Shazzamber

Valentine

2012-02-14T22:17:00.000-07:00

That One Day in February

2012-02-14T02:47:00.003-07:00

February 14.
Some call it Valentine's Day. (Namely every calendar.)
Some call it Singles Awareness Day. (Oh lame.)
I call it Eat Pie and Chocolate and Watch Chick Flicks Day. (Heck yeah.)

An Ode

2012-02-08T23:13:00.005-07:00

Music Major
Much Material
Many Meetings
Meager Meals
Music Memorization
Minor Melt-downs
Melodic Minor
Mixolydian Mode
Mozart Melodies
Music Music

M&Ms

Mighty Miracle

Wait, do I know you?

2012-02-01T21:12:00.002-07:00

This is hilarious. Those awkward moments... I did that the to one of the girls I visit teach on Sunday, and it was terribly embarrassing.

The Chamber of Secrets Looms Nearer

2012-01-26T00:45:00.007-07:00

I'm going to be a teacher when I grow up. It's kind of shocking how close I am to that nose dive! But the closer I get, (not too close. Still got a mission, don't forget) and the more I read and learn, the more nervous and uncomfortable and appalled and surprised and perplexed I become, particularly pertaining to the effects of No Child Left Behind, on both students and teachers. (See above picture.)

I read this piece written a teacher in Kansas as he discussed No Child Left Behind, and I thought it was quite interesting:

"What other profession is legally held to PERFECTION by 2014? Are police required to eliminate all crime? Are firefighters required to eliminate all fires? Are doctors required to cure all patients? Are lawyers required to win all cases? Are coaches required to win all games? Of course they aren’t.

"For no other profession do so many outsiders refuse to accept the realities of an imperfect world. Crime happens. Fire happens. Illness happens. As for lawyers and coaches, where there’s a winner there must also be a loser. People accept all these realities, until they apply to public education.

"If a poverty-stricken, drug-addled meth-cooker burns down his house, suffers third degree burns, and then goes to jail; we don’t blame the police, fire department, doctors, and defense attorneys for his predicament. But if that kid doesn’t graduate high school, it’s clearly the teacher’s fault."

There you go. Thanks to that lovely little act in 2002, children are getting left behind, and teachers are getting thrust into a pit of despair, with no hope of escape.

Kindermusik

2012-01-22T13:23:00.006-07:00

This is another Mommy Blog post. (Last advertised was Alexander's Amazing Adventures.) If I was a mom and I was writing about how amazingly intelligent and musical my children were, and how yours too could be the same, I would credit it to this great program that I'd put them through.

We're doing method reports for my piano pedagogy class, and I'm doing mine on Kindermusik. Oh my word. Genius! I love every bit of it.

This is what they say at the top of their website: “Kindermusik® is about kids, parents, and teachers—coming together and having a great time! It’s about helping you grow closer to your child. Enriching her environment and her development. Giving him a lifelong love of music and a foundation for learning.” Sounds pretty good to me.

This is cool: Psychologists, neuroscientists, and experts in early childhood development have demonstrated that music does more for children than bring them joy; it helps their brain cells make the connections needed for virtually every kind of intelligence, including the kinds that the right hippocampus assists in. Kindermusik's curriculum is built on that research.

That's awesome.

Want to know more? Go here to read all about it and SIGN UP TODAY!

Then you'll have kids just like mine. (Patient, loving, musical, of good report, praiseworthy, obedient, popular, and beautiful.)

Then and now: a glimpse of portions of the last twenty years

2012-01-15T12:16:00.009-07:00

Leen and me. Aren't we presh?

Leen and me. Aren't we presh?

Lug and me. Original, self-designed, classy, fashionable, and organic outfits.

Lug and me. Semi-original, self-designed outfits

Me, Lug, and Leen. Already showing out gratitude and admiration for the pioneers.

Lug, me, and Leen. It's kind of crazy how much we've matured over these twenty years!

California Rolls

2012-01-06T15:14:00.006-07:00

I'm in the Seattle airport, and I have a 5 hour layover. As I was sitting and intently surveying the highly captivating scene of airplanes ascending and descending outside the window, this song just came to me. May I add that I have a strong dislike of the original.

Greetings loved ones,
Lets take a culinary journey!

I know a place,
Where the sushi is really better!
Warm, sweet and spicy,
There must be something in the recipe!

You could travel the world,
But nothin' comes close,
To Sushi Sasabune*!
Once you there with u-us,
you'll be fallin' in love!
Oh oh oh ohhhhhhh!

California rolls, they're unforgettable,
Cucumber, crab, sesame and vinegar on top!
Avacado,rice
So good they'll melt in your mouth!
Oh oh oh ohhhhhhh!

California rolls, they're undeniable,
Fine, fresh, fierce,
They got it on lock!
North Shore represent, now put your hands up!
Oh oh oh ohhhhhhh!

You could travel the world,
But nothin' comes close,
To Sushi Sasabune*!
Once you there with u-us,
you'll be fallin' in love!
Oh oh oh ohhhhhhh!

Baked, Rolled, hot and ready,
Eat them up 'cause they're gettin' cold,
wild, wild, North Shore,
these are the rolls I love the most!
I mean the ones,
I mean like they're the ones,
Smell them,
Taste them,
Gobble them up...

California! California Rolls.
California! California Rolls.

*Sushi Sasabune is a sushi restaurant on Oahu

I'm Thankful!

2012-01-01T20:41:00.004-07:00

I made this for Thanksgiving, but I haven't published it until now because I didn't know how. And then I did it: I created a youtube account! I do believe congratulations are in order. This is 2012.

This is also looking back over 2011 and remembering all the great parts. (That would be the whole year, of course.) I'm thankful for my best year so far.

I forgot some quotes

2011-12-28T23:49:00.004-07:00

"Although LInd, you would have DIED-- I DISAGREED with someone. Yeah. Like I don't think I've ever disagreed with someone more in my life. I actually had an opinion!" -Lug

"Okay, I love us. Remember how we couldn't get over ourselves on our campout? I miss us." -Me or Lug

"I quoted Brian in my Relief Society lesson today." -Lug (obviously)

"Sometimes I'm tempted to change my facebook language back to English." "I have NEVER been tempted." -Lug and me

"Nice hair. Now you look like what's-her-head." "Medussa?" "No, Bellatrix." -Maybe me and Madison? I never do know.

"For me, finals week is a week of bliss." -Lug. [whoa there]

Happy birthday!

2011-12-23T23:37:00.003-07:00

I love birthdays. According to some recent survey, birthdays are the favorite holiday of this generation, and I can tell you why: they always include great food.

Well, that's why I like birthdays.

And that's why I love December-- we have two major birthday celebrations, and by major, I mean that the births we celebrate are those of significant enough individuals (and by that I mean literally the most significant individuals that ever walked the face of this earth) that the food is always incredible.

We get to have Joseph Smith's party on the 23rd, and Jesus's on the 25th. That's pretty awesome.

But they don't even get sung to! So this is a little arrangement I cooked up for them, but asked the Mo Tab and Gladys Knight and the audience and everyone to sing it to President Hinckley, because he's pretty awesome too. Please notice that this is probably one of the finest arrangements of this [horribly tedious, eternally flat, painfully dragging, uncomfortable] song you've ever heard. I don't love the Sopranos ending on the dominant, but I really do love the orchestra part, especially the cymbals. And of course I LOVE that he waves his cane at the end.

Fall Semester Quotes

2011-12-11T15:08:00.006-07:00

Well, this is the first quote sheet I've ever kept, so it's not as comprehensive as those of more seasoned quote sheet-keepers. But Dr. Bradshaw (my theory teacher) was too funny to not record on occasion, and that would be why a large portion of my quotes are from him. I know other funny things were said, and maybe I'll be better at this in the future.

"I'm here for feedback." "I have to sneeze!" "I guess you're allergic to feedback." -Dr. Bradshaw and Aria

"Repentance is awesome. I believe in repentance." -Dan [this was in a funny context]

"I was being blonde." "Sorry, that's not listed on the American Disabilities Act." -Hilary and Dr. Bradshaw

"That's weird." "It's weird that I"m not gonna marry a missionary that helped me build my house?" -Dan and Aria

"I've put you in a cage. You can go play on the swing over there, or play on the monkey bars, but I won't let you go outside the cage." "I put streamers on my cage!" -Dr. Bradshaw and Lauryn

"I got a Kam Buck. He gives out money with his face on it."-Lauryn

"I'm a sucker for Latin." -Jonah

"I smelled weed once. It smelled pretty bad." "WHAT? You smoked weed???" -Lauryn and Amber

"Okay, how can we near-fatally injure Lauryn without actually killing her?" -Amber and Madison [it's not what you think. Lauryn was totally in on it, and it was for her own good.]

"[Psych] is totally as clean as clean. It's as clean as if it was just starched with cleaning soap. It's that clean." -Amber

"Lauryn, since it's your birthday, we'll use your credit card." -Amber [It wasn't even her birthday.]

"I feel pretty, oh so pretty, so pretty and witty and gay!" "Is it okay to say gay?" "Yeah, as long as you don't say pretty and witty and homosexual." "I prefer to say pretty and witty and wide." "That's okay as long as you don't say pretty and witty and obese." -Jonah was involved. I don't remember other details

"I wanna cruise the castle! I mean cast the curse." -Madison

"She shared her grapes, and I shared my pencil, and then we were best friends." -Aria

"Ever since the Taco Bell incident, Madison's been strangely attracted to President Wheelwright." -Amber

"Thou shalt not covet Jenna's unnamed boyfriend." -Addison or Madison

"Who's the last person you'd ever expect to have a boyfriend?" "Amber." -Madison and Addison

"Prince Charming is a compilation of every good trait we've ever admired in a man." -Amber

"I delete facebook friends and phone contacts on a daily basis."-Madison

"Madison, if I ever need anything illegal done, you're my girl." -Amber

"Lind, I just want to talk to him. And whenever I'm with him I want to talk. And whenever I'm not with him, I want to be with him, talking." -Lug [Presh!]

"If I was a celebrity I would be a stalker. I'd want to see who was following me on Twitter." -Amber

"I'm so bored with the sacrament." [this was highly sarcastic]

"Wait, Lindsey Lohan ran the Honolulu marathon???" -Amber [Did you hear about how she was in Laie?]

"We should watch a movie today." "That would be dishonest of me. I would be cheating you of your education." "I love being cheated of my education!" -Amber and Dr. Bradshaw

"iii is kind of a weirdo." "It's friends with the Major-Major 4/2!" -Dr. Bradshaw and Lauryn

"Yes! Secondary Dominant! Christmas!" -Lauryn

"Caroline, you went to the ball? Who did you go with?" "Myself. I mean the Holy Ghost." -Amber and Caroline

"I can't believe you're ruining Jonah's first Pocahontas experience. You're a terrible friend." -Madison

"You know what's intense? Camping." -Lauryn [Think about that one.]

"I bought my dad an Aloha shirt and he took it to DI." "WHAT? You tell Mr. Blair that there is a whole class of disappointed theory students." -Amber and Dr. Bradshaw

"What the garbage?!" -Lauryn

"Pearl Harbor Day. 40 years now." -Amber [oh boy]

"If you gave us a sight-singing song in alto clef, I would probably cry." "I'm always looking to make people cry." -Amber and Dr. Bradshaw

"You know Bridezilla? This girl was like Missionary Girlfriend-zilla." -Aria

"Revel in the roundness of 6/4 time." -Dr. Bradshaw

"Do you guys need to step outside? You're welcome to if you need to resolve differences [about where you're going on your missions]." -Dr. Bradshaw to Amber and Lauryn

"My dad was actually killed by a clown who was conducting in 6/4 time." -Dr. Bradshaw. [Okay. This is king of all quotes I have ever written down. Holy cow. I have literally never heard anything more absurdly random in my life. I asked Dr. Bradshaw if writing in 6/4 time ran in the family, since I thought his dad had, and we were doing 6/4 rhythms. And then he said that. We nearly died.]

"Where do you go while you're singing?" "I like to pretend I'm in a big field. And you're all pumpkins." -Sis. Mooy and Amber C.

"That minor i is a hard pill to swallow in its quite pain. But swallow we must." -Dr. Bradshaw

"Rests separate the sheep from the goats rhythmically." -Dr. Bradshaw [this is a thinker quote]

"Arthur and the Bearenstein Bears are dumb now. They were cool when we were little and now they're dumb." -Lug [she was being serious]

"When I belt, I feel so good!" -Mari

"Too bad Ellis and Helen broke up." "Yeah, but I'm over it. It was a long time ago." -Amber and L or L (who said it?)

"You've never googled watch anything online free?" "I did with Arthur and The Bearenstein Bears." -Amber and Lug

"You can't stop the beat." -Ice

"I believe in 6/8 time." -Dan

"What did you play?" "Piano." "No, on the football team." -Hillary and Dr. Bradshaw

"Say 8! Say 8! Lauryn, do you know what I'm quoting?" "Phantom." "No! Brian Reagan!" -Amber and Lauryn

"You are so cool Ice." "I know." -Amber and Ice

"We're totally social! ... Just with each other." -Madison

"I'm so excited to be pregnant!" -Lauren

New Life Plan

2011-11-27T16:06:00.004-07:00

Well, it's been quite a while since I've had a post of any substance whatsoever. This was initially a courtesy to Lucy, who came out of the closet over the summer about her tendencies to not read my blog due to the high levels of difficulty presented by words on a computer screen. But I'm afraid that's over, at least for a little while. Sorry Lug.

I was going to post on Thanksgiving, because I have made the most wonderful slideshow of things I'm grateful for, but I can't figure out how to export it onto my blog. Still in progress, because I think it will be a pretty big hit.

Today's topic is my new life plan, and this is it:

1. Mission January 2013-July 2014
2. Graduate with BFA and Elementary teaching certificate (I'm feeling pretty good about being a music major) December 2014
3. [Insert marriage where applicable. Time subject to change.]
4. Teach elementary school in Provo, preferably 4th or 5th grade.
5. [Insert family where applicable. Include at least 5 children.]
6. Get into Sped Masters program at BYU; take night classes while teaching during the day.
7. Conduct research concerning the effects of music on children with special needs, specifically and especially neurotrauma.
8. Take my findings to a third-world country to help and teach children with those same problems, who are without the incredible technology and assets we have here in the United States. [Hopefully bring my family with me. Do other work to help these people.]
9. Write a book about my research and experiences. Maybe several books.
10. Continue to do work for Exceptional children and their families; hopefully assist in better communication from the children, possibly due to musical expression as replacement for potential lack of verbal expression. [I know what it feels like to not be able to communicate or make people understand what I'm trying to say, because that's how it is when I first come out of a seizure. It is extremely frustrating, and if someone were to be in a state of comprehension, without the ability to convey it, an alternate form of expression would be literally life-changing.]
11. Serve at least 3 missions with my husband.
12. Have lots of grandkids. [Yes, I know I have lots of control over that.]
13.Continue to travel and help children and others for the rest of my life.

So that's the plan. I'm open to changes, but this is the rough outline of what I hope will happen.

I'm thankful!

2011-11-25T11:44:00.001-07:00

Last year at this time...

2011-11-20T23:38:00.003-07:00

My Best Week So Far

This is the link to what I blogged this week a year ago. The week of November 19th, 2010 was honestly my best week up to that point in my young life. If someone where to say to him- or herself, "Man! I want to have my best week so far, but I just can't imagine what could happen to make it wonderful!" then this would be the week to examine. Seriously, read my chronicle and be inspired to create a week just like the amazing one I had.

New Life Quote

2011-11-03T16:27:00.004-06:00

"Your life is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds. If your life isn't awesome, you've been watering the weeds."

That's what I'm talking about!

Fantastic

2011-10-25T02:35:00.004-06:00

"Harry Potter is about confronting fears, finding inner strength and doing what is right in the face of adversity... Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend."

Best Satire Ever

2011-10-22T21:33:00.001-06:00

2011-10-21T17:07:00.000-06:00

Adextrohippocampul Cranium= I really don't have part of my right brain!

2011-10-14T15:28:00.005-06:00

So we know I don't have a right hippocampus, but there have only been a few instances in which that has made itself manifest. (One is trying to visualize my daddy's plans for the addition of our house.)

But I did this test, and it is extremely difficult for me to say the color instead of the word! Crazy! I takes almost 3 seconds for my pituitary gland to send the message to my auditory nerve!

This occasional manifestation is very interesting, as well as intriguing. I really don't have a section of my brain! (In other words, I really do have an adextrohippocampul cranium.)

Which is easier for you?

Gifts of Love

2011-10-09T20:00:00.005-06:00

This beautiful video reminds me of my hospital experiences in so many ways. I too had an immensely giving ward, not to mention an amazing family and dear friends.

As I watch this, and tears of course stream down my face, I am reminded of the countless prayers and fasts that were offered in my behalf, the loving visits, the incredibly comforting cards and messages, the service given to my family during that time...

And this reminds me of the work and service I need to give to children in situations like this, and of opportunities I have to do service now. It's amazing what a difference small acts of service can make. I can totally relate to the joy of that blanket or tiara Annie was given! Any gift of love is unmeasurable.

Steve Jobs

2011-10-05T22:26:00.008-06:00

I thought I'd make a short post/ sort of tribute to Steve Jobs, who died today.

And by tribute I mean that I'll say how much I love Apple, and also what an incredible creative genius this man was. I mean, think of it. Think how he changed the world (really) in such a COOL way! John Lasseter and Ed Catmull (awesomely creative dudes themselves) said,

"Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply 'make it great.' He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar’s DNA. Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time."

- John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer & Ed Catmull, President, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios

*watch this: special video

And speaking of temples...

2011-10-02T20:15:00.003-06:00

I love this!!!

Provo Scores!

2011-10-01T13:17:00.014-06:00

There are 3 amazing buildings in Provo: the temple, the library, and the tabernacle, and I have a slew of memories in each of them. I went into the temple for the first time on my 12th birthday with Lucy and Anny and my mom and dad. Since then, I've had times that I went every week, times times that I went with groups of friends or by myself, times I was constantly looking at my watch and timing each baptism to figure out how much longer I'd have to wait, and times I was able to listen to the Spirit and have some of the greatest experiences of my life.

However, one thing that stayed the same every time was the exceptionally long wait. I love being in the temple! I love the organ music that plays as I watch those sacred ordinances taking place, I love seeing a full (yes, FULL) room of kids dressed in white who are worthy to enter the temple of the Lord and do His work, and I love the Spirit that is there in His house. I don't love waiting, though.

This morning when President Monson announced our new temple, I gasped in surprise and excitement and joy, along with the audience in the Conference Center. We're getting a new temple in Provo! I then proceeded to cry for somewhat inexplicable reasons for the next 5 minutes or so. We're getting a new temple in Provo! We're getting a new temple in Provo!

The library is amazing. Remember the old library with all the stairs in front? I have memories of reading Junie B. Jones and Boxcar Children books on the floor while waiting for my mom. And then it closed, we were transferred to Orem for a while, and then our new and beautiful library opened. I've been to many receptions there, I played for Syd's wedding there, I watched the Timpview promenade, I've had study groups and personal homework parties, and many relaxing reading sessions. I love our beautiful library.

Memories of the Tabernacle abound as well. Years of Stake Conferences, for one thing. Back when Stake Conferences were long and boring and hard to listen to (we all know how wildly entertaining they are now...) I had been sitting for AGES, and had become restless and maybe not as quiet, if you know what I mean. If I'm remembering right, my mom asked me why I had been so noisy, and I responded, "If you knew how much I wanted to yell at the top of my lungs 'I AM SO BORED!!!', you would be proud." Oh, and the benches aren't exactly sofas either. But the stained glass is beautiful! I sang the Mozart Requium with Mac Wilberg, I watched Lauren solo with the Utah Symphony, I sat through several (very long) concerts, and I even heard President Monson speak there. This is a very special building, and it was heart-breaking when it burned down. The apprehension and speculation of what would happen were great, and this announcement is the absolute best-case scenario. We're getting a new temple in Provo!

Although I don't live in Provo anymore, it will always be my home. And now we're getting a new temple! I can't wait!

Alexander's Amazing Adventures

2011-09-25T22:06:00.010-06:00

*a very special treat awaits the reader who makes it to the end of this post. Trust me.*

Alexander's Amazing Adventures is a collection of stories about a young lad named Alexander, which teach a new value with each amazing adventure he goes on.

If this was a mom blog, I would write about how I used Alexander's Amazing Adventures to teach my children about the value of honesty, and because of it, none of them have ever told a single lie. Then we kept listening, and now they're perfect angels because of the way the stories changed our lives and taught each value so thoroughly. I feel like a very successful mother, and all the credit goes to the brilliant creators. Buy these tapes to have perfect children just like me!

Um, yeah. Can't make that claim quite yet.

But let's pretend like I am a mom, because I fully plan on using these fantastic tapes with my future children (who are the only thing I ever plan for). I'll spare the synopsis and raving reviews, so you'll just have to take my word for it, but I honestly (haha) think these stories (including the 11 I have yet to hear) would be an excellent teaching tool for children. (I am desperate to hear the others!!!) Those values include Honesty, Loyalty and Dependability, Respect, Love, Unselfishness and Sensitivity, Kindness and Friendliness, Courage, Peaceability, Self-reliance and Potential, Self-discipline and Moderation, Fidelity and Chastity, and Justice and Mercy.

These are some of the most amazing parts of the adventures:
1. Very clever storyline
2. Incredible voices (speaking voices)
3. Great message, obviously (made by LDS folks, no less)
4. Very good songs
5. Enjoyable!
6. Teach your children important life lessons and values, in a way that the whole family can enjoy and be highly inspired!

In case you aren't sold yet, here's my last word: Alexander's quest begins with the value Honesty, the foundation for all other values. Through music, drama, and sound effects, young Alex time travels from his schoolroom to the ancient country of Inlandia where he is the lost prince. There, guided by "The Lightkeeper" and his tortoise companion, Theo, he learns that honesty can save the day. Back in his classroom he finds that honesty works just as well in the real world. To listen to the remaining 11 adventures, sign in and register for the Alexander's Amazing Adventures program.

And as a special treat, I have included links to the Honesty tape!!!
Alexander side 1
Alexander side 2

Neville

2011-09-23T16:14:00.002-06:00

I take it back. Aragorn isn't the only one that can do facial hair. There are a select few others, as evidenced right here.

Current Members of the Blair Household

2011-09-16T22:11:00.008-06:00

Guess Who?

I Remember

2011-09-11T12:59:00.006-06:00

"We honor and remember the the nearly 3,000 men, women and children killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93, as well as the six people killed in the February 1993 World Trade Center bombing."
-Washington DC State Legislature Leaders Foundation

You know how old people used to always say, "Back in the good ole days..." "Back when I was a kid..." "I remember when..." and they were things like the Great Depression and World War 2 and times before electricity and such? Well, turns out that for me what seems "current" is actually history. Like, I swear Sept. 11 was like 3 years ago. But it was 10 years ago! And the '90s are no longer current either. Weird!

So now my "I remember when..." is I remember when I heard about the attack on the Twin Towers. I was in 4th grade, and my teacher Mr. Rencher gave us a very important talk about it, with personal connections due to his experiences in the Vietnam War. I will also never forget the recurring image of the Towers blowing up, shown over and over and over again. And watching live news of the families and friends of those in the buildings, as they waited anxiously to hear any news at all. Then seeing cemetery gatherings of tribute, commemoration, and extreme sorrow.

It affected the entire country, (I remember when airports were entirely different than they are now. Back in the good ole days we used to be able to meet people right outside the terminal. And we didn't have to hand over our entire lives and beings as we went through 'security'.) but individual lives even more. Imagine the family who lost a father, or a mother, or a brother. Maybe the newly married wife who would never see her husband again. It's interesting to think about how all the history we learn about is actually a collection of many personal histories. And that's what it's all about.

I will never forget, and I'll try to remember each year about the magnificent effect this event had on individual lives.

I know He lives!

2011-09-04T14:18:00.003-06:00

I had the opportunity to do the Primary singing time today. Dream calling? Possibly. Apparently they write a new Primary song each year for the primary program, so now they have several totally amazing songs that we never got to sing. One of them is "I Know That My Savior Loves Me", and I feel the Spirit each time I hear it, so of course I had them all warm up with it. The chorus shouts my personal testimony in such a beautifully perfect way. I know that my Savior loves me!

I'm quitting my Office job

2011-09-02T06:35:00.011-06:00

*This is long. So don't bother reading it if you don't have 3 minutes, or a listening ear for my personal triumph.

All growing up, I never watched TV for one simple reason: we didn't have one. Then I went to college, my friend Sara showed me an episode of the Office, I thought it was super funny, I got the 1-month free Netflix trial, and I was hooked. Suddenly, I had instant access to a delightfully relaxing and humorous form of entertainment. So of course I had to get my own Netfix account after the trial ended. ...
Michael Scott: World's Best Boss?

The Office was really funny. Really funny. I'm sure I can't appreciate it as much as someone like my dad, because I haven't actually worked in an office, but I know that's a big part of the humor. The whole "mockumentary" deal is what really got me. I could at least understand that they were making fun of reality TV, and doing it in a very expert sort of way.

Why is Kelly standing on a chair?

As the show went on, and the characters became more developed, and we grew to love Pam and Jim, hate Meredith and Angela, and groan at every single thing Michael and Dwight ever did or said, that became the real draw, because we knew the characters well enough to predict what they would do, and laugh at their occasional/ frequent stupidity/ absurdity. This is an example of how attached to the characters one can become. And that is why I loved the show so much: I knew the characters so well that it was just kind of enjoyable to watch whatever random and ridiculous things they did.

Pam and Jim: one of the greatest couples of all time.

Unfortunately, as may or may not be inevitable at this day in age, the dry humor wasn't enough to keep a wide enough audience, so drastic measures had to be taken. Of course the obvious answer would be to entertain the crazy viewers of our day, who require humor of a most distasteful range.

Blast.

My inner struggle can only be imagined. Ooh, that's pretty bad. Dwight! Agh! Don't be the moron that you are! Ahh! Look away! YES! Pam and Jim! Finally! Whoa. Meredith. Whoa. Andy is the best! I love Kevin! Ohhhh Michael. Oh wow. Hahahahahaha!

That's the way it went over. Cognitive dissonance in a major way.

And so I've come to a new resolve. And this is it:

"I love the Office and I think it's really funny. However, much of the humor is inappropriate, and it's gotten wrse as the show has gone on. I remain uncomfortable with that kind of humor, and to prevent further exposure, I deem it wise to entertain myself with alternate shows and/ or (preferably) entirely other forms of entertainment. I also add that the show has lost a huge amount of appeal with the absence of Michael, and also with the significantly less (if not complete loss of) interest with Pam and Jim. For all these reasons, and also for the sake of spending both my time and mental capacity in better ways, I end my consistent viewing of it with the exit of Michael Scott (aka Steve Carrell). I will allow myself to watch the future episode with none other than Josh Groban, and possibly a few of the old classics (Casino Night and Fun Run specifically) but this must happen."

Are you proud? That feels good.

Reflections on my Freshmen Year

2011-08-29T12:29:00.010-06:00

*if you zoom in on this picture, you'll note that the time is 1:52 a.m. Yes, this is a reflection on my freshmen year. Also, Lug, I say nice things about you in this, so you'd do well to read it.

SO ALL THE KIDS CAME BACK. And then some. I had lunch with Lucy and Aileen today, (well, rather, I watched them eat lunch) and in so doing, encountered about 800 freshmen skipping about.

Hey, welcome to Provo. Glad you could make it.

As I've watched them all drift in this week, I can sense their excitement, mixed with apprehension, uncertainty, possibly terror, and maybe shock. But honestly, college is awesome! They're going to love it. I remember the Christmas before I graduated from high school housed some very traumatic feelings for me. This is my last Christmas as a kid! My life is pretty much ending after this! I'm not ever gonna have any fun! This is it! But in truth, I was just getting off the ski lift! This past year's run had some intense moguls, a few patches of ice, and a couple of hidden jumps, but it was an awesome ride, and I can't wait to run it again!

I learned a lot about myself and the outside world. It's amazing what you can find when you leave Utah. It's also amazing how misunderstood my poor hometown is. (I may or may not be way too defensive of my beloved motherland that is Provo.) I had some fabulous classes, made a bunch of wonderful friends, realized that Lucy and Aileen are my best friends in the whole world, realized that I have the most wonderful family ever, wrote like a zillion papers, strengthened my left hippocampus... Yeah. It was a great year. Oh, and I live in Hawaii. Just thought I'd mention that. I'm also going on a mission in 16 months.

Black-Eyed Girl

2011-08-21T21:58:00.008-06:00

This is a video of the original, just so you can have it in your head.

Hey where did you go,
Back from the Mittons
Down in the Riverbottoms,
Ridin’ a new bike
Laughing and a biking hey, hey
Without a helmet.
In the Emergency Room with
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
My black eyed girl,
You my black eyed girl.

You were just biking
On Wednesday and so fast
Going down Univsersity
With dozens of cars moving past.
Standing in the intersection laughing,
Impervious to all traffic,
Slipping and sliding [not sloppy though]
Into that curb, it’s you
My black eyed girl,
You my black eyed girl.

Do you remember what your name is?
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da

So hard to find your way,
When you have no idea who you are.
I saw you just the other day,
My how your face has grown,
Cast your memory back there, Lug
Try to remember who you are
I’m not in Hawaii,
I’m in the hospital with you
My black eyed girl
You my black eyed girl

Do you remember anything about your past?
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da.

Kristen

2011-08-21T15:35:00.003-06:00

Eternity

2011-08-14T22:42:00.005-06:00

Today Aileen taught the lesson in Relief Society, and something crazy happened to me. I was able, for maybe the first time in my life, to begin to accept the idea that my plan for myself (which everyone knows) may just not work out, and the Plan of Happiness, which pertains to eternity, is a lot more important than anything I have scheduled for myself in the next decade or so.

In other words, as she talked about the eternal blessings of a Celestial marriage and family, I realized that, although I've thought there's nothing I'd rather do than go on a mission, and that of course remains my current plan and huge desire, there actually is something even more important than that. (I know that's hard to fathom.) As Sister Miller told us today, marriage is the pinnacle of the temple, and all the ordinances lead up to it. I like to tell myself that I'm only 19, and I have no maturity whatsoever, and marriage is preposterous, and that's way down the path, and I'm not even going to date anyone because I still have a mission, and I'm sick of hearing about marriage all the time, it's actually wonderfully and eternally crucial.

I'm not saying that I'm going to drop the mission and get married immediately or anything like unto that. No. I've just begun to allow my pride and close-mindedness fade to a slight degree (and it will continue to fade) as I continue to learn and mature and widen my view beyond 5 years from now. I want to go on a mission to prepare for a family, but I always sort of skip over the marriage part. Now I want to do everything I can to prepare for that too. And if that comes before other plans, so be it. It's all up to the Lord and His plan for my eternal progression.

First Application Essay

2011-08-13T00:17:00.006-06:00

So I guess that link didn't work. This is the second option, and again, I would appreciate it from the bottom of my heart if you'd read this. The prompt is: Explain your commitment to the teaching profession. Part of your response should address why you want to be a teacher. The other part of your response should address any related experiences you have had that exemplify your desire to teach.

This is my very first draft, so I know there's a lot that needs to happen. Sentence structure, flow, etc. Let me know what you think if you possibly could. I hope you read the story I posted just before this. So beautiful and inspiring!

I’ve always known that I wanted to be a teacher. Well, that’s not true. I went through my lawyer phase, my paleontologist/ archeologist phase, my graphic designer phase, my author/ editor phase, my Olympian phase, and of course my world- traveling professional gourmet food-tester phase. But as I think back, I realize that being a teacher is the only thing I ever really wanted to do. I remember playing School for hours and hours in my basement with my sisters and other friends, and even on my own with an imaginary class that would pay close attention and do everything I told them to. And now that I’m older, I can see that I’ve been happiest teaching others, and there is nothing I’d rather do.

I want to be a teacher because of the great influence each of mine had on me. The opportunity to pass on the wealth of knowledge and the gifts I’ve been given is one that I wouldn’t ever want to miss, and even one I feel I must take because of all I’ve been taught. I understand that it is in the early years of life that a child develops a sense of identity and perception of life, and I want to help them discover their own potential. My commitment to teaching is a commitment to unlock things rather than create them.

I’m also majoring in music, and that is because of the phenomenal music teachers I’ve had in my life, who helped me unlock the music within me, taught me everything I know about it, and gave me the tools to share these gifts. I’ve had the opportunity to pass them on with my piano students and children’s choirs I’ve helped with. I have a pedagogy emphasis because I have no desire to be a concert performer; I want to teach! The more children I’ve worked with, the more I realize that this is where I love the music the most, and this is where I’m the happiest. It’s so satisfying for me to see the progress each of them can make, and their own satisfaction when they master certain skills or pieces.

Mother Teresa said, “I’m just a little pencil in the hands of a God who is writing a love letter to the world.” I know that teaching is very closely connected to love, and is in many ways simply loving and guiding someone. I am committed to sharing this love that a child may not get anywhere else, and that is why I want to be a teacher.

When I grow up, I want to be a teacher.

2011-08-10T15:30:00.007-06:00

My Grandpa Blair tells this story, and it honestly exemplifies why I want to be a teacher. If I were able to make this difference for even one child, my mission as a teacher would be fulfilled.

Mary had grown up knowing that she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. She was born with a cleft palate and had to bear the jokes and stares of cruel children who teased her non-stop about her misshaped lip, crooked nose, and garbled speech.

With all the teasing, Mary grew up hating the fact that she was “different”. She was convinced that no one, outside her family, could ever love her … until she entered Mrs. Leonard’s class. Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, a round face, and shiny brown hair. While everyone in her class liked her, Mary came to love Mrs. Leonard.

In the 1950s, it was common for teachers to give their children an annual hearing test. However, in Mary’s case, in addition to her cleft palate, she was barely able to hear out of one ear. Determined not to let the other children have another “difference” to point out, she would cheat on the test each year. The “whisper test” was given by having a child walk to the classroom door, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger, and then repeat something which the teacher whispered. Mary turned her bad ear towards her teacher and pretended to cover her good ear. She knew that teachers would often say things like, “The sky is blue,” or “What color are your shoes?”

But not on that day. Surely, God put seven words in Mrs. Leonard’s mouth that changed Mary’s life forever. When the “Whisper test” came, Mary heard the words: “I wish you were my little girl.”

The Other Chosen One

2011-07-31T10:10:00.014-06:00

"I think I am right in saying, my dear, that you were born in midwinter?" "No, I was born in July."

I want to take this time to wish Harry, born at the end of July and not in midwinter, a very happy birthday. Interestingly enough, another boy was also born at the end of July, and that becomes surprisingly significant as time goes on. His name is Neville Longbottom, and his birthday was yesterday.

Pertaining to the significance of the boys' nearly-shared birthday, and a certain prophecy, Dumbledore says, " 'The odd thing is, Harry, that it may not have meant you at all. Sybil’s prophecy could have applied to two wizard boys, born at the end of July that year, both of whom had parents in the Order of the Phoenix, both sets of parents having narrowly escaped Voldemort three times. One, of course was you. The other was Neville Longbottom.”

Neville Longbottom: one of the studliest fictional heros of all time. As Harry discovers in The Order of the Phoenix, Neville may have just as easily been chosen as he, had it not been for the spying and serpentine Severus Snape. (This is a topic for another day.)

"As Harry took off his glasses and climbed into his four-poster, he imagined how it must feel to have parents still living but unable to recognize you. He often got sympathy from strangers for being an orphan, but as he listened to Neville's snores, he thought that Neville deserved it more than he did."

Although Neville starts out at Hogwarts as an insecure and less-talented student, he grows into an intelligent and fearless wizard the older and more experienced he becomes, eventually leading Dumbledore's Army, and courageously and heroically slaughtering a horcrux with the sword of Gryffindor. Yeah. And as he says to Malfoy, "I'm worth 12 of you, Malfoy!" Too true.

Neville, outshone by Harry and most all other students, had the courage and bravery only a true Gryffindor could have, as revealed in The Deathly Hallows. The progression he makes throughout the years is due more to his own hard work and determination than anything else.

"He. . . worked relentlessly on every new jinx and countercurse Harry taught them, his plump face screwed up in concentration, apparently indifferent to injuries or accidents, working harder than anyone else in the room. He was improving so fast it was unnerving and when Harry taught them the Shield Charm, a means of deflecting minor jinxes so that they rebounded upon the attacker, only Hermione mastered the charm faster than Neville"

In comparison to Harry, he shared a birthday at the end of July, as well as parents who had "thrice defied Lord Voldemort". However, because Voldemort didn't choose him, he didn't share the fame, responsibility, or history. What if he had been chosen? I believe that Neville could have withstood Voldemort in the same way that Harry had, because I believe that he had equal courage, bravery, and even love, although it took longer to be realized since it wasn't forced upon him. I say Neville lives up to the position of the Chosen One in Harry's absence, and serves just as valiantly in an alternate position. (I don't mean this to demean or belittle Harry in any way. He absolutely lived up to the destiny Lord Voldemort set for him, and showed immense courage, bravery, and pure love.)

Lord Voldemort: "You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom."
Neville: "I'll join you when hell freezes over!"

It's almost here!!!!!

2011-07-02T19:56:00.001-06:00

The True Story of the Adextrohippocampul Cranium

2011-06-22T12:58:00.011-06:00

Aloha! I have an exciting announcement to make today: This day, precisely 364 days ago, I was put under anesthesia and lost my right hippocampus to brain surgery. (Thus the adextrohippocampul cranium. That means "without the right hippocampus in the brain". I coined the term myself.) In consequence, I continue to have a poor sense of direction, and sometimes I'm more forgetful than other times. But I also haven't had a single seizure in over a year, which is huge for me!!!!!

I had countless prayers offered in my behalf, much fasting, several powerful priesthood blessings, and an almost incomprehensible amount of love and support. I know without question that the Lord had His hand in this entire process, and this recovery, which was 3 weeks faster than anticipated, was a miracle. I am so grateful to have been blessed with this experience-- the experience of growing up with epilepsy, and of having and recovering from a successful surgery.

In commemoration of this special day, we went up to Primary Children's Hospital. We ate at the Rainbow Cafe, where everyone ate when they came up to visit me. (Let me add that I still sometimes get tears in my eyes when I think about the love and support I've had my entire life with my seizures and everything, as well as during the period I spent in the hospital.) I also went up to the Neural Trauma Unit where I stayed, and my mom showed me the rooms I'd been in. Wow. I felt so strongly that I need to make some contribution to children with neural trauma, be it teaching, speaking, donating, or all of the above. I know I've been given this experience for a reason, and I need to start giving back. This is coming from a girl who doesn't have a right hippocampus. ;)

Links to related posts:
Scarred for Life (Sweet pictures of my scar. And a few others)
I Stand All Amazed (An essay I wrote about the experience and some things I learned from it)
To the Right (A song I wrote to my late right hippocampus)
I'm Losing my Mind-- Literally (And explanation I wrote early on about my surgery and stuff)
Hippocampus (Pictures of what a hippoampus may or may not look like)

My Dad

2011-06-19T09:41:00.005-06:00

There's no man in town as admired as you
You're ev'ryone's favorite guy
Ev'ryone's awed and inspired by you
And it's not very hard to see why

No one's slick as my dad
No one's quick as my dad
For there's no man in town half as manly
Perfect, a pure paragon!
You can ask any Tom, Dick or Stanley
And they'll tell you whose team they prefer to be on

My what a guy, that Jim Blair!
Give five "hurrahs!"
Give twelve "hip-hips!"
My dad is the best
And the rest is all drips ;)

No one grills like my dad
Has cool skills like my dad
No one reads like my dad
Delegates and leads like my dad
Oh, ahhh, wow!
My what a guy, that Jim Blair!

No one talks to folks (old, young, very young, total strangers, etc.) like my dad
Makes great jokes like my dad
Then goes hiking and biking with blokes, like my dad
My what a guy,
My dad!

My daddy is one of the friendliest people I know, and an incredibly example to me. He's taught me how to work hard and play hard. He's taken me hiking, biking, swimming, ice fishing, camping, skiing, to India and Nepal, to the temple, all over everywhere to do service, to his office, to the hospital to visit Grandpa Blair, to Peter Breinholt and other concerts, almost to a U2 concert, to Boston, to New York, to Hawaii, to many daddy-daughter activities, to Pixar opening night showings, to the cabin, to the Sky Club, and so many more places.

He's also taught me to love the scriptures, to have an attitude of gratitude, to show love and respect, to be dedicated, to share my talents with others, to be kind to everyone, to be accepting, to be a leader, but to let others also do their part... And sooooo much more. I know he's changed hundreds of lives, as a bishop, young mens president, business man, brother, friend, etc. I love my daddy!

And it was kind of hard to write this song, because my daddy and Gaston don't have anything in common except that everyone wants to be like both of them. So that's why the words are so choppy. Just sayin.

My Best 7 Weeks So Far

2011-06-06T17:26:00.012-06:00

There's something to be said for spending 6 weeks (make that 10 months) in Paradise. There's also something to be said for going to a great school, taking fantastic classes, and learning a lot. But I don't think enough can be said for going to school in Paradise, taking great classes, and having 7 best friends to spend nearly every waking hour of every day with. (You'd be surprised how many waking hours there can be out of 24.) I just had the happiest 6 weeks of my life so far because I had my Ohana in Hawaii.

"Yeah, but..." -Addison

SUNDAYS were always fabulous. We all had church at different times, so we wouldn't meet up until lunch. But once we did, the fun never stopped until we got kicked out of the lounge. Our Sunday activities included... eating (always for a very long time), going to the Visitors Center to watch the Joseph Smith movie or Mormon Messages, going to the temple grounds, watching Conference Talks or MoTab performances, watching church movies, playing games, just talking. We spent so much time just talking! We rarely planned anything or went anywhere exciting, but we always had a blast just sitting in the Hale 5 lounge together.

"Definitely!" -Ben

Our JAM SESSIONS were awesome. First of all, Addison is a very famous LDS musician and he can ear play pretty much anything, not to mention make a beautiful arrangement out of any hymn. Then Lauryn is Miss Musician I-don't-know-how-you-got-so-ridiculously-talented! She plays the flute, the piano, the cello, and sings like an angel. Tessie also plays the flute, and was in fact in the Davis marching band, of which I happen to know if a very good band, meaning that Tessie is very good. She also went on some European music tour, which further confirms her excellent musicianship. Ben has a ton of sheet music downloaded on his ipad, providing us with lots and lots of options, and many hours of singing and playing. He also has a harmonica which he likes to pull out on occasion. And I also play the piano. We had so much fun making music together!

"Interesting" -Ben

We had several ESCAPADES INTO TOWN this term. One really fun trip we went to Cheesecake Factory. Mmmmm! That same trip, we went to Payless and somehow got Addison to try some high heels on. Beautiful. We also did this fantastic cancer fundraiser called RELAY FOR LIFE. We were scheduled for like 2 in the morning, so that automatically means fun and crazy. I must say that we were totally the life of the party. They asked us to do kick boxing for one thing. Pretty much, that was just a super fun night/ morning. Sleep just didn't ever happen. Oh, and MEALS were some of our finest hours. And I really do mean hours. This is just another example of how we could just sit and talk and love every minute of it. We also had fun playing in the GAME ROOM where Tessie works. But I'm still one of the world's worst bowlers. ;)

"This is what I'm most excited for in marriage..." -Ben

"I always assume everyone shares my opinion, because my opinion is usually right." -Madison

"I like your face. It looks good on your head."

And one of our funnest times ever (in my opinion) was our LATE NIGHT RUN. Sooo many memories there! This included a good run down on the beach and then back up to the temple, running around a certain car parked outside the temple, playing leap frog and having an ab workout on the field next to the temple, getting soaked to the skin by a sudden rain storm, catching frogs, and just having a great time. We also did a beach/ park clean-up SERVICE PROJECT together. And played at WAIMEA. And went to all the FIRESIDES and DEVOTIONALS.

"I ACT old!"

I love my Ohana in Hawaii! I'm never going to forget this amazing Spring Term. Chris and Azriel are leaving for DC and Long Beach for 2 years, and Addison will probably be getting married soon ;), and I'm going on my mission in a year and a half, and Tessie is going to Provo, but none of that makes this term any less magical.

Just some Reminders...

2011-05-29T18:19:00.004-06:00

Cherries hurt you.
We all have work, don't be a jerk! Put your shoulder to the wheel!
I have been given an earthly home, with parents kind of weird.

A Typical Conversation at BYU Hawaii

2011-05-18T03:31:00.002-06:00

So I just got this idea to post a typical conversation at BYU Hawaii. And this is a one-sided conversation because I thought that would be a lot easier. If anyone likes it enough, they could consider doing the same thing on their own blog.

1. Hey, I don't think I've met you before. I mean, I see you everyday (along with everyone else), but I don't think we've ever been formally introduced. In other words, what's your name?
2. Sorry, say that again?
3. Oh wow. Um, could you spell that for me?
4. That's such a nice name! I'm Amber
5. So, where are you from?
6. Dang, that's really cool! So what brought you here?
7. No way! When did you join the church?
8. Alright! That's fantastic!
9. So, what's your major?
10. Accounting? I guess that means you're really smart, yeah?/ ICS? That's great! This is the perfect place for you to be!
11. Well, it was really nice to meet you! I'm sure I'll see you around every day from now on, and I'll certainly smile and say hi.

On Philosophy...

2011-05-16T03:29:00.005-06:00

This term, I'm taking a Western Cultures and Humanities class, and then second half of the D&C. Both are great classes with incredible teachers. The coolest thing is how well they fit together. I just finished reading Plato's Republic and the Apology of Socrates and a bunch of other philosophy (so interesting!), and I'm amazed at how well the D&C answers so many of the questions these philosophers-- Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, and pretty much the entire human race since the Fall-- have been asking.

Get this-- There was this boy named Joseph Smith. He was a poor farm boy, and he wasn't really able to go to school. But despite his lack of schooling, he was a very thoughtful boy, and became interested in the great wonders of the cosmos, including the meaning of life and the purpose and nature of our existence. So, being the thoughtful boy that he was, he decided to take his answers to God. And guess what? He came back with absolutely no one else, as educated as they were, ever had. He had the answers! Directly from the Father. Oh, and did I mention he was 14 at the time?

And then it goes further. As he grew older, his wisdom increased, and he began asking more and more questions. (Enough to fill an entire book. We like to call it the Doctrine and Covenants.) For example, D&C 131:7-8 answers literally all the questions of the nature of God and our existence. Or see D&C 101:37 for enlightenment on On the Soul by Aristotle.

Not only does this help us make more sense of life, it really strengthens my testimony of the prophet Joseph. I absolutely know (through the Spirit, not just scientific evidences) that Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to him and restored the true and living gospel on the earth today.

And I'm gonna be able to share that in 16 short months!

Happy Mothers Day!

2011-05-08T20:05:00.010-06:00

Today I've been thinking about my Mama... And these are some thoughts I've had:

1. My mama is probably the closest to the Spirit it is possible to be on this earth if you aren't the prophet. And you know that scripture in Alma (Alma 56: 47-48) when he talks about the Stripling Warriors and how their moms had taught them? Yeah. I could never doubt that my Mama knew it, because she is a living example of a Christ-centered life and bears her testimony through all her actions. In fact, I think this scripture is a perfect description of her. So much so that I'm going to write it:

Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

2. As an education major, I'm learning a lot about teaching strategies and the most effective and helpful ways to teach, and I'm realizing what a good teacher and example my mama was/ is to me. I want to be a teacher/ mom like her someday.
3. I can't even express how supportive she was during my surgery and recovery. First of all, she stayed in the hospital with me the entire time, which really means more than I can say. Although I wasn't awake or conscious for a lot of it, she was there, sleeping on a chair and taking care of me.
4. She also made covers for my ice bags that matched my pajamas, and she froze all the ice I needed and brought it to me at all hours of the day or night.
5. And all those hours of driving to and from Timpview, for seminary and cross-country, and all the other things that happened... She was so supportive of everything we did-- concerts and races and everything else. That meant a lot.
6. My mama keeps the fridge stocked with at least 5 gallons of ice cream at all times.
7. Packages. She understands what a big deal it is for me to get a package in the mail, and because of that, she sends them regularly. One time I called her and told her I was hungry. Soon thereafter I got a huge package with enough food to last a whole semester. Even in Hawaii she takes good care of me! Also, when she and my daddy dropped me off here in the Fall, they left me with a whole box of wrapped presents to unwrap each night for a month. I can't even express how comforting that was.
8. I didn't really fully appreciate her cooking until I left for college. Mmmm my mama can cook! I especially miss the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie dough we used to have on Sundays. And I remember that she used to always make after-school snacks for us. That was so great! I want to do that for my kids! That's the deal-- my mama is the perfect example of the mom I want to be someday.

And there's so much more! I can guarantee that I'll come back to this post and add more the more I think about my wonderful mama. THANK YOU MAMA! I love you!

As long as I'm thinking about mothers, I thought I should honor the other "moms" in my life. Because no one could raise a kid like me alone.

(Some people just don't have enough pictures on facebook!)

Now it's Official!

2011-04-30T01:41:00.002-06:00

Can you tell what this is? It's my academic plan for graduating. And can you tell what is scheduled IN PRINT at the bottom? That's right. Amber Blair has officially scheduled the mission into her life. Yep.

Easter

2011-04-24T23:06:00.006-06:00

Today is my best day so far.

I've tried to dedicate as much of this day as I can to thinking about the Savior and His life and all that He's done for me, which should of course be a constant thing. But I tried extra hard today, and that's why it's been my best day so far. I was able to have a really excellent scripture study, wherein I studied the different accounts of the Atonement and Resurrection, as found in Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24, and john 18-20. I also studied The Living Christ, which bore powerful testimony to me today of the life of Christ.

The interesting thing about today is that the more I studied and learned about His life and what happened that week, the more my love and appreciation grew. It's hard to imagine how love can grow so much in one day, but there more I learned, the more I understood, and the greater love I had. I was absolutely amazed at Matthew 26:45, after His apostles keep falling asleep when He needs them most. He says to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest; behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed to the sinners." What complete forgiveness and compassion! And He knows that He's already been betrayed by one of His closest friends.

This is a song by Kenneth Cope about the life of Christ and what we need to do because of what He did. I totally cry ever time I listen to it, but it was perfect to watch right after reading the scriptural accounts. That's what I've gained today: a greater desire to do what's right because of what my Savior has done for me.

It's because of this that today is my best day so far. I still can hardly comprehend the Atonement, and I know I won't ever be able to fully understand it, but I do understand that He did it because He loves us. As it says in the new Primary song that I love, I know He lives! I will follow faithfully. My heart I give to Him. I know that my Savior loves me! And as the apostles say at the end of The Living Christ, God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

2011-04-14T21:22:00.001-06:00

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others;
for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness;
and for poise, walk with the knowledge that
you are never alone."
-Audrey Hepburn

College

2011-04-08T00:27:00.002-06:00

I just evaporated, and now I've reached the SUN! That period of precipitation was rough, and the time I almost drowned in the tempestuous ocean was a bit of a scare, but the cycle continues, and I have a bright future. I anticipate the time of condensation, and I do know that rain/ snow/ other precipitation is ahead, but I say that tsunamis are more exciting than many other natural disasters.

I'm Finally Done!

2011-04-03T06:16:00.005-06:00

Exceptional Children

This is the link to the project I've been working on all semester for my Special Ed class. Whew! What a beast! I pretty much sold my soul and several hours of sleep for it. (When I say several, I mean SEVERAL.) So go ahead and view it and learn what you can. I may still edit it, but at least it's done! It should be really educational. I know I learned a lot from it.

