Greater Things.

Sugardoodle Link Love.

Quite some time ago, you may recall, I posted a link to my new Primary blog, ldssingingandsharing. Originally, since I was the Music Director, it was just going to be a blog about singing ideas for Primary Music Leaders. However, when I was called to be in the Primary Presidency and was responsible for teaching Sharing Time, a short 20 minute gospel lesson, I changed the blog up a bit and made a broader focus on Primary as a whole.

So let me tell you the exciting part. Last week, I posted my idea for Week Three of July and the widely-used website, Sugardoodle, picked it up and posted it as one of the ideas for July Sharing Time helps. How cool is that?!

I'm not sure who actually posted it, but I think it's great and I'm happy to know that someone liked the idea. And it's increased the traffic to that blog immensely. Considering that I probably only had two or three occasional readers of that blog and today alone, it's gotten over 300 unique visitors, I'd say Sugardoodle Link Love is awesome! And as it turns out, thanks to that link love, several people have been happy to have the idea. I'm glad to have been able to help.
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Thinking About Life and Death Again.

"The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.

One of the blessings of the gospel is the knowledge that when the curtain of death signals the end of our mortal lives, life will continue on the other side of the veil. There we will be given new opportunities. Not even death can take from us the eternal blessings promised by a loving Heavenly Father."
~Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Photo taken by me at Thanksgiving Point's Tulip Festival, April 2006.

This week has been another week that seems to have been filled with death. About six months ago, I felt the same way.

Bunny Bradley, a woman I did not know, died as a result of being hit by a truck, which careened into her bike group on Wednesday, July 14th, after having collided with another vehicle. She was 29 and left behind two baby girls.

My friend's sister, Rebekah, died in a car accident on Thursday, July 15th. She was 38. I sang at her funeral this Thursday.

Tiffany, a little girl who used to be in my Primary and who was also our neighbor, drowned on Sunday, July 18th in a friend's swimming pool. She was six years old. Would be turning seven in August.

I think about death a lot. I don't know why. I guess it helps to have two morticians in the family. We speak of death, bodies, embalming, and organ donation pretty freely.

Although I believe that our spirits live on after our bodies die and that there is life after this, I think I still fear death to some extent. It's not something I want to experience right now. Not for me or my family. Also, my emotions are so close to the surface when I hear of someone who is young and still, seemingly, has a lot of life yet to live. I suppose I believe that no one is taken before "their time", but what does that really mean?

I believe, strongly, that our life goes on after this one. I believe in heaven. I believe in resurrection. I believe in a merciful, loving God. I believe there is a plan to all of this. I simply cannot believe that there isn't a "bigger picture" than the one I can see. There is. And yet, I still am not fully comfortable with death. It seems the older I get, the more difficult it is for me to hear about tragic deaths, especially ones that seem to be so painful and gruesome, physically, for the one who is dying and emotionally, for those who are left behind. Call me sentimental, but that's how I feel.

I'm sad for these families. Sad that they have to continue in this life without their loved ones. But I found it interesting, at Rebekah's funeral, her mother and a few of her siblings expressed their sorrow, but pointed out that it was their sorrow and that they had had strong, distinct impressions that Rebekah was happy.

I hope they are happy and that we, who are left behind, can have some peace at that thought.


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"If I hadn't drinken so much water..."

"We spend most of our lives conjugating three verbs: to want, to have, and to do, but not to drink."
~Evelyn Underhill (italics added by moi)

So this morning started out pretty well, when I woke up to my alarm clock. Now, that may not seem like a particularly wonderful start to the day, but considering how little sleep I had last night and how much of a morning person I am NOT, it was no less than a miracle!

Then, while in the shower, I used the last of my shower gel, so I blindly aimed for the garbage over the top of the shower curtain and MADE it! Score! Seriously, I am that good. :) Haha, actually I was so stunned that I made it, that it had me smiling all morning.

In other fun news, my car reached the 150 mile mark! (And also 160 mile mark, hence the picture. I was driving when it said 150...) Yes, that's the total miles on the odometer. It started out with 4. FOUR! Crazy. And I'm a sucker for "mile"stones, so I liked watching it click to 150 (and 160), even if it IS digital. :)

Work was, well... work, but Kendra and I got a lot accomplished today. ;) So much, that we actually treated ourselves to leaving a few minutes early. We deserved it. That meant that I got to the gym earlier than planned, worked out, and then home earlier than I thought.

Great day. Well, except for that dumb headache that has been lingering all day and does not want to be conquered by normal amounts of ibuprofen. I even took my Mission President's wife's #1 advice to cure most any illness -- I drank a lot of water and it still didn't seem to do much good. I suppose it might be worse if I hadn't taken ibuprofen or if I hadn't drunk so much water.

Speak of drinking... I really love language and grammar, but I will openly admit that I hate conjugating the English verb "to drink" in the perfect, pluperfect, future perfect, past perfect conditional, perfect conjunctive, and perfect conjunctional tenses. It's a perfect nightmare to me and the "right" way sounds perfectly ridiculous to me. There. I'd much prefer to say, "...if I hadn't drinken so much water..." :) I know, I know, it's wrong. And okay, I'll even give it to you that it sounds silly. But so does "If I hadn't have drunk so much water..." Doesn't it? Am I alone in this? Hmmm. :)

Haha. Life's fun.

So, that was today.
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Honda Fit. Now Driving on a Highway Near You.

"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers".
~Dave Barry, "Things That It Took Me 50 Years to Learn"

So, as I mentioned about a week ago, I got a new car. My brother's been hounding me to post some pictures of the actual car and not the stock photos I posted a week ago. So here they are.

The car is finally starting to feel like my own and not just a loaner. And I kinda like it.

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Wish List: Blue Ceilings.

"May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you every step along the way. May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue. And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through."
~Irish Blessing

I love the blue ceilings in this room. And the built in library shelves... love them. The color scheme of white and blue with the dark hardwood floors is very appealing to me. And all the beautiful detailed molding doesn't hurt a bit. :)

Photos from Elements of Style.

Tonight, You Will Be Mine!

"Tonight's the night we're gonna make it happen
Tonight we'll put all other things aside
Get in this time and show me some affection
We're goin' for those pleasures in the night

I want to love you, feel you, wrap myself around you
I want to squeeze you, please you, I just can't get enough
And if you move real slow I let it go

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it
I'm so excited and I just can't hide it
And I know I know I know I know I know I want you"
~"I'm So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters

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Wish List: This Kitchen.

"You should always be the best decoration in your own house."
~Phoebe Howard

I love everything about this kitchen. Everything. Beautiful.

Love it.

Photo found here.

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