Storybook Love

Well, it has been a good long while since I posted anything on here! I have been putting off writing a new blog post so that I can make sure to write about everything that has happened since the last time I posted... But the more I delay, the more there is to write about! So instead of trying to jam everything in one blog post, I have a few bullet-point style updates to share with all of you. First off:

• My wife and I just had a baby boy!!!!!!!!!!!! He came a week early prior to his due date, and he is so perfect and wonderful :) My wife has more pictures and/or stories on her blog - check it out if you know where it is!
• My wife and I are also about to graduate!!! 4-5 years of schooling almost complete... While I know I want to go on to graduate school someday, it won't be like undergraduate. (That is both a good thing and a not so good thing.) However, currently, we're both very excited to be done with homework, tests, and classes, and move on with other realms of life!! 
• Those new realms of life... Are an adventure :) Where we will live after graduation depends a lot on where I get a full-time job. And that depends a lot on the connections I make now and the direction in life I want to pursue. However....
• The success of all of the above really depends on how I live my life in accordance with the principles of the Gospel. As much as praying or reading the scriptures will not automatically give me a job or help us pay bills, living in accordance with true principles and especially living a life that God would be pleased with would make me and my family happier than anything else. And because I trust that God always wants what is best for me, doing His will means that I come to know what He wants for me - which is always better and brings more happiness than my will for me. 
• Update - I just got a new job!!! Working in program management and development at a company about 7 minutes away from our apartment. This means my wife, new baby and I get to stay in our apartment! YAY!!!!!! More story comes later, but suffice it to say I couldn't have gotten this job without Heavenly Father's help :)

Okay, now for something that I've been thinking about a lot recently....

My wife and I watched Emma and Pride and Prejudice in the past two weeks. (Full disclosure: I am a big Jane Austen fan. No, I didn't start out that way, but my wife didn't "convince" me either. More on that in a bit ;) While I enjoy those movies very much, I am not very fond of romantic movies. Okay, MOST of them. You know the kind I'm talking about though. The formulaic movies that bring an incredibly attractive couple together and puts them through "trials" and has "bad things" happen, but their love is enough to overcome it in the end. (I'm looking at you, Safe Haven) Right? Well, as entertaining as these movies might be, or as cheesy as they could be, there's something about them that always bothers me. The "trials" and "bad things" can be insignificant or cheesy, but more than that, the movies always view the beginning of the relationship as the end of the movie. Either "getting back together" after the breakup or the marriage after a long, hard engagement. And the lines, "And they lived happily ever after."

I don't mean to say that I hate romantic movies. I love Disney movies, and often they have a strong element of romance in the main characters getting married and whatnot. (And I think the origin of those lines, "They lived happily ever after".) I admitted earlier that I really like Jane Austen movies - part of the reason is because the couple isn't perfect. In Pride and Prejudice, both the characters are stubborn, prideful and a bit petty - yet they focus on what truly matters and realize that they love each other completely. However, this brings up the same problem - the movie ends with them getting married. What happens after that??

While I don 't feel that this is a cause of bad marriages in America, I feel like it contributes to a misunderstanding of what real relationships are. Real, lasting relationships aren't founded on physical attraction and witty banter. While those aren't necessarily bad aspects, if that's all the relationship is standing on then the foundation of the relationship is pretty weak. True love is much more than petty or shallow attributes. True love is coming home after a long day of work and doing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen because you see your spouse is exhausted at the end of their long day too. True love is making dinner for them when they're stressed out, or doing laundry so they don't have to, or holding them and telling them how beautiful or handsome they look when they don't feel particularly beautiful or handsome. True love is sacrifice. Sacrificing your wants and needs in order to "anxiously attend the happiness of your spouse" - (President Gordon B. Hinckley) In fact, true love is...

*Note: The Princess Bride is also one of my favorite movies of all time. I now it's an example of the traditional romance story: hero woos girl, fights dangers, and ends with marriage. But.... I also love this song to death. So just bear with me.

