Best Husband in the World Contest

MIDNIGHT TONIGHT . . . if you have the most wonderful husband in the world, you need to nominate him! Tell me about your husband and why you think he is the Best Husband in the World! That would be world . . . ladies, no geographic boundaries.

Nominate with picture and story by emailing me at ces@candacesalima.com. Now back to our regularly scheduled program . . . read today's post below.

This and That . . . .

Have any of you ever been in a discussion with someone so convinced they are smarter than you, more educated than you, even better than you? See, I just finished an email conversation with someone like that. Yeah, I was ready to scream! I don't really understand people like that. They know stuff I don't know and I know stuff they don't know. They are better at some things and I am better at others. That is one of the key principles of life that I think every single blessed person on the planet needs to understand.

We're all the best at something.

Maybe your gift or talent is that of listening. Do you know how powerful that is? Being listened to and actually heard, is an astounding feeling that will most often resolve the problem before you're even finished explaining it. That's because you really listened. That' s huge!

Maybe your gift is football. It's an amazing experience to be on the football field, part of a team of 11 who, with their collaborative effort, can bring a win to the home crowd. Yes, I'm still all giddy about BYU beating the U last week . . . will be for awhile. Get used to it.

Maybe your gift is writing. The power of the written word is beyond explanation. To me, and yes, I am a writer, a well written turn of phrase, sentence or paragraph will literally stop me in my tracks and I appreciate and ponder the beauty of those words. I love the written word, and those who have mastered it are those I wish to emulate.

Maybe your gift is teaching. Being able to help another understand a key principle is huge. The ability to teach and truly connect with each student is a gift to be greatly prized.

Maybe your gift is charity. Now how huge is that one? The ability to love others with a Christlike love and act upon it . . . oh yeah, that's huge.

A PhD doesn't make you any smarter or better, it gives you letters after your name and hopefully some skill and education in the chosen field. It doesn't make you better than anyone else.

I know lots of people who can do lots of things, some well, some amazingly well and some absolutely stupendous! Know what? I value every one of you for everything you do . . . because one of the best things my friends in Blogland do . . . is make me smile!

Blogs written at http://LDSBlogs.com

Hymns Chase the Darkness Away
Young Joseph Defends a Stranger
Julie B. Beck: Leader of Mormon Women
David O. McKay: No Success Can Compensate
Joseph Smith Jr: God the Eternal Father
Russell M. Nelson: Doctor, Surgeon, Living Apostle

My Conversion Story

Yesterday I was checking the comments on my blogs and found one from a former Mormon who felt the need to spew his nonsensical garbage about me and someone else who'd made a comment and then topped it with a catty little slur against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I addressed that, pretty forcefully actually, but today, I wanted to mention the Church in a little more positive note. So I thought I'd include a little of what I wrote for LDSBlogs yesterday about my conversion story:

"I can scarcely remember a day when I didn't know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was true. For as long as I can remember I was a Mormon and proud of it. I descended from Moses Harris, who joined the Church in 1832 when Joseph Smith, Jr. was the prophet. My ancestors were driven from state to state, losing children, homes, lands and security to the mobs who carried their ungodly raids upon the innocent saints. They helped Brigham Young settle the American West and play a critical role in the settlement of San Bernardino, California as well.

Born into that rich, rich heritage it goes without saying that everything about the Mormon Church colored every aspect of my life. And yet there was always a familiarity in the scriptures, a familiarity in the doctrine and a ...[Read More]

My conversion and testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ is strong and unassailable. I will never deny Him. I will never turn my back on His gospel. I will never kowtow to the defamers and attackers of my religion.

Other posts written at LDSBlogs.com yesterday:

The Culture of Christ
Spencer W. Kimball: Prophet, Seer and Revelator
Brigham Young: Prophet, Seer and Revelator
Joseph Smith, Jr.: Prophet of the Restoration
Temples of God

Shopping: Amazon.com's Wishlist

Christmas is coming. Yeah, it's my favorite time of year and not just because of the gifts. I absolutely adore the deeper meaning of Christmas. The Savior is my light and my world and celebrating His birth is my absolutely favorite thing to do.

But let's face facts, buying gifts for people is so much fun. But what is even more fun is knowing you're buying something they want. Alvin and I bought a birthday gift for our adorable little niece, Skye, who was turning four. We wandered through Wal-Mart and took a risk and bought a fairy princess outfit for her. The look of utter delight and swift intake of breath -- it was worth every moment spent wandering, debating and finally choosing and hoping she would like it. We lucked out, she did.

Did you know Amazon.com has a Wish List widget? Oh yeah, I have a wish list on Amazon.com. That's how my husband knows exactly what I want for my birthday, anniversary and Christmas but he can choose from dozens of items so I have no idea what's coming. I add to the thing all the time. If you'll look down the right-hand side of my blogspot, you'll find mine there.

If you want one too, just click on Get Widget at the base of mine and you can have your own too. That way, everyone wanting to shop for you can simply drop by your blog and get something you really want. Convenient for one and all.

Happy Christmas Shopping!

Shopping: Amazon.com's Kindle!

At first I just wasn't sure about this new product, Kindle, by Amazon.com. But I've really been researching it and looking into it. I admit it, I'm intrigued.

When I travel I always take books with me. At least five . . . always. Sometimes I buy books where I am at or at the airport because my flight is delayed and I can't get to the books in my suitcase. Or, if I'm driving, I'll fill an entire suitcase, just in case. I love to read, I'd rather pass my time doing that than anything else.

But as you can guess, that type of travel can become cumbersome and bothersome, not to mention the extra cost for over-the-limit luggage. So yeah, Kindle caught my eyes, especially because it was the size of a paperback only lighter. The thought that I could carry 200 of my favorite books around with me, tucked neatly into my purse . . . oh yeah, I was interested.

Here's a little about what I learned:

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Product Overview

Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.

1. Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.<>New York Times® Best Sellers.

2. New York Times® Best Sellers and all New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise.

3. Free book samples. Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.

4. Top U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; top magazines including TIME, Atlantic Monthly, and Forbes—all auto-delivered wirelessly.

5. Top international newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland; Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times—all auto-delivered wirelessly.

6. More than 250 top blogs from the worlds of business, technology, sports, entertainment, and politics, including BoingBoing, Slashdot, TechCrunch, ESPN's Bill Simmons, The Onion, Michelle Malkin, and The Huffington Post—all updated wirelessly throughout the day.

