My friend Brennan, and me
Showing me the ropes... er... guns!
The best feeling ever is when the soda can explode
Yes! I'm awesome! :)
Travis showing off.
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. 
Also a good friend, Kadee, and me! :)
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 !!!
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.
"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."
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.
