The Real "Hell's Kitchen"

To everything there is a season... a time to vent... isn't that one of them?

When I moved into my current apartment at the beginning of this last school year, I knew I was with an interesting group about two weeks in when one of my roommates took the dirty dishes from the sink and put them in cardboard boxes in the hallway. We had no idea they were even there until it stunk really badly and there were flies. When we finally discovered the where the stench was coming from, we all (the other 5) looked around suspiciously. Who on earth does that?!

My roommate does... apparently.

A week later there was a contract on the fridge door. The basic idea of the contract was that if we signed it, we were agreeing that we were responsible adults and we would clean up after ourselves. If we did NOT sign the contract then we had to pay her $40 to do the dishes.

I'll insert right here... our dishes were not bad. Any apartment where 6 girls are living there... is going to have dishes sometimes. No biggie...

When I walked in and saw the contract, I immediately took it down and put it in my closet. The next day she pushed all of my stuff off the table and got mad at Caitie about it my two books that she had pushed off. She said that some people don't need any space... but she needs one inch. Is that too much to ask? As I walked downstairs, I could hear the commotion and if anyone knows me, they know that if there is someone picking on a member of my family or a friend of mine, I will become very assertive, very quickly. I followed Chelsea into her room and we had our first discussion about her behavior. We left the conversation with, I respectfully disagree with almost everything you just said. We will just agree to disagree.

At that point there were still 7 months left to live all together. Time to let bygones be bygones. I determined that it was better for me to spend as little time with her as possible... so I did. It did help with the tension between her and I and for a few months things were all right.

3 weeks ago, the real trouble began. I was doing my homework in the living room and my roommate came in. She looked at the dishes, went into the hallway, dumped out my laundry basket, filled it with dirty dishes, then put the laundry basket of dirty dishes back into the hallway. I just sat there and watched in amazement. It didn't occur to me that she was using my laundry basket until the whole thing was over. While she was putting the dishes into the basket, I told her that it was funny she was spending just as much energy putting the dishes into the basket as she would if she put them into the dishwasher. Wrong move, I guess. Immediately my roommate started yelling at me. We had a somewhat heated discussion where she kept saying the same illogical things over and over again. I finally left while she was still yelling at me.

During the course of that week, she had very heated arguments with 3 other roommates. There was yelling involved in all of them. One of the roommates asked her why she was yelling and she yelled back that she wasn't yelling... the other roommate was. Ugh...

This last Monday trumps every other argument had in this apartment.

I have a roommate who is engaged to a man who was previously married and has a 1-year-old son. On Monday, my engaged roommate and her fiance were babysitting their little boy. "Dishes" roommate came home and started cooking and the fiance went into the kitchen and asked her to keep it down a little bit because they were trying to put the baby down for a nap. Immediately, Dishes Roommate yelled at the engaged couple saying that it's her apartment and she can do whatever she wants. She slammed the pan down on the stove and slammed the cupboard doors. Engaged Roommate went into the kitchen and told her that she was scaring the baby (the baby was screaming at this point because of all the noise) and could she please be quiet. Dishes Roommate pushed Engaged Roommate away. Engaged roommate went into the living room and told Dishes that she would stay in the living room and Dishes would stay in the kitchen and they wouldn't talk to each other. Everything would be fine. Dishes then opened and slammed the fridge door 6 times in a row staring Engaged Roommate down. She continued yelling that it was her apartment and she could do whatever she wanted. Engaged roommate had had enough and went and shoved Dishes back and told her to knock it off. Dishes threw her pitcher of orange juice onto the engaged couple and it got all over their laptop and all over them. Engaged Roommate then slapped Dishes in the face. Dishes then punched Engaged roommate and after the fiance broke them up, Dishes ran upstair yelling she would charge Engaged Roommate with battery and she was going to call the cops.

Funny words when she started the whole thing. Fiance went to tell the manager of the apartments what happened and she came over and talked to Engaged Roommate and then Dishes and told them both that one of them needs to move out. Another roommate told the manager that Dishes should move out because the entire apartment had issues with her. Dishes moved out and then around 9:30 that night, after Dishes had moved out...

I was doing homework in my bedroom and there was a knock on my bedroom door, "Hello, Provo Police. Can I ask you a few questions?" He asked me what had happened and was I aware that my roommates had an altercation in the apartment earlier. (To be honest I had never heard the word "altercation" before, but I figured it out from context :) ) I answered his questions until Engaged Roommate came home. He then asked her and her fiance to write statements about what happened and told them that Dishes Roommate had called the cops on them. Dishes was filling out a statement outside her new apartment. We ended up talking with the Officer until 12:00 that night.

I asked the Officer what might happen and he said that both roommates will probably be charged with a class B misdemeanor. Crazy!

Since that night, my apartment has been amazing! We have all gotten along and the apartment has stayed more clean than it ever was while Dishes lived here.

I guess the moral of the story is... Proverbs 21:19
"It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman"

A New Look!!

I'm pretty sure I love how my blog looks now!! It makes me excited to update it more frequently. That's all I wanted to say! :)

Be a Quality Person

Be a Quality Person
By Elder Marvin J. Ashton Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Marvin J. Ashton, “Be a Quality Person,” Ensign, Feb 1993, 64
Address given 30 August 1992 at a single member fireside broadcast via satellite from Temple Square, Salt Lake City.

