One of my favorite quotes EVER! And no fear, I'll never have perfectly coiffed hair.

“I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk’s lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone’s garden. I want to be there with children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.” -Marjorie Peay Hinckley

Modern Day Miracles

I read an inspiring article today about a group of 40 teens who did a Extreme Home Makeover for their Church Youth Conference. This is the kind of thing that I wish made news headlines more often! They accomplished a miracle, changed lives and learned skills. There was a leader behind it all with faith and a vision, lots of courage, and who wasn't afraid of hard work. And there were countless supporters who DIDN'T say, "It's too hard. We can't do it. It would be nice but...too much work...." Think of the blessings this family received, and maybe more important, the memories these youth will have as they recognize they can make a difference in a very real way when they "stand steadfast and immoveable, always abounding in good works" (Mosiah 5:15).

Hallelujah!!

I just cannot contain my excitement!!! My sister and her cute family are moving to my city!! I have lived away from family for 8 years, but the famine is now over!! Hopefully we can find a great place for them to live close by. Ward family, you are going to love them! They are the best!

Technology & Isolation

I've been thinking about something, and I know it's not the most original thought, but still. Some technology really seems to isolate. My husband gave me an iPod for Mother's Day. It was very sweet of him to do that and I have downloaded some songs that I wanted to own but just always checked out from the library. But guess what: Beyond trying it out, I have never used the iPod. I don't know when to use it. My ears are needed elsewhere. All day long I have to be able to listen to my children. I can't isolate myself by plugging my ears up. When I exercise I either need to hear Bryan Kest tell me what yoga move to do next, or else I want to hear the beautiful songbirds when I go walking. And sometimes, I just love silence. So when do I use the iPod?

Secondly, our dear blogs. On one level, blogs increase my ability to stay caught up with others, especially those that live far away from me. Blogs even decrease my isolation by increasing my virtual social network. However, here is one interesting point: there are people who live near me, who I see at church and at playgroup, and yet we find out more about each other on our blogs than we do by talking in person or on the phone! In that case, it seems like we've distanced ourselves from each other. We've gone from personal to virtual. Maybe reading others' blogs appeals to our snooping tendencies. We can rubberneck without having to get involved.

I'm glad people care about me and want to read my blog. Thanks for reading and please don't stop! I also really enjoy checking out everyone else's blogs. But maybe sometimes I should put down the mouse and pick up the phone. I definitely prefer personal friendship to virtual friendship if given the choice. What do you think? How does technology affect our relationships?