Zaida Whitaker, born today!

Have you ever held a brand new little life in your arms? It's a miracle. Nice work, Mommy.

One World, Everyone Eats

If you have never eaten at the Salt Lake City cafe, "One World, Everyone Eats", it's time, my friend! Why did I fall in love with it from the first time we met? Let me count the ways.

10. It smells and feels like Portland's Saturday Market on Burnside.
9. Everything's organic. (I try everything at once and it doesn't wig out my stomach.)
8. You'd never think to make any of this stuff at home.
7. They'll give you as much of anything and everything you want.
6. You pay what you feel like it's worth when you're finished.
5. Volunteers earn a full meal voucher after 1 hour of work there (yard maintenance, cleaning, serving...anything) and that includes any of their children under 8.
4. You can wear your most outrageous outfit and look like the most conservative person in the place.
3. Pirates are welcome.
2. It's as close as I've felt to traveling without leaving my city.
1. Guaranteed to meet fun, friendly and fascinating people.

My sis, JaNel & I went there tonight. Everyone who walked in was hugging. Finally I asked the guys at the table next to us if there was some event going on, or if they really just hug everyone but JaNel & I who walks in. They laughed and both came over to remedy the situation. It turns out there was a birthday party (to which we were then invited). Pirate style, of course. =o)

I'm It...and You're Next

I will stop reading other people's blogs if I get tagged again. And that's the truth. This blog "is dedicated to the one I love" (sing it). Melissa Coba...be? =oP You know who you are.

10 years ago: I was graduating from Mountain View High School! Cra-zy. I was dating Jonny and we were having a blast at every random thing we did. Amanda and I were deciding about going to school in Bellingham at Western Washington (she did, I obviously didn't) and though we still keep in touch (she just had her 2nd baby--Emerson--and sent me yummy chocolates for my bday!) I still miss her guts!

5 years ago: I was celebrating my first wedding anniversary. Sam had proposed at the Conference Center, and on our anniversary was singing there for General Conference with the BYU Men's Chorus, which he was president of at that time. He was in the bishopric of a BYU singles ward, and I was teaching Marriage Prep to all the engaged couples. I was accepted to the Elementary Education program at UVSC and excited.

5 months ago: My family was celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas--the first without my Mama. Let me tell you, there is nothing like having a slumber party with nieces and nephews on Christmas Eve to invite a little holiday cheer! I "slept" on Jackson's bottom bunk. He was up every hour. After fighting it for a while ("Jackson, you can be awake, but you need to leave the light OFF!!") I finally conceded to memory-making and we played a couple rounds of his new Battleship game by sunrise. =o)

5 things on my to-do list:
1. 65 books
2. Plan the walking field trip to Macey's, the post office, and performing our 2nd grade program at the nursing home
3. D.I. drop
4. Vacuum
5. Buy a Mother's Day gift I would've given to Mom and give it to someone (someone who will say thanks.) (That's not funny.)

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. toasted pbj (gourmet, no?)
2. string cheese
3. Tostitos Hint of Lime chips w/Pace
4. mint or orange Milanos with organic 1% milk
5. apples and peanut butter (honeycrisp apples are the best EVER)

5 things I would do if I were suddenly a billionaire:
1. Pay my tithing and fast offering in pennies
2. Throw a party like no othuh with Kristin
3. Pay off my school loan and house
4. Take my siblings and Dad to Greece (then I'd be off to Italy, Egypt, India, Nepal, and South Africa doing as much for people as I can along the way...And Australia for Dad)
5. Live my life like I normally would (...except maybe in a red Toyota Corolla with a sunroof or a Prius, and a Shelby Cobra, and a masters from UPenn!) (This includes investing, serving missions for my church, and my life's dream becoming a reality sooner!)

