{the exciting life}

Is this REALLY my life?!?!  I can't believe today has arrived!  I keep pinching myself - it's not St. Patrick's Day either.  My life is generally rather routine and today even started routinely but it's about to get EXCITING.

India is ready for exciting.

We're all ready for exciting.

We are flying to England tonight.  Not New England.  The REAL London, England.

I've been very self-conscious and not wanted anyone to know.  I feel bad that not everyone gets to go.  The bummer . . . Nolan is in Argentina and won't be in England with us.  

After feeling embarrassed to be going I decided to get over it.  We got round-trip tickets from Houston to Heathrow for $294 a person!  How could I pass that up?  Obviously, I couldn't.  What's even better than tickets for $294?  Enough frequent flyer miles to pay for the tickets.  I know!  I wonder why I'm getting all these blessings too! That's why I feel so self-conscious.  I want everyone to be as blessed as I am.

We will have internet at some of our lodging locations.  Hopefully that means a little blogging!  Since this blog is my fancy new-spangled way to journal I'm  going to think of my posterity and blog about the trip anyway.  I'll also keep hoping that no one hates me after this!  

I agree, I really have been blessed beyond what I deserve.

{the birthday princess}

Raising children is wonderful.  I love the carefree moments.  India came inside last week and announced, "I. Am. Amazing!"  

She was having so much fun riding through the grass with the wind in her hair and her arms opened wide.  At times, I wish it could stay this way forever.

My children don't want it to stay this way . . . they like growing up!  I'm trying to not be sad about the whole process.  I'm actually rather tempted to cry.  This will be a rather long post because she just turned TWELVE.  I don't want to forget a single moment of her fabulous journey to becoming.

Saturday, March 20, 1999 was a miraculous day!  Our little princess made her debut into the world 

at 4 lbs. 11 ozs - and really early.  She was excited about entering this world and was ready to get started. She came home early too - only weighing 4 lbs. 5 ozs.  

She was definitely excited about life!

Sunday, March 20, 2011, in her opinion, was a magical day. She has been so excited for her 12th birthday!  It is an exciting event because she gets to wear make-up and attend Young Women's.  (The youth organization in our church for girls.)

India has never been average and I think her ideas for a birthday party were particularly different.  She invited a distinguished group of guest on Saturday to help her celebrate . . . 

Thank you Elders (beginning on left) Marlar, O'Conner, Fonnesbeck, Kemp, Orndorff, Hoffman, Reed, and Jenkins for coming! 

Rachel is the best!  We're so glad she was here too!

The missionaries were SO sweet and brought India birthday cards.  With eight missionaries, they got two cards they could all sign.  It was perfect!

I love their sense of humor! 

(Elder Clunas completed his mission on Valentine's Day but there was no way he could miss this party!  He managed to attend in spirit with his face attached to Mickey's body.)

Some people in this world are beyond amazing.  I know some of those people!  The Serdar's. Their wonderful son is serving in our mission although he is no longer in our specific area.  We love him.  We love his family.  Crazy, but we got to meet his family on a trip last year and all I can say is, "They. Are. Beyond. Amazing!"  They sent India this beautiful birthday gift!  (Sir Thomas is beyond amazing like the Serdar's and he stayed in the background grilling hamburgers!)

Missionaries are another group of "beyond amazing" people.  We were VERY surprised when they arrived with a special birthday gift for our birthday girl . . .

An "autographed" Justin Bieber poster!  (I still can't stop laughing.)  These guys are THE best!

Their comments and signatures were so classic!  (Including the ghost signature of one Elder Clunas.)

We had the usual birthday festivities.

Another tradition . . . the birthday guest gets to choose their piece of the cake.

India entertained us with one of her many talents . . .

As much as she loves the new poster, she had a better idea!  The missionaries would make a better poster than Justin B.  We're going to have this made into a poster and get it autographed!

After seeing the card and the gift, you won't be surprised with their further creativity in pictures . . .

The concept:  Everyone jump together and get a great air shot.

The reality:  Hilarious!  Synchronizing the jump was harder than expected.

The question:  Should we begin the jump ON the count of three or should we already be mid-air?? Jump AFTER three?  (This post is already long or I would show you a few more FUN attempts!)

Success: 

So, my beautiful princess is now 12 and all smiles!

Yesterday, as I took this picture before church I wanted to freeze time.  

India is 12!  They've grown up so fast.  It is still quite the process to get a picture of everyone looking at the camera, eyes open, smiling . . . I'm glad that hasn't changed!  (Keaton is a happy guy but was being funny for the pictures with his "serious" look but everyone's eyes are open and they're looking at the camera!)  

I NEVER want this to end!

{lessons learned}

Sometime last year Nolan was able to send us a disk of pictures of his mission (through a missionary returning to the States).  

I love looking at them!  I also wish I had more. :)

Nolan amazes me.  Each week as I receive his letters I see his growth.   I have learned so much from him these last few weeks.  He has taught me about some important principles.

"Virtue"

". . . It seems to me that Virtue isn't just something pretty, as it appears in the scriptures.  It's something hard and durable.  It is self-discipline to the point that we control our thoughts and keep them where they are supposed to be.  It is complete self control in our thoughts and our actions.  It keeps us from acting rashly, it makes our knowledge valuable, and gives our patience a purpose.  While it is to garnish our thoughts unceasingly, it is to garnish our charity that our charity may have more strength, for how are we to love with a pure love without sacrifice?"

I had never looked at virtue from that perspective before!  

