At Least Out Loud I Won't Say I'm in Love

Amy Powell: 6066066
Interview date: June of 1996

Amy, a UVSC student, recently rejoiced in the return of her brother from his mission in Venezuela. Amy is on the institute council and working toward and elementary education degree. She worked at Larsen's Nursing Home as a CNA but is now employed with SOS Temporary Service.

Amy's favorite color is navy blue, favorite movie is While You Were Sleeping, favorite season is spring and favorite shoes are sandals. Amy's perfect man is tall, dark and handsome with a sweet personality. Amy refuses to tell her most humbling experience and her favorite feature are her eyes. Her most irrational acts were flirting with number eight, the quarterback on the football team, chasing him to Vittles and catching a ride home with his dad. A most embarrassing moment was when she got in a car accident and JB picked her up, asked her out for that evening and took her to his home where he had another date waiting for him. She went home at that point and the following day he asked her out again. She told him she was going to the movies with her family, still, he stopped by and found her home. That was when Amy got her first kiss. Three words that best describe Amy are stubborn, stubborn, stubborn (I can think of a few others such as compassionaite, strong, romantic, considerate, loyal...).

"All the good ones are gone," Amy Powell

Amy Powell
Interview date: December of 2009 - please! (Sorry, is January of 2010 close enough?)

Full name: Amy Powell
Nicknames: Am, Sis, Maeme
Favorite color: Light Blue
Favorite food: Manicotti (for some reason it has to be made by my sister. When I make it, it doesn't taste as good!)
Favorite treat: Cheesecake or popcorn
Favorite book: Jane Eyre, My Antonia, any Mary Higgins Clark mystery, Mrs. Mike
Favorite song: This one is too hard for me. I love lots of music.
Favorite movie: This changes frequently, but I really like Red Eye (that's as scary as I get) and I always enjoy Anne of Green Gables and Pride and Prejudice (the Colin Firth long version).
Favorite shoes: flip flops
Favorite season: Spring or Fall
Favorite things to do: Read, watch a movie, playing with my nephews and nieces
Favorite chore: Oxymoron (do people really have favorite chores?)
Least favorite chore: Laundry
Favorite room in the house: bedroom
Favorite place to visit: Anywhere - I just like getting away.
Favorite feature: my eyes
Things you are good at: playing the piano (which I am starting to regret), crafts.
Things you want to learn: knitting, to play violin
Hero: Kristen Oaks
Favorite scripture, quote, or saying: "I cannot live without books" - Thomas Jefferson
Things that make you happy: Fridays, my nieces and nephews
Most humbling experience: Speaking in Stake Conference, as a teenager, twice.
Most irrational act: I still must block these out, or there are so many that not one stands out
Most embarrassing moment: again, nothing
Where do you want to be in ten years: where isn't as important to me as if I am happy there.
Three words that best describe you: {ShaLisa, you can fill these in...all I can think of you wouldn't like} :)

Amy, will you answer these questions? Enter your answers right on this post and add any additional information about yourself that you can think of. We can't wait! Also, will you, or anybody else, post a picture of you, Amy?

December Book

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Congrats to our Cami!

Congrats Cami on your book! I saw this article in the paper today and wanted to share with everyone!

"Standing-room crowds for debut of Timpanogos Cave history book"

November Book

Fire in the Bones, by Michael Wilcox.

He Melts My Butter

Amie Christofferson
Interview date: June of 1996

Amie is attending UVSC and plans on getting her college degree, get married and raise a family. She is employed with Scrooge and Marley's and her favorite color is pink. Her favorite movie is "That Thing You Do," her favorite season is "every single one," she doesn't have a favorite pair of shoes and her hero is her mom.

The best times of her life are "anytime, I live for the moment" and a bad time for Amie was when she tripped in the hall, twice, in ninth grade. Amie had a wonderful time on Heritage Tours and she can't recall her most irrational act. Her most embarrassing moment was when she tripped in the hall, twice, in ninth grade.

If Amie could change one thing about herself, she would be good at sports and she is better than anyone else when it comes to whistling. Three words to describe Amie are darling, kind, and happy. "And there's nothing greater in the whole wide world than a happy girl."

"If you want to be happy - be," Amie Webb.

Amie Christofferson Webb
Interview date: November of 2009 - please!

