Random thoughts & stuff I'm thankful for

My mind has been occupied lately with random thoughts and feelings which I thought I might share with you, my loyal readers.

I recently visited my close friends, Scott & Lisa Russell, who live in Oregon. Their little daughter Sage (15 months old) is such a joy to be around. My heart swells just thinking about her. She is such a sweet and funny girl. I think that every time she hugged or kissed me my biological clock started ticking faster!

I have been thinking about love & companionship recently. We can partly blame the new Twilight movie and the book which I just had to re-read after seeing the movie. So I have been in the mood to watch all these sappy love stories, except after they end I am all irritated and agitated. Sometimes being single really sucks. (Pause here for all my married/engaged friends to smile and think about how lucky they are. Gag!)

Of course, I am completely aware that I am not going to find my true love by sitting at home watching my TiVo. Although they just added a new feature where I can order Domino's pizza from from TiVo so perhaps the "Order a Date" feature is next. Hmm, maybe if I upgrade to TiVo HD. . . .

Aside from still being single (for which I am only occasionally grateful for, usually when I think about dirty diapers, crying children and a husband who whines about not being able to find the mustard) I do have a lot in my life to be grateful for. On Thanksgiving eve, my mom asked my dad and I to share some of the things we were thankful for. It was a nice exercise and ever since then random things that I am grateful for have been popping up in my head. I'll share a few here below.

I'm grateful that the "Amanda show" is finally over. I have been to the doctor a lot lately trying to resolve some health issues (nothing super serious). I am so sick of all the poking and prodding and being half naked in a cold sterile room. The curtain is definitely ready to close on this show.

I'm grateful for days off when I can spend time with family and friends. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of turkey and pie. I also had a nice amount of alone time which I spent reading and just hanging out in my room. Sometimes it is nice to have some time for yourself. I'm grateful to my family for allowing me that time.

I'm grateful to my mother for cooking a turkey just for me. We went out to eat this year for Thanksgiving (a first for me) but my mom still cooked a turkey so I could have leftovers. She's the best!

I have many many more things that I am grateful for. However I don't want to fill up my entire blog so I'll stop for now.

Amanda is glad her father came over tonight for pie!

My fellow Americans,

Okay I have no idea why I felt like saying that! Sorry it has been a while since my last blog. I've been in Oregon visiting some dear friends. I'll post a blog with my adventures there shortly. In the meantime, please enjoy this letter which was written by a temple worker in LA following their recent problems:

My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders:

My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a Temple
ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday. Today, I had the privilege of translating sister Martz-the new assistant Matron's-message during our devotional.

She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have
gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house". She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant. After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop Its work.

The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of
those attending the Temple by closing the gates. The assistant Matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency's summons and patroled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been
there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would.

On Thursday, November 13th, sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room. Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease.

Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room
with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions non stop while the Temple was
closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike. Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was
reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session. The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple. Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...".

But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: " The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your presidency." The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting
the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks .
One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the mormons before said " I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!".

I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead. I can only add my own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe" He has said, and also " What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."

I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer.

Your sister in Christ,
Patricia H. Arnazzi

Amanda is proud to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

New Tires

Right now you might be wondering if I am actually going to blog about my tires. Well, get ready because I am! It was a very big purchase and this is my first set of brand new tires.

I bought (4) Goodyear Assurance Tripletread tires this Saturday. They are supposed to be the best all season tires and are rated #1 by Consumer Reports.

Three unique tread zones: Handles any weather condition.

•Ice Zone with interlocking tread: Gripping power on icy or slick roads.

•Water Zone with deeply carved Aquachutes: Propels water away from tread for excellent wet traction.

•Outer Dry Zone with tread reinforcement: Confident handling around curves, potholes, unexpected debris.

Okay now that I have completely bored you by talking about my tires, I'll tell you some of the places that I plan to check out with my new tires and what I think they might see (if tires could talk)

Wal-Mart (Not the most exciting journey! I'll probably spend most of my time browsing the dvd section and checking out new foods. My tires will see a variety of people - some classy and some not so class and quite possibly gassy)

See's Candy (I have a gift certificate I have to redeem. Here the tires might see chocolate addicts hurrying to their cars in order to stuff their faces with chocolate)

DSW (because I need some new winter shoes - my new tires will probably see a lot of this place and lots of trendy shoes)

Megaplex at the District (I love this theater. My tires will most likely see lots of stupid teenagers trying to act cool for each other)

I'm sure I'll go lots of other places but I can't think of them right now. If you have any suggestions for me and my new tires to check out - post it in Comments.

Amanda is a redhead now (copper & burgandy-ish).

Confessions, part 2

I think Grace Kelly is one of the most beautiful, elegant, and talented stars ever.

I really want to take a nap right now. . .and I just did!

I love the Charleston Chews candy bar.

When I was younger, one of my favorite cartoons was a show called Jem.

I really like all the High School Musical movies.

I have a "Hello Kitty" poster in my room.

I like homemade pizza with broccoli on it.

I enjoy the musical stylings of Captain & Teneille.

Amanda is sick so she is going to take another nap.