Thoughts and Questions

*10 Points to Lara for naming the movie: Disney's Robin Hood! Love it. You should all watch it if you haven't in a while.

**Kayli, I asked Carlos if he ever serenaded any other girls--he says no. He wants to know what you and Deanne discussed about when he'd get married though. :) Also, I agree--those pictures are horrible, and we do look scary/scared.

***I think I remember so many details because it was such a critical time--very nerve-racking. Generally my memory wouldn't be that great--which is why I'm writing all of this down. I feel bad that it is soooo long and detailed because I know that most of those details are only meaningful to us--and it's hard for me to leave anything out. I never was very good at summaries.



1. We're trying to decide what area to live in next year when we move this summer to Pennsylvania. With that, I've been trying to figure out which type of ward I'd rather live in, and I honestly don't know. If you had the choice would you live in a predominantly student ward or a family ward with hardly any other students? This obviously isn't the only factor in deciding where we live--it will depend more on where we can find a house/apt to rent--safe neighborhood, proximity to school, proximity to a Costco/Walmart/Target, and all that. :) I'm curious to know others' thoughts about this though.

2. Our hot water heater is possessed. It goes out several times a day--every time I wash my face, sometimes when I wash the dishes (not just because sometimes I wash the dishes ;)), and often when I'm showering. Boo! I hate being cold. I just wish I knew why it did that so I could stop it. I'm not sure how good that shock is for your heart.

3. Have you ever met a couple that you really just "clicked" with? People that you just instantly hit it off with and know you could become good friends--if you had more time? I often feel sad that I didn't know so many people better before they moved or we moved because they're so interesting and you can learn from them--and just have fun being around them because they're great people. I hate missed opportunities. Once you move, if you don't know them well, it's slightly difficult to be friends from far away. I think I still try to anyway.
Have you ever had the opposite happen? Maybe you've gone out with/hung out with a couple and when you get home you both find yourself thinking--wow, why did that feel so awkward, like a first date gone awry? Fortunately, those are very rare--in fact I can't even remember specific instances, I only remember having that feeling once or twice and laughing about it. That makes me wonder though if the people I thought we "clicked" with felt like we were awkward. Hmm. No, not likely--who wouldn't love us, right??? (any/all validating comments are welcome here--j/k).

4. It's so wonderful to sing the hymns in your own language. Last Sunday, in London, I was perusing the English hymn book--loving that I could read/sing every song in there. Don't get me wrong--singing in another language is fun--I like the challenge of it. What I don't love is finding out right when Sacrament Meeting starts that I need to play the piano, and I have no idea what the hymns are until I start playing because I can't understand the title. Even if you can translate the title--it's usually completely different than the English title. Usually I can tell just from the notes what the song is--but when I'm feeling pressured having to play in front of others (which I'm not good at) my brain stops working, my hands start sweating, and my fingers start shaking, so I can hardly read the notes, let alone remember what the song is--you'd think by now I'd learn to calm down a bit. It's really quite ridiculous.

5. First thing I'm planning to do in Pennsylvania: buy a piano! Then I can practice and get over my nervousness. Well, I guess we'll find an apartment, move our stuff in, and maybe get some groceries first.

6. I only have about 6 more weeks here in Portugal and I'm having mixed feelings about it. I'm excited to go home but dreading it more and more everyday. There are so many people/things I'm going to miss (not the least of which is my husband). :(

testimonies

Last month, my darling nephew Dallin (probably the cutest kid you'd ever see--and not just because he's the spitting image of my husband, but that doesn't hurt). Anyway, Dallin (age 6) got up at church to bear his testimony for the 1st time. I had to bite my lip when he began "For those of you who don't know me, my name is Dallin..." and then proceeded to give one of the sweetest testimonies I've ever heard. How could an aunt be more proud?

After church we were all telling him how proud we were--how brave he was to get up in front of all those people. Just after that he turned to his 2-yr-old sister and started to explain to her how to bear your testimony. "You just have to remember when you get up there, Avery, that you HAVE TO say 'for those of you who don't know me' because EVERYBODY does it, and you HAVE TO." Priceless!