Wake Up!!

I went wake boarding the other weekend with Sara, Caitie, and a couple guy friends! It was so much fun!! I got up the first time and I had a couple of really good runs. I seriously loved it. I want to get a lot better by the end of summer. I highly recommend wake boarding.. :)

Do you Espeako Espanish?

When I was young, my parents tried to incorporate Spanish into our daily routines whenever they could. There was a small time when we tried speaking only Spanish at the dinner table (that lasted for the first five minutes of the first dinner). We also read scriptures in Spanish for a couple of months while Mom and Dad tried to brush up on theirs. Mom and Dad also bought these language tapes with helpful Spanish songs on them like, " La Arana" (The Spider) and "Somos parta de la misma familia" (We are part of the same family) I think I spelled it correctly! I still remember some of the songs! :) I think a couple of my older brothers took Spanish in highschool and I started reading a Spanish textbook as part of my studies in homeschool, but I didn't keep up with it.

Unfortunately, I only remember a very small part of what I was brought up with. If I took Spanish here at BYU, I would probably pick it up fairly quickly, but I haven't made it a priority. This summer, I wish I had!

Caitie and I have decided to move to an apartment complex called the Glenwood. It's located right next to the English Language Center(ELC). Foreign students go there to study English before they go to BYU. As a result of living right next to the ELC, Caitie and I have two foreign roommates; one from Chile and one from Brazil. The girl from Brazil speaks English and Portuguese, but only speaks very little Spanish. The girl from Chile speaks Spanish and only a very very tiny bit of English. Caitie and I only know a tiny tiny TINY bit of Spanish. It has been an interesting summer so far. We speak very slowly and use many gestures to communicate with everyone. :) They are wonderful girls. I'm glad they live with us... I just wish I had learned Spanish better when I had the chance! I suppose now is as good a chance as any to begin again what my parents tried to start many years ago!

Sad Day

I have been in the BYU Women's Chorus for almost three years now. I have absolutely loved my experience with them! Next year however, I was hoping for a new experience. I decided to audition for Concert Choir (which is SATB). I haven't sung with guys for a while! I thought it would be fun. :) When I auditioned for Sister Hall yesterday, I was totally disappointed with my singing. I am pretty sure I did not make callbacks. I haven't sung since Women's Chorus let out Winter Semester and my range hasn't been as great as it was before then. Yesterday when I went in to audition, I felt like I couldn't hear the notes she played. My breath support was terrible. I was very nervous. I actually stopped at one point and asked if I could start again and she said that would be a good idea. :P The second time was only marginally better than the first. Oh goodness...

If I do end up making callbacks, I will be extremely surprised. But I still hope I do!!

The Provo Police

A few months ago, I was late to a dance routine that I was in charge of. I raced to a stop sign, pulled a California stop (more stop than California though!) and proceeded to turn right. Immediately, I saw lights flashing in my rearview mirror. Of course it happened when I was late for something!! The officer came up to the window and apologized and said he didn't want to be mean.... but I did not complete my stop at the stop sign (welcome to Provo!!! This is what keeps the Provo police busy...). After he apologized several times, he handed me a ticket and told me to have a nice day. Riiiiiiight...

A few weeks later, Caitie and I were driving somewhere (Caitie at the wheel) and we went through the same intersection. Now... not only did Caitie not stop... she seemed to gun through the stop sign after I told her to be careful because they are watching that intersection. Immediately, the lights came on and again the officer came to her window. He asked her what happened and she said she forgot there was a stop sign and didn't even slow down. He started laughing and said that since she was about 1 in 10 people who were honest about how she didn't stop, he would let her off with a warning. What the heck??!?!?!? I was pretty upset.

A few weeks later (notice a pattern?), Caitie bought a new car and the first day driving it, she got a ticket for speeding (serves her right!!! jk Caitie!! :)). Anyway, last night Caitie and I decided to go to traffic school together for family night. Good times... good times... It was actually really funny.

Since going to that class I've decided that I think that cops are the kids that got in trouble all the time when they were younger and still want to do crazy things and not get caught now that they're adults! This officer told us a story about how they went to the train tracks one day and there were two kids with just their heads popped up out of the ground on either side of the train tracks. The cops yelled at the kids and asked them why they did that. The kids said that they wanted to be the first ones to keep their heads there the whole time the train passed. The cops let them off with a warning. Next thing you know... here are two cop heads popping up on either side of the train tracks. They kept their heads there the whole time. The cop then said, "try explaining to your boss that you can't come into work for two weeks because you can't hear anything." It was hilarious. We seriously had a great time. The officer made it fun. And anything is more fun with family!!!

P.S. Feel free to add any police stories you think of!

No more school!! No more books!! No more teachers...

Can I just tell you how amazing it is to not be in school right now? I feel so less stressed! I have time to work out and eat real meals (rather than on-the-go food!). I even have time to go see a movie if I feel like it!! There isn't any homework on the back of my mind. I can just go and have a good time. The first couple of weeks out of school were strange for me. There was one day I decided to take a nap because I was completely exhausted. I couldn't fall asleep because I felt like there was something I HAD to get done. I was going through my head trying to figure out what it was and I realized I just felt like I must have a paper due or something. When I figured out what it was, I was able to sleep peacefully. :)



I am still pretty busy, but it's so nice because when I'm done with my day, I'm done. No papers due, no tests, no presentations... it really feels heavenly.



Because of this new-found freedom, I've made a list of goals that I'm getting more excited about! Caitie and I both have time to work out and we have worked on an incentive program-ish thing. :) For my birthday this year, Caitie and Nathaniel bought me a really awesome spa-day gift certificate and my coworker also bought me another gift certificate to another spa place and we've decided that after we work out for 10 days straight (excluding Sundays!) we can use one of the gift certificates together. I'm so excited!! It's even more fun to have Caitie doing it with me. Also, after running the 5K in April with Mom, Matt, and Britt, Caitie and I decided to run a 10K at the end of summer. We're starting to train now and it feels so good.



Some of my friends have said that they miss school a lot right now... not me, man! Not me!

MOTAB

Last night my brother Matt was set apart as a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Our family was invited to the setting apart in the tabernacle and it will be forever one of the most memorable experiences of my life. When we walked up to door number three in the tabernacle, I wasn't sure what to expect. We were let into the tabernacle and we sat in the audience while the choir practiced. After a few minutes, a nice woman said, "Matt Gardner's family. Please follow me." We followed her up the stairs and down the hallway to a small room with very comfortable couches and chairs. We chatted as a family for a few minutes and then "Mr. Mac" Christensen (the choir president and owner of Mr. Mac) walked into the room. He had Matt introduce the family to him and then he talked about the room we were in. We were sitting in the Church President's room! That room is where ever prophet of the Church since Brigham Young sits before and after conference and every time they are in the tabernacle. What a humbling experience! Mr. Mac then talked about how much the Lord loves the choir and how President Monson is the advisor for the choir. Matt was then set apart and Mr. Mac asked him to bear his testimony.

The spirit was very strong. It was very humbling to be part of Matt's very special experience. It was also neat that he was set apart as a musical missionary for the Church. As Matt bore his testimony he commented on how neat it was that he could serve as a musical missionary again with my brother Josh (also in the choir) and his wife Melodie (in the orchestra at temple square) like they did in Nauvoo when they were performing missionaries together there. What an incredible experience. How grateful I am for music!

Gardner Reunion 2008

I really have the best family in the world! This week was the Stan Gardner reunion for the year 2008. The first day everyone settled in and unpacked and then we played games that night. There was a lot of laughter and a lot of catching up. The next day, we went to this little kids waterpark in Lehi. It was so much fun!!! We played watertag and helped the kids learn how to swim.






Sunday night was the most hilarious night we had! We have an old sleeping bag that Nathaniel laid down in and then everyone grabbed sides of it and we started throwing him into the air and catching him in the blanket. We proceeded to do that with all of the adults in our family--including Mom and Dad! With my brother Matt, we got so high, we couldn't keep him in the camera!

We then showed off our acrobatics to each other (well at least the boys did!). The girls then tried to be as cool by showing off how flexible we are. Melodie took the cake on that one!


On Sunday we had a family Sacrament meeting (with permission from our Bishop) and it was one of the most spiritual experiences I've ever had in my life. Everyone who had been on a mission talked about their missions and then the little kids sang "I am a Child of God". Mom and Dad spoke to all of us and then Nathaniel got up to speak. He bore a testimony about how he hadn't felt like he had the strength to go on his mission until this meeting. There were many tears and the spirit was very strong. I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ!


That night we had a fireside given by Grandma and Grandpa Gardner. They came and talked about our geneology because they had just finished a trip to Scotland to learn about our ancestors. It was so awesome!!! I'm a direct descendent from Old King Cole!!! I'm also related to King Henry I (Hopefully not King Henry VIII!!) :) Anyway, it was such an awesome fireside!!



The rest of the time we've had various activities, games, laughter and a TON of food! Tonight we are going to watch my 4-year-old nephew give a cello recital. I am so grateful for my family!! We missed Joel and Heather a ton... (You better be here next time!!!!! It just wasn't the same without you guys!!)

Throughout the reunion, my heart was completely full. I was so full of gratitude for my family and for how much we love each other. I told my Heavenly Father I was grateful for eternal families and I'm excited to be with mine for eternity. When my Mom spoke on Sunday, she talked about the missionaries who knocked on her door when she was 14 years old. I too, am grateful for those missionaries who have made it possible for us to be together.

Finals

It's Finals week.... 'nuff said.

General Conference!

This year was amazing for Women's Chorus! Can you tell I'm excited about it?? :) The BYU Choirs had the awesome opportunity to sing in General Conference this year. Which meant that there was at least one Gardner singing in every session because I have two brothers in The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. :) Anyway, my favorite part of singing was actually the congregational hymn. Very few people have the chance to hear 20,000+ people sing a hymn at them. It truly was a beautiful experience. What a blessing to be able to share my testimony through song with the entire Church.

My good friend, Cade, and me

Also a good friend, Kadee, and me! :)

Swing Dancing!!

Well, apparently the clogging routine didn't scare my choir director away too much!! A few weeks ago, we started putting together our new set of pieces for a next choir concert for the BYU Women's Chorus. One of the sets we decided to perform was a bunch of swing and jazz music (so fun!!!). One of the songs we performed for that set was "In the Mood". I don't know how many of you know that piece, but if you looked it up on itunes, you would recognize it immediately. It's usually done as a band piece, but we sang the choir version.

Sister Applonie had me help with the "choirography" and then asked if I would help put a swing dance routine together. After several rehearsals and a race to find dancers, the dance was put together and it went beautifully!! Caitie, Nathaniel and I all danced in it and when the dancers ran back on stage after the concert, we received a standing ovation. Talk about energy!!!! It was soo much fun!! Here are just a few of the pictures from the concert.

Harold and I

Sitting in the library studying our brains out for the next round of tests, I suddenly realized that the library was closing and it was time to leave. I looked at my notes and couldn't help but laugh. For the last two or three minutes I had been diligently analyzing the score to Star Wars and the strange feeling that the music was all around me wasn't just me lost in my own head, but the closing mix they play to remind students that it is time to leave the friendly confines of the HBLL and go. Closing time, you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here! I looked up at Heather and sheepishly grinned, "I like the Carmina Burana mix better!" Heather stared up from her homework with that glazed look that only comes from studying long hours or eating doughnuts and said, "Emilie...that's sad. You know all of the closing library mixes." It's true. Lately Harold and I have been getting to know each other far too well. It started innocently enough. An afternoon meeting, a study group in the evening, but lately he's been more and more demanding, and it's getting to the point where we're going to have to talk! I know how he takes his chocolate milk in the morning, and I know what songs soothe him into gentle slumber. What's worse, while Star Wars isn't usually part of my analysis homework, several of his favorite lullabyes are and so the feeling of being constantly wrapped up in Harold persists even during my abortive efforts to study at home! And I'm not the only one. It's gotten so bad lately that I can stand at the door when the music starts and tell you exactly what measure of which piece my fellow music majors will emerge, bleary-eyed into the night to trudge wearily home. I'm not sure which is worse, the fact that I know, or the fact that I have analyzed all of the songs well enough to tell you!

:)

Here is the Washington Post's Mensa Inviational which once again asked the readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. Here are the winners:

1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.

2. edited for content. :)

3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly

5. Bozone: The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

6. edited for content. :)

7. Girafitti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

9. Inocculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

10. edited for content. :)

11. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

12. Decafalon: The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

13. Glibido: All talk and no action

14. Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly

15. Arachnoleptic Fit: The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

16. Beelzebug: Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

17. Caterpallor: The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.

Clogging

I have not written on this thing in a very long time. I recently visited my Sister in-law's blog and was inspired to start writing again. :)

I am currently a section leader for the BYU Women's Chorus. It is one of the funnest things I have done at BYU. I love working with Sister Applonie and the other women in the choir. Every week we have a meeting with her to talk about struggles our sections are having with the repertoire and with each other. Before our last concert, we had a meeting where Sister Applonie asked if we had any ideas of how to make a French Canadian piece more exciting. As I looked over the instructions, I found that it was a "mouth music" piece that they used to sing for cloggers to dance to. I mentioned that to Sister Applonie and suggested we get some cloggers together and clog during the number. She couldn't see it so I had her sing the song while I clogged (imagine clogging or dancing in front of your college choir director... it was pretty amusing!). She loved it! And then she promptly put me in charge of putting it together.

I called some old clogging friends from the folk dance team and together we choreographed and performed an awesome clogging number with the BYU Women's Chorus. It was so fun to be in charge and to have it be such a success! That will definitely be one of my fondest memories of BYU.

Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor

"I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts
and talents and how all of you can achieve the 'highest place of
honor' in the Church and in the world. One of your unique, precious,
and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and
divinity. Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy
clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in
your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy,
radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness,
dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or
woman, but each of you possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner
beauty.
"One of your particular gifts is your feminine intuition.
Do not limit yourselves. As you seek to know the will of our Heavenly
Father in your life and become more spiritual, you will be far more
attractive, even irresistible. You can use your smiling loveliness to bless
those you love and all you meet, and spread great joy. Femininity is part
of the God-given divinity within each of you. It is your incomparable
power and influence to do good. You can, through your supernal gifts, bless
the lives of children, women, and men. Be proud of your womanhood. Enhance
it. Use it to serve others."

James E. Faust "Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor," Ensign, May 2000, 96

Dancing

I had the best time driving home from work yesterday! As I got into my car and started on the freeway, the radio started playing, "Everybody dance now!". Immediately my head started jerking to the rhythm (when I say jerking.... it really was! I was so into the song!). I kept dancing like that for a few more minutes and then a car drove up next to me. In the car, was a nice looking man and he was smiling. He had been driving behind me the whole time! I hope it made his day as much as it did mine!!! Even if I did blush when I realized he had been watching!

video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8094143319539113148


Check it out. This is my favorite commercial... ever!

Baby Emily

What a wonderful month this has been!! Baby Emily was born on May 9th at 7:54 pm. These are her proud siblings and family. We have another Emily Gardner in the family!!!! What a beautiful baby!! Congratulations Dave and Lori! We love you!! And we love little Emily!

