I am not a big teeny bopper music fan. Bieber throws me into involuntary convulsions and any of the Disney babies - don't get me started. But, to every rule, there is always an exception, and gradually David Archuleta has become that exception for me.
My teenage daughter has always liked his music, in fact for her 12th birthday she asked for his album 'The Other Side of Down'. I listened to it with her, and even (secretly) ripped a copy of it to my own mp3 player to listen to - in the car - when nobody was listening with me. But the more I learned about this amazing young man, the more I liked him.
He has always stuck to his values.
He believes strongly in his faith.
He holds very high standards.
And most recently - he's been willing to give up his entire music career for two years to serve a mission for his church in a foreign country, likely void of the luxury comforts that he's come accustomed to with his success.
He's cut his hair. He's traded in the schedule of the road for a 6 AM to 10 PM proselytizing schedule (which might actually be easier...). He's traded in fame and adoring fans for door to door possible humiliation and being openly mocked by those who do not believe nor understand his faith (side note, I've had missionaries over to our home for dinner who have shared experiences such as having beverages hurled at them from passing cars while riding their bikes down the street.) And, he's using his own money to do so.
This is Elder David Archuleta, who entered the Missionary Training Center this week just in time to sing in the choir during conference. Elder David Archuleta, the world famous teeny bopper rock star who is just one among many missionaries sharing the same gospel message, and is happily doing so.
If there was going to be someone that my daughter is going to crank up his music, dance around and be crazy, and swoon every time he comes on the radio or television etc...well, then I'm okay with it being this young man. (for the record, there is no swooning, not yet - none that I know of...or that she'd admit to, come to think of it - her friends read this blog, I'm not sure I should be posting that about her...oh well, to late now. I don't have any white-out, after all.)
Anyway, my point is, he's a great young man and I admire his faith and ability to follow and live it. I only hope that I too am able to live my faith as boldly as he has, and not be ashamed to do so. He's made this very personal decision in a very public way, as his career dictates. I will never have to make such a personal choice so publicly, but I do hope that I can follow his example of living my faith in such a way that nobody doubts my beliefs.
Alison and I decided to take a little side trip over to the Chick-Fil-A today for some lemonade and a few nuggets. We parked next to the chikin mobile. Alison told me she liked the cow car, and I needed to take a picture of it for my computer thing.
A very, very dear friend of mine recently went through a very tough, very difficult, very personal experience. While I could never, ever - EVER even pretend to know what she went through in this time, I do know two things.
1) A true friend is there, no matter what the experience.
2) A sister will be there to help pick up the pieces and make you smile when you need it most.
She is both a friend and sister to me, and I do hope that she knows that I love her and am here to support her no matter what the need should be.
So, when a group of her students (who adore her, because she is awesome like that) wanted to get something for her to help cheer her up and let her know that they were thinking of her, they came to me for the perfect idea.
Not really - I've been pretty darn sick and sitting at the computer posting stuff just wasn't high on my agenda. sorry about that.
I'm better now.
And you know what that means? One Big Post to catch you up on my 365 project.
Here goes nothing...or something. I've never really understood that phrase...
Day 62. Water. I've been playing with light and exposure and shutter speed and everyday random things, and after about two hours of playing, I had some awesome pics. This one was my favorite. It really shows magic in every day things, doesn't it? Beauty and wonder and all that stuff too.
Day 63. Crazy Hair Day. I loved crazy hair day as a kid. It was a chance to be wild and unique and have fun. I went to school once dressed as a bowl of Lucky Charms, complete with a spoon in my hair. I thought it was the epitome of awesomeness, apparently, I was wrong. Nobody got it but me...but this crazy do - no mistaking what she's going for, super punk Ga Ga Awesome, that's what.
Day 64. This Face. Nuff Said.
Day 65. Crafty. I've discovered the amazing awesomeness that is heat fix crystals. This was my first attempted design. Each crystal is hand set and ironed on - because you know, I have that kind of time. I'll be making one for each kiddo (in their color of course) - and I'm sure a photo shoot is soon to follow.
Day 66. Sick. See - if I had been all about my wits, this is where I would have posted a picture of me in bed curled into a little ball trying to remember my name...but since I wasn't - you'll just have to imagine it.
Day 67. New Car. Hubby is looking for a new car. He'd mentioned at one point he might like to have a Hummer, so I found him this one. Apparently we are re-thinking our car choice.
Day 68. Grammar. I loved the attention to detail on hospital signs. Apparently they only kind of want your attention, but only if you are in the mood. Also, they like to speak in staccato...period. (sorry, music and grammar humor. I know, it makes me laugh too.)
