tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69626420109857712082024-03-13T06:28:13.596-06:00Reasons to RejoiceChronicling my beautiful, messy, joyous, challenging, blessed lifeTashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.comBlogger280125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-20716262409763830682011-09-02T13:43:00.002-06:002011-09-02T13:43:36.592-06:00We're Moving!This blog, that is.<br />
<br />
I've moved my blog to <a href="http://www.tashamoon.wordpress.com/">www.tashamoon.wordpress.com</a> . From now on, I'll be blogging over there.<br />
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I'll still leave this blog up, but all of the old posts have been transferred to my wordpress blog as well.<br />
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Thanks for reading! I look forward to more adventures with you.Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-84260637698800647572011-08-28T15:16:00.001-06:002011-08-28T17:46:34.991-06:00A pinch of salt, lots of love, and lots and lots of to-fuuuuuuuuuuu!<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The newest episode of <a href="http://tashamazing.blogspot.com/2011/06/kid-history.html">Kid History</a> came out today. I am so happy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fh0NLQJfAYU" width="560"></iframe></div></div>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-77358103110828499982011-08-27T14:49:00.001-06:002011-08-27T14:50:31.033-06:00Back from California!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wow, I feel like it's been forever since I blogged! We visited my family in San Diego last week, and are now back in Provo getting ready for the school year. It's hard to believe that it is my last one, and I will be graduating around April! </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Usually when we go to San Diego, we try to get a lot of sightseeing in. But on this trip, I was too tired to do much. I was a little worried that my slower pace would take some of the fun out of our vacation, but I think it actually made the trip better. Instead of focusing on things to do, we focused on being with one another. Some of my favorite memories from the trip are doing puzzles with my dad, having heart-to-hearts with my mom and sister, and the way James would crawl into bed with us for some morning snuggles. I feel so blessed to be part of a family that is so kind and loving. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/313130_2346366583641_1384320920_2702964_5599206_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/313130_2346366583641_1384320920_2702964_5599206_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Doing origami with friends while camping</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/307985_2346167218657_1384320920_2702780_6084788_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/307985_2346167218657_1384320920_2702780_6084788_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We made rockets for <a href="http://smurthwaitefamily.blogspot.com/2011/08/phineas-and-ferb-friday-swinter.html">Phineas and Ferb Friday</a>!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/300270_2346201979526_1384320920_2702823_2278120_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/300270_2346201979526_1384320920_2702823_2278120_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We love doing crafts after dinner, but this one made me a little frustrated...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/315800_2346196099379_1384320920_2702812_7784024_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/315800_2346196099379_1384320920_2702812_7784024_n.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The temple is way more gorgeous in person</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/294116_2346200739495_1384320920_2702819_8080966_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/294116_2346200739495_1384320920_2702819_8080966_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/301991_2346238420437_1384320920_2702871_6766015_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/301991_2346238420437_1384320920_2702871_6766015_n.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jumping over the waves!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/306473_2346124057578_1384320920_2702687_5107980_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/306473_2346124057578_1384320920_2702687_5107980_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Snuggle time!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/308475_2346178138930_1384320920_2702794_1369361_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/308475_2346178138930_1384320920_2702794_1369361_n.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With our cute friends, the Mitchells</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/320314_2346145298109_1384320920_2702742_7462611_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/320314_2346145298109_1384320920_2702742_7462611_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/301329_2346098896949_1384320920_2702631_2498681_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/301329_2346098896949_1384320920_2702631_2498681_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our wonderful family at Lake Gregory</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm so grateful that my family is eternal!</span>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-9385622318022173132011-08-13T11:54:00.000-06:002011-08-13T11:54:43.860-06:00Overheard at the Moons': Jump in the ShowerBrandon: "Okay, I'm going to go jump in the shower."<br />
Me: "Honey, you don't have to jump. You can just walk."<br />
Brandon: "No, it's really much better if I jump."<br />
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He then proceeds to hop all the way to the bathroom and into the shower.<br />
