Hilltop Star

things that made me happy this week...

2012-01-30T22:42:00.000-05:00

* a phone call from brother R2's family.
- nephew G told me all about his new CTR ring. he even knows what it means.
- niece L wanted to say hi and i love you. she's almost two so just imagine how cute she is!
- brother R2 thanked me for sending his wife N a dress, because: "she is smokin' hot in it!"

* josiah came home and has been my shadow. this dog is ridiculously in love with me.

* shopping for baby clothes for new babies with good friend MW. so much fun! and so many cute little clothes.

* buying almost blooming hyacinths--the best smell on earth right now.

* missing someone, whom i hope to keep as a friend.

* waking up a few minutes before my alarm goes off. i hate being awakened by an alarm, so this really makes me smile.

* warm sunshine.

* cleaning my room and organizing.

* falling down stairs and not breaking anything. ouch! all i could was laugh because it hurt.

* this episode of fraser. seriously some of the best physical comedy ever done. i laughed until i cried.

thoughtful thursday: improve your argument

2012-01-26T20:16:00.000-05:00

don't raise your voice.
improve your argument.
--desmond tutu

now if only the republican presidential candidates would...

things that made me smile this week

2012-01-23T20:52:00.001-05:00

* a wake up call to announce the news that my newest niece was born and all was well with the world.

* a whiny dog.

* snow!! for real this time.

* yummy dinner at ted's. good friends. the forming of a secret society. an attractive bearded southern gentleman who popped into our booth unsolicited to take our photo as we awkwardly attempted to do the self portrait thing. a great girls night out.

* the return of white collar. lemon pound cake and strawberry ice cream. and a good friend.

* creating space.

* the house to myself for the weekend.

* i love late afternoon movies with dinner afterwards. it makes for an unexpectedly early night which is a nice way to finish the day.

* a run with the dog. actually it was more like a run--stop--walk, run--stop--run, walk--stop--run... well, you get the drift.

* buying a rug for next to the bed, so that my toes have a soft landing first thing in the morning.

* when my boss gives me a to-do-list, it's like a jigsaw puzzle where half the pieces are missing. not only do i have to figure out how to put it together, but i have to look for the pieces too. it's fun!

* i think i actually got to speak with Sec. Clinton the other day.

* clean laundry. new pillows. pjs. socks. big thick sweaters. good gloves. angry birds. audio books. home decor magazines. cooking good food.

thoughtful thursday: modesty defined

2012-01-19T15:54:00.001-05:00

But modesty is not defined by, or even primarily about, how much of one’s body is covered. It is about comportment and behavior. It is about recognizing that one need not be the center of attention. It is about embodying the prophet Micah’s call for modesty: learning “to walk humbly with your God.” ~Dov Linzer

Beautiful, just beautiful. I found this article in the NYTimes very thought provoking, and loved how he summed up modesty. It's one of the best descriptions I've come across.

things that made me smile this week

2012-01-16T16:48:00.001-05:00

* giving myself permission to dream.

* audio books.

* pound the hill. great friend. travel scrabble. nutella scone and hot chocolate. moroccan lentil soup. perfect evening.

* speaking italian.

* an early morning email from girlfriend SD asking if i wanted to go to dinner at bibiana. the serendipity of already having a reservation for that very evening, along with tickets to see James Earl Jones, who has the best smile ever--it twinkles, literally twinkles, my friends. lots of girl talk, good food, sharing insights and finally swapping christmas gifts. perfect.

* organizing. folding laundry. making a new sign for the front door.

* so, my smart phone was actually making me dumber. then i turned off the the notifications which tell me when someone has posted something new on facebook, or a new email has popped into my inbox. suddenly, i feel less clutered, less hectic and more in control. i now check these things when i need or want, not because my phone is sounding off. this is a very good thing indeed.

* two little girls dropping their toys and rushing across the playroom to tackle me with hugs.

* holding the cutest little 4 month old baby girl at a dinner party.

* playing the piano in primary on sunday. kids are too funny.

* talking with my mom. she read her christmas present to me, which was a photo book with quotes from my nephew G. we were laughing so hard! my favorite was this:
brother R2: alright, G, i'm gonna show you how a super hero kisses his girl.
he takes his wife in his arms, dips her down and totally lays one on her while son, nephew G, watches.
nephew G: so, i throw her down and slobber all over her face then?
mom and I were rolling on the floor.

* making baking powder biscuits and homemade honey butter for my roommate's nieces and nephews. all gone when i got home.

thoughtful thursday: good

2012-01-12T13:27:00.001-05:00

things that made me smile last week

2012-01-10T12:00:00.001-05:00

a day late and a dollar short. but better late than never...

* i stopped for a whole day this weekend and did nothing. i slept until my body said no more was needed. and it was wonderful.

* saturday morning i joined other members of my ward (congegration) and helped to clean our chapel. there is something extremely satisfying and soul filling about washing windows, and i washed every single window that i could reach without a ladder in our chapel. let the light come in, i thought.

* as i cleaned the chapel i listened to the book of mormon (not the musical) and it made my morning just that much more peaceful.

* spontaneous lunch date with a great friend.

* i love my friend MW and was so excited to take her to the new digs. she's now officially moved across the river and i'm super glad she's nearby.

* my boyfriend, josiah, has been extra clingy but i'm totally eating it up and loving it, as is he.

* it was 60 degrees plus on saturday. such a nice break from the cold.

* how YOU dumping today?

* talks with my brothers about life and electrical wiring. seriously, combine the knowledge of these boys and we've got it covered. they are some of the wisest men i know.

* cooking dinner for two.

* a photo of nephew B in bright blue underwear and a red super hero cape. apparently this has been his outfit of choice since receiving his christmas gift from a certain cool aunt who shall remain unnamed.

* one morning i woke up at 0444 with the thought that i needed to go running. at 0545 i met up with back on my feet and ran two miles in 17 degrees of bone chilling cold. the hot shower afterwards was heavenly.

* clean bed sheets. thick warm socks. navy sweats. uggs. cotton and lace nightgowns. candycane hot chocoloate. hand made quilts on my bed. good books. peach and mago salsa. homemade macaroni and cheese. smoked turkey. new pillows. a healthy body. cold water. hot showers.

friends

2012-01-06T06:48:00.001-05:00

he knows he's not allowed in the living room,

but he totally came in and climbed up on the couch with me last night.

we didn't have the heart to get after him for breaking the rules.

thoughtful thursday: waiting for us

2012-01-05T08:32:00.000-05:00

image via

things that made me smile this week

2012-01-02T19:04:00.000-05:00

* a little girl wearing her first pair of grown up boots. she kept moving around the store and clicking her heels intentionally against the tile floor. it was fun to see her enjoyment.

* visiting one of the most beautiful gardens on the east coast. i love longwood gardens. they really know how to do christmas there.

* visiting a good friend home on leave from training. totally worth the drive!

* being honest with myself about something, even though it's not the way i imagined it.

* a new beginning.

* spoiling josiah while my roommate was gone. have i mentioned that i love this dog?

* my dad calling to say thank you for the picture of the roses still in bloom i posted earlier this week.

* even though it's christmas and january, i've enjoyed the lovely weather we've had the past couple of weeks. the warm sunshine has been beautiful and sparkly, and the cooler nights have been just right.

* choo choo.

* ringing in the new year with good friends, old and new.

* relaxing, totally relaxing.

* having monday (today) off.

* a dream where i was the personal assistant to the past president and then the current president. it was just funny to me. (this is the second dream about being friendly with a president... hmmm.)

* time spent with good friends at the movies, over lunch at home, and online. friends add so much to my life.

* being so homesick that i looked for an airline ticket to fly my mom out here... i wish.

* i have a really cool job right now, and i'm looking forward to going back tomorrow.

looking back

2011-12-31T08:25:00.003-05:00

Looking back at my resolutions for 2011 was eye opening. I didn't accomplish most of them. But at the end of this year, more so than any other year in recent memory, I feel differently about myself, who I truly am, what I truly want and where I'm headed. I'm definitely a different and better person than when I started out this year, and that feels good.

This wasn't an easy year for me personally. I wasn't always happy with myself. I struggled through some really tough stuff this year and am still struggling with some of it. Growing is painful and this year was no exception.

This year was awesome though! And I'm so thankful for all my experiences and all the growing. I still have a long way to go, but I'm a little closer to where I want to be.

What I succeeded in doing:
- Being more child like: I had a lot of fun this year listening to my inner child and giving into her this year. I got a fish, watched a lot of Muppets YouTube Videos, have a new dog friend, and laughed much more than I have in a while.
- Turned off the television: cancelled my cable bill. Everything I want to watch is available on Netflix, online, or via iTunes, and it's on my schedule when I choose.
- Planned and carried out the first ever Boyer Family Reunion. I'm proudest of fulfilling this resolution. We decided it will now be an annual event. I can't wait for the next one.
- Spend more time being quiet - scripture study, prayer and meditation.
- Save money and travel. So, I saved money, but didn't travel nearly as much as I would have liked. Something to work on.
- Be open to adventures in rain, love, family and life. 2011 was definitely an adventure. I fell in love (twice!), spent good, quality time with family and friends, moved into a house (above ground living space = yay!) and learned quite a bit about who I truly am and what I really want.
All in all a rather successful year.

So, for 2012:
- I like this idea: To participate more fully in my life and that of the people around me. Be more present in the present.
- Refine and increase my quiet time - scripture study, prayer, fasting and meditation.
- Get a new job that contributes more meaningfully to helping people and goodness. And most importantly, be where God wants me to be.
- Be open to Love in all its iterations. It really is all we really need.
- Take more photos. Play more music. Dance more. Play more. Create more.
- Run a race with my sister. (I always say I'm going to do this one, but now it's written down, officially.)
- Follow through.
- Re-evaluate first impressions.
- Do stuff that scares me. Trust.
- Strengthen.
- Forgive.

Happy New Year! More than what you want, may you receive what you need.

random resolutions

2011-12-31T07:52:00.000-05:00

sweet green, which has really yummy salads and is a favorite place to eat,

started a new year's resolution post-it window display. love this!

here are a few for inspiration.

happy new year!

may all your dreams come true in this new year.

christmas scenes

2011-12-30T15:27:00.000-05:00

for two weeks my camera was lost. i found it yesterday--woohoo!

so, finally a few christmas photos....

dad, some of the roses are still blooming here.

two cute houses.

the christmas eve pageant.

candlelight carol

my front yard = 1200 lights

and the little trees are made using upside down tomato cages.

our christmas tree

hope that yours was merry and bright.

christmas at longwood gardens

2011-12-30T15:13:00.000-05:00

I went to one of my most favorite places on the east coast this week.

I love gorgeous Longwood Gardens.

All photos are taken with my Droid Incredible 2 phone--Amazing.

See the full album here:

12-27-2011 Longwood Gardens Christmas

thoughtful thursday: participate more fully

2011-12-29T16:22:00.001-05:00

"Every new year, people make resolutions. I stole my perpetual resolution a couple of decades ago from a man named Leo who woke up at age 54 and said, "I can't read. I'm going to learn how." I met him through Literacy Volunteers of America.

"He had decided, he said, to participate more fully in his own life and that of the people around him. To do that, he needed to know how to read. Taking that first step must have been hard.

"He'd spent decades trying to disguise what he didn't know before he decided to go for it.

"That's the attitude I want to take into this new year and all the ones that follow it. It's what you don't yet know that leads to the next frontier."

(Collins, Lois M. "Resolve to turn life's 'what-ifs' into 'so-whats'. Deseret News 29 Dec 2011. online)

i was fine...

2011-12-28T14:43:00.001-05:00

until i went back to work today. now i'm needing me a little of all this...

yep, today i'm just a little homesick for family.

things that made me smile this week

2011-12-26T23:18:00.000-05:00

totally forgot to mention last week:

*a stunning performance of The Messiah at the Kennedy Center. for the past three years i've attended with wonderful friends, and the performances were beautiful. this year's performance was special and so beautifully done with feeling and musicianship that it is know my favorite performance. the bass and tenor were my favorites to listen to, because they sang with so much feeling and enjoyment, you could feel their love and excitement for what they were singing. the conductor looked like he was twelve, and was so energetic; he was a joy to watch as he directed the musicians without a score in front of him. the choir was so unified this year, they sounded as one voice with no soloists in the bunch. i loved this performance and was moved to tears many times.

and now for this week:

* baking cookies and making peppermint marshmallows with friends. it made the work of baking all the christmas cookies much easier and a lot more fun.

* church bells ringing on christmas eve do my heart good.

* little kids dressed as mary and joseph, the oxen and sheeps, shepherds and wiseman, and angels. there is almost nothing better than this on christmas eve.

* spending quiet time on christmas day. i'm so glad i didn't travel for christmas this year. it was so nice to spend time on my own thinking about the true meaning of christmas, reading the christmas story and watching these new movies.

* spending time with josiah. he's a such a good dog and seems to know when i'm feeling a little homesick.

* listening to nieces and nephews recount their christmas treasures and how much fun they're having.

* skype is awesome. i wish more of my family would join the 21st century and get webcams so we can video chat. it's so fun to see people's faces as we talk.

* finding the differences and commonalities with a new friend and having a grown up conversation and making a grown up decision. all very good things.

* cat sitting for a friend. i was joyously greeted by peter and mimi on more than one occasion when i stopped by to feed and play with them. i love these two kitties.

* homemade beef stew. cooking with my new knives. chopping vegetables was never so easy.

* learning that i know myself better than i thought i did.

* homemade pizza for christmas dinner and the company of good friends. i love my dc family.

* receiving the gift of my first ever power tool, a drill, from a good friend.

* christmas lights.

* during the christmas eve service, having my little friend ask me what the candles were for. mom and i both explained that it was to share the light for christmas. i asked who the light was and then helped her understand that Jesus is the light. she totally got it and kept saying she was going to share Jesus with me.

* not setting an alarm. heaven.

* cold weather. hot chocolate. good conversation.

* christmas eve breakfast date at eastern market with a good friend.

* the missionaries coming over for carols and cookies. they serenade me with christmas carols and i give them cookies in return.

* a new year is right around the corner with lots of good things.

repeat the sounding the joy

2011-12-23T20:44:00.000-05:00

A colleague posed this question on her Facebook status: "What does it mean to 'repeat the sounding joy'?" I can't stop thinking about this. What a wonderful Christmas question!

Shepherds near Bethlehem were tending their flocks during the night, when suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared saying: "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is the Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)

These shepherds received specific instructions on how to find this Saviour; he would be a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger (Luke 2:12). They followed these instructions quickly searching Bethlehem for the child and upon finding him and seeing the angel's words fulfilled "they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds (Luke 2:17-18).

I love this story. Good tidings of great joy are given to a group of men who follow the instructions and then share the news of what they found with their neighbors in Bethlehem. If this isn't an example of repeating the sounding joy, then I don't know what is.

Repeating the sounding joy is loudly and joyfully done at Christmas, but it should be done all year through. Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ both in word and by example are the best ways to repeat the sounding joy and to give the wondrous gifts of Christmas. "These are the gifts that we can offer to others for Him. We do that by remembering him and trying with all out hearts to do what he would do and love as he loves" (El. Eyring, 2011 First Presidency Christmas Devotional).

So, repeat, repeat the sounding joy!!!!!

thoughtful thursday: spirit of CHRISTmas

2011-12-22T21:31:00.000-05:00

The spirit of Christmas is something I hope all of us would have within our hearts and within our lives, not only at this particular season but also throughout the years.

A wise Christian once urged, "Let us not spend Christmas ... but let us keep Christmas in our hearts and in our lives."

This is my plea tonight, because when we keep the spirit of Christmas, we keep the Spirit of Christ, for the Christmas spirit is the Christ Spirit. It will block out all the distractions around us which can diminish Christmas and swallow up its true meaning.

There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to principles taught by Jesus Christ.

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, 2011 First Presidency Christmas Devotional, Because He Came.

things that made me smile this week

2011-12-19T11:22:00.001-05:00

ugh. what a week. i'm glad it's over and that it ended on a much better note.

* my sister urging me to come visit her for christmas. my nephews explanations of why i should come. my bro-in-law even looking up flights for me. ultimately, i decided not to go (outrageous ticket prices), but knowing that they wanted me to come for christmas just made me feel loved and wanted. thank you.

* making christmas boughs to hang on my front door and the neighbor's door.

* christmas songs. all week long classical weta 90.9 fm has been playing the most gorgeous christmas music. (you can listen too, just click on the link to listen live.)

* thinking about my brother chris and remembering.

* good friends who reached out to me this week to make sure i'm doing okay.

* singing in church. i sang this arrangement of what child is this?

* spending time with a new friend over dinner and a movie. much needed good company and laughter.

* starbuck's salted carmel hot chocolate. sooooooo good. i'm addicted.

* taking a friend to airport, only to realize right before the exit that i was headed to the wrong aiport and that the airport she needed was clear on the other side of the city and in a different state. we had a good laugh after we got to the right airport with time to spare. MW, i love that we are always laughing, or crying, or both.

* talking on the phone with my dad.

* finding the package my mom mailed me untouched on the porch the morning after it was delivered.

* the WaPo funny papers delivered to me by a friend. i'm so looking forward to reading them.

* my roommate and i keep on having moments where people can't decide what we are. it always makes us laugh so hard afterwards.

* helping a friend with some lifting and laundry folding before she headed home for the holidays. i had so much fun hanging out with her and her daughter.

* writing christmas cards.

* some christmas shopping. i have a few things left to buy and then i'm done... or not.

* a prayer of thanksgiving that i didn't kill myself or the person in front of me while driving to work one morning.

* a blessing of comfort that truly helped to calm my mind and spirit.

* my ipod. listening to the scriptures on the morning commute.

* remembering this and writing about it.

a memory

2011-12-17T16:18:00.001-05:00

Time flies when you're living, she thought. It was only moment ago she was standing in the middle of a forested mountain hollow covered in snow. She enjoyed where she was, in a silence so deep she could actually hear snowflakes hitting the ground as they fell. She could hear the muted plopping of clumps of snow sliding from branches so laden down they flew back up as their tension was released.

The quiet of a place where no man made sounds intruded, sank deep into her soul and calmed every bit of her. She stood still letting the cold and silence seep into her until she no longer felt warm and would need to move again. She continued watching the falling snow and her breath steaming in and out. Occasionally, lifting a gloved hand to catch a clump of snowflakes for a glimpse of crystalline perfection before it dissolved, she sank even further into the silence. Finally, she began moving through the snow, lifting her knees high, carefully balancing as her feet plunged into depths of snow searching for a hold, back to where she had begun that morning.

She was trying to hold onto the stillness inside her, the feeling that God was so near that all she needed do was brush back a curtain to see him standing there. I need to hold onto this, she thought, I need to remember this. So, she walked without saying anything, just keeping still. Her breath coming a little harder, she was starting to feel a bit warm from the exertions. The snow was coming down faster and in spite of the noise she was making, she could still hear it falling, hitting the ground.

Her heart was so peaceful. She hadn't felt this way in a long time and wondered, why now? But didn't question further, just held onto the peace and the quiet that her soul was feeling. She knew she would need this, that it was important. She stopped in an opening through the trees and lifted her face to sky. She needed to rest, catch her breath. She looked around her, at the black and white perfection of the scene. It was like seeing an Ansel Adams photograph in 3-D. The aspen trunks were silvery white with black markings, and the snow had covered up all the other colors. Such beauty was not seen every day.

The snow touched her cheeks and instantly melted, turning to drops of water that ran down her face like tears. She smiled at the thought. She felt good, renewed. She knew God was speaking to her, calming her and so she said a silent prayer of thanks. When she was done, she moved forward again.

Her companion finally spoke, "There. That's where we left the four-wheeler." She looked at him and smiled to show she heard, not wanting to break the stillness with her own voice. They moved on quietly, not touching or speaking, but enjoying the other's company.

They reached the aspen stand where they had parked earlier. He pulled out the water bottles and she opened hers and drank. "Thank you," she said, smiling at him. Her voice felt a little strange to her, like she hadn't used it in a while.

He smiled back, his green eyes crinkling. "You okay?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied.

"You’re awfully quiet."

"I know. Sorry. Lots on my mind."

"Do you want to talk?"

"No, not right now." she took another drink.

"Okay," he too drank. "We should head back. You need to get going back to your brother's."

"Yes. I'm not looking forward to the drive. It will be hard with all the new snow."

"Just go slow and you'll be okay." he capped off his bottle. "You ready?"

"Sure," she took one last drink and handed him the bottle. He stowed them in the saddle bag on the four-wheeler and climbed on. She took one last look around her, said one last silent prayer of thanks and climbed on behind him.

The engine roared to life, cutting through the silence. He moved it into gear and they lurched forward. She slid her arms around him to hold on and rested her cheek against his back.

"Funny, how there's even a silence in the middle of this sound," she thought and became lost in the rumbling of the engine, the peace that was staying deep down inside her, and watching the trees slide by as they moved down the mountain.

That morning in the mountains seemed so far away, as she stood, a few hours later, holding onto her sister-in-law’s hand, in the middle of the room talking on her cell phone with a family friend, who was also a police officer, listening to him tell her about the accident and that there was no hope, that her brother hadn't made it.

And now it all seemed so long ago, and blurred with the passage of time. Every year it seemed she remembered a little more. The time spent in the woods with her friend where God had blessed her with so much peace before she would so desperately need it. Feeling that peace from the snow covered mountains come back over and over again, not just that day but many times over the years and knowing that God knew her, knew her needs and was taking care of her. And to her, that was all that mattered, all she needed.

hilltop star

2011-12-17T08:39:00.000-05:00

Hilltop Star was inspired by the Christmas star we put on our barn every year. I always loved turning at the last corner on the main road through Paradise to head south and out of town, because I knew I would be able to catch a glimpse of the star on our hill. When I was older, I would drive along 9300 South just so I could see more of the star earlier.

Our house on the hill painted by a SIL's sister
The star would go on the white barn to the right

Returning home for the holidays, after being overseas or moving away, always felt real as soon as I saw our hilltop star. For me, the star is a symbol of home and homecoming. Sailors navigated using stars, returning home safely by following the stars. If you're lost and can find the North Star, you always know which way you're headed. Wise men of old followed stars, especially a new star in the East, to home of the Christ child to worship and present him gifts. They knew, as I do, that this child was the Messiah and the only way home. Wise men and women today still follow stars and know that Christ is the true North star leading us back to our true home.

