President Gordon B. Hinckley, 1910-2008

President Gordon B. Hinckley, world leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was ordained and set apart as the 15th President of the Church on Sunday, March 12, 1995. He passed away Sunday, January 27, 2008.

He had earlier served 14 years as a counselor in the First Presidency, the top governing body of the Church, and as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for 20 years prior to that.

His Church service has been extensive. He was called as a member of the Sunday School General Board in 1937, two years after returning home from missionary service in Great Britain. For 20 years, he directed all Church public communications. In 1951 he was named executive secretary of the General Missionary Committee, managing the entire missionary program of the Church, and served in this capacity for seven years. He was president of the East Millcreek Stake in Salt Lake City when he was called as a General Authority in the capacity of an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 6, 1958. 

President Hinckley was named to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 5, 1961. On July 23, 1981, he was called into the First Presidency to serve as Counselor and on December 2, 1982, was named Second Counselor to President Spencer W. Kimball. He served as First Counselor to President Ezra Taft Benson from November 1985 to May 30, 1994. On June 5, 1994, he was called as the First Counselor to President Howard W. Hunter. He was also ordained and set apart as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

As a member of the First Presidency, he has had a major role in administering both the ecclesiastical and temporal affairs of the Church, whose more than 13 million members are spread over some 160 nations and territories. His Church assignments have taken him around the world many times, and he has dedicated more temples than any other leader in the history of the Church. He is the first Church President ever to travel to Spain, where in 1996 he broke ground for a temple in Madrid, and to Africa, where he met with thousands of Latter-day Saints in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. 

In addition to his Church duties, President Hinckley has been active in community and business affairs, serving as chairman and board member of a number of business corporations. In 2004, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civil award, by President George W. Bush. He has been the recipient of a number of educational honors including: the Distinguished Citizen Award, from Southern Utah University; Distinguished Alumni Award, from the University of Utah; and honorary doctorates from Westminster College, Utah State University, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and Southern Utah University. He has received the Silver Buffalo Award of the Boy Scouts of America and has been honored by the National Conference (formerly the National Conference of Christians and Jews) for his contributions to tolerance and understanding in the world. 

He has served as chairman of the executive committees of the Board of Trustees of Brigham Young University and of the Church Board of Education. The Church Educational System includes not only Brigham Young University's Utah and Hawaii campuses, but Brigham Young University - Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho, LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, elementary and secondary schools in developing countries, and hundreds of seminaries and institutes of religion serving several hundred thousand high school- and college-age youth. 

The Church leader is known for his writing and speaking skills, which he began developing as a young boy growing up in the Church. He honed those talents as a missionary preaching regularly from a portable stand in London's Hyde Park and further refined them as a Church authority. He has written and edited several books and numerous manuals, pamphlets, and scripts. 

President Hinckley married Marjorie Pay in the Salt Lake Temple in 1937. They have five children. Sister Hinckley passed away 6 April 2004.

All credit for this video is due to Seth Adam Smith, who created it and encourages others to share it. Find more of his videos athttp://www.youtube.com/SethAdamSmith 

Testimony of President Gordon B. Hinckley

The yellow circle that became a sun

Mary Oliver once said, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

There are times in our lives when we look at a yellow circle on the canvas of life. It has no dimension; it doesn’t “feel” warm; it is a yellow circle. We live our lives in this mentality missing the beauty that is all around us.

Then, one day, we look at the dot and it begins to take shape, to give warmth, it begins to become tangible. Our “eyes” are suddenly opened to something we had in front of us all along, whether on our own or through the help of others.

I have been living my life looking at the yellow circle and not seeing the sun for a long time. There has been so much I have missed because I was trying to be something I wasn’t.

In the past few months as I have learned to see the sun something inside of me has emerged. Walls are easier to let down, the girl that has been hiding inside has begun to shine; I am taking more risks because I know the source of my “warmth.”

When the love of Jesus Christ begins to take you over, you see things in a different way. He opens your spiritual eyes to see things you never saw before. Then, suddenly, it doesn’t matter what people around you think because you know you are doing everything in your power to align your will with that of your Father in Heaven. Sparks of light begin to form in your life and people begin to take notice.

