Happy Hanukkah!

Well, this has been a Christmas break of unexpected wonders. It started a whole week early as we had the beginnings of Arctic Blast 2008 and missed an entire week of school to snow days. Yes! (This was particularly enjoyable as my teaming partner is in Australia with family and I was making plans for the both of us.)

Luckily, I was iced/snowed in at my friend Penny’s house in Hillsboro, about 25 minutes from my house. I became “Aunt Alice” and started baking and cleaning and diagnosing and nannying and counseling and chauffeuring and imposing massive quantities of mommy-guilt. It was awesome!

During this week off, Penny’s son, Luke, Gabi and I made the world’s most awesome gingerbread house complete with rock garden, solar panels and smoke coming out the chimney. It was an energy conscious home. It is the year 2008 after all.

Saturday, I took my car in to get the alignment done and they reported that my car was not align-able and, in fact, not drive-able. Aaaah!!! So my dear friend, Penny Lou, drove me through the driving snow to my house where we cleaned my room, folded laundry and packed up for the upcoming trip to California for Christmas. The plan was to be stranded at Penny’s and then get to the airport on Monday for our flight.

Monday came, most of the flights were cancelled, but by some miracle ours was not. It was nearly time to leave on the trek to the airport (a two-hour tour since all public transportation was no longer working) when the flight was delayed slightly…by 20 minutes. Alright, we are packed, ready to go, better print the boarding passes so we do not have to check a bag or stand in the lines. There’s my flight….CANCELLED!!!

I had already called the airline and the earliest we could get to ANY location in Southern California was Friday night…the day AFTER Christmas.

BAH HUMBUG!!!

So it’s Christmas in the Northwest! We will hang with the Thornbrues. We love them and they love us! This is fortunate as we are in very close quarters and surrounded by piles of snow. We have at least 14 inches so far and are expected to get at least 2-4 inches more in the next day. The cold weather may have frozen some of our brains though. If you look closely, you will find that Ellie (Penny’s 11 year old daughter) and Gabi (my college-attending daughter) stuck their tongues to a light pole. The younger generation needs to watch and learn the lessons of A Christmas Story…I guess they’ll never win the major award.

This Christmas I am blessed to have wonderful friends who will house me, feed me, tote me, and most importantly love me. I hope you are all equally blessed this holiday season.

A Fun New Face...well, kinda new.

A couple of months ago I began a weight loss regimen. The effects were very good in the beginning, but then Costco began selling pumpkin pie. Nevertheless, I did lose nearly 30 pounds. And since the insipid and delectable arrival of the aforementioned holiday pastry, I have maintained. Below you will find a before and after pic of my face. The before was at Zach and Danielle's wedding in July the after was last weekend. Hurrah!

We Are The Champions!!!!

The Southridge Skyhawks are the Oregon 6A Football Champions for 2008!!

What an exciting game it was! I went down with my doppelganger, Chanel, to the game in Corvallis. The Skyhawks soundly beat the #1 ranked Lake Oswego Lakers 35 to 21. It was a spectacular comeback; the Hawks started down 14 to 0. Perhaps it was my spirited outfit? In our last play of the game, we were intending to kick the point after a touchdown, but the hold was fumbled and so the kicker threw the ball in for a two point conversion. FANTASTIC!!!! GO HAWKS!!!!!!!

An Apostle Dies

A once towering football star is greeted by the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson.

Elder Joseph Bitner Wirthlin died Monday night of old age. He was 91 years old. I met this special witness of Christ while I was in the Missionary Training Center at the beginning of my mission. I loved this dear man and his unshakable testimony of the Savior and His gospel.

I will never forget the address he gave at last October's General Conference. The talk was about charity. While he gave the talk he began to shake (apparently his knees had locked and his muscles were trying to hold him up). Elder Nelson, also an Apostle, stood beside him while he finished his remarks. There was nothing that could remove him from finishing his talk. The testimony that was shared seemed much stronger than usual that time. It was remarkable to see an act of charity as Elder Wirthlin testified of its importance in our lives.

