wishes everyone a Merry Christmas.

I read something poignant from Ralph Waldo Emerson last night. He said, "Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself." This Christmas I hope we can all remember what we are really giving and receiving. I have been given the wonderful gift of a loving family and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope that I will always be able to give the pure love of Christ to others, holding nothing back.

I love you all.

Merry Christmas!

is in love with John Denver.

As many of you know, I've had a slight obsession with cowboys and Native Americans this year (no, I'm not going to say "Indians"). This song is my absolute favorite Christmas song at the moment. I close my eyes and picture it. It makes me want to write more of my novel. I think I will tonight... if I can get through three meetings, tithing settlement, and volleyball.

"Christmas for Cowboys"
John Denver


Tall in the saddle, we spend Christmas Day,

driving the cattle over snow covered-plains.

All of the good gifts given today,

ours is the sky and the wide open range.


Back in the cities they have different ways,

football and eggnog and Christmas parades.

I'll take a blanket, I'll take the reins,

It's Christmas for cowboys wide-open plains.


A campfire for warmth as we stop for the night,

the stars overhead are Christmas tree lights.

The wind sings a hymn as we bow down to pray,

It's Christmas for cowboys, wide-open plains.


It's tall in the saddle we spend Christmas Day,

driving the cattle over snow-covered plains.

So many gifts have been opened today,

ours is the sky and the wide open range.


It's Christmas for cowboys, wide open plains.

is printing a retraction.

Okay, I spoke too soon. As usual. On Saturday I got a slip in the mailbox for a package the mail carrier couldn't deliver because we weren't home. It was from my missionary. Of course he didn't forget. I'm such a dork. I'll be writing an "I'm sorry" letter this week!

I'm going to pick it up today... I can't wait!

is 27.

I had a great birthday. Thanks to everyone who expressed kind wishes by phone, text, email, facebook, and in person. I am so grateful to have you in my life. I don't expect much out of birthdays anymore, just the promise of being with the people that I love, or at least hearing from them. For the most part, my loved ones took good care of me this year.

However, there is one pebble in my shoe this birthday, or maybe it's more of a thorn in my saddle. Either way, there was one person I wanted to hear "Happy Birthday" from and I didn't. I know my missionary is busy. I know he had an eventful week last week (he had a baptism!), but all I needed were two words from him and I didn't get them. It would be understandable if it had only happened once, but it happened last year too. In 99.9% other ways he is incredibly thoughtful, but I have to admit, I'm a little peeved. Actually, more like hurt. I have already forgiven him, but I hope that he'll still say something soon.

In the meantime, my tender heart is being soothed by John Denver's "Christmas for Cowboys." I highly recommend it. It's in my new "Folky Christmas" playlist.

misses Elder Wirthlin.

Today Elder Wirthlin, an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away at age 91. He was one of my favorite apostles to hear from, not that we should have favorites, but I really connected with him and the way he spoke to us. He was always centered on the mercy that is available to us through Jesus Christ and the love that we should show to each other. I read "Concern for the One" over and over again. It truly did change my life to hear his words. Here are some of my favorite quotes from that talk:

"True disciples of Jesus Christ have always been concerned for the one. Jesus Christ is our greatest example. He was surrounded by multitudes and spoke to thousands, yet He always had concern for the one. 'For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost,” He said. “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?'"

"The Lord did not people the earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the piccolos of the world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony. All of Heavenly Father’s children are different in some degree, yet each has his own beautiful sound that adds depth and richness to the whole."

"Brothers and sisters, if only we had more compassion for those who are different from us, it would lighten many of the problems and sorrows in the world today. It would certainly make our families and the Church a more hallowed and heavenly place."

"Except for the Lord, we have all made mistakes. The question is not whether we will trip and fall but, rather, how will we respond? Some, after making mistakes, stray from the fold. This is unfortunate. Do you not know that the Church is a place for imperfect people to gather together—even with all their mortal frailties—and become better?....I am not aware of any sign on the door of our meetinghouses that reads 'Restricted Entrance—Perfect People Only.'"

"I know that each of you bears a concern for a loved one. Give encouragement, service, and support to them. Love them. Be kind to them. In some cases, they will return. In others, they will not. But in all cases, let us ever be worthy of the name we take upon ourselves, even that of Jesus Christ."