My brother Chris and I decided to write a song together and we thought a song about our star would be fitting. We both wanted to express the sense of awe we got when looking up at the stars, and of homecoming. I think we did. The recording is from Chris's funeral in December 2003. The performance is a little shaky, but the sentiments we wanted to express are there.

Happy Christmas.

thoughtful thursday: patience

2011-12-15T06:43:00.021-05:00

…the work of patience boils down to this: keep the commandments; trust in God, our Heavenly Father; serve Him with meekness and Christlike love; exercise faith and hope in the Savior; and never give up. --Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, General Conference April 2010

i've been thinking about and re-reading this talk a lot.

things that made me smile

2011-12-14T17:23:00.000-05:00

a bit late this week, but better late...

* a meeting at church that confirmed i'm on the right path. it's a good feeling.

* figuring out how to plug in my front garden christmas lights. it took a bit of thinking and ingenuity, but i figured it out.

* standing up for myself in a conversation with someone who is having boundary issues. it's nice to know that i can be firm and clear when required.

* shakespeare. much ado about nothing. bearded spanish guitar players who also sing. brilliant dancing. and love recquited. "sigh no more my ladies..."

* baked and wired cupcakes. it's like eating cake, truly. these are not cupcakes, my friends. they are cakes in a cup. and yes, there is a difference.

* smart phone. yes, i finally caved and bought one. it's been fun to figure out. although, i'm now wishing i had bought the iphone...

* buying a 7 1/2 foot christmas tree. once the delivery guys set in the stand, and stood it up, there was less than 1/4 inch between it and the ceiling. perfect!

* hanging out with a cute friend who just makes me smile. love ya MW and i'm so gonna miss ya.

* christmas carols.

* a full moon.

* brrrr. it's cold out requiring coats, gloves, hats and boots. :)

* and so much more i can't think of it all....

i'm listening to christmas...

2011-12-08T15:17:00.002-05:00

I'm listening to Christmas music a lot lately. It makes me sing. It makes me happy. It makes me smile. Here are some of my favorites this year:

A Steinway Christmas Album: Piano Music for the Season

available here

I'm a sucker for good piano music and this is GREAT piano music. I love the arrangements. They're orchestral (yes! on a piano), and beautiful. This is great background music for Christmas dinner or reading. I just keep listening over and over. It has one of the best arrangements of Sleigh Ride I've ever heard and so here for your listening pleasure...

The Oak Ridge Boys: Christmas Cookies

available here

I'm also a sucker for a good musical storytelling and a low bass voice, and this album has it all. Great vocals with lots of personality and beautiful storytelling. Their song "Christmas Cookies" is sure to bring a smile, "Uncle Luther Made the Stuffing" will make you laugh, and "From Love to Love" will make you pause for a moment. I love the Oak Ridge Boys and this album justifies my love. (Wish I could find a preview song.)

The Colors of Christmas, John Rutter

available here

John Rutter is my choral idol. If I ever attended one of his concerts or got to sing under his direction, I would die a happy, completely fulfilled woman. The choral work by The Bach Choir on this album is gorgeous, lush and a gift for my ears. Full of traditional carols to contemporary favorites, it brings the spirit of the season in all its auditory glory. A few favorites: "Ding Dong! Merrily on High", "I Wonder as I Wander", "In the Bleak Midwinter" and "A New Year Carol". Gorgeousness abounds!

So, Merry Christmas and all that jazz! I'd love to hear what you've been listening to, so please share in the comments.

thoughtful thursday: pause to wonder

2011-12-08T06:35:00.002-05:00

He who can no longer pause to wonder
and stand rapt in awe
is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.
--Albert Einstein

image via

lots more holiday photos

things that made me smile this week

2011-12-05T22:18:00.000-05:00

* alone time.

* lots of time spent with friends at the theater, a birthday party, change of command and retirement ceremonies, church and online.

* books.

* my sister. i love her sooooo much!

* dinner with the top leadership in my reserve unit. i am so blessed to work with some really good people.

* christmas decor and lights are popping up all over the neighborhood.

* church in the afternoon at a new location. i liked the afternoon church this past sunday because at the end of my busy-ness i could get to church and not miss too much of it.

* the beginning of a much needed conversation.

* the sunset over the anacostia river on the way home from church. it was gloriously orange and reflected beautifully in the water.

* getting some sleep and having some goofy dreams about michelle obama being my new best friend and another about runaway reindeer a la ernest saves christmas. i woke up laughing.

* planning time to see friends and catch up.

* spending an evening with kevin kline. i so enjoy the theater.

* christmas music on my ipod while wrapping 700 lights on my dogwood tree only to discover that i had no way to plug them in... and then figuring out how to plug them in. big, big smile.

* actually doing something i pinned on pinterest.com.

* remembering christmas past and appreciating christmas present.

* making arrangements for the Messiah at the kennedy center. my favorite.

* writing my list of things that made me smile this week. it was a really fun week.

scenes from my neighborhood

2011-12-02T06:38:00.003-05:00

little buddha in a garden

more fall roses

squirrel!

just around the corner from my house

neighborhood thanksgiving decor

just wanted to share the last vestiges of fall from my neighborhood.

christmas decor is up all over the place now. yay!

thoughtful thursday: forgiveness is not forgetting

2011-12-01T06:27:00.003-05:00

Forgiving is not forgetting; it's actually remembering--remembering and not using your right to hit back. It's a second chance for a new beginning. And the remembering part is particularly important. Especially if you don't want to repeat what happened. --Desmond Tutu

I think this quote fits perfectly with what I wrote about yesterday.

to err is human

2011-11-30T06:45:00.001-05:00

Recently, I talked with a friend who was beating himself up over something really stupid that he had done. It wasn't anything immoral or criminal. It was one of those universal momentary lapses in judgement, where something inappropriate was said, that we have all had at one point in our lives. However, because it involved another person, and perception is reality, it had farther reaching effects than he ever anticipated. Obviously, there is more to the story, but this is enough to get the general idea.

As we talked, he told me that he couldn't let it go, because to do so felt like he was letting himself off the hook and not taking responsibility for what he had done. In fact he had done everything he could to make amends for what he had done. He owned up to and immediately recognized his mistake, apologized, and received and complied with the immediate consequences.

Now he has to live with the longer term consequences of his actions and the fact that the person involved will be affected by those consequences as well. It was a painful conversation to have with him, because he really feels bad and wants to take the brunt of the consequences so the other person is unaffected. He is also a person who doesn't have too much faith in himself and his accomplishments. He tends to beat himself up over his lack of accomplishments and his mistakes. He rarely recognizes the good things in himself. And this incident is re-enforcing his lack of trust in himself.

As we talked, it became clear to me that he really did need to let this go and move on. I told him: You are bigger than this incident. The sum total of who you are as a person is much bigger than this one incident. You need to remember that you are human and imperfect; therefore, you make mistakes. You need to recognize, not just, your error, but also the lessons learned and then move forward, letting this go but holding onto the lessons. I'm not saying you won't remember this and you won't feel bad about the consequences, but you cannot let this one incident define who you are. Learn from this, let it go, and move onto become better.

My friend listened and then said: You know this is easier for people who believe in God. People who believe in God seem to have an easier time moving past things like this.

My friend is agnostic, so I can't have the same conversation with him that I would have with most of my friends about giving it to God, letting him take care of it, and asking for and receiving God's forgiveness. I did think it was illuminating that he was the one bringing God into the conversation when I had made no mention of him in what I told him previously.

My friend started to go on to give more reasons why he couldn't let this go, when I impatiently interrupted: With or without God in your life, you need to move on from this and, yes, forgive yourself. You will hold yourself back if you hold onto this and let it define you. For you this isn't about faith in God, this is about your faith in yourself, your trust in yourself. This is about you taking responsibility, which you have done, and accepting the consequences, which you are doing. This is about being man enough to say: I made a mistake. I will learn the needed lessons here and move forward. I will remember to be better in similar situations. This is about you learning to accept and forgive yourself.

The phone was silent. As I waited for him to respond I had this thought: I need to take my own advice.

We continued our conversation, but that thought stayed with me. And I thought how fortunate I was to know that God lives, hears my prayers, knows my heart and has faith in me.

I don't know if any of what I said helped my friend, but I know it helped me. I haven't been able to stop thinking about our conversation. I hope my friend can find the way to move forward from this and allow himself to let it go.

annapolis in the fall

2011-11-29T10:07:00.001-05:00

as promised some .jpgs of the united states naval academy in the fall

chapel dome with the evening light

amazing light on the leaves

at the twilight's last gleaming...

the chapel dome is just so photogenic

this little tree is just so cool.

i love this line of golden trees.

in the morning light

right outside my office.

i work in a beautiful place.

all photos taken with my

sony cybershot dsc-w560

and edited in picasa

the pirate king

2011-11-29T06:29:00.002-05:00

This is dedicated to Mrs. Kelly, who once crossed the street just to tell Kevin Kline that he is an American treasure. I agree.

A few things that stick out from the Classic Conversation with Kevin Kline:

When asked what is the secret to a successful 25 year relationship with his wife, he said: "I said no to a lot of things I wanted to do. I did projects close to home. I planned projects away from home during the summer so I could take my family with me." In other words, he made his family a priority and for that indeed he is a treasure.

image via

He didn't start out loving Shakespeare. He thought it was boring, useless and didn't understand it. He had to grow into loving it.

He didn't know right away that he wanted to be an actor. It took him a while through school and trying out different things to figure it out. He was a musician and played the piano in a rock band, which had business cards printed with the band's name:
The One-Eyed Jacks
Jacks are wild!

He chooses projects because he thinks they will be fun and challenges are always fun. They are successful because the people involved are generous.

as Cyrano de Bergerac

He originally turned down the role of the Pirate King and the movie Dave. He shook his head at himself and said he finds that he's done that a lot, turned down roles initially that are actually quite good for him.

When asked how do you play stupid people so brilliantly, he replied: Because I'm stupid and I know it. It's like that quote from Socrates: "I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing." So, I am a genius.

All in all a fun night and a great insight into being creative and fearless.

things that made me smile this week

2011-11-28T06:40:00.004-05:00

* a telephone message from brother R1's family. they passed the phone around to each person, who said, "happy thanksgiving!" it was a fun message, especially from the youngest who was trying so hard to get my name right. i love my family.

* the Muppets movie. i laughed and cried during this movie. it was so fun to see the Muppets again and to feel of the innocence and joyfulness they embody. disney got this movie right.

* new orange suede platform heels. they're so pretty and fun to wear.

* catching up with a good friend -- grown-up woman to woman talk, fantastic shopping (awesome boots). basically just all around great company. oh, and hearing about her boldness with a man just made me smile and feel so proud of her.

* thanksgiving spent with good friends, good food, baking pies and playing games. i'm so thankful for my dc family.

* gardening again this weekend. both the front and back gardens are ready for winter. i planted 70+ bulbs in the front and can't wait for the show to begin. the front garden is also pretty much ready for some serious planting next spring. the back is ready for some work to begin to rescue it.

* eating chocolate pecan pie while sitting on my front steps while taking a break from gardening.

* an overwhelming sense of gratitude about my life right now. i've come so far this year. it's been a tough year filled with lots of hard lessons and good things, that have been totally life changing. i'm so much more solid in who i am and what i want. i'm so thankful for ALL my experiences this year.

