Happy Couple

But each enjoying their pleasures seperately.  No, don't go shutting down this page, it's totally appropriate, let me explain...

Today I am happily drooling over my newest acquisition:

 




Yes, that would be LOTR Extended Edition on Blu-Ray!!!  Oh, me SO happy!!!

I pre-ordered it a few months back, then waited.  It was released yesterday, and I figured it would take a few days and at the earliest I would get it this weekend.  Imagine my thrill and surprise to find it on my doorstsep today!!!

It is so beautiful.  My precious!!!

Meanwhile...  Ryan's researching fireworks for our annual 4th of July celebration, in which he is the resident pyro.  I just heard him say, "Pyro Universe."  I said, "That sounds right for you," to which he answered, "Yeah, I'm familiar with it, I've been there before."  I am sure he has! lol

The next few days will be wonderful: I will be feasting my eyes upon all things LOTR in even better picture and clarity than ever before, and then we'll watch Ryan blow up cakes, mines, and mortars in a big Patriotic tribute.  Everyone will be happy.  Win-win! :)

From Great to Greater

I love hearing Acadia practice the piano. She is getting quite good. For her last recital, one of the songs she played was Bella's Lullaby. I loved that she was learning that, it was so wonderful to hear everyday. I was kind of bummed when she was done and would be moving on with another song. But, as great as Bella's Lullaby was, I think she's topped it...

Concerning Hobbits

I just couldn't be more proud! My baby's playing Lord of the Rings!!! And it sounds so good!!! :)

She is definitely my child. :)

My Girls

My girls make me happy. Acadia is a LOTR addict and Aurora can sing along with "Into the West".
Yep, they are my girls. :)

Falling in love all over again.

My husband is so awesome. Last week he bought us a nice new big TV. :)

And since that time, LOTR has been playing nearly nonstop. lol And not by my doing! Acadia spends every extra moment she has watching those movies. Yesterday she put Fellowship of the Ring on as soon as she got up and by the time she had gone to sleep, had watched the entire trilogy, extended versions. I've created a monster... and I've never been more proud. ;) lol

While watching the movies on the nice new big screen, I'm noticing many details that I haven't noticed before. Little things. It's awesome! LOTR rocks! I hadn't fallen out of love, but this week I feel like I've fallen in love all over again. lol

Eggs-ellent

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Of course, it's almost over now... but better late than never!

Today we colored Easter Eggs as an activity for our Family Night. :) Rori thought it was cool but really thought it was more fun to watch Jimmy Neutron (for some crazy reason, she loves that movie! lol). Cadi and I colored most of the eggs, but Ryan did end up coloring one in the end. It took him quite awhile to do it, too! He used several colors and then had to take a call for work in the middle of it, but in the end, when it was finally done, it looked pretty cool. ;)

I honestly cannot remember if I posted about this or not so, I hope it's not a repeat. Now that Acadia is older and has been reading more and watching movies like Harry Potter, we've started talking to her about the Lord of the Rings. She hasn't been interested much, but last week, Ryan started showing her the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring, and she got hooked! I was a little ticked since I had made it ABUNDANTLY CLEAR that I wanted to be with her when she watched the movies for the first time. Fortunately, they hadn't gotten far, plus had been distracted by visitors showing up, so when I got there and found out that she was starting to watch the movies, we started over and began together. We didn't get too far that night, just to the point where Frodo and Sam are leaving the Shire. Tonight we watched some more, to the end of disc 1. It's cool to have her watching it with us. We have to go slow though, and explain a lot. We'll see how it all goes, we may not show her the other movies yet, we'll see how this one goes first. But I"m still excited to share them with her! :)

While we were getting things together to decorate Easter Eggs tonight, Ryan was holding Rori near the fridge and he pointed to a picture of Christ that is on it and Aurora said, very clearly, "Jesus!" That was really cool because even though I try to show her pictures sometimes and I will tell her that Jesus loves her, I really haven't done it that much (just sometimes on Sundays when I'm trying to help her be reverent in church) and I don't think I've ever shown her this specific picture. It's at the top of the fridge and she's not usually allowed in the kitchen anyway, so she doesn't see that picture much at all. It's great to know that she knew who He was. :)

"It's no bad thing to celebrate a simple life." - Bilbo Baggins

Today is J.R.R. Tolkien's birthday!  Of course, he's dead... but it's still his birthday! ;) lol

And to celebrate, I'm going to post exciting Tolkien news (Which really is old news now because it was announced a couple of weeks ago but I was too busy to post it back then.^^) ...

Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema, along with MGM Studios, are finally going to be making The Hobbit!  They have been in negotiations for years about the rights to the movie and they just last month came to an agreement!  There will be two movies, filmed back to back (the same way that The Lord of the Rings was) and then released one year apart.  The first movie will be out in 2010 and the second in 2011!
We are SO EXCITED!  Just recently, Acadia "read" The Hobbit.  (She didn't really read it, she listened to the unabridged book on tape during a couple of road trips.  But close enough, she listened to it all.)  She had asked if there was a movie she could watch now, and while we had to tell her "not yet" at that point, now we can say, "There will be!"

I'd say that's a great birthday gift to all of us! :D

I am SO SPOILED!!!

For a long time, Ryan and I have been talking about our plans for our front room.  For the last few years, those plans have always been, "When we eventually get the room done, we want to__________."  Now that the room is done, I've been finding it SO HARD to not want to complete ALL of our plans for that room!

Frankly, we cannot afford to furnish the room yet.  At least not fully.  But there are two things we have known we want FOR SURE and so this week I started looking on line for them.  Today I snagged some GREAT deals on e-bay and we are now the proud owners of this...





We also now own this...


That's a good pic of the print.  The print we got is double matted and framed but the pic of it isn't very good...



Truthfully, I started looking for a couch too... but I'm pretty sure that will have to wait for awhile.  Afterall, I'm not THAT spoiled! lol

We have a winner!

After much contemplation, Ryan finally came up with what he suggested as a nickname for our baby.

First I will say that I really enjoyed all of your suggestions so thank you very much for playing, lol. Prior to Ryan's suggestion, I admit I was leaning toward Heat Wave or Hot Stuff (I found them rather fun, appropriate, and clever.), I also really liked Summer Solstice (The definition for solstice is very appropriate and it just sounded peaceful and pleasant.).

But then Ryan brought up something that I can't believe I didn't think of before... that's right, The Lord of the Rings.

We pondered different names and decided on Eärendil. The reason why we decided on Eärendil... well, there are a few:

•Eärendil was part elf, part man. He was an ambassador of both Elves and Men and was able to help overthrow Morgoth, the first Dark Lord of Middle Earth. "Eärendil was not permitted to return to mortal lands, and his ship bearing the silmaril was set to sail in the heavens as a star, and as a sign of hope to dwellers in Middle Earth..." - Appendix A in the Return of the King, page 343. (By the way, Elrond is one of Eärendil's sons.)

•In one of Tolkien's books, The Silmarillion (chapter 24) says, speaking of Eärendil, ‘the looked for that cometh at unawares, the longed for that cometh beyond hope !….bearer of light before the sun and the moon…star in the darkness, jewel in the sunset, radiant in the morning!’

The phrase, "the longed for that cometh beyond hope" seems especially appropriate since we had pretty much given up much hope of having more children.

•Eärendil is an angelic word which means brightest of the angels sent to men above Middle-Earth.

•When the Lady Galadriel gives each member of the Fellowship a gift, she gives Frodo "The light of Eärendil's Star" (their most beloved star) and says, "May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out." Later Frodo uses the Light of Eärendil's star when he is left alone in the dark at Shelob's lair.

This has special meaning to me because of an experience I had that I am not going to share here. But I have written those words in my scriptures next to D&C 6:21, "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God... I am the light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not." (Italics added)

So, Eärendil himself is awesome. And his light brings hope to others. I relate his light to the Light of Christ. I want my children to have the Light of Christ reflecting in their lives. And that is why, this baby is now Eärendil.

(And while Eärendil was a "boy", I don't mind calling a girl Eärendil either. I think it can be pretty gender-neutral.)

Yes, I realize that nicknaming my baby after LOTR just provides more evidence of my "obsession", as some of you have called it. But, I've decided that I'm okay with that. lol

"Keep him blind to all else that moves."

Beginning late Halloween night, pumpkins began disappearing off of neighbors porches and were found smashed in the streets. I don't really understand why this is such a popular prank amongst kids in our neighborhood. We were fortunate that our jack-o-lanterns escaped injury.

Last night however, as I was leaving for mutual, I noticed that one of our pumpkins was no longer in it's proper place. This did not surprise me, it had been two days and I was glad they had lasted that long! What did surprise me (somewhat) was that both pumpkins had not been taken and the pumpkin left - was the "One Ring"! lol I smiled to myself knowing that the "One Ring" "ruled them all" and even the neighborhood punks recognized this!
Unfortunately, when I returned home from mutual, I found that while I was away the "One Ring" had been cast into "Mt. Doom" afterall. Tricksy hobbits! I knew I should have kept my "eye" on it!

One Ring to Rule Them All

Check out the most awesome carved pumpkin ever! 

I love, love, LOVE how it turned out!  It took me about two hours and no, I did not use a stencil!  I copied the lettering out of the book, practiced once on paper, then wrote it out on the pumpkin and carved it.  Am I good or what?



So, it goes around the whole pumpkin and is the actual lettering on the One Ring.  Because I am so in love with the end result, I'm gonna post pictures that show the entire thing.
 








*Content Sigh*  I love Lord of the Rings.

Anything for you, Babe!

Ryan just came up to me after fiddling on the computer for awhile and admitted that he was having a problem and needed my help. He was going through LOTR withdrawals.

Oh Baby, you have come to the right place!

I knew exactly what he needed. I ran to the DVDs and pulled out Return of the King. With the DVD player properly loaded and the ice cream freshly scooped, I'm ready to help my man out in his moment of need!

Hey, what are wives for?

My Fantasy Date

People always ask, "What is your dream date?"  (Well, they don't really ask me that often, I'm just saying in general.)  And I don't know about you, but I don't have any one "dream date".  It would depend on the night (or day), the mood I'm in, the mood Ryan's in (assuming that he's the one I'm on the date with, lol - I crack myself up... oh yeah...), stuff like that.

I mean, I love amusement parks - that is an awesome date!  I also love the ocean - that is an awesome date!  I love watching LOTR - that is an awesome date!  Do you get what I'm saying?

So, tonight I had an awesome date!  But this wasn't a "dream date", this was a total "fantasy date".  And that particular fantasy would be... The Lord of the Rings!!! 

Ryan and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary a little early by getting all dressed up (I wore my lovely, floor length gown.) and enjoying two wonderful hours at the Lord of the Rings Symphony.  Oh. My. Goodness.  I love the soundtracks - you all know that already.  But hearing it done live with the choirs, and soloists, and images, and lights, and the amazing orchestra!  LOVED IT!!!  The soundtracks will never be quite good enough after tonight.

The youth choir was awesome - they had kids as young as second graders!!!  That is just one year older than Acadia!  One of the soloists was a 13 year old boy - and he did really well!  I liked the main soloist alot - she has a powerful voice.  I prefer Annie Lennox for "Into the West", but other than that this soloist did great!  The only other part that I felt was completely outdone by the original was Aragorn's song in "Return of the King".  Yeah, Viggo is the man with that part.

They had images that aren't found on the DVDs or anywhere else as far as I know.  They were pretty and helped depict the part of the storyline that the music was from.  The lighting was cool.  There were themes.  Whenever there was music from the shire or about the hobbits, it was green.  If it was about elves, it was blue.  Mordor, wars, the balrog, etc were all red.  It would make the whole room that color. It was neat.
The music is just gorgeous!  It always has been - in the movie, in the soundtracks - but live, man you just cannot beat that.  It filled the room.  At times it was so loud!  But at times, it was like a whisper.  It just penetrated you. *sigh* 

Costumes were welcome.  I saw a hobbit and someone in a hooded cloak.  Ryan saw an elf.  The people behind us saw Wormtongue.  I have decided next time I am going to wear a really nice dress (but not a costume) but add my elf ears and my Evenstar necklace.  hehehe  I wish I had thought to do that tonight!  Oh well, like I said... next time... I hope it will be here next year too!