So interesting!

2011-03-28T02:40:00.002-06:00

My Special Ed class is one of the best classes I've ever taken, and I'm really starting to think about that. I'm going to write more about that later, but for now, I'm amazed at what kids have to go through. This is a really fantastic video, and I'm putting it one the Exceptional Children website I'm building.

Then Sings My Soul

2011-03-13T23:29:00.004-06:00

Music has always been a language of the Spirit for me. When I think of the times I've felt the Spirit the most, music is almost always involved.

The hymns speak to me as few other things can. One of the greatest experiences of my life so far was singing in the General Young Women broadcast. The songs we sang-- I Stand All Amazed, I Am a Child of God, If the Savior Stood Beside Me, (THIS IS US!!!!!!!) and As Zion's Youth in Latter Days (US AGAIN! I'm in this!), remain some of the most inspiring, spiritually uplifting, powerful parts of the building and strengthening of my testimony. The words to those and other hymns and Primary songs have come to my mind many times when I have needed them, and have touched, guided, comforted, and inspired me in ways nothing else could.

Music also really brings people together. Some of my happiest memories are when I've been making music. MOAG (sooo many memories there), playing duets with Lucy, singing with Kristen, A Capella, Madrigals, other school choirs, singing with the Young Women, (remember that time at camp when we sang for like 3 hours? Or Singing Trees? Or singing at our Young Womanhood recognition? haha) jazz band, playing with Joe, jamming with Sophie, playing with Lauren... Actually, happy or not, music is involved in many of my most memorable experiences. Solo and ensemble, certain track workouts, hours and hours and hours of practicing and lessons and master classes... And now some of my best college memories so far involve music! Each of my music teachers has been immensely influential in my life, and I'm amazed at how many lives we can touch through this universal language.

I think we all have music in ours hearts, which is why it speaks to everyone. That's why there is so much out there, and that's why we can feel it in so many ways. The soundtrack of each of our lives, which we are all composing together, showcases every genre, adding relatability to a new audience with each new scene. It is sometimes a full orchestra, sometimes a small a cappella group, sometimes a duet, and sometimes featuring a soloist. But it's always under the direction of the great virtuoso master Conductor. Sometimes it gets out of tune, and the rhythms can sometimes get muddy, but our Conductor never misses a beat, and we can always catch Him if we listen. It's during those times that He's trying to make eye contact with us and help us find the right measure. It's hard not to rush through some passages, and sometimes it feels like the song is dragging so much it's never going to end! But the exciting thing is, with every new experience we have, a new flavor is added to the score and the music becomes richer. I'm excited to hear mine played back to me someday, and see what riffs I borrowed, and see if any of my themes were shared. All I know is that the times I'm following the Conductor the closest will be the best parts.

Wow. That metaphor sort of just took off. :) This is a list of some of the most beautiful songs in the world. I decided on this genre for now because that's what fits my mood. Tomorrow morning I'll probably be feeling a more "get up and go conquer Monday morning!", which involves Chariots of Fire. I hope my soundtrack has something like that in it. There are way way WAAAAY more beautiful songs out there, and they're beautiful in so many other ways. But these are 10 that I especially love, in no particular order, and with no particularly fine youtube videos. Just good songs.

1. Into the West
2. In Dreams (Lord of the Rings)
3. Gabriel's Oboe
4. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, 18th variation
5. All of the Rigoletto soundtrack
6. Theme from Rachmaninov's 2nd concerto
7. Nessun Dorma
8. Pie Jesu
9. Remember When it Rained, Josh Groban
10. The Night it Had to End

As You Wish

2011-02-27T20:04:00.003-07:00

Well, we've reached the last day of February. This has been very fun for me, and I hope some enjoyment has been found through these love sequences I've gathered from the realms of youtube. (Which, by the way, is obnoxiously starting to crack down on copyright laws. Of all things!)

I've saved this for the end, because I absolutely adore Buttercup and Westley and I think this is one of the most romantic moments of all film history. The first portion of the clip is just amazing of course, and then the second half shows perfect devoiton. (haha I know that sounds cheesy) Pretty much I just love The Princess Bride.

Joseph and Emma

2011-02-27T11:57:00.002-07:00

I think the love story of Joseph and Emma is beautiful. Joseph is the father of our dispensation, the founder of our church, the translator of the Book of Mormon, and the most well-known and influential man in our church's history (obviously). But he and Emma have a normal and wonderful story, and I think it exemplifies a relationship of true love and total devotion, first to the Lord, and then to each other. Both Emma and Joseph were amazingly strong, and totally and completely dedicated to the Lord.

Your Song

2011-02-27T00:46:00.002-07:00

This may or may not be the cutest song ever written. Or at least in the top 10. And then put with Disney... gotta love it.

Enchanted

2011-02-26T02:13:00.000-07:00

Love from the Islands

2011-02-24T20:01:00.002-07:00

Guess what? I met the guys who plays Mahana's dad! I even played for him when he sang Aloha O'e.

A Whole New World

2011-02-23T15:41:00.002-07:00

This would be very romantic.

If you want to get a girl, sing to her!

2011-02-22T21:06:00.001-07:00

Sign me up for the next war!

2011-02-21T19:13:00.001-07:00

Love in the Scriptures

2011-02-20T16:01:00.003-07:00

I was thinking about what I wanted to post today, and I realized that the scriptures are full of beautiful love stories.

For example, Jacob and Rachel. I found am AMAZING retelling of their story here. I strongly recommend it. ;) I also love the story of Isaac and Rebekah. I imagine Nephi and his wife had a great relationship, and I'm sure Lehi and Sariah did as well. Oh, and Ruth's story is beautiful. I'm probably missing some really good ones, but I think these ones are wonderful.

Love this!

2011-02-19T19:07:00.001-07:00

Little Rascals

More Love

2011-02-18T22:06:00.000-07:00

This is classic!

The Celebration Continues!

2011-02-18T00:06:00.002-07:00

Okay. LOVE this scene. Presh? Yes! Plus artistic, plus AMAZING music... Yeah. Gotta love it.

The holiday continues...

2011-02-16T15:36:00.004-07:00

Well, it's still the week of Valentines Day, so I've decided to dedicate this entire week to Valentines Day blog posts. By week I might mean month. There are 28 days in February. Today's theme is a few of my favorite proposals, two for starters. This is only the first installment. Please don't judge.

Will you be my Valentine?

2011-02-15T00:46:00.002-07:00

Aloha!

2011-02-13T15:54:00.004-07:00

Today I spoke in church, and I thought I might as well publish my talk. I know it's long, so I understand if you only read the first paragraph. But I thought a lot about it, and it was very helpful for me to write.

Brothers and Sisters, Aloha. My name is Amber Blair, I’m from Provo, and I’m majoring in Elementary Education and Piano Performance. Now that we have the fabulous True to the Faith book, the bishopric has given us free reign to choose whatever topic we want. So I was thinking about what I wanted to talk about, and I remembered that tomorrow is Valentines Day, so I thought it would be fitting to talk about love. I know that topic is both super broad, and way way overused, especially in a college setting where everyone tries to talk to us about the important of dating and marriage and that is the most important thing in our lives right now. But I don’t want to talk about romantic love. For one thing, I’m totally unqualified to even touch on it—I’m a freshmen, and I’m planning on a mission, so nothing there.

The love I want to talk about pertains to what I said when I first stood up here. I’m sure you can all remember what I said, because we hear the phrase I used probably multiple times a day, especially on Sundays. Brothers and Sisters, Aloha. I’ve thought a lot about what that means, because I know that it’s a lot more than a greeting/ way to start a talk. I did some research on it, and these are my findings.

It is used as a greeting, farewell, and expression of love. But even more than that, it is a way of life. I learned that it can be called the Spirit of Aloha, or the way of Aloha. A Hawaiian breakdown is
alo, 1. sharing 2. in the present
oha, joyous affection, joy
ha, life energy, life, breath
This is translated literally as The joyful sharing of life energy in the present” or "Joyfully sharing life".

An English translation of one of the early island teachings is Aloha is being a part of all, and all being a part of me. When there is pain - it is my pain. When there is joy - it is also mine. I respect all that is as part of the Creator and part of me. I will not willfully harm anyone or anything. When food is needed I will take only my need and explain why it is being taken. The earth, the sky, and the sea are mine to care for, to cherish and to protect. Isn’t that fabulous?

An English translation of one of Christ’s teachings, given to us by John, is an abridgment of that Aloha Doctrine. It is A New commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another. That’s Aloha: Christ-like love. He goes one to say that By this shall men know ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another. Every time we use that greeting, we mean that we are disciples of Christ and want to do as He did and love as He loved.

So how can we live the way of Aloha, or live as a disciple of Christ? True to the Faith says that we manifest our love for Heavenly Father by keeping his commandments and serving His children. This past summer, I had the best experience in my life so far. I had a big surgery in June, and I was shown more love than I could ever imagine would be possible. Countless prayers were offered in my behalf, I was given powerful priesthood blessings, I got dozens of cards and flowers, and multiple expressions of love in many other ways.

For one thing, my mom stayed with me my whole hospital stay, which so comforting and helpful. I also had many other visitors in the hospital after I was more conscious and able to see people. During my entire recovery, both in the hospital and at home, my friend Lucy visited me every single day. After I got home, I couldn’t get out of bed, or even really talk or open my eyes for a while. But my sisters, my mom, my dad, and my uncle each read an entire book to me! That meant so much. So many people told me they were praying and fasting, and I felt their love and the love of the Savior more than I ever had in my whole life.

Because of this experience, I now know ways to show love to others. I learned the importance of consistency, and the significance of even the smallest acts of service and love and kindness. Jesus went about doing good and showing love everywhere He went. Many people only met Him once, and that one time made the biggest difference. The love He showed to Jarius’s daughter, to Lazarus, to the 10 lepers, and to literally everyone else He came in contact with, totally changed their lives. And I know as we take the time to follow His example as a disciple and show love to others, we can also change lives.

The thing about Christ’s love, is that it is so simple. It was so special for Mary when He called her by name after He was resurrected. And Imagine how much it meant to the Nephites that He would take the extra time to stay and bless them and let them touch Him. He didn’t have to. But He said, and I think this is one of the most beautiful passages of all scripture, Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you. Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have you any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring the hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy. WOW. That is love in its purest form, and as simple and kind as it was, it was vastly life-changing and significant for everyone that was there.

We can also make that difference by small and simple acts of kindness. We can learn from my sweet roommate Kyoko , who sometimes straightens up and vacuums our room—even when it’s not White Glove. ☺ Other things like giving sincere compliments, thanking our teachers, smiling, calling our families, or just taking time to talk to a friend who needs someone, are all small things that can make a big difference. I memorized a poem a long time ago that has helped me remember the importance of this. It goes, I have oft wept at night for the shortness of sight that to somebody’s need made me blind. But I never have yet felt a twinge of regret for being a little too kind.

I know that by living as a disciple of Christ and showing love, we can make a big difference in the lives of everyone we interact with. President Eyering said, "Love is the motivating principle by which the Lord leads us along the way towards becoming like Him, our perfect example. Our way of life, hour by hour, must be filled with the love of God and love for others."

So I hope from now on, whenever we say Aloha, we can recommit to living a life of love and service. I know that our Savior lives, and that He lived a perfect life of that same love and service.

Amazing Grace

2011-02-06T23:27:00.006-07:00

These are just some of my Sunday thoughts...

Plus side note: If you look at this blog and marvel at its great length, you will more than likely give it up for a bad job. But if you make it to the end, a pleasant surprise awaits. Go ahead and read the whole thing--it's not even that long-- and you will not regret it. I promise

Grace is one of my very favorite doctrines. I feel like it's not talked about very much in our church, and I'm not certain why. Perhaps because we aren't as concerned with where people are going when they die. We know about spirit prison and paradise and the judgment and everything. Other churches stress things like you're going to hell! Or being “saved”. We are more concerned about coming unto Christ and being perfected in Him. But our church aside, I think the whole world needs to take this doctrine to heart, and show that Amazing Grace to others, just as they hope Christ will show to them.

Grace is “an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.” That last part is key. We must do all we can. I feel that that may be a common misconception with this doctrine. Many may justify their actions in the hopes of the “saving grace of the Lord.” Yes, it is saving grace. But we must do all we possibly can in order for the saving grace to work. “Grace cannot suffice without total effort on the part of the recipient.”

This has everything to do with my salvation. If I want to be “saved”, I must do my part. The Atonement is our saving grace, and if we accept Christ and His atonement, then we can be “saved.”

Have you ever heard a song that you've listened to and sung all your life, and then suddenly realized that you didn't even know the words? I experienced that with this beautiful song the other day. I can really sing the words, but for some reason, I hadn't ever taken the time to think about them. This is actually the case with many songs for me, hymns and others. I'm trying to pay better attention to the words of songs, because I know there is so much that I'm missing out on. This particular song is amazing, both in message and quality. This man truly has a spectacular voice.

