Over the last decade or so my hometown has been working on fixing up the downtown district. Our downtown is nothing big. The buildings are small and the shops are made up mostly of locally owned antique stores and restaurants and I believe the tallest building there is the library but it's quaint and I love it. Several condemned buildings have been torn down and replaced with grassy areas with murals while other older buildings received face lifts. Even the police station had a make over. It's actually exciting for me to see progress in a turbulent economic downturn.
One of my fondest memories was watching Back to the Future III at the downtown theater. I didn't notice at the time how rundown and old it was, I was too excited about seeing Michael J Fox save the present as he knew it from the evil clutches of Biff Tannen in all his various ages and generations. After that I went there only a handful of times before the building was finally condemned and Edwards took over the Treasure Valley. I hadn't thought about the old theater much since then until a foundation came to my work asking for help with their bookkeeping and taxes. They call themselves the Pix Theatre Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in the restoration of an old condemned building where a little girl once watched Back to the Future III. The work they are doing will not only give downtown their theater back but also a venue where live performances and meals can be given. Over the last couple years we've built a relationship with the official members of the organization and have done work for them pro bono.
A few weeks ago they came into our office announcing their 3rd Annual Gala on October 24, a fund raising and awareness event with auctions, dinner, entertainment, and raffles. Since we've done so much work for them they wanted to give us a whole table of eight (cost of $800) and be VIP guests for the evening. They mentioned they were having trouble finding volunteers to help receive money for all the different money making portions of the evening and I immediately accepted the challenge for both my husband and myself. My mom (also my boss) said everyone who sat at our table would be happy to help. It was an exciting evening for me at least.
They had some really good fundraising ideas as well. The theme was Wizard of Oz and a local jewelry store donated a real ruby and emerald. Anyone who bought a wand (little dollar store plastic things) received a box which may or may not have the ruby or emerald enclosed inside. Those who didn't receive the precious stones got other jewelry like earrings and necklaces. There of course was a raffle for a beautiful quilt, a live auctions, a silent auction, and an online auction.
I live for these kinds of things. I don't like going to this stuff for the party, I always feel out of place and awkward. I love to work these events where I feel I have an excuse to interact with the guests and feel like I'm working toward a good cause. Something my hometown can be proud of.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Underwhelming the Overwhelming
I have a brother two years younger than me. This worked out perfectly for us when we decided to serve a mission for our church. I stayed in the states serving in the CRM and he went abroad to teach the people of France the restored gospel. Our experiences as missionaries were very different but the unity we felt knowing we were serving our Savior is His work created a bond between us that will never fade.
Our lives after the mission have reflected our mission as we both work toward similiar goals in different ways. We both are attending college but he goes to Rexburge and I attend BSU. I'm now married with kids and he is dating a lovely girl we just met this weekend.
Which brings me to the purpose of my post.
MY BROTHER BROUGHT A GIRL HOME TO MEET THE FAMILY!!
Needless to say we were all very excited. My dad's birthday was on Wednesday which just happened to be the same day as the Boise State football game between Tulsa. We've developed a tradition to go to my parents house to watch the Boise State games (GO BRONCOS!) and eat Klondik bars in the 3rd quarter. While watching the game we received a text from my brother saying he was bringing the girlfriend of 1 month home!
Well after the shock passed we started to panic just a little. First off, the reason Nick was coming home was to celebrate Dad's birthday on Sunday (big family dinner) AND to go golfing on Saturday morning. The poor girl was going to be alone with us for half a day. That's a lot of boyfriend family to take in on the first trip out. So we (the girls) started planning what activities we would do in hopes to not overwhelm the poor girl.
I'm happy to say though she did just fine. Despite being so young (19) she's, as my mother puts it, "Lovely." She's funny, sweet, interested, and most importantly interesting. Flash teased her unmercifully and she handled it very well which gives her a pass in my book. He certaintly can be overwhelming for those unused to his kind of teasing attention.
We all hope this will be a lasting relationship but you know it's only been a month... ;)
Our lives after the mission have reflected our mission as we both work toward similiar goals in different ways. We both are attending college but he goes to Rexburge and I attend BSU. I'm now married with kids and he is dating a lovely girl we just met this weekend.
Which brings me to the purpose of my post.
MY BROTHER BROUGHT A GIRL HOME TO MEET THE FAMILY!!
Needless to say we were all very excited. My dad's birthday was on Wednesday which just happened to be the same day as the Boise State football game between Tulsa. We've developed a tradition to go to my parents house to watch the Boise State games (GO BRONCOS!) and eat Klondik bars in the 3rd quarter. While watching the game we received a text from my brother saying he was bringing the girlfriend of 1 month home!
Well after the shock passed we started to panic just a little. First off, the reason Nick was coming home was to celebrate Dad's birthday on Sunday (big family dinner) AND to go golfing on Saturday morning. The poor girl was going to be alone with us for half a day. That's a lot of boyfriend family to take in on the first trip out. So we (the girls) started planning what activities we would do in hopes to not overwhelm the poor girl.
I'm happy to say though she did just fine. Despite being so young (19) she's, as my mother puts it, "Lovely." She's funny, sweet, interested, and most importantly interesting. Flash teased her unmercifully and she handled it very well which gives her a pass in my book. He certaintly can be overwhelming for those unused to his kind of teasing attention.
We all hope this will be a lasting relationship but you know it's only been a month... ;)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
An Ill Favored Week
I'm sick, Mini Flash is sick, and Tweeters is sick. Poor Mini Flash is the sickest of us. Tweeters and I just had a head cold and recovering nicely. But Mini Flash can't keep anything down and visits the bathroom a lot. So no church for us today. Right now we are watching Monster vs. Aliens...for the fourth time...this weekend....yeah....
Other than that our week has gone smoothly. I've got a couple of school projects I need to complete by December. Last year I was busy preparing Tweeters arrival and asked for Incomplete in my Argumentative Writing and On-screen Print Documentation classes. Part of my Argumentative Writing class requires a submitted portfolio of 30 pages showing my development has a critical thinker. I wanted to focus on online gaming addictions but may turn into a comparison between chemical addictions and emotional addictions. I've also decided to take a subject from the news everyday and write an argument either for or against it. That part of the project started yesterday but I learned quite a bit about how people get nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Other than that our week has gone smoothly. I've got a couple of school projects I need to complete by December. Last year I was busy preparing Tweeters arrival and asked for Incomplete in my Argumentative Writing and On-screen Print Documentation classes. Part of my Argumentative Writing class requires a submitted portfolio of 30 pages showing my development has a critical thinker. I wanted to focus on online gaming addictions but may turn into a comparison between chemical addictions and emotional addictions. I've also decided to take a subject from the news everyday and write an argument either for or against it. That part of the project started yesterday but I learned quite a bit about how people get nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Spiritually Invigorated
For the past month I've been thinking about my relationship with Heavenly Father and how much I miss the feeling of being close to Him and the promptings of the Holy Ghost like I had on my mission. As I've cleaned my house and organized the decorations I realized a pattern developing in a little corner of my living room I hadn't intended.
In that corner you'll find pictures of Christ, our Family Home Evening assignment board I FINALLY put together, our family Book of Mormon, Preach My Gospel, a book of the first 100 temples, and the last couple issues of the Ensign. Some of the things have been there since we moved in, others were put there because there was no room any where else. As I was sitting there looking at the corner and thinking about getting an updated picture of the First Presidency and noticed a space where the framed picture would fit perfectly it dawned on me that I had created a little nook that represented all my faith and convictions.