I have pictures to share.  The hall that the symphony plays at is beautiful! The lighting was hard to work with and the last picture was taken by an usher - it's a little blurry - sorry!

"Dark have been my dreams of late."

Not really, but that was the first "dream" quote I could think of.

Last night I dreamed I was in LOTR.

I was with Gandolf, Aragorn (*smile*), and Sam - so I was Frodo? We were on our way to Mordor. As we travelled, I looked to my right and saw two white cities, one smaller than the other. I asked if they were Osgiliath and Minas Tirith. I think it was Aragorn (*smile*) that said yes. I was surprised at how close they were to each other. I was thinking about how far apart they were in the movie, in my dream it was about half that distance. And the terrain was a little different. In my dream there were some bushes.

I was thinking to myself (or maybe I said it outloud?) that this was taking longer than watching the movies or reading the books. Even though we had horse, we were walking (at least I was) and I thought that even though I have been working out alot lately, I wasn't sure I could go on much longer. So I asked, "How long until we finish?" (I assume, finish destroying the ring.) Gandalf anwered, "Four hours." "Oh, so we will be done tonight!" I was surprised. Then Gandolf looked at his watch (By the way, it was on his right wrist and was black.) and said thoughtfully, "No, I think we will stop for the night somewhere and continue on in the morning."

I somehow knew we would be stopping for the night in Mordor. At first I was frightened. (Admit it, you would be too!) Then I remembered that "The closer we are to danger, the further we are from harm. That's the last thing they'll expect." - Thanks, Pip. Besides, I was with Gandolf and Aragorn (*smile*).

That was it. The only other thing I remember is that at times I felt like I was in a game somehow. Fun dream. But next time, I'd like to see Rivendell.

It had to be done

So I did it. And now my phone sings one of the themes of "The Lord of the Rings" whenever anyone calls me. Heeheehee, I love it! Anyone wanna call me? Don't be offended if I take awhile before I answer. ;)

Shadowfax

Great News!

Last night as Ryan and I were reading The Two Towers, we came to the part where Gandalf calls Shadowfax to him. While in the movie, Shadowfax is a white horse, in the book he is descibed more as silver. I had forgotten that!

Do you know what that means??? ... My car is kind of silver...Shadowfax is kind of silver... I CAN name my car Shadowfax! (Though I would still like to have a Brego at some point. But I just don't see any car being called Brego - that will have to be a pet.)

This is a happy day for me! Excuse me while I go ride Shadowfax...

It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life! - Bilbo Baggins

I started my day early, got up to make dinner and finish cleaning the house. I had a presidency meeting at 9 and when I arrived, there was donuts, muffins and fruit for breakfast. They also gave me a gift - a Pomegranate and Wildberry foot care set: scrub, lotion, fizzies, pumice stone, etc. It was very nice. Plus they gave me a pretty journal.

At 10:00 I left them (they continued on for a little while, but I had warned them that I could only stay one hour) and came rushing home. I found flowers that Acadia had chosen, out in a vase on the dining room table and Ryan making me my favorite breakfast (he didn't know about the goodies at the meeting) - which I had some of and let him finish because I was full!

Beckie and Jack arrived and Beckie admitted to me that she hadn't really wanted to come, but she was doing it for me. I was so anxious when we started. I wanted her to at least enjoy the movies. In the past she has said that she just doesn't like fantasy and sci-fi because it's "not real". Well, duh! Of course it's not real - it's a story! So I prefaced the movies with "Use your imagination", to which she exclaimed "I don't have one". I told her she better get one because we were starting...

We watched The Fellowship of the Rings and had to pause it a couple of times to do some brief explaining. Of course Jack and Ryan kind of kept going way too deep in the explanations and then argued a bit about the details of things that were not really important for this part of the story. But for the most part, it went smoothly. At the end of the first movie, I was so happy to hear Beckie say, "I'm actually finding this entertaining."