I know that Elder Wirthlin was a disciple of Christ and that I have greatly benefitted from hearing his wise counsel. I will miss him.

is getting in the Christmas spirit.

I'm wearing my red plaid scarf, I've got Stephen's hot chocolate in my snowman mug, a new pine air freshener is sitting on my desk (and I've disposed of the mini pumpkins in my office too), and I'm listening to a Sufjan Stevens/Carpenters/Bing Crosby/The Weepies holiday mix on Pandora. Yes, December is here. Only 25 days until Christmas! Only one day until my birthday! Life is good.

P.S. My boss decided to take a week off of work to go to Hawaii. Little does she know it's a vacation for me too. Hehe.

eats leftovers.

Three words: Turkey pot pie.


Almost as good as Thanksgiving dinner itself, but not quite! That would be blasphemy.

is thankful for the source of all blessings.

"And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ" (Moroni 10:18)

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17).

Above all, this Thanksgiving, I am grateful for Jesus Christ who made the greatest sacrifice for me so that my life could be joyful. I know that He is the source of all blessings. I feel peace when I am obedient to His teachings. I know that these blessings are available to all who believe in Him.

finished her first square.

This is my first attempt at piecing a square for my quilt. I've mentioned it before, but I wanted to show you all. I kind of botched it (maybe you can tell around the roof area) so I decided that this pattern is too complex for the whole quilt. Instead of using this square for my quilt, I decided to sew it onto a pillowcase and send it to my missionary for Christmas.

See the little initials at the bottom? I added those just for him. I hope he likes it. :)

is thankful for piroshki.

Last night I went to the home of one of my mentees to introduce her to her new mentor. While I was there I remembered how much I love meeting with Ukrainian families in their homes. It has been a long time (four years!) since my mission in Ukraine, but I still remember that feeling. I was warmly greeted by her mother. She made us fresh piroshki (rolls) with apricot jam and poppy seeds in the middle and she even remembered that I don't drink tea and had boiled raspberries in sweetened water for me (they call it "compote"). On the way out she handed me a bag filled with even more. Oooh, I love piroshki. I love Ukrainian hospitality too and I miss living among them.

still believes in miracles.

During the protest that took place outside the LA temple, this is what took place inside, according to one temple worker:

LA Temple: The “inside” story

“My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders: My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA temple every Saturday. Today, I had the privilege of translating the new assistant matron's message during our devotional.

She started like this ‘The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house.’ She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant.

After Proposition 8 passed, the temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5,000 people would come to the temple, burn it to the ground, and stop its work. The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA temple president called the Salt Lake City temple offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the temple by closing the gates. The assistant matron said today that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the temple presidency’s summons and patrolled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful it was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would.

On Thursday, November 13th a secretary in the temple was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found a smaller one inside. When she opened this one, white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst—anthrax. She contacted the president, who in turn called the Salt Lake City temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again on the grounds to investigate, and the temple once again had to close from around 11:30am to 5pm. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering the temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the celestial room. Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day was a microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to confirm that the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said ‘They said we can't go down but no one said we can’t go up and I have many people in the celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?’ As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions nonstop while the temple was closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike. Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The temple reopened in time for the 5:30pm session.

The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2,000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the temple. Once again, the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, ‘No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing...’ But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchtdorf of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: ‘The time has come for the LA temple to come out of obscurity and become an ensign for righteousness to the world under your presidency.’ Pictures of the temple have been shown on TV, in newspapers, and on the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting on how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the temple looks.

I can only add my own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we will stand firm, steadfast, and immovable while the prophecies of the signs before His coming are fulfilled. ‘Be not afraid, only believe’ He has said, and also ‘What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.’ I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy name of whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer. Your sister in Christ, P.A.”

I add my own testimony to this sister's testimony of temple work as well. I know that the Lord's work is the most important work in this world and it cannot be stopped. I am grateful that the temple was unharmed. I know that the Lord will continue to protect the faithful and He has not forgotten about us. Miracles do happen in our day.

needs to say her piece.

In the aftermath of Proposition 8, I feel like I need to make my stance known. This issue isn't going to go away, and I don't think things are getting easier in this world. I see divisions forming and I wish this weren't the case. I know that I have blog readers with different backgrounds, beliefs, sexual preferences, and so on. My intent is not to alienate anyone, but to let them know what I believe and to assure them that I care about them and love them.

As most of my readers know, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I believe in Jesus Christ and His teachings. I support the leaders of my church when they say we "solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World).

This issue concerns more than just the question of who should marry whom. It is a deeply personal question that is formed by each person's belief of what is moral and what is immoral. As I stated before, I believe that same-sex relationships fall into the realm of immorality, along with other sins such as premarital sex, adultery, and other acts that violate the law of chastity. God does not make exceptions. However, He loves His children despite the sins we commit or the mistakes we make. Christ suffered for them all. That being said, I would like to talk about more than just the law. It is not my place to condemn anyone and so I focus on what I can do. I can love.

I love my dear friends who deal with same-sex attraction. They have opened my heart in ways I've never dreamed of. Understanding more about this challenge has caused me to feel greater love and compassion for all people. Regardless of the choices my friends make, I will love them. I will not say that their actions are acceptable, but that is not my place anyway. For some people it is hard to believe that there is a way to separate someone from what they do. I believe that "Charity is the ability to separate a man from what he does" (Hyrum Smith). Charity is the pure love of God. This means that I am trying to love others despite their weaknesses and sins because I hope that they would do the same for me. I am not perfect and I know that my loved ones are very patient with me.

So, this is my stance on same-sex marriage. Yes, it is a sin, but I will not compromise my love for others because of it. I will not draw lines where no lines need to be drawn. I stand by my belief in love as strongly as I stand by my belief in right and wrong.

"And Charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail-

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever and whoso is found posessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." (Moroni 7:45-47).

is thankful again today.

These two small things make my life so much easier.

*note: this photo is not to scale ;)

This big thing does not make my life easier, however. But I love her anyway. Even when she plays in her favorite mud puddle in the backyard.

is thankful for walks.

I have become very attached to going on walks. I adored walking through the older part of south Provo and I missed it when I came back to Oregon. My own neighborhood has plenty of space for walking, but not the same charm as where I once was. When I started working at my new job I found that it is in the middle of the very walkable Eastmoreland neighborhoods surrounding Reed College. Now I faithfully take walks on my lunch breaks, whenever it isn't raining too hard.

is thankful for a job.

The rain has come back again and in torrents. My throat hurts and my head is swimming. I'm sitting at work at my desk, planning a presentation for today and an appearance at a community resource fair--it's going to be a long day. BUT... I have a job. In the middle of this record high unemployment rate, I am working. Even though it's a "poopy" day (my coworker's words, not mine... hehe) and I'm not feeling well, I am very grateful that I have a way to earn money and I actually enjoy it. I love working with the seven Russian-speaking women at my work and I love helping out children and families in the Russian community here in Portland. It's such a blessing. It's the kind of job that I wasn't sure if I liked at the beginning, but now I realize that I couldn't have picked a better job for myself. It is exactly what I wanted to be doing. I'm glad it's not the kind of job that starts out as more fun that it seems and then declines into a mind-numbing routine. This job challenges me all the time and each day is different in some day.



One more (I forgot again yesterday), I am thankful for help with my quilting project. I finished my first square. I'll post a picture of it soon. It was a little complicated. It probably had 30+ pieces to it! Aaah! I worked on it for two hours and it wasn't coming together right, but I finished it the best way I could. Last night I went to Sister Harris's house and she is a quilting angel. She helped me figure out what was going wrong and I actually re-thought my pattern a little and redesigned the square so it would only have 20 pieces. Yay! I am excited now to sew this new pattern and I am so grateful for more experienced quilters who take me under their wing. ;)



This is kind of like my new quilt block. It looks more 3D with contrasting colors on the window part and the door part. I'll be working on this new pattern soon.

is grateful for seminary.

I was kind of waiting for a perfect day for this post, but I realized that there are no perfect days in seminary. Each day has a bit of rowdiness, sleeping in class, being chatty, and so on, but that's okay. They're learning, that's the point.

Today I talked with my class about sacrifice along with Luke 9:57-62. Those six verses opened up to me as I studied them last night (a blessing in and of itself) and then as I spoke with my students about the sacrifices they are asked to make. Christ asks us to make sacrifices to follow Him because He first made the greatest sacrifice for us. I am grateful to be reminded of such important, simple concepts. I am grateful for each student in the class and how unique they are. I know their lives are not easy and I recognize that coming to seminary is a sacrifice for them, just like teaching it is for me, but we are blessed because of it.

is thankful for a break.

