What a difference!

In my previous post--Tag--I mentioned that it bugged me to get up before 8am. I didn't think much of it until today, when I thought to myself, "Wow! Does that really say 8am?!" That's AMAZING! Why? Let me rewind my life a bit and let you in on a little secret--Robyn before Annabelle.
Let's go back to any given Monday prior to 5 September 2007. I never woke up to an alarm--there was never a need. I would roll over and look at the clock: "9:00 am?! Thank goodness I have another hour!" Then I would drift in and out of wonderful sleep until about 10 am, at which time I would eat a yogurt, get dressed, and head to the gym at 11. It was fantastic working out at 11: fewer people, semi-entertaining TV playing above the treadmill for my viewing pleasure, exercising alongside stay-at-home moms rather than attention-seeking singles who strut their stuff to the drinking fountain between each set in order to a) look at themselves in the mirror or b) look at someone else in the mirror. It was ideal. I would head home between 12 and 12:30 to eat lunch: A frozen Lean Cuisine meal from the freezer. I love having a hot and nutritious lunch ready in 3-5 minutes! From there I would shower, curl my hair to perfection, apply my make-up, and make my way to the closet where I would choose from an assortment of dress pants and cute shirts, purchased from Express and Dillards to name a few. Throw on some 3-inch high-heeled boots and I'm out the door to Discover Card! Most days I would make it on time by 2. Other days, when I'd drift in and out of sleep until 11, I'd report for collections duty at 3. Such felxibility! I'd begin my day by a) heading to the cafeteria to get some water b) checking my email and c) checking my stats (in my defense, I was fairly competitive and wanted to peform well). I would take calls for a few hours, while simultaneously catching up with co-workers. Then when 6:30 or 7 came around, it was time for some good reading--Bring out the US Weekly, In Touch and Life and Style! Catching up on celeb gossip while negotiating with people who tell me, "You can't get blood from a turnip," was something I managed quite successfully: "Well sir, we here at Discover Card didn't issue a credit card to a turnip." Flip, flip, flip through the pages of my chosen mag. After work I'd head home, watch some TV while Josh studied, and go to bed around 11 or 12. I spent many days just like this one--2 years to be exact! Josh would tell you days like these will suck the soul right out of you :) I may have allowed a bit of that to happen.
Now here I am. This morning I woke up at 7:49am. I made my way into Annabelle's room. She was standing up in her crib, eager for me to come in and begin our day. I change her stinky diaper without a problem, but when I have to get something out of her nose I nearly vomit--How much sense does that make? I feed her a chocolate chip Eggo waffle, and rather than a yogurt I simply finish what she doesn't eat. We play around in our PJ's, read some books, and put the llama, bunny and chicken back into their stable at least a dozen times. Then she naps and I make an attempt to be social--getting onto Facebook and Blogger to check for updates :) I decide since we're not heading out into real civilization today, there's no need for curls and lip gloss, not to mention the 3-inch heels! My Pants and shirts from Express still hang in the closet, but I reach for the drawers instead, and lift out my Barq's Root Beer Tee I bought for $18 at the Coke store. At least if I get berry applesauce on this I'm not out $50, right?! The remainder of my day is filled with cleaning, pushing the stroller outside for exercise, diaper changing, playing at the playground, reading, and actually enjoying quiet time with Annabelle. I haven't bought a supermarket tabloid in months, and the three magazines sitting atop my ottoman are "Woman's Day," "Experience Life," and "Martha Stewart Holiday."
What a difference! I feel so different from the person I was 2 years ago. I feel that I now understand what is truly important, and why. I always knew it, trust me. But I wasn't living as though I knew it. I wouldn't trade my Root Beer Tee for my 95% silk, ivory babydoll in a million years. I love being with my daughter. I love the feeling of having really hard days because I know that growth can come from that. It is better than having 104 pretty good days, where my only trial is getting an elderly woman on a fixed income to pay her monthly minimum. It's challenging that's for sure, but it doesn't make me a better person and better prepared for life in the hereafter. And with everything there is to do, you better get up by 8am or you're going to run out of time and get your soul sucked right out of you! :)

Tag!

Thanks for the tag Britny--Here you go!