HOORAY!!! Beckie is one of the neatest ladies you'd ever meet. She is so nice, very fun, and really the only flaw I've found in her is that she didn't like LOTR. I could not understand how one of my best friends could not like LOTR. Well, it turned out she had never read the books or seen the movies! How could she really know whether or not she liked them? This is what instigated our little LOTR marathon for my birthday. At one point, awhile back I mentioned that someday I wanted her to watch them with me and as my birthday approached, I proclaimed that the only thing I wanted was to watch them with her. So, she said she would.

She came with an "open mind" and even though she wasn't looking forward to it, she found herself enjoying it! So we put in The Two Towers... I love that movie... By the end of this one, she admitted that she found The Two Towers even more entertaining (of course, who couldn't?) and that she did want to see the third one! However, it was already getting late and we were just going to have to do it another day. So Friday they are coming back to see the final movie.

Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles! Beckie liked LOTR. Now, she isn't going to want to watch them repeatedly, and I can live with that. I'm just so glad she didn't hate them and find today extremely painful!

We had some ice cream cake (that Cadi had chosen) and opened a couple presents before they left. Ryan's big gift for me was a Foot Soother Elite, a robotic foot massage. 1) It is sooo cool! And it feels very good! But 2) when I found out how much he spent I decided that I didn't think it was that cool or felt that good. Ryan half expected that, but he figured if the massager was "heaven" then it would be worth it. It was an incredibly thoughtful gift, but the massager we have already feels just as good when I use it on my feet. So we're going to return it and get the stereo we want for the minivan instead. I just couldn't see spending that much money on something when there were other things I'd rather spend that much money on more. Especially when money is a little tight.

Oh, btw... Acadia went to swimming lessons with the neighbor, then stayed and played at their house most of the day. When she came home, there was less than an hour left of The Two Towers and Ryan and I took turns (well, it was mostly Ryan) with her in our bedroom letting her watch some shows in there. Then she came out when the movie was done. She was giving out great cuddles to the birthday girl, which was very sweet. She isn't usually very cuddly anymore, now that she's older. So that was a super nice bonus!

So the end of my first day "down hill" (as everyone kept telling me), was pretty fun! I always LOVE watching LOTR, and I got to see my best friend enjoy it too! Who could ask for more?

My dog thinks he's a hobbit.

I went into the kitchen and Simon was begging to be fed (as usual). I reminded him that he had already been fed. He looked at me and I could just hear him thinking, "Yes, I've had one feeding, but what about second feeding?"

Sorry dog, you're not a hobbit.

I'm starting to think you may be right...

 

You Know You're Addicted to LotR When...