Limbo

I don't really know what to write about. I feel like a lot has happened, and yet nothing really has. I feel I've learned a lot, but I'm right where I started. I feel like I'm moving forward in life, but I can't really see any steps. Everything has changed, and nothing has changed. I feel frustrated and excited. I feel anxious and calm. I'm distracted and focused. I'm bored and busy. I guess I just feel like I'm in limbo right now. I have no idea where I'm going to be in the next few months. I don't know who I'm going to be with. I feel like I'm ready for something new. I've been feeling that for a long time now. Caitie, Nathaniel and I moved from our old apartment, but the feeling still remains. There are a lot big decisions to make in life. It's just hard to be patient enough with yourself to feel good about what you want. And.. like Ted always says, "you can't have your cake and eat it too." I pray the Lord will guide my steps. And I pray that I'll be ready for it when He does.

A good day!

Good news!!! I got two jobs, a car, a personal fitness trainer, and Caitie and I are the only girls in our apartment right now!!!!!!!! It's been a good day. Yay for good days. :)

P.S.

My Jury went really really really well!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Tender Mercy

Last night as I was reading my scriptures, my mind was full of small worries about my jury today. Don't worry... it's not a jury at a legal court. :) For a music major, a jury is where you go perform some songs for the department of your instrument. So for me, I will be singing for the vocal department. It's a little nerve-rattling. They give you a report on your progress. The people who judge you are mostly nice people. For some reason though, my legs go numb and I have to concentrate on not falling over and crawling under the piano. While consentrating on that, I have to sing my very best for them! It's scary stuff... I tell you what!

Anyway, while I was reading my scriptures I came across this verse in 2 Nephi 32:9. It reads:
"9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul."

The Lord is wonderful, isn't He?

A New Niece!!!

I have a new niece everyone!!!! Her name is Della Lucinda Gardner. She is Matt and Britt's baby. She weighs 5 lbs. and she's 19 inches long. What a beautiful little family!!!! Congrats you guys! I love you!

My Last Masterclass

Tonight I sang at my very last masterclass at BYU. Before I sang, I was so excited to be done!! I was ready to celebrate! Now that it's over, I think I will miss it. I won't miss singing once a month, but I do think I'll miss listening to all of the amazing musicians that I've grown to love at BYU.

I had to sing tonight because at the beginning of the semester, my family went to California, so I missed my first performance. Tonight, was a make-up masterclass. Who would have thought that it would be the masterclass full of graduate students majoring in vocal performance????? All of these phenomenal singers sang before I did. My teacher then had me get up. The first thing I said when I got to the front of the room was, "You guys are all amazing!" They all tried to help me feel comfortable by saying they were excited to hear me perform. (instant look of terror inserted here!) "My name is Emilie Gardner and I will be singing Du Bist Wie Eine Blume by Franz Liszt" I began. The piano began playing the introduction and immediately my legs were paralyzed. I was so nervous! After I finished singing, my teacher told them all to think back to when they were freshman and imagine singing in front of the graduate students. All of the students gasped when they realized how nervous I must be. One even said he didn't even feel comfortable enough to look at the graduate students, let alone sing in front of them! he he.... little do they ALL know that I am actually a senior. I didn't really want to correct my teacher right there. I figured, it was better to have them think I was a freshman. :)

Anyway, my days of masterclass are done. My days in the school of music are numbered. I will miss this place a lot. As much as I have griped about the late hours of school, I really have loved it. It's amazing how grateful we are for what we have right after it's gone.

Huh??

I think I have officially reached the 'auto-pilot' stage of finals week. Every assignment is being completed mechanically-without any real thought to what I'm saying. This morning, I had a voice lesson and when I got there... I could not remember what the words were to my German song I'm singing at Juries next week!! The next weird thing was that I left my coat in the library. If anyone knows me, they know that I get really cold, really fast! How did I forget my coat in the library on a day like today!?? I didn't notice it was gone until after Women's Chorus. Weird! As I sat down to do my homework just now... I couldn't remember if I ate today.

Hmm... I'm really excited to have my brain back. I hope it comes back soon!!

Womanhood

Then a little later she writes: I read this verse in the Book of Revelation: "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." (Rev 12:1) As I read that scripture that morning, the sun shining brilliantly upon the written page, I can truly say that suddenly the glory and beauty and blessings of womanhood were illuminated in my heart. In my mind's eye I literally saw a woman--a woman like you--clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, wearing a crown of stars. And the glory around her from all these celestial sources was light. To my limited view I could see "woman" as a transmitter, a conveyer, a conduit of light and love. I could see that a woman can, if she lives for it and wants it and asks for it and seeks it, be the medium through which gospel light and truth can pass to or be conveyed from one person to another.

