I started writing a blog post...

And it was really stupid. Something like "this year has been very eventful" blah blah.

I guess I am not terribly sentimental. I live very much in the moment, and look forward to the future. Instead of looking back at the difficulties this past year has brought us, I'd rather dream about what things we get to look forward to when residency is done.

Children grow at an alarming rate. This is something I had to expect from the beginning. But I do not mourn the growth of a child. Pippa was only a newborn for an instant, but becomes more vibrant every day. If she was a baby forever, she might be cute and innocent all the time, but she would not grow to understand the world around her and taste the bittersweet fruit of a life truly lived.

Cheers to a happy new year.

Things you need to try.

Dear world:

1. Today I tried Kimchi Ramen noodles.

 

It was delicious. Available at your nearest Asian foods market.

I am not a food snob. I eat Ramen noodles with joy in my heart. 

2. Everyone within the sound of my voice (or within

the  blogosphere) needs to watch Sherlock if they haven’t already. Not the movie with Robert Downey Jr., but the BBC version starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.

I guess what persuaded us was the fact that Freeman will be playing Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming movie, The Hobbit, and Cumberbatch the voice of Smaug the dragon in the same film.

Also, the episodes are available streaming on Netflix.

November is no mo

Well look at that.

Thirty days of November gone in an instant.

Thanks to all the blogstalkers who kept reading this inane drivel.

On this last day of november, I am grateful for hot showers. It's a small thing I suppose. But I have seen days in my life without hot water (in the dead of winter no less) and I have vowed to never take it for granted again. It's a rejuvenating luxury that I know many in the world cannot afford.

29th of November

Today I am grateful for art. Without it, I would surely, surely go insane. For you see, it is my therapy.

I have learned that art can take on many different forms. On my mission I was not allowed time to create, but I found cooking to bring me the creative solace that I greatly needed.

Most people ask me what my favored "medium" is, and I usually respond with ceramics. I love most 3 dimensional art, but there are MANY different crafts that appeal to me. I have tried my hand at beading, sewing, polymer clay, embroidery, quilling, origami, knitting, crocheting, quilting, interior design, wax molding, printmaking, bronze casting, welding, bookbinding, ukrainian egg dyeing, watercolor, oils, acrylics, chalk pastel murals on asphalt, stone carving, wire sculpting, ink drawing, intaglio, calligraphy, graphic design, figure drawing/sculpture, and others I am simply forgetting at the moment. Some of these I am much more experienced at, while others were just for fun. But the thing is, they are ALL fun. There is so much more I want to try. All in good time.

A picture of some artwork would be nice but my words shall have to suffice for today.

November 28th

 

The number of days in November dwindle!

I would be remiss to exclude one of the most important thankfuls, which is MUSIC!

It would take me way too long to go into depth about all my favorite artists. But just for fun, I give you a few samples, thanks to youtube.

 

 

I used to listen to the slavonic dances when I was 13-14 years old. I remember listening to them on my cd walkman on youth temple trips, like a total nerd.

 

Dvorak played a major role in my youth. I have no idea why.  I listened to the New World Symphony a lot.

I also listened to this piece a lot:

 

I think God knew how much I loved slavic composers, which is why he sent me to Ukraine. As a child, I had no idea what drew me to their music and art.

 

Candide has an energy that I enjoy.

I wanted to find a video of one of Gershwins preludes but it is difficult to find a proper one on youtube.

On calmer days I am a fan of Debussy.

 

Sometimes I am even a fan of Opera. If you don’t like opera, this is the only suggestion I would make to attempt to change your mind. My brother made the subtitles. Start at 1:43 if you are impatient.

 

SO before I bore you all to death with “classical” music (a genre widely misunderstood) I do have some contemporary favorites.

Coldplay recently released their new album, “Mylo Xyloto” – I have been obsessed with it for the past few weeks. I am slightly obsessed with Coldplay in general.

 

Another song by Coldplay is one of our ( Micah and I) very favorites. They’re astoundingly good at building to fantastic musical climaxes. In this song, I believe at 2:21 they are using a 7/8 time signature. I do not know of any other “pop” artist doing this in the past decade.

 

And as I have mentioned several times on this blog, we are huge fans of Paul Simon.

 

 

People, I have so so many more favorites. But this

will have to suffice for now.  I am so grateful for the companionship music provides me on a daily basis. Hope you enjoyed this little musical journey.

