Wow life!

huh, so I promise life has happened since May first! Here are some quick marathon posts to catch up since I have been a slacker.

Snails. Why did it have to be, snails?

I looked out my front door and what did I see? This...


okay okay Laura, Utah has a few snails, it's just one snail crawling on the fence. Don't panic. Then I looked a little harder and saw this...



huh. If you look carefully you will see no less than 5 snails on this fence. As I was inspecting the fence I heard a crunch, I looked down and saw this...



If you look carefully you will see no less than 7 snails on the sidewalk in front of my house (haha, including the one I accidentally stepped on). I started looking around and gasped. An army of snails was accumulating right outside my door!! Forget about swine flu, I am preparing for invasion! I must admit while I believe that snails are the spawns of the devil because they kill gardens, they are fascinating creatures, so I started collecting them in one area to get a better idea of how many there were and to observe. Folks, these pictures you are about to see are not for the weak of heart. They are not fabricated. None of these snails you see below are duplicates of those you see above. All of these snails were collected within 10 feet of my front door.


That is correct. You are counting 25 snails. Including the first pictures that makes 38 snails, and these are just the ones in visible, easy to kidnap places. Doesn't just their slime trail make you cringe?


Please, support my cause, step on a snail.

Easter!!

Been a while since I posted (which means I don't have much to report on...) so thought I'd just do a quick one. Ah Easter. Well this Easter was not too out of the norm. Choir sang a wonderful Easter song and then I spent the afternoon at my favorite cousins house and ate ham and played with the children. It was fun. One very exciting thing was this amazing sale on tulips at Smiths! I just had to buy and I made this cute little arrangement that I was quite proud of! Happy Easter all, I'm so grateful for the Resurrection!

Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?

Just wondering.

Ah, sweet mystery of life at last I've found thee!

I wanted to share the sweetest little moment that I had at work today. I was on my way out after a long 12 hour shift but I stopped at someone's office that I needed to speak with before I left. I'm standing at the door waiting, and a family walks by. First comes the mom, who seems to me to be a bit frazzled and stressed, she walks past me without any acknowledgment. Next comes a boy about age 8 or so I'd say. He walks by and gives me a big toothless grin, says hi and keeps walking. Next comes a sister, maybe age 6 who wants to share an understanding womenly glance with me, so gives me a little eye roll as if to say "sigh, brothers". Last comes the little brother, age 4ish. As he approaches, I wondered what he would do to entertain me, but instead of entertain me, he taught me. He walked right up to me, threw his arms around my legs, and looking up at me, he smiled and said "hi, how are you?". At hearing these words his mother turned around and saw what was happening. Mortified I'm sure, she commanded him to her side. Still beaming at me he said "well, I have to go now." and without another word walked off leaving me speechless. I stood there for a moment basking in the warmth of that moment. How is it that little children can radiate so much love! Where does it come from and how can I get it? Somehow, in that moment, through this innocent child, I caught a glimpse of Heavenly Father's love for me. If He were here, that is exactly what He would do; without hesitation, throw His arms around me and, beaming, would ask me how I am.

p.s. the picture is not really relevant. I was thinking I needed a cute little child picture to go along with my story, and in perfect sync, my cousin Jenn provided one of her cute little 4 year old. Jenn, I hope you don't mind my borrowing this pic :)

New car!!

I bought a new car!! I named her Millie. If you are thinking that everything today is thoroughly modern, you are absolutely right, but I know that not many of you probably thought of that.

Ward Choir: a commentary

Ah that quirky phenomenon known as ward choir. I recently had the pleasure of being called as the director. I suddenly have a new respect for those blessed with this assignment. I know that I usually have some strong feelings about ward choir...and it turns out the rest of the ward usually does too. It seems to me to be a unique entity in the church. Let us get in the frame of mind for a moment that each choir practice is a meeting. An organization in the church is getting together to prepare for an event (singing in church) just like activities committee except we get to have more fun because we get to sing to prepare. I'm a pretty experienced meeting goer, and I must say that of all the meetings I have attended, I have noticed a general trend that as far as meetings go, the strongest feelings are elicited in choir! People who wouldn't say a word in ward council, will speak up with passion in choir. Please don't get me wrong, I admire passion! Given a choice I would take a passionate meeting over a boring meeting. I love choir, I'm enjoying the calling and as a relatively inexperienced choir director, I usually appreciate the input. I'm just wondering what it is about choir that ignites this flame inside people? Is it the personality type that choir attracts? Is it the passion of the music? Is it the fact that people are usually a little hungry due to the extra hour at church? I really don't have an answer. Do you agree and/or have an opinion?