Company!

I love when family and/or friends come to visit. Last week Drew & Noelle came to town over spring break to take in some sun, attend my concert and have some much needed R&R. It was a delight to have them here.

Eric & I have an informal list of things we want to do before we leave California. Last week with the Wojciechowskis in tow we checked off a couple more. We were able to connect our family unit with some temple work. It was wonderful to have those eternal connections put in place and even more profound to have Drew & Noelle with us in the Newport Beach Temple. Even before we moved here I had an impression that this was 'My Temple' and that important ordinances would be performed here on behalf of our family. I can now check that biggie off the list!

For grins we also enjoyed a day at Knott's Berry Farm! Head rattling, stomach churning, lunch losing and ever entertaining, we enjoyed our trek to Buena Park. I loved La Revolucion & Bigfoot Rapids (even though we all got wet and it was chilly). Eric liked the Stagecoach Ride and winning a frog for Maebe tossing pingpong balls into floating cups (keep it slow and easy). Drew liked Boomerang & Ghost Rider (anything fast, furious and adrenaline pumping). Noelle liked Silver Bullet & the Bumper Cars. Obviously there was something for everyone without there being so many options as to overwhelm.

After the park we went to Portillo's Hot Dogs. Drew was so excited to see a restaurant from his Chicago mission days here in SoCal. His old companion Spencer Saunders & his wife met us there for a walk down memory lane. Drew suggested cake shakes and the combo dog, a polish style sausage with roast beef on top. WOW! What a mouthful!

Another highlight during their four days here was March Madness round one playoffs. Eric & Drew were following all of the games and keeping the family bracket contest in order. The winner of the Family Travel Fund-March Madness Event will receive $50. The two runners up will receive $25 each. All family members who participated received $25 in their travel account fund. We're working hard to get that family trip!

OCMCO Easter Concert 2009

Last Saturday I participated in the OCMCO Easter Concert. The OC Register wrote a great story that has a wonderful perspective. Check it out here! I'll have additional pictures and comments soon.

Cool Music

Mary Margaret shared this clip of Amazing Grace performed by 'Il Divo at the Coliseum in Rome. Gotta love the bagpipe!

Angels in Times of Need

"In the course of life all of us spend time in 'dark and dreary' places, wildernesses, circumstances of sorrow or fear or discouragement. Our present day is filled with global distress over financial crises, energy problems, terrorist attacks, and natural calamities. These translate into individual and family concerns not only about homes in which to live and food available to eat but also about the ultimate safety and well-being of our children and the latter-day prophecies about our planet. More serious than these—and sometimes related to them—are matters of ethical, moral, and spiritual decay seen in populations large and small, at home and abroad. But I testify that angels are still sent to help us, even as they were sent to help Adam and Eve, to help the prophets, and indeed to help the Savior of the world Himself. Matthew records in his gospel that after Satan had tempted Christ in the wilderness 'angels came and ministered unto him' (Matthew 4:11). Even the Son of God, a God Himself, had need for heavenly comfort during His sojourn in mortality. And so such ministrations will be to the righteous until the end of time."

Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Ministry of Angels," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 29–30

While Eric's Away, The Girl Will Play

Eric is working in Utah this weekend and I have found fun activities to fill my days.

On Friday night I attended a talent show at the local elementary school where Chase & Chance Waller & Gavin Harris and a friend performed a wonderful act. I think Megan will post pics so check them out.

On Saturday I had a delightful time with Aunt Karen and friend Cassy. We went to brunch at Norm's and then checked out a great antique store in downtown Orange. The owner's gave us a grand tour of their home and even shared lemons & limes fresh from their trees. Granddaughter Maebe loves little chairs, I think she would love this little leather chair & ottoman. And I think Eric might like this other one.

After that we went to Karen's home where Cassy made these awesome angel earrings and I made a three strand necklace! Pizza and good company! What more could you want?

Hope Overcomes Despair

"The scriptures say that there must be 'an opposition in all things' (2 Nephi 2:11). So it is with faith, hope, and charity. Doubt, despair, and failure to care for our fellowmen lead us into temptation, which can cause us to forfeit choice and precious blessings."The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward."Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Infinite Power of Hope," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 22