Full name: Amie C Webb
Nicknames: Aimsby, aim, mom, honey, love
Favorite color: red
Favorite food: anything as long as its good, I have a hard time picking favorites
Favorite treat: chocolate covered cinamon bears, chips and salsa
Favorite book: I'm still in love with Cold Sassy Tree from high school but I also love to kill a mocking bird (which I re-read over the summer), a little princess, little house series, goose girl, where the red fern grows.
Favorite song: So hard to pick favorites, I like all kinds, right now I'm listening to brad paisley, and by the way if you will send me your addresses I'll make you a mix. I love to get mail and I love to send mail. No pressure, I just think it would be fun, anyone willing to make me one?
Favorite movie: anne of green gables, you've got mail, wild hearts can't be broken, chick flicks and action adventure, I love indiana jones and the last crusade.
Favorite shoes: running shoes, I wear running shoes all the time I know this is fashion faux paux (spelling?) I need to find some shoes that are comfy but not running shoes. My second favorite shoes I grew out of after my first pregnancy but I hang onto because I think they are cute. I wear them to church occasionally especially if I don't have to walk around too much. Did anyone else's feet grow after pregnancy? This is curious to me.
Favorite season: All of them, when its time for season change I look forward to it. Did I mention I have a hard time picking favorites?
Favorite things to do: walk long talk much, Read, laugh, eat, weekend roaming.
Favorite chore: laundry
Least favorite chore: laundry (its a love hate relationship)
Favorite room in the house: kitchen (still hate picking favorites)
Favorite place to visit: anywhere, I don't get out of town too much
Favorite feature: long legs
Things you are good at: cooking, improvising
Things you want to learn: taking good pictures, better organization, knitting
Hero: brion's grandma Jo
Favorite scripture, quote, or saying: inscription found in a Cologne, Germany cellar where Jews hid from the Nazis "I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when not feeling it. I believe in God even when He is silent"
Things that make you happy: my kids, my husband, my dog
Most humbling experience: Motherhood
Most irrational act: I stuck my tongue out at another driver, this is seriously in the last six months. I couldn't believe it myself, and I was embarrassed.
Most embarrassing moment: still the ninth grade falling down twice in about 1 minute
Where do you want to be in ten years: hmm, i need to think this one over
Three words that best describe you:

Amie, will you answer these questions? Enter your answers right on this post and add any additional information about yourself that you can think of. We can't wait! Also, will you, or anybody else, post a picture of you, Amie?

Not a Neo Nazi

Cami Pulham
Interview Date: June 1996

Cami plans on graduating from USU, joining the Broadway and playing Cosette in Les Mis. She is currently between jobs but worked for Pulham Enterprises over the summer. Her favorite color is Navy, favorite movie is Strictly Ballroom, favorite season is summer and her favorite shoes are sandals. Her personal heroes are Sally Ride and Julianne Smith.

Cami's perfect man is LDS, has straight teeth, good hair and sense of humor. She describes her love life as non-existent. The best time in Cami's life was when she took cross-country state in 1995 and she was able to hold the trophy and the worst times in her life was when she wouldn't get invited to Erin Carter's parties. A humbling experience was when Adam Kolowich smashed her into the wall telling her to knock it off and Cami's most irrational act was screaming at Scott Cummings without thinking at all.

Cami's favorite feature are her eyebrows and when asked what thing she would change about herself she responded, "Let's not get started there." Cami is better than anyone else when it comes to sarcasm and her most embarrassing moment was when she sent someone a get well card not realizing that it was really "sick!" Three words that best describe Cami are spontaneous, sarcastic and crazy.

Cami was arrested because she was with some Neo Nazi friends but claims that, "I'm not one." The government wants to keep it quiet and is sending Cami to the army for one year as punishment. Cami is leaving in June.

