Hey everyone. Thanks for your kind words and support. I LOVE my friends and family! I want you to all know that I really am doing fine. I can't lie to you, I was not doing well at first. But I can honestly say now that I am happy and at peace.
I have so much I feel like writing about. But I settled on giving you a book review for now. (I know you are all wishing I hadn't.)
The reason: This book I just read helped me during this difficult time.
I like to listen to books that I can download onto my mp3 player from the library. Free. Pretty cool the library does that. Audio books are not cheap. That way I can be productive while I am filling my mind with all kinds of information or entertainment. Rather than sit on my ever-enlarging bottom reading a book. This month I listened to "The Phantom of the Opera." I really enjoyed that. I also listened to "Anne of Green Gables." I enjoyed that too. The movie followed the book almost perfectly. So you probably don't need to rush out and read the book. But I keep finding myself thinking dramatic thoughts. Anne was so dramatic and she managed to rub off on me a bit. Fictitious as she was. And I guess I was dramatic before anyways. She'd always say things like "I am in the depths of despair!" For a while I always take on a different language when I read a book. But I digress... Sorry.
This past Sunday when I was laid up in bed, I read "The Hiding Place" by Corrie TenBoom. I read this book for the first time when I was pregnant with Becca. I thought it was amazing. Since then I have listened to it twice. My friend Robyn wanted to start a book club and asked me to choose the first book. Being a lazy bum, I decided to choose "The Hiding Place" because I remember liking it and I had also been through it three times. That way I didn't have to read a book this month if I didn't find the time. But when I was in bed on Sunday I had it by the bed and decided to pick it up. I ended up reading the whole thing that day. It wasn't hard to do. I had forgotten how religious this book is. It is not an LDS book but is very spiritual. I was reading it and thinking about Robyn who has an aversion to organized religion. I enjoy having spiritual conversations with her though. She's one fascinating girl and a great friend. Anyhow, I hope she isn't bugged by me choosing this book. We'll see at our group review.
"The Hiding Place" is a book about a Christian family in WW2 Holland who hid Jews and ended up in concentration camps. True story. It is an amazing and inspirational story. Corrie, the author and main character tells a story of when she was a child and had heard the word "sexsin" at school and didn't know what it meant. It bothered her. Soon thereafter she was on a short train ride with her father. As the ride was ending, she asked her father what it meant. He paused, then stood up and asked her to carry the case off the train. She stood and tugged at it but it was too heavy for her to carry. She told him she couldn't carry it because it was too heavy. Here's his reply, and I quote from the book "Yes. And it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It's the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you." She was satisfied with that answer. And so am I. She knew that for that time, she was content to leave all those hard questions and answers in her father's keeping. That story helped me. I kept asking God questions like "why" and so on. I wondered
if only I hadn't participated in that race on Saturday, would I be going through what I was on Sunday? Then I read this from the book "There are no 'ifs' in God's world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety...let us pray that we may always know it."
Before I go on way too long, (which I guess I have already,) I'll leave this post as it is and encourage you all to check this book out if you get the chance.
Becca Boo having the time of her life.
Our little lady Celeste.
Eden trying to be a super model.
Becca on the airplane. She loved it. It was so fun watching her. When we were going through airport security, they let us all through but said they needed to do a "pat-down" on Becca. It's like in effort to not appear prejudice, they chose the most innocent looking person to search. I was dying for my camera at that moment!
More from Molly's reception coming your way. 
The wedding party waiting for the bride. 
Bishop Holly did a nice job on the ceremony.
Cover your eyes. These guys aren't embarrassed to really kiss in front of everyone.
Husband and wife walk away.
Molly and the flower girls, Kennedy, Celeste and Blythe. Oldest daughters of each of Molly's sisters.
One thing I can say about Scott is, he is a genuinely very nice guy. He treats Molly really well and he likes to please her. His family is super nice too. Scott gives great bone crushing hugs and always seems happy and laid back. We all really like the guy. Can't help but do so.
My beautiful baby sister Molly is getting hitched! We are headed off to California tomorrow to be there. We are so excited about seeing all the family and loved ones. Molly probably wont like this photo, but I love it. It's a reminder of some seriously fun times together!
and friend "B" is seeing this.
Yep, I am pretty much a freak of nature.
Tim is my brother and Brenda is his wife. They have been married for 13 years. A couple of years before they were married she was diagnosed with A.L.S. and told she only had a few years left to live. Tim and Brenda have said they knew they would marry long before Tim's mission. So when Tim got back from Japan, they were married in the LA temple soon thereafter. (Correct me Tim if I got any of this wrong.) They have been through more trials these past 13 years than anyone else I've known. And I admire them both very much. Brenda is a living miracle. To have this happen is also a miracle. And we wish them the very best. Congrats Tim and Brenda! We love you.
I also love flowers. I love them even more when someone else gives them to me. They are great even when I buy them for myself. These ones shown here were given to me by Jennifer P. and my in-laws. Warms me heart and soul.
This one made me feel great! I walked into our daughters room to find this random :) photo nailed to their wall. I got a big ego immediately. One of our children found this photo somewhere and decided they wanted to hang it up. They love us - I know!
Weeping willow trees is another one. These are my favorite trees. I fell in love with them when I was a toddler and my Bailey Grandparents had one in their back yard. I used to imagine I was Tarzan swinging on the branches. And that makes me happy. They have a sad name though and even that's a good thing. I have thought at times how even nature looks sad in different ways at different times. These trees have wept along with me in days past too.
I just realized this week that elephants make me happy too. I saw them on TV the other day and realized I was inadvertently smiling...
Twix bars. Oh mommy!!! I love them.
I'm not a big TV person. The only show I watch faithfully is American Idol. But I do enjoy a few others if I happen to make the time. Biggest Loser and The Office are among them. I'm a bit relieved that all these shows are over and I can move on with my life and not waste time in front of the old tube as much. I am however, debating on whether or not to let myself get sucked into So You Think You Can Dance this year. We'll see. If I never start, it's easier to let it go. So on with my Season 7 AI review.
*Another obnixious moment or I should say obnoxious moments for me was Amanda Overmeyer. Every time she opened her mouth I cringed. She sounded like she was dying of lung cancer. Did anyone else notice that her microphone was off during the group numbers except during her little solo parts? She just mixed so badly with the others.
And she reminded me of Elvira for some reason. Everyone remember Elvira? Here's a little reminder. When I found this image of her with Barney, I felt like I struck gold. 
Terrible photo shop job, but I wasn't about to waste the time on it. You get the idea. See the resemblance?
So all in all, the Davids were both awesome. Both really talented guys and both super nice to make it even better. I was guessing before Tuesday that David Cook was going to win. But after Tuesdays show, I wasn't so sure anymore. So I wasn't surprised when Cook won. But I have to say that as much as I loved Cook, I was disappointed. 
I had to do some real thinking and inner searching. Turns out, that even though I DO like rock music, deep down, I prefer the nerdy ballads. It was hard for me to admit it to myself, but once I did, I decided I could do it to you as well. So I will definitely buy David Archuleta's album when it comes out. Cause we all know he's going to do well anyhow. It will probably be filled with sappy songs too. And David Cook I'm gonna still enjoy just like I still enjoy Chris Daughtry.
