Maybe It's Emily

It was "May the 4th Be With You" day. I probably would have found some way to watch one of the Star Wars movies, or holler like a Wookie, but instead I spent the first half of the day in the hospital. I was 8 weeks pregnant and started spotting about five days earlier. I wish I had known sooner that you should see the doctor if you bleed more than three days in a row, all I knew was that spotting was normal. But the spotting slowly increased until on Saturday my mother in law suggested going to a clinic to get checked out. I called the Tricare nurse line because I was scared and didn't know where to go, and at their suggestion to the hospital I went. There was a lot of waiting and a lot of Chip and Joanna Gaines on our room's TV. After several hours of worrying and cramping, it was the ultrasound that confirmed my suspicions. No heart beat. They didn't have to tell me, I could just tell by the picture on the screen. The doctor warned me that a miscarriage ...

Today has been great for a couple different reasons. 1) I felt like my hair looked good *score* 2) I made apple pie for ward lunch, and I was afraid that it turned out bad (the juices in the pie were less syruppy than I wanted), but instead was given many a compliment that it looked like a very handsome pie, that it was delicious, and then THE John Major, cooking extraordinaire, told me that it was good. Now, Bro.Major is a most excellent chef himself, and not one to sugar-coat things, so the fact that he complimented my pie in all sincerity just made me feel like winner of the day. Not quite unlike this: 3) While at the MTC, before they headed out to their missions, Hna.Harris, Hna.Squires and I were able to receive blessings from our MTC teacher. It was a very spiritual experience for all four of us. It was truly a testimony of priesthood power, and a testimony that the Lord was very mindful of us. In that blessing I was told many wonderful things, including that throug...

I'm going to school in Hawaii, and I love the aloha spirit, broken English, pigeon local style brah. I was tagged in a post with this Youtube video, and I gotta say that it was one of the best commencement speeches I've ever heard. He highlights the importance of working hard, despite what test results and GPAs have told you in the past. Don't buy it. Nothing creates such a great difference in your life than pushing yourself and sacrificing to make your dreams come true.  Hey, it worked for me.   

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” — Rachel L. Carson What an interesting woman she was. I've never heard of her before, but I like her already. She seems like a great pioneer for nature conservation, and as a byproduct, for women as well. If you click on the picture it takes you to a Washington Post article (as well as here) about her. Enjoy the nature around you, and I hope you have a great day.

Tonight I went to my friend's senior vocal recital. I've been to other senior recitals, but this one was different. Whereas the others exhibited vocals in the style of opera, jazz and Broadway, my friend did his in the style of his people- the Hawaiians. He opened with a Hawaiian chant (a very important form of song), next with a chant of hula kahiko. His songs ranged from ones composed by the Ali'i to more modern songs of the WWII era, many of which were accompanied by hula dancers. Some were fast and fun, some were slow and nostalgic. All in all it was a great performance, and it carried me away to another time, another place. It made me feel, and it made me think. As I was watching and listening, I was reminded of this video:   That theme: culture is prevention. That's the model of intervention for many Native American tribes. It's the idea that connecting with your past, your ancestors and your culture act as a type of preventative measure against b...

I want to talk about this Facebook conversation I got involved in this week. It's about this woman, Shelley. She hunted a giraffe and the Facebook group Political Loudmouth reposted the pic of her with her prize and said this: "In this photo, a female trophy hunter sits smirking on top of the giraffe she blasted to death with a rifle as it ate from a tree. With these kinds of "hunts," wealthy individuals are usually driven to the spot by guides who know where the animals are. The clients then shoot and kill the animals, often while sitting in the Land Rover that brought them. ... Even more unconscionable, some safaris are "canned hunts," in which captive animals raised this purpose, are placed inside a fenced-in enclosure for the "hunter" to shoot." Giraffes are one of my most favorite animals, they're tied for the number one spot with elephants. The screen saver of my tablet is a smoochy giraffe.   I have giraffe stat...

http://news.msn.com/in-depth/we-are-creating-walmarts-of-higher-education The previous link is tied to an online news story that begins thus: "Universities in South Dakota, Nebraska, and other states have cut the number of credits students need to graduate. A proposal in Florida would let online courses forgo the usual higher-education accreditation process. A California legislator introduced a measure that would have substituted online courses for some of the brick-and-mortar kind at public universities. "Some campuses of the University of North Carolina system are mulling getting rid of history, political science, and various others of more than 20 “low productive” programs. The University of Southern Maine may drop physics. And governors in Florida, North Carolina and Wisconsin have questioned whether taxpayers should continue subsidizing public universities for teaching the humanities. "Under pressure to turn out more students, more quickly and for less money,...

