Seminary

I was asked to substitute for Seminary for 6 days - I forgot how early in the morning Seminary is!!  I really admire these high school students who get up at or around 5AM every day to get to Seminary at 6AM, then it's off to school all day, then sports/music/drama/jobs after school, only to come home to a couple hours of homework every night, go to bed and get up and do it all over again the next day.  Wow! 

Right now, I'm teaching the high school seniors.  On a good day, fourteen of the eighteen show up for class.  We usually start with about 4 students, but the rest tend to trickle in by about 6:15AM.  Some are really attentive and involved, others come in and promptly put their heads down on the table.  Sometimes it feels like we've had a good discussion, other times it feels like I've spent the time talking to myself.  But you know, whatever kind of day it is, however many show up at whatever time and for whatever reasons, I'm so impressed with them! 

I can also honestly say that I do not envy the Seminary teachers' calling!  After three days last week - I was exhausted!  I get up a bit before 5AM, off to Seminary, come home and eat breakfast and log in for work, then when I'm done with work for the day, I spend about 2 hours studying for the lesson the next day!  I do love to teach though and most of all, I've loved the opportunity to really study the scriptures.  This year in Seminary they are studying the Book of Mormon and I've had the opportunity to teach Jacob 2-7 so far (we'll end up at Mosiah by the time I hand things back to their teacher). 

The past couple of days we've been studying Jacob 5 - The Allegory of the Olive Tree.  This is truly the best understanding I've had of that chapter.  Quite honestly, when I read through the Book of Mormon, every time I've approached Jacob 5 I've just kind of groaned and made my way through the 77 verses without really understanding the beauty of the parable.  We learn in Jacob 4 that the gospel is very simple and plain to those who truly seek to understand it.  There are some who would complicate the gospel or think it more difficult than it really is and to them, it is complex and difficult to understand.  Over the past few days though as I've studied this parable, I not only understand it better, but have developed a testimony of the Lord's promise that as we study the gospel, the Spirit will teach us the truths of the gospel, help us understand the scriptures, and help us see real application of those principles in our lives. 

It's been fun, challenging, but fun.  I am looking forward to sleeping in until 7AM on Thursday though... :)

Deception Pass

We live in a beautiful area!  Last week Eddie and I took some time to go visit Deception Pass.  Finally, a day that wasn't raining.  We captured some fantastic pictures:

A view from the bridge looking south

A view of the bridge from the south side

Another one from the bridge looking south

Looking to the southwest

Isn't it just gorgeous!?!

Eddie and I enjoy taking a day and just going for a drive.  Most times, our destination wasn't planned.  We've ended up in E. Washington, Olympic Peninsula, Canada, California, Oregon - wherever!  Lately we've been so busy that these trips have become less and less frequent so we were excited to just take a couple of hours and wander around Deception Pass.  Though it wasn't raining, it was COLD so we bundled up in our winter hats and gloves and enjoyed the day!

We love this area - hate the traffic - not so fond of some of the liberal ideas that come out of Seattle - but what a gift it is to live in a place where God's artistry is so evident!

Sick

I hate being sick!  I even got a flu shot this year so that I wouldn't get sick...didn't work.  Well, maybe it did.  I guess it could have been a whole lot worse.  Woke up Friday morning, not feeling so great, but had to go to a meeting with Eddie.  Later that night though, he was supposed to go shoot (photography) a couple of soccer games in Shoreline so I was going to go with him, at least to drop him off and then I would go shopping for a couple of hours - who can pass up shopping, especially when it's my husband that's endorsing it!?  We had a wicked storm roll through here this last weekend though.  Rain, lightning, thunder - the works.  Now, I love a good storm and this time around, I admit, I was really grateful for that lightning.  You see, they won't call off soccer games for rain, they won't call them off for snow, but for lightning?  You betcha they called off that game!  I was so relieved that I could stay home and feel like a train hit me instead of going out and feeling that icky.

