Thanks, Eve.

"Those who feel no need for mercy usually never seek it and almost never bestow it. Those who have never had a heartache or a weakness or felt lonely or forsaken never have had to cry unto heaven for relief of such personal pain. Surely it is better to find the goodness of God and the grace of Christ, even at the price of despair, than to risk living our lives in a moral or material complacency that has never felt any need for faith or forgiveness, any need for redemption or relief.

A life without problems or limitations or challenges--life without 'opposition in all things,' as Lehi phrased it--would paradoxically but in very fact be less rewarding and less ennobling than one which confronts--even frequently confronts--difficulty and disappointment and sorrow. As beloved Eve said, were it not for the difficulties faced in a fallen world, neither she nor Adam nor any of the rest of us ever would have known 'the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.'"
"The Peaceable Things of the Kingdom" Jeffrey R. Holland

I love the truth that difficulties and challenges are necessary to comprehend real joy, which can be experienced even in the midst of those trials when I allow them to help me come unto Christ. They also enable me to become more compassionate and less judgmental of others. I guess I prefer this route than one of "moral or material complacency" where I feel little stretch to change or grow, with an accompanying lack of depth to life. I am really grateful for the words of prophets and apostles that bring the Spirit to my heart and speak to me like no person could.

How I feel about applying for jobs

A visit with Jana & Kev

It was a lot of fun to go see Jana & Kevin. We went to a Halloween playground/hayride place which I think Adrienne really enjoyed. Later that night we got to watch the BYU vs. TCU game with Catherine & Hunter. Then on Saturday, since I missed my train, I got to babysit Kayla & Adrienne while Jana & Kevin went to Stake Conference. They are such sweet little kids, I just love them. And of course the trip wouldn't have been complete without a game of Settlers of Catan, which Jana won (of course). Classic.

 

Going Solo

What do you do in downtown DC by yourself?

1. Tour the Old Post Office

2. Admire the glory of the Washington Monument & Capital building

3. Soak in the beauty of the fall leaves 

4. Tour all of the FREE Smithsonian exhibits/museums

10 Things I love about my sista Catherine

1. The way she puts on her chapstick

2. Sense of adventure: she'd sacrifice anything for a good set of buckwheat blueberry pancakes...including my train ride back to NC :)

3. She takes me running to cool places like Falls Lake!

4. She loves to eat delicious food & will willingly split everything

5. The chances that Catherine will want to eat gelato or ice cream at any given moment during the day (irregardless of prior intake) is 99.9999999999999999999%

6. She loves to work out & has huge muscles (can you see the bump??)

7. Not only does she have a great sense of humor, but she can be serious, too.

8. Her ability to look better in my clothes than I do. 

9.  Her quiet sense of dignity 

10. She certainly knows how to enjoy fall & the beautiful leaves. 

Enjoying the fair Hatch-style (Round 2)

Step 1: Stop by the Ol' Grist Mill & get some free hush puppies.

Step 2: Go to the gardening section. This is dad's favorite part of the fair. Awe at the plants and try to name all of them. Then proceed to take dumb pictures. :)

Step 3: Eat carmelized corn (!!!!!)

Step 4: Begin to unleash the inner-fatty within.

Step 5: Weep over the trials of life and rejoice that you have friends to eat chocolate with you. That is, if you have friends...

Step 6: Participate in random fair games, like the "Guess your age" exhibit in order to win free prizes worth less than you paid for & boost your confidence (Catherine had two people guess that she was 27!)

Step 7: Wish you wore an ugly sweater, too so that you could participate in this year's most alluring exhibit: The Ugly Sweater Contest of the Goats.

Step 8: Eat to your heart's disease...I mean desires.

Step 9: Take Picture #5890436 of yourself being pregnant with a food-baby & decide to be more moderate tomorrow.

Pigs, Pickles, Plump, and Pups

North Carolina State Fair: Round One. Fried zucchini, funnel cakes, Harris Teeter deli meat in animal form, The Swings (best ride ever), and more calories than you'll ever consume in a lifetime. Classic.