In rememberance of President Gordon B. Hinckley

President and Sister Hinckley in Ghana
A place that will change the lives of those that Bill holds dear. Accra Temple

I just got the news from my mom, President Hinckley died Sunday night 1/25/08. He was an awesome man that did so much for the church, the community, the world. He was never selfish, and you could see the lord in his eyes. He has been my biggest influence. He and his wife are my role models for marriage and family. They both had such strong testimonies of Christ. Both will forever be in my heart. Because of them, I am who I am today, and strive to be better. I know that he has done what the Lord has asked of him. I know that he was a true prophet. I love him dearly, and I am happy he is with his wife once again.

We honor best those who have gone before when we serve will in the cause of faith.

President hinckley

Honestly...

Like seriously, what in the heck could this hill have on it that tastes so good to these Canadian geese. This is a field by our casa and they have been sitting here all mourning eating the all the snow their little bellies can handle. I do expect though, that there will be quite a few baby geese this spring if you know what I mean! Nothin better than eating snow and making babies, I guess.

I had a girl's night out last night with some beautiful girls from my ward. It was tons O fun and much needed. And no, boys, there was no hubby bashing cause we all love you to pieces, rest assured. But that doesn't mean we didn't talk about you at all. What happens on a Mormon girl's night out, stays on a Mormon girl's night out. Didn't get any pics cause my camera died, but I brought it back to life this mourning, no worries.

Update on Bill: finally made it to Ghana this week after being stranded. His has been catching up with his family but hasn't resolved what to do about his Dad's health. Keep us in your prayers, don't take us off that list yet.

I have a dream...

Because this man had a dream and fought for it Bill and I can walk down the street holding hands and only have a couple people stare. I hope some day there will be no more prejudice. I hope that our kids will play with every race of kids and they will be color blind. I hope that someday we will never hear of racism at our jobs, school, or church. Bill is a better man than any white man I have known, and the color of his skin has made him stronger than any white man for the challenges he faces everyday, but he chooses to be a better person than those who present the challenge to him. I used to be ignorant to racism before I met him. I never saw color and didn't imagine anyone else did. But I have also seen that those who know Bill and try to get to know him have changed their hearts from hate to love. There is more to someone than the stereotype you see on t.v.
How long has it been since you have heard or read this speech. When did you graduate Elementary? For most that would be the last we have heard it. Take some time to hear it again.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

Don't worry, be happy mon.

So, last week 20/20 had a special on happyness. Since every one I know seems to be in that pursuit (even the fine hottie Will Smith), I, who usually does not watch 20/20, was glued to the t.v. I come from a peculiar place where both sides of my fam struggle with depression. Do I have it, well doesn't everyone, well no, so maybe I do. Is there a cure??? Well, pharmaceutical companies claim they can make you feel better, but do they just make you numb to depressing feelings instead of coping? That seems to help those who are coping and a miracle drug in my book. Either way, anti-depressants can save lives and that is the bottom point Mr. loudmouth Tom Cruise, who should swim in his money bags and leave the innocent alone. He has no flipin clue.
Any who, Cruise is a whole nother topic and not worth my time. What I found most interesting about this show was that people's happiness is 50% on genetics and the way we were raised to feel, 10% on looks and money and/or other things that fit, and 40% on how you want to look at your own happiness. So that means that someone like me, who has depressed genes, self-conscious, and not money rich can still have a 40% chance of being happy. Well gosh darn it, I am on that bus. But how, you ask, well the fundamentals that all Mormons already know (and for those of you who aren't Mormon you may know as well, but since I am, I don't know if you know, ya know).

• Charity
• Faith and Prayer
• Love
• Friendship
• Gratitude
  

Another oh so interesting thing they pointed out. Countries where the population is happy vs. not. I am thinking warm sand, turquoise water, my buff husby serving my a virgin banana pina colada. Well, no. Although count me in. On a scale of Happy #1 to unhappy # how ever many countries there are, Fiji Numero 57 on a happiness scale, The U.S. of A. where we are supposed to be free and brave #23, Italy where they eat, drink, and be merry, and call everyone their cousin uhhh number 50, but the number one happiest place on earth (no not Disneyland either) Denmark. Ok, so Bill and I are travel channel junkies, and have yet to see or know anything about Denmark. But there, the garbage man is a middle class person, the prince is a carpenter, and they have the highest taxes in the world. But when the mothers go shopping with their children, they leave them in strollers out in front of the store (gasp!) unsupervised (double gasp!), supposedly this is a not so high in crime place and babies are safe by themselves. And people are happy not feeling the need to keep up with the Jones'. For those of you who are po like me and see yourself telling yourself not to envy other's beautiful possessions and homes (try a slice of humble pie), this doesn't sound so bad ehh! I'm down. Although the place is cold, and after the wind chill of the negatories we are having here in Chi-town,maybe I will settle for being unhappy in that warm sand and crystal water, with my lover boy husby. After all, happiness is in the eyes of the beholder (maybe it's beauty?, whatever)

(the danish do make good pastries!)

Hope this makes you smile as much as I did when I googled it!
Have a happy day. And pray for my husband too! Thanx!

I miss Bill

This is the first week that Bill has been gone. I have two more to go. And it has been really lonely. I have kept myself busy, but it is not the same. But I have had a lot of time to think about things in my life. Nothing is more important than those you care about. They say family is the most important, but some people in my family are not close, and sometimes it feels like friends love me or us more than our own family members. Bill has had a tough trip and I just want to thank those who have called and who I have hung out with since he has been gone. As you know I get anxious calling others. I really appreciate those that have taken the time to chat. It is interesting though, when things like this happen and you realize who cares about you and who doesn't. People at work who I have never really talked with asking how things are going, and then those who I talk to all the time who don't ask how things are. Same with friends. I guess it is all part of life. I am thankful for my mom, grandparents, and friends who have taken the time to call and see how Bill and I are. It has meant the world to me. I am sure Bill appreciates it as well. He has been worried about me alone.

All by myself

Well, Bill left to Africa. He will be gone for 3 weeks. Anyone up for a girl's night? Call me, I am lonely! Bill is stopping in England first to hang out with his cousin, and then off to see his family and see what he can do with his dad. He felt like his hair, that he has been growing for 4 months, was not growing anymore so he wanted to cut it. As a bunch of itty bitty curls were falling off, he realized it really had grown. Hmmm, the irony.

So, I decided to give him a mohawk.

Then he decided to go a little more conservative for his mom. Doesn't he look so handsome. What a good lookin guy. He must have a wife who sure does loves him.

So, here is my friend. Bunny, the bunny. She sure has been hyper lately. She runs laps around our living room. She is dang cute though. I just want to squeeze her to pieces, but I don't want her to die, so I just give her kisses on her head!

She hops up on our love sac and sofas as if she were a cat. She chases our feet everywhere we go and if we aren't looking closely, she is easy to kick when we walk. I think I finally have her potty trained too. Good girl. What a cutie. Bill got her for me for Christmas so I wouldn't be alone as he is away for 3 weeks.