What I did for Christmas

(Can you see the teeny-tiny Statue of Liberty?)

(Matt Lauer's bum)

(Christmas Dinner)

I had the most fabulous time in New York with a great friend. We partied and played and had almost all the good times we could handle. Isn't life fun?

Merry Christmas

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

The McRib is back . . .

and you can judge me all you want for being excited about it. I don't even care.

Have you ever . . .

I totally stole this from my friend's blog. Maybe you'll learn something about me here . . .

I've bolded the ones I have done:

Started your own blog (um, hello)
Slept under the stars
Played in a band (does Rock Band count?)
Visited Hawaii
Watched a meteor shower
Given more than you can afford to charity
Been to Disneyland (and left with stitches)
Climbed a mountain
Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo
Bungee jumped
Visited Paris
Watched a lightning storm at sea
Adopted a child
Had food poisoning (blech)
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Grown your own vegetables
Seen the Mona Lisa in France
Slept on an overnight train (with an Italian couple who I'm pretty sure were gettin' it on - super fun)
Had a pillow fight
Hitch hiked
Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
Built a snow fort
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Run a Marathon (done two Halfs - does that count as one?)
Ridden in a gondola in Venice
Watched a sunrise or sunset
Been on a cruise
Seen Niagara Falls in person
Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (if it's not Scottish, it's crap)
Seen an Amish community
Taught yourself a new language
Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (in the pouring rain after the night on the train)
Gone rock climbing
Seen Michelangelo’s David
Sung Karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (just this summer-awesome)
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
Visited Africa
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had your portrait painted
Gone deep sea fishing
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Gone to a drive-in theater
Been in a movie
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Taken a martial arts classVisited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen
Sold Girl Scout Cookies
Gone whale watching
Got flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Gone sky diving
Bounced a check
Flown in a helicopter
Seen the Lincoln Memorial in person
Pieced a quilt (hahaha - right, me?)
Stood in Times Square (and I will again in a week!)
Toured the Everglades
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
Broken a bone
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published a book
Visited the Vatican
Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem
Had your picture in the newspaper
Read the entire Bible
Visited the White House (saw it from the outside, didn't go in)
Killed and prepared an animal for eating
Had chickenpox
Saved someone’s life
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous
Joined a book club (multiple)
Lost a loved one
Had a baby
Seen the Alamo in person (no but I've been in the basement)
Swam in the Great Salt Lake
Been involved in a law suit
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee

I recommend . . .

I was speaking with a friend about books we love, and there's one that always comes to mind for me. In The Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick is such an interesting read. I don't want to give too much away, but essentially it's a survival story of the crew of a whaling ship. This real event inspired Melville's Moby Dick.

I know nonfiction can be unappealing to some people, but I promise you this is a fascinating story. You will learn incredible things about human endurance under duress.

We don't have cool Gandhi look-a-like contests in the US. Why is that?

In Memorium

"The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.

One of the blessings of the gospel is the knowledge that when the curtain of death signals the end of our mortal lives, life will continue on the other side of the veil. There we will be given new opportunities. Not even death can take from us the eternal blessings promised by a loving Heavenly Father." (Elder Wirthlin, "Come What May," Oct 2008)

A good man has passed, but what amazing words and service he has left behind. Elder Wirthlin exuded love and warmth, and I will miss hearing his kind words. This sad event is a good reminder that we all need to be better, work harder and love deeper.