God bless you valiant single members. You are choice in our Heavenly Father’s eyes and in my eyes. The leaders of the Church pray that with the Lord’s help and our personal efforts, all of us can achieve happiness. Certainly when we choose the good part, regardless of our current situation, life will be lived to the fullest.
A quality life is God’s greatest wish for us. Life is to be lived well in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. There should not be a waiting period.
A few months ago, I had the opportunity of talking with a woman who was worried about how she might prepare to be a good wife. I told her, “Don’t worry about being a good wife. Concern yourself with life’s number one priority: being a quality person. If you are a quality person, you don’t have to worry about being a good wife, mother, daughter, Church member, leader, single, or community strength. If you are a quality person, you will be good in any situation in which you find yourself.”
What makes up a quality person? Many traits and characteristics of a worthy nature are necessary for all of us, whether we’re married or single. Let me share a few thoughts. I hope you will think about them with me for just a few minutes.
1. If you have self-respect, you will take satisfaction in being well groomed and will not allow yourself to perform shabbily. You will continue to work toward high standards and goals to serve others, to continue and to practice self-discipline. You will not compromise your standards or beliefs.
Think of the confidence and joy that our Heavenly Father expressed when he said, “This is my beloved Son.” (Matt. 17:5.) Or as Jesus himself once said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” (John 14:9.) Each of us has the challenge to know the Father and to become one with Him.
William George Jordan once said, “Man has two creators, his God and himself. The first creator furnishes him the raw materials of his life—the laws and conformity with which he can make that life what he will. The second creator—himself—has powers he rarely realizes. It is what a man makes of himself that counts.”
Self-respect allows a person to know who he or she is and what is expected of him or her.
Set your goals—without goals you can’t measure your progress. But don’t become frustrated if the victories don’t come quickly or easily. Remind yourself that striving can be more important than arriving. If you are striving for excellence—if you are trying your best day by day with the wisest use of your time and energy to reach realistic goals—you are a success, and you can feel proud of your accomplishments.
2. A quality person is someone with integrity. To be worthy of the highest trust is a noble attribute and compliment. You will need to maintain confidences. Certainly it is greater to be trusted than loved. Truly happy persons will always be totally honest in their dealings with their fellowman.
3. A quality person will not be offended. In life there is no time for being hurt. There should be no time to be petty. A wise person will focus on principles of optimism and hope.
4. A quality person will develop the capacity to love and be lovable. We all need to take advantage of every opportunity to love with tenderness and sincerity. This will determine our eternal joys and progress. Ponder the truth that it is more important to love than to be loved.
Thomas P. Malone said: “Almost every emotional problem can be summed up in one particular bit of behavior: it’s a person walking around screaming, ‘… Love me.’ Love me, that’s all. He goes through a million different manipulations to get somebody to love him.
“On the other hand, healthy people are those who walk around looking for someone to love. And, if you see changes in the people who are screaming, ‘Love me, love me,’ it’s when they realize that if they give up this screaming and go to the other business of loving another human, they can get the love they’ve been screaming for all their lives. It’s hard to learn, but it’s good when you learn it.” (“Points to Ponder,” Reader’s Digest, Jan. 1974, p. 151.)
5. A quality person will murmur not. He will not find fault or criticize, belittle, or nag. When I think of those who are examples of proficient murmuring on a continuing basis, I think of Laman and Lemuel in the Book of Mormon. By contrast I admire Nephi, who never murmured. Instead he was positive and had no time for contention, discouragement, or apathy.
Someone has wisely stated that hate is not the opposite of love. Apathy is. We will not have time for apathy in life’s journey if we speak and think positively. Seek, search, and work for worthy eternal qualities and friends.
6. A quality person is one who has real faith. With true faith we will increase our meaningful relationship with God. This will develop and expand our knowledge that God is our father. He lives. He loves us. He hears our prayers and would lead us to eternal happiness. Remember that God and one are a family. What a comforting, heartening truth this is.
All of us must live with proper priorities and purposes. Don’t be harsh in your self-appraisal. Rather, measure yourself by whether or not you are living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I like the way of life expressed by my friend, Carol Clark, administrative assistant to the Relief Society general presidency, when she says that the personal challenge is not to wait successfully but to live richly, fully, and joyfully. The goal is not to wait for the right person but to be the right person.
“The real fun of life is in overcoming obstacles while still happily hoping everything will work out. … I freely admit that living with my dreams unfulfilled has proven to be a softening, humbling influence because it’s been so hard. But the anchor is at hand, and because it is, I can progress, even though to date I’ve lost at love—the one thing I’ve wanted more in life than anything else save righteousness itself. …
“Last summer I complained to a non-Latter-day Saint friend that I was exhausted, having no fun, living like an automaton. Nonsympathetically, she countered, ‘What do you think this is? A dress rehearsal? This is your life, Carol. Fix it.’ I expected a pat and a kind word. Instead, I got a splash of reality square in the face. She was, of course, quite right. I wasn’t giving my life value, so I didn’t feel it had value. I went home, reread the parables of the sower and of the talents, and regrouped.” (A Singular Life, ed. Carol L. Clark and Blythe Darlyn Thatcher, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1987, pp. 35–36.)
Brothers and sisters, regroup, if that’s what is needed. Do not wait. Rather fill your life with service, education, personality development, love for all, and other such meaningful traits. Live with purpose each day. You are being unfair if you call yourself a failure because a proper marriage is not possible.
I know that some of you are single because of fears or difficult experiences in your past. I invite you to partake of the love of our Savior, who gave His life for each of us. He “manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.” (2 Ne. 26:13.) Remember that He loves you, and so do we. Remember that all of us can learn to contribute today, no matter what happened yesterday or what awaits us tomorrow.
I recall a personal friend of mine who lost her husband when they were both approximately fifty years of age. Some weeks after the funeral I talked to her, and she said, “I love my husband so much and know how deep his affection is for me. What I am going to do now is wait for him to come and get me someday.” Do not indulge yourself, at any marriageable age, in the waiting game when there is so much in life to do. Bring additional self-fulfillment, personal development, and self-respect through worthy associations and services.
Maintain your perspective while making marriage a righteous goal in your life. Count what you do have—not what you don’t have. A quality life in any circumstances comes from remembering what Mormon taught, that if a man or woman doesn’t have charity or love, he or she is “nothing.” (See Moro. 7:44.)
I like the observations made by Karen Lynn Davidson in her excellent book, Thriving on Our Differences: “I have yet to see marriage, by itself, turn an unhappy person into a happy person. A really happy married person is almost always one who was or could have been happy as a single person.” (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1990, p. 39.)
I remind you again that compromising and lowering standards and ideals never have been and never will be tools of happiness. While we are striving for quality conduct in our lives, we must ever realize that being single will never be as painful as being married to the wrong person with wrong and selfish standards. A mate must be willing to share tender and loving associations in an eternal quest for life at its best. Avoid getting married just to be married. Feeling sorry for people or desiring to help them get their lives in order are poor reasons for marriage. Marriage should be based on love and shared values.
Even after a good marriage opportunity comes along, we should consider the wonderful things there are for us to do. How much richer life in every situation will be when we love others and find meaningful activities. Every child of God can profit from getting into a preparation mode, not in a waiting mode. Living without purpose is improper waiting. It can cause stagnation and ultimate despair. Think of President Spencer W. Kimball’s example:
“I stress again the deep need each woman has to study the scriptures. We want our homes to be blessed with sister scriptorians—whether you are single or married, young or old, widowed or living in a family.
“Regardless of your particular circumstances, as you become more and more familiar with the truths of the scriptures, you will be more and more effective in keeping the second great commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself. Become scholars of the scriptures—not to put others down, but to lift them up! After all, who has any greater need to ’treasure up’ the truths of the gospel (on which they may call in their moments of need) than do women and mothers who do so much nurturing and teaching?” (Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, Nov. 1979, p. 102.)
To be in control of your life, to be a success regardless of your situation as a single, I recommend you come to know your Father in Heaven. Come to love Him. Always remember that He loves you and will give you guidance and support if you will but give Him the chance. Include Him in your decision making. Include Him in your heartaches and heartbreaks. Include Him when you take inventory of your personal worth. “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men [and women] to perform their labors.” (Alma 34:32.)
As you strive to become a quality person, commune daily with your Heavenly Father who knows you best of all. He knows your talents, your strengths, and your weaknesses. You are here on the earth at this time to develop and refine these characteristics. I promise you He will help you. He is aware of your needs. He is aware of your unanswered prayers.
Brethren, I share some counsel with you from our prophets. President Ezra Taft Benson declared: “My dear single adult brethren, we are also concerned. We want you to know that the position of the Church has never changed regarding the importance of celestial marriage. It is a commandment of God. The Lord’s declaration in Genesis is still true: ‘And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone.’ (Gen. 2:18.)” (Ensign, May 1988, p. 52.)
On another occasion, President Spencer W. Kimball shared an experience: “Recently I met a young returned missionary who is 35 years old. He had been home from his mission for 14 years and yet he was little concerned about his bachelorhood, and laughed about it.
“I shall feel sorry for this young man when the day comes that he faces the Great Judge at the throne and when the Lord asks this boy: ‘Where is your wife?’ All of his excuses which he gave to his fellows on earth will seem very light and senseless when he answers the Judge. ‘I was very busy,’ or ‘I felt I should get my education first,’ or ‘I did not find the right girl’—such answers will be hollow and of little avail. He knew he was commanded to find a wife and marry her and make her happy. He knew it was his duty to become the father of children and provide a rich, full life for them as they grew up. He knew all this, yet postponed his responsibility.” (Ensign, Feb. 1975, p. 2.)
President Benson also stated: “I realize that some of you brethren may have genuine fears regarding the real responsibilities that will be yours if you do marry. You are concerned about being able to support a wife and family and provide them with the necessities in these uncertain economic times. Those fears must be replaced with faith.
“I assure you, brethren, that if you will be industrious, faithfully pay your tithes and offerings, and conscientiously keep the commandments, the Lord will sustain you. Yes, there will be sacrifices required, but you will grow from these and will be a better man for having met them.
“Work hard educationally and in your vocation. Put your trust in the Lord, have faith, and it will work out. The Lord never gives a commandment without providing the means to accomplish it (see 1 Ne. 3:7).
“Also, do not be caught up in materialism, one of the real plagues of our generation—that is, acquiring things, fast-paced living, and securing career success in the single state.
“Honorable marriage is more important than wealth, position, and status. As husband and wife, you can achieve your life’s goals together. As you sacrifice for each other and your children, the Lord will bless you, and your commitment to the Lord and your service in His kingdom will be enhanced.” (Ensign, May 1988, pp. 52–53.)
All of my life I have been taught the virtue and necessity of patience. With all I know about the importance of this great quality, I still want to go on record at this time as saying that one of the areas of life that is most difficult for me to be patient with is a group of marriageable, mature men who delay, postpone, and neglect this important phase of life and eternity.
To marriageable, mature men, I call them unto repentance. Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance. Believe us when we tell you there is someone for you and God will help you find her. I have little patience for a marriageable, mature man who hasn’t found “Miss Perfect.” I believe some men think of themselves as “Mr. Perfect.” I suggest that any of these men who sincerely desire a happy, fulfilling, worthy life view single women and themselves more realistically. Don’t be afraid to seek out persons of the opposite sex who would be pleased to share dating and courtship time with someone who is worthy, sincere, and truly lovable.
There may be excuses and a failure to make the commitment to a worthy lady, but frankly it is hard to find reasons for indefinite delay and an unwillingness to adapt, adjust, and grow by participating in an eternal partnership.
Not long ago a young, marriageable-aged lady said to me, “When you go about speaking to single, marriageable-aged men, why don’t you tell them to ‘get with the program.’ ” Maybe that statement is a little blunt, but if her phrase speaks to the heart of the matter, I don’t hesitate to endorse it.
I say to our sisters, don’t delay marriage because of your career goals, educational desires, or unwillingness to change your life. You too must strive to find a worthy mate and live all the commandments of God.
Now, for those listening who are thinking, “This is the same old thing the Brethren always say to singles,” I remind you of the words of Amulek, “I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know.” (Alma 10:6.) Brethren and sisters, we love you, and we desire your welfare. That’s why we persist in teaching you the Lord’s way. It is your choice if you will have ears to hear our words. I pray you will seek your Heavenly Father’s guidance that you might know, then do what is right for you.
God will never stop helping us to become quality people. I promise you this. He will constantly help us to be our best when we walk in the light of truth, hope, and appreciation. Make yours a quality life, for you are important to the Lord and to us.

