Changing misperceptions...

So...at a recent BYU-I graduation, the graduates were encouraged to spread the gospel online and be active about changing the misperceptions of the church through the internet. I read a blog by the chief information officer of the church sites and he was saying that there is a big push to have people be "internet missionaries" every day by writing in response to false ideas or perceptions of the church wherever we come across them (even the comments on everyday news sites are bringing up some crazy "mormon" ideas...especially with the polygamy deal in Texas). I was talking to my sister Sara about this over the weekend and brainstorming ways I can help. I think it's awesome when I see people talking about our beliefs in just describing their everyday living on their blogs. Here's one of my favorite examples: http://wilkinsonquints.blogspot.com/2008/04/day-in-life.html. This LDS family lives in Austin TX, has quints, and from the first day the babies came home, have relied on the community to be in their home helping with the babies. The community has totally come through for them and they always have volunteers at their house...night and day. Even news stations take shifts and document it all. What an awesome example of a real LDS family....I doubt anyone who knows them will confuse them with the FLDS images they see on the news. Another favorite of mine is this blog I happened upon tonight: http://thegabblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/just-for-record.html I'm thinking about starting another blog (would this be four for me? ...hmm...probably couldn't keep it up) that I update once a week with things going on in my life that testify of Christ. It could randomly be happened upon and maybe I can change just one misperception of Latter-day Saints. What can you do to help with this effort online?

Welcome baby Sadie!

Our newest little niece, Sadie Rae, was born April 15, 2008 at 3:30am. She is such a little doll. Congrats Jamin and Shanda....and Shanda did it all natural-what a feat!

Beautiful!

Check out this amazing video called Reflections of Christ....

http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/2008/03/reflections-sli.html

I watched this first thing this morning...what a way to wake up. I am so grateful for our Savior and his Redeeming Love.

Typing test

I've always loved typing...and taking typing tests...one of those weird, quirky things I inherited from my mother. Mom...let's see what your score is on this.

87 words

Speed test

My new favorite thing...

http://www.myfoodstoragedeals.com/

This is the COOLEST site! I found out about it last week, looked around, bought a month membership, and have had the past two weeks meals completely planned out for me (and they are really yummy foods!). My grocery lists have been planned based on the meals (which are planned around foods on sale locally) and I finally feel like I can conquer food storage based on this sites sale info and knowledge. The lady that does this site is so knowledgeable on food storage and self-reliance and is a really smart shopper, so she does all the busy and tedious work for you. All you have to do is print out her tips for the week and the grocery list and go to the store. She even tells you how much you'll spend by following the list...and what your food storage will look like...and how long it will last. She also incorporates your food storage into your everyday eating so (1) you rotate your food storage and (2) you know how to actually cook with your food storage and feed your family in case of emergency. I could go on and on. If you want to see more, call me and I'll let you use my sign-in info to see what exactly the $7 a month membership pays for.

Tagged...again

....by Krista

you're feeling: excited about conference and hanging out with Sara

to your left: Sara

on your mind: cleaning, grocery shopping, getting the house ready for conference and friends tomorrow

last meal included: eggs, sausage, pancakes, cantaloupe, honeydew, and milk

the weather: sunny and really windy

something you have a collection of: thimbles and pez dispensers

a smell that cheers you up: cookies

a smell that can ruin your mood: skunk...and we have had them a lot lately in our neighborhood

how long since you last shaved: 2 days

the current state of your hair: straightened and up in a pony

the largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): lamp?

which section you head for first in a bookstore: home decor, cooking, kids (non-fiction)

something you're craving: a trip with Ty and the kids

your general thoughts on the presidential race: hmmm...I'm trying really hard lately not to focus on the negative

how many times have you been hospitalized this year: none

favorite place to go for a quiet moment: car drive

you've always secretly thought you'd be a good: lawyer or political activist/lobbyist

something that freaks you out a little: bugs....a lot!

something you've eaten too much of lately: M&M's...thanks a lot Aunt Sara for bringing treats

you have never: been to Europe...and I so want to!

K....I tag Shanda, Heather, Shaunte', Jill, Michelle, Lynsey, and Lindsay

Cruise....part four

Cabo San Lucas

This was by far our favorite stop....and it was on Valentines Day. We started out pretty early (6:30am), it was our shortest stop of the trip, and we had to tender in (meaning the cruise ship anchors away from shore and we had to wait our turn to take little boats onto land)...so we really wanted to make the most of our time.

Here we are on our tendering boat...with the beautiful sunrise and cruise ship in the background

This is what happens when there are too many salesmen doing the bartering....we barter, make a decision, get in the boat, change our minds, get off the boat, barter again, make another decision, get back in the boat....etc. You can see us wives are just hanging out waiting...and waiting...and yes, the guys did have us all climb into the little shaky boat just to turn around and get back off and then....you guessed it...turn around and get back on. Oh well-we did end up getting a great deal.

Our first stop was Lover's Beach. This little island was beautiful and it was all ours. Our little group had the whole beach completely to ourselves...it was so fun.

Getting off the boat was a little shaky...at least the waves weren't too big on this side of the island. I had to catch some pictures of cute Hailey and Drew getting off the boat...it was Valentines Day after all

This was one of our first views of the beach...gorgeous!

Carter loved exploring. There were lots of little caves and crevices to see...he couldn't get enough of it all

Valentines Day 2008 for our little family...I think we'll always remember it!

Ty went snorkeling with a few of the other guys...they were gone a long time...and apparently saw some pretty amazing fish

There's our ship in the background

Me and my little Valentine

I couldn't decide on just one or two pictures of Cabo...it was so beautiful!

We changed into our swimsuits behind these rocks....Andrew heard that Tyson was changing and went running to catch it on video...poor Ty ;)

The waves were amazing on the backside of the island...now you see the group...now you don't. The guys (and Barbara and Lyndsey) really got worked by the waves, but they kept going back for more

Taylee sneaking into the sand again...I think she ended up eating sand from every beach we went to

After Lover's Beach we went to the mainland part of Cabo and ate lunch (I don't remember the name of the restaurant). My favorite part of the meal was the virgin pina coladas...they were amazing.

There were many vendors that came by to sell their products. This clown was kinda creepy, but we bought a little dog balloon with a heart for Carter


One of the vendors painted temporary tatoos. All the guys got these PPC (Preventive Pest Control) tattoos (paid for by Preventive ;)


Taylee was so patient and happy...our little princess in pink




Here are some shots of the shopping area of Cabo...and there were many options for shopping

We walked all the way along the shore back to the tendering boats (it ended up being a super long walk...but really pretty)

That night was our second formal night...for Valentines Day...yay! Here is Carter and his "girlfriend" Barbara all dressed up for the occasion


All dressed up and ready to eat!

Notice Carter's bare foot. He took off one sock and shoe while we waited to be seated. People would walk by us and joke that he knew how to turn formal night into semiformal...he was a cutie!

Our group hanging out waiting to be seated

The banquet table was really pretty...the cakes and gelatin were so creative

Carter kept sneaking chocolates off the banquet table...we didn't stop him because, well it was Valentines Day

A random lady gave the kids Valentines and suckers as we were being seated...so that's all the kids wanted to eat for dinner




The adults, on the other hand, had all we could eat lobster...I'm so hungry for it just looking at this pic...it was really good


As fun as it's been to go through all these pics, I'm excited to get back to the day to day grind pics...I think I have a few more closing cruise pics for kicks and then onto St. Patricks Day and Easter