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This is why I absolutely adore that man.Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-83489323912443354342011-08-08T09:49:00.002-06:002011-08-08T09:49:00.665-06:00Something Old, Something New<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3 years ago today, I started working at Jamba Juice. In four days, I will work my last shift and start a new era in my life. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know it's time to do something different. With my <a href="http://tashamazing.blogspot.com/2011/07/faith-rooted-in-optimism-and-tears.html">illness</a> I can't keep up with the demands of this fast-paced job. I find myself getting more irritated with customers; let's face it, being asked "What's good?" for three years gets pretty old. The truth is, I am burnt out. And there are many other people who can do this job better than I can. It's time for them to get a chance.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But at the same time, it's bittersweet. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jamba Juice has been a part of my life for the past three years of my life. My co-workers have been comforts, supports, comic relief, a source of joy, and my best friends. I have grown up in this job. And in fact, it is through my friends at Jamba that I met my sweet husband. Working at Jamba has changed my life. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's funny how something that was wrong for me <a href="http://tashamazing.blogspot.com/2010/07/apple-tree-for-elm-tree.html">a year ago</a> can be right now. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the fall, I will start working as a TA in the art history department. I am excited to have a less-demanding job in my field, to develop new skills and make new friends. But I am also nervous, for I am leaving something that I know and love to step into the unknown. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I will miss the good food. I will miss dancing around to fun music after closing. I will miss training sweet little freshmen. I will miss our wild Jamba parties. And most of all, I will miss all of my sweet, wonderful co-workers who make me laugh every time I work. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am grateful for this experience and all that it has taught me. But I have to move forward. </span>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-69895078251060374532011-08-07T16:49:00.002-06:002011-08-07T17:11:44.083-06:00The Miracle of Forgiveness<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://dwellingintheword.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/1-kershisnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://dwellingintheword.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/1-kershisnik.jpg" width="547" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Kershisnik, <i>But Ruth Clave Unto Her, </i>2006, Found <a href="http://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/327-ruth-1/">here</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's been a rough week. As I wrote <a href="http://tashamazing.blogspot.com/2011/08/forgiveness.html">earlier,</a> I've been struggling with forgiving someone who has rejected my efforts of kindness and hurt me badly. <a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/eph/6.12?lang=eng#11">Ephesians 6:12</a> kept popping into my mind, for I have been wrestling with the forces of darkness.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I spent several days engulfed in these dark feelings, nursing my wounds at the bottom of that pit and fighting to let go of my pain. I felt justified in my anger, and wanted everyone to know how I had been wronged. But at the same time, I knew that revenge would only continue the cycle of unkindness; it would not make anything better. I also knew that I wanted to escape from these angry feelings and feel the peace of God again.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I found hope in Corrie Ten Boom's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hiding-Place-Corrie-Ten-Boom/dp/0553256696">The Hiding Place,</a> </i>an account of her experiences helping Jews in World War II and, as a result, being sent to a concentration camp. She also discusses the way God helped her to forgive and show love during that cold, dark time. My favorite story in the book occurs after the war when Corrie was speaking of her experiences across Europe. At one event, she was approached by a guard she had known in the concentration camp; he recognized her and asked for her forgiveness. She writes,</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. <i>Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give Your forgiveness.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I took his hand the most incredible thing happpened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand, a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So many times I have uttered that same prayer - <i>Lord, I can't forgive this person. Give me Your forgiveness. </i>And like Corrie, I have been aided by my Father in Heaven. The more I feel His compassion for my offender, the more<i> </i>my heart softens and is able to love. But it is His charity and forgiveness, not mine, that has made the difference.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My husband has been a great help as well. He has listened to me rant and complain and cry. He has even sympathized with the person who hurt me and helped me to understand their point of view. He has helped me connect to God when I was too hurt to reach Him on my own.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"You have tried so hard honey," Brandon said as he stroked my hair. "You did nothing wrong." It was at that moment that I began to sob because that was what I had wanted to hear all along - that someone acknowledged my sorrow and my efforts to do the right thing.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was at that moment that I began to heal. God surely knew what He was doing when He asked us to <a href="http://byuwsr.blogspot.com/2011/07/both-optimism-and-tears.html">"mourn with those that mourn."</a> (See <a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/18.8-10?lang=eng">Mosiah 18:8-10</a>)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We often speak of "the miracle of forgiveness" in the context of the Atonement, of Christ forgiving us for the vilest of our transgressions. After my struggle to forgive one person of a small offense, I am amazed at the Savior's ability to forgive me so readily, and even more so at the fact that I can someday become like Him.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But this experience has also taught me about another miracle of forgiveness - the freedom and healing we receive as we let go of our anger and let Jesus teach us how to forgive. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was in bondage, and none could deliver me but the Lord my God. (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/24.21?lang=eng#20">See Mosiah 24:21</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">) He has made my burden light.