Twenty the seventhbleventh of novlemblimph

My original idea for this post:

"blah blah blabbity blah bla thankful blab blooh blahh"

But I now see how that wouldn't be very genuine of me.

I think today I was grateful for my hair. Is that dumb enough? The vanity of it! But I am grateful that I am generally very happy with my hair, even on days where I think the rest of me looks terrible.

And now that you've read that you should probably get back to your life.

Editors note:

Now you will probably never compliment my hair because you will be thinking "meh! she KNOWS it!"

It is already the 26th.

Yikes!

Thanksgiving was so delicious. Micah made Alton Brown's turkey recipe. It is absolutely the best turkey we have ever tasted. So far we've been having turkey every day for dinner and we've eaten about 1/4 of the 18 pound turkey we got.

So I guess I am thankful I could keep it all down.

Yesterday we were super busy doing what Americans do best - consuming goods in the name of Christmas. But! We are just doing our part to help the economy.

And today we got to trim our first Christmas tree! Hooray!

Today I am asking a favor of you. I would like to send you, dear reader, a Christmas postcard (you know, the kind though the mail) and I need your address. Don't be shy! I won't tell anyone! You can send it to my e- mail at betsyhcroft@gmail.com . Even if you think I have it, send it to me anyways.

I am thankful for my faithful readers that keep me blogging! Let me know you're out there!

Happy thanksgivin!

I'm haz eaten too much food to blog good.


Come back tomorrow.

November 23rd

Ya’ll knew it was coming.

A month of things I am grateful for? Well one of those has got to be the fact that somehow, miraculously, I managed to convince someone to live with me for the REST OF HIS BLESSED LIFE.

Marriage is a TALL ORDER. Marriage to me is the most complicated item on the menu. Who would be insane enough to tackle the job!?

….

I figured it was appropriate to give him his proper credit today, the 23rd, as we were married on May 23rd, 2009. (Just 2 1/2 years ago! We are babies!)

Whenever people ask us for our “story” we look at each other, asking ourselves non-verbally, “where to begin?”

It’s kind of a long story.

We say the usual things:

“We met at BYU”

“We were in the same student ward (neighbors)”

“He was my home teacher” (This is true, but I say it as a joke.)

“Internet chatroom” (also a joke…)

But we never really get into the whole “Betsy served a mission for 18 months in Eastern Europe while Micah waited patiently during his first 2 years of medical school in Chicago" part.

Thinking about this, it seems we are gluttons for punishment. “Waiting for someone” on a mission is super risky business. So much can change in 18-24 months. Communication is strained, especially since I was in Ukraine, and mail took 2 weeks to deliver. We could not talk on the phone. We were both extremely focused on our work. It would seem there would be no way to develop and nurture a relationship.

But I served a mission anyway, and we got through it. It was so miserably hard at times. But, at other times, it felt like something we had to do. It was like the saying that goes, “relationships that work out just keep working out.” We had no idea what would happen. So we took it day by day.

People, this is a miracle.

So do I believe in miracles? YES! Am I grateful Micah waited for me? Shoot. Is the sky blue? Maybe. I mean. YES.

Everything I have mentioned that I am grateful for, ties back to him. I could never be grateful enough that he is a part of my life! But I will keep trying, ok?

A picture he sent me during my mission. How could I resist that?!?!?!?

November 22

Ok so, a few days ago I posted about funny things. I recently found one of Micah's gems that he wrote while I was recently returned from my mission. There was a "25 things about me" trend circulating on social media. It was typical for people to list things they had accomplished, even if they were stupid.

Well enough explanation. This is what Micah wrote:

25 Things About Me
by Micah Croft on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 3:15pm

1. I drink a bottle of fish oil every day.
2. I am in a local bowling league and I have won 3 interstate championships.
3. I am a member of the constitution party.
4. I own 2 pairs of shoes, but 4 pairs of cowboy boots.
5. I have a collection of Barbies, the oldest of which is a 1964 "Career Girl."
6. I was once a scoutmaster in a boy scout troup with 13 boys.
7. I have never been on a second date.
8. I have never seen a scary movie, unless you count ET.
9. I have been to three separate continent.
10. I was once arrested for driving without a license.
11. I could have gone to medical school, but I decided to become a homeopath instead.
12. I am just starting a homeopathic practice in Chicago, and am incorporating several ideas from Buddhism into my work. You should check me out on www.homeopathyforchicago.com.
13. I have a pet iguana named philocius.
14. I wrote a poem about rain drops that was included in a published collection of poems by american poets.
15. I got 113 on the facebook IQ test. I know it isn't genius level, but still, NOT BAD!!!
16. When it isn't too cold, I like to ride my unicycle (You might see me down by lake michigan on a sunny day.)
17. I try to go to a Renaissance Faire at least every year. I have been to faires in 5 different states.
18. I once won best merlin impersonator at one such faire.
19. I've read over 25 books (that's only novels, not counting any other books, like cookbooks, or comics).
20. I have friends from all over the world and now have over 100 friends on facebook!!!
21. The Davinci Code, by Dan Brown changed my life.
22. I once met the "Painter of Light," Thomas Kinkade, in the mall. I have his autograph!
23. My favorite state is Utah, because I feel less challenged there.
24. I don't really get humor.
25. George W. Bush is my hero. I hope that someday I will reach a fraction of his greatness. I am sad that he is no longer our president, but confident that his legacy will live on as perhaps the greatest president since Lincoln.


I laugh so hard every single time I read this. Every time.

November 21

I am thankful for sunshine. I am longing for it always.

When I left to go to school in Utah, my friends asked me why I would go to any school outside of CA. They probably thought I was crazy. I didn't think going away to school was as crazy as a mission, which I eventually did. That was a real distance. That made me miss America. But now after living in Chicago and now Seattle, I am always happy to go back to the land of sunshine.

To have joy

I got to teach gospel principles today at church.

It was neat because I taught about baptism as the first ordinance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Throughout the lesson, I was reminded of how well God takes care of us. We can be at peace knowing that things will work out when we put God first. While we cannot know everything, do everything, fix everything, or be everything, we can try our best and be happy with ourselves. This knowledge is a great source of joy to me. I am thankful for it.

19th of November

This is going to sound materialistic but today I am grateful for the fact that I live so close to Target.

November 17

Today I am grateful for water!

Did you know that the earth is 98 percent water? Well, it isn't!

I'm just always amazed at all the benefits of drinking water. I love all things that come with water, plant life, animal life, rain, snow, and so on.

The water also tastes really good here. It's nice.

I like it!

The first pancake.

Hey everybody.

I speak as though I had a vast audience...

Well today is pretty rainy, surprise surprise. Not going to lie, the weather is not going to make it on my thankful list.

But today's thankful is one of the biggest ones. Or smallest ones. Small little baby one.

Pippa is the world's best baby. We expected the worst, and got the best. She is cute and charming. She is also intelligent, easily entertained, and can take a nap anywhere. She is easy going and playful. All in all, world's best baby.

Somebody told us once that the first baby is like the first pancake. I had to think for a second, then realized she was talking about the pancake that is almost always messed up. I laughed, thinking, that could totally still happen. But right now she's a pretty dang good pancake.

November the fifteen

Today I am grateful for visiting teaching. To me, it is almost the same as missionary work. Even when you are an active member of the church you need help in the learning process. Or just a friend to talk to. I appreciate the sacrifice that my visiting teachers make to come see me. It gives me strength.

November the fourthteen

This day of November I am grateful for how excited I am for Christmas. It is always exciting, but this year is especially great because we are actually going to get a tree and decorate it, since we now live in an apartment big enough.

Also, we get to buy presents for little Pippa. But not a lot of toys because she is only 4 months and is plenty entertained with just her feet. I tell people she mainly want books for Christmas, as they are the gifts that keep on giving.

So I guess I am also grateful not to have to worry about the latest toys this year. Except maybe for Micah.

Novembler thirteen

Today is Sunday.

It was a good Sunday.

I am grateful for Sundays.

Church, a visit from home teachers, a nap, music on our penny whistles, hot chocolate, corned beef and cabbage, a movie about c.s. Lewis, rice crispy treats, and now we are off to sleep. A perfect Sunday, no?

We live in what I am sure is one of the greatest wards in the planet. Genuine, thoughtful, intelligent, caring people.

Yes, I am most grateful for Sundays.

The twelves of November

I am thankful for freedom.

11.11.11

Yes.

Today I am grateful for my mission. It is a part of me. I think about it every day.

I still speak random Ukrainian, which comes out before I even think. As a clue, these are some of the things I say.

“блин” (pronounced bleen) – is short for pancakes in russian, but it is the word they use for “darn”. I say this most.

“що?” (pronounced shcho…the sh and ch sounds squeezed together to create a completely foreign sound) – meaning, “what?”

“не знаю” (Ne znayoo) – “I don’t know”

“давайте” (DavAIte) - “Let’s go”

This is probably at least all the words that Micah understands. Or he might just be ignoring me. Can’t say for sure which one.

I also have an amazing Russian accent on demand. For this I am eternally grateful.

Now for a slew of pictures to delight upon. Ah. Those were the days.

I was a sassy missionary.

Tenth of November

I am grateful for cute things.
Like hello kitty, bunnies, puppies, and babies. Not necessarily in that order.

November the nine

I am grateful for
MODERN TECHNOLOGY!!!!!
Seriously, what would we do without google maps, e-mail, and search engines!?
...Get lost, have to wait for our mail, and not really know anything I guess.

Along with this I will also say that I am grateful for modern medicine. Particularly anesthesia. Man! What a blessing!

November the eight

I am grateful for this book!

November the seven

Today I am grateful for organization. You might not think a right brained artist type to think this way, but I need organization in my life. I honestly cannot think in a cluttered house. Yes, art (and creativity in general) is messy sometimes, but I think a lot of artists use that as an excuse not to clean up after themselves.

Personally, I think the best artists are the most organized ones. Yeah, some were psycho and cut off their ears and were legendary and whatever, but I don't want to be like them. I want an ordered life. And a house where everything has its place. Even the bathroom. I put shelves there just other day. Nothing fancy, but it's neat, and I like it:

November the six

Today I am grateful for our magical laundry machine! Actually I am grateful for it every day. But today in particular, after three blowouts.

THREE.

Good morning, November 5th

I missed yesterday's post because it was Micah's day off. They seem so rare nowadays. But I am extremely grateful for them.

Today I thought about my husbands work and how much I complain about it. He works a lot, and I probably complain a lot too. But, it's what pays for our apartment and my silly hobbies and the dumb tv and my weird clothes and my iPad and taco bell and diapers.

So today I am grateful for Micah's job. Money isn't everything, but financial responsibility is a blessing. And so is paying tithing.

November the third

Grateful for my health today.

I have poor vision and allergies, but I'd take that over a lot of things.

Im working on never being one of Micah's patients.

November already.

SHEESH.

Dear world,

This month is the time for turkeys, cornucopias, and stories of the pilgrims progress, but most importantly gratitude. They say a happy person is a grateful one, so this month I will be blogging one thing I am thankful for, every day, starting, uh, now.

I got the idea from my friend. So naturally, my first thankful post is that I am grateful for her. Sorry, I don’t mean to embarrass, but I’m not really that sorry. For privacy I will call her “Sylvia”.

Sylvia and I were neighbors in Chicago. Then I decided to be a jerk and move across the country. Somehow, Jessica still remained a friend to me (Oops, I meant Sylvia), and darn it if she hasn’t been one of the best ones. If it weren’t for her I don’t really know how I would have gotten through this mess of a move and new baby and all that. So thanks Jess. SYLVIA! Her name is Sylvia.

By the way, if you want a good read, I suggest taking a look at her account of the hospital stay after her son was born. (We also were pregnant at the same time and our children were born exactly two weeks apart –  either a really cathartic or really hormonally charged experience, take your pick) Here is the link, you will not be sorry.

Link.

 Pregnancy and psychosis go hand in hand.

Oh and, since I missed November 1st, yesterday I was grateful for… cheese. Yup. Cheese.

I’m a Mormon, yo!

Haha. That is my lame attempt at being “cool.”

Although, I think being a mormon is cool!

Check out my profile! Dig it! Love it! Just don’t lick the computer screen!

LINK!

A cool button shall be added to the sidebar too.

Bed time!

FUN TIMES

We recently made a trip to California. It was Pippa’s first plane ride. We expected the worst, but she did extremely well. She slept the whole time, both ways. One guy told us, “your baby wins.” Yes. She does.

While in California, we enjoyed:

Ruby’s by the pier,

watching the seals,

beautiful beaches,

family togetherness,

reading books (…)

interior decor.

But wait! There’s more!

Yesterday Micah had the day off.  Since he will be doing Internal Medicine this month we are gearing up for some intense work hours. So we spent a relaxing day by the BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL Snoqualmie falls.

‘TWAS JOY!