Here we sit.

Once again I find myself delayed at the Denver airport. I haven't figured out how I manage to get delayed every single trip I take through Denver. This time I have a tired James and a grumpy General (yes, the General is coming back to live in Omaha). Why is General grumpy, you ask? Well, in order to travel as an extra carry on, we have to stuff him in his very own doggy duffel bag. General hates the duffel bag. We fight every time he goes in it, then he just pouts the whole flight. Poor little guy. I try to make the best of the situation and just enjoy the confused looks I get when my bag barks or tries to roll away.

Breaking up is hard to do . . .

ON MONDAY I FINALLY got the guts up to break up with Carpool. It's not that I think carpooling is bad, in fact I think that theoretically it's a very good idea--but that's theoretically. In real life, it wasn't such a wonderful thing. There are a multitude of reasons for the breakup. I have to admit that I missed the autonomy of just leaving work when I wanted, but I have some actual valid reasons also. First, I had to drive an extra 20-30 minutes each way to pick her up (in city stop and go traffic, mind you). This added up to saving one day's drive to Lincoln every two weeks, so the monetary savings aren't as grand as one would imagine. Second, she has this horrible outlook on the world and is NEVER happy. That gets super draining when you're in a car with someone for six hours a week. Third, and most importantly, her driving seriously scared me. She's really aggressive and she tailgates people constantly. Call me crazy, but I'm not a fan of riding someone's bumper going 85 mph. With wintertime just around the corner, I figured I value my life a little more than saving some money and miles on my car. So on Monday, I told her I probably wouldn't be able to continue our carpool relationship.

Everyone told me to use the old "It's me, not you" line, but I ended up using my boss as a scapegoat and saying that with all the changes in the office my schedule is going to be messed up for a while (It's half true). She took it surprisingly well. No uncontrollable sobbing. No irrational anger. No begging to take her back. All I got was an "okay, if you want to start carpooling again in the future let me know." I breathed a sigh of relief and dropped her off for the last time.

Driving alone to work this morning was glorious. I got to leave my house an hour later than I used to and I got to actually listen to my radio stations without gloomy comments. I get to leave right after my last client today and I get to talk to my Mother the whole way home. I'm starting to wonder why I waited so long for this breakup. . .

PS-Okay, so I know that title is a little misleading, but I couldn't resist. James and I are still together and still happy as can be.

Why I love Mormon Women

Yesterday was one of those days where I really

appreciated the way

that Mormons are willing to serve.

The first incident occurred at the gym when I ran into a woman, Sister Dryden, that I barely know. She was asking me how things were going and about wedding plans. As we were talking she first offered me some advice that I can really take to heart: "Keep it simple."

Second, she offered to help in the kitchen. I've been stressing over who to ask. Back home there are so many family members and close friends who just show up and pitch in, but in Nebraska, I don't have that resource. So it almost made me cry that Sister Dryden so readily volunteered. But then again,

Mormons are just like that.

They see a need and they jump right in. It doesn't matter if you're family, friends, or

just some random girl who they run into at the gym.

The second incident involves the love of the Relief Society. Nicole has been having some problems with her pregnancy and was given Doctor's orders to stay in bed for at least a week

(don't worry, at this time, Nicole and the baby are fine).

I would love to be there all the time to cook and clean for her, but with my responsibilities, I'm not able to be there every night and Creighton's been working double shifts at the restaurant, so he can't take care of her all the time either. My mother suggested calling her Relief Society President. After about 10 phone calls, I got her number and gave Sister Cotton a call. When I finished explaining the situation, she was so willing to organize dinners and company and anything else Nicole needs (crud, I just started crying thinking of it). The members of her ward are there for her when those of us who know her and love her can't be.

It's that kind of love and willingness to sacrifice

time, jello, and funeral potatoes

that really shows the love between

women.