ADDICTED

I have become addicted to blogging.

This morning as I drove Joe to work, he mentioned, "You know, if we got internet you would not be so bored. You could blog." (FIRST off, I am all for internet- he just has not gone through with it yet. SECOND off, I already blog.... I don't think getting internet in our home will help this habit.)

Although today brings a bit more change: Instead of the usual Mcdonalds from which I blog, I have moved to Barns and Nobles! Of course, I had to drive about 20 min from Chowchilla to Merced to come here. So this will not be a constant trip (only made because I needed to cash a check, and my bank is here, and pay rent)- but the surrounding of books, free internet AND electricity to charge my computer is quite inviting.

Last summer Joe and I went to the Santa Barbara museum to see the Butterfly exhibit. California is amazing in this way. We just have so many beautiful wonderful things. Like the Monarch butterflies that appear close to my home. =]

It was not a 'date' but it obviously was.

The weather in the California Central Coast has started to lead to the deathly heat I am afraid of. =[ But the nice warmth right now reminds me of last summer. =] Butterflies, hikes, beach bonfires, and lots of friends.

Radio

I drive joe to work, and the radio has become my new best friend as I drive back.

Today, they told me that it is processed meats, such as bacon and hot dogs, that lead to health problems- not red meat.

I knew it all along. I still like bacon.

Also, Cold stones has some Peanut Butter ice cream shake that is supposed to be the worst for you ever of drinks- containing over 2,000 calories, it has the sugar equivalent of eating 30 chocolate chip cookies.

That is a lot.

ALSO....I made split pea soup for dinner last night, because Joe has been requesting for it since about Thanksgiving.

I could not finish it- Joe loved it, I just find it hard to get past the fact that what you are eating looks like baby food. And the smell of "pork/ham" hauk disgusted me a lot.

I would prefer never to make it again.

ALSO ALSO....I was looking on craigs list for jobs, and they have a job listing for women 21-38 as surrogate mothers. Just 9 more moths...

Feminism

Yesterday as I was standing in line at the grocery store, the cashier made the comment that she hated being there, because of the light that got in her eye. (it was about 6'ish- so the sun was setting.)

The lady behind me was like, 'Oh yes, that is horrible- what is causing it? Oh a skylight- who would put that there?'

The cashier responded saying, "A man probably."

"Ya, someone who has never been a cashier" Added the woman behind me.

And I left. Astonished at the world.

POST

Posting has now become a way to procrastinate....

FUNNY THING IS---

1. I don't normally procrastinate

2. I don't really have anything to procrastinate FROM.

So... What does that make me?

Procrastinating from boredom?

"Sometimes, the only way to catch an uncatchable woman is to offer her a wedding ring."

While I was at school last fall Joe and I would often have skype dates- since he was in California and I was in Idaho, it was the best way to communicate- although roommates make it a bit troublesome, but some one of our best date was to watch Big Fish.

I love that movie. =]

"Sometimes, the only way to catch an uncatchable woman is to offer her a wedding ring."

Joe works from 8am- 5 pm, and since I have not found a job yet, I wait for him all day to get home. I do find many ways to occupy my time- from working out, to addressing thank you's, unpacking and cleaning- there is a lot to be done! But still, I have a lot of thinking time on my hand.

And what I think of, is that a year ago, Joe and I met. Most non- mormons are amazed at this- and it gets a bit awkward. Most Mormons are amazed at our 'long' six month engagement. But hey- it happens. =]

A year ago I met Joe. I got home from BYU-I in early April, but it took me a few weeks till I was finally convinced to attend the singles ward. I cannot recall an exact moment I met him- our singles ward was very involved with each other- every day we did things together, from FHE to volleyball, missionary nights to movie nights, murder in the dark to bonfires. We just were always around each other. But I noticed him. =] I had a sort of crush on him- but nothing serious, I just wanted to have fun that summer- and I still wanted to serve a mission.

About mid June'ish I stared to spend a lot of time with just Joe. We became really good friends who would rely on each other for everything, but still thought of each other as FRIENDS. Nothing more could ever happen, that crush I had was gone. One Monday he did not show up for FHE, and that night talking to him on facebook it was like this tsunami wave of reality hit me, I liked Joe and I HAD to tell him. It took me all until Wed to tell him- and it was at the our city's Strawberry festival. We were on the Ferris Wheel- the group we came with were an odd number, so we ended up going on alone.

It was the most random thing I have ever done. Scary, yes, but more like exhilarating. Him sitting next to me- the night started off with us just naturally parring off and wandering around on our own, and then he asked for my advice, he wanted to start dating again- which, naturally, I was very eager about. But it wasn't me he was thinking about- so I new I had to tell him I liked him, and it took me a good hour or two to get the courage up. He knew what I was going to tell him, he even told me he knew! I tried to say it- and I just looked at him with this smirk on his face, but he told me that I had to say it. So I told him I liked him. I jumped the hurdle, dropped out of the plane, pulled the trigger- whatever, I told him. And he said, "That makes two of us."

Butterflies. That was all it was. Butterflies in my stomach everywhere. I was so excited, and I had no idea what to do. =]

Sadly, this joy only lasted about another 36 hours. Friday morning some evil tornado threw my happy ever after upside down, and mine and Joe's frienship went dead for a few weeks. I won't say much about it... just that it was the most awkward time ever. We were still friends- still did things, but in groups- never really talking alone anymore... because of some other women. ugh.

[Side note- It's interesting hearing Joe's point of view about this now. He knew what he was doing was stupid, and that he hurt me and that he wanted to be with me. But these events made us grow stronger to each other some how)

Well anyways, after a bit of time, Joe and I were back to being BFF's. It just happened. We were always completely honest with each other, and even though neither one of us would admit it, we were both each others BEST FRIENDS. We talked daily, hung out daily. People thought we were dating, the elders, waitresses, cashiers, people in the ward. We basically were, but wern't. We even went on dates- but never did either of us say what they were.

Joe's feelings for me hadn't changed....he still liked me, be thought he had messed things up. So when I told him the next TWO times that I liked him, he just couldn't like me back. It hurt, but I got over it- because he was more important to have as a friend. Which is crazy now, but he meant- he means, so much.

A week before school started, and just 5 days before I left for Idaho, Joe asked me if I wanted to help him run some errands in Lompoc (where he is from, 20 min away from me) and have sushi. I said yes, of course. Joe acted odd the entire time. He wasn't talking like he normally did- and at dinner he could not stop starring at me. We went on a walk after dinner- another awkward silence. After a while he told me he needed to apologize, that he had been looking for the perfect women, always looking forward to the girl he married to be his best friend. He never thought that she would already be his best friend. He apologized, told me that he liked me, and asked if I liked him. =]

More butterflies. And the best feeling in the world.

After a quick slurpee run, we started dating. That night he kissed me. After so many nights of riding around in his truck, watching movies together, and always having that middle bench seat empty, it felt so good to be the one in it- next to him, with his arm around me- as it should have been all along. =]

That is basically our story. =]

Oh.....and

I really like that song, "Live like you were dyeing".

Some days I go and pick Joe up from work, and it is sort of fun- it is about 10 miles from our house, surrounded by 'ranches'. Rows upon rows upon rows of tree's filled with mostly almonds. Dirt roads that take me no where, but I roll down my windows and I smell warmth. People at his work are nice. His boss gave me free pistachios- I LOVE pistachios! =]

But anyways....that song, "Live like you were dyeing" was playing the other day, and it just made me happy!

"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
"To live like you were dyin'."

Today my crazy adventure: Attend to Joe's wounds. He is accident prone- in the last year he was able to get hung up on a fence by his left hand, broke his right hand, got his index finger stuck in the gear of his bicycle, and get an ATV rolled on top of him.

Not that crazy, but oi, that boy....

