The Latest Tag

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To

1. School being out so I can sleep past 6.
2. Christopher coming home from his mission in September.
3. Not cooking dinner tonight because the girls want Panda Express for their birthday dinner.
4. Saturday so I can stay home.
5. Steve coming home from work ('cause he has a job!).
6. Having a few paychecks under our belts.
7. Teaching my very own class someday, soon I hope.
8. When my mind and body can agree on things.

8 Things I Did Yesterday

1. Substituted for the Vanderhoodf Elementary Librarian.
2. Went to the Stake Girls Camp Meeting (2 hrs. of my life I won't get back).
3. Picked up three more sub jobs.
4. Saw our Home Teachers.
5. Picked up some prescriptions.
6. Said my prayers.
7. Brushed my teeth.
8. After washing my face I crashed into bed.

8 Things I Wish I Could Do

1. Not be so tired all the time.
2. Fix up anything in my house regardless of the cost.
3. Buy some new clothes.
4. Beat Emily at Mario Party 8.
5. Spend a week, with no interruptions, organizing and cleaning to my heart's content.
6. Go shopping for shoes and accessories and make-up with Allison, guilt free.
7. Get a new family portrait taken.
8. Not worry.

8 Television Shows I Watch

1. Lost
2. The Office
3. 24
4. Bones
5. America's Next Top Model
6. In season- Top Chef, Project Runway, Flipping Out
7. Food Network "Challenge" and "Ace of Cakes"
8. The Unusuals

8 People I'll Tag

Whoever reads this and wants to spill it.

There. Now I'm off to Panda Express.

My Sister, Sharon

My sweet sister passed away two years ago. I miss her. Ours is a strange and unusual family, you all know us, right? So I'm going to share part of my strange and unusual relationship with Sharon.

Imagine a four year old Gena standing on a kitchen chair rinsing and stacking dishes while a nine year old Marianne washed. Gena looks up and sees three children, Jalyn, Edwin and Norman, running across the lawn with their parents, Jay and Sharon, close behind. All she could think of was the mess of toys she had to clean up after they left.

Gena: "Here comes that bossy woman with her kids again!" (Sharon did tell me what to do... a lot)

Marianne: (with lofty disdain), "Don't you talk about our sister like that!"

Gena: (belligerently) "Who's our sister?!"

Marianne: (rolling her eyes) "Sharon's our sister!"

Gena: (growing indignant) "She is not!"

Marianne: (insert what you know this would sound like) "Go ask Mom!"

Yeah, turns out Sharon WAS my sister. I was so incensed! Why hadn't anyone ever told me? This explained a lot. I mean, why would my Mom let one of her friends tell me what to do so much?

As one of the "grown ups" I enjoyed getting to know Sharon as a sister. I realized we were so alike in many ways. I love her and I miss her.