Very Similary Song Melodies... hmm...

does anyone else notice a considerable similarity between these two songs?

From Pirates of the Caribbean:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMsdON76Z_Y&feature=related

and

From The Last of the Mohicans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiXY7X_bcfo

In the air there's a feeling...

Christmas Eve. Already? Awesome!

For some reason this year I feel towards Christmas similar to how I did as a kid. Why? I dunno. Because I want to maybe? Nothing outrageously special is happening this year, but I've had more time to get psyched for the holidays this year because I haven't had to focus on traveling and such. Which means I've been able to help decorate and plan and play lots and lots and lots of Christmas music.

The one flaw in my extra-time to get ready scheme, is the one thing I forgot. Christmas presents! Yeah, I know. Kinda the elephant in the room, but still, I have been blissfully oblivious to the clock running low on my shopping. In my family, because we have such a big family--especially since siblings-in-law and the brand new third generation have been added--we've begun a tradition of drawing names so that no one person feels responsible to supply presents for the whole posse. It works. Kinda... I always feel the need to get something, even something small, for everybody who is going to be coming to the house for Christmas. I want to give them something. More for me than them I guess. So, while I have sent off presents to my drawn name--my sister in Kentucky--a few days ago I realized that I didn't have presents for ANYONE else, with one four days to shop. So far I've managed to scramble something together for everyone except my dad. He is impossible to shop for. The clock is still ticking on that one.

In the mean time I'm getting pumped about everything else I going on. In a few hours my oldest sister and younger brother will be arriving from KC (Sam flew in from Provo on Monday and he's been staying with Jo all week). I've been making sure everything that can be decorated is (until the deco runs out. we don't have a lot). I've been vacuuming and helping my mom straighten up all the spare rooms. I've been wrapping presents (not any easy tasks because most of my presents are insanely weird shaped). I've been prepping dishes and plans for food. And I've been running around with my camera, capturing everything. Especially the snow we got today! I woke up this morning to find the whole world turned into a marshmallow winter wonderland! YIPPEE! It's still snowing softly too! And I just spent the last 45 min. downstairs stoking the wood-burning stove. Oddly enough, while it can be a pain (it didn't want to light today), and often feels more like a chore than anything else, today it was kinda fun. A crackling wood fire in contrast to the fluffy, freezing world outside, combined with the fact that tomorrow is Christmas... yeah. Good stuff.

So now I'm just waiting for my siblings to arrive. In the meantime I probably should eat something... my stomach just reminded me that I forgot about breakfast entirely. And then I need to take a long, hot shower. And then get dressed in real clothes because I'm currently still in PJ's.

Ha ha ha... my dog is on the rug near my feet snoring and it's just kinda like the cherry on top.

The family Grocery Store closes early today, so everyone will be home tonight. (Everyone meaning my mom, dad, and me). And then tomorrow my brother and sister-in-law and nephew will be coming up a little before lunch. (They want to make homemade pizza for lunch. :D ). And then in the evening another of my sisters and her husband will be up for dinner. We'll miss Caleb and Gina (with child), and Char and Aaron, but at least we got to see them at Thanksgiving.

Sigh.

I think, whatever I decide to have for lunch, it will include a cup of hot chocolate.

And so everything seems to be going splendidly. I am determined to be jolly! And good reason too, because Christmas isn't any ordinary holiday. Always remember the "Reason for the Season." We're celebrating the birth of our Saviour and that's a good reason to be happy and sing songs! The angels even sang for joy!

So, to one, and to all, MERRY CHRISTMAS! Every one! :D Make it a good one!

p.s. pictures coming soon!

Playing with scissors: Fail.

So...

The plan had been, to grow my hair out long again. It hasn't been long in a couple of years. I like short hair on me, but I miss being able to pull it back or anything else with it.

As usual, my plan went horribly haywire. This time... I tried to trim my bangs. :O

I know, I know, I know. It was dumb. Tell me about it. I'm the one who has to live with it. Basically this is my explanation of my actions: when I last had my hair cut she trimmed a section of the hair close to my face shorter to add a little accent and "bangs" if you will. Well, as my hair has grown out, that chunk of hair continued to be shorter than everything else, but became long enough to not have any lift so it didn't really act like bangs anymore. It was annoying because when I'd do anything with my hair I'd have to pin that piece back separately to keep it from getting in the way. And it was just annoying. So I though, maybe I'll just trim off an inch or two so it will act like bangs again. I didn't really know what I was doing, but I'd been there as my hair was cut, so I tried to emulate what she had done. I forgot two major things. 1) to cut hair straight so that you get all the layers even, you should wet down the hair to make it stay in place. and 2) when you shorten hair, you release weight and your hair bounces up. Sooooooooo... when I meant to only cut off a few inches... it looks like I lightly butchered my bangs. So far I've continued to pin it back, in the hopes that it will grow and not look so bad. So far not enough time has passed to test this theory. But I'm still skeptical that it will work because of how uneven the cut is. And I refuse to try and trim it more because I'm pretty sure it will only get worse.

However, last night I was playing around, trying to find out what I could do with it, when I flipped my part over and had the bangs going all the way across my brow. The layers evened out and it didn't look bad. Still wildly uneven, but still, it made me think. I might need to get my hair cut professionally at this rate anyhow. I'm already half way there, so what if I were to follow through and get full fledged bangs? In the mirror it didn't look bad. In fact, I think I like it! I wouldn't want heavy bangs, just like, wispy ones, like Elinor in the new "Sense and Sensibility". But with two longer strands on either side to frame my face. Notice I stay strands.










Yeah. So if I'm going to have to cut my hair, and if I'm going to try and make use of this idiotic catastrophe of mine, I mine as well try something new and have fun with it. Now I just need to figure out the rest of my hair and get it done. My hairs to my shoulders now, so I might be able to have a few more options with the choice of cuts. We'll have to see.

These are a few pictures of cuts I kinda like so far. Any thoughts?

p.s. It's Dec. 24 and I've had time to think some more-
This is more what I want. This is so cool!

A song: On Behalf of Heroes

On Behalf of Heroes

Small towns each have their heroes,
Just like cities, in their way,
And though he was no superman
Will was there to save the day!

Every afternoon of summer,
In his tree fort by the brook
He'd map out his heroic deeds
In his secret hero's book.

At one o'clock he'd face a dragon.
At two he'd win a war.
At three he'd stop a run-away-train,
And he'd save the "high seas" 'til four.

And between each wild adventure,
Of blocking bad guys high and low,
Will would climb back to his tree fort
And survey the world below.

As he watched the people 'round him,
All engrossed in hectic lives,
Will would ask, "Where've all the heroes gone?
Did none of them survive?"

-- Chorus--
Where have all the heroes gone?
Are they sleeping?
Are they dead?
Where are the knights in armor
From the books so often read?
What happened to the stories?
What happened to the dreams?
Are there really so few dreamers as it seems?
--

He was standing at the crosswalk,
His backpack weighed like lead,
And though the years had changed him
Will still dreamt inside his head.

For as every day he walked to school,
Passing people, sad and stressed,
Will dreamt the world a happy place,
With warmth and peace and rest.

So as he walked into the school,
And was swept up in the crowd.
He turned and found a stranger's face,
And said, "Good morning!", right out loud.

Will went about his classes,
Filling up and words and facts,
But as he watched the teens around him,
And he watched their selfish acts,

Will couldn't help but wonder
What had happened to his friends.
Had they lost all sense of honor?
And were heroes at an end?

-- Chorus--
Where have all the heroes gone?
Are they sleeping?
Are they dead?
Where are the knights in armor
From the books so often read?
What happened to the stories?
What happened to the dreams?
Are there really so few dreamers as it seems?
--

It was Christmas time, and crowded,
The people jostling in line.
And as he stood and waited
Will didn't see the cardboard sign.

"Hey dad?" a small voice whispered.
"Do you see that man right there?
He doesn't even have a coat!
And it's really could out here!'

Do you think think I can have a dollar?
To put into his bowl?"
Will looked down at his anxious son,
With his small heart warm and full.

And as he watched the little form,
With the bills clutched in his fist,
Will knew he saw a hero
That he could add on to his list.

"Did you see dad? That was awesome!"
Will's son had reached his side.
"Just like playing knights with you again!"
And the small boy swelled with pride.

-- Ending Chorus--
Are you asking, "Where've the heroes gone?"
Are you watching?
Are you sure?
Have you looked inside to find one?
Are you keeping your heart pure?
So, what about your stories?
And what about your dreams?
Dreaming's not so hard as it may seem!
--

--

Thoughts on "Negative Capablity"

In regards to Keats "Negative Capability", someone proposed that he is speaking of humility. I respond:

The great thing about humility is that is it, positively, counter productive. Humility is the acceptance and patience for reality. But when one is humble, reality changes. When we decide to be happy, we begin to find reasons to be happy. When we don't have an answer, and we accept that and move on, answers begin to pop out of the wood work. it's not a magical solution, because in it's very definition it must be sincere. One cannot say "I am now humble, now I deserve the bounty of humility." But rather it is in many ways unconscious and subtle. It is a perfect law of honesty. It is the language of God. Truth cleaves to truth, and light to light. I suppose, karma.

It does make sense that in order to be close to beauty, you must be content with what is before you. To be discontent means you are not satisfied with the beauty you see. Those who delve into the beauty about them are capable of examining and plunging in to feel excellently the essence of the beauty. Unfortunately, Keats seems to imply that to strive for greater reason and greater meaning means that one is discontent. They are "irritable reaching after fact and reason". I agree that it is genius to find happiness in an imperfect world and amongst "uncertainties, mysteries, doubts", but the idea is contradictory in that the mere endeavor to have capability amongst the negative, means that one is digging up the positive and exposing and discovering a better way of being. They are not just "capable" anymore. They are "champion".

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

One of my favorite faery tales has always been, "The Twelve Dancing Princesses." It's so very unique and fascinating. And there are little details that follow along with the story that must always be there; that make it authentic. I wonder why those details were added and when? How far back were they decided, and what is their significance? Like the forest of magic trees. Usually they're gold and silver, but some people fudge it and make them crystal. And then there's the dark lake that the girls must sail across. And best of all, there's the cloak of invisibility. The magical cloak is the way that the person in the story is able to follow the princesses and find out where they go at night to dance their shoes to tatters.

Anyway, I love this tale. And recently I've been thinking about it. Collecting details and pieces of things that bring the story to life. So I thought I'd just share bits of my bizarre collection.

Shoes:

Songs that fit:
Hayley Westenra, "Dark Waltz"

Paolo Nutini, "New Shoes"

Josh Groban, "So She Dances"

Scissor Sisters, "Don't feel like Dancing"

Book Variations (for some reason they always give these books corny titles, but they're actually pretty good reading):

Wildwood Dancing, by Juliet Marillier

"Wildwood Dancing is set in early 1500s Transylvania, and tells the story of five young sisters from the ages of five to seventeen, in the first person from the point of view of Jenica (called 'Jena'), the second sister. This time period would precede the writing of Bram Stoker's Dracula, and therefore Marillier's Night People would not be referred to as vampires." - Wikipedia


Princess of the Midnight Ball, by Jessica Day George

"Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls." -book's description



Illustrations of the Story (click to enlarge):

by: Himmapaan

by: K. Y. Craft (she actually illustrated a whole books for this story)

both by: Kay Nielsen
















by: Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini












by: ?

Characters, characters...

So I can't help it. I've been rereading the "Queen's Thief" series by Megan Whalen Turner (my all time favorite fiction books. in case you haven't picked up on that yet.) I've been rereading the books I own, my own personal library, and these just had to be read eventually. I try to limit my constant reading of them because I always get mildly obsessed each time I enter their pages. Is is wholey unhealthy to day dream about meeting your favorite characters? I mean, honestly. They could be real people, they're so well written. Could I love them into existence? Do you think that would work? Well, since that hasn't happened yet I've instead gone and searched through the IMDB database for actors and actresses that I think might just play the roles well if it is ever made into a film. And as much as the idea thrills me, I hate it too, because they'd have to do if perfectly or it wouldn't work. At all. Zero. Zip. Na-da. The end.

Ok. so here it goes.

Eugenides:




Skandar Keynes (p.s. I love the name Skandar btw. I think I might name one of my sons Skandar). So this actor is only 19 right now, but give him a year or two and he'll be perfect. He has that even-younger-than-he-is look, which is ideal for Eugenides. He's got the dark hair, the sharply intelligent eyes that speak everything, the wiry build, the intense looks... yes. I think he just might do. actor info and images

Sophos:

Max Thieriot. He has a very young look about him but he's actually one older than most of the other actors/actresses I've listed on this post. This gives him both the ability to have a seemingly childish first impression, and a believably mature second impression. Ideal for an actor of Sophos' character. I think he's just become my new, favorite actor for the part. As i said, ideal. actor info and images

or



Max Pirkis. You probably know him as the little one armed shipman on Master and Commander. Well, he isn't so young anymore either. Blonde hair, innocent face, kind eyes. Yeah. He'll work too.
actor info and images



or

Alexander Ludwig. I like this guy because he has both the kind/innocentness as well as the "scholar/poet" softness to his face. I think he has an perfect Sophos demeanor and he's fairly young like these other actors/actresses.
actor info and images


Costis:



Josh Hutcherson. He looks more military brawn and strongly built. Yet he has an open and honest face. And he's also young, so he'll fit right in. You know him from The Bridge to Tarabithia. Grown up a bit, hasn't he.
actor info and images



Irene (Attolia):

Spencer Locke. I admit, I have not seen this actress act, that I know of, so this is isn't a really strong suggestion. But she does look a bit like how I see Irene looking. Of course this suggestion refers to her appearance when she's a brunette, as I'm pretty positive she naturally is. She is stunning, with piercing eyes, delicate features, but a firm set jaw and sharp mouth. She's about the same age as the other actors here, so, again, in a couple years she'd be perfect.
actress info and images


Hel(Eddis):

Bonnie Wright. I've had difficulty coming up with an actress for this part. Honestly, I'm not really sure who could do it. I think that Bonnie's personality would be perfect for the part (witty, strong, commanding), and she has a good face for it too. But Eddis is suppose to have short, brunette hair, and curls. But that, honestly, could be dealt with. You might think Bonnie looks young (she is in this pic. she's older now), but she's the same age as most of these other actors I've listed. I think her youthful appearance is actually a good effect, because it would give more credit to the way the people in Sounis and Attolia look at Eddis and get upset because they don't know how someone less unaggressive than themselves, and so "young" could rule so well. actress info and images

Sounis (Sophos' uncle):



Russell Crowe. Middle aged. Heavy built. Military type. Powerful presence. I think he'd work well. actor info and images





The Magus:



Jeremy Irons. Lovely melodic voice, quick witted, wonderful actor, can sound knowledgeable, old enough to be "older" but not "old". I think he'd make a marvelous Magus. Maybe grow his beard out a bit. actor info and images

He he he he he he.... hic hic hic!

ok. this is good for a laugh. and again, as I've said before and will most likely say again, "I'm am now prescribing to all my friends a 'crack-up' a day. Keeps the dull and sane away." :) And come now. Let's live life to it's most interesting potential.

http://www.youtube.com/user/WhatYouOughtToKnow

What ought YOU to know? *wink wink*

-Cheers

Christmas List

Soooooooo.... I guess it's that time of year again. (Say that "a-gain" not "a-ginn")

I'm putting up my list here, because I can include links and such to be clear and specific. Sometimes people will put things on their lists and no one has a clue what that is. I'm also putting it up here so it doesn't going missing on a slip of random paper.

Yeah. So here we go:
*note: I'm not sure if the sites I have listed have the best pricing, so I'd check elsewhere too.

-A Conspiracy of Kings, by Megan Whalen Turner
-BBC Sense and Sensibility 2008 (NOT THE OTHER VERSION!)
-a new sketchbook (preferably black and hard bound (and with removable pages and a spiral binding!), but so long as it's not dinky it'll work if it's not hard bound)
-Cheaper by the dozen (The BOOK! And its sequel would be nice too)
-Gold (blonde) colored bobby pins
-BBC Emma 2009 (Not the other version! And consider getting S&S first. I'd rather it than this)
-External Hard-drive (don't have a link for this)
-Flat dress shoes (I wear size 8 1/2, but I'd highly suggest consulting either me or my sister Jo about this. I have included a link to show you kind of what I'm looking for.)
-A coat. (again. Consult. But I have included a link.)
-Photoshop (preferably CS2 or higher.)
-Or you can just consult my book wishlist on Goodreads and pick one. (I'd like series together (at least the books I have listed because sometimes I only like part of a series. I should have all the books I like listed for a series). But whatever works.


I may be editing and adding to this list off an on so if you don't like anything here, check back later.

Also, please send me your christmas lists! to one4storms@gmail.com.

-Cheers

Reflection on D&C 104

In studying D&C 104, I asked: Why did the Lord ask the saints to follow the United Order back in the early years, when they were poor and persecuted? It seems harsh at times, and nearly too much to ask. But the Lord obviously knew his people. As I studied the subject, I began to find answers to my question that showed that not only was the Lord aware of his peoples’ plight, but by asking them to live the United Order, he was helping them to succeed through all their trials. He loved them, and the lessons they would learn from following this commandment were necessary for their survival and their faith. He knew them. And he knew what he was doing. As I read through the D&C Institute Manual, reason after reason for what the Lord did began to pop out to me. I have compiled a list:

“Why did the Lord ask the saints to follow the United Order back in the early years, when they were poor and persecuted?”

-To help the poor. The saints had been persecuted in MO, and it would be a way to help take care of all those who were in need from their loses and their trials.
-To help the Saints become stronger by coming to their own testimony of making a solemn covenant with the Lord. And to help them gain the blessings from that covenant.
-To help them realized the seriousness of the gospel and the plan of salvation.
-To help remind them that all things were God’s. If they lost possessions, they should not become distraught. They should not become so focused on their land or property or belongings. This could help them cope with the loses they felt during their persecutions so that they could move on and progress towards Zion.
-To help them to unite together so that they would all be on the side of God, and wouldn’t squabble over what was who’s and who deserved what.
-To help prepare them to answer the Lord’s call. The Lord would ask a lot of sacrifices from the early Saints, and when they understood that what all they had was His, they would be more willing to heed his instructions and not be selfish. They would recognize his authority and right to ask what he did of them.
-To help them focus on aiding one another. When they concentrate on helping each other, their minds would not be focused on their own loses. Also, the Lord promises that he will care for His children, and if everyone is aiding and sharing, there is enough to go around and his promises are fulfilled.
-To teach them faith. To let go of the world and trust in the Lord. Like fasting.
-To give them responsibility. The Lord demonstrated his trust and his faith in them.
-To establish the Lord’s way of doing things. To take the Saints out of their own routines, and out of the world’s way of living, and to teach them how the Lord wants things to run.
-To test their agency. The saints had agency, and they needed commandments to see how they would choose to follow.
-To make the people useful. They had skills, and this allowed them to develop and use those skills constructively and usefully.
-To make it harder for Satan and the world to penetrate and break them down. They were united, and stronger together than each alone facing what they did.
-To create a sanctuary of peace. If the saints knew they could rely on each other, love each other, and take care of each other, they had a place to turn to apart from the persecutions they faced.
-To help weed out those who would hold them back. Those who were not willing to have the faith would not last long. Like boot camp in a way. Only those who had the strength to live the United Order would also have the strength to move on through their test and trials and persecutions.
-To show that the Lord knows his people, individually. He gives them individual tasks for them to work at and use for the benefit of others. He is aware of how they could grow to their best potential. He gave stewardships to people who knew what to do with them.
-To prepare the people for when the Lord would come and live upon the earth. To show how it will be, and what it will be like to live the Celestial order. To help them have his spirit there.
-To help them build the kingdom. They needed to be strong and efficient to build. This gave them those skills to help the church move forward and to progress onward faster and further.
-To help them build trust in the word of the Prophet as the Lord’s mouth piece.
-To set down an order. To help them become organized. In chaos there is no direction and little chance for success.
-To help them focus on the important things; their needs over their wants. When they all had to work together and agree, they couldn’t squabble over the little things, they had to work together and find out what was most needed.
-To reward those who do a good job. If they were living righteously, they had no reason to be afraid of starving or being in need.
-Also, if they were righteous they would trust one another.
-To provide for the failing of mortal existence. In our world, if a man loses everything in a fire, he is without anything. But if they United Order was followed, all those who did things wisely were given more if they lost what they had to the failings of mortality.
-To help the saints show gratitude for the Atonement. To live with a spirit of gratitude. It is hard to forget to whom you owe all if you are constantly remembering that it is His, not ours. It helped them to remember his mercies and his love.
-To teach the saints to be reliable. Not only would they need to trust each other, but they needed to be trust worthy themselves. It helped them learn the value of doing one’s part and upholding one’s word.
-It gave them a sense of self worth. Sometimes, in hard times, if we don’t blame others for our problems, we blame ourselves. We think we are worthless, faulty, useless. But if other rely on you, if other’s need your skills and your support, you have no reason to doubt your worth. Nor do you need to doubt whether the Lord loves you when He has planned out a way of living the makes sure it is providing you with all you need.
-To teach them to value of what they have. Not just because it isn’t really their’s, but because they need it for what it can do. When you concentrate on wants and not needs, you forget how useful things can be. You don’t explore how much they can actually do for you or in what ways they can fulfill your desires. It made them resourceful.


Gathered from the “Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual” Sec. 104

Cubist

Feel free to disregard this if you like. I just needed a link to this image so i could hyperlink it to my assignment for a class.

If you're interested, this is a sorta cubistic drawing of my bedroom lamp.

Movie Recommendation

Hey everybody. For anyone who reads this blog, I saw a movie recently that I really love. It's a heart wrenching film, but it's beautiful. If you loved the wonderful movie "Life is Beautiful", then I think you'd appreciate this. It isn't funny, like that one, but it is extremely moving. Really, the best word for it is beautiful.


The movie is "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas." And that title really has many meanings. The story line goes like this: A small boy, the son of a Nazi soldier (a pretty high up one), and his family are moved to a house out in the countryside of Germany. From his bedroom window that boy notices what he assumes to be some strange farm off in the distance. His mother and father don't try to argue with him, but tell him to stop worrying about it. The boy's dream is to be a great explorer, and after exploring all the yard inside the big metal fence around the house, he becomes restless. One day he notices that the door to the back yard is open and he slips back there. He finds a store shed with a window in it the opens out into the woods and he slips through and goes exploring. He finds the farm, surrounded by high barbed fences, and just on the other side of the fence he finds a small boy like him. A strange boy. But, with no other friends, the young explorer keeps returning to visit the farm and the two boys become friends. Through the whole thing you see the world through the eyes of the innocent young boy, who doesn't really know what's happening. But we of course pick up on what is going on. It's intricate, and VERY well acted, believable, and deeply touching. The story has an entirely unexpected ending. It's not a fast paced tale, but it's riveting. I say you should go find a copy and watch it.

Ren. Fest weekend

This weekend I made another attempt at the KC Ren-fest. Interestingly enough, while the last time I went it was cold, raining, windy, and muddy, while I only had flip flops to wear, this week was hot and sunny and I had on a brand new pair of tennies. Yes. That's right. It's October and it was hot this week. In the upper 80's. So it was beautiful, if steamy, weather for attending the fest. I went down to Am and Nathans, and we, along with friend-couple of theirs, went down to Jo's. The next morning we got up and went to the fest and stayed there 'til late afternoon. It was great fun. The theme for this weekend was dogs, scots, and pirates. So there were dogs, bagpipes, kilts, and pirates everywhere. We managed to watch a jousting and get our faces painting (Jo and I did the latter). We each had a huge smoked turkey leg for lunch, and watched a falconer (wild bird) show. Along with a lot of other stuff. etc. etc. etc. Aye!

On the Apocrypha

Many Christians claim that the Book of Mormon, as expectedly God-given scripture, automatically indicates that Mormon's can't possibly believe in the Bible. Therefore, we can't really be Christians. To all those of us mormons who are asked about our belief in the Bible, we quickly recite the eighth article of faith (The Articles of Faith, History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535-541). The key words, we say, are "as far as it is translated correctly." As a mormon who was raised away from the mass mormon bases of Utah or Idaho, this question was personally asked to me. My best friend in High School was Catholic and we discussed our religions fairly often. This topic of the Bible came up when we were considering having a Bible study together, and my friend wanted to use her modern language translation to study with. Upon further discussion on the subject I was surprised to find, for the first time in my recollection, that the mormon Bible has several differences from the Bible most Catholics use. One of the main difference is Apocrypha. Honestly, at that time in my life I had never even heard of the Apocrypha. There have been other times in my life since that encounter that the topic of those books has been brought up. In my Art History class at BYUI, while studying the art of the Renaissance and Baroque periods we came across a piece depicting a story from the Apocrypha. Each encounter with the topic has been a different experience, for I have had different knowledge available each time, but up until this point, I had never really done my own study into the LDS Church's proclaimed opinion on the subject. I knew, obvious to me from its absence in our Bible, that mormons didn't study the Apocrypha as my Catholic friend does. I also knew that there are many errors in it and that is why we don't study it as scripture, (remember the "as far as it is translated correctly" part). But apart from that, I really knew nothing significant. As I read through D&C 91 this past week, it hit me that I didn't really know why Joseph Smith hadn't translated the Apocrypha as part of his Bible tasks. Nor did I really ever let it sink in that the Apocrypha was anything more than an obscure piece of "supposed" historical documents that some other Christians claimed as scripture. As I looked into these topics I discovered several interesting things. The first is that the Apocrypha was widely considered part of the Bible in Joseph Smith's time. He was most likely raised on it, and certainly had it in the Bible he read (The Joseph Smith Translation: “Plain and Precious Things” Restored, David Rolph Seely). Though controversy on the books of the Apocrypha had begun almost 200 years earlier (at least), the Christian world was still reluctant to scrap them as "non-scipture" (D&C Institute Student Manual, Section 91, the Apocrypha). And that is when a few things occurred to me. 1) This was evidence of Joseph Smith's sincere and thorough study of the scriptures and Christianity, that he knew, even though he was "uneducated", that history debated the legitimacy of the books. And 2) It showed that Joseph Smith really studied the scriptures so much that he probably could identify the differences between their words and voice and the words and voice of the Apocrypha. He singled it out and thought to ask God about it. As I reread section 91, now with a greater appreciation for Joseph Smith, I began to notice a few other things. We are not commanded to not read the Apocrypha. As mormons we know that it is not entirely accurate or complete, but we also know that it isn't entirely wrong either. Instead, we are encouraged to be careful (D&C 91). And in the Student Manual, we are even cautioned to only study it when we have a fairly firm understanding of the doctrine and principles of our own scriptures. Reviewing this information has really opened my mind. I have gone and read in the Bible Dictionary, the Student Manual, and in several articles on LDS.org about the Apocrypha, and, though I do not know much more extensively about the history of our Church in relationship to the books, I do feel as though I understand the meaning of Joseph Smith's conversation with the Lord in section 91. I encourage others to go and read about this. It is enlightening and has helped me to see how our religion interacts with the rest of the Christian world. It also says a lot about human nature, and the hunt for true religion in the history of the world. This study has helped me to be more open minded and thoughtful about other Christian claims. It reminds me, that I do accept the Bible. As far as it is translated correctly. And all the that means.

Oi!

Ahoy, ye scalawags! 'Tis October-aye! Autumn! Coluerful naturrrre and frooosty mornin's! Not to mention, All Hallow's E'en! OoooOOoOoooOoOooooo!

Yesh.

Today I'm in a good mood! It's sunny! It's not too chilly out. And it's October! I miss September. But I'm excited fer Octoberness. Last Saturday we got started on decorating the grocery store. I spend a good hour stringing up fake cobwebs all over the place. Tonight we'll get a bit mer of dat dun. I love decorating for the holidays. Halloween itself has been a bit of a let down for me the last several years, and this one aims to not be too exciting either, but I love to decorate! It's the anticipation that makes it fun anyway, so if you hype the anticipation, you hype the experience.

So what else is happening right now.... hmm.... Well, I went down to KC two weekends ago, to visit my sister. We went to the Ren. Fest, but it got chilly and rained us out after only about half an hour, and so we left. I did help her paint her bathroom though. :) It's now a bright, soft, lush sea-foam pearl color. Goes great with her bright, candy colorful bathroom decor. It tones it down but helps make it fun!

Oh, and I officially have shoes now! FINALLY! I've been living on a my pair of high heels and pair of flip flops since the canoe trip. All that hiking and shoe-soaking and slugging through mud finally took out what was left of public appearance in my five-year-old tennis shoes. They were all ready really bad looking, but now the backs wearing through and the rubber soles are pulling away. They're just done for. And my flats? My lovely brown leather flats? Well, I literally walked holes into them this last semester. So I'd been on the lookout for shoes since before July. I didn't want expensive shoes, but I didn't want cheap shoes. So while in KC, we strolled by a shoe selection and I noticed $50 converse shoes on sale for $30. And that weekend alone they were an additional $10 off! I like converse shoes. Always have. So of course I got a pare. Fifty dollar shoes, for twenty dollars? No duh! :D

Well, this weekend my plan is to go BACK to KC. This time along with my sister Am and her husband. She and Nathan want to do the Ren. Fest. I actually didn't buy a ticket last time--when we got to the ticket office they gave us one ticket free--so I liked the idea of giving the fest another go. A real one. With real shoes. :) I hadn't actually planned on going back down, but Am really wanted me to, and even asked mom, and then came and informed me that I needed to come. I can live with that. ;)

The world is so beautiful right now! It's kinda scraggly looking in some places, but the colors and the evening shadows and the crisp, lively, if chilly, air! Mmmm! Hot chocolate! Cider! Fires! Holidays! I'm liking it!

Driving Me Crazy

Hola! Bonjourno! Salut!

I feel like it's been ages since I've actually been able to settle down somewhere. My semester ended in July and it took my four very crazy days to drive home. I left on a Saturday and got home the next Tuesday. It's a long story that consists of awesome times and please-shoot-me-in-my-sleep times. Yeah.

Well, and then I went down that next Friday and babysat my nephew. And then on Sunday I headed up with a couple of my siblings to Des Moines where we stayed with one of my brothers and his wife. The next day at 4 a.m. we got up and drove to Minnesota. We spent that week canoeing the BWWCA. It also was a very good and a frustrating time. I now have a three shade farmers tan (white shoulders, lightly tanned upper arms, and then dark lower arms--this is due to wearing a 3/4 length sleeved shirt the day I got the most sun.) I had a lot of fun on the trip and loved spending time with my siblings. I love the outdoors and outdoor adventures so the dirt and the sweat and the B.O. didn't bother me much. But by the second night I missed my bed tremendously. A solid rock bed and a constricting and slippery sleeping bag are only comfortable to a certain point. After driving back to Des Moines, we spent the night there again and then headed home the next day.

I was home for a week before I headed down to KC where I spent almost a week with my sister. That was fun, but, as always, living with a night-shift nurse completely throws off my sleeping schedule. Dramatically.

When I finally got home Friday evening (after driving through a "severe thunderstorm" and after being delayed by a tornado watch and whirring tornado alarm) it was in time to start preparing my little brother to head off to college. Due to a lack of funds in my bank account this coming semester I will not be able to go back to school in Idaho (instead I am staying in the midwest and taking online courses and working). So in more ways than usually, helping my brother pack up and get ready to head off to his first semester of college has been rather hard. But my mother decided that, as I had left some of my belongings in ID with some friends and I needed to retrieve them since I wasn't going to be going back there for a while, I should accompany her to drop my brother off at BYU, and then we'd go up to ID and collect my things before coming home. More driving.

Sigh.


............


I cringe when adults tell me I should just wait. Because if I think my life is busy and chaotic now, I will have not idea what's going on when I finally have a family to keep track of.

Something to think about.

Well, cheers.
-K

Half awake or half asleep?

Here we are again. It's after 1:30 a.m. and I'm waiting for paint to dry. My project isn't going too well, but I suppose that is to be expected because I'm half asleep. I wish I could pull out my blow-drier and speed this whole thing up, but hot air will warp this paint and ruin the whole thing, so.... we wait. And try to entertain ourselves and stay awake. At least my roommate Sarah is also still awake and working. But she's working, so she can't help entertain us. And if we were to try and entertain her, we'd be annoying. We as in me + you (my audience). Yes. You get 50% of the blame. Why? Because I feel like it. I'm not completely in my right mind right now, so I couldn't possibly take all that blame. That leaves you. Random person.

I have three final project, and a final test tomorrow. I have completed one whole class so far. I am done with work. After tomorrow I'll have two tests left and a make-up lecture. And then I'm done with school for the semester. Lovely.

I'm eating chocolate to give me energy and I think it's making my sick to my stomache because I'm too tired.

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah...........

Yeah. Moving to something more interesting now. Cheers.

-K

I guess it's time to buy new shoes...

So my shoes are... falling apart. My flats, my year-old flats, are dying. Well, one of them is. The other one is still fine. The other though, has a huge hole in the toe and a huge hole in the heel. The hole in the toe lets in all kinda of rocks and junk off the ground. Also, when I walk on tarred asphalt in the heat of the day, I come back with black toes. It's really sad, because I love these shoes. And it's wacky that one of the shoes is still in fine condition. I can see cracks on the soles though, where the holes appeared on the holey shoe. So it's bound to head in the same direction.

And then my tennis shoes are starting to get worn out too. The heels on the inside of the shoes is wearing back to the stuffing, and the rubber trim around the base of the shoes is coming loose from the shoe. Sad day.

I've been shopping around online, looking for new shoes. Simply put I HATE how expensive shoes are. But I have found some that I'm leaning toward. I have also found some that I'm not EVEN thinking about buying, but they look cool so I'm gonna share those too. Let me know what you think.

These are the flats that I am actually thinking about:


These are just fun ;) :