My name is Timpanogos Cave
Cami Pulham
Interview date: October of 2009

Full name: Camille Ruth Pulham
Nicknames: No one has called me Buffy since LHS. I am known as Spike around Sundance Resort. Even my work records there say Spike.
Favorite color: That depends. My favorite color is purple. But my favorite color to wear is probably blue or green. Though deep plum colors do awesome things to my eye color. I also really like silver for some things- like cars.
Favorite food: It isn't "what" so much as where- it makes all the difference. Tacos at El Chabasco. Hamburger at Rays Tavern. Pastrami dip at Porters Place. And ALWAYS my mom's homemade bread. I also have a deep affection for cereal and garden fresh fruits and veggies.
Favorite treat: My sister's Lemon Bars
Favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird, the Little Prince, The Power of One
Favorite song: "Here Come the Sun" by the Beatles.
Favorite movie: Amelie, Garden State, Love Actually, Grosse Pointe Blank (all edited of course)
Favorite shoes: Chacos, Reef Flipflops, Vans
Favorite season: I just like seasons, warm summer, colors in the fall, skiing in the winter, and I'm usually just so greatful for spring that even though the weather is questionable and the ground is muddy, I'm happy.
Favorite things to do: Be outside. Read for pleasure. Canyoneering when I can. Skiing in the winter.
Favorite chore: Organizing. Other people stuff is best. I am not sentimental about it. It is so fun to throw someone elses stuff away.
Least favorite chore: Sweeping
Favorite room in the house: My room
Favorite place to visit: Zion. I love visiting my family and friends in Kentucky and England.
Favorite feature: My eye color
Things you are good at: Canyoneering, listening,
Things you want to learn: To play the drums
Hero: My mom. She is incredible. She takes her challenges and works with them or reinvent herself.
Favorite scripture, quote, or saying: "Do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities. Pray for abilities equal to your tasks then the task won't be the miracle but you will be the miracle." President Monson
Things that make you happy: Unobligated time.
Most humbling experience: Going to the temple and having Heavenly Father give me a firm and emphatic "NO" to the boy I dated for almost a year. Very hard. Very painful.
Most irrational act: Going back to school
Most embarrassing moment: I don't get embarassed anymore. I think the last time I blushed really, really good was when Zac Cooper asked me to homecoming in our Spanish class.
Where do you want to be in ten years: Will I be alive in 10 years?
Three words that best describe you: Sleepy, Happy, Dopey, Doc. I love Disneyland.

Cami, will you answer these questions? Enter your answers right on this post and add any additional information about yourself that you can think of. We can't wait! Also, will you, or anybody else, post a picture of you, Cami?

October Book

Hi Girls,

This month I am going to recommend the book These Is My Words by Nancy Turner. I have wanted to read this book for awhile, I hope its something you will enjoy. I have to confess, I haven't finished any of the books since we read the invisible wall. I am feeling so behind. A few of these books are stacked partially read on my dresser. Did you all have a good conference weekend? I enjoy it very much.

Hoping to finish and keep up,

Amie

September Books

Cami, I didn't realize that you had chosen books yet! I am sorry I am so late posting this! I would really like to read the book thief, I will probably a bit late however. :) Thanks for the suggestions, I look forward to the reviews!

Wonder Woman

Leslie Trane
Interview Date: June of 1996

Leslie is attending and loving Snow College. She plans on attending the University of Utah majoring in physical therapy. She wants to go on a mission, marry, and have lots of kids. Leslie is currently unemployed but worked at Kencraft during her summer months. Her favorite color is blue, her favorite movie is While You Were Sleeping, her favorite season is Christmas and her favorite shoes are her slippers. Leslie's personal hero's are Christ, all of her friends, her parents and her teachers.

Leslie's perfect man is Christlike, trustworthy, kind, forgiving, and romantic, romantic, romantic. Leslie's reply to a description of her love life is, "What is a love life?"

Leslie is having the best time of her life right now as she attends college. "I have a whole new outlook on life. I'm so...happy!" The worst time of her life was when she hit a deer on her way back to Ephraim and her most humbling experiences occur whenever she loses anything such as a game. Her most irrational act is telling Bryce all her secrets and her eyes are her favorite feature. If Leslie could change one thing about herself she would no longer be a procrastinator and she's better than anyone else when it comes to taking pictures.

Leslie's most embarrassing moment was when she got into the wrong car in a store's parking lot and a lady was sitting in the drivers seat. Leslie loves to ski, is easy to talk to and is a perfectionist. Three words that best describe Leslie: happy, friendly, and outgoing.