Cool: noun, Spencer Ryan Hall

2011-01-30T16:08:00.006-07:00

My Uncle Spencer is probably the coolest person I know. I shall try to explain.

I really don't even know where to start. Most recently, he is both my computer tech support man, and my writing tutor. Pretty much, I think he knows everything there is to know about everything, and that's not even an exaggeration. I can't think of a time he hasn't been able to answer a question or advise me or help me with anything. He makes me feel like I'm important and that he always has time for me. I'm sure there's a billion other things he could be doing, but whenever I call, he always has everything right and helpful to say. I might respect his opinion more that anyone else in the world. (Plus my parents.)

He's also a sports writer for ESPN, which is automatically cool. And he plays the ukelele. And he's a super good soccer player. And he's extremely artistic/ computer savvy, which means that he can totally do graphic design of all sorts. And he's got style in all senses of the word.

Oh, and he used to be the Priest Advisor or something like that, and he did everything for those boys. You know how the young men go on like a campout every week or something? He was there. And he took the boys individually to lunch and made them feel important. He brought one of them over to our house a couple of times, and we also saw him at Grandma and Grandpa's sometimes. I'm sure that kid will remember those times for the rest of his life. Spencer probably helped some kids in ways that no one will ever know. You never do know with 16 year old boys. But I know their young men leaders are a huge deal, and Spence was definitely the best they could ever have.

He also has really great stories to tell, like about his mission and the time he went to the Dominican Republic and other times. I admit he went to Provo High, but I forgive him. :) Back not to long ago when I was stressed beyond reason about college apps and my essays and the ACT and stuff, he helped me study like crazy. Who takes time out to help their adextrodippocampul niece study for the ACT? My Uncle Spencer does! (He got a 34, by the way.)

I'm so grateful for his example. I say he's the definition of cool because he is. If there was an ad for what cool means, he'd be there in his cool-looking clothes and his iphone and wise words and everything else, and people would see him and say, "He is so cool!" And then they'd start talking to him about sports and philosophy and the gospel and really anything else, and they'd leave, and later recall that meeting as an out-of-body experience because they were so interested and enlightened. Yep, that's my uncle.

The Nap Song

2011-01-23T18:38:00.004-07:00

If there's a thing that I love best
It's after church on the Day of Rest
It's a Nap
It's a Nap
It's a Nap
If you don't get much sleep at night,
This will start your week out right
It's a Nap (12 times)

We started 8:00 church this semester, and as painfully early as it is, I love it. We're done at 11:00 and then we have the rest of the day, primarily to take a nap, and secondarily to do anything else we want. I used to have 12:00 which is way too late. So Sunday naps are my new favorite thing.

And speaking of which, I would like to announce my goal of getting to bed by 11 every night this week. Wish me luck.

The power of flexible vocal chords

2011-01-21T00:49:00.003-07:00

Yep, this is real. :) Kind of crazy amazing, yes? The dimensions don't quite work... But it's cool anyway.

So the question is, does he sound better as a man, or a woman?

If someone knows how to adjust the dimensions, could you please tell me how? I just hate to see half the screen if you know what I mean. Gracias. :)

I Gave Blood!

2011-01-16T20:40:00.001-07:00

If life were easy, it wouldn't be hard!

2011-01-11T19:59:00.005-07:00

This is from my cousin Adam who is on a mission in the Czech Republic. He's in Prague right now.

"I was talking with Elder Tomlinson the other day about what an interesting experience it is to do missionary work. We talk with hundreds of people every week and of course there is bound to be some hilarity therein. I see it like eating scorpions, of course it's not something you typically think of doing, but the experience is unforgettable. It's also one of those things where if your life was easy and you didn't have anything difficult, awkward, or crazy happen to you, you wouldn't have any fun stories to tell. That's where the best stories come from anyway is from the adventures in uncertainty."

I'm all about building character, and I talk about it all the time. Trials are what build character-- without them, we would never be able to grow! That's one thing I've learned here in Hawaii. I'm with people from all over the world who have been through all sorts of things to get here. Some are the only members in their family, many are here on scholarship from the church and are paying the money off by working here. In a devotional a while ago, the speaker told us that we should marry someone who's done something hard. I think that is so important! What Adam says is right-- if we don't step out and take chances, life won't be interesting.

So I say, if you never have the courage to lose sight of the shore, you won't ever know the terror of being forever lost at sea.

(just kidding)

Quote of the Week:

2011-01-08T12:06:00.002-07:00

By that I mean Quote of My Life.

"I believe that happiness is not a condition to be described in the past tense-- the way you felt as a child, or how things were last summer or last week or even yesterday. Nor can happiness truly be spoken of in the future tense-- the way you'll feel when spring comes, or when you're finally on vacation, or when your status changes for the better. Happiness is a present tense condition and can only fully exist if today is your best day so far. Just as surely as it is possible for you to be happy, so it is possible for each and every day to be your best day so far."

By my hero, George Durrant. Who by the way left a message on my dad's phone for me on the day of my surgery.

Hello Finals!

2011-01-04T12:29:00.005-07:00

I wrote this* for finals week, and I just never got around to posting it. So now that's it's all over, I post it in memory of the stressful week that I won't have to deal with for several more weeks. It reminds me that it's good to be back in the islands where stress doesn't really happen until this special week.

Hello finals, I am a student
In the hills and islands
I fall asleep with books in my lap
And awake in the very same position

Hello finals, I am a student
Very near the blue waves
I'd like to crawl the sandy bottom of Temple Beach
And construct a sand castle

Hello finals, you are the blazing sun
Shining down and burning my face
I will disguise myself as an eagle
And ascend way above you

Hello finals, I am a cold student
Feeling freezing in your sand
I sing about the tide and the ocean surf
Wishing that's where I was

Hello finals, I am a wet student
In the flooded hale courtyard
Studying my head off for hours on end
With a welcome break your in your rain and open wind

Hello finals, you are an old lighthouse
Throwing beams of bright lights
Red in the morning, blue in the evening sun
Turns out they are hallucinations

Hello finals, I am a student
In the hills and islands
I can't fall asleep!

Take me home to Provo
Carry me through each final
Hold me secure in flight
Help me get through all this

Take me home to Provo
Carry me through each final
Hold me secure in flight
Help me get through all this

And you know? I did! I conquered those dang finals and left them in the dust to shrivel up and die. And I came back for more.

*special thanks to Owl City for his guidance this creation.

I was born to run!

2011-01-01T01:34:00.003-07:00

Have you read the book Born to Run? If you haven't, I highly recommend it. It inspired me on several levels in the running department. One big aspiration I gained from it was to be a barefoot runner. And now, thanks to my parents and one of the most awesome Christmas presents I've ever received, I'm starting! No more shoes for me!

Happy Birthday Joseph Smith!

2010-12-23T17:08:00.005-07:00

"Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only , for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it." D&C 135:3

Unbeknownst to some, the celebration of Joseph Smith's birthday is a very important part of the Christmas festivities. At least it is at my house. So as long as we're celebrating Christ's birth, and thinking about His life and all He did for us, I think it's fitting that we can also celebrate the prophet Joseph's birth, and think about his life and all he did for us. I am so grateful to both of them!

But in special honor of Joseph Smith, I'd like to say a few words.

First of all, what a man! (Insert any other word of choice there that might be fitting.) I mean, he restored the gospel! And he was spiritually aware enough at the age of 14 (WOW!) to pray to God with enough faith to see Him in person. I really love verse 20 in Joseph Smith History. He says, "It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom." Yeah he was! It makes me hope that I can be a disturber and annoyer as well.

On a side note, let me also say that Joseph was super athletic. Like, he was a champion wrestler and stick-puller. He was also super sweet to his mom and sisters and wife, and I gather that he really cared about everyone. A lot. I can't imagine a man of greater faith! Oh, and he was a martyr for the kingdom. And something makes me think that he was musical. And he endured serious health problems-- without any painkillers or anything. And I bet he had a great sense of humor. So yeah.

Now back to business. Joseph says, "For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it." I do too. I know for myself that Heavenly Father and Jesus did appear to that 14 year old boy, and the message they gave to him is the true and living gospel.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Book of Mormon that he translated is true. I have read it many times, prayed about it, and felt the Spirit manifest to me of its truthfulness. Christ did appear to the Nephites, and he did appear to Joseph Smith. His teachings when He was on the earth are the same ones we have now, and He continues to speak to us through President Monson, just as He spoke to Joseph Smith after the reorganization of the Church. I know the restored priesthood is God's power on earth. My testimony of this was strengthened enormously during my recovery this summer. Heavenly Father called Joseph by name when He first appeared to him, and He knows and loves each of us!

Because of my testimony of the First Vision and the restored gospel, I can't wait to be called to share this message to as many people as I can. I know there are those yearning for the peace and joy this perfect gospel brings, and I can only imagine the wonderful blessing it will be for me to bring that happiness that I have. I know the gospel is true! And in 2 years and 1 month, I will set out to share it wherever I am called. In the meantime, I'm going to try to be an example of the believers and share my testimony as often and in as many ways as I can.

I know Joseph Smith was a prophet, and I am so grateful to him and all he did for me and the rest of the world.

I have to tell someone!

2010-12-16T00:19:00.004-07:00

I just made one of the most responsible decisions of my life. (IRONY ALERT!! IRONY ALERT!!!) Anyway...

Okay. It's Finals week. I have 2 finals tomorrow. So much work to do! Bre and Mari and Nicole want to go see Tangled tonight. I've been wanting to see that since it came out! But I have to study! But it's Nicole's last night! Well, I also need to take my laundry out in 20 minutes, so it would just sit if I left. But Tangled isn't that long. It costs money. But I have a job. And it's only $6. But I can see it when I go home. But I want to see it now with Nicole and Bre and Mari! But I'll be spending all night with them. Oh yeah, and it's also Denzil's senior recital tonight. But I so don't have time for that! I've been planning on going to it all semester. But I have 2 finals tomorrow! Well, they aren't until the afternoon.

But I also have to pack (I only have one thing left. haha) and pick up a few Christmas presents from the PCC and turn in my elementary time sheet that was already due and give chocolates to the girls I visit teach and tell my supervisor that I was accidentally clocked in for an extra 2 hours and eat and say goodbye to the people that I won't ever see again and make some cards for some of my teachers and write a composition and take those finals and conference with Brother Marler and go to the beach (I wish) and go on facebook (heh heh) and watch Pushing Daisies (ummm) and clean my room and breathe. AHHHHHH!

Guess what I decided? You are right! I chose to stay in Bre's and Mari's room all by myself and work diligently (pausing only occasionally for very brief moments to record news-breaking events) while they partied and saw a movie I've been wanting to see for a very long time. I'm not spending a few hours of Nicole's last night with her. But I darn well better do well on those finals! And hopefully I'll get everything else done tomorrow too. And then it's all over!

What do these pictures have in common with each other?

2010-12-13T01:36:00.006-07:00

It's because you don't have a Mac!

2010-12-05T19:47:00.002-07:00

Malfunctions, viruses, crashes, low internet, complicated programs... Sound familiar? It's because you don't have a Mac! I find myself saying that to many of my friends, on a fairly regular basis actually. Certain individuals profess to hate macs, strangely enough never being able to pull a single shred of evidence to back up her statement. But we all recognize and understand the superiority of this company and its products, specifically the computer, as it pertains to college students.

Please enjoy and be inspired by this little song.
(I may or may not have the entire song memorized.)

My New Favorite Scripture

2010-11-28T01:18:00.005-07:00

I was doing my New Testament homework the other day, and I decided I should make a list of my favorite scriptures. So I wrote down a few really outstanding verses, and then I continued with my reading. I was in 1 Peter, and before I made it though the first 3 chapters, I had already written down 5 verses! That's the New Testament for you-- full of gems. But this scripture really stuck out to me, and I've decided it goes really well with my life theme of My Best Day So Far. So this is my new favorite scripture. (Well, one of my favorites...)

For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.
1 Peter 3:10

And Paul goes on to describe the righteous person and how they will be happy. Great chapter. I recommend the rest of it. Actually I recommend the rest of 1 Peter. Actually I recommend the rest of the New Testament. I just love it!

p.s. Wish me luck on my New Testament final soon! I hear it's exceedingly difficult... :/

I've So Much to be Thankful For!

2010-11-24T12:52:00.004-07:00

Somedays we forget
To look around us
Somedays we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves
There's so much sorrow
It's way too late to say
I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
It's so long overdue

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And every day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

Even with our differences
There is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each other's light

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more

There's so much to be thankful for

My Best Week So Far

2010-11-21T15:00:00.006-07:00

This is long. So brace yourselves for 3 minutes (or 5 for good measure) of reading about a total gem of a week. It should leave you inspired. Thanks in advance if you make it to the end.

Without a doubt, this has been my best week so far. I take it back. These past two weeks have been the best weeks so far. I take it back. This last month has been the best month so far. I take it back, this last year has been the best year so far. I take it back, this past mortal existence has been the best one so far. I could not be more blessed! But really, I have had a spectacular week.

