Austin, Texas. 12/30/09. WOW!

Dear Blogging World,
I'M ENGAGED!!! I can't believe it! I'm sooooo tired right now, but I have to write down my day before I go to sleep! Today Gregor and I decided to go down to Austin, TX to see his old UT stomping grounds. (I'm in Abilene, TX by the way visiting Gregor and his family) ANYWAYS...We left at 6 am and made it to Austin around 10 am. We drove straight the the University of Texas (Hook 'em!), looked at some of the campus and walked around a bit. We then drove over to the state capital to check it out. Gorgeous building and it was even better being with my sweetie! We checked out a few things around the capital then recieved a phone call from his mom that we needed to go to this pawn shop to look at a gun for her. I thought this was weird having to run errands while we were in Austin, but we took it in stride and ran down to this seedy little place across town. When we went in, Gregor told them who he was and they took us back into the office. I've never been to a pawn shop before and let me tell you, its everything you think it would be. CREEPY. Anyways, once we got back into the office, this guy (who in fact turned out to be Gregors diamond guy) handed me this rifle and Gregor a couple boxes of ammo. Little did I know, this little side trip happened so Gregor could pick up the ring and be discreet since he didn't have it yet. Sneaky! So then we drove back into town and went to Whole Foods where he said he wanted to buy me some flowers. I got a little suspicious that he would propose, but pushed it out of my mind because all week he's been saying that the diamond came in, but it would take a while to put everything together and ship it to the jeweler and blah, blah, so I didn't think the ring was coming for at least another week. Fooled me, huh? So after Gregor bought me this beautiful bouquet of orange roses (Hook 'em), we checked out another camping gear store in town. I was oblivious, I swear. I was just happy hanging out and Austin is BEAUTIFUL, so I wasn't thinking about anything to do with proposing. He had been talking about going up to Mt. Bonnell to get a good look at the Colorado River, so that was our next stop. We walked up a flight of stairs to get to this beautiful setting overlooking the river. It was so incredibly beautiful, I was just happy to see it! He made me put my stupid boots back on (I had taken them off, they were killing my feet) to go hike down a ways for a better look. He took me onto this little secluded path and when I looked over at him he was down on one knee holding a gorgeous diamond ring. Gregor told me that he loved me and then asked if I would marry him. All I could say for a second was "Seriously?" then of course I said yes! With all my heart, I said yes!!! I think I've been on cloud 1000000000 all day! We walked back down to the car (I think I should say Gregor pretty much had to carry me, I totally was weak in the knees!) and then we hit up the Salt Lick BBQ joint, just like any other recently engaged couple would :), for some seriously great chow! Then we hit the road back to Abilene. Long drive and long day, but so incredibly perfect! I can't believe I'm going to be Mrs. Kendall Greiner! I'm sooooo happy and so glad that its Gregor! He's the love of my life and I'm so grateful that he loves me, too! What a GREAT day!!!

Merry Christmas Run

Today is Christmas! I love today! Collin and I woke up at 5:30 am to check out the loot, then crashed til about 8:30 when everyone got up and opened presents. I got sooooo much good stuff, but my favorite thing today was my new Asics Gel-Enduros. Holy crap, these shoes are amazing! Just because I could, I went for a 4.5 mile run around the winter wonderland known as American Fork. I felt like a million bucks! Those shoes were made to run, I was smiling like an idiot the whole time. Simple pleasures...Merry Christmas!!!

It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life has always been my favorite Christmas movie. The story of George Bailey makes me cry every time. I walk away from that movie feeling grateful for my life and the blessings I have. Last night I was reminded a little about how wonderful my life really is.
-I have the most WONDERFUL man in the whole world! Gregor is so thoughtful, caring, loving, and fun! He pushes me to be better and makes me feel like a princess!
-My family is the greatest group of people I have ever known! I love that I can spend time with any of them and know it's going to be fun and meaningful. My mother's mantra will forever reflect the way we feel about each other, "We're gonna stay together, and we're gonna have FUN!"
-Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year! It makes me so happy to see families and friends coming together, people caring about others, and above all, remembering the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so lucky to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. The knowledge of the Gospel has saved my life in so many ways and I'm forever grateful for it!
I'm so glad to know that my life is worth while. Watching Wonderful Life always reminds me that I do make a difference. That my job, my talents, my personality, and my spirit are things that benefit those who know me and even some who don't! Merry Christmas!

It's a Wonderful Life

The Case of the Missing Calculators

I have 5 calculators for my classroom. These are NICE ones. They can graph, they can do fractions, and all the basic calculator functions. I have three brand-spankin' new ones and two oldies-but-goodies. Recently, two of my brand new calculators have gone missing. I know I didn't misplace them, and they aren't allowed outside my classroom. Hmmmm... Obviously some of my kids are taking them and losing them in the black holes also known as their backpacks. I have put note on my board for the last couple weeks asking for them back. I won't punish them, I just want them back. Guess what? They're not back yet. Bummer.

