with him, how I missed Hattie Pearl's southern cornbread dressing, etc. To top it all of, last night I was putting up Christmas decorations and I got into a huge fight with several strands of Christmas lights. The Christmas lights won.

I needed a break and we happened to need an angel at the top of our tree, so I took a little drive over to Walgreen's to pick one up. I went into the store, grabbed an angel tree topper, and took it to the check out. There was a middle aged man at the check out who turned around to help me. I did not realize there was anything wrong with him until he spoke to me. He asked me how I was doing and it was obvious that he was stricken with some type of very severe muscular disease, maybe multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy. I don't know, but I'm sure my mom could tell me. I spoke back to him and looked at his name tag. His name was Dwayne. I watched him struggle to ring me up and try his best to give me my total in an understandable voice.

I went out to the car, thought about what a pig I am, and cried. I worried about Dwayne. I hoped he had a supportive family and people that loved him. I thought about how he could easily be at home on disability, but how he chose to work and contribute instead. I thought about how hard it must be for him to do a simple task, like restock an item on the shelf, and how many times he must have to repeat himself on a daily basis, so that the people around him could understand him. I thought about how many people might have teased him throughout his life. And here I was feeling sorry for myself. Shame on me.

Then I got home and Sibley wanted me to read a story to her from the Friend. The scripture at the beginning of the story was 2 Corinthians 9:7. It says, "God loveth a cheerful giver." I thought about how Dwayne was a cheerful giver, because he gave me the gift of thankfulness this Christmas season. Then I enjoyed the rest of the night decorating my house for Christmas with my healthy family and laughing at Bryant's jokes. I loved hearing the excitement in their voices and seeing them happily go about hanging stockings and Christmas ornaments. As I helped hang the ornaments, I remembered all the Christmases gone by and how much my parents, siblings, and grandparents loved me and supported me. I remembered going with my Daddy to chop down Christmas trees, helping my mother decorate the house, eating dinner and watching football at my Grandparent's house, cramming into Georgia's bed with all of my brothers and sisters and convincing Joe that Santa was on our roof, leaving cookies for Santa, etc. I could go on and on. I'll just stop here and say that I am so excited to go to Alabama for Christmas and very sorry I was so fussy on Thanksgiving. I am a very lucky woman. Thanks Dwayne.

Skyler's Holiday Music Concert

Chef Bryant

Bryant surprised me this Thanksgiving when he asked me to make a Jello mold. (I have some beautiful old Jello molds that were my maternal grandmother's. I never knew her, so they are very special to me. I also love to look at her handwriting in her old cookbooks. And some of her ruby red lipstick was still on her old crystal, but has now worn away. Anyway, I am getting way off subject.) Then Bryant surprised me even more when he told me he wanted to make the Jello mold. Here's the end result. I was very impressed. I'll be asking him to help me in the kitchen more from now on, since I know what he's capable of.

All About Skyler

San Xavier Outbuildings

Here are some pictures of the courtyard, the ceiling, and a tiny little chapel. Another thing I love about Mexican architecture is the courtyards. The ceilings are made of cactus ribs and Mesquite wood. I had Bryant take the one of the window so that I could show y'all the thickness of the walls.

The Plaza at San Xavier

As is often the case with missions in the Southwest, near San Xavier is a plaza in which shops and little restaurants are located. I took a couple of pictures of the dogs because every time I go to an Indian or Mexican market in the Southwest, there are always cute dogs lying around having "siestas." I love how the vendors and store owners always bring their dogs to work with them. In the plaza yesterday, there were traditional Aztec dancers from Mexico City. Check out the videos. Their head dresses were amazing.

Inside San Xavier

The nave is incredible. There are statues of saints and beautiful, original frescoes on either side. The western transept has an effigy of the body of Saint Francis. As you can see, San Xavier is still an active Catholic church and many pilgrims come and pray to the Saints for protection. Do you see the items pinned to Francis' clothes? Bryant took a picture of me sitting in the eastern transept.

San Xavier Del Bac Mission

Yesterday Bryant and I went to Tucson and I finally got to see the San Xavier Mission. He had to go for business, so we got a babysitter and I tagged along. Just this week, while I was substituting, I learned about the mission and how it was founded in 1693 by Father Kino, an Italian Jesuit priest. Here is a little section I copied from the official Mission website:

The present church was built from 1783 - 1797 by the Franciscan Fathers Juan Bautista Velderrain and Juan Bautista Llorenz. Little is know about the actual labor of the construction of the church, who was the architect, who were the artisans, but many believe it was the Tohono O'odham who fulfilled these roles. Why the one tower was never completed is still a mystery, but hopefully one day this question will be answered.