10 Things that bug me...
1:Clothes being removed from the dryer and thrown into a basket without being folded! I'll wash them all over again if it happens--true story!
2:Car problems, including but not limited to: changing the oil, getting gas, checking tire pressure, having conversations with mechanics, etc. Yuck!
3:Cynicism.
4:Bad grammar. Sorry, I majored in English :)
5:The 30-minute commute to Lifetime Fitness.
6:Waking up before 8am.
7:Little kids with runny noses in dance class (I spend half the time getting tissue for them so it won't drip on the dance floor)!
8:The fact that my house gets messy within 1 hour of cleaning it.
9:Attempts to alter the Constitution
10:Ignorance

10 things that make me happy...
1:Joshua Shane and Annabelle Alyse
2:My mom and the rest of my entire family (in-laws included)! My mom just gets a special mention because you won't find a better mom in the world!
3:Laughing and spending time with my friends.
4:Exercising.
5:Writing.
6:Doing things that make me feel like a good mom: praying with Annabelle, reading to her, taking her on walks, taking her to different places and sights, giving her opportunities to play with other kids, etc.
7:Reading. I love reading stories and experiences of mothers. I love reading about the gospel. I love reading classic literature.
8:Living the gospel and being a good example to my daughter.
9:Teaching children's dance.
10:Dancing.

I tag Lisha, Brittany, Amy and Sarah

Sundays...as a mother

This past Sunday was extremely difficult! Annabelle is very energetic, and loves to be on the move! Furthermore she's about as speedy as they come--I've actually had complete strangers make comments to me about her quickness and efficiency in crawling. Lately this has presented quite the challenge at church. I am sure every mom has been through this and understands to a certain extent, but I swear I felt every ounce of strength and composure oozing out of me, second by second.

As mentioned earlier, I have been having car issues. Therefore we didn't have a car available on Sunday, which was fine because it's not a long walk and the weather was beautiful! Not a long walk? Right. Have you ever been standing on the strip in Vegas, and said to yourself, "Oh that hotel is just right there, just up the street. Let's walk"? Well if you have, you understand that though the sign of the hotel appears to be very close, it's not--it takes forever and the reason it seems to take forever is probably because they make the signs REALLY huge...so it looks like it's right there. I think the same principle applies to my church. Granted there's not a huge sign, but there is a steeple, and there are not a lot of obstructions to block that steeple...hence, it looks like it's right there. Well, as I'm sure you've already guessed, I severely underestimated my travel time. I also wore high-heeled boots! Yes...I arrived 35 minutes late with blisters. But hey, I still have nothing on the pioneers, so I wasn't too upset.

However Annabelle made it through only 5 minutes of Sacrament before I had to take her out kicking and screaming. I decided it's not a good idea to reward her behavior by letting her down in the foyer to play, so I kept her on my lap. I have previously tried toys, books, food, drinks, etc. Bottom line: She wants to be on the move. It took all the physical strength I had to keep her there--my biceps, abs and lower back were sore the next day, no lie! It took all the emotional strength I had--enforcing a rule in a public place, and wondering what people are thinking is a bit intimidating and difficult. It took all the mental strength I had--how many times have you thought to yourself if what you're doing, if the direction you're going with your child is the right one? I started wondering why I had even decided to come. I wasn't hearing anything; I was exhausting myself; Annabelle wasn't getting anything from it, other than frustration; I didn't want her associating bad feelings with church. AHHHHH! I was at a breaking point, water works seconds away.

The only part of the meeting I managed to hear was a song: How Firm a Foundation. It was all I needed to hear that day, and somehow I heard it: "Fear not I am with thee, oh be not dismayed. For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand. Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand." I ended up having to leave church early--Annabelle went into full-blown tantrum mode in the beginning of RS. But as we were walking home, I repeated this song over and over in my head. It prevented me from going into full-blown tantrum mode myself!

Being a mother has its good days and challenging days--we all know they're never bad, right?! At times I find myself wishing she could be in nursery, so I could enjoy RS again. But then I realize that the older Annabelle gets, the more she will move and grow farther away from me, and I can't even stand the thought! How is it possible to feel two different ways simultaneously--Not wanting to let them go, not wanting them to feel pain, or to be under someone else's influence, yet wanting them to grow in independence, strength and wisdom? Talk about opposite ends of the emotional totem pole! So, as I was about ready to bawl my eyes out because of how overwhelming she felt to me that day, so too will I be ready to bawl my eyes out when she has to leave me, and go into nursery. I have only 4 1/2 mos. left with my baby before she goes! How can I make each day and each Sunday something to cherish because it's coming to a screeching halt so quickly? How can I do better than I did last Sunday? I was reading a book called, "The Mom's Club Diaries." Allyson Condie writes, "There's only one thing to be done. It's called Second Prayer...That's when I get back out of bed again and pray again, a second time, asking for help to do better the next day, to have more faith, to trust more that all of this is going to turn out beautifully someday. More patience, more faith, more trust...And blessedly, there is someone there who is willing to listen to Second, Third, and Hudredth Prayers, all through the years, and who has thought this through, every step of it." Sometimes one prayer each night just isn't enough.

