What's the difference between beautiful and most beautiful?

Answer: Slippery Teeth.

My braces came off today, I almost cried I was so happy! Really I still am. But I don't have much of a story to go along with the pictures. I know, its disappointing and uncharacteristic. If you can take your eyes off of the perfect smile. Its ok you can go back, I just want you to note what pretty color my hair is. I colored it about a couple weeks ago but I haven't posted any pictures and its a lot darker than usual.

Alright back to the smile. I will have to have Solace/Armour take some pictures of me when I go to Nebraska when my makeup/hair are done :)

Olympics Part II

As a follow up to my previous blog, I mentioned that the United States was behind in the all important medal count. I am happy to report that wrong has been righted the good ol' US of A is back in the lead with 46 medals. More importantly, I can go back to being happy about the lack of medal in men's synchronized diving.

The official count as of yesterday night is:

China
26 gold
9 silver
6 bronze
41 total

United States
14 gold
13 silver
19 bronze
46 total

Way to go Nastia for taking gold in women's all around gymnastics. And Shawn for keeping the Chinese from getting the silver.

And Ryan Lochte for picking up the bronze in the 200 meter im 26 minutes after setting a new world record in the 200 meter back stroke.

How hot is he? seriously, this is the face that should be plastered everywhere!

And Michael for snagging another gold, and setting another world record 6 for 6

Too much time on my hands?

I kind of feel bad about the fact that I haven't posted anything for about a week, but you have to understand I am quite literally a shut in these days and I really have nothing to report. But I have been watching a lot of TV.... A LOT... and you know what I realized, I really do love the Olympics.
And while China may be winning the medal count and have twice as many gold medals as the United States, it does my capitalist heart good to know that my country's gold medals look like this:










and NOT like this:

























I mean that's communism if ever I saw it! It's almost a tribute to the western hemesphere that the US didn't medal, but that fact puts us behind in the medal count and I can't abide that. And if you're wondering if I purposefully chose synchronized diving because I find it to be a non sport the answer is yes. I mean it is a sport, and it looks to be an impossible sport that requires children to be snatched from the cradle and trained for this one chance to claime honor and glory for family and country. But where does it exist outside the olympics and why can't we replace it with a crowd pleaser like... surfing....




See I even replaced it with another water sport! I am so progressive! But in all seriousness, surfing should be an olympic event, even if the great communist conspirosy of sychronized diving remains.




Speaking of communist/Chinese conspirasies... are you aware that all three gymnastics gold medals awarded thus far have been given to the Chinese? It's true! Both men's and women's team medals and the men's all around. You know what is even crazier than that? they totally deserved it. Yeah! Communist precision wins again. But the craziest thing was that in the men's all around the silver medalist (Hiroyuki Tomita from Japan) fell off the rings on his dismount and still took second! The fall was grizzly.... take a look...





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLuBUemWgc0&eurl=http://neswsports.com/2008/08/13/hiroyuki-tomita-japanese-gymnast-falls-off-rings-video/

and no, I haven't figured out how to just put my youtube videos on my blog like normal people do... so I guess I don't have too much time on my hands! I'm still looking for Fabian Hambuechen falling off the high bar so if you find that one, let me know. Gymnastics is dangerous! no wonder the chinese have to lie about the age of their girl's team! They are all broken before they reach the 16 year age requirement! ("Women's" would be a misnomer!)

But I really am catching the olympic spirit. I even have an olympic dream... I'd like this french guy to whack his head on some part of the pool. I was thinking the bottom, but the side or platform may have better odds.

"The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for," Alian Bernard

Well... guess I'll have to settle for Jason Lezak making an amazing comeback and swimming a 46.06 100 meters (faster than he ever has before) to win the gold in the 400 meter relay. And hand Bernard his sorry french ass the silver. I just wish Lezak would have beat him again in the individual 100 meter swim. Lezak did take bronze in that race though, and that is his first individual medal ever so nice work there. I think it's totally lame that a man has the race of his life and all the interviewing reporter/newspapers/news anchors/media in general can say is, "How does it feel to know that you were able to keep Michael Phelp's hope of eight gold medals alive?" What the hell is that!?!?! The man just had an "olympic moment!!!" Give him his moment, he might deserve two. And I'm pretty sure he didn't win it for Phelps.

Eat Silver Bernard! Go cry to your Socialist President Sarkosy!

Lezak... here is your second moment... on my blog... you deserve more but its all I have.

All the Things I'm Not

Yesterday in Relief Society I had an epiphany. I didn't share it then, so I thought I'd share it now. My RS President was giving a lesson on becoming perfect, or become the person that God intends us to be. There are two analogies that she used that I liked a lot and I think that they are good enough to repeat.

We are all like origami paper which can be folded into just about anything, provided the person folding the paper knows what the end result should be and has the paper-folding skills to be successful. Fortunately our "folder" is our Heavenly Father, so we don't have to worry about getting crumpled up and thrown in the garbage. We just have to remember that it takes different folds to bring about different things. And while we may want to be folded into a swan, it just well may be that we are supposed to be frogs.

It takes different folds to make a frog, so don't get all bent out of shape.

The second, and therefore more important point of my moment of enlightment came when the President was talking about the "ingredients" that go into making a person with all their talents, weaknesses, etc.
This got me thinking on all the wonderful talents that I have been given, and I have been given a few. I am very thankful for the gifts I have been given but sadly, there are a lot of things I am not, and may never be. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of the "folding" to come to get me to where I need to be. Then the thought occurred to me, the individual (that's me) is not the basic unit of society or eternity, that family is. (this is where the epiphany came in)

That got me thinking about my family, and we may not be perfect, but when I think of myself in the context of my contribution to my family rather than me as an individual I feel all warm and fuzzy rather than overwhelmed and scared. This is the strength I see in my family:

My dad is the rock that I lean on (I'm sure its not just me). He works so hard for his family, even when times were really tough I knew that I never had to worry because I knew my dad loved me and that everything would be alright. Looking back I don't think that I ever really fully grasped how precarious our situation was because my dad always had a smile on his face and some amusing anecdote to tell. He has always been a faithful priesthood holder and taught us to do good. He knows the right thing to say, he makes me coachable.

There is nothing my mom wouldn't do for her kids. I don't know that its always the best thing, but she has our best interest at heart. My mom puts others needs before her own, I don't know how many times I've watched my mom running around trying to help someone in the family, the ward, or coworker and then have her get hurt or be laid up the day after, only to go out and do it again when someone asks. She always tries to find a way to say yes. My mom is teaching me to look outside myself and be a disciple of Christ through service to others.

Wesley is my other rock. Wesley brings out the best in people, he has always encouraged me to be better than I think I am. He has always been supportive and will talk me through anything. Wes sees the best in people and then helps them catch his vision.

Tyson is the tender-hearted one. He is the one I go to when I take myself altogether too seriously. Tyson loves people as they come and doesn't judge (unrighteous judgement). He always makes the best of a situation.

Ashley achieves peaceful resolutions. In the midst of all the stormy personalities in our family (mine) Ashley somehow manages to be a shelter in that storm. She has faith in others and always strives to be the best person she can be even in times of uncertainty.

Jessica gives everything she has to make people happy. She takes the time to understand a situation and will ask for help when she needs it. Jessica sees the best in most situations and maintains an optimistic outlook on the future.

Tom stands up for righteousness. He restores my faith in our generations ability to push forward with faith and (eventually) lead the church. Tom holds himself to a high standard and meets that standard.

I love my family, they are the greatest blessing in my life. I wouldn't be where I am today without them.

1 Corinthians 12: 12-25 -- it's not just for the "Body of the Church" anymore!

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
But now are they many members, yet but one body.
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

BBQ

Sorry, I didn't take any pictures of my BBQ, so you'll just have to take my word for it... or Jecca can back me up on this one, she was there. The BBQ was great, about 30 people came most of the guys were late so at some juncture the ration was 20:3 but that evened out as the night progressed.
So I had my barbeque at a park near my house and I didn't bother reserving the big pavilion because I just don't know that many people and no one ever uses it any way but I was planning on using that particular area because there are charcoal grills, and I don't have a grill so it made sense in my head. So Jodi and I get to the park about 30 minutes early, just so I can make sure everything is set up before people show up... and there are cars everywhere. And yes the pavilion with the grills is full of either a large family reunion or a ward... either way I'm grill-less.
Fortunately, my friend Teresa has a grill and my other friend Jon has a truck and both were willing to help me, so I used propane instead of the charcoal. So now I have charcoal... maybe I'll do something dutch oven before it gets to cold.
Anyway, the volleyball pit and basketball courts were open and we had both volleyballs and basketballs... and enough people to do both. Marshall brought his guitar and played for a bit so we had dinner, a show, and some friendly competition... well maybe not so friendly... we all know how I feel about winning.
The only casualty was Jodi stepping on a bee. Jodi's alright but I think the bee was a little worse for the wear.