So where am I going with all of this? I'm not quite sure. But let me tell you about a movie that I want to see someday. I want someone to make a movie that begins with a marriage, and that follows the couple throughout their life. I want a movie that shows how hard it is to get through 20 years of marriage and trials and heartbreak and home disasters (many of which come from little and older children). I want a movie that watches a weary husband and wife come together at the end of the long day and reassure each other of how much they love each other. I want a movie where a man defending a woman isn't always physically fighting off another man, but reassuring her with words of love or defending her in conversations with others. I want a movie that shows how love grows with the addition of children, and watches one spouse fall in love again with the other as they watch them play with their little ones. I want a movie that shows true love, and how it's sometimes hard and brutal but ALWAYS worthwhile. 

I might be a hopeless romantic, but I believe that true love gives the real purpose and meaning to life. Love of family and love of God. If you truly love both, and you do things in your life that strengthen your love for both - spending time with family, praying and spending time with God, sacrificing yourself for both, etc. - then you will find true happiness. The times that I do so in my own life, I LOVE life. In those moments, I can't possibly be happier. True love brings eternal happiness.

And so we go.

My Impossible Girl

Well, folks..... I'm married :) :) :)

I know, right? You're probably thinking, "We never thought this would happen! Never, EVER thought this would happen!" In fact...

I just had to add this in here ;)

When deciding about just how to write this post - one which I've alluded to for the past few actual posts   and have actually been writing since last year - there were lots of things that came to mind that I thought I might need to touch on. Namely, the wedding day, our relationship from beginning to now, the factors that brought us together, our hopes and dreams for the future, etc. However, I've come to realize that there are really only a few things that I really wanted to write about. Actually, just one. My wife :) If you would like to know how my wife and I met and the history of our relationship, I would love to refer you to my wife's account of our relationship and marriage. (I agree with every word she says :D) Otherewise, I would like to tell you the story of a cute, adorable, crazy, hilarious little girl who turned into a beautiful, courageous, wise, amazing young woman. Her name was Meagan :)

While telling you her life's story would take... Well, a lifetime (hehe), I wanted to mention this almost solely so I could show you this adorable picture. Look at her!!! Look at her beautiful hair, her adorable cheeks, and that cute smile, a perfect mix between radiant happiness and lurking mischievousness... Traits that she still shows today :) However, my personal favorite trait would be her eyes. Not only are they full of happiness and wonder, even at a young and tender age her eyes are strikingly piercing. They know truth when they see it, and they are always soul-searching the people she comes across to see what their needs are and how she can help. Those eyes are perhaps even more piercing today, as I know from personal experience :) From the time she was very little, she has always been cute and crazy and full of joy and happiness. Even now, she is still breathtakingly cute, still has a crazy streak, and still has a wonderful appreciation for the joys she finds and makes in her own life. She is wonderful, and I adore her. So very, very, very much :) :)

As she aged, she grew in knowledge and ability and wisdom and lots of other things that belong solely to the world of grownups. However, the thing that I most admire about her was how she grew in her love for her Savior. She grew a deep and profound testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, and reflected her love for Him in her everyday life. She not only read His words through the scriptures, but feasted upon them, and pondered their meaning in her life. Even on those days when she was tired or couldn't find any meaning in the scriptures she read, she persisted and continued to read them - because of her faith in her Father in Heaven, that if she read she would come closer to Him. Recently she has mentioned that when the time comes that she passes from this life into the next, she hopes that the people who remain will remember her as a woman who loved God. Above everything else - a wonderful mother, a bright and happy friend and daughter, a talented artist and musician - she wanted her first priority to be someone who walked close to God. In my life I have been blessed to become acquainted or speak with a few men who are very close to God - my mission president, a couple apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, a few Seventies (a witness of Jesus Christ like an apostle, but with a lesser realm of responsibility). All of those men drew you in with their very presence, and made you aware of the still whisperings of the Spirit communing with us all the time - if we would let Him. They all beckoned us to the Savior, and had patterned their lives after following His example and walking close to Him. So I hope you understand that I am not resorting to hyperbole or exaggerating when I say that my wife has one of the strongest spirits I've ever known. She walks close to God, and seeks above all to know His will and be able to do it. She prays for understanding of what He would have her do, and then lives her life in trying to fulfill her duty to God - out of her love for Him. Being close to her helps me to draw close to the Savior, and inspires me to want to be as close to Him as she is. She reflects the light of Christ in her life so clearly that others in her life - friends, family, others - can all testify of that as well. She has been a light for many other people, and especially been a light for me. I love her. 

Since we've been married, every day has been a blessing with her. Don't get me wrong, we haven't lived a life without pain or trials or suffering - not every day has been an absolutely wonderful day. But every day with her has been a blessing to me. She cleans, goes to work full-time and to school, comes home and makes dinner and cookies and plays games with me. She laughs at my jokes even when they're not very funny, and plays with me all the time. (We're going to be such good parents :) ) She listens to me intently when I tell her things that I am pretty sure are only interesting to me, but smiles and converses because she knows I love to talk to her. She holds my hand while we drive, and forgives me often for my poor/reckless/Jason Bourne driving tendencies. She randomly pulls me aside in our kitchen and starts dancing to imaginary music as she lays her head on my chest - something that I am very fond of. (And I think she does it because she knows it.) She makes cute little pictures and wonderful notes every day to express her love for me and her confidence in me. She plays with my hair when she curls up with me on the couch to watch movies together. She makes me laugh every day, and some days even every hour with her words, her actions, her playfulness and her happiness. She will sneak off to the laundry room to suddenly start a load because she knows if I see her I will try to help her. She holds me when I'm having a bad day or when I just need her - and she ALWAYS is able to just sense it, without me telling her anything. She knows my soul, and guides me, comforts me and ministers to me daily as I overcome inadequacies and personal weaknesses. She goes to the temple often with me, and plans with me and helps our marriage SOOO much. I love her with all my heart (and hearts ;) ), and am sooooooooo happy to be married to her for eternity. I love you sweetie :) :)

As I sit here and think about our life together, I marvel at how wonderful my life has been with her. It seems impossible to me that I could have found and married such an amazing, spiritual, beautiful, clever woman, and have her sealed to me for all eternity. And yet, it's almost impossible for me to imagine life without her. My wife does so many things for us, and is so selfless all the time. She is completely selfless, and lives her life trying to help others that she comes across. She is always friendly and caring, and so kind to everyone she meets. She loves her family and always has her priorities in the right places - God, then family, then everything else. She is always SOOO patient with my shortcomings, and communicates with me and is always open. She is 100% genuine and sincere, and doesn't fake anything to anyone - she is always herself. She knows who she is and she never tries to be anyone else - even though she is also very humble and unassuming. She has forged a righteous character from the furnaces of affliction in her life, and uses everything to draw herself closer to God. She loves me for who I am, and is always honest and has integrity. She loves me but also urges me to improve and change, and become the man I was meant to be - and without her, I'm not sure that I ever could be. She sacrifices her own desires and wants in order to put God and our marriage first. She is beyond words to describe. In fact... It's impossible to do so :) She is simply, my Meagan.  My wife. My impossible girl. :)

In Doctor Who, Clara is the girl who sacrifices herself to save the Doctor, who in turn rescues her. I think that even though my wife is better than Clara, it still is a cute way to represent our relationship :) She truly is my impossible girl - someone who impossibly does so many things and sacrifices herself for us. I love her so much :) :) :) :) :)

For further reference (and one of my favorite Doctor Who clips of all time), watch the video below to hear the Doctor call Clara "My impossible girl", as well as heart-wrenching hugs and theme music.

I love her so much. She is my everything. I have been so blessed to know her and be married to her. Though everything else around me may be as threatening and unsure as sailing in a hurricane, she is my rock and my pillar. She helps me be strong and brave, to be the hero I always hoped to be for my future wife. She is my everything :) I love her with all my hearts, and someday when we have many children and a few dogs and a house and loads and loads of Oreo ice cream.... I know I will love her so much more then than I do now. Because she is so wonderful :) And I know that even though we will still have hard times, and days that are so terrible we just hope to get through the day, every day will be a blessing as long as I have you :) And I really hope that our Morkie and Labrador Retriever get along, because that would be just great :) She is my best friend, my faithful companion, my impossible girl, and my wonderful wife. I hope I can always show her how much I love her.

I love you sweetie!!! Happy 8 months and 3 days!!! :)

Hello..... I'm the Doctor

Whew! Looking at the past two blogs I've posted, it's been at least 6 months between the times I've blogged.... And now almost over a year. I have been working on a "what it's like to be married" post.... And let's just say that it's still taking me some time. :) But I have some things that have been on my mind, and I wanted to write about those today. Maybe - and hopefully - sometime in the future I'll be able to finally finish my blog post about my wife. :)

Well, the title of this post refers to one area that I am struggling in life.... My future career. I know, I know - this isn't exactly a big surprise to all of you who have followed me in the past. But, it's kind of hard guys! Let me share with you a story: Once upon a time, Robbie was studying Psychology and Business Management at his university. However, he had no idea of what he wanted to do for a career; he just loved to study and learn about the principles behind social organizations, and test those principles for himself. He also was taking a "Seminary Teaching" class which was about different skills and principles of how to teach young adolescents about the Holy Scriptures. He loved his class, and he had always thought it would be wonderful to teach the gospel for a living. Not an extravagant living, mind you, but a decent living. He went through this class, got selected to teach for two weeks and was told he had a lot of promise in this area. Then, the last two classes he taught, he struggled in teaching some particular kids. I mean, REALLY STRUGGLED. He was observed by one of his professors in the class, and subsequently was told that he would not be invited for further interviews and teaching to become a seminary teacher.

This kind of shocked Robbie. As he had been going along he had been feeling more and more confident that this was the direction his Father in Heaven wanted him to go; this was the career that would bring him the greatest happiness and wherein he could bless the most people. Now, all of a sudden, it was gone. The direction and confidence he had been feeling about himself was taken away, and he was left alone. It was in this moment that he realized how much he still put his confidence in his accomplishments, or measured his worth by the quality of his achievements. He realized how foolish that would be; if he measured his worth by his job, what happens if he gets fired? If he instilled confidence in himself based on his ability to relate to others, what happens when (as happens in the lives of everyone that has conversations with other people) he had a disagreement with another person  and bitter feelings ensued? It would be foolish to throw away his feelings of confidence and direction based on things that he could not control.

That story is why I chose this picture and video. In one of my favorite television shows (Doctor Who), the main hero is......well, one of my heroes. I love him because he's crazy and hilarious and a bit odd, but also passionate and strong and confident and extremely clever. He has successes and failures. He has great friends and then has no friends; he makes brilliant decisions and poor choices. He is imperfect.... Just like all of us. And yet, he doesn't let his mistakes define him. He doesn't let the decisions of others or circumstances that he can't control affect him, at least in the long run. He knows who he is; this gives him strength. In any situation and to any problem he can walk up calmly and simply say, "Hello.... I'm the Doctor." And with this knowledge, armed with his confidence in himself, he can conquer just about anything.

This reminds me of another video....

Simba, another great movie hero (and DISNEY!!!!!) has been running away from mistakes that he made previously in his life. He feels so terrible based on a bad decision that he made in his youth, that he runs away from any responsibility or shame because it makes him feel so awful. Even when Nala (his longtime best friend + who happens to be a girl = always ends up to be his spouse. Disney movie formula = happiness ;)) approaches him about facing up to his responsibility, he turns away from her because she reminds him of his shame and guilt. It is only when he feels an inner yearning to connect with his father that he remembers the goodness he felt when he was with dad. He remembers how he was happy, and didn't have any shame or guilt to hold him down from making decisions. This leads him to the climactic scene above, where he sees his father. Yet his father doesn't give him specific advice. Wouldn't that have been more helpful? "Simba, Scar has an uneasy alliance with the hyenas; if you can expose that then they will turn on him and you won't even have to fight them off." "Simba, Nala loves you. You guys should get married and have a new baby king." Instead, Mufasa reminds him of who HE is. Once Simba has that knowledge, he is empowered to do what he knows is right. Not because he will be perfect; not because he all of a sudden knows everything that he is supposed to do. But he DOES know who he is; he has confidence in himself to make a new direction, and move forward according to his best understanding of true principles. Of all the things that Mufasa could have told him, it is this knowledge - knowledge of who he is - that empowers Simba to be strong and confident and complete what he was meant to do.


So it is with us. It is common for people to feel kind of aimless, wondering why they're even here on this earth. Many things can trigger that feeling - a rough day at work, an examining of one's faults, coming home to an empty house through tough personal trials or just children leaving the nest, among many others. Yet if we let these things define us, and decide FOR US the type of person we are going to be and how we are going to feel about ourselves, then we will live a very dramatic and bipolar life. We will swing up and down with the ebb and flow of the actions of others, the conditions of the world, and live an ultimately unhappy, unfulfilled life. However, if we can find and hold onto an understanding of who we are, of our identity as sons and daughters of Father in Heaven, then we will find the strength within ourselves to be confident. If we identify ourselves as individuals who are meant to do wonderful things (because everybody is - whether it is running a business or helping raise a wonderful family, everyone is here for a purpose), then we can focus our lives on finding and fulfilling that purpose. This drives away the influence of others on our self-confidence and vision. Yes, others in our lives can guide us and uplift us – in some cases, that is our relationship with them (as husband and wife or daughter and mother, etc.), and we would be disappointed if they didn’t try to help us to correct mistakes or become stronger. But those criticisms will be taken as they are meant – as a help and a guide, not a reflection on poor character or stupidity. Even if they are meant to taunt us or make us feel bad, those criticisms will simply bounce off us, and we will try to become a better person in spite of them. Finding our identity, who we really are and what we are here to do, can have this strong effect on us to the point where we find we can be happy and peaceful even in the midst of a storm (which life brings so often upon us).


Now, I absolutely need to mention that almost all of this has been taught to me by my wife. As I have been struggling and pondering and praying about what I need to be doing, she has been right by my side the entire time. Hugging and consoling and praying with and ministering - she has been a true angel and a light to my life. I have learned so much from her about how I need to improve and prepare and grow – and never in a negative or mean way. Always in an uplifting and inspiring, “I love you” kind of conversation. She has been so amazing in helping me to find more about what I am truly supposed to do, and correct my course. My hope is that one day, I can be a strong and a wise husband and father, and a strong influence for good on the people around me. I know that while I must do everything I can to change and repent and grow, I must listen to her and counsel with her in order to become the man I need to be. In fact, I cannot become the man I need to become without her help. I need her. I love her dearly. And I am so grateful that she is in my life, a strong pillar of light to guide my way back to my Father in Heaven. She is my everything.

In conclusion, I would like to leave this short video for you to watch. It is from a talk by an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose name is Elder D. Todd Christofferson (one of my favorite speakers of all time). He speaks specifically of men, what men must be and how they can find satisfaction and purpose in life. I love my wife and family, and life is good. :)

And so we go.

The Liebster

My sweet, tender, loving and kind wife nominated me for the Liebster award. Sooooo I am putting off my post about being married for one more day... or week.... or month. Just depending. But it's coming!! Promise!! Thanks dear, for this opportunity :)

Okay, so here are the rules...

1. Post 11 things about yourself
2. Answer the questions the nominator made for you
3. Create 11 more questions for the blog you nominate
4. Go on their page and tell them they won!
5. Oh, and no tag backsies..

So..... 11 things about myself.... Hmmmm...... In the language of my fathers, here we go!