Boom...Incoming!

Last week Josh was sent on a mission. He arrived at a small base to spend the night, and by small I mean bunk beds and frozen food for meals! That's right, no Chow Hall! Josh and a few other men were outside when they heard a humming, followed by a BOOM! One man looked at Josh: "Incoming or outgoing?" Josh's reply? "Definitely incoming!" They began making their way to their equipment, when they again heard a humming, followed by a BOOM! This time it was closer. Josh rushed to put on his vest when he heard AND felt the humming, followed by a BOOM, and the ground shaking beneath him. They were being attacked by mortars! Josh explains it like this: "We didn't take it lying down! Well only at first to avoid shrapnel." :)

Within minutes the American soldiers began firing back. Josh couldn't see anything, but went to a location where he could see which direction the others were firing. Then he began firing as well. During the chaos, the sniper ran out of ammo, and Josh rushed to the tower to re-supply him. Josh described the machine gun as Extremely loud! Our American soldiers fought off the the bad guys with over 3000 rounds! To finish it off, a 500 lb. bomb was dropped--courtesy of an F-18. Yeah for the RED, WHITE AND BLUE!!! Thank you Josh--YOU are my American hero. I couldn't be more proud of your actions and your courage. I am honored and blessed to be married to such a wonderful MAN! Hoo-ah!

If you can even believe this, Josh went inside and hit the sack--fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow! He said he felt completely exhausted in every way. Still...if it were me, I'd be sitting up straight, listening for any and all noises, and firing my weapon on every spider, mouse, and alarm clock in the building :) It actually shouldn't surprise me that he fell asleep so quickly; there have been many nights when I have talked to myself in bed because he can't stay awake once he lies down! :)

The following morning they loaded up the HUMVEES and began their mission, only to discover the HUMVEES were too large to make it through the narrow, rocky terrain. In order to keep the antennas free from interference, Josh was using an axe to cut down branches and trees along the way! I told Josh: "Wow! You are twice the man you were four days ago!" His reply? "No Robyn, I am three times the man I was four days ago!" :)

Josh and I were so blessed this past week. We were both watched over and protected by our Heavenly Father. I am so grateful to have Josh as my husband. He is Amazing--a great source of strength and courage for me and for Annabelle. He is fighting every day for our freedom, for everything our country stands for. Many people tell me they don't know how I do it. I admit it is challenging and testing. But I have grown to love Josh more because of his selfless sacrifice for this country, for me, and for our daughter. To hear and learn of his bravery and dedication during life-threatening circumstances fills me with love, admiration and pride for the man I chose to marry. Deployment introduces you to aspects of your spouse's personality and character that you probably wouldn't have known otherwise. Josh is a stronger man, husband and father for being there. I am a stronger woman, wife and mother for being here. We are a stronger family because of our commitment to this great nation and our commitment to each other. It is a fight, but a fight worth fighting--and winning!

Close Calls

What a week!

My Car has been having issues for a while now, but I've been dreading getting it fixed. Nothing gets me more frustrated and stressed out than car problems, especially when my husband is gone and unable to deal with them for me :) On my way home from dance on Monday afternoon I was driving along SR-73 going 65 mph--the speed limit. I was approaching an intersection and the light had turned red. Two cars in front of me slowed to a stop, and as I pushed on my brakes to do the same, nothing happened--NOTHING! I slammed down on the brakes twice more and still nothing. In order to avoid slamming into them, I had to swerve into the oncoming traffic lane, run the red light, swerve back to the correct side of the road, and then coast to a stop. Miraculously there wasn't anyone in the oncoming lane and I made it through the red light without hitting anyone. Even more miraculously I didn't have Annabelle with me, and she was safe and sound with my mom at my house. After finally stopping I jogged back to the intersection, called my mom, then jogged to try and meet her halfway. AHHHHH! So scary!
Luckily I have a 2nd car because Josh is gone! However it's not insured or registered. I called and had it insured, then went to get it inspected and it FAILED! I headed to the Nissan dealership and what do you know? Not only is some crazy valve needing a replacement, but the brakes were just about ready to go! Two broken cars needing massive repairs! Just my luck, right? Actually I've had amazingly great luck, a.k.a blessings, throughout this whole ordeal!
1: I didn't have Annabelle with me!
2: I had a feeling I should wear my Skechers instead of my flip-flops to dance that day. Thankfully I was able to jog the distance from my car to the gas station, and from the gas station to my mom without difficulty.
3: Because I was coming from dance class, I was already warmed-up for a jog.
4: It happened on a Monday when my mom was with Annabelle and able to help (Tuesdays and Thursdays Annabelle is with a neighbor).
5: It happened during the day, rather than night!
6: It didn't happen at the previous intersection, which would've undoubtedly ended in an accident. For you locals I'm talking about the intersection with Smith's and Walgreen's. Phew!
7: Brittany was still in the hospital with Daisy, which freed-up my mom to watch Annabelle while I took the Maxima to get inspected and to the dealership (Brittany had a c-section, and my mom will need to be with her every day for 2 weeks...starting today, NOT Monday).
8: My brother-in-law, Brad, has towing equipment, AND had the night off!
9: My dad was in town (he's usually out of town 3 days out of the week).
10: I ended up needing a ride back to my mom's from the dealership, and Josh's mom was working 5 minutes away, and immediately left to come get me.
11: It's UEA this week, and therefore I have an entire week off from dance. Because I don't have anwhere I "need" to be, I now have the freedom and the time to get the car repairs done.
12: Josh and I have saved for a rainy day, and I have the money I need to get this taken care of.
13: Because of my mad negotiation skills and assertiveness (learned and perfected while working as a collector in the Charge-off dept. of Discover Card), I negotiated the mechanic from $968 down to $390! I'm still pretty amazed I have to admit. It took 2 days and 3 phone calls, all lasting at least 20 minutes, in order to achieve this feat! I'll not be ripped off :)
14: I have an AMAZING family and ward friends offering to help wherever they can. Thank you so much mom, Brad, Dad, and mom Bos! And thanks Brittany for giving up mom for a couple of days when she could've been at the hospital holding and feeding cute little Daisy! I am surrounded by the most selfless people you'll ever meet.
14: Thank you to my Heavenly Father for watching over and protecting me and Annabelle this week.
15: Thank you to my Heavenly Father for watching over and protecting Josh this week! While we were fighting our battle here, Josh was fighting quite a different battle in Afghanistan. More to come...

This week...and Daisy Kay!!

Brittany had her baby yesterday--Daisy Kay Simpson! She is absolutely adorable. I love her so much already. I am amazed how mellow she is. Paige was also very mellow. Annabelle was NOT mellow; in fact, within seconds of being born she looked like a tomato head and was screaming like an ol' steam engine. That was followed up with a four-month bout with colic. I know fussy babies like the back of my hand, I promise! My grandma remarked today: "She's so lively!" Yes! That's a perfect description! Of course I wouldn't have it any other way, and I love her to pieces! However I was certain Brittany would get a dose of "fussy" in this baby, and would therefore gain a little understanding of my experiences and emotions. But alas! Little Daisy is sleeping throughout the entire day! She fusses a little when getting a diaper change, but by fussing I mean three little squeals and she's out cold again :)

As Daisy's arrival was nearing, I started thinking about babies, and wanted to write a poem about some of my feelings regarding motherhood. I'll post it here...please don't copy or borrow without permission of course :)

In You

As we’re rocking I look into your eyes.
You smile. I smile.
I see in them your perfect trust, your faith in my care.
In them I see the woman I want to be.

As we’re talking I hear your voice.
You speak. I speak.
I hear through your voice curiosity, confidence, knowledge and humor.
In it I hear the purity I’d like to regain.

As we’re laughing I sense your joy.
You laugh. I laugh.
I sense through your joy happiness, well-being and fullness of the heart.
In it I sense that you are my joy, my source for becoming the pure woman I want to be.

In you I know perfection, fulfillment, transcendence.
In you I glimpse eternity.

--Robyn Elyse Bos--

This week was wonderful! I am feeling so happy and fulfilled. My dance classes are coming along, and this week I was able to finish teaching all five of my classes their choreography for the Christmas show--The Little Match Girl. Now I have the remainder of the time to focus on the details of each piece, making sure they are able to remember the dance and perform it with emotion, confidence and perfection (Yes I have the highest of high expectations) :) My Thursday class (3 and 4 yr. olds) is amazing! I was brought to tears last week while I was dancing with them. I can't explain it in words, but heaven on earth, joy, perfect innocence and love all come to mind. I am truly beginning to love them. I will post pictures soon!

