I just saw the Twilight movie and I've been reading the books. Took me long enough to get going, but I wanted to preview them before Hannah reads them. So far, I've encouraged her to NOT read the fourth book until she is married.
"Twilight" itself has grown on me a bit. I also read "Midnight Sun" and totally fell in love with Edward. I think if Stephenie Meyer had combined the two points of view it would have made an exceptional book.
My favorite parts:
Twilight...I really liked the blood typing in the science class and how Edward stepped forward to take care of Bella. Also, liked the meadow scene.
New Moon...I loved how the author moved through time during Bella's down time after Edward left. I thought it was very effective.
Eclipse...I loved how Bella compared herself to Switzerland.
Breaking Dawn...I loved the scene when Bella finds out that Jacob has imprinted with the baby and nicknamed her after the Loch Ness Monster. Hilarious!
The Movie...disappointing. Could have moved smoother from point to point. I loved Alice. I see her in my head as I read the books.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tag--25 things
Rules:
Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
1. I was born on my dad's 28th birthday.
2. I was born on my mom's graduation day from Utah State University. In fact, I made her miss it.
3. When my second sister was born I announced to every one I saw..."Now we have a mew car, a mew house and a mew baby."
4. When my first brother was born I wasn't sure about him and almost wanted mom to return him to the hospital.
5. I started learning how to cook when my fist brother was born. I was so proud that I made jello for dinner all by myself. I was 10.
6. By the time I was 14, my 6th and youngest sister was born and I kept the house running as well as mom did.
7. I was 15 1/2 when my second brother was born. A few weeks later my parents and I went to a Young Woman's thing and I entered carrying the baby. The other girls turned and asked, "Who's baby is that?" I just answered with, "Mine."
8. I love to shock people!
9. I got Malaria while on my mission and only missed 4 days of work although I had been very sick.
10. I fell into a hole while on my mission. They were putting sewer pipe in the neighborhood. They dug the trenches with picks and shovels. Some of the holes were close to 20 feet deep, but others were rather harmless. One night we were walking home single file down a dirt path. I was looking at the stars as I walked and...the ground fell out from under me. I was in a 4 foot deep hole. I only skinned my knee and we laughed all the way home. Remember I like to shock peole. My companion was very shocked when I disappeared suddenly.
11. I lived in the dorm building which was named after my great great grandfather during my first year of college.
12. I met Tom during my third year of college and before my mission. He didn't know he was waiting for me.
13. We pretended to be engaged the Sunday before I entered the MTC.
14. Tom kissed me the first time that weekend. He is still the only man I've ever kissed.
15. I have never donated blood. During my senior year of high school I was afraid to do it and used the excuse that I didn't weigh enough. You had to weigh 110 pounds or more. I was somewhere near that, but I used it as an excuse. Malaria, pregnancy and nursing were also good excuses. Now, I blame my blood pressure.
16. All my sons were born in April. We had to have a baby in the other A month to get a daughter.
17. All the men in our home have O+ blood type. All the females have A+.
18. I have only lived in one home longer than 5 1/2 years. This one!
19. When I was a kid I fell against the quilting frames my mom had set up in the living room and cut my eyebrow. You can still see the scar.
20. I have always HATED running or jogging. I love to walk.
21. My first car was a 1971 Toyota Corola wagon. We bought it a few months after John was born.
22. I learned to tat in 1980.
23. I took 3 years of piano lessons as a kid and hated it so much that I talked my mom and dad into letting me just be in band. My favorite instrument to play is the contra bass clarinet.
24. I have taken more than three years of piano lessons as an adult and have thoroughly loved it.
25. I am reading the Twilight series just to preview it before I let Hannah read them. I'm not a huge fan of fantasy.
I tag you...if you dare.
Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
1. I was born on my dad's 28th birthday.
2. I was born on my mom's graduation day from Utah State University. In fact, I made her miss it.
3. When my second sister was born I announced to every one I saw..."Now we have a mew car, a mew house and a mew baby."
4. When my first brother was born I wasn't sure about him and almost wanted mom to return him to the hospital.
5. I started learning how to cook when my fist brother was born. I was so proud that I made jello for dinner all by myself. I was 10.