It's amazing how much of a difference three hours away can make. I feel so much more rested and ready for the coming week. Being in Sisters was a breath of fresh air. I always love going to visit.

I'm also thankful for my cousin's daughter Olivia that we brought along with us. She is a lot of fun to play with. Here is a video of Olivia playing a game where we throw a ping pong ball down the stairs and she goes down and gets it. I've never seen a two-year-old get down the stairs so fast!

is halfway!

One more thing...

TODAY IS MY MISSIONARY'S HALFWAY MARK!

Just 11 months, 52 weeks, and 364 days to go...

is thankful for Sisters.

Sisters the town, that is. I am going away for the weekend to my aunt's cabin in Sisters, Oregon! Whenever I am there I buy ridiculously expensive quilt fabric, browse in cowboy-themed shops, and eat glorious baked goods from the Sisters Bakery. Right now, after a week of rainy muck and working late, it's exactly what I need. More on Sisters when I return...

is thankful for spaghetti and downpours.

At work today I had lunch with the most fascinating woman. She is an Old Believer, one of the Russian-speaking immigrants who came to America almost 100 years ago to escape religious persecution in Russia. As we sat together, I in my business casual slacks and and cardigan and she in her beautiful homemade dress and kerchief, in Old Spaghetti Factory it felt like we were old friends. We found much in common in our beliefs and morals. We laughed and joked together. It was one of the most rewarding conversations I've had in quite some time.

Here's my thankful post for yesterday too. It just got too late last night and I didn't get a chance to post it. I'm thankful for visiting teaching! I went last night during an endless downpour to search out the houses of my teachees with my companion and found out that it is a lot of fun to get lost (repeatedly) and get distracted during the lesson while we talked about our lives instead.

I think there is a theme here. What I'm really grateful for is my sisters, whether sisters in the gospel or otherwise. These good women fill my life with beauty and joy.

is thankful for Veteran's Day.

I was griping that I had to work today, but after a frantic twenty-minute-drive I found out that I don't! Don't you love those days? You run to class and you're not prepared and then there's a note on the door or you don't want to teach Sunday school and it turns out that someone else is teaching. Yay! Today I am going to go get some pants altered and pick up my newly refurbished high heels. And I'm going to relax. That's the point of today. We get to relax in a peaceful country because of what Veterans did (and continue to do) for us. Thank you so much.

is thankful for puppets!

This is the new video for "Can't Go Back Now" from the Weepies. It's so CUTE! It brightened up my workday. :)

is thankful for shoes.

Every year for the past three years I've gotten a pair of sassy heels for my birthday. They are impractical and I wouldn't buy them otherwise, but birthdays are all about those kinds of things, right? Actually, I lied. I buy impractical shoes about weekly. Anyhow, two years in a row I've gotten black heels, but this year I wanted RED! Check out these precious heels from Steve Madden. They were on sale at Nordstrom...

Since I didn't get a chance to post on Saturday, I'll do a double thankful post today. I am also thankful for roller skating. Yes, after a three-year-hiatus I went roller skating at our local rink Oaks Park. I am sore all over, but it was fun to zip around the rink on four wheels. I even remembered how to take the corners fast! I only fell once, but I'm not too injured--just a little knee bump.

is thankful for apples.

At work every day I stare at a blank, sage green wall all day. It was starting to depress me. On Monday I got a new coworker, Irina. Today she brought in two beautiful, still-life paintings to brighten up the wall. The first is of green apples, spilled across a long, white table. The second features mandarins and two glass bottles on a red table. They somehow complement the wall perfectly, which once seemed hideous. Thank you so much Irina. It's amazing what a difference two paintings make.

I am also thankful that I'm leaving work one hour early today (I racked up a little overtime) and I'm actually going out with some friends tonight. Yes, my social life is not completely dead.

Goodbye ugly green wall!

is starting NaBloPoMo!

I missed national blog posting month last year, but this year I'm going to do it. I really am. I have decided to post one thing I'm thankful for each day until Thanksgiving. I think it'll do me some good.

Today I am grateful for lunch with my mom and my brother in the middle of a rainy, busy workday. We ate at Pastini. Yum!

recommends a movie.

