It's Friday and it's almost over...

Just how I am feeling...that "my" Vancouver Olympics will be over this weekend. I will miss it. So fun. So great to have the world see how pretty Vancouver is. Dreams have been exceeded and lost during the games. That is how it is with the Olympics. But I have loved watching the whole thing. I watched nearly every evening. Even the curling on Saturdays (though I still don't get that sport... I remember watching it at the ice rink when I was young. And getting a little bored. And amazed as to why people did it.)

My eyes are tired. I stayed up late watching the Womens' Ice Skating program. Had to watch that. Yay for the Canadian who got bronze! She's had a rough time but still skated like a trooper. So sad about her losing her mom a week before. But she skated well. The South Korean won gold. Talk about pressure for her...her country pretty much would disown her if she got less than gold. Ridiculous pressure for a teenager!

I am glad it is Friday. I am at work. And I hope to get a lot done today. I am glad it is good weather. Yay! And I hope I don't fall asleep. Anyone have some toothpicks to prop my eyes open?

The temple was nice last night. As always. Saw Amy and Michael. And saw Ché and Jared. So fun!

Enjoy your last couple of days of watching "my" Olympics! (Pretty cute but so many people I know have been telling me that when they watch these Olympics that they think of me. Thanks, everyone. I will quit bringing up the fact that the Olympics were in Vancouver before too long... maybe...) And yay for my red mittens! Love them!!!

Happy Friday! (P.S. on Monday it is a new month...remember to say "Rabbit, Rabbit" when you first wake up....before you say anything else and you will have good luck all month! This is an ongoing first day of the month thing you can do. Can't hurt!)

Yes I do like these

Okay so I know I was ranting about not being a fashion fiend. Sometimes I wish I was. But I am finding I'm just who I am and I will dress how I dress...though I do wish I could find more interesting clothing choices. I like one of a kind different looks. But I just don't find them that easily. Maybe THAT is my problem...

Again, not too big of a problem since I like to think I focus my life on things of more importance most of the time. (I'm just having a discussion with myself right now... ; ) And that is fine. Anyway I also admit that till about 2 years ago I wouldn't have been caught dead with a purse! Not me. Keep it simple. Until I found the earthy toned bag below. I found it in a corner of Super Target one day. I fell in love. It was just hanging there and it called to me. Instead of dragging my phone, organizer, sunglasses, etc, around in my pockets, I had a convenient place to carry them in...And I loved it that it was so simple. I am not a hugely frilly person. I like simple. And then my cute co-worker, Paula, made the fabric flower for me that I attached to my bag. I get lots of compliments about it and proudly tell people who gave it to me. Sorry the colors of it are bleached out in this photo. And then just the other day, again at Super Target, I found this cute little mustard purse. It is quite tiny. Not sure that my phone will even fit in it. Okay, it might. But I loved the color and how cute it was. So there you go. My two purses. Simple and functional.

And just another note...I am loving the Olympics. Like I said before. The end of this week will be sad for me. Just the thrill of these amazing Olympians competing in their events. Wow! And again another cheer for VANCOUVER! Truly it has made me extra happy, on top of my regular happiness, this past while. Go teams and people in the teams!

Happy Thursday!

Take care, Brent

A quick sketch of a friend. He left this earth too early. But I know he is needed on the other side.

Brent, I wish you well and I know you will keep learning and growing and continue to be amazing. And we will watch over your family. As I know you will too. How great that you are all sealed together for all eternity. A bond that will never be broken.

It's Tuesday

Too lazy to look back and see if I already posted this drawing. But I like it. Makes me think of summer days. Lazy days. A little boy greeting a friend who has come to visit...or maybe saying goodbye to a friend who spent a wonderful day with him.

February is zipping by fast it seems. A lot to think about these last few days...A friend's passing. And a brother's first birthday after his passing. It really makes me realize more and more what is important and what isn't.

It makes me sad if I get too involved in the silly things in life. Don't get me wrong...I like to be silly. I mean the frivolous things...like the latest shoes or the latest fashion. Sometimes I think I should try to be a little more into things like that so that maybe I fit in a little more and on occasion I am. But then I also realize how fleeting and unimportant those things are too. I've decided I can only just be me. Take it or leave it. [Also a good excuse when I don't have the latest fashions... ; ) ]

Sending a Birthday Message into the sky...

