Afghanistan: The Beauty That Snuck Up On Me (CNN)

Click the link below to see a really cool slideshow of the infamous country.


http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/12/afghanistan.baxter.slideshow/index.html

A Lot...

...has been happening lately! It's been hard for me to keep up. I guess I'll start with the beach trip since that happened the longest ago, and I am OCD and like to keep things in chronological order.

For Amanda's birthday (which was conference weekend...yes that long ago!), a bunch of us girls celebrated by going to the beach! We rented a splendid hotel room and had a wonderful time away from work, family, and responsibility. We got there pretty late Friday night and practically crashed as soon as we got there. Well, I crashed. I'm pretty sure the other girls stayed up giggling the whole night. I awoke and had a LOVELY run on the beach. Running on sand is a bit challenging, but the views and the sound of the waves makes it all worth it. Later that day, between conference sessions, we perused the local town. Cannon Beach is a BEAUTIFUL beach town and I loved just walking around it. We ate a wonderful lunch, saw glass blowers, visited the best candy shop EVER, ate the best caramel apple I have ever had, bought shells, window shopped, and laughed the whole time. It was fabulous. We then headed to Indian Beach I'm sure you've seen it before, either in the movies GOONIES or TWILIGHT. It is SO beautiful. We got there right in time to watch the sunset. It was simply breathe taking. We finished the day with an AWESOME dinner and a restaurant fit for a lumberjack. All in all, it was an amazing trip. I love the Oregon coast. I can't get enough of it.

Dark Blue

Something you may or may not know about me is that I am a song of the week kind of girl. At work all day I usually listen to Pandora and through that wonderful portal to musicland, I usual find at least one new song a week that I fall in love with. When I find a song that movies me, makes me want to dance, or speaks to me in some way, I usually want to listen to it over and over for about a week. Hence, I am a song of the week kind of girl. So, anyway, here's this week's song--Dark Blue by Jack's Mannequin. I can't help but dance when this comes on! Does it make you want to dance too?

Masochist

Last night I had the most delicious ice cream bar--vanilla ice cream, and dipped in smooth chocolate and covered with yummy almond chunks.

And then...

I tried on swimsuits.

Talk about self inflicted torture.

The Gift of Easter

My heart is full. My cup runneth over. I woke up this morning hearing the wind rustle through the blooming trees and the birds chirping in their nests. It is Easter. What a special day!

It is this day 2009 years ago that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, walked out of the garden tomb and broke the bands of death, that we may all live again. Friends, I hope you know that I have a firm testimony of the divinity and mission of Jesus Christ. His is the Savior of all mankind. He came to this earth for a special purpose. He came to ransom us from the fall, to provide a way that we could repent and overcome our own imperfections that we might live again with God the Father. He suffered the pains of sin in Gethsemane, alone, bleeding from every pore. He was judged of men, scoffed and scorned, though he had done no wrong. He was nailed to the cross, suffering even more. And when it was enough, he died. For three days his body lay in a mountain tomb. However, that would not be its final resting place. As angels rolled the stone of the tomb back, he arose, resurrected and glorified. He lives! With His resurrection he broke the bands of death, that in due time all men and women may rise again. That weekend 2009 years ago, Jesus Christ won the battle over sin and death, and provided a way in which we can overcome them too.

Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind, the Redeemer of the world, the Son of the living God. He lives and loves us. May we all, accept the gift that he has given. May we repent of our weaknesses and sins and come unto Him that we may live with the Father and the Son again.

This is my testimony and I bear it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Ms. Chinny

When I was at the Blair's last week, we had a good time with chin puppets. Basically you look at the mouth upsidedown and the chin is the nose. Eliza was especially good at it. We laughed for a good hour. Hooray for cheap entertainment!

Ms. Chinny

Can you see it?

Adding More To The Mix

Just more to choose from.

My Dad Works Very Hard

I came into work one morning last week to find this:

My Mom Can't Tell a Story Sitting Down

Cousins!

I have been blessed, not only with amazing siblings, but with incredible cousins as well. I have 30 cousins on my Mom's side. That means family parties are always noisy and a lot of fun! One of the best things about getting older for me is that my cousins get older too. This last January, while I was back in Sacramento for my Grandmother's funeral, I got to spend some time with my cousins. I am constantly impressed with how smart, beautiful, and fun they are!

This is my cousin Rachel Stapp and I. She's up at BYU-I studying art and photography. I love this girl and can always count on her for a laugh!

While in Sacramento, a bunch of us "older" girl cousins went out for lunch at Mimi's Cafe. Although the waiter was horrible, we had a great time laughing and reminiscing. From left to right: Allie Harris, Cecily Harris, Rachel Stapp, Katie Jensen, Julia Stapp, Ciara Jensen, and me.

Ciara & I.

Katie & Julia.

Allie & Rachel.

I am SO happy that I got to spend some time with my cousin Sarina. It had been awhile since we had both gotten together and it was so great to catch up. She has the cutest little kids!

Rachel, Julia, Me, Allie, & Cecily after church.

Now here come the boys (and a few girls too). You've got Alex Stapp, Samuel Stapp, Liam Jensen, Adam Harris, David Jensen, Nathan Harris, Kelly Jensen, Dana Jensen, and Dane Jensen.

These are some of the most talented girls I know! Rebekah & Eliza Blair.

And we can't forget Tyler Blair! He's such a cutie!