EFY = Good Times March 7, 2009

Anyone who has ever attended an EFY session (Especially for Youth) can attest that they’re some of the best times ever. EFY is synonymous for the cutest boys, little or no sleep and the most fun you’ve ever had… in addition to being a huge testimony booster. At EFY chivalry is alive – boys open doors for girls, carry cafeteria trays and serenade them on a regular basis. It’s amazing.

In 2004 I had a chance to be an EFY counselor in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta – and had time of my life. Several of my kids from EFY have gone on missions and gotten married in the temple. It’s incredible to see how the gospel sticks in their lives.

I always had HUGE crushes on my EFY counselors – always the older, hotter guys – and it was interesting to have the tables turn 🙂 One of the kids from EFY Calgary had a big crush on me. So cute!

Did you go to EFY? What were some of your favorite memories? Here are some of mine…

Chivalry is alive!

EFY dances.  There’s no going back.

Marking up brand new scriptures

Maren Ord came to perform at our EFY talent show. Michael proposed. Maren played along.

My Edmonton girls

being randomly serenaded by the boys

the poster contest – Ezra on the left has gone on to major in art!

heart attacks

the Asian invasion

awesome fellow counsellors

the lost and found fashion show

utter and complete exhaustion

Let’s hear it for EFY.

Joseph Smith The Prophet April 29, 2008

This Saturday night, our friend Collette was performing “Joseph Smith The Prophet” at the Tabernacle on Temple Square. While we went to support her, Tim and I were astounded at the caliber of music we heard. Similar to Music and the Spoken Word, produced by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir each Sunday morning, Joseph Smith The Prophet consisted of orchestration, narration, soloists with a powerful choir to back them up. The Spirit was felt in abundance and I was in tears for the first half of the performance.

We later learned that this musical masterpiece was composed and conducted by young Rob Gardner who, with little formal musical training, possessed a tremendous testimony to share of the Prophet Joseph.

Early this morning I looked online for the CD and found Spire Music, a non-profit organization co-founded by Gardner with this vision: “…Music has an unparalleled ability to teach, uplift, edify and inspire. Our hope is to discover gifted individuals: composers, vocalists, instrumentalists, arrangers, lyricists, etc., and to give them the opportunity to use their talents to write and give voice to new, superior music of a sacred or inspiring nature. To paraphrase Spencer W. Kimball, our mission is to “strive for perfection—the best and greatest—and never [be] satisfied with mediocrity,” seeking out those “[who will] give life and feeling and true perspective to a subject so worthy.”

This performance redirected my focus and reminded me of the music within that I yearn to share and the responsibility that is mine. A heartfelt thank you to all the musicians who shared their music with us. It has been years since I have felt music bring the Spirit so powerfully.

Truly we were inspired.

Spire Music – http://www.spiremusic.org

I Have a Testimony of Craigslist… February 23, 2008

Tim recently asked me to blog about him. In Tim’s world right now, he has decided BYU would be a much better experience with an MacBook and instead of dipping into our personal funds, he got creative.

Tim’s sweet butter yellow Sonar kit. Sorry guys, it’s sold.

Tim is an avid drummer and though he only has two hands and two feet, felt the need to have two drum sets. The water blue kit is LOUD like thunder and the little butter yellow kit much more tolerable. He got to thinking, do I really need two drum sets? and made the decision to sell the butter kit. After listing it on Craigslist Saturday, he had a buyer in our living room by Monday, cash in hand on Wednesday night. What a turnaround! Having worked in a music store, STOCK doesn’t even fly off the shelves at that rate! It has been an emotional journey as well that Tim compared to selling a child. I thought it was probably more like selling a pet. After his recent success, Tim got to wondering what else he could sell and has posted an Alesis mixer he’s not using and has already gotten four offers in the last 24 hours.

When we were out for dinner with Chandra, Ted, Michelle and Terry last night, we were sharing our recent success with Craigslist. Terry has a boat he loves to take out on Utah Lake in the summer and after a moment of Michelle’s quiet contemplation, he says, “Don’t even think about it, honey!” to which Michelle responds, “The thought just crossed my mind!” We laughed that selling the boat would pay for two trips to Michelle’s beloved Hawaii! Ted is going to sell his kayak, so if anyone is on the market, check out their blog to the right in the blogroll and get in touch with them!

T-shirt care of Kontroverse clothing

This morning as I’m getting up, I hear Ginger the kitten scream upstairs, Tim yell, and thunderous footsteps coming down the stairs. Apparently Ginger had snuck upstairs to torment the Scully cat, a favorite past time, and when Tim had customarily come to collect her, she viscously attacked him — rather out of character for our fiesty kitten. To teach her a lesson, Ginger got a bath and Tim got more scratches. While pictures are below, please don’t let Ginger determine the next time you come over — she really isn’t a killer like you might think!

So you’re coming over tomorrow, right??