I Am A Mormon

I've never written my beliefs down on this blog. Not because I wasn't sure, or was ashamed or avoiding, but because I'm usually silly or sarcastic on this blog and there is nothing silly or sarcastic about my testimony. However, I attended an institute class the other night led by a director of the More Good Foundation. He talked a lot about the LDS presence on the web and the importance of having positive LDS websites and discussions to counteract the anti-Mormon stuff out there. They're making huge strides in youtube, facebook and lots of other sites, but he encouraged everyone to play some role. It inspired me to do my part, however small. So.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know that I am a child of God, my Heavenly Father. He knows me personally. He knows who I am, what I want to become, what I feel and He wants the best for me. I know I can talk to Him through prayer and that He will listen to me because He loves me and cares for me. I know His Son, Jesus Christ, is my Savior and my brother. He came to earth, He established His church, He performed miracles, He gave us the greatest example of all, and then He chose to suffer for my sins, for my pain and for that of all the world. Because He loves us. And He wants us to return to live with Him again. I know that His church exists on this earth today and is led by President Thomas S. Monson who receives direct revelation from our Heavenly Father to teach us and guide us through this life. I know Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the restoration and it's because of his faith and his work that we have the Church, the Book of Mormon and all the blessings that come with it. I know my family can be together forever; not just in this life but in the life to come and we can receive that blessing in the temple.

I know I am a Child of God. I am important to Him, and I have a role on this earth.

I Liked Them Before They Were Famous

I think I might be a trend setter. I have all these old movies that I've loved for years, and now the actors in them are big movie stars. Hollywood should just track the stuff I watch to know who's gonna be big in about 5 or 10 years.

Long before he was a creepy magician, Batman or a coke-addicted fighter, I love him as Jack Kelly/Francis Sullivan/Cowboy as he improved the truth to sell papers.

Then there was Patrick Dempsey. I don't really like him these days, but he starred in a little made-for-TV movie called "Lucky 7" several years ago. If you know me at all, you know I love made-for-TV movies and I loved him. Of course, he was in "Can't Buy Me Love" as well, but that didn't resurface till Grey's Anatomy started getting popular.

The rollerblade version of "Karate Kid" and "Rad" is "Airborne." Not only is it one of the best shows ever, but it stars two of my favorite people: Seth Green as "The Wiley Man" and Jack Black Augie. If you haven't seen this movie, you're missing out. Yes, I know Seth was in "Can't Buy Me Love" with Patrick.


And finally, there's Hugh. Okay fine---I didn't really know him till X-Men but I really like him and it'd be a shame to have a post about movie stars without him on it.


If you're wondering who'll be famous in about 5 years I'd put money on David Henrie and Jake T. Austin. At least, that's what I'm thinking after watching Wizards of Waverly Place for the past couple years.

*I almost forgot Aaron Eckhart! Sadly, I couldn't find a picture of the seminary movie he was in, "Godly Sorrow" but who could forget his classic line, "What about the pain?" And now he's starring opposite Christian Bale! This also means I've successfully connected all my actors!
Patrick Dempsey/Seth Green: "Can't Buy Me Love"
Seth Green/Jack Black: "Airborne"
Jack Black/Hugh Jackman: hasn't happened, but it should.
Hugh Jackman/Christian Bale: The Prestige
Christian Bale/Aaron Eckhart: The Dark Knight.

Open Letters

Dear Honda-

I purchased a car from you about 2.5 years ago. It's a nice car. Well done. However, just cuz I bought one, doesn't mean I want another one. Why do you keep sending me emails about your car sales? What makes you think I need more than one car? What makes you think I can afford more than one car? Do you really have people receiving these emails that actually come in to your store to buy another one? Who are these people? I'd like to meet them and see how they live.

Sincerely-
Starting to Get Annoyed Customer

Dear Brad Womack-

I applaud you on ridding yourself of two of the three crazies in your dating pool. In doing so you proved you have at least 5 brain cells as opposed to the standard 2 of most contestants.

Signed,
Person Who Is Shamed to Admit She Watches the Show

Dear Biggest Loser-

What's the deal with not showing the new trainers' faces? It's getting old.

From-
Person Who is Comfortable Admitting She Watches the Show

Dear Chex Mix-

Why do you put pretzels in your traditional mix. It throws off the whole balance and makes me upset. If I were you, I'd leave them out altogether.

Regards-
Person Who is Tired of Picking Pretzels Out of Her Bag

Dear Blog Readers-

I'm supposed to dress up like a Viking on Friday night. Anyone have a Viking costume laying around I could borrow? Oddly enough I can't find my helmet with the horns sticking out...

Thanks-
Barbaloot

New Things

Things that are new about me in 2011.

-New boots. I like them---but I feel like a poser. I mean, I've never worn boots like this, so what makes me think I can actually pull it off? I feel weird. But I still like them.



-New blog background! Okay, so that hasn't happened yet. But we're working on it. And when I say "we" I mean someone that's not me that won't blow up a computer if they try anything besides emailing and blogging.

-New ward calling. I'm the ward picture-taker now. Best calling ever? I think so.

-New couches. As awesome as it was having a wide open, basically empty living room, I thought I'd be kind enough to provide my guests with a place to sit when they come to visit now.