So as my earlier post indicates, it is my brother Jason's birthday today. It is his first birthday since he had to leave us. (Though 3 year old Wyatt told my sister today that Jason was right in the room with them...which I truly believe. Little children are so close to the spirit and see much more than we do as adults. No question in my mind or heart.)

So here are our balloons. We each wrote a note to Jason and put them in envelopes and then I stapled the notes to the ribbons. Ander wrote on his envelope "and don't forget to come back soon." and Ben wrote on his envelope, "Your kids miss you." So sweet. I know Kiley appreciated that since she misses her dad so much.

And here is Ben, Wy, Ander, Mom, and Karen at Jason's grave. Karen is holding my gold balloon since I am taking the photo.
And there go the balloons. Mine is up high. I wrote in part of my note to Jason that he better start jumping to catch these balloons. ; ) Since we know he is here on earth near us always. You can see the little notes attached to the balloons.
The dark blue balloon is Wyatt's. It got caught in the trees. Wyatt asked his mom if Jason would come and get it out of the trees. We hope so.

I picked out colors of balloons that look like they could be from Star Wars. And also a BYU blue balloon. Jason would appreciate that.

Happy birthday, Jase! Love you. We hope you read our notes to you.

Happy Birthday, Jase!

Yes, I do wonder what you are doing now. I know you are progressing and doing amazing things that we can't imagine. I know you are watching over us. I know that birthdays don't really matter to you anymore. I know that you miss us. I know you know we miss you. I know that we are still shocked that we can't see you everyday. But I do know that even though your body is resting, your spirit is truly alive. You are alive. No question. I am glad you let Karen know that. And in the experiences that Wy Wy has had that testifies to me that you are very much alive. I know we feel you near us everyday. I know that you want to hug each of us and tell us that everything is OK. That you are better than OK. That you are so grateful that you don't have to deal with your disease anymore and that you are happy and finally able to move forward and that you are able to become the person we know you are that you were afraid to be. We are very happy for you but we will always miss you. I am sorry I didn't understand your disease fully and that I had a hard time separating you from your disease a lot of times. I miss the laughs we had. I loved that day when we were in your beater truck and you pretended you were going to race this guy beside us who was in this fancy red sports car. I could not stop laughing. I miss it when you were the real Jason--I am so happy for you now because you are the real Jason every day now and I know you are so relieved. I am glad you now know that Heavenly Father and our Savior love you. I know you didn't really believe that before...that you couldn't forgive yourself. But now you know for sure, Bumper. I am sad that when we tell some people what you struggled with your disease they just don't understand how you had to deal with it every waking minute. How it is so hard to understand how you fought it each day. Even being your sister, I struggled at times trying to understand. But I also knew how hard it was for you. I could see it in your eyes. I am proud of you for trying so much to overcome your battle. So proud! I know that Heavenly Father knew that you had suffered enough and that it was your time to be back with him. But we can't help missing you every day. Every minute. I am glad we are all sealed together as a family forever.

So I hope that Dad and your Uncle Les and all our family and friends that have passed on will all give you a hug today. I figure you can all hug each other on the other side. Dad, give Jase an extra big hug today from all of us. We love you and miss you both so much. So much.

Happy birthday, Jase.

Here is the logo that makes me happy...

Every time I see this logo on NBC, it makes me happy. Yay Vancouver!!! Just brings a smile to my heart.

My aunt's sister, who lives in Vancouver, sent me an Olympic postcard that I got yesterday in the mail. That is so sweet of her. Thanks, Audrey! I am collecting all my Vancouver Olympic mementos.

The Flying Tomato did good last night. Wow- Shaun White is amazing.

Happy Thursday!

Women's Snowboarders...Canada Gold!

I do feel badly for Lindsay Jacobellis though. But I am glad that Canada got another gold. Though I would have been just as happy if Lindsay got the gold. Come on ski resorts in Vancouver...SNOW already!

Wednesday...Yay!

Just a quick note...Happy Wednesday! Wow- past halfway in February! Spring will come soon!

P.S. I feel badly for the U.S. snowboarder girl who went out of bounds and was disqualified at the start of a pre-medal race that I thought for sure that she would get the silver at least in the final race.

My Website got a Facelift

www.justlori.com

Yes, some of the images are a little blurry...but it is okay for now. I just wanted to simplify the whole thing. Thanks to my friend Kevin who put it together for me.

Have a good day all! I am off to do my civic duty in a bit...jury duty. Certainly a new experience for me. On my paper it says it is only for one day. That is even if I am selected. So that is good. Lots to do at work so I need to be there.

Happy Tuesday!