WHAT?!?!

WHAT was America thinking?!? The BEST performance of the night, and she's rewarded by being sent home?!? UNBELIEVABLE!!!! And why is Jason still here?!? AAGH!!!

Andrew Lloyd Webber Night

We LOVE the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber in our house, so we were really looking forward to tonight's AI performances. Our favorite was Carly -- she picked the right song and nailed it! "Jesus Christ Superstar" is one of our favorite musicals, and we were so glad she picked a song from it! We were hoping that David Archuleta might sing "Close Every Door" from "Joseph" (which would have been fabulous), but he still did very well. He was probably our 2nd favorite. Syesha also did really well, even though none of us had heard that song before. I'm afraid that Brooke will probably be in the bottom 2, as well as Jason. He really didn't do well. David Cook did good, although I probably tend to agree with Simon, that I like his "other side" better. What did the rest of you think?!

Go Jazz!

For those of you are not Jazz fans (shame on you!), the Utah Jazz just beat the Houston Rockets and now lead the series 2-0! And with the next 2 games at home in Salt Lake City, where the Jazz are basically unbeatable, we will hopefully sweep the series!! GO JAZZ!!

Vegas Trip

This last weekend, we went to Las Vegas to see some friends. We left Saturday morning, and got home late Monday night. As always, it was GREAT to see them! The only bad thing is that my camera's batteries died while we were there, so I hardly got any pictures!! Here is what I do have.

When we got there, we met them at the soccer fields. They spend all their Saturdays on the soccer field. Dominique plays on 2 teams (thus 2 games at 2 different fields!), Karina plays on a team, and their dad, Eduardo, coaches one of Dominique's teams, and another all-boys team, so it makes for very crazy Saturdays! We got there while Eduardo was coaching his boys team, and here are some silly pictures of Kent, Kelsey and Amber:

We were to also able to see one of Dominique's games, but I didn't get any pictures. Victor took some video clips, but we haven't uploaded them to the computer yet.

We went bowling, first with just the 4 of us (which is when I took pictures) and then with everybody (my batteries had died by that point).

And here are just some "landscape" pictures.

The weather was beautiful, enough that I got sunburned (I didn't even think about sun block!), but not too bad. We love visiting them (except not in the summer -- TOO HOT!), and had a great time! Thanks for having us!!

The Historian

I have just finished reading another excellent book. The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova. A friend recommended it to me (thanks, Nat!), because someone had recommended it to her. She was told that if she liked the Twilight books, and enjoyed reading about vampires, then she'd probably like this book. Well, they were right!! It is full of history (thus, the title) but is very very good. Long (642 pages!), but a very good read. I highly recommend it!

"Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice"

Come, listen to a prophet's voice,
And hear the word of God,
And in the way of truth rejoice,
And sing for joy aloud.
We've found the way the prophets went
Who lived in days of yore.
Another prophet now is sent
This knowledge to restore.
(Hymn No. 21)

This song came to my mind as I was thinking about General Conference this past weekend. What an amazing opportunity we have to listen to the prophet and his apostles, and to learn of them. Just a few things (of the many!) that stood out to me:

"True religion should not originate from what pleases men or the traditions of ancestors but rather from what pleases God, our Eternal Father." (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

The Savior "went about doing good...for God was with Him. May we follow that perfect example." (President Thomas S. Monson)

"The world in which we live is filled with diversity. We can and should demonstrate respect toward those whose beliefs differ from ours." (President Thomas S. Monson)

To parents: "Take time to listen, to laugh and to play together." (Elder M. Russell Ballard)

"To delight in Him is to acknowledge His hand in our lives. Our gospel duty is to do what is right and to love what is right. When we delight to serve Him, our Father in Heaven delights to bless us." (Sister Susan W. Tanner)

"Brethren, treat your wives with dignity and respect...Sisters, honor your husbands...Parents, show love to your children...." (President Thomas S. Monson)

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each has different challenges, different skills and abilities and certainly different children....What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else..." (Elder M. Russell Ballard)

"It is crucial to focus on our children for the short time we have them with us and to seek, with the Lord's help, to teach them all we can before they leave our homes....I believe that the instincts and intense nurturing involvement of the mothers with their children will always be the major key to their well-being." (Elder M. Russell Ballard)

"Struggling through the crowds of the world can be lonely and hard...Who can reach, support and ultimately rescue the one among the crowd better than the Savior? He understands what it is to persevere among a disrespectful crowd and still remain true." (Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander)

"It takes real effort and sacrifice to live the gospel courageously." (Elder Robert R. Steuer)

"This life is not so much a time for getting and accumulating as it is a time for giving and becoming." (Elder Lance B. Wickman)

"It requires courage to make good choices, even when others around us choose differently. As we make the righteous choices day by day in little things, the Lord will strengthen us and help us choose the right during more difficult times..." (Elder W. Craig Zwick)

"The home is God's laboratory of love and service..." (Elder Russell M. Nelson)

"In God's orchestra, every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony..." (Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin)

"As we become steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord, we will secure the blessings of heaven for ourselves and for our families." (Sister Cheryl C. Lant)

A testimony should be a personal witness of eternal truths, "borne to our souls by the Holy Ghost, not a travelogue, health log or an expression of love to family members." (Elder Dallin H. Oaks)

"Service gives us a purpose and courage in life. It brings us closer to God and helps us refine our divine nature....Kindness, love, patience, understanding and unity will increase as we serve, while intolerance, jealousy, envy, greed and selfishness decrease or disappear." (Elder Carlos H. Amado)

"Christ cannot help us if we do not trust Him; he cannot teach us if we do not serve Him." (Elder Carlos H. Amado)

And finally, probably my absolutely favorite quote from President Monson, "Children, don't let Daddy touch the microwave...."

I especially enjoyed Elder Ballard's talk on mothers. Being a mother is by far the hardest thing I have ever done, yet it is also the most rewarding. Some days it's very overwhelming, as I'm sure you all can understand, and I very much appreciated his counsel.

I think the Primary song says it best: "Follow the prophet, don't go astray. Follow the prophet; he knows the way."

Harry Potter

I have spent the last few weeks re-reading all 7 volumes of Harry Potter. I decided that I wanted to read all of them again, consecutively. And I have to say that I just love them! They are such good books, and it's amazing how they all tie together. I know, most of you are wondering how I find time to read at all. And I have to admit that I stopped reading for many years because it was too difficult. But in the last few years, I have found that reading is very therapeutic for me. It's my way of releasing stress, and I need it. There's just nothing like curling up with a blanket and a good book (especially with our weather the last couple days!). Anyway, just thought I'd share, and if any of you do have some spare moments, it was great to read them all back-to-back. It will be interesting to see what they do with movies 6 and 7 because there's no way they can fit everything in!