There have been many things I have done in just the past few weeks because it was what I wanted, not what I thought someone else wanted me to be. I have cut my hair, my “style” has become my own, I am bringing my favorite color into my home, and many other things that make me happy.

In a sense I have become selfish, but I think it is a good thing for a moment. For the first time the other day I told a boy what I wanted in a boy and I wasn’t afraid that he wouldn’t like it. I had a take-it-or-leave-it attitude.

People look at me differently. My friends have noticed I look happier. I can see it in their face as I let them see a glimpse of who I am. It doesn’t mean I wouldn’t rather climb a ladder than talk to a boy, but I am working on changing that little by little.

I am a happier person since some things have changed in my life and I have learned to let the Lord in. He is the one who has helped me, through his art and intelligence, see that the yellow circle is more than what it appears. It is the sun.

So, I ask myself, and I ask you, when all is said and done, will you want to be the person you have become? Will you continue to see the yellow circle, or will you let yourself see that it is much more than a circle, but the very sun that will light up your life and give you warmth to make it through the tough times?

Dirt, Forts, & Towers

In the Book of Mormon, there are many stories that teach us of tragedy and triumph. Many lessons can be applied beyond the pages we read.

One of the stories I enjoyed sharing is one I call, “Sticks, Forts, and Towers.” It is a story of tragedy by degrees and preparedness in times of peace to keep us safe from harm.

The story begins in Alma 47 where we learn about Amalickiah, “for he being a very subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites” (Alma 47:4). He was a man of many unrighteous desires.

He marched and caused his army to “pitch their tents in the valley which was near the mount Antipas” (Alma 47:9). Now, on this mount lived Lehonti, the leader of those who lived on that mountain. He and his people were safe there.

Amalickiah wanted to speak with Lehonti because “it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites, that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and take possession of the kingdom” (Alma 47:8). But Lehonti sent the secret embassy away three times.

Amalickiah finally got smart and went himself to ask Lehonti to come out of his safe place, which he did. Some other events pass, Amalickiah tricks Lehonti, and rises to second in command.

It is not until now, that we learn about the tragic mistake Lehonti made, for “it came to pass that Amalickiah cause that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died” (Alma 47:18).

Lehonti said no three times. It was the fourth time & the small thing that did him in. Once he crossed that line, he was no longer in control of it. It is the small things that will poison you by degrees and “kill” you.

So, how is it that you can protect yourself, even in times of “apparent” peace?

In Alma 48 we learn of a man named Moroni who “was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding;… a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedome of his country… Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God… Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ…” (Alma 48:11-13).

He is quite the opposite of Amalickiah. In fact he became the arch nemis causing Amalickiah to swear “an oath that he would drink his blood; and this because Moroni had kept the commandments of God in preparing for the safety of his people (Alma 49:27). Mororni had gone about preparing cities that they would “become strong.”

So, how is it that you can build your “city” to “become strong” and help protect you from being taken over “by degrees”?

Alma 50 teaches that Moroni started by “digging heaps of earth round about all the cities” (Alma 50:1). These heaps of dirt can be likened to simple things in our lives, the first principles if you will, such as prayer, faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and family home evening. The “heaps of dirt” in your life with help keep your testimony “a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall” (Hel 5:12).

Building upon those heaps of dirt, Moroni continues to build in verse 2 saying “upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man.” Building upon the first principles in our lives, these timbers can resemble baptism, church attendance, activities, institute, and scripture study.

Moroni continued to build “frame pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high.” For me, this is the Bishop, the sacrament, prayer, a mission, fasting, Relief Society and Elders Quorum.

When Christ instituted the sacrament among the Nephites in the Book of Mormon, he taught them about the symbolism and importance of the sacrament, “And this ye do in rememberance… And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my spirit to be with you” (3 Ne. 18:7).

You may think that your fort is done, but it isn’t. Moroni “caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets, and he caused places of security to be built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them.”

There are “towers” in life that will help to protect you if you will head them: Jesus Christ, prophets, the Holy Ghost, and the temple. All around you are choices in this world, things that will either lead you closer to, or farther away, from your eternal destination. If you will seek out these “places of security” you will find that the stones and the arrows will not hurt you.

