I am still alive

I know that it has been a long time since my last post but I have been on vacation and school has started up. Life is kind of cRaZy right now! Hopefully I can update sometime soon!

Amen

"No man achieves the supernal exalting status of worthy fatherhood

except as a gift from his wife."
—President Boyd K. PackerEnsign, May 1998, 73

The Book of Mormon Challenge

A couple of weeks ago there was a letter from the First Presidency about reading the Book of Mormon, starting now and finishing by the end of the year. I was half way through Alma and decided to start over again. I love these words from President Hinckley and I know that the Book of Mormon changes lives:

We studied the Book of Mormon in Sunday School this past year. Nonetheless I offer a challenge to members of the Church throughout the world and to our friends everywhere to read or reread the Book of Mormon. If you will read a bit more than one and one-half chapters a day, you will be able to finish the book before the end of this year. Very near the end of its 239 chapters, you will find a challenge issued by the prophet Moroni as he completed his record nearly 16 centuries ago. Said he:
"And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust? . . .
"And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true" (Moroni 10:27, 29).
Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God. (My favorite part)

Richard Hatch

I had a lot of money to count from the candy store so I popped in a video. I watched the season one video of "Survivor". It was fun to watch and remember things. One thing that I remembered from watching the highlight's is when Richard made fire and did a little dance. Watching that made me laugh so HaRd! It was a prety short clip but it was great.

A Photographer Helps Keep Memories Alive

I was fliping through the channels and saw something on the Today show that sparked my interest. On Today, Seattle photographer Lynette Johnson talks to Ann Curry about how she's helping families with terminally ill children. It was so touching to hear her talk about what she does.

Photography Lighting Class

On July 30 I went to a photography class that I have been counting down the days since I signed up. It was at Memory Lane. Alison and Donna (who are also the co-owners of the store) taught the class. They did a great job! I learned So MuCh!!!! They had a slide show with pictures of Donna's granddaughter, Grace, from birth to two years old. In the slide show they had the cutest song. It's by Ben Folds and the song is called Gracie. Here are the lyrics:

You can’t fool me I saw you when you came out

You've got your mamma’s taste but you got my mouth

And you will always have a part of me

Nobody else is ever gonna see

Gracie girl

With your cards to your chest

Walking on your toes

What you got in the box

Only Gracie knows

And I would never try to make you be

Anything you didn’t really want to be

Gracie girl

Life flies by in seconds

You’re not a baby

Gracie, you're my friend

You’ll be a lady soon

But until then

You gotta do what I say

Nodding off in my arms watching TV

I won’t move you an inch even though my arm’s asleep

One day you’re gonna want to go

I hope we taught you everything you need to know

Gracie girl

And you will always have a part of me

Nobody else is ever going to see but you and me

A little girl

My Gracie girl

Maximizing Happiness

I was searching on the Internet and found a little ad that said something about maximizing your happiness. It reminded me of a lesson I had in church yesterday about choosing happiness. One thing that I know will make anyone truly happy is following the teachings of Jesus Christ. Here is a scripture that I love about happiness:

And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. Mosiah 2:41