Tasi: I am married to the most wonderful woman in the world. She spends all day going to work and school and doing homework, and then comes home and makes dinner, checks on our bills and expenditures, plans for the week, and does SO much more than I could ever list in a blog post. (That doesn't even cover all the times she sees that I'm in a bad mood, and drops whatever she's doing to help me, or spends time making a surprise for me when I get home from work.) She is SOO smart and talented and wise and funny and crazy and I love her to death. Simply put, that is the number one thing that you need to know about me - I am incredibly lucky simply because this magnificent (and gorgeous) princess chose me. She did. SHE chose ME. To me, that is one of the greatest miracles that God has ever blessed me with.

Lua: I am a student at Brigham Young University. What am I studying? I finally have that answer down - psychology and business strategy. Now.... What am I going to do with that? I don't know. That's been the focus for my future career the past two semesters - business startups, financial consultant, doctor, seminary teacher...... Sigh....... But I know I do love working with people, and analyzing finances and different strategies.... And teaching the gospel.... And neurobiology.... Sigh. Again. ;)

Tolu: I work currently at a residential treatment center for youth who struggle with drug problems and/or emotional problems. It's a good job, but pretty stressful most of the time. I work around 35 hours a week, while going to school 15 hours a week.... Which makes life pretty stressful in general. Sigh.... But I have a wonderful wife that helps me not stress out over every little thing. Hahaha.... :)

Fa: I am a very analytical person. Did you know that about me? Well, I didn't, until just recently. I've always been good at math, and my favorite heroes as a young kid were Batman and Sherlock Holmes. (And Superman, but.....that's beside the point.) But now that I've been married, my wife will say things like, "What do you want to eat for dinner?" And I'll respond with, "Well, we have corn that's going to go bad, but we also have pizza.... And we also have some chicken that I've been trying to figure out what to do with..." And then she'll hold my hand and say, "Robbie, I asked what you wanted. You don't have to analyze everything!" And she has been right. While it's good for me to use my skills of analysis for some things, to use it for something as simple as what to eat for dinner or what to do for a date can be hampering and dull. This is something else that I've been working on - how to relax and just have fun.... Surprisingly enough, if you know me ;)

Droit: I love to eat cookies. I am so CRAVING cookies right now that it's unbelievable. In fact.... Quick break, while I go make some......

Gouche: I. LOVE. THE. DOCTOR. If you don't know who I'm referring to, then either you've never read my posts and/or you don't know true culture when you see it. Magnificent. Doctor Who.

My favorite part about the show is that it is so COMPLEX. It's about character development and relationships and truth and good vs. evil and moral principles and friendship and bravery and love and loss and confronting your inner darkness and confidence and so many wonderful things. My wife and I watch it all the time and we love it to death!!

Fitu: I am a hard person to buy gifts for. I think of things I need at the time, and in rare moments where I think "Man, I sure love tools!", I forget the fact that I loved them at one point. So I usually end up with clothes and movies for gifts like Christmas. Which, I love the most, actually :) Especially snappy looking sweaters and gloves.... ;)

Valu: My left arm is two inches longer than my right. No, I'm actually dead serious. Honest!! It makes it so that I always have to get new suits tailored so I don't look like I'm a little kid wearing my dad's suit...

Nove: I love introducing my wife to new shows and having her love them. Shows like Psych and Doctor Who. She also introduces me to new shows like Once Upon a Time and Pushing Daisies, which I love now too!! She's the best :)

Zieben: I love Christmas!!!!!!! Also, on a tangential note, my favorite Christmas movie (at least, at the current time) is The Santa Clause.

Once: Hahahaha.... Once means 11 in Spanish. And Once Upon a Time is my favorite current show. (Along with Doctor Who. Just sayin'.....) AAAAHHHHHH!!!!! And I am freaking out.... Henri needs to show Regina he loves her too... Or else she'll turn all Evil Queen.... BELAPTHASDRPHGAVIEOP;P2Q3;123412342341

If you didn't know at least three of the above facts, you are no longer my friend.... Just kidding. But now you know more about me! Yay!

Now to my dear wife's questions:

1. Are you wearing deodorant right now? If so, what kind? If not, why not?

I would be very ashamed if I answered "No"..... Yes, I am! I am wearing Old Spice Swagger.

