The Sporadic Tellings of Becky's Life

Dear Readers:

Sorry to have abandoned you for so long. But good news - I've started a new blog under my married name with my Todd. Here's the address: http://thewiesespieces.blogspot.com

I have very few pictures with my Papa, but this is one I love - because I am the only one not smiling, because my other grandma's glamour shot is in the background, because Rachel is sporting a McDonald's shirt, because Dan is a crazy little kid, and because Papa is holding all of us at the same time.

This is me and some friends on our first trip to Cafe Rio in Maryland. This is the face of happiness. This is the face of joy. This is the face of pork burrito enchilada style, black beans, mild sauce. This is the face of everyone in here is my friend and I think I'm back in Utah again. This is the face of Maryland is great, but there is no place like home...and sometimes when you're desperate, Cafe Rio feels like home.

I have always been an English nerd. In sixth grade, my bus was the first to the school, so I had nearly an hour to fill before school started. I spent it in the library. Every day. I made friends with the librarian. I wrote her a story for Christmas. And that's pretty much how it's been.

However, while I am an English nerd, and I love to write poetry, I have had to learn to appreciate several important and revered poets. In my sophomore year at BYU, I had the privilege to take a class from a professor who looks like Madam Hooch, but is really named Nancy Christiansen. She taught me to not only understand the metaphysical poets, but to love them. I learned that religious poetry written in the 1500s can be spiritually moving and applicable in my life now.

Below is a sonnet written by John Donne. Read it. Read it through once just to get the gist. Read it again, slowly. And maybe again. I think it's pretty great if you give it a chance.

Holy Sonnet 14

Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town to'another due,
Labor to'admit you, but oh, to no end;
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly'I love you, and would be lov'd fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy;
Divorce me,'untie or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you'enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

So far, December feels very Christmas-y. This past Thursday, April and I went with our friend Mike to get a Christmas tree. A REAL one. We were probably the most picky customers they had ever had. We had to look at nearly every tree and weigh its fullness, height, color, and overall character (we almost got one that had a red patch of needles, just for its personality). After perusing our many options, toes going numb in the cold, we settled on this lovely, fat one. The people running the place were so merry and full of Christmas cheer. And one of the Hispanic attendants called me preciosa. I'll take it :)
Also, my wonderful mother sent me the best Christmas package that I have ever received. Aside from some delicious candy, my stocking from home, and an awesome new Christmas CD from Harry Connick Jr., there was a beautiful quilted wonder from the fingers of my very own talented mother. Here is picture proof of her brilliance.
We have also broken out the Christmas decorations, inside and out. Here are a few glimpses of our newly Christmas-ified house.
Lastly, a week ago, Erika and I went to the National Portrait Gallery. It was a fun little adventure into the city; we plan to have many more.