Day 69. Hospital bands. See - again,if I'd been with it and totally comitted here,I'd have posted a picture of my arm band from the hospital, or the cool purple socks with the no skid grippers on them, but - well, let's just say,I wasn't myself.
Day 70. Nurses. I had the best home care nurse available, don't you think?
Day 71. Nurses part II. She couldn't be shown up by her brother. She had to care for me too.
Day 72. Awesome find of Awesomeness. This is a football card my husband found in his years old collection in our closet. Number #72, The Fridge. William Perry. 1985 Bears. I do NOT need to comment further.
Day 73. Grades. Even with taking time out for sick behavior (wow,that sounded wrong, didn't it?) I still got a blazing good grade in my English Composition class. 100% - that's an A I think...now, to call mom and dad to see if that five dollars per A offer is still good...
Day 74. Dodgers. Made this one for my friend. Because I love her, and because she asked nicely.
Day 75. Twilight. Sadly, though, he doesn't sparkle. Fail Barbie manufacturers, fail. Oh and fail on making a Twilight themed Barbie, and there was no Jacob doll in sight. Epic fail.
Day 76. Stitchin. Because apparently there's nothing better to do when you can't bend,sit, move or lay down. Except of course watch HGTV and send really weird text messages to your friends about building cat cat walks all through their house. Yes, yes I did. I cannot confirm nor deny the presence of pain medication at the time.
Day 77. Straight No Chaser. Amazing concert of awesomeness that I've had tickets to since October and did NOT plan on missing.
(ten points if you can find me...)
Day 78. Baseball. Is. Awesome. And since I like teams in both the AL and the NL, and since they happen to play each other in spring training, I had to create a shirt to wear to their games. Introducing the Aricago DiamondSocks.
Day 79. Take me Out to the Ball Game. From our awesome seats of awesomeness.
Day 80. Fireworks. Nuff Said.
Day 81. Da Bears. If you know anything about me, you knew this shirt was coming. I am going to need to fill in the orange soon though...
Day 82. House Guests. A boy at our school found these kittens at the bus stop - THE STINKIN BUS STOP PEOPLE???REALLY? Anyway, no momma cat in sight,and these poor little things were all alone. So I get to foster them for a few weeks. Introducing Kenobi and Garfield. And yes, they both already have homes.
Day 83. Don't Cry Cubbie. Ha. If you know anything about baseball, then you might know about the Cubbie Curse. This guy's shirt was pure genius, hence the reason we had to photograph it. I was only thinking about you, my dear readers, honest.
Day 84. Dessert. I love having my mom and dad in town. Mom makes fun dinners complete with dessert like these little strawberry shortcakes. mmmmmm.....shortcake.
Day 85. How sweet is THIS? - No, I never knew fostering a kitty would be so much fun. Bottle feeding these little things is way beyond the sweetest thing ever. Honest.
Day 86. More cute sweetness. He's trying to escape. ESSSS CAW PE....
Day 87. Laundry. This is where I'd post a picture of all the laundry that needs done because I was ignoring it while I was sick. But that'd be embarrassing, so instead, here's a picture I found on the internet...
Three Bonus days, because apparently in my post-sugery phase I got my internal calendar all mixed up and thought I was three days ahead of where I really was...
Bonus 1. D'awwww.... Just for clarification, I am not becoming the crazy cat lady. Crazy Kitty lady, maybe, cat lady - nevah.
Bonus 2. Safeway Grocery Delivery. Best. Invention. Ever. Seriously. It even makes me talk in staccato. Ordering groceries and having them delivered by a man that rivals the looks of the UPS man? PLUS he brings them all the way into the kitchen and I don't have to? wha - what??? *contented sigh*.
(Yea, he's not the guy that delivered my groceries,because stopping him and asking if I could take a picture of him for my blog might have been a little weird, and even I have limits.)
Bonus 3. Wasting time. And finally - a little cartoon I drew for my own personal amusement.
Yea, that about sums it up.
Thanks for hanging in there and viewing all the fun I've had the last 30 days...or at least pretending to.
The kind of sick where a doctor says, "We are going to have to remove one of your internal organs, but don't worry, it's not one of the vital organs, and it will only hurt for a few days, and then you'll be up and about running marathons again." (I paraphrase.)
So, I had the little not vital or necessary organ removed.
And the little lie about being up and moving around - it was actually a rather LARGE lie, wrapped in a whole bunch of non-true fallacies.
But, I'm here. I'm alive. And even though I've lost a little part of myself, I'm still me, and I'm still here.
I will update the 365 project as soon as I can remember where I left those photos...
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