Ok, so then there was Saturday, first, had to call and cancel my voice lesson, then I totally flaked out on a friend's Party Lite party (I love candles!).  I spent the entire day in bed on Saturday!!  Of the 24 hours...I think I slept 20 of them.  I woke up to eat graham crackers, 7-Up, and Top Ramen - that's it!  I totally felt like that part in Monty Python where the guy is walking through the village with the cart ringing the bell yelling, "Bring out your dead!"  A man is brought out to the cart compaining the whole time, "I'm not dead," to the reply of, "You will be."  Yeah, that's how I felt - guess you have to see the movie!

Then Sunday rolled around and the ONLY reason I got out of bed is because I was scheduled to sing a song with my sister at church.  Have to tell you, she did great!!  Me?  Not so great!  Couldn't hold a note to save me, pitch was off, was rushing through parts, and running out of breath so quickly!  I can only hope that the congregation looked past the imperfections and felt the spirit of the song....

I have a wonderful husband.  Have I said this before?  I'm not very nice when I'm sick but Eddie puts up with it and takes care of me anyway.  I get whiney, little things irritate me that otherwise wouldn't...I'm just not a very nice person when I'm sick.  Then, when I think I'm feeling a little bit better, I try to do too much.  Like Saturday night when I thought I was doing better and tried to vacuum.  Yeah, Eddie put a stop to that quickly and sent me back to bed!

I hate being sick!  And what's even more irritating?  Being sick on the weekend!  Yup, feeling just fine this morning - just in time to go back to work for another week!!!  Ugh!

Inherit the Wind

Eddie loves photography!  Recently he's been working with a photographer, Sam, to get more experience around sports and theater photography.  He's gotten to go out with Sam to a couple of games (soccer and football) and most recently, Sam asked Eddie to cover a play at Meadowdale High School while Sam covered a drama festival at Kamiak High School.  What's more is that Sam asked if I would write the review of the play!

So, Eddie and I set out last Thursday night to see the high school production of, "Inherit the Wind."  We got to the high school a bit early, showed our press passes, and proceeded to the "Black Box Theatre" to get set up for the show.  It was kind of a heavy production for a high school - not what I expected.  Eddie got some great shots and I got to do the write up afterwards.  Both the pictures and review are posted to www.nwtnews.org.

I wonder what we'll get to see next...

Stamp Camp

Stamp Camp - what is that, you may ask.  Well, it's a bunch of avid "stampers" getting together for a day of crafting.  We make seven projects during the four hours that we're there; we learn new stamping techniques, get the opportunity to glean from others' creativity, and have a day to spend visiting with one another.  It's great!  Ok, if you're not into crafting, scrapbooking, or rubber stamping, it probably sounds kind of dorky.  I'm ok with that!  We made some really cute projects today.  I'll have to take some pictures and add them to this post later so you can see why I'm so excited!

The other great thing about today is that I got to spend the day with my sister.  Missi is so overscheduled - well, to me, it seems that way.  She is always on the go; working full time, at activities with her Young Womens class, working out, at piano or voice lessons, or doing any variety of other things.  To have a day just to hang out with her was fantastic.  I picked her up for Stamp Camp and we stopped at McDonald's for our morning fuel (breakfast sandwiches and Diet Coke) and headed off to camp.  She and I work really well together at camp - we set up assembly lines in order to get our projects done in the allotted time (or ahead of the crowd even).  So for certain projects, she'll do the stamping while I punch out the pieces, or I'll go do the embossing while she's assembling the projects.  It works so well!  Then we both put together our "wish lists" of stamps and supplies to buy.  Since we pool our stuff together anyway, we make sure we agree on what each other buys so we can both use it! 

Afterwards, Missi mentioned she was going to make enchiladas tonight but was missing some ingredients.  So we went grocery shopping.  Now, one key ingredient for our chicken enchiladas...Campbell's Fiesta Nacho Cheese Soup.  Finding this soup in stores has been quite challenging lately.  We've both tried Albertsons, Safeway, Fred Meyer - nothing.  I've even made special requests at Albertsons and Safeway for them to order in the product - nothing.  So, after camp we stopped in at Top Foods and guess what, they had Campbell's Fiesta Nacho Cheese Soup!!!  We were so excited - more excited than anyone should be to find cans of cheese soup!  So, we cleaned 'em out!  Yep, bought every last can they had of it - so fun!