~Sister Holland

His Plan

"Recently I was anxiously pleading with the Lord that he would bless my oldest son in a special way. As I was pleading, asking the Lord to please bless him, these words came so resoundingly into my mind: 'I am blessing him. Be patient with my plan.'" I was stunned. I was moved to tears. I realized I was handing my views and my understanding and my determination to Heaven in a commanding voice, saying, "Lord, here is your work as I have outlined it. Please notify my when you have bestowed my blessings, pursued my plans, and carried out my will." In sweet reply comes the mild rebuke, "If you don't mind, Patricia, I prefer to bestow my blessings and to do it in my way." When we content ourselves that God has not forgotten us, nor will He ever, and that He is blessing us (albeit, and thank heaven for it!) in His own way, then the views of a better world come before our eyes. If we can be patient with His process--which simply means having faith--if we can commune personally and often with Him, we can spare ourselves the emptiness and frenzy. . . .We can keep our minds fixed enough on etenity to remember that "God's ways are not our ways" and that the mysteries of godliness lie in Him--in His mind and His heart and His love. Those mysteries and that fulness will be ours only as we strive to make His mind and His heart and His love our own."


~Sister Holland

Tomorrow is a New Day

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."


~Emerson

My First Arrangement

Ever sing Ted left in February, I have taken over the ward choir. I have come to absolutely love this calling. My ward choir is amazing!!! When we perform, about 1/3 of the ward comes up from the congregation to sing. It's the best feeling. We also have really great singers in our ward, which makes it possible to sing beautiful, and more difficult music than most ward choirs can.

This last Sunday, my friend Emily, and I, arranged a version of "That Easter Morn" for our ward choir. We wrote parts for cello, violin, and viola. It was performed yesterday and the choir sounded really amazing. During the last verse, the spirit was so strong, I had goosebumps! Several of the choir members came up to me after and told me how much the song meant to them. Wow!!! What an amazing feeling to have something I helped write, touch people's hearts in such a way!

The best part of the whole thing though, was having my Mom there to watch and listen to the piece. I felt pretty special that she could see the "premier" of the arrangement. :)

Easter was just wonderful!

Mr. Sparrow Comes to Call

Today as I was studying, I looked out my front window. This cute little sparrow was hopping up the stairs one at a time. I imagine he was going to visit a friend that lives upstairs.

I Love Roses!

This semester I have received more flowers than ever before in my life! I love it! My brother gave me a dozen roses for my birthday (along with a keyboard and surprise party!), Ted gave me a dozen roses just because, and since I've been really sick lately, my brother again bought me a rose last night. I didn't know how much I love roses until this semester. I really do love them though. I love their significance and I love the thought that goes into getting someone roses. I'm a very lucky girl!

Walmart article

 Here is a funny wal-mart story for you wal-mart lovers:

Mr. and Mrs. Fenton are retired. Mrs. Fenton insists that he go with
her to Walmart. He gets bored with all the shopping. He prefers to get
in and get out, but Mrs. Fenton loves to browse. Here's a letter sent
to her from the store.

Dear Mrs. Fenton:
Over the past six months, your husband has been causing quite a
commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and may ban
both of you from our stores. We have documented all incidents on our
video surveillance equipment. All complaints against Mr Fenton are
listed below while his spouse was shopping in Walmart:



 1 July 2:        Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at
5-minute intervals.

2. July 7:         Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading
to the restrooms.
3. July 19:       Walked up to an employee and told her in an official
tone,  'Code 3' in housewares.. . and watched what happened.
4. Aug 4:         Went to the Service Desk and asked to put a bag of
M&M's on layaway.
5. Sept 14:      Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
6. Sept 15:     Set up a tent in the camping department and told other
shoppers he'd invite them in if they'll bring pillows from the
                    bedding department.
7. Sept 23:     When a clerk asks if they can help him , he begins to
cry and asks, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?'
8. Oct 4:          Looked right into the security camera; used it as a
mirror, and picked his nose.
9. Nov 10:      While handling guns in the hunting department, asked
the clerk if he knows where to find the antidepressants.
10. Dec 3:      Darted around the store suspiciously loudly humming
the "Mission  Impossible" theme.
11. Dec 18:    Hid in a clothing rack and when people browse through,
yelled "PICK ME!" "PICK ME!"
12. Dec 21:   When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he
assumes the fetal position and screams

                       "NO! NO!  it's those voices again!!!!"


And last, but not least ....
13. Dec 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door waited awhile,
then yelled very loudly, "There is no toilet paper in here !!!

O My Father

Women's Chorus is singing a gorgeous arrangement of this hymn. It is fast becoming one of my very favorites. I never realized how powerful the words are until Women's Chorus sang it this semester. I love the prayer of faith that is throughout the song that we will again dwell with our Heavenly Father.

1. O my Father, thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place,
When shall I regain thy presence
And again behold thy face?
In thy holy habitation,
Did my spirit once reside?
In my first primeval childhood
Was I nurtured near thy side?

2. For a wise and glorious purpose
Thou hast placed me here on earth
And withheld the recollection
Of my former friends and birth;
Yet ofttimes a secret something
Whispered, “You’re a stranger here,”
And I felt that I had wandered
From a more exalted sphere.

3. I had learned to call thee Father,
Thru thy Spirit from on high,
But, until the key of knowledge
Was restored, I knew not why.
In the heav’ns are parents single?
No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal
Tells me I’ve a mother there.

4. When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you
In your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I’ve completed
All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.

New Mormon Themed Restaurant Chain

New Mormon Themed Restaurant Chain

Get your franchise before they are all gone!

