Kristina has been counting down for this day for weeks. Yesterday, she told me it was going to be the best day ever. So far, as she listens to her new ipod shuffle, it appears to be. Happy Birthday Kristina! We're glad you're part of our family.
Mitch challenged me to post the 4th photo from the 4th folder on my computer. The problem is that I have roughly 12,000 photos on my computer in various folders embedded within folders. That made this challenge a little harder than it sounded. Where do I start? So I decided to just start at the base of my files. And here was the photo I found.
For Christian's 8th birthday, Dean, my dad and my brother, Shawn, took Christian, his friend, Austin, and Spencer to an air show at Hill Air Force Base. This photo was taken there. I love the fact that they are trying to appear so tough and cool. That's my Christian, always cool, and Spencer, always looking up to him. And they've all been born with that love of airplanes that came from both the Shupe and Moffitt side of the family.
This was a fun trip down memory lane. And now, I'm supposed to challenge four of you. So I challenge Becky, Jodi L, Jody F and Keri to do the same. Can't wait to see what you post.
Yesterday was an amazing day. Kristina was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And then later in the day, she was sealed to our family for time and all eternity. It's hard to describe what an amazing day it was but it feels like the culmination of a very long and difficult journey. The bottom line is that Kristina was meant to be a part of our family and we are so glad that is now official, not just in this life, but in the next.
Thanks so much to the missionaries, Elder Lanier and Elder Holcomb, who taught her the Gospel discussions, to Dustin Steel who acted as our Russian interpreter during the discussions, to his wife Christina, who patiently sat through the discussions as well, and to all of our family who supported us through this process, especially our kids who put up with a lot.
My wonderful friend, Colette, took pictures at the temple yesterday and I hope to share some of those on this blog soon. But here are some for now of the wonderful day.
Have you ever seen the movie, Matilda? Near the beginning, a tiny Matilda discovers the library. And the sweetest little old lady librarian helps her find books and tells her that she can get her own library card. That little old lady is who I aspire to be when I grow up.
Okay, well, I don't want to be old before my time but I have wanted to be a librarian for a long time. I have loved books and words for as long as I can remember and a job that surrounds me with books is sheer heaven. As a second grader, I got to assist Mrs. Matthews, the red haired feisty librarian of Dworshak Elementary, and I loved it. When I went to college, I studied Comparative Literature, not a bad choice for a librarian want to be. But then, the need to make money got in the way of my career choice and so, after graduating, I went to work in the computer industry. I briefly got back on track when I started a masters in Library Science at BYU. However, BYU decided to close their program and so I had to make a choice. Take a promotion at work with more money, or cut my hours way back or quit to finish in time. The need for money won out. Three classes into my masters, I was finished.
So now, 16 years later, I'm taking a step back on track. I applied for and got a library clerk position at the new Highland City library. It's a very small library right now, a long way from the Library of Congress, but hey, it's great. I'm in my second week and I'm doing exactly what I've always wanted to do. Putter around the library helping little kids find books that will hopefully inspire them. And I've actually sent off some inquiries to schools regarding online Masters in Library Science programs.
Now of course, libraries are not always fun and games. My background in customer service (thank you WordPerfect and Lexis-Nexis) has me well equipped to deal with those. I am prepared for patrons such as these.
I really hope Cookie Monster shows up at the library on my shift.
(To see a better quality version of this video with a little more dialogue at the end, go to this link--I just wasn't able to embed that version).
I don't really get into football. I don't mind watching it once in a while, I like an exciting game, but I don't have a favorite team and when the Super Bowl comes on, I can take it or leave it. But the commercials..., well, I do like a funny commercial. However, the last couple of years the commercials have left me disappointed. This year's didn't thrill me too much either except for that Etrade baby. The Etrade baby has been a favorite of Christian's and mine long before the Super Bowl. And the new commercials did not disappoint. So if you want a good laugh, or at least a chuckle, check out www.etrade.com/baby and watch the various funnies. Here's my favorite that wasn't shown during the Super Bowl. I love the line "I want to punch the economy in the face."
It's been a cold, snowy winter here in Utah. And after watching some little birds foraging in the Target parking lot, I just couldn't resist trying to ease their hardship. So I picked up an inexpensive bird feeder and a bag of bird feed. (I sought the advice of a cute little elderly couple in Target who also believe in feeding the birds). I hurried home with my bird feeder, told the kids what we were going to do and proceeded to fill it up with bird seed and hang it in my tree. And then I waited for the hungry little birdies to come and feast.
And I waited. And I waited. And after two days and no birds, I started to feel sad.
And then, one little bird found my feeder. And he told his friends. And they told their friends. And soon, my lonely little feeder became quite a popular spot. And this brings me joy. I love to watch out my window to see the birds feasting. So do Lucy and Ethel, my cats. They would love to share in the feast, except that really would be sad for the little birds.
We had a woodpecker at the feeder the other day. I wish I had a picture for you but by the time I grabbed my camera, switched to my zoom lens and got ready to take the picture, he had gone his merry way.
So if you want some cheap entertainment and a simple way to feel like you're doing some good in the world, Target has a pretty good selection of bird feeders. I just wish bird seed was only tuppence a bag.
I'm a crazy busy full time working mom of four. I'm a Close to My Heart consultant, wanna be librarian, who is never happier than when creating, reminiscing or reading. So welcome to my little corner of the world where I'll share with you what I do in my little bit of spare time.
