AOG - Day 2

1- I am grateful for the compliments my RS sisters gave to me about my lesson (the topic was hope in the promised blessings of the Lord). I scrapped 3/4 of it during sacrament meeting because I felt I should share personal experiences instead of laying on scriptures and quotes about hope. The kind words of others helped me know I had followed a prompting of the Lord and made the right decision in scrapping my original lesson.

2- I am grateful for friends who let me have their parking spot when I desperately need one. Thanks again Joe!

3- I am grateful for foot massages. My left foot gets sore easily as a result from an injury two years ago and the same foot is still suffering from tendinitis (a leftover from London). Getting a foot massage today was oh so nice!

Attitude of Gratitude - Day 1

1- I am grateful for Christmas music. Yes you heard me. Christmas music. I'm not talking about the secular, guitar strumming, drum beating music. I'm talking about the O Holy Nights, Silent Nights, and others that invite the spirit of Christ into your heart.

2- I am grateful to be in the Relief Society Presidency. I was scared out of my mind and wondered how I could be a benefit. Well, I love it! I love being involved with the sisters.

3- I am grateful for the atonement of Christ. My life would be nothing without it.

Attitude of Gratitude

Last year, my friend Chloe introduced me to the November Attitude of Gratitude Challenge. I enjoyed reflecting on the events of each day and was amazed at how remembering the good things that happened buoyed my spirits and helped me recognize how the Lord was blessing my life. I have decided to accept the challenge again this year and I invite you all to participate too.


From Chloe's blog:

Well folks, the trees are changing colors, the days are getting shorter, and you can just smell autumn in the air. It's time for jackets and pumpkins and the November Attitude of Gratitude Challenge. Participation is completely voluntary. For those of you who have not played before, the challenge is outlined below.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
* Each day during the month of November you will send an email to me, at least, but feel free to invite others to participate and you can send your gratitude emails to them, as well. (For those of you blogging it, please leave a comment so I can follow you if I'm not already.)
* Definition of "things"- the term "things" is used here to encompass a lot of stuff including, but not limited to: a certain set of circumstances, an event, an inanimate object distinguished from a living being, possessions or effects, a deed or act, a product of work or activity, an idea or notion, a piece of news or information, a person, a memory, anything that makes you smile.
* The challenge is to come up with three ORIGINAL "things" each day. Try not to repeat entries.

WARNING OF POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS!!
Please note that challenge participation may result in any or all of the following:
- you will be surprised at all the Lord has done for you
- angels will attend
- you will feel help and comfort
- you may find yourself singing as the days go by
- your doubts will fly

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

I have officially registered for my last semester of MBA school. My friend Chloe held a pre-registration gathering at her place a few hours before registration opened. Somehow through the chatter and laughter, we girls ended up with side ponytails. Sometimes you just have to be silly.

What Did You Do This Weekend?