A Small Update

I have now attempted to write a new entry four times now and I think I'll keep this one. :) I'm sorry it's been so long since I have updated everything. Life has been wonderful and crazy!

First off, in November I auditioned to be a Young Performing Missionary in Nauvoo. I passed the first audition and was called back to audition on January 3rd. That audition went really well and I'm going to go to Nauvoo as a Young Performing Missionary for the summer!! I'm really really excited to go. I leave May 3rd and I believe the last day of the mission is August 16, but I'm not totally sure on that one. This has been on my list of goals in life since I was 14 years old. I'm very excited it's coming through to fruition. Life is good. :)

Second, I broke both of my feet! Weird huh? 3 years ago I took advanced clogging and Irish dance both in the same semester. My feet hurt incredibly all the time, but I thought I had just bruised them. When I auditioned for Nauvoo, I reinjured them and when I got them X-rayed, the doctor found that I fractured both of my... ahem... medial sesamoid bones on my first metatarsuls. (Caitie had me practice that for two days before I could say it correctly!) I'm walking around campus with boots on my feet and if they start hurting I'm supposed to use crutches. I really don't like crutches so my feet don't hurt very often... if you know what I mean. :) Anyway, they should be better before I go to Nauvoo. In the meantime, I'm trying not to walk very much.

Finally, I think I'm going to add a dance minor to my two majors. There was a class that I had to take this semester in order to graduate in the spring. I just found out it is completely full and the teacher will not add me. Lame, huh? That does open up a semester where I would only take 3 classes. Why not add the entire dance minor in that semester?? I've done some of the minor already in the past, so I'm hoping I can audition and get a little minor attached to my HUGE major. After that, I will graduate. Seriously.

Well, that's about all I have to say right now. I hope all is well!!!

The Facts: The LDS Church and Proposition 8

The Facts:1. Mormons make up only 2% of the population of California. There are approximately 750,000 LDS out of a total population of approximately 36 million.

2. If one estimates that 250,000 LDS are registered voters (the rest being children), then out of a total of 5,661,583 yes votes, LDS voters made up 4.4% of the Yes vote and 2.3% of the total Proposition 8 vote (11,050,301).

3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated no money to the Yes on 8 campaign (except for a nominal, and legal, in-kind donation of $2,078.97, to cover the travel expenses of leaders coming from Utah for a meeting). Individual members of the Church were encouraged to support the Yes on 8 efforts and, exercising their constitutional right to free speech, donated whatever they felt like donating.

4. The No on 8 campaign raised more money than the Yes on 8 campaign. Unofficial estimates put No on 8 at $38 million and Yes on 8 at $36 million, making it the most expensive non-presidential election in the country.

5. Advertising messages for the Yes on 8 campaign are based on case law and real-life situations. The No on 8 supporters have insisted that the Yes on 8 messaging is based on lies. Every Yes on 8 claim is supported.

6. The majority of our friends and neighbors voted Yes on 8. Los Angeles County voted in favor of Yes on 8. Ventura County voted in favor of Yes on 8.

7. African Americans overwhelmingly supported Yes on 8. Exit polls show that 70% of Black voters chose Yes on 8. This was interesting because the majority of these voters voted for President-elect Obama. No on 8 supporters had assumed that Obama voters would vote No on 8.