7. Lighter and thinner than a typical paperback; weighs only 10.3 ounces

8. Holds over 200 titles.

9. Long battery life. Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day. Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Fully recharges in 2 hours.

10. Unlike WiFi, Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot.

11. No monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments—we take care of the wireless delivery so you can simply click, buy, and read.

12. Includes free wireless access to the planet's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org.

13. Email your Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG) to Kindle for easy on-the-go viewing.

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So now I have to save my pennies and then wait. Because I have to buy a Neo Alphasmart and a Laptop first, for work, before I can buy a Kindle for pleasure, and work (imagine the research I could store on there!)

But anyone who can purchase one now, I say go for it! If you read as much as I do, I think you'll be happy you did. Just click on the graphic above and it'll take you straight to Amazon.

2nd Post of Day - Yet Another Attack on Mormons

Yet another attack, albeit in March of this year, on the Mormon faith. I ran across this and continue to be horribly saddened by people, supposedly follower of Jesus Christ, constantly perpetuating falsehoods and lies. Here's what FAIR had to say about it.

Jesus Christ / Joseph Smith
Replies and resources addressing the
Search for the Truth DVD
A collaborative effort of FAIR.

"On 25 March 2007, a ninety-minute video entitled Search for the Truth was distributed to thousands of homes across the United States. The video has excellent production values but, unfortunately, its contents are not of a similar quality.

"Though it purports to be an objective Christian evaluation of the teachings, history, and beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it contains much that is inaccurate and very little that is balanced. Rather than focus on what they believe, the video's producers have taken it upon themselves to describe and interpret LDS beliefs and teachings, often in ways that would be objectionable or unrecognizable to Latter-day Saints.

"The video contains many of the same anti-Mormon claims that misguided critics have been repeating for years. The issues it raises have been repeatedly addressed by faithful Latter-day Saints, but the video does not address or take those responses into account.

"This page provides information that will help you compare the video's claims with the actual history, teachings, and beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."See the FAIR response to this video here: "Search for the Truth DVD FAIR Response"

What Time of Day Am I?

I was over at Tristi's blogspot and found this test. I had to take it.

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

So very on the money.

The Holy War - BYU vs University of Utah

Oh yeah, it's that time of year again. Alvin loves to listen to all the smack talk on the radio sports shows during this week. He loves it. Me, not so much. It always crosses over the line of good fun into simple mean-spirited vicious attacks. Especially on 960 AM, The Zone on Wednesday. They had a contest and they chose the most ignorant, vicious, cowardly son of a gun (yes, I edited) as the winner.

We met with Sete for dinner that night and I mentioned some things we'd heard with a scowl on my face. What did my sweet nephew say to me?

"Aunty, don't listen to that stuff!"

"Oh, it's all his fault." And I pointed at Alvin. Sete shook his head at him and we settled in to enjoy our time together.

But let's face it . . . the rivalry between BYU and University of Utah goes way, way back. It didn't really start to turn our way until LaVell Edwards became the coach and since then its gone back and forth over the years.

I've watched BYU football for over twenty years (yes, I know I'm a neophyte) and there's one thing I've noticed. It doesn't matter who the team is, they always play their best and their hardest against BYU. I'm not sure what it is about our boys that makes every team we meet play above and beyond their usual abilities, but it happens every time, especially in the Mountain West.

In reality, I don't know who's going to win today. But I'm going to say that BYU is going to win the game and the Mountain West Conference today, despite what that asinine tarot card reader said on the news last night.

Sidenote: When did legitimate news, even sports news (Channel 4), start going to tarot card readers to predict the future? I'll tell you. LAST NIGHT! Ugh, even though it was meant in good fun it gave me the total creeps!

Can I tell you how I love this time of year? I really love BYU football. Not other college teams playing football. Not NFL football . . . nope, I just enjoy BYU football. I know, it's an idiosyncrasy, but it's my idiosyncrasy. But you know, if my nephews go pro I'm going to have adjust my thinking.

So today I'm going to make some homemade chili, homemade bread, pop some popcorn and I'm going to settle in and watch the BYU Cougars annihilate the University of Utah Utes. It may come down to another moment like this:

Really, the sweetest play I can recall in quite awhile. John Beck to Johnny Harline to snatch victory from the Utes in the last 3 seconds of last year's Holy War. Oh yeah, very sweet!

But one way or another BYU is going to walk away with the victory today and the Utes can hang their heads in shame, along with all their fans, and trot on home.

So, shall we sing together?

Rise, all loyal Cougars and hurl your challenge to the foe.
We will fight, day or night, rain or snow.
Loyal, strong, and true
Wear the white and blue.
While we sing, get set to spring.
Come on, Cougars, it's up to you. Oh!

CHORUS:

Rise and shout, the Cougars are out
along the trail to fame and glory.
Rise and shout, our cheers will ring out
As you unfold your vict'ry story.
On you go to vanquish the foe
for Alma Mater's sons and daughters.
As we join in song in praise of you our faith is strong.
We'll raise our colors high in the blue
And cheer our Cougars of BYU.

Go Cougars! Go Cougars! Go Cougars!

And on a side note. Here's what I wrote at LDSBlogs.com yesterday:

Who is Heavenly Father?
Who is Jesus Christ?
John Taylor: The Origin and Destiny of Man

Happy Thanksgiving!

May this day be a wonderful day of remembrance, thanksgiving, love, hope and familial company. Happy Thanksgiving every one!

Spiritual Genetics

I'd been working so hard yesterday, as had my husband, that we decided to hit Taco Bell last night for some quick, cheap tacos. $5 and we'd have enough for our dinner, so while Alvin finished cleaning his side of the bedroom I went and sat in the drive-through line at Taco Bell. I was listening to the Glenn Beck program. He'd just seen Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith this last weekend and was completely blown away by the man it was about, Chris Gardner.

Pursuit of Happyness is about a man, with custody of his young son, and no home. As his struggle to succeed is played out in the film, one really can't help but be inspired and touched by the sheer determination of this man to succeed and provide for his son. And he did. Chris Gardner is a multi-millionaire today.

Glen interviewed Chris last night and some really incredible things were said. Chris grew up in the ghetto. Life was hard and it was rough, but his mother always taught him he could become whatever he wanted to become. He believed her.

