Funny comment from a kid

Yesterday instead of regular church meetings, we had a broadcast regional conference.  Cody and I arrived about 15 minutes early and clips of the Tabernacle Choir singing were being shown with a countdown timer in the lower right corner. The minutes went down and I was getting ready for Conference to start.  However, apparently, not everyone was getting ready for it to start.  When the timer reached 00:00 and the screen went black as it prepared to cut to the live feed stream, a little girl--maybe 3-4 years old--sitting behind us asked her mom, "Is it over now?"

Nope.  You've only got two more hours to go.  Sorry.

(It was a really good conference for the adults.  I felt sorry for all the little kids who were ready to go to nursery and Primary after an hour though...I guess I felt sorry for their parents, too, since they had to try to keep them quiet and occupied for another hour on hard chairs.)

Faith

Photo I took of the Provo Temple 15 Oct 2009

This last Sunday Cody and I were asked to give talks at a nursing home that is in our stake.  Unlike most talk requests that are extended, we weren't given a topic.  At first I thought that was a little unfair because I felt like I had too much on my plate and now I needed to think up a topic for a five minute talk I'd be giving to people I didn't know the next day.

After considering my life and what message I would like to hear, and then thinking about what is a topic that would be helpful for older people who have surrendered most of their independence to the inevitability of growing old--I decided to speak on faith.

I chose this quote from Elder D. Todd Christofferson from this month's visiting teaching message:

"Faith in Jesus Christ is the conviction and assurance of (1) His status as the Only Begotten Son of God, (s) His infinite Atonement, and (3) His literal Resurrection."

My next favorite source of information is the LDS Bible Dictionary. Under faith, I chose this snippet:

"The Lord has revealed Himself and His perfect character, possessing in their fulness all the attributes of love, knowledge, justice, mercy, unchangeableness, power, and every other needful thing, so as to enable the mind of man to place confidence in Him without reservation."

The bulk of my talk was used to tell the story of my great-great grandmother Betsy Scholes Morris and her faith.  Then I closed by sharing my favorite scripture, Doctrine and Covenants 123: 17:

"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

The past few days as I've been thinking about that talk and Cody's talk which followed (it was basically on having faith in trials--a shortened version of his lesson the previous week in young men's), I've considered that opportunity a blessing far greater than I could have even imagined on Sunday.

There are many things that we can have faith in--people, events, promises. However, because we are mortal and make mistakes or the events and promises we make are all traced to a human, then those people, events, and promises can fail. However, because of what Christ did for us and does for us every single day, we can have perfect faith in Him.  We can trust Him to fulfill His promises and to carry us through tough times because He has been through it.

I think there is more to faith than I get and understand. Perhaps as I go through each part of my life I will learn another little aspect of faith that will one day make my understanding more complete. For now, I guess my faith in Jesus Christ is enough to know that trials will pass, mortality is allowed to happen but He is there waiting to help us, and that there are blessings being poured on us in the midst of difficulties and that are being kept in store for us for when we walk out of the darkness of our sorrow into the brightness of His love and light.

Gratitude

I feel like I'm always trying to find things for which to be grateful.  I know November is a natural time for Americans to think about gratitude because of Thanksgiving. I'm sure that other months are months of "Thanksgiving" in other cultures.

Here's a short list. I hope to add some longer posts about specific things that I am grateful for in the coming weeks:

1. the Gospel of Jesus Christ
2. my husband, Cody
3. the restored church of Jesus Christ (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
4. family
5. prophets, seers, and revelators today
6. books
7. library cards
8. chocolate
9. friends
10. letters
11. my mom and dad, specifically
12. Lindsey, specifically
13. carpools
14. airplanes
15. cameras
16. notebooks and pens
17. literacy
18. music
19. patient people
20. knowledge
21. Shakespeare
22. Dr. Seuss
23. Yo Yo Ma
24. blue things
25. warm blankets
26. colors
27. food
28. being able to cook
29. running water
30. indoor plumbing
31. indoor heating and cooling
32. a car
33. my job
34. Cody's job
35. that I live in the United States 
36. that I grew up in middle-class America so that I'm blessed with opportunities beyond many in the world
37. our local and national leaders
38. good people that have the desire to run for/be president/Senate/House of Representatives/Governor/etc. and who mostly are all just trying to do their best, so that I don't ever have to feel like I need to
39. scientists
40. iPods
41. running shoes
42. socks
43. my nephew who is the cutest
44. my brothers and sisters (counting in-laws, too)
45. American history
46. having gone to BYU and taken so many different classes
47. prayer
48. perspective
49. fall
50. that I'm not allergic to any foods or medicines

I'm alive (and Lord of the Flies moment)

I realize I haven't posted on here for almost a month. It isn't because I haven't had anything going on. It's because I've had too much going on--meetings, getting ready for Primary Program, figuring out how to be a third grade teacher when I'm used to being a fifth grade teacher, Relief Society meeting, General Conference, doing family history work and taking the names to the temple, orchestra, and trying to decide if I'm going to exercise again.

Here's a little peak into a day I had two weeks ago after doing an art project.  It was only a small moment, but it was the moment in between finishing up and cleaning up... The name of the video should give you a clue as to how I was feeling:

Counting blessings

1. I went out for a run tonight and ended up running 4.67 miles with little problem (my knees started getting sore near the end).

2. A friend's third grade class is going to be pen pals with my third grade class (talk about having a motivation to write!).

3. I have the next two weeks planned for school (except for math...)!

4. We had pizza for dinner and I love pizza.

5. I'm doing benchmarks with my students tomorrow which means that I get to meet with every student individually and listen to them read. I love that!

6. I get to go to the Relief Society meeting with my sister in three weeks.

7. Cody and I will be getting together with some of our friends on Saturday for dinner or lunch and going to the temple.

8. I slept really well last night.

9. I'm feeling sort of organized with my new calling at church (Primary secretary--Primary is the children's organization in the LDS church for those who don't know), which is saying a lot since that is basically all that my calling means I need to be.

10. Beautiful sunset tonight that I got to watch appear as I went on my run.

11.  Thinking about how one of these days (soon...) I'll write about how I'm in a community orchestra and read a fantastic book that I think about all the time now.

"My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee"

I'm feeling reflective today.

My second year at BYU was a very interesting year. I learned a ton!  That was the year I officially started my major and my two minors.  That was the year that I decided I wouldn't be invisible to the people in my ward.  That was the year I began being a peer mentor for Freshman Academy (now Freshman Mentoring).  That was a year that started off with a CES (Church Educational System) Devotional with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and got another dose of him with a second CES Devotional just three and a half months later.

The first talk was "Lessons From Liberty Jail" (you can read the text or get access to the video here).  Elder Holland went through the lessons Joseph Smith learned while unjustly imprisoned in Liberty Jail in 1838-9.  He made the comparison of the prison changing from just being a place of incarceration to becoming a prison-temple experience.  As Cody and I are reading the Sunday School lesson for this week, "O God, Where Art Thou?" it got me thinking about this talk.  New insight has come as I read through the first 40 or so verses in section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants.  It has also turned my thoughts towards the 2008-2009 school year.

Little did I know on September 7, 2008 when this talk was given the impact that this devotional would have on me.  Not just the words and testimony that Elder Holland shared, but especially the closing song.  I'm not sure who actually performed in it (BYU combined choir, UVU choir, YSA stake choir?), but I loved it when I first heard it, and I loved it even more when I heard it again five months later on February 28, 2009, coming back from the temple with my friend Tara.  It had been a rough week for me. I had made some decisions that were pretty ginormous and my heart was sore about them, even though I knew the wisdom of making those decisions would be revealed to me in time.  Tara had this song on a CD and turned it on:

I can't even tell you how much this song helped buoy my spirit.  She made a copy of this song for me and I listened to it over and over and over for the next year (it was even my motivating song as I hiked the Y on my birthday that year--my birthday present to myself).

So that song has been humming around in my mind the past 12 hours since Cody and I read our scriptures together last night.  This song also brings to mind some of the scriptures that inspired this song--the parts that don't come from D&C sections 121 & 122--they are from Isaiah 54: 7-10, and it is actually in these verses where you can find the title for this hymn.

However, this isn't the only talk where Elder Holland helped me out in 2009.  He gave another CES Devotional Talk on January 13, 2009, "Remember Lot's Wife." I remember writing copious notes and feeling like he was speaking to me that cold, January Sabbath.  But then, again, I forgot about the talk as the months went on, as I found comfort in other talks and scripture.  But then Christmas 2009 rolled around.

My memory for dates can sometimes come back to me as a curse and it was doing so that December.  Dates and memories were assaulting my mind, dragging me back to questioning some of my decisions of the previous February, having me question some of the things that I knew were true about why I was still in Utah.  Late nights in Michigan that Christmas involved me searching online for relief and comfort to my soul. And that's when I stumbled across this talk again.

I remembered again that I should put my faith in my Savior and stop wondering: "Is there any future for me? What does a new year or a new semester or a new major or a new romance hold for me? Will I be safe? Will life be sound? Can I trust in the Lord and in the future? Or would it be better to look back, to go back, to go home?" (from "Remember Lot's Wife") and instead take hold of Elder Holland's invitation to "'Remember Lot's Wife.' Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the 'high priest of good things to come.'"

These two incidents helped put focus into my life--through the words of a song, and the words of an Apostle--I put my trust in Heavenly Father that He would lead me, guide me, and that He was walking beside me.

15 Reasons Today was Grrrreat!

I really needed today. Today was great! Let me tell you why:

1. After struggling to fall asleep in my way-too-hot apartment last night, I woke up from a great dream.
2. I was able to excuse myself for crying as I watched this video on Joseph Smith, by saying that I was crying because it's so sad about Joseph and Emma, when really I was crying because I miss Cody--but I had an excuse which made it feel better about crying.
3. I got to sit by my sister and watch my nephew watch other people during Sacrament Meeting.
4. I was able to hear a family friend, Sam Bateman, give his last talk before his mission; it was on faith.
5. I was able to play with my nephew at the Bateman's home.
6. I ate nachos for lunch (at the Bateman's home).
7. I took a little nap before church.
8. I got to play with my friend's 7 month old baby during the last 20 minutes of my ward's Sacrament Meeting.
9. I was able to reflect on service during Relief Society.
10. My dad was making fun of my mom on the phone and TOTALLY sounded just like her, which was hilarious!
11. I got to do a "Google Hangout" with Cody and look at his totally handsome, cute face and have him make me laugh.
12. I found out that some of our friends living in DC are willing to let us carpool with them to the Washington DC temple when we're there this summer.
13. I was able to visit teach with and for two of my best friends in this ward for the last time this summer.
14. I found out that one of those best friends will be going through the temple in June (probably) to receive her endowment and be sealed for time and all eternity to her husband and two little girls.
15. I am so so so happy about that news.  Visiting teaching changes us and affects us and those we visit more than we know.  Not only have I made an amazing friend, she has affected my life as I've seen her testimony growing, but I have been able to affect her life.

The day Cody and I talked about getting married.

Same day. Great day!

On the day Cody and I were sealed for time and all eternity--married forever--in the Michigan Detroit Temple

Me, my sister, and Mom on the day of my Great-Grandma Caryol's funeral

I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I love how it changes us into better people. I love how all we have to bring is our belief and our desire and He will work with us and lead us on to be the people He needs us to be.  I love the temples of God and how, even though I'm only a child in my understanding, I am able to understand God's love, the Atonement, the Plan of Salvation, or myself better after attending the temple for any of the ordinances.  I am eternally grateful to be sealed to my husband for time and for all eternity, to know he is mine and I am his forever, and that my mom, my dad, my sister and her family, and my wonderful younger brothers, and all of Cody's family are my family forever.  There is no greater peace.

My Mother's Day

The day started by me going to sleep last night at 12:10 since I tried going to sleep at ten, like I normally do, but I couldn't sleep so I got up at 10:30 and read till 12:10. I woke up at 8:10 this morning and wished I'd been able to sleep more but I couldn't.

I made myself an omelet (turkey bacon, onion, mushroom, red pepper, swiss cheese) since I knew that if Cody had been home, he would have made me breakfast.  I also made myself a strawberry-peach-rhubarb cobbler. I've already had two pieces and it is delicious!

Like every Sunday, I got to talk with my Mom (and sister and brothers, and sometimes, my Dad when he isn't in a meeting).  She's had a pretty awful week but I hope it gets better.  I love talking with my Mom. She's definitely one of my best friends.

At church today, I got to speak for a few minutes about any topic of my choice regarding women/motherhood. I decided to speak about what our purpose is on this Earth and how we've been given the abilities to achieve our purpose.  So what is our purpose? We learn in 2 Nephi 2:25 that "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy."  I listened to President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk from October 2008, "Happiness, Your Heritage," and Sister Mary Ellen Smoot's talk from April 2000, "We are Creators."  I focused on how our purpose is to have joy and eternal happiness. One of the ways that we we find joy is by creating things.  Now, it isn't just creating a piece of art, or writing, or singing. Creation means, "bringing into existence something that did not create before," which could include children, order and organization, memories, laughter, comfort, peace, etc. In Sister Smoot's talk she quotes President David O. McKay as saying, "Sculptors of life are we, with our uncarved souls before us.  Everyone of us is carving a soul."  With our Savior's help, we are creating beautiful souls that are pure and chaste and God-like every day as we make choices that are in harmony with the principles of the Gospel.  Three questions to think about: What will I create of my life? My time? My future?

Now my day is going to end with talking with Cody and hopefully going to bed easily at 9:30.

Sheri Dew video

I wanted to post this video because my friend shared it on Facebook and I loved it. I have more thoughts about this topic but they are somewhat sacred to me and I don't want to share them in an argumentative forum or for mere curiosity.  I know that women, who live faithful to the covenants they have made at baptism and in the temple, will receive all that the Father has, which includes a celestial, eternal marriage; the ability to bear children; the ability to create everything that needs creating, and the capability to undertand everything.

If you don't know who Sheri Dew is here's her bio from Wikipedia.

I love modern technology!

I love modern technology that lets me talk to my husband in DC on FaceTime so I can see his handsome face and make silly faces at him.

I love modern technology that lets me talk to my mom, dad, sister, and brothers even though we all live in three different locations.

I love modern technology that lets me listen to Elder William R. Walker give an address to the young adults of the Church on how to be more like our Savior and like our prophet, Thomas S. Monson.  May we all remember that our spouse is most important after God.

Why I visit teach each month

As I was eating my dinner tonight, I reflected on church today, especially on the lesson in Relief Society (for those of you that don't know, Relief Society is the hour of church where the women come together to teach each other from the scriptures and words of the prophets).   The lesson today was on Preident Monson's message on seeing others as they may become.  As we discussed ways that we can show others that we love them, visiting teaching came up.

Visiting teaching.  What is it?  Is it simply going out to visit the two or three sisters you've been given stewardship over to make sure they're not in a crisis and to share a brief spiritual message with them once a month?  Yes and no.  The goal is to minister like the Savior ministered and continues to minister to us through the Spirit.  The other goal is to make friends in the gospel.  But the goal is not to just have one more thing on your check off list.  Sometimes that might be what you need to make sure you make time to do it, but ministering isn't an item on a to-do list.

Ministering is keeping others in your thoughts and prayers and serving them in any way you can and that they need.  Right now I'm finding that my biggest acts of service are simply being consistent in going each month to visit, inviting them to church, and answering questions.

But why do I go visit teach every month since I've been assigned to be a visiting teacher?  It's because of two people: my mom and my sister.  I've seen the difference that my mom has made in others lives and I want to be like that.  With my sister, I've seen how she hasn't been visited very much, ever. And it makes me sad.  So I visit teach each month because I wish someone would do that for MY sister.  I wish someone would care enough about MY sister to visit her each month and to keep her in their prayers.  Because I care about my sister that much,  I figure there are other sisters and moms out there who hope the same for their sister and daughter, and so I go.

Me, my sister, my Mom

I go and over time I become friends with these amazing women I am blessed to visit. I go and I am blessed by interacting with these women.  I go and pray that sometime soon someone will do the same for my dear sister,  that they'll become friends and they'll realize just how amazing she is.  THAT'S why I go visiting teaching.

Missing and Not

I'm missing France and French today. I know I do a French Club every week at school, but it's different from learning it and being immersed in it. I hope that I'm helping my French Club students gain a love of French so that they'll want to take it in junior high and high school. But mostly it's so that I don't forget everything. And I've forgotten a lot of the more complicated things. One day I hope that I'll be able to take some more college level French courses.

                                         

I'm missing art. I really miss my ceramics and drawing classes I took at BYU.  Taking the time to create was something I loved and struggled with and loved all the more for that struggle. I checked out a watercolor book at the library yesterday with the half-formed plan of trying out watercolor again, especially when Cody's gone on his trips in the next few months.

I'm missing energy. I had a horrid migraine (or what I refer to as a migraine since the doctor obviously says it isn't unless it's diagnosed) last night.  I couldn't sleep for a few hours and I've been lacking in energy most of today.


I'm missing the love of teaching today. This is probably absent from my life today because 1) it was there yesterday, 2) I didn't get a lot of sleep last night and I am sooo affected by the amount of sleep I get, and 3) it seems like a lot of the teachers are just as exhausted as I am at school lately and no one is doing the cheering up and rallying. If I had the energy I would try, but I've just been so stretched lately.

I'm missing my memory.  I've been having blank stretches in my memory, they only last for about a minute but there is no memory whatsoever in my mind of certain things in my life.  I'm sure it's just because I've been tired lately, but I really don't like forgetting things.

I'm not missing unwelcome memories. While I've been forgetting certain things, a lot of other memories have been crowding my brain and making it hard for me to sleep and focus.  Sometimes those memories are unimportant, like thinking about how one of my students moved around the classroom. Who cares? But it can play back and forth in my memory. Other memories are more potent and lead to comparisons and I wish they would stay in the back room so I could fully appreciate the present and find ways to make the best of where I'm at now, instead of wishing for more efficient days or more harmonious days or days when I felt more intellectually stretched.

I'm not missing having an unreliable car. It's been so wonderful having our Mazda 6 this winter.  I've never had to really wonder if the car would be able to make it anywhere. And while the Saturn lives on, it's so nice having a car that is comfortable, classy, and reliable.

I'm not missing homework assignments for a college grade.

I'm not missing single's ward drama, especially in February.

I'm not missing being unemployed.

I know life isn't always the ideal and I know it probably won't ever be exactly what I thought I wanted, but I will get lucky sometimes and get something better. Sometimes it'll be worse, but if I just do the things I can control--sleep, exercise, eating right, telling my husband I love him every day, talking with my family often, keeping my testimony strong, and paying tithing (BIG testimony builder moments with that one lately)--then I know I'll be blessed to be able to endure and make it through.

(En français : Mes études des écritures)

Aujourd’hui j’ai fait l’activité dans « Prêchez mon Évangile » chapitre 2 : Une étude efficace, page 23 :

« Choisissez l’un des passages d’Ecriture suivants.  En lisant le passage que vous avez choisi et en méditant à son sujet, trouvez deux ou trois manières de l’appliquer.

·         2 Néphi 31

·         Alma 32 : 26-43

·         Moroni 7 :32-48

Evaluez la façon dont vous pratiquez les principes que vous enseignez.  Choisissez une manière de vous améliorer et prenez des dispositions pour le faire. »

J’ai fait l’exercice avec 2 Néphi 31.  Pendant je lisais, quelques questions venaient :

2 Néphi 31 : 7—Comment est-ce que j’obéi plus ?

2 Néphi 31 : 12—Qu’est-ce que Jésus faisait que je dois faire ?

Je pense que je peux obéir plus dans la conseille pour le Sabbat : « Et afin de te préserver plus complètement  des souillures du monde, tu iras en mon saint jour à la maison de prière et tu y offriras tes sacrements ; car en vérité, c’est ce jour qui t’est désigné pour que tu te reposes de tes labeurs et pour que tu présentes tes dévotions au Très-Haut » (D&A 59 :9-10).  Tous que je fais sur le Sabbat doivent être pour la glorification de Dieu.  Peut-être que mes actions seraient le service pour les autres ou lire les écritures ou parler à ma famille—mais je les fais maintenant.  Quelle sont les autres activités que je peux faire ? 

Je viens à mon autre question : chaque jour, mais en particulier, sur le Sabbat, qu’est-ce que le Sauveur faisait que je peux aussi faire ?  Actes 10 : 38 : « Vous savez comment Dieu a oint du Saint-Esprit et de force Jésus de Nazareth, qui allait de lieu en lieu faisant du bien et guérissant tous ceux qui étaient sous l’empire du diable, car Dieu était avec lui. »  C’est une question que je dois la penser plus avec la prière de me guider.

TRC volunteering

The past three weeks I've gone and volunteered in the TRC (Teaching Resource Center) at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in French. It has been such an amazing experience! Not only do I get to practice speaking in French myself, not only do I get a little confidence booster that I really do know more French than I think I do, but I also get to feel the Spirit and I get to have my testimony strengthened of the reality of Jesus Christ, His mission, and the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This past week I was able to be there for two hours (usually I'm only there for one but this week my career strategies class got out early). The first hour I was with more experienced missionaries (they'd been there for eight weeks) and so they taught the lesson in French. They taught me about the Plan of Salvation and the Word of Wisdom. Did you know what the Word of Wisdom translates as in French? La perle de sagesse. The pearl of wisdom. Basically the same thing but the change from "word" to "pearl" really stuck out to me.