I will miss his stories at General Conference. I will miss his testimony. But I look forward to getting to know a new Apostle of the Lord when he is called next April.

My Gratitude Overfloweth

Tonight I had the opportunity to participate in several marvelous and faith-building experiences. The story does not start several hours ago, but several weeks ago.

In my 5^th period math class I had a feisty junior named Matt. Matt was bright and hilarious. However, he used his powers for evil and was a constant source of discord in the classroom and aggravation for the teacher.

The first week of October one of my co-workers, who is also a member of the church, told me that this Matt was baptized. I was astonished and thought about Matt in my class. “You know,” I said, “I haven’t had to yell at him for a couple of weeks and I usually have to talk to him everyday.”

“Well the whole process has been about that long,” she replied.

I was floored. I talked to him that day and found out when his confirmation would be. It was a humbling thing to see him receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, to talk with him about the gospel, and to meet his sweet mother who wanted the examples of strong men in her son’s life.

Tonight, Matt’s mom, Barbara, was baptized by her son who recently received the priesthood and has the power and authority to do so. The Spirit during the ordinance and entire service was strong. The talks, the songs, the people, the love that was in the room was overwhelming.

The joy and blessings of the night did not end with the baptismal service. I went over to a friend’s home with several missionaries and others who were at the baptism. One of those persons was a former student, Jordin. (I was never lucky enough to have her in any of my classes, but I claim all Skyhawks the same.) She is not a member of the church, but tonight called herself a “practically mormon.” I got to talk with her for a few hours about everything including boys, dorm-life, the gospel, her mom, and chocolate-covered cherries. There was such a profound spirit there as we discussed living the gospel and learning about Christ’s church.

I drove her home and just before she got out to go upstairs I had the opportunity to give her a copy of James E. Talmage’s The Articles of Faith. I shared a brief testimony that the contents were true and she went home “to read it right now!”

I am awed by the faith of these young people. They are great examples not only to their families, but also to me. I am grateful for their lives and my associations with them. Matt could have just as easily been in anyone else’s math class, but he was scheduled to mine.

I am blessed to know them. I am blessed to know that God has restored his church on the earth and that I am a member of it. Tonight we sang the primary song, “The Church of Jesus Christ,” and each word raced through my being screaming that it was true.

The Church of Jesus Christ

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I know who I am.
I know God’s plan.
I’ll follow him in faith.
I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ.
I’ll honor his name.
I’ll do what is right;
I’ll follow his light.
His truth I will proclaim.

Words and music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938. © 1989 IRI

A New Car!!

There were a lot of decisions made, but the final one was the purchase of a 2008 Toyota Avalon...silver with grey leather interior.
http://www.automedia.com/NewCarBuyersGuide2008/2008-Toyota-Avalon/Sedans/photo/car/
There was a bad loan, an old Ford, and extra cash. The decision was made with fiscal responcibility in mind. How can that be? I know spending 26 grand doesn't seem like a responcible thing to do, but I assure you, it was. I bought this lush new car with 11K miles and 8K dollars off the new price. I will surely miss the Escape, but I don't even realize that I do when I get into my fully-loaded Avalon...with reclining rear seats. I am looking forward to driving this vehicle for the next decade at least.

I Voted!

It is perhaps the most interesting, ground-breaking general election our nation's history. Today we will either elect a woman Vice President or an African-American President. There are also many other important measures and candidates. But today (hopefully), we will go to bed with a President-Elect or Vice President-Elect who is not a white male. Fascinating! I took part in this election. I voted for one of them. Did you???

It was a Happy Halloween!

One of my great loves in life is dressing up in a costume. I have recently realized that the success of any costume is due to the details. Even the subtle nuances make the biggest difference in a costume. This year was no exception. Though it is not my personal policy to recycle a costume, this year my personal policy was suspended. My teaching partner was to come as Drew Carey I and was coming as Mimi Bobeck. I am on the right.I am wearing so much stuffing under that costume I basically sweat the entire day!

