The desire to start a family blog has been a consistent little pester since Jonny and I got engaged on May 2, 2010. Too many excuses saw me through until the end of that year, thus, we remained a blogless family. Recently, my brand new, shiny sister(s)-in-law have inspired me to re-visit that little pester. So I will begin publishing experiences that can only be deemed interesting by the individuals involved. Still, there is something to be said for the simplicity of life in Kansas. Lowest gas prices in the nation? Yes, please. Who could ask for more than that? Plus, Kansas has its own very own, celebrated state flower. We are a proud bunch. (Sorry, Chiefs. I still have Bronco blood.)
Jonny and I were married September 30, 2010. By far the best day of my life thus far. Grandpa Saunders sealed us in the Nauvoo, Illinois temple. Family and friends assembled, and there was much joy and laughter and a little bit of disbelief. Funny how Stephanie Birdsall somehow ended up with Jonathan Miller. Two families with more than a little bit of history were joined together. I'm not sure anyone saw that coming.
For the record, what they say about redheads is true, for the most part. We are stubborn and hard-headed with a big helping of temperamental. Jonny handles all that beautifully. I'm not really sure how he accomplishes such a mountain of a task. Some days I question his sanity. There are so many things I get to learn about him on a daily basis; there is organization to his disorganization, he loves the unlovable, he is open to any and all recipes I submit him to, and he eats pistachios with reckless abandon. Also, his family is wonderful. There are so many mushy metaphors that should follow here, but I will spare you, poor Reader. Just know that they're swell and I wish we could play together all the time.
Married life is basically fantastic. More fantastic than I will admit to my single friends. It's in the "Marriage Pact" somewhere to leave out the reality of "wedded bliss" in conversation. At least it was when I was single. No one told me how much fun it would be to leave single life behind. I don't even mind all the screaming children in the family ward.
And so, I greet 2011 with promises of regular blog posts, a bright and shiny new Hot 100 list (to be published shortly for any who are interested), and a hope that someone out there will read this and think, "Wait, does she actually KNOW the state flower of Kansas?"
I absolutely do. It was taught to me by a well-intentioned history teacher. The image of the jumper she wore on "Sunflower Day" has been burned into my retinas.
