A Thankful Heart

Oh, Thanksgiving.

I love, love, love Thanksgiving! What a wonderful thought - a day devoted to focusing on our blessings, expressing gratitude and sharing delicious food with the ones dearest to our hearts. Seriously, what's not to love?!

Well, I have much, much, much for which I'm grateful: a nice roof over my head, food to eat, clothes to wear (and cute ones at that, or so I'd like to think), the privilege of living in the greatest nation on God's green earth, amazing friends who deeply enrich my life, a wonderful family - especially my dad and stepmom, who are such fantastic examples to me! - and, above all, a knowledge that God lives and that His son Jesus Christ gave His life that we might live with Him forever, and the agency to make the decisions that will dictate how my life goes, for better or worse. Mostly for better, I'd like to think!

Anyways... I'd feel so remiss to not do a good Thanksgiving post, but words are coming up short for truly expressing the feelings of my heart.

Uh, I'm a professional writer - this is a rare feeling for me!

Goodness knows I ALWAYS have something to say, right? ;)

So, let me share with you the words of one faaaaaaar wiser than myself: the incomparable George Washington. My brilliant stepmom shared this at dinner tonight, and I wanted to pass along this great piece of our history. Enjoy!

*****************************************************************

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness":

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

The Mormon Conspiracy?

I found this clip through Meridian Magazine and thought it was such a classic Michael Medved response. What a great guy!!!

A little backstory, but I interned with Michael in 2003 - he's the reason I spent a summer in Seattle. What an amazing experience it was! Anyways, I hope that I contributed to his positive impression of Latter-day Saints. We talked about the gospel just about every time we had a conversation - even over dinner when I was a guest in his home for Shavout, a Jewish holiday. Michael even wished everyone a happy Pioneer Day on July 24th that year!

So, this clip gives me warm fuzzies, especially in the midst of all this anti-Prop. 8 hate. It's true that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encourages its members to be active citizens, not only in politics but in humanitarian service to our fellow man.

That's definitely a conspiracy the world needs more of!

Turkey-Lurkey-Doo

You know you love this song. You know you look forward to hearing it every year.

Wow, can you believe this is 15 years old now?! Look at how young good ol' Adam Sandler looks here!

"Jimmie Walker used to say 'dynomite' - that's right!"

Hot or not? - Raoul vs. Phantom

Phantom of the Opera is returning to Los Angeles for a limited engagement early next year, and I couldn't be more thrilled! I went when it toured at the Pantages a decade ago with my high school choir (awww, Miss Nute!), and the show was simply amazing.

So, in eager anticipation of seeing Phantom once more, I'm listening to the soundtrack as I work on a client's timeline.

And then I had a thought while listening to "Think of Me."

If you had to choose between Raoul or the Phantom, who would you pick?

Let's review their proof points, shall we?

RAOUL

• Gentlemanly and proper
• Charismatic
• Sensitive, albeit a tad naive
• Wealthy, titled and cultured

PHANTOM

• Ever-so mysterious
• Brooding - a tortured soul
• Sensitive and fragile
• Ridiculously talented musical genius
• Undeniably attractive in a raw, magnetic, inexplicable kind of way

Oh, and let's not forget - both are pretty easy on the eyes. Well, except when the Phantom's mask is off. Then he's... not so pretty. But you can grow to love someone's imperfections, right?

On the downside, both are also pretty possessive and jealous.

If you were Christine, who would you choose? Comment away!

A fresh Gap take on a Christmas classic

Selma Blair and Rainn Wilson put a fun gender-switching twist on one of my holiday favorites in this Gap ad. Enjoy!



PS: So... I'm thinking ward talent show here... what guys in the ward would be up for the duet?

Apparently I missed the whole "women's lib" movement

It's that time of year again!

In some families, a "wish list" for birthdays and Christmas is considered offensive. My mom, for one, hates the practice because it shows a lack of thought on the part of the giver.

These days I feel a little weird about asking for stuff anyways, so I skipped the birthday list this year.

And, as a result, my dad and stepmom didn't give me a present. Well, they gave me a Route 66 travel guide, but they said that was just an aside - they would have gotten me a "real" present, but I never told them what I wanted!

I think I learned my lesson.

So, I just emailed my Christmas list to my dad, stepmom and grandma. This year's list was fairly streamlined:

Cast-iron skillet (I'm kinda sorta drooling over this cherry red one to match my Le Creuset dutch oven, but I'll take any skillet of the cast-iron variety)...
Sewing machine, so I can finish my quilt (although I'm always so busy, it might just gather dust if I get one now)...

An apron or two. And not any apron - check out these adorable ones from Boojiboo's Etsy shop (I prefer the "Bella" pattern, personally):

How cute is that one, with the Kitchenaid mixers and Jello molds?! Love, love, LOVE it!!!

