Picture Perfect

Recently I've had a chance to reflect, quite a lot, about why I feel the way I do about certain things. For instance, recently, I've been forced to admit that planning a wedding long distance while being separated from Tyler, working long 16 hr days, and anything else that you can possibly imagine is just plain stressful. I've begun to take a look at my life and find that I no longer want to live within a masquerade, no longer play an active role in this charade; I realized that I don't have to always be 'picture perfect.'
Somehow quite a lot of us are under the absurd impression that we are to be perfect. I love Elder Wirthlin's talk on "Concern for the One" from a recent conference. We can be weary, different, etc, but we are still of worth to the Lord.
All of the pretenses that I've assumed over the past few months are taking their toll. I tried to balance everything in my life and hope that no one would notice just how much I really couldn't do on my own. I have felt more alone during the past few months then ever before, but who wants to look at a picture that's forlorn? Not too many. So, what do we do? We re-paint, covering the real artwork, hoping that no one will notice the smudges that were once our own blatent inadequacies. We hope that adornments such as an exquitite frame will draw attention away from our imperfections, giving an overall desirable feeling to the painting itself. Maybe someone will want us then. (Start making the allegory about the threads in your life and the view that the Master has as He threads us through all of these experiences.)

"All of these dreams in my head,
keep spinning round
I'm grabbing my paper and pencil to pin 'em down
I'll sketch my world as a prettier place
draw my self with a smiley face
and make this picture perfect

But all of these lines on my page
won't mean anything
until I learn to erase
the ones that I don't need
I'm covering up the stupid mistakes
and starting over and over again
to make this picture perfect

I'll start with where I'm standing now
and begin shaping where I want to be
no one can tear my picture down
because it's me
and as long as I'm still proud
of this self portrait I'm creating
I'm doing fine"

-My song of sanity.

Announcements

In case you haven't been able to get us your address or one day misplace the actual invitation, I've posted them (one for UT and one for DE)! I thought it would be more convenient! However, we would LOVE to send you one, so thanks to those of you who've sent us your addresses so far! Honestly, don't be shy! We'd love to share this day with you!

Last week I did something completely uncharacteristic...I spent more money in 25 minutes then I have in the past 8 years on myself! Whoa! (In actuality, I ended up saving money since I bought a Mac and not a PC) This is probably one of the best purchases I've ever made and I'm so stoked! I bought a new MacBook notebook and since I am attending a University, I got an iPod touch and an HP Printer (scanner, copier combo) for FREE! That has to be my fav word in the English language right now!! I'm really excited to use it at college, since my parents are still hiring dinosaurs to dial up our internet at home! Its so chic, new, and the programs are amazing - its definitely a learning curve, but I like to think of it as a purchase that may one day help prevent Alzheimer's! Tyler is also pretty stoked - but lets face it...who wouldn't be?! I'm still learning tho, so if any advice is out there - send it my way! I can't wait to blog from it!

Tempests, Trials, and the Temple

Tonight is a big night for me. At 6 o'clock I interview with my Stake President and arrange to have my endowments taken out in the Washington DC temple! Its been interesting to watch all of the drama that has slowly unfolded out of the wood-work to prevent it from actually taking place....
I've been living within my home ward for the past 3.5 months - my mom is the Relief Society President and my dad is in the Bishopbric. When I went to meet with my Bishop on Sunday, having finished the Temple Prep class, they discovered that somehow my records weren't there! That's a scary thing - I cannot be interviewed without those records! I basically broke down in the Bishop's office (You think I would have had some pull with my parents being directly involved; maybe someone could have noticed in 4 months that my records weren't there?!)! The one thing that I've wanted in my life, more then anything else, was about to not happen! Now, calm down, you might say - but in return, let me offer another fact: My Bishop was leaving the next day to travel to Europe - and wouldn't be home until the day before I was scheduling my endowments! Think of the events that would have to be rushed to get through that one - Oh! And the temple closes the following week for cleaning, along with every other temple on the East Coast. Oh my.
Fortunately, I got my interview, scheduled one with the Stake President and am now happily passing the time during this work day! I will receive my endowments on July 19th, 2008 in the DC temple, and could not be more excited!

Slideshow Psychosis

Just to get everyone up to date on our summer visits, I've recently made a slew of slideshows! They're arranged by date - so search out the month and get a sneak-peak at our lives! Grab some popcorn....this could take a while!

Baby Iris

My sister-in-law just had her forth child last week and we were soooo excited! Her name is Iris, 9 lbs, 11 oz. That's a healthy baby girl!!! Tyler and his mom drove down the same day (to Provo) to visit them in the hospital! All are doing well and I am so excited to meet my new niece! Only 36 more days left!

Randomization

This summer I find myself employed as a Chemist for Siemens Heathcare Diagnostics. I'm currently running an ANOVA study which requires randomization of samples in order to ensure quality results.

My life right now is completely analogous to this ANOVA study... The Blog Posts will not be in chronological order :) because I barely know what I did when, etc! Summer is always random, so why not try to bring a little more entropy into the world? Its inevitable!

Look for Tyler's trip to DE, our explorations on the east coast, graduation pictures, engagement, etc! Enjoy!