My Current Read...that I LOVE

I have owned this book for some time, but have never read it until this week. I have long been a fan of Sheri Dew; she has this crazy ability to say things that are like a dagger to my soul. Her most recent publication, God Wants a Powerful People, is no exception.

This morning as I read in the stillness of the early dark hours of the day, there immerged three major themes that have become mantras in my life. I have heard them in previous talks and also read them in previous books. I love them; they have changed my perspective in life.

1. Who you are is who you have always been.
2. You were foreordained to live in the last days.
3. Do you want the kingdom of God more than you want anything else?

I think that if I really stopped to think about these things whenever I found myself in a tough situation, or had to make a decision, or in some way was discouraged, I would have an eternal perspective. It is with this eternal perspective that I would have peace and security in life. I would live my life with more confidence, purpose and, ultimately, more power.

Aaaaaaaaaahh........ {a sigh of relief}

Today I woke up and I was a #1 or #2 on the pain scale!!! This is fantastic news because as recently as Tuesday afternoon I was a #9. So what changed?!?!? I went to see Uncle Dave and Cousin Davey and they basically ground off 80% of my hurting tooth so it would not knock on any other teeth in my mouth. It is now a little tooth stub. Uncle Dave was kind enough to drill in a little hole so I have some traction for grinding. He also gave me Medrol, a fantastic steroid anti-inflammatory drug. I am flying a little higher than normal, but with little to no pain I'll take it!

Tagged by Chelsea!

My cool cousin Chelsea tagged me (okay, she really tagged every one, but I thought that it sounded fun...also we are kindred spirits as we have the same blog background)!

The rules: Answer each of the following questions with a picture from google images. You may only choose a picture from the first page of your google image search.

My age:

Place I've been:

Place I want to visit:

Favorite Place:

Favorite Item:

Favorite Food:

Favorite Color:
Place of Birth:
Current Hobby:

Favorite Memory:

Bad Habit:

What I am currently doing:
I tag: Caitlin, Chanel, Allie and Alie.

I'M BACK!!!

I was walking up my stairs yesterday and realized that some of the frustrations with blogging are the same as journalling. I became so overwhelmed because there was so much to blog that rather than blog something...ANYTHING...I blogged nothing. I tried to get my visiting teacher to write some entries for me, but she was promptly called to be the Relief Society President after my last post. Not only does she not have any time now, but she also switched the visiting teaching routes so I am not one of her visiting teachees anymore. (I just think that she didn't want to do my blogging.) BAH!

So I decided to take some of the advice I have given so many before:

Just start writing. Write about what is current. If you get the chance to catch-up, awesome. If not, don't worry about it. Just write.

Therefore, I will write about what is current.

I currently hurt.

Last Wednesday I went into see my dentist, Uncle Dave, and had an emergency root canal. It hurt. My number three tooth hurt. I took antibiotics and it hurt. I took pain killers and it hurt. I took steroids and it hurt. I took copious amounts of Advil and it hurt. I changed my antibiotic and it hurt. I had my tooth drilled on because it was "high" and it hurt. I watched my dentist, Unka Dave, have his tooth drilled on and it hurt. I had my tooth drilled on again and it hurt. I woke up this morning with a hope of a pain-free day and it hurt. I have a fever, have taken six Aleve and one Vicodin, have cried when I bit into a granola bar, have yelled at nearly every class today, have seriously contemplated poking an eyeball out, and have desperately wished I could go to any Druggist with 15 cents and buy some of the following:


It is the "Instantaneous Cure!" Those kids look so pain-free playing with their lincoln logs....

It's my birthday!!!

I have come out of my cocoon to wish myself a happy birthday. I was awaken by the traditional Hite birthday song, courtesy of The Beatles, and have had one class errupt in song and another in anticlimactic applause. I don't know what I am doing for the celebrations, but my friends are planning something. I just have to show up. Yippee!!!! I am sure that I will have plenty stories and PLENTY good times.