The Secret Life of Bees was a beautiful movie. I knew I needed to go see it after I saw the cast, but I didn't really know what to expect out of it. It has renewed my faith in the movie industry once again. The cinematography was gorgeous. I love rural America and this film captured that sun-soaked, country feeling perfectly. It also addresses issues like racism and domestic violence in a touching way that doesn't feel too heavy. It made me cry in a couple of places and I am glad that there are films like this that incite feelings beyond a typical moviegoers expectations. The soundtrack was nice as well. I think I might buy it. I usually don't pay a lot of attention to soundtracks, but this one had a mix of both folksy tunes and soul. Mmmm.

Go see it!

enjoyed Halloween.

My dogs didn't, however. Mollie was a bumblebee and Paisley was a ladybug, but not for long. They quickly pawed their hats off and rolled around, growling, until we finally removed their sweet, little costumes. Oh well.

is ?

Here's a little preview of my Halloween costume. It started out as a Jane Austen character, probably Jane Bennett from Pride and Prejudice, but then it morphed into something else. It feels kind of French. Who do I look like to you?

loves her dogs.

And here are my two dogs fighting, just for fun.

can't believe it's been a year.

This morning I wrote a memo to my missionary. It's been one year since we became "official." I think I'll be okay for one more year.

I'll have to make do with sepia-colored pictures for now. :)

is eating her words.

If my sixteen-year-old self had seen me standing in line for a Celine Dion concert, I would have punched myself in the face. I initially went because I had free tickets from my work. I didn't want to turn them down because it seemed like it might be fun, and I haven't been out of the house except to go to work for too long. Not to mention, she is a favorite of my missionary and I felt like I should give her a try. Well, I have a confession. Not only did I go, but I LOVED it. So much that I thought I was going to burst into tears at various points throughout her show. So, I am eating my words. It's out there for the world to see.

I LOVE CELINE!

travels by post.

Today I got this letter in the mail. I've never been immortalized on an envelope before. :) Good thing I travel well.

He looks pretty good on an envelope too.

made a mess.

http://wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/202338/Tronchik

This is what my blog would look like if it threw up. Cool.

likes yellow.

I just do. You can't tell me you don't like it after this collage.

has already started scheming.

Now that I have an official income, I already have a list of things to buy. I've held off for what feels like weeks and weeks and now it's time to get:

1. A gym membership so that I can start swimming again.

2. Some cowboy boots. I've been aching for them all summer.












3. Clinique facewash. I went cheap and tried St. Ives. Then Cetaphil. Neither worked. I went a little higher up and tried Burt's Bees. It looked like bees had stung me on my forehead in a million places. I guess I can't get around it.













4. An air freshener for my office.














That's all I can think of for now. I know, dream big.

started working!

Today was my first day working at Russian Oregon Social Services. I am slightly overwhelmed, but I enjoy my boss and my coworkers.

One of the best parts of my day was talking on the phone with an elderly man who wanted to volunteer for us. I heard him say "the Lord saved my chubby buns" about five times.

I hope he calls back.

is employed!

After three months of searching, I have finally found a job! I am so excited to start this Wednesday at Russian Oregon Social Services (ROSS). I get to use my language and work with Russian immigrant teens. I feel very blessed. Thank you to all who have been praying for me.

That's all for now, but I'll keep you updated on what my new job is like.

finally has a name for her puppy.

Thank you to all who participated in the online polls. Our puppy's new name is:

Paisley!

That's all there is to report except that she has peed in my room about four times. But I still love her.

got a new puppy!

My mom brought home a new little English Springer Spaniel puppy from Idaho this weekend! We are already in love with her. She brings back so many memories of our dog Brittain. We haven't named her yet, so please vote on a name (the name we choose may or may not be from the poll).

Here are some videos of the new puppy:

took another pointless survey.

Note to reader: this quiz only has 49 questions.

