Q and A with Abby

Q: How old are you?
A: "Two. I was two and a half, and then I'm three now."

Q: What is you favorite thing to do at school?
A: "I like to play house."

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: "My favorite food is fruit snacks."

Q: What did you do with daddy yesterday?
A: "I stayed with you when mommy left and we played the play dough robot game." (cranium)

Q: What is your favorite thing about church?
A: "My favorite thing likes to color at church."

Q: Who is your best friend?
A: "My best friend is Lexi."

Q: Best friend at school?
A: "McKenna"

Q: What is your favorite thing do with Mom and Dad?
A: "I... My favorite thing is doing... doing... doing... I don't know. Favorite thing, I don't know, I don't know. (singing) I don't know I don't know. Washhu Wasshu. Naaae."

Q: What is your favorite (FHE) Lesson?
A: Uh, my favorite lesson is... uh I don't know.

Q: What happens in your princess dreams?
A: (baking pretend cookies) "I need to go potty." (runs up stairs)

Q: What do you dream about last night?
A: "I had a Belle one."

Q: What did you do in your dream?
A: "I spinned with Beast."

Indie Churchy Rock?

For those who don't know, I'm in charge of the youth program for the boys in our church. This constitutes boys from the ages of 12-18. When it came time for us to be in charge of the September combined activity (which includes the young women), I thought it would be fun to do something a little different. The theme of our program this year is the thirteenth article of faith which talks about seeking after good things. Two of the other leaders and I came up with an activity for the kids to do and we had three groups of kids who rotated through the different stations. I chose to write a song and have the kids add some singing and claps to round out the sound. I basically rearranged the words of the verse to fit into a song (with a little poetic licence taken of course.) All in all we had about 25 kids there that night who contributed to the song. You can listen to it here.

It's Alive!

This blog has been mostly dead for a few consecutive months now, I'm sorry to say. It just seemed like I needed a big reason to blog again because it had been so long. Well big reasons have come and gone and I continued my neglect of this digital space. Life is good, and life is busy. There have been ups and downs, but mostly ups.

Lately, some people who I care about deeply are in the midst of incredibly trying times. It brings me down when I think about it, and I've had a heavy heart for a couple of weeks now. With the sadness though comes more reliance on faith and a greater desire to help and support where I can. We certainly are never helpless, never comfortless, and never without a friend.

There is incredible strength in the bonds that we share with our family and friends. Courage and hope can be drawn from the most simple of gestures and connections. I recognize the need in myself to improve in my ability and willingness to act.

I've learned that gratitude is the most effective remedy for sadness and sorrow. Everyday I'm more and more grateful for my family. Natalie is an absolute rock. The best partner I could ever wish for in this life. Abby is the most fun person I've ever met. She is so full of life and energy. She amazes and inspires me every day, and she makes me laugh constantly. From her lips have been uttered some of the most pure and sincere and beautiful prayers I've ever heard.

The Amazing Millie

I've written in the past about my friends Brady and Amanda. Their daughter Millie is fighting Leukemia, and recently a complete stranger heard about Millie and offered to set up a donation website to help with her extensive medical expenses. I want to share with you all a link to the donation website as well as a thank you video that Amanda put together showing Millie's progress through the treatment, trials, and tears that this brave little soul has endured. You can read more about this amazing family on their blog.

Generation X - King Rocker

This song just came on my ipod and it made me really happy. I hope you all appreciate it as much. Billy Idol should've kept this haircut. Epic.

Happy Memories

Lately, it seems like there has been a lot of sad things happening to people I know and love. A large majority of these instances have been completely out of control of the people they are affecting the most. I thought it might be good to generate some discussion and sharing of happy memories. Seems how this is my idea I'll start.

Memory #1 - Last summer we attended our friends Jake and Eli's wedding reception. It was in a lush, green, secluded back yard on one of those perfect summer evenings. The light back there was incredible and Abby was having a great time dancing to the music and running in circles on the grass. We were there with some of our best friends, most of whom we hadn't seen for some time. I can't put my finger on exactly why it was so great, but I distinctly remember thinking that night that I was experiencing something very close to heaven.  I don't think I'll ever forget it.

Memory #2 - This one is hard to explain, and it is not so much a solitary memory because it has happened more than once. Sometimes when I'm in a social setting, I'll catch a glance of Natalie from across the room and for a second I'm seeing her again for the first time. It is similar to times when you see pictures or video of yourself from an angle your not used to seeing. It takes a second for you to realize who you are looking at followed by a flood of thoughts. Do I really walk like that? Etc. However, when this happens with Natalie, after the recognition takes place a flood of memories of our lives together comes into my brain and it makes me happy.

Memory #3 - I remember being a very young kid, and being incredibly excited for my older brothers to come home from college. I would watch tv with the volume low so I could listen for the back door and hear the familiar voice. It always seemed like an eternity waiting for them, but they always made me feel like a million bucks when the time finally came.

Please, share some good memories, I think we could all use them.

Huntington Beach

On our way to the airport after our Disneyland adventure, we stopped at Huntington Beach to play on the beach and see the ocean. It was just before dusk and the light was really amazing. I grabbed the camera and started snapping photo after photo. Abby was so mesmerized by the waves and the sea shells that she was almost completely oblivious to me. It was really fun to see her experience the ocean for the first time, and I think these photos do a pretty good job of capturing the moments.