Formula for Happiness

Last week in Institute we discussed 2 Nephi 5. It's stayed with me and been on my mind. This chapter is the Formula for Happiness.

v. 5 Nephi is warned by God to depart from the Lamanites and flee into the wilderness.

1. Sometimes, you just have to leave a bad situation

v. 10 The Nephites kept the commandments of the Lord in all things.

2. Be obedient to God

v. 12 They brought the record on the brass plates and the Liahona.

3. Treasure and use the scriptures in your life

v. 11, 15,17 They sowed seed and reaped abundantly; they raised flocks and herds and animals of every kind; they built buildings and worked in woods and metals; they were industrious and labored with their hands.

4. Work hard

v. 16 They built a temple, not as wondrous as Solomon's, but they built did their best.

5. Build and value temples

v 26 They consecrated priests and teacher over the people.

6. We are blessed to have and follow Church leaders

THEN

v.27 "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness."

I believe it!

It's all good

A Short Commercial

I really like these new Clorox dishcloths and towels. They are made to be washed in Clorox so the colored stripes are bleach safe, and the white part stays true white and stain-free. But more importantly, when washed in Clorox they become antibacterial ~ which is a nice feature for kitchen towels.

Finished Project and a Revelation

I finished this lap quilt today. Laura made the rectangles pieced section in the center before Abby was born, but then she realized that it matched my house more than hers, so she gave it to me to finish.

I couldn't resist making a couple of pillows to match

I tied it on the back side so it wouldn't detract from the pieced pattern on the front

Many of my friends are getting into quilting and I keep thinking that maybe I should. This little project was a test to see if I would like piecing quilts. I don't! I like to sew things like Halloween costumes and curtains ~ things that don't require precision and perfection. It's not fun to me if it has to be perfect. I like it to be quick. I just don't have the quilting personality, I guess.

But I happy with this little project!

It's all good

One Reason I Love Computers

Just a few minutes ago Laura called and said that Andrew kept saying "Nana" and wanted to show me his flu shot and pointed at the computer. So we got on ichat and I had a lovely little visit with these three cuties:

How wonderful is that?!

Computer Accessories

Ever since getting my laptop (which I love) I've been missing the 10-key part of the keyboard. When I was in college and working at BYU I was responsible for totalling the time cards and I got pretty fast at type-touching with 10-key. Whenever I need to type in numbers I automatically want to move my right hand to the 10-key. I'm not so good at the numbers in a row above the keyboard, so it really slows me down not to have 10-key.

The other day I spent a couple of hours looking at online forums on that subject. It turns out that Apple just deleted the number lock function on the MacBook Pro. Some people are very unhappy about it (me, for one) because they used the 10-key function that is embedded in most laptop keyboards for certain music writing programs and some games. I just like it for Quicken and online shopping ~ I can speed-enter my debit card number! Through my research I discovered that the only real solution is to have a separate 10-key keypad. I got a cheap one at Staples, which didn't work with my Mac. So I had to return it and resort to the more expensive bluetooth model sold at SimplyMac. I am thrilled with it. I love having a 10-key keypad at my fingertips again!




I've also been looking for some kind of case for my laptop for when I take it with me somewhere. I haven't found anything that I love until yesterday at Target, of all places. It's blue, of course, and I like the quilted look over the modern look of most neoprene sleeves.

Movie Fest and Richard Matheson

Last night some of my children invited me to watch "I Am Legend" with them. I hadn't seen it before. It was a little violent for me (judging by how many times I hid behind my blanket and Brian said "Mom, you have to watch this part"). I like that it ended hopeful.

As the credits were rolling I noticed that it was based on a novel by Richard Matheson. I recognized that name. He also wrote the novel "Bid Time Return" on which my favorite movie, "Somewhere In Time" was based. I googled him and found out is an 83-year-old American author and screenwriter primarily in the fantasy, horror and science fiction genres.






He also wrote "What Dreams May Come," a fantasy movie starring Robin Williams. Interestingly, the titles "What Dreams May Come" and "Bid Time Return" are Shakespearean quotes.

A little more research revealed some interesting tidbits about how the story "Bid Time Return" came about. (from Wikipedia)

While traveling with his family, Matheson was entranced by the portrait of American actress Maude Adams in Piper's Opera House in Nevada. "It was such a great photograph," Matheson reports, "that creatively I fell in love with her. What if some guy did the same thing and could go back in time?" Then Matheson researched her life and was struck by her reclusiveness. To create the novel, he resided for many weeks at the Hotel del Coronado (where the novel takes place) and dictated his impressions into a tape recorder while experiencing himself in the role of Richard Collier. Matheson based much of the biographical information about the character of Elise McKenna directly on Adams.

Maude Adams
She is hauntingly beautiful

<sup>The plot thickens when you find out that Maude Adams was a Mormon actress in the 1900's. Her grandparents joined the Church in New England and came across the plains with the pioneers to Utah where her mother was born.

She achieved her greatest success in "Peter Pan," and in fact, was the first actress to portray Peter Pan on Broadway. She was in many John Barrie (author of Peter Pan) plays; it was said that he wrote "The Little Minister" with her in mind for the lead role. She had a yearly income of more that a million dollars at her peak.

Well, after all that, we had to watch "Somewhere In Time." Of course, my children have seen it, but Trevor and Michelle had never seen it, so it was fun to share it with a new audience.</sup>

Matheson has stated, "Somewhere in Time is the story of a love which transcends time, What Dreams May Come, is the story of a love which transcends death.... I feel that they represent the best writing I have done in the novel form."

Happy Birthday, Ayden!

Today Ayden is five years old!

We had a birthday dinner and celebration for him yesterday.

Ayden and Nana
Is there anything better than a child's arms around your neck?!

Sophie showing her dimples