Make a Smilebox slideshow

Cumorah's Hill

On Saturday, Scott and Douglas will be performing in our Stake's From Cumorah's Hill production. A cute story about Scott.....just about 12 years ago I was playing in the orchestra for the same production. For that production the Stake made "sharing the gospel" a major focus. We were all encouraged to bring non-members and to give out copies of the Book of Mormon. In the orchestra I was sitting next to a gentleman who was not a member of the church. Scott took a Book of Mormon and wrote his testimony in it, mind you he was only about 4 years old. At the first performance I was sitting with the orchestra warming up and I will never forget him walking in with Matt, my mom, Karin and Doug as a baby. He marched over to the orchestra, ducked his head under the directors music stand, walked right over to this gentleman and said, "Here this is for you". It was so cute. Then our Stake President gave a brief overview of the Book of Mormon explaining the sticks of Joseph and Judah etc. Then he explained the significance Cumorah's Hill. This gentleman turned to me and said, "That makes so much more sense, I thought they were singing about Sodom and Gomorrah". During all of our rehearsals we never saw the words and so it was the best he could do to make some sense of the production. I've played with him several times since then and we remain friends.

Bah Humbug

OK, seriously folks I know you are all wondering why my neighbor has two cranes in the vacant lot next to his house. Well, Christmas is just around the corner. Really, I'm serious, every year these cranes show up and elves begin stringing lights on ALL of his trees and around his house. These cranes showed up last Friday - that's October 17th - mind you. I've heard that the company charges $100 per tree. So I walked around my yard and counted 55 trees, that $5500 I could spend plus a few more hundred for the house. Can you imagine the stress this puts on my husband? If you can believe it, we have only one electrical outlet on the outside of our home; so Matt has to string all of our lights together and then attach them to extension cords, then climb up on the roof and carry the cords to the back of the house where the outlet is. If he doesn't go through this dangerous ritual then he must endure the holiday mockery of those who drive through our neighborhood and compare our lights with our neighbors. He told me this year - he is going to spray paint a piece of plywood with the words "Bah Humbug" and post it in our front yard. You'll have to drive by in the daylight though to see it.

Avenue 9

Today I took Emily to Children's Hospital for an E.coli follow-up (something we'll be doing for the next decade). I can't drive down Avenue 9 without a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I know I'm headed to a very special and even spiritual place. The first time we drove this road we were in such a panic for Thomas' health. After months of pain and visits to the doctor, we were unexpectedly called and told to go immediately to the hospital with Thomas. Since that first trip in May of 2003 I have driven this road many times. I think sometimes we forget that there can be sacred places on earth other than the Temple. This hospital is such a place for me. I have thought a lot about why it feels this way. It is a place where ALL the staff have been trained to be so helpful to patients and their families; but I think more than that it is a place of yearning. Just as we yearn for our littles ones to be healthy and free of disease and pain, we also yearn for the hand of God in our lives. We especially long for Him in times of sorrow and difficulty. I have met many parents there and have watched stories of courage, endurance and sorrow being lived. I have seen children happily play with toys with tubes and bandages covering their bodies. Yes, sacred things do occur here, most can't be written. When we reach the orange grove we are almost there and I can hear Thomas' pleas from the back seat, "No pokes mommy, no pokes". This time I wanted to stop at the grove and just walk around, I found my own emotions pouring out, "No pokes for mommy either." When I drive past this tree again in the spring, the orange will be orange and we'll be going to Thomas' follow-up. By the way, Emily didn't even remember the hospital.

Preserving Marriage

Just a quick note tonight. I just returned from the LDS Broadcast regarding Prop. 8 here in California. (I guess this blog is for out-of-staters). It was really, really good. I hope it becomes available to the church membership at large; I know Karin also saw it tonight at BYU. All the California residents attending BYU were invited and they are also participating in phone banks there. In fact, in the Wilk they have phone booths set up where anyone can spend as much time as they have making calls to voters in California. So cool! Anyway, sometimes I feel like people are glad they don't live in California because then they don't have to deal with these issues. I don't believe any state will be isolated forever and these are the trials of our generation. For me though, there has been a benefit. I have had to study and decide how I feel about some of these issues, for instance tolerance versus sin. And then I have had the opportunity to listen to the Prophet and the Apostles and attempt to follow them in faith. I have become so convinced of some truths.....I love it! It is great to be able to testify of the truth. (Wow, this is just like Personal Progress) Anyway, I'll be sure to write more later, but check out the video at the bottom of the page from www.PreservingMarriage.org, the bald surfer dude grew up here in our ward. When Matt takes his annual fishing trip to Yellowstone, it is with this family. Be sure to VOTE YES or send money (www.protectmarriage.com)!

Make a Smilebox slideshow