Check out my cool InstaStory of our Family Disney Cruise 2011

Check out my cool InstaStory: Family Cruise & Disneyland, April 2012

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Singing Praises Part 2- 3 confessions

1. I pretty much lost it when I saw the Prophet, Thomas S. Monson walk across the stand. I could only see the top of his head but the Spirit overwhelmed me and it hit me, "I'm singing not only to the world, but to the Prophet and to my Heavenly Father" and I felt SO humble (and nervous!!).

2. I LOVED seeing all the behind-the-scenes at the Conference Center. My sister Andrea is in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and it really exciting to see what sees almost every week. There are like 5 drinking fountains all in a row in a hallway off stage, 5!!! It was also a sight to see to look out and see a packed house in the Conference Center. It's probably something I will never see again but it was majestic. The Conference Center is an engineering marvel!!

3. They gave us a rehearsal CD to listen to, to help us learn the music. I really only listen to CDs in the car and Sister Waddlee asked us to pray for the companionship of the Spirit as we rehearse. She said to let the world know about the meaningful experiences we've had in the car by showing them through our faces. I don't know about you, but my car is my mini sanctuary where I scream, cry, pray, and sing, and I guess I never realized how important that time truly is in helping me internalize the Atonement.

And an added 4th confession-
I am so honored that they asked a YSA choir to sing. Most of the girls in the choir are in our late 20s and are either in graduate school or are working professionals. I have been struggling lately with feeling like there isn't a place for single women the Church. We aren't wives, we aren't mothers, but we are daughters of God. Being a part of this choir has helped alleviate some (not all) of my worries about the future for single women. We have a lot to contribute in building the Kingdom of God on the Earth.


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Singing Praises

We had the amazing opportunity to sing in the choir for the LDS General Relief Society Meeting tonight. It's been a long day (we had a call time of 1:40 pm) but very worthwhile.
We have been rehearsing Sunday nights for a month and I will be the first to admit that it was frustrating most of the time. The first few rehearsals, I felt like they wasted a lot of time on "touchy-feely" stuff and not on the notes in the music. I appreciate how much the choir director wanted us to have meaningful spiritual experiences but I think that emphasis could've come a little later in the process.
Now that it is all said and done, I had a great time and feel humble and grateful for this experience.
We had an early morning rehearsal last Saturday and Sister Reeves, second counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency, gave a spiritual thought about making scripture study a necessity of life much like eating and sleeping. She referenced the Stripling Warriors in the Book of Mormon and the intense level of faith they had. She said we have and need that same level of faith.
Our conductor, Sister Waddlee, said this was our chance to show the world that LDS women are happy and strong, not oppressed or diminished in any way. We were singing our testimony of the reality of the Atonement and our knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He Lives!!
The songs we performed were chosen by Sister Burton, General RS President (this was her first General Meeting as President). She has been a Primary chorister several times and she loves how well primary songs teach doctrine. We sang "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus/He Sent His Son" and "I Need Thee Ever Hour", some of my favorite religious songs of all time. The lyrics of I Need Thee Every Hour are so sacred and truly a manifestation of the pleading desires of my heart. "Stay Thou near by, temptations loose their power when Thou art nigh. I need Thee, oh I need Thee; every hour I need Thee." Wow

Strong Bad E-mail: Sisters

Do you remember Strong Bad Emails at Homestar Runner from like 9-10 years ago?
This one is one of my favorites. People would ask me all the time if I had seen this video (Ali and Ali's Sister) when we'd first meet during Sophomore year at BYUI. The boys in my Bio Lab had a LOT of fun with this, especially after I told them I was an identical twin.
Enjoy the Nostalgia!!

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_ruRwwgWEY&feature=youtube_gdata_player


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Presently Obsessed

My super amazing, talented, hilarious, awesome, wonderful sister in-law has the greatest blog. www.presentlyobsessed.wordpress.com
She posted today part 1 of the Alice in Wonderland party she threw for my nieces' 9th birthday this past weekend. Check it out- it was FANTASTIC!!!!!

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This is How I Am Sleeping Tonight-

With Fiona sandwiched between my pillows and head board with her paw touching the top of my head. Doesn't she look cute?!!!
PS: I have Millie on my feet so I'm cuddled from head to toe (literally)!!

