Two posts in one week? The mind reels...


I've been praying for Grandma Heywood pretty hard core recently. She's going through some pretty nasty stuff with her back, and she's recently broken her leg as well. So I'm sending out a prayer that you all with pray with me and my family that things will be okay with Grandma.


Also, as always, I'm looking forward to Conference Weekend. I'm sure I will be chastised and taught, that I will learn and hopefully grow. Another prayer for myself, that my heart and mind will be open.

Yep. I'm doing it. My tribute post to the Hunger Games. You don't have to like it, and I'm doing it either way.

I've heard arguments that this story just a rip off of other stories, it's unoriginal, it's teenage dribble, etc. Well, if that's you're opinion, you're entitled to it and I won't judge you (not to your face, anyway). But may I point out that there's no such thing as a completely original idea? I'm just agreeing with your argument. This story isn't completely original because, well, nothing is completely original. Just sayin'.

OK, not that my argument doesn't have it's flaws (which I'm sure smart people will point out, and that's fine), but regardless of how you personally feel about the Hunger Games, I loved it. It got under my skin. I hated the Capitol. I rooted for the oppressed Districts. I cried over the deaths of certain characters and cheered for the deaths of others. Yes, cried and cheered.

And this first movie was a well-done interpretation of the first book. The screenplay stuck close to the story, and while I wish there had been more information about the political stuff, I was pleased with the development of the characters. The casting was good (not perfect, but good), the score was good, the effects were good, everything was good.

So, if you trust my judgement at all, I highly recommend going to see the movie. And then you'll probably want to read the books if you haven't yet. Just ask Marie.

At the risk of sounding redundant...

I just really, really wanna have babies. And all that comes with it. You know, like, a husband. That'd be nice.

Though, I must say, it's been very reassuring to have people in my life who had to wait a long time for these blessings as well. It gives me hope. Family members, church leaders, friends--all people I love and admire, and if they can wait, I suppose I can, too.

But I'm growing extremely impatient. And since my biological clock has been ticking since I was about 19, I think I may just shrivel up and die when I reach 30 and I'm still single and baby-less. 'Cause it's gonna happen, guys. It's only six months away, looming over my head like the countdown ball on New Year's Eve: slowly dropping, ready to squash my dreams.



I have to find something to do to distract me from my despair. Like crocheting "Tetris" scarves and "Mario" rugs and "TMNT" hats and "Pac Man" afghans. Right? Keeps my hands busy.

And reading great books. OK. If you've never read Ender's Game, you probably should. I'm only a bit over half way through it, but it's amazing. Also, The Giver is one to have on your shelf. Also, I've read the Chronicles of Narnia again, and those books are just the best. There is so much to learn from these seemingly simple stories. [Is there a Master's Degree in YA Literature? Because that's what I'd study if I could.]



I'm grateful for the good weekend I had. I was able to do a lot of fun things, and all with pretty awesome people. I'm glad I'm on the 8-5 schedule at work this week, because extra sleep is needed thanks to the stupid time change. I'm looking forward to having Friday off and spending it making pillow covers with Ashley. I'm sad I won't be going home to see my dear friend (another) Ashley get married, but circumstances beyond my control have made it impossible. Sad sad sad. But I hope she and Derek enjoy the gift we're sending. Oh, baby. (Photos will be posted. I'm particularly happy with this one.) I'm grateful for my (right now, extremely messy) apartment and the solitude is affords. It's lovely to hang around with really cool people, but it's great to go to a quite home of my own. And it's nice to be able to leave a mess for me to clean up later because I finished a project so late and was too tired to clean it up. (Maybe I'm not really ready for babies...) I'm grateful for inspired leaders who teach me that I'm not still single because of anything I've done wrong, but because I'm being molded to be the kind of wife and mother I will need to be in the future. (Three talks in two days with the same message. Someone's trying to tell me something.)

"When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessing..."

And I'm grateful for you, my family and friends (even the ones who don't read this, though I love those of you who do a little bit more than I love those of you who don't...). It'd take pages and pages and pages of internet space to list all of the people I love and the reasons I love them, so I won't bore you. But know that I love you and I'm grateful for you and I wouldn't be me without you. And I like me, so thanks.

Love to you all!