The Christmas Sweater

As a fan of Glenn Beck, I had heard him talk about his book, The Christmas Sweater, a lot. So, when I heard it had been published, I asked Deb to look out for it at the Downey Library. When the library got it in, Deb checked it out for me (the first to check the book out from Downey!).

In short, the book is about a 13 year old boy who has already lost his father to cancer and then loses his mother in a car accident. He lives with his grandparents and becomes bitter about how his life has become. Through the help of a neighbor named Russell, he begins to understand what is really important in life.

The book is not too long, and I was able to read it in four hours over two days. Before I read the book, I wondered if this book would be the same as The Christmas Box. The overall theme of redemption and fixing things right are the only similarities. As I came to the end of the book, I shed a few tears, and I was very grateful for the opportunity to read the book.

I Am Legend

Several weeks ago, Deb and I watched I Am Legend on DVD. In short, the movie is about a man, Dr. Robert Neville, who is immune a virus that turns humans into zombie-like creatures that are sensitive to sunlight. Dr. Neville uses his days to search for other survivors and finding a cure for the virus.

As a "time to time" movie viewer, I judge my movies on how long I reflect on the movie after seeing it; how much do they make me think. For days after the movie, I would find myself thinking about one scene or another. I found the premise very interesting and the twists and turns very intriguing. As such, I would recommend this movie. However, as we started to watch the movie, we realized it was way too intense for children and finished watching it when Angie and Lilli were asleep.

Update on Ted

I thought that I should update everyone on how things are going with me. On Nov. 6th, I finished with the 24-hr IV therapy. I still had the PICC line in so they could draw blood from me for the next few weeks. However, a few days later I noticed that my vein in my arm just below my elbow had a hard lump in it. I went to the hospital, had an ultrasound done of my arm, and then told that I had a blood clot in the arm--caused by the PICC line. The PICC line was removed and I went to Dr. Gibby to see how to treat it. I am now on blood thinner (coumadin--actually the the generic version of coumadin).
Dr. Gibby said it would probably be about six months before I can stop taking blood thinner. On we go!

Accidents Do Happen

Last night, Dec. 9, Angie was trying to be helpful. She had turned off the lights on the Christmas tree and the lights around the Nativity scene. She then wanted to turn off the light in the curio cabinet when she grabbed the glass shelf to sturdy herself. Of course, the shelf was not attached and it sent everything tumbling to the ground, breaking one piece of a Nativity scene that Deb had in the cabinet. Deb and I were in the kitchen talking when the accident happened. We went running into the front room to see Angie dashing to hide behind the couch. When I grabbed Angie as she was trying to hide (with a great amount of fear and apprehension on her face), she screamed and then started to cry. I quickly realized it was an accident after I saw that the lights on the tree and around the big Nativity were off. I told her to stop crying and tell me what had happened. When I told her that we knew it was an accident, she stopped crying to tell us what happened.

As a parent, I began to wonder if I have not been doing right in raising her. Why would she want to flee and hide after an accident? Why did she not run to us for protection? I know we have put the fear of death into her if she broke any of "Mommy's pretties." Perhaps we need to give her more support and comfort. I don't know. This is the first time around for this parenting thing!

The True Meaning of Christmas

Each year, the two stakes in Marsh Valley (Arimo and McCammon) put on Michael McLean's The Forgotten Carols. For using local talent and following the script as a readers' theater, it is a wonderful performance. The talent we have here in this valley is amazing, and it is brought out with this production. However, the fabulous story that is told by The Forgotten Carols is what makes this such a great production. Each time I watch the program, whether Michael McLean's stage show or this local show, it really moves me. How he devised the ideas of the "forgotten" people involved with Christ's life is so moving, it is hard to explain it.

My favorite part of the whole story is of the innkeeper. Here is a man, who realizes too late, that he could have been part of something more important than the money he made that night. The second favorite part is the story of Handel--the young man wanting to take part but must wait until his full talent blossoms. And of course, the whole underlying story of The Forgotten Carols is the ability to recognize that Christ is there for each of us, and He can lift us beyond our own limitations. It is hard to express in words the feelings of my heart. I do know this--I love Christ and what He has done for me, my family, and the world. I just hope to show my love to Him by word and deed.

More Holy War Excitement

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I have been reading Quinn Gooch's blog. It is very informative and gets me stoked up for each game. Today (Nov. 19), Quinn posted a description of the final drive of the 2006 game. It was written by John Beck. It gave me goosebumps as I read it! You can find it here.


GO COUGARS! BEAT THE yewts!

Bring It On!

I know I haven't posted much since my illness--because I have been so busy!--, but I needed to post this. I read former BYU player Quinn Gooch's blog, and he posted these videos on his blog. I have to share them here!

BEAT UTAH!

The first video is from 2006--Harline is still open!


This video is from LaVell's last game, 2000:


Here is 2001's great game (and our third date--pantyhose anyone?):


Again...

BEAT UTAH!