Having the Spirit in your life is vital to your success. He is the one who will testify to you of everything else, and also give you warnings if you are listening. The Lord taught Joseph Smith, “the rights of the priesthood (your baptismal covenants) are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.” (DyC 121:36).

It is our challenge to be obedient, but everything you do hinges upon that obedience. “Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men…” (DyC 121:34-35). Get and maintain the spirit in your life that you may be protected and taught. “And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come” (DyC 130:19).

Elder Gene R. Cook, of the Seventy, said, “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is fully sustaining. Man can cause things to happen by disciplining himself and paying the price… Be truly committed and you will see the hand of the Lord revealed on your behalf.”

Through your diligence and obedience, you will build your fort that it will be strong. Commit yourself to the gospel of Jesus Christ and you will have power in your life with “so much the advantage in the world to come."

Success!

Well, I am in to week two of our Choose to Lose Challenge. It has been an interesting path to look at everything I was eating and what I actually need to eat. Also, as I am making posters I look at some of the food and how unhealthy it is.

I have cut back food portions to a more healthy level and I am exercising regularly everyday (except Sunday). Today as I put my skirt on, there is extra room! I was so excited. I hopped on the scales and there are FIVE pounds missing! 

I know it is early and it doesn't seem like a lot. But, for me it is. It is the first time I have set a plan and stuck to it. To see results from your efforts is rewarding and to know that you can actually do it is even better.

Ogden Regional came and handed out a worksheet with some tips. I'll share some of them with you:

- Don't skip breakfast — Skipping breakfast can lower your metabolism up to 25%. Chosing high fiber foods will help give your system a kick start.

- Stay hydrated. Drink at least 8 cups of decaffeinated fluid daily — Contrary to popular diet advice, water doesn't burn fat. But without it your body cannot efficiently metabolize fat stores for energy.

- Eat your fruits and vegetables, get in at least 5 servings/day — Besides being full of nutrients, the fiber content of these foods is usually high, making them quite filling. 

1 cup raw = 1 serving

1/2 cup steamed = 1 serving

- Remember, what you drink adds calories — We don't usually think of what we drink as adding to our caloric intake. But the impact of drinks can add significant calories to your diet.

For example: a 32 oz. soda adds about 450 calories, a 20 oz. bottle of juice adds about 300 calories as do other drinks like punch, Sobee, and other "health" drinks.

- Consider taking a multi-vitamin

- Make time to eat

- Surround yourself with healthy food choices — The next time you are at the store, buy a selection of your favorite, healthful foods (i.e. fig newtons, raw vegetable, fruit, popcorn).

- Use the food pyramid as a guide (www.mypyramid.gov)

- Write it down — Many people do a lot of mindless eating throughout the day. The food diary can help in several ways. If you have it written down, you can review your intake and see where you're at. Also, studies show that people whoa re committed to keeping a food diary almost always eat healthier. Even if you never share the list with anyone else, sometimes just committing to write it down is enough to keep you eating healthy.

- Exercise, exercise, exercise! — Exercising at a moderate intensity (i.e. brisk walking, biking, swimming), 5 to 7 days per week, will put you on the road to good health.

Have fun! Take care! and keep plugging along!

A good laugh for a Monday

Power & Authority

A week or so ago, I was reading in ‘Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service’ in the first chapter under the ‘Power and Authority of Your Calling.’ A quote by President Spencer W. Kimball struck me and a few days later hit me even harder.

“The setting apart may be taken literally; it is a setting apart from sin, apart from the carnal; apart from everything which is crude, low, vicious, cheap, or vulgar; set apart from the world to a higher plane of thought and activity. The blessing is conditional upon faithful performance.”

In our callings, we are set apart from the world by priesthood authority that we might have the powers of heaven with us to help the Lord do his work here upon the earth. In the book of John, Christ asks Simon Peter “Lovest thou me?” three times, and each of the three times Christ commands him to feed his sheep.

As I thought about these two things and the sheep of the Lord, I feel the importance of how we live our lives. It is only through exact obedience that we can have the powers of heaven unto the salvation of men.