Thanksgiving update

I just realized I didn't blog about Thanksgiving! Silly me! Well, here ya go. On Wednesday the 25th, Gregor and I went up to Salt Lake to get his mom, Kathy, who was flying in from Texas. I had seen her before, but never met her and was pretty nervous! She ended up being a complete joy to be around and made that whole meeting really smooth and fun. We took her down to AF to meet my family (who weren't home, big surprise) and then she went to Provo to meet up with an old seminary student while I got my butt in gear to pack. At around 3ish, we met up again, Kathy met my parents, Mark and Shauna, and then we hit the road to Rexburg, Idaho. The drive took a while, but I got to "dj" with my new iPod touch. Sweet! I was loving that I was sitting next to my sweetie and talking with him and his mom. They have a fun relationship, it was good to see him interact with her. After a few hours we made it to Erik and Hilary's (Gregor's brother and sister-in-law) where their youngest brother, Karl, was staying as well. Dieter (Daddy Greiner) couldn't make it, but we were thinking about him! We went to Appleby's for dinner, laughed the whole time then came home and headed to bed. Kathy and I shared a room and I was loving getting to know her. It was one of those situations that could have been really bad or really good and luckily it was great!
Thanksgiving day was awesome. I went for a freezing run out in the Rexburg countryside. It was gorgeous! After coming home and thawing, we got ready for dinner. Hilary made this HUGE 24-lb turkey for 6 people and we feasted like kings! I think everyone passed out after dinner for a while then we watched movies and chilled the rest of the day.
Friday, we hit up Idaho Falls for some shopping. Of course you go shopping on Black Friday! We didn't hit any of the early sales or anything, but we walked around the mall after an amazing dinner at Garcia's. Good day.
On Saturday, Hilary, Kathy and I went and did a session in the Rexburg Temple. It was so fabulous! Such a beautiful temple and it was great to spend time with those two great women! I'm so excited to get to know them more! After we went back to Idaho Falls so Karl could return something. I can't remember everything else we did. I remember I was super happy! I love spending time with Gregor! He's awesome!
Sunday we got up, went to church and then peaced out to Utah. Long drive, but it had been a great weekend so we didn't mind too much. I'm grateful that I got to have such a great time in Rexburg of all places! Happy Thanksgiving!

10 Things I've Learned or Remembered in the Last 24 Hours

I'm going to copy Zach because I'm too tired to think on my own today.

1. Staying up til 3 am talking to your sister is wonderful, but tomorrow morning still comes early.

2. Purchasing online is not always the safest method of shopping.

3. I am a SWAMMER!

4. Stressing about things you have no control over just makes you more stressed.

5. El Pollo Loco is a very tasty and fairly healthy fast food alternative. Pollo Ceasar. Nice.

6. I have not dated the greatest boys in the past. Good thing I'm dating the best one now!

7. Oakley is a great foot warmer when he's asleep. He just lays on my feet with that little hot, furry body. We're both warm and comfortable. What a great pair we are!

8. The Eric Snider's rejected screenplays of Twilight and New Moon are super funny! Read them!

9. Even when you're wearing sweatpants, a fleece pullover and an arctic-rated coat, flip flops will NOT keep your feet warm in 12 degree weather.

10. DC in the bottle and a chocolate chip cookie can make anything better. :)

Cool Pics

The Week in Pictures from Today is sooooo cool. Here are a few of my favorites from this week.

Thankful

Last year at Thanksgiving I posted ten things that I am grateful for and wanted to make it a tradition. I have so many blessings in my life, it's hard to limit it to only ten. Here's a few:

1) Family. After spending the last year alone in Southern California, I realized what a blessing it is to have a loving, wonderful family. Anyone that knows my family, knows that our house has always had an open door policy. There is almost never a time that my parents house isn't hosting at least 5 extra kids. I love that we pray together as a family daily, I love that my siblings are my best friends and that my parents are such wonderful, amazing people. I am so blessed to have these people in my life. I love you!
2) Gregor Greiner. I am in love with this man! I can't believe that I've finally found my Prince Charming. I am constantly amazed at his kindness and generosity. He's an honorable priesthood holder, a loving brother and son, and my best friend. He is so patience and loving. I love his seriousness, but that he has a silly side, too. He makes me excited for the future and along side him I feel like anything is possible! Thank you for loving me, sweetie!
3) Friends. I have the awesome-est friends ever! I love that they are supportive and loving and funny as crap! Every friend I have makes me laugh and I love it! They are always there, regardless of the situation, to give a hug or a smile and make my day better. I love you all!
4) The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank goodness we have the Good News of the Gospel in these crazy last days! I am so grateful for my Savior who performed the Atonement so I can have the opportunity to live with Him and my Heavenly Father again eternally. I am grateful for the blessings of the Temple and for the ordinances performed there. There is such peace and joy in knowing the Truth, I am grateful for that blessing everyday.
5) My job. Even though it's not the greatest paying job in the world, I am so grateful to have it! I have the opportunity everyday to spend time with some great kids and hopefully help them become a little better than they were yesterday. They make me laugh on a daily basis and cry occasionally, too. Most of my kids don't have the greatest situations at home, and I am so proud of them for coming to school and courageously trying to make better lives for themselves.
6) Running. I've gotten really into it in the last couple years. I love it! I'm not a marathoner quite yet, but I'm training for one and I've done a few 5 and 10k's. My fastest 10k to date is a 47:30! I was so stoked about it! Its been a huge stress-reliever and my legs have never been stronger! I love it!!!
7) Good books. I read a lot. Barnes & Noble, Borders, Seagull Book, Deseret Book, Waldens, and even Target have a lot of my money due to their book collections. I'm grateful that people take the time to share personal experiences, write good fiction, and/or do tons and tons of research to provide me with such fabulous entertainment. Thank you!!!
8) Our Nation. My sister and her husband, along with my little brother, Kyle, are in Mexico this Thanksgiving giving service to people. They are building houses, renovating churches, collecting food and teaching the women to sew clothing. I am so grateful to have the comforts that I have. A roof over my head, a warm bed to sleep in, food on the table and clothes on my back. We really are truly blessed here in the United States.
9) My Car. Last February I got in a pretty big accident and totalled my little Hyundai Accent. It was never the safest car on the road, but it got me from point A to point B and had awesome gas mileage (40 mpg, yeah I know you're jealous). I was visiting from California for the weekend and then all of a sudden I was out of a car and out of money to purchase a new one. I have the greatest grandparents ever who stepped in and helped me purchase not only a new car, but one that is safe, gets good gas mileage, has a warranty and power windows!!! My little Cobalt has been such a blessing to me and I'm so grateful that I have it!
10) My pets. For some reason, Heavenly Father has blessed me to know some of the sweetest animals on the planet. Oakley, my dog, has been the greatest companion I could ask for. He literally saved my life in California, I felt so alone a lot of the time. He's always good for a snuggle session or a belly rub and his crooked face makes me smile. I am thankful for Princess, my parents dog, and for the friend that she's been to Oakley. I know he drives her crazy, but he obviously loves her very much. I love Scotch the cat and Peaches the bird for their sweet and unique personalities.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Riddle

