A Dream

Pregnancy has a lot of strange things that go along with it, and one of those seems to be odd dreams.

This weekend I dreamed that Dennis the Menace zipped me into a large suitcase so that I could be smuggled onto a 12hr plane flight. It was very uncomfortable in there.

Weird.

Enjoying Nature

We were at Costco the other day perusing the book section after our weekly shopping trip when Nate pointed out a book he thought I'd be interested in. We'd never heard of it before, but it was about someone who hiked the Appalachian trail, which I think is super cool. It talked about his experiences on the trail and the people he met, etc.

After I investigated the book further, I decided that this one wasn't for me. But, just as I was about to put it back a quote on the cover caught my eye.

"The best way of escaping into nature is to read a book like A Walk in the Woods..." said a reviewer from the NY Times.

That's funny, I thought the best way to escape into nature would be to actually get into nature, not read about someone else doing it.

Nate also just mentioned a resource he saw at the baby store today. A dvd about how kids need to play outside more. Ironic?

While it's true I believe we should all be getting ourselves outside more, we don't need to sit around inside reading up on the literature or watching dvds about it first. Just open your door and go outside, enjoy the sun, explore something!

Happy spring!

Koko Head Crater

This is Koko Head.Before I get started, I need to throw in a disclaimer or two: 1. I am a lazy blogger and I don't necessarily post things in a timely manner. 2. This hike was done last October, now people won't even let me stack my own chair at church. 3. It is still a great hike. That is all.

The trail to the top of Koko Head is a little railroad track that goes straight up the side. This photo was taken at the beginning of the climb.




This is the only photo I took on the way up because I was too busy huffing and puffing to take pictures. This is the beautiful east coast of Oahu.

I think this is looking to the north east from the top.

If you look carefully, on the horizon you can see Moloka'i, the next island to the east.




Looking south-ish to Hanauma Bay.




Closer shot of Hanauma Bay - great snorkeling. When you all come to visit, we'll take you.




Looking south-westish towards Honolulu and Diamond Head.




I'm not sure which direction this one was, but I like it anyway.

Great Expectations

Expecting it to rain.

Expecting company.

Expecting to have to eat again soon.

Expecting to gain weight.

Expecting something small.

Expecting big changes.

And expecting one more thing...... a baby!

The Quest for Immortality

For thousands of years, men have sought for immortality. People have gone on perilous quests to find the fountain of youth; alchemists dedicate lives of study to finding the Philosopher's Stone and making an elixir of life. Across the world there are examples of people erecting monuments of stone to themselves in order to obtain lasting greatness. Even today, people spend millions of dollars every year on creams, dyes, and surgeries to make themselves younger looking. We seek to avoid aging and death at all costs.

Where is the solution for mankind's immortality? The Lord has said, "For behold, this is my work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) Through the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, every person who has ever lived on this earth will one day live forever. What an amazing gift Christ offers to us!

"O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect." (2 Nephi 9:13,15)

What is the catch? What do we have to do to obtain this great gift? Nothing. Well, almost nothing. Before we become immortal beings we must die. It seems counterintuitive, doesn't it? But that's the way it works. Over and over again in the scriptures Christ teaches us that "whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt. 16:25, see also Matt. 10:39, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, Luke 17:33, John 12:25 )

This is the way of the Lord. It is true in this practical sense, that we all must die before we are resurrected and become immortal. But it also is true in a deeper, spiritual sense: when we willingly give our lives to the service of Jesus Christ and his gospel, He will return unto us much more than we have ever sacrificed for Him.

The Lord asks but little from us, only that we follow him. "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?" (2 Nephi 31:10-21, see also Matt. 4:19) In return He promises eternal life (2 Nephi 31:20), peace (Isaiah 48:18, John 14:27) and joy (3 Nephi 28:10).

Why would Christ offer all of this to us? Because He loves us (Alma 26:15, John 3:16).

Halloween

Here are our costumes for Halloween this year. We helped with the ward's trunk-or-treat activity and had a great time.

I was a referee and Nate went as a tourist. His costume was awesome. Note the aloha shirt with swim trunks, camera across the shoulder, and long dark socks with Crocs.


Here you can also see the bus map in his shirt pocket. Awesome.

More posts to come this week. Check back!

Deb vs. Ants

My home has become a battlefield. The invasion started gradually, with only one or two scouts showing up and poking around. No big deal. And so I was slow to begin planning my counter-attack. Now if I'm not on my guard,

THE ANTS ARE EVERYWHERE!

Just when I think I've got them beat and I spray the dickens out of their little path with bug killer, they reappear from another direction with double the forces! Today I discovered that the ones on the bathroom counter came all the way from the kitchen. What are they eating in there, facewash?