8. The majority of Latino voters voted Yes on 8. Exit polls show that the majority of Latinos supported Yes on 8 and cited religious beliefs (assumed to be primarily Catholic).

9. The Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious organizations. Catholics, Evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox Jews, Muslims - all supported Yes on 8. It is estimated that there are 10 million Catholics and 10 million Protestants in California. Mormons were a tiny fraction of the population represented by Yes on 8 coalition members.

10. Not all Mormons voted in favor of Proposition 8. Our faith accords that each person be allowed to choose for him or her self. Church leaders have asked members to treat other members with "civility, respect and love," despite their differing views.

11. The Church did not violate the principal of separation of church and state. This principle is derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ." The phrase "separation of church and state", which does not appear in the Constitution itself, is generally traced to an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson, although it has since been quoted in several opinions handed down by the United States Supreme Court in recent years. The LDS Church is under no obligation to refrain from participating in the political process, to the extent permitted by law. U.S. election law is very clear that Churches may not endorse candidates, but may support issues. The Church has always been very careful on this matter and occasionally (not often) chooses to support causes that it feels to be of a moral nature.

12. Supporters of Proposition 8 did exactly what the Constitution provides for all citizens: they exercised their First Amendment rights to speak out on an issue that concerned them, make contributions to a cause that they support, and then vote in the regular electoral process. For the most part, this seems to have been done in an open, fair, and civil way. Opponents of 8 have accused supporters of being bigots, liars, and worse. The fact is, we simply did what Americans do - we spoke up, we campaigned, and we voted. **Hang tight, folks. More info coming. I did not write these facts, a man named Kevin Hamilton did. I do not know him personally, just his name, but these facts are floating around the Internet, in e-mails and on blogs, like wildfire. So, I decided to research them (and tweak a few since I believe they were written before the final vote count). If the media wants to use these facts, they would need to contact Mr. Hamilton.Please also note Mr. Hamilton's disclaimer that accompanied the original text:"Any errors are mine and in no way reflect official Church policy or doctrine." I wholeheartedly agree. If you would like official church statements about anything regarding Proposition 8, please direct your inquiries to the LDS Church headquarters in Salt Lake City.

SOURCES
1. http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/usa-californiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_population
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_8_(2008)
3. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10842051
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_8_(2008)
5. Here’s just a couple:Legalization of same-sex marriage threatens parental rights:Parker v. Hurleyhttp://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1815825713http://www.conservapedia.com/Parker_v._HurleyLegalization of same-sex marriage threatens religious freedoms:Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association v. Bernstein and Pesterhttp://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/sep/07091902.html
6. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/individual/#CAI01
7. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/70-of-african-a.html
8. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/70-of-african-a.htmlhttp://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#val=CAI01p1
9. http://www.protectmarriage.com/about/organizationhttp://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource.php?n=282http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/5050/story?id=6137237&page=1http://www.forward.com/articles/14521/http://510report.org/2008/11/08/fremont-muslims-vote-for-prop-8/
10. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705260852,00.html
11. http://www.usconstitution.net/const.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state_in_the_United_States#cite_note-0http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/aprqtr/pdf/26cfr1.501(c)(3)-1.pdf

I got this from a facebook group and wanted to publish the facts.
~Emilie

Recent Happenings

My source is a reliable LDS sister on the mountain. I think it is worth the read. Sending you information on some of the happenings last night at the LA Temple. Ben Hansen, who is one of our Young Adults from our ward, was up there. Scary times.-----------------------------------As additional information for those who missed the news, Mormons have been targeted by the gay community in California as having been the main impetus behind the passing of Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage in the state. Although the population of the state voted on the passing of the constitutional amendment, I will proudly agree that most of footwork was carried out by us. It's funny that our opposition knows where the credit is due, but that's another topic for another day. In light of the gay community's frustration in the passing of the proposition, our temple came under attack. I was at the Los Angeles Temple assisting in the security efforts and it was quite an experience. Our temple is safe and no damage was done on the grounds. It was a sight I never expected to see. At one point we had let in about 20 police vehicles through the gates because they were afraid their vehicles would be damaged as civilian cars were being vandalized. I removed the Utah plates from my truck just so I could drive through the mess and park blocks away. My roommate and I traveled on foot after we had changed out of our dress shirts and ties so as not to be targeted.Two full squads of LAPD in riot gear set up their base inside the temple grounds while SWAT vehicles and hundreds of officers followed the crowds run up Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards. I've heard that the crowd was estimated to be over 2,500. When I arrived, all of the gates were shut and a small group of members had to remain outside the grounds as the direction was to turn away others who had come to assist. After about a half an hour two sister missionaries ran up the drive to the East gate. I would have made more jokes with them, asking them trivia questions to prove they were LDS before opening the gate, but they were obviously nervous and had left on their name tags as they wandered the streets. When the crowd turned back towards the temple from West Hollywood, we opened the gate to those members still outside so they would not be trapped in the crowd. The officers inside the temple grounds made a line on the front lawn by the fence. At one point, with 7 news and police helicopters overhead, the crowd began to climb the fence and it looked like there was going to be a lot of trouble. We had it seemed a good forth of a Polynesian ward there so it could have gotten very interesting very fast.With lines of motorcycle cops with sirens wailing up and down the street with the latest outbreak, helicopters continually circling with spotlights cutting through the sky, and the crowd roaring being led my megaphones shouting every synonym they could think of that went along with "evil"...it almost seemed like the very end was at hand. My dad called me every few minutes to give me updates from live news through the Internet because we did not have TVs and the police did not even seem to be informed on the movement of the crowd up and down the streets. I relayed these updates directly to the head of temple security so we could anticipate when to be ready. My friend and I joked about what would happen if we were caught in the middle of the crowd rushing up the lawn. We decided that because we were still single without much luck in finding wives, it might be to our advantage to go without a fight and die as a martyrs. If I remember correctly, that's a free ticket to the Celestial kingdom and I'm sure there's plenty of girls there to chose from without the dramas of dating.While I was there, I was not aware of anyone actually breaching the fence, but we were asked to move far across the parking lot as they were anticipating the need to shoot tear gas canisters. I never thought I would see the day when police officers would sit perched on the spire of our temple as lookouts. All of this happened at about 7:30 pm. It should be remembered that most likely many of the law enforcement were not in favor of our stance on Proposition 8, but nevertheless, the men and women were there doing their duty and protecting our property. For that we are grateful. And yes, there was an incident with some of our members who had gone to remove the protest signs from the front fence. One of the protesters did initiate physical contact with one of our sisters so the details are uncertain as to whether the response was fully justified. The lesson to be learned is that it's important to anticipate and avoid such confrontational situations. Remember the world is watching our reaction and the media is everywhere. In the end, when we keep our cool, the video footage speaks the truth regarding which side is really intolerant and appears hateful when we simply do not respond or do so in a loving and controlled manner.In all the commotion, I had the chance to sit alone by the side of one of the fountains and take in all that was happening. It may seem strange to say, but despite the adrenaline rushing in my blood ready for the next incident or next bit of news from my dad; I felt a tremendous peace. It came over me in a wave as I looked up at the spire topped with Angel Moroni. I can testify that I felt the presence of others protecting the temple tonight..those we could not physically see. I would even go as far to say that I felt the presence of someone personally related to me who was there for my safety. We were not alone. We were protected and our Father in Heaven is mindful of our efforts and willingness to withstand persecution. As I later read a quote from Brigham Young, it made more sense why this did not have to be a fearful experience- exciting yes, in a urgency sense, but very clarifying as we were able to glimpse into things as the really are, truth as is really exists, the adversary's war as it really is raging. I wish everyone of you reading this could have been there just to be reminded as I was how real this war is. The great sadness is that so many of our brothers and sisters are unknowing participants, manipulated and deceived by the grand schemer of it all. The issues may be presented as complex, but the adversary's agenda was as clear as day. Be prepared friends and family, it's bound to get much worse before it gets better, but take council from a prophet:"You that have not passed thro' the trials and persecutions, and drivings with this people from the beginning, but have only read them, or heard some of them related, may think how awful they were to endure, and wonder that the saints survived them at all.—The thought of it makes your heart sink within you, your brain reel, and your body tremble, and you are ready to exclaim, 'I could not have endured it.' I have been in the heat of it, and never felt better in all my life; I never felt the peace and power of the Almighty more copiously poured upon me than in the keenest part of our trials. They appeared nothing to me." ( Deseret News Weekly, 24 Aug. 1854, 83). (L. Aldin Porter, "'But We Heeded Them Not'," Ensign, Aug 1998, 6) -Brigham Young

