Thursday, April 17, 2008

The magic of smells...

When I went to get the mail yesterday at work, I noticed as I walked into the mail room a very strong familiar smell. While most people take caffeine pills, drink a good Dr. Pepper or Mt. Dew, or simple turn on the AC or roll down the windows, my dad as long as I can remember has eaten corn nuts to stay awake while he is driving. The smell is unmistakable, and I can't say the most pleasant either. But every time I even catch the smallest whiff, I am instantly transported back to our long family trips across the country. Every year we made the long journey across the country either from Florida to Idaho, or Illinois to Idaho or Arizona. Driving at least 10 hours in a day. These trips were always filled with mini adventures. I remember sticking a butter knife in seat cushions pretending like I was a pilot flying some sort of space craft, especially when we drove at night. I was always off on some crazy adventure in my imagination even though we may have been driving through the middle of Kansas. One of the things that I loved as a kids about these long trips, was the candy bag. My mom let each of pick out candy for the trip. Which very often included tootsie rolls, smarties, and little sweet tarts. These trips were some of the greatest bonding moments for my family. Including the time that my younger brother sliced foot open in the camper, blood gushing everywhere. Or when we pretendedmade news recordings on a very ghetto tape recorder. Or the time that we had the whole movie The Princess Bride memorized, so we muted it and each person in the car took a part and we said the lines of the whole movie. There are many more memories that I have from these trips, which I made add later. But it never ceases to amaze me how smells have
the affect of instantaneously triggering memories.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

A Sunday Afternoon




Today was wonderful...
Even though I started the day with a major headache, it turned out to be a marvelous day. It definitely has been a day of reflection on how to be better. I had a peaceful afternoon that I just took for myself. It is amazing how rejuvenating that can be. I took some pictures which you can see here. Then I went up to my favorite look out place to think and read... it was great. I've started reading Elder Maxwell's book Not My Will, but Thine, which is helping me learn lessons that I definitely have needed. I'm walking in graduation a week from Friday! It is so odd to think that these will be my last classes at BYU. I have been so blessed by all of the experiences that I've had while I've been here. Oh the picture is one that I took while I was reading and watching the sunset.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Promised pictures...




So besides the need to post these pictures...


I just wanted to say how much I loved conference. I feel so blessed to know that there is a prophet on the earth today to lead and guide us. And even better, he has a good sense of humor.