You start quoting from the movie as part of regular conversation.   - Only sometimes... You like to tell your mom that you are hungry by quoting: "Merry, I'm hungry." You continually ask your parents for second breakfast. All the staff at your local cinema knows you by your first name and even before you open your mouth to speak, they say "Ticket for 'Fellowship of The Ring?'" - No, but there are some people who when they see me talking, know to assume it is about LOTR. You hate Burger King food, butyou ate nothing else for a month to get the toys. - I missed toys?!?  When did Burger King have LOTR toys???  I want some! You've crammed up your computer's memory by downloading every single screensaver from www.LordoftheRings.net - hehehe, not "every single" one... just a few. You refer to parts of your town as parts of Middle-Earth.  - I think I may have done this once - but only once! You sometimes let your hair go curly after a wash, and then run around the house in bare feet yelling "I'm a hobbit!" - LOL, No, but that sounds SO FUNNY! You hate it when Elves are only thought of as 'Santa's little helpers' and have tried to explain the difference between Santa-elves and Syrian Elves to your 5-year old cousins.  - Not 5 year old cousins, but some adults. You refer to regular elephants as oliphaunts. - Guilty While buttering a piece of bread, you suddenly think of Bilbo (remember when he was talking to Gandalf about feeling tired) saying that he felt 'like butter spread over too much bread.' - Or more often refer to myself as feeling "like butter spread over too much bread." You renamed your car the Wraith-mobile.   - Actually, I prefer Shadowfax.  But my car isn't white and that is the only reason shy I haven't actually called it Shadowfax.  But we did name our computer after something on LOTR. You have a replica of The One Ring. - Not one, Try 4! You are beginning to resemble a panda due to the fact that you've stayed up until 2 am reading and re-reading the great books. - Ahem, Uh actually it was only 1 am last night. You actually managed to read the Silmarillion without being tempted to give up on this whole middle earth malarkey.  - Does getting it read to me count? You now have a lifetime fear of black horses! - No, but when I see something resembling what others would think of as a Grim Reaper, I think RingWraith instead. You haven't removed the soundtrack from your CD player since you bought it.  - LOL, So incredibly true!!! You have begun calling your husband / wife / girlfriend/ boyfriend / animal or kid my precioussss. - It's been known to happen. You happily traveled over an hour to the next town to see "it" because that theater has a better sound system than the one 5 minutes down the road. - Well, Ryan did that when we lived in Massachusetts, but it wasn't quite an hour.  Here, we just drove to the next theater over because it is a nice one.  But now watching it at home, the surround sound is a MUST! You have called every theatrical or specialty makeup company in town looking for pointy ear or hairy feet prosthetics. - Yep, and the glue to attach them with!  (Party City had them.) You've worn your plastic "one ring" that came on your Legolas bookmark so much the gold is completely worn off. -No, I only wear the "one ring" while playing LOTR Trivia, LOTR Monopoly, or LOTR Risk. Single ads with the description," short plump and big hairy feet" seem much more appealing. No, but describing my hubby as a "Ranger from the North" is a very good thing. You know The LoTR history better then your family history. - Sad, but probably true. You have a mouse named Frodo, a bird named Gollum, and a dog named Gandalf. And that cat that keeps coming around to be petted is Legolas. - No, we had Simon before LOTR movies were made, however the next pet... Whenever something goes wrong, it's Sauron's fault. - Now that is absurd!  Sometimes it's that "Fool of a Took"'s fault! You know everything about Middle Earth geography, but you can't get someone from your house to the ice cream parlor. Now the nearest movie theater, that is a different story. - "Don't be hasty!" - I can always find a way to the nearest ice cream parlor!!! You have developed your own special Tolkien handwriting. "A firm, flowing script..." - I wish my handwriting was that nice. Words like "Yrch" make sense to you. - Those filthy maggots! You've become strangely obsessed with mushrooms. - Still not "obsessed" with mushrooms, but I confess when I see them I think of hobbits. Whenever you close a door, you say "They have a cave troll!" - Haha, just watched that scene last night! When you come to a dead end you're still convinced that the road goes ever on and on. - And think in my head, "If you do not find a way, no one will." You change your name to a Tolkien character and seriously consider naming your children after LOTR characters. -Don't you think Arwen is a pretty name??? Every time you see birds in the sky you have the urge to say "Fly you fools!" - Heehee, guilty again. When someone knocks on your door you grab them, pull them inside and ask "Are you frightend?... Not nearly frightend enough!" - Not when they knock on my door.  But that saying has crossed my mind in dealing with some people. You cannot see a beer without blurting out "It comes in pints? I'm getting one!" - Not a beer, but have said that refering to other things.  I think ice cream was one of them. You just can't keep yourself from saying "nobody tosses a Dwarf" at inappropriate moments. - I have totally said this! A shadow and a threat is growing in your mind. - Heehee You now referring to your friends as your 'Fellowship' and insist that you have epic adventures. - I'm still trying to recruit my friend to the "Fellowship". You stand in the doorway and tell your cat that he 'Can not pass'. - I have also said this! You wash your face in the sink and expect to see things that are, that have been or that will be.- LOL, and unfortunately it's mostly what "will be". Your wedding band has started to weigh you down with it's evil powers. -  No, I rather think of my wedding ring more like Galadriel's ring of power, Nenya. Spending $35 at the grocery store seems expensive but its Perfectly fine to spend $70 on the Hardcover LOTR book with Alan Lee Illustrations. - Yes, I would like a nice edition of LOTR - but will keep reading the paperback copies so I don't wear out the nice one! You face every difficult decision with the thought "now what would Gandalf advise me to do?" - Not every time.  But often think of the great line he gave Frodo when he (Frodo) said he wished he didn't have to go through what he was facing. "So do all who live to see such evil times.  But it is not for them to decide.  All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given us." You know what Entmoot, Ent draught, or an Ent is for that matter - And occasionally speak Entish!  It's great fun, you should try it! You've gained 20 pounds because you've started eating a "Second Breakfast" - Uh, yeah that's the reason! lol  No, but when I do eat in the middle of the day I tell myself it is only "second breakfast". You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends who are addicted to Lord of the Rings.