2. What is your favorite restaurant?

Awwww..... Not fair. I have favorite restaurants for specific types of food! Rita's for Dessert, Five Guys for burgers, Papa John's for pizza..... But my favorite restaurant overall? I would say...... Ummmm...... Hmmmm..... Chick-Fil-A! They have everything I want. Yeah, we'll go with that ;)

3. What is your favorite movie EVER?
Disclaimer: I will not count TRILOGIES!!! That would be unfair, plus I would count the whole trilogy as one movie, plus.... Yeah. 

First, let me give you my top 5 list.... A Beautiful Mind, Master and Commander, Beauty and the Beast, Hook, and Remember the Titans.... And Inception. (My top trilogy-as-one-movie list? Bourne Trilogy, LOTR trilogy, Dark Knight Trilogy, and Toy Story Trilogy. Favorite Trilogy out of those three? Ahhh..... LOTR!!) But, my final answer is.... Master and Commander. Or Hook. Argh!

4. What was your favorite conference talk from the most recent general conference and why?

Easy! "Brethren, we have work to do" by Elder Christofferson in the Priesthood session. I loved it because Elder Christofferson is one of my favorite apostles, and it described so well the problems that men face and how they have to overcome them and how we have to man up.... OOOOOH. So good.

5. How many fingers am I holding up?

Easy again! None. Why would you hold up any fingers at any point in time during the day? Plus... I know you, wife....

6. Do you like cheese? If so, you're awesome. If not, what's wrong with you?

........ Yes?.......... Jk. I love cheese! ;)

7. What is your dream vacation? I want details.

Hahaha.... Not that I've spent a while thinking about this, but a trip to Disneyworld for about a week, then flying out to Europe for two weeks to see France, Italy, and England. Yeah..... Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, The David, Nutella Gelato, Nutella Crepes, Beast's Castle, Belle's Ballroom, Harry Potter's Castle (twice), Disneyland Paris, Venice, Assisi, London, Baker Street, AAAAAHHHH!!!!

8. If you had a million dollars and someone offered you five million dollars for that one million dollars, what would the Chinese say about colored scarves in the fall while he eats his breakfast? And what was he eating?

What would he say: "生活美好." Or "Fashionable."
What he was eating: Shin Ramyun. Or, "Spicy Ramen".

9. Can you count to purple backwards? If you get this, you're awesome.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Yes, I get it :) Do you????
I can count to g!!!!!!!

10. Do you like Once Upon a Time? If so, you're awesome and...why? If you don't, we can't be friends anymore. If you've never seen it, I ask you good man or woman...WHY NOT?

Yes I do!!!!!! (See number "Once" of the previous statements) I'm awesome......

11. Do you like puppies????????????????????????????

YES I DO!!!!! I want one..... Black Labrador Retriever. His name will be Jake. He will have a friend that is a little dog.... Whose name is yet to be determined....

Finally, 11 questions for my lucky winners...

1. When was the last time you bought ice cream that wasn't in a carton? Where was it from?
2. What do you want to be most when you grow up?
3. Do you know who David Moffat is? If not, I might be about to cry....
4. Benedict Cumberbatch or Robert Downey Jr.? And why? (In case you don't understand from the actor's names, which is a better Sherlock? The one from the recent movies or the one from the british television show?)
5. If you had a magic time box that could take you to any point in time or space, where would you go? And why?
6. Same magic time box, different paradox - what one mistake in your life would you try to correct? Or what would you tell a past version of yourself about your shared future?
7. What scripture currently defines and/or gives meaning to your life right now? And why?
8. You could own Apple, Disney, or Wal-Mart. (But you can only own one of the three.) Which one would it be? 
9. Do you know who Shawn Spencer is? If not, I might cry harder.... If you do know who he is, name his favorite male companion and that companion's signature vehicle.
10. If you go to school, what are you currently going to school for? And why?
11. Which General Authority (though all are your favorites ;) ) generally speaks to your trials and heart the most? And why?

This award goes to my cousin Corinne, my good friend Ben, and my good friend Kirk. I hope you find this as rewarding as I did! :)