Happy B-Day Melly-Sue!

Yesterday was Melinda Sue Brinton Taylor's birthday. This belated post (our Internet is spotty and unreliable) is devoted to her.

For a more wonderfully-written post, please go here. I promise I will not be too repetitive.

I first remember meeting Melinda before she was even dating Stephen (and they are perfectly matched, let me tell you). My best firend Janice actually gave her a ride home from a big MESA (Middle Eastern Studies-Arabic) dinner that she had attended because she was interested in the Middle East (Janice and I was graduates of the program). It was a fairly uneventful trip, apart from the little mishap involving a rental car and too tight of a squeeze. I'll just say that was the first, and only, time Janice ever opted not to get rental insurance.

I next met her in a Turkish class we were both in. She is a fan of languages, and apart from her fluency in Armenian, has studied a bit of Arabic, Russian, Turkish, Spanish, and French. I then recall sitting in front of her in Sunday school, little thinking that she was making eyes at my brother. I sure am glad she was interested, however, because they really are so well-suited for each other! And wasn't she a beautiful bride?

Melinda is certainly very accomplished. She served a mission in Armenia, taught English in Ecuador, and is a wonderful little seamtress. She also recently finished her Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). However, her most recent accomplishment is this little guy:

Isn't she a beautiful mommy?

So happy birthday Melinda! I am so glad you are part of our family!

Happy Birthday Megan!

Megan is married to my oldest brother Karl, and is the beautiful mommy of Camryn (Karl married up, for sure. Megan has this delicate, fairy-like face, and the most gorgeous long, slender arms, legs and fingers).Her virtues are not merely superficial. She is amazingly funny and witty, especially when she writes. She certainly has a rare gift (peruse her blog here to get a taste of her talent. Becky is trying to convince Megan to submit her writings to a magazine, and I wholeheartedly agree). She is an avid reader and lover of the Arts, making her Humanities major a perfect fit for her.

Megan is from beautiful Portland, OR, and has a twin sister, Katie {Happy Birthday to you, too, Katie}. She has a major crush on Paris and all things French and spent a semester abroad there.

Another of her talents involves the ability to clean and organize. She is the best housekeeper and keeps things spotlessly clean (an example to us all, I'm sure).

Perhaps her most remarkable talent, however, is her ability to tolerate us Taylors. She certainly has civilizing effect on us. Regardless of our other virtues and flaws, Taylors are best taken in small doses. Yet she just spent an entire week with us here in California and did beautifully. I loved our visit, Megan, and only wish they were more frequent!

Happy Birthday Megan! I am thrilled to wish you another happy year, filled with all things delightful.

Fun in the Sun

Grandma took Preston out and got him some fun summer things. Here are some pics of him breakin' in his new duds.

He's obsessed with drinking running water. He would cast aside his sippie cup with disdain in favor of the hose.

Fun summer days!

Shamed

I am sorry that I have not been keeping up with this blog. Truth be told, my life is boring and I don't feel like I have any updates, but I suppose there have been a few updates.

First, we packed up and moved back to Loomis, CA this month. I am pleased to announce that, despite many doubts, I was able to fit almost everything Michael and I own into one bedroom, saving us from having to get a storage unit. True, we did sell off our kitchen table and chairs (Which I loved) because there was no room, but I am pretty proud of myself.

I don't start my job with the state auditor until June 1st, so until then, I've been lazing about the house. I have been reading (for pleasure! A thing I didn't think I would do until much much later) a LOT, and enjoying time with the fam. My world right now pretty much revolves around this guy lately:

It is so much fun playing with him whenever I get the chance.

I haven't been completely idle, though. A couple days ago I assisted Becky with making freezer jam. It tastes amazing. Like summer in a jar.

And yesterday, my mom and I finished making this:
It's a burial gown for a baby that was lost just six weeks before she was due. A fellow Freecycler made a post on behalf of her cousin, and so I readily volunteered my mom's skills (she was more than willing, of course). Just thinking about what this poor mother was going through broke my heart, and so I was glad to be able to do anything for them.

Due to my lack of experience, I was in charge of the ironing, the handstitching that needed to be done, and sewing on the little button in the back. I think the final product turned out pretty nice.

After doing this, my mom and I decided that we wanted to make more premie outfits for the local hospitals. Losses like this occur all-too frequently, and being able to have a beautiful outfit for your baby--and not have to worry aobut getting one--will hopefully make a difficult time a little easier. We looked online to see what was available, and not only was it prohibitively expensive (for not a lot to be honest), but shipping charges were outrageous. It made me mad to know that people were profiting off parents' grief, and I'm glad to be able to do something about it.

So, if you are talented with a sewing machine and have some time on your hands, I suggest making a few outfits yourself. I know your efforts will be most appreciated.

Seriously, so blessed!

Okay, so sorry it's been a while. Today was my last day of class (Blessing #1). Ever. I mean, I'm sure I'll take classes again (MAYBE...), but probably never as a degree-seeking student. It was weird to finish up everything and realize that was it. Huh.