PROPOSITION 8: A CLEAR MESSAGE FROM SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN THERE

There are typos! I just don't have time right now to go through and fix all of them.

PROPOSITION 8: A CLEAR MESSAGE FROM SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN THERE

I am going to attempt the impossible: I want to try todiscuss Proposition 8 in an honest, equitable manner.To demonstrate the divisiveness of the issue, let me firstpoint out that I could only call it "Proposition 8." If I'd called itby its original name, "Proposition 8: California Marriage ProtectionAct," you would think that I want you to vote "Yes on 8." Afterall, who wouldn't want to protect marriage? If I'd called it by its new name, asdetermined by California's attorney general and legislative analyst in July,"Proposition 8: Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry," youwould think that I want you to vote "No on 8." After all, who wouldwant to eliminate someone's rights?And, to demonstrate how far-reaching its effects, I didn'teven need to call it "California' s Proposition 8." No matter wherethis email goes, to any of the 50 states that may have propositions up forvote, I'm confident people will know which state's "Proposition 8" I'm talkingabout.Laurie Goodstein of the New York Times describes the Proposition withpoetic imagery: "it is raging like a wind-whipped wildfire inCalifornia." More poetic still...from an article in Monday's SanFrancisco Chronicle:"Michelle Sundstrom and her husband gave $30,000 to theYes on 8 campaign and put a sign on their home. But in response, two womenparked an SUV in front of their home, with the words 'Bigots live here' paintedon the windshield. Sundstrom believes such responses must come from deep placesof pain-and that gays and lesbians are entitled to the same rights asheterosexuals, just not the word marriage. Any animosity toward gays or lesbians is wrong, shesaid."There must be such deep, deep, deep hurt; otherwisethere couldn't be so much opposition," she said. "They've livedwith this. I guess we're getting a taste of where they live."Wow. Perhaps all this craziness and hate-slinging isactually getting us somewhere. A heterosexual Mormon couple has a "Bigotslive here" sign parked in front of their house, and what's their response?"They've lived with this. I guess we're getting a taste of where theylive."And she didn't just say "deep hurt." She said"deep, deep, deep hurt." I know the depth of that pain. I grew up Mormonand gay back in the 1970s. That was when we were shunned, ridiculed, bruised,battered, and discriminated against by nearly everyone, religious or otherwise.We hid in the closets because it hurt too much to come out. People who did comeout were called perverts, child molesters, predators, queer, sick, you name it.For those of us who were Mormon, it was even worse. We were attracted to thesame sex, yet Mormon doctrine stated we were supposed to get married only to amember of the opposite sex. It is a direct conflict between the two strongest,most significant desires in life.When I was in college, I met a woman with whom I thought I'dspend the rest of my life. But after a couple of years, we broke up. That waswhen I had this feeling, an impression, to talk to my bishop. I had no idea whohe was because I hadn't gone to church in years.That bishop used the power of the priesthood in my behalf,just as the divine plan had been laid out. He met with me for almost threeyears as I struggled and faltered. Suicide was a very real threat. I feelblessed, or lucky, or both, not to be among the many who have already pulledthe trigger. I wasn't suicidal because of the Church's unwavering stance onmarriage, however. I hadn't been forced to believe, or guilted into it. I hadnot been brainwashed. My testimony came from the heart.In time, my spiritual identity began to gain strength overmy sexual identity. Iwas finally able to choose the right. But it was a troubling choice. I had nodesire, whatsoever, to spend a lifetime with a man - much less an eternity. Sothat left me with celibacy. To this day, sacrificing same-sex relationships isthe greatest sacrifice I have made.Years ago, a friendsaid: "The sacrifice of a loved one for an attempt to live righteouslycannot go unnoticed. The loss is real, the sadness is real, in a world where sofew things are real." Now, the loss and pain are being publicly recognizedby Church leaders. In a fireside for Latter-day Saints in California, ElderQuentin L. Cook said, "There are faithful temple-worthy members of theChurch who struggle with this great challenge, often in silence, fear, andgreat pain. Our hearts go out to these good brothers and sisters even as weuphold the divine truths the Lord has revealed about marriage."Back when I wasstruggling with same-sex attraction, I couldn't find any LDS resources thatdealt specifically with the issue. I'd insist, "The Church doesn'tunderstand. They don't even care enough to help." Finally I realized theChurch I was critizing was not just "they", it was also "I". Andperhaps "I" should quit complaining and start writing. So I did. Thetitle of my book sums it up: Born That Way? A True Story of Overcoming Same-SexAttraction. Few people were offering hope back then for people who wanted toovercome same-sex attraction. I felt compelled by the spirit to provide hopefor others with struggles similar to mine.The secular resourcesdid more harm than good. Back then, the only claims you heard from the"experts" were: "Sexual attractions are a permanent part of whoyou are. They're indelible, unchangeable, and unavoidable. " Fortunately,the "experts" are now realizing that, just like other aspects of who we are,sexual attractions are influenced by genetics, environment, upbringing,experiences - all of it. Nature and nurture are no longer pitted against eachother.I've had the uniqueopportunity to witness the journey of many people who struggle with same-sexattractions. In 1990, I volunteered as a phone counselor - originally referredthrough Evergreen, an organization established to help Mormons who face thistrial. Over the span of almost 20 years, I've seen some Latter-day Saints getmarried in the temple, and others work to remain celibate - either because theyhave not found a spouse yet, or because they have not developed attractionstoward the opposite sex. I also have friends, who once had very strongtestimonies, who tried desperately to bring their lives into accordance withgospel principles, but finally gave up. At least for now.THIS IS SO IMPORTANT:Some people, no matter what they do or how hard they try, will never findthemselves attracted to the opposite sex, in this life. They deserve our utmostrespect. So do those who identify as gay or straight or bisexual or none of theabove. They all deserve our respect.It's not difficult forme to understand how the body of the Church in California has become dividedover this issue. I have felt divided, too. Our family lived in California in2000, when the Defense of Marriage Act came up for vote the first time. Myhusband and I were sealed together for time and all eternity, and our childrenwere born under the new and everlasting covenant. We, as an eternal family,were and are the direct beneficiaries of the Church's unwavering stance onmarriage. What once created angst so severe I considered suicide has led me toa life I never thought possible. One in which I have been happily married - toa man - for 15 years.However, I know alltoo well what it's like to be discriminated against. "Eliminating" someoneelse's rights seems wrong. And up until this past week, it seemed to go againstmy sense of fairness, democracy and justice as a citizen of the United States.It also seemed to run contrary to the core of my faith - the second greatestcommandment - to love one another.Despite my apprehensions in 2000, my husband and I acted infaith and supported Proposition 22 because the prophet asked us to. I hate toadmit this, but it wasn't until this week that I was finally able to reconcilethe opposing viewpoints I continued to debate with myself. I finally realizedwhy the leaders of the Mormon Church have been taking such an active role inall this. It happened when I read a National Public Radio report entitled "WhenGay Rights and Religious Liberties Clash". It says, "In recent years, somestates have passed laws giving residents the right to same-sex unions invarious forms. Gay couples may marry in Massachusetts and California. There arecivil unions and domestic partnerships in Vermont, New Jersey, Connecticut, NewHampshire and Oregon."I was astonished when I read: "So far, the religious groupsare losing." They listed examples such as Catholic Charities in Massachusetts.They had to pull out of the adoption business because they refused to adopt tosame-sex couples. Even individuals' religious rights are being revoked. A womandeclined to photograph a same-sex couple's commitment ceremony, saying herChristian beliefs prevented her from sanctioning same-sex unions. She was foundguilty of discrimination.When I read that article, it was like a light bulb went on.More importantly, I also felt a spiritual confirmation that the prophet trulyis prophetic. Here is the impression that came to me as I read:It's not that the Mormon Church is trying to get intopolitics. It's that politics is trying to get into the Church. And not just our church. Any churchor congregation or individual who believes that only a marriage between a manand a woman is ordained of God.I'm sorry I couldn't see what the prophet could see-untilthis week. I'm sorry I'm not sending this letter out till now. And I'm sorryfor my apathy - for being "lukewarm". Why, just last week I thought it was onlya matter of time before same-sex marriages became legal everywhere. How wrong Iwas.Yes, we're behind in the polls. Yes, it's the Friday beforeElection Day. So PLEASE, email this letter to anyone and everyone you thinkcould benefit from it - as quickly as possible!Unfortunately, someone has to lose with Proposition 8.Somebody's right to something will be limited at the end of the day on Tuesday.I, for one, do not want it to be my right to worship as I please.Sincerely,Erin EldridgeP.S. For those who would like to respond to this letter -whether in anger or frustration or support - I will do my best to respond toevery email I receive. But please, be patient. All our kids are still at homeand I work part time. Email riverwalk8@gmail. com.

