{HISTORIA DE UN LETRERO}

My good friend Naomi posted this on her blog and I couldn't pass it up and not post it on mine as well. I love this short film. "With a stroke of the pen, a stranger transforms the afternoon for another man in this emotionally stirring short film by Alonso Alvarez." Very touching,... and uplifting. I also love the song, I've heard Josh Groban sing it.

{Travel Log - Day 2 Sharon, VT}

This morning we loaded up on the bus and departed for a drive through the picturesque countryside to Sharon, Vermont. It was raining this morning and so we all dressed a little warmer today. All along the way receiving such great commentary and lectures about the area from Dr. John Lund. He shared with us many of the historical facts and stories during the time the Smith Family lived here, and all by his fantastic photographic memory! (If you ever get the chance to talk with Dr. Lund ask him for his impression of Pres. Bruce R. McConkie and about his conversion story... oh, and his MTC story... all hilarious and wonderful.) On our way to the Joseph Smith Monument and Visitors Center we saw many historic sites, the place where Joseph Smith had his leg operated on when he was 7 years of age (the home is no longer there, in it's place... is a KFC... so if you ever go eat there at that location, be sure to ask for a leg), another home they lived in when men came and demanded money from Lucy Mack Smith out in front of the home for something they had already paid for, also, Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire (a lot to do with Nathan Smith who performed the surgery on young JS), West Lebanon, NH, Norwich, VT, Tunbridge VT, and during all those crossing the Connecticut River several times. When we arrived at the Visitors Center the missionaries greeted us and guided us on a tour of the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith including the Joseph Smith Monument. We then had some time to walk around the area before we headed down to a picnic area to have our lunch. The weather was so nice, just a perfect nice warm temperature and a slight breeze every once in a while. We then were able to take a nice little walk/hike though the woods to the foundations of the homes of Solomon Mack & Daniel G. Mack. We then loaded back on the bus and took a short ride to a cute country shop to buy Vermont Maple Syrup!! Then on to the location of the store where Lucy Mack met Joseph Smith Sr. and also the old saw mill and Mill Bridge. Then we continued back home, had dinner on our own as a family and here I am relaxin in the room, about to get into the shower cause tomorrow is an early morning. The bus will leave at 7:30 for a 4+ hour drive to Palmyra. I will be in a different hotel tomorrow night and do not know yet if I will have WiFi Internet service... if I do, I will post again tomorrow. The Monument

On the front step of JS home

Standing on the cornerstone of the foundation where JS home was

me, Dr. John Lund and his dear wife Bonnie, and m'mama



me & m'daddy

{Travel Log - Day 1 Manhattan, NY & Sharon, VT}

Yesterday we began our exciting Church History Tour. We flew out of SLC in the afternoon and into LaGuardia International Airport around 9pm. Needless to say... LONG DAY SITTIN! We were so excited to arrive and spent the night at the NY LaGuardia Marriott, very comfortable and nice. This morning our travels through mid-town Manhattan and through the countryside began early (6:45 Utah time, SIGH, which means I woke up at 5:30 Utah time). We had the opportunity to view prominent sites in the Manhattan area (Empire State Building, Columbus Monument, Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Central Park, NY LDS Temple, Trump Towers), which usually doesn't happen on this tour, but because it was Sunday, the city was not as busy and we were able to navigate freely through. We then traveled north toward Sharon, VT. We stopped for a late lunch at the famous home of Yankee Candles. This cute little village was so charming and set on several acres of gardens and tons of "Quilted Bear" type shops. We then continued through the beautiful Vermont countryside, where we have checked into the Hampton Inn in Brattleboro. Tonight we had a fireside about the need for the restoration, & the atonement with Dr. John Lund as our speaker. It was WONDERFUL!! I've been to his marriage seminars before and I looked forward to hearing him speak on this trip. He is so funny and SO smart. 2 hours of him tonight was at least 8 hours of info because he talks so fast. We have him all day tomorrow on our bus as a guide. I really look forward to it.
My youngest bro and me... ROOMIES!!
Washington Bridge
Cool shot of clouds reflected in building.
Near Columbus Monument
B&H- A favorite photo equipment shop of mine Home of Yankee Candle

My cute parents!

{Peter Lik}

I fell in love last weekend... with the work of Peter Lik. Although at the time I didn't know that he was a world famous photographer, (or that he had a fabulous Australian accent and a beautiful muscular body [although 40's is usually out of my age range now that I'm single, I would date him in a heartbeat!]) when I walked into his gallery in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, I was completely overtaken by the beauty he has captured with his camera. He is now my official inspiration. Can you believe he is completely self-taught?! That's enough to inspire anyone to do what they love with or without education! I bought his "Spirit of America" book. Which is signed!!! No, disappointingly I didn't get to meet him, but they had a signed copy in the back that the store manager fetched for me, when he saw how enthusiastic I was about Peter's work and wanting to meet him. It's "a 192-page book on the American landscape." He "visit[ed] every state and every landmark, through every season. Fifty thousand miles, a thousand rolls of film and five years...later". So here I am, the newest Peter Lik fan! I'm SO excited about it!!

{Yesterday's Beauty}

Yesterday on my way to my parents home around 11am, I passed a couple of places where the farmers had their sprinklers on and because of the cold it made the most beautiful thing to look at, and such a suprise! I loved it!

I thought this was so cool, the bottom half frozen with ice and the top not getting hit at all.

Also, on my way back home last night with m'boys,{Bug} pointed out how beautiful the sunset was, I just had to agree.