Big Surprises!

I'm back from a big family vacation. We went on a cruise from LA to Mexico. It was a wonderful time, with lots of new things to do, lots of family time, and new experiences.
But I think we can all agree that the best part of the trip was the biggest surprise of the trip- my brother proposed to his girlfriend! (And she said yes!) They have been dating for at least 3 years, so she already felt like a member of the family, hence the reason we invited her to join us. We even included her in the professional family pictures we had taken (before he popped the question). (We took most of the pictures with her in them, and a few without.)
We had no idea he was going to propose (even though we had all hinted that we hoped he would do it on the cruise). He never let on that he was going to do it. You should have heard the screaming, laughing, and crying when it happened. And it wasn't all just from our family- there was a line of people nearby, and they all clapped and cheered for the couple as well.
It was so fun and unexpected to get to be there for the special moment.
And we are all so glad that our new "fiancee-in-law" was there with us to start building our new family memories with her.
Welcome to the family, Madi!

Pinch Me, Please

I never get tired of this picture. (I've told this story many times before, so forgive me if you've heard it.) I'm twirling in the Alps in Romania, living out my "Sound of Music" dreams. In just a few seconds I will hit that small white-gray rock beside me, which isn't really a rock at all. It's mountain goat poop. And I will trip, fall, and roll unromantically down the mountain.

And the best part is?

I get to go back to Romania and do it all over again!

It's true!

An organization in Utah (that for now shall remain nameless, but I'll share more about them in a few weeks) has invited me along on their international dance tour this summer. (And I said yes.) We'll be visiting Serbia and Romania. And thanks to the very strange flight schedules of Aeroflot, and a lack of flights into Serbia, I will also be spending 2 days in Moscow.

I'd have to say that so far unemployment is suiting me just fine.

Actually, if we're being honest, I'm barely unemployed. I am writing for the Fool again, editing for Meridian, working on a top secret business venture, doing this gig in Serbia, plus accepting more and more freelance offers every day. It's really rather crazy just how many offers have just found me and jumped right in my lap.

And I have never been more grateful. Truly, I never could have imagined so many amazing opportunities could or would ever come my way so easily.  Somebody pinch me, please!

To do before the big trip:
Find a dogsitter
Finish editing "You Heard It Here First" to submit it to a distributor (this is a BIG deal, folks!)
Finish writing the sequel to "This Just In!"
Finish writing the book on social media and missionary work
Finish writing that other book I'm writing
Write lots of articles for freelance magazines that pay. I need the money.
Get more people to use that Amazon link
Get more people to use my eShakti link
Pack, move, unpack, get organized
Go to Duck Beach
Get Russian visa
Lose 10-15 lbs before Duck Beach (well underway, but goal far from met)
Figure out why my dog snores so much suddenly
Get a new, bigger suitcase
Get a briefcase-purse thing that will carry my laptop
And about a dozen more things

Malleable

Today a friend told me that she thinks I've been single and independent so long (too long) that I would probably never be able to settle down, partner up, and be happy with another person. The friend that said it knows me somewhat well, but probably not all that well, at the same time. She knows something aspects of my life, but not much about my past, or friends outside of Roanoke.
This is not a new remark. I think most singles hear it a few times after a certain age. And don't get me wrong, I do think that after a certain amount of time living alone and getting set in your ways, it does become harder and harder to integrate your life with another person's.
But the keyword here is "set in your ways."
This may be the thing that has been the most complicated and frustrated aspect of unemployment and aloneness these last few years. I don't have the luxury of getting set in my ways. I live in someone else's house. The dishes are not where I would like them to go. The couch and the TV are not where I would put them either. I have no control over any of the decor. I have little to no control over my future right now. I'm at the mercy of others in far too many ways. I can only wish I was getting set in my ways. I live for that day to come and happen to me again! I want my own place! I want to decide what brand of appliances to buy! I want to have the most important opinion over the dishes!
If anything can actually really be said about my life, especially these last few years, I am most definitely NOT set in my ways.
Now, don't get me wrong, this odd little recluse on the mountain lifestyle has killed my social skills. I crave conversation terribly. And then when I do get a chance to talk to a friend in-person it's like a volcano explosion. I'm Old Faithful, ready to burst at any moment. I get a little too excited and have way too much to say.  And that is a problem I really need to work on.
Set in my ways? Not really, not so much, but I don't blame others for thinking that might be the case. But really, with the punches I've had to roll with in the past few years, I've learned what few things really matter, and what things don't. I become more flexible by the day. If I don't hurry up and get a job soon, I'll become completely porous, unable to hold an opinion of my own!




Hey You! Check out my new novels, "You Heard It Here First" and the sequel "This Just In!"

It was a nice day for a white wedding

A sneak peak from the wedding photos!
A few of my favorite pics found on my phone and camera from my sister's wedding.

Our brother is currently deployed and was unable to be at the wedding. We got to talk to him right before the ceremony, which was a lot of fun, and maybe made a few of us cry just a little bit. To "include" him in the festivities we enlarged the only photo we could find that was a high enough resolution and put him on foam core, and carried him around with us. He may kill me in the end for the not incredibly flattering picture, but he was a huge hit. When I pulled him out (I have to admit "pulling Scott out" and "putting Scott away" got to be very funny) and we explained to the groomsmen what was going on (note- all of them are the groom's fire crew- also standing in rank order-chief to yellow hat) they all cheered for him.

A much more traditional photo- the whole bridal party, minus the ring bearers. The flower girl was stinking adorable.
My favorite part of the rehearsal dinner was a conversation with the little flower girl (whom Steph (the bride) used to nanny for). Steph was wearing a casual white dress during the rehearsal. The flower girl was a little disappointed. We asked what was wrong and she explained she thought that was the REAL wedding dress. So we told her it was just a dress, and that the real wedding dress would be a bigger version of her own pretty ball gown for the wedding. She got all excited and said, "Really? She's going to wear a beautiful white ball gown!?!" We said yes. She got very excited and emotional, clasped her hands under her chin (in a swoony way seen in every Disney princess movie ever), and said, "And then she's going to marry the handsome prince!!" It was too cute for words.

The nephews and Aunt Steph. Doing their best manly poses, or something like that. Porter (littlest one) is actually doing his "very best look."

The back of my head. Just so you know, my hair rocked. And Rachel did it for me.

Looking forward to the photographer (our awesome cousin and award winning awesome photographer Jon) posting the real pics soon!

Single Mormon Woman Shares All

Earlier this week I wrote a piece for Meridian Magazine entitled "Where are the Role Models for Single Women?" Today I read a great piece in the Washington Post, "Some people never find the love of their lives. And live to tell about it." It is accompanied by the results of a fascinating survey about single life.
As a Single Mormon Woman I found that I could relate to much of the article, but less so to the survey results. Very rarely were my answers the same as the majority of answers. I believe this is partially due to my Mormon background, as well as my discomfort with my current financial and professional situations (which, yes, are improving, but are far from perfect). It is possible that if those two areas of my life were more stable and secure that I may have different answers.

Yesterday something very interesting happened to me. I have lived in Roanoke for nearly two years, and for the first time since moving here I was invited to a social event [that wasn't with my family members]. Yes, for the first time in nearly two years, I got invited out to play. At first I was just happy to be invited and to attend. It wasn't until a few hours before the party that it hit me- I'm the only single in this town. I'm going to a party that will undoubtedly be all married couples- and me. I've been in these situations before and they can be downright miserable when you are the third wheel. However, I thought about it, and knew that it was very likely that the other guests would all be couples I am friends with. I went to the party, and I had a good time. I was very grateful that someone would think to invite me, rather than exclude me just because it might be strange to have that one single girl there in a room full of couples. Because heaven knows, we singles do get left out often enough because we don't have a spouse.

With all of that in mind, I'd like to expand a little bit on what I read in Meridian, and reference the Washington Post article, as I make a few more points. I have inserted more thoughts throughout the piece below than just what originally ran on Meridian. I have not indicated when I have not done that.


What the Young Woman Lesson Manual Said
“Invite an exemplary sister (preferably one who has married in the temple and has a family), who has been approved by priesthood advisers, to speak to the young women about the joy of being a woman. Ask her to relate some joys and challenges she has experienced, including some when she was the age of the young women in the class. She might tell about specific experiences and choices that helped her stay close to Heavenly Father and the blessings and joy that resulted. She should emphasize the joy of being a woman at every age. Suggest that she take about twenty minutes. Ask her to allow time for the young women to ask her questions and express their feelings.
“OR
“You may invite a grandmother, mother, and young married woman, who have been approved by priesthood advisers, to briefly express the joys of womanhood they are presently experiencing. You might suggest that they also mention joys they experienced when they were the age of the young women. Stress to each that she is allowed only five or six minutes. You might offer to time them and signal when their time is up.”

What I (the single, never married, young woman adviser) Heard-
Single women are not impressive. And we don’t want girls to think single women are role models. Oh and apparently a man is needed to determine what a good woman is, women can't figure that out for themselves.


This is copied, verbatim, from the Young Women Manual, Lesson 5: Finding Joy in Our Divine Potential. And it was the lesson taught this past Sunday to young women around the world. It even included a sub-heading “We Can Experience Joy at Every Stage of Life.” I’m just curious, did anyone remember to include the “stage” of being single? Did anyone explain to the young women how this stage is not the same as your college years? Didn’t anyone mention that while we hope and pray they get married, and have a family, that statistically speaking that for 50% of them “single” wouldn’t be a “stage” of life, it would be how she will spend her entire life?

No? No one. I’m not surprised.

Who Will Be My Role Model?
For the past few years I have used the following description in my professional writing biography, "Erin Ann is equal parts Mother Teresa, Anne Shirley and Carrie Bradshaw.” This description has been met by a few to great criticism. What was an LDS woman doing describing herself with a Catholic nun and as the fictional character from “Sex and the City?” Let me explain- they were single women I could relate to. Carrie Bradshaw was a single woman in her thirties, a writer, and looking for love. In that respect I had a lot in common with her. Of course if someone were to make a sitcom about my life it would probably have the less than tantalizing title "No Sex in the Suburbs.” I may not be Carrie Bradshaw in many respects, but I can definitely relate to her.

When Girl Goes on Date with Boy to Meet his Friend and Instead Meets her Future Husband

Over Christmas I had the fun opportunity to have my Great Aunt Nadine tell me the story of how she met her husband, my Great Uncle Paul. It is a very cute and fun story, and for my LDS friends, you will recognize a few interesting names in it!  And if you aren't LDS, it is still a very cute story.

(I know a few of my cousins will be reading this. This is the story to the best of my recollection. If anyone wants to correct me (like the name of the friend), please do! Jeannie- I'm looking at you here!)

First, you all have to promise that you are reading this with a thick Southern Belle accent, because that is how my Aunt Nadine told it to me.
Aunt Nadine is my grandmother's baby sister. They had 16 siblings, 13 of whom grew to maturity, but 3 brothers who died before Nadine was even born (she even has a few nieces older than she is). The 6 youngest were all sisters (including my grandmother), and were all quite pretty. And they all grew up on this dang here mountain together.
The stories of how men would come to Roanoke just to meet the family with the 6 pretty sisters (and their cousins) are legendary in these parts. (Or at least in our family.)

Aunt Nadine is around 79 years old now, I believe.

Again, remember, Southern Belle accent, think Scarlett O'Hara is telling you the story. Because those 6 sisters wouldn't have it any other way.

"Well, I was twenty years old and ripe to be married. There was a nice boy named Rich Scott that I would go with from time to time. He had asked me to go with him to Washington, DC to go to a dance at the Old Washington Chapel. Now I didn't care much for Rich, he was nice enough, but he wasn't nobody. But I liked his friend Marv, so I said yes, just so I could have the chance to talk to Marv on the drive up there. Marv was older than us, and I always thought he was right smart.

"We went to the dance, and my dance card was full. I was having a nice time when this girl came up to me and asked if I would be going to Mutual the next day. I said I supposed so. And she said she was real glad because her brother thought I was the prettiest girl in the room and he wanted to get to know me tomorrow.

"Well, I wasn't that impressed with him or the sister. I wasn't going to pay him no mind if he was going to send his sister over to talk to me instead of talking to me himself. So I just kept myself entertained dancing with Rich and Marv.

"The next night I walked into Mutual where I saw that same girl dancing with a similar looking boy. I figured that must be her brother. I didn't pay him no mind at first. But as soon as that song was over he came over and asked to dance with me. I told him he would have to dance with my friend first. He said he would so he danced with Jeanene. I was promised on my dance card to Rich. But as soon as the brother could, he came right back over to ask me to dance again. I took a good look at him in his Marine uniform and saw he had the prettiest blue eyes I had ever seen. Well, I forgot all about old Marv then. The only man for me was Paul. He asked me out on a date for the very next day. We doubled with Rich and my roommate Jeanene. It was a little awkward at first, since Rich had been my date to start with. But he liked Jeanene well enough.

"Rich was a nice fellow but he wasn't anybody special to me. Now he thinks he's somebody and goes by Richard G. Scott. But back then he was just good old Rich."

At this point my jaw drops open, "Wait a minute, are you talking about Elder Scott?"

"Yes, honey, he's a General Authority now. But back then he was just a college boy with a car. Hadn't even served in the military. I wanted a man in uniform."

Me: dumbfounded. "Are you telling me... you went on a trip and a date with Richard G. Scott just so you could see his friend Marv and that's how you met Uncle Paul??"

"Well, yes, but I haven't told you the good part yet."

(Me: dumbfounded)

"So we went on a date and I knew right away that I liked Paul. He was just out of the Marines and had nice blue eyes. Rich and I drove back to Roanoke. Paul came down right away and we went out again and he met the family. Mother approved, so I told him we could get married. But I had to ditch Rich first. So I  Rich know, and we all went out on another double date with Rich and Jeanene. Paul and I got married the next weekend. Jeanene wouldn't marry Rich until he went on a mission. So they both went on missions, and then got married after they got back."

And that, my friends, is the story of how Aunt Nadine met Uncle Paul. And also the story of how Elder Richard G. Scott met his own wife.