And isn't this one just the loveliest?

*sigh*

I think I'm in love...

Oh, and rounding out the list are gift cards to H&M, Gap, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and Kohl's. Ever since I cut up my credit cards, I've abstained from clothes shopping. My closet's already ridiculously full, but a gal can always use some new threads...

And then I think to myself - am I from the 1950s or what?! Cooking, sewing, fashion - all the things a little housewife needs.

Oh well... color me domestic. At least I don't have to wait 'til marriage to get the kitchen of my dreams!

And when that blessed day comes, well, I'll have a dowry. I can just see it now...

Want Christa for a wife? We'll throw in an entire kitchen set, complete with an excellent chef! Slices, dices and juliennes fries!

What's on your wish list this Christmas? Comment away! I want to hear, people! :)

Five minutes well spent

If you've got five minutes, please watch this video, which is beautifully done. The speech from which it draws is one of my favorites, especially in light of Prop. 8. How prophetic - it gives me chills to think this was first given 30 years ago, and what Neal A. Maxwell discusses is precisely the world in which we live today.

Enjoy!

A Cozy Saturday morning

Right now I am curled up in my all-too-comfy bed, noshing on In-N-Out and watching Anne of Green Gables.

Why?

Because I can.

It's been a hectic couple of weeks, and today was supposed to be crazy busy, too, but my lunchdate was cancelled, and, well, a few hours to myself sounds like the greatest thing in the world.

Sure, I have laundry that needs doing, a car needing washing, errands that need running and an apartment that could use decorating for Christmas.

But I realize that someday my weekends won't revolve around trips to Disneyland and L.A., movies with the girls or even my own boring errands. Things will get even busier than they are now, busy with caring for others who will be at a loss if I slack off.

So I'll take a lazy Saturday while I can.

Ah, Anne of Green Gables. That Gilbert Blythe is too cute!

My cheeseburger is calling my name... yum-o!

Sealed for time and all eternity

At BYU, one of the traditions around the time of the big rivalry football game between BYU and the University of Utah is that the grounds crew wraps all of the statues on campus in plastic for safekeeping.

Well, my friends Brandon and Alison blogged about it, and I just had to share this photo they snapped - enlarge the image to see the little commentary someone left on the family.

Teehee.

Kinda creepy, kinda awesome

I know, I'm so random, but check out this video!



This guy has an amaaaazing voice - his range absolutely blows me away, plus how he can switch back and forth between the high and low so easily.

But I'm still a little creeped out that he sings soprano way better than a lot of gals I know! There's a ton of YouTube vids he's done, singing Alicia Keys songs and the like, that are just downright creepy.

That kind of dainty feminine sound just should not be emanating from a man's vocal chords!

Even in my dreams

Last night I dreamed that there was a really loud, annoying gal on the lawn outside my bedroom window, shouting anti-Prop. 8 ("Prop H8," as she called it) slogans and chants in the wee, pre-dawn hours.

In my dreams, mind you. Not in reality.

When I woke up, I had that total "was that a dream or was it real?" moment... Nope, it was a dream.

And I need this Prop. 8 craziness to settle down so I reclaim my subconscious. :)

Thankful Thursday: Edjumication Edition

Happy Thursday, friends!

Wow, what a hectic week! Between visitors in town all of last weekend and then more visitors this week/weekend, I've been busier than a one-armed paper hanger - but busy with people I rarely get to see, so it's definitely a good thing. :)

Anyways, I feel sad to shortchange this week's Thankful Thursday, but sleeeeeeep is caaaaaaaaalling...

So, to be quick, today I just want to express gratitude for my education. What an immense blessing college was in my life! Not only did I meet so many wonderful friends, but I learned how to learn, and I was taught so many amazing thoughts and ideas that shaped the way I see the world by brilliant and caring professors. BYU was amazing - I still somehow find myself mentally strolling through campus on a regular basis, or I relay to a friend something I learned in some class. I loooooved my college experience, and I am forever grateful - and indebted to my amazing Grandma Doris, who made my education possible. I can't imagine my life without having spent those 4 1/2 years at BYU!

You know that saying about how when you cheat, you only cheat yourself? Well, I didn't cheat in college, but I did have a knack for skipping out on much of my required reading but still managing to do well in class. In the end, though, I kick myself for not really lapping up every particle of knowledge I could have when I had the time. I've held on to all of those books that I swore I'd read someday; if you've ever seen my room, you can attest that it looks like a library, with shelves lining the walls wherever there's space.

Well, I finally brought Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America out of retirement and have been reading it every day on my lunch break. At the rate I'm going, it'll take a year! I wish I'd just buckled down and done it for my American Studies 303 class like I was supposed to.

