NINE YEARS

John and Elizabeth Evans

Bountiful LDS Temple, January 25, 2002

Nine years ago today I married the most amazing man in the world. We have been through a lot together in the last 9 years that I don’t think a lot of people ever have to deal with in their first few years of marriage (or maybe they do and I just don't know it...) Unemployment, depression, disappointments, deaths of close personal friends and family, strange neurological diseases, multiple car accidents… and several other things. Our marriage hasn’t been easy, but really who’s ever is. But the one thing that has gotten me through all of this is having John beside me. I truly did marry my best friend. Sure, life isn’t perfect all the time and there are those days when there is just nothing to say to each other, but even those quiet moments are nice, as long as we’re together.

I just know that I love John more deeply now than I did the day I married him. He is my sunshine in my darkest moments. I love his faults and his strengths. I love his lights and his darks. I love how he sleeps and I love him when he is awake. I love the sound of his voice and his presence in the silence. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t miss him when he’s gone or touch him when he’s near. I must truly be one of the luckiest girls in the world.

Thank you for marrying me John.



He is the half part of a blessed man,

Left to be finished by such a she;

And she a fair divided excellence,

Whose fullness of perfection lies in him.

William Shakespeare - Act II - Hubert, scene ii

I found them. I found them. I found them!

"Found what?" you may ask... and my answer is:

These!!

Many of you may not know that once upon a time I had a pair of shoes that I loved. They were Ox Blood Red Dr. Martins Mary Jane's with decorative die-cuts across the toes with a silver buckle. Such beautiful shoes.

I got them as a gift from a member of the Annandale Ward in Annandale Virginia. Her name was Sister Mertz. One evening while my companion and I were at their house for dinner Sister Mertz asked me what size shoes I wore. I answered that I wore 8.5 and she said she had some shoes in her closet that would probably fit and that she never wore. She disappeared for a short while and soon re-emerged with these shoes in her hand.

My shoes in their first and last trip to Washington in July 2009

It was love at first sight. The Ox Blood red caught my eye and my heart. They were perfect shoes for me, they fit perfectly, they were my style, they slipped on and off with ease. Ah! I loved them. I have even composed poetry about them. But Alas, as all things in this world go, they reached the end of their usefulness. They were pretty much dead in 2008, but it took me a whole other year to throw them away. I was so attached to those shoes.

Since then I have looked and looked to find a new pair of those shoes. I have bought shoes that might be okay, and shoes that were cute, I even bought a pair of Union Jack Boots that I love now, but they can't replace the shoes I miss. My sister-in-law even bought me red Mary Jane slippers to help fill the gap, but it just wasn't working.

Most of these shoes I have bought to replace the dead ones are junk. They have been Payless shoes, or clearance DSW shoes, and Target shoes... but they just don't cut it. One pair fell apart, one pair stretched so now they don't fit, and the other pair wreaks havoc on my poor knees.
Not to long ago at dinner I said to John "I need new shoes." and he didn't argue, stating that shoes are a necessity of life and if I need new shoes just buy some... He didn't know what kind of can of worms that opened. I decided that if I buy another pair of shoes I'm buying some GOOD shoes. While perusing the Dr. Martin website I found the shoes above. And I knew they were for me. So red, so shiny it was like being in the Mertz apartment all over again, falling in love.

Peaches and Cream Barbie

I had to have her.

For the 50th Anniversary of Barbie, Barbie is releasing 50 of the most popular barbies for the last 50 years. A few months ago I walked through the Barbie isle at the local department store and there, on the shelf, in all her hot pink Glory, was Barbie from Barbie and the Rockers. I almost bought her, but I didn't really need her, besides, I had the red headed Rocker (I don't remember her name) She wore this Jazzy green outfit with tight green pants and an off the shoulder halter top. This outfit eventually ended up on Grandma Hart (I think she may still be wearing it up in my storage) ... Anyway back to the original tangent... I passed on Barbie and the Rockers because she just didn't hold that many good memories for me.

But yeaterday as I was out buying John some socks for his birthday, I passed through the barbie isle.... and There She Was. Beautiful in her peach evening gown, her blond hair so new and shiny, the diamond necklace, the diamon ring, and yeas, even the gaudy diamond earling. She is perfect. I had to have her.

I have such fond memories of Peaches and Cream. I don't think she was my first Barbie, but she is the first one that I really remember ever being MINE. I've gotten older, but I have never grown out of my barbies. Sure, I don't pull them out and carry on soap operas that last for months... (or even years) any more, but once in a while I do pull them out. For the old ones they get a good loving as I change their clothes or comb their hair. I laugh at all the Good memories associated with them and even some of the bad.

I remember loving Peaches and Cream Barbie to her death. Her head splitting up the sides, her hands bent and chewed on, her hair so dull and stringy... Even her pretty dress I remember being ripped so may times, faded with being left in the sun, and the bodice cracked and falling to bits because it was loved so much. The joy of having a toy that was so important to me. I loved her... and now she's back again for another ride, and I couldn't be more excited. But this time, she probably isn't going to come out of the box.

As I have gotten older I have switched more in to the collector phase with the new Barbies that I buy. I seem to get a new one every few years. There is the African American Holiday 1999 Barbie, The Irish Princess Barbie, Sleeping Beauty Barbie, The X-Files Barbie and Ken set (John gave it to me for our 7th wedding anniversary) And now, Peaches and Cream.

He He He!

Wonderful news everyone! Hilda* will be out of the office for 2 weeks. This makes me so happy I could do a caper of joy!
caper... caper... caper!



All views expressed are my own and not that of Coventry Health Care.

*name has been changed to protect my job :)