I heart awkward. And most recently, WD-40.

This is a short story. And a funny one. If awkward = funny. Which...it ALWAYS should. :)

The nephew of one of our faculty just came in to pick up some materials for his aunt, who is a seminary/institute teacher. She couldn't make it down to get them, so she enlisted his help, since he lives in this very happy valley. From the approximately seven minutes I spent with him, he seemed nice enough and even nice-looking. But - uh - I was working (just to clarify) and was only trying to help him get all the materials she might need and load them into his truck. As is one of my many assignments. Go ahead: tell me what a dedicated employee I am. * listening *

However, I would like to say this certain gentleman went above and beyond on the receiving end. He was making nice enough conversation as I showed him the materials, and then I told him where he could bring his car around and I told him I would meet him at the back door with his materials.

He dutifully went to move his car while I enlisted two co-workers in helping me with a very uncooperative, WD-40 covered dolly so I could load the materials into his truck. Whatever. Anyway, I went and met him around back and started loading the boxes into his truck (still with WD-40 all over my hands, and in my nice work clothes, mind you...) when he starts with the awkward/funny.

"You smell nice."
"What's your perfume?"
(I didn't want to disappoint him by telling him he was just smelling a mixture of possibly my shampoo and most definitely the WD-40 all over my hands...)
"How long have you worked here?" & "When did you graduate?"
(aka - "How old are you?" - stealthy, secret code. Oh, I've got the translation. That's right.)

By then, I had finished loading the boxes into his truck (don't worry...he was helping in the meantime, not just standing there watching me slave away and talking about my personal hygiene and life/career path.)

I smiled, shook his hand (by this time, the WD-40 was gone, at least in substance...smell still lurking...but clearly this has a good effect...) and told him it was nice to meet him, tell his aunt hello, I think she's great, yada yada yada.

I tried to pull my hand away as he still held ON to my hand and while looking straight into my eyes, says,

"I'll tell her that."

...still holding my hand.....

Okaaaaay, thank you. Very much.

WD-40, ladies. Works every time. HAHAHAHHAHA. * wink *

BE GRATEFUL

Be warned.  This is another "DeeAura learned a life-lesson" post.  But it has much more substance than when I respond to, say, a tag.  :)

For those of you who somehow don't know, I'm a serious journal keeper.  I love it.  It keeps me sane.  (Aeh...as sane as I can be.)  :)

Okay.  Last night, I was reading my journal from my last year of college.  

This is usually something I avoid.  For two reasons:

1 - It was a year full of drama.  Drama that eventually led me in the "right" direction...

2 - But it was drama that I think actually and literally broke my heart.  

Sometimes, I wish I hadn't written about that year of my life.  However, I literally would not have made it through that year without writing.  I still look back and am astounded I came through in one piece.  Considering.  Clearly, Heavenly Father had everything to do with that.  To the average outsider, that could easily sound overly dramatic.  But to me, that doesn't even begin to describe the experience.  

*Big, deep breath*  I read it one time after I got home from Nauvoo, and it made me cry for about a week.  Straight.  Seriously.  I felt so completely hopeless.  And sometimes, I will be innocently living my life when up pops a memory from that year, and I find myself staring at my computer screen at work with tears streaming down my face.  Other times, I'm so determined to "move on" and get on with my life, I find myself pushing that year as far back in my mind as possible.

I've concluded neither one of these options is acceptable anymore.  

But - last night, I got really brave.  I've been really trying to put everything in perspective lately...since I'm a believer in the whole "there are no coincidences/there's a reason for everthing" theory.  But trying to piece that year together has been a...ahem...well, a challenge, to say the least.  