This is a sparkling new idea for a chain of non-pretentious Utah
restaurants.
The name of these restaurants: "The Steak Center" Each Steak
Center will have one enormous dining area with basketball hoops at
either end and folding metal chairs and long tables covered in
plastic tablecloths. The Steak Centers will not have hostesses, but
greeters, (men in their 70's who will meet you at the door and talk
like they have known you all your life).

The main menu items will be: Porterhouse Rockwell Steak, Primary
Rib, and the Poor Wayfaring Pan of Beef, garnished with Parsley P.
Pratt Funeral Potatoes. We will also have, when it's in season,
Eliza R. Snow crab. Let's not forget a whole line of "And It Came
to Pasta", including Kraft Moroni and Cheese.

Additionally, we'll have breakfast items, including Pearls of Great
Rice and Frosted Minivans, as well as Adam-ondi-Omelettes. The
house drink is "Apple Juice."

Also available, "In Our Lovely Desserts", including Fast Sundaes,
Gadianton Cobbler and the sinful Laman Meringue Pie and Lemuel ice
cream.

The waiters will be 12 and 13 year-old boys wearing white shirts and
their fathers' ties.
At the end of the night the customers will be asked to help fold up
the chairs and tables and vacuum the floor.
Franchises are selling fast...Get yours while they last!!

A Disclaimer

This blog is not meant to offend anyone. If, by any chance, you have been offended by something I have written, I apologize.

Anonymous

The bride, white of hair, is stooped over her cane.
Her footsteps, uncertain, need guiding.
While down the church isle, with a wan toothless smile,
The groom in his wheelchair comes riding.
And who is this elderly couple, thus wed?
You'll find, when you've closely explored it,
That this is that rare, most conservative pair,
Who waited till they could afford it.

From the famous author, Anonymous.

Faith, Determination, and Trust

"God expects you to have enough faith and determination and enough trust in Him
to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing.  In fact, He expects you not simply
to face the future(that sounds pretty grim and stoic); He expects you to embrace
and shape the future-to love it and rejoice in it and delight in your
opportunities.
"God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill
your dreams, just as He always has.  But he can't if you don't pray, and He
can't if you don't dream.  In short, He can't if you don't believe."

~Jeffrey R. Holland from his CES fireside called, "Terror, Triumph and the Wedding Feast."

The raindrop

The funniest thing happened today. As I was eating lunch, I noticed that the Wilkinson Center roof was leaking. About one drop fell down every five seconds. At the end of my lunch, a girl walked right under it and a drop fell on her head. As she looked around in puzzlement, I just laughed to myself. It really was amusing.

Seagulls in the Snow

When I woke up this morning, I was somewhat disappointed by the snow that was dumped on the ground last night. Don't get me wrong, I love snow. I think I'm just getting excited for Spring to come. Anyway, as I was walking along the sidewalk to get to school, I saw all these seagulls playing in the snow. They loved it! I think sometimes the seagulls were pretending they were the snowflakes and just glided along down with them. It was wonderful! After that, I was grateful for the snow. It really is gorgeous outside. the snow brings wonderful memories to my mind and for that, I'm truly grateful.

Kinda funny...

WIFE VS. HUSBAND
A couple drove down a country road forseveral miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussionhad led to an argument and neither of them wanted toconcede their position. As they passed a barnyard ofmules, goats, and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?" "Yep," the wife replied, "In-laws."

WORDS
A husband read an article to his wife abouthow many words women use a day.... 30,000 to a man's15,000. The wife replied, "The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men... The husband then turned to his wife and asked, "What?"

CREATION
A man said to his wife one day, "I don'tknow how you can be so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time. " The wife responded, "Allow me to explain.God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me; God made me stupid so I would be attracted to you!

WHO DOES WHAT
A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, "You should do it, becauseyou get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee." The husband said, " You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee." Wife replies, "No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee." Husband replies, "I can't believe that, show me." So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says........ ... "HEBREWS"

THE SILENT TREATMENT
A man and his wife were having someproblems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight.Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5:00 AM." He left itwhere he knew she would find it. The next morning, the manwoke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, "It is 5:00 AM. Wake up."

It's been a while...

Hello!

It has been a while since I have posted anything. Life has been a bit crazy this semester. I'm taking 17.5 credits so I can graduate as soon as I can. Life is great! I have discovered something that I love... conducting children's choirs!

Today was my first day assistant teaching at an elementary school children's choir here in Provo. I sat in between the roudiest boys and sang solfiege and learned the songs right along with them. I had a blast!!! I don't care if I'm going to end up just volunteering! I'm so excited to conduct children's choirs. It turned out that the school needs an accompanist for one song and I am going to do that as well. I love it!!

Crazy pictures

New Legs

Sisters Mary Catherine, Maria Theresa, Katherine Marie, Rose Frances, & Mary Kathleen left the Convent on a trip to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and were sight-seeing on a Tuesday in July. It was hot and humid in town and their traditional garb was making them so uncomfortable, they decided to stop in at Patty McGuire's Pub for a cold soft drink.

