i love my mom!

going through old photos...here is one of my favorites :)

officially Mrs. Huntsman :)

....we're gonna get MARRIED!!!!!!

Sooooo -- It's for REALS!! Justin Dean Huntsman proposed to me Friday night, June 26th on the beach in Gearhart, Oregon! We drove up to Oregon (Seaside Beach area) Wednesday night to be with his family at their family reunion.Friday night the family decided to have a big bonfire on the beach. The sun was starting to set and Justin and I decided to go for a walk on the beach...It was BEAUTIFUL!! We were walking and talking along the low tide, stopping every so often to look at the incredible sunset (and sneak in a few kisses, OF COURSE!). Justin picked up a stick off the beach and would write me little love notes in the sand. I'd respond with writing him back in the sand. Well, we kept walking, and talking. At one point, he wrote "Will you be mine?" and I responded "yes!"
I was pretty sure he wasn't going to propose that night because I was convinced he didn't have the ring yet. In fact, I was almost positive that he was going to propose that next weekend over the 4th of July at the cabin.

Well....we kept walking and talking... A little bit further down the beach, he wrote in the sand "Hey Britt?" I responded "Hey what?" Then he told me to turn around while he wrote in the sand. He wrote "Will you marry me?" (It was funny because I was secretly hoping that's what he would write, but I was convinced that he wouldn't because I didn't think he had the ring!) I turned around and as I read the words he wrote, he got down on one knee and pulled out the ring and asked me if I would marry him! Before saying anything, I took the stick from him and in big letters wrote "YES!" It was super romantic and beautiful and a complete surprise, which is what I wanted deep down inside!
We took a bunch of pictures, talked a whole lot more and started walking back to where his family was enjoying the bonfire on the beach. Neither one of us could stop giggling and smiling! I think I've had a perma-smile since that night! It was funny because he told me that no one except his parents knew that we had planned on getting married (yea....we've known for about a month now that we were gonna get married....in fact, the temple's been booked since the first of June! We have just been waiting to make it "official" with the ring and the proposal). However, after he proposed, I asked if anyone knew he was going to propose that night. He said that his siblings and parents knew.
When we got back to the bonfire, we kept my hand with the new and beautiful wedding ring hidden from everyone's eyes for about 30 minutes. It was funny because his parents and siblings all kept trying to look at my left hand, seeing if they could see the ring! We kept them in suspense for a little bit and then Justin announced it. It was neat to be able to share the excitement with his family (aunts, uncles, cousins included).
We are getting married on September 3rd, in the Idaho Falls Temple....and we couldn't be ANY happier!!

i am....

completely IN LOVE!!

the little Hofman piano prodigy....and drama queen

Just in case anyone doubted, I'm here to clear up the misconceptions... I ADORE my niece!!! I know I'm pretty partial, but I just thought this was pretty dang cute, especially when Hadlee realized it was herself being video taped and if she moved her head, the face on the camera screen would move too... :)

things i have done....

Bold the items you have done:

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - does Disney World count?!
8. Climbed a mountain - Mt. Sinai (Egypt), Mt. Timpanogos
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - not at sea, but PLENTY of lightening storms at Lake Powell!
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20. Slept on a train - in Egypt, from Cairo to Luxor
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - who hasn't?!
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping - haha....Lake Powell, Sea of Galilee, many mountain lakes, grandma's hot tub...hahaha
27. Run a Marathon - almost....okay....half way there.... 13.1 miles was a LONG way!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - a trip to Holland with my grandparents
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language - I second Kathleen Bonifay -- I can't take all the credit, but learning Spanish as a missionary I also definitely felt like I taught myself a lot (and was blessed immensely!)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing for real
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - Sea of Galilee (Israel), Lake Powell
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain.....AMAZING :)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - look me up on ebay -- arleneskitchen
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - i have a few choice plasma donating stories....hehe
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp - Dachau, Germany
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar - in Spain...it was way salty and really nasty
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem - one of the best experiences of my life
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - a chicken on a wilderness survival class at BYU
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous - Shawn Bradley (basketball player who played center for the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Nets and the Dallas Mavericks - NBA) - I worked with him last summer at West Ridge Academy. I also met the kid who played the blind boy on Dumb and Dumber...he was at EFY the one year I went....I got his autograph :) haha
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

i love my dad

Tonight, I called my dad to chat and get some advice on some things...he was at work late, getting caught up on some stuff and could have easily told me that he was busy and tired and just wanted to get stuff done at work so he could get home and go to bed...BUT, he didn't...he NEVER does. We chatted about things for a good hour....the conversation skipped from one thing to the next, just as it always does with my dad...talking about everything from business to boys to brothers to diets and eating healthy to business trips to church. When I said goodbye, I got on Gmail and dad was online....all I can say is I LOVE MY DAD and feel so incredibly grateful that I have the parents that I do....They are two of my best friends and bless my life every day.

i want to live in a wigwam

I love Cat Stevens!! this song just makes me smile....i hope to aspire to the living in a wigwam, igloo, caravan, commune, treehut experiences someday..haha....enjoy!

I'd like to live in a wigwam
Yes I'd like to live in a wigwam
I'd like to live in a wigwam and
Dance round the totem pole

I'd like to live in an igloo
Yes, I'd like to live in an igloo
I'd like to live in an igloo and
Fish from an icehole

I'd like to ride on a caravan
I'd like to take a ride on a caravan
Yes, I'd like to ride on a caravan and
Sing with the gypsies

I'd like to live on a commune
Yes, I'd like to live on a commune
I'd like to live on a commune and
People can call me a hippie

I don't want to live in a palace
No, I don't want to live in no palace
Oh I don't want to live in no palace
There's too many empty rooms

I don't want to live in a barracks
I don't want to live in a barracks
Oh I don't want to live in a barracks
And wake up to the bugle tune

I'd just like to live in a treehut
Yes, I'd like to live in a treehut
Yes, I'd like to live in a treehut and
Listen to the sound of the birds

I don't want to live in a jailhouse
Don't wanna bide my time in no jailhouse
No I don't want to live in no jailhouse and
Be fed bread through the bars

I'm glad I'm alive am I
I'm glad I'm alive am I
I'm glad I'm alive
I'm glad I'm alive
I'm glad I'm alive am I

We gotta get our heads up in the sky
We gotta get our heads up in the sky
We gotta get our heads up
Gotta give it time
We gotta get our heads up in the sky

Gotta get to heaven get a guide
We gotta get to heaven get a guide
We gotta have a guide
We gotta get to heaven get a guide

find a guy who calls you beautiful

find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot,
who calls you back when you hang up on him,

who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat,
or will stay awake just to watch you sleep…

wait for the boy who kisses your forehead,
who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats,

who holds your hand in front of his friends,
who thinks you’re just as pretty without makeup on.

one who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares
and how lucky he is to have you…

the one who turns to his friends and says,
“that’s her!”

~ anon ~

...speak to us of friendship...

Kahlil Gibran on Friendship

and a youth said, speak to us of friendship.
and he answered, saying:
your friend is your needs answered.
he is your field which you sow with love
and reap with thanksgiving.
and he is your board and your fireside.
for you come to him with your hunger,
and you seek him for peace.
when your friend speaks his mind you
fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor
do you withhold the "ay."
and when he is silent your heart ceases
not to listen to his heart;
for without words, in friendship, all
thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born
and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.
when you part from your friend,
you grieve not;
for that which you love most in him may
be clearer in his absence, as the mountain
to the climber is clearer from the plain.
and let there be no purpose in friendship
save the deepening of spirit.
for love that seeks aught but the disclosure
of its own mystery is not love but
a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable
is caught.
and let your best be for your friend.
if he must know the ebb of your tide,
let him know its flood also.
for what is your friend that you should
seek him with hours to kill?
seek him always with hours to live.
for it is his to fill your need, but not
your emptiness.
and in the sweetness of friendship let
there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
for in the dew of little things the heart
finds its morning and is refreshed.

pan integral

I made whole wheat bread on Saturday...and was reminded WHY I like making bread!!

• It's therapeutic kneading those loaves.
• I feel thrifty -- it's cheap to make....why spend money at the grocery store when you can make your own?!
• It's definitely healthy -- made with natural applesauce instead of oil and honey instead of white sugar and freshly ground whole wheat flour!
  
• I get to share it with others!
  

It's been a while since I last made bread...It will most definitely be happening mas a menudo...

If you're nice to me, I might just slice you a piece :)

thank you Aretha!

Watching Aretha Franklin perform just before President Obama took the oath of office on Tuesday brought tears to my eyes. I'm a sentimentalist through and through and I was definitely wearing my emotions on my sleeve that day.

Not only did I feel that her performance was powerful, moving, and extremely appropriate, but everything about it reminded me of my Grandma Elaine Hofman and how much I look up to her, love her and miss her!

I caught myself thinking about how Grandma would have appreciated the moment if she were alive.

Grandma would have appreciated and been excited about the setting -- the Inauguration of America's first black (not to mention Democrat!) president. My Grandma served her community and state in so many ways and was always actively involved in the political process. As Special Assistant to Idaho State Governor John Evans for 3 years, as Field Representative for U.S. Congressman Richard Stallings, and as a State Representative in the Idaho State Legislature Democratic seat for 6 years, my grandma embodied what Hubert Humphries described the purpose of government as being..."the moral test of government is how it treats those in the dawn of life - the children, those in the twilight of life - the elderly, and those in the shadows of life - the sick, the needy and the handicapped." My grandma worked for the betterment of these individuals and did a good job at it!

Grandma would have appreciated the song that was song by Aretha Franklin -- "My Country 'tis of Thee." Once, when Grandma was serving as the Special Assistant to Governor John Evans, the governor was unable to speak at a regional AARP conference and she couldn't find anyone to replace him. Therefore, the responsibility fell on her. In one long night, she created her patriotic program "I Am an American." Included in this program was the singing of many patriotric songs that Grandma loved and held dear to her heart. She eventually had these songs put to CD and would hand them out during Independence Day.

Grandma would have appreciated the voice of Aretha Franklin -- a voice rich, beautiful, and full of life and emotion. My grandm's voice was just that kind of voice and she used it to benefit the lives of so many around her. In 1963, Grandma woke up to practice a song at the piano, but when she went to sing, she had no voice. She thought it was just laryngitis, but it was much more serious. Grandma received a priesthood blessing and was promised that she would indeed sing again and use her voice for righteousness. She was unable to sing for three years. When she finally regained the strength to sing like she had done before, Grandma did use her voice for righteousness. She sang patriotic songs for her country, she sang hymns of comfort at the funerals of friends and family, she sang in city musicals and community functions, she sang at each of her grandchildren's baptisms. Her beautiful voice comforted and uplifted many.

And yes, I think my Grandma would have liked even the outfit -- I don't remember my Grandma Hofman necessarily wearing an outfit comparable to Aretha's, but her hat definitely reminded me of my Grandma's mother (my great-grandma Venna Smart) and the many beautiful hats she wore. She looked classy, and my Grandma was all about being classy!

Grandma Hofman, I love you a bushel and a peck!

i have a funny roommate