The second hour I was with missionaries who had only been there for one week. They did their initial contact and setting up an appointment in the first fifteen minutes (like the more advanced missionaries had done) but they were so nervous! I felt so bad for them. The last pair that was in the room with me, I heard them talk in English once they left the room and they were talking about how badly it had gone. I said a little prayer for them while they were out in the hall preparing for the lesson they would teach me in English. They taught me about the church and Book of Mormon. I know that I've read the scriptures they had me read countless times--Joseph Smith History 1:16-17 and Moroni 10:3-5. But this time both of those scripture accounts really impressed themselves on me. The fact that just at the moment when Joseph was going to surrender to the adversary, the pillar of light descended and he saw the Father and the Son. The fact that the Lord has been merciful unto the children of men from the time of Adam even down until the time that we read the words contained in the Book of Mormon. Those facts really struck a chord within me. They're true.

The Lord truly does love us. God will be there for us, even if it isn't until the last hour, He will come. Sometimes we need to see what we can do and what we will do in a certain situation. Sometimes our faith is tried. And probably many times we just don't see the hand of the Lord guiding our lives.

I'm so grateful I get to go to the TRC and have my testimony strengthened.

Fresh perspective on timing

I'll write later about my trip to Normandy (which was fabulous!). But I wanted to write this down before I forgot:

The Lord knows exactly what He is doing. He knows the right times. He knows our circumstances and what we need and what He needs for us and what we need to experience to become the people He knows we can become.

I was blessed with the opportunity of going to dinner with Grace at the home of the Paris Ward Bishop's home tonight, with him and his wife (their son was sleeping). They gave us an incredibly refreshing view on timing and experiencing life and taking advantage of the opportunities we are given and the seasons that we are in now rather than being anxious about a season that hasn't happened yet. It was so different from what I hear at BYU and from what many of my friends are experiencing right now and it was so in accordance with how I feel.

Figuring out who I am and starting the process of becoming that person is a worthy goal that shouldn't be derided or seen as inferior. There is so much potential that we all have and if we are given an opportunity to develop a part of it, why should we not take it?

Day 19: Picnics, Cemeteries, & Talking to Family

After church on Sunday, a group of us (some from study abroad, some from the ward), went to a nearby park and had a picnic. It was really fun and really relaxing. We had some bread, cheese, sauscisson sec (which is kind of like beef jerky only better), yogurt, chocolate, and oranges to eat. Overall, not a bad turnout for a rather last-minute-notice picnic. I got to know two people better that day: Camille & Todd. Camille is here in Paris going to school as a study abroad experience. She goes to school in Georgia normally and she is from Rexburg, Idaho. We had a good conversation about what is publicly acceptable in France as opposed to in America, which may actually help me with my 445 paper. Todd is here on an internship. He graduated from Utah State in December with a business degree. He went to school with Kris Kelley Cutler and Jeff Barrus, which I thought was pretty fun because of the different ways that I know both Kris and Jeff. He did mention that he had a teacher with my last name at South Jordan Middle School and asked if I was related; I said I wasn't sure, but I didn't think so.

After the picnic, Grace, Judy, Katherine, Camille, and I went to the Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise, one of the most famous cemeteries in Paris because of all the famous people buried there. It is set up so it is kind of like a little city, with mostly upright tombs and pathways and street names. Much different than the cemeteries in Michigan.

(Pere-Lachaise Cemetery)

(Pere-Lachaise Cemetery)

There was a tomb that had two crying statues that I thought were beautifully made, and while the statues may be crying because those who had the tomb built didn't understand that death was not the end, it also reminded me of how we can and should and have covenanted to mourn with those that mourn. That even with our understanding and our testimonies about life after death, there is still a mourning process and even just being there and weeping with them can help people through that process.

(One of the crying statues)

I also really liked the Monument aux Morts which was created on behalf of all the dead in the cemetery.

(It is interesting to note that there is a man and a woman entering together on the top half of the monument.)

(The inscription goes along with the title: Monument aux Morts and reads: "on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light shines.")

I had to cut my visit short at the cemetery so I could make my way to a computer so I could talk to my family. Todd lives somewhat close to the cemetery (much closer than the Vesinet) and he had a computer with a camera and mic capabilities so he said I could use his computer. We made it as quickly as we could, but we rely on public transportation so we didn't arrive at his apartment until 5:10. I was on the computer by 5:15, but I was 15 minutes late. I was a little bit sad because no one was on and I thought I wouldn't be able to talk to my family that week. But I managed to eventually sort of talk with my Dad, but we decided to just try to talk later that night when everyone would be back from church--which would be 11pm my time.

