Divine Nature Personal Progress

I've been working on my personal progress in YW's. I just finished the project for Divine Nature.  I decided that I was going to read 5 autobiographies.  For each book I wrote down any quotes that I liked as well as recorded "My Take Away" from each book.  I have only read 2 autobiographies in my life before this project, so this was very good for me to balance out my reading a bit. 

I found some fabulous books.  I have been making several more additions to my want to read list not that I am done.  I like reading them more than I thought I would.  It's been very uplifting. Here are the books that I read as well as the scrapbook that I am making with a page for each book. 

 1) Left to Tell.  This has been on my to read list for a long time.  I was glad to finally read it. It was probably one of the most inspiring books I have ever read! I am in awe of her strength of spirit, her relationship with God and her resolve to rise as one left to tell the story of forgiveness, love and peace.

2) My Life in France

She is delightful to read! I knew it was going to be a great book for me when she said. " I was 37 years old and still discovering who I was." This was probably my favorite book! I found myself writing down some of her words, because they were lovely!  She was amazing to me.

3) Nothing is Impossible

This book by Christopher Reeve was one that I just pulled off the shelf at the library.  It wasn't my favorite, but it was still pretty good and really made me thing about somethings that I've never even had an opinion about before, such as stem cell research. I liked his definition of Hope.  Optimism+knowledge=Hope.

4) Dr. Seuss & Mr. Geisel 

His humor was classic! I was amazed at all the recognizable "friends" and acquaintances that he had throughout his life. He was so widely known and popular and yet was somewhat anti social. He was extremely well traveled and educated. He stuck to his standards, even if it wasn't the way "things were done". He did things his way and was a perfectionist and at times oddly insecure. I especially liked hearing the background stories of how his books came to be and some of the little side notes that this book provided and mention of other books that I was unfamiliar with. I didn’t know about.

This biography was, if nothing else. . . thorough. I had a hard time getting through it and found at some point that I was just trying to get to the end. So it was a bit long winded. Amazing though, that they had so much documentation of his life.

 5) My Life - Elizabeth Smart
I wasn't sure I wanted to read this or not. It was very . . disturbing. She definitely "descended below them all" during her horrible 9 months experiencing it all at only 14 years old pure evil! I found it difficult to sleep last night and I think this story will stick with me for a little while. I found myself comparing this book to the one I read first Left to Tell. This one felt a little more detached, and the age difference was obvious.  It was a refining fire story. My favorite quote was from her mother on the night she returned home. She told her:
  "You be happy, Elizabeth.  Just be happy.   If you go and feel sorry for yourself, or if you dwell on what as happened if you hold onto your pain, that is allowing him to steal more of your life away. So don't you do that! Don't you let him! There is no way that he deserves that. Not one more second of your life.  You keep every second for yourself. You keep them  and be happy.  God will take care of the rest."

BONUS BOOK.
I am actually reading another book right now called  "I am Malala"  The story of the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban. It has already been so educational.  I know nothing about that part of the world.  I'm excited to finish it.

This page was posted on March 27, 2014.

Gateway Children's Museum

On Saturday we got together with some of the other Marker family and had dinner at the Crown Burger in Salt Lake City.  Every time we go there I remember the first date that Dennis and ever went on there and the time when I met his family for the first time.  Ronna asked me what my shoe size was - hinting about my ring size of course. It's a Marker traditional spot.

I had an extra little surprise this time when I happened to run into a friend from college who was in town for a hunting convention with is brother.  So fun to run into people in unexpected places!

We were able to park right across from the Energy Solutions arena because of Dennis' school pass. Kind of nice! We all enjoyed the nice little jont to the gateway from dinner.  Grandpa and Grandma treated us all to going to the museum in loo of Grandma's 60th birthday that is coming up this week.  The children all seemed to have a lot of fun playing together, and I think the dad's were having as much fun as the kids were.  I was sitting there watching Dennis talk to the youngest of the clan, Todd, with my camera ready, so sure that Todd was going give me a big cheesy smile. . . . any moment now . . . unfortunately I think he was just so captivated by watching Dennis' face that he just sat there and stared.

Drayden, Bonnie and William were so fun to follow around and watch.  Pure enjoyment!  The girls all had so much fun playing together as well.  In fact after we got home and we were looking through the pictures, Khora told me that she and Emma didn't even know there was another level to visit. They were just having so much fun where they were.

The two big boys teetered on boredom a couple times, I think, but they adapted by having a game of hide and seek with the other boys.  Toward the end of the night they were having so much fun that they were even enjoying the Construction site just like the little kids.

On the way home that night we played our traditional game of "what was your favorite part".
Bonnie - the sand and the hospital pad with the helicopter
Khora - the farmland and store
Afton - the store and farmland
Isaac - making the track with the pipes for the balls to go down with uncle Kevin
Jacob - the vacuum balls
Me - watching everyone play
Dennis - playing in the water with Bonnie, the climbing wall with Khora and making animations with Afton

Party Plans

This year it was Isaac's turn for a birthday party with friends.  He wanted to go play ball at the gym and come home for cake and ice cream and maybe a movie.  What he really planned was going to be a marathon party, but I had one great consolation to all this. . . .it was easy on my part and the house was clean.  He had around 8 friends come to play ball at the church.  When they were done we had pizza and cake and ice cream.  Some of them stayed to watch Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters.  It was a long day, but Isaac had a lot of fun.