5 of my BAD habits:
1. Drinking out of the jug
2. Leaving things at my sibling's houses
3. Procrastinating non-pressing paperwork at school (far too many pieces of paper in my job)
4. Putting off the hideous chore of cleaning the tub as long as tolerable
5. Buying books/cards faster than I can read them/send them to people

Places I have lived:
1. Vancouver, Washington
2. Tacoma, Washington (1 year when I was 4)
3. Provo, Utah
4. West Jordan, Utah
5. TBA

5 things people don't know about me:
1. I never ever turn on the tv
2. I'd like you to drive past the point of the mountain, see the parasailers, and say..."Hey, isn't that VeNicia?!" (And have you be right.)
3. I wanted to serve my mission in South Africa and still want to go there.
4. I've always felt like my life's mission has something to do with charity work, hungry people, and education of children and families
5. I'm just really regular. I don't have another one. Oh. I'd like to play the cello.
6. I remembered a good one: I grew up with the plan to adopt children from different countries.

5 people that I tag:
1. Linz
2. Erica
3. Christine
4. Allie
5. Dr. Clint
muhahahahaaa!

(No tag-backs. ever.)

Just For Fun

Had lots of fun with this birthday present =o)

West Jordan Symphony

There is something about being involved with music that is deeply fulfilling to me. I have played since I was 10, was drum major in high school, and also played in the pit orchestra in the school musical My Fair Lady. Mom and Dad and VoNique always came to my concerts and we would go out for ice-cream afterward to celebrate. I played in the UVSC orchestra and band until I really had to focus on my major and put music on hold.

All of the sudden it had been a decade and I was seriously missing music in my life! (Other than singing in the car and while cleaning my house, of course.) So when I heard about the West Jordan Symphony I joined--almost quit out of frustration of remembering a time when I was better--and have stuck with it thanks to the encouragement and patience of the symphony members. =o) Since Mama passed away it has somehow been very healing and I know she would be glad I'm playing again. I hope she was there tonight. I missed her gushing when I was done and going out to ice-cream.

(Side comments: 1) Russian Easter Overture was my favorite! There is so much energy in that song. Very fun to play! 2) The mayor and his wife came tonight. He complimented me, though I'm sure he'd have done that whether it was good or bad. =o) )

Houston, You Have A Problem!

What a game! What a game to BE at! But being at the Jazz playoff game with my brother Barry and brother-in-law Paul made it a million times more fun. They are very excitable fans, and I loved every bit of their craziness. =o) From tipoff to final buzzer the game was intense, and I've never heard the fans so charged. It was by far the most enjoyable headache I've ever had!

BYU Women's Conference!

Erica and I were roomies for a long time. Somehow she still likes me, and invited me to Women's Conference at BYU with her. I'm so glad she did! Opening remarks were given in the Marriott Center by Julie Beck, recently called General Relief Society President. The Relief Society is the largest organization of women in the world--consisting of more than 6 million members! Then we went to a few classes of our choice--one of which was taught by John Bytheway and his mom.

Closing remarks were given by President Thomas S. Monson--the man who succeeded Gordon Bitner Hinckley as president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and prophet, seer and revelator to the world! His talk was so full of love and admiration of the women of the church, and encouraging. He recognized our efforts, and encouraged us to do the same by not focusing continually on what we haven't accomplished, but pausing to recognize what we have done.

"Find joy in the journey!" He said. Don't save things for special occasions; everyday is a special occasion! Don't delay or postpone anything that can bring joy or laughter into our lives. (I think of this analogously when I burn my candles, not saving them as decorations--his words resonate with my soul!) Keep your list of regrets or missed opportunities as short as possible. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows. Pile up tomorrows and you'll realize you've piled up a lot of empty yesterdays. "'Someday' is fading in my vocabulary," he said. "Everyday is a special day!"

He spoke about adversity as well. "Not one of us hasn't felt of adversity in one form or another," he said. "Faith is what gets us through." It is not difficult to be happy on perfect days, he said. "But a loving Heavenly Father knows we become refined through dark days." (These words spoke to my heart, as well.) Those days are the "real test of our ability to endure." He says we become more polished by the things we suffer and endure, and that no pain we suffer or trial we endure is ever wasted. It builds our character, expands our hearts, and makes us more charitable.

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!"
"The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees."