It's the final countdown, dun-dun-dun-dun-DUN-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun wooooah! Acey leaves two weeks from Tuesday for New Zealand. It's been hectic with everyone trying to jam in as much time with him as possible. Even being his sister, I've had to pencil myself into his schedule. 

     Disney World is a place that we all enjoy. Acey specifically requested one last trip with us all. We had the tickets purchased, Fast Passes arranged and everything was lined up. Until the biggest wrench was thrown into our plan. (This story is too good not to tell.)

    This past Thursday, Acey and a friend climbed 16 feet up into a tree stand to go deer hunting with his bow and arrow. Right before he stepped into the stand, a wasp buzzed around his head (apparently he is allergic, so que panic) and he frantically swatted it away. Well, with that motion he accidentally used the bow and arrow to poke the wasp nest. Naturally this caused an outcry and they began to attack him! He released his hold on the tree stand and fell to his doom in the underbrush beneath. He came out of it with a broken elbow on one arm and a broken wrist on the other arm. 

   But Disney could not wait, broken arms be danged! The 4 of us, decked out exclusively in BLUE, left for the happiest place on Earth. Acey was able to enjoy all of the roller coasters, shows, everything. We ate our packed snacks, tried 2 new restaurants and had 2 delicious Dole Whips. It's always a day filled with fun. 

    And here is our last sibling trip for a while. As I've said before, we are about to lose 50% of the original gang. It's a little sad and also very exciting. Life is always changing, never ever predictable. I really can't wait to see what's next.

Astro Orbiter:

Space Mountain:

Cinderella's Castle + Festival of Fantasy Parade:

Fantasyland:

Gaston's Tavern:

Dole Whip Magic:

Splash Mountain (Yes, we have ponchos):

Thunder Mountain:

Liberty Square (LOL at the one arm):

Disney After Dark:

Headshots w/ the Cinderella's Castle:

Round-Up

    Yup, that's me looking like a drowned rat after swimming for Labor Day. Ahhh man, what a nice relaxed holiday. We gathered with some friends for swimming, grilling, canoeing and general hanging out. As much as G and I love to be on the go, there is such a sweetness to lazing around. Big props to everyone who brought food and Ed+Cammie for letting us use their home.

    Look at these darling photo frames! My girls in Young Women are in charge of picking two monthly activities for all the girls in our auxiliary to participate in. This was what we did earlier this month, at my suggestion, but each young woman orchestrated their own personal style by painting, adding embellishment and various backdrops. We, obviously, have a lesson based on whatever we are working on, which this month is the value Faith. After some scheming on Pinterest I found this cute print of the scripture it's based on. It reads:

"... If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."

(Alma 32:21)

    First photo, me trying a new way to whiten my teeth. Second photo, while doing it all I could think of was, you guessed it, 'I look just like Gollum.' Third photo, a noticeable whiteness, hallelujah! 

    I had heard a suggestion for using activated charcoal (of all things) so that's what made me look like I hadn't ever brushed my teeth before. It was much worse creepier looking in person. After rinsing my mouth about 5 times to get all of the black sprinkling in my teeth, they shined like the North Star! Aren't you all so grateful I feel the need to document these parts of my life?

    

    What you can't see in this photo is the gallons upon gallons of water being dumped from overhead in a enormous red bucket. The sheer force from this was enough to knock anyone down, so we just sat to embrace the moment.

    Out of sheer luck, I wound up with extra tickets to a water park. Naturally I had to invite 4 of my most favorite sweet little boys (who really aren't that little at all) to come with. We had the most fun; I count my blessings for getting to share a family with them. They are the most cute, most energetic, most adorable boys/young men. So much love for spending time with them.

Pixiedust

    Walt Disney World. When I think of that place my eyes go all heart-shaped and my hair blows in the wind like Pocahontas. As a little girl, my family went one time when I was 6 years old. I remember turning in the tea cups until I thought I would step out and vomit. My only other memory is crying as we left the park that day because I didn't get to step inside Cinderella's castle. Mama promised that we would do that next time.