Even Better Downton Abbey Series 3 Trailer

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvw7J26V68U&feature=youtube_gdata_player


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Downton Abbey Season 3 Preview (Coming to PBS Jan. 6, 2013) | Masterpiece | PBS

If you blog it, it will come!!! A season three teaser for Downton Abbey!!!

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZevgdSyxlZo&feature=youtube_gdata_player


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Downton Abbey, Series 3

Downton Abbey’s third season will start airing soon in the UK but we still have to wait until January 2013 for it to air here in the States.

I once again, will try to remain spoiler free (like I tried last year) but I just can’t help my curiosity sometimes *coughcough- most of the time*

With our increasingly global society, I can’t understand why they delay broadcasting by 4 months. BBC used to delay the broadcasting of popular shows like Doctor Who but now they air at the same time in the UK and USA.

 

Oh well…

 

From the series image, you can see that the Crawley family is back to its pre-war elegance. It will be interesting to see the fall out of Mathew and Mary’s engagement, how Sybil and her husband Tom fit in the family dynamic, and the banter between Cora’s mother and the Dowager Countess.

I really hope Julian Fellows stops playing with us in the will they/won’t they between Mathew and Mary (they ended the Christmas Special with him proposing and she actually saying “yes” with a super romantic kiss and happy elated giggles). They have had their share of drama and deserve to be happy for a while. One aspect of drama I am really looking forward to is Sybil and Tom, who used to be the family chauffer. I also feel it is middle sister Edith’s turn for some juicy storyline. Edith had some tragic and sometimes icky storylines last season (like when she kissed the local married farmer- gross!!!!) and I would love for her to re-kindle her relationship with Sir Anthony Strallen from Series 1, but he was injured during the war as we saw when he reappeared in the Christmas episode and doesn’t seem interested in being in society any more.

 

Oh I just can’t wait to see where the 1920s takes the Crawley family!!!   

 

Migraine, part 3

Well it's almost 2 AM and I can't sleep. Probably has something to do with the 4 extra large Diet Dr Peppers I had in an attempt to knock out the migraine. On the bright side, I'm in quiet darkness so my pain level is low; most relief I've had since Monday!!

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Migraine, part 2

Migraine, Migraine go away

Come again on a day where I don't have to be at work for 10 hours!!

But at least I'm not nauseated anymore.

My friend B was right, Advil and Tylenol aren't cutting it.   

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Migraine

I think I'm having my first migraine and it totally isn't any fun.
I started to get the signs of a head ache this afternoon around 4:30. I thought for sure it was a dehydration/ low blood sugar "normal" headache so I stopped at the Maverick for a Diet Dr Pepper on my home from work. The early evening light made drivinh really painful abd i could hardly keep my eyes open. Right when I got home, I took some ibprofen and changed into comfy clothes. I laid down on the couch while Lesley made German Pancakes but the light and sounds were bothering me. My pain went from a mild 3 up to an 8 in about 60 seconds. I got super nauseated and had to go lay in my dark bedroom with a cold compress Sweet Les made me. I couldn't move for a good 30 minutes and could only focus on breathing and not throwing up. The pain was right behind my eyes and at the base of my neck. I tried to fake feeling better since Lesley had made German Pancakes that I have been craving for weeks and I didn't want to let her down. I got up and was able to walk to the couch. She had to leave for FHE with the singles ward and she left me on the couch. Happily, the nausea subsided about an hour after she left and I was able to eat some dinner and a yummy peach. I'm still in pain now but it is no where near as bad as it was.
I think it was a mini-migraine since I had extreme sensitivity to light and sound (I couldn't even watch my favorite show, The Big Bang Theory), and the nausea. I feel lucky it was only intense for about 2-3 hours. I took some Tylenol before bed which hopefully will help kick the remaining pain. Yucky!!!!

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Saturday Seething (part 52 of 444 part series)

High School Reunions have a bad reputation but I just got back from my 10 year and had a really great time!!
I wasn't even Suzy High School and still had an awesome time.

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10 Year High School Reunion

Tonight was our 10 year Waterford high school reunion. To be totally honest, I was dreading this event but happily it was a really wonderful evening. We all met at Spice, a local Indian restaurant, and had so much fun catching up and reminiscing. I went to Waterford for 10 years (Fall 1991- Spring 2002) and most of the people at the reunion started Waterford in Lower School (elementary) so basically we all grew up together. Some are married with kids, some are still in graduate school and live all over the country.
Everyone pretty much looked exactly the same which was a nice surprise and everyone seemed legitimately excited to see each other.
I snapped this photo in the car on the way to the reunion and I think we both look pretty which I think gave both of us more confidence. We weren't the most popular girls in high school and I was nervous because most of the girls I spent most of my time with during school were not coming tonight. Everyone was a friend tonight; lots of hugs and happy hellos. It was a really fantastic night.

Saturday Seething (part 51 of a 444 part series)

Bugs!!!!
Well more specifically bug bites.

I have been spoiled the last few summers with little not no bug bites (probably because I don't usually spend a lot of time outside thanks to my job). My average was destroyed last night while u was at a ward activity at a cabin in Eden, Utah.
The activity was billed as a relaxing evening with food, billiards, fooseball, ping-pong, and a fire pit to roast marshmallows. That was all true but what I didn't know was that it was all out doors so I didn't bring a sweater/ jacket or bug spray.
It was fun but once the sun went down, it got very cold very fast and bugs were relentless. I had bugs in my hair, lip-gloss, down my shirt, in my ears... Everywhere. It was really bad when our high councilman got up to share a spiritual thought. The cabin had a few outdoor lights and the bugs were swarming around them (meaning all of us gathered to hear the high councilman) and I think I slapped myself at least 20 times (because you have to slap, then itch when you feel a creepy crawly something-something- on your body).
I got home with 4 major, swollen red bites (2 of which are in my arm pit (how they got there I have no idea!!)).
A little bug spray would've gone a long way last night. If they knew we weren't going to be allowed inside, then why didn't they have like citronella candles or something to repel the infestation? It felt like I was literally being attacked and assaulted by these little monsters.
Just wait- now I'm going to get West Nile Virus and die all because I made an attempt to be social in my singles ward!!! Just kidding :)

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Over hearing is dangerous

I heard two guys talking outside my work. Now I didn't hear the beginning of the conversation so there is some benefit of the doubt on these guys' reputation. Here is what I heard...

Guy 1: I think marrying an old girl is kind of like buying your dog at the pound. They'll love you forever for rescuing them and they'll be eternally grateful just to have a husband.

Guy 2: Dude, don't let your wife know you think of her as a dog! Ha ha

This little gem is almost has hilarious as the the time I over heard the quilting ladies talking about how adoption is un-natural and if God wanted you to have kids, he'd allow you to be pregnant.

People are awesome... (massive eye roll)

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Saturday Seething (part 50 of a 444 part series)

I had the Pandora app playing on my phone and some one asked me, "you looks like such a cute, normal girl so why do you listen to such angry music?"*
My response was in jest and I said "Well, you just don't know me well enough then."
The question did get me thinking- why do I love more angry music over sacrine pop/dance music? I think it is because most music is about love and I really can't stand love songs as of late. Maybe it's because I've never been in love and I feel like I'm missing out, or maybe angry music is more fun to sing in the car at the top of your lungs.

* Pandora was on my Nirvana channel and the song playing was "Smells Like Teen Spirit" which really isn't that angry in my opinion.

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Update on M&F

I'm sure you are all dying for an update on Millie and Fiona :)
M&F are doing really well. They love the new carpet and the adjusted furniture layout. They spend a lot of time laying on my desk and looking out the window (or as we call it, Cat TV). Since it has been rather hot lately, Millie has taken to laying her head on the carpet, like a pillow, and the other half of her body on the kitchen floor. Fiona spends her time under the bed or couch in the darkness. I snapped this picture while they were asleep on the couch after I turned off the Olympics the other night. I love that they are best friends and cuddle. I only wish they were not so afraid of other people so I could show off how wonderful they are.

My niece was baptized

Hooray for Ashley!! I am so happy she chose to be baptized and become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Charity Vision

For $25 and 15 minutes, this nearly blind little girl in Egypt will be able to see. Charity Vision is an incredible foundation that empowers and funds local doctors in local clinics to change the lives of others forever. Charity Vision operates all over the world and continues to grow. Please take a look at the video on YouTube and spread the word about this great cause. You can also "like" Charity Vision on Facebook. Thanks!!

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsWdx_x5oUQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player


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