24 Days of Thanksgiving - Day Fourteen

I wasn't sure what to write about, so my friend Juleigh (who will get her own post in a few days!) gave me the idea to write about technology.

I already covered the joys of modern medicine, but let's face it, that's just one small aspect of what this day and age has to offer!

I know a lot of people roll their eyes at the internet, and talk about how it's ruining "real" relationships. People no longer connect on a personal level! Everything is cold and anonymous! And in a way, I can see how that might be true for some people. For me, though, it's just the opposite.

Being married to a military man means that I'm usually living far away from the rest of my family. I rarely get to see them, and with all of us so busy in our everyday lives, we don't have time to talk on the phone as much as we'd like, either.

By emailing each other, blogging about our activities, and stalking each other on Facebook, we're able to keep up with one another's lives in a way that would be really difficult otherwise.

Skype is another great invention! The times when we are able to talk to one another on the phone can be made that much more special with Skype. That way, we not only are talking to each other, but we can see each other!

This has been a valuable tool at times. When my sister had her baby (my first blood-related nephew!), we weren't able to be there. But we got to Skype with them right away, and I was able to see the cute little stinker through the web camera.

Similarly, my parents and in-laws are able to keep up with my daughter, and see how much she's growing, by talking to her on Skype. It means we can feel a little bit more involved in each other's lives, despite the distances between us.

Needless to say, Skype was also my favorite thing when my sweet hubby was deployed to the middle east. I not only got to talk to him regularly, I could see his handsome face. It was way better than a plain ol' phone call.

Another great thing about technology is that I can take pictures, put them directly onto my computer, then post them on the internet. That way, no matter what computer I'm on, I have access to them. If my house burns down, or my computer crashes, it's okay! Those precious memories are safe. As a photo bug, I'm so grateful for that fact! I document so many aspects of my life, it would be heartbreaking to lose my pictures. The photos help keep the memories clear and fresh. So I'm definitely grateful for technology when it comes to preserving memories through photography.

Then we come to the greatest invention of all time when it comes to getting around town: the GPS! As a family frequently on the move, we have to learn a new area every couple of years. It can be tricky. Before we had a GPS in our car, I would have to print directions off of Google (thanks, technology!) before I could go anywhere! Maps were okay for getting around the country, but for individual cities, it was hard to use a map. So Google it was! And it was time-consuming and annoying. Now, though, I can just pop the address into the GPS and get step-by-step instructions! It's like "Navigation for Dummies!" And yes, I'll admit that I totally fall into the "dummy" category when it comes to navigation. The GPS is a lifesaver.

And though they're not as new a technology as GPS, cell phones are a valuable tool. I never have to worry about getting into a wreck or having car problems and not being able to reach anyone. As long as I have my cell phone, I feel safe. Granted, I know that reception isn't always perfect, but you can get service almost everywhere now, so I feel confident that I'll be able to reach someone if I ever need help.

The internet definitely has its downs along with its ups, but really, it's a pretty incredible resource. The whole world is at your fingertips! You can find almost any answer to almost any question on the internet. You can learn new things; you can reconnect with old friends; you can find books, movies or music you've been hunting for; you can even do your Christmas shopping!

Technology is incredible. Even 30 years ago, most of this technology would have sounded like science fiction. Yet here it is! And it's still growing by leaps and bounds. New technology is introduced all the time!

It's an amazing world we live in.

I'm grateful to live in this day and age, where the world is made so much more accessible, and friends and family are always just a click away.

24 Days of Thanksgiving - Day Thirteen

Music is powerful stuff. 

It can make you feel powerful emotions when you listen to it. Music can be dark and fearsome, or light and happy. It can make you laugh, cry, or even think. It can help you release pent-up frustrations, or make you relive a fond memory. And nothing in the world brings the Spirit as strongly as a hymn.

I feel blessed that I have musical abilities. I sing, and I'm not a terrible pianist. That means that I can sit down at the piano with a piece of music, and accompany my own singing. 

Performing a piece of music, even just for yourself in the comfort of your own home, can be as powerful as listening to it. 

Doctrine and Covenants 25:12 says, "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads."

When we sing songs that glorify God, it's a kind of prayer. He loves music, and delights in it just as we do. And music being the powerful tool it is when it comes to stirring souls and evoking emotions, it brings a whole new level to hymns of praise. Without the music, they're nice poems and prayers. When you add the music, though, they become something incredibly powerful. 