Patty had recently added special legs to his barstools, which were the talk of the fashionable eastside neighborhood. All 5 Nuns sat up at the bar and were enjoying their Cokes when Monsignor Riley and Father McGinty entered the bar through the front door. They, too, came for a cold drink when they were shocked and almost fainted at what they saw.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!!!! It's time to bring out the journal and read old resolutions and figure out some new ones. I laughed when I looked at mine. My first resolution was to write in my journal weekly. The very next entry was a month later! I will definitely be better about that this year. :)

On New Year's Eve, Nathaniel, Caitie, Ted and I went to Kirtland after church and toured the sites there. What a way to start the year! We went to the upper room of the Whitney story where the school of the prophets was. Because there were not many people there, we could stay as long as we wanted. There was a powerful spirit there. Caitie sang hymns while the rest of us thought separate thoughts. Then we came home and had a wonderful dinner. We watched a couple movies and then watched the ball drop on TV. We drank martinelli's and Ted and I kissed in the new year. :)

For family home evening last night, we wrote down what we were grateful for. I think the theme of this trip home for me was to be grateful and to not be afraid to talk to the Lord and ask Him for what I need. It's amazing how much the Lord wants to bless us.

Happy New Year! May your year be filled with incredible experiences, love and success!!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas was wonderful this year. Mom decided to stuff us instead of the turkey. :) All of our favorite meals were carefully planned and shopped for before we came home. We made new traditions which included eating fondue instead of clam chowder on Christmas Eve. I love fondue! We had cheese fondue, heated peanut oil where we fried shrimp, scallops, steak, and chicken, and chocolate fondue. When the chocolate came out it was almost as if we had not eaten in weeks! Everyone rushed to the chocolate. We had sword fights with our fondue forks in the chocolate trying to knock everyone else's fruit and cake off their forks. It was great fun! The best part was when Nathaniel "accidentally" dropped a piece of pepper-jack cheese into the fondue for some lucky person to find and eat while it was covered in chocolate. When that lucky person finally did pick it up (thinking it was an apple!), Nathaniel started laughing and the person ran and spit it out. Pretty hilarious.. I'll tell you what! Also different this year was instead of acting out the nativity while Dad read it, the little kids put the nativity pieces in place while the story was read. On Christmas Eve we also went around the room saying what we were grateful for from the year before and also what gift we want to give Jesus this year. It was a really powerful night! I decided I like Christmas Eve even more than Christmas day. I love what we focus on on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas morning I was greeted by my excited 5-year-old nephew. "It's time for Christmas!" he exclaimed. We groggily walked down the stairs and found our stockings. The boys all got ping pong ball guns that didn't really work (we ended chucking them at each other with our hands instead!). The girls got bath stuff. Everyone got their favorite kind of cereal from Santa. Then the present fest began! The Manheim Steamroller Christmas CD was put on while we took turns opening presents. I think everyone got spoiled this year--especially the grandkids! Steve called from China and met Ted over the phone. We sang carols to him and laughed and talked. Mom put his picture at the top of the tree this year. :) I'm so glad we could talk to him. We called everyone in the family and wished them a merry Christmas.

Breakfast was the usual cold cereal with a swedish tea ring. Yum!!!!! And then we were back to the presents! :) My favorite gifts were gifts from the heart. I think everyone gave those. I really feel so blessed! As that little boy said, "love is the feeling you get at Christmas when you stop opening presents and just listen."

Change

Before I moved to college, I did not think I struggled with change. When my family moved, I was all right with it. I cried a little bit, but my heart didn't break. A few nights ago, my old roommate, Cassidy, got engaged. She is so happy and I am so happy for her. My other old roommate, Audrey is moving to Texas. I'm trying to make decisions about where I want my life to go. There is a lot of change happening all at the same time, it seems. Anyway, after Cassidy got engaged, she came with her fiance to my apartment and we had a small party. I was all right until my sister began to cry. When I saw her cry, all the memories I have of living with these girls flooded through my mind and heart. I remembered our quote wall. I remembered crying over Gilmore Girls' episodes with them. I remembered skipping classes, just because I loved being home so much. I remembered working out to "Sweatin' to the Oldies". I remembered going to the library with Audrey at Christmas and checking out children's Christmas stories and reading them from the light of the Christmas tree in our apartment. I remembered break-ups. I remembered hugs. I remembered prayers and reading scriptures together. I remembered the ice cream and M&M's. I remembered Sunday afternoon naps on Caitie's and my bed. All six of the girls came in and we cuddled until we all fell asleep. I remembered porch movies. I remembered Tarythe singing and playing on her guitar. I remembered Julie making maceroni and cheese for breakfast. I remembered watching chick flicks while we all held hands and cried. I remembered Cassidy and Caitie laughing and being silly together. I remembered jamming with Ted in the front room while we all sang fun songs. I remembered making our favorite meals together so we could share our family favorites with the ones we love. I remembered Audrey's writing. I remembered coming home to our apartment and really feeling like I was home. I remembered the love. I remembered Caitie's first experience with 'religion'. I remembered coming home and we all wore our goucho pants on Sundays. Peanut butter and Chocolate chips. Practicing kissing on ice creams cones at Dairy Queen. I remembered boating with Debi-lynn.

