Smart Car

I saw a Smart Car yesterday in the Trader Joe's parking lot that looked just like this one. As the car drove along, the wind-up on the back turned. It was LEGIT!! I wish I could have gotten a picture. This one is a good substitute, though!

A Song a Day: Difficult Times

I heard a song this morning that I love but haven't heard in a really long time. It took me back to a really dark time in my life. There's another song that I really like, but it too reminds me of that difficult time. They don't make me as sad as they once did--I must be making progress. For that I am grateful! Here they are...






I Can't Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt


Turn down the lights
Turn down the bed
Turn down these voices inside my head
Lay down with me, tell me no lies
Just hold me close, don't patronize
Don't patronize me.

Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
But you won't, no you won't


Cause I can't make you love me if you don't.


I'll close my eyes, then I won't see
The love you don't feel when you're holdin me
Morning will come and I'll do what's right
Just give me till then to give up this fight
And I will give up this fight.


Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
But you won't, no you won't


Cause I can't make you love me if you don't.

The Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks


Three thirty in the morning
Not a soul in sight
The city's lookin' like a ghost town
On a moonless summer night
Raindrops on the windshield
There's a storm moving in
He's headin' back from somewhere
That he never should have been
And the thunder rolls
And the thunder rolls



Every light is burnin' In a house across town
She's pacin' by the telephone
In her faded flannel gown
Askin' for miracle
Hopin' she's not right
Prayin' it's the weather
That's kept him out all night
And the thunder rolls
And the thunder rolls



The thunder rolls
And the lightnin' strikes
Another love grows cold
On a sleepless night
As the storm blows on
Out of control
Deep in her heart
The thunder rolls



She's waitin' by the window
When he pulls into the drive
She rushes out to hold him
Thankful he's alive
But on the wind and rain
A strange new perfume blows
And the lightnin' flashes in her eyes
And he knows that she knows
And the thunder rolls
And the thunder rolls



The thunder rolls
And the lightnin' strikes
Another love grows cold
On a sleepless night
As the storm blows on
Out of control
Deep in her heart
The thunder rolls

A Song a Day: Wedding

Don't judge me, but I think A LOT about songs that would be perfect for first dance wedding songs. This stems mostly from the fact that I'm a hopeless romantic, but maybe it's also because I never had a wedding reception or a first dance with my ex-husband. That marriage ended miserably, but I still fantasize about someday meeting my soul mate and being married for eternity. Am I too old to be having these thoughts? Probably. Will I ever have my dream wedding, my dream man and my dream first dance? Maybe not, but I'm still going to dream!

As I hear songs that would be appropriate first dance songs, I make a mental note of it and sometimes I even write it down. The other day I was listening to my IPOD like I do every morning as I'm getting ready for work. One of those songs came on. It has been part of my list for some time. But on this particular day the thought came to me, "This one is the one! This is the one I will use." I feel it best describes my life, it is very romantic, and I think it is actually a great song for a more than 20-something couple.

The Day Before You by Rascal Flatts

I had all but given up on finding

The one that I could fall into

On the day before you

I was ready settled for

Less than love and not much more

There was no such thing as a dream come true

Oh, but that was all the day before you

Now you're here and everything changes

Suddenly life means so much

I can't wait to wake up tomorrow

And find out this promise is true

I would never have to go back to

The day before you

In your eyes I see forever

Makes me wish that my life never knew

The day before you

The Heaven knows those years without you

Shaping my heart for the day that I found you

You're the reason for all that I've been through

Then I'm thankful for the day before you

Now you're here and everything changes

Suddenly life means so much

I can't wait to wake up tomorrow

And find out this promise is true

I would never have to go back to

The day before you.

I am the Master of my Fate and the Captain of my Soul!

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

What the Heck?

I was just looking at the picture of my family on this blog....How am I not a mother-in-law yet? Look at my girls! They are gorgeous! And as far as that goes, how am I not a wife? I'm cute as a button! Haha! Seriously, I pray every day for 3 Mr. Wonderfuls/Future General Authorities to open their eyes and see my daughters. They are so amazing. I pray they find the true happiness and love that I didn't. I want that for them so much. I don't worry so much about Bryce. He will be an amazing husband because we have trained him well. Any girl will be so lucky to snag him. She had better treat him right, though, or there will be hell to pay from the Abilez women! No pressure. :)

This One's for You, Kayla!

Okay, Kayla tagged me on her blog, so I guess I'll give this a try....

1) What is one food you hated as a child, but as an adult you now enjoy?
Most of the things I hated as a child I still hate, namely green peppers, liver and onions--who makes their kid eat that anyway? One thing that I did hate, though, but I like and use now is honey. Weird how that works out.
2) Favorite memory growing up?
Favorite memory? Hmmm. Well, one sweet memory I have was when my little brother was born. I was 11. I remember racing home on my bike the day he came home from the hospital because I was so excited to see him and hold him.
3) Craziest thing you've ever done and/or seen happen?
I am not an adventurous person by any means, so I don't recall ever doing anything really crazy. I did go on a safari with my family to Kenya when I was about 21. That's probably one of the coolest things I've done in my life.
4) If you could choose any super power, what would it be?
Definitely reading minds!
5) Favorite book, and why?
Book of Mormon! Obviously! It is such a beautiful testament of the Savior Jesus Christ. It has changed my life!
6) Why did you choose the major/degree/career that you did?
Elementary Education/teacher: I thought it would work well with being a mom. I haven't taught in many years, though, but I do work for the school district, so my schedule does parallel my kids'.
7) Who would win in a fight: a taco or a grilled cheese sandwich?
I have to agree with Brianna on this one: the taco because it's Mexican. Haha! Anyway, it has more substance than a grilled cheese sandwich.
8) Paper or plastic?
Paper, cuz it makes me feel like I'm doing good things for the planet. I feel even better when I use my reusable bags.

No one reads my blog, but if you do and want to answer these questions too, go for it!

500 Days of Summer

I finally saw "500 Days of Summer" today. I rented it and watched it by myself. LOVED it! LOVE Joseph Gordon Levitt and Zoey Deschanel! It is sweet and poignant. This will definitely be one that I will add to my DVD library soon!