* walking to work each morning across campus, just makes me smile. i'm so excited for my new job and very thankful for all the help i'm getting so i can be successful.

* homemade pancit and lumpia. seriously good stuff. i'll be making some soon and sharing recipes.

* a week with the house all to myself, alone time is a good thing.

* missing my roommate and her dog Josiah. it's nice to have people to miss.

* lots of scripture study and time to ponder. i listened to the book of mormon on my ipod while i gardened on saturday, and it was really nice accompaniment to my day.

* watching sunrises in my bedroom.

* assisting a friend do some spiritual-healing release therapies. i've always wanted to tap into this and it's been fun to realize how much i already know and can do. the best part is realizing that intuitively i know what to do to help her and that i will be able to help others.

* "hello, my name is christine, and i'm addicted to kitchen gadgets..." my sister, the pampered chef consultant, is my enabler.

* lots of upcoming musical performances and plays to attend this month. so excited!

* waking up early. (wow! never thought i'd say that one.)

bedroom sunrise

2011-11-27T06:35:00.002-05:00

for some reason i can wake up at 6 a.m. on the weekend with no problem. and for the past couple of days I will climb out of bed just long enough to open the blinds and watch the light fill the room. it's one of those little pleasures in life that makes me happy.

this is what I see.

nontraditional

2011-11-26T08:47:00.001-05:00

I appreciate tradition. The connection to family and past through a cherished routine is visceral for me. There is a security, comfort and tangibility in breaking bread with family and friends.

And yet, lately, the most memorable times have been those moments when I throw aside tradition to do something totally new. Sometimes, it's a choice and other times it's circumstance.

Three years ago, I spent Thanksgiving in Kuwait. I was headed home from a deployment to Afghanistan. I passed the day with two traveling companions. We hung out in our tent, ate a late dinner in the chow hall--turkey with all fixings-plus--, played some pool and watched a black and white Cary Grant. Not totally without tradition, but the part I remember most is smuggling bottles of Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice (non-alcoholic) back to the tent. We saved one for when we finally got through military customs to start our flight home, so we could celebrate. It took a couple of tries, but our flight finally wasn't cancelled and we opened that bottle and passed it around as we waited to board our flight home.

This year, I decided not to travel home again. I rarely travel on Thanksgiving, because it's just too crazy and I like to save my leave for Christmas. A couple of close friends sent an invitation for dinner at their house for anyone who didn't already have plans. J&MP and I had talked about cooking a turkey together, because none of us had before and figured together we could figure it. However, it ended up just being the three of us.

I'm of the opinion that Thanksgiving dinner is same amount of work, whether it's for three people or 20 people. I was feeling lazy, so I convinced my friends that we needed to splurge on a really great dinner at a DC restaurant and that is exactly what we did. My friend SD was able to join us as well.

I had one of the best Thanksgiving dinners, in fact one of the best meals in my life. The food was amazing. It was Thanksgiving dinner from Italy and with fresh mozzarella, parmigiano and pecorino, pancetta and prosciutto for ingredients. We had turkey with the fixings and it was the best turkey I've ever eaten, so moist and perfectly flavored, with squash, stuffing, mashed potatoes and brussell sprouts. But dessert was an experience in and of itself - panna cotta, chocolate mousse, Torta del Finanziere (a carmel, brown butter apple cake) and, of course, pumpkin pie. But wait, there was gelato!

I've now decided that every Thanksgiving dinner must include gelato, and if it's from Bibiana then nothing else in the dinner matters. It was heaven on a spoon -- apple cider gelato that took me right back to the streets of Florence and dark chocolate gelato with so much cocoa you could feel the grains on your tongue. I was cheeky and asked for more gelato and we got these huge servings for the four of us to share as an after dinner treat. Our server, who was fabulous, told me that if I call ahead I can order gelato to go and the chef will prepare it for transport. I am so going to do to do this!!

After dinner we went back to my place to make pies, stopping off to get the "secret" ingredient for one of the pies, and to get ice cream and whipping cream.

We made four pies: two Pumpkin-Apple Pies, one Old-Fashioned Apple Pie and a Bourbon Chocolate-Pecan Pie. We played around with cameras, played Rummikub and ate pie all night. It was great fun!

For an nontraditional Thanksgiving, this was definitely one for the books and had plenty of tradition mixed in: good friends, pie making, games and great memories. I'm thankful for such a great day to add to my memories.

Here some photos of our pie making...

pumpkin-apple pie
apples on the bottom, pumpkin on the top

apple pie

the venting of the apple pie with stars

chocolate bourbon pecan pie
with chocolate covered pecans and 2 TBsp bourbon

eating apple pie

apple pie

And some photos from playing around with the cameras:

my house!

playing the piano - i

playing the piano - ii

on loss

2011-11-22T10:12:00.001-05:00

My heart aches today for a dear friend whose sister passed away this past weekend. I know the emptiness and pain this loss brings, and hope he soon finds comfort.

My heart also aches because it brings back so many memories, an over-abundance of memories, as I remember my own painful experiences with loss, letting go, and feeling alone.

Thankfully, pain lessens with time, and memories lose their sting. It doesn't ever go away entirely, and some days the freshness is still quite surprising. I know my friend will discover all this as he begins moving forward, and memories of time spent with his sister will become so much sweeter.

So, JH here's to your sister. To loss, pain, sweet memories, and moving forward. It's all part of what makes life so full and rich.

I wish I could be there with you. Hugs.

things that made me smile

2011-11-21T22:26:00.000-05:00

* a potluck luncheon eaten outside on sunday afternoon with good friends from church. it was a gorgeous fall day filled with good food, great friends and conversation. can't wait for the next one.

* a dog who has proclaimed himself my new best friend. and who wouldn't leave me alone when i came home really upset and fell asleep on the couch with one hand on him as he lay near me. he kept checking to make sure i was okay and even moved up to the bedroom floor when i went upstairs as 4 a.m. and cried myself back to sleep. it was nice to not feel so alone in those moments of being upset.

* seeing friends who recenly returned from deployments or had spouses return from deployments. their happiness and joy at safe returns made me smile. i'm grateful for their sacrifices.

* hanging out for an evening with some of my brother and sister chief petty officers. it was fun to be together to celebrate this year's new chiefs and take off "the boot."

* more gardening. almost ready to start planting.

* The Big Bang Theory. this show makes me laugh every time. it is therapeutic.

* sunshine. and gorgeous weather.

* reading good stuff: The Good Earth, Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Book Got Wrong.

* having friday off and being able to spend time with a friend, working on healing and letting go.

* next week is thanksgiving. and i'm feeling a little lonesome for family, but very thankful for my dc family. i am so blessed to have such good friends.

thoughtful thursday: where the fruit is

2011-11-17T06:37:00.002-05:00

image via

good food: heavenly applesauce

2011-11-15T14:47:00.002-05:00

This is not the applesauce of your childhood. This is applesauce for more grown up and refined pallets. This is how it should taste.

My roommate sent me this review on Monday after eating applesauce and pancakes for breakfast:

Officially the sunrise was at 6:49 AM today, but the almost 10,000 taste buds dancing on my tongue, in their Ann of Green Gables voice, declared to my brain that “God is in His Heaven and all is right with the world” around 8:44 AM, as the first morsels of oatmeal pancake and heavenly applesauce, slide off my fork. Is it really the type of food that makes it comfort food, the rituals associated with the preparing and eating of the food or is it when someone reaches into all that is and was good about their life experiences and with fond memories prepares a dish that reminds you that it’s a great time to be alive. -LP on 14 November 2011

I think that's a more than sufficient introduction. So, here is the recipe for...

Heavenly Applesauce
1. In a medium saucepan pour 1/4 cup of water and start it heating.
2. Add 4 (or more, I filled up the pan) peeled, large apples (I've been using Golden Delicious), cut up into small slices.
3. Add about an 1/8 (more or less) cup of turbinado sugar, just enough to pull out the natural sweetness of the apples. Add more sugar if you use a tart apple.
4. Add cinnamon as desired.
5. Cook until it's all mushy and yummy. Basically, as you cook the apples and stir them regularly, they will make themselves into sauce. I usually leave it on the stove on medium-low for about an hour and a half stirring regularly until I feel it's the right consistency.
6. I let it cool a bit before eating. It's best eaten warm.
7. Eat with these pancakes and your taste buds, too, will talk to you in an Anne of Green Gables voice.

A variation:
Champagne Applesauce - A previous roommate once received a small bottle of champagne as a wedding favor. She used the whole bottle as the liquid for the applesauce and it was absolutely divine. Absolutely divine! I still dream about this applesauce.

Enjoy!

good food: beanie's whole wheat oatmeal pancakes

2011-11-15T06:28:00.006-05:00

I have vivid memories of these pancakes from my childhood. These are hands down my favorite pancakes of all time. I salivate at the mere thought of these pancakes.

Mom would make a huge batch of these on Saturday mornings and freeze the leftovers in bread bags. During the week on school mornings, we could pull out pancakes, stick them in the toaster to heat them up and have a quick, yummy breakfast.

I made homemade applesauce last week and my roommate said it would go great with pancakes. I immediately thought of my Mom's wholewheat oatmeal pancakes. So, on Sunday evening I made applesauce again and the pancakes to go with the applesauce. The pancakes are in the freezer providing quick breakfasts throughout the week for my roommate and I. Yum!

Beanie’s Whole Wheat Oatmeal Pancakes

The measurements in parentheses are half the recipe = about 15 pancakes
Whole recipe = about 30 pancakes

Mix together:

(2) 4 c. whole wheat flour

(1) 2 c. oatmeal (quick or soak old fashioned)

(1) 2 Tbsp. baking powder

(3/4) 1 ½ c. powdered milk

(1/2) 1 tsp. salt

(3/4) 1 ½ c. sugar

Mix separately:

(2) 3 eggs

(1/4) ½ c. oil

Add:

(2-3) 4-6 c. water

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl. If you are soaking the old-fashioned oats, do not add the oatmeal until you add the wet ingredients. Beat the eggs and oil together in a separate bowl and add to the dry ingredients. Then add water until you get the desired consistency for pancakes. Cook as you would pancakes. Freeze leftovers.

Tips:

1. If you have old-fashioned oats, soak them for about 10 minutes in warm water before adding them to your mixture. Use the water you soaked them in as part of the required water.

2. If you don't have powdered milk, use regular milk as half of the required water. I did and it worked great.
3. I used turbinado sugar instead of white sugar. I also added 1 tsp. vanilla and some cinnamon as well.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. I'll post my applesauce recipe later this week.

things that made me smile this week

2011-11-14T18:33:00.002-05:00

* yes, i know it's a repeat... walking through the leaves and hearing that swooshing noise. it just makes me feel like a little kid.

* new beginnings and full activity.

* reading books.

* dinners with my housemate. it's nice to have someone to talk with over dinner.

* gardening. i removed the blue spruce bushes from the front garden. it already looks amazing! i'm so excited for the possibilities.

* my mom sent me my birthday present 5 months in advance. i have a bag of forty daffodil bulbs to plant in my front and back gardens. i'm so excited. (i might share some with the neighbors, because i bought bulbs from the capitol hill garden club at eastern market a few weeks as well.)

* getting moments of organizational genius. thank you!

* brunch with good friends at eastern market. lots of fresh produce. apples. apples. apples.

* clean laundry.

* i called brother R2 and my littlest niece L answered the phone with her dad's help. all she said over and over was: "hi. Hi. HI." i love it.

* shopping for tickets home.

* Uggs. i know they're so ugly, they're cute, but what they do for my feet is amazing. everyone needs a pair of these boots. heaven for your feet.

* nephew L singing his favorite song to me over the phone: I Am A Child of God. he was telling me all about his part in the primary program from church today and just had to sing his favorite song to me. love this boy!

fall around the hill

2011-11-13T23:40:00.001-05:00

there is so much color every where i look these days.

these were taken two weekends ago as i walked and drove around the hill.

love the fall roses still in bloom.

for your sunday viewing pleasure.

more roses.

on the drive home from my sunroof.

12th and independence ave se

tennesse ave between c and d st ne

15th and d st ne

yes, I do drive around taking random photos in my car.

(usually at stop signs)

the following photos are not in dc, but they're still one of the reasons i love dc.

some of the views at the naval academy in annapolis, maryland.

the color in the background caught my eye one evening.

the naval academy bridge at sunset.

looking towards the playing fields on the far end of campus.

thoughtful thursday: my wealth

2011-11-10T11:42:00.000-05:00

i am grateful for what i am and have.
my thanksgiving is perpetual...
o how i laugh when i think of my vague indefinite riches.
no run on my bank can drain it
for my wealth is not possession but enjoyment.

~henry david thoreau

things that made me smile this week

2011-11-08T10:38:00.003-05:00

*the morning mist rising up through brightly colored trees along weems creek. it's my favorite part of the new commute.

*turning back the clock and waking up to sunshine.

*giving into an indulgence: watching the martha stewart show at work. (i'm all by myself in the office usually, so no one complains.)

*my nephew G's prayer as related to me by brother R2: "thank you heavenly father that i'm not a robot and can bend my neck." he stands up and bends his neck to make sure, and then kneels down again. "thank you heavenly father i'm not a robot and can bend my stomach." again he stands up, then bends at the waist to make sure. it's good to be thankful for the little things, like being human. (oh, and somebody needs to check mom and make sure she's not a robot!)

*treating myself to dinner at le pain quotidien. i love this place! it has such a great atmosphere, beautiful music playing and seriously good food. i always feel so decadent eating there, but the food is super healthy. i set aside a couple of hours, bring a good book and just enjoy my dinner.

*watching a friend's life change as she works on changing her self perspective for the better. and being a part of the change. keep up the great work!!

*free cupcakes from Sprinkles! yes, there is now a geo-town location. sprinkles was the first bakery to feature only cupcakes. i always say the original is best, and these are no exception: perfectly moist, flavorful cake, not too sweet frosting and fun cupcake forks.

*the swooshing noise as i walk through dry leaves. i know i said this last week, but it's seriously one of my favorite sounds.

*becoming more aware of how involved god is in my life. it's nice recognizing him in my life and gives me a lot of comfort and faith.

*the anticipation of a day off this friday.

*i'm listening to lds general conference on my ipod during my morning commute. it sets such a great tone for my day. i'm so glad i have my ipod.

*cooking a good dinner on sunday. i made pan fried pork chops with gravy from drippings in the skillet. acorn and butternut squash puree with butter, salt and a little all spice. trader joe's peas with mint butter. homemade applesauce from golden delicious apples with a little turbinado sugar and cinnamon. good food always makes me smile. and i have leftovers for lunches this week.

*my roommate was away unexpectedly one night last week, and i was left with josiah. i left him asleep on the rug in the hallway and woke up to him on the floor next to my bed the next morning. i almost stepped on him. i love how much this dog loves me and i love him right back.

*a phone conversation with a great friend with whom i haven't spoken in years. it was so nice to catch up and hear her voice. hugs to you CJ!!

*it's november and the holiday season is upon us. i'm planning the decor in my head already.

thoughtful thursday: sing

2011-11-03T10:19:00.000-04:00

so sing, already! or do whatever it is you're good at.

image via

my comfy chair

2011-11-02T06:34:00.002-04:00

for a while now i've been dreaming of a comfy chair in my bedroom. this summer, when i moved into my fabulous new house, i began to sell some things on craigslist and started the comfy-chair fund.

a couple of weeks ago, my dream chair came home with me.

i love my new chair from ikea, it seriously makes me happy.

i paired the chair with:

one of the rugs i bought in afghanistan,

and my silver adjustable lamp.

dad, the little red bird you gave me for christmas last year is hanging from the lamp.

all i need is a small side table to set my cup of chamomile-spearmint tea and i'm set.

oh, and the color tabs on the wall...
well i've almost convinced myself not to repaint...

reasons i love dc: the red church door

2011-11-01T06:20:00.000-04:00

i just love this church.

the red door brings a smile to my face and reminds me of england.

christ church on capitol hill

just another reason i love dc.

stuff that made me smile this week

2011-10-31T10:37:00.000-04:00

*the swooshing sound as i walk through dry leaves on the sidewalk. one of my favorite sounds in the world.

*sunlight firing up the deep red leaves and brightening up the gold ones on the trees on my street.

*snow that didn't stick and heat that works. oh, and fuzzy pink slippers and sweaters.

*baking and cooking and cleaning and organizing.

*working in annapolis. this place is so beautiful.

*my nephew G (4-years old) talking to me about watching Star Wars: Return of the Jedi for the first time. he loved it and was so excited to tell me about it. although he was terrified that Darth Vader was in his room for a few days afterward. it's so fun talk about sci-fi with my nephew.

*talking with my nephew B on saturday. he's very concerned that i'm going to "jump out of a parachute" someday. he also wanted to know if he could come over to have some of the cinnamon rolls i was baking for my party. i wish there were a secret portal between my house and his...

*hot spiced apple cider. seriously is there anything better?

*having all the new recipes i tried for the first time turn out well for the halloween sci-fi part of 2011. good friends who wore costumes to said party, and let their inner geek shine through. and even the friends who didn't wear costumes but came anyway to spend time with all of us.

*my housemate LP for helping me finish preparations for the party. without her i wouldn't have pulled it off quite as nicely. thank you.

*a housewarming gift of a starship enterprise pizza cutter from good friends. i smile every time i think about it.

*feeling like spiritual progress has been made.

to boldly show your inner geek

2011-10-31T00:12:00.000-04:00

i have long wanted to host a sci-fi costume party, and so i finally did.

invitation from evite.com

it was great fun and lots of people wore really imaginative costumes.

back l-r: a blind Romulan queen in disguise; Dr. Who; a short Storm Trooper;

and a crazy cat loving alien.

front l-r: "just another crewman" & a tribble; darth vader on his day off;

project runway's christian siriano (who really is an alien in real life)

more sci-fi fans: she-devil, a steampunk zombie hunter, and "just another crewman"

the cutest dolphin trainer ever.

(totally counts, because it's science.)

i totally want to be that when i grow up.

wolverine and his little boy.

best moment of the night was when he made his grand entrance carrying his little boy.

i'm so confused....

from thinkgeek.com

the best housewarming gift ever from AA & TS. thanks you guys!

i'm totally making homemade pizza for the next party...

a brilliant use for that R2D2 cake pan you never use--cornbread to go with the chili!

(thanks to AA!)

remember this commercial?

we totally had to try...

check out romanesco cauliflower. amazing naturally occurring fractal.

(thanks for the great conversation piece ST.)

we watched this movie. so funny, it never gets old.

party tips:

party favors included

from amazon.com

everyone who wore a costume got one of these.

from amazon.com

muggles got their choice of pins of star wars, star trek or various super heroes.

menu:

chili con carne

chili con vegetables

toppings: cheese, sour cream and fritos

corn bread with homemade honey butter

tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole

drinks:

pineapple lemonade punch

(my housemate's recipe--yummy!)

hot spiced apple cider

desserts:

homemade cinnamon rolls

pumpkin cookies

apple cake (thanks mp!)

yo-yo cookies made to look like spiders (thanks kb!)

halloween candy

decor:

silver table clothes with orange rope lights intertwined through the food

star confetti and star garlands

vintage star trek plates, table cloth (banner)

dark blue plates, cups, and cutlery

sorry, i forgot to take photos of the decor and food.

all in all a great party. we had a lot of fun indulging our inner geeks.

thanks everyone for playing!

thoughtful thursday: landlord to a ghost

2011-10-27T06:21:00.003-04:00

reasons i love dc: c&o canal in georgetown

2011-10-25T06:50:00.004-04:00

the c&o canal in georgetown at night in the rain.

just another reason why i love dc.

things that made me smile this week

2011-10-24T06:25:00.002-04:00

*dinner at serendipity with two lovely friends. it was a fun girls night out.

*being brutally honest with myself and feeling so good afterwards for owning it. change is good.

*raking leaves and weeding. getting ready to plant bulbs. yay!

*pumpkins!

*seeing patrick stewart. more here.

*quiet time sitting in my new comfy chair in my bedroom. big sigh of contentment.

*the morning light on the trees with their colorful array of leaves on my way to work.
gorgeousness abounds.

*watching Galaxy Quest for the millionth time. i laughed until i cried.

*having my ht MQ stop by unexpectedly. a much needed visit.

*organizing the office/sewing/spare/common room upstairs. purging is good for the soul.

goats and chickens and pumpkins, oh my!

2011-10-23T17:46:00.002-04:00

some friends and i spent the day at homestead farms out in the wilds of maryland.

i needed my fall fix.

it was good to get out of the city.

every now and then i need a little country.

a little fall color, a little tromp through the fields

pumpkins imported from tennessee because

the weather this year wasn't conducive to growing pumpkins locally.

pretty cute scarecrows at every turn...

including this one.

i think your tractor's sexy...

the great pumpkin rescue...

notice the pumpkin carnage on the ground behind me.

oh, i am a fan of carmel apples. yum!

just a little color.

boy, these piglets sure brought back childhood memories.

he was the cutest sheep!

everyone loved the goats and the goats loved them right back.

they had the best assortment of chickens and other fowl that i have ever seen on a farm.

lots of chickens, guinea fowls, turkeys, ducks and even the cutest fuzzy chicken.

i think i want one--a fuzzy chicken that is.

our fall treasures in the best shopping cart ever.

happy fall!!!

thoughtful thursday: a second chance

2011-10-20T09:04:00.002-04:00

boldly

2011-10-19T06:05:00.002-04:00

I do love a good looking older man and Sir Patrick Stewart is no exception. It's not even necessarily his looks; they are verra nice. It's the whole package, personality and looks all wrapped up nicely.

I sat last night for an hour and a half, and listened to him talk about life and passion for acting. It was a thrill to hear some of his stories and his perspective on Shakespeare. His wit, kindness, and sincerity were apparent.

He was completely unapologetic about his work for Star Trek, while sitting on the stage of the Shakespeare Theater Company in Sydney Harman Hall, and, in fact, takes great pride in his time spent as Captain Jean Luc Picard.

He even recited the famous ST voice over--"Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before."--in his native Yorkshire accent. And admitted to originally auditioning for the role in a toupee and reading lines with a French accent--"Spaze ze final frontier. Zese are ze voyagez of ze starship..." (Thank heavens we don't have to deal with another toupee wearing starship captain.)

I hope to see him at work on stage some day. He's a pretty fabulous actor and I always enjoy his work on the big and small screen.

A few things he said last night that have stuck with me are:

When asked which actresses he had a crush on as a young man: I wanted to marry Doris Day and if she wouldn't have me, then I would settle for Debby Reynolds. (Seriously, I love this man.)

"You will never achieve success by insuring against failure."

Which film had influenced him as a young man: On the Waterfront (I'm adding this my list to watch.)

"Banish fear."

When asked if he thought Shakespeare had indeed written all his plays, he said yes, then elaborated: It makes no sense that a glove maker's son with a grammar school education could write such plays, but that to me is the strongest argument for the power of creativity. (I've paraphrased this last quite a bit, and, yes, I agree.)

things that made me smile this week

2011-10-18T11:53:00.001-04:00

*a few people this week paid me compliments, saying i looked great and happier. thank you.

*a nap in the sunshine pouring through my bedroom windows on saturday afternoon after spending most of the day at reserves.

*starting a new job, commuting to annapolis, getting a pentagon parking pass, meeting my new bosses, setting up a new office, figuring out the lay of the land.

*my housemate's friend came by to show off her new VW Beetle which she received as a guest on the oprah show. we stood in our street laughing, chatting and admiring her new car. it was fun.

*brent spiner and wil wheaton on the big bang theory. i laughed so hard.

*reading the scriptures and feeling peace.

*my nephew B asking about my house, where exactly i live and can he come for a visit. i told him to talk to his mom about it.

*playing the piano. it's still not old.

*the leaves are changing colors and the nights are getting cooler. fall is here!!!

*party planning.

copycat

2011-10-16T15:24:00.012-04:00

i cut my hair pretty short a couple of weeks ago. i had it cut shoulder length about a month ago, but i wanted it shorter so i could wear my hair down while wearing my uniform to work for the next 6 months. i love the cut and am having lots of fun of with it. and it looks super cute with my uniform. yay!

my sister bugged me for a few days, asking for a photo of the new do. i finally sent her one.

then on thursday i got this photo from her.

super cute COPYCAT!!!!

granted she said she had been planning on cutting her hair short for about a month now.

so, i take back the copycat.

sisters...!

i just think it's funny that we both got the same haircut.

it seems we do this frequently--

cut or color our hair at the same time without consulting each other...

love ya, becky-doodles.

thoughtful thursday: the only realistic antidote

2011-10-13T18:10:00.001-04:00

i have been thinking about this a lot for a very long time and thought i would share. 'cause life ain't perfect, ya know, and neither are people.

"Maybe creating a big enough space within your consciousness to hold and accept someone's contradictions--someone's idiocies, even--is a kind of divine act. Perhaps transcendence can be found not only on solitary mountaintops or in monastic settings, but also at your own kitchen table, in the daily acceptance of your partner's most tiresome, irritating faults.

What I am talking about is learning how to accommodate your life as generously as possible around a basically decent human being who can sometimes be an unmitigated pain in the ass. In this regard, the marital kitchen can become something like a small linoleum temple where we are called up daily to practice forgiveness, as we ourselves would like to be forgiven.

In the end, it seems to me that forgiveness may be the only realistic antidote we are offered in love, to combat the inescapable disappointments of intimacy.

~Elizabeth Gilbert, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage, p. 131-133
see my review here.

things i love about dc

2011-10-11T05:58:00.001-04:00

i have driven by this little park many times and never noticed this delightful statue. i always approached it from another angle, but this time i was heading south and stopped at the light. i looked over and immediately started to laugh with delight at this whimsical statue.

balance -by marcia billig

a few days later, i took my new boyfriend josiah out for a walk and quickly snapped this photo.

things that made me smile this week

2011-10-10T19:52:00.001-04:00

*hanging out with a good friend who makes me laugh and reminds me not to take life too seriously. thanks jp.

*being reminded yet again, that i am not alone and that i have guardian angels when i need them.

*playing the piano and singing in the evenings after work or during the day on monday, whenever the mood strikes.

*putting together the ikea bookcase to hold my music books. it fits perfectly between the piano and wall, just as i envisioned.

*cleaning my room and organizing.

*emptying boxes.

*going to church.

*sunshine. lots and lots of sunshine.

*six saltine crackers. only six of them.

*finishing up at work.

*singing the national anthem.

*buying bulbs for planting. and the prospect of weeding.

*getting my haircut even shorter and loving it.

*having monday off and sleeping in until 10.

*waking up on saturday morning at 0730 and going back to sleep until after 10. heaven!

thoughtful thursday

2011-10-06T20:33:00.000-04:00

The lesson here is that if we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us.

This is not to say that we should abandon hope or temper our goals. Never stop striving for the best that is within you. Never stop hoping for all of the righteous desires of your heart. But don’t close your eyes and hearts to the simple and elegant beauties of each day’s ordinary moments that make up a rich, well-lived life.

The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy.

Forget Me Not, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, LDS General Oct 2011

the perfect end to a crappy day

2011-10-05T22:23:00.001-04:00

after a perfectly crappy day, do you know what the perfect remedy is to help me feel better?

going to see my hair guy steve, who seriously knows how to cut naturally curly hair and make a girl feel gorgeous. it's short, but so darn cute and sexy.

and coming home to my new boyfriend. i went straight upstairs and without changing out of my work clothes, let josiah out of his kennel. he was so excited to see me that he went straight downstairs grabbed his leash off the entryway table and brought it upstairs to me before i could even walk to my own room. i am such a softy, that i didn't even change clothes. i just hooked him up to his leash, while he behaved perfectly, sitting still and waiting for me to grab a bag to pick up his business and didn't even rush the door. we had a good little walk (except that i was still in my work shoes and my feet started hurting). i love this dog!

seriously, the perfect end to a perfectly crappy day.

all that's left to say

2011-10-04T22:07:00.000-04:00

things that made me smile this week

2011-10-03T17:48:00.001-04:00

*i have a new boyfriend. he's adorable, and adores me.
   -lover boy sits at the door and waits for me.
   -he runs round in circles when he sees me.
   -he gets so excited that he forgets he's not supposed to jump on me when he sees me.
   -when i'm sitting in the living room he tries to sneak in to sit at my feet even though he's not allowed in the living room.
   -he sits in the back room and puts his head on his paws and watches me sitting in the living room after i kick him out.
   -sometimes he sits and whines until i acknowledge his existence.
   -he has the loveliest pout and he just cracks me up.
   -he'll come up behind me when i'm sitting in the back room. the next i know i have a cold, wet nose being shoved up between my elbow and side, and he doesn't give up until i give in and rub his belly.
   -he's not that great with raccoons that come to the backdoor. he just sits and looks at them, no barking or growling or anything...
   -this canine friend of mine makes me smile, because he's just so ridiculously in love with me.

*lots and lots of general conference talks this week. i love conference.

*leaves are starting to change colors. i think fall is officially here.

*brunch with a friend at eastern market on saturday morning. (one of my favoritest things ever).

*a sci-fi movie party where we discussed the problem with timelines and plot holes in the star trek series and movies. (yes, i know they're not real, but it's still fun to talk about.)

*the phone conversation with my nephew B who isn't interested in me at all, and only asks about the dog and where he is.
"hi christine. where's your dog?" (it's too hard to explain to an almost 4-year old that the dog belongs to my roommate, so to him the dog is mine)
"he's upstairs in his bed."
"oh. why?"
"because he's tired and it's time for bed."
"oh. why?"
you get the picture...

*hearing brother J talk about his oldest son M who is 2 years old and walks around calling his little brother Will: "willis! where are you willis?" i'm seriously cracking up just imagining this.

*having the support and excitement of my family and friends as i get ready to transition to a new job. thanks everyone.

thoughtful thursday: grant me the courage

2011-09-29T06:41:00.001-04:00

God, grant me the courage to be happy.

Miss Fee from "the wild and wily ways of a brunette bombshell" wrote this in a recent post, and I liked it so much that I wanted to share. Sometimes lots of courage is required to allow yourself to feel worthy of happiness and she captures this perfectly in her post.

Thank you, Miss Fee for sharing your courage.

my life is a golden ticket

2011-09-27T00:51:00.001-04:00

Remember the golden ticket from the imaginative story "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"? It promised fantastic things to those who would find it in their bar of Willy Wonka chocolate. People were desperate to find a golden ticket, so much so, that they lost appreciation for the simple joy of eating a chocolate bar if it didn't contain a golden ticket. They missed out on the happiness that was right in front of them.

On Saturday evening, Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, gave this sermon to the women of the LDS Church during a worldwide satellite broadcast:

It's only 20 minutes and well worth your time.

In it he talks about the dangers of waiting for a golden ticket and wanting it so much that it excludes all else in life. How sometimes wanting something so badly can cause us to miss out on the things in our lives, which, if recognized and appreciated, can bring so much fullness and joy to us.

It was a timely message. One that I fully understood and heartily applauded in my heart. I remember discovering, that if I had to wait for happiness to find me, then I sure was going to be waiting a long time. I stopped waiting, and went in search of it, and have kept on having wonderful adventures.

After the broadcast on Saturday, as I was driving some friends home, one of their mothers called to tell her daughter not to wait for her golden ticket to be happy. My mom also called that night, but I missed the call because I was driving and it was late and I had to work early the next morning. I imagined that she was calling to tell me the same thing.

So, I thought about what I would tell my mom if she said the same thing to me, and I had this thought: My life right now is a golden ticket! I am so blessed with a rich full life. I am happy, and learning to be happier. I know who I am and am learning so much about what and who I love. I have so much that I love and enjoy in my life, that I can't quite appreciate it all at times. Sure, I get sad and have hard days, and hard things to overcome. Happiness takes a lot of work sometimes and some days are easier than others, but all of this contributes to the golden ticket that is my life.

I am so thankful that I learned how to turn my life into a golden ticket by appreciating the simple joys in life: enjoying and loving the people around me, being true to myself and my Father in Heaven, and choosing happiness right here, right now. And that, more than anything, is what Pres. Uchtdorf wants us to know.

things that made me smile this week

2011-09-25T16:56:00.000-04:00

*talking to my nephew B and having him say, "you need to be by us." so, so true. at the same time i was smiling, i was crying too with this one.

*i attended the world-wide broadcast of the LDS Church's General Relief Society Meeting on saturday. it was wonderful and i loved all the talks. i left inspired to do more to increase my connection with god. but the thing that night that really made me smile...

*learning quirky, little known, fun things about the sisters in my congregation. for instance, one sister was an mtv dancer while at university (back when mtv was actually music tv), another was a yellow peanut m&m for mars, another met her husband in third grade, another was tony the tiger (how grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-eat is this?!?!), another has 17 grandchildren, another is a marilyn monroe impersonator, and another (i won't say who...) admitted to having two star trek: tos uniforms in her closet.

*getting caught out in a monsoon rainstorm while in uniform. all i could do was laugh, because i was soaked to the skin.

*new bras. (i know too much information, but seriously a good thing.)

*the big bang theory season premiere. "it's not what it looks like." the red chair. paintball war. i about died laughing.

