Readying the Family Calendar

A few years ago, my mother requested as her Christmas present that I put together a calendar with photos of our family. I've been repeating that gift every year since, using photos from the previous 12 months. It's usually a little stressful, so I'm always grateful for those family members who submit or make suggestions on photos they like. I complain, but really I love arranging the photos, seeing what people submit, and having the whole project come together in a satisfactory way.

My brother David requested for this year's calendar that I use a specific photograph of him, Peter, and Aaron when they visited Philadelphia. All three men look rather handsome in it, don't they?


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Can you tell at first glance that I had to edit out two girls who were in the original photo?

I generally don't put photos in the calendar that feature non-family members. But when David said he liked this one I thought, "Maybe this is a good time to try out my photo-editing skills and the software on my new computer." It still needs tweaking, but I'm pretty proud of the result. (Now that you study the edited photo, you can see the flaws, can't you? I'm still trying to decide if I want to try to fix the skyline a little. The sky itself needs some work, since it's two different colors -- grrr!)

Fortunately, I haven't had to edit many of the other photos. The calendar's almost ready for the printer.

2010 is coming up fast!

Savior of the World

I hadn't seen the play Savior of the World in at least five years, so I was very excited to be invited to the play on Saturday afternoon. It was the special performance they put on specifically for deaf and blind patrons; there were monitors with closed captioning and sign language interpreters.

I forgot how much I love this play. I listen to the soundtrack quite often. The first act explores the events leading up to Jesus Christ's birth, starting with the angel Gabriel's visit to John the Baptist's dad and ending with the shepherds visiting the newborn Savior. The second act skips over the Savior's entire life, and begins with the apostles and women mourning His death. It then talks about all of the people who saw and spoke with him after He rose from the dead, and the concept that He will return again. It's really cool.

My favorite song is the one the shepherds sing to Psalm 23 (the one that starts "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want). As soon as the actors started to sing that song, I started to cry... and I continued to cry through the rest of the first act. I love the shepherds! What a great blessing to be the first to know of the Savior's birth -- to hear the angels sing, and meet the infant Savior and His parents, and deliver the news to everyone that He had been born! I love the way that scene is written, and I love thinking that I might have been one of the angels who sang in that choir when Christ was born. I might not have been... but I might have!

I was struck again as I have been before watching this play that the Jews (as I understand it) were waiting for the Messiah to come and deliver them from bondage. They wanted the Savior to use His power to drive the oppressive Romans out of Jerusalem and free the Jews. They felt that salvation was very do-able and as long as they followed all of the rules they would qualify for all of the blessings. By waiting for this Deliverer to come out of the sky and perform these big, flashy miracles, they totally missed the humble baby, little boy, and then grown man who walked about healing the sick and teaching peace and forgiveness. They couldn't understand that the faith His followers displays was such a big part of His miracles. He wanted to save their souls more than getting rid of their oppressors. Teach them to control what they can and not worry about what they can't.*

Are we much different than the ancient Jews?

I mean, how often do we (or at least I) ignore the wonderful little miracles He gives me each day and complain that the big blessings I am praying and working for just aren't coming soon enough or in a form that I recognize. He will tell us and show us what to do, but we have to take care of ourselves as much as we can and let Him do the rest. After all, I appreciate things I've worked for much more than those that are handed to me. But at the same time, I'm impatient! I want my big blessings now and I want them the way I want them!

(How's that for vague?)

At least the Jews were consistent about following all of the traditions and rules. I still struggle to read the scriptures every day and get my visiting teaching done! I could learn a lot from them.

As I watched the second act of the play, I really thought I was going to make it without crying. And then, during the last song "Jesus Once of Humble Birth" the cast turned to the audience, and started signing the words as they sang. I bawled. It was amazing! It was a reminder that Jesus will help all of us no matter our situation. I talked to one of the cast members later, and they said they'd learned the sign language just for that one performance. I am so glad that I got to experience that performance! And I am grateful for the reminder that I'm not alone in my trials. The Savior is aware of me and doing what He needs to help me do what I need to do and become who I am supposed to be.

I thought of that as I slid and spun on the street behind the Conference Center thirty minutes after the play ended. It was a pretty big miracle that I didn't hit anyone and neither I nor my car were harmed at all physically. It was a huge reminder that even though I'm a grown up and I have to do a lot of things alone, there are many things I cannot control. I need to have more faith in more aspects of my life and let Him take care of me, because I know that He will.