It's been more than a year since I last read through it, and more than two years since any of it actually even happened.  Last night, as I read through the entire journal, I was surprised.  I actually found myself being grateful!  I wish I could explain what a pure miracle that is.  Hahah!  No matter how much I wanted things to work out differently that year, the one thing I wanted the very most out of it all was to do the right thing; even though I literally did not understand why I felt the way I did at the time.  And that desire is what led me to Nauvoo, despite my very stubborn plans otherwise.  But it's not just about Nauvoo.  It's so much bigger.  It's about who I'm supposed to be, and who I chose to listen to through out that process.  I think it might have been the hardest time because I listened to what I felt like my Heavenly Father was telling me to do instead of what my heart wanted more than anything else at the time.  From that year, I learned that if we want, most of all, to do the right thing, Heavenly Father will help us do exactly that.  Even if He knows we will feel pain in the process.  "...I believe it is because He loves us so much more than He loves our happiness"  (James E. Faust, "Where Do I Make My Stand?" Liahona, Nov 2004, 18-21)

I'm so grateful for the opportunity we have to gain such incredible experience and to learn so much through out our lives!  I never never never in a million years would have chosen (by myself) the path I am on now.  Not that it's not a good path!  It's just...I wanted another path with every little teeny tiny piece of my heart.  Or I thought I did.  And there have been times I wonder what was wrong with me, or...(forgive me)...what was God thinking?!  But I now realize even more how little I know.  (Talk about a cliche.)  :)  

Anyway.  Unless you know me well enough to know what all that was about, this could all sound really general and probably muddled.  But...even if I'm the only person who ever really knows how crystal clear the whole situation is now, that's okay!  :)  I think there will always be a little part of me that wants to hold on to those few months, but - I guess that's okay.  I can't be who I need to be without taking with me where I've been, right?  

I'm sticking to what I've thought all along.  There's a reason for EVERYTHING, but only when we're doing all we can to involve God in the process will we ever be able to decode the message.  We get so swallowed up in our emotions sometimes, it can easily blind us to the truth He is trying to help us see: that He knows what we're going through, and He'll guide us through it safely...right exactly to where we need to be...if we will only let Him.  

The constant source of entertainment that is my family. :)

Okay. The secret is-my family has a blog now. I know. We basically rock. :) But the plain truth is; it's a highly-classified blog, and we can't have just anyone moseying around, checkin' us out. But I spent a lot of time earlier putting this post together from this past weekend, and...well, they're all my pictures, and...I freaking love my family. They're so funny and this past weekend was just one of the best in a long time. So...sorry, family, that you have a re-read on my blog. (Which...really...they're probably most of the readers here anyway...well...maybe not. They never comment. *hint, hint*)

Whatever. I give you: The October Thompson Bash of 2008!


We love Fall Break! My little brother, Ben came back from school in Wyoming. We were all super excited to have him around again! (Ben, I think we all got spoiled having you around a whole "extra" year!) Here's Ben and AubriAnna...probably hiding from table-setting chores...bwahahha! Kidding. :)

It's never October until the lizards hide in the spaghetti squash....SICK!!! Hahahah! Oh, stop squirming. It's fake. (the lizard, not the squash.)

My little nephew, Brandon, claiming his territory. :)

Kristen, helping Brandon with the dangers of the playground. :) She's such a good aunt! :)

Ahem. This is the part where Julia decided to slide her whole skinny self through the circular "monkey bars". And yes. She got stuck. Also, yes. We all just stood there and laughed (and recorded in detail, with my camera) while she struggled to get out. HAHHAHAHA! I would have put the video here, but - I don't have my camera with me at the moment. This will have to do. :)

Julia. Ruler of the trees.

Adam the gymnast.

heheh...clearly, Ben is a little more "monkey-bar" challenged than Adam....hahaha!

Hehehe...
I can just hear him "C'mon, mom! I've GOT it already!!"

Little Jennifer still needs a little help with the big, scary slide....

This is my absolute favorite picture from the whole weekend!!!

Look at how HAPPY he is!!! So ridiculously cute! :) (And you'll notice HE isn't scared of the slide...Jen...) hehehe

What a happy, handsome little dude! :)

And, of course, Kristen climbed to all the highest heights she could possibly reach - not limited to trees, of course! :)

Slides have just been so much harder for Julia since the accident....lol...

I just love how excited his face is!!! :)

I just love how excited his face is.....HAHHAHAHAHA! Hey. Dads can have fun too. lol.

Ben wasn't sure how this could possibly be termed a slide...since all it did was sit on the ground...

Run!!! run, run, run, run, RUNNNNNNNah!!!! :) It's okay, Anna...Dad probably pulled an Uncle Gooby on you and faked the starting time, huh? "Ready, set, tomato juice!" Seriously, Dad. :)

I love these two boys! :)

Best friends. :)

The crowd was hushed as the world-famous shot-put future champion flung forth his first projectile...

BAM!!!!!

This must be mom's idea of playing at the park...cell phone in hand, diet coke at quick disposal...hhehehehe....

What's a park without any trees? Uh - boring - duh! :)

Julia-boolia. :) I can't believe you're going to be 17!!!! Augh! Stop dating more than me. That's a direct order, missie!!! Lol. :)

I call this "Fiffer and Boo."

* Ahem. * I have three words for the picture above: stupid. wax. paper. Don't judge us for not making our own pie crust. We just didn't want to!

Of course, that didn't stop OUR family from eating it!!! hehehehe...

Thanks, everyone for a really FUN weekend!!! It was so good to see you, Benny boy! Yay for home weekends! :) (If you thought that was a lot of pictures, you should see the load I ACTUALLY took this past weekend. Freaking novel.) And maybe someday, I'll start posting all my pictures online somewhere...if I can find a site I like enough to start using. If anyone has a suggestion, go ahead and let me know. :)

Tags, tags, tags...

8 TV shows I love to watch:

1. Pushing Daisies
2. LOST
3. Gossip Girl
4. The Fringe
   
5. TLC's "What not to Wear"
   
6. The Office
7. Grey's Anatomy
8. American Idol/So you think you can dance

(listed in no particular order...but I HEART J.J. Abrams, so those are probably most-loved, and I think Pushing Daisies is so CLEVER...Gossip Girl is undoubtedly a guilty pleasure - judge me all you want. I don't care. And I love love love AI/Dance. LOVE. And Grey's...I...hehehe....just leave me alone, okay?!)

8 of my favorite restaurants:

1. Chile's
2. Bajio
3. Cafe Sabor
4. Zupas
5. Happy Sumo
6. Macaroni Grill/Olive Garden
   
7. Market Street Grill/Red Lobster
8. Tucanos
   

8 things that happened yesterday:

1. I stayed home to avoid dying of the common cold.
2. I ate ramen noodles for the first time in...at least a year.
3. I wanted a brownie, but never made one, and therefore never ate one. :(
4. My nose is still recovering from its kleenex/toilet paper abuse.
   
5. No, I did not take a shower.
6. Did I mention I was home sick yesterday?
   
7. I laughed out loud when last night's Pushing Daisies episode introduced the idea of a "frescort" service!!! (friend escort service) Hahhahahah! (even though I had a pounding headache...my desire to laugh overcame my need to save my head from exploding...) lol.
8. I slept. A lot.

8 things I'm looking forward to:

1. Leaving the cold season in the DUST!
2. The next Red Loster Fastage escapade - preferably in St. George with the bossiest girls I know. :)
3. Deciding on a Graduate Program. *heavy, heavy sigh*
4. I've decided this one is none of your business. :)
5. The day I can go running again without my stupid knees being such babies!
6. EVERYTHING about Thanksgiving! Pumpkin pie, specifically.
   
7. 5 p.m. today, a shower, herbal tea, and a big fluffy blanket.
8. Being 100% debt-free. :)
   

8 things on my wish list:

1. Go on a backpacking trip through all of northern Europe.
2. Being able to take a break from work, etc. to go volunteer at an orphanage in Romania.
3. To go on a mission with my hubby someday. (I know. I have a long ways to go...haha)
4. Go to Italy, Spain, and Greece.
5. To be rich. So I can stop worrying about paying bills and start traveling to all these places!
6. Win a $5,000 shopping spree with Clinton and Stacy...without having them make a show about how badly I dress and having to throw all my old clothes away. :)
7. My very own house elf. Preferably one who loves me, loves to clean my room, do my dishes, clean my bathroom, do my laundry, and pay my bills. Clearly things I already do, but...hello! House elf!
   
8. Speak, read, and write another language. :)
   

8 tagged fools: :)

1. Ero
2. Aubs
3. Alicia
4. Manda-panda
5. Gina
6. Larry
7. Curly
8. Moe
9. And whoever else wants to. Thanks for the break at work, Jamie! :)
   

My little Space Heater Junkie

Last week.  I worked.  Yep. Shocker.  