In hopes to get more people to leave me comments, I'm posting a riddle today. Whoever gets it right first, wins! I don't know what you'll win though, really. Maybe a sense of accomplishment, or a million bucks. I don't know. If you want to try, leave a COMMENT!!!

Recently, Snow White's 7 Dwarves met up with 3 of their friends to go see the movie, Bambi. What order did they stand in line if:

Grumpy was in front of Dopey. Stumpy was behind Sneezy and Doc. Doc was in front of Droopy and Happy. Sleepy was behind Stumpy, Smelly, and Happy. Happy was in front of Sleepy, Smelly, and Bashful. Bashful was behind Smelly, Droopy and Sleepy. Sneezy was in front of Dopey. Smelly was in front of Grumpy, Stumpy and Sneezy. Dopey was in front of Droopy. Sleepy was in front of Grumpy and Bashful. Dopey was behind Sneezy, Doc and Sleepy. Stumpy was in front of Dopey. Smelly was behind Doc.

GOOD LUCK!

I AM, I AM!

I did a version of this post about a year ago and thought it would be interesting to see how much I've changed in the last year. I am, I am!

I am - Kendall. Who else would I be?
I think - about Gregor all the time.
I want - to be done with my Masters and have a better-paying teaching job.
I have - the greatest family ever!
I wish - that I could go to Europe tomorrow.
I hate - when my ADHD 7th graders don't take their Riddlin.
I miss - California. Not my job, but a lot of the people there. And the beach. Oh, i miss the beach.
I fear - drowning. Seriously, for a swimmer, that would be the worst way to die.
I feel - super excited and happy about the future!
I hear - My students daily anecdotes on junior high life.
I smell - Sensual Amber lotion on my hands.
I search - for cookie recipes and ideas for Christmas presents.
I wonder - when everything's gonna go down...
I regret - swearing in front of my siblings. I'm working on that.
I love - Gregor. My family. My friends. My job. My religion. Myself.
I care - about my students. I want them to understand the importance of education. A lot of them just don't get it. It drives me CRAZY!!!
I always - workout. I have to. I need the endorphins mega bad.
I am not - apathetic.
I believe - people can change. Especially myself.
I dance - with my siblings in my parents kitchen. We turn on the radio and go crazy!
I sing - all the time. That's another thing I love about my family. Last night we sang "Baby" for the millionth time and I still love it.
I don't always - get things done on time. I do my best, but I'm a procrastinator big time.
I write - lists. I have a to do list everyday and I make lists for events and ideas, etc.
I win - Nothing, really. I don't think I'm very lucky like that.
I lose - My drivers license annually. It's getting old, but for some reason, it just disappears.
I never - allow myself to be negative for more than an hour. Hopefully I'll someday get that down to never allowing myself to be negative period.
I listen - to pretty much any music I can get my hands on.
I can usually be found - at American Fork Junior or up in the mountains somewhere.
I'm scared - I won't reach my potential.
I read - everything! I love to read and always have 4-5 books I'm working on at a time.
I'm happy about - being in love with the man of my dreams!

FRIDAY

Sissy cussing

Welcome to Utah! Some people swear here, but really most people don't cuss a blue streak too often. Teaching junior high has brought some funny phrases to my knowledge and I thought I'd share them with the blogging world.

"Holy Flip-mother!"
"Fetch" or "Fetcher"
"Crud"
"Crap"
"Poop"
"Shizzle" or "shiz"
"Legitdectight"
"Duce"
"Garbage"
"Shart"
"Fut"
"F"
"Freakin"
"Be-otch"
"Beach"
"Biz-nazz"
"Damage"
"Rape"
"T-bag"

These people are amazingly creative. So great that we're promoting such language skills while these kids are so impressible. Great.

Month in Pictures (Sort of)

A lot has happened from 10/10/09 to 11/10/09, so even though I don't have a camera, I've got a few pics from friends and family from this crazy month!
The bridemaids and the Groom at C&L Peterson's wedding. We are HOT!

The whole fam-damily. Its crazy we added one more kid! Ha!
Me playing Kirst Farrell's guitar in October. Such a nice instrument!
This is my sweetie and me after stake conference, we had to take a picture for his mom.
Phone pictures aren't the best, but Gregor's cute so it doesn't matter.
A sunset over the city. Pretty cool.
Back to the wedding. My grandma ALWAYS pats us on the butt. I love that even a wedding doesn't change that!
I don't really know what's going on here, but this is a great example of how we siblings are with each other all the time.
Kate is SO PRETTY! I've got a gorgeous family.
The sibs minus Carly at the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. I love these people, they are amazing!