He then mentioned a principle called "spiritual genetics" which is what his new book is about. He went on to explain that we inherit our eyes from our mother, our nose from our father and there's nothing we can do about that. But spiritual genetics, that's all up to us. And he's right.

I know this was a long introduction to what I'm thinking about today, but that's me. Build the foundation of the story before I launch into it.

The only thing that stand in the way of someone accomplishing his or her dreams is . . . themselves. Really. Look at me for instance. I grew up poor but rich in a mother's love and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I went to college on Pell grants, I learned and I grew. I decided I wanted to write. So I wrote screenplays and then books. Yes, I've had some books published and that is a wonderful thing. But if they hadn't been published those books would still have been written . . . by me. I created the stories, I wrote them and I completed them. The sense of accomplishment was great.

The point I'm trying to make is that circumstances in life can be very, very hard but if we are willing to begin and end every day on our knees, then our spiritual genetic makeup can become an incredible force to be reckoned with. Our Heavenly Father loves us and wishes for us to succeed. He gave us gifts, talents and the strength to accomplish what we came here to do . . . just do it. Pray, plan and listen . . . but just do it.

Chris Gardner talked about thes ghetto upbringing of another young girl who who grew up in his neighborhood and went to school with him. He explained there had been nothing in their upbringings to indicate the success both had achieved. The little girl? Oprah Winfrey.

We have to believe in who we are. We have to understand and develop the talents God gave us. We have to believe we can accomplish what we want to accomplish and we have to doggedly pursue that dream until it is reached.

Have to write a business plan? Go online, read posted business plans, download some business plan software and answer all the questions. One the skeleton is complete, take a look and what would you want to know if someone was dropping $80 million into your business and finish that business plan.

Want to write a book? Scan online for reputable writing classes. Haunt the second-hand bookstores if you can't afford Amazon.com. Talk to people you know, in Utah if you throw a rock you're going to hit a published author. It's just the way it shakes down here. Go to author websites and ask questions and for recommendations and advice.

There's so much you can do and this day and age of technology has made it possible. Believe in yourselves and allow yourselves to dream once more. One step at a time, that's how a dream comes true. One step at a time.

Yesterday at LDSBlogs.com.

And God Remembered Rachel
The Worth of Souls
Harold B. Lee: First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel

America's Armed Forces

Yesterday, as I was driving down to my sister's to babysit two of the sweetest children in the world (yeah, I was able to hold Baby Elias in my arms for two hours while he slept,) I was listening to the Rush Limbaugh show. There's no doubt the man must need an aircraft carrier to haul his ego around, but he knows what he talking about when it comes to politics.

He read from several different prominent newspapers (New York Times, Washington Post) regarding the progress in Baghdad, Iraq.

President Bush's military surge has caused drastic changes in that ancient city.

The merchants have opened their stores and are keeping them open late to take advantage of the late evening light. The parks are teeming with mothers walking and playing with their children. Children are playing soccer in the streets. In other words, Baghdad survived regimes of dictators and butchers, breathed and now is coming alive again.

Is the war on terror over? Oh no. It will never be over until every last lying, no good, lower than a snake's belly, vicious, degenerate, yellow bellied terrorist, and all who think like that, is dead. Is Iraq safe? No. There is much work left to be done, many battles left to be fought. The terrorists lost their stranglehold on Afghanistan, because of our incredible military. Now they want Iraq and the only thing standing between them and Iraq is the American soldier and the Iraqi military we have worked so hard to instruct, train and prepare to defend their nation.

We have the best military in the world. The American military code and honor is our strength. Our fierce defense of freedom and democracy is also our strength. If the Iraqi people want to be free. If they are willing to fight to the death for that freedom from oppression, fear and evil, then Iraq will emerge is a beacon of light and freedom in the Middle East, with the help of the American military.

I'm so proud of our soldiers. So many have picked up the litany, "It's taking too long. Get out of Iraq," and it goes on and on. Has anyone stopped to consider how long it took after World War II? Are any of those who wish to cut and run aware that Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany is there because of World War II and our need to help rebuild the country and keep it in check at the same time. It took seven years before Germany began to come alive again. Ramstein is still there and is a boon to the local economy. Are any of the same people aware that we STILL have an airbase in Okinawa for the same reasons?

If the American military left Iraq now it would be no more than 48 hours before she fell to Al Qaeda. The Iraqi government and military are not ready to fight on their own. I can't wait for the day they are, but for now, they are not ready. But Iraq is coming alive again. Her people are catching a glimpse and taste of the future, and it is my fervent hope that Muslim Sharia law does not destroy that flicker of hope in the Iraqi people. Democracy and Sharia law cannot exist side by side . . . so it remains to be seen what will happen in Iraq.

But this I know . . . the American military deserves every bit of praise, laud and gratitude that can be heaped upon our men and women in uniform. They have accomplished what I believed to be impossible . . . given a Middle Eastern country a chance to grow and live. It remains to be seen whether the Iraqis are willing to fight as hard for their country as we did for ours in the late 1700's.

Worn out from Utah Chocolate Show

Tristi and I had a blast doing the Utah Chocolate Show this year. Annette and her sisters (Melanie and Michelle) did a fabulous job of pulling it all together. I was proud of them and really proud of the layout of our booth and business we did.

I am completely worn out, exhausted, wasted . . . call it what you want, but I'm barely above zombie level at the moment.

So here's what we get for today.

Your Aura is Violet

Idealistic and thoughtful, you have the mind and ideas to change the world. And you have the charisma of a great leader, even if you don't always use it! The purpose of your life: saying truths that other people dare not say Famous purples include: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony Careers for you to try: Political Activist, Inventor, Life Coach

What Color Is Your Aura?

So there you have it . . . my aura is violet. It seems to fit. Now if I could only find the energy to care at the moment. I'm sure if I ran into Robert Redford, Hilary Clinton or Barack Obama I'd be infused with energy . . . yeah, I'm grinning.

Your Vote Score: 96% Republican, 4% Democrat

You fit well with the Republican party, and you should almost definitely vote Republican this election. In fact, you're so strongly Republican, a political career (or at least some activism )may be in your future.

Should You Vote Republican or Democrat?

There's a surprise.

Seriously --- DO NOT VOTE DEMOCRAT!

Chocolate Show and This & That

Just a quick update: Tristi and I are both exhausted with two more days of the show to go. But our booth looks amazing, we did well last night and there are amazing vendors, chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate, really delicious breads and cookies, honey and crackers, massage guy (oh yeah, he's my new best friend) and on and on . . . there is an incredible professional cake contest centered around chocolate. Oh man! Those things were works of art. All in all, amazing and a must see. If you go, drop by our booth -- Imagine -- and visit.

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Tristi and I headed up to the South Towne Expo Centre yesterday to set up our booth for the Utah Chocolate Show. To our delight and surprise, we found our booth to be twice the size of what we expected. So we unloaded the truck and drove back to Orem to pick up more items. 12 hours later our booth was a piece de resistance (is that how you spell it)! Tristi and I staggered home, pulling into our driveways about 10:00 - we left for Sandy that morning at 10:45. My back hurts and I'm tired, but our booth is rockin! Imagine . . . mind, body and soul. That's our theme this year.

We have a delightful collection of Tristi's fantastic bath & body products, Scentiments. And when I say her products are amazing -- yeah, that's a vast understatement. We also have scads of books from various LDS authors, both in the LDS market and out! A framed giclee print of Derek Hegsted's "Angel of Gethsemane," healthy chocolate, scrapbook picture frames and Marie Osmond dolls round things out. All proceeds from the painting, picture frames and Marie Osmond dolls will go to the Save the Sluyter Family Farm fund. With 10' x 20' booth, we've set up a library, Christmas trees and a beautiful display of Tristi's products. We are so happy with it and have made it as inviting as possible.

If you haven't been to the chocolate show come down and see us. Come on - it's a show centered on chocolate! Where can you go wrong?

9575 S State St
Sandy UT 84070-3212

So, what went on in the world yesterday while Tristi I were constructing our booth?

Hmmm, the parent company of Motel 6 decided to remove Bibles from all their hotels, all owned by the parent company and not just Motel 6, and replace them with sex kits.

Congress decided to slip America a fast one and remove the funding for the Southern Border Security fence and give it to the Department of Homeland Security. Anybody surprised? Democratic Congress? Nope - not surprised. The Democrats would make our borders so porous every criminal in the world will be waltz right through without hesitation or interference.

Barry Young of an Arizona radio station owned by Clear Channel conducted a direct and disrespectful, even horrifying, attack on Mormons and Mitt Romney. Yeah, I sent Clear Channel an email:

To Whom It May Concern:

I am horrified at the attack Barry Young made on Mormons. His clear attack, misdirection on information, etc was beyond belief. He attacked Mitt Romney for not making a statement on his religion. Does the idiot not read Time Magazine? He played a portion of the LDS temple ceremony, which is so sacred and beautiful to each Mormon -- how could he mock something so sacred? Does he even know the meaning of sacred?

Because of this ignorant and outrageous attack I will find a list of Clear Channel stations and will no longer be listening to them. I will not support any company who promotes such outrageous bigotry and a complete disregard for the religious beliefs of another.

Barry Young needs to be fired. Clear Channel management needs to issue a clear and concise apology for the barrage of disrespect, dishonor and mockery Young launched at Latter-day Saints. But don't apologize to just Mormons. Apologize to all for the promotion of religious bigotry on your station.

To top all that I went and made the mistake of going to Fantastic Sams on the corner of State and Center in Orem. I went with the picture of a pretty simple haircut, asked for highlights and lowlights and thought it would be a no-brainer. I have the worst possible haircut right now, the hairdresser used five, yes I said FIVE, bottles of haircolor on my hair . . . for highlights and lowlights, and then had the nerve to charge me $104 for that and a bad haircut. I'm so livid I could just scream. I tried talking to them, I tried for a partial refund because I am so bitterly unhappy and nothing. So, I'm boycotting Fantastic Sams. You don't have to join me, this is my own stand against substandard hairdressers. I should've known better! You can walk into this place with any picture and you're going to walk out with the exact same hairstyle as everyone else. They only know how to cut one way. They only known how to style one way, actually two. Either the straight, sleek look (so last season) or the "you've had a terrible fright" look. Yeah, I'm hat girl for the next few weeks while my abominably short bangs (she made a mistake and had to fix it) grow out.

It's official, the world has completely lost its mind!

Deflect Attacks and Stay on Message

In the Washington Times on November 13th:

"Robert Redford says of Romney's Mormonism: "[Mormons] are very adept at not being fazed and speaking fluently and gracefully. Why? Because every single male who's a Mormon goes on a mission for two years when they're 19 or 20. They learn how to deflect blows and stay on message. No wonder Utah is the place that all these Republican senators go. It's perfect. So when you see Mitt Romney, he's already been practicing how to deflect blows and stay on message. But it's plastic."

I don't even know where to start, what a moronic statement. People may respect him as an actor, filmmaker and even a businessman, but I have to say this state shows there's still nothing but sawdust in Robert Redford's brain.

Yeah, that's why Mormon missionaries leave their families, their girls, their jobs and college, to learn to deflect attacks and stay on message. It has nothing to do with a burning desire in their hearts to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. It has nothing to do with the testifying of the divinity of Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation our Father in Heaven has for us. The homesickness, the discouragement of doors slammed in their faces, the constant companionship of another elder or sister (depending on if they men or women) -- all of these things are endured so they can "learn how to deflect attacks and stay on message."

The message of missionaries comes from their hearts, and is testified of by the Holy Ghost. Redford ought to be ashamed, for in such an ignorant statement, he has slandered over 60,000 devoted disciples of Jesus Christ who only want to share His message.

Now on to Mitt Romney. He's being asked by numerous people, from all walks of life, to give a speech strictly on his religion. His political advisers don't want him to do it, he thinks he will at some point. He wants to.

Here's my question. Has Rudy Giuliani been asked to give a speech on why he's a lapsed Catholic? Has Barak Obama been asked to give a speech on whatever religion he is and his ties to his Muslim father? Has Hillary Clinton been asked to give a speech on whatever god she worships? Must have escaped my notice.

I think it would be a great idea for Mitt to do this, I'd love to be there in person to hear it myself. Those who know him have spoken of his deep religious beliefs and how much they respect him. Yeah, I'd like to hear that myself. Not because he's running for president, but because I'd like to hear his testimony.

As to Mitt's qualification to be President of the United States of America and leader of the free world? Hmmmm, he's the businessman who saw the vision and pulled the venture capital together to fund companies such as Staples, Dominos and other major corporations. He's a very successful businessman. He's the former Governor of Massachusetts who straightened that state out without raising taxes, and he did it with a predominantly blue state (Democrat.) He's the guy that makes a goal and reaches it. He's the guy that walked into a corrupt and scandal ridden Olympics in Salt Lake City, cleaned it up (Boy, did he clean it up!) and made them successful and profitable. He's honest. He has integrity.

Yeah, why would we want an honest, strong, successful, grounded man like that for president. What were we thinking? Better yet . . . give me a break!

Redford, you don't know what you're talking about, stick to making your movies. It's what you're good at, leave the real politics to those of us who know what's going on.

Speaking to my Soul

There are times when music simply pierces your heart and sings to your soul. This is one of those times. I was over at Anne Bradshaw's Not Entirely British blogspot yesterday and found this. Anne, I hope you don't mind, I had to put him on mine as well.

Paul Potts is an incredible Welsh tenor. He even brought smiles to the faces of Simon Cowell and Pierce (America's Got Talent, Celebrity Duets, etc.) on Britain's Got Talent. My heart simply sighed as this humble man from Wales heard the opening notes of the song and then his voice rose and soared out above the crowd to the very heavens above. Listen to him sing Nessun Dorma.



Thanks, Anne. You made my day. And yes, tears streamed down my face too as I listened.

Here is his semi-final performance in the competition. And this is a small portion of the journey in realizing he has a God-given gift and we see his confidence begin to grow.



And the performance that won him the entire show.



And the announcement of his win!



Pick up his CD, better believe I'm going to! I really was moved by this young man's voice. He went from a mobile car phone salesman to the toast of Britain performing before the Queen. If this doesn't say your dreams really can come true, I don't know what does.

I saw a quote yesterday that says it all:

"What would life be, if we had no courage to attempt anything." Vincent Van Gogh

Granted the guy lost his mind and cut his ear off and sent in the mail to someone. But ignoring that, this statement really says it all if you have dreams left to accomplish.

Gems from LDSBlogs.com

Today I thought I'd share some snippets from LDSBlogs.com. Not just the ones I've written, but what's been written by other bloggers as well. Some are from the beginning of the article, some from the center. Enjoy.

The Reality of Christ's Second Coming: According to Government statistics, 67% of the world’s population is non-Christian (about 4,421,000,000). The total population of the planet is estimated at 6,602,224,000 as of 2007, and the major religions of the world distribute this way:

1) Christians 2,181,000,000 (33%)
2) Muslims 1,328,000,000 (20%)
3) Hindus 881,000,000 (13%)
4) Buddhists 389,000,000 (6%)
5) Sikhs 25,750,000 (0.4%)
6) Jews 15,190,000 (0.23%)

* Other Religions 833,000,000 (12.6%)
* Non-Religious 794,000,000 (12%)
* Atheists 155,800,000 (2.4%)

Because 2/3rds of the world’s population have not yet realized the divinity of Jesus Christ as Son of God, in the infinite wisdom of the Almighty, Another Testament of Jesus Christ has been given to the world. As prophesied by Ezekiel, the Book of Mormon has become “one in thine hand” (Ezek. 37: 15-20) in bearing witness of the Redeemer of the world. ... (Dr. Matt Moody)

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Joseph Smith, Jr. - Praise to the Man: There is a song called "Praise to the Man," written by William W. Phelps and put to an old Scottish folk song. William W. Phelps was in Carthage jail himself, when Joseph Smith, Jr. and his brother, Hyrum, were assassinated. He suffered greatly as he watched the Prophet and Patriarch fall to the brutal bullets.

What is it we have today because of Joseph Smith, Jr.? A 14-year-old boy went into a grove of trees to follow the admonition of James 1:5: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." ... (Candace E. Salima)

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Heber J. Grant, Comfort in Death: Heber J. Grant, the seventh called prophet in this modern day, spoke most eloquently about death. Having lost a number of family members young in life, including his wife at 34 years of age, it was a topic he was intimately acquainted with.

When President Grant spoke of the sorrow that comes at the death of loved ones, he spoke with empathy born of personal experience. In addition to his son Heber, six other immediate family members preceded him in death. When he was nine days old, he lost his father. In 1893, his wife Lucy passed away at age 34 after a three-year struggle with a difficult illness. The death of 5-year-old Daniel Wells Grant, his only other son, followed two years later. In 1908, shortly after President Grant and his wife Emily completed a mission in Europe, stomach cancer claimed Emily’s ... (Candace E. Salima)

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Attending School Dances as a New LDS Youth: Soon after beginning to investigate the church, I realized members of the church love to dance. There were church dances several times a month and even a large dance festival. I obtained a dance card (a card that allowed me to attend dances and showed I knew and accepted the rules for the dances) and learned the rules for dress and appropriate dancing. The slow dances I had done in the past disappeared from my life.

Then I attended a school dance. I attended with a group of non-LDS friends and when the first slow song started and a friend invited me to dance, I hesitated. Now what? Would he think I was a baby for no longer wanting to do what was then called “Bear Hugging” or would he respect my request for a rather old-fashioned style of dancing? I took a deep breath and explained the new rules. He looked surprised and then pleased, “I love to dance that way, but girls never want to. This will be fun.” ... (Terrie L. Bittner)

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A Modern-Day Army of Helaman: The Army of Helaman is one of my favorite stories from the Book of Mormon. I am inspired by the faith and courage of the two thousand sons who went to battle to defend their families and their homes. They were young men of character and honor. We know that they were young men "who were true at all times in whatsoever they were entrusted."

As I ponder the challenges that face our sons and daughters today I can't help but think of it as a battle. It may not be a battle like the two thousand sons of the people of Ammon fought but it is a battle. This battle that our sons and daughters face today may even be far more dangerous than the one Helaman's army marched against. ... (Moira Tyrell)

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Economic Slowdown to Hit Hard: I just read in a news report that a billionaire investor spoke out, saying that the economic slowdown in the United States is going to hit harder and be far worse than what most people expect at this point.

Whew. Not only did I write one long sentence, but the bad news may stay with us even longer! Yet as Latter-day Saints, or Mormons, this kind of news should not alarm us.

Why? Because our prophets have spoken for years that at some point life will be difficult.