6. By the time I was 14, my 6th and youngest sister was born and I kept the house running as well as mom did.
7. I was 15 1/2 when my second brother was born. A few weeks later my parents and I went to a Young Woman's thing and I entered carrying the baby. The other girls turned and asked, "Who's baby is that?" I just answered with, "Mine."
8. I love to shock people!
9. I got Malaria while on my mission and only missed 4 days of work although I had been very sick.
10. I fell into a hole while on my mission. They were putting sewer pipe in the neighborhood. They dug the trenches with picks and shovels. Some of the holes were close to 20 feet deep, but others were rather harmless. One night we were walking home single file down a dirt path. I was looking at the stars as I walked and...the ground fell out from under me. I was in a 4 foot deep hole. I only skinned my knee and we laughed all the way home. Remember I like to shock peole. My companion was very shocked when I disappeared suddenly.
11. I lived in the dorm building which was named after my great great grandfather during my first year of college.
12. I met Tom during my third year of college and before my mission. He didn't know he was waiting for me.
13. We pretended to be engaged the Sunday before I entered the MTC.
14. Tom kissed me the first time that weekend. He is still the only man I've ever kissed.
15. I have never donated blood. During my senior year of high school I was afraid to do it and used the excuse that I didn't weigh enough. You had to weigh 110 pounds or more. I was somewhere near that, but I used it as an excuse. Malaria, pregnancy and nursing were also good excuses. Now, I blame my blood pressure.
16. All my sons were born in April. We had to have a baby in the other A month to get a daughter.
17. All the men in our home have O+ blood type. All the females have A+.
18. I have only lived in one home longer than 5 1/2 years. This one!
19. When I was a kid I fell against the quilting frames my mom had set up in the living room and cut my eyebrow. You can still see the scar.
20. I have always HATED running or jogging. I love to walk.
21. My first car was a 1971 Toyota Corola wagon. We bought it a few months after John was born.
22. I learned to tat in 1980.
23. I took 3 years of piano lessons as a kid and hated it so much that I talked my mom and dad into letting me just be in band. My favorite instrument to play is the contra bass clarinet.
24. I have taken more than three years of piano lessons as an adult and have thoroughly loved it.
25. I am reading the Twilight series just to preview it before I let Hannah read them. I'm not a huge fan of fantasy.
I tag you...if you dare.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Email from John--January 27, 2008
transfers are even zanier this time. ims taying in martinsville. on saturday we got our call that E. Adaoag was leaving and on monday the assistants took him to go work in an area that ISNT his new one. i wont get my new companion until wednessday night and all the while i have no clue where E. Adaoag is going or who my new companion will be. all i know is that im in martinsville and im workin for a couple days with E' Burgess and E. Carlson.... haha its crazy. this was the trial run, we'll see if it sticks. its supposed to save us more miles on our cars.
im working on the leadership thing too. in teh white handbook it says that i as a leader should not just supervise or motivate but also uplift encourage inspire and bless. so im trying to figure out just how im going to accomplish all of that. i think like paul suggests it will all happen as i gain a greater love for those i serve. i dunno.
well i love ya
john
im working on the leadership thing too. in teh white handbook it says that i as a leader should not just supervise or motivate but also uplift encourage inspire and bless. so im trying to figure out just how im going to accomplish all of that. i think like paul suggests it will all happen as i gain a greater love for those i serve. i dunno.
well i love ya
john
Friday, January 23, 2009
Epistle of John--January 20, 2009
all together my week was pretty good. the work is still moving forward. hopefully soon we'll be able to sort out our teaching pool and find some new awesome people.
Chris is doing alright. hes been going through some new trials though. i guess his wife is probably gotten herself into the big house. i hope not. hes getting tired of her garbage. hes also been working like a dog cleaning movie theaters. his lifes been crazy.
Jimmy is ready to go on the 31st this month!! i like dads idea about having Chris baptize him but Jimmy has a fellowshipper thats been working with him for a while now thats gonna do it.