50 Questions To Really Get To Know Someone
1) Are you a morning or night person?	Night
2) Which do you prefer, sweet or salty foods?	Salty
3) Ninjas or pirates?	Pirates
4) Ninjas vs pirates, discuss.	I just don't buy the facemasks. I prefer tattoos.
5) Autobots or Decepticons?	No idea.
6) What was your favorite childhood television program?	Sesame Street
7) Are you a collector of anything?	Shoes and books
8) If you could be any animal, what would you be?	A robin
9) If you could have any superpower, what would it be?	Instant teleportation
10) What is usually your first thought when you wake up?	I wonder how my missionary is?
11) What do you usually think about right before falling asleep?	See previous answer.
12) What's your favorite color?	Red
13) What's your favorite animal?	Dog
14) Do you believe in extraterrestrials or life on other planets?	Not in the creepy alien sense.
15) Do you believe in ghosts?	Yeah, also not in a creepy sense.
16) Ever been addicted to a video/computer game? Which one(s)?	The Sims *hangs head in shame*
17) You're given 1 million dollars, what do you spend it on?	A restored farmhouse
18) Have any bad habits?	Sure
19) Which bad habits, if any, drive you crazy?	Messy eaters
20) List 3 of your best personality traits:	Outgoing, sensitive, intelligent
21) List 3 of your worst personality traits:	Moody, critical, lazy
22) Have any celebrity crushes?	Not real crushes, but I love Jamie Oliver!
23) List 1 thing you wish you could change about yourself:	I wish I didn't have student loans.
24) Any tattoos or piercings?	Ears pierced, that's it.
25) What's the first thing you notice in the opposite sex?	Eyes, then ability to make conversation.
26) What personality traits do you look for in a partner?	Kind, intelligent, personable, interesting, handsome, funny, spiritual...
27) What personality traits do you dislike in other people?	Mean, ignorant, aloof, boring, unattractive, not funny, vain...
28) Are you mostly a clean or messy person?Do you see yourself getting married in the next 5 years?	Clean, yes.
29) Are you mostly a clean or messy person?	Clean.
30) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?	The Northwest.
31) If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?	Spain. ;)
32) List 5 goals on your life's to-do list:	1. Marry a good man 2. Have a family 3. Restore a farmhouse 4. Write a book 5. Have a job I love
33) Name 1 regret you have:	Not sure I have any.
34) Name 1 thing you miss about being a kid:	Easy school.
35) Name 1 thing you love about being an adult:	Thinking more clearly than before.
36) What's your favorite song of the moment?	"Somewhere only we know."
37) What's your favorite song of all time?	Impossible to say.
38) What's your favorite thing to do on a Saturday night?	Quilt.
39) What's your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon?	Sleep.
40) Have any hidden talents?	Yep.
41) You're about to walk the green mile, what do you have as your last meal?	Fried chicken.
42) What would be your dream job?	Write books and also work as an editor for other books.
43) Which would you rather have, 100 million dollars or true love?	True love.
44) If you could have 3 wishes granted, what would they be?	1. To score well on the GRE 2. To get a good job 3. To have my dog Britty back
45) Ever wish you were born the opposite sex? If so, why?	Kind of, but not enough to do anything about it.
46) Name 1 thing not many people know about you:	I wear lavender deoderant.
47) If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to?	Nichole 2
48) Do you believe in the afterlife?	Yes
49) On the topic of abortion, how do you feel about cookies?	Love cookies, dislike abortion.
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is almost ready.

I've been gathering up fabric for a month now. I think I'm almost ready to start my quilt.

Look at all this beautiful fabric.


I just can't bring myself to cut them yet. I think I need to take a quilting class first.

wants change... the right kind.

I have been disillusioned with the recent pre-election atmosphere in America because the choices felt restrictive to me as a voter. Of course, it always comes down to two major candidates, but I dislike the idea of having to vote for "the lesser of two evils." I don't believe that one party is evil and one is good. That is not the basis of this political struggle in America. But I do hold certain values close to my heart and I try to pick the platform that best represents my own value system and what I, as a citizen of the United States, believe will benefit my country.

So, with Palin as McCain's running mate I have a renewed sense of hope for the future of America and I can vote with greater confidence. I am not simply resigned to voting because of duty, for once I feel energized and ready for this opportunity to vote.

Let me tell you why, in a simplified way. Sarah Palin has the perspective that our nation is in need of. Not just because she is a woman, but I do believe that having the perspective of a mother is unique and will be a strength to her. She understands the struggles of raising a family. She governed a state that perhaps is the key to dealing with the "energy crisis" that has been such a hot topic lately. She made smart economic decisions and cut unnecessary spending in Alaska, something the nation as a whole is in dire need of. As a Christian, she stands up for issues that other candidates flounder on and is opposed to same-sex marriage and abortion (consequently, the two major issues that the LDS church has spoken out against as well).