    Next time didn't come until many years later. Fast forward to age 21, Graham and I are hitched, he lost his job and since we didn't get to take a honeymoon we figured we would go down to the parks for a treat. For the first time I visited the 3 lesser known parks. Graham showed me every nook and cranny he could recall while I followed behind like a kid in a candy store. Whenever we were more financially secure, we bought annual passes to be able to go down on the weekends. 

    To this day, as many times as I have been, I still get a rush when we're pulling into the gates. The songs from all my favorite childhood movies are always rambling in my mind. Disney just gets me.

    Since things have been hard lately, as dumb as it sounds, it's really been a light in a dark place. (Please don't hate me critics of the world.) The two of us have driven to Orlando and came home with full bellies and smiles. It's been our own little get-away place.

    Well guess what? We were down there this past Saturday! Being the woman that I am, I paired us with matching shirts. (And for the first time since my 23rd birthday I wore my hair in a crown braid. It stayed the length of our stay so I was very pleased.) All day long we heard "Go Cubs!","Yeah cubbies!" "So what part of Chicago are you from?" Graham could not get it together- so when someone would call out in agreement to him he would take around 5 seconds to realize that they were referring to him and would then offer a half-hearted "Yeah! Cubs!" but the delayed response made it very awkward as he was already watching them walk off. We were laughing so hard by the end of the day, this little running joke of ours. He managed to do it within a respectable time frame once. Whoop! Go cubbies! 

    G made an excellent call to go to Animal Kingdom, which was completely empty. We tried to do/see/learn things that we hadn't before. We ventured into the conservation area, which we hadn't visited for a reason, it was good but boring. Of course, we couldn't leave without riding 3 of our fav rides: Everest (just me!), Dinosaur and Kali River Rapids. On the KRR the 2 of us ended up being the unlucky ones who happened to be seated in the chairs that were completely drenched! We ran around the rest of the evening looking like drowned rats, but it was nice for that humid, hot day. After that, we left for Epcot, with me scouring multiple food blogs for top picks for dinner. It was at Epcot that my dreams were made true by getting my staples: a French croissant with cheese and bacon, a creme brulee, a German chewy bar and caramel corn. G went for a Moroccan restaurant to grab some yummy lamb wraps (Yes I did try the lamb! Moist and tender). Seriously, foodies, get over to Epcot- there are so many delicious options! That's always my favorite thing to do when we get there :)

    Graham asked if Disney was an outlet for me, and it is! I have never went and had less than a fantasmic time (hehe, Disney fans will get the joke) Here is to another 6 months of uses with our passes. Friends, if you want to go/are going/get passes- yall know who to call!

    A beautiful rainbow over in Italy at Epcot :)

G is for Me

Right before we parted ways from our first date.

    I know everyone loves their spouse and all, but I just think mine is some kind of special. I write about him a lot (yeah, I've heard it before) but here I am again with my fav topic- Grahammy! Our "how we met" has been an ongoing saga, one day going to be correctly cataloged onto this little blog. This is a tiny sliver of the story of that, but mostly my thoughts on the Mr. G. S. Alexander.

     For starters, reading the thoughts of a younger you is fascinating. I came across an old journal with preteen scribbles about wanting a tall, dark haired, handsome man who would be hard working, worthy of the Priesthood and that would love me. Talk about hitting the nail on the head. And to find him at 19 years old- fresh out of puberty and high school? It's almost too much to take in sometimes.

    His personality instantly drew me in me. I truly did know he was different from all the rest whenever we got into our first phone conversation. Remember- the one that lasted FOUR HOURS. People! I had just met him, briefly, 3 days prior. Surprisingly enough, we didn't have any of the awkward small talk, we both loved to talk to the other. Growing up in two jarringly different realms we had much to learn. The more we spoke I gathered that he was witty, spiritual, determined and full of life. He captivated me, hook line and sinker.