My Own Tender Mercy

This morning I woke up and thought through my day. I need to get my car registered, go to work, get caught up on my math homework, do my art project that is due tomorrow, get ready for the day, go to class, have a meeting with the Women's Chorus staff and then go to institute tonight. I said my prayers, and checked my email.

While I was on the internet, my friend Nicki asked if I could give her a ride to work. No problem! I looked for my keys in my backpack, where I ALWAYS put them. NO keys! Hmm... I checked all my coat pockets. NO keys! I cleaned my room. I cleaned the bathroom. I looked in my car. I looked in the kitchen, living room and even called Caitie and asked her to look in her coat. NO keys!! By this time I was starting to get worried. If I couldn't find them, I couldn't get my car registered, I couldn't go to institute, I wouldn't be able to drive my car! (I definitely need a spare key for my car)

I then smiled. I have had this happen before. I got down on my knees and prayed a very heartfelt prayer. I told Heavenly Father I was sorry I didn't think to pray for so long. I thanked Him for listening to my prayers all the time and told Him how much I love Him. I then asked if He could help me remember where I put my keys. I closed the prayer and sat down. I then remembered that the last time I had used my keys, I had placed them on the couch in the living room. I went to the living room and looked in the cushions on the couch. There were my keys. What a blessing! He just wanted me to sit down and talk to Him. I am so grateful for that. And I am so grateful for tender mercies in my life.

I Don't Like This Song

When I fall in love
It will be forever
Or I'll never fall in love

In a restless world Like this is
Love is ended before it's begun
And too many Moonlight kisses
Seem to cool in the warmth of the sun

When I give my heart
I give it completely
Or I'll never give my heart

And the moment
I can feel that you feel that way too
Is when I fall in love with you

This is why I do what I do

Walking around BYU campus for the last five years has been wonderful! :) However, as I have looked back on those five years and then realize that I still have two left, I have gotten overwhelmed. The last month or so my thoughts have gone over whether I am in the right major for me. I love children and I love music and I love teaching children music... but TWO MORE YEARS! "Lots of people go to school for 7 years... yeah. They're called doctors!" Is this right for me?

Ever since I was 8 years old, I knew I wanted to major in music at BYU. When I first auditioned for the BYU School of music I didn't make it. I decided to get a new voice teacher and went to Sister Applonie (who I knew directred the BYU Women's Chorus) and asked her if she could give me voice lessons. She told me she couldn't but I should go talk to Sister Mooy, who was on the vocal faculty at BYU. I talked to Sister Mooy and she said she had too many students but because Sister Applonie referred me to her, she would take me.

We began voice lessons and I told Sister Mooy how much I wanted to be in the school of music. She asked what my vocal score was and when I told her, she told me I should have made it into the school of music. She talked to the head of the vocal department and the weekend before fall semester started, she called and said they had now accepted me into the school of music. What a miracle in my life! I felt strongly the Lord had placed me in the right places at the right time to be where I am today. Still... two more years??

I prayed about my schooling again over the last month or so and I have felt that this is still the right direction for me in my life. I'm enjoying my classes and doing well. I feel balanced and I feel again like the Lord is directing my life.

As I was eating dinner at school the other day, I picked up the newspaper and as I read this article, tears filled my eyes. This is why I'm doing school for two more years.

"As a boy with many questions, young Tom Holdman struggled to know if he would find his way through life. His noticeable stutter made it easy for him to become sad when his elementary school classmates made fun of him.

One day his second-grade teach, Mrs. Wilcox, approached him with advice that would change the world around him for the rest of his life.

"Tom, you have so much to say, but words are only one way to express all the wonders inside you," she said. "There are other ways."

With those few uplifting words and her guidance throughout the school year, Holdmangrew in confidence and entered the world of art, a place where he knew he could succeed. Nearly 30 years, he can now confidently say that he did succeed.

Tom Holdman, world-renowned stained-glass artist, met with his former second-grade teacher from Provost elementary school, Val Wilcox, while visiting BYU campus, Thursday, as art of the lecture series titled, "The Power of Teaching."