Anyways, the book is fascinating! I'll do a whole post on it later, but I am loving it, and I realize that I would never have been introduced to Tocqueville, were it not for college - as is the case with so many concepts that I recall daily to process what I see in the world around me.

BYU's whole motto is to "Enter to Learn - Go Forth to Serve," and there's also an emphasis on lifelong learning. I hope that I am living up to those values of my beloved alma mater. There is so much service to render and so much knowledge to acquire - if only we had more hours in the day!

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

I've arrived as a blogger!

Part of my digital media specialist duties includes blogging for our Maples DMG blog, and I've just posted my first entry, about Motrin's big faux pas in reaching out to young moms with an ad campaign that actually comes off as condescending and clueless. Check it out: http://www.maples.com/blog/index.php/2008/11/motrin-and-the-mommy-blogging-outrage-a-case-study/

The DMG blog is on Wordpress, and it's so weird to switch to a different system when I'm so used to Blogger. It does make me feel more legit and professional, though, to be part of a blog that lacks "blogspot" in the URL.

What's in a name?

Hello, friends!

My first blog post for the Maples DMG blog is currently getting some edits, so while I await those changes, I figured I'd multitask and blog this idea I was playing around with earlier today.

Have you ever noticed that some people always seem to draw people of the same name into their spheres time and time again?

One of my besties, for example, seemed to date nothing but Mikes and Johns/Jonathan. In fact, once I ran into a John ex-boyfriend of hers who asked me if she was telling people if they were dating again. Nope! She had simply moved on to yet another John at the time. And guess who she eventually married? Yep - a Jonathan.

While at Disneyland this weekend, a friend was telling me a couple of bad dating stories she'd had with two different Ivans. I don't know about you, but every Ivan I've run across is a little... well... unique.

I think there is, then, some merit to the idea that a name is more than a string of letters we use to identify ourselves. Names really do somehow shape us into who we are.

I'm an advocate of Scotts, personally. Just about every Scott I've ever run across has been genuinely awesome. Michaels tend to be great, too. Maybe a smidge cocky, but not overly so to where it inhibits their merits. Chrises tend to be really down to earth and intelligent. However you spell it, Brittneys seem to be bubbly and fun, and all of the Aubreys I know are warm, with really big hearts.

How about you? What trends do you notice with the names in your lives?

And, uh, what about the Christas/Kristas you know? I'd hope they're wonderful gals. I'd like to say I've never met a Christa/Krista I didn't like, but there was a particularly bratty, awful Krista in my middle school in Utah.

But Christas of the CH variety? Pretty much awesome.

How to really live

I'm not one to pass along forwards, but I really liked this list of 24 little things that make a big difference in finding the joy in life. I'm not great at them... yet. But we're all works in progress, right?

And so, without further adieu, here's how to really live:

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, “My purpose is to __________ today.”

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea (ummm... unless you're LDS and trying to live the Word of Wisdom) and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on energy vampires: issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone (including yourself).

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed com plete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

Just a little afterthought, but I have come to believe 110% that we do really control how happy we are. We can control our choices but not the consequences; we cannot control others' choices, but we have power over how we react to those choices and how we let them influence us.

When you choose to be happy - really make a conscious choice to maintain a positive attitude in spite of whatever life throws your way - man, life is just plain fun!!! The last month or two have just been blissfully happy. Beyond blissfully happy. I don't know that I've ever felt such joy and serene contentment before, honestly.

That's not to say that things have been perfect - in fact, there have been several things that normally would have gotten me down. But there is just too much work to do and too much life to enjoy to waste one second on negativity, and having that mindset has made all the difference.

Life is amaaaaaazing!!! :)

Thankful Thursday and Photo Tag

Life is wonderful.

I want to join in on a tradition several bloggers are doing - "Thankful Thursday," where you do a gratitude post each Thursday in November. You know, with that whole Thanksgiving holiday thing around the corner?

Oooooh, Thanksgiving. My favorite holiday. But more on that later...

So, Thankful Thursday. For my first installment, I just have to express the overwhelming gratitude I've felt lately for YOU - yep, that's right, you, my friends (and family).

Seriously, I have AMAZING people in my life - it's a blessing that's been on my mind a lot lately.

Heather always teases me because people aren't just my "friends" - they're my BEST friends... and then there are my BEST, BEST friends. Those people who most would term "acquaintences" fall into my "friend" category, because, to me, "acquaintence" is just so cold and detached. I reserve that for those people I know of but don't really know, like all the people in the ward whose names I know, and who I could maybe chat with in passing, but I've never really engaged with them on a social scale.

Once we've had a conversation, they enter the "friend zone."

