another birthday

i need to be better about acknowledging everyone's birthdays. just a sidenote.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARA MARIE ARCHER MOREY


what a cute child

Sara and I have always been very similar. I started high school right after she graduated, and I remember writing a paper about her in choir at the end of my first semester. I wanted to be like her so badly--to sing and cheer and act and do student council. She was such a fun big sister to Kristie and I, playing "Salon" with us and reading us Harry Potter when it wasn't even popular yet. I loved her friends and always wanted to be included in the high school parties. She was always a great big sister and let me join the party, even her slumber parties in middle school. We used to joke that I was her mini-me because I literally wanted to do everything she did.
Well, we've grown up and come into our own...at least I have gained my own identity. But I still look up to her so much as the woman, mother, wife, teacher, friend, daughter, and sister that she is. She is funny, thoughtful, creative, talented, friendly, spiritual, focused, fun, and motivated. She still looks out for me to this day, giving me dating and friend advice and SO much help and insight with teaching and lesson plans.

I got to spend a lot of time with her little Morey clan the last few years when they lived in Utah or were home in Colorado for the summers and I loved it. So much.


I really miss going to their house every Sunday and having that family so close. Those Moreys mean so much to me and I am so grateful for them in my life. Last year we sang "Love at Home" for their Mother's Day Sacrament meeting and it was so so fun to sing with those two. Seriously one of my favorite memories from last year. (You can find a little not-so-great-but-better-that-nothin video of it here). Sara was the one who taught me how to harmonize, sitting with me at the piano playing "Nearer, My God to Thee", pointing out the alto line for me to sing. I love that great sister of mine and I'm so glad she was born 26 years ago. Our family is so blessed to have her.

2 weeks friends. TWO WEEKS. Let the countdown and guessing begin

amazing. I invite everyone to come to this class with me on Monday nights. You will be non-stop entertained by this fantastic man, "Uncle Cliff", for 2 hours.


"My dear young friends in EDLF 452,

I beg your pardon for having missed our last class. I feel bad about it and hope you will all forgive me. Here is my excuse. It may not constitute a good excuse, but it's a real one, and I've promised the Man Upstairs that I won't tell a lie.

I JUST FLAT-OUT FORGOT. I've never in my 20 years at BYU taught a class on Monday, and this is throwing me for a loop. (I always think our class is on Tuesday and was looking very forward to seeing all of your bright and spiritual faces the next day. Bummer!) What's more, you have already seen my pathetically eroded memory, which can't follow itself more than 6 or 7 sentences at a stretch. Third, I've got some heavy duty family stuff going on right now and it's distracting me more than my usual distracted state. And finally, I don't get "time and space." I'm good at some things, but none of them have to do with time and space. I look so forward to being on the other side of the veil where time/space are, I believe, more poetic, rubbery, and fun.

Anyway, please do forgive me. No new homework. We'll just go over what you've read. And I've got a cool video for you. It is far out, right on, and groovy (as we used to say in my day).

Thanks for your patience with your old Uncle Cliff

Uncle Cliff"

yes.

rocky cathedrals that reach to the sky

On Friday night, the roommates and I (we missed you calpal) decided we needed to go snowshoeing. We had never been, so we even youtubed "how to snowshoe". Saturday morning, $9 later and lots of unnecessary layers, we were trekking through deep deep snow in the heart of Provo Canyon. It was amazing. We are completely hooked and I want to go everyday. It was beautiful and breathtaking and so peaceful. High point: walking on top of the snow singing John Denver's "Eagle and the Hawk" with shliz. High point: trying to climb a hill, failing, and sliding down 34 times. High point: sitting on the back of our snowshoes, slide-skiing down a steep hill. High point: being the only ones on top of a little mountain, listening to avalanches in the distance, basking in the glory of the mountains. SO GREAT
Liz pointed out how lucky we are to live so close to the mountains, with beautiful nature and recreational activities so accessible. We really are so lucky and I love that about living in Provo.
Can't get enough of those lakes, mountains, and meadows. There's just nothing like it.





photo credit to Winston

to quote lizziegirl "hello snowshoeing. welcome to my life"

I cannot get enough of this CD. Or this song.

I have so many special memories of Rob Gardner's music--Sara singing "My Kindness Shall Not Depart from Thee" from Joseph Smith: The Prophet at camp. My talented friends singing "The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon" at firesides. Having him sing and share his talents with us on the Trek. Youth Conference based on He is Jesus Christ. Feeling uplifted and strengthened during hard times in Uganda by his inspired music. And now, learning of and rejoicing in the blessings of the atonement and the hope that comes from that great sacrifice.

Go buy Lamb of God. It is beautiful.

change is gonna come

I always freak out about the first day of school. Always. As long as I can remember. It is never as bad as I think it will be, in fact, I usually end up [mostly] enjoying it. I'm always pleasantly surprised, if you will. This night-before-the-first-day-back was no different from the rest: emotions running high, late night phone calls to my mom, tossing and turning all night long. What is my deal?! At least I will definitely be able to relate to my student's first day of school jitters when I am teaching, ha!
This semester will bring an end to a lot of wonderful things that have been my life and my world for so long. And I am quite sure that was the cause of my inner turmoil Monday night. BIG change. I'm ready for the changes and so so excited, but the end is in sight and it is surreal. On Monday, a day filled with best friends, I kind of wanted time to stop. But then I reminded myself, as I have so many many times, that nothing happens until something moves. Right, Albert Einstein? Good things are happening to me and the wonderful people in my life, and it is so exciting to see what is in store for their futures. They are going to do some serious good in this world. So why stop now? We're just barely getting started.
Well, clearly still emotional, on Tuesday morning I found this Mormon Message, which I do not usually seek out. It touched my little heart and spoke to my soul. Tender mercy? Yes yes yes. I am not moving on from some great sin, but I am moving on from clinging too tightly to the past. Because I know, I really do know, that what God has in store for me is bigger and better than what I have going on right now

Such a strong reminder of hope, faith, and trust. Some of my favorite concepts.
Change is gonna come. And I'm excited. Not saying I'm ready, but give me a few months, and I will be. (i better be)

Bring. It. On. 2011.

Voyage of the Dawn Treader, I really liked you.