I am only going to read books by LDS authors

I am a little annoyed. I spent a good chunk of time reading a book that I had heard good things about it. It got good reviews and is going to out in the theatres shortly. Revolutionary Road was awful, and bad, and really bothersome. After wading through 355 pages hoping that it would get better, it ended in a really unfortunate and icky way. I closed the book and was actually sick that this is what passes for good literature. I will not be so "worldly" about books anymore.

For the past year (until yesterday) I have been pretty steadfast in my personal goal to read books only written by LDS writers. I was going to break my rule for Twilight, but was pleasantly surprised that Stephanie Meyer was LDS, too. By adhering to this little "guideline" for myself, I feel like I am learning more about myself and gaining an insight that makes me more appreciative. By learning to ponder and pray rather than get drunk and commit adultery, I feel better about life and thankful for what I have. I know that Heavenly Father gives us all we need, we just need to realize that we do need it.

Since finishing Revolutionary Road, I am have been in a bit of a funk. I realized I was making a face that resembles someone smelling something foul and at the same time trying to figure out what it is that smells so bad. Not attractive to say the least.

I want to finish a book smiling, nodding and when I close it, I will hold to me and say, "Now that was a good book", and put it back in the bookcase to read again in the future.

Here are some books that I liked by LDS authors

Captain Matrimony
Wise Blue Autumn
Odds are you are Going to be Exalted
The Work and The Glory Series (The movie versions suck)
Children of the Promise Series
Hearts of the Children Series
Miracle of Forgiveness
The Holy Temple
52 Weeks of Proven Recipes for Picky Eaters
Believe Christ
The Other Side of Heaven
History of the Church
Strangling your Husband is not an Option
Anything by any of the Prophets


And before I forget, I totally recommend the Twilight Saga. It may be about Vampires, but it has a good message and morals throughout. Don't believe me? Read it and we'll discuss......

By their fruits, ye shall know them

I saw this list on a friend's facebook page and thought it looked like a few minutes of fun. When I was done I realized there are alot of things that I still want to do and some that I am totally okay with not having done.

1. Started your own blog*
2. Slept under the stars*
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii*
5. Watched a meteor shower*
6. Given more than you can afford to charity*
7. Been to Disneyland*
8. Climbed a mountain8
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo*
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch*
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning*
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight*
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill*
24. Built a snow fort*
25. Held a lamb*
26. Gone skinny dipping*
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse*
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset*
31. Hit a home run*
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community*
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke*
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant*
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight*
46. Been transported in an ambulance*
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling*
52. Kissed in the rain*
53. Played in the mud*
54. Gone to a drive-in theater*
55. Been in a movie*
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business*
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen*
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies*
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason*
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma*
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check*
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy*
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square*
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone*
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle*
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper*
85. Read the entire Bible*
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eatin
88. Had chickenpox*
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous*
92. Joined a book club*
93. Lost a loved one*
94. Had a baby*
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone*
99. Been stung by a bee*
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument*

Look at me! I'm blogging!

So I guess I am one of the last people on the planet to start a blog. I never really thought that anyone would want to read all about the mundane and slightly random junk that goes on in my daily life. But, then again, you're reading this, aren't you?

The holidays are just around the corner and I am preparing the best way I can. Eyes wide open and fully aware of just how much time I have to get it all done. Every year I do Christmas cards (if you haven't gotten one before then maybe you should shoot my your address so we can fix that) and those do take a lot of time. I try to be at least a little personal in each one, but how many ways can you wish someone a Merry Christmas, really? I debated on including a family letter recapping all the things that happened throughout the year, but there really wasn't that much that happened. Well at least nothing that was so oh my gosh exciting. Nicholas broke his nose in October, my dad had open heart surgery in September, I screwed up my shoulder in June. Nothing says Happy Christmas like a laundry list of injuries....


Thanksgiving will be slightly bittersweet this year. My husband is working all day so he will not be there for the over stuffing of the stomachs. If any of you have met my mother, you know that the more of her food that you pack away, the more she likes you. She's odd that way. Anyway I promised Robert that I would make him a pecan pie this year (Note to self: Learn how to make a pecan pie! Quickly!) I only wish Paula Dean lived closer so she could just deep fry me up one. Seriously, that woman deep fries EVERYTHING! Last night I was watching her Thanksgiving Special and she deep fried cranberry sauce! Isn't it a crime against nature to deep fry fruit? The even harder to fathom thing about her need for all things to be purified via deep frying, was how the cranberry sauce didn't just melt in a oily, congealed mess. I was wondering as I was watching her drop heaps of it into the fryer, that if I listened closely, could I hear it screaming, "Hey! What are you doing? I'm fruit! For the love of all things decent and holy, I AM FRUIT!!" Then an odd thought struck me. If Paula Dean and Martha Stewart were in the same cell block and they got into a knife (shank) fight, who would win? Call me crazy put I think Paula would win that one. Martha may be uber scary looking, but Paula has those crazy eyes that make her look like she is secretly plotting how to kill you. Kill you and then deep fry you....


I hope everyone is looking forward to the holidays (Yes, you too, Jeff) Make them memorable and try to remember why we even have Christmas. Giving is better than getting, but that doesn't mean regifting is a good idea...ever.