On a side note: I have SOOOOOO many things to blog that I am overwhelmed. Perhaps I will call my Visiting Teacher and have her do the posts for me....

I am a Fat Hite.

I am the oldest of the Fat Hite children and I am fat. I am not the fattest I have ever been, nor am I the thinnest. I have been yo-yo-ing on the fat Hite scale for a number of years, perhaps all my life. However, I am determined to be less fat. I will be eating fewer calories and gyming twice a day. My goal is to bring my BMI into the healthy range. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, my healthy weight range is 122-164. Since they record weight in pounds and not kilograms, I'm in trouble. It will be a long row to hoe, but worth it.

You can read all about the Fat Hites at http://fathite.blogspot.com

Memory Lane

I just got done chatting with one of my college roommates, Kate. With the exception of our love of 'The Golden Girls,' Kate and I couldn't be more different...in fact, exact opposites would be the best way of describing us. It sparked many long-lost (perhaps appropriately lost) memories of times gone by. After reading my friend, Carol's Blog and finding the following, I thought I'd find some other long-lost memories.

If you want to play, follow these direction…

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn’t matter if you knew me a little or a lot, if it is recent or years old, silly or serious–anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It’s actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I’ll assume you’re playing the game and I’ll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Close Encounters with the Heber Creeper

I know that I have not yet posted for nearly a month and when I get back to my homestead I will post all of the happenings of the last several weeks. But the events of yesterday caused me to pause and be grateful for my life, among other things.

My daughter, Gabi, my good friend, Bryan, and I went tubing down the Provo River.


It was Gabi's first time tubing and she scared most of the fish with her scream as she creeped in and then was pushed into the rather cool water. Luckily the weather was very warm and especially conducive to a wonderful float down a cold river. We were all tethered together (Good thinking Bryan!) which kept us from losing anyone down the river and also helped to facilitate some quick saves from bank brush and large rocks. However, we found that keeping us all tied together was difficult when we had to go under subdivided bridges. On our first attempt of such Bryan was creamed against the wall of the subdivision and incurred a substantial contusion on his back and arm.

With the exception of said contusion, we had enjoyed much of the river. There was a larger bridge coming up and Bryan, in his infinite wisdom (he had floated the river before), decided it would be best to get out of the river walk, bypassing the bridge, and then climb back in to continue the float. Sounded like a good idea to me.

While we were walking past Bryan wanted to show us why he had made that decision. We parked the innertubes, partially on the track, and began walking down the tressel so he could illustrate why we were walking. We were about a third of the way to the middle of the tressel when Gabi and I heard a train whistle. Gabi claims to have said something like, "Isn't that a train? And shouldn't we leave?" But I didn't hear it. I did have the thought, "I wonder how close that train is?" Bryan, completely involved in his story, did not hear the alleged comment nor the whistle.

A few moments later, I heard the whistle again and this was what I saw:



THE HEBER VALLEY RAILROAD DIESEL ENGINE NUMBER 1813 WAS HEADED STRAIGHT FOR US!!!!

We all took off running down the tressel toward safety. Bryan was shoeless, Gabi was in flip-flops, and I was swearing. As we continued to run, both Bryan and I admit to having thoughts of jumping of the bridge in the shallow, swiftly moving water below. I looked back and saw that the train was stopping. It wasn't until we were off the tracks in the bushes that we saw that the train had stopped and the conductor was hanging out the window ahollerin'. I thought this was a good time to go and clear our tubes from the track and so I did so with Bryan and Gabi close behind.

I thought that the train would just keep on going, but nay. The train actually pulled up so that the locomotive was right by where we were standing and stopped. This was the train that pulled up next to us, not intending to order a Big Mac and Filet-o-Fish, but to order up three shagrinned tubers.



The conductor then got off his train to talk with us. The encounter went something like this:

Conductor: By now, I think you all know how stupid that was!

Bryan: Yeah, we know.

Gabi: (silent....mainly trying to not laugh)

Malia: Yes, Sir.

Conductor: These locomotives don't stop on a dime! They weigh 90 tons and they can do some serious damage.