Why else do you suppose radio stations start playing Christmas music in October? It makes people happy. It reminds them of the joys of the holiday season, and calls to mind memories of happy Christmases past. Hearing Christmas music makes people feel joyful, because they associate it with all of their Christmas memories and traditions, and gets them excited about the upcoming season. 

Then consider movies. If it were just people on a screen, with dialogue and sharp editing, it might draw you in a little bit. But it's the music playing underneath the action on the screen that makes you feel connected to the movie. The soundtrack lets you know when something scary is about to happen, or when you should be expecting something exciting, or romantic. 

Who can forget those two slow bass notes underscoring the movie Jaws? Every time they play, you know the shark is near. Your heart begins to beat a little faster, and you find yourself holding your significant other's hand in a death grip. 

Music is powerful.

I'm fortunate to be the choir director at my church. With Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, I want to make sure the program is especially wonderful. As I said before, nothing brings the Spirit as quickly as music does. In my mind, there are few better ways to celebrate the birth of the Savior than with joyous hymns of praise. And because I'm the choir director, I've been able to immerse myself in Christmas music for several weeks now. It's a little stressful at times, trying to teach everyone their parts and make the music sound beautiful, but I know that if we do a good job, we'll be able to touch the hearts of everyone in the congregation on Christmas Day. 

I'm also trying to put together an Easter program for next year. I haven't started it yet, but I want to get it going after the new year. I'd like to put on a production of The Garden by Michael McLean. It's about the Savior's atonement. There's not a lot of "acting" in it. It's more or less all music. But it shares a message much more poignantly than any mere play could do. Every time I listen to the music from The Garden, I find myself weeping. The power is in the music. 

I'm grateful for music. I can't imagine a world without it. And I'm grateful that I've been blessed with the ability to contribute a music of my own, that doesn't make other people cringe and plug their ears. 

Much. ;)

24 Days of Thanksgiving - Day Twelve

I wasn't sure what I was going to talk about today, until I remembered that - duh! - it's my little brother's birthday!

Normally I might talk about all of my siblings in one big post. This isn't because they don't deserve their own, special, individual posts. It's more a matter of consolidation, because there are only 24 days of Thanksgiving, and there are so many things I'm grateful for!

But since it's his birthday, as a special gift to him, I'm going to talk about my brother, Daniel.

On the ski lift in Park City, UT

I love all of my siblings. Let's be clear about that. I have a unique relationship with each of them. But Daniel was my favorite when I was growing up. It's probably because he was the baby (until Joseph came along, and I was already heading to college by then), and I was the oldest. Also, since he was so much younger than me, he never got on my nerves like Andrew and Alyssa did occasionally.

I'm not saying that he's still my #1 favorite. As I've gotten older, my relationships with all of my siblings have grown into something special. I couldn't possibly pick a favorite now.

Rocking a moose hat!

But when I was growing up... yeah. Daniel was my favorite.

For one thing, he was ridiculously cute. When he was little, he had these huge, solemn brown eyes. He would just look at you, and you wanted to cuddle with him.

Then there was the lace thing. He loved lace. He would find lace, take it carefully in his pudgy fingers, and rub it underneath his nose.

It was so cute! It did cause problems in church, though, when the only place lace was available was on one of his sisters' (or mother's) slips. He would shove our skirts up and attempt to rub the lace from our slips under his nose. It was hilarious, but obviously problematic, so eventually Mom just bought him a length of lace from a fabric store. Problem solved.

It's a race!

As he got bigger, he got goofier. What kid doesn't? But the great thing about Daniel was, he was willing to do pretty much anything I asked him to do. Sometimes I just wanted him to get me a drink of water or a blanket. Other times, I'd tell him to do something stupid, and he would immediately agree.

Daniel enjoys a good photo bomb. 

One instance comes to mind: He was about five years old, and I was twelve. I was helping him take a bath, and I thought it would be funny to get a picture of him streaking through the house. Why, you ask? I just told you I was twelve, what more explanation do you need?

So, I told him to wait for the signal. I went and got my camera, positioned myself on the stairs, and shouted, "Now!" He came running around the corner (wearing nothing but his birthday suit) and raced down the hall. I got a picture of the back of him, complete with tiny buns, as he sprinted away on his skinny little legs.

The pictures I take of him now are much nicer. :)

Another time, when we were older (15 and 8, respectively), I was doing a lot of video taping. We were living in El Salvador, and I was making videos for my friends back home.

We found the box of Halloween costumes, and I convinced Daniel to try them on. Most of them were girl costumes, but he had no problem with this. I have some lovely footage of Daniel dressed as a bride, a clown, and a 20's-era flapper. And boy, did he work  those costumes. He was clearly enjoying himself.

Daniel is 22 now. To be honest, though, not that much has changed. He doesn't do the lace thing anymore, but he'll still do pretty much whatever I ask. Fortunately, I'm enough of an adult now that I don't make him cross-dress.

Dad brought this dress back from Iraq for my mom.

Much.

Daniel is one of the best people I know. When my little girl was about 18 months old, he came and watched her for a week so Ben and I could go on an anniversary trip. Daniel was only 18 years old himself, and probably would rather have been out with friends, living his own life. But he didn't even hesitate when I asked. He took care of her for almost a whole week, and did a great job, too.

Right after he graduated from high school, when Evie was around eight months old, he watched her every night while Ben and I performed in summer dinner theater. We performed every night but Sundays, so that effectively killed any social life he might have had otherwise. But he was completely willing to do it. I suspect that this is because he's a freaking awesome guy. And Evie loves him completely. He's such a fun, fantastic uncle.

Not only is he great with kids, he's also one of the all-around best people I know.

He's funny, he's charming, he's handsome, he's loyal, he's courageous... I could go on forever.

Daniel and Bones

Right after the Prop 8 stuff was going on, our church had one of its bi-annual conference meetings. The leadership of the church all get together for these events, and it's broadcast all over the world.

Because of Prop 8, there was a lot of anger being directed at the church. Temples and homes had been vandalized, members of the church had received threats, and there was a lot of general ugliness. I found myself a little bit worried that someone might try to assassinate the prophet during the conference. What better way to get back at the church? And let's face it, there are crazy people out there. Joseph Smith, Jr, our first prophet in the latter days, was assassinated. So it's not a completely idiotic concern.

I was telling Daniel and Andrew about my worries, and one of them (I'm not a hundred percent sure which one it was) said, "If anyone came into the conference center with a gun, you know both of us would tackle the guy without hesitation. And so would every other guy there, probably."

And it's true. I know for a fact that either of my brothers (and Joseph, too, once he's grown up) would jump on an armed gunman if it meant saving lives. I remember Daniel telling me about how he chased a purse-snatcher once. He didn't catch the guy, but he also didn't hesitate to try.

You don't want to mess with this!

Daniel is literally one of the very best men I have ever known in my life, and I have known some really incredible guys. I suspect that this is because people like to be around other people who are similar to what they're already familiar with. Growing up in a family of amazing men, it makes sense that I would surround myself with other amazing men in other stages of my life.

Evie and Daniel taking on Grams and Joseph at air hockey.

All of my brothers are incredible, and I could talk forever about all the great experiences I've had with each of them. But Daniel and I have always had such a good, close relationship, that he definitely holds a special place in my heart.

I love you, Daniel, and I'll be grateful forever that I was blessed to be your sister.

Happy birthday!

PS - You're my favorite. ;)

24 Days of Thanksgiving - Day Eleven

First off, I'd like to note that today is 11/11/11, and that I'm writing this at precisely 11 am. If I hurry, maybe I can get it posted by 11:11! That means this post will be extra lucky! Whoever reads it will receive $500 on their front porch! That, or a swift kick in the patootie. Don't blame me, it wasn't my idea. ;)

So, along with it being a very special day numerically speaking, it's also a very special holiday. One that frequently gets overlooked. One that has become more meaningful to me over the years.

Today is Veteran's Day!

As you know, I'm married to an Air Force man. Since he has officially deployed overseas, that makes him a veteran in every sense of the word. And honestly, I couldn't be prouder of him.

It's not easy, being a military wife. Your husband has to be gone a lot of the time, so you spend long stretches at a time basically as a single parent. You get emotional whenever a TV commercial has a military parent coming home and hugging his or her family. You cry over stories of people waiting patiently and respectfully on a commercial airplane while a soldier's body is taken off of the plane. You get furious when you hear about people protesting at military funerals. Your heart aches whenever the media makes a disparaging remark about the troops, or spins a story to make the troops look like bad guys. You hug your kids more, trying to find ways to explain to them why their dad can't be home all the time like their friends' dads. You get scared every time casualties are reported in the area where your husband is deployed. You proudly wear T-shirts and display bumper stickers that let the world know that your husband is in the military, because as tough as it is, you love him and are 100% proud of his willingness to serve his country.

I'm grateful for my husband, for my father, for my grandfather, and for all the other men I know who have faithfully served this country. Without them and their willingness to put their lives on the line for the greater good, we wouldn't have the freedoms we enjoy.