101 Adventures of London

1. Saw the London police arrest a drunk guy on our flight
2. Rode the tube
3. Bakerloo Line
4. Central Line
5. Circle Line
6. District Line
7. Hammersmith and City Line
8. Jubilee Line
9. Northern Line
10. Piccadilly Line
11. Minded the Gap
12. Saw the fake Platform 9 ¾ (the original was in an area being remodeled)
13. Walked along Baker Street where Basil of Baker Street lived (The Great Mouse Detective)
14. Walked through Regents Park
15. Walked along Abbey Road
16. Saw Abbey Road Studios
17. Ate at the Tasty Kebob (Mmm….Lamb!)
18. Toured the city on a Double Decker Bus and saw…
19. Piccadilly Circus
20. Trafalgar Square
21. Nelson’s Column
22. St. James’s Palace (the Queen was at home)
23. Wellington Arch
24. Hyde Park and Speaker’s Corner
25. Marble Arch
26. Buckingham Palace
27. Westminster Abbey
28. Big Ben
29. House of Parliament
30. Lambeth Palace
31. London Eye
32. Downing Street
33. Horse Guards’ Palace
34. Whitehall
35. Royal Courts of Justice
36. St. Paul’s Cathedral
37. Bank of London
38. Tower Bridge
39. London City Hall
40. Tower of London
41. HMS Belfast
42. Globe Theatre
43. Tate Modern Museum
44. Cleopatra’s Needle
45. Albert Memorial
46. Natural History Museum
47. Victoria and Albert Museum
48. Many other hamlets of London
49. Walked along the Thames River
50. Took a boat tour on the Thames River
51. Toured the Tower of London
52. Saw where Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were executed and buried
53. Saw the Crown Jewels
54. Saw a Beefeater
55. Bought a souvenir at Harrod’s
56. Part of an evacuation at King’s Cross station during rush hour
57. Stopped by 4 different people asking for directions
58. Ate at a shop on Brick Lane
59. Walked through the National Gallery
60. Walked through Leicester Square
61. Walked through Covent Garden
62. Found a bakery shop on Drury Lane
63. Walked through the British Museum – saw the upper part of the Greek Parthenon 
64. Walked through Russell Square
65. Walked through the Museum of London
66. Discovered the original Roman Wall (found it by accident)
67. Walked over the Millennium Bridge
68. Stepped foot in the Tate Modern Museum but walked out repulsed
69. Walked through the Imperial War Museum
70. Enjoyed the London rain
71. Walked under the Admiralty Arch
72. Rode on the London Eye
73. Ate at the original Hard Rock Café (food wasn’t that good)
74. Climbed to the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral
75. Found a barber shop on Fleet Street (Sweeney Todd)
76. Walked through Green Park
77. Saw the end of the changing of the guard
78. Took pictures at Buckingham Palace
79. Walked through St. James’ Park
80. Walked through the Cabinet War Rooms Museum
81. Saw 10 Downing Street
82. Walked down Portobello Road in Notting Hill
83. Walked through the Victoria and Albert Museum
84. Walked down Oxford Street and did a bit of shopping
85. Ate at a sports bar and watched American football
86. Searched for Temple Church of the Knights Templar but it was closed
87. Walked through Hyde Park
88. Saw the Peter Pan statue
89. Saw Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
90. Walked through Kensington Gardens
91. Saw Kensington Palace
92. Saw Albert Memorial
93. Saw Royal Albert Hall
94. Went to church in the Hyde Park Chapel which was originally dedicated by President David O. Mackay
95. Listened to an organ concert in Westminster Abbey
96. Took night shots of Big Ben, Parliament, Tower Bridge, and Westminster Abbey
97. Bought European Chocolate
98. Walked more miles than I can count and
99. Developed tendinitis from walking so much
100. Slept in a London flat
101. Took 235 pictures

Tea and Crumpets

Today I'm doing something I've wanted to do for twelve years. I'm flying to Europe, specifically London! I have a few days off from classes so I decided to take a quick trip to visit my cousin and enjoy the London life. Stay tuned for trip highlights.

O Holy Night

Today was a hard day full of the mundane mixed with confusing cataclysmic events. I'm so exhausted: spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally. Somehow I know the Lord will help me wake up tomorrow and continue pressing forward but I have no clue how it will happen. I need to be studying for a test but I have nothing left. So, to fill my soul and mind, I've been listening to my favorite Christmas song. The version is one a dear friend once shared with me as we were hanging lights on the Christmas tree.

A Recap on Life

I realized I haven't been blogging much. Easy explanation for that: school has started. Here is a quick recap of life.
Disneyland
Huntington Beach
Moab with MBA Marketers

My Life

Life is like an old time rail journey
delays, sidetracks, smoke,
dust, cinders and jolts,
interspersed only occasionally
by beautiful vistas and
thrilling bursts of speed.
The trick is to thank the Lord
for letting you have the ride.

-Gordon B. Hinckley quoting Jenkin Lloyd Jones

I love weddings! Drinks all around!

My brother Paul and his adorable girlfriend Ashley were married this weekend. Even though there were a few mishaps, Paul left the marriage license in Provo and the photographer's car broke down, the day was filled with joy and happiness. I loved seeing my brother dote on Ashley. The little smiles, kisses, and gestures were contagious! It made all the couples become a little more romantic with their spouse. My favorite picture captures my parents in a private, loving moment as all of were in chaos trying to find our place in the picture. More than anything, Paul and Ashley's wedding day helped me appreciate the sealing powers of the temple and the knowledge that our families can be together for eternity. What an amazing and miraculous blessing!


We all were able to choose our own black wedding party dress.

A couple in love!

My sisters and sister-in-law

All the pretty girls

Such handsome men

My amazing family!

Families are Forever!

Congratulations Paul and Ashley!

Leap of Faith

This scene is my favorite metaphor for life, especially for my life. Sometimes we just have to "leap from the lion's head" and believe we will land on the path. Here it goes...!

Jumping to the End

I've never believed in jumping to the end of a book to read what happens. I felt that ruined the story. To be honest, I have jumped to the last chapter in only one book but I could see where the author was heading and had to know if my suspicions were correct. Well, in my book of life I would really like to know how this all ends. Too many questions exist in my mind and I have no insights to any of them. I wish I knew, had an inkling, or something...