One church leader, Elder Bruce R. McConkie, taught the same message. While he was serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder McConkie shared this message: ... (Cindy Bezas)

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Gordon B. Hinckley - Changing Society: "... What can be done? We cannot effect a turnaround in a day or a month or a year. But I am satisfied that with enough effort we can begin a turnaround within a generation and accomplish wonders within two generations. [Emphasis added.] That is not very long in the history of man. There is nothing any of us can do that will have greater longtime benefit than to rekindle wherever possible the spirit of the kind of homes in which goodness can flourish.

"... What, you may ask, can be done? The observance of four simple things on the part of parents would in a generation or two turn our societies around in terms of their moral values. ... (Candace E. Salima)

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Happiness is a Grateful Heart: There's an old story that says an ungrateful man is like a hog under a tree eating apples. He never looks up to see where the apples come from. Do you ever look up?

President Ezra Taft Benson said “I hope we can be happy where we are, be grateful for our blessings—now, here—accept the challenge that is ours and make the most of it, and not be envious of others. … [May] God help us to be grateful for our blessings and never to be guilty of the sin ingratitude. (“All This and the Gospel Too,” New Era, Nov. 1991, pp. 4–7). ... (Ali Cross)

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Please drop by http://ldsblogs.com and browse around. I'm so proud of each of these bloggers. They are doing fantastic jobs. We have topics in the areas of: Beliefs, Children, Families, Genealogy, Gospel, Happiness, Jesus Christ, Leaders, Men, Missionary, New Members, News, Preparedness, Scriptures, Singles, Technology, Teens and Women. We will be adding new topics soon, but the articles posted in these areas are fantastic. And some of these bloggers are from our own little Blogland community.

The Mighty Quill Award

I ran across a blog called Into the Inkpot. I found her on Cre8buzz. I absolutely love her wry sense of humor and her quirky look at life. Her posts are a lot of fun to read. But one of the very cool things she has done, is create The Mighty Quill Award. I wanted to share it so everyone can drop by her blog and check it out!

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“The pen is mightier than the sword.”
Richelieu - Edward Bulwer-Lytton

The Mighty Quill award is my original creation. Starting today, all blogs on the internet are eligible for this award*. Its purpose is to recognize those bloggers that wield their quill for a cause. Like using a sword in battle, the recipients of this award know that a bit of ink and a plucked feather are the only things a warrior needs during combat.

Any niche is eligible for this award*. Using the Mighty Quill may mean that you tell the story of your life. For example, you may seek out others that can benefit from your memories. The Mighty Quill might also be used if you’re the owner of a money making blog. You know that your words can help others earn a livelihood. You fight for your fellow bloggers.

Any battle is a good battle. Simply fighting the urge to sit still is worth picking up the Mighty Quill. In this case, writing may give you a sense of pleasure. Isn’t enjoyment worth fighting for?

Winners of this award blog with passion and purpose.

I will hand select two bloggers each month for the Mighty Quill. Those two bloggers will be featured in an Into the Inkpot post (lots of link love), their blog will forever be added to a winner’s archive, and a customized award will be offered. Therefore, the winning bloggers can display the award on their own blog.

I am now accepting November nominations for the Mighty Quill. You may nominate yourself or another blogger. I will review all blogs and then select two winners for the month.

Click here to read the review criteria that I will use to determine the winners.

Click here to read the nomination guidelines.

I will review up to 25 nominations per month. All nominations after the twenty-fifth will not be considered for the award.

To nominate a blogger for November, please leave a comment in response to this blog post. You may nominate 2 bloggers. Include the following:

Blogger’s Name:
Blog URL:
This Blogger Fights For:

(Remember, the fight can be something creative and/or fun.)

Good luck to everyone! I can’t wait to give this award to some awesome bloggers!

Click Here to See the Current November Nominees

*Blogs with extreme pornographic material will not be considered. People under the age of 18 read my blog. I can’t link to graphic, sexual material.

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So there you have it, everyone. Take a good hard look at all the blogs you read, then pop on over and nominate the best one for November!

Now on to our Blogger Babe dinner last night. We've decided to not have it at Chuck-a-Rama again. Food was great --- WAY, WAY, WAY too loud! But Donna (Donna's Journey) and her husband, Julia (Where oh where has my mind gone), Jeri (Fickle Pickle) and her husband, Jennifer (Lifelong Bookworm), Karlene (Inksplasher) and Sandra (The Dance) all joined me last night for our second Blogger Babe get together. We really missed the rest of you! Really.

We had fun. Julia won the door prize, which was a gift packet of two lip glosses and two lotions from Tristi Pinkston at Scentiments. Karlene from Inksplasher gave everyone a sample perfume from her Edward and Bella line . . . yes, vampires have even invaded the perfume world.

Ali - we missed you. Are you okay? I'm a little worried you didn't make it. I hope it was for something mundane and nothing terribly serious. Drop me a line and let me know you're okay!

We all forgot our cameras again, so again we have no pictures. Sorry Kat, we all swore we're bringing cameras next time.

Ladies, I owe you all an apology. Because of Alvin's surgery this last month, I didn't do the usual promotion on this dinner and many of you forgot until it was too late. I promise to be more proactive! We are not getting together in December, so on the second Thursday of January (January 10th) we'll be getting together for lunch at Golden Corral again. 1:00 p.m. --- plan to have a blast. All the pertinent info will be in the usual place, in the right-hand column.

I'm going to go all out for our first get together for 2008! Donna and Julia will be donating the Grand Door Prize this month, plus be our spotlighted bloggers. Also, Karlene will take a moment to share a little bit about her, because it was WAY TOO LOUD last night. I'll come up with something fun, I don't know what. But something and we're going to have a blast!

Please mark your calendars for January 10th! Utah's Blogger Babes are gettin' together again. Oh yeah, and bring all your cameras or Kat at JustaBeachKat will be sorely disappointed!

Karlene is hosting a Blogger Babe perfume party at her house on November 24th (10:00 a.m.) . . . several of us are planning on being there and creating our own scents to come home and wow our husbands. Any other Blogger Babes who want to join us, please drop me a line and I'll send you the details! Again -- good fun for all of us!

Holy Cow!

I'm not sure I've ever gone this long without posting something on my blog. I'll try to not let that happen again.

As I mentioned earlier, Alvin is home and getting better and stronger every day. I brought him home from the hospital on Monday and my sweet, stubborn husband was back at work by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday. He's been sleeping a lot when he's not been at work. Can't imagine why.