    The day we planned to meet up for a first (double) date, my cousin and I arrived at the Mall two hours before him. My nerves were shot! I could hardly stand it. If he didn't get there soon I was going to lose it. Then I got a call that he was at the Mall, walking around Old Navy with his friend. All my excitement was now rivaling nausea. Whenever we got in the store it took us a minute to find them, and I remember seeing their backs to us. I knew that I had to get their attention but I was so stressed out that this date wouldn't go as perfectly as what I hoped. I thought he was remarkable and I wanted him to think the same about me. I remember taking a few seconds to gain my confidence before walking up behind him and calling his name. When he turned around with his wild hair and bright eyes, you'd of thought I was on a date with a movie star.

    In person I began to see other traits in him: compassion, faithfulness, confidence. There wasn't even the slightest strain of aloofness, we just had chemistry. And I ate it up. Being my own greatest downfall, I almost felt like I couldn't measure up to him. After all, I admired him for being so well rounded. He could spout off information about a famous piece of artwork he studied years before, toss our scriptural references and throw in bits about The Walking Dead- who was this guy? He made me feel like I had much to learn.

    At the movie theater, he felt like the moment for our first kiss had arrived. He leaned across, but I was not expecting it, so that kiss was very subpar and anticlimatic. G, never one to back way from a challenge said, "Wait, I can do better than that! I'll knock your socks off." A giggle and an eye roll. But that's him, for ya, always striving to be the best. 

    But as we dated further he would compliment me on things that I had worked hard on. He told me how much he loved how strong my testimony was, he would built up my 'hobbies' as true skill. I remember him telling me that he knew that when we ended up together I would always be the one to make sure we would have our priorities in the right place. It made me feel more sure that, frankly, this was heading to the alter.

    All of this to say, I find so much strength in our marriage. We are alike, we are different. Our relationship has been real, none of this "we're blissful 24/7" (except maybe the glossed over newly wed stage-ha). But hands down- I feel happier than I ever expected.

     Last night, I became extremely emotional thinking of our last 4 years! It has passed so fast. As much as I know about it, I will never get a realistic grasp on how quickly time goes. These times have felt fun and hard and powerful. Between moments of sitting on the couch watching Mad Men, booking plane tickets to some destination, driving up to Georgia for the millionth time, holding hands as we wait for the doctor to give us news, sleeping in crummy motels, taking walks where we don't have one moment of silence, finding love notes around the house- it just feels like growing up with my best friend in all the world! All I can ask for is to continue to be with him. And I think that I need to gain perspective about not having children currently- I still get to have one-on-one time with my boy. We get to travel without the added stress. We are able to relate, in different ways, to other childless couples. We are still happy. We will continue to be that way too. 

    Graham, I love you. I've been plumb proud to be your girl since day 1. You are the coolest person in all the galaxy. I love getting to spend every single day with you!

XOXO, Lacey

PS- You still knock my socks off ;)

This was how I felt about him 1 month after meeting him! October 2011

Temple with Acey

    It seems like my family is dwindling, as of late. I'm here in Florida, List's still in Arizona until February, Acey leaves next month- it's weird when the 6 of us all lived in small quarters for 20 years. Now, soon enough, little Granger will be the only kid at home. It's weird alright.

    Before Acey ships off, we had decided on when we would go to the Orlando Temple, and we picked last Saturday. It's an extremely sacred and special experience for us. I have felt so pleased that he, along with my Aunt Tracey and 4 other cousins, would go the first time. 26 people came down in total, more than I have heard of! It was such a joyful day for all of us.

    Every single time I enter the Temple I have a prayer in my heart. (Graham always laughs at that expression when I use it, but as a little girl I have many memories of my father telling us that as we got into bed.) My prayers almost end up being chants, because of their length and the intertwining of themes. I try to think of all the things I am grateful for, all the blessings that I realize I have, all the things I wish for others and the things I stand in need of. The morning of was similar; I have felt so at peace since then (and as mentioned in my last post, good things have been happening). A beautiful day for a beautiful experience.

     I am so happy to be a part of a faith that I love so much. I am so thrilled that Acey and Listi will be tag teaming to preach this. I have such a firm testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ is real, and most importantly, true. 

    And it seems like for the first time in a while, I am just so untroubled, so at ease.