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!