To Our Veterans

Thank you for the service you have and continue to give. When you signed up to protect our country, you were willing to give your life for it. Many have. This isn't a light matter to me. My Grandpa Madsen served many years during WWII and beyond, and nearly did give his life. My brother-in-law is in the Air Force. I have other family members and friends who are serving in the military in one way or another.


Today is the anniversary of the Armistice of WWI, which ended that first world war 91 years ago. Hostilities ended on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour when the Germans signed the Armistice. Years later, Congress asked the President to officially recognize November 11th as Armistice Day, and an Act was passed making this an official holiday: "a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day'."

In 1954, the name of the holiday was changed in the United States to Veterans Day (no apostraphe), so as to include all veterans of any war. In many other countries, the name of 'Armistice Day' was changed to 'Remembrance Day'.

Armistice Day was supposed to recognize the end of "the war to end all wars." Unfortunately, there have been many more wars. Fortunately, we still have those who are willing to give their life for their country and for the freedoms we enjoy.

Happy Anniversary Sesame Street!!!

If you haven't gotten onto Google lately, you are missing a small treat. The Google Doodle's (at least, for American Google) have been tributes to Sesame Street...they are marking their 40th this year. I grew up on Sesame Street, and loved it...

Here's to the letter F...for forty years...:)



Sunny day
Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street

Trunk or Treat...

I know, I am a single girl...on a Friday night you would think I would have something better to do...but yes, I went to the Tuscaloosa/Northport Wards Trunk or Treat. Why? Cause I felt like it and I wanted to show off my costume...which all you internets (yes, I am stealing that word from you Reva) get to see hopefully tomorrow...it's awesome...

You know when you are in Alabama and the ghosts and goblins coming to your doorstep instead of the usual 'trick or treat' say 'Roll Tide!'. Yes, it happened, and it was an awesome moment...his Dad happened to overhear him too, which made it even better...

But my costume...let me tell you...it took Bishop Martin a good while to figure out who I was...Sister Richetto, after talking with me, still couldn't figure out who I was...I mean, it was awesome...

Don't worry, you will get a picture or two...PROMISE!!! I'll have you know, it took about 7 times washing my face and arms to get all the makeup off...:)

Halloween Flashlight Recall

If you bought flashlights at Target for your kids for trick or treating, check out this recall:

LINK

They were pulling a wicked witch act...smoking, catching on fire, and melting...yes, I am serious, just take a look just in case you or a friend of yours bought them...

Breaking the News...

I am moving back home sometime in the next couple of months...probably around Christmas time, but things may change. I don't have a set date yet.

Q & A

Q: Why?

A: For a lot of reasons, including I need to be closer to family, there is no good reason for me to stay (however much I do love Alabama), and a bunch of others...

Q: Where?

A: First New Mexico, but that is expected to be a very short stay. As much as I love my parents and sister, I do not have fond memories from any time I have lived there...yes that can change, but...last time I thought it would be different, it certainly was and in a very bad way.

After New Mexico, I hope to go to AZ, BUT I need a good job. I will only take one in the West unless some incredible, cannot pass up this opportunity comes along.

Q: When?

A: Date not set in stone, but probably sometime around the holidays...that can change however. I have my Dad's schedule, my own schedule, and my current job to think about. I don't want to leave the people I work for high and dry...I actually like the people I work with, and last time I left in such a hurry...I was just beyond happy when Jason hired me back. I try not to burn bridges...

Q: How?

A: Well, I will probably take a good bit of stuff back out there over Thanksgiving...and then will pack up my car...anything leftover I will give away, throw away, or mail home. I will be driving my car back, and probably have someone else with me...probably my Dad.

Q: What?

A: Um...not sure what to put here...I am moving...there!

I broke the news at a stake meeting recently, and the stake president asked me if I was happy about this move. My answer was yes and no.

I really do like living here...it's refreshing to be around so many God-fearing people. It is quite common to see people outside reading their Bible, or at work, on the plane, etc. As stressful as this calling has been, I love it, and I love working with the president and counselors in the stake YW and the other auxiliaries, along with all the ward leaders and of course the girls. I love my coworkers...I feel really lucky to have had a job here where I have such good coworkers.

BUT I am so far away from my family, and the last thing I want is for my sister to start having kids and me be far away...and being so far away from cousins, aunts, uncles, and most especially my parents.

I told those in my presidency that the only thing that would keep me here is if I found someone to marry and live with here...being single and in Alabama sucks. It really does for me at least. Would I move back here? Of course! But the dating pool...ha!

Oh!

Q: Have I finished my degree?

A: No, but I have hopes to finish it.

There...that is done.

Update...

...there is nothing to update...just relishing in the fact that I don't have to travel this weekend for once...in fact, I get to be in my own ward for two whole weekends in a row...yay!

That's all, unless you want to hear about my totally exciting evening that consisted of going to Target with the roommate and then going over to Nichee's to watch the Nightmare Before Christmas (EXCELLENT movie...)...yeah, I didn't think so...

Perhaps tomorrow will bring something interesting with it...

Long Sabbath...

Began with Ensley Ward Conference (last surviving inner-city Birmingham Ward...)...which then turned into an unexpected 1:30 Stake Welfare and Correlation Meeting...

...unexpected because my president who is supposed to attend that meeting was sick, and the counselor already had plans...so I got to make the calls on the 2010 calendar and report why our budget looks so screwy and make the calls on the 2010 budget...and you know, being in Young Women, the other auxiliaries took about five minutes, where we took about an hour...fun times...great learning experience actually...

...the best part is I won't be here in 2010...I am made all these calls for events I won't be here to attend...very odd...(the president and I met last week and went over budget and calendar, so I knew where she tood, but still...)

Got home at 5:30pm. I won't complain too much, the stake presidency and high council had more meetings after that...