Okay, and I have a few more to add - I'm guilty to all of the following (lol)...

You've told someone something in confidence and said, "Keep it secret.  Keep it safe."
You've purchased a shirt for your husband that says, "Not all who wander are lost."
You wish you could invite Gandalf to your Fourth of July celebration - he has the best fireworks!
When someone makes you mad, you silently tell them to, "Go now, and die in what way seems best to you."
When you work out on the stairmill at the gym, you imagine you are climbing the winding stair up to Shelob's lair.
Whenever you have stick or other long object in your hand, you dramatically wield it like a sword - the way Aragorn does when he charges into an army of orcs.
You sometimes ask people what their "elf eyes see".
At dinnertime you often say, "Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys!"

What makes today special?

Does anyone know? Okay then, I'll tell you.

Nine years ago today, Ryan and I (along with one of my best friends, Sarah) went to the Oakland Temple to receive our own endowments! To be honest, I don't remember that much. Most of what I remember is preparing for it and then the amazing feeling I had afterwards.

I remember bearing my testimony in church the following Sunday and describing how I felt - like I had been wrapped up in a big, soft, warm blanket.

It's interesting that this last Sunday I was asked by our Mia Maids teacher to substitute teach. The lesson was on the temple endowment and how to prepare to enter the temple. It was a great reminder for me.

I'll share with you one of the object lessons I used...

The Celestial Kingdom is like Minas Tirith. For those of you who are not familiar with LOTR, Minas Tirith or The White City is a beautiful (white) city built into the side of a mountain. It is made up of seven levels. You enter at the base and at the top you would find the Steward of Gondor (or at the end of LOTR, you would find the King of Gondor).

In order to enter the city, we must be baptized. But that really just gets us in the door. If we desire to reside where the Steward or King (or Heavenly Father) lives there are other ordinances that have to take place as well. As we make covenants and receive these ordinances we are able to be closer to Heavenly Father, just like moving up to higher levels in the city will take you closer to the Steward or King.

It isn't a perfect example - there aren't seven ordinances like the seven levels of Minis Tirath, but the idea was to try to help the girls understand why the endowment and other ordinances (like Sealings) are so important. They know that they needed to be baptized in order to enter the Celestial Kingdom, but did they realize that there are different levels of glory within the Celestial Kingdom and that baptism alone is not enough to reach our ultimate goal in returning to live with our Heavenly Father?

Well, I hope that it helped them to understand a little better why we need temples and how they help us reach our goal. And if it didn't, at least I got to draw a picture of Minis Tirath in church! lol

"I feel I need a holiday..."

At risk of having to explain myself again, I am posting my answers to today's Friday Five...

1. You have the summer and plenty of money to travel abroad. Where all would you go? Middle Earth

2. What foods would you be sure you got to eat? I'm interested in trying Lembas bread. I hear that the hobbits grow great pipeweed there, but I don't smoke. Although, they also rave about their strawberries and cream, and you know that is right up my alley!!!

3. What landmarks would you be sure you got to see? Definitely Rivendell (It is so beautiful there!), Bag End (I wanna check and see for myself if Bilbo stashed some treasure in the tunnels.), Rohan (Though admittedly, that is mostly because I want to hear the music that always plays there - as if by magic.), I am tempted to visit Fangorn Forest to have a drink of their water (I've always wished I was just a little bit taller.), and of course Minas Tirith (Afterall, that is where one would find the King of Gondor!)

4. What airline would you use? It is my understanding that the best way to travel by air in Middle Earth is by eagles.

5. Would your knowledge of other languages influence where you went? (i.e. would you be more likely to go to France if you spoke French?) Fortunately though I don't know much Elvish (and this is the one language I should really like to speak in Middle Earth), they do speak English. Maybe I'll pick up a little of their language while I'm there.