Good Music

I am a music junkie. I listen to every genre out there and my iTunes is pretty legit. I thought I'd compile a list of the top 10 albums I'm listening to right now...Here ya are!!!

1) Snow Patrol - Eyes Open. You're All I have and Chasing Cars are my favorites right now. SO AMAZING!
2) Taylor Swift - Fearless. You Belong With Me. 'Nuff said.
3) Love Happens Soundtrack. This album is an awesome mix of goodness.
4) Muse - The Resistance. Uprising and United State of Eurasia. USoE reminds me of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.
5) Coldplay - X&Y. I love Coldplay, they have this U2-ey sound but their own style. Fix You. Simply wonderful.
6) Evanescence - Fallen. This is an older album, but I've recently rediscovered its awesomeness.
7) Twilight and New Moon Soundtracks. Holy cow, I'm not the biggest fan of the books or the movies, but dang Gina! Stephanie Meyer can pick some good music. Highlights - Muse, Linkin Park, Paramore, Lykke Li, etc. Fabulous!
8) James Taylor - New Moon Shine. Another old album. JT is da man! Shed a Little Light and The Water is Wide. Beautiful music and powerful lyrics.
9) Kanye West - Late Registration. Even though he's kind of a tool, this album is pretty sweet. Get the edited version and you're smooth sailing. Gold Digger...she ain't messin' with no broke, broke.
10) Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself & Eclipse. This woman is incredible. Her trans-like music is fun and interesting and totally gorgeous. Both of these albums are chill and have a retro feel to them.

I love getting new songs and hearing about new artists! Anyone with any suggestions, let me know, I'm totally down!

I HATE MONDAYS!

Did you see the movie Shrek 2? Remember the part where Shrek, Puss, and Donkey are sitting in the Poison Apple and Puss is like "I hate Mondays"? Yeah, I hate 'em, too.

THRILLER

Last Saturday I went to the Odessey Dance Company's THRILLER on a double date with Carly and Logan and me and Gregor. We drove up to the U, (Go UTES!), and walked over to Kingsbury Hall for the event. Our seats weren't the greatest, but we still got to watch these amazing dancers perform to Michael Jackson's Thriller and other Halloween-y music. I was so impressed with these dances! My favorite was the Frankenstein and His Bride dance. She was soooo limber, I would have died if a guy was flinging me around like that! Crazy!
After we went to my favorite 7-11 on 13th (just up the street from my old house) for some hot cocoa. So yummy! It was a great night, thanks to Car and Log for the tickets! I owe ya!!!

The Salt Lake Temple

First Presidency Message
The Salt Lake Temple

By President Gordon B. Hinckley
First Counselor in the First Presidency

Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Salt Lake Temple,” Ensign, Mar 1993

“Our Father in heaven, thou who hast created the heavens and the earth, and all things that are therein; thou most glorious One, … we, thy children, come this day before thee, and in this house which we have built to thy most holy name, humbly plead the atoning blood of thine Only Begotten Son, that our sins may be remembered no more against us forever, but that our prayers may ascend unto thee and have free access to thy throne, that we may be heard in thy holy habitation. And may it graciously please thee to hearken unto our petitions, answer them according to thine infinite wisdom and love, and grant that the blessings which we seek may be bestowed upon us, even a hundred fold, inasmuch as we seek with purity of heart and fulness of purpose to do thy will and glorify thy name.”

Thus spoke President Wilford Woodruff in dedicating the Salt Lake Temple on 6 April 1893. These opening lines of a remarkable prayer of dedication are a sermon in themselves. In these few words, which are the beginning of a long and beautiful petition, the prophet of that day acknowledged the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He acknowledged the fatherhood of God and the blessing extended to all of His sons and daughters to speak to Him in prayer. He acknowledged the Only Begotten of the Father, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, whose atoning blood was shed for each of us. He extended a plea that we might walk worthy of the blessings of the Almighty and with a desire to glorify His name.

This prayer of consecration is filled with thanksgiving for the blessings of the Lord upon His people. The occasion was the greatest and most significant event in the history of the Latter-day Saints in the Salt Lake Valley.

It is a thing of note that Wilford Woodruff had been the one to drive the stake marking the site of the temple four days after the 1847 arrival of the pioneers. On that occasion President Brigham Young had declared, “Here we will build a temple to our God.”

Brother Woodruff saw with his own eyes the forty-year pageant of the construction of this magnificent house of the Lord. At the time of the temple dedication he was eighty-six years of age. He had been sustained President of the Church four years earlier. He had known all of the latter-day temples that had been built before this—Kirtland, Nauvoo, St. George, Logan, and Manti. He had presided in the St. George Temple from the time of its dedication in 1877 until 1884.

Few, if any, had a better understanding of the purposes for which these structures are built. He grasped with eagerness and taught with clarity the importance of the ordinances in the house of the Lord and, particularly, of the validity of work for the dead and the manner in which families should be linked together in a great patriarchal chain.

Beautiful is the prayer that he offered in the dedicatory service of what was then the newest temple in the Church and which has remained the largest.

The work performed in every temple is identical and is equally efficacious. While the Salt Lake Temple was the first begun in the West, it was the fourth completed and dedicated. But it is the most widely recognized. It has been used to illustrate Church literature for a full century. It is known and recognized by Latter-day Saints and others not of our faith throughout the world.

If I may speak personally, one of the treasured blessings of my life is this Salt Lake Temple. It is not mine. It is the Lord’s. And yet I feel a certain sense of possession.