We'll start with last Saturday. Last Saturday I got to volunteer at the temple Open House, and it was just awesome. I think I got the very best job you could get-- I greeted all the guests at the entrance to the main tent where they watch the temple movie and then leave separately for the tour. So I got to talk to everyone that came that night! I asked them how they were, gave them temple brochures, and wished them a happy tour. We had a total of 43,000 guests over these weeks of the Open House. I also had a good 7 mile run that day, ending at Sunset beach, which is a personal favorite. The run felt so good!

On Sunday my visiting teachers invited us over for a delicious brunch before church. They live in Hale 1, which means they have their own kitchen and cook fro themselves every day. So we had non-caf food, which is great not matter what it is. But they're both from the Philippines, automatically making the food fantastic.

Monday was ordinary, but still by best day so far up to that point.

I have New Testament on Tuesdays, and the highlight of the day was my reading before class. We're in Ephesians right now, and I just look forward to the time when I do my homework for that class. Each reading I do I am amazed. I have found myself everyday saying, "That is the most excellent passage of scripture I've ever read!" I feel so privileged to be reading the New Testament.

On Wednesday I had a fantastic voice lesson. I'm really improving on the technique we've been working on all semester, and I did it really well at my lesson. But better than that, Sister Mooy (my teacher) told me that she and Brother Belnap (the other voice teacher) dated in college. That just made my day.

Thursday. Two words: Harry Potter. I have been looking forward to that day for an extreme amount of time, and it finally arrived! We went to the midnight show in Kaneohe, which is about an hour bus ride from Laie. But the best part os that I really enjoyed the movie. It's so satisfying to go to a good movie, and I thought this one was great. (I did cry when Dobby died.)

On Friday, my friend Hon Xu got baptized! She's been attending church for two years now, because she had a calling as the ward pianist, and then she finally decided to get baptized. I am so happy for her! The baptism was really nice. Convert baptisms are super exciting to me, especially when I know the person. And THEN, as though a baptism wasn't enough, I went down to the PCC to buy tickets for the Night Show, and what should I see but a huge line-up of people, all waiting to see the prophet walk into the PCC. I was there when he came in! Then my friend Jenna offered me one of the Ambassador luau tickets she won from Haunted Lagoon. So we got to eat in the fanciest part of the PCC, with very very delicious, high-quality food, and with the prophet! he was in a closed off room, but when he came out, I was like a foot away from him, and he made eye contact with me. Definitely a high light of my entire life. He carries the Spirit with him. Then Night Show was of course fantastic, and President Monson was there in an aloha shirt. :)

The big event of Saturday was that I finally, with minimal breakdowns and much blood, sweat, and tears, finished my #*!!@%!* Term Paper!!! All 12 pages of that research paper house a portion of my soul, not unlike a horcrux. I also went to the beach that morning, which was just peachy, and I went to the cultural celebration for the temple. It was awesome! I went to bed at 5:30 in the morning, but it was worth it because I finished the paper.

And now today. Today. This is a day I have been looking forward to since January. Today our beautiful Laie temple was rededicated. So much has been put into preparing this, and it's finally here! The rededication was amazing, and I've realized what a blessing it is to live here. President Eyering said that our temple is "one of the most beautiful temples in the whole world", and "perhaps the most beautiful setting in all the world." This is Paradise, and I live here.

Could I be more blessed? I submit that I cannot. Today is my best day so far, and this has absolutely been my best week so far!

*I apologize if this is a little long. I just wanted to publish an example of the best week anyone could ever have.

Coming Soon!

2010-11-15T01:52:00.005-07:00

The Aloha Spirit

2010-11-07T12:36:00.007-07:00

"ALOOOOOOOOOHAA!" "Aloooha" "You can do better than that! Let's try it again. ALOOOOOOOOOHAA!" "AlooooHA!"

Contrary to popular belief, this staple Sacrament Meeting talk-intro is in no way an appropriate use of Aloha. Eric Snider, past columnist for The Daily Universe at BYU said, "If you are from Hawaii, you are entitled to force the congregation to scream "Aloha" at you. This is an official church policy. You preface it by saying, "I am from Hawaii, and over there, we greet each other by saying [this is the part where you yell really loud] 'ALOHA!'" And then everyone will yell it back at you, partly because you told them to, but mostly because they think it's kind of cool that they get to yell in church."

When someone says Aloha, it means so much more than that! Aloha is used as a greeting, farewell, and expression of love. But even more than that, it is a way of life. It can be called the Spirit of Aloha or the Way of Aloha. The island children used to be taught the lesson of Aloha early on because it was about the world of which they were a part. The english translation of one of their early teachings is:

Aloha is being a part of all, and all being a part of me. When there is pain - it is my pain. When there is joy - it is also mine. I respect all that is as part of the Creator and part of me. I will not willfully harm anyone or anything. When food is needed I will take only my need and explain why it is being taken. The earth, the sky, the sea are mine to care for, to cherish and to protect. This is Hawaiian - this is Aloha!

To keep understanding Aloha, I've found some different translations of it. This is the breakdown from Hawaiian:
alo, 1. sharing 2. in the present
oha, joyous affection, joy
ha, life energy, life, breath

This is translated literally as The joyful sharing of life energy in the present" or simply "Joyfully sharing life".

Here's another translation, probably my favorite:
"A" means "to burn" (figuratively, to sparkle) and it is also the name of mold found in souring foods. "Lo" is short for lo'o and loa'a which mean "to obtain or procure". Together these indicate a transformation of energy (burning, sparkling, souring food), a product of an energy transformation (the mold), and an effort to get or obtain something. So this is really giving and transferring your energy, your Ha, to whoever you are with.

Now, the truth of the matter and the most exciting part of this for me is that the Aloha Spirit is really just another name for the Holy Ghost. The concepts taught through Aloha are the same that Christ taught, and the Spirit he left is present here in Paradise. The feeling is real. When I came here in January with my mom and my Uncle Spencer, I felt something. Everything is more relaxed here, and time really just slows down. Aloha is the opposite of stress, and that meant it was the opposite of my lifestyle at certain times back at home. I've come to understand that absence of stress and feelings of love here are what it will be like in Heaven. I think Heaven in in Laie. So by slowing down and taking time to share and talk and learn and teach and feel and love, by living the Way of Aloha, we will come unto Christ.

To you, my friends, I say ALOHA.

On This, the Fifth Day of November...

2010-11-05T22:47:00.003-06:00

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence [or mercy] he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Hulloa boys, Hulloa boys, let the bells ring.
Hulloa boys, hulloa boys, God save the King!

I Love to See the Temple!

2010-10-31T20:12:00.003-06:00

Our temple is opening soon! 22 days!! It amazes me that I've been blessed to have a temple so close to me all my life-- both here and in Provo. I've been able to go to the open house twice so far, and I have been completely overcome by its beauty both times. Every single square inch of the temple is intricately beautiful. The baptismal font has a border of a sparkly rock mosaic around it, the artwork is breathtaking, the chandeliers are gorgeous... And then the Celestial Room. Oh. My. Goodness. Maybe the most beautiful room I've ever been in. Wow. And the Spirit is so strong in there, even though the building hasn't even been dedicated yet. It makes me so excited to go there! As I was going through, I kept thinking how much I wanted to help other people come to the temple and experience the blessings that it brings. Each time the guide said something like "We believe that..." I just really wanted to teach it and bring that message and blessing so as many people as I can. I remembered what I've been taught all my life:

I love to see the temple. I’m going there someday
To feel the Holy Spirit, To listen and to pray.
For the temple is a house of God, a place of love and beauty.
I’ll prepare myself while I am young; This is my sacred duty.

I love to see the temple, I’ll go inside someday.
I’ll cov’nant with my Father; I’ll promise to obey.
For the temple is a holy place Where we are sealed together.
As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth: A family is forever.

Tennis Courts in My Life

2010-10-20T20:42:00.013-06:00

"But there’s a little . . . little, area . . . where I must rule myself. It’s very little—less to him than a tennis court"

Another diagnostic essay. We read A Man For All Seasons in my English class (I highly recommend it), and Sir Thomas Moore talks about the small portion of his life that he must be in charge of-- his "tennis court". So I thought about the tennis courts in my life, and this is what I came up with.

Today is my best day so far. I'm going to school in Hawaii, I've made some great friends, I have the best English teacher on campus, I had a delicious breakfast this morning, all of my classes went well today, and now I have the opportunity to write a diagnostic essay. With all these blessings, plus an innumerable amount more, every day is my best day so far. I've made this my motto sine I read a book of that title, written by a hero of mine, George Durrant. I've come to believe that the only thing in life that is completely up to me is my attitude. That is the tennis court I have full control over. My attitude determines how I feel about everything that happens every day, and it's up to me to make or break my day. My goal has been to always have a positive attitude, and I've found that by that choice, I am happier and better able to serve others.

Attitude is absolutely a choice. Sister Hinckley said, "there are two choices in life. you can choose to laugh or cry. I choose to laugh; crying gives me a headache." I choose to laugh! I choose to have an attitude of wanting to help others and serve the Lord: a missionary-minded attitude. And attitude of gratitude. An attitude to try to make the day of each person I talk to their best one so far. I've discovered that it's often easier to choose the other way. Negative thoughts are natural, and it's sometimes satisfying to complain about hard assignments and tests and teachers and bad food and homesickness and any number of others things. But the only result of dwelling on negativity is misery. (And perhaps a headache.)

The catch with this tennis court, this important part of my life that I'm in charge of, is that the effects of my care for it don't only affect me. Attitudes are very contagious, and it's surprisingly easy to end up with a whole group of miserable people in a very short amount of time. Luckily, positive attitudes also spread, and the results are equally impressive. Elder Wirthlin taught us about "Come what may, and love it", and I have tried to remember that and really try to love and accept everything that comes my way, including circumstance, people, and trials.

In my time here at BYU Hawaii, I have been placed in circumstances where complaining would have seemed very appropriate. It was hard to leave my friends and family in Provo, and it was hard to watch my parents leave a week after we got to Laie. My roommate turned out to be a very dramatic girl, and ended up insisting that I leave our room and find a new one so her friend could move in with her. But because I've decided to view my whole experience in Hawaii as preparation for my mission, my reaction to each of these hard times has been to learn, grow, and love everything that happens here. That is why today is my best day so far.

I Stand All Amazed

2010-10-10T04:16:00.004-06:00

I wrote this essay for a diagnostic english test. The prompt was something about a way a certain scripture or psalm has changed your life... something like that. So this is what I wrote about.

ON JUNE 22 OF THIS YEAR I woke up seven hours after being put under anesthesia. I had a big incision on the right side of my head, and my parents and a team of neurosurgeons were standing around me. My right hippocampus was no longer in my brain. I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was three years old, and this surgery was performed in the hopes that the site and source of the seizures was this brain structure, and its removal would prevent further seizures.

My seizures have varied throughout my life, sometimes only occasional, other times more frequent, sometimes less-involved Partial seizures, other times more severe Grand Mal. I've gone for long stretches of time without any seizures, but when I came off the medicine, they would return. After going through five different medications, each being unsuccessful in completely curing me, my doctor told me that what was happening in my brain-- hoppocampul sclerosis-- could usually never be permanently controlled by medicine. She posed the idea of neruosurgery, and after much fasting and prayer, we dicided that would be the best option for me.

I will never forget the night before my surgery. My dad gave me a blessing before I went to bed, but I was still very nervous. I was reading in Alma at the time, and that night I read chapter 14, which contained one of the most comforting, inspiring scriptures I've ever read. Alma ad Amulek are in prison, and Amulek says "Behold, perhaps they will burn us also." Alma then responds, "Be it according to the will of the Lord. But behold, our work here is not finished; therefore they burn us not." I was amazed at the incredible faither Alma showed right then. As I read it, I was filled with the love of my Father in Heaven, and I was at peace.

The surgeon told me I would be in bed, exhausted and unable to walk for about six weeks. I was up after three. I had countless prayers offered in my behalf, and as I recovered, i thought about the overwhelming amount of blessings I've been given. I was "amazed at the love Jesus offers me, and confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me." I have so much to give back! After coming home from teh hospital, I was suddenly very missionary-minded and determined to serve. I had always wanted to go, but it was then that I realized that I absolutely needed to. It is for that very reason that I decided to come to BYU Hawaii-- to prepare to serve a full-time mission for the Lord. I now that because of what I've received, I need to return it by serving others. Alma and Amulek still had missonary work to do, and so do I. My work here is not finished, and that is why my surgery was successful and why I'm here today. Alma inspired me, and I'm now prepared to go forward with faith, always believing.

Oh, and I might add that my teacher wrote, "Wonderful essay!" at the bottom. I just wanted to say that. And I also want to say that the testing center is FREEZING.

Molly Mormon?

2010-09-19T20:24:00.007-06:00

Mormon: noun, an excuse or explanation for one's actions; a source of identity

What is associated with being "Mormon"? Dictionary.com defines Mormon as "the popular name given to a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." True. However, I think there is much more to it than that. What does it mean when you say, "I'm Mormon."? The truth of the matter is that I don't have hardly any experience in this field, because back where I come from, it doesn't seem to mean a thing if someone says "I'm a Mormon." What's new? But really, what does one imply when they say that? Is it said with with hesitation and shame? Pride? Apologies? Explanation? I think in some cases people use it as a stereotype to arrange mental groups. And in other cases, I think people do it themselves, to set them apart from others. For example, "I'm a dancer, I'm happy, I like music, I'm Mormon, I play soccer..." And it's not "I'm a Mormon", it's more "I'm Mormon." That's it: a label, a group, a niche.

So if we define ourselves as Mormons, what does that mean? We keep the Word of Wisdom. We attend 3 hours of church every week. We have big beautiful buildings that we don't let anyone in to. Those are things associated with the church, and they do set us apart as a peculiar people, and perhaps that defines a "Mormon." But what about a LATTER-DAY SAINT? Are Mormons Christian? Absolutely. We believe that we are God's restored church on this earth, we have the full and everlasting gospel, and the gospel is the good news. Not the health code. A good Christian and a good Latter-Day Saint should be synonymous. We are Good Samaritans, we are always in the service of our fellow men, we love the Lord and are striving to be like him, we are servants of the Lord and want to bring the joy and blessings that we receive after baptism to as many people as we can, we don't judge, we are selfless, we believe in eternal families and treat our families with love and respect... THAT should be what defines a "Mormon." Then no one would ever have to ask if Mormons are Christian, because of the light that shines in our eyes, and because of our Christlike actions.

The other day, my roommate asked me if I considered myself to be a Molly Mormon, and I didn't know what to say. Sure, I guess. I do what I think is right, not because I'm "Momon", but because I think it's right. So I suppose in a way, I am. And you know? I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Because maybe a "Molly Mormon" is just another name for a Latter-Day Saint.

GUEST BLOGGER: Dr. Anny E. Fritzen, PhD

2010-09-07T12:33:00.010-06:00

Amber's meditation on change reminds me that I've also been living in a whirlwind of change. After 24 years of formal education, my student days are now officially over. I am starting two (or maybe three or four) new jobs. And I'm getting married. Whew! Talk about fodder for an identity crisis. Who in the world is "Dr. Case" anyway? Not me. But in a few months, it will be. There's so much I can't anticipate, let alone imagine.

Change is hard, but change is good. Really, it's one of the few things we can absolutely count on. The trick is figuring out how to be steady in the wind, peaceful in the heart, and faithful in the soul while also keeping yourself open to productive metamorphosis, a painfully vulnerable state. Prayer helps. Actually, prayer is a necessity during times of personal upheaval. So is meaningful scripture study, honest communication, and a sense of humor. I've found that ice-cream and chocolate are also great analgesics. Yet, having all these things in place doesn't guarantee that the uncertainty won't sometimes be terrifying, like jumping-off-a-cliff-into-unknown-waters terrifying. No wonder I so often spend way too long perched precariously on the edge of change. But that's the fear-based perspective. The faith-based perspective presents an entirely different view. Instead of falling, we can think of the potential for flying, trusting the Lord when He says He will "bare you on eagles’ wings, and [bring you] unto myself" (Exodus 19:4).

Here's to stepping off the edge.

To see more writing by this renowned Doctor of Philosophy, please visit her website .

*pictures courtesy of a sarcastic editor :)

For Dell

2010-09-01T10:01:00.002-06:00

I'd like to recommend that you read Sophie's Blog. I wrote a song for her called "Follow Me", based on the fantastic John Denver, because she so much wants people to follow her blog. So go ahead and read and be inspired. And watch the great Youtube I added. Oh, and she'd love a comment even more.

Discombobulated: A Meditation on Change

2010-08-29T14:35:00.010-06:00

I absolutely can't stand change. When the winds of change blow, they are sometimes light zephyrs, sometimes modest gales, and occasionally tempestuous typhoons, raging wildly, threatening to suck your entire soul into a whirlwind of destruction. But when I think of change as being like the wind, I realize that it can be a very good thing. I remember running a particularly miserable race last year-- it was a pretty hilly course, the temperature was probably somewhere between 100 and 120 degrees, and I happened to be very dehydrated. One of the toughest parts of the course was a ridiculously vast expanse of dry yellow grass that seemed to last forever. But as I turned one of the corners of the field, feeling ready to pass away at any second, a glorious breeze hit me and carried me through the last 800 meters of the race. In that instance, the change was welcome. However, as this absurd Utah weather started to kick in a while later, the previously scorching hot days turned to days of wind and rain. One of our track meets even got canceled halfway through because of the wind. (I'm not complaining.) But at the region track meet, for some odd reason or another, they decided to hold the meet despite multiple tents blowing over. I ran the mile, and I experienced the most horrible, tiring resistance running I've ever done. I felt like the wind was working against me in every way, and my time was nearly two minutes slower than usual. Here the wind was my adversary, laughing evilly as it tried to thrust me down into endless misery and woe in the darkest chambers of the Track Black Hole.

As I've been thinking about the immense changes that are about to happen in my life, I feel that I'm about to be thrust into the heart of a storm, running against the wind as I try to move forward. But last night I realized that even though almost literally everything in my life is about to change, one thing will remain constant: the Savior. He is always near me, though I do not see Him there, and because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care. The most important thing in my life will never change, and I know He is what I can hold onto in this incoming tornado of change. He will calm the storms in my life and turn them into testimony-building and faith-promoting experiences as I become more reliant on Him. And as my cousin Josh said in a recent letter about one of their struggling investigators, "my faith is deeper than my fears."

So really, I guess it's just the way you look at the wind. It may just be hurling you forward at an uncomfortably fast speed right into a sunny field of peace, later returning to cool the eventual sweaty heat and sunburn. I say full speed ahead. Actually I don't.

An Ode to Delicious Food

2010-08-23T11:48:00.000-06:00

I love food. I've never been on a diet. Well actually, I once went off sugar for 3 hours when I was 12. But I've come to conclude that it's better to be overweight and happy than to always be dieting and worrying about weight. So I've written a song* about how it would feel to be on a diet.

Closed off from food
I didn't need the pain!
Once or twice was enough
And it was all in vain
Time starts to pass
Before you know it you've given in again.

But something happened
For the very first time with you
My taste buds melt into the ground
Found something true
And everyone's looking round
Thinking I'm going crazy (because of how much I'm suddenly eating)

But I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don't know the truth
My heart's crippled by the artery
That I keep on closing
You keep clogging it but I

Keep eating
Keep, keep eating more
I keep eating
I keep, keep eating more
Keep eating
Keep, keep eating more
You cloud my skin

Trying hard not to think
But my conscience talks so loud
Its piercing sounds fill my ears
Try to fill me with doubt
And I know my initial goal
Was to keep me healthy

But nothing's greater than the rush that comes with your taste
And in this world of tofu and green drink
I see your plate
Yet everyone around me
Thinks that I'm going crazy, maybe, maybe

But I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don't know the truth
My heart's crippled by the artery
That I keep on closing
You up my fat cell count but I

Keep eating
Keep, keep eating more
I keep eating
I keep, keep eating more
Keep eating
Keep, keep eating more
You give me cavities

And your draining all my energy
Oh I find it hard to believe
I'll be gaining this weight
For everyone to see

I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don't know the truth
My heart's crippled by the artery
That I keep on closing
You raise my heart rate but I

Keep eating
Keep, keep eating more
I keep eating
I keep, keep eating more
Keep eating
Keep, keep eating more
You make me need new clothes but I

Keep eating
Keep, keep eating more
I keep eating
I keep, keep eating more
Keep eating
Keep, keep eating more
You make good food and I
Keep eating
Keep, keep eating more

So really. I guess all these consequences are bad. Yes they are. And I do know that it's best to be healthy. Of course. But to always be restricting yourself and allowing concern of weight to consume your every waking thought is miserable! I absolutely know that we need to take care of the bodies Heavenly Father gave us. But if we exercise and eat as healthy as we can, then I say it's okay to eat junk food. That is, if it's HIGH QUALITY. In fact, I wrote a post a while ago called For the Love of Meat, and I concluded that "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." was a good philosophy. But weight is not as important as happiness, and being unhealthy isn't happy. But over-the-top dieting? I don't think that's happy either. I think there's a difference between a desire to be healthy, and a desire to have a perfect body. So by the time I've written this huge rant of a paragraph, I've really contradicted myself multiple times. But you know, if you have people like Sis Chris, Sister Eggertsen, and Melissa, what else can you do? So in conclusion: BE HEALTHY. EAT. EAT GOOD FOOD, NOT TOO MUCH, MOSTLY PLANTS. BE HAPPY.

*Special thanks to Leona Lewis. I fear I have a great dislike of the particular song this one is based off of, so I thought it needed new words. :)

My Amortentia

2010-08-15T17:17:00.000-06:00

Before my surgery I was contemplating what side-effects I could most easily tolerate. (As though I'd be able to choose...) Unbeknownst to me, certain potentials were already in place, such as loss of peripheral vision, memory loss, a permanently weakened/ sore right side of my face, paralysis, brain spasms/ twinges, dizziness, loss of musicality, DEATH, etc. Anyway, I decided that the "best" sense to lose would be my sense of smell. And the olfactory lobe just happened to be right near the surgical point, so I allowed myself to picture the doctor tarnishing it. But then I remembered that my Aunt Genie got in a really terrible bike accident, and ended up losing her sense of smell for some odd reason. And now she can't really taste, and it seems like a lot of joy must have been sucked away. (I imagine she's dealt with it in a very positive way.) But I got to thinking about my favorite smells, and how much I'd miss them if they were lost. They are...

Seaside Escape (Bath and Body Works)
Sensual Amber (Bath and Body Works, disregard the name)
Homemade bread
RAIN
Anything on Fast Sunday :)
New running shoes
Sizzling Bacon
Charcoal
Wet Paint
Gasoline
um, yeah
Popcorn
New mown grass
Vanilla
Gingerbread (and other Christmasy smells)

"It's supposed to smell differently to each of us, according to what attracts us, and I can smell freshly mown grass and new parchment and--"

"They chose the one nearest a gold-colored cauldron that was emitting on of the most seductive scents Harry had ever inhaled: Somehow it reminded him simultaneously of treacle tart, the woody smell of a broomstick handle, and something flowery he thought he might have smelled at the Burrow. He found that he was breathing very slowly and deeply and that the potion's fumes seemed to be filling him up like a drink. A great contentment stole over him; he grinned across at Ron, who grinned lazily back."

Scarred for life

2010-08-07T19:02:00.000-06:00

To the Right

2010-07-06T14:23:00.000-06:00

On my own, pretending he's inside me,
all alone I "think" with him 'til morning.
Without him, I don't even feel a gap in my head.
And when I lose my way, I close my eyes and remember that directions were his dormant job.

In the rain, the pavement shines like silver
and I can't see it as well because he also couldn't govern visuals like he was supposed to, so all the lights are misty in the river. Without him, nothing even changes,
and all I see is him in a lab forever and forever.

And I know he's no longer in my mind,
and I'm talking with the Left and not with him.
And although I know that he's always been blind,
still I say there was never a way for us.

(No, I don't love him.)
And when the night is over, he is gone, the gap is just a gap.
Without him, the world around me doesn't even change because he wasn't even doing his job before he left.

(No, I don't love him.)
And everyday I'm learning that all my life, I've only been pretending that I can do math or have any sense of direction.
Without me, he is terminated for life,
a world that's full of other brain parts that I have never known.

I don't love him,
and I'm not even on my own anymore, becuase I still have the Left.

P.S.
Oh False One, you have deceived me!
It's too late to apologize.
I can live with or without you.
Gotta get you outa my life!
So long, Farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu.
Adios, Muchaco.
I can last the rest of my life without you.
Can't you see that you don't belong with me?

P.P.S
Okay fine. God be with you 'til we meet again.

Hippocampus

2010-07-03T11:31:00.000-06:00

Quote of the day

2010-06-16T12:42:00.000-06:00

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." -John Bingham

Guaranteed Time Wasters!

2010-06-15T09:07:00.000-06:00

Do you find yourself struggling to find ways to spend your time? If you're looking to waste time, here are some helpful ideas that are guaranteed to leave you saying, "I honestly can't believe I just wasted part of my life doing that!" In fact, we are so certain that these "activities" will leave you with a less-than-satisfied feeling that if you feel even remotely satisfied, we'll offer a complete refund for the time you spent reading these time-wasting options. (undefined amount of time, may involve a time machine)

1. Watch the same movie trailers/ youtube videos over and over again
2. Redesign your blog multiple times
3. Read very low-quality, low-substance books
4. Watch very low-quality, low-substance movies
5. Sit on your couch gazing off into space
6. Go on facebook
7. Repeatedly walk into your kitchen, each time opening the fridge, realizing you have no food, then walking out again
8. Play Yahtzee with yourself
9. Simply decide to just stay in your bed for hours at a time
10. Go to despair.com and read all of the demotivators for the 100th time

Of course, I haven't done any of these things this summer. I just came up this list of what someone really dumb and boring might do if they happened to have some extra time on their hands. After all, if you're bored, you're a boring person. (p.s. I hope the hint of sarcasm was evident...)