Friday, December 12, 2008

For those of you who can't think of anything better than living in Hawaii

Think again.

http://newsroom.byuh.edu/?q=node/2041

This is what's been happening here lately. Craziness. Just before graduation too. My boss told me that when they informed President Eyring (actually, I suppose there is a possibility that President Eyring was here when it happened, but I don't think so) what was going on he said that we would hold graduation even if we had to have it on a boat.

Anyhow, today it had all drained; we do live on the beach, so it doesn't take long to drain once it stops raining, and people are trying to salvage their homes. If you walk through Laie today, driveways are full of belongings that were ruined.

And, it's raining again. Pray for us! Graduation is tomorrow and people are suppose to be celebrating not grieving over their losses.

PS- we're gonna die- you should hear this thunder- it sounds like and shakes our hale like an earthquake.

:)

For all the Mormons out there

This morning as I was getting ready for work, about 7:30 am, someone pulled up in front of the Hale, with their music playing very loudly and their base even louder. It was really pounding. Guess what song they were playing? . . .


"Popcorn popping"

The Feeling

Isn't it funny that at Christmas something in you gets so lonely for - I don't know what exactly, but it's something that you don't mind so much not having at other times. ~Kate L. Bosher

Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home. ~Carol Nelson

I think both these quotes capture something about the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is about Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is about families. None of us have perfect families and my own family leaves something to be desired. I think that at Christmas, which is associated with all the best things on earth, we long for all the best things of another time, when we lived with Heavenly Father before, and the perfect family we had then. I think that maybe the veil thins a little this time of year as we spend our time thinking about, cherishing, and expressing adoration for He who makes it possible to return to our first family and our first gifts.

More so than any other time of the year, I cannot think about any blessing I have without also thinking about Him who makes all my blessing worthwhile, for without Him none of them would be eternal.

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:23)


I include a picture of the Portland Oregon Temple here because in the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), we believe that in the temple we can be united as families eternally. Since Jesus Christ is all about families, and the work done in temples unites us together in a big "chain" as a human family, I thought it appropriate for a post about the best gift from the Savior and our longing for our Heavenly Home.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Was he a boy like me?

It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas when its mighty Founder was a child Himself. - Charles Dickens

I wish I could have found a link to the Veggie Tales song "Was He a Boy Like Me?" or "This Baby" by Steven Curtis Chapman, but I couldn't. But I love it because it's a reminder that the Savior was born as a baby and had to learn and grow just as all of us have to. If you have access to those songs, you should listen to them.

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." Luke 2:52 (not exactly a "Christmas" scripture, but it discusses what I was trying to show).

CHRISTmas Spirit

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints publishes monthly magazines. The first article in each month’s Ensign is written by either President Monson (the prophet) or one of his two counselors (kind of like his closest advisors). The December article was written by President Monson and is titled “The Best Christmas Ever.”

President Monson quotes a past prophet of the Church, David O. McKay:

“True happiness comes only by making others happy- the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service. It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring ‘peace on earth’ because it means-good will toward all men.”

Going on, President Monson says, “ Giving not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. Enemies are forgiven, friends are remembered, and God obeyed. The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than things. To catch the real meaning of the ‘spirit of Christmas,’ we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the ‘Spirit of Christ.”

It is my hope and prayer that all of us, while enjoying the holiday season to the fullest, remember to retain the Spirit of Christ.

Mele Kalikimaka!

The True Meaning of Christmas


In light of the Christmas season and the fact that I really ought to make better use of my blog, I've decided to try to make regular posts about the true meaning of Christmas. The first one will follow shortly.




Sunday, December 7, 2008

This was fun- 40 (I never get the same number when I count) things I've done...

1. Started your own blog- obviously
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii- another obvious, kind of- I don’t really “visit” per se
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen an eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee