Good Samaritans?

Today in Seminary we acted out the story of the Good Samaritan. I let my kids dress up in costumes and do their own interpretation of the scriptural account. I think they had the most fun beating up the man on the road with ping pong paddles. Hey, at least they were awake!

It's like working in Disneyland

On Saturday we had a single adult Halloween party. One of the ladies brought her 4 year old daughter who was dressed up like a princess. I also happened to be dressed like a princess (using an old bridesmaid dress that comes in handy at Halloween.) This little girl was in awe of me and my costume. She stared at me and kept hugging me. Her mom asked if she could have her picture taken with me and I, of course, said yes. Then I totally got into the princess role and milked it for all it was worth. The little girl was in awe of my princess act.

Then in walked my friend (also Amy) dressed up as Snow White. Well, that was the icing on the cake for this little girl. Turns out there were 3 princesses at the party and I'm pretty sure we just saved this little girl's mother from a $1000 trip to Disneyland to have princess encounters. It's as close as I'll ever come to working as a Disney princess at my age.

So we took a photo of all the princesses...














And here are some of my non-royalty friends...

Radiant Reds

I just couldn't pass up taking a photo of the radiant red leaves outside my apartment complex. I am sure New England leaves are beautiful but the mile high mountain reds, yellows and oranges are spectacular.

My Colorado tv debut

Want to see me on the news in Colorado? Click here for the Fox News video. (BTW...I don't normally answer phones in the phone bank but I ultimately supervise that operation so when the media came, I was there on phones.) You have to click on the video link on the sidebar for it come up.

It finally came!

I got my diploma in the mail today. It's official. For some reason I am so paranoid I kept thinking that they were going to find a reason not to give it to me. Now it's mine, all mine!

I also bought a new camera today because mine was old and crappy. I think the freezing cold of Albania really did it in because it has never been the same since. Clearly I hadn't set the date and time when I took this photo.

Workdays, Weddings and Winter

Today I got a nice break from my 15 hour Saturday workdays. I got to attend my friend Ketie's wedding. I met Ketie at a singles activity right after I got back from Albania a year and a half ago. I heard her telling someone where her country is located and of course I went running over to say that I'd just come back from there. We have been friends ever since. Ketie and her son Jimmy were baptized into the LDS church in June 2007. She is a wonderful mom and a very caring friend.

David is from the Czech Republic. He treats Ketie and Jimmy so well. I am so happy for them. Ketie's ward put on a fabulous wedding and lunch. (I also attended a shower for her last week.) It's really wonderful to see a ward rally around one of the new members and really support her. Ketie's sister came from Albania for the event. I got to bust out the 3 or so Albanian words that I know--yes, good and thank you. I'm sure she was either really impressed or wondered what I might be thanking her for.

After the wedding I had to go back to work. During the drive home at 10:30 p.m. I saw snowflakes! It's supposed to snow in the city tonight and tomorrow. Can't say I really follow the weather much anymore since I am usually cooped up in my office these days.

Oh the Irony

Today in seminary we were talking about when Christ was suffering in the garden of Gethsemane and he asked his apostles to wait for him. Instead of waiting and watching, they fell asleep. He then asked them something like, "could you not watch with me one hour?"

When I looked up from my scriptures, 5 out of 7 of my students were sleeping. Seemed like a perfect time to draw some kind of parallel--can you not stay awake for 45 minutes in seminary while your teacher is doing every song and dance she knows to keep you entertained? Probably not the most Christian way to teach the scriptures but some of them actually opened their eyes for a moment while I pointed out the irony.

"Whatever it is, it's not enough"

That's what I said to my boss when she handed me my paycheck today. It's only Wednesday and I've already worked more than 40 hours. A little bit bitter on payday, are we? YES!