“And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me…

“And now, me beloved brethren… God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they (His words) are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?” (Moroni 7:33,35).

God will give to you mighty miracles if you will set yourself apart from the world and live up to the standard He knows you can. Yours is the power to give “a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). Just remember that everything comes line upon line, precept upon precept. One step at a time; not in leaps and bounds, but in steps. 

Soldier Hollow

Christmas on Temple Square

Crock Pot Chicken

So, I used my crock pot for the first time last week and YUM! I made Pollo al Jugo, or commonly known in the U.S. as Crock Pot Chicken. It was so yummy so I thought I would share the recipe.

4 chicken breasts

1 chopped onion

1/2 green pepper

1/2 yellow pepper

2 chopped carrots

2 chopped celery stems

5-6 sm. red potatoes

Chop the onion and put it in the bottom of the crock pot. Chop all other vegetables in 1 inch pieces. Put them into the crock pot and place the chicken on top. Season the chicken to taste with salt and pepper (or whatever you want). Pour 1/2 cup of water over the chicken, cover and cook for about 8 hours on low.

Provecho!

Thoughts of how blessed we are

I found this browsing around the blog of a friend's friend. It is interesting to think of all the blessings we have and take for granted. May we be thankful for the things we do have and not look at the things we don't.

"If you woke up this morning
with more health than illness,
you are more blessed than the
million who won't survive the week.

"If you have never experienced
the danger of battle,
the loneliness of imprisonment,
the agony of torture or
the pangs of starvation,
you are ahead of 20 million people
around the world.

"If you attend a church meeting
without fear of harassment,
arrest, torture, or death,
you are more blessed than almost
three billion people in the world.

"If you have food in your refrigerator,
clothes on your back, a roof over
your head and a place to sleep,
you are richer than 75% of this world.

"If you have money in the bank,
in your wallet, and spare change
in a dish someplace, you are among
the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

"If your parents are still married and alive,
you are very rare,
especially in the United States.

"If you hold up your head with a smile
on your face and are truly thankful,
you are blessed because the majority can,
but most do not.

"If you can hold someone's hand, hug them
or even touch them on the shoulder,
you are blessed because you can
offer God's healing touch.

"If you can read this message,
you are more blessed than over
two billion people in the world
that cannot read anything at all.

"You are so blessed in ways
you may never even know."

A laughable approach

Underwear

It is amazing how a simple, furtive piece of fabric can make one feel. The secret that you know and no one else knows.

Perhaps it is a girl thing. But I think of a story my mission companion once told me about the early pioneers. Not fully understanding the garment, they died them pink and sewed lace on them.

It is a clandestine knowledge that you have and no one else does.

Seeing from the inside out

“Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature… for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the hearth” (1 Sam. 16:7).

Tonight we talked about this scripture at Family Home Evening. I thought back to the many experiences I have had in my life in looking beyond the outside of a person’s appearance. There are many experiences I had on my mission and after my mission.

Today I stumbled upon some e-mails I forgot I had, and I have even debated sharing this experience. It is interesting how experiences in our lives give twists and turns.

More than a year ago I encountered this person and in the short time I spent with them, I saw something different. I saw their insides and I saw them as the Lord sees them. As I got to know this person, I further understood this person and I little about how the Lord sees them.

This person once wrote me a letter and I think of how quickly the tables can turn in one’s life and how things of the past can be forgotten. I do not share these things lightly and I have debated even sharing it. But I cannot take the words from my mind and I will share only parts.

“I wish I could find more friends like you with that competence and caliber of thorough understanding of a verity friendship. But the veracity of words that you express really encourage me to be a better person which I haven’t found in too many... almost in any of my friends, which is hard to say but it’s true. Most of the people that I wish I could really be around don’t seem to have much time to be as social as I would like to be. They seem to be too busy and when they do have free time, it’s a choice of other things, which is fine, but it does bite a little bit when you want to be around them and it’s almost as if they don’t exist because they are “over-loaded” with other things in life...