Leslie Trane Allen
Interview date: September of 2009

Full name: Leslie Trane Allen
Nicknames: Les
Job and job description:Evidence Based Learning Specialist for Canyons School District - Researching and helping teachers incorporate researched based, best practices in their classrooms to increase student achievement. Teaching teachers how to use formative assessments to drive and modify their instruction to meet the needs of students.
Favorite color: Pink
Favorite food: Lobster
Favorite treat: Ice Cream
Favorite book: A Time to Kill
Favorite song: Dream Big
Favorite movie: Gone in 60 Seconds
Favorite shoes: Flip Flops
Favorite season: Christmas
Favorite things to do: Making things . . . crafts
Favorite chore: No chore is a favorite
Least favorite chore: Laundry
Favorite room in the house: Living Room
Favorite place to visit: Paris - really, just anywhere in Europe! It is amazing!
Favorite feature: Eyes
Things you are good at: Crafts, scrapbooking, playing the piano, photography
Things you want to learn: to sew
Hero: My Mom
Favorite scripture, quote, or saying: May your feet take you where your heart dreams to go
Things that make you happy:
Most humbling experience: Starting a new job, and working with people who are absolutely amazing
Most irrational act: I was pretty irrational when I was coaching basketball on several occasions
Most embarrassing moment: Same as 10 years ago . . . getting in the wrong car
Where do you want to be in ten years: Have a few more kids, and maybe be a Principal.
Three words that best describe you: Outgoing, Fun, and Friendly

My family - I have been married for 3 years to Andy. One of my students, who was his niece, set us up on a blind date. Miraculously enough I came home from our first date and knew we would get married. We have a little boy named Ethan who is about 20 months old!

August Book

STARGIRL by Jerry Spinelli

I have a fantastic little book that we can read. It is fast, easy and has a great little message. It's called Star Girl! I have a bout 15 copies of it because the counseling center gave it to ALL the kids at the middle school this year to read together, and we did a social skills unit around it. So, I rounded up a bunch of copies after the kids were done reading. I could mail them, or it anyone is close by, I could swing it by, or they could pick it up in Herriman."

-Leslie

Lindsay, our Gingerbird

Lindsay "Jade" Stone
Interview Date: June of 1996

Lindsay, a diligent student at SUU plans to be a signing interpreter, get married and be happy. She is employed at Knight Demonstrators and her favorite color is green. Lindsay's favorite movie is Sleepless in Seattle, favorite season is Fall, Spring, Summer, and Winter and her favorite shoes are her hiking boots. Lindsay's personal heroes are her parents and friends and she plans on marrying Mr. Right who is genuinely nice, has his priorities straight, and "loves me for me," she says.

Lindsay's High School years were the best time of Lindsay's life and the worst time in her life was when she got her name on the board in first grade. Humbling experiences for Lindsay are when she forgets something disappointing others because of it. Her most irrational acts are revealing her secrets and her most embarrassing moment was at High School graduation when she moved her tassel to the other side at the wrong time.

Lindsay's favorite characteristic about herself is that she always has good intentions and if she could change one things about herself, she wouldn't be so shy. Lindsay is better than anyone else when it comes to blushing and three words that best describe Lindsay are honest, genuine, and kind.

Lindsay 'Jade' Stone Bezzant
Interview date: July (or Aug.) of 2009

Full name: Lindsay Bezzant
Nicknames: mom
Favorite color: Green
Favorite food: grapes
Favorite treat: chocolate
Favorite book: Emma and Sense and Sensibility
Favorite song: I still love many songs that Cami and I loved together that she introduced to me. Right now I am remembering loving that song by Chris Ledoux that was on the tape she gave me when we went to running camp. What was that song? Oh yes, "Just look at you girl." Don't we all (still) want to be thought of that way?! I need to listen to music more. As my old tapes have gotten broken slowly I have gotten SAD!! I have always wanted to get another Alison Krauss CD, we liked the one we (had). (Cami you introduced this to me to!) Do any of you that have children actually still have intact CDs? Just wondering. :)
Favorite movie: Emma
Favorite shoes: flip flops
Favorite season: fall
Favorite things to do: learn
Favorite chore: gardening
Least favorite chore: cleaning the toilet (again)!
Favorite room in the house: my bedroom
Favorite place to visit: Highland
Favorite feature: makeup!
Things you are good at: noting what I would like to work on... thinking of my to do list
Things you want to learn: TO RELAX, more about speech pathology, nutrition, natural medicine, the gospel, good books, and how to become a better person overall, but especially a wife and mother.
Hero: Gary
Favorite scripture, quote, or saying:
Things that make you happy: my new baby, when my family is all together and enjoying it, spending time outside, relaxing away from home, and being fed good food by someone else. Being with Gary!
Most humbling experience: my calling at various times
Most irrational act: half the time when I open my mouth
Most embarrassing moment: various times in my calling!
Where do you want to be in ten years: happier
Three words that best describe you:

Lindsay, will you answer these questions? Enter your answers right on this post and add any additional information about yourself that you can think of. We can't wait! Also, will you, or anybody else, post a picture of you, Lindsay?