*I apologize sincerely if I have offended any Jewish readers. That was definitely not my intent. Just trying to apply my very limited knowledge about the ancient culture to my modern life :)

A Miracle I'm Still Reeling Over

This afternoon I saw the Savior of the World play at the LDS Conference Center. I parked on Main Street right up next to 200 North -- right next to the center. Pretty sweet parking spot right? Well... it would have been, if not for the snow and freezing weather we had that day. By the time the play ended, there was a LOT of ice on the road. And to get away from the parking spot I had to go down a reasonably steep hill.

Do you see where this is going?

I slowly started to make my way down 200 North (the street right behind the Conference Center). I drove maybe 15 feet down the street before I started to slide... and spin... incredibly slowly toward a car on the right side of the road. I very, very narrowly missed that car. But then as I continued to spin and slide I moved toward a car on the other side of the road. I very, very narrowly missed that car, too. It was horrifying. My heart was racing and I felt completely helpless. There was nothing I could do but pray! I had this horrible vision of my car hitting another on either side of the road and all of them sliding to the bottom and halfway down the next block, creaming everything in their path, destroying my car, and slamming my insurance rates.

By some miracle, even though I spun and slid down two-thirds of that block, I didn't hit a single car on either side of the road, and I stopped before I could hit the one trying to get up the street from the bottom.

Thoroughly shaken, I drove south really slowly on 200 West. I really, really didn't want to slide again. I was so afraid of hitting something! I was terrified of traffic lights and having to stop at them. That fear intensified when I stopped at one, and the woman in the lane next to me started sliding toward me. Sliding really, really, really slowly. So slowly that the only reason I know she hit me was that I started moving to the right with the back of my car sliding faster than the front. Fortunately, there weren't any cars on the right side of me, so I didn't slide into anyone else.

If my heart had been racing before, it was sprinting at that point.

I looked at the woman in the other car. She was in her 70s and looked as shell-shocked as I. I mouthed the words "Are you okay?" She nodded in a freaked-out kind of way. I looked at her car and it looked a little beat up but not bad. She mouthed back "Are you okay?" I nodded, too, and then kept driving. I was in a hurry to get to another play, and since she had hit me I didn't think the hit-and-run rules applied... at least, I hope they don't.

Another miracle? When I checked my car it didn't have a scratch on it.

When I went to bed that night, I could still feel myself sliding and spinning down 200 North. I love the snow and I love winter in Utah, but I would not be opposed to going the rest of my life without ever feeling that hideous helplessness again. I'm sure it won't be the last time I ever feel that way. I am just so grateful that my prayers to come through that horrible sliding were answered. I almost can't believe that I came through unscathed. I know that Heavenly Father was looking out for me. It really was amazing.

My New Moon Song

I am a little embarrassed to admit this is yet another in what I imagine are thousands of blog posts dedicated to the Twilight book and/or movie series. What can I say? They are popular for a reason and I am a follower in many ways.

I'll tell you from the start, I am squarely on the side of Team Jacob. I read all of the books and I was very satisfied with the way the romantic triangle ended because everyone was happy, but pretty much the entire series I thought, "Seriously? Who would choose the grumpy vampire over the fun-loving werewolf?" Jacob is playful, funny, active, works with his hands, loyal, happy, and good-looking. I liked the book New Moon mostly because Edward wasn't in it most of the time. I was actually annoyed when he showed up again.

Now, I hope that my Team Edward friends are still my friends. I understand the appeal of Edward. I promise I do. He's handsome, protective, sensitive, thoughtful, intellectual, well-dressed, loves music, and lives only to serve his lady-love. That's very attractive.

Can't we all just agree that everyone isn't looking for the exact same things -- or combination of things -- in their ideal guy?

I finally got to see the movie New Moon last night and I liked it, mostly for the reasons stated above. Goooooooooooo Jacob (shouted in a cheerleader-type way)! Taylor Lautner is so charismatic. So sweet. So fun. So beautiful. Robert Pattinson is a terrific Edward -- he is very true to the character from the book and I really, really wanted to root for him and Bella -- but just like when I read the book I was kind of annoyed when he showed up again (mostly because of his scrawny, pale, glittering chest). Hold him up next to Taylor and in my head it's no contest.

This is why Bella is the one caught in the love triangle. If it were me, there would be no question. But there's no question for her and it's all Edward. So, good for her.

I do take exception with Bella selfishly begging Jacob to be her friend even though she knows he loves her and she doesn't love him. Personally, I think that's just mean. I know what it's like to have to tell a friend repeatedly that I don't love him and it's never going to happen. It is probably the worst thing I've ever had to do. He was really mad when I told him we couldn't be friends anymore because I couldn't live my life being afraid he'd never get over me. But I had to do it. As long as I allowed him to hope neither of us could move on. He deserved to find someone who wants to love him, and I deserved not to feel like a terrible person anymore. I just regret it took me as long as it did to finally break off the friendship. But apparently Bella has no problem stringing a guy along.

But I digress. The movie felt very, very long, but I liked it anyway! I saw it again tonight (don't judge me, I missed the first few minutes of the movie the first time) and may need to see it again in a couple of weeks. I haven't read the books in a year so I'd forgotten many of the details. It's nice to see a movie and be surprised by wonderful tidbits. I'd forgotten how funny Jessica is, and how sweet Bella's dad (who is perfectly cast in the move, by the way) is.

Perfect movie? No. Am I happy? Yes.

Meanwhile, just for fun I decided to write a song based on the movie, mostly because whenever I see the posters for New Moon, the music for the song "Blue Moon" runs through my head.

My New Moon Song:
Sung to the tune of "Blue Moon" by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers

New moooon!
We saw her standing alone
Without a dream in her heart;
Without a love of her own.

New moooon!
She didn't know what she was there for.
Audience saying a prayer for
The one she really did care for.

And then suddenly
There appeared
Before her
A muscled werewolf
whose arms she wouldn't hold.
He said "Come, buddy"
Please adore me!
Her love for Edward
Kept her from being bold.

Oh! Oh! Oh!

New mooooon!
Now she's no longer alone
Staves off the dream in her heart
But she won't call Jake her own.

*Scatting*

And then suddenly
Italy was there
Before her.
Saw Edward glitter
And her blood ran cold.
The other vampires
Wanted to destroy her,
But goodness won
And the heros flew back home!

New mooooon!
Now she's no longer alone
With future dreams in her heart
With a sweet love of her own.

*scatting*

Ding-a-dong-dang!
New mooooon!

Pretty bad, eh? Oh well. I'll try harder next time!

I Need a Little Christmas

I saw A Christmas Carol at HCT last night, and it was excellent. Every year I think I'd probably be okay skipping the play, and every year I go and am delighted by the humor and the uplifting music and most importantly the message.

And last night I was shamed by that message. Because I had to face what has been lurking in the periphery of my mind the last couple of weeks:

This year, I'm a Scrooge.

I'm just not feeling Christmas Spirit this year. Whenever I think about Christmas I realize how little time I have left to finish my work. And then I start thinking about some of the rumors going around about the company and stressing that I won't even have a job next year. And what would I do if I lost my job? And then I want to lie down on the floor and eat a whole pan of homemade peanut butter cups. Mmmm...peanut butter cups... Except I don't feel well enough to enjoy chocolaty treats which really makes me want to feel sorry for myself.

Help!

It's sad to me that Ebenezer Scrooge is remembered as a miser and a grump, because the main message in A Christmas Carol is one of redemption. Scrooge chooses to change before it's too late. He realizes how sad and lonely a selfish life is. He learns that treating the people around him well and sharing his talents and resources would make him far happier than he could have ever imagined. He ends his days as a philanthropist who spreads joy to all he meets.

I know he's a literary character, but if Scrooge can find the Christmas spirit, it's not too late for me either.

Christmas is coming! Be of good cheer!

Hmm...feeling a little forced. All right. Let's break the process of getting into the Christmas spirit into steps. Goals to keep me from becoming a hopeless, joyless "old" Scrooge:
1. I will pray every morning for opportunities to serve.
2. I will pray for the spirit and count my blessings whenever I start to feel overwhelmed and unhappy.
3. I will to listen to Christmas music as I drive to work every day.
4. I will always have a dollar in my pocket to give to every charity bell-ringer I pass. (I did this a few years ago and loved it - felt so good to share my hard-earned money with those who need it!)
5. I will put Christmas lights on my balcony by Saturday.
6. I will buy a Christmas tree next week. (I have not yet decided if it will be live or plastic...)
7. I will buy a gingerbread house starter kit to put together on Sunday.
8. I will watch the Muppet Christmas Carol within the next two weeks. It's my favorite Christmas movie!

Still twenty-three days left to Christmas Eve; it's worth a shot! My Christmas can be saved!

If I Weren't So Blonde

I could totally be in West Side Story and dance like this:

It looks so fun!