Another moment that touched my heart this week occurred while I was reading one afternoon. I have been reading a book titled "The Best of Women's Conference," and I try to read one talk each day. I was reading "The Savior: An Example to Everyone" by Karen Lynn Davidson. She explained four things a woman will do if she accepts the Savior as her example. I will post them here because I feel all women can gain knowledge and instruction from her words:

1--She will, when she sees in the world a need for service or expertise, train for that service and then make the finest possible contribution as a professional or volunteer within the context of her other responsibilities.

2--She will accept His teachings concerning individual worth and dignity. She will see herself as a unique person, not subject to someone else's idea of the role she should play. She will find what is right for her and allow other women the same flexibility.

3--She will not accept the world's false limitations, the handcuffs that printed materials or broadcast materials would place upon her.

4--She will seek principally for His approbation and validation. She will not let her happiness or feeling of self worth depend on other human beings whose vision may be helpful on the one hand, but whose vision possibly may be limited, on the other hand, by...pervasive false influences.

She states, "To know that we are daughters of our Father in heaven should give us a tremendous sense of joy but also a tremendous sense of responsibility. I hope we can say to ourselves, "I am a daughter of my Father in heaven. As his daughter, I know that I am important because I am me. I know I am capable of great growth, capable of significant service. I will not cancel myself in any way by yielding to false influences that tell me that I am...a being of lesser worth or lesser ability. I know that the Savior's examples and teachings we to all people. I will please my Father in heaven by taking his daughters seriously."

I took this to heart. I think so many of us can do more to help build the kingdom of God on earth. It doesn't have to be limited to completing our VT, cooking dinner for a neighbor, etc. We all have talents and gifts from God that need to be put to use! I believe if we pray to Heavenly Father and ask for his guidance and direction, He will lead us to people and places that need what we, as individuals, can offer.

In closing...I'd like to say a big Hello and Thanks to Victor Vonde--one of the many men fighting alongside Josh in Afghanistan. Lots of Love from Robyn and Annabelle! I've yet to see anyone else pose with a gun so well! :)

Teaching Dance and Dancing!

I LOVE to dance! I LOVE teaching dance! I have been "out of dance" for a few years, and I honestly believed myself when I said I'd never set foot in a studio again. Why? It's a long story full of insecurities, self-serving teachers, and high peaks followed by low valleys. I can remember the day I quit--the feeling that a load of bricks was unloaded off my chest! Was it the wrong decision? Yes and no. I still believe I made the right decision to change my major--that's a no-brainer! I still believe I was ready to be done dancing at BYU--that too is a no-brainer! But was I ready to stop being a dancer? Probably not.
This past August I saw an ad in the local newspaper: "Creative Dance Teacher Needed." I missed dancing. I still felt like a part of me wanted to be connected to it all again. After all, I had danced for 15 years of my life! No wonder it still felt like a nagging part of me--"Hey! Listen to us! We're your dancing genes and we're rotting in here! Use us or lose us!" I knew when I saw the ad that if I was ever going to dance again this would be the perfect opportunity, especially given my long hiatus. I had been educated in modern dance, trained in modern dance, and I had assisted with BYU's creative dance program. I loved teaching the younger kids, and I knew I could still skip, jump, gallop, leap and slide like a seasoned pro, regardless of my hiatus! :) I made the call and the rest is history. I am now over the children's creative program and I am also substitute teaching a modern technique class while the instructor is on maternity leave. With hard work comes more work, right? Well it hardly feels like work (except when I'm planning lessons of course). But that is a small price to pay for the joy I feel when I go to class and dance with those beautiful, loving, innocent, and energetic children. I don't think anything can prepare you for the love you begin to develop for those you teach...or for those you serve for that matter. It is amazing.
...Which brings me to my current ponderment (yes that is a word): What can I do as a teacher to lift, inspire, and instruct in a lasting way? I don't want to simply teach skills and routines; I want to teach life and emotion and love and respect. I want to be an influence for good in their lives. Today I took a trip down memory lane and recalled a few of my favorite teachers. I tried to figure out what it was they did to permanently ensconce themselves in my mind and heart. Here's the little list of souvenirs I brought back from my "trip:"
Mr. Larson: 2nd grade. He taught me I should always hold on to my work until the report card was handed out! "Robyn, can I talk to you? I show here you've missed 10 assignments!" "What?!" I replied through crying eyes. "I have done all my assignments. I have them all in my backpack!" So I led him over to my navy blue "Marker" backback my dad got for me at the office, and I pulled them out one by one. Since then, I have kept everything handy until the grades are out!
Mrs. Westwood: 3rd grade. She taught me imagination and encouraged my naivete. "Our class will be taking a trip around the world!" She was taking us on "a trip around the world" to learn about different countries. I am sure you can picture the devastation that was my face when I showed up to school on "the day," and handed my passport to Mrs. Westwood at a makeshift gate in the hall. I'm pretty sure I even made it a point to bring some sunglasses! Mrs. Westwood also worked with me one-on-one in order to teach me to write left-handed, without turning my hand upside down :)
Mr. Burgoyne: 5th grade. He taught me to laugh at myself and not take things too seriously. Everyday I wore a red bow in my hair--I loved it! He nicknamed me "Robyn Red Bow," and for some reason it was endearing and affectionate...and I liked it.
Mrs. Springer: 9th grade. She taught me about Shakespeare!
Stacey Prince: Minerette instructor. She rose above cruelty, and because of her example I was able to rise above it as well. She taught me strength, poise, confidence, dedication, and perseverance.
Mrs. Bird: 10th grade English. She begged me to enroll in Honors English, believed in my abilities. I did not take her advice because "I didn't want the extra homework." I should've listened to her.
Jennifer Allen: Dance Company instructor. She taught me to believe in my abilities, and she saw my potential. She always rewarded hard work and dedication. She gave me freedom choreographically, and trusted my dedication to the company.
Mel Claridge: CDT director. Mel gave me a wake-up call! Because of Mel I actually began trying to dance better. He expected more from me than I had at the time, which led me to new places. He challenged me with his choreography. He inspired me with his music choices. He befriended me and everyone in our company in a lonely, big, college atmosphere. He showed me every day that he loved dancing. He gave me a spot on CDT, and then made me work to keep that spot. He taught me that things happen for a reason, even though that reason might not be favorable or understandable at the time. He taught me courage and forgiveness. He taught me to look inside myself, to question why I made the choices I did regarding dance. My fondest memories of dance can all be traced back to Mel, and to my CDT experience. Ironically, this was the time in my life when nothing (it seems) came easy, when I felt I was continuously fighting for something, and when I was called on to prove myself and my abilities. I could have allowed that to defeat me, to give up. But I didn't and I am grateful for those lessons.
Now for the request: I would love to hear about teachers you've had who made a lasting impact for good in your lives (I know we all have a few). Help me learn how to become a better teacher! Thanks!! :)

Smells

I can remember the smell of Josh's cologne vividly! Why so vividly, you ask? Well (no offense baby) but he is prone to push the squirt button one too many times when getting ready for the day! It takes me back to the long, miserable, hot and heavy days of pregnancy. I say hot and heavy in the literal context of course! :) Every morning I would wake to the strong smell of Giorgio Armani's Acqua Di Gio. Better than bacon? Not exactly. One morning, during a particularly bad wave of nausea, I decided it was time to nip this in the bud. "Keep the cologne in your car from now on! No more spraying in the house!" So like a good and faithful husband, respecting the crazy needs of his pregnant wife, he transferred all cologne bottles to the Maxima, giving even more credibility to its nickname--The Sexima (due to its unnecessarily pimped-out interior and fancy rims, NOT because of activities inside)!
As I was getting ready to teach dance this morning, Annabelle was busying herself in my closet. She loves hanging out in my room with me as I'm getting ready! She picks up the shoes one by one, shows them to me, and comments on what she likes. She is especially drawn to anything with sequins! This morning she ventured over to Josh's side of the closet. Soon enough she found the Acqua Di Gio and his smell was permeating throughout the entire house, just like old times :)
Only this time my reaction was quite different! I picked her up, gave her a big kiss and told her thank you for bringing daddy's presence back into our house today. It was wonderful and made me miss him even more.
Aren't smells amazing? Their power! They can take us back to memories we didn't even know were hibernating in our minds. They can make us feel someone's presence, as if they were standing right next to us. I am so grateful Josh has a "scent!" And you might say I'm bringing sexy back from the Sexima and into the house where it belongs!