July Book!

As I have reported to you, I am in the mood for something light, and so I have chosen the book Spindle's End by Robin Mckinley.

I enjoy many of Robin Mckinley's books because at least some of them, in my opinion, can be light but not too fluffy or overly simple. Even in her flufflier ones I enjoy her writing style! I have read this book before, which is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but I am going to read it again since I am great at forgetting things and I have not come across another light well-written book that I can get my hands on.

It is difficult to choose a book for everyone! If you would rather not read this book, my alternate books are
A Joyful Mother of Children by Linda Eyre and Are My Children Going to Make It?: Real Help for Teaching the Gospel in the Home by R. Wayne and Leslee S. Boss.
I have been reading and enjoying both of these books and would love to hear your comments about any of them. Happy Reading!

Lindsay

The Lois Lane of Lehi High

Erin Carter, out-going, dramatic, and caring
Interview Date: April of 1996

Erin plans on graduating from SUU in the communication department, go on a mission, come home and within six month, find the man of her dreams, marry, have three children, work part-time as our local broadcast woman, and die happy. She was recently employed at Media Play, her favorite colors are purple and forest green, her favorite movie is the Cutting Edge, her favorite season is Spring, and her favorite shoes are anything from Payless. Erin's personal heroes are her parents and BOB and she plans on marrying Ken just as soon as she steals him from Barbie. Her perfect man is tall (very tall) with good hair and pretty teeth. He must be very much into the church, funny, outgoing, smart and a good kisser. At the time of this interview, Erin described her love life as frustrating.

The best time in Erin's life was from the time her nieces were born and ever since. When asked about her worst time of life, Erin replied, "There really hasn't been a worst time in my life. I have been blessed with a loving, healthy family and I couldn't ask for better friends." However, the time she wasn't invited to Alisha Bennett's surprise birthday party was a sorrowful and dismal time of life.

A most humbling experience was when Erin, as part of the Seminary Council, went to Glen Canyon for training. Alone, she wrote a letter to her Father in Heaven telling Him what she could be better at. Erin's most irrational act was flipping Tina Goldstone off at a Stake Youth dance in ninth grade.

Erin's favorite feature are her eyelashes and she would be two inches shorter and twenty pounds lighter if she could change something about herself. She's better than anyone when it comes to flirting and her most embarrassing moment happened in her first few weeks attending SUU. While waiting in a line for her email number she fell on her bottom in front of twenty people and shortly after, ran into the men's restroom because she was loosing her skirt.

Three words to describe Erin - outgoing, dramatic, and caring. Is this still true?

Erin Carter Brown
Interview date: June of 2009

Full name: Erin Carter Brown
Nicknames: Sunshine (but no one still calls me that)
Favorite color: purple still, although I like hot pink and lime green that are popular together as well as browns and pinks together.
Favorite food: any Mexican
Favorite treat: Sugar cookies ... Smart Cookies by the movie theater in AF are the best. Yum, now I have to get one.
Favorite book: Twilight (don't think I am a sinner)
Favorite song: Garth Brooks - The Dance - It reminds me that we can't miss anything in life whether it is good or bad - we must enjoy life everyday. Spilled milk on the floor and all!
Favorite movie: the Cutting Edge is still my classic favorite but more recently I saw UP and loved it. I am reduced to kids movies these days... I am sure you understand.
Favorite shoes: Sandals - I am still wearing my simples (remember Cami?) that I bought in 1999. They are still in good shape and I hate throwing away that perfect pair of shoes. Now I will have so send a picture so you don't think I am wearing ratty old shoes.
Favorite season: Summer... kids can play outside and stop messing my house up.
Favorite things to do: Vacations. Since we can fly anywhere I have had so much fun traveling to new places with my kids and husband, we are getting to be pros.
Favorite chore: none!
Least favorite chore: dusting.
Favorite room in the house: Living Room - that is where we spend most of our time.
Favorite place to visit: California and the beach although I am in love with Sea World and we go once a year!
Favorite feature: defiantly not my washboard abs ;) I guess my eyelashes still.
Things you are good at: Organizing and planning.
Things you want to learn: photo taking and photo shop. I hate paying everyone else to take cute pictures of my kids when I have a camera and I can't capture that perfect moment ever! As you can tell by the picture I attached. My kids always look away when I am taking the picture like Amie's blog.
Hero: My mother - now that I am a mom I appreciate her more.
Favorite scripture, quote, or saying: "Trust in the Lord with all thy might..."
Things that make you happy: Going to lunch with girlfriends! Hint Hint!
Most humbling experience: Giving birth
Most irrational act: flipping off Tina at a stake dance... J/K
Most embarrassing moment: giving birth with my doctors 13 year old daughter watching. I didn't want to see it let alone let her see all my goodies!
Where do you want to be in ten years: Right here! I love where I live and my life - I couldn't ask for anything more except one more girl and then I would be satisfied!
Three words that best describe you: Mom, Mom and Mom