Charles is working towards not smoking. he's commited to smoke only once every two hours which should cut back quite a bit!! he was also at FHE last night at a members house. we may have to answer some questions about temples but other than that it went fairly well.
im about out of time. i love you guys. im enjoying this work!ing this
its always fun when a bunch of crazy unexpected junk gets thrown our way, most of the time all we can do is grit our teeth pray and yell at Tim for trying to play dodgeball with his sax.
chocolate helps. just imagine if you were catholic and thats what you were to give up for lent. arent you glad our religion just tells us we shouldnt get sauced or smoke blunts.
thats a really cool FHE activity. it was odd that we were reading that section in the book and at the same time i was starting leviticus and wondering: whats wrong with leaven? i still have yet to do a focused study on it, ive been busy with other things. like preparing for my training, yikes. ill have a week off because of transfers coming up. were pretty sure E. Adaoag is leaving but were not sure yet, we'll find out for sure next week.
well i dont have a ton of time (the library is doing construction so they have limited computers) and i cant garentee i can extend my time today but rest assured im doing well. Jimmy is going to be baptized on the 31st. everyone else is doing pretty good. chris got a job. charles is working on quitting smoking still but we set up some good goals for him AND had him out to FHE last night at the Britts.
well i better write dad too before im out of time.
love ya
john
sweet! way to open your mouth and let the gospel spill out!! its amazing that when we're willing God will put us where we need to be so we can help our brothers and sisters
ive really enjoyed reading and trying to put the teaching skill of parables to use throughout my mission. always striving to make up sweet analogies to help others understand the gospel. it helps i suppose that i know a bit about a wide range of topics. theyre one of the most effective things ive done on my mission. its amazing how well jesus' parables were built. so much could be learned from his parables. i guess parables are like a deeper form of analogy.
well i guess ill get the coupled email set up
i love ya
john
Chris is doing alright. hes been going through some new trials though. i guess his wife is probably gotten herself into the big house. i hope not. hes getting tired of her garbage. hes also been working like a dog cleaning movie theaters. his lifes been crazy.
Jimmy is ready to go on the 31st this month!! i like dads idea about having Chris baptize him but Jimmy has a fellowshipper thats been working with him for a while now thats gonna do it.
Charles is working towards not smoking. he's commited to smoke only once every two hours which should cut back quite a bit!! he was also at FHE last night at a members house. we may have to answer some questions about temples but other than that it went fairly well.
im about out of time. i love you guys. im enjoying this work!ing this
its always fun when a bunch of crazy unexpected junk gets thrown our way, most of the time all we can do is grit our teeth pray and yell at Tim for trying to play dodgeball with his sax.
chocolate helps. just imagine if you were catholic and thats what you were to give up for lent. arent you glad our religion just tells us we shouldnt get sauced or smoke blunts.
thats a really cool FHE activity. it was odd that we were reading that section in the book and at the same time i was starting leviticus and wondering: whats wrong with leaven? i still have yet to do a focused study on it, ive been busy with other things. like preparing for my training, yikes. ill have a week off because of transfers coming up. were pretty sure E. Adaoag is leaving but were not sure yet, we'll find out for sure next week.
well i dont have a ton of time (the library is doing construction so they have limited computers) and i cant garentee i can extend my time today but rest assured im doing well. Jimmy is going to be baptized on the 31st. everyone else is doing pretty good. chris got a job. charles is working on quitting smoking still but we set up some good goals for him AND had him out to FHE last night at the Britts.
well i better write dad too before im out of time.
love ya
john
sweet! way to open your mouth and let the gospel spill out!! its amazing that when we're willing God will put us where we need to be so we can help our brothers and sisters
ive really enjoyed reading and trying to put the teaching skill of parables to use throughout my mission. always striving to make up sweet analogies to help others understand the gospel. it helps i suppose that i know a bit about a wide range of topics. theyre one of the most effective things ive done on my mission. its amazing how well jesus' parables were built. so much could be learned from his parables. i guess parables are like a deeper form of analogy.
well i guess ill get the coupled email set up
i love ya
john
Saturday, January 17, 2009
New shoes and ankles
I do not like to go shoe shopping so when a pair fall into my hands I take them if at all possible.
These were given to me by the lunch room duty at our school. She is a 26 year old from Thailand. Her family and friends make these, send them to her and she sells them here in the states.