San Xavier Mission is acclaimed by many to be the finest example of mission architecture in the United States. It is a graceful blend of Moorish, Byzantine and late Mexican Renaissance architecture, yet the blending is so complete it is hard to tell where one type begins and another ends.[end of excerpt]

Let me just say something. If you live in Arizona, and you have never been to the San Xavier Mission, then shame on you! You should stop reading this right now and pickup and go. I am totally, 100% serious. It was an incredible experience. I have been in many beautiful, old buildings, but nothing compares to this. It is so unique because it was a marriage of Western European architecture to Desert Southwest elements. And it has my favorite feature of Mexican architecture, the small door inside the big door. Does anyone know what that is called? If so, please tell me. The chubby girl in front of the door is me, but I am 6 pounds lighter than I was a couple of weeks ago. At this rate, I should be back to normal in 12 weeks.

A Tag About the Love of My Life

name: Bryant Kay Slade
(Yes, his middle name is Kay. I know that is a girl's name in the South, but it can be a boy's name out West. Just like Ashley, Sidney, Shelby, and Lindsay can be boy's names in the South. Actually, it is his paternal grandfather's middle name that he goes by because his first name is Erastus. Don't tease Bryant about it or he will show you that a man named Kay can and will kick your butt.) [Bryant inserted the last two sentences.]

How long did you date before you were married? Met in August and soon started dating. Got married 6 months after we met.

How long have you been married? 11 years


What does he do that surprises you? He is really quiet, unlike me. So, sometimes when he comes home I don't hear him and he walks behind me and scares me half to death and I scream my head off, almost faint, etc. I know that is a run on sentence. Sorry. I all of the sudden think I am William Faulkner or something.

What is your favorite feature of his? It is hard to pick just one thing. I love his blue eyes and his hair when he cuts it really short with the clippers, like right now. I love how tall he is. He is just such a big, manly man. I still love to sit in his lap. I don't care if every seat in the house is open, I am heading straight for his lap. He probably doesn't enjoy it so much these days, since I am so much heavier. Also, he always smells good. I love his smell.


What is your favorite quality of his? I love his playfulness. He is so good about playing with the girls. He and I flirt with each other all the time too. And I really love it when he speaks Spanish. I think it's hot.

Does he have a nickname for you? Sweet Pea

What is his favorite color? White, I guess, because he loves to wear a plain white Tee shirt.

What is his favorite food? He probably likes Mexican food the best. He loves taco or enchilada night.


What is his favorite sport? He LOVES Nascar and football - college and professional.

When and where was your first kiss? my apartment in Provo, probably in September or August after we met

Favorite thing to do as a couple? I don't know because we like to do such different things. I really love it when he goes to Yoga with me or takes me to look at a house, but he likes totally different stuff. I will ask him what he likes to do the most. He would probably say driving range or golf course, and I enjoy both of those things too.

Do you have any children? Yes, 2 girls

Does he have a hidden talent? He is great with animal noises and really any sound effects in general. His family teases him because that is what he always did for talent at family home evening. And he still loves to do it. He makes sound effects any chance he gets. It's very endearing. I think everything he does is cute, though.

I remembered some of his other talents that might surprise y'all. He is very good with big machinery. He can operate a tractor, forklift, backhoe, sawmill, etc. with no problem at all. He can also weld.


How old is he? 33


Who said I love you first? I honestly don't remember, but I am guessing him because I made it a point never to say it first to a boyfriend.


What is his favorite type of music? He used to love punk rock, but now I catch him listening to country quite a bit. He loves Pink Floyd and Lynard Skynard.


What do you admire most about him? So many things, hard to say just one. I admire his parenting skills. He is also a good story teller. That's why I always make him tell my stories for me. Also, he is much cleaner and quieter than I am. He is much better at making big decisions than I am too. And he's better at Math and a million other things. He is really funny too. He makes me laugh almost constantly. And he is good at keeping secrets. He fries eggs perfectly. He does a better ponytail than I do. He sews and irons better than me. The list goes on and on. I'll stop now.

Do you think he will read this? Yep. He likes to read what I write. I never let him until I am finished, though.


