Leaving on a Jet Plane

In about three days we will be enjoying some of this:

(Actually, hopefully we will not be "enjoying" any of this!
At least not knowingly.)

Vietnam, here we come!

What Matters Most

Last night I received some sad news about family friends from our stake in St. Louis. Their mother passed away this week after a battle with cancer. As I was thinking about them and have been inspired by their strength and their testimonies, I was reminded of this video on Mormon Messages: .
I feel very blessed to have been raised to know the importance of families and to know that families are forever. I hope you enjoy this video!

Fall has arrived.

Earlier this week I woke up to a chilly morning and RAIN. Summer has gone away and fall has replaced it. It's interesting how this change seems to happen so quickly, but in reality, there are several things that have slowly, almost imperceptibly led up to this change in seasons. But this year it literally seemed like one week it was summer and the next was fall.
One of my most favorite things about fall, that I missed while living in California and Arizona, are the leaves changing colors. The colors are magnificent, especially here in the Northwest. The reds are so vibrant. I don't think I have ever seen anything like it before. This picture does not even do it justice, but that's what you get when you have an amateur behind the camera!

Cool Video made by Amber and Jon

My little sister, Amber, called to tell me to check my email because her and her husband had put together this video they thought David and I would like. We watched the video and it was awesome so I had to share it with you guys. They made this with their digital camera and just combined a bunch of still frames together so they look like they're moving. I got their permission to post it on my blog since it is so cool.

Check it out:

Jeans from Jon Troutman on Vimeo.

(If it has problems loading, hit pause right after you hit play and then let it load all the way before playing it again.)

I didn't think much about them making this video since Ambie and Jon are both really creative and Jon is a graphic design artist that has made videos before. Did you notice anything in particular about the video? Pretty creative, huh?

Dear Doernbecher Children's Hospital,

Please send Dr. Bailly home. His wife misses him and her side of the bed is beginning to droop because he is not on the other side to balance it out.

She will continue to share him with you every 4th night, at least one weekend a month and some holidays because she knows that the sick kids at the hospital need him too.

Your cooperation is much obliged.

Sincerely,
His Wife