Along the path...

I recently received an email from the Green Smoothie Girl : Today we continue debunking the mainstream media positions that you may have believed for a lifetime but simply aren't true. This one is widely believed by the vast majority of Americans: Myth #8: "Milk and dairy build strong bones."The most powerful industry in America is the dairy industry, earning over $50 billion and spending over $200 million annually to spread the lie that dairy products nutrition is necessary for human children's health. They're smart enough to target mothers (and they started, very successfully, with our grandmothers), because they can create habits for life if a child is drinking cow's milk at an early age. What are your thoughts?

If you haven't already heard about Proposition 8 , you probably will in the upcoming weeks. The people of California voted in March 2000 that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California.” Because four activist judges in San Francisco overturned the people’s vote, Proposition 8 will be on the California Ballot this November. California's outcome will affect the decisions of other states. “Yes” to Proposition 8, (1) Restores the definition of marriage to what the vast majority of California voters already approved, (2) Overturns the decision made by the four activist judges who overwrote the people’s vote, and (3) Protects what children are taught in public schools about “same-sex marriage” being the same as traditional marriage, and prevents other consequences to Californians who will be forced to not just be tolerant of gay lifestyles, but face mandatory compliance regardless of their personal beliefs. The First Presidency of the Church of Je...

living the Gospel, going to girls' camp, getting along... Simpson Clip - Eternal Happiness For Girls' Camp this year, our stake theme was "Happily Ever After". We based our camp song off of Charlie Brown's Happiness is . The scripture we based camp around was Mosiah 2:41. And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. Camp was in August, but last Sunday the first counselor in our ward asked three camp leaders (including me) to speak in Sacrement meeting about camp. I've been thinking about happiness again as a result. A few happiness quotes (some are just plain silly): Happiness isn...

The first weekend in September, I went to visit my sister in Cache Valley , because ZM was being blessed. I left Friday night shortly after Mini-Fest and changed from my performance costume to "street" clothes in the bathroom of a gas station in Highland. Needless to say, several customer gave me strange looks as I walked into the station in full regalia. (If you are unsure what that all entails, check out some of my earlier blogs about our dance troupe or visit our dance company website .) By the time I arrived in Hyrum, my nieces were both fast asleep. ZM (age 5 weeks) had waited up for me with his mom and dad, though. Saturday morning, Becca sent AL (nearly 2 years old) to see who was sleeping downstairs in the guest bedroom. How surprised was she to find me! Morning - Gotta Put on My May-up! While their mom and brother went to a friend's shower and their dad went to work, I took IC (age 4) and AL to the Utah State Fair . The drive to Salt Lake was full of silly songs ...

I'm in heaven --or rather I was . Anyone who knows me knows my passion for dancing. Today, I met something that rivals dancing. Today, thanks to an introduction from some friends at work, I met Red Mango . More specifically, original with fresh blueberries. I'm already craving more. Sigh.

Here are some photos from Friday's performance: the three troupes and some from our candle, sword, veil dance. Enjoy! Desert Gypsy Gypsy Rhythm Gypsy Melody Watara Yarah and Shirin Sirana

Last night was our dance company 's final performance of the season: Mini-Fest at Heritage Park in Cedar Hills. This picture was from our practice on Tuesday night. I'll upload pictures from the actual event when I can. Isn't Gypsy Melody's fan dance breath taking?!? The show started at 6:30 pm and ended at about 9:00 pm. There was a variety of dancers and dance styles, including Aztec. One of the belly dancers brought her pet snake! I thought her prop was very cool...until I saw its head move! It twined around her as she danced. Ewww. Normally a group of Polynesian dancers perform the hula at our annual event. I guess they weren't able to make it this year. I think my favorite dance of the evening was a toss up between Sahira, Shirin, and Yarah's sword dance and Black Star Dance Company 's performance. I would not want to meet That Trio in the proverbial dark alley with a sword! Black Star Dance Company (formerly Indie Kumari ) is just plain cool! Someday...

Well, not really. But he was a-maze-ing! Mom and I crashed our old ward's enrichment night to listen to a special speaker (drum roll puhleeze) the Grocery Guru . I was enthralled by his energy and commitment to saving us money. His ideas and tips were fabulous. And, everyone at enrichment left with a personal invitation to go shopping with The Guru. Previous to this lesson, I had begun compiling a coupon clipping folder. Now I'm following the Guru's example and upgrading to a binder. How would it be to go on a Disney cruise with the entire family for only $400? (I may be off slightly on that figure, but not by much.) Logan , watch out ! I may make it to Morocco afterall!

I enter the blogworld--on tiptoe , eyes open wide, and slightly anxious.