A Morning Thought

Adversity and opposition are the true tests of righteousness. Without them we could not really know the state of our hearts. Nor could we truly understand God's existence and love, and His power to guide, comfort, strengthen, and save.

First Time for Everything

I'm scared of heights but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go repelling for the first time. The adrenaline rush combined with intense fear was just what I needed that Saturday morning. Loved it!

Moving Furniture

A few weeks ago my sister's two daughters (10 and 12) decided they wanted to purchase new bedding, because theirs was getting old, and to move their bedroom to the basement. The girls spent hours on the internet searching for the perfect bedding. They finally decided on something from JCPenny and my sister went and purchased the final pick. Then came moving time.

They spent hours moving the old furniture out of the room downstairs, packing up their room, and moving their beds into their new room. As they were decorating, they all realized some of the picture frames and wall hangings didn't match the new bedding. Not a problem. They could buy items that did match. The girls crawled into their beds to try out the new bedding but it wasn't as comfortable as their old worn blankets.

Suddenly, tears began to fall and before my sister could react, both daughters were sitting on her lap sobbing. She looked at her four-year-old son who stood there in disbelief and as dumbfounded as my sister. Neither knew what had just happened. When the tears subsided and words could be spoken, the girls explained they liked their old bedding, their old decorations, and their old bedroom. So at 11:00 at night, the beds were returned to the old room and everything was placed back in its rightful place.

As I sat and listened to this story, I saw so many metaphors in relation to my own life. I wish that after hard decisions were made and I didn't like the result, I could say "I don't like this. Can I change it back?" and everything would go back to normal like nothing happened. Right now I feel stuck in a new bedroom with new blankets and all I want is to be back in my old bedroom with my worn, comfortable bedding. I didn't ask for the new room but here I am stuck in it. I need help figuring out how to get back...back where I feel happy, comfortable, and at peace.

Borrower of Thoughts

Today my post is another borrowed thought from my friend Michelle. She captured exactly what I have been feeling lately especially in the last paragraph. Since her blog is private, I have copied her post exactly as it appears on her blog.

Good Characters Make Me Happy
Now, friends, I can't recommend this book wholeheartedly, in spite of its brilliant writing. But the main character Oskar--a ten-year old boy who "invents" in his mind to cope with tragedy--is so well-drawn and so endearing, I had to share a little.

"What if the water that came out of the shower was treated with a chemical that responded to a combination of things, like your heartbeat, and your body temperature, and your brain waves, so that your skin changed color according to your mood? If you were extremely excited your skin would turn green, and if you were angry you'd turn red, obviously, and if you felt like shittake you'd turn brown, and if you were blue you'd turn blue.

Everyone could know what everyone else felt, and we could be more careful with each other, because you'd never want to tell a person whose skin was purple that you're angry at them for being late, just like you would want to pat a pink person on the back and tell him, "Congratulations!"

Another reason it would be a good invention is that there are so many times when you know you're feeling a lot of something but you don't know what the something is. Am I frustrated? Am I actually just panicky? And that confusion changes your mood, it becomes your mood, and you become a confused gray person. But with the special water, you could look at your orange hands and think, I'm happy! That whole time I was actually happy! What a relief!"

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
by Jonathan Safron Foer

Seriously?!

Another "Seriously?!" moment in my life came today when I realized Harry Potter 6 opens tonight and I have no tickets. Not a one. Not even a time when I was planning on seeing it. I completely forgot to make sure Andrew and I had tickets. Seriously?!

So Excited!

I've been a fan of BYU Football for as long as I can remember. I still remember my dad and brother going to the BYU vs. Miami football game and I was stuck at home watching it on TV. What an exciting game!

No matter how the seasons ends, I always look forward to another year hoping the next year is even better. Last year I watched two former students play and felt like a proud parent sitting on the sidelines. It made the games that much more exciting. What can I say...I love BYU football!

Waiting Upon the Lord

I have had many unique experiences this past month that have strengthened my testimony in the saving grace of the atonement of Jesus Christ. This post is to reaffirm to all that I have a testimony my Heavenly Father knows us and is involved in the details of our lives; that Jesus Christ is the Son of that same Heavenly Father, is our Savior who suffered in Gethsemane for all our pains and afflictions, and was resurrected on the third day; that the Holy Ghost testifies to us daily if we open our hearts and humble ourselves before the Lord. More than anything, I have a testimony in personal revelation. As we pray, read the scriptures, and daily seek the Lord's will for us, He will direct our paths for good and heal our hearts in miraculous ways.