“… I wonder why I do the things I do for other people when I feel like it doesn’t ever pay off. I’m not saying that I’m looking for some type of payment, but I don’t feel like people appreciate me as much as I appreciate them…”

Are the words forgotten? What does it all mean? Why did I and still do see the person underneath? Why do I feel like I am on the other side of those words now?

I grew to have such a close kindred with this person, thinking that our dreams of always being best friends would be realized; that this person was different from the rest. But in one conversation, I realized that it wouldn’t be so.

Now, I don’t share these things out of spite, but out of gaining a ken of the things, the actions, we do in our lives. By realizing that even though we feel betrayal, people are still children of God. We have to learn to forgive, and perhaps that is the greatest hurdle. Otherwise, we could be wallowing in our lives while they live care-free, unknowing to what they have left behind. This person is still a child of God and we must learn to see with our spiritual eyes, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

In the past few weeks I have had to learn to be a different kind of friend… The kind of friend who isn’t really a friend at all. And it breaks my heart… Perhaps it is because I worked so hard for the friendship.

While I have learned many things in the past little while, I wanted my friend there to talk to and share with. I wanted that person who understood who I was and who always had the right bits of wisdom to share with me. That is all I wanted was a friend, a listening ear.

But I have had to learn to be the kind of friend who isn’t really a friend… But are you really being a friend by holding on to something that isn’t there? By trying so hard, you are banging your head against a wall? By loving them too much?

Someone recently illustrated a story for me:

A dog has a litter of 12 puppies and there is one puppy who is larger than the rest. He digs in to the food and wards off the other puppies until he’s had his fill.

One day, the owner notices that this puppy is not as aggressive with the food. A few days later, the owner starts to notice ribs on the pup. As many people know, this isn’t a good sign on an animal.

The owner begins to inspect the puppy and notices there is a large cottage cheese-like infection across the pup’s throat. When the Vet inspects the puppy, a syringe pulls out a brown infection. The pup goes home with an incision so the rest of the infection can drain.

When the owner gets home, he doesn’t have the heart to put the puppy back into the kennel (where the Vet said to put him). So, the puppy gets put in a box inside the house for a few days. The pup had things pretty good. He didn’t have to fight for food; he didn’t have to ward off cold; he just had to be there.

The owner finally decides that the puppy is healthy enough to go back to the kennel. When he puts the dog down, the other puppies start to run toward him. The little puppy starts to back away and runs to the owner and tries to jump up on his lap.

Suddenly, the owner begins to see what has happened and realizes he hasn’t helped the puppy out by letting him “heal” in the house. The action actually made the puppy weaker because he didn’t have to fight for anything to gain strength.

Many times in our lives we do things because we think they are helping us; we do things that keep us in the warm box inside of the house; we think we are healing. But we ignore the heart of the matter and only look on the outward appearance.

However, if we would go out to the kennel, outside where the elements are uncontrolled, we would learn more and become stronger. Weakness is found inside the box; strength is found outside the box (outside of our comfort zone).

Learning to be the friend who isn’t a friend is hard and I don’t know how to do it. This person probably thinks I am a real snot, but I don’t know how to act toward their actions. And perhaps they don't think much of it... But I do because it's hard.

The important thing for me now, however, is to remember that girl on the lane that day. That is all I can do to move on. She is a girl with spunk and jive; a girl who doesn’t care about what others think; a girl who doesn’t have a plan and for once in her life is ok with it. She is a girl who will work so that others can look beyond what is on the outside and see the sparks of light on the inside.

My actions in life are different now. Tonight I made a pretty good idiot of myself in front of our FHE group and I didn’t really care. I smiled, I laughed, and I had a good time. I sat next to a boy who makes me laugh and feel just as care free as he does about the world.

What an amazing place this world is. For those persons who choose to share it with me, hop aboard. And for those persons who choose not to, it’s their loss in getting to know the amazing world of the girl on the lane.

A piano solo by some unknown Italian

Chose to Lose Challenge!

Pretty sexy, huh? I made it myself for our "Chose to Lose" Challenge (except the logo is supposed to be maroon... :/) 

R&O Construction challenged Wadman Corporation to a Biggest Loser contest of sorts. Registration starts on Monday, Jan. 7 and the first weigh-in is Friday, Jan. 11. The challenge will go until April 25. Everyone has been getting their team together for the last few days.

As I have been helping to get the collateral put together I have been pretty disgusted at what goes in to the fast food that is served. A few facts from my research:

- Every month, more than 90 per cent of the children in the United States eat at McDonald's

- Fast food companies make higher profits on soft drinks than on their food products.

- A super-sized order of McDonald's fries contains 610 calories and 29 grams of fat. Other brands aren't much better: a king-sized order of Burger King's fries packs 590 calories and 30 grams of fat.

- Per ounce, Chicken McNuggets contain twice as much fat as hamburger. 

- In the United States, obesity is second only to smoking as a cause of death.

Those are only a small handful of the facts that are out there. It is pretty disgusting what we allow ourselves to consume and the low rate of physical activity we have in our lives.

May you create your own challenge and "Chose to Lose" this year. If not for you, for those around you who love you. This life is pretty amazing and how sad it would be to cut it short!

Fresh off the presses!

January 5, 2007 – Wadman Corporation welcomes it’s newest team members.   Lacey Cortisse as a project assistant, Rachell Craig as a Service Division project assistant, Brandy Lee as marketing coordinator and Teri Muirbrook as marketing assistant.  Brittany Szymanski will be leaving the Marketing Department to take on the responsibilities of a full time mom. 

Christina Baird has been promoted to Service Division project manager intern.  

Along with the new team additions, there are some exciting changes.  In the spirit of organizing our company into departments to enhance our ability to provide services, the following adjustments have been made.

Britnee Dyer will continue in her current position as office manager, with the addition of providing her expertise in project assisting to Ryan and Travis.  In order to balance Britnee’s responsibilities, several of her former tasks have been shifted to the departments they pertain to.

Valerie Willerton and Heidi Scott will be incorporated into the accounting department and continue to render their accounting expertise to their current project managers.  In addition, Ryan and Travis will be handling small commercial projects in the Wadman realm giving them and those that work with them further opportunities for success.

Misti Mecham will be joining the Business Development and Marketing Department as the marketing specialist, along with maintaining her marketing responsibilities with Wadman Homes.

 

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Memories

The screenwrite penned, "I don't want you to walk down memory lane so you don't forget me. I do it because I want you to remember the girl on the lane that day."

Sometimes we take a walk remembering our past for the wrong reasons. We look at all the memories associated with it and oftimes it brings pain. We wonder why things are continually brought to our remembrance. 

"I am angry at him. Why does he keep reminding me of things that remind me of us? Does he want me to hate him?"

"Maybe that's just it. Maybe he wants you to hate him so you forget him."

Too often the memories serve to bind us in chains of pain and misery because we let them. But I believe our memories serve a more important role in our lives, if we will let them. They serve to show us progress or to bring us to a remembrance of what we once were: our hopes, our dreams, a vision we once saw for ourselves.

I saw P.S. I Love You and as I sat in the theater, I thought to myself, "Oh, great. Another sappy love story about two people who can't stand the thought of living without one another" (I had a pretty cynical attitude that night). As the movie went on, however, I began to realize it was much more than another sappy love story.

It is a beautiful movie about love and devotion. Also, it teaches in a poignant way about loss, dealing with it, moving on, grief, and pain. It teaches lessons about anger, moving away from denial, taking down walls, and learning to open your heart again.

There are memories we hold on to because we don't want to be alone while the world around us seamlessly moves on. But while we are holding on to those things, we aren't progressing. We end up shutting the rest of the world out and with walls no one can take down but us. 

The screenwrite continues:

"He's not coming back is he?"

"No, he's not. So you have to stop waiting for him."

Most of what happens in our lives comes, has some kind of effect, and goes. But we can't hold on to it and/or wait for it to come back. We must dig back into our elephant memory banks and remember the optimistic visionary on the lane that day. 

While looking back down memory lane, I remember that girl. She was bright-eyed and had a vision for her life. Somewhere along the way she got lost. I'm looking to bring her back with me, beyond the walls and on to a new adventure!

The sun will come up tomorrow, that is for certain. What I chose to do with that day, however, is up to me.