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I still feel hurt when I think of what my offender did, and I suspect that the pain will always be there. I know that my journey is not over, for forgiveness is not a single event but a lifelong decision. But I know I have the help of my Father in Heaven, and that with Him, I can be victorious. </span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Nay, in all these things we are <b>more than conquerors through him that loved us.</b> For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." <a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/rom/8.38?lang=eng#37">-Romans 8:35, 37-39</a></span></blockquote>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-50989671253705021052011-08-02T14:53:00.003-06:002011-08-07T16:54:29.093-06:00Forgiveness<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jkirkrichards.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/streamsofmercygray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://jkirkrichards.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/streamsofmercygray.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Annie Henrie, <i>Streams of Mercy</i>, 2010, Found <a href="http://jkirkrichards.wordpress.com/2010/12/04/streams-of-mercy/">here</a></span> </span></td></tr>
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am learning a lesson in forgiveness right now, a lesson that is oh, so hard. As a child, I thought I had mastered this skill because I could easily get over playground drama and childish arguments. But when you've given your best to someone and they don't even try to see past your shortcomings - that is when forgiveness becomes so much harder.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This journey feels like a roller coaster. I descend as I worry and stew and grow angry over the wrongs that have been done to me. At rock bottom, I realize that I need to do better, and ask for God's help. I've been amazed at how He helps me, lifts me higher, fills my heart with His understanding and His love.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But inevitably, I grow angry again. I used to think forgiveness was a one-time thing, but now I am discovering that it is a long and tiring struggle.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In those moments when I am down and weary, here are three things I turn to for the inspiration to turn my heart to God and try again to forgive.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. This video</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/E7zwQ_7q-fU" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. Rudyard Kipling's <a href="http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_if.htm">"If"</a></span></div><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken<br />
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,<br />
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,<br />
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools"</span></blockquote><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. The <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/102203.Corrie_Ten_Boom">words</a> of Corrie Ten Boom </span></div><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"It is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself." </span></blockquote><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"> I hope that </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">these can help you on your journeys of forgiveness as well as mine. </span>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-8045341910139625602011-07-28T00:25:00.001-06:002011-07-28T00:25:28.431-06:00A Faith Rooted in Optimism and Tears<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.deseretnews.com/images/article/sidebar/17701/Thorn--Sparrows-by-Brian-Kershisnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://static.deseretnews.com/images/article/sidebar/17701/Thorn--Sparrows-by-Brian-Kershisnik.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Brian Kershisnik, <i>Thorn and Sparrows, </i>Found <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700010673/Speaking-to-the-soul-LDS-Church-History-Museums-interactive-exhibit-communicates-Spirit-of-Art.html">here</a></span></td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last night, I filled up my old journal. Tonight I will begin a new one. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After writing my final words in that volume, I flipped back through and reminisced about the last 9 months of my life - my worries when having to decide between my missionary and Brandon, how I decided that he was the one, our engagement, our wedding, our first 5 months of marriage.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've been sick for the past 6 weeks, and I'm not sure why. (And to nip any rumors in the bud, no, I'm definitely not pregnant.) Although I get enough sleep and take my multi-vitamins, I'm tired all the time. I often have dizziness, migraines, and difficulty concentrating. We've been to the doctor and found out that I'm not anemic, diabetic, or a victim of thyroid problems. He prescribed some medication about a week ago, and it's been helping, but I'm certainly not back to normal yet. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I read through my old journal entries, I missed my old self. I missed the girl who was able to handle 12-hour school days with a smile on her face. I missed the girl who was so happy and bubbly all the time. I missed the girl who found everything about life to be so exciting. My body has forced me to slow down, and in some ways, I've lost a part of myself. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In my prayers tonight, I asked God to help me bring back the old, energetic me. Instead, He answered, <i>You don't have to be her. </i></span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, my body has forced me to slow down, and my spirit has slowed down with it. I've lost a lot of my energy and enthusiasm, but I've gained something in return. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm more content with my place in the world. I find more satisfaction in my relationships. I cherish the temple more. I'm driven to my knees more often. I talk to my mother more frequently. I think more deeply and creatively. I'm more content to observe than to join in the action. I have a more eternal perspective. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have a better relationship with my husband. I have a better relationship with my family. I have a better relationship with myself. I have a better relationship with my Heavenly Father. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This trial has been painful, both physically and emotionally - but I am better for it. I feel like it is helping me to grow up. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As <a href="http://segullah.org/daily-special/feeling-the-loss/">Melissa Young</a> wrote, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">"I’m finding that my faith is rooted in both optimism and tears."</span></span>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-203426444593042512011-07-18T16:33:00.002-06:002011-07-19T11:57:42.265-06:00I finally feel like an aunt.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When we first got engaged, one of the things I was excited about was becoming an aunt. As the oldest kid in my family, I had no nieces or nephews, and when I married Brandon I suddenly got 10 1/2 (<a href="http://tashamazing.blogspot.com/2011/03/friday-bob-dylan-baby-and-some.html">the eleventh</a> was born about a month after our wedding day). It's been a bit of a challenge learning how to relate to that many kids and how to show them love. For the most part, I've felt like I've just been pretending, but this weekend at our family reunion, I finally felt like an aunt.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We had a blast driving up with Benson, Adi, and their dad Nephi. When we pulled up in the driveway, they were all ready with their backpacks, sleeping bags, water bottles, and aviators. "Bwandon and Dasha! We going camping!" Benson cried. They were pretty excited.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n3qebdATn9s/TiSudxJjX4I/AAAAAAAABYU/eGeJGmCr9pA/s1600/CIMG0094%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n3qebdATn9s/TiSudxJjX4I/AAAAAAAABYU/eGeJGmCr9pA/s640/CIMG0094%255B1%255D.jpg" width="482" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Who can resist Bensie?</span></td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our reunion was in gorgeous Cottonwood Canyon at Brighton Girls' Camp, which has been run by the LDS church for 90 years. I love going up into the mountains and being surrounded my streams, trees, rocks, and dirt. Something about it awakens a part of my soul that is left dormant by suburban life. When I'm in the mountains, I feel like I'm truly myself. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jes9hmVNii8/TiSwbnF6vHI/AAAAAAAABYg/_x-5xsxgsp8/s1600/CIMG0110%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jes9hmVNii8/TiSwbnF6vHI/AAAAAAAABYg/_x-5xsxgsp8/s640/CIMG0110%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From our hike around Silver Lake</span></td></tr>
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/285367_10150376936208642_571483641_10433387_2731302_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/285367_10150376936208642_571483641_10433387_2731302_n.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But my favorite part of the reunion was seeing the love everyone had for each other. I didn't know the extended family very well, but they all treated me with such kindness and welcomed me with open arms. There were no cliques, no fighting, no put-downs, nobody left out. Everyone took care of each other, from the grandparents right down to the little kids. It was heaven on earth.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had so much fun making bracelets, tie-dying t-shirts, hiking, and sitting around the campfire with my sweet nieces and nephews. I loved getting to help the kids with their crafts and the conversations we had as we worked side by side. Something about working together really helps you bond. Even little Ezra, who has always been shy around me before, opened up as we painted rocks together. I feel like I know the temperament of each child in the family now - Lauryn is bubbly and outgoing, Adri is graceful and introverted, Benson and Adi are sweet and easygoing. I feel like I am finding my place in the family, and that I really belong. I feel loved and accepted - and isn't that what family is all about?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/281886_10150376935948642_571483641_10433385_7617116_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/281886_10150376935948642_571483641_10433385_7617116_n.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Little Pierce, or "Baby Bierce" as he's been dubbed by Benson</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5c26YWpkOSI/TiSumsHE0II/AAAAAAAABYY/eoc2OYVgkFw/s1600/CIMG0097%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5c26YWpkOSI/TiSumsHE0II/AAAAAAAABYY/eoc2OYVgkFw/s640/CIMG0097%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adri's face when Brandon claimed the bunk next to mine</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wvqu7rXNQi4/TiSu2lp4veI/AAAAAAAABYc/INsVqHrp1l0/s1600/CIMG0100%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wvqu7rXNQi4/TiSu2lp4veI/AAAAAAAABYc/INsVqHrp1l0/s640/CIMG0100%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Benson putting on sunscreen</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/270424_10150376936053642_571483641_10433386_3438935_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/270424_10150376936053642_571483641_10433386_3438935_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My new favorite photo of us</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm so glad that I found sweet Brandon who added me to this sweet family who loves me as much as my own. I feel so blessed to belong to 3 wonderful families - mine, my husband's and the one we will create together. I don't think that I could be any luckier. </span>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-61610368699700214292011-07-11T17:04:00.001-06:002011-07-11T17:09:37.644-06:00Mean.I'm not easily provoked, but when somebody hurts a family member of mine, I get pretty mad. Introverts are fiercely loyal, and I am no exception.<br />
<br />
Well, someone has recently disappointed and been unkind to someone who I dearly love, and I am less than happy about it. There are so many things I wish I could say to them, but I know that they are better left unsaid. This song helps me feel better when those angry thoughts come to mind.<br />
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<br />
I love this song because it helps me remember that this incident isn't the end of the world. This person's rudeness doesn't change my family member's sweet, glorious, brilliant spirit. Meanness hurts, but we don't have to let it stop us.<br />