Then there was my visiting teachers. They came by and shared the Septembers Ensign explaining how we need to be rooted in a firm foundation of the gospel. A timely message for me. A friend of mine asked me to join her and another girlfriend to Deseret Book during the priesthood session on Saturday for prizes and sales. As I walked around I discovered a Primary Edition of trivia cards for half the normal price. I snatched them up hoping to use them for family home evening. Later at McDonald's we challenged each other by not only asking for the answer to the questions but the reference. I was surprised and dismayed when I couldn't remember what chapter Christ visited the Nephits! A return missionary should never have to admit that!
So then came conference. I challenged myself by playing scripture chase. Whenever I heard anything that sounded like a scripture or a story from our standard works I raced to find it the reference. I am rusty but I was pleased when I found an especially hard one Ezek. 11:19 because I had never heard it before.
So Friday was an educationally and physically uplifting day that opened my weekend to being spiritually invigorated.
In that corner you'll find pictures of Christ, our Family Home Evening assignment board I FINALLY put together, our family Book of Mormon, Preach My Gospel, a book of the first 100 temples, and the last couple issues of the Ensign. Some of the things have been there since we moved in, others were put there because there was no room any where else. As I was sitting there looking at the corner and thinking about getting an updated picture of the First Presidency and noticed a space where the framed picture would fit perfectly it dawned on me that I had created a little nook that represented all my faith and convictions.
Then there was my visiting teachers. They came by and shared the Septembers Ensign explaining how we need to be rooted in a firm foundation of the gospel. A timely message for me. A friend of mine asked me to join her and another girlfriend to Deseret Book during the priesthood session on Saturday for prizes and sales. As I walked around I discovered a Primary Edition of trivia cards for half the normal price. I snatched them up hoping to use them for family home evening. Later at McDonald's we challenged each other by not only asking for the answer to the questions but the reference. I was surprised and dismayed when I couldn't remember what chapter Christ visited the Nephits! A return missionary should never have to admit that!
So then came conference. I challenged myself by playing scripture chase. Whenever I heard anything that sounded like a scripture or a story from our standard works I raced to find it the reference. I am rusty but I was pleased when I found an especially hard one Ezek. 11:19 because I had never heard it before.
So Friday was an educationally and physically uplifting day that opened my weekend to being spiritually invigorated.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Invigorated
I went for a walk today with Tweeter's down to a park not far from our house. I remember lamenting as I left my house that I forgot my iPod but I was too lazy to go back and get it. I didn't want to waste time looking for my headphones since I haven't used them in a few weeks. Halfway to the park I realized how blessed I am to be lazy at times because I almost missed listening to my daughter explain the mysteries of the universe.
Other random thoughts as I walked:
- Since Direct TV doesn't pull wire through houses when they put up those ugly dishes Flash should make a business of putting the wire in the house before the actual installation of the dish. That way people won't have an ugly dish and ugly wire.
- I need to buy a digital recorder to record my random thoughts because some of them are really good.
- I never believed walking was exersizing until today. I was always a strong believer in running. "How could walking really help you lose weight and get in shape?" I always questioned. You need good hard workouts with lots of sweat to achieve optimal weight loss. But my legs really hurt right now man. I wonder if that means I really out of shape.
- I wonder if my phone has a digital recorder. Wait, no it has a video recorder and it only lasts for thirty seconds. Wow do I really talk that much to need something lasting longer than thirty seconds?
Those are just to name a few.
Other random thoughts as I walked:
- Since Direct TV doesn't pull wire through houses when they put up those ugly dishes Flash should make a business of putting the wire in the house before the actual installation of the dish. That way people won't have an ugly dish and ugly wire.
- I need to buy a digital recorder to record my random thoughts because some of them are really good.
- I never believed walking was exersizing until today. I was always a strong believer in running. "How could walking really help you lose weight and get in shape?" I always questioned. You need good hard workouts with lots of sweat to achieve optimal weight loss. But my legs really hurt right now man. I wonder if that means I really out of shape.
- I wonder if my phone has a digital recorder. Wait, no it has a video recorder and it only lasts for thirty seconds. Wow do I really talk that much to need something lasting longer than thirty seconds?
Those are just to name a few.
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