Francine Johnson, 5th grade, Track B

Today was the 23rd birthday of my lovely and loving friend Francine Bree Johnson Sanchez. I could write an endless post about her and her wonderfulness.

We first met as young girls through a mutual friend, who happened to be her neighbor. We recognized each other in 5th grade but didn't become good friends until 6th grade. Ever since then we've been close friends, and ever since we both got married we've become even closer.

Francine is a beautiful woman both inside and out. She glows with optimism and friendliness. She cares deeply about her friends and shows it through thoughtful, meaningful actions. She is very intelligent, talented, fun to be around, creative, and energetic. She is always sincere and sweet. Everyone who meets her loves her and is touched by her.

Some of my favorite memories of Francine:

• parties: birthday, pool, Christmas, Halloween--always fun and creative!
• her party punch
• her messy but cute handwriting
• singing karaoke at her and other people's parties
• singing in general
• watching her in "Bye, Bye Birdie" at the community center
• playing pretend at random places
• writing thank-you cards to each other
• track and field
• high jumping together
• running for ASB in 5th grade (hence, the post title)
• dancing
• bowling
• watching her show off her mad gymnastics and diving skills
• Morning Munchies and everything that entails!
• super long emails and facebook messages
• Caroline B. Cooney books
• Samson, her car
• going to the beach
• trying to be fashionable
• AP Biology
• taking TONS of pictures
• my bridal shower, which she planned with Kaitlyn
• being one of her bridesmaids!
• MY BIRTHDAY SURPRISE!!!
  

I love this picture of Francine on her wedding day! She is so beautiful!

The Caruso Family

For those of you who know my family, the Carusos, check out their website and sign their guestbook!

http://www.easysite.com/carusofamily

Funday

Today was a very fun Sunday. Justin and I spoke in church about agency, and I must say we both did really well. I remembered to speak slowly and Justin remembered to speak up. We managed nine kids (8 boys, 1 girl) in Primary. They weren't perfect, but they were great considering there were so many rowdy boys.

We went over to a friend's house for dinner and games--Imaginiff, of course. It's my favorite game! Justin and I made "sticky popcorn" (soft caramel corn) for dessert. Another couple joined us for the second round, and then we played Boomo, a very fun version of Uno. It was nice meeting another couple since we rarely get the chance to since we're in Primary.

Anniversary Week

Justin and I had our two-year anniversary on Monday. We didn't quite get to celebrate it fully that day, so it ended up being quite the week of fun things:


Monday: We saw Harry Potter 6. A little disappointing, in all honesty, but still enjoyable. Afterward, we strolled the outdoor mall. Justin had to work that evening though he originally had it off so we had to cancel dinner plans. But then he wasn't needed at work because the equipment he used was broken. So he only stayed for a couple hours and then came home. We picked up treats at the gas station and watched our DVD slideshow of wedding pictures and Enchanted.

Wednesday: I babysat for a friend's family that morning. Once my friend's mom returned, we all ate at Burger King, went to a historical museum in Gilbert, and then got shaved ice. I invited Justin to come along. We had a great time being with kids and doing something outside the house. It felt like a family date even though it wasn't even our family.

Thursday: Justin had Thursday off, so we used it to celebrate our anniversary. Justin slept in forever, so I went running and read Harry Potter 4 until he woke up. By afternoon we left for Scottsdale to do some window shopping before dinner at The Melting Pot, where my amazing friends took me for my birthday surprise. At the restaurant, we were lucky and got a private booth. We had a delicious meal and played a type of 20 Questions game about each other. Justin enjoyed the place very much. And we had such a romantic time together. Definitely recommend that place for special nights!

For more pictures, click here.

The Library and the Lord

Oh, how I miss BYU and its five-story library from heaven. Or the wonderful, friendly San Marcos library. The campus library here has only two bookcases of children's fiction. The nearest public library is twenty minutes away and everything is always checked out. I can never get the book I want!

Today we went to return some books. I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to reread all the Harry Potter books. If I were in San Marcos or Provo, I would have succeeded by now, not only because of the better libraries, but also because friends would have lent the books to me. Anyway, it took me forever to lay hold of book 2. Today I searched for book 3, which I had put on hold but which they cancelled for reasons unknown to me. I searched for an Agatha Christie book, And Then There Were None, to no avail. I was extremely frustrated and felt like I had wasted my time. I only checked out one book, The Westing Game, a childhood favorite.

Before leaving, we checked out the little used bookstore in the library. I glanced through the portable shelves first and found nothing. Then I looked through the bookcases and saw the mystery section. Lo and behold, what did I find? Two copies of And Then There Were None! I kept browsing and moved to the children's section. What was there? Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban! And the best part? I spent $1.50 total.

First of all, I wonder why they don't take some of these donated books and make them into library books, especially the Harry Potter ones since they are high in demand. Second, was this not a tender mercy of the Lord, that the very two books I so desperately wanted I found in the bookstore? I wanted to buy the Agatha Christie one anyway. I always look for her mysteries in thrift stores, and this copy was much cheaper than any I have bought at a thrift store--only fifty cents! The Harry Potter book was only a dollar, so even if in the future I buy the complete set brand new, it's no big deal and I can always resell it.

What a blessing for me today!

Fireworks, Family, Friends, Food, and Fun

For the Fourth of July weekend we drove to San Marcos and arrived Wednesday night. Thursday, after an exhilirating run, Mom put me to work right away sorting through all my stuff I still had at their place. Later the Jocelyns came over and we went swimming. Justin was great with the little boy, throwing him around in the pool and playing with him. But that night, Justin woke up with extreme pain in his right shoulder, and I stayed up until 6 a.m. taking care of him. Needless to say, I was a bit cranky the next morning, or afternoon since I didn't get up until noon. My plans for the day were kind of ruined, so I never set foot at the beach while there. Really sad about that because it's been years since I've been; every time we visit it's either not the right weather or not enough time.

Anyway, Francine and Kristen came over and we chatted by the pool for a few hours until my cousin Jacqueline arrived. We played Loaded Questions and had quite the fun time. My fabulous friends left and the rest of us had dinner. Once Jax left, Stevie wanted to play Loaded Questions again so we played until I finally won at 11:30 p.m.

Saturday Justin and I went to the local golf shop (of course), visited my old boss at Baskin Robbins, and bought patriotic t-shirts. We got home right when the Lyles family came; our friend Rafaela was also there. We had a fabulous dinner of ribs, chicken, beans, salad, corn, potato salad, and lots of watermelon. Yum! I bet that in total I ate a whole watermelon during the time I was in San Marcos!

The Lyles kids went swimming. It was really fun watching them. Sariah and Genesis kept racing and Genesis beat her all but two times. She looked like a little wind-up toy, she was going so fast. She is really cute. Sammy would try too, but he would give up or cheat by getting out of the pool and jumping in at the other end. Genesis was too scared to jump in. She did a couple times, barely, by squatting really low and then leaning forward until she fell in. Sammy kept trying to help her by showing her how to do it a million times. Sariah offered to hold her hand, but Genesis would chicken out.

Around 5 we went to Bradley Park where all the city congregates for food, fun, and fireworks. The Sketch Band, a band our friend started years ago and for which my dad sings and plays percussion, played at the park for a couple hours. Francine, Oscar, and Kaitlyn met us there. Ravi, First, Eric, and Jordan showed up, and we saw Linh. The guys played cards and we rotated playing Guess Who. Later, James, Kaitlyn, Oscar, Francine, Justin, and I played Scrabble. Naturally, Justin and I won. Finally the fireworks came at 9 along with the patriotic music via radio. It was a great show; not the best one I remember, but still awesome. I felt full of joy and peace and I was so grateful to be in America.

Sunday was church and I ran into a family that is in our ward in Arizona--small world! They are in San Marcos for a summer internship. Kaitlyn came over afterward and we had fun playing Uno. Kaitlyn was nice enough to help me clean the kitchen so we could get to bed. Monday morning we left at 6 and stopped for a nice breakfast at Denny's before continuing on. I was sad to leave the weather, friends, and family, but it's nice being in my own home again.

For more pictures, click here.