Joy In My World

Jenkins Lloyd Jones:

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.

“[The fact is] most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. …

“Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.

“The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride"

I love this quote, because it makes me think about how grateful I am for my journey. I am grateful for the ups and downs of life…because what’s the fun of a roller coaster if it is just a straight, slow, and uneventful track. The anomalies of life keep me sane, keep me happy.

               

                     I love…

• ·         The bus, because that’s where I make all my new friends
• ·         Surprise visits by good friends. They always happen at times that seem most inconvenient til’ you realize you needed it more than ever.
• ·         To smile even when times make it hard, because I know smiles have magic, and they make things feel less heavy.
• ·         The sweet smiles I get in return.
• ·         Thinking of Christmas presents to give when I’m broke, because it forces me to come up with something meaningful.
• ·         Marshall’s cold feet on my  warm feet at night, because then I know his homework is finally done, and he is finally next to me.
• ·         Cold weather because then I get to drink hot chocolate!
• ·         That finals week is almost here, because that means I’m all the closer to seeing my big sister, and dearest friend.
• ·         The knowledge of my Savior and his gospel
• ·         A warm home after a cold walk
• ·         Baking treats instead of doing homework
• ·         A family who knows me inside and out
• ·         Dearest friends
• ·         Marshall’s hugs
• ·         You!

Every season, after Thanksgiving our family endeavors a mountain adventure to find a Christmas tree. This trip  usually ends with a grand finale of the dads getting impatient and trudging off to find a tree suitable to their standards, while the rest of us are left at the trucks to entertain ourselves til' they return. Here's how we do it :)

Camden, and mostly Marshall dug a snow cave...

COLD! Even though he wouldn't wear a coat, I at least got him to wear my gloves...

This snow cave became a tunnel...come in through the top OR bottom of the hill. Their creativity gives a good idea of how long the papa's were taking to find our trees!

Before I forced him to at least wear my gloves. 

We TRIED to sled...notice Marshall's sled left at the top of the hill :)

The hill got boring, so they used their man power to pull each other on the sled instead! I love my cute cousins.

On the day of Thanksgiving, dad taught Marshall the ways of the hunting master. Mom wasn't too happy about their idea of spending the holiday, but dad's success on shooting a deer caused Marshall to say that was definitely one of the more exciting thanksgivings he'd had...and it helped him work off all that grub!

"I think my deer is right down in there"

This pic is from a different hunting trip. I think he loves me ;)

This picture is for the Folkman family. I just think they will be excited about the logo on my hat. It was the only orange cap my dad had to offer...and I didn't want to get shot for Pete's sake!

Chillout

http://www.zefrank.com/chillout/ I learned about this guy's blog in psychology. His name is Ze Frank. It kind of inspired me. He comes up with creative ways to make the world seem a little smaller. The cool thing is, he asks for help by those following his blog to create songs, or to take part in projects to build others up.
Today I have been thinking. Shocker. I have been thinking mostly about how much we need each other, and how grateful I am to be a member of a religion, despite all of its criticism, that is based solely upon a flawless concept: love.
And I want to start applying that concept a lot more throughout my day. It's much easier to show love to my handsome husband than to a complete stranger...and that's half the battle.
So this afternoon I had a lab for life science. I was sitting in a comfy chair on the bottom level of the building when I heard a girl ask a group of people where room 303 was. That was where I was headed, so I announced, "hey that's where I'm going, I'll just take you there." I was surprised to realize the source of that soft, timid voice came from a girl who had black hair, black clothes, piercings and tattoos that were way too exposed for a cold day, and teeth that looked like they were exposed to one too many...let's just call them stimulants.
I feel completely embarrassed to say that my first thought was, "I hope I can come up with enough conversation during these three flights of stairs...doubt we have much in common." I think the girl thought the same thing about me.
Surprisingly enough, the conversation flowed smoothly, and it seemed that we were both equally enjoying each other's company! She gradually felt more comfortable talking to me and was opening up about her interests, family, home-town, and it was pretty interesting! I made a new friend today, and I learned a valuable lesson too. Making friends with only one kind of person is like going your whole life eating rice for every meal.
Variety is good!
Why love selectively when you have an unlimited supply you can give freely?

Adventurous Adventures!

Anyone who knows my family knows we are avid hunters. I was pretty disappointed after looking at the calendar to find we had double booked our weekend leaving two options: Marshall's best friend's wedding, or an excursion I had been looking forward to for years. Not many wives can say they left their husband at home so they could go to a wedding while she hit the hills to hunt. Guess that's what Marsh gets for marrying a Chandler!

I love the mountains, there is a peace there almost like nowhere on Earth and I LOVE being there with my family. We had the best time, but it was my first time spending nights away from my sweet hubby and I got a little anxious, not to mention I am sadly out of shape, and YES my dear old dad can still out-hike me. I'm over it. Aside from getting NO sleep Thursday night from being too darned cold, I enjoyed every moment with my family. I love enjoying Heavenly Father's creations with the people I love :) 

We came home empty-handed, but for us that's not what it's all about, and I just have to say how grateful I was for the opportunity to spend time with my pops and sibs!

I made a vow to never go without my best friend again though...promise promise promise...

It's all fun and games until BYU football time

Uncle Marsh teachin Emma how to jam!

Andrea and Madi are suppressing the feelings that the cougars are getting stomped...

ANXIETY!!! Can't believe Utah State beat BYU. What a bummer!

It was a complete blast getting together with the family! They all came to watch the football game, and for Mark's b-day of course! Marshall and I felt bad that we got Mark a ticket to watch his favorite team lose for his birthday...It was painful for everyone to see the team lose, and painful to be part of the few supporting BYU in that stadium. Oh well...better luck next  year? It was fun anyway! Wish I got more pictures...

Pro Choice?

This woman tells an incredible story in retort to Obama signing an act four times against helping the survival of infants born alive during the process of abortion.  
There are two parts to her speech...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPF1FhCMPuQ
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8B1nKGIAeg&NR=1

What I'm Learning In Life Science!

http://aimediaserver4.com/studiodaily/videoplayer/?src=ai4%2Fharvard%2Fharvard.swf&width=640&height=520

This video is so awesome! Maybe it's just cool to me, but it really gave the the chills in class to think of how brilliant Heavenly Father must be to create our bodies! All this work is just in a single cell! I feel like I have alot of learning to do :)

C++ And Aggie Ice Cream

Here we are in good ole' Logan, Utah. I have found that college is different as a married person. Standing through a whole football game just to be cool in the student section where hurtling objects bean ya in the head regularily and strangers give you high fives just isn't as fun anymore. Instead of heading to the seat nearest the cute boys, I look for the seat surrounded by girls. Studying happens. Studying REALLY happens! Cause your best friend is at home, and he's studying too. And you can take breaks :)
I actually cook regular meals. Top Ramen just doesn't cut it anymore, and I have to buy ALOT more food when I shop. I get to hear alllll about Marshall's Electrical Engineering classes. He created his first three computer programs and he talks me through each one after it succeeds. And I thought trying to understand the technical rules of football would be the most confusing part of trying to interact with Marshall's hobbies...Try learning how to talk to a computer in one sitting.
Our ward is great, our school is great, our apartment is a tiny and great in it's own special way and our homework pile is...great big. Good buy summertime!

Not Lost: High on the Mountaintop

The world is changing as people change. We are the variable, while Earth is the constant, a canvas unruly and untouched. But people change, and we change it. Standing at the peak of a mountain looking out into the vastness of what puts the “wild” in wilderness, I feel like I am at the center of a spinning wheel, un-moving while the rest of the world travels around me. I don’t want to move, this place feels like home.

The solidity of these hills make me love them; the constant expectation of the unexpected. This is how it should be. Let the world change around me, but I won’t jump into the spokes. Life is supposed to be this obvious. Live, love, learn and do whatever you can to make it back in one piece. It sounds so clear when you are breathing this clean air. But I know the second I see the first man-made road I know it will lead me back into a place where clear is ancient and out-dated, a place that says “things must be complicated now; things must be murky and tainted”.

It will be still here. There will be peace here, which allows love and clarity to envelope and crush all doubts and fears. Love, truth, unchanging faith, and growing knowledge: this is reality, the only real place on Earth.

I wonder what it is about reality that people fear so much. What is it about scum that makes a human being feel safe? Perhaps it is because it is much easier to be around scum, scum doesn’t expect much out of a person. All one must do is be filthy too. Reality, truth, and light demand a certain consciousness to become, to rise up beyond the filth of the world, and desire to be clean. It is here I will rise, high on the mountain top I will choose to become. Though at times I must return to the spinning spokes, I will keep my eye on the center of the wheel; the house of the Lord.

The Three Month Honeymoon

This summer has flown by faster than Marshall can eat a plate of cookies. School will be starting soon...Utah State, here we come! This summer with my new husband has been challenging at times, being a door-to-door salesman isn't the dream job. But Marsh has given every day his 100% and I am so proud of him! Living here in California has been interesting, but we have had loads of fun! I complain about the heat, but I think I will miss this sun. And it was a blast being neighbors to Parker and Andrea (Marshall's bro and sis-in-law).
My hair has had its fair share of chlorine for a while, swimming in the pool every day has its side-effects I suppose. But man, spending hours everyday at a pool surrounded by the good ole palms with my hubby...guess it's time to finally come home from the honeymoon.

You could say we are mini-golf champs...

Caved

Officially attempting to become a bloggerwoman...