Change is a good thing. It's so hard to say goodbye... or rather, see ya later. I feel like I'm ready to move on, but I still have a hard time letting go of these memories. I want everything to change while it all stays the same. Heavenly Father knows what is best in our lives. He knows our pains and struggles. He knows how much my heart hurts when I have to say goodbye. Because He knows that, I need to give it to Him so that He can help me figure out how to heal.

Thank you. Thank you for the memories. I love you.

An Answer to Prayer

This was posted on my friends' blog. I know I needed to read it. Maybe it will help someone else too!

"Now, my dear sisters, that is the way with you. You are doing the best you can, and that best results in good to yourself and to others. Do not nag yourself with a sense of failure. Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do. Then leave the matter in the hands of the Lord. You will discover that you have accomplished something beyond price."

~President Hinckley

Friday Nights

What is the new cool thing to do on a Friday night? Apparently, it's taking a test at the testing center at BYU. Last night, I took a test and the testing center was completely full! Everyone had their heads down, sweating over their tests. I wondered how many people actually know what the ceiling in the testing center looks like. Good times... good times at the testing center.

Exciting News!!

I know you all have been wondering for a long time what is going on in my life. I am happy to announce that I am....

officially....

going home for Christmas!


I have not been home for almost two years now. Life is so great! Yay!!! I just thought I would share my great news! :)

A Token of Gratitude

This morning I had a very interesting breakfast. Caitie and I woke up early, cleaned the apartment and then she made the mush. I felt like I was at home again. Dad used to make these incredibly healthy breakfasts that didn't taste so great. We always ended up making fun of the food. Dad's feelings weren't hurt. He always laughed with us as he grated his apple peel into his cereal-instead of sugar. Caitie's wonderful surprise this morning consisted of rolled oats, wheat, cranberries, raisins, brown rice, almonds, flax seed, oats groats, barley, spices, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut, corn, garbonzo beans, millet, bananas, and oat bran. I call it... BIRD FOOD! I felt like I needed to peck at my meal this morning. The food was so mushy, when I tried to whistle like a bird, I couldn't make a sound out of my mouth. As I watched Caitie take her first bite, I asked her if it tasted awful. She said, "Plain... gross plain." "Oh!" I said, "For YOU to say that... it really means it's disgusting." I then thought we should invite our friends over for the special 'tweet'. As we continued to eat our meal, Caitie made the comment, "I think the reason I am eating this is a token of gratitude for my body. There really is no other reason to eat it."

What is love?

What does Love mean? A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8
year-olds, "What does love mean?"

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca- age 8


"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4


"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
Karl - age 5


"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy - age 6


"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4


"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7


"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"
Emily - age 8


"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)


"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"
Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)


"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
Noelle - age 7


"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6


"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
Cindy - age 8


"My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
Clare - age 6


"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine-age 5


"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
Chris - age 7


"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
Mary Ann - age 4


"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
Lauren - age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." Karen - age 7


"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
Jessica - age 8

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"

Halloween

Does anyone have any ideas of what I could be for Halloween???

Power to Overcome ALL things

In my Mission Prep class on Monday, our teacher, Brother Bott, talked about how we as children of God have the power to overcome all things that are not ordained of God. The catch is that we need to be humble enough to receive His guidance. D&C 50: 35 says, "And by giving heed and doing these things which ye have received, and which ye shall hereafter receive—and the kingdom is given you of the Father, and power to overcome all things which are not ordained of him—"

What is it that we need to overcome? Each of us needs to look inside and discover our faults and then ask the lord to help us overcome them. Much of the time, it won't be discovering our faults, but it will be taking an honest look and then truly becoming humble enough that the Lord will help us. He is there. He is waiting. Just let Him take care of all the things He has already taken care of through the Atonement.

Like an incredible friend of mine said the other night, "I'm stronger than Satan. He has no power over me." And then the reply, "You're a hell of a lot stronger than he is."

Nightmares on Sesame Street

"That's it! You're going to live on Sesame Street!"

My heart was filled with dread at that thought when Audrey suggested my fake street name in her novel. "I cannot live on Sesame Street! I've had way too many nightmares about Sesame Street!" The bedroom erupted into laughter as Audrey heard what I said. "What do you mean you've had nightmares about Sesame Street?" I told her the awful tales:

When I was a young girl I had a nightmare about the Cookie Monster. My whole family was on a giant cookie. We were running frantically from something and I wasn't sure what it was. All of a sudden, I heard the terrible laughter, "Me want cookie!!" The Cookie Monster was chasing my family! Before I knew what had happened, my whole family had fallen into one of the chocolate chips which then turned into a big black hole. After we fell to the bottom, I looked up from where we had fallen. The Cookie Monster's awful blue face was staring down into the hole. "Me want cookies!!!" continued, as well as the diabolical laughter. I woke up panicking. I never want to eat another cookie again! I resolved. Good thing we grow out of such silly resolves. :)

The second nightmare came I think, only a year or two ago. I was living on a nice quiet, street when all of a sudden it turned into Sesame Street. The problem was that the characters were not the nice characters we know from our childhood. They were evil! Can you imagine living on the same street as an evil Big Bird? Ugh!! It was awful. The scariest voice I think I've ever heard was Ted imitating Elmo... "Elmo knows where you live... he he he"

No, Audrey. I will never live on Sesame Street.