New Photo Website

Here is a new website that will be included on my sidebar under the photography section. It's full of awesome ideas for beginners, intermediates, and advances. Check it out!

Easter Pictures

Well, I know that it is a few weeks since Easter AND my family has already posted some pictures. BUT I wanted to post some more pictures because that's what photographers do, right? Anyway... here are some pictures that I took. The pictures are of my nephews and nieces. ENJOY!


























Easter was wonderful by the way! The spirit was very strong in the meetings I attended and found a new love for a great hymn, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives!" Here are the words to this amazing song (bolded are the parts that particularly touched me):

1. I know that my Redeemer lives.

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, he lives, who once was dead.

He lives, my ever-living Head.

He lives to bless me with his love.

He lives to plead for me above.

He lives my hungry soul to feed.

He lives to bless in time of need.

2. He lives to grant me rich supply.

He lives to guide me with his eye.

He lives to comfort me when faint.

He lives to hear my soulÂ’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears.

He lives to wipe away my tears.

He lives to calm my troubled heart.

He lives all blessings to impart.

3. He lives, my kind, wise heavÂ’nly Friend.

He lives and loves me to the end.

He lives, and while he lives, IÂ’ll sing.

He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath.

He lives, and I shall conquer death.

He lives my mansion to prepare.

He lives to bring me safely there.

4. He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

Text: Samuel Medley, 1738–1799. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835.
Music: Lewis D. Edwards, 1858–1921

Blind Date

Last Saturday I went on a blind date with Blake Larson. We had dinner and then went to a movie at the Arizona Center. We ate at Sam’s Café. We split the Sedona Spring Rolls and the Chicken Fajita. We walked around the AZ Center a bit before going to see “The Sentinel.” It was a good movie! I had a fun time!

ALIAS

It's finally back! After watching Wednesday night I remember why I love ALIAS so much.
Here are some lessons that I have learned while watching ALIAS:

Nothing says "I love you" like a severed finger.

If your mother is an assassin/KGB agent/head of a criminal organization, and your father is An assassin/mind control scientist/amateur surgeon, Dr. Phil and Oprah will NOT be able to help you.

Credit dauphine is a lousy bank.

A roommate who hides funky antibiotics is very bad news-really bad news!

Never remove your memory, it complicates things

Always remember the kinds of ice cream you and your best friend like

If your boyfriend writes for a travel magazine, and you've never read any of his articles, something's up.

Joey's makes the best pizza

Just because people have missing fingers, were shot at many times, or died in a car crash doesn't mean they're dead

Wrapping paper can make a great skirt

Some homeless men have jobs

You can graduate from school going to about 5 classes (I wish!)

Always have a backup plan

There's no drug like adrenaline

'Numps' actually is a word

Sometimes the truth hurts. A lot.

ALIAS - Jack Bristow

I got this from a friend who got this information off the Internet.

So, i watched all four seasons again and i decided it would be fun to count how many times Jack smiles. I don't know about others, but whenever Jack smiles it's a huge deal for me because it's a rare.
So, here it is, broken down by season, the number of times Jack smiles. I'm pretty sure i got em all. Take a guess to see how close you come.......

Grand total=60

Season - 1

Episodes with No smiles- 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 22

One Smile- 2, 4, 13, 18, 20, 21

Two Smiles- 7

Three Smiles- 14

Total=11

Season - 2
Episodes with No smiles- 1-8, 11, 14, 15, 17-22
One Smile- 10, 12, 13, 16
Two Smiles- 9
Total=6

Season - 3
Episodes with No smiles- 6, 7, 10, 11, 15, 16, 18-22
One Smile- 3, 4, 8, 13, 14
Two Smiles- 1, 2, 9, 12, 17
Three Smiles- 5
Total=18

Season - 4
Episodes with No smiles- 1, 2, 5-9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20
One Smile-3, 10, 14, 22
Two Smiles- 4
Three Smiles- 17
Four Smiles- 11
Five Smiles- 21
Seven Smiles- 18
Total=25

Spencer's Class

This semester I have been truly blessed to have an AMAZING teacher. His name is David Spencer! Last Thursday we took a class picture:

Back Row: (Left to Right) Cassandra, Shayla, Shannon, Jose, Spencer, Beth W., Tiffany, Amy, and Renae.
Middle Row: (L to R) Lisa, Beth D. (that's ME!), Andrea, Rachel, Adrienne, Lauren, and Evan.
Front Row: (sitting L to R) Brandy, Melissa, Chrissy, Pete, and Renee.
Not Pictured: Johanna, Jennifer

I found this article and it gives a small but wonderful description of that kind of person Spencer is. This was in the Arizona Republic on August 11, 2005:

“When Chandler kindergarten teacher Tonia Tinker was asked to be featured in Yes, The Arizona Republic's weekly fashion magazine, she didn't hesitate."It was a lot of fun doing the hair and the makeup and wearing the clothes. I had a great time," Tinker said.But after last week's edition hit driveways, the 24-year-old Jacobson Elementary School teacher found she had become a mini-celebrity - on and off campus.
As parents drive up to the curb at pickup time, they have handed her copies of the magazine and told her she's a natural model. Tinker also got a supportive e-mail from Camille Casteel, superintendent of the Chandler Unified School District, after Casteel read the story. The most exciting response came from David Spencer, an Arizona State University social studies professor Tinker had in college."I got this envelope with the article and a letter from him saying he was proud of me. I was so excited, I called my sister immediately to tell her about it," Tinker said. "He (the professor) goes through 30 kids every three months, and yet he remembered me." "

Eternal Perspective

"Think about your life and set your priorities. Find some quiet time regularly to think deeply about where you are going and what you will needto do to get there. Jesus, our exemplar, often 'withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed' (Luke 5:16). We need to do the same thing occasionally to rejuvenate ourselves spiritually as the Savior did. Write down the tasks you would like to accomplish each day. Keep foremost in mind the sacred covenants you have made with the Lord as you write down your daily schedules."

~ M. Russell Ballard

Ray's Note

I love watching my nephews and nieces grow up. Last Wednesday I was starting to trudge down the stairs when a note addressed to me on a paper towel caught my eye. Here is what was inside: (Isn't Ray cute!)

Spring Training

In March I went to the annual Dibble Companies Spring Training Game at the Phoenix Stadium home of the Oakland A's. Here are some pictures of the event: