I joined Toastmasters eight months ago. What is Toastmasters? It is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through local clubs. I absolutely love it! It is so much fun to meet with wonderful people every week, give and listen to great speeches, and grow as a leader and speaker. I also have enjoyed competing in club contests, and I am currently serving as the Vice President of Membership for our Midway Toastmasters Club. If anyone is interested in learning more, let me know! Two weeks ago, I competed in a Table Topics competition. Table Topics is speaking off the cuff on a question for 1-2 minutes. It's a lot of fun. My question was "If your life was a book, which book would it be and why?" I talked about Little Women by Louise May Alcott. I talked about sisters and how they work together to make life wonderful. My sister is my rock, who is opposite of me in many ways, but we compliment each other beautifully. Anyway, I won. And I'll be competing at the next level in March.
From Skylar:
Hey
gorgeous!
I know this
isn’t the best way to shower you with my affection, but you left me so it’ll
have to do. I don’t have much time so this will have to be short. This pigeon
is a friend of mine and although he does not share the same name as me, he
shares my conviction and was willing to bring this to you for only a small
payment of my entire life savings.
I love you,
my feather friend and from my nest to yours I wish you the best. Soon we will
be reunited and make feathery love like I’ve dreamed of for far too long.
-Your
admirer, me
From Sundy:
My beloved bird,
How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways:
Your deep, mumbling twitter
Makes me gleefully titter.
Your strong, capable wings
Helps me fly without strings.
Your multicolored plumage
Keeps me close to our pledge.
Love eternally,
Your Brightest Bird
From Cody:
Dearest Lovebird,
Oh how I love thee, though thou do not know me.
I have long wished to speak with you and tell you of my love. Your
feathers are like brilliant rays of sunshine in my life. I would give you my
heart even if I must rip it from my eternal organs, if it meant I could be with
you for the rest of my life. You are a dream come true. You are a legendary
icon which cannot be compared. Come to
me my lover.
From Katia:
An honest love letter:
______ ,
I love you.
Much love, _____
From GJ:
Love Bird
The colors of your life bring me joy in ways that words cannot express.
We have come far as we have navigated life’s fast pace. With wings beating,
we’ve navigated our ups, our down, our forwards and our backwards, but we have
ever pushed forward toward our destination. For you I would do anything…
I would pierce my heart with the thorn of a rose to be able to gain my wish of
being with you forever.
From Scott:
My love I am
a bird with few words but if I were to say anything to you it would be
kack-kack-kack-kack.
Smooch!
From Kiara:
My love,
You mean the world to me! When we met that amazing night I felt a flutter in my
wings and my four-chambered heart! You are the wind beneath my wings! Our love
will never end. Thank you for all you do for our family.
I will forever be yours!
Your Love Bird
From Ken:
You are in a hurry to get things done.
You dart here! You dart there! Serving whomever might cross your path. You are ablet o pause in mid flight to get
your bearings and then as quick as you
stopped, you are off serving again! You
love food that is sweet, but you have incredible self-control, and eat only
that which will keep you healthy.
I love MY people! And when the weather is cold and dreary, you gotta make an excuse to be with people you love. Everyone (minus my Bettenhausens - due to weather and distance) were able to come and celebrate the Post-Holiday Blues with us. We love this crazy crew! (We are blessed with so many of OUR people!) We love the connections and the love and the friendships we have made and continue to make.
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After Katia and Skylar's wedding, Kiara, Skittles and I spent the week with my mom and sister. It was such a wonderful time to catch up and to relax from the craziness of the holidays and weddings. Most of the time we made crafts while watching The Chosen (both season 1 and 2). Mariah showed me the musical "Daddy Long Legs" and I LOVED it! I showed her, my mom and sis "She Loved Me" and they LOVED it! (Musicals are where it's at!) GJ, Mom, Kiara and I also did a temple session together. We sat in front of a lot of fires to stay warm. Kiara took Skittles and Emily took Berry to the children's museum, and afterwards we met them for Zupas. We all went and had Mexican food one afternoon, thanks to Kiara. We played games with Ben and Kristi, while Cocoa taught Skittles how to "play" Memory. We visited with Zane and Tara a few times. And we talked and talked and talked. Skittles really loves his great grandparents, Aunt GJ, Berry, and Aunty Riah. He misses them already. It was a wonderfully rejuvenating week. I already miss my family sooooo much!
Katia and Skylar were married on Saturday, January 22. It was an extraordinary event! These two "kids" are mature beyond their years, and I am soooo honored to be their mother. The Meridian temple ceremony was beyond description. The Spirit of the Lord was tangible and strong. It was "perfect" for Katia and Skylar. (I'll post even more pictures later - when I get them.)
Then we had a delicious luncheon catered by Casa Rio. Yum! Chance gave a beautiful toast to the happy couple.
My mom is amaaaaazing! She threw such a fun wedding shower for Katia, inviting family from both sides of the soon-to-be bride and her future husband. Since many of us didn't know each other (or didn't know each other well) we all took turns telling our relationship to the happy couple and a funny story involving Katia or Skylar. It was fun! We laughed and we reminisced and we enjoyed one another. I must admit, I KNEW my family was incredible, but I soon learned how totally terrific Skylar's family is too! I really love them. Katia hit the jackpot when it comes to inlaws... and I basically just invited myself to join their family too. Why should Katia get all the joy?
