So Glad to Have Friends!

Today I sang a solo in church. Really, a SOLO. This is certainly not something within my comfort zone (preparing for, and singing a solo is for Personal Progress). I was pretty petrified for several reasons. First, it was a solo. Also, I had a scratchy throat this morning and during practice didn't really hit the high notes. In addition, I sort of had to go to the bathroom (this is 3rd on the list because I think it was the nerves...) and I kept worrying that somehow I would forget the words or the order to sing them.

When it was time I walked up to the podium and felt a little like I was hyperventilating. I arrived before Cindy Zalar, the accompanist and stood for what seemed like a really long time. I saw Emily Evans and her family giving me the thumbs up with big smiles and that really helped.

Then the music began. The song, "Oh That I Were an Angel", is one loaded with fantastic memories. My mom has a beautiful voice and she sang it a lot when I was growing up. In fact, I often told her that this was the song I wanted her to sing at my mission farewell. Besides my mom singing it, I would sing it and add some of my own lyrics. Generally my lyrics were about sports. When I was a beehive the church had a big celebration and asked young women to make banners. I still have mine - and it still is just as cool as ever! (notice the fine details like the wings on the word angel)

Anyway, I digress. It turned out to be a really positive spiritual experience. As I sang most of my worries went away.  I saw people I really love looking up at me and every one of them had an encouraging look on their face. The fear was taken away. I realized that they would still be my friends and then I just sang. That is when I felt the Spirit share the message of the song. My ability to sing hadn't increased, but somehow I felt great about it.

I am so grateful for friends and the important role that they play in my life. I have been abundantly blessed with friends!!

Trek

Much of my life has been taken up by trek lately. Now it is over and boy am I grateful for the experience!! I recognize that I generally wouldn't be included because I'm "not yet married" (as Sherrie Dew would say). It was an honor to plan alongside the stake young women and young men leaders as well as all of those asked to participate and help. We arrived at the Marriott Ranch Monday morning early and left Wednesday afternoon. The time in between was trying, beautiful, heart wrenching, hot,uplifting, wet, tiring, sweet, and more. One young woman summed it up well by saying, "it is something that I never want to do again- and it is something I would do again if I had the chance".

Here is what Ryan Quinn, our trailboss, wrote about it:

On June 20-22, 95 youth from the Waynesboro Stake, dressed like pioneers, went to the Marriott Ranch in Hume, Virginia, to participate in a Pioneer Trek Youth Conference. Each youth 

 was assigned to a "family" of 11-13 youth, led by couples chosen throughout the stake to serve as their "Mas" and "Pas" as they pushed and pulled handcarts through the ranch trails, simulating the Mormon Handcart treks of the 1850s and 1860s. The youth pulled their handcarts for miles and had many planned and unplanned events occur along the way that their Mas and Pas helped them to understand from a spiritual perspective. Some of these experiences were quite authentic to actual Pioneer experiences.

The Pioneer Trek culminated in a series of spiritual experiences, which occurred on Wednesday, June 22: a fireside, a "solo experience," and a testimony meeting, in which many pure and powerful testimonies were borne. The Trek ended as youth met their parents at the end of the trail in a celebration of what the youth had accomplished.

Since the Pioneer Trek, stories have flooded in to stake leaders, detailing countless small and large ways in which the hand of the Lord was present in Trek experiences. It was truly a spiritual feast.

Amanda Barnes Smith

I have been looking for something to decorate my office that speaks to my heritage. For a while I looked for a handcart scene. Not the ones with death or tragedy, but one depicting a great summer day with the family working together.

During Christmas I was in Salt Lake City and thought where better to look than the flagship Deseret Book store. While there I saw lots of good art, but nothing that I was wanting... that is until I walked by one that reminded me of my ancestor, Amanda Barnes Smith. She is my 4th great grandmother and is sort of a hero to me. I stopped and looked at the painting and then showed it to my mom. She thought that same. Of course my mom is smarter than me and she looked at the back for information. Sure enough! It indeed was a depiction of our grandmother hiding in a cornfield to pray aloud so that the mob wouldn't punish her.

The salesperson knows the artist. According to her, this artist feels called to depict lesser-known pioneers and their stories. We told her that she clearly depicted this one because we recognized it. Then I purchased a smaller reproduction.

I now have the canvas stretched and am ready to frame it. Unfortunately the frame that I like costs >$200. At this point I think that I might try to make my own frame. What do you think- expensive olive wood frame professionally done -- or my imitation of the frame? Not sure which way to go, but I do want to put her in the office soon.

Eat to Live

A long, long time ago I promised a friend something that I knew would be hard. At the time I was thinking that I might never have to follow through on my promise... but, last week she called my bluff. It is for this reason that I have been a vegan for 1 week. I'm on a program called "Eat to Live" (as you can see from the title of this post). Don't be fooled by the use of the words 'weight loss' twice on the cover of the book below. We aren't doing it for that reason. I don't really think I need to lose weight. It is purely for health reasons.

Basically the program is to eat 1 lb of raw vegetables, 1 lb of cooked vegetables, 1 cup of beans or tofu, and at least 4 fresh fruit every day. In fact, I can eat even more of all of those things up to unlimited. I can also have some nuts and whole grains each day. No animal products are allowed.

So how am I doing?

Days one and two I felt full and hungry at the same time. The raw vegetables and other stuff make me feel full. At the same time I think that I am craving my normal food so I feel hungry. Monday night I was within a hair's breadth of eating some of the Oreos that I couldn't bring myself to throw away. Except like Horton the elephant, "I said what I meant and I meant what I said..." So, I didn't eat the Oreos and fresh fruit became a delightful treat.

I have a long history of being able to sleep through an alarm and always wanting to sleep longer. So far with this program I have been waking up before the alarm! I wake up with energy and feel ready to go. Don't get me wrong, I still feel tired throughout the day, but waking up is a cinch.

Also, I heard on the radio that eating leafy vegetables increases the melatonin so that you look more tan. I can really use some of that for my pasty whiteness.
So, one week into the six week program and I'm doing great. It still isn't easy, but I have a new-found love of spinach/berry smoothies. You should try one.

Heart Attack!!

I came home to this welcome site:

 

Thanks Favorites for being so thoughtful!! It made my day!!!

Aaaaahh Woodworking

I love to be in my shop. I feel confident there. It makes me think of great memories with Grandpa and Dad. I love the smell of wood.
Generally I spend the most time there preparing for Christmas. Otherwise for some reason I don't go there as much as I might like. It might be that I am sometimes not sure if people really like the gifts I make for them. It could be that I'm really tired when I get home from work, or that there are lots of other demands on my time. Regardless of the cause, I am happy to say that I've spent a bunch of time in my shop lately and here are some of the results:

 To my friends and family- I can't really remember what I have given you in the past. So, if you want something specific then get your order in early.