Well, Heather might give me a hard time about it, but it's TRUE! My life has been soooo blessed with the most incredible people. I am in awe of how many quality people are in my life, of how many wonderful friendships have been rekindled and renewed via Facebook and blogging in the last year, and how much those friendships have really enriched my life.

I'm so grateful for that, because when someone's entered my heart as a friend, I don't let them go. Like, EVER, as certain friends can attest to. We might have falling outs, but that door of friendship remains open, and, sure enough, we're friends again - or on friendly terms, at the very least.

So having this online venue through which I can actually keep those dear ones in my loop, despite how distance and circumstances create separation, is WONDERFUL. I love it!!!

So, yeah, I love my friends. A lot. A ridiculous amount, really.

I had the delight of chatting with Brittney, one of my best, best friends a couple of days ago - it's been AGES since we last talked - and it turns out that she'll be in Utah the same week I'm going. I was jumping up and down, honestly! Talking with her made my week. It's funny, because it's been almost five years since I saw her and her hubby (also a best friend of mine), and our communication has been sporadic since, but it was as if we'd been together the week before! I love that.

It's amazing to me how true friendships can be like that. No amount of time or distance can dull that bond of love. I guess it's supposed to be like that with family, too... but, well, not with some of mine. But that's okay. I guess my friendships fill that void for me, and that's why I treasure them so highly.

Anyways... sorry for that stream of consciousness!

So, on an unrelated note, I think I got photo tagged. So, here's the third picture in my third folder:

This photo is from my Arizona trip, when I flew in during the middle of a monsoon. No joke. It was INSANE!!! (Did I ever blog about that trip? Goodness, it was such a blast! I'll have to write it up, even if it'll be a few months late. But not today.)

So, anyways, I was standing at the curb when the manhole covers started to shake and sputter. Sure enough, they blew their lids, and we had a bunch of geysers there at the Phoenix airport! I guess the winds were screwing with the pressure in the pipes or something. Sooooo crazy!

Okay, back to work for me... I need to channel this bloggeryness into some brilliant digital media posts for the work blog!

What the pho?!

Well, as mentioned earlier, my stomach has decided to go funky-monkey on me, which leaves me with the paradoxical feeling of being simultaneously starving and queasy.

So, tonight, I was seriously craving some matzo ball soup - "Jewish penicillin," as my friend Amanda called it.

But, alas, seeing as I live in southern Orange County and not Manhattan, there were no good delis to be found.

There are plenty of other ethnic options around here, though - including the ever-comforting Vietnamese soup, pho (pronounced "fuh").

Ah, pho.

Pho has been one of my favorite eats since Kimball introduced me to its noodle soupey goodness a few years ago. I must have journeyed to Pho 99 almost weekly for the first two years of my career - heck, while out cold with pneumonia, I hopped in my car and drove the 20 minutes to pick up a bowl of that steamy goodness (not one of my wisest moves, but man, when you need pho, you just need pho!).

But it's been at least six months of so since my last bowl, so tonight I ventured over to Pho 99 once more to get some pho to go.

And I realized that some of you may be missing out on this culinary delight, so I decided to blog it up!

Pho consists of vermicelli noodles in a hearty broth, along with cilantro, basil, lime, bean sprouts, onion and whatever kind of meat you choose (chicken for me tonight). Usually I'll toss in some jalapenos and chili sauce, but, uh, that would defeat the easy-on-the-stomach purpose.

Tonight's bowl was only so-so. It needed the spicy kick for my tastes, but, well, what can you do?

If you get the chance to curl up with some pho, do it! You won't regret it!

And, I'm happy to report, so far, so good for my stomach. I wonder if it could handle a couple peppermint JoJos or some leftover cheesecake... or if that would just be pushing my luck.

Meanwhile, I'm going to conduct a search of South County for some decent matzo ball soup. If you have any leads, I'm all ears...

How much can you stomach?

I swear, I don't know how pregnant women put up with morning sickness for months on end!

As mentioned before, my stomach has been really finicky lately. The upside is that I'm eating less junk because nothing ever sounds appetizing EVER... but I'm getting awfully sick of ginger ale and saltines!

So, in the midst of Internet research for a client, I opted to do a quick Google search to figure out what to grab for lunch.

Apparently pets have more sensitive stomachs than humans!

Almost every result for "food sensitive stomach" brought up queries from concerned pet owners, wondering what to feed Fido and Fluffy.

Which does me no good. Obviously.

So, I turn to my lovely little Web community - especially all of you young mothers. Any ideas on some good eats?

Today's random vid: "Take on Me" literal-style

As a digital media strategist, some of my (random and ridiculously fun) tasks include creating Facebook pages for clients and managing the Maples DMG blog - which leads me to search YouTube for some fun multimedia adds to the blog posts.