When Hannah came home that day, I said, "Hey, Hannah, I have another pair of shoes for us to share."
Hannah tried them on, and they fit perfectly. "They are so cute!"
Hmmm, I wonder if I'll have a chance at them when the weather gets warmer.
As for the ankles...
I have been thrilled in the last few months to see my ankles. I can actually see the bones and sinews moving around as I move my feet to various positions. I haven't seen that for ages!
These were given to me by the lunch room duty at our school. She is a 26 year old from Thailand. Her family and friends make these, send them to her and she sells them here in the states.When Hannah came home that day, I said, "Hey, Hannah, I have another pair of shoes for us to share."
Hannah tried them on, and they fit perfectly. "They are so cute!"
Hmmm, I wonder if I'll have a chance at them when the weather gets warmer.
As for the ankles...
I have been thrilled in the last few months to see my ankles. I can actually see the bones and sinews moving around as I move my feet to various positions. I haven't seen that for ages!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
I loved this email...
I decided that rather than post about my total frustration with one of the kids' teachers, I'd share this wonderful email I got today instead. It made me laugh!
WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL???
Be sure not to peek!!!!!!!! You don't want to skew your answer.
Try this - it's really neat ... Don't look at the answers:
1) Pick your favorite number between 1-9
2) Multiply by 3 then
3) Add 3, then again multiply by 3 (I'll wait while you get the calculator....)
4) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number....
5) Add the digits together
With that number, see who your ROLE MODEL is from the list below:
1. Einstein
2. Oprah Winfrey
3. Snoopy
4. Imelda Marcos
5. Bill Gates
6. Gandhi
7. Brad Pitt
8. Babe Ruth
9. Elder John Jenson
10. Barack Obama
I know....I just have that effect on people....one day you too can be like me.... Believe it!
P.S. Stop picking different numbers!! I AM YOUR IDOL, JUST DEAL WITH IT!!!!!!
NOW CLICK "FORWARD", PUT YOUR NAME IN NO. 9 AND SEND IT ON!!
Heavenly Father sure knows just when I need a smile and hug from John!
WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL???
Be sure not to peek!!!!!!!! You don't want to skew your answer.
Try this - it's really neat ... Don't look at the answers:
1) Pick your favorite number between 1-9
2) Multiply by 3 then
3) Add 3, then again multiply by 3 (I'll wait while you get the calculator....)
4) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number....
5) Add the digits together
With that number, see who your ROLE MODEL is from the list below:
1. Einstein
2. Oprah Winfrey
3. Snoopy
4. Imelda Marcos
5. Bill Gates
6. Gandhi
7. Brad Pitt
8. Babe Ruth
9. Elder John Jenson
10. Barack Obama
I know....I just have that effect on people....one day you too can be like me.... Believe it!
P.S. Stop picking different numbers!! I AM YOUR IDOL, JUST DEAL WITH IT!!!!!!
NOW CLICK "FORWARD", PUT YOUR NAME IN NO. 9 AND SEND IT ON!!
Heavenly Father sure knows just when I need a smile and hug from John!
Hi Fam!--Love, John--January 13, 2009
well this week was pretty good. its starting to get colder and starting to snow a bit. im deffinitly glad im down south this winter. apparently by thursday weve got some extremely cold weather coming but you never can tell with bees.... indiana. no one can really predict the weather here so they stick their head out of the window and get a rough idea of what to say about the day based on that, then they spin a big wheel of fortune'esqe wheel that has the temperature, another that has the general conditions, and one with percentages. after they spin these large wheels we ussually end up with a forcast like this... cloudy, with 57% chance of rain and 83% chance of snow, and 15 degrees with wind chill. then the day is accually fair no real precipitation at about 40 degrees. well enough about that.
everythings going pretty well. Charles has had some family drama come up so its really going to be kinda rough with him for a bit here. hes gotta go to court about it soon, hopefully he'll be able to get everything resolved without any jailtime or anything. otherwise hes doing alright, its been a rough week for his smoking but hes appreciated our visits.
Jim is doing ok. hopefully soon we'll be able to know exactly what to do with him. he just needs to gain a testimony ya know?
