What Is This Thing That Men Call Death
By President Gordon B. Hinckley

What is this thing that men call
death,
This quiet passing in the night?
'Tis not the end, but genesis
Of better worlds and greater light.

O God, touch Thou my aching
heart,
And calm my troubled, haunting
fears.
Let hope and faith, transcendent,
pure,
Give strength and peace beyond
my tears.

There is no death, but only change
With recompense for victory won;
The gift of Him who loved all men,
The Son of God, the Holy One.


Our niece, Sidney, passed away on Friday, May 23, 2008. Sidney is Jeff and Cassie's oldest child, (Jeff is Jared's older brother). In the years that I have known Sidney, I’ve always been impressed with her constant enthusiasm, and absolute appreciation for life. She’s an incredibly loving, bright, beautiful girl who always seemed to be grinning from ear-to-ear! She's touched our lives with her sweet presence and will be missed very much.

Ahem...

This past month was quite eventful. I accepted an offer to work as a registered nurse on the Medical/Oncology floor at Intermountain Medical Center; I worked my last shift as a nurse's aide in Labor and Delivery; I took my last nursing final; and...(drum roll please) I graduated from nursing school!! I’ll start orienting to my new job tomorrow. I know it’s going to be nerve-wracking for the first little while, but I’m really looking forward to the idea of just working – rather than working and going to school.


Pictures from the pinning ceremony for nursing students....


Pictures from the graduation party...

Just a big kid...

We watched our nieces, Zoey and Kaylee, for a few days while their parents soaked up some good ol' Hawaiian sunshine. We happened to be watching them on Jared's birthday. Rather than finding a sitter, so that we could go out on our own, Jared decided he'd rather spend some quality time with our nieces, and nephew, Alexander. We went to Hollywood Connections where Jared and the kids played a round of miniature golf and rode the carousel, and a few other rides. Then we headed over to Costa Vida for dinner, followed by dessert at ML and Justin’s. ML made Jared chocolate brownies that were delish! Jared loved his birthday – I think he spent it exactly the way he wanted.

Here comes the sun...

It has finally started getting warmer - although now that I've said that I'm sure we'll get hit with another storm. To take advantage of the warmer weather, Jared and I took a quick hike up Ensign Peak. It could have been a little warmer, but there wasn't any snow (thank goodness), so I really have no complaints.

Jazz vs Timberwolves 4.2.08

I received a call from a friend that changed my night. You see, it all began with a few married women, mine included, gathering together to discuss a book they supposedly read about a month or so ago. To some, this event is called a 'book club' and to others, particularly the husbands of those women, it is a chance to do something carefree with the guys. It’s a night without worry or stress, and at the end of the day, both you and your wife are satisfied with what transpired.

Cole Lansford, of the Lansford Clan, happened to call with an invitation I couldn’t pass up – 3rd row tickets to the Jazz game opposite the Jazz bench! This momentous event was on the same evening of this so-called 'book club' and guys’ night. Painfully, I agreed to go (by painfully, I mean I was ecstatic…practically jumping out of my seat). We were so close to the players, I could actually see the drops of sweat on their perspiring faces! Never before have I been in such amazing seats. The game was awesome, Laura had fun at her ‘book club’….the night was a complete success!

Easter Sunday

HAPPY EASTER to everyone! It's been a while since I, Jared, have posted on this. Between work, school, gym, and keeping up with the NCAA tournaments (by the way my bet is on UNC), I haven't had much time for this...I'm definitely not keeping up with the Joneses.

Laura and I spent the better part of our Easter evening at her parents' house, where we enjoyed an Easter egg hunt and dinner - it was köstliche speisen, meaning dinner was delicious! Laura gave me a sweet tie and a pair of rockin' socks. I gave her an awesome movie, Enchanted, and a gift card to Forever 21.

Book Club

This past Thursday our little book club got together to discuss Richard Llewellyn's book, How Green Was My Valley. The novel is set in Wales, during the reign of Queen Victoria, and is a story of a Welsh coal-mining family. I loved it! In addition to our little discussion of the book, we enjoyed some delicious Welsh food including leek soup, spice cake, and pie. It was lots of fun...thanks girls!