Accordingly, at eleven I was online. We managed to make it work. At one point, Dad's face froze up with a hilarious expression and I could not stop laughing. It was so funny. Even when I think about it now, it makes me laugh. Mostly I was just happy to see and talk to my family. It had been a long week, I'd had an unusual amount of time to think and observe and self-evaluate and I just needed people who know me and love me. Even though I was tired, I was really grateful to talk to my family.

Day 12: Church

Today was ward conference. It was really good! I took some notes about the power of visiting teaching and ministering to others. Poor doesn't just mean lack of money or even just poor in spirit or poor in attitude. It can also be applied to poor in health, love, intelligence, understanding. The stake president brought up the fact that equality does not mean that everyone gets the exact same thing. Equality means that everyone gets what he needs--which will be different from what his neighbor or brother may need. Visiting and home teaching are a type of consecration.

I went for a walk today before talking to my family. I took some pictures. It is so beautiful here! During my walk today I think I may have changed my topic for 445 and 490. Before I had been going to do the connection the French have to the land and their desire to preserve it. Now I think I may do the distinctions they make between public and private that are different from American culture...we'll see.

Talking with my family on the Internet was pretty funny because my mic wasn't working (well, it was but it would sound all fuzzy and loud and hurt everyone's ears) so we set up chat. They would talk, I would hear them and respond by typing. It's a good thing I can type pretty fast. :) It was really nice being able to see all their faces. Dad had Ben and Jacob stand next to Mom. Holy cow! They are so tall!! That's okay, they're still my little brothers. ;)

I set a goal with M. Erickson today for my 311 class (conversation). I need to work on the passe compose and imparfait so I need to tell stories about the past about things I did or what I did that day or such things. I need to be talking more. I had hoped we'd be able to go to FHE tomorrow night with the young adults from the ward, but we weren't able to talk to Nannick about having dinner on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, rather than Monday through Wednesday. Hopefully next week, because I would really like to be able to do that.

(Neighborhood around Nannick's)

(On the other side of the pond from the RER station)

(I love the gates and doors here in France)

(The path I walk by everyday on my way to the RER station)

(one corner of Nannick's backyard)

Day 7: I fell in love...

So I fell in love today...

(First spotting of him from across the street)

(Aren't we a cute couple?)

haha, just kidding. It was an empty knight in armor at a costume shop

We went to Notre Dame de Chartres today.

It was a pretty cold day and at first I was just grateful to be inside a building that blocked me from the strong wind. I walked around and took some pictures before the rest of my group got there. I was impressed by the beautiful stained glass windows and the height of the ceiling. I thought the floor was pretty cool, but nothing was really pulling me the way that Sainte-Chapelle had yesterday when my breath was taken away at first glance.

(Inside Notre Dame de Chartres)

(Inside Notre Dame de Chartres)

Our tour started at 1:45 sharp. Our tour guide was awesome! His name is Malcolm Miller and I highly recommend him to anyone that ever visits Notre Dame de Chartres; he's been there a really long time and he knows it so well! We put on our head sets (so that he wouldn't need to speak loudly and so that we wouldn't need to strain our ears) and the tour began. However, the tour began with us just sitting in chairs, looking up at the western facade. Malcolm began giving the spiritual and historical background of the cathedral--the fire that burned down the previous cathedrals on that spot, the relic that is kept there, the miracle that was said to occur, etc.

(Western Facade in Notre Dame de Chartres)

And before I knew it, I was falling in love with the cathedral. Malcolm helped us to read the windows and read the symbolism that was apparent in several of the different windows--such as the Good Samaritan/Fall of Adam & Eve window. Love love love that window! There is an article in the February 2007 Liahona called The Good Samaritan: Forgotten Symbols by John W. Welch, in which he talks about this window and the symbolism. After hearing about the symbolism and truths embodied in that window, I really wanted to be able to stay for hours and hours and days and days and read all the windows and figure out what they were all saying.

(Good Samaritan & Fall of Adam & Eve)

Also, Malcolm had us look at the South Rose window. He pointed out that the lancet windows (not the big circle window) have four windows with an Old Testament prophet holding a New Testament disciple on their backs, to show the connection and continuation of truth between the Old and New Testaments. Amazing! The windows go: Jeremiah carrying Luke, Isaiah carrying Matthew, Mary (the person whereby the Old & New Testaments meet with the birth of Christ), Ezekiel carrying John, and Daniel carrying Mark.

(South Rose window with the Old Testament prophets

holding New Testament writers on their backs)

It was such a wonderful experience and helped open up for me about different types of literacy (yes, yes, I know: teacher-talk). There is literacy with words being the abstract representations; but then there are pictures that are symbols too of an abstract idea, just as much or even more than mere words. Words can only hold so much meaning, whereas pictures/visuals can hold a lot more meaning than just one word.