I love Easter. It's my most favorite holiday. I even like it more than Christmas. Now, while I've caught you in your gasps of horror at my yuletide blasphemy, hear me out. I love what it means. It means the Son of God came to Earth. It means He lived a perfect life. It means He overcame sin. It means He took our sins upon Himself. It means He suffered our sins, our afflictions and the burdens of our illnesses. It means He gave up His life for us. It means that He kept his promises. It means He will intercede for us. It means we have a chance at life eternal and exaltation. It means I can live again. It means that He lives. It means that He loves us. It means that He listens to us. It means that He desires to bless us. That's why I love Easter. "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.   " ...

This is one of the many special things I did on New Years. Karaoke. I've been wanting to do karaoke for a long while. Shout out to Kayla for doing it with me and Laura for being an excellent camera woman. Have fun, be safe, and enjoy our silliness!

I was reading an article on www.LDS.org about the training of new mission presidents, and I loved this: "President Monson said missionaries represent the flower of youth and the hopes, prayers, and dreams of their parents. “They represent sacrifice. If you as mission presidents can realize the importance of their missions in the lives of these young men and young women and in the lives of your senior couples, then you will be in a better position to motivate them properly.” It got me thinking about the importance of my mission in my life. I know that's not the context of the quote, but work with me here. I want to imagine that if my president asked me what the importance of my mission in my life is, having served already, what I would say. I don't know why I was called to serve a mission. I don't know why the Lord wanted me to go so bad. But I'm so glad I did go. It changed my life. I wouldn't have it any other way. Maybe that's why he wanted m...

 She wants to stop being friends with some silly people, and she's finding it to be more difficult than she bargained for. She said that other people are making it hard for her because they always bring them up, and they won't let her forget about them. "Well, hun, you can't forget. Forgetting about them won't make it better, because you'll remember them, someday, somehow. And then you'll get upset again. The goal is to deal with it, not forget about it. That way, when someone does bring them up, because it will happen, you'll still be okay." I believe that to be true. Stop running away from problems, they will always catch up to you. You will never out run them. Maybe for a season. Maybe for a short while. Maybe for a long while. But they will always catch up and make you trip. So stop trying to run. Stop trying to hide. Deal with it and learn from it and learn how to handle it. And you know what? When it does catch up to you, you can still ke...

So yesterday as I was leaving the temple I met a man crossing the street. His name is Joseph Kanoho Keliikoa, III. He has mild cerebral palsy and a hearing disability, but he's still very cognitive, don't be fooled. As I was crossing the street he greeted me like I was his best friend from his science class and introduced himself. In our conversation he handed me a slip of paper with his testimony on it. He said that he does it because his patriarchal blessing says that he needs to share his testimony with everyone, and I want to help him do it. Joseph also works at Photo Poly at the PCC if you ever want to meet him :) Dear brothers, sisters, family and friends! Aloha! I would like to share my testimony as a disciple and special witness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This true church has blessed my life as my family lives forever. I know this to be true. I know we have a great, loving Father in Heaven, and that we are all his precious children. He truly ...

News Release  —  27 April 2012 Salt Lake City  —  The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) has announced the open house, cultural celebration and rededication dates for the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple. The public is invited to visit the temple during an open house from Saturday, 4 August 2012, through Saturday, 25 August 2012, excluding Sundays. The temple will be formally rededicated on Sunday, 9 September 2012, in three sessions. The rededicatory sessions will be broadcast to all stakes and districts in Argentina. In conjunction with the rededication of the temple, there will also be a cultural celebration featuring music and dance on Saturday, 8 September 2012. Latter-day Saint temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses or chapels where members meet for Sunday worship services. Temples are considered “houses of the Lord” where Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and o...

Just to get some things off my chest. I'm the new Relief Society President in my ward. I'm just afraid I won't take it seriously enough rather than being so nervous or not up to the challenge. I'm stomping down the voice that would want to stomp me down. How much I want to be a good Relief Society president for these sisters! I am grateful for the sisters who accepted the callings to help me. I need them, and I hope they just as much need me. How much I can't do this without them! So really, I'm okay. Just a lot to think about, you know? I always have a lot to think about. My calling. School. Buying a car maybe soon. Boys. How much I hate that subject right now. Because I broke up with my boyfriend. Almost two weeks ago. And the decision was mutual. And it was a bummer, sure. I worked and flirted my booty off to be able to get to where we were. And I was crazy about him. But things weren't moving along towards marriage. Really, no. And I keep telling m...

I found out about a book that explains how I feel about this subject: I seriously hate dating. Something that has been a blessing to me is the counsel from Pres.Uchtdorf that he gave in a CES fireside in November of 2009: "I know this may be a disappointment for some of you, but I don’t believe there is only one right person for you. I think I fell in love with my wife, Harriet, from the first moment I saw her. Nevertheless, had she decided to marry someone else, I believe I would have met and fallen in love with someone else. I am eternally grateful that this didn’t happen, but I don’t believe she was my one chance at happiness in this life, nor was I hers." Dating and finding my eternal companion is all my choice! Nobody controls this part of my life except for me . "There are those who do not marry because they feel a lack of “magic” in the relationship. By “magic” I assume they mean sparks of attraction. Falling in love is a wonderful feel...

When returned missionaries say that there should be an RMTC, they're not kidding. At least make a support group or something! At first coming back home wasn't too bad. I was doing really well actually! But the more I'm home the harder it is. I think I actually got depressed yesterday. I hate being depressed . The anxiety of not knowing what's going on in my life or where she's going has been getting to me. I've heard that when you get home you don't feel like doing anything anymore. Like all the stuff you used to love to do doesn't really entice you anymore. I used to love books and movies; I loved to learn and go to school. But the desire hasn't been there since I've been home. I don't feel like doing any of that stuff. But I also hear say that you kind of have to get in your mind what you like and what goals you want in your life and push yourself (aka force yourself) to do it. Because it's not easy. It's not easy coming from a very...

No man is offended by another man's admiration of the woman he loves; it is the woman only who can make it a torment. -Jane Austen I love how every woman I know loves Jane Austen. We can all relate to one character or another. I can relate to Emma. I'm not a matchmaker, I'm not rich, but I can relate to the fact that I'm young and live in my own ideal world. I'm okay with that. Although I love Emma, I do not appreciate that Jane Austen was not writing about a character in her head, but about me! In Emma, Emma takes young Harriet under her wing to help educate her and set her up with a smart match. Emma vigorously takes up this challenge until Harriet falls for Mr.Knightly, who Emma has unknowingly loved. And then Emma goes through the torture of wondering if she has lost Mr.Knightly forever. Now change Emma for Emily. I'm dead serious. This is happening to me. Add a bit of Elinor from Sense and Sensibility. I've meet a guy. Wonderful. He's great. ...

I'm home! Just to let you know... 1. I will call you! 2. I made a new blog for spanish speakers wanting to know more about the gospel. Refer whoever you want! 3. I'm doing alright. Thanks for all your support and prayers; I have felt them! 4. I love you! Besitos y abrazos, Emily

Emily called about 6:45 a.m. to let us know she was in Dallas. So it looks like she will be in SLC at the scheduled time. Airline: AMERICAN AIRLINES AA604 Leaving date: 17 JUNFrom: DALLAS TX at 12:05 p.m. Arriving: SALT LAKE C, UT at 1:40 p.m. Gate A3 I know there will be lots of missionaries coming home from Argentina. So we may be hard to find.

Emily wrote that they were leaving early this morning. She neglected to tell where she was going and how. But we will assume that they made it to Santiago. The flight was on time into Dallas at 6:11 a.m. on Friday, June 17th. (as of 11:30 p.m.) Anticipated time of arrival in Salt Lake City is expected to remain the same. I will check first thing in the morning to see if she sent out any messages when she lands. We will call the travel department to make sure that the missionaries made it onto this flight.