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I'll be less upset in a day or two, but for now I'm letting T-Swift help me get out my anger. Banjo music is some good stuff.Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-84487241741333312452011-07-10T20:07:00.004-06:002011-07-18T15:48:49.611-06:00Overheard at the Moons': Benson<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_Z5JUlVPec/ThpXxnfaSYI/AAAAAAAABYA/vt893F6Aa4s/s1600/IMGP0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_Z5JUlVPec/ThpXxnfaSYI/AAAAAAAABYA/vt893F6Aa4s/s640/IMGP0587.JPG" width="428" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Benson at our wedding</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is a truth universally acknowledged that Benson is the cutest member of our family. Hands down. We got to spend some time with the extended Moon family this weekend, and our 3-year-old nephew kept us in stitches. Here are some of the things he did to make us laugh. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We were up in the mountains visiting a ranch, and the kiddos had fun riding horses. Poor Benson fell off and got a boo boo on his head. We asked him about it later on.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "Did you get a boo boo?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Benson: "Yeah...I got it..."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Brandon: "On the horse?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Benson: "No, [points a finger in the air] on the ground!"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Being an introvert, Benson often gets overwhelmed by all the people at family gatherings. He finds solace in playing games on his dad's smartphone. But when the phone died, he got a little bit frustrated. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Benson: "I want to go back!"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "Oh no, the phone is dead."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Benson: "No, it's not."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "Yeah, it ran out of battery juice. We need to charge it."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Benson: [laughing] "It's not juice!"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the best part was when Benson's dad was trying to get him to pee on a tree. He was not easily convinced, but when Brandon agreed to go with him, Benson finally decided it was a good idea. But poor Benson didn't have any of his own juice, and burst into tears when he realized that his manly tree-peeing dreams were not going to come true that day. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sorry buddy. Better luck next time. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKB7POLu6TE/ThpaySRDQII/AAAAAAAABYE/UD4ixg4shuw/s1600/CIMG0080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKB7POLu6TE/ThpaySRDQII/AAAAAAAABYE/UD4ixg4shuw/s640/CIMG0080.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-39496243658866767822011-07-07T06:42:00.000-06:002011-07-07T06:42:39.709-06:00<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 23px;">"The influence of art is so powerful in shaping our lives for a <b>higher appreciation of the creations of our God</b>. We should be as eager for its companionship as we are for food to sustain our lives, for <b>it has as important a mission in shaping our character </b>and in conducting to our happiness as anything we term necessities. <b>Life is incomplete without it</b>.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 23px;">" </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 23px;">-John Hafen</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 23px;">(Thanks Ee Chien for this quote!)</span></div>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-63772384482328480222011-07-04T08:30:00.000-06:002011-07-04T08:30:00.088-06:00State Mottos<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I just discovered the <a href="http://statemottosproject.com/gallery/">State Mottos Project</a>, which commissioned an artist from each state to illustrate their state's motto. The artwork is amazing, but the state mottos are so beautiful and uplifting themselves. I wish we all knew them and tried harder to live by them. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here are my three favorite. Enjoy, and happy Independence Day!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://statemottosproject.com/storage/Conn_MegHunt.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1296708900638" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://statemottosproject.com/storage/Conn_MegHunt.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1296708900638" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Connecticut, </i>by Meg Hunt</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://statemottosproject.com/storage/RI_TheMVA.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1303866652893" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://statemottosproject.com/storage/RI_TheMVA.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1303866652893" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Rhode Island</i>, by the MVA</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://statemottosproject.com/storage/HI_BertonHasebe.gif?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1300320703322" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="http://statemottosproject.com/storage/HI_BertonHasebe.gif?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1300320703322" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Hawaii, </i>by Berton Hasbe</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-47975380716585008922011-06-30T14:39:00.000-06:002011-06-30T14:39:30.717-06:00More than Conquerors.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://freechristimages.org/images_crucifixion/Gethsemane_Carl_Bloch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://freechristimages.org/images_crucifixion/Gethsemane_Carl_Bloch.jpg" width="534" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Carl Bloch, <i>Christ in Gethsemane, </i>1805, found <a href="http://freechristimages.org/biblestories/agony_in_the_garden.htm">here</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've recently fallen in love with this painting. When I'm down, I find so much comfort in the fact that Christ has experienced all of the sufferings and pains that I have, and that He conquered them all. I love that in His darkest hour, He had angels to come and lift Him up; surely in my time of need, He will send some to lift me up as well. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">of God:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with <span class="clarityWord" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">him,</span> that we may be also glorified together.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time <span class="clarityWord" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">are</span> not worthy <span class="clarityWord" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to be compared</span> with the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">glory which shall be revealed </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">in us.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? </span><span class="clarityWord" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">shall</span><span class="clarityWord" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: italic; line-height: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">tribulation, or distress, or </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">persecution</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span>As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.<br />
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">-Romans 8:16-18, 35-37</span></span></blockquote><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 13px;"></span><br />
<div class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font: normal normal normal 16px/22px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/scriptures/nt/rom/8.37"><br />
</div>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-19980476198671306702011-06-28T09:30:00.001-06:002011-07-08T22:26:01.646-06:00First conversation of the day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(7:15 AM)</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "Last night I dreamed that we went to a restaurant and you wouldn't let me order any food, so I got really mad at you."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Brandon: (with a funny little smile) "Are you ready to hear my dream?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "Yeah..."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Brandon: "I dreamed that I found an old VHS tape titled 'Rebecca Black: Prophets Tell of Future Media.'"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "What prophet was it?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Brandon: "Joseph Smith."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Why didn't he warn us if he knew?!</span></div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ironmuffin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/rebecca-black.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ironmuffin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/rebecca-black.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">found <a href="http://ironmuffin.com/get-rebecca-black-friday-lyrics-here/">here</a>. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
</div></div>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-45038824548805330612011-06-26T15:48:00.000-06:002011-06-26T15:48:47.323-06:00When I'm home sick on a Sunday...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">...I watch Mormon Messages.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today, I'm watching the interviews with our church members. They're all AWESOME! I'm loving this two especially:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/onhatuvyB-s" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jbuHakabdMU" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Beautiful. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Have a happy Sunday!</span>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-50435259630207185032011-06-24T15:54:00.002-06:002011-08-28T15:14:05.960-06:00Kid HistoryLast night, we went to the special premiere of Kid History episode 5. If you haven't seen episode 1, start <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80entLldZOg">here</a>. It's FLIPPIN' AWESOME.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/267906_10150347343508642_571483641_10172628_4524997_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/267906_10150347343508642_571483641_10172628_4524997_n.jpg" width="477" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Us with our tickets!<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It was weird to hear the guys talk with their adult voices, but they were so cool. They were really nice and stayed to meet all of us. It was sooooo awesome.<br />
<div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/267622_10150347344108642_571483641_10172646_1076356_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/267622_10150347344108642_571483641_10172646_1076356_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandon's just a little too tall. haha</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><div><br />
Plus, I think episode 5 might be the best one yet. "No, you're not yistening! Watch my bum!"</div><div><br />
</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">And they a crowd shot of us at the end. We're in the back left corner. Look for us!</div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9yy7AP7Dh6w" width="560"></iframe></div></div></div></div></div><br />
Ninja Vanish!Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-12185846410577352262011-06-22T10:30:00.001-06:002011-06-22T10:32:24.351-06:00Today, I am grateful.I've been sick and grumpy for the past few days, wallowing in my hardships and making myself miserable. I'm tired of feeling that way. Today, I want to be more happy and grateful.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful that I get to spend my summer on BYU's beautiful campus, learning new things and relaxing under shady trees.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful for my sewing class that has inspired me and brought me new friends.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful for my job and the fun I have with my beautiful, cheerful co-workers. They are truly angels. (EFY kids, treat them well.)<br />
<br />