This truly is the greatest country in the world. I've lived in other places around the world, and I can promise you that nobody has it as good as we do here in America. We're blessed to be able to live in this great country. And it's because of the military men and women who serve that we're able to keep those freedoms.

As the saying goes, this is the land of the free, because of the brave.

Thank you to all the courageous men and women who have fought for this country, past and present. Thank you for serving. Thank you for risking your lives so that my children and I can sleep safely at night. Thank you for leaving your families and sacrificing your comfort in order to defend those who can't defend themselves.

You are all heroes. And I'm eternally grateful to every one of you.

My Air Force hubby and his Army brother.

24 Days of Thanksgiving - Day Ten

THANK GOODNESS for modern medicine!

Seriously, being sick/injured/pregnant is hard enough as it is, and we're blessed to live in a time where there are all kinds of medicines and treatments to help with all kinds of problems. How did people manage before??

I'm sick at the moment, and generally miserable. I didn't sleep at all last night, and I haven't been able to nap today. My throat is sore and dry, and wakes me up a minute or two after I drift off with the urgent need to cough. My nose is simultaneously leaking and clogging up every inch of my sinuses. It's terrible.

The great thing is, I can take cold medicine tonight and knock myself right out. I try to avoid taking drugs when I can, so my body doesn't build up a tolerance, but I figure it's time. I'm exhausted, and it's hard to get better when you're unable to sleep.

Seriously - how did people survive before cold medicine???

And that's just one of the simplest miracles that modern medicine has to offer. What about x-rays, and anesthesia, and chemotherapy, and MRI machines, and all the other things that make it possible for doctors to diagnose and treat people?

Plus, we've managed to wipe out several diseases - at least, in this part of the world - thanks to vaccinations. When's the last time you heard about someone dying from smallpox? It's certainly been a while! Vaccinations are such a valuable tool.

One of the greatest inventions in the medical field, to me, is a little something I like to call "God's gift to women." No, it's not men. Please. Be serious.

It's the epidural!

Now, I know a lot of women prefer to have natural births. Why, I don't know. Maybe they're petrified of needles. Maybe their babies tend to be so small that it doesn't bother them much to deliver them. Maybe they're doing it just to prove they can.

I have no such desire to prove anything. I have no problem with needles. And the fact that I was over ten pounds when I was born, and my own child was over nine, tells me that genetics are not going to bless me with any dainty newborns.

I had an epidural with Evie, and I've never regretted it. I slept through the bulk of my labor. And, in fact, it was the last good sleep I had for a month or two after that, so I was incredibly grateful for it. I fully intend to have an epidural with every one of my children. It made an otherwise excruciating experience... fairly easy. And because of that, I was able to focus more on the excitement of it all, rather than the pain.

Technology is wonderful. The advances in science and medicine are nothing short of miraculous. I know we still have a long way to go before we rid the world of disease, but we've certainly come a long way! People are healthier. They're living longer. They're able to recover from illness and injury so much more easily.

Modern medicine is a marvel! And I'm grateful for it!

24 Days of Thanksgiving - Day Nine

I've got a killer sore throat today. As usual, whenever I'm feeling sick, it makes me grateful for the good health I usually enjoy.

Isn't it amazing how we take things for granted? Then, when we don't have them anymore, we finally see their true worth?

It happens to me every time I get sick, even just with a cold. Those are the times when I remember to thank God for my usual health. Maybe if I remembered to thank Him when I'm actually well, instead of just taking my health for granted, I wouldn't get sick quite so often. 

On the other hand, though, probably not. 

24 Days of Thanksgiving - Day Eight

I read an article last week that talked about a mysterious force that encourages people to make decisions contrary to what they would normally do. Obeying the mystery force often meant that the person was kept out of a dangerous situation, were able to help themselves or someone else, or had some strangely good fortune.

The author had no idea what to call this force. I found it kind of amusing, myself, because of course I already knew exactly what she was talking about. To my delight, many people in the comments section knew the answer, too.

"It's called 'the holy spirit'," they said.

I'm grateful for the Spirit. I can't recall any time when I had any life-changing, mind-blowing experience where the Spirit kept me or my loved ones safe from danger or anything like that. But I've definitely felt the Spirit, and seen firsthand results of following its promptings.

The Spirit is how God communicates with us. We pray to God, and the Spirit guides us to the answer with quiet, gentle promptings. We may feel joy or peace when we're on the right track. Guilt or dread may set in when we're making poor choices. And every once in a while, we may have a thought - seemingly out of nowhere - that changes our course.

I always pray before making any major life decisions. I want the path of my life to be one that God wants for me. He has a plan for me. There's a purpose to my existence. And I want to live my life in complete accordance with His will. Obviously, this means I consult Him on every important decision.

When I was a senior in high school, I had to choose what university I wanted to attend the next year. One of my choices was a fine arts college in my home state of Virginia, with a hugely successful musical theater department. It was close to home, had a 90% Broadway success rate for its graduates, and had offered me a scholarship.

Then, there was BYU. It was far from home, but close to extended family. The people there were of my same faith. But they hadn't even accepted me into the musical theater program, much less offered me any kind of scholarship. I would have to pay my own way completely, and fight for a spot in my program.

I prayed a lot about my decision. I had always wanted to go to BYU, but I also wanted to be a musical theater performer and teacher. The school in Virginia was a straight shot to that goal. So I was a little bit torn.

In the end, I settled on BYU. It felt right. I knew that was the Spirit's way of telling me where I belonged.

I'd like to say that I got into the musical theater program, graduated with honors, married a handsome man and was successful in every way. But the truth is, I was never accepted into the program. The competition was so stiff that basically the only people accepted were those with an "in" on the committee making the cuts. I didn't know anyone in the musical theater program faculty. I was never accepted.

My efforts to get into my program consumed my first three or four years of college. I studied dance, acting, and voice. I got several GE credits out of the way, too, but my main focus was on getting into my program. So, when I wasn't accepted (and was no longer able to audition anymore, because I had too many credits), I had four years of college under my belt and nothing to show for it. I would have to start over somewhere else.

My roommate, Layne, and I;
freshman year of college.

The criteria that prevented me from auditioning further in the musical theater program also prevented me from pursuing an acting or vocal performance major. Everything I was interested in, and talented in, was closed to me.

I was at a complete loss. I halfheartedly attempted a History major, but with little love or enthusiasm for it.

Then, I started dating Ben. We got engaged, got married, and got pregnant within a year and a half.

I quit school in order to work full time so that Ben could finish school. We had our daughter, struggled for a year or two while Ben got his degree (and commissioned in the Air Force), then left the state for pilot training.

I never got into my program. I never finished college. My prayers from senior year hadn't led where I thought they would. But I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that the Spirit was guiding my decision, and that I made the right choice.

On BYU campus

Had I attended the school in Virginia, I may have become a successful Broadway performer. But I never would have met my gorgeous husband. I might have had a career I loved, but I wouldn't have my beautiful little girl. Maybe I would have become famous - who knows? But I wouldn't have ended up living in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. I wouldn't have developed any of the friendships I made in those places. My life would be completely different, and probably nowhere near as happy. Applause is nice, but love and family are better.

As far as I'm concerned, my life is a success story.

We can't always understand why we're on the path we're on. But when we've got the Spirit guiding us, we can feel confident that we are, in fact, where we're supposed to be.

Life frequently doesn't make sense from our limited perspectives. We don't have the ability to see the big picture. But God does. He knows exactly what He's doing. He knows where He's leading us. And He knows how to shape us into the people He intends for us to be.

By following the guidance of the Spirit, we're able to move forward along life's path with confidence. No matter how difficult a decision or situation may be, we can listen to the still, small voice speaking to us in our hearts. It will help us know what to do. And by obeying that voice, our lives are blessed with incredible joy.

Ben is currently thinking about becoming a doctor (on top of being a pilot!). It's a big decision. It would mean taking four years out of his career progression, and going from a Captain back to a 2nd Lieutenant. It would mean another seven years of service committed to the Air Force. It would mean having Ben's salary frozen where it is, with none of the usual pay raises to help us as our family grows.

Ben is taking all of that into account. But more importantly, he's praying about it, and letting the Spirit help him make his decision. Despite the inconveniences involved, Ben is determined to go where God wants him to go. And because I know he's letting the Spirit guide his decisions, I will support whatever choice he makes one hundred percent.

The Spirit truly is God's way of speaking to us, and I'm grateful to be able to lead my life the way He wants me to. I know that by following His guidance, I'll have more joy in my life than I could ever find on my own.

I'm grateful to have a husband who works to live his life according to God's will.

And I'll forever be grateful that the Spirit led me to BYU; so I could meet Ben, fall in love with him, and be sealed to him for eternity.

The Idaho Falls temple, on the day
Ben and I were married.