Old Books

My family has inherited a bunch of old books belonging to my great-grandparents ever since my last grandparent died a year ago February. We have probably 50 or 60 of them, some of them printed as recently as the '50s and '60s, but some very close to the beginning of last century. They're beautiful, all hardcovers like books used to be made, almost all have cool black and white illustrations, and the pages on many books are yellowing. I love it. I got to go through all the books and mark which ones I would be interested in having passed into my possesion. They have to go to quite a few grandkids and other family members so I won't get all of the ones I want... luckily my oldest brother and I are the ones most interested in all these old books.

One of my favorites is the Grimms' Fairy Tales. Disney and modern culture have taken some of these stories and made them happier with less frightful occurances than the original Grimm stories. They have gone through some changes since the original stories were written to make them less scary and gory, but much to my pleasure, this version seems to be very close to the original story. For example Cinderella's step-sisters cut off their heels and toes to fit into the slipper, and there is blood everywhere. How silly. But it makes a much better story, I think, and that's the version told in this 1945 published copy. I NEED this one! Keep your fingers crossed that I get to own it one day.

In honor of my new camera and my love of the written word, I just wanted to make this nice little post about them and take some pictures to document their loveliness. Enjoy.

Fishers of Men

To preface: This post is really long, and I apologize. I hope you know I wouldn't write something so long if it didn't mean a great deal to me. And I think you will enjoy reading it, so give it a chance :).

I'm currently reading a series entitled, The Kingdom and the Crown (why can't you underline in blogs?). The first book is Fishers of Men. It is very good so far. I just finished reading a wonderful part- a main character in the novel, David ben Joseph, just told his son his personal account of a night 30 years before of Christ's birth. It got me thinking about a lot of things. It's 2:30 am, but my mind is working too much to sleep, so I wanted to write this now rather than in the morning.

Of least importance, I was thinking about this: we all know that Christ wasn't born in December. He was born during the time of Passover, which is in the spring. To my knowledge Passover has always been in the month of April, although the dates change from year to year depending on the Jewish calendar. This made me imagine what Christmas would be like if it was in April, actually during the time of Christ's birth, which is what we celebrate. We would still have candy canes, honoring and symbolizing the shepherds who saw the star, heard the angel, and sought the baby Jesus. We would still have evergreens as the base for which we hang often meaningful ornaments. But there would be no songs about a "White Christmas". No chill in the air. No images of snow covered cottages with smoke coming out of its chimney. No sleigh bell rides or people hurrying home through the cold night air wrapped in coats and gloves and scarves, carrying precious packages. No snow illuminating the landscape and being a beloved symbol of the Season... the Season of Christmas. How sad this image of Christmas looks in my mind. Because of all these things and for what it symbolizes, Christmas truly is "the most wonderful time of the year." How beautiful its image is to us in the dead of winter. Of course, if this holiday had always been in April we never would have known any better or missed a thing.

Then I started to think about the account that David was giving to his son in this novel. He had seen a man and a woman on a donkey at the door of an inn, inquiring about a place to stay the night, but after passing them thought no more about it. It being Passover season, the Holy City of Jerusalem was crawling with people from all over the country to celebrate. It's no surprise there was no room at the inn. But what if there was still a room? Perhaps the Innkeeper, rather than not caring as I think we often imagine, actually took pity on the poor, sick looking woman. Perhaps he knew, possibly influenced by the spirit as I hope I would have been in the presence of the mother of the son of God, that she needed somewhere private, away from the tumult and chaos, to spend the night and possibly give birth. What if he owned the stable, or sent them there out of the kindness of his heart? I hope I get to ask him one day.

David tells his son, Simeon, that he was in a shepherd's field that historical night at the beginning of Passover. He was awoken at around the second watch (in April that was probably at 10 pm or so). To use his words, "a brilliant light was illuminating the whole landscape around us. It was as thought it were midday." Out of this light an angel appeared, announcing glad tidings of great joy- that the Savior of the world was born that night in the city of David- a mere 6 miles south of where I will be living in the fall. David went and saw that baby, as the angel had said, lying in a lowly manger.

As I read this passage, I could strongly feel the testimony the author and previous General Authority, Gerald Lund, has about the story of the birth of Christ. I just briefly want to add my testimony to his. This is not just a story that we read about and passingly know and believe is true. It happened. Take a few minutes to really think about it and play out the situation in your mind. Our Savior and elder brother was born in Bethlehem, and an angel and a heavenly host announced his birth to the countryside that night. He lived and loved and taught. I know this with all of my heart. I hope you can understand the pull that Israel has on me and why I am excited beyond words. I will be living where these things happened. It is awesome and mindblowing beyond anything I can explain through speech. I cannot wait!

Within only the first 100 pages of this book I learned an incredible amount about Israel at the time of Christ. I've learned about the Romans and their influence on the entire area, the Zealots, the Jews, the Pharisees and the Saducees, the Gentiles and the Samaritans, and how they all relate to and feel about one another. I've remembered and newly learned more details and general geography of the Holy Land. I haven't learned so much so quickly from a novel in a long time. And did I mention it's really, really good? I highly recommend it to you my friends, many of which are avid readers. You will appreciate the story, the characters, and its message a great deal.

I originally wanted a beautiful picture of the BYU Jerusalem Center here, but could not get the picture to show up in this location. I'm sure there's a way. It just wouldn't do it for me. So you'll have to imagine it. And please forgive spelling or gramatical errors. It's now 3:30 in the morning... goodnight!

Does that mean Provo is my home if that's where my heart is?