I think the older the boys get the easier it is to have a party for them.  It's much less entertaining them on my part and more of them entertaining themselves, which is as it should be right!  Isaac planned it all and pretty much put it all together himself.  It's kind of typical Isaac.

What is the best part of being 12?

"I get to go on more camp outs with scouts."

We are so glad that he is in our family.  He is a very strong individual and loves animals, fishing and all things ball related. He is self motivated, works until it's done and is a leader.  He has lots of friends and is a very clean and tidy person - it's a positive thing, it's a positive thing.

Acceptance Letter

It came in my inbox yesterday.

AnaLee,
Congratulations! It is my pleasure to inform you that you have been accepted to Utah Valley University, beginning 2014 FALL academic term. We are delighted to welcome you to the UVU family. 

I applied in December just missing the spring deadline by a matter of days. I'm anxious to get going now that I've made the choice but starting this fall I will be working towards a bachelors degree in art visual communications . . . graphic design.  Lots of art classes including photography (yea!) and . . . (gulp) . . drawing!  (sigh)

And the most exciting was that my credits and degree from Snow College - about a hundred years ago - transferred beautifully.  I will enter as a junior and only need one math class!  Hooray!!  I thought I had to take two accu-placer tests. . . in English and Math . . . and I was dreading it!  Its the over 20 equivalent of the ACT or SAT test.  In fact I procrastinated . . . and it payed off because apparently I don't need them as a transfer student. Hallelujah!

I'm nervous and excited and a little intimidated to be entering this field among these younger naturally artistic kids at this point in my life.  One of the young women at church today looked at me and said "you are going to school?"  Bless her young little 12 year old heart!  ;)  Yes I am.  Heaven help me!!

Frozen - Worth Seeing Again

We don't usually see a feature twice in the movie theater.  Dennis took the girls to see Frozen in the theater the day after Thanksgiving, but Bonnie reeeeaallly wanted to go see the "frost girl" again. A repeat viewing is way too expensive for us at this point.  The boys are now considered "adults" in the theater, but well, . . .  we are at that stage in life.   Since the boys and I didn't see it and I was in love with the sound track already. . .yea we bought that this week, and I have loved Idina Menzel since Wicked. . . . so. . .  we decided that we would all go see this repeater show.

LOVED IT!!!

Part of the reason I enjoyed it so much was actually watching my girls watching the movie. They have been listening to the soundtrack enough that they knew the songs and it was so cute to see Bonnie totally into it! I mean, she was giddy. The boys even thought it was "so good".  Bonnie asked if we could watch it again and again and again.  I told her we have to wait until we can buy it.  It's been out almost 2 months and the theater was still full tonight. That says something.  It almost made me cry, I laughed out loud and it's just a beautiful film from an art perspective. Seriously beautiful.  The only part I found a little disturbing was how the villain was so good at being a good guy! Bad guys should give a hint or something . . .right??!!

I asked them all on the way home who they liked best out of the two sisters. Elsa or Anna. Bonnie said that she likes Elsa, because "she has ice powers and snow powers." They all said Elsa, but I am an Anna fan!  She is . . ADORABLE!! Bonnie like adorable!! "Do you wanna build a snowman?" But Olaf is so funny and cute too!  He's the animated snow man who loves summer.

So . .to recap. . .  wonderful sing along again and again music, beautiful picture, lovable, adorable characters, humor, heart break, and true love! Definitely worth seeing again.

Welcome 2014!

We rang in the new year here at home surrounded by hundreds of little kids.  That's just kind of what it felt like with all the little feet everywhere and empty soda cans in their wake.  The kids love to play with their cousins and they are getting old enough that we can get in a little adult game time as well.  It was good to have most of my brothers over to spend some time together this holiday season. We had lots to eat and some fun games to play.  They all stayed until the fireworks across the street signaled the new year.

Today it's just hanging out and taking down the Christmas tree and trying to pack all the decorations away for another year.

Dennis and the girls taking the tree down

Big Day for Isaac

On Saturday the 28th Isaac had his 12th birthday. This birthday is a milestone in his life. He was so ready to move onward.  Isaac could hardly stand the wait.  He's been working so hard on his Faith in God this past little bit.  He's had a lot of Articles of Faith to memorize  and he finished before Sunday.  He had a goal to get it done though and he worked diligently until it was done. We are just so pleased with young master Isaac and the young man that he is.

12 years old, with the help of his big brother.

He blew the candles out through his nose. . . the little stinker!!

Isaac was  excited that he finally got to go to Young Men's class instead of Primary this week.  He was glad to move on to be with some of his friends.  He has some good boys that he hangs out with that age, some really good examples for him to follow.

Isaac was given the Priesthood and ordained a Deacon by his father after church on Sunday.  Grandpa and Grandma Marker were there and Travis and Ronna and their family as well.  We had a nice dinner at our house afterwards and enjoyed spending time together.  These little mile stones are so good to enjoy in the moment. Which is why I usually don't get many pictures of these things. . . I'm too busy enjoying them. I completely forgot to take a picture at church, so I snagged one of these guys just before Grandpa left.

Grandpa Steve, Isaac and Dennis

Happy Birthday Isaac. May it be a wonderful year for you!