Today I did an unrelated search for my fav music video of all time, A-ha's "Take on Me." Loooooove it!!!

Well, not only did I find the real deal, but I also found this "literal" version - a novel concept that the song's lyrics should actually match what's happening on the screen. Enjoy!

Yet another Provo pilgrimage in the pipeline

It's official: I'm returning to the Promised Land (translation: Utah) for the week following Christmas!!!

I'm beyond thrilled.

Funny thing is, I don't quite know why I'm so danged excited, either, considering I was just there in June - and I've been back so many times in the last four years, I have honestly lost count (upwards of six?). Each time I head up there, I swear it's going to be the last time for a while. There are so many other places and other people who I want to see, and if I keep spending my travel time and money in Provo, I'll never expand my horizons!

But then I think of them...

and them...

and her...

and this...

plus renewed friendships like this...

best friends like this...

and, of course, this, in all its Christmastime splendor...

and, well, can you blame me?

When so many people so dear to your heart reside in a one-stop shop vacation, who wouldn't go back time and time again to visit?

And so, Dec. 26 I will hop in Alfredo and head to Utah for a week. If anyone will be around and wants to play, let me know!

This or that - Christmas edition!

Missy posted this earlier, and I just couldn't resist. I love Christmas!

So, while dinner's simmering away on the stove (sauteed veggies and sausage with pasta - yum!), I've got a little time to kill - here we go!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Gift bags! I am so lazy when it comes to wrapping - unless I'm doing a special box. Then I love wrapping - I'll take a shoe box with a hinged lid and wrap it inside and out (often with contrasting paper inside) and then fill it with crinkle paper and a ton of little presents. It's so fun! I did that for my dad's birthday and was happy to see he's put the box to use in his room. :)

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Real is my preference - but I think the last time I personally had a real tree was at University Villa, thanks to Brittny's delightful Christmas decor obsession (we also had a fake tree up year-round - so, pencils on it in September, pumpkins in October, etc.). But seeing as I'm still in my little apartment, the tabletop fake fiberoptic tree I got a year or two ago suits me just fine.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Whenever my roommates force me to. I like leaving Christmas up for a little while!

5. Do you like egg nog?
Yes! Especially my stepmom's homemade eggnog. It's soooo rich but soooo good...

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
A clock-radio that my great-grandmother gave me when I was 5 or 6. It was my first radio, and I was such a radio addict as a child! It was on whenever I was in my room, and I think I still used it up until high school!

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
I do, somewhere. It was my grandmother's.

8. Hardest person to buy for?

My stepmom - and my dad's a close second. They're tricky!

9. Easiest person to buy for?
My little sister. She's 11, so I can still get her random kid stuff. It might get tougher in a few years.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail is always better! I think I'm going to do cards this year, speaking of, so if you want one, send me your address!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Not to throw my little sister under the bus here, but a few years ago she gave me a couple of really random knick-knacks: a horse statuette and some clamshell that had a globe in the middle. She picked them out herself, and she was 7 or 8, so the thought was darling, but to this day, I don't know what to do with them!

12 . Favorite Christmas movie?
Holiday Inn - but Christmas in Connecticut is gaining ground. Oh, and there's always It's a Wonderful Life. Do I have to just pick one?!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
The last few years I've been waaaaay last minute about shopping, but this year I've already gotten started, so it all depends.

14 . Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yup - it might have been a birthday present that went for Christmas, though.

15. Any Christmas traditions?
Christmas stockings are always a big deal with us, a tradition my stepmom carried over from her own family. Christmas breakfast is always a big deal, too, and usually includes a pastry wreath like my Nana always made.

16 . Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Colored, for sure!

17. Favorite Christmas song?
"White Christmas." I have a soft spot for Bing Crosby (but I'm referring more to Holiday Inn than White Christmas).

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Stay home! Growing up, both sides of the family were in Southern California - and still are, except for one aunt and her brood. In fact, my mom's an only child and her mom (Gram) was widowed when I was a baby, so Gram would actually join my dad's family gatherings!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen - and, of course, Rudolph!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star, for sure!

21 . Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning, all the way!

22. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner?
My grandmother's rolls. I basically could eat nothing but those and be satisfied!

I tag: Megan, Kristen, the Aubreys, Suzie, Sarah, Melisa and anyone else who's excited for Christmas!

The Last Lecture

I know I'm a little behind the times on this one, but as I mentioned in the addendum to my last post, I just listened to snippets of "The Last Lecture" for the first time today.

I couldn't wait to share this 10-minute segment of it with you. And you can bet that I'll be watching the entire hour-plus-long version later this week. Enjoy!