I love him. =]

I get around

My wonderful sister Maureen got her mission call! =] She has been called to the Phoenix Arizona mission! She leaves June 23rd! My parents are picking her up from Utah as we speak to bring her home for the next month. I am so excited for her. =] And she is wonderful enough to leave me with her microwave....so I am so grateful for a wonderful sister. But not just that...I know she will be a great missionary and I am so excited for her to be doing this! =] I love my sister Mimi.

Driving from Santa Maria to Chowchila a lot....

the drive, is not that pretty either.

It is quite simple. You drive north to Paso Robles. Turn and take the 41 past James Dean, veer left towards Fresno, past Kettlemen city- population of 1,000. And end at Chowchila. Golden Grass. Hills. Cows that smell. Scenery does not change once you get past Paso. Its quite sad

Yes.....It's nice to pass a piece of hollywood history.=]

It's funny driving with the dog, penny. She does not like cows.... so she will use the air vents in the car to smell where the cows are, and when we pass them she barks at them. It's quite entertaining.

We came home this weekend so I could participate in a Installation for Job's Daughters. It takes us about 3 hours to get home- well, a bit more than 3 but less than 4. It seems like a lot of work for some meeting....but I got fed out of it. =]

Chowchila land...

I have been here for two days. Don't have any pictures up- need to work on that. So far it has mostly been a lot of unpacking and getting organized and adjusted to things. Like, that the town is 17,00 in population...they have a riteaid, and that is really it. Which is funny, because even Rexburg has a walmart... that is a really small town to not even have a walmart. haha.

But Chowchila is not as bad as I first thought. It has sort of that little town charm. Not exactly star hollows, but a mix between that and Rexburg if it were closser to Mexico.

But we are close to a few big towns, and a temple 40 min away! Plus, Rite Aid has amazing ice cream. =] So I am ok.

Plus, it is my first home with my husband. That is fun to say. =]

Listen to Blog

Amazed

Mary Colleen Keelin Davis. My new name. Yes, it is a bit long now...but it is MY name. I LOVE it. =] I have this gorgeous ring set on my finger, and the most wonderful man I can call my Husband.

Bliss.

Our wedding day was perfect.

We drove down to LA thursday afternoon, met up with family, and spent the night there. It was overcast, but friday was a beautiful day. We had great weather a

ll weekend. The hills were green, and I was in love. =] Getting married in the temple is beyond blogging about. There are no words to describe it.

Just:

=]

I am happy. So happy. So incredibly happy that I am married to this wonderful man, Joseph Davis, for eternity. He is my best friend. When I was shopping for my wedding dress, the one person I wanted their opinion was him- not because he was my fiance, but because he was my best friend.

I married my best friend.

I love him. I have loved every minute being married. The funny thing is, that with all my other friends getting married and planning their weddings, I smile. Because looking back, it did not matter. Any of it. While I was concerned with getting addresses, and planning details- none of it matters anymore. The only thing that matters is that I am with Joe. Nothing else, and now I can see that. =] It is funny.

Find joy in the journey.

All I can remember about our wedding day is the warmth I felt. Everywhere. The sun, the temple, the way Joseph looked at me each time he saw me. The way my heart felt, the way his hands felt with mine- positive about what we were doing. The tears in both of our eyes- tears of joy. Happiness. Love. =] Our family. Our friends. The most important people of our lives standing outside the temple to greet the newlyweds.

Getting married was fun. Being married is a whole new adventure.

The following week we spent sort of camping, and spending time together. Then we went on a cruise to Mexico for a week. It was fantastic! So much fun. Joe got sick the last day, that was lame, but other than that- I have loved the start of my new life. =]

Joe has an internship this summer in Chowchilla, near Fresno- and he left this morning to find us a place to live and start work, and will return on Friday. So for this week I am back at my parents house, missing my husband. He does so much for me, he is wonderful. I love him, miss him, and cannot wait to be near him.

My flowers for our wedding were sunflowers. They are my favorite. They are beautiful. But most of all, they are vibrant. That is the way I want our life to be, Vibrant. Full of life and color.

And that is what it has been. =]