"Patience"

". . . I've learned a lot about patience.  When I first started studying patience, I thought that patience was really slow and inefficient.  But then I realized it is actually the most efficient thing that we can do.  . . . Patience is not simply waiting, it is changing what is in your power to change, and not becoming frustrated when obstacles come your way."  

"You may not be able to change the people around yourself.  While you may be able to influence them to improve, you can have no real say in their actions.  But you can change yourself and that requires patience and humility.  So really, patience is our disposition to adapt to any obstacle or situation that we may affront without adverse reactions."

"It is doing the best we can in all that we do but not becoming upset when it takes more time or effort than we may have first anticipated.  I have learned that patience is very efficient while being humble and meek.  If it takes as much faith to accept that the Lord's answer is 'No' as it does to take a miracle, then it takes more than just faith, it takes patience."

He has taught me so much!

 My heart continues to go out to the Japanese people and the incredible challenges they are facing.  They appear to have learned these great principles as an entire nation.   To me, as a whole, they are virtue and patience on display.

Public virtue means to voluntarily sacrifice personal benefit for the good of society.

The Japanese people possess public virtue.  I treasure their example.

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After personally being affected by two hurricanes in recent years, I am better able to empathize with them.  Our challenge was so minor compared to their reality . . . it looks like a nightmare.

(This woman is so beautiful!  She is so composed and regal regardless of her surroundings.)

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We were not sent to earth to be mediocre.  The strength of the human spirit inspires me.

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How I wish I could be there to help.  I'm thankful for the privilege to pray and knowledge that a loving Father in Heaven hears those prayers.  Still, I wish I could hug them, comfort them, and help them rebuild.

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My sweet missionary has learned these lessons through the Spirit and diligent study.  I wonder how the Japanese people developed them so well.

For now, Nolan is serving in Fiorito where he is being given many opportunities to learn a lot about virtue and patience.  Yes, he is tired of getting robbed and / or threatened twice a week but I know the blessings that will come as he learns these lessons.  

Now, I have to figure out how to learn them myself!

Fiorito:

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{a little inspiration}

I've been thinking about things that inspire me.

I've been so blessed to have such a sweet mother-in-law and people often tell me . . .

"She's the salt of the earth."  She really is.

Last week, Sweet Laura had a doctor's appointment before she came to stay with us.  Her appointment was REALLY early and after the appointment she felt she needed some food before she could drive very far.  She stopped at an iHop.  She asked the waitress the cost of a cup of hot chocolate. (It was a COLD morning.)

$2.09 

Sweet Laura is a smart girl and remembers the effects of the Great Depression.  I'm sure her face said it all.  She replied, "I believe I'll just have water."  After bringing her food, the waitress returned with a cup of hot chocolate saying . . .

 "Have some hot chocolate, it's on me."

Yep, it made me cry and inspired me.  I've prayed for that sweet waitress.

Laura is sweet like that herself.  

I'm thankful she gave me these beautiful bowls.  When I look at them, I want to be beautiful too - on the inside.

Other things also inspire me.  

I have WONDERFUL parents.  On Saturday morning, we were privileged to help clean our church. 

My parents volunteered the same day!

My dad saw me and called me "gorgi-boofer," which is the family word combination for gorgeous + beautiful!  While it is true that all fathers are blind when it comes to their daughters, my dad really is blind.  

(He has 9 daughters so I still like to think that he knows something about "gorgi-boofer" girls.)

He is legally blind and has almost no vision due to Retinitis Pigmentosa.  His willingness to volunteer inspired me although I had no idea what he was going to do.   

I only had my iPhone but I couldn't resist:

He walked around the entire, LARGE building dusting all the "chair railing."  My mom is just as amazing.  I'm a lucky girl . . . and very inspired to be better.

"I plead with you that you be happy in your work.  Wear a smile on your face, and have a song in your heart as you serve the Lord.  I am an old man now.  I simply do not have the energy to do what I once did.  But I will not permit myself to be unhappy in doing what I can."

                      - President Gordon B. Hinckley

{just my luck}

Today was my lucky day!

I got to spend my day with these BEAUTIFUL ladies . . .

As well as these BEAUTIFUL ladies . . .

Jealous???  That's what I expected.  Sorry!
I'm just lucky like that.

I don't always have perfect luck . . . I only had my iPhone camera (and they still look gorgeous!).

What did we do?

Just boring things like make-up counters, shoe department, clothes, lots of laughs, made plans for the BALL . . . picked up a few books to help with our upcoming trip.  Nothing too interesting so I hope you aren't feeling left out.  We really wish you'd been there.

India's 12th birthday will pretty much be FANTASTIC after shopping today.  She's getting some REALLY great stuff.  I know because Kelly & Rachel helped me find the PERFECT gifts.  (They also kept India entertained so I could make the purchases!)  

It was SOOOOO fun!

I did promise to show you what my sweet Laura gave me yesterday . . .

Isn't it beautiful!  I LOVE crystal bowls. :)

She actually gave me TWO!  The second non-identical bowl is also beautiful! I even took lovely pictures of them together.  As luck would have it, I ran out of space for pictures in Blogosphere.  I have no idea if I can delete extra pictures but I did purchase MORE space!  Guess what!  Luck . . . it "may not be available for 24 hours."  Apparently, they were serious and I'm out of space.  You will have to come back to see the lovely pair.  Laura is ever-so sweet and thoughtful.  I'm so glad she thought of me when she wanted to give them a new home.  She claims she wasn't using them . . . I will!  What should I serve in them first?