A paradigm shift

Once upon a time, I lived in a magical place called Seattle - and, while sitting on the sandy beach at Golden Gardens (pictured above), away from everyone I'd ever known, I had this distinct, funny little thought about how grateful I was for the eight people I considered my best, best friends in the world.

Within a year, seven of the eight were married or engaged - and that eighth friend was just beginning to date his now-wife.

To say this was difficult for perpetually-single me is an understatement. It pretty much killed to see all my friends enter the Land of the Marrieds and leave me behind on the Singles Shore.

Well, it's been almost five years now since the first of the friends married, and now every single one of them has at least one child. Heck, one has her third on the way!

Anyways, this morning one of these besties blogged about how she converted her toddler's crib to a toddler bed, and I was like, that is the coolest thing! I didn't even know they made those!

And then it hit me.

How glad am I that all of my best friends have ventured through the waters of marriage and motherhood before me! That's going to be fantastic when my turn rolls around. I don't have older sisters - well, not blood-related ones, although Necia and Hollie do come pretty dang close - but I am so grateful that I'll have this wealth of knowledge among my friends from which I can draw.

It's a lovely paradigm shift.

Recent events have hit home to me how much there really is a plan for each of our lives, if we but have the eyes to see it. There is such a distinct reason that I am here, now, single and able to serve, enjoying an amazing career during this phase of life I'll never be able to reenter once I tie on that ol' ball and chain.

A dreamy and handsome ball and chain, I expect - but I'm in no hurry.

Life is wonderful when we open ourselves up to the opportunities instead of focusing on why the plans we made for ourselves didn't go down as we wanted them to. There is such unspeakable joy and serenity in playing life by ear, trusting that things will work out for the best, even if, for a moment, it seems like the worst.

As Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, "It is only by yielding to God that we can begin to realize His will for us. And if we truly trust God, why not yield to His loving omniscience? After all, He knows us and our possibilities much better than do we."

********

As an addendum, my boss's latest blog post is about "The Last Lecture," so I've been looking on YouTube for a clip to pair with the post. Wow, what an amazing speech! I'll have to blog about it myself... but first, I wanted to share a quote that Randy Pausch cites:

"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted."

Ain't that the truth?!

The ABC's of Christa

Stacers tagged me with the ABC Tag Game, so here it goes!

A- Attached or Single? Single
B- Best Friend? Karen - but also Rebecca, Tabitha, Haas, Christina... it's a long list.
C- Cake or Pie? Cake
D- Day of Choice? Saturday
E- Essential Item? Cell phone
F- Favorite Color? Purple, currently - often red, too
G- Gummy Bears or Worms? Ooooh, that's a toughie. Bears. I agree with Stacy - chocolate-covered cinnamon bears. Too bad they're only at BYU!
H- Hometown? La Crescenta, California
I- Indulgence(s)? Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory - my current obsession is the 30th anniversary cheesecake, which is layers of cheesecake and chocolate cake. To DIE for!
J- January or July? Haha, depends on my location! July, I s'pose
K- Kids? Hopefully 4-6 someday (although the longer it takes, the fewer I'll be happy with!)
L- Life is incomplete without? The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sorry to be all Molly, but it's true...
M- Marriage Date? Hopefully in the next three years? I'd rather not be 30 and single still...
N- Number of Siblings? 2 - an older brother and younger half-sister
O- Oranges or Apples? Oranges. Unless we're talking apple cobbler or baked apples.
P- Phobias or Fears? I get really nervous on bridges or overpasses, or being stopped beneath an overpass. Blame it on growing up in earthquake territory!
Q- Quotes? “This is the true joy in life, to be used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, to be thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap. To be a force of nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am a member of a community and as a member it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can before I die. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch that I want to make burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” - George Bernard Shaw
R- Reason to Smile? The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the beauty of the earth, living in Southern California
S- Season? Autumn
T- Tag 5 People? Kellie, Liz, Amor, Kaylynn and Adrian/Emily
U- Unknown Fact? In high school I once snuck onto the set of an MTV pilot in Malibu with a couple of guys I met that day, and we pretended to be extras for a rave scene. They would have let us stay and get paid for it, too, but my mom was LAME and made me come home. That's what she gets for dropping me off at a leadership conference reunion in Westwood and telling me to find a ride home! (I mean, seriously, what kind of mother drops her 17-year-old off in West L.A. and tells her to get a ride with a stranger? Crazy lady!)
V- Very Favorite Store? Target! It's my happy place!
W- Worst Habit? My addiction to Diet Pepsi
X- X-Ray or Ultrasound? Ultrasound - it's not what you think! It was of my thyroid. I've never broken anything, but I did get an X-ray once. Didn't enjoy it much.
Y- Your Favorite Food? Lobster crepes or calamari tacos from Taco Mesa
Z- Zodiac? Virgo (and I fit it all too well)

(PS - Stace, we're a lot alike! I guess that would be why we're friends, lol...)

Best idea ever

To give credit where due, Jordan clued me into this photo from http://scoutinlife.blogspot.com/2008/11/best-idea.html, and it was too funny not to share. I love those Founders!

Religion and America: A Prop. 8 History Lesson

During my days at BYU, I TA'ed for American Heritage, a US history / political science / economics / current events GE, for three years, so between taking it once and then teaching it six times, I've pretty much got the class indelibly drilled into me forever.

One of the things that we discussed was the widening circle of rights, and how eventually, if you stretch those circles far enough, one person's right will inevitably butt up against another's. It's precisely what's happening right now!

It is absolutely harrowing to me to see that what my professors said was down the road is right before my eyes.

And for those of you who hated on American Heritage... well, I told you so! ;)

It was probably the most important class we took in college, regardless of major. People just don't know their history! They don't know what they're talking about! I'm so sick of hearing about a "Constitutional right" to marry. So I sat down last night and reread the Constitution, something I think every American should do from time to time. Most of it is about how the government is set up to function, until you get to the Bill of Rights, or the first 10 amendments. Let's review the First Amendment, shall we?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

I think it's worth noting that the original wording of the First Amendment proposed by the Senate on March 9, 1789, is that "Congress shall not make any law establishing any religious denomination." The second version stated "Congress shall make no law establishing any particular denomination." Notice the nuanced difference. For the Founders, the terms "religion" and "denomination" are interchangeable. As a writer, I can appreciate why they would leave one and not both. It would have been redundant in their eyes to have both!

Fisher Ames, the Founding Father who offered the version we now know as the First Amendment, wrote in an 1801 magazine article that he was concerned that the Bible might eventually take a backseat in the classroom: "Why then, if these new books for children must be retained, as they will be, should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a school book?"

And he's the one who finalized that Congress shall not make a ruling on religion!

I respect the protestors' First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly - but their argument should be directed to the government, not the Church. And even then, the people. voted. twice. on. this. Against every odd they stacked against us. Their reaction is so irrational!

Now, an oft-ignored fact by those who shout about a "separation of church and state" is that, first of all, that phrase is NOWHERE to be found in any of our Founding documents. The concept came from the personal writings of Thomas Jefferson, in an 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, a group that constituted a religious minority in Connecticut:

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

The place where religion is addressed explicitly in the Constitution is in the last clause of Article IV of the Constitution, which stipulates that "No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."

As Dr. Frank Fox (my academic idol!) wrote:

While a few of the Framers were religious skeptics, most were committed churchmen - and even the skeptics appreciated religion's power to promote civic virtue. The question was, how to bring such power to bear? Some delegates argued for a mild religious test, requiring officeholders to embrace mainstream Christianity.

Experience had shown, however, that religious tests, however mild, had the effect of cementing an official tie between church and state. Several of the Framers regarded such a tie as desirable. No republican society, they argued, could succeed without some official religion. But most of the delegates took the opposite view. Official religion worked two kinds of mischief, they said. It opened the way for the official church to corrupt the political system, and conversely opened the way for the political system to corrupt the official church. Those delegates representing states where a religious establishment still persisted could testify to the baneful effects.

By prohibiting a religious test, the Framers aimed not to destroy the influence of religion on politics but to purify it. The theory went something like this. All believers, now lacking any official capacity, were welcome to exert their influence on govermnet in any way they saw fit - just as any citizens were. And since no denomination stood to gain by the way of patronage, the motives of all must be relatively pure. The only real message a church might have under the Constitution would be to urge integrity, responsibility and a sacralized civic virtue.

And thus we see that the Founding Fathers merely wanted to keep America from facing the issues of a state religion that they had seen in England. They were not men against religion. Some were more devout than others, but that isn't to say they were all secular men, as is so often taught in schools these days. One has only to read George Washington's farewell address to see his view of the importance of religion in America:

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

There is much more I could say on the issue, but I'll end with that for today.

Well, one more thought.

Do you know what the first public school law was in America?

"The Old Deluder Satan Act," passed in 1642. It began "It being one chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the scriptures, as in former times..."

I'm just sayin'.

My new mantra

“This is the true joy in life, to be used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, to be thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap. To be a force of nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am a member of a community and as a member it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can before I die. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch that I want to make burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” - George Bernard Shaw

Piano gymnastics

While chatting with a colleague about our shared love of Billy Joel, I was sad to hear that he didn't know of "Angry Young Man," one of my fav songs in the Billy Joel lineup.

And if a fan didn't know it, well, I'm guessing a lot of you are missing out on the goodness. So, here it is, for your viewing and listening pleasure. Enjoy!



Note the amazingness with which he bangs away at the piano. Phenomenal! Love him!

Fearless heart

Captain Moroni, my favorite Book of Mormon hero, set a great precedent of defending liberty, family and freedom - I think he'd be proud of the work we did!

Well, it looks like Prop. 8 passed, restoring marriage to its traditional definition of one man and one woman in the state of California!

As many/most of you know, I've been on the front lines of the whole thing, and I have much to say - but, honestly, I'm so overcome with emotion between this and the Obama win (and the state of affairs of our country in general) that I can't really gather all of my thoughts yet. Goodness, I can't stop crying! This has not been easy, I know that there are some serious and legitimately hurt feelings on both sides, and even though we "won," my heart aches for the pain felt by all, for the friendships that have been destroyed all around me. I don't want to further alienate friends whose beliefs differ - I'm tired of losing friends I value, but then again, those close enough for me to really care about would hopefully know me well enough to know that I'm not intolerant or close-minded. I'm so sick of getting that label when it's just. not. true.

I've got too much client work that needs my focus - but I'll give a whole overview tonight or tomorrow. For now, I'm going to my favorite place, grab a calamari taco to go, head to the park and cry my eyes out.

But first, I wanted to post the lyrics of a song that's popped into my head many times during this whole campaign: "Fearless Heart," by Katherine Nelson. It's from EFY: A Season for Courage, a CD that somehow joined my collection during my BYU days (I never went to EFY!). Anyways, this pretty much sums up how I'm feeling:

FEARLESS HEART

The war is raging all around me

I'm weary and battle-worn

The forces of the night surround me, threatening to destroy

And the battlefield is strewn with broken lives

Torn and tattered in the struggle to survive

But I will not be a casualty of this war I didn't start

I'll fight with a fearless heart

The darkness bids me to surrender

My weakness begs me to retreat

The faith sustains its true defenders, with the promise of relief

And the battlefield is strewn with broken lives

Torn and tattered in the struggle to survive

But I will not be a casualty of this war I didn't start

I'll fight with a fearless heart

I will not lay my courage down until the enemy is found

I will not die

And the battlefield is strewn with broken lives

Torn and tattered in the struggle to survive

But I will not be a casualty of this war I didn't start

I'll fight with a fearless heart

*****

PS: I was pondering things at lunch, and I just want to ask everyone to keep the gay community in their prayers, that the hearts of those hurt by the Prop. 8 outcome will be comforted. I may disagree with their arguments, but that doesn't negate their feelings by any stretch of the imagination. I've already seen some of the anguish my gay friends are feeling via Facebook, and my heart really does go out to them. So, please, pray for their comfort.

It's true.

Sorry to clog up everyone's Google Readers today, but I finally feel okay with making the blog public again (for better or worse). So, if you see oodles of posts pour in from me, that's why - it'll update with everything I've posted since going private in September. Which would be a lot, since I tend to average a post a day-ish.

Anyhow, enjoy!

Hopefully I can keep it public, but we'll see. As long as I don't get cyberstalked again, we're good to go.

Get yourself some McCain Fine Gold!

Ah, SNL. How I love you during the election season. Brilliance! Sheer brilliance!



Friends, be sure to get out and vote. Thousands upon thousands of men and women have died for our freedoms and our ability to vote. Be sure their blood has not been shed in vain!

History repeats itself

I thought this was an interesting thought from the late LDS President Ezra Taft Benson (Ensign, July 1973):

Edward Gibbon, in 1788, set forth in his famous book, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, five basic reasons why that great civilization withered and died:

1. The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis for human society.

2. Higher and higher taxes: the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the populace.

3. The mad craze for pleasure, with sports and plays becoming more exciting, more brutal and more immoral.

4. The building of great armaments when the real enemy was within.

5. The decay of religion, whose leaders lost their touch with life, and their power to guide the people.

If that doesn't describe modern America, I don't know what does!

Loving today's horoscope!

Your serious attitude about love won't get in the way of romance. In fact, today your calm demeanor could even make you more attractive to the opposite sex. Keep in mind that you can be as mature as you wish and it won't make you any less popular. The more responsible you act now, the more others will find reasons to love you.

Goodness. So timely. So spot-on with my life right now. How do the Horoscope Powers-That-Be know these things?!

Love it!

I'm enjoying the freedom of having a fresh slate. Too bad the kind of fellas I want to date are nary to be found in Orange County. All we seem to have are surfer boys. It's not asking too much for one with a brain, heart and courage, is it? Maybe I should drag one of these fellas to the Wizard. There's no place like home...