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!!!!!!!
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.
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 5th 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.
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.
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.
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???
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!
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.
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!
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 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....
The Southridge Skyhawks are the Oregon 6A Football Champions for 2008!!
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!!!!!!!
