remember when we were valentines?

Valentines-
I have been thinking about you tonight. Doesn't reading "sheblogs sheblogs" put you in the mood to love? I really feel like it does. I have learned a lot about love this past year, and look forward to learning so much more in the year to come.
Pablo Neruda is a favorite Latin American of mine. He writes lovely poetry about all sorts of things. Some of his first poems were called, "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair." My favorite of the 20 poems is about how love can be still and is not always active. That just being there is enough. Or at least that is what it means to me. So I know that even though you aren't always making comments on my blog Valentines, that you are there, and that is enough for me. I am here for you too. Love you!

"Me Gustas Cuando Callas" or "I Like for You to Be Still"
by Pablo Neruda

I like for you to be still: it is as though you were absent,
and you hear me from far away and my voice does not touch you.
It seems as though your eyes had flown away
and it seems that a kiss had sealed your mouth.

As all things are filled with my soul
you emerge from the things, filled with my soul.
You are like my soul, a butterfly of dream,
and you are like the word Melancholy.

I like for you to be still, and you seem far away.
It sounds as though you were lamenting, a butterfly cooing like a dove.
And you hear me from far away, and my voice does not reach you:
Let me come to be still in your silence.

And let me talk to you with your silence
that is bright as a lamp, simple as a ring.
You are like the night, with its stillness and constellations.
Your silence is that of a star, as remote and candid.

I like for you to be still: it is as though you were absent,
distant and full of sorrow as though you had died.
One word then, one smile, is enough.
And I am happy, happy that it's not true.

remember how I drive a mercedes benz?

Brian and I are shopping for a new car. Turns out our rear wheel drive luxury sedan isn't proving to be the best choice for a family of two who live on a snow covered alley way. The best part about shopping for a new car is obviously the shopping part. Shopping is fun! Brian will tell you that he doesn't love to shop, but that is a complete lie! By day he drives State St. in Orem looking at sticker prices, and by night he surfs Craig's List, Auto Trader, EBay...the list goes on.

Something Brian also loves are sturdy, affordable, American built cars that have things like "great resale value", and "amazing gas mileage." I am not as successful at being so level headed. After a long discussion where Brian explained to me all of the perks of buying a Chevy Malibu I explained to Brian that when I hear "Malibu" my mind immediately goes to individuals like: undercover cops and general authorities. Brian pulled out You Tube and sure proved me wrong: This does not scream reliable.

So when you see my cruising the around the corner in a sleek, affordable sedan and think, "Oh those Williams... so predictable!" Don't be confused by the Malibu. I will in reality have a brusky in one hand and a babe in the other.

remember when i went on a mission? remember when i went to NAUVOO?

You do? Me too! Yesterday I woke up for school and took a little more time getting ready. I haven't been feeling my best lately, so I thought maybe a little eye liner and a well thought out outfit could really start the day out right. I got to school and took off my coat, looked around, and I seriously couldn't figure out what had gone wrong. I felt so good when I had gotten dressed. Why did I all of a sudden feel so frumpy? Then I remembered this:

Oh yeah, I was once a missionary and maybe I still work at the MTC, and so maybe when I get dressed I think it is cute to wear shade shirts layered with a patterned button down and an oversized solid cardigan. Whoops.
What is a girl to do? Sorry I think panty hose are strangely comfortable, sorry I like a conservative preppy look, sorry I think midcalf skirts are actually really cute... I'm even wearing one right now. I really am sorry.

All of this aside, today something really important happened in Nauvoo. Thousands of people decided to leave and walk in the freezing cold across the river so that they could continue believing what they know is true. Here they are walking:


I really love these people, I really am so glad that they had the courage to do something so hard. I hope you love them too, if not... we can talk. Right now in my life sometimes I feel like I am doing hard things. Maybe I'm not... but what they did was hard, and right, and I love Nauvoo. And I love you too! I'll being seeing you soon. Most likely in hose and a button down. Andrea

baby d

Shane and Lauren Dyer our good friends here in Provo. They had their baby last night and whenever I think about it I start to cry... I am not equipped for motherhood.

James Kelly Dyer was born at 2:30 a.m. this morning. Here are some pictures of the baby boy and his very proud parents.


Doesn't Lauren look good after childbirth?

Brian... Don't you want one??


Brian started to get a little dizzy and overwhelmed with all of the delivery talk. He got very quiet and stood in the corner for a minute trying to catch his breath, I seriously thought he might faint. I think the whole reality of baby making got to him. Here he is rebelling against fatherhood.

come on baby light my fire

this week in class we were assigned to read the novel in english "like water for chocolate". i thoroughly enjoyed the book and think many of you will too. the book is primarily about true love and food.

here is one of my favorite lines: "one last chile in walnut sauce left on a platter after a fancy dinner couldn't feel any worse than she did."

one of the many reasons why i love latin women (aside from the way they cook, dance, and get snappy) is because their idea of feminism differs from ours in the united states. the feminist movement in latin america was house wives breaking free from the bonds placed on them by machismo and tradition. they found their freedom through coming further into their role as women, and not trying to take on male attributes.

being a woman in many ways is a balancing act. equally distributing time to family, work, school, church, friends, and a personal life, does not seem possible. so far this year this year looks pretty grim as far as 100% dedication goes in a few areas of my life (for example: i didn't quite get to my 8:00 am class...) but! "like for water for chocolate teacher us,

"Each of us is born with a box of matches inside us but we can't strike them all by ourselves; just as in the experiment, we need oxygen and a candle to help. In this case, the oxygen, for example, would come from the breath of the person you love; the candle could be any kind of food, music, caress, word, or sound that engenders the explosion that lights one of the matches."

so in 2009 i hope that you will be my oxygen (but i don't like people who breath heavy when they talk... so figuratively speaking i guess) and that i will spend my time with things and people who ignite joy in my life.

go and read the book, and then we'll talk some more. andrea

the milkshaker

Meet Elizabeth Posey Jones



Liz is one of my closest friends. She has many names and great qualities. I thought I would share some of them with you today.

Miss North Augusta- Liz won the North Augusta Beauty Pageant in 2003. Yes, yes she really did.
Our Southern Bell-Liz does everything a good Southern girl should do. Makes grits, has hot rollers, wears pearls, etc.
Elder Posey's daughter- Liz's family owns a funeral home in South Carolina that has survived for generation. They are seriously a big deal in South Carolina, for good reason.
The Milkshaker- Liz loves to dance. She has been known to "drop it" on the dance floor, BYU campus, her car, even on tables occasionally.
Mrs. Jones- Liz and Rob are so cute! Rob limits Liz's accessories to five each day, like any good husband would.
Lizard- Liz is an incredible friend. She calls you back, will always go to Bajios with you, listens to your troubles, and always writes her friends notes.
The Pilates Guru, Yoga Queen, Fitness Inspiration- Liz teaches over 30 hours of exercise classes a week.

She has recently started a new blog with information, tips, and fitness advice: www.pojofitness.blogspot.com
Go and read some of Liz's tips. I went to her pilates class this morning. I am having a difficult time sitting up straight because my abs are so sore.
What do you love about Liz? Do share...

remember when we got married?

I know you might have already forgotten, but Brian and I were married on the 11th of October in San Diego. Today one of my favorite wedding blogs featured our wedding:
http://www.snippetandink.blogspot.com/
Naturally I am a little excited. I have been reading Brian comments that have been left all day long. I love you who were able to be there in San Diego with us, and I want to share the joy we had with those of you who weren't able to make it. I love you all.
Andrea