Also, I had fromage blanc (white cheese; it's creamy, kind of like yogurt but not) tonight with compote de pomme (like apple sauce) and sugar. So good! I really liked it a lot.

p.s. Could someone post a comment every once and a while? It will help me to realize that people are actually looking at this...even though I do like posting on here. It'll be a great site to have after I return.

Day 5: Samedi soir et dimanche

Last night I went with Grace, Andrea, Meredith, Judy, Catherine, Mathilde, Ryan, Giles, Richard, Anne, and Jessica to the Institute dance in Versailles for May day. It was tons of fun! At first there was just one couple dancing, but then Andrea and I decided that we came to dance so we might as well; so she and I went out and started dancing and pretty soon more and more people started joining us.

There was a crazy dancer, who I later found out is named Carter and that he's from Utah, but at first I thought he was just a crazy French guy. Nope. Crazy Utahn. ;) He's cool though; he (and Miro--pronounced Me-row) walked with us from the church building in Versailles to the metro stop that took us back to where we all needed to go. He's in the Paris ward we go to as well. He's got a pretty cool story--he graduated from BYU in film a few years ago, lived in SLC for a while worked for Excelfilms (he helped a little with Forever Strong), then he was looking for a reason to get out of SLC so he signed up for an au pair position in France. He ended up getting through his tough situation, but still having the position and he decided "Why not go to France?" so here he is.

I also talked with a guy name Lehi, who is the only Lehi in France (and it's pronounced a little differently in French, but when he introduces himself in English it just sounds like the normal Lehi from the scriptures). :) He's a neat guy too. He's from France--he's lived lots of different places in France (southern, northeastern, west coast, east, back to southern, and now in Paris) and he didn't really claim just one place. He served in Ogden a few years ago so his English was actually pretty good and almost devoid of an accent. We talked for a little bit in English but then he tested me on my French. And then I became really confused about the cultural rules I had learned! I had been taught to use vous (formal form of "you") when speaking to someone that is older than me, superior to me, or that I don't know; whereas tu (inform form of "you") is for those your same age or younger, or for more familiarity. Well, I didn't know this Lehi kid, so I was talking to him using the vous forms and he repeated my question (a trait of the French apparently, according to my book) only he switched it from the vous form to the tu form. I was a little confused because we'd just met...but now that I think about it, it's probably just because we're in the same age bracket.

The other thing is that I know I wasn't supposed to ask about his family because that's not something you do in France, but he used the tu form so I was all mixed up so I asked him if he had any brothers and sisters. His response was that I shouldn't ask that question to other people in France because it's not appropriate when you just meet someone (yeah, I know...and I shouldn't have but I didn't know what else TO ask because I was all hung up on why he switched from vous to tu when that went against what I'd learned...whatever, I'm over it) but since he served in the US and knows our customs (plus he's a member of the Church and he's merciful about my cultural blunder) he did answer my question.

Now for today: I went to church this morning in the Paris ward. I could understand what they were saying in Relief Society and during Testimony meeting, but I was zoning off during Sunday School because I was tired. Ugh, I was tired. I kept waking up last night afraid that I was going to sleep through my phone and miss church. But church went backwards--Relief Society, Sunday School, Sacrament Meeting. I really liked the testimony meeting. The Church is true wherever you go. :) Plus in Relief Society at the end the Relief Society president bore her testimony and man was that powerful.

After church we went to the Louvre because the museums are free the first Sunday of every month. It was good--we were all pretty tired so it wasn't as fantastic as it should have been. Plus there were thousands of people there (probably because it was gratuit, aka free, today) which put a damper on things.

(In front of the Louvre)

(Yes I actually saw the Mona Lisa; no it really wasn't that big of a deal.)

I was able to talk to Mom, Jacob, and Ben today. We weren't able to get Amelia and Rem on because of a technical misunderstanding, but it was fun talking to the others.

Because of church today I realize that I can understand a lot of French when it is spoken, but I really need to work on speaking French to other people. It was good when I came home tonight after being with Richard and Giles (I used Richard's computer to talk with my family because I wasn't sure if the Internet would work here yet), Grace and I just naturally spoke in French. It was awesome. It may also have been because I wasn't inhibited which is probably because I got to listen and watch two adorable four year old boys talk to each other on the RER in French about their action figure toys. So so cute! It really made my night. That was a tender mercy. :)