Erin, we love you!

June Pick

The Message
by Lance Richardson
post written by some guy

A couple years ago (2003'ish) I had the opportunity to meet Cleon Skousen, quite a well known individual in church and government circles. I spent a wonderful afternoon talking with him about a variety of subjects and over the course of that conversation he made a fascinating statement to me about a man named Lance Richardson. He told me that Lance had had an NDE (Near Death Experience) where he died, went to the spirit world, and came back. When Lance returned he said that he was told by some of the men who lived with the founding fathers of our country to read several books when he returned to help him better understand why our founding fathers were inspired to organize this country the way they did, and several of those books were written by Cleon.

Cleon is in his early-mid 90's and still pretty lucid, but I wanted to verify the story so I tried to track Lance down to ask him if this was true.

My first search led me to a website where the author claimed to be at a fireside in rural Utah somewhere and Lance came and shared his experience with a small group. This person wrote down a bunch of notes including one I thought was particularly interesting about Lance meeting up with a friend of his in heaven that was still enjoying golf in the spirit world.

So I ordered Lance's book, The Message. The book describes how Lance got some illness on a European mission when he was young that devastated his health. Numerous and frequent trips to the hospital for recurring pneumonia and other diseases really wrought havok in his body and finally after a motorcycle accident ended with his near death experience. He talks about family relations and how there are reunions and celebrations (with food :)) in heaven. It also talks about sometimes departed friends and loved ones are sent to inspire us and give us direction in our own mortal lives. Part of "the message" that Lance was instructed to bring back is that this country is on the brink of self-destruction for removing God from our lives and country. He also discusses how he was told we needed to serve each other to prepare for the coming trials and preparation for creating Zion, or a place where peace and harmony exist between people.
Finally I tracked down an email address for Lance and made contact. These are Lance's comments on the website I mentioned above:

"...the website you refer to where this guy claims to have heard me say each of these things he has in his website has many erroneous statements. I have tried several times to have him remove this material, because it is false. But he has hid behind the same legalities as the tabloids do in their false reporting. So, I have not been able to shut his article down.

"However, he does have a number of items in his article that are true. It is true that I met a friend of mine who used to be a professional golfer before he died. He is now a missionary to his ancestors, for he was the only family member in mortality that had joined the church. He was having great success, whereas these family members knew him, and loved him, and were willing to listen to him. But they do have a balance in their time and are given some time to enjoy the tremendously beautiful world God has created for them, as well. One of the things he had enjoyed in that world, he said, were some incredibly beautiful golf courses that had been created in this wondrous world. He said they were absolutely amazing. So, according to my friend, there are some of the wonderful things we enjoyed in this life in the world beyond, too. It is important that this point is properly understood, though. Unfortunately, because of this report, I have been quoted numerous times as having said that the spirits are just sitting around golfing in the spirit world, having a great time. Nothing mentioned about balance or the rest of the work they are doing. Thus I mention that it is important that the whole story be told rather than just that one sentence."

The next part is where it really started interesting me. I had asked Lance about Cleon's comments. Lance's reply drew out an exchange of emails between us that has provided me with some great reading material. Lance said:

"What occurred was that I met with many men who had died in the revolutionary and civil wars and who had assignment now, as part of a quorum, to protect America and keep her free for the final day when Christ returns and directs the building of the city of New Jerusalem, or the latter-day Zion. These men who died in the Revolutionary War shared with me that they had lived with the men who we consider as the founding fathers of America, and that they head the quorum which these men are a part of. They further explained that these men, in particular Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, and Washington, were deeply inspired in their work, and that they came to an understanding of exactly what they were ultimately doing; laying the foundation for the latter-day Zion to be built spoken of in the Old Testament by several ancient prophets. They came to understand this work that they were doing and carried out their assignments.

"These men then explained to me that I needed to understand better what they knew and what they had recognized in their studies and works. They told me several books which I should read in order to come to this better understanding. Three or four of these books were books written by Cleon Skousen about the founding fathers."

Lance died last year (2004) before he could look up from his journal the full book list, but he did give me several off the top of his head. I have only read a couple so far but they're all on my short list to get and read. Here's the list:

Books by Cleon (co-authored the last 3):
1. The Making of America
2. The Majesty of God's Law (this book, I believe, Cleon told me he wrote at President McKay's request stating this was how he got a job at BYU. President McKay and the first presidency told Cleon if the Elders of Israel are to save the constitution, we need to figure out how it is we are to do it. Please go do some research in the archives at BYU and Cleon wrote this book on the subject. I hope I'm not too far off on my recollection...)
3. The Real George Washington
4. The Real Thomas Jefferson
5. The Real Benjamin Franklin

Other books Lance was told to read:
1. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
2. De Tocqueville's Democracy in America

If you are interested in getting Lance's book "The Message," and I do heartily recommend it as well as a couple other of his items, you can go to http://www.americanfamilypublications.com/. I have read his book "Masquerading as Angels" which is a wonderful story he only partly tells in his book "The Message" about a family service vacation that is very inspirational. I also have his tape set "They Saw Our Day" which talks about Indian Prophecies of Christ's second coming. After playing the tapes for some scouts on an overnighter, one of them replied "whoa, that's crazy cool!" Take that as an endorsement I guess. Purchasing from the website I just gave you also helps support Lance's family directly. That is their own personal website and they could use the support since Lance's death has obviously burdened the family.

May Pick

The Omnivore's Dilemma

The bestselling author of The Botany of Desire explores the ecology of eating to unveil why we consume what we consume in the twenty-first century "What should we have for dinner?" To one degree or another this simple question assails any creature faced with a wide choice of things to eat. Anthropologists call it the omnivore's dilemma. Choosing from among the countless potential foods nature offers, humans have had to learn what is safe, and what isn't -- which mushrooms should be avoided, for example, and which berries we can enjoy. Today, as America confronts what can only be described as a national eating disorder, the omnivore's dilemma has returned with an atavistic vengeance. The cornucopia of the modern American supermarket and fast-food outlet has thrown us back on a bewildering landscape where we once again have to worry about which of those tasty-looking morsels might kill us. At the same time we're realizing that our food choices also have profound implications for the health of our environment. The Omnivore's Dilemma is bestselling author Michael Pollan's brilliant and eye-opening exploration of these little-known but vitally important dimensions of eating in America. Pollan has divided The Omnivore's Dilemma into three parts, one for each of the food chains that sustain us: industrialized food, alternative or "organic" food, and food people obtain by dint of their own hunting, gathering, or gardening. Pollan follows each food chain literally from the ground up to the table, emphasizing our dynamic coevolutionary relationship with the species we depend on. He concludes each section by sitting down to a meal -- at McDonald's, at home with his family sharing a dinner from Whole Foods, and in a revolutionary "beyond organic" farm in Virginia. For each meal he traces the provenance of everything consumed, revealing the hidden components we unwittingly ingest and explaining how our taste for particular foods reflects our environmental and biological inheritance. We are indeed what we eat -- and what we eat remakes the world. A society of voracious and increasingly confused omnivores, we are just beginning to recognize the profound consequences of the simplest everyday food choices, both for ourselves and for the natural world. The Omnivore's Dilemma is a long-overdue book and one that will become known for bringing a completely fresh perspective to a question as ordinary and yet momentous as What shall we have for dinner?

Feel free to also read The Red and The Black!

241 Days Until Christmas

Alisha 'Marie' Bennett
Interview date: April of 1996

Alisha plans on attending Beauty school, getting married, and raising a family of about twelve. She is currently employed at Little Things Mean A Lot after retiring from the harsh conditions of Mountain Ridge Library, and before that, Little Ceasers.

Alisha's favorite color is green, favorite movie is Miracle on 34th Street, favorite season is winter, and her favorite shoes are slippers from Shopko. Alisha's heroes are her parents and Joseph Smith and as of this moment, she would marry Brett who is perfectly tall (at least 6'3"), large in stature, a good Mormon, funny, and wants his wife to be a stay at home mother.

The worst time in Alisha's life was getting pushed in a wheelchair which turned over and went rolling down a hill. She has never been humbled and her most irrational act was going to a stake dance on New Year's Eve after graduating from High School. Her most embarrassing moment was fainting at school.

Alisha's favorite features and characteristics about herself are her stunning body and her wonderful personality. "I'm practically perfect," she says. If she could change one things about herself she would be 6 inches taller and a little less perfect. "It's hard," she says. Alisha feels that no matter how good you are at something, there's always somebody better than you. Three words that best describe Alisha are silly, spoiled, and sarcastic.


Alisha 'Marie' Bennett Quilter
Interview date: April of 2009 (I hope)

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Alisha, will you answer these questions? Enter your answers right on this post and add any additional information about yourself that you can think of. We can't wait! Also, will you, or anybody else, post a picture of you, Alisha? And music. We really need music.

April Books!
A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

Amie's thoughts on the invisible wall

I thought the invisible wall was great.  I have to say that for me the love story was a little like a side note.  I found myself mostly interested in Harry and his Mother and the way they viewed and reacted to the situations brought up in the book.  

I've heard it said that love is not enough for a marriage to work.  That there are factors such as having the same religion that make the success more likely.  We find out that Lily dies just five years after the marriage.  I found myself wondering how things went between Arthur and Lilly  when the "rose colored glasses"stage of marriage wear off.  Obviously one of the main events of the book is that Lily and Arthur do get married, but I wonder.  What do you think?  On the other hand I found myself cheering for Arthur and Lily as they broke the rules and that "rule" breaking was laced throughout the book for a period of several years. 

I thought the line between the Jews and the Christians and how it was explained and portrayed was very interesting.  I also thought that the brief periods of time where both sides of the street found common ground was something to celebrate.  I found myself feeling sad that the united sense of community could not last longer.  

I love this author because of his story, age and history.  I think its commendable that he kept writing throughout his life.  I love that he, at the age of 97 published his first book, his second is due out this May and when asked if he would write a third (and I can't find exactly what he said right now) but he said something to the effect that he didn't know but he would try.  I look forward to reading the next book by this author.

March Books!

The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein

Alternate books (if you are unable to find the Invisible Wall):
Arabian Nights by?, translated by Richard Burton

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

25 Things You May or May Not Know About AMY

1. Amy is a loyal friend.
2. Amy is romantic ("at least out loud I won't say I'm in love").
3. Amy loves to read, reread and discuss books, a mark of a true literate.
4. Amy doesn't like tomatoes.
5. Amy is considerate.
6. Amy is into details.
7. Amy will go to the extra effort to make sure there are no unnecessary words or black marks on her photocopies of coloring pages she gives away.
8. Amy is an involved and wonderful Aunt (she takes her nephew to BYU ball games, her niece to the bookstore, and even cleans up their throw-up).
9. Amy has smooth and perfect peach skin and beautiful brown eyes.
10. Amy is stubborn.
11. Amy has a keen memory, she doesn't forget anything.
12. Amy recently took organ lessons and plays the organ.
13. Amy hand-stitches.
14. Amy likes cold cereal without milk for a snack.
15. Amy owns a beautiful quilt rack for a beautiful afghan.
16. Amy is secretive.
17. Amy sends things in the mail to friends often and is prompt when it comes to holidays and birthdays.
18. Amy is in a card club and very creative.
19. Amy likes Jim Brickman and John Schmidt and makes a Christmas CD every year.
20. Amy's wedding colors will be pink and brown.
21. Amy likes snowman decorations.
22. Amy is scheduled, prompt, organized, tidy and clean (and she still likes me, her polar opposite).
23. Amy has lots of darling shoes.
24. Amy will help and shop with a grouchy mother of four children and even bring fruit snacks in her purse for those difficult moments.
25. Amy is a good listener, the kind every friend needs.

Everybody should have an Amy in their life, we are lucky to have one.

February Books

A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Ann Quindlen

A Heart Like His by Virginia Pearce.