Anyway, that just explains why I've been away. School work was crazy, and nothing very exciting happens to me anyway. Well, except for about a week and a half ago.

A week ago last Saturday, Michael and I were coming home from the grocery store when our car just started slowing down. And died. THANKFULLY, we were turning onto our street when this happened, and so we weren't stranded on a busy street (Blessing #2). Our car still showed about an eighth of a tank, but I figured the gauge was off (it's a "new to us" car and we hadn't driven it that long) and that we were just out of gas. But after Michael made several trips to the gas station to bring back a few gallons, it STILL wouldn't start. After talking to a few people, the general consensus was that the fuel pump had failed, which would be an expensive repair. Yikes! We were pretty bummed, but were swamped with final projects at the same time and were just going worry about it later. Well, that's where my awesome brother Nathan steps in (Blessing #3).

So, Nathan and his wife own a car of the same make and model as ours, and so Nathan (being the genius he is) knows a lot about it. Even though they are almost 700 miles away, and I am in no way, shape, or form his responsibility, he has called me so many times since our car died with things to try to see if the problem is something else. I mean, how great is he that he has been thinking about his little sis's problems and wanting to help. Well, folks, he did it. He called this evening to tell us to try something else, and (drum roll please)...IT WORKED! He had us switch the AC compressor relay with the fuel pump relay (because they are the same part) to see if that was the problem with the fuel pump, and it was! And it's only a $15 part to replace! I am so, so, SO glad that Nathan A) knows what's he doing and B) was concerned enough to try and figure out the problem. He is so awesome!

So Blessing #4 is that our car is no longer a very expensive lawn ornament. It's alive...IT'S ALIVE!
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P.S.
I took the title of this post from a funny little satirical blog: seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com.

P.P.S.
I love my family. And I am seriously so blessed to have four amazing brothers. I was lucky enough to get to live near my three older brothers while we were all out here in Provo, and they saved my tushie so many times. So here are some long overdue thank yous:

• Karl (and Megan): When I was living in the dorms, and after, they helped me move so many times with their truck. Way last minute. And they took me to the airport at way WAY last minute notice when I was an irresponsible Freshman and forgot to arrange transportation. THANK YOU!!! Oh, and during my undergrad whenever I would freak out over school (one time, in particular, I was stressin' about an Arabic final), I could call him and he would come over and give me a blessing. He was always there for me.
• Nathan (and Becky): He will do anything for anyone. I mean, he is not the most chatty person in the world, but this car example is so him. He will stop for anyone on the road with car troubles, for example, and is really just a big softie.
  
• Stephen (and Melinda): I could call Stephen to do ANYTHING, and he would do it. He is a great brother. He has given me countless rides to everywhere and just wants to be a good person, which is an unfortunately too-rare quality.

And lest we forget...

• Colin: My only little brother! He's just great. I'm so glad to be able to see more of him once we move back to California. I can hang out with him in way I can't with my other brothers, and I even like playing video games with him. The first time I ever saw him I thought he was an angel and I have loved being his big sister ever since.
  

Becky's B-day!

Today is Becky's birthday. It is super easy to remember, as it is exactly one week after mine and one week after my dad's. It's not easy being squished between two Taylor's, so you all already should know that Becky is a trooper.

Becky is Nathan's wife, and has done a wonderful job of civilizing him. Mostly. He has always been a big softy (always stops to help people on the side of the road, always helps out the homeless, always helps out period), but Becky has definitely polished up that diamond in the rough.

And check out their ADORABLE little boy. I mean, talk about the genetic jackpot.

So here is just a small tribute to my SIL. I don't think people hear enough about what is awesome about them:

*She is an amazing homemaker in the sweetest sense of the word. She and Nate were living out here and bought a house, and she managed to make a basement apartment warm, spacious, SUNNY, and inviting. I mean, talk about Martha Stuart-ing it. In their current home, she already put up homemade valances in a cheery tropical print.

*She is constantly improving herself. It seems like she is always refining a new talent. She has become quite an accomplished seamstress (Preston's duck outfit for Halloween was sooo sweet), she is a self-taught gardener, she cooks delicious and HEALTHY food, and her current undertaking is art. I also hear guitar is on the horizon...

*She is very thoughtful and considerate of others. She is also very family-oriented. She is always having friends and family over for dinners and what not.

*She is so tender-hearted! She loves animals, and they have 2 cats (one a stray, the other a rescue) and a delightful (if ditzy) mini Dachshund, Darla.

Anyway, I just want to express my appreciation that Rebecca Ailene Tanner Taylor was born today. I hope that this year is her best yet! Love ya Becky!

Fabulous News!

Okay, so I just wanted to make a quick li'l announcement.

Last month, I flew out to Colorado to take the exam for the Presidential Management Fellowship (see the January 18th post, toward the middle for a description of THAT lovely experience). You can find out about the program here.

Well, I found out just now that I am a finalist! It is a HUGE deal, and I was completely not expecting to have made it. I am absolutely thrilled.

That's all!