Jimmy is doing great! we'll probably get a baptisimal date with his tonight and get him taught everything else pretty quick. he is ready to go!
Chris is doing alright. he's struggling seeing the blessing from everything he's done but i think things are about to change pretty quick. hes been really good and resisting a LOT of temptation! he was given the Aaronic priesthood on sunday.
work has been work, weve got a couple new potantials from tracting this week but nothing too exciting to report on that front yet.
everythings going pretty good!
well i love ya
and ill write again next week
john
its kinda cool how the lord will teach us things we never knew before just within the walls of our mind let alone his holy temple. its crazy how much information we have available to us now in the dispensation of the fullness of times, and more is always surfacing. even in the 70s when they found a lot of the dead sea scrolls, and now more archiological discoveries are opening up the possibilities and giving us more and more information.
i wonder what will happen to a lot of the people who havent yet made a lot of those preparations. from my understanding the bishops storehouse wont really be for the membership when things really start getting wild, thats to help out the rest of the world. even the small calamities can, like you said, be handled better when weve followed these councils. i wonder sometimes what its going to be like trying to make a living in this crazy world... but i guess ill find out soon enough.
well i better wrap up, and ill answer your other questions in my next email i write here in like... 2 minutes. so yeah. how do you like how ive been doing this lately, its easier than having to remember what ive told who and then making you guys read eachothers email to get the whole story, how does it run on your end?
well like i said
i love ya
john
everythings going pretty well. Charles has had some family drama come up so its really going to be kinda rough with him for a bit here. hes gotta go to court about it soon, hopefully he'll be able to get everything resolved without any jailtime or anything. otherwise hes doing alright, its been a rough week for his smoking but hes appreciated our visits.
Jim is doing ok. hopefully soon we'll be able to know exactly what to do with him. he just needs to gain a testimony ya know?
Jimmy is doing great! we'll probably get a baptisimal date with his tonight and get him taught everything else pretty quick. he is ready to go!
Chris is doing alright. he's struggling seeing the blessing from everything he's done but i think things are about to change pretty quick. hes been really good and resisting a LOT of temptation! he was given the Aaronic priesthood on sunday.
work has been work, weve got a couple new potantials from tracting this week but nothing too exciting to report on that front yet.
everythings going pretty good!
well i love ya
and ill write again next week
john
its kinda cool how the lord will teach us things we never knew before just within the walls of our mind let alone his holy temple. its crazy how much information we have available to us now in the dispensation of the fullness of times, and more is always surfacing. even in the 70s when they found a lot of the dead sea scrolls, and now more archiological discoveries are opening up the possibilities and giving us more and more information.
i wonder what will happen to a lot of the people who havent yet made a lot of those preparations. from my understanding the bishops storehouse wont really be for the membership when things really start getting wild, thats to help out the rest of the world. even the small calamities can, like you said, be handled better when weve followed these councils. i wonder sometimes what its going to be like trying to make a living in this crazy world... but i guess ill find out soon enough.
well i better wrap up, and ill answer your other questions in my next email i write here in like... 2 minutes. so yeah. how do you like how ive been doing this lately, its easier than having to remember what ive told who and then making you guys read eachothers email to get the whole story, how does it run on your end?
well like i said
i love ya
john
Thursday, January 8, 2009
One of my favorite things...
Now that school is back in session I'm seeing one of my favorite things. I love seeing the kids help each other with their homework. James is good at math, much to his chagrin, but he helps Hannah with her math homework almost every day. It's so fun to hear him telling her how to do the different problems. Let's face it! His math skills are much fresher than mine!
One of my most precious memories happened one day when I picked up the kids from school. Hannah came from kindergarten first, but James was late coming from first grade. We went to look for him and saw him in the hallway. His shoe was untied because he hadn't learned to tie them yet. Hannah bent down and tied James' shoe for him. Awe!
I love to see the spirit of cooperation amongst our children!
One of my most precious memories happened one day when I picked up the kids from school. Hannah came from kindergarten first, but James was late coming from first grade. We went to look for him and saw him in the hallway. His shoe was untied because he hadn't learned to tie them yet. Hannah bent down and tied James' shoe for him. Awe!
I love to see the spirit of cooperation amongst our children!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
News from Indiana--Jan 6, 2009
hey!
this was another great week! weve got a couple people who look pretty promising and are making some great progression.
Charles is doing good as always, still reading. he was able to make it out to church this sunday which was a huge step. hes working on his word of wisdom stuff so he can be baptized. wealso had an awesome lesson with Jim Baugh at the church and he said he'd try to come out to church. and Jimmy is coming back, he was out of town for the holidays, and apparently hes on FIRE!!!
were working on finding some new investigators. a lot of the people Chris is associated with are softening their hearts. tracting hasnt been goin too shabby either, weve been able to find some good potentials.
im doin pretty good. i gave my training yesterday on faith and prayer. it went pretty good. i have no idea what im trainig on next week but im sure ill figure it out.
well im gonna go, i hope you have a great week, sounds like new years was a blast!
love ya
john
Mom: the lord answers gradually doesnt he? its been a long time striving for those miracles to happen but one by one they did!
i love that verse in ether, heck i love the whole chapter! it puts faith and weakness and trials and everything into perspective.
Dad: you said Elder Adaoag will accomplish great things. i think so too. i hope so. i havent had any chances to train but ive come close a couple times, hopefully my positive qualities will effect this mission for years just like the great missionaries ive met have through me. im just grateful God has helped me come to the level of understanding that i have. haha ill keep wokin my hardest. i know the time flies when your runnin as hard and fast as you can.
this was another great week! weve got a couple people who look pretty promising and are making some great progression.
Charles is doing good as always, still reading. he was able to make it out to church this sunday which was a huge step. hes working on his word of wisdom stuff so he can be baptized. wealso had an awesome lesson with Jim Baugh at the church and he said he'd try to come out to church. and Jimmy is coming back, he was out of town for the holidays, and apparently hes on FIRE!!!
were working on finding some new investigators. a lot of the people Chris is associated with are softening their hearts. tracting hasnt been goin too shabby either, weve been able to find some good potentials.
im doin pretty good. i gave my training yesterday on faith and prayer. it went pretty good. i have no idea what im trainig on next week but im sure ill figure it out.
well im gonna go, i hope you have a great week, sounds like new years was a blast!
love ya
john
Mom: the lord answers gradually doesnt he? its been a long time striving for those miracles to happen but one by one they did!
i love that verse in ether, heck i love the whole chapter! it puts faith and weakness and trials and everything into perspective.
Dad: you said Elder Adaoag will accomplish great things. i think so too. i hope so. i havent had any chances to train but ive come close a couple times, hopefully my positive qualities will effect this mission for years just like the great missionaries ive met have through me. im just grateful God has helped me come to the level of understanding that i have. haha ill keep wokin my hardest. i know the time flies when your runnin as hard and fast as you can.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy New Year!
For many years we would set the same goals over and over and never acheive them. I started dreading the New Year's celebration. I was so discouraged and depressed. Nothing ever changed...not my weight (except to go up), not Tom's employment situation, not our finances...
During this time I was called to serve in the Primary presidency and the Bishop promised me an amazing blessing when he set me apart. He told me that if I fulfilled my calling my desires of a home and land would be filled. I did my best at that calling, and ultimately we moved to Boise a couple years later, on my birthday in 2000.
When we moved here I held on to that promise the Bishop gave me, and we finally bought our first home six years ago. Tom's employment has been steadier. We set goals of paying off overdue bills from our time in Salt Lake City, our school loans, our van and the credit cards, respectfully. Over a period of seven years we were able to finally pay off all consumer debt. My weight has even been coming down. It's been one of the hardest experiences of my life to overcome the issues that were the very reasons I gained weight in the first place.
Every year I spend the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas counting my blessings, enjoying the time with my family, and planning for the next year. That's when I set my goals and do all the normal New Year's things. Between this habit and the discouragement I was feeling for many years New Year's has been a wasted holiday in my mind. Right next to Halloween on my list of least liked holidays.
This year has been different. Everything has been the same as usual except I have been so excited. I set my goals and couldn't wait to start them...so I didn't...lol! This year is going to be a great year! To quote something Tom told me over and over during the hard years, "Something great is just around the corner."
