A mother's joy.

60% of my children are here tonight:

I am 100% happy.

A Midsummer Night's Dream...

Elijah's accelerated studies school may go heavy on the math and science but they do know their Shakespeare!!! He did double duty as Lysander one night, and Puck the next. Too bad no pictures of the tights....

Hermia and Lysander discuss their undying love...in 6th grade, undying love happens 6 feet apart...(whew!!)

Wait, no, I must have you Hermia...really, I am trying to push through his highly restraining one arm!

Sam Mason steals a scene or two...

Elijah is flanked by beautiful cast members. Please, no short jokes.

How did you really feel about those heavy duty love scenes ???

Good job Elijah. You're a man of many, many talents!!!

Dear Angela Paynter:

I guess you were serious about that 4 year thing.
We're at one and counting...
(Okay 4 months but it feels like a year!)

Shabbat Shalom

The BYU Jerusalem Center

When I lived in Israel, Sabbaths were amazing. By about 4:00 Friday afternoon things shut down. If you didn't get your grocery shopping done before then, you were out of luck. The evening was quiet and reflective.

Sabbath services were nothing short of life changing. We took the sacrament as we looked out the panoramic windows overlooking Gethsemane and the Garden Tomb. The sacrament was blessed by a Palestinian and a Jew. That was a miracle in and of itself.

After church, I would go outside and sit on the grass facing the incredible view of old Jerusalem. I read my scriptures and wrote in my journal. My heart would literally ache at the thought of one less Sabbath to spend there. It was my favorite time of the week.

I want that back. Somehow I want to create my own little Jerusalem right here in Provo.
I long for just an hour with my face in that Jerusalem sun with my scriptures open, reading about the places that I can see right in front of me.

But it isn't it wonderful that I can participate in the sacrament ordinance right here in Provo, Utah and it is just as cleansing as it is in the land where the great atonement took place?

I think the greatest truth that I learned in the Holy Land was that I didn't need to go there to find Jesus. He is wherever He is invited. Even in Provo.

Shabbat Shalom.
Have a peaceful Sabbath.

He just knows best....

Someone needs to tell Jim Matheson that America is a Representative Republic. That means when he was elected, he was voted in to represent his constituents. This is what he said recently about his no vote for health care:

"I do think that a majority of people in my district have a lot of problems with this bill," he told the Deseret News. And, he said, "I heard from thousands and thousands of constituents on this."

But he said that is not why he decided to oppose the bill. He said it simply did not measure up to what he believes is needed — and that saddens him.

-Deseret News

This is what happens to every elected official. They decide they know better than the people what is best for them.

It sickens me.

The basic premise of our our Constitution is that only God gives us rights.

Yesterday, our Congress decided to play God. They became the bestowers of the "right" to health care. The "right" to education is not far behind.

Today is not a good day in America.

I'm just in the mood.

Are words really needed here?

A novelette about freedom and faith...

I'm tired of being angry at the attempted government takeover of my life and my freedom. I am weary. Really. The past couple of weeks have made me want to just lay down and say okay, I give up. Whatever you are going to do, just do it and get it over with.

Today I have increased frustration. Not about health care "reform" but at my own state legislature and governor. Remember a couple of months ago when Governor Herbert said this?

“The continued encroachment of the federal government into our businesses, our lives, and our pocketbooks must be challenged.”

Well, the governor and the legislature along with Rocky Mountain Power, have decided to encroach upon the lives of Utahn's and their pocketbooks. Somehow, while we were all being distracted by the federal government's antics, a bill was passed and signed into law by Governor Herbert that allows Rocky Mountain Power to automatically enroll customers in its Cool Keeper program. With the Cool Keeper program, a switch would be installed on your air compressor, allowing Rocky Mountain Power to turn it off for 15 minutes per half hour on the hottest days of summer.

It's all in the name of saving energy costs during peak times, and it is supposed to save the customer money. However, it's my money and my pocketbook. I am a believer in the free market. If you want me to conserve energy, then price me out of using it too freely- I will hate it, but it's my choice. Don't come into my home and decide for me when I can and can't use my air conditioner. In the name of something good, as always, something freedom restricting has been enacted.

A final word from the weary on the Government takeover of healthcare: Senator Jim Matheson is supposedly undecided on his vote. I would plead with anyone here in Utah to let him know as I did, that even though you may not live in his district, if he puts Utah on the map with a "Yes" vote, that you will do everything in your power to de-seat him come election time.

This healthcare reform bill has very little to do with health care. If it was such a great thing, why are they having to strong arm and bribe their way into getting it passed? Passed unconstitutionally none the less.

Okay I'm done.

As I left the temple this morning, I glanced over my shoulder and saw the purposeful design of the Provo temple; to be the pillar of cloud that led the children of Israel through the wilderness.
It filled my heart with renewed hope and faith. This is His country, for His purpose, and it will end in His way.


P.S. Just a note- I realize that Rocky Mountain Power is not my provider...it makes no difference.

I'm not a fan.

Just for the record, I am not a fan of daylight savings.

Some good Sabbath reading...

This is such a beautiful book about learning to love the scriptures, the Sabbath, and the temple. If you have read The Peacegiver, it is similar in style. It's in story form but with such wonderful pieces of wisdom. I promise you it will change or add to the way you think and feel about all three subjects. (Thanks Dad for the heads up.)

Elder Woolf comes to Visit

And it might be a LONG time before he comes back!

Tyler came to visit the other night.
There is something about the Woolf boys and my kids. It's like they have a sign on them that says "Maul Me" . So first an apology for the exuberance shown to Tyler upon his arrival! (And many apologies and thanks to Josh for all he has endured over the years. )
Having said that, Elder Woolf seemed unruffled...2 years of tracting might have prepared him a little for these kinds of situations.
It is a great thing to see someone you love so changed because of the intense pattern of discipleship that comes after two years of missionary service.
I was driving somewhere the next day and remembered an experience...

When I lived with Kathleen for a few months at some point in my college career, Tyler was just a year or so old. One night, he woke up in the middle of the night crying and I got up with him. It was a Sunday night and so we pulled out the Living Scriptures videos. I tried to put on a Book of Mormon story and he cried harder. I showed him all the movies and asked which one he wanted to watch. He chose one with Jesus on the cover. He calmed down immediately and watched until it was over. I then chose another Book of Mormon video and put it in the VCR. No,no, he began to cry again. He again pointed to a movie with Jesus on the cover. We watched it and he was happy. This pattern continued until he finally fell asleep. I remember telling Kathleen the next morning and we were both so amazed that he undeniably had a love for the Savior at his young age-and could feel His love and peace through a silly animated movie.
Reflecting on this incident in the car driving home, I got a little teary.
I think Elder Woolf has come full circle now-teaching others how to find peace and comfort through Jesus.

We love you Tyler.
Come again, anytime!

Dear Heavens I Loved These...

The books: wonderful!
The series: gorgeous.

The most important thing you can do as a Utahn...

Did you catch my Bishop, Stan Lockhart, (former State Republican Party chair) on the Bob Lonsberry program this morning? He was quite fantastic. I was almost persuaded to run for a delegate position at our neighborhood caucus on March 23. Almost.

My favorite kind of Carnival...

A little wind, a little sun, and a lot of water.
Yes, please.

Ooooh Yum!

Sometimes I feel like I blog too much about my deliciously unhealthy cravings...I might be giving the impression that I eat all of the things I blog about. Not true.
I have not had a banana Krispy Kreme.
But, even with this beautiful pic, broccoli is just not blog worthy...
I have definitely eaten more broccoli this week than doughnuts-
but who really cares?
Does this picture put a smile on your face, or cause your mouth to water even just a little?
No.
I didn't think so.
This will probably be my last blog about broccoli.

A New Way to Get Your Potassium.

Thank you Krispy Kreme.