*singing at a friend's retirement ceremony this week. congrats PB. i'll miss you!

in my backyard

2011-09-23T20:18:00.000-04:00

in my backyard are treasures.

getting ready to open its face to the sun.

gorgeousness abounds.

happy fall!

just keep swimming

2011-09-22T22:02:00.000-04:00

who knew that when i saw you again it would all come rushing back? every bit of how it felt to be in your circle, your arms, your life. the times you listened patiently while i tried to explain to you things i wasn't sure i even understood myself. when i cried for no discernible reason and you just let me. the quiet times we shared when the world was only ours and life seemed to stop moving for a minute. the way my heart would skip a beat and i would laugh when you asked me if i missed you after only a matter of hours.

and then the times of frustration. how we knew we both wanted different paths, but didn't want to separate. when we both knew and tried to fight it.

yes, all of that all over again in the moment when i saw you again.

and for a minute i wished we could go back, and then i remembered why we are where we are right now. and you know what? i'm glad it's this way. i'm glad i'm moving forward on my separate path. moving on. moving towards what i really want.

hearts are funny, the things they hold on to, the things they make us remember. i sometimes wish i could turn mine off. but then i would miss out on this life i'm living. and no matter what i want this life. this laugh. this cry. this tiredness. this joy. this work. this time.

and so in the words of dori:

"hey mr. grumpy gills! when life gets you down, you know what'cha gotta do? just keep swimming. just keep swimming. just keep swimming, swimming..." or moving. or running. or working. or reading. or writing. or playing the piano. or believing. or moving forward. or letting go. or loving. or whatever.

just keep doing it. 'cause you know what? it helps.

thoughtful thursday: truth & love

2011-09-22T06:31:00.001-04:00

the world is too dangerous for anything but truth
and too small for anything but love.
~william sloan coffin

laughs

2011-09-19T19:27:00.002-04:00

Because we all need a good laugh every now and then no matter how young we are...

LAUGHS! from Everynone on Vimeo.

things that made me smile this week

2011-09-18T20:21:00.001-04:00

* good sleep without running my ac unit. it's cooling off at night and it feels so great.

* spending two days with my "closest" friends out in the field training.

* my super cool roommate and her dog. i'm so glad they're a part of my life.

* but this is what really made me happy....

being a part of dreams coming true for a dear friend.

love you tj!

thoughtful thursday: joy for mourning

2011-09-15T06:48:00.001-04:00

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3

trees of righteousness illustration, by amy kopp

a friend quoted this scripture on her blog in her post on 9/11 and being brave enough to move forward in times of darkness. i thought it was beautiful and wanted to share it as well. thank you EKD.

things that made me smile

2011-09-12T06:24:00.001-04:00

- chasing that darn dog!

- going to church with a friend from Afghanistan who was an answer to prayers.

- having a housemate.

- cooking for a group and for myself.

- sunshine!

- rain!

- a red velvet cupcake from the sweet lobby from my housemate.

- shoe shopping with friend OS when our sky diving was cancelled due to rain, and these new shoes.

- calling my mom to sing her "happy birthday".

- the movie Hitch. i laugh every time.

- remembering.

- reading out loud to myself poetry from the book "The Subject Tonight Is Love" by Hafiz. i highly recommend his poetry and this poem in particular:

"I caught the happy virus last night
When I was out singing beneath the stars.
It is remarkably contagious--
So kiss me."

i remember

2011-09-11T20:46:00.001-04:00

I was stationed in London and had been there for six months. It was the second day at my new job. I had just taken the sister missionaries to lunch at the American Embassy across the street from my office at Grosvenor Square and North Audley Street right in the heart of London, only three blocks from Hyde Park.

I walked back into my office to see that someone had turned on the television which was showing the images of a plane flying into the World Trade Center. "What movie are you guys watching?" I asked, because planes flying into the World Trade Center only happen in the movies. "It's not a movie. This is real and it just happened a few minutes ago," my leading petty officer explained.

We were immediately on lock down, the whole building. No one in without proper ID and definitely no one out, until we knew what the threat was for us. My roommate, SD, was a United Airlines flight attendant (and still is) was supposed to be in Boston that morning. My other roommate, JB, worked for a large printing company in the Financial District, she had called me to find out if we were evacuating or not, but instead had talked with an office mate who told her that he couldn't tell her anything without risking our own security.

Then word came that the Pentagon had been hit. We had people there on temporary duty. We scrambled to account for them and thankfully we did.

I called home and talked with my mom to tell her I was safe. She said that she figured I was because I was across the street from the Embassy and that was a safe place to be. I didn't have the heart to tell her we received weekly, if not daily, bomb threats. I told her I would call her when I got home and that I loved her. I also told her to tell my brother, Chris, happy 16th birthday. I didn't know when I would be able to talk to my family again. The conversation was less than two minutes and I went back to work.

I talked with my roommate who worked in London, who told me that SD hadn't flown to Boston, but instead had flown to India and had arrived back in London that morning. She was home safe in our apartment. That was when I started to sob. My Shipmates were concerned and relieved that my London family was safe, and then sternly told me to pull it together because I had a job to do.

I remember though that I wasn't exactly sure what my job was because I was still learning it. I remember thinking that we were probably going to be at the forefront of a lot of things. I knew our Nation would have a military response to this day. There was no way we wouldn't respond to this without our military might. I knew my life had changed and that someday I would go to war in the country that perpetrated these events. I knew all this then and six years later when I received a phone call telling me I was going to Afghanistan, it came as a shock, but I wasn't surprised because I already knew.

I left work that evening with a group of Shipmates, and we flagged down the first cab we saw and piled in for the short one mile journey to the train station. Our bosses didn't want groups of Americans walking on the street that evening. The driver heard our accents and in his East London accent expressed his sympathy. He was the first of many to share his sympathy with us.

My roommates and I went out for dinner at a fast food place, and young people stopped to talk with us. A young woman, not British, told me, that America deserved the attack because of our arrogance. I remember being so hurt by what she said and simply replied that people from many nations were killed in the attack and did they deserve it as well? She had no reply and just walked away.

The next day we drove by Grosvenor Square to see the makeshift memorial that had been set up on a traffic island with a tree. We got out and walked over to take a look. Flowers and cards from Londoners were pouring in. London taxi drivers, who are a special brand of people--bless them, were pulling up in their cabs and handing flowers out through their windows to be put with the others. I saw Brendan Fraser, the actor, visiting with some people on the sidewalk near by. He was in town doing a production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Later that week, my roommate DC and I went to St. Paul's Cathedral for the memorial service, and miraculously were able to find our other roommate in the throngs of people outside the in the surrounding streets. We talked with those around us, Americans and others, about the events of the past days. It was a beautiful service.

A few days later my roommate SD and I went the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace where a tribute to the victims of 9/11 was planned. After the guards were changed, the American Ambassador and Prince Charles came out and a color guard presented our flag as they band played the National Anthem. It was so moving to be there for that tribute and to sing the words with the crowd with tears in my eyes. Then they played God Save the Queen (the tune is My Country 'Tis of Thee). As I stood there respectfully, a woman behind me started loudly singing, "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty..." I quickly turned and explained to her that it was not our song, but England's and she stopped singing. It was a moment of great solemnity and importance, because the Changing of the Guard had never played another country's anthem before. It was a great symbol of England's support.

The outpouring of support and sympathy from the people of London, and indeed all of England, was humbling and appreciated. I am grateful for the show of support and caring I received from my friends while I was there. The world is a good place, full of good people. I am grateful that during that particular time kindness and support were the overwhelming responses, which I experienced.

happy birthday mama bear

2011-09-10T20:06:00.000-04:00

We call my mom Mama Bear. She used to get so mad at my youngest brothers when they would call her this. She thought they were commenting on her nature and that they thought she was grouchy like a bear or something. Then my brother J (I think it was him) explained why they called her this.

Mom rescued a tiny, black baby kitten. For the longest time, it was so tiny that the palm of her hand dwarfed it. She fed it with a medicine dropper and it grew until it was a tiny fist size ball of black fur that stuck out all over. He was the cutest little kitten, so funny looking. When he sucked down his milk, his ears would curl up and we would all laugh.

Then we all read an article from the Reader's Digest about a family who adopted a black bear cub and named it Little Bit. One of my brothers thought that the little ball fur looked like Little Bit when he curled his ears back, so the name stuck for the cat. And Mom became Mother Bear or Mama Bear depending on our mood. The cat grew up to be quite the handful and earned himself the nickname of Little Sh*t.

Well, when Mom found this out, she liked her nickname and it's stuck ever since. And now we are the Boyer Bears as well. We have Papa Bear, Christine-a-Bear, Raynbo Bear, Roberto Bear, Becky Bear, Jonny Bear and Christo Bear. It's a fun tradition.

Mama Bear totally lives up to her nickname as well. She is pretty ferocious in defending her family and taking of all her cubs. I certainly do love her!

Happy birthday, Mama Bear. I'm glad you're my mom.

I love this photo! She has the best laugh ever.

Two of my favorite moms in Paradise.

(Thanks for the photo Jim!)

And Grandma Bear too!

thoughtful thursday: perfect

2011-09-08T06:44:00.003-04:00

i love this. found via unabellvita

some sneak peeks of the house

2011-09-08T06:40:00.001-04:00

My dad is funny. He keeps asking when I am going to share more photos of my house.

He got a new pacemaker yesterday. Everything went well and he is doing great!

So, here is a sneak peek of the house. It's still a work in progress.

Up the stairs is my prayer rug from Afghanistan.

I love this rug and the red wall.

"I am a great woman."

I love this reminder in French on my way out the door each morning.

I found this at Eastern Market a couple of years ago and fell in love with it.

A view of my dining room into the entryway.

I carried those terracotta angels in my backpack through Italy

and somehow kept them safe. Believe it or not, that was the easy part.

A somewhat dark view of the dining room and into the living room.

See my piano in the corner? It makes me very happy.

roommate #2: the escapee

2011-09-07T22:26:00.000-04:00

so, i have two new roommates PL and her dog J. J is a lovely black with white markings medium size border collie. PL is lovely too and i feel so blessed to have her as a roommate.

this evening, i came home from work and changed into t-shirt, jeans and flip-flops to head out into the pouring down rain to get the 5 free sandbags that the city was handing out. we are having epic amounts of rain here in dc and flooding is common. i wanted to be able to protect the basement if needed. i loaded up the sandbags and then headed to frager's for some other home care stuff.

by the time i got back J was beside himself. he was in his kennel, but clearly ready to be out. i'm sure hearing the heavy rain and thunder didn't help him stay to calm today. he's a really good and cuddly dog, so i was looking forward to having him out and to myself until PL got home.

we went downstairs together and i let him out into the backyard. i stopped to talk with the neighbor for a minute and kept an eye on J. the next thing i know, he has figured out that the back gate was not locked, opened it and slipped out into the back alley. i immediately take off after him. keep in mind that it's raining, i'm wearing flip-flops, and i don't have his leash or my cell phone with me, and i left the back door wide open. all i have is the key to the laundry room and my driver's license in my pocket.

at first i think i have a chance of catching him, because he's letting me get pretty close before taking off again and he's moving pretty slow. we get to the front corner and he's stopped, trying to do his business, so i try to grab his collar but he jumps back and snaps at me with a little growl. he's obviously not ready to be caught.

after that it's game on, and J just simply takes off with me in hot pursuit after him. i'm yelling for him to come, he'll stop and mark a tree, and then wait until i about catch up with him before taking off again. this darn dog is playing with me. well, then it gets serious, because he's running into traffic at the intersections. thankfully, drivers are stopping for him and me, so he gets through safe. after about five blocks of running after him, two young men start helping me as well and then a third joins in. they are younger and can run a lot faster, so they can keep up better with J.

by this time, we are well on our way to lincoln park, but i can't see J any more. i'm praying, that those young men can keep up with him and that no matter what happens he doesn't get hurt. i get to lincoln park and can hear a dog crying in the distance like it's in distress. i just know it's J and that he's been hurt.

i get to the middle of the park, and i see three young men with an older gentleman walking towards me. they have a black and white dog on a leash, and it's J safe and sound. i'm so relieved. i grab onto J's collar, say thank you to all four gentlemen, and start walking home.

as we walk home, we pass by people sitting outside who are all happy that i caught him and making comments to that effect. the young men are also following me part of the way and J keeps trying to go back and say hi to them. J is also having trouble breathing because i'm holding onto his collar and it's pressing on his throat. this causes a guy to stop and ask me what sort of dog J is. i tell him, adding that he's in trouble because he ran away and we are on our way home. the concern on the man's face clears up when he hears this and i'm just glad that he doesn't say anything else to me, because i'm mad at J for this little adventure we just went on.

we get home finally and my roommate is at the backdoor wondering what the heck happened. i explain and J gets put in time out. i'm just thankful the escapee is home safe and sound. he's now totally exhausted after his two mile run/walk, and so am i.

J in timeout. isn't he a beauty?

my roommate is pretty cool and hadn't panicked, but was starting to feel concerned when she went to go upstairs after realizing that J and i were not home, and saw J's lease in the basket inside the front door. that's when she knew something was up. thankfully we got home just after she started putting everything together.

all in all, a very unexpected exciting evening.

the best family photo ever

2011-09-06T00:12:00.000-04:00

Boyer Family Reunion 2011 at Bear Lake State Park, Idaho

Yep, we're quite the crew!

I love you guys.

thoughtful thursday: measure of your love

2011-09-01T06:47:00.001-04:00

You are rewarded
not according to your work or your time,
but according to the measure of your love.
~ St. Catherine of Siena

belated

2011-08-30T22:24:00.000-04:00

so, i'm a really bad sister.

it was brother j's birthday a couple of weeks ago and i totally spaced it, until just a few days ago. i even saw him the weekend after his birthday and still didn't remember. i have no excuses, just that i was dealing with some personal stuff that was pretty big and wasn't thinking much of anyone or anything outside myself.

so, i just want to say that i'm sorry i forgot your birthday brother j. you're a pretty great brother.

you...
and your son video chat with me often, which always makes me laugh and feel loved.
text me photos of your sons all the time, which i totally love.
work hard for your family.
make me laugh.
live in a really cool place which i want to come and visit again. columbus day work okay for you?
are my favorite brother in all of utah... (shhhh, don't tell anyone, okay.)

thanks for being such an awesome brother.

Angel's Landing, Zion National Park, Oct 2010

so, happy belated birthday to you. and may you have lots of cake in your face!
love ya, jonny boy.

things that made me smile a lot this week

2011-08-30T00:24:00.001-04:00

- my whole family was in one place, all together for the first time in almost five years. yay! one of my wishes for this summer came true.

- a campfire. chili verde. fire roasted corn on the cob. georgetown cupcakes (for breakfast too). stars, so many stars. mountains.

- hugs from all my nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters, mom and dad. (and to all my in-laws you are simply my sisters and my brother.)

- my niece's story about the titanic and a romance. she's quite the author.

- an early morning thunderstorm, a double rainbow and family breakfast under a canopy tent in the rain. heaven on earth.

- a bear lake sun burn.

- playing rodeo in the backyard with my two nephews. i got bucked off a bull a couple of times and landed on my behind.

- sleeping on the trampoline with my nephews who decided they loved their mom too much to be outside with me, so they went inside. later mom, my sister, came out and we got sister time.

- stars! shooting stars! satellites!

- long car rides with mom, talking and listening to beautiful music.

- seeing kp and kh two friends i haven't seen in ages. i loved catching up with them, and just sitting and talking. (sorry, to the other friends i missed. next time, i promise.)

- visiting temple square for the first time in years. i love the christus statue.

- i bid on my hotel for san diego and ended up staying here. it was awesome!

- seeing friends from my team in afghanistan. especially one who survived a suicide bombing. he is getting stronger and healthier every day. thank you, god, for this miracle.

- watching as a friend stepped up to meet her destiny. when i grow up i want to be like her: compassionate, strong, a true friend and leader.

- singing with the best pianist i've ever met. listening to him play, to his brother sing along and watching people's faces as they listened or sang along also. what a fabulous night.

- making new friends.

- dinner at an amazing french restaurant with an inspiring group of people.

- listening to the ocean and a steel band play as i fell asleep with windows of my hotel room open.

- coming home to dc. it really is home here now.

- seeing that everyone is safe and sound from the earthquake and hurricane which i missed while out west.

photos to follow.

thoughtful thursday: music under my feet

2011-08-18T06:28:00.005-04:00

By reading the scriptures I am so renewed

that all nature seems renewed around me

and with me.

The sky seems to be a pure,

a cooler blue,

the trees a deeper green.

The whole world is charged

with the glory of God

and I feel fire

and music

under my feet.

~Thomas Merton

someday i will see this with my own eyes

landscapes from

national geographic photo of the day

home & family

2011-08-17T23:19:00.000-04:00

so, i've loved coming home to a house full of people the past couple of days. my new roomie has lots of friends who just love her and she loves them. they are her family. they have been here helping her set up her move, unpack and set up furniture. it's been so fun to meet them and be immediately accepted into her 'family'. the love is amazing and just what i needed.

that's not to say that i don't have my own circle of friends who love me and whom i also love, because i really couldn't ask for better friends here in dc. it's just that my circle is expanding and while i'm finding it a bit scary, i'm so excited to be diving in and experiencing it. i can't wait for more!

tonight, when i got home, i found that roomie's sisters are here visiting. (i had forgotten--oops.) they are lovely, beautiful and so caring. they greeted me with hugs and laughter. they all look similar and love each other so much. when they found out i was going to pick up cupcakes for my sister from georgetown cupcake, they also wanted cupcakes. it was too cute! (yes, i have 2 1/2 dozen cupcakes sitting in my house right now! seriously, if you're thinking of breaking in tonight's the night... but please don't.)

here's what i've learned: that it's the family that makes a house a home. that fills it up to over flowing with love. that pushes out all negativity. that fills in all the blank spaces with exactly the right pieces. that accepts you just because you're someone important in their loved one's life. that volunteers to help with the smallest jobs. that keeps the lights on for you. finds ways to assist and asks what you need help with.

you see in the time i've lived on my own here, i had forgotten all this. the time alone was valuable and i enjoyed it, but i'm so ready to be with family. and i think my new family is gonna be lots of fun in my new home. i'm looking forward to learning how to live with family again.

p.s. i get to see my true family soon. utah here i come!

i'm a ferrari

2011-08-16T06:24:00.001-04:00

a good friend said to me recently that i was a ferrari.

and this is the ferrari that reminds him of me.

i'll totally take it, 'cause that's one fine lookin' car!

seh-eh-eh-eh-xy

it also requires special handling,

has classic detailing,

and requires lots of work and upkeep.

(i'm not sayin' i'm high maintenance, just that i take a little work.)

i think i want one... seriously, i think i found my dream car.

and in the words, of my friend,

someone needs to recognize that you're a ferrari and want you for that.

and i said, the right man will and that's okay with me.

in the meantime, i'll try not to get pulled over for speedin'...

hooks

2011-08-13T16:31:00.001-04:00

i bought these hooks years ago, because i fell in love with them.

then, i never used them because i didn't live in a place that was right for them.

this house is different...

i hung these hooks in my entry way the other day and i just have to say that i LOVE them.

by the way, the wall color is more pink than orange. the top photo shows the true color.

more to come.

things that made me smile lately

2011-08-12T09:33:00.000-04:00

- key lime coconut cupcakes (thanks SS) and good conversation with friends
   p.s. i really must have that recipe!

- plans for the boyer family reunion and buying my plane tickets

- a wake up phone call

- making arrangements to rent a piano for the new house. it will be delivered tomorrow.

- hanging my antique looking coat hooks in the entryway hallway. they look so pretty.

- hanging the art work in the house

- rain!

- sending rsvps for two specatular events for friends.

- the temperature droppping to below 70 degrees at night. can you say sleeping with all the bedroom windows wide open?

- this conversation with nephew L:
   me: guess what?!?! we get to go camping togther next week.
   l: i know.
   me: and then guess what?!?!!? i'm coming to your house to play with you.
   l: how long will you be there?
   me: i think i'll be there for 2 days.
   l: that's not long enough.
   me: how long should it be?
   l: you need to come 6 days.
   me: i wish i could, but i can't.
   l: why not?
   me: i have to go to a party for a friend in san diego.
         (the party is a change of command ceremony, but l wouldn't understand what that is)
   l: why?
   me: because she asked me to sing for her party.
   l: oh. okay....... can you come for three days?
   me: yes, i think i can.
   l: okay! bye!
i seriously love this kid.

- deciding to switch the dining and living rooms, because i want the living room in the bigger room.

- baking cupcakes and making this frosting. seriously good stuff.

- asking for space and getting it.

- and now it's friday! happy weekend.

thoughtful thursday: you want

2011-08-11T06:58:00.000-04:00

"Be the change you want to see in the world." ~Ghandi

thoughtful thursday: the great art of life

2011-08-04T06:20:00.001-04:00

To improve the golden moment of opportunity and catch the good that is within our reach is the great art of life."
— Samuel Johnson

happy birthday brother r2

2011-08-01T22:51:00.000-04:00

brother r2 is one year older today. i remember as kids we fought a lot. and for a long time i didn't like him very much. but now he is one of my favorite people and a best friend. he has a knack for making me laugh. making me think. making me glad i'm single. making me feel loved. i'm so glad he's my brother.

this was too good to not share again.

h a p p y b i r t h d a y b r o t h e r r 2 !

l o v e y a !!

thoughtful thursday: absolutely clear

2011-07-28T06:35:00.000-04:00

Don't surrender your loneliness
So quickly.
Let it cut more deep.

Let it ferment and season you
As few human
Or even divine ingredients can.

Something missing in my heart tonight
Has made my eyes so soft,
My voice
So tender,

My need of God
Absolutely
Clear.

~Hafez

things that made me smile this week

2011-07-24T20:57:00.000-04:00

*seeing a good friend, after not seeing him for while.

*talking with another friend that i haven't talked with for a while.

*driving to work this morning near union station, i saw a man walking looking at the capitol with a big grin on his face. his grin reminded me that i love being a tourist in this town too.

*i am pet sitting a friend's bunny rabbit. she's a cute little, obnoxious thing that poops everywhere.

*chief's training has started again. it's fun to be on the other side this year. i'm looking forward to seeing what i learn this year and remembering the lessons from last year.

*attending a fireside to listen to the architect of the lds temple in rome, italy talk about the design concepts and share some drawings. it was a beautiful experience and i gained some really cool insights into this new temple. i can't wait to see it.

*a first date with a really nice guy who treated me like a lady.

*a new bathmat from world market. i love this store.

*chocolate.