We ended up picking up some lunch for Eddie on the way back from the grocery store and after taking that to him, we decided to head to the mall because it seemed like the perfect day for a trip to Bath & Body Works (we LOVE Bath & Body Works)!  They have all of their Fall and Winter scents out right now - we went a bit crazy smelling all of the new products!  Made a little stop in the food court on the way out for some pretzels and Jamba Juice, and we were on our way again.

Missi ended up coming to our house to make the enchiladas.  Then the four of us, Missi, her boyfriend, me and Eddie, sat down and enjoyed a great meal together.  Even now, they're sitting on my couch cuddling, watching the Huskies lose to Arizona (14:17, Arizona right now with 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter...although Washington has possession of the ball...) while I'm on the other couch blogging and Eddie is surfing the net and watching the game.  Wait!!!! Four minutes left and the Huskies just scored a field goal = TIE GAME!!!  We have a chance to win this thing...nevermind...ASU just scored and the game stands at 17:24, Arizona with 5 seconds remainiang.  Well, that's the game!

Aren't sisters great!?

General Conference

Wow - what an awesome weekend!  General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held this weekend.  This conference is an opportunity for Latter-day Saints around the world to "gather" to hear the words of the leaders of the Church, the modern-day apostles and prophets whom God has called to serve in our day.  Truly, these men are called of God, that much was so plain from the topics on which they chose to speak, the fervor with which they spoke, and their resounding testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.

General Conference happens two times per year; the first weekend in April and the first weekend in October.  It is comprised of 4, 2-hour general sessions, and a Priesthood session.  I'm the first to admit, this is a lot.  In the past, I have found myself less engaged in the Saturday sessions and pretty sleepy during the Sunday morning session.  This time though, Eddie and I were more dedicated in our desire to hear the words that the Lord has prepared for us.  What a tremendous blessing!

I'm sure one of the talks that many will remember for years was a talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in the Sunday afternoon general session.  WOW!  He told it like it is!  He talked of dangers in these last days metaphorically speaking of the heart as the center of our faith, loyalty and values, and then quoting the Savior when He said that in the latter days, men's hearts will fail them.  He explained that our Heavenly Father is so aware of our day, of each one of us individually, and that He has provided a way for us to resist the things that would distract us, or lead us away from the path that leads to Him, that we may overcome all troubles in all times.

Elder Holland expressed his love for and testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and of the divinity of Joseph Smith's calling as the Prophet of the Restoration.  He told of the many attempts to defame the authenticity of the Book of Mormon and bore powerful witness of the Book of Mormon as Another Testament of Jesus Christ, translated by the power of God through Joseph Smith, and written for our day.

I also loved the talk on temperance by Elder Kent D. Watson.  He talked of the charge to all of us to be like the Savior and the need for temperance in all things.  I was brought to tears with the words from Elder Brent H. Nielson of prayer, of furthering the work of building the kingdom, and of the Lord's awareness of our needs, our prayers, and that many of the rising generation will be the long-awaited answers to fervent prayers.  I found the counsel from Elder Dale G. Renlund especially moving - that we be not casual in our worship or in our relationship with our Savior.

Of course, I love listening to the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson.  "What have I done for someone today?"  I loved his message on service, especially his mention of warm fuzzies.  If you haven't already, guess you have to listen to understand that one!

What a fabulous weekend!  Isn't it amazing that we can watch and/or listen to these sessions in the comfort of our own homes?  Even more amazing that the audio files are available to listen to the NEXT day on http://www.lds.org/?  I was talking with someone in the temple the other night and she mentioned that she downloads the talks onto her mp3 player so she can listen to them again and again while she walks or does other various activities.  What a great idea!  What a great opportunity to not have this spiritual refreshment only every six months but as often as we want it by listening again and again to the counsel of our leaders?

Eddie - break out the Zunes, we have some downloading to do!

What was your favorite talk and why?