I've been playing catch-up on a lot of things. Sheesh, what the heck happened in Pakistan? And now Bhutto is on house arrest. Sounds like Pakistan is about to explode, and it was in such a stable part of the world too . . . yeah, I am now the Queen of Sarcasm.

Fall is here in all her glory! Absolutely loving every crisp, sunny, cool, beautiful day of it!

BYU beat Colorado State last week and TCU last night. Always, always, always a good thing. My nephews are rockin' football fields across the Mountain West. Couldn't be prouder!

My house is a mess . . . my house used to be so clean all the time too. Flower beds pretty and neat. Vegetable garden weeded and bountiful (stupid Japanese beetle!) But now I'm just hangin' on by my fingernails. I will get control. I will get control. I will get control . . .

Blogger Babes are meeting for dinner tonight! I'm looking forward to that. Karlene over at Inksplasher has a wonderful little gift for everyone! I'm really looking forward to that! So ladies, R.S.V.P. this morning, if you haven't yet. And yes, I do have a number of women who have already R.S.V.P.'d and are planning to join us for the fun and festivities tonight.

Fragrance for the month of November: Whisper

Uhm, that might be all that my post of random thoughts has today . . . uh yeah, the living room is screaming for my attention as are the loads of laundry. Big, huge, honkin' sigh.

Here' s what's gone on at LDSBlogs since I last posted here!

In Times Like These
Reverence for Life
Teach Ye Diligently
Literacy
Condemn Me Not
David O. McKay: The Way, The Truth, The Life
Gordon B. Hinckley: Changing Society
George Osmond: Patriarch of the Osmond Clan
What is a Man of God?
What is the Melchizedek Priesthood?

Have an absolutely splendiferous day!

Patriarch of Osmond Family Dies

SALT LAKE CITY 6 November, 2007 — George Osmond, father of the famous singing family The Osmond Brothers, has died.

Osmond passed away Tuesday morning in Utah. He was 90-years-old.

A cause of death was not immediately available.

Family spokesman Kevin Sasaki told The Associated Press Osmond died at home, likely from natural causes incident to his age as he had not been ill.

"I spoke to Jimmy Osmond and he said his father had a great day yesterday and was in good spirits," Sasaki said.

The death was first reported by "Entertainment Tonight's" Web site and was confirmed by the AP through a spokeswoman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which Osmond was a member.

Donny Osmond was in the ET studio getting ready to tape a segment for a show when he learned of his father's death. Marie Osmond performed Monday night on "Dancing With the Stars."

Osmond married his wife, Olive on Dec. 1, 1944. She died in 2004.

The couple were the parents of nine children, many of whom became singing stars.

Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay Osmond first became famous as The Osmond Brothers, a barbershop quartet singing at Disneyland and on The Andy Williams Show.

Their brother Donny Osmond joined the group at age six and later hosted The Donny and Marie Show with his sister. The youngest son, Jimmy Osmond is also a performer.

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My thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time. George Osmond was an amazing husband and father and is now reunited with his beloved Olive. I pray that the family receives of that great comfort which the Savior so readily pours out upon each of us at times like these.

Alvin's Home!

I brought Alvin home from the hospital yesterday. Hallelujah! He's feeling good, strong and ready to take on the world. All is good and right in my little corner of the world again.

Everyone, thank you for your kind thoughts, prayers and comments. They helped more than you will ever know.

Have a wonderful day everyone! AND, if you live in Utah, don't forget to go vote today! Remember, vote YES on Referendum 1.

Vouchers: Utah’s Chance to Stand Up & Be Counted in

A dear friend of mine emailed this to me. I am in support of Referendum 1, supporting school vouchers, and want Utah parents and children to continue have these vouchers our legislature and governor already signed into law. This is a great article. Before you vote on Tuesday, please read this:

by Rick Koerber
November 2, 2007

There is much talk swirling around in Utah and across the nation right now in regards to Utah’s potential repeal of the first ever statewide universal voucher system before it ever goes into effect. Interestingly, most of this talk is produced by those who know very little concerning the actualities of the debate.

In the election to be held this Tuesday, November 6th, Utahans will reveal to the nation whether or not they are ready to lead by example in restoring constitutional government based on free enterprise and individual rights – beginning with choice in education. At the core of the voucher issue is the debate over the role government plays in America.

Despite the never ending debate about the best use of public education funds, the electorate has not paid much attention to the question of whether or not government should be supporting the unionized, monopolistic status-quo in education. Even the most polite intellectuals have to admit this union is a fascist-style state/union conglomerate largely responsible for controlling the minds of America’s next generation. Many politically naïve Utahans are getting caught up in the thinking that “it is wrong to use public tax dollars for private schools.”

Public money does not belong to the current education establishment – it belongs to the public. Given the dramatic shortcomings of government education (less than half of the students in the system can perform at grade level let alone graduate by the end), the real question should be both in principle and practicality: should government continue to lend exclusive financial support to a union dominated establishment which has now shown itself in the most recent referendum to be more politically powerful than the entire state legislature and state executive? The political reality is the same across the nation, which is why so many will be watching next Tuesday.

Utah’s total education budget exceeds $3.5 billion per year. Think about that. Over the next 10 years, it is anticipated the state will spend approximately $50 billion. Total money spent for vouchers in the first year is estimated at just over $12 million. In other words, money spent on vouchers is projected to be less than 1/200th of the money spent on the public education system. Furthermore, the Utah voucher law does not even take money from the education fund. The legislature specifically crafted the law to take from the general fund, leaving the entire current pool of establishment money alone (a concession to get the law passed in the first place).

The underlying argument behind not using public tax dollars for private schools is the idea that the state should only spend tax dollars on state owned and controlled companies. What most Utahans fail to consider is that both federal and state governments already spend public money on private schools. For example, Pell Grants and GI Bills are essentially public money vouchers for adults. Similarly, the federal head start program uses public money for private school choices. Furthermore, the state of Utah already practices a limited voucher program for handicap students. The absurdity of the assumptions underlying this question is not obvious to the casual citizen: What if food stamps could only be spent at government owned and operated grocery stores? What if the transportation budget could only be spent on government owned and administered construction companies? What if government food and agriculture subsidies were only spent on government owned and operated farms?

Some argue government should not be involved in such welfare style programs. I agree. I don’t like the idea of government collecting funds through compulsory means, a concept appropriately labeled “legal plunder” by Frederic Bastiat. Legal plunder is always a problem, but what makes matters worse is if those who commit the plunder use the money to support only themselves. This is socialism 101.

Additionally, we have to do something to change the politics of the status quo. If we are to win the battle for freedom in education and across all issues, conservatives, individualists, Christians and libertarians have to become smart and strategically fight to win, because being right in principle—while necessary—is not enough to change the course of the future.

A voucher, while still a form of government subsidy, is a huge step in the right direction. In Utah, every student eligible for a voucher under the law is already in government schools receiving approximately $7,500 per year in subsidy. This means any family who elects to move their child to the private sector alternative, even with a voucher, is decreasing their dependency on government by more than half and dealing a death blow to the current political establishment by economically demonstrating the affect of choice.

Today, since politically reality is that government only spends money on government owned and controlled schools, there is no avenue for choice, innovation and creativity with education funds. Unions, on behalf of teachers and administrators, say things such as “We’re doing all we can, just give us more money.” The common malady of socialized enterprises is the assumption: if it can be done, we’d be doing it – if we had the money.

No one can predict in advance what can be discovered by the enterprising mind. The purpose of vouchers is to demonstrate the affect choice has in the marketplace when tax dollars spent by parents produce a better result. School vouchers, while not the last tool in the battle for better education, set the standard for freedom. No one has yet demonstrated the political power necessary to break the trend toward socialization in America, most notably in education.

Utah signaled a ray of hope when after nearly a decade of struggle the legislature passed the voucher law and the governor signed it into law. The dominate union monopoly, working with government bureaucrats, refused to enforce the law and now is poised to erase all evidence of any successful threat to their stranglehold in education. All rhetoric aside, vouchers would be a huge success in changing this trend in both Utah and the nation.

The eyes of the nation are upon us. Allowing defeat on November 6th will doom tens of thousands of Utah students to failure over the next ten years. Even worse, it will embolden the monopolistic juggernaut currently in control of America’s children.

School teachers, students and society at large are not served best by tyranny, no matter how benevolent the tyrant seems. A no vote by Utahns on November 6th is not a vote against welfare, private schools or against any particular law as much as it is a resounding NO shouted to the entire country on the question of Utah’s current status as the example and source of strength upon which the nation can lean in our coming times of economic and social trouble.

The prominent polls seem to indicate Utahns aren’t yet ready to stand up for the cause of liberty and prosperity, even when the battle involves their children. Let’s hope enough Utahns will wake up on Tuesday to a sense of the overwhelming significance of their ability to influence their state, their nation and the direction of government in America. Vote YES for Referendum 1.

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Update on Alvin: He's still in the hospital but last night we got our first NORMAL on calcium levels. I'm running around doing a few things this morning, but am headed back to the hospital where I hope his levels stayed normal all night. If they did -- hallelujah! We get to come home today.

From Alvin's Hospital Room

Alvin is still in the hospital and so this post is going to center around that, kind of. They are having trouble regulating his calcium levels so my poor sweet husband who is feeling pretty darn good otherwise, keepings plotting ways to break out. He's so funny and upbeat during this time. Every single day I am reminded why I fell in love with this man and married him.

But let's talk about being trapped in a hospital room for days. Has anyone ever noticed that when your loved one is hooked up to have every vital constantly monitored the slightest will set that damn alarm off? Have you also noticed that the nursing staff rarely, if ever, pays attention to those alarms. Which of course causes one to wonder: "What's the purpose of the stupid alarms anyway."

After a while it's like you've got a fiendish little troll wielding a miniature jack hammer pounding away at your head until you're ready to scream? I think, when we're done with the hospital stay I'm going to start a movement. Yeah, you guessed it. Get those stupid alarms out of the patient rooms and going full blast at the nurses station ONLY. I figure if they're going to ignore them anyway, why disturb the patient and why drive their loved ones around the bend, feverishly plotting the extreme and satisfying demise of said alarms.

All that aside, it's game day. The hospital doesn't get the Mountain. We FINALLY got that stupid, stinkin' channel at home and now we're in the hospital. (By the way, if anybody is like me and will not switch to Comcast out of general principle for their underhanded and unfair business practices, MStar is your answer. We installed MStar at our house and we now have The Mountain, CSTV and Versus . . . all from the same provider. But I digress.

I hunted up fresh batteries and the portable radio/CD player I bought for Alvin the LAST time he was in the hospital, or maybe it was the time before that. But anyway, it's lavender, which gives me the serious giggles. (At the it was a choice of pink or lavender, Alvin thanked me for buying the lavender." So I sat down in the chair next to Alvin's bed and starting trying to get KSL on our little lavender radio. I moved the dial, twisted the antenna all around, stood on one foot with the radio up in the air . . . okay, that's an exaggeration. But I was doing all kinds of stretching and balancing trying to get that stupid signal.

Fortunately, a dear friend let me borrow his laptop with wireless capabilities so that I keep doing my job from Alvin's hospital room. Took me a few minutes of fighting with that stupid radio and receiving no signal to remember that I had the laptop and could stream the game through the laptop.

So here are. I bought Alvin a pastrami burger and fries (the hospital didn't have the hot dog with onions, mustard, ketchup and relish that he wanted,) found the KSL stream and here we are. Alvin made it through the first fifteen twenty minutes before passing out. He's sound asleep, I'm blogging and listening to the game at the same time.

You gotta love technology. We're 7 zip and about to score again. And YEAH! Manase Tonga just scored! WooooooHooooooo!

Anyway, I've got to get back blogging over at LDSBlogs.com. Here's what I wrote yesterday, I've just been editing today. So while I listen to the game I'll try to write a few posts for today.

You Are Valued in the Eyes of God
There is Always Hope
Rise Up, O Men of God

Just got home from the hospital and saw this picture a friend of mine sent me. I started laughing and couldn't stop.

Enjoy! I'm too tired to write a post today. Alvin is still in the hospital and it's looking like his stay is going to be extended. I had so hoped that all would go well and he would get to home after three days . . . but there you go. At least all the staff at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center are all old friends now. Every day, both doctors and nurses, pop in to say "hi" and wonder why Alvin is back there again. Life is good. My husband is still alive and slowly getting better. Can't ask for more than that.

Everyone have a great day and have a good laugh for me!