I'm grateful for my wonderful group of family and friends who love me no matter what.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful for my sweet husband, whose love I'll never deserve. He takes such good care of me and helps me to be my best self.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful for my temple covenants and the chance I have to renew them often. The temple is the best place on earth.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful for my opportunities to know my Savior better. His grace continually astounds me.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful for gratitude. I feel so much calmer, happier, and more peaceful after writing that. We are all so very, very blessed.Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-75887588222306671292011-06-21T09:00:00.000-06:002011-06-21T09:00:00.863-06:00One Year Ago Today...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/33989_461208808641_571483641_6264538_4716075_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/33989_461208808641_571483641_6264538_4716075_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I know he isn't in this picture, but he took it, and that's the best that I've got. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">...I met my sweetie pie. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A bunch of us went on a hike for FHE. Somehow we ended up kickin' in the backseat together, and as everyone else in the car was being loud and rowdy, I caught some of the funny little comments he made under his breath. "Hey," I thought to myself, "this guy may be quiet, but he's hilarious!" </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ahh, my sweet little<a href="http://byuwsr.blogspot.com/2011/06/are-you-introvert.html"> introverted</a> husband. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On that drive, I had no idea that that cute, quiet guy with the squinty eyes was my perfect match, my best-friend-to-be, my eternal companion. I'm so glad that God led us to each other. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thanks for improving my life the minute you walked into it, Brandon! I love you so dearly. </span></span>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-57793932639607919732011-06-17T13:16:00.002-06:002011-06-17T13:17:07.259-06:00Ex Voto<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7jR6_HsXm7o/TfumRPgEqGI/AAAAAAAABWE/cYRujVpkUt8/s1600/Ex+voto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7jR6_HsXm7o/TfumRPgEqGI/AAAAAAAABWE/cYRujVpkUt8/s1600/Ex+voto.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The image I inspired, painted by Cassandra Barney</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you remember how <a href="http://tashamazing.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-saved-me.html">I submitted a writing sample</a> to the <a href="http://cassandrabarney.blogspot.com/">"What Saved Me" project</a> by Cassandra Barney? I didn't expect her to pick my piece for one of her paintings, but she did. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She said it was one of her favorites; It's one of mine too. Every time I look at it, I get teary-eyed thinking about my wonderful husband who raises me up. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PS- If you want to see it on display, visit Salt Lake's <a href="http://www.kayogallery.com/">Kayo Gallery</a> from June 17th to July 13th.</span> </span>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-63861497823602219342011-06-16T16:07:00.002-06:002011-06-16T21:51:44.301-06:00Why I'm not worried about the Book of Mormon musical<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bookofmormonresearch.org/files/2010/08/book-of-mormon3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://bookofmormonresearch.org/files/2010/08/book-of-mormon3.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, I've seen the bantering and contention all over facebook. I don't want to add to it. But I do want my voice to be heard.<br />
<br />
As I sat in the temple the other day, I thought about the Book of Mormon musical and the twisted, offensive things it portrays. It's always sad when someone mocks the things that are sacred to me. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But then the <a href="http://newsroom.lds.org/article/church-statement-regarding-the-book-of-mormon-broadway-musical">Church's official statement</a> about the musical popped into my mind: "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://mormon.org/book-of-mormon/" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(2, 97, 158); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: pointer; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;">Book of Mormon</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">as a volume of scripture will change people's lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ." </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">Here's the thing: the musical has no real power. It may capture national attention, win 9 Tony Awards, and give some people fleeting wealth and satisfaction, but in five years, it's not going to matter. This musical does not have the power to change lives, soften hearts, and bring people to Christ - but the book does. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">The Book of Mormon is still important 180 years after its first publication and over 2,000 years after it was written. Do you think that this vulgar, frivolous musical will ever have an influence like that?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">The Book of Mormon is powerful because <b>it is true.</b> It has changed my life, and the lives of millions of others. It is the word of God. Nothing can change that. Nothing can lessen its influence - not even some silly Broadway musical. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">I'm reminded of the words of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://mldb.byu.edu/jjaques1.htm">John Jacques:</a> </span></span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though the heavens depart and the earth's fountains burst,<br />
Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst,<br />
Eternal, unchanged, evermore.</span></span></blockquote><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br />
</span></div>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-35394589982340864202011-06-09T09:46:00.001-06:002011-07-08T22:26:31.931-06:00My husband is cute.<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Brandon: "Where did you get that beautiful face, my dear?"</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Me: (pointing upwards)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Brandon: (singing and looking towards the heavens) "Thank yooooou!"</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/252011_10150314866898642_571483641_9863795_506249_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/252011_10150314866898642_571483641_9863795_506249_n.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just before entering Disneyland for the first time</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love you, honey :)</div>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-2538231680595772622011-06-08T17:40:00.000-06:002011-06-08T17:40:37.412-06:00A day in the life of a BYU Jamba-ite<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.savingwithshellie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/JambaJuice.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://www.savingwithshellie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/JambaJuice.png" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Found <a href="http://www.savingwithshellie.com/2011/02/10/jamba-juice-2-sweetheart-smoothies-for-5/">here.</a></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today was one of the craziest days in my (almost) three years of working at BYU's Jamba Juice. It was so ridiculous that I just had to laugh. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><br />
</b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://dining.byu.edu/jambajuice/images/jamba_map.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://dining.byu.edu/jambajuice/images/jamba_map.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Our two lovely locations. Awwww. Found <a href="http://dining.byu.edu/jambajuice/campus_locations.html">here.</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Background: </b><u><b></b></u></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We have two Jamba Juice locations on BYU campus - one in the Wilkinson Student Center, and one on the other side of campus by the athletic buildings. I've spent most of my time in the Wilk store, which is much bigger and busier. While I know the Wilk store like the back of my hand, I've only worked at the SAB store three times before today. For the first time, I've been given a shift down at the SAB - a Team Lead shift. That means I'm supposed to be in charge of the other employees and know what I'm doing...which can cause problems. It's hard to be a good leader when you don't know where anything is kept, but I do my best. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> </b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Part One:</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My first shift today was at the Wilk. It was smooth sailing, since we don't get many customers between 7:30 and 11:00 AM. However, we did have an older man named Alfonso ask for carrot juice with the pulp on the side. My co-worker juiced the carrots and put the little bit of thicker stuff that didn't go through the strainer in an extra cup. When she gave the man his juice, he said, "No! I want the meat of the carrot. It has good fiber!" So, poor Elizabeth got into the cabinet under the carrot machine where the pulp falls and dumped the good ol' "meat" into a cup for Alfonso. (Don't worry, it was clean under there!) He was much happier with this arrangement, and proceeded to pour some of the carrot juice onto the pulp. Now, here's the question - why doesn't he just eat a bag of carrots?! Creative answers are welcomed for submission. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Part Two:</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is the crazy part of the story. At noon, I went down to work at the SAB store. One of our juice dispensers had gone on the fritz and had been randomly spitting out juice and water since the wee hours of the morning, leaving the floor wet and sticky. There were no clean blenders, a line of camp kids out the door, and only three people working. And one of them left when I came in. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"We're out of ones...and pennies," Elizabeth told me from the register. At the Wilk, we get our change from a special Cougareat money room, but the SAB keeps its change in a safe - a safe that, only having worked there three times, I didn't know the comb for. I called our managers up at the Wilk to get the combo. It didn't work. I called again, and this time got the right one. There were no one dollar bills in the safe, so I had to call the money room to have them delivered. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"We're out of strawberries," our other co-worker called out. We dug around in the fridge for a good 5 minutes until we found some more. Meanwhile, the line got longer. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"We're out of lemonade" was heard 15 minutes later, and "we're out of mop heads" was another 5 minutes after that. And half of our sherbets were hard, making it a pain to scoop them.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The camp kids finally left at 1:15, ending a 2-hour, non-stop rush. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We washed the dishes, wiped the counters, mopped the floor with a bunch of rags Elizabeth had tied to the mop handle, and laughed at the crazy mess we had barely survived. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Last year, some of us would joke about what "Jamba Hell" would be like. I'm pretty sure I lived through it today. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But hey, at least I didn't have to wear the banana suit. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://brandmediaweek.typepad.com/.a/6a00d834519bc269e201156f2c9c60970c-600wi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="375" src="http://brandmediaweek.typepad.com/.a/6a00d834519bc269e201156f2c9c60970c-600wi" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Found </span><a href="http://www.brandfreak.com/jamba-juice/" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">here.</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-41002630294738946162011-06-01T15:25:00.001-06:002011-06-01T15:26:18.492-06:00Just what I needed today.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wiiadnMvm20" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks again, Mormon Messages. You never fail me.</span>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6962642010985771208.post-16265381117976349272011-05-31T15:06:00.000-06:002011-05-31T15:06:13.110-06:006 posts for the month of May?<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That's just sad. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maybe it's because I've been spending my days thinking about what to write over <a href="http://byuwsr.blogspot.com/">here</a> every Friday. The requirement to be profound once a week can be a bit taxing. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh well. </span></div>Tashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850598067947900722noreply@blogger.com3