-New title. I'm a notary public. Or, I will be soon. I just have to actually take the test...

-New Mexico. My new least favorite state.

-New issue of The Barrel.

-New resolve to look not behind me. 2010 was a pretty good year and I have little to no complaints. It'd be easy to spend my time looking back on it and wishing I could relive certain things, but I'd rather not turn into a pillar of salt. So, I'm looking forward to 2011 with the belief that it'll be just as good as, or better than, 2010.

Because I Should Really Finish Christmas Before New Year's

December moves way too quickly. I vote we eliminate March and make December twice as long.

Since it's nearly 2011, I thought I'd better hurry and put up the rest of Christmas 2010 pictures.

I love the pewter nativity on this coffee table. I loved it so much that I asked my mom for it last year. She said she wasn't sure. Later that afternoon, someone dropped by to give my parents a gift and it was the exact same nativity! So she gave that one to me:) Christmas books are one of my favorite parts of the season. I've read and re-read all of the books on this table. Including the one I got from Rychelle last year. Thanks for that.


I think this is my favorite Christmas spot. The poor cement nativity wasn't even going to get picked at my parents---and I ended up taking pity on it before it went to DI. And I'm SO glad I did! I bought the red runner in Germany two years ago, and I love how that looks under the nativity, and ties the color of the book together. It's one of my favorite Christmas books. I boutht the crystal nativity when I went to the Waterford Crystal Factory in Ireland. It stays up in my house all year long.


And here are Christmas Eve pictures:

Some of the grandkids doing the nativity. I'm particularly fond of the enthusiasm of the Asian angel in the top right.



Our two Babies Jesus. We were extra holy this year.



The result of trying to do more than just recite Luke 2:1-18: The sheep's head is off, the donkey sat up, one of the Baby Jesus' is getting angel accessories and the shepherds returned to their fields.



My parents with 17 (of their 45) grandkids with new jammies.



Grandma with some of her granddaughters.


Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Pictures #2

I think this is the first time all year that I've posted 3 times in one week. I'm really getting in the Christmas spirit by sharing all these awesome pictures with you guys, no? Anyway.

This spot is an open window (I really don't know what the technical term is) between my kitchen and my living room. It makes the house feel all "connecty." One of my brothers gave me the Grinch doll several years ago. The animated version of that is one of my family's favorite movies. (The Jim Carrey one is pretty great, too.) The Richard Scary Christmas book leaning against the wall is one of my family's favorite books. We love the story of "Abe and Babe, the Bad Twins" best. There were fights over that book---so I got online and ordered extras so we could all have one. I bought the nativity on the red, wooden background from Metal Moms. I love it! It's one of my favorite things I own. The wooden half-circle nativity I bought in Germany a couple years ago.


It used to be my job to decorate the little Christmas tree and I hated it. The branches were scratchy and hard to get into the right place. So why'd I end up with it? Cuz I like all the ornamnets that went with it. And cuz I needed a tree:) The three nativity pieces at the bottom are all ornaments, but they're too heavy for the tree so I left them on the music cabinet. The two other nativities are made of olive wood and were given to me by two of my cousins. Chrissy brought me hers from Jerusalem several years ago---I'm not even sure how many. And this last year, Becky brought me the other after spending the semester studying there.

Christmas Pictures #1

I thought I'd post a lot this month. And by a lot, I mean I was thinking I'd get up to four posts... I love Christmas and have so much to say about it, but I've just been spending all my time enjoying the season instead of writing about it.

So, I started writing a picture post with all my house decorations. Then it was too long. So, I'm splitting things up. Maybe I'll get up to four posts this month after all.

Anyway, this was my first year to really decorate my house. I had just moved in about this time last year and was still in the unpacking phase and didn't take the time to make it festive. Earlier in the month, my parents divided some of their Christmas decorations (that we've seen in their home our entire lives) amongst the kids. It was fun. And it was sad. Sad to think that the house won't always be the same and we'll all get older and things will change. I could live without that. But I did end up with some nice things for my home and so finally did my own decorating this year.

This nutcracker isn't actually mine. It belongs to my brother's family---but they weren't going to put it up this year so I borrowed it. He greeted everyone that came to visit me this month. I think my dad was glad to get rid of it, cuz big kids like to crunch dry noodles in his month and it makes a mess. I think my brothers are sad it's not in the house anymore, cuz they used it to scare little kids.

My niece (who's very cute)(and who is moving to New Mexico next month) (and I'm not happy about it) actually refers to him as a "mutcracker." Nobody's bothered correcting her cuz we all think it's funny.

Several years ago (19 in fact) my aunt took her kids to Germany for Christmas. But her youngest at the time(Becky)was only one so she left her at our house for a month. My brothers and I LOVED having a new "little sister." My parents weren't complaining either.

Our traditional Christmas Even nativity---with new jammies. Becky was a very patient Jesus in the manger that was too small for her.

We loved it so much we didn't want to give her back in January. As thanks for keeping the child, and then begrudingly returning her, my aunt brought this decoration from Germany.

Since I'm such good friends with Becky, and since I love Germany so much, I received it for my own house.