It is mine to look upon, and it is mine to enter. No special qualifications are necessary to admire it from the outside. Certain standards are required for those who enter.

It is a creation of beauty—
A symbol of strength
A haven of peace
A sanctuary of service
A school of instruction
A place of revelation
A fountain of truth
A house of covenants
A temple of God

I am fortunate to be able almost daily to feast upon its architectural beauty. I am blessed, as is every qualified member of the Church, to be able to enter its rooms and walk its halls. To me, it is an incomparable structure.

Who can deny its singular beauty? It follows no traditional pattern of architecture. It was constructed over a period of forty years. I am confident that many details of structure were changed during that period. And yet there is a flowing harmony in its pattern. It is anchored firmly in the earth and reaches toward the heavens. There is a solid symmetry in its design. Six major spires rise from the walls. And each of these major spires has a three-tiered set of four lesser spires.

The lines of the building are such that each of the towers seems to rise independently from the ground and yet all are tied together to create harmony and solidarity. Joining each set of spires is a row of castellated stone. Granite dentils and capstones add to the beauty of the design.

The variety of windows is interesting. Some are round, some oval, some have arched headings, others are narrow and perpendicular.

I write not as an architect. I write as one who loves the beauty found in the harmony of line and the decorative detail to be seen no matter the place from which one views.

I marvel at the architects who had only a very small amount of the kind of technical training received by professionals today. Except for the glass and some of the hardware, they had access only to native materials. I have no doubt that they were inspired from on high. They recognized that they were not simply constructing another building. They knew they were creating a temple of God.

Its granite walls give a feeling of substance and strength. Most of those who dressed and set the stones had learned their craft in England. They had come to Utah as converts to the Church. They were highly skilled, and the temple, after a century of time, shows this.

James Moyle, who was superintendent of the stonemasons, wrote:

“Not only days but weeks were required to dress some of the stones. … Many stones in the building required a high degree of skill on the part of the worker, for these come almost to a feather edge. One may see them from the ground in the large round windows. The grain is easily cracked since the small pieces of quartz, feldspar and mica in the composition fall apart when jarred. For this reason the feather edge was always cut last. If there was a miss hit, or if a given blow of the hammer were too hard, the work went for nothing, and weeks might be lost.” 2 There is an air of strength, a feeling of solid substance with an essence of delicacy in the massive granite of this sacred structure.

When the temple was completed, a wall was constructed surrounding what has come to be known as Temple Square. The traffic outside the wall is now frequently heavy and noisy. Within the wall, there is an environment of peace and beauty. The grounds with their artistic walkways, broad lawns, magnificent trees, and brightly colored flowers become a world apart from the outer surroundings. Visitors from near and far, who now come by the millions, speak of this.

Inside the temple a further sense of peace is experienced. The world is left behind with its clamor and rush. In the house of the Lord there is tranquillity. Those who serve here know that they are dealing with matters of eternity. All are dressed in white. Speech is subdued. Thoughts are elevated.

This is a sanctuary of service. Most of the work done in this sacred house is performed vicariously in behalf of those who have passed beyond the veil of death. I know of no other work to compare with it. It more nearly approaches the vicarious sacrifice of the Son of God in behalf of all mankind than any other work of which I am aware. Thanks is not expected from those who in the world beyond become the beneficiaries of this consecrated service. It is a service of the living in behalf of the dead. It is a service which is of the very essence of selflessness.

This sacred edifice becomes a school of instruction in the sweet and sacred things of God. Here we have outlined the plan of a loving Father in behalf of His sons and daughters of all generations. Here we have sketched before us the odyssey of man’s eternal journey from premortal existence through this life to the life beyond. Great fundamental and basic truths are taught with clarity and simplicity well within the understanding of all who hear.

This is a place of revelation. Here almost weekly the First Presidency of the Church and the Council of the Twelve Apostles have met since the time of dedication. Here there is earnest prayer with supplication for enlightenment and understanding. Here in these hallowed precincts there is discussion, quiet and restrained. And here is felt that inspiration which comes when men who are endowed with the highest authority of the eternal priesthood counsel together and seek the will of the Lord.

I was in that circle in that sacred room when President Spencer W. Kimball on a June day in 1978 pleaded with the Lord for direction on a matter fraught with tremendous consequences. It concerned the eligibility of all worthy men to receive the priesthood.

I can testify now, as I have testified before, that the spirit of revelation was felt on that occasion, and that the fruits which have flowed from that revelation have been sweet and wonderful for great numbers of people across the world.

The temple is also a place of personal inspiration and revelation. Legion are those who in times of stress, when difficult decisions must be made and perplexing problems must be handled, have come to the temple in a spirit of fasting and prayer to seek divine direction. Many have testified that while voices of revelation were not heard, impressions concerning a course to follow were experienced at that time or later which became answers to their prayers.

This temple is a fountain of eternal truth. “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.” (John 4:14.) Here are taught those truths which are divine in their substance and eternal in their implications.

For those who enter these walls, this house becomes a house of covenants. Here we promise, solemnly and sacredly, to live the gospel of Jesus Christ in its finest expression. We covenant with God our Eternal Father to live those principles which are the bedrock of all true religion.

This is a temple of God. The entablature on its face declares “Holiness to the Lord—The House of the Lord.” The first phrase of this statement is a declared recognition of the Almighty and a pledge of holiness and reverence before Him. The second is a statement of ownership. This is His house, built through the consecrations of the people and presented to Him as their offering of love and sacrifice.

In this holy house, I was endowed as a young man before departing for a mission. Here I was later married under the authority of the holy priesthood in a relationship that death cannot break and time cannot destroy. And here I have entered to do that for which this house was designed, always leaving a better man than I was when I entered.

