Follow Up Post

I have to admit that I was much more excited about the finale of Americas Next Top Model for cycle 11 than I am for the Twilight movie that everyone is hyping about. I read the first book, and it was good, but I'm pretty much an ANTM fan. I'm a geek what can I say! Even with Tyras over the topness I enjoyed this season. McKey won! She looks like a model for sure, but I wanted Sam to win because she wanted it so bad! Sam was runner up. Analeigh was gorgeous, but they told her to pursue an acting career, even though she messed up her commercial terribly. Anyway, that's a wrap with the models.

I saw the Rockettes! It was so much fun and it made me miss tap and jazz and ballet so much! Nate bought the tickets for us, but then ended up having to stay late at the office, so I took a friend from the ward. So Mindy and I, and Michael and Shannon Thornton went on a double date! (Thanks Shannon for the idea!) It definitely got me into the Christmas spirit! They even had live animals for the Nativity scene...a camel, donkey, and sheep. Pretty nifty! I couldn't find a video of my favorite number, but it was scene 9: The Holiday Greeting Card. Lots of pretty lifts by the "background dancers and singers" in the show...kinda funny that my favorite number didn't include the Rockettes themselves. All of their numbers were fun! And there were tons of cool special effects in the show including 3D glasses, snow, and a real ice skating rink on the stage. It was a great show and I wish I could have shared it with Nathan, but I'm glad I got to take Mindy. I actually visit teach her, and Nate home teaches her. I couldn't think of a more perfect way to share a christmas message with her than through music and dance because that is what I love so much. The only not so fun part of the night was standing waiting for the bus in the cold, and then getting hit by the back door of the bus when I was trying to get off. We all had a good laugh at that, even some random kid on the street laughed at me, but I was frozen.

On another note. As it is Grattitude month, I wanted to share a bit of grattitude for all of our wonderful friends. I know that Nathan and I have been truly blessed to have great friends no matter where we go. I recieved a few phone calls and e-mails this week that let me know that the Lord has blessed us with people in our lives that will help us to grow. My friend Lauren Davies has been in Jerusalem for the past couple of months and she has sent out an e-mail each week telling all about her adventures and experiences there. (She just recently got her mission call to the Toronto Canada East mission--the same mission that my mom served. kinda cool side note.)In her last e-mail she shared a few songs from a 1970s hymn book and this one was very touching to me:

Hymn 293-Each Life That Touches Ours for Good
"Each life that touches ours for good Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord; Thou sendest blessings from above Thru words and deeds of those who love. What greateer gift dost thou bestow, What greater goodness can we know Than Christ-like friends, whose gentle ways Strengthen our faith, enrich our days. When such a friend from us departs, We hold forever in our hearts A sweet and hallowed memory, Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee. For worthy friends whose lives proclaim Devotion to the Savior's name, Who bless our days with peace and love, We praise thy goodness, Lord above."

There is another song that shares a similar message that I've been wanting to post for some time so here is just a snip-it from the song "For Good" from the broadway musical Wicked. I have always loved this song and I have many special memories attached to it.

"I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn.And we are led to those who help us most to grow, If we let them and we help them in return.Well, I don't know if I believe that's true, but I know I'm who I am today because I knew you...It well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime, so let me say before we part,so much of me is made of what I learned from you.You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart. And now whatever way our stories end, I know you have re-written mine by being my friend...Because I knew you...I have been changed for good."

Next week our friends Luck and Charlene will be returning back to Idaho. Luke's internship has come to an end and we are so sad to see them go, but we are just grateful that we've been able to get to know them well. We will be sharing Thanksgiving with them and some others, so stay tuned for those pictures. We're hoping to make it to the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade. It should be fun, and freezing! It's definitely winter weather here already!