In a touching encounter, student and teacher were reunited in front of aspiring education students as Mrs. Wilcox's son, Brad Wilcox, hosted the lecture in the McKay building. It still takes Holdman great effort to speak, but now it is something he humorously deals with. At one point during the lecture he said, "Yeah, I love to speak," As Brad Wilcox asked him to continued to share his feelings.

Upon hugging his inspired second-grade teacher, who is 37, said her effect in his life was lasting.

"I have reached higher because of you and what you have taught me," Holdman said. Holdman, who now operates a stained-glass window company in Lehi, said his success was based on her kindness long ago and thanked her for seeing his "challenge as an opportunity."

Holdman showed his second grade class picture and pointed out how he had wanted to be right next to his teacher, saying it was because he thought she was so wonderful. She has been an encouragement to him ever since.

"It has been a humbling experience with how my life has turned out," Holdman said, "Being a teacher is so important. Teachers will never know the great impact they make."

Holdman presented Mrs. Wilcox with a small, ramed glass piece depicting the story of Joseph Smith's first vision.

"Tom has been mentioned in many place," Val Wilcox said, showing the students various newspaper articles that featured Holdman and his artwork. "He deserves it. What a man."

Brad Wilcox, ValWilcox's son, who also teaches at BYU, said words are not always required for expression.

"He now knows that words are only one way of speaking," Wilcox said. "There are other ways and he has found them. The art wildow Mrs. Wilcox helped open for Tom, he now opens for many others as he speaks loudly, smoothly, beautifully and confidently through his windows."

Holdman's sucess and popularity is still increasing. His first art project many years ago was for a library in Orem. However, he said in 2007 his company produced more than 1,000 art pieces, 14 of which are placed in LDS temples throughout the world.

Holdman said his company, which does personal orders as well as for businesses, is extremely demanding. Future projects include stained-glass windows for the Harold B. Lee Library and the University of Utah which illustrate the history of the earth. Additionally, work is being planned for five more temples.

Holdman encouraged young people to hone in on the skills and abilities they have. "Work outside yourself and find your talents," he said. "You must always do what you do best."

Oh yeah... Happy birthday Joel!!! :)

Vegas!

Once upon a time I went hiking in flip flops. First of all, that's really dumb. Second of all... that's really really dumb. Amidst the hiking and talking, I tripped and scratched up my foot pretty badly. I thought it would be fine. I didn't tell anyone... because it's just a scratch! Well, instead of getting better like most scratches do, it got worse.. and worse.. and worse! I called Dad and sent him a picture of my foot to his phone and he told me it was infected and I had something growing in it! Gross!!!! I'll spare you the pictures... They are gross. :) He then said that he and Mom would be in Vegas at a medical meeting and Caitie and I should come that weekend so that he could look at my foot. Funny thing though... the day before we left, my foot started getting better. :)

It was a total blast and I'm so so grateful we went. I wouldn't be surprised if Heavenly Father made my scratch infected just so I would take the time to go see my parents. It was so fun to ride in the car with Caitie both there and back. We had so much fun!!! The four of us walked along the strip and went swimming in some way awesome pools. We also had dinner with Dr. Frackelton (the Doctor that Dad works with). And we went to this AMAZING buffet at the Rio hotel. We had crab legs and every kind of food you can ever even think of. Seriously it was amazing.

Here are some pics of our randomness!!!

Caitie and me in front of Bellagio

Caitie at the restaurant where we ate with Dr. Frackelton.

Caitie in front of the strip.

The bellagio fountain. It was gorgeous!!

Again Bellagio fountain

We just thought this was really cute. :)

And this too!!

Me waiting for Mom and Dad!! :)

Bellagio fountains!!

Dinner at the buffet... like I said... AMAZING!

Mom and Dad at Bellagio!

Memories

I don't know what to say. All I know is that I know Heavenly Father is bouying me up. He's there. I wish everything happened the way I wanted... but I know that Heavenly Father's plan is infinitely more perfect than mine. Go figure. I miss my friend so so much.

I am grateful for:

Schoolwork to keep me busy
Caitie
Good friends
Heavenly Father
Sunny Days
Scriptures
The scratch on my foot
Memories
Emotions
The spirit
My health
That I am not using crutches around campus (especially the RB stairs)
My warm bed
My apartment
Hope
Love
Fall colors
Campfires
More memories
Cooking
Eating :)
Children
Teaching
Storybooks
My theater teacher
Nathaniel's emails
My blanket
Fluffy
Mountains
Nieces and Nephews
My sisters in-law
My brothers
My parents
General Conference
Women's Chorus
The temple
Ice cubes
Fresh vegetables
My voice
Pictures
Friends that live in Provo
Stupid facebook
hikes
A working car (thanks Mom and Dad!)
Good music
and more memories

Angelic Aliya!

These are the pictures of my beautiful new niece Aliya!!! We are so excited to have her in the family! We are praying for her while she is in NICU.

Forever Friends

It was about 10:30 am when I pulled into the driveway of a quaint little pink house in Provo, Utah. With tears streaming down my face, I knocked on the door. "Is Audrey here?" I asked. She wasn't. Her sister Nora was quickly summoned and I was ushered into Nora's bedroom where she promptly handed me a box of kleenex and a glass of water. "Do you want some ice cream? I have chocolates!" I smiled through my tears. Leave it to a Hunter sister to make me feel at home.

I sat down in her room and started crying again and telling her the story of how frustrated I am with everything going on in my life right now. My financial aid hasn't gone through and school starts on Tuesday, I needed to finish cleaning out Mom and Dad's house that they sold (just some touch-up stuff), stress about organizing my own apartment, work, school, getting sick, etc...

After I vented and cried for a good half hour, she took me to school to help me with the financial aid. After that, she and Audrey drove with me to Salt Lake to help clean Mom and Dad's house. And to top it all off, Audrey came home with me and did my hair and helped me feel so beautiful!

At the end of the day as I read my scriptures, my eyes again filled with tears. This time though, they were tears of gratitude for the relationships Heavenly Father has blessed me with.

Lava lavas (man skirts!)

Dr. Mike, Emilie and Darin!

A Snapshot of Hawaii!

My Mom and I are currently in Hawaii!!!!!! My favorite part thus far was Sacrament meeting. Mom and I walked into a small room with folding chairs (for anyone who reads this from my old Riv ward, it was almost as big as room 710 in the Marriott building). The first thing I noticed was when the opening hymn began, I was humbled by all the people singing. There were as many people in the room as there are in a small branch and the music was sung louder than it is in a full-sized ward. It was so beautiful!! Off-key though it was, it sounded beautiful.

The second thing I noticed were all the people. I know I know! It seems a little backwards, but I am a music major! :) The men walked in wearing lava lavas (man skirts) and the women walked in with leis, flower headbands and gorgeous, long, flowing hair. There were men and women from all different countries; China, Korea, Japan, Fiji, America, Africa, Tonga, Croatia, Samoa and countries of which I have never heard.

The talks were beautiful and heartfelt. The most touching part of the meeting for me was when there was a special musical number. Two Hawaiians stood up and they began singing a cappella. Both voices were shaky and they were very nervous. Then another Hawaiian came in from the back of the room and began singing with them. After that, a couple came up from the audience and began singing. And finally, several priesthood leaders who were sitting at the front stood up and sang with the group. It was such a beautiful number. And so different than the ones we usually hear on the mainland. There will be pictures to come!!!

I did it!!

For the last three weeks my friend has wanted to hike up to Cascade Ridge in Provo Canyon. It's not a bad hike... ten miles. However, I rarely go hiking! I enjoy the short pleasant hikes that are 1, 2 or 3 miles long. The longest hike I've ever been on was to the Timpanogos Caves and that was only 3 miles. The longest walk I've ever been on was from Nauvoo to Carthage and I think that was 23 miles (correct me if any of my Nauvoo-ers read this!) :). The walk to Carthage was tough!!!!!!!!!!!! I kept putting off the hike, and putting off the hike and he kept wanting to go and wanting to go until finally I conceded.

We went to the store and he usually just brings one bottle of water, but I had him buy three bottles a piece. We loaded the waters into a backpack (the backpack happened to be on HIS back :) ) and began our journey.

Now, I seem to have this large fear of wild animals, or maybe just a fear of large wild animals... :) I don't know, but I wanted to make sure I knew what to do if a bear showed up, or a snake, or a deer, or a large, possessed bird, etc... so in between huffing and puffing, I asked him what we would do. He wasn't afraid of bears. He said the only animals he worried about were cougars and moose. He worried about cougars because they hunt people and moose are grumpy and huge and giant and scary and they charge!!!!! Anyway, that seemed to be much of our conversation on the way up. :)

I had a really hard time going up. The first 3 1/2 miles were great. I was feeling strong and I felt like I could do it. All of a sudden, we got to the steep part. I fell down twice because it was really steep. At one point, my body felt so weak I said a prayer in my heart that Heavenly Father would help me up the mountain. Right after I finished the prayer, my friend turned around and gave me a walking stick that he had found on the trail. Coincidence? I think not! It helped a lot, and I had a bit more energy to get to the top.

When we finally did get to the top, the view was breathtaking! I was in awe at the mountains. I absolutely LOVED the view. I could see Provo on one side, and Mount Timp on the other. Timp is only a half mile higher than we were so it was fun to be close to it. We hallooed to the mountains and heard our echos. We had a snowball fight (there is still snow on the mountains. :) It was just gorgeous.

After we rested for a bit, we began the hike back down. We were going to slide down on the snow, but thought better of it. :) After we finished the steep part ( my legs were shaking at this point), my friend stopped in his tracks and said, "Check it out!" in a hushed voice. I turned and looked and there about 20 feet off the trail was a giant, scary, huge, ginormous, with-big-antlers moose! Now, if you remember from before, my friend said that the moose was one of TWO animals he feared. That meant the moose was even higher on my list of feared animals. I was absolutely petrified. I would not move. I wanted to wait until the moose left and then continue down the mountain, but by then it would be dark and the cougars would be out. My friend finally convinced me to keep moving and just act normal. I continued down the mountain. I was shaking now not just from complete exhaustion, but from fear.

After about ten minutes, I forgot the moose and felt fine. We started joking and laughing and then my friend stiffened up. I looked where he was looking and there was another moose.... MUCH bigger than the last one about 25 feet from trail. This time... I really did not want to keep moving. HE was HUGE!!!! And there he was, just eating and looking pleasant. As I was looking at the moose, completely terrified, across the trail ran a big buck. It was beginning to be ridiculous to me!

We just kept walking down the trail --looking normal, right? :) And everything turned out fine. It started getting darker and I started to get worried about the cougars so we kind of started running down... even though my legs felt like they were going to fall off. We switched which side we were walking on depending on which side of the forest I was nervous about. :)

*sigh* needless to say, we made it safely off the mountain. We were both exhausted, but it felt so good to (can I say this?) conquer the mountain. It felt really really good. I DID IT!!!!!!! :)

Life Lessons

For the last year or so, some of my really good friends and I have gone singing every Sunday to a care center. We have walked the halls and found whatever doors were open and asked if they wanted to hear a favorite hymn. We sang to those walking in the halls. We harmonized when we could. Often, we didn't all sound great together, but the spirit was always very strong. It was my place to forget myself for the week and think about those wonderful people. The last time we went, two of my favorite people were no longer there. The nurses wouldn't tell us if they went home or if they passed on. My friend JJ called their families and found out that two of our favorite fans had passed on. I want to share with you some of my favorite memories of these two incredible men and a couple of other experiences that have really touched my heart.

I met Jake first, so I will talk about him. He was probably in his late 80's or 90's. He was often in his room with his wife and they would talk at each other all the time (I'm sure we've all met couples like that). :) Every time we came, he got so excited. He loved to talk and flirt with the girls. He always had the biggest grin on his face and he truly appreciated our music. I loved singing for him because he never wanted us to stop. He loved telling jokes and we loved to listen to them and laugh -not because the jokes were funny - but because he thought they were funny and he was old. So we laughed. He expected us every week. When we didn't show up, he was extremely disappointed and made sure we knew that the next week. It was nice to be missed. He too, will be missed.

The next humble man I want to talk about is Mike. When we met Mike, he had just had one leg amputated. He was in his 50's and had the most pure, humble spirit I think I've ever felt. He wanted to get to know each of us. He asked where we were from and what our names were. He had favorite hymns for us to sing. When we sang them, tears streamed down his face and he sang right along with us. We noticed that he had a guitar up against the wall and we asked him to play for us. He told us how awesome his hometeachers were because they bought the guitar for him to learn while he was there. He hadn't learned any songs yet. Luckily, one guy in our group, JJ, knew how to play really well and taught him a few chords. JJ asked Mike what songs he wanted to learn and over the next few weeks, every Sunday JJ gave a guitar lesson to Mike. The next time we saw Mike, his other leg was amputated. We came and sang and he told us that he wasn't able to go to church anymore and having us there made him feel like Heavenly Father still loved him. He cried and cried. He told us about his kids. His daughter was just about to go to her first prom. He always looked forward to our visits. I learned absolute humility from him. He was so humble and he cared about each of us. What a wonderful man. I feel so blessed to have known him.

Here is an experience I will never forget. We walked into one woman's room last Sunday and there was opera music blaring on her CD player. She was conducting the music and singing right along to it. When we tried to ask her questions, she stared off into space. We turned off the CD and started singing "Where Can I Turn For Peace?". Immediately she started sobbing and singing with us. We held her hands and kept singing a couple more hymns. As I looked around her room, there were pictures of her family and awards she had won and a picture with her and her husband with the President of the US. What was her life like?

I know this sounds cliche, but I really feel like when I go to sing to those people, it's more therapeutic for me than it is for them. I need that time to forget myself and think about other people. They have so much love. They have lived so much more life than me. What can I learn from them even for just a couple minutes a week? I have learned humility, enthusiasm, and how to feel.

"Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see ."

Corrie Ten Boom

Laughing Baby

This makes me smile every time I watch it. Enjoy!!!