During this time I was called to serve in the Primary presidency and the Bishop promised me an amazing blessing when he set me apart. He told me that if I fulfilled my calling my desires of a home and land would be filled. I did my best at that calling, and ultimately we moved to Boise a couple years later, on my birthday in 2000.
When we moved here I held on to that promise the Bishop gave me, and we finally bought our first home six years ago. Tom's employment has been steadier. We set goals of paying off overdue bills from our time in Salt Lake City, our school loans, our van and the credit cards, respectfully. Over a period of seven years we were able to finally pay off all consumer debt. My weight has even been coming down. It's been one of the hardest experiences of my life to overcome the issues that were the very reasons I gained weight in the first place.
Every year I spend the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas counting my blessings, enjoying the time with my family, and planning for the next year. That's when I set my goals and do all the normal New Year's things. Between this habit and the discouragement I was feeling for many years New Year's has been a wasted holiday in my mind. Right next to Halloween on my list of least liked holidays.
This year has been different. Everything has been the same as usual except I have been so excited. I set my goals and couldn't wait to start them...so I didn't...lol! This year is going to be a great year! To quote something Tom told me over and over during the hard years, "Something great is just around the corner."
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Fun Tag
Bold the items you have done...
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band --flute, piccalo, clarinet, bass clarinet, contra bass clarinet
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower—and “Hale bop”…that’s what James called Haley’s comet
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland--My second year of college with the BYU band
8. Climbed a mountain--Mount Timpanogus twice...with Tom
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch--learned enough to know I'm not the greatest artist.
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person--2006 vacation
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors--only USA sites, towns, not actual homes
35. Seen an Amish community-- 2006 vacation
36. Taught yourself a new language -- I started Portugese while my sister was serving her mission.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied--I don't have my retirement figured out yet.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke--only at home, in the shower
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt--And Castle geyser and River geyser
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud--One day John, Tim and I had a mud fight. What fun!!!
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie--been on the news
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business --didn't finish it, though.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check--accidentally, of course.
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt--lots. I've actually quilted them, too.
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone--a toe and my foot
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle --Speeding is relative. I thought it was speeding.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person--our honeymoon
80. Published a book --I've got one in mind.
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car--not worth the depreciation
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper--Does the BYU annual calendar count?
85. Read the entire Bible -- Not the Old Testament yet. Working on it.
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury--I was considered once
91. Met someone famous--I never recognize them...lol.
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee --on the big toe
100. Visited Italy
I also:
River rafted
Went to Honduras
Fell into a four foot hole
Repaired the car all by myself
Taught myself to swim
Rode in a hot air balloon
I tag anyone who dares! Be bold!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band --flute, piccalo, clarinet, bass clarinet, contra bass clarinet
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower—and “Hale bop”…that’s what James called Haley’s comet
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland--My second year of college with the BYU band
8. Climbed a mountain--Mount Timpanogus twice...with Tom
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch--learned enough to know I'm not the greatest artist.
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person--2006 vacation
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors--only USA sites, towns, not actual homes
35. Seen an Amish community-- 2006 vacation
36. Taught yourself a new language -- I started Portugese while my sister was serving her mission.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied--I don't have my retirement figured out yet.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke--only at home, in the shower
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt--And Castle geyser and River geyser
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud--One day John, Tim and I had a mud fight. What fun!!!
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie--been on the news
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business --didn't finish it, though.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check--accidentally, of course.
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt--lots. I've actually quilted them, too.
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone--a toe and my foot
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle --Speeding is relative. I thought it was speeding.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person--our honeymoon
80. Published a book --I've got one in mind.
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car--not worth the depreciation
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper--Does the BYU annual calendar count?
85. Read the entire Bible -- Not the Old Testament yet. Working on it.
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury--I was considered once
91. Met someone famous--I never recognize them...lol.
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee --on the big toe
100. Visited Italy
I also:
River rafted
Went to Honduras
Fell into a four foot hole
Repaired the car all by myself
Taught myself to swim
Rode in a hot air balloon
I tag anyone who dares! Be bold!
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