Perri Marie Christensen

Candice brought another awesome child into the world yesterday. Really, I don't think I could ever be more proud of her and her healthy babies (and her cool husband, too). I just think they make the healthiest, coolest kids ever, and I'm so excited to meet this one.
Perri was born just a little after 5pm yesterday. She was 8lb 1oz, and 20.5 inches long (just like her brother and sister). She's so beautiful!

I Went!

Sorry to keep everyone in suspense, but I had to play a little catch up in school after this weekend. So my parents flew in on Friday night; Brad had gotten five of our friends to meet them at the airport with us with signs, balloons, and party horns. It had only been like a month and a half since we had seen them, but he thought it would be funny and it was. We all stayed up talking for quite a while and then went to sleep. Byron flew in about 1. I ran to the gym about 11 to work off my extra anxiety and boost my endorphins for the day!!
It was so good to see Byron; his earlier flight had been cancelled so there was a little worry about him getting here at all. But it all worked out and we had such a good time. My family hadn't seen him since 2002 so there was a lot of catching up to do.
My mom and I went to the temple at 3:30. I was so nervous to actually walk through the front door of the temple! Baptisms go through the back! Inside was beautiful, and they had the pink locker room all waiting for me with a cute little sign with my name held up by little wooden heart magnets. It was so girly and so adorable.
The ceremony was good. There were so many thoughts going through my head. Just trying to wrap my head around everything was the biggest deal. Nothing was a huge shock; it mostly felt like things I was expecting. There were parts I thought were beautiful, a little weird, perfect, and a little silly at the time. My favorite part was really just getting to hug everyone at the end. Having people that I loved around me was incredible, and I felt so blessed.
I did go back on Wednesday. I knew I needed to feel the spirit of the whole thing instead of just learning what goes on. It was stake temple night, and I sat next to the bishop's wife, who is adorable. It was such a beautiful experience and did feel so spiritual. I was nice to be able to just feel the peace and spirit that is there.
As a side note, my "G"'s are great; I actually really like them; I'm just glad I waited until Spandex ones existed. And I'm glad I had so much advice on sizes and stuff. I do feel like I wear more clothes than anyone in the world when I start layering things, but it's really just fine. :-)
And...I got my suitcase which I got to use on Wednesday, and, as one person said, it's "pretty snazzy." I'm excited to be able to go to this temple more often and to see Boise's and some others soon.

It does feel a little like being re-baptized, and life seems a little easier to handle. I feel more motivated to do good things, and a little less in a rut. And maybe it's how organized one has to be to take good care of her new clothes, but I do feel a little more organized and grown-up, too.
Thanks to everyone for all your support, and especially to Jessica, who was the most excited not-Mormon ever! Thank you! Love you all!

Goin' to the Temple....

Tomorrow I am going through the Mesa Arizona Temple for the first time. It's kind of a big deal. Which means that little commitment-phobe me has been a little anxious at the life changes this may entail. However, I'm starting to realize that all the life changes it may entail will only serve to make me a better person with a better perspective and a better understanding of the immensity that is eternity.
I have a my cute little white dress and all my temple stuff. I have a little white faux ostrich suitcase coming in the mail. I have said my good-byes to 40% of Victoria's Secret.
My parents are flying in from Idaho in just a few hours.
BYRON is flying in from Texas tomorrow.
John & Brad will be there, too.
I cannot believe how lucky I am to have such cool people going through with me.
For a long time I held out on this because it felt like giving up on going through with my husband, but sometimes growing up is different than you first thought.
That doesn't mean it's not magical.

But Officer....

I could be doing plenty of things with my day today. For example,
My "learning modules" for my third clinical site of the semester
My pharmacy quiz
My Research quiz
Reading my new, unwrapped Glamour
Working out for about 2 hours to jumpstart getting this three pounds I've accumulated this month off of my body
My Discussion Board for my Women's Problems class
Buying a new business casual shirt for my clinicals
Going to Whole Foods to buy some yogurt that ISN'T expired
But, instead, (or maybe also) I will be sitting in traffic school from 8 to 5 because
I apparently cannot tell the difference between a yellow light.....
and an orange one.