I am tagging Melissa, even though she never does my tags, Donna, Alaina, and Caroline.

Uncle Randall

Bryant's Uncle Randall passed away last week. Many years ago, while in the Army, he contracted Hepatitis, which eventually led to Cirrhosis of the Liver. He had been suffering for a long time. He was only 58 years old and he left behind a wife and three children. Randall and Gwen's brother, Kirk, and one of Randall's sons spoke at the funeral. They did a great job and it was a beautiful service. I'll try and get Bryant to come on and write some things about his Uncle Randall. To simply say that he was a good man would be a huge understatement.

Old pictures, but new to me...

When I was in North Carolina, I copied some of Jenny's pictures of my maternal grandfather. His name was Columbus Harold Brown and he died right as I graduated from high school. (My nephew, Cole, is named after him.) I wish he would have lived to meet Bryant because they would have gotten along so well. He was a rancher and loved to watch old Westerns, just like Bryant does. And my Grandy used to fly in his bulls, horned Herefords, from John Wayne's ranch, which is located really close to where Bryant grew up in Arizona. I love to drive by the ranch now and think about the connection. Grandy had an Animal Husbandry degree from the University of Georgia and was a huge Georgia fan, so I know he was smiling down on Josh when Josh got his PhD from his alma mater. He also served in WWII all over France and Germany as an anti aircraft gunner. Anyway, I especially wanted to put this childhood picture of Grandy on my blog so that Jacob and Ashley could see it. They both look so much like him. He had the most beautiful dark skin and eyes. He was 6'2, just like my other grandfather and just like Bryant. I love the picture of him holding the baby. I was just really excited to get my hands on these old pictures and wanted to share. I thought a lot about him when we drove through the areas where he lived, in northeast Georgia and South Carolina.

Photos of my Grandfather

The one of him when he was younger was taken as he was being sworn in as Probate Judge. The others were taken last month. It was so good to spend time with him and Grandmama in Alabama. I got to cook for him, which I especially enjoy, since he has always cooked for me. He really liked Baby Lucas. He even had Grandmama go and find his camera so that he could take some pictures of him.

Surprise!

My sister, Jenny, called me Wednesday before last and told me she found a cheap ticket from Phoenix to Charlotte, North Carolina. We had not seen each other in two years and I had never met her baby. She was planning on driving down to Alabama to visit my grandfather, since his health is declining rapidly and he probably won't live to see us at Christmas. Since Jenny's husband is a college football coach, him taking a weekend vacation with the family during football season is just not an option. She really needed my help during the voyage and I sure wanted to see her and the rest of my family. So, Bryant told me he wanted me to go because he knew how important it was for me to get to say goodbye to my grandfather. I left on Friday morning and flew back in on Thursday. We decided we would surprise everyone and not tell them I was coming with her. My mother and other sister, Georgia, were worried sick about her traveling alone with the kids and my mother offered to fly up there and drive down with her, but Jenny declined. They called several times during the trip to check on her, and the kids and I would just hush until she hung up the phone. Bryant, being the genius that he is, suggested that I put on the infamous T-shirt. So I did. Here is a video of me surprising Georgia. I didn't get a video of me surprising my mother, but they had the exact same reaction anyway. And here is a picture of me with my sisters. We were all tired and grungy, but very happy to be together. I also found this old picture of the three of us together at Jenny's wedding.

Meeting Lucas

On my trip, I got to meet my 6 month old nephew for the very first time. He is such a cute little boy and has the best temperament. Here is a picture of him in his little piggy costume on Halloween, one of he and Emily, and one of him in Grandmama's exersaucer, which he really liked.

Fall Foliage

Fall foliage is one of my favorite things in the world. When I was in high school, my FBLA club took a trip to Louisville, Kentucky for a conference at this time of year. The Appalachians in the Fall is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. So, I was pretty excited to get a chance to see the Upper South in Autumn again. The leaves were peaking in the Carolinas, but were just starting to change in Alabama. (The ones I took in Alabama are of the blue house and the bridge. You can barely make out some hints of red and yellow in those.) I wish we could have stopped and taken some pictures along the interstate, but with three small children in the car, we weren't stopping unless it was an absolute necessity. I was pretty much salivating when we drove by King's Mountain and Cowpens, two Revolutionary War battlefields in North Carolina, but we just couldn't stop. I'll have to check those out on the next trip. The pictures don't nearly do it justice, but they'll have to suffice.