Bryan: (respectfully trying to converse with the conductor, hoping we don't get a ticket)

Gabi: (still silent, happy to be alive)

Malia: (converting tons into pounds and thinking about some basics of Physics, including momentum)

Conductor: Hopefully, you've learned your lesson!

Malia & Bryan: Yes, sir. Absolutely, sir. Won't do it again!

Gabi: (still...silent)

Conductor: You owe me a new hat and pair of gloves. I lost them when I pulled the emergency brake. (walks away in a huff, back up on the train)

The train, finally 20 minutes later, pulls slowly away. This is a pic of the conductor, with that gloves and hat that he lost while saving our lives.


I don't think I was ever really scared for my life, but I did have vivid images of "Stand By Me" flashing through my mind knowing full well that one of those boys did not make it off the tressel alive. And now we know some really interesting facts about locomotives, like the fact that they weigh 180,000 pounds! If F=ma, then that is a lot of force coming toward you when you are trying to outrun a train, even the Heber Creeper.

In retrospect, it probably would have been safer to stay in the river and try to float under the bridge.

Well, there's always more to the story and if you want to hear the rest, including the part where Bryan had to hitchhike back to the car, do call.

It's a Happy Birthday!!!

My soon-to-be-sister-in-law, Danielle, marks the completion of two full decades in life. The wedding is three weeks from today on July 19th. She's great! I love her and can't wait to be officially related to her!

Happy Birthday Danielle!!!

My sis has a blog.

My sister, Caitlin, aka- Landy, aka - Caity, aka - Darwin, has a blog. It is very fun....and funny. If you read it, you will have a snippet of what my life is like living with her. Her first entry is a rant that can be expected daily....if not more frequently. Go check it out!

http://caitlinhite.blogspot.com/

Lazy...but busy summer!

I have started this post about five times, but have never had enough motivation to finish it. Perhaps it is because my computer is slowly dying (it has been good to me for 2 degrees and 5 1/2 years) or perhaps it is simply because it is summer and I can always find other things to do that are more fun and more exciting.

Some of the highlights of my lazy, nearly work-free summer have included: trips to the beach, playing with friends and cousins, concerts (I basically held hands with Tim McGraw for one whole second), bikes, books, pools, new running shoes, naps, movies (Must see movies include: Ironman, The Incredible Hulk, Indiana Jones, Kung-Fu Panda, and Get Smart), games, garage sales, and unfortunately a lot of picking up.

My Auntie Shirlene once posted a picture of her kitchen displaying the summer effects, I just remember the line of pop cans. I recently went into my kitchen to find no fewer than a dozen empty pop cans waiting for recycle by the sink. I don't drink soda, so I found that significant. From my position here at the computer I can see exactly 3 empty soda cans/bottles. I would spend my day picking them all up, but as I am trying to hide from the nearing 100 degree weather today (with no air conditioning) I think they will just stay there for the time being.


Today's game plan includes, the pool, a book I have to read for book club, and going somewhere with air. I hope all of you are staying appropriately cool and having appropriate fun this summer.

I don't think it was the tomatoes...

...and neither does the doctor at the ER, but it sure felt like salmonella poisoning.

I spent four quality hours hooked up to an IV giving me fluids and a variety of medications yesterday morning. I do not recall being that sick in my working memory. My thanks goes to St. V's emergency department and their readily available supply of phenergan.

Quote of the day:

(While talking with Advice Nurse) "Wake up your husband and have him take you to the Emergency Room."

First of all, why would she presume I am married. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, if I did have a husband, he would not be sleeping through that kind of sickness. I just don't understand some people.

Gabi is GRADUATED!!!

A New Toy for Me

I am always excited when I get to play with new technology. I am more excited when I get to own the technology. Due to a tax return, I am doing my part to stimulate the economy and purchased a new digital camera. It was a steal! I have been looking for a while and coveting for a long time. The Costco coupon confirmed my desires and I am now the ecstatic owner of a Nikon S52c. It was over $100 off the Amazon price, plus I got a leather case and 1GB memory card for free! My good friend Hilary and I were both recipients of this Tech Deal of the Day. And even though we both wanted the sleek red version and had to get the black due to availability, I call it a win all the way around.

There are some very cool features that this camera has that I never thought would even be available on a camera, but are now found on mine (which was only released 3 weeks ago). I can fix red eye in the camera before I make prints or load the pictures onto my computer. When I am on vacation and take that picture of the very important land mark because the tour guide tells me to, I can record a 20 second voice over to the picture so that when I get back from vacation I will remember why that very strange building is important. All of the optical zoom is inside the camera itself, so it never protrudes beyond the 0.9 inch width of the camera. It has all the bells and whistles for shooting that a modern camera should have.

However there are two features that are the COOLEST I have ever encountered. I can create slideshows with pictures and movies, with background music, in the camera. And the one that I thought was totally unimaginable is that I have wi-fi in my camera!!!! Yes, you read that right. All I have to do is plug in my camera, to the electric source and it will automatically charge my battery and download my pictures to the wireless source I have designated! How cool is that!?!?

So you can look forward to some awesome pictures to come from my new camera. I hope to be able to share slideshows and features and the joys of technology ownership.

An Emergent Visit

I was on my way to a Girls' Camp Meeting when Caitlin (my sister) called in hysterics. She had, "sliced part of her finger off in the meet slicer" at work. In about 20 minutes from the slicing of the wrong kind of meat we pulled up to the best parking I have ever had at the St. Vincent Memorial Emergency Room. In fact, now that I think about it, I don't think better parking exists unless you have a red flashing light and a siren.

It was still bleeding when we arrived. But five shot, four pills and three stitches later, she was ready to go. On the below picture you can even count the three stitches. That'll be fun for Margaret!

Caity, who is also known as Landy in Portland, only cried twice. But oh that I could have had a video of her receiving the injection before the stitches went in! I have never seen anything so funny in my life...except for maybe the "Windy City Marshmallow Game" on The Ellen Show. All in all, it was an enjoyable and productive trip to the ER. We were in and out in roughly 75 minutes...perhaps a new record!

Life is better living thru chemistry...maybe.

I have the joys of taking this wonderful drug three times a day. Amoxicillin, aka-Trimox, will hopefully cure the woes of my dual ear infection. I have watched every episode of Law and Order I have recorded, seen far too much TLC in a 48 hour period, and am finally back at work. My ear still hurts, but the fever is gone. I wish I were still in my PJs...but life goes on. Oh well.

Unfortunately the status of my clean house has suffered due to my illness. I will reinstate the 50 cent rule tonight and the house should rectify itself swiftly.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Well, it was my first official Mother's Day. It was a very enjoyable day indeed. Chruch was fabulous; I received my consolation geranium with pride. I had a bouquet of fresh flowers on my clean kitchen table. I talked to my mom. I opened the cheesiest card with the hand-written part starting, "This was the last card at Safeway's, I would have gotten you something more exciting." I unwrapped my first legit gift. Although to use the word "unwrap" is a slight exaggeration. There was a piece of newsprint paper declaring it to be fancy wrapping paper, but I could see right through it...quite literally. On the inside of said "wrapping" was this:This immersion blender that I have desired for quite sometime features:

• A robust motor and durable blending attachment that includes a premium stainless steel blade
  

AND

• Variable speeds provide greater processing control that adjusts to handle a variety of foods, beverages and soups

We made berry sorbet; it was DELICIOUS!!! The day ended with a wonderful dinner with La Familia Barney (our cousins who live right here in the 'Tron). It truly was a day to be remembered.

Another Wedding...still not mine.

My little brother just announced that he is getting married!!!!

Little Zach is marrying Danielle on July 18th(ish) in the Logan Utah Temple. Danielle (whose picture is coming) is also a student at BYU-I in Rexburg, ID and is originally from Mississippi. I have met her and she is really nice. I am excited to have another sister in the family.