The Birthday Season

I love birthdays, especially my birthday. I love birthdays because, like Christmas, they have a season. Think about it, is one day really sufficient to celebrate me... or you... NO! Birthdays must be extended for days, if not weeks, my sister Jessica celebrates her birthday from June 1 to June 29 (June 30 being Wesley's Birthday).


My birthday season officially starts July 20th (July 19 being Tyson's Birthday) and ends the first Saturday in August. Actually this year it started on July 4 because that is when I bought my birthday present to me, an acoustic-electric Martin DXC1E with a Stika spruce top, 14 fret dreadnought cutaway, and Fishman Classic 4 Sonicore sound reinforcement system (don't have the Amp yet... that should be coming around Christmas time), this beauty will provide me with countless hours of entertainment and may end all need for anything else of significance in my life. I love my guitar!

But that's like buying a Christmas gift before the day-after-Thanksgiving because it was perfect and on sale. It really didn't start the birthday season, it was just a magnificent prequel.

My birthday season started July 20, which means I didn't start pulling the Birthday Card until that day, I haven't vacuumed since. I started putting the final touches on my birthday bash plans for August 2. Jodi's making me a cake and I'm having a BBQ which may or may not have a lot of people show up, we'll see tomorrow (I'll let you know how it goes), but either way I'm eating hot dogs and (head permitting) playing sand volleyball until my feet start to fossilize.

On July 26, I got a birthday massage (thanks Parents, it's just what I always wanted) and helped my dad pull some wire in my grandparents basement.

July 27 was my family birthday party, my mom made Chicken and Dumplings which were very tasty and I had red velvet cake which I think ended up being a problem because of the rum, but what can you do? I ate the cake and the butter cream frosting kicked ass.

July 29, my birthday proper, I went out to dinner with my close friends and my sister Ashley. We ate at Robintino's, which I have never been to before, but is one of those places that everyone's been to and is like a Utah historic establishment or something so I went and it was good I didn't have any cake but I really enjoyed my steak and presents. The fire up City Creek Canyon made for an awesome sunset... clearly it was for my birthday. But my birthday dinner almost didn't happen because a truck dropped some multiple ton tank on the freeway at the I-15/215 interchange in bountiful just beofre rush hour and everyone had to try to fight their way north, everyone made it... eventually... Ashley took 1 1/2 hours to drive from downotwn to my house, and it could have been longer, but we played how to get north on backroads, brought to you by google earth.

July 31, Beckee finally wishes me happy birthday on her blog. I don't feel too bad about that because Armours birthday card is still sitting on my book shelf waiting to be mailed. I also finished inviting people to my party, which though there have already been two parties to celebrate me, I think I really need a third...

A Glimpse into the Mind of Stef

Alright, this little snippit must be prefaced by the fact that I have not been to work in 6 weeks, I have no children, pets, or other distractions to occupy my time so I have had a lot of time to think about what is important in life. And when I was done with that I moved on to other thoughts, you know, like this one:

My parents have two very distinct and incompatible head shapes. My mom has a very long head, and my father has a very round, turtlish sort of head. Now thier offspring are split on this category into two separate camps, those with my mom's head shape (Wes, Ashley) and those with my Dad's head shape (Jecca, Tyson). Obviously there is some overlap but for the most part Wesley won't pull off a solid turtle smile and Jecca will never be able to really capture Blue Steel. I'm not sure where Tom falls into this one I think his head is more like Mom's but he used to have a head shaped like a bubble and he kind of looks like Dad, so I just don't know about The Fuzz.

I have thought that I fell into the mom shaped head category for years. I would say I don't have a round head, and my Blue Steel is amazing. But I've been scrapbooking my latest trips and I realized something. My head changes shapes, not literally, but depending on the angle at which a picture is taken I look very different

Ok, so here I am with a long face, I would say that these two are pretty close to the mental image I have of myself. Ignore Jodi to the right, she's not part of this demonstration.
Then there is this other where my head looks more like my Dad's head. If I was pulling a turtle face here it would be like "wow Steve with hair!" (definately picked up my dad's squinty eyes) Go ahead, try to tell me you can't see it. It's wierd! I don't know what else to say except these pictures were taken on the same day within a few hours of each other. (Insert Twilight Zone theme here)