I did not expect to see such a candidate enter the race and I am glad to be surprised by such an amazing woman. While the opposition spouts a vague but incessant call for "change", whatever that really entails, I believe McCain and Palin will make the kinds of changes that I want to see happen in America. I truly love this nation and I have faith that the right choice will be made.

can't figure it out.

My sister received this gift for her wedding (seriously!) and now there is a debate going on in my house. We can't decide what this object is:

It appears to be a pear made of glass. There's a hole in the side. The top "stem" is hollow.

It is also made in Poland.

What do you think it is? What could it be used for? Why would someone give it as a gift? I would like some suggestions for what we should do with it. This glass pear thing has the potential to be one of the best white elephant gifts I've ever seen.

went back in time.

This is me in my 1950's yearbook picture. It scares me. I look like my grandma. You should go make your own yearbook photo too so that I don't feel so bad about myself.

quilts.

I made my first quilt when I was a senior in high school.



This is the result, a tribute to Vespa scooters, which reflected my interests at the time. I still think it's a cute quilt, even if I never got a scooter. *sniff*

Two quilts later, I am trying to move beyond patchwork. It's more difficult than I thought it would be to begin piecing a quilt together.

I am trying out a more traditional quilt style called "tree of life." Here are some of my early sketches:


It's a little complicated and I have never done such intricate piecing ever. I need quilting lessons!

I am officially turning into a babushka.

is the sister of the bride.

My sister just got married on Friday. This video of my grandpa rockin' out pretty much sums it up. It was a good time. Check out more pictures on Facebook.



Congratulations Jenna and Stephen!

finished Breaking Dawn.

Hey everyone, this is a random question for any Twilight geeks out there, was your book cover on upside down? Do you think it was it on purpose or an accident? Hrm.

Strange, very strange. Other than that, I will not say anything that might spoil the ending for those who haven't finished it yet, but if you have, let me know what you thought. I will keep my opinions to myself for now...

is in pieces.

I've always wanted to know how to do one of these. Thanks to PilgrimGirl, now I do. This mosaic is a little bit of what I love:

Here are the questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you attend?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you?
12. Your Flickr name?

The answers:

1. Nichole, 2. Roasted Turkey, 3. Oregon City, 4. Red Red Red, 5. Anderson Cooper, 6. Berry Smoothie, 7. Ireland, 8. Blackberry cobbler, 9. A writer, 10. My Family, 11. Ardent, 12. little chickie on its throne (Tronchik)

What are your favorites? Play along here.

loves the Weepies!

Check out their new video for Hideaway. There was a contest to make the video and this is the one that won. It reminds me of a mix of Steamboat Willie and the Little Prince. Cute!

isn't "somebody and somebody" yet.

Yay for family blogs! I just found out today that many of my cousins and even my aunt has a blog. Awesome. But along with these awesome revelations comes the fact that I now need to start listing blogs with two names: "Joy and Nate" "Grant and Mindy" for example. I was avoiding this. In fact, I dislike that I show up on my friends' blog lists as simply "Nichole" or even "Trone" when ALLLL the rest of them are "somebody and somebody." Yeesh. There's no remedy for now. I am just commenting on the rising trend of two name blogs and wishing my missionary would hurry up and get home, that's all. No offense if you're a two-namer, I love you all.

is a 50's housewife.

Okay, I'm off of my "lacking inspiration" thing. No more whining for me. Instead, I am going to serve. That is what makes me the happiest. I found a couple simple things to do today that woke me up a little and I'm going to continue doing little things for the people around me as much as I can. I also want to do more projects. I made a list a while back of the things I want to learn how to do:

1. sew clothing
2. braid my own hair
3. play some songs on the guitar
4. garden
5. make good bread
6. throw pots
7. start a campfire (without lighter fluid)
8. knit or crochet
9. make more complex quilts
10. paint and draw better
11. write better poetry
12. ride a horse
13. drive a stick shift
14. cut hair
15. give good massages
16. give CPR
17. play the piano better
18. make stained glass mosaics
19. fix more things on a car
20. bind books
21. have better handwriting
22. can food
23. make soap

I have dabbled in many of these things at one time or another, but now that I have time on my hands, I want to become even more domestic. I love it. I used to joke that inside I am a 50's housewife. Well, maybe I love aprons and baking, but I am not a doormat. I can reach out and be helpful to others and I can keep learning new things.