For the first time, home feels weird. I'm restless. As far as my plans go: Finished one book. Check. Well on my way into re-reading The Half-Blood Prince. Hung out with Lauren, Ricky, and Cassie twice. Check. Going to the beautiful Oregon Coast tomorrow. Check.

My home ward felt so weird. None of my friends were there except Hannah. And Trent and my old Young Women's president. I'll have more in the future weeks when they're back from Idaho, Montana, Virginia, etc.... but today felt pretty depressing. I couldn't even sit through Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society with Hannah because she got the cool calling of being a Primary Teacher. My mom refuses to cook ever so my whole weekend of being home has consisted of eating pizza. Literally. I still haven't unpacked my things yet so my room is a disaster area, but at least it's my lovely, familiar room.

I just watched the A102 intro video that they made for ward prayer back in November. Those were the good old days when everyone was in Provo and we could hang out whenever, all the time.

I get to babysit Tuesday! And then Tuesday night hopefully I will be with Matt and Jon. That will definitely make me feel more at home. Then in the next week or so Matt, Hannah, and I will drive up to the Cascade Locks and do a gorgeous day hike starting at Eagle Creek. Can't wait :)

Anyways, I love all of you, my Provo friends! Don't forget about me while I'm so far away!

Summer Plans!

I've been thinking alot lately about the things I want to do while I'm home in Oregon. My thoughts are so jumbled that I figured it would be easier just to write them down on this.


-At least 10 hours of yardwork a week. That equals $90(having already taken out tithing) and will go to my Jerusalem fund.

-Call Rachel BEFORE I get home and tell her I want to babysit for her the rest of the summer. If she doesn't need me for some reason, I'll call her friend Angela who I originally babysat for during Junior and Senior years of highschool. They both have boy twins. Each set is the same age, and all four are good friends. It's fun! Sometimes I get to watch them all at once.... it can be a pain but they're better at minding me than you'd expect :)

-Play either the piano or my violin each day. If I feel like doing both, then great.

-Read: Jesus the Christ. Jerusalem, the Eternal City. Dune. Finish the Belgariad. Finish Tales from the 1001 Nights. Finish the Book of Mormon. Re-read The Half-Blood Prince before the movie comes out. Sounds like a lot, but if you know me, you know I can do it :)

-Don't put off playing with my highschool friends until the last few weeks I'm home. I did that last year. I will play at least 3 times a week. I have a car there, it shouldn't be too hard.

-Go to the beautiful Portland Temple at least twice.

-Go on at least one overnight backpacking trip with Hannah and Callie. With Hannah's dad. The three of us have learned to never go very far without a priesthood holder.

-Run at LEAST three times a week. I'm on a running high lately so I think I can do more than that. Jared told me everyone will gain around 10-15 lbs in Jerusalem... so if that happens, I'm going to make sure I'm not coming back weighing more than I do right now.

-Go on a bike ride with Hannah, Callie, Ricky, Jon, or Matt. Or all 5. We love each other :)

-Watch Scrubs season 8

-Go to the midnight showing of Harry Potter with aforementioned people... plus many others.

-Take a long weekend to visit Laura!

-Take a trip to the Oregon Coast to see my usual sights that I've been craving.

-Come back to Utah for Travis and Shannon's wedding??? You have no idea how serious I am about wanting to come...

-Make sure a weekend will work out for Laura to come visit me!

-Practice dance somehow, somewhere.

-Finish Zelda, Ocarina of Time

-Learn how to use my new, good, photography camera well. Have Hannah show me how to be artistic with it :)


That's all I can remember for right now. There are probably a few other things. Sorry this is so long and probably boring for everyone but me to read. I have two months starting this time next week. I probably won't have time to sleep, but it will be worth it! Ready, Set, GO!

Consistency, why so inconsistent?

I understand the importance of change, but I often find myself wishing it didn't have to happen. Sometimes things really were better before they changed. What's so wrong with that? Let other things change so we can progress and grow, and keep some things the same? And then, why does it always seem impossible to change back to how it was before the original change, even when that is what's best for everyone?

Can't we just go back to months and months ago where friendships were simpler, more relaxed, and just came so easily and felt so natural? Nothing was expected out of those friendships, just to enjoy the time spent together, getting to know each other better and love each other for what we could each bring into the innocent relationship. I guess that drama is almost always inevitable though. Sometimes that's just fine. You pull through and have a better, stronger relationship because of it.

But sometimes you don't. You go through the hurt of it, but sometimes you don't fully heal - coming full circle to my original thought.

Oh ye of little faith!

I was given a challenge a matter of minutes ago- The wonderful, fun, amazingly unforgettable men of Avenues apartment 123 think that since I won't be in the ward next year, even though I'll still be in the Elms, I won't ever come visit them. They told me to prove them wrong, and so I will!! Well, I will starting in January when I'm back. Laura, you're part of this challenge too :) Have a lovely Sunday all!

Why I love exercise

Except for slight dance frustrations, today has been good so far... I know it's only 11am, but it makes me optimistic for the rest of the day. I worked out extra hard today, and I'm satisfied with my current endurance level. It could still be much better, but I could run longer today without stopping than I've been able to in a while. And then instead of slacking off and only lifting weights for 15 minutes and doing little-to-no ab workouts, I did 30 minutes of weights and then lots of abs and stretching. Working out feels so good! It gets me in the mood to get things done.

So:

Today I'm hoping to get my food handler's permit, go to my advisor to plan class schedules for upcoming semesters, go to the ASL lab for an hour, go to ASL, and then go on a hopefully good date with Jeff! If I can clean my room and have a little time to read my book on top of it all then it will be perfect!