But also - one of my very favorite people came to town!  JUST for lunch with me.  I will tell it to you in short story form.  It's a good story.  Probably better when it's long, but - whatever.  Well - I suppose that depends on what you term a "good" story...but...it already has a great title, so it's destined for greatness.  Probably all good stories have at least one great action sequence, (usually a sweet sword fight) and uh...some other stuff.  Ask Nicole.  She's the English teacher, not me.  :)

Once upon a not-so-long time ago, I was a Utah State Aggie.  Yes, by choice.  And yes, I loved it.  Also, no, I did not wear offensive anti-BYU t-shirts while attending USU sporting events.  Uh - although - I cannot deny the pure happiness/intense joy I felt when the Utah State Aggies beat those silly BYU Cougars at a certain basketball game...on Aggie turf.  It was a glorious game, the whole crowd was on their feet, and my friend Mike had driven all the way up to Logan just to watch his beloved Cougars play the Aggies.  Take THAT, sucka!!!!  I remember that exact sentence coming out of my mouth.  :)  

I am so much more mature now.  Hehehhe...

Um. Anyway.  It was while I attended said institution that I had the truly remarkable experience of living with my dear friend Nicole.  And I have to say - that year, we learned more about each other than either one of us bargained for!  Hahaha...and the best part is...we're still friends!  Woohoo!  Imagine that.  :)  She knows me, and she STILL loves me.  Anyone?  Anyone?  

Okay.

I have missed you, Nicole!  It was so good to see you, even for just a little while!  (Even though I know you really just came down for the foam swords at the dollar store...) I miss turning off your space heater every night so you wouldn't get burned, even more than you already were, from snuggling up to it while attempting to correct papers or read a book, etc.  :)  Thanks for letting my gigantic bookcase take over all the extra room, your endless words of wisdom, for saving my sanity time and time again, and for looking out for me during that year of absolute DRAMA!  :)  I know I wouldn't have made it through that year without you!  (And poor, poor you knows ALL the reasons why!!)  I love you and miss you, Nicole!  

Loves.  :)

P.S.  If you are my friend, and you are not Nicole, and you feel jealous that I have not mentioned you on my blog - step back, take a moment, and just invite me to lunch.  Silly, that's all it takes.  :)  Plus, I still love you.  :)  hehehe...

Audrey Hepburn-mania

I. LOVE. Audrey Hepburn. I had almost forgotten how awesome she was. :) My roommate, Aubrey, just added 3 more Hepburn classics to her collection, so this past weekend, we soaked in every second of the gloriousness we possibly could! These movies are so CLASSIC and funny and witty and just...1000% charming. I forgot how much I love old movies. Be they black and white, all modern with their technicolor, and from musicals to murder mysteries - I just come away wishing I had as many awesome hats, coats, and hairstyles as she does! Hahah...and it doesn't stop there! I suddenly find myself wanting to read "The Bobbsey Twins" and "Nancy Drew" and watch all the old "Herby" movies again...(PLEASE, no new ones with Lindsay Lohan. Gag and bleck! Give me the old goodness any day!) and...oooh! "Pollyanna" and "Follow me, Boys!" While we're at it, let's not forget even the Shirley Temple days of goodness! Gimmee a good 'ol tap number in a beautifully fuzzy black and white world where everyone's curls are perfect and little girls still look at their mothers in awe...where little girls and little boys even still EXIST, for that matter! I think I'll drift off peacefully to sleep tonight to the sweet strains of "Moon River" and every time I walk past a small broom closet, I'll have to resist the urge to peek inside and see if Audrey and Peter O'Toole need any help with their magnetic key retrieval. And walking in the rain past alleys full of boxes will always make me want to go looking for "Cat"...and I don't even like cats! Oh, and someday...someday, I'll visit Rome, ride a vespa, buy some gelato from a little man at his little corner stand, and maybe even give that American Reporter something better to write about. :)

Thoughts on Proposition 8

Last night, the issues surrounding Proposition 8 were brought to my attention once again. Every time this happens, I find myself feeling frustrated and sad. My position never changes, but my emotions about it do. I guess this is my unorganized attempt to say what I'm feeling. Sometimes, standing up for what you believe in is a lot harder than it looks. So if you read this, just keep in mind - it's unorganized, I don't know everything, and I wish I did. I'm not posting this as an argument. It's just that these issues always hit a little closer to home for me, and I wish it didn't feel so sad to me.