So it has been with countless thousands of those who have come to this temple where is felt the divine love of the Redeemer of the world.

Every temple in the Church, each somewhat different in its architectural design, offers the same blessings. We speak today particularly of the Salt Lake Temple because it was an even century ago that it was dedicated by a prophet of God. It took longer to build than any other—forty years. In terms of interior space and facilities, it is the largest ever built by our people.

It is a veritable fulfillment of the words of Isaiah:

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

“And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” (Isa. 2:2–3.)

Thanks be to God for His holy house. May it stand, as it was built to stand, through the millennium yet to come and serve the needs of our Father’s children, those in this life and those beyond. May its doors ever be open to the faithful who may enter its portals and experience something of the divine.

Wedding Pics

I love this picture! We had to have our BFF, Zach in our family pictures! Love you!
Mom and Dad at the Luncheon. Such a great day!
The Happy couple. Mazel tov!
The sweetest picture of the day. Dean and Logan are so close and this picture is a tell-all.
Sealed and the Sealer. My grandpa Jack Vogl sealed Carly and Logan at the Mt. Timpanogos Temple.
Maria and Logan Peterson. Such a great picture!
This is probably my favorite. Grandma Pat and Papa Smith. Their life stories are incredible. I'm so glad they could come to Carly and Logan's wedding.
Thanks to Kimberly Nelson of Tilt Photography. You are a super star!!!

Car's Wedding

I've had a few people tell me to blog about the wedding...I've been waiting for the pictures to come back, but I can post those later! The story is filled with drama, betrayal, friendship and of course, LOVE. (I should get paid for this.)
Friday (the day before the wedding) rolls around and of course there has to be a meltdown. Me, my dad and Logan all got sick with swine flu that week, but had all been cleared by the doctors to go ahead with the wedding seeing as we weren't contagious anymore. Someone in the wedding party notified the wedding planner (seriously the wicked witch of the west. NEVER book a reception through Fox Hollow or you'll get her...stay away) just to give her the heads up that there had been some sickness in the family, but things were fine. The planner then turns around, tells Fox Hollow management that we had this huge family swine flu epidemic and they cancelled on us at 4 o'clock FRIDAY!!! I am NOT lying! Can you believe it? They screwed us over on the reception AND the luncheon! I cannot tell you how frustrated everyone was. It was a nightmare and we were pissed! How did it all work out, you ask? Keep reading.
So everything was cancelled. Drama-rama, but luckily, the Smith and Peterson families are pretty quick on our feet. The Petersons got a hold of the manager at Magleby's in Orem and they agreed to host and cater the luncheon last minute. I think we're all forever grateful for them and the food was DELICIOUS! The Smith's reserved the ward cultural hall and called in my mom's good friend, Debbie the Decorator. She really is a superhero, not even lying! Before you think, ugh, the cultural hall??? Let me tell you...after a lotta work, blood, sweat, tears and Thanksgiving Point decorations...that place was incredible! Seriously, if I get married, I'll do it at a church as long as I have Debbie the Decorator. It was so beautiful, we were getting complimented all night.
So now to the actual breakdown of the big day! The house was bustling at 6 am. Car was up heading over to our hairstylist's, Amber, while the rest of the Temple crowd got dressed and ready to go. At 7:45, Logan came to pick up Carly and they went to the Mt. Timpanogos Temple to be sealed for Time and All Eternity. The actual sealing was a 9, so Zach and I headed over around 8:20 along with the rest of the attendees. The Temple was wonderful and they were so happy! I cried like a baby when my grandpa sealed them forever. Such a sweet and beautiful marriage, the temple is the only place to do it!
After the sealing, we took pictures outside with the kids and family, then headed over to the luncheon. The food was great and we had a nice program. Zach and Mimi (Logan's aunt) did the "toasts" and I played the guitar and sang. Everyone cried some more and then my dad got up and spoke, and I cried harder. Poor Dean (Logan's dad) could hardly talk. It was so cute how much they love their kids. It was such a sweet luncheon. That's kind of all I want to do at my wedding. We can skip the reception. No worries.
We took some more pictures and FINALLY headed to the reception. It was amazing in there! Again, Debbie is the woman! We had photographer, Kimberly Nelson's pictures all over the place and the hall was gorgeous. Tons of great food, the cake was beautiful and the wedding party didn't look too bad either! I think they invited everyone in American Fork and then some, but it was great to see everyone and three hours later, Carly and Logan Peterson left on their honeymoon.
I am sooooo proud of my little sister. I love her so much, she's been my best friend for 23 years. She and Logan are a beautiful couple and they are going to be amazing together. Congratulations!!!

Ode to Brett Favre

Did you watch the Vikings/Packers game on Monday? Wow. I love you, Brett. True, I am a Dallas Cowboys fan, but leading one of the worst teams in the NFL to a 4-0 season? Being the only QB in the history of the game to beat EVERY team in the NFL, including your old team who sold you out for Younger, Bigger, and Better? To tearfully retire from the game you love after 16 years only to change your mind and come back to a team you don't fit in on then finally find a team that you can commit your excellence to? Brett, You Da Man! What you did Monday inspired me...of course I can't throw a 50-yard pass to a wide receiver for a touchdown, or make amazing plays, or find a hole to run in for a 2-pt. conversion, but your dedication to the game is awesome. Thank you for keeping my hope alive that there are still players that actually and truly LOVE the game of football.

Funny Pictures of the Day

I was browsing some funny pictures today and thought I'd share these with you! Enjoy!

Teacup Pigs...What is this world coming to? I still want one though.
I wish Oakley was like this in the water. He's such a baby.RUN!!!

Car's Bridals

Carly and Logan had their wedding pics taken a couple days ago as well as Car's bridals. They are such beautiful people and FREAK! These are amazing pics! Enjoy!
There are more pictures of them at www.tiltphotography.com/blog. Congratulations you two! I love you both!

The 13 Articles of Faith of Mormon Culture

My friend Zach posted this on his blog and I HAD to post it on mine for all my Utah County friends. It's call the 13 Articles of Faith of Mormon Culture and it's dead on! Enjoy!

1. We believe in SUVs and minivans, as the form of transportation, and in knee length shorts, which are always nice, and in the multilevel marking.
2. We believe that church ball players should be punished for their own fouls, and not for unsportsmanlike aggression.
3. We believe that through bread crumbs, cheese, creamy soups, and rice all casseroles can be saved through obedience to ward cookbooks and creativity in the mixing bowl.
4. We believe that the first layers and ingredients of the Dip are: first, beans; second, cheese; third, chopped tomatoes; fourth, the gift of sour cream; fifth, olives; sixth, salsa; seventh, guacamole, that is, if you have it.
5. We believe that a Mormon should have a distinguished or a cute name, that it is appropriate to name a child after a church leader or a historical figure including an ancestor, that alternative spellings and French prefixes only add to a name, and that when referring to the names of General Authorities, middle initials should be a part thereof.
6. We believe in the same wall decor that exists in many Mormon homes, namely, framed family proclamations, vinyl lettering, inspirational word signs, family photos, pictures of temples and Jesus, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of the re-gift, church books, crafts, family photos, baked goods, emergency supply kits, and so forth.
8. We believe in sparkling grape juice so long as it is nonalcoholic; we also believe in bringing root beer and sprite to ward parties.
9. We believe in all that we have scrapbooked, all that we will now scrapbook, and we believe that we will yet scrapbook many great and important things pertaining to our family, friends, pets, and vacations.
10. We believe in the literal mixing of ketchup and mayo and in the generous application of ranch dressing; that CBAs (church-based acronyms) will be used to describe YM/YW, PEC, the Y, NCMO, and CTR; that Mitt Romney will get Mormons to vote for him any time he runs; and, that the Mormons will enjoy reading Twilight and The Work and the Glory.
11. We claim the privilege of trying to identify common acquaintances with any visitor at church, and allow all other people at church the same privilege, and let them name drop the names of Famous and general authorities how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to scoutmasters, pampered chef hostesses, and the writers of the U.S. News and World Report Rankings for professional schools, and in obeying, honoring, and sustaining Glenn Beck.
13. We believe in being above average, good at crafts, optimistic, and
being fifteen minutes late everywhere we go. Indeed, we may say that
we follow BYU football. We believe rumors about famous people joining the church, we hope to meet the three Nephites, we have endured many pyramid schemes, and hope to be able to endure all pyramid schemes. If there is anything cheap, free, sold in bulk, or given away when somebody is moving, we seek after these things.

I'm A Phoenix

I re-started my Master's program last night at the University of Phoenix. I'm getting a Master's Degree in Secondary Education along with a teaching certificate for Health and Science. I LOVE being in school! I'm taking Adolescent and Childhood Development and it is an awesome class. I'm stoked to be accomplishing this goal! I'll be done with classwork in September of next year and done with student teaching in January of 2011. I'm proud that I'll be done with my Master's at 26! Yea!

Top Ten Movie Quotes

Anyone that knows my family knows we don't communicate like normal human beings do. Instead we quote movies to each other to get our points across. So I've decided to compile my top ten favorite movie quotes of all time. Here they are!

10) "We'd like to thank the Woy-ars" - Bugs Life. Car and I used to always quote this and then laugh hysterically for 10 minutes. So funny.

9) "I'm Gerry, you're Julius, let's get some particulars and get the heck outta here." (continue dialogue), 'What I'ma do is gonna go out there and Ima get mine.' "See man, that's the worst attitude I ever heard." 'Attitude reflect leadership, Captain." -Remember the Titans. Holy crap, best movie ever! I'm always so pumped after watching this movie, it reminds me of my swimmer days...especially winning the MWC Championship my senior year!

8) "OH MY GOSH, I HATE YOU SO MUCH! I wanna SMASH your FACE in!!!" -Hot Rod. Seriously. Funniest. Movie. Ever.

7) "There's ice-skating, and snewball fights...and CHRISTMAS!" -Lucy Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia. Just say that line in a little british girl's accent and you can't help but smile!

6) "IT'S A SWEATER!" - The Three Amigos. It's a cult classic, and pretty much every line in the movie is quotable.

5) "Sharks. They only bite you, when you touch their private parts." -Ula from 50 First Dates. Another wonderfully quotable movie.

4) "Hold your ground, hold your ground! Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of woes and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!" -Aragorn, Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. I get chills everytime I hear this part. He's such a great leader and such a great man, and I love that he doesn't want to be the king, but he accepts his role and his birthrite to become a true leader.

3) "Open the DOOoooooorrrr! I'm outsiiiiiiidddde!!!" -Mort from Madagascar 2. This movie was even better than the first one. My other favorites from this movie are, "Is she dead?" 'NO!' & (Music: More than a feeling by Boston) "I love this song." 'It never gets old.' There really are a ton of great quotes in that movie, the penquins are soooo funny!

2) "Get back, WITCH!" 'I'm not a witch, I'm your wife, and from what I just heard, I'm not sure I even wanna be THAT anymore!' -Miracle Max and his wife, Valerie in The Princess Bride. We've been quoting that one since I was a little kid. Love it!

I saved the best for last...

1) "You must know... surely, you must know it was all for you. You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my aunt last night, and it has taught me to hope as I'd scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on." -Mr. Darcy. Oh, my gosh! It's the greatest quote of all time! He's so handsome and so vulerable here and so perfect! I think I start to cry every time I hear these lines! Amazing!

There ya go! I tag everyone who reads my blog to do this on their own. I'd love to see what you come up with!
~Ken

RELIEF Society

I love going to church. I usually get the spiritual lift I need for the week and learn more about the Gospel, but yesterday I could not believe how boring Relief Society was. I feel kind of bad for venting, but I'm going to anyway. Sacrament meeting was good. Good speakers, good musical number and I also wrote a little in my journal. Good. Sunday school was fabulous. We talked about the Prophet Joseph Smith and his contributions to the Restored Gospel. We had a great teacher who was engaging, and vocal. He asked intelligent questions and made great points. We used the scriptures and the manual and input from the class. I was feeling pretty pumped afterward, then went to Relief Society. Now, maybe it's because I have a big personality or that I'm a little ADD, but FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! The teacher was this little mouse of a girl, who sat clutching her hands together behind the pulpit and literally whispering the least-interesting parts of the lesson and then asking questions about points she had already made. I looked at the clock after what seemed like eternity and it had only been 10 minutes. FETCHIN' TEN MINUTES! I still had 45 minutes to go dealing with Ms. Mouse! I started writing notes to Carly, tried to listen and then decided it would probably be better to try and slit my wrists with a piece of paper just to make life interesting. UGH. And the saddest thing was that it wasn't just me! NO ONE in the ENTIRE class was participating. Good crap. Finally, she concluded her lesson and I dragged myself out of my comatose state just long enough to play the closing hymn. I don't know whether I should just look past the horrible lesson and hope she's better next time or just make it a point to have a sudden attack of thirstiness or something and spend RS in the hallway...

Student Council Relapse

On Wednesday and Thursday this week, I got to chaperone the AFJH Student Council on their retreat up AF Canyon. It was SO fun! These kids were super cool and really fun to be around. We stayed up at the Mutual Dell lodge playing games, cooking great food, watching movies, talking, laughing, and learning about leadership. It reminded me so much of my Senior year of high school on Student Council. I was sooooo busy that year, but it ended up being one of the greatest years of my life! Being in student government is really empowering. You put on that Council sweater/t-shirt and you feel like the queen of the school. I think for me, being on student council made more of a difference in my life than me doing anything for anyone else. I learned how to balance school, swimming, music, family, friends and my council responsibilities. I made a ton of great friends, knew everyone in my graduating class, and learned how to be an adult in a lot of cases. I'm so stoked for these kids to have those experiences.
Thursday, after NO sleep for me (giggling girls don't do much for my sleep routine), we hit up CLAS ropes course for a day of challenge course activities. It was cool to see the kids working together to accomplish a goal that doing alone seems impossible. I even got to do a couple of the activities myself, such as climbing and 30 ft tree and jumping off a platform for a ring hanging 6 feet away, a giant swing and a wheel roll. Pretty sweet.
We finished the day canoeing on the Provo River. Mr. Wright (the supervising teacher) and I totally flipped our canoe on accident after telling the kids how tippy and unsafe the canoes can be. Great examples, huh? FREEZING cold water, but we still had a great time.
I'm glad I had the chance to hang out with such great kids and have a fun time. I even got a date out of the mix, one of the CLAS guys asked me out! Funny! Good times.

Wedding Announcement...

Mark M. and Shauna Kay Smith are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter, Kendall Marie to...wait a second. No groom. Crap. Continue...Son of (fill in the blank) on someday, some month, some year in the Manti, Utah Temple. (Yes, I've decided to get married in Manti, thanks Zach). You are cordially invited to attend a reception in honor of the bride and groom that evening from 6-ish to 8-ish. The happy couple is registered at Target and Williams-Sonoma.

I'm feeling a little cynical today, can ya tell?

Everything's Changing...

Have you heard that song by Avril? I think its called Mobile. It seems like everything around me is changing right now, but I'm not. My best friend just moved to Omaha, my sister's getting married, everyone's starting school, and I feel kinda stuck. I think I'm just getting antzy that nothing's really happening in my life right now. I'm starting school (both teaching and attending), but I'm kinda feeling like "been there, done that". I HATE staying in one place for too long, but I'm broke and I need to work instead of trapsing around the country looking for the next adventure. I miss California, I miss swimming at Utah and travelling all over the place, I miss my friends that are peacing out and leaving me alone and I'm pissed that I'm poor. Ugh. Any hot, single, LDS millionaires out there? I'm available and I'm ready to hit the road!

Deer Creek Madness!!!

Yesterday I went with my sister, Carly, almost brother-in-law, Logan and the rest of my singles ward to Deer Creek for a day of frolicking in the lake. We were thinking the day was going to be kinda short and only spend about 3 hours out, but it ended up becoming an entire day event and we ended up pulling the boat out around 9. Six amazing hours in the beautiful Provo Canyon. I was loving it. I wakeboarded and did better than I've done in forever, so I was happy and we also got some awesome pictures of friends giving wakboarding a try. I loved when I got to drive Car and Log together behind the boat. They even kissed while they were riding together! I was lovin it! All in all, a great day. I'm sore and exhausted, but happy making memories!!!