Here's a rough one. I've seen a lot of things I agree with about this proposition, and a lot of things that really discourage me from the other side. There are a lot of strong feelings on the issue of same-sex marriage - and the strong feelings exist on both sides. For someone like me who surely has an opinion on most every subject, but honestly usually likes to remain neutral for the sake of keeping the peace.......like I said. This is a rough one.

My friend, Nicole, posted some videos on her blog about voting YES to Proposition 8. First of all, I say props to her for taking a moment to stand up and say what she believes in. There are an incredible amount of really good people on BOTH sides of this issue. She is an incredibly good and loving person...I'd like to think I am as well. (Hopefully...usually...let's remember I'm human, too!) I personally don't live in California, and neither does she, but I do think this is something that affects everyone.

But how it affects each of us is very different.

But before everyone starts freaking out, I would like to say I do feel conflicted about this issue. But it may be for different reasons than some of you might think. I think everyone has the right to stand up for what they believe in, no matter what the issue is.

That includes me.

It also includes people I love very much who absolutely disagree with what I think.

Drawing the line between people I love and what I believe is something I have never wanted to do. When I first started to hear word about Proposition 8, I knew deep down how I felt about the issue. I would personally vote YES.

HOWEVER. Even knowing how I felt about the issue, and what I would vote...I felt a lot of sadness and just a little bit of fear start to stir inside me. Not fear of what I felt like I needed to do, but fear of what would happen to those I love, no matter which direction the issue happens to go. I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I believe it is ordained of God, that it is a sacred relationship, and should be guarded and cared for with all our energy. I know families are essential to the reasons we are even here on earth in the first place. We are supposed to help each other and do all we can to support each other. But I also know there are forces on this earth whose sole purpose is to destroy these principles that are so central to what I believe and personally know to be true.

But none of that matters to someone who doesn't believe all those things. They believe in different things than I do; they have different feelings than I do. I have struggled with how to answer myself on these issues for quite a few years now, and always think, "But wait...what about the feelings of those who don't agree with me?" These people are not numbers on a statistical scale to me. They are people I know and love very much. People I want in my life forever. But they are also people who really are somewhat distanced from me because of my beliefs. This distance is not a purposeful choice on either side, necessarily, but a distance nonetheless. If, in an effort to preserve these relationships, I am not protecting what I believe in...what then?

I guess the part that troubles me the most is the fact that if I ever open my mouth about my beliefs to anyone who wants to vote NO on this issue, I usually get my religion slammed in my face. It may not happen that way with angry words, but the feeling is the same. I am exhausted by the world and its demand for "tolerance" when I feel as if my very own beliefs are being thrown in the nearest trash bin. "We don't care what you believe" is what I hear the most...and such potentially hurtful things as telling me that my religion is prejudiced and hateful. I don't feel like I am that way at all, and I strive every single day to live up to my religious beliefs. So tell me, please, how that adds up!

There are so many legal issues surrounding this proposition - the loss of some religious freedoms being one that troubles me possibly the most. Religious freedom...the reason our forefathers came here to America in the first place...is being threatened by every turn of this issue, and I fear it will only get worse. I believe we all have the right to pursue our happiness and to experience joy while we are here...but I also know that sometimes the things that bring us the most happiness are not the easy answers...they're not the things we always initially want. I know there are things I want that are just not good for me. There are things I want to do that I just should not and therefore don't do.

But here's the last thing I really know. I know that we, as human beings, are a very confused group. We change all the time. We all experience different things, we come from different places, we are even taught different things. That's why we need someone who ultimately knows all things who can tell us what to do. Despite claims otherwise, there is a God. He created us, and has provided for every thing we will ever truly need. He never changes. He is a perfect being. He knows all things, and there is a purpose to everything He does. He knows how we are. Therefore, as a perfect being who loves us, His children, He has given us prophets all through out the history of the world. Why would He stop now? He is a finisher - He's not going to stop in the middle of this "human project" (if you will). There is a prophet today, and He tells us what God wants us to know. He is given power from God to be able to tell us the right things to do. We have been promised that he will never lead us in the wrong direction. Sometimes we're asked to do things we don't entirely understand.

I have been asked to stand up for families and marriage between a man and a woman. This is the Lord's way, and as much as it pains me to stand in opposition to people I love so very much, it is what I have to do. No one is forcing me. I am choosing to do it. I have no idea what will happen, but I can't stop standing for what I know is true and right. No matter how angry it makes someone else. But I am not doing it to make anyone angry or to be intolerant of the choices of others. I'm doing it because I think the Lord has a much better track record than we do. I don't know the reasons for everything - I wish I did. But I have to do my part by standing up for what I believe in as well.

Preserving Marriage

Everybody likes something for free...!!

Free is right!! 24 handbags will be given away in 24 hours for their grand-opening on the 15th of October. Wanna win a free handbag?! Seriously - go sign up!!! :)

http://www.handbagplanet.com

Nauvoo Mission Reunion

My favorite Sister Bateman!

Our little Nauvoo Mission Reunion was just this past friday!  I still can't believe I was so blessed to serve with such incredible people in such an amazing place.  It was so good see everyone again!  I wish I had taken more pictures, but I sort of forgot I had a camera most of the time.  :)  Most anyone who reads my blog or knows me knows I served as a Performing Missionary in Nauvoo during the summer of 2007.  I won't bore everyone by saying how great it was and by talking about Nauvoo...don't worry.  I've written enough about that here, so I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing about it.  (Though I won't ever get tired of talking about it.)  Lol.  

I didn't always want to serve a full-time proselyting mission, but by about the time I was 23, I was actually dying to go.  But it just never seemed like what I was supposed to do at the time.  So I finished school, and halfway through my senior year, I felt like I should audition to be a performing missionary.  It didn't fit in with my life plan by then, but it was what felt right.  I couldn't argue with that feeling.  So I auditioned, I made it, and was called to serve as a performing missionary in Nauvoo that summer.  It changed my life.  I was already doing all I could before I went, but something inside me came alive because of my time there.  I remember a conversation with my mission president a few weeks before I went home.  I made a comment to him about how much I had always wanted to serve a "real" full-time mission, but had never felt right about it.  He immediately corrected me by telling me that the time I had just spend there in Nauvoo was a real mission, and that he had no doubt whatsoever that I had done the right thing.  He told me never to let anyone tell me I hadn't served a real mission, and that every time someone asked me if I was a returned missionary, I was to tell them YES.  :)  So I do.  And I know that's what I was supposed to do, and when I was supposed to do it.  Anyway.  I only say all of that because every now again, there's a well-meaning individual who says something like, "Oh, so it wasn't a real mission, then..."  This is me, with-holding all comments in an effort to react in a mature manner.  :)  

My mission was so different from most other missions, but that didn't make it any less of a mission.  After we spent a lot of time visiting, the YPMs were asked to come up and sing a few numbers.  It was silly and absolutely not perfect (multiple years of YPMs, no practice...lol...you can imagine.)  :)  but we sang "Come, come ye saints" at the end of it, just like we had every single night in Nauvoo at the end of "Sunset by the Mississippi."  I think we sang one line by ourselves, and then everyone else joined in singing it.  I just remember standing there, amazed at the spirit I felt, and looking at the faces of all those incredible people I love...and I just can't believe I was so blessed.  I only hope I contributed even a portion of what I gained there.  

Bingham, Wyson, and me.  I love my sisters!  :)

Fall Retreat

This past week was our division's fall staff retreat.  We went up to BYU's lodge at Spring Haven, and it was beautiful!!!  The canyon was breathtaking with fall colors, and the speakers were pretty great, too.  

The last speakers were Kirk Strong (BYU Admissions) and his wife.  They gave this amazing presentation on temples and symbolism.  It was so great!  I could have listened to their talk over and over again and still learned something new.  

I guess there's not much more to say about that except I really love the people I work with!  Jaylene and Jenna, thanks for all you do!  I sure love you girls!  :)

Divine Nature

I really can't even tell you how much I love the Fall.  :)  Last weekend, I was in Logan...mostly to finally get my hair cut.  :)  But I just couldn't resist taking a little extra time beforehand to take a detour up to second dam there in the Logan canyon.  I used to go running up there all the time, especially my last year there at Utah State.  It became this little sanctuary for me, there in the beauty of Cache Valley, and just far enough away from everything else to feel completely protected.  And it's absolutely breathtaking!  (I think so, anyway!)  I wish I'd had more time to spend up there this time, but there's a little piece.  :)

The Relief Society General Broadcast was that night as well.  Aubrey and I went to go have my cousin, Sarah, cut our hair that afternoon, and just planned on watching the broadcast back and Aubrey's home stake center when we were done.  But the afternoon quickly faded into evening, and we left the salon at 5:57 pm!  Ah!!  We clearly didn't have time to make it back to the Stake Center in Mendon, so we concluded we'd have to find a place there in Logan to watch it.  But the worst problem was the part where we were both still in jeans, and had no skirt at our disposal.  The thought of walking into the back of a chapel in our jeans made us both feel a little uncomfortable, but we didn't want to miss the broadcast, so what choice did we have?!  However.  Just as we were pulling up to the stake center, I remembered my old roommate, Michelle, lived really close to the stake center.  So, I called her...just to see which chapel she had gone to.  Lo and behold, she was actually just getting it on her laptop because she'd lost track of the time earlier.  As silly as it seems, she was absolutely an answer to my little prayer about not wanting to feel bad about being so underdressed in the chapel!  But the best part was that we couldn't get the internet access to work well there until we put the laptop on top of 3 little plastic preschool chairs.  Lol...Michelle lives in the downstairs of a cute little preschool, and the only place she could get the internet was upstairs in the preschool...so uh...that's where we got the chairs from.  :)  Ah, funny times!  I miss living with that silly girl.  The best things happen all the time!  

AND...wasn't the RS broadcast so great?!?!?  In addition to the beautiful messages delivered, and the incredible spirit I feel every time I hear a talk about the importance of being a true daughter of God, I absolutely want to have dinner with the Uchtdorfs someday.  Hahha!!  But seriously.  I don't know quite what it is about him, but I absolutely love hearing President Uchtdorf speak.  There is something so kind, gentle, and wise about that man.  Also, his wife makes curry.  I definitely want a dinner opportunity.  :)

The MOA Extravaganza

Every couple months or so, I get a little invitation in my work mailbox for some new event at the Museum of Art on BYU campus.  Anytime a new exhibit is coming, I'll get an invite to come partake of said exhibit.  Honestly, I've thought about going once or twice, but something else always comes up, or I was the only one who was dying to go see an art exhibit.  :)  But this time, my dear roommate, Shallie, thought it sounded like a great idea.  Actually, it was her idea in the first place, and when she brought it up, I suddenly remembered the last little artsy invitation I had recently received.  I found the invitation, and we discovered this next exhibit was for the new Japanese exhibit.  Perfect!  We were excited, but we had no idea just how great it would be!!!

My favorite part (uh...outside of the obvious awesomeness of the actual ART...) was the sushi refreshments.  :)  Yahooo!!  Free sushi?!  Heck yes.  Even if it's the kind you can buy in the grocery store.  Shallie isn't really a seafood kind of girl...thus, not yet a partaker of sushi in all its goodness.  I quickly picked up my free little plate of sushi, and was shocked to see her just getting a little glass of water.  Uh...HELLO, Shall!!  Free Sushi!!!  Much to her dismay, I made her take a little plate.  She was a great first-time-eater-of-sushi sport...but was understandably nervous.  But I explained to her it was mostly rice....  :)  Here we have before....

And...uh...after....HAHAHAH!!!  She clearly wasn't a huge fan!  However, I told her this was really more like getting a McDonalds cheeseburger vs. one from, say, Red Robin or otherwise.  This was fast food sushi, really.  She has agreed to make a Happy Sumo visit at least once with us.  :)  See?!  Great sport!!  :)
The art was beautiful.  There were a surprising amount of people there!  It was crazy...we almost couldn't get through to see all the art.  Shallie and I agreed we would acually like to go back sometime when it wasn't the opening night and just have the time and space to actually take in the art.  The event itself was so much fun!  People were dressed up in their traditional Japanese garb, they had people at little tables, painting people's names on slips of tissue-like paper in Japanese...and the musical entertainment was certainly unique as well!  It was well worth the time!  I can't wait to go back!