Happy, Happy Birthday . . . .

 . . . President Higham!!!!!

oh, and Happy Birthday

Gabby!!  

What are the odds that my Mission President and brother share the same birthday?  Crazy.  Honestly though, my world would be a much sadder place without my big brother and one of my best friend - you are my friend, protector and I love you!  I hope you had a day filled with surprise birthday cupcakes and fire alarms!!

Love Mia

Gorillas and those Damn Hinges!

     One would think there was no connection between gorillas and hinges but oh how wrong they would be.  The connection is me and my Friday.  Gabby called me friday morning and asked if I would watch Samu while they went to the eye doctor.  Of course I did and we had a great morning.  Come noon and lunchtime I knew that we might have a little trouble because for those of you who don't know the great Samu, he is not the biggest fan of eating - especially if there are tempting things to play with all around.  After a give and take conversation I finally got Samuel to want to eat something but then the bigger problem came in what he wanted to eat . . . "Gorilla".  I had NO idea what in the world Gorilla was.  I kept trying to get him to describe what it was but all he kept saying was, "Mia it's gorILLA - GORilla - GORILLA".  We made our way into the kitchen to see if he could point out what it was but again we had no luck in finding the mysterious Gorilla,  what we did find is what would be percieved as a big clue if you were anyone else but clueless me - -the Quaker man.  He found the Quaker man in the pantry and kept saying, "There's the man - Gorilla has the man", but still I could not decifer his code.  Gabby happened to show up right at that moment and they had to leave and I forgot to ask what in the world Gorilla was.  The frustrating conversation with Samuel came rushing back when I was talking to my mother on the phone and I finally asked - "What in the world is Gorilla?", I told her the story and almost instantly she said - - "Gorilla, hmmm - could it be Granola?" - - - - -Ahhhhhh!  I can't beleive that the idea that it could be Granola NEVER occured to me.  Gabby confirmed it later and I laughed and laughed - what a Kid!

     It must have been meant that my day would be filled with frustration because I ended up at Chard #2's house hating whoever in the world created hinges . . .

 . . . those damn hinges!!  This picture is the culmination of my anger of that Friday night in Gabby's garage - - that half inch of space led to a myriad of swear words and laughter as Gabby and I tried to figure out how in the world the hinges on this door worked.  Oh, if you could have been there - right before we finished with the above third try and really thinking that we were finally right - - our cheers of triumph rang throughout the Peterson valley only to later be replaced by the groans of defeat when we actually tried to open the door.  We. Had. Failed.  I was done and thus ended a frustrating day filled with Gorillas and hinges. . .

A break . . .

     So . . . looking for "Spring Images" on Google can sure turn up some interesting results - - this is definitely not what springs to my mind when I think of "Spring", but alas the chairs are growing on me.  I am excited for my Spring Break and have already planned a lot of nothing followed by more nothing and will be loving every minute of it . . .

Contemplating better days. . .

    Have you ever stopped and looked around at your life and found yourself wondering, "Wait, how did I get here?".  I have recently, and I have to say it's a little unsettling.  It's hard to see while amidst everyday living how a little turning off the course can lead you somewhere that you never thought possible and that you never wanted to be.  It happens, I believe, to all of us at some point or another and the longer that we wait to change our course, the harder it becomes to do so.  I have been putting off writing lately because I have felt that my life has stayed stagnant and that there really wasn't anything consequential to add to this blog world.  I have thought to myself, " I have school and work and they mostly stay the same so what is there really to say?"- in thinking that I limited the fact that anything that we feel and say, if it means something to us, is of value.

    I have always been a private person that at times finds it difficult to share with others.  I guard myself from rejection before I even give a person a chance to know me for me. I cannot tell you the times that I have held back and walked away from a person or situation wishing that I would have said what I really wanted to.  It's interesting how we are all here on the earth with different personality traits that seem to have come with us from where we were before, because I can remember this particular trait about me from some of my earliest memories.  I don't necessarily believe that this is always bad and I really don't even know why I am writing this or where this is suppose to go, other than, I guess this is me just writing an update about what I have been thinking about.

Andy Warhol once said, "They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself".  This past little while I have come to believe that wholeheartedly - they trick then becomes - do we want to?  Do we know how?

A shout-out to Sample Pictures . . .

"Toco Toucon"

"El Capitan"

"Sunflower Wedding"

my personal favorite - "Annie in the Sink"

Wow. I happened to be messing around on my parents computer and came across these gems that the world must see! Sample Pictures - Who took these? What made windows think - Now these are the pictures we need as sample pictures? How much did the individual get paid for these? Last but not least - what in the world made Windows Vista think that we need sample pictures? Have we never seen pictures before? Would we be lost in the picture folder without the samples? So many unanswered questions. They will haunt me late into the night until I turn into an insomniac that wanders the halls of my house with fear and doubt about "Annie in the sink" - - - but hopefully not.

I'm loving the pursuit of education . . .

     I am currently sitting at Weber State University in the grand new Elizabeth Hall waiting for my Shakespeare class to begin.  I have to admit that often times this is a hard class for me, due to how long it is and how little we seem to talk about Shakespeare.  While this is currently the case I do have to say how wonderful it has been this semester.  I am taking classes that are stretching me beyond my comfort zone - Linguistics, Shakespeare, Physics, Nature Writing and Math.  While those might be right up your alley they are certainly not mine.  I have to admit that while I have always loved to learn I have not always loved getting an education.  I have come to the conclusion this semester that all along I have been more like avoiding an education than actually getting one.  I have been afraid that maybe I'm not smart enough to handle things that challenge me and take me past things I already know.  I was looking to take the easiest route, the easy "A", where I could coast through.  That, I believe, has been a detriment.  I am busier that I have ever been with more things to read that I think that I can get through, but not withstanding I find myself happier about where my schooling is and I found that I am fascinated by learning something new.

    Now all of that is not to say that I haven't learned something before but I guess it's more of an observation on attitude and how leaving fear aside can change things.  That I guess is my goal for this new year - leave the fear aside.  There are too many times that I let fear dictate- what I can do or who I am and it's been the key to misery, and no one wants to be miserable.

Oh Canada . . .

Get well soon friend, get well.  

Much love

Mia

And then there was ONE . . .

There is room for one more person to receive something wonderful (and I mean wonderful, not to brag or anything but I am an outstanding gift-giver:), in this pay it forward thing.  There must be more than 2 people who at times glance this way at my blog and want to participate - or maybe not and if not Gabby and Rose are going to get something even better!!  Thanks for reading, you two!

Do you wanna win . . . . . @ Pay it Forward?

Hey All - -

My dear sister Wendy posted on her blog a few days ago about a "Pay it Forward" she participated in from a friends blog that ended with getting fun free stuff in the mail.  She was doing her part by posting on her blog and I did my part by commenting and winning one of those free things she will now send me:)  Now that I have thoroughly confused everyone I will post the rules that come directly from her blog and can't wait to see who the first 3 people are that comment . . . 

"Here are the rules: The exchange focuses on doing an act of kindness without expecting anything in return other than that the recipient will, in their turn, pass the kindness along and pay it forward in their own way. This is how it works… I am going to agree to send something fun, inspiring or uplifting to the first 3 blog owners who post a comment on this entry (please leave your email address if I don’t all ready have it.).

In turn you will then post about this on your blog, link to me, then send something to the first three people who sign up to play along through your blog. There are no cost restraints, but don’t go crazy! The little something you send can be something you made, bought, were given or found. No biggie, just a gift that will make the person smile. Maybe something unique fom where you live? And remember that kindness doesn’t have to involve money; there are untold ways to help others every single day, everywhere you go - just look around.”

Alright then, sounds like fun!  

If you want something from me be one of the first three:)  (hey mario, does that line count as poetic?)

Ready . . . . . .and . . . . .. . GO!

Cannot even form words . . .

ugghhh!  Yeah - that's about all I got for the likes of blogging.  I honestly feel zero desire to blog even though I could talk about Christmas, New Year's, my trip to El Paso, school, etc. . . .  Maybe later - until then . . .ugggghhhhhhhh!

The Cat's Meow . . .

Marcos, Marcos, Marcos . . .

Many moons ago on the 26th of the blessed month of December a child was born that brought sunshine, kittens, rainbows, and every other happy thing that can come to one's mind, into the world - that child was . . . . . Jared Leto

Now, I know that you probably thought that I was going to say you and frankly you would fit into the same category that describes our dear friend from "My So Called Life" and your ruggedly handsome twin, but sometimes in life we guess wrong.  I do hope, though, that you know that even though Jared Leto might have arrived first, you are number one around these parts and definitely the Cat's Meow!  I happen to love you for many reasons  - 

- your hatred of exclamation points and CAPITAL LETTERS

- your seemingly endless way to always be able to eat pizza or cereal

- your childlike obsession for one you called "HoneyNut" (I have to admit I find the odd photos of you always stretching the cat a bit creepy)

- your love of self portraits

- your backwards way of writing and the Sonic the Hedgehog masterpieces that you drew

- your happy dancing nature and much, much more - 

that is why I am very Happy to say that I love December 26th and the excitement that one must feel to know that it is THE Marcos Chard's birthday and that you know him.  Happy Birthday!!!

Nothing says "Happy Birthday" like a glass of cold milk and a cookie from mom . . .

Carmel Popcorn Sundays . . .

       Due to the current state in which I find myself(surrounded by Christmas loving individuals) I have been thinking lately about traditions and why they mean so much to so many people.  I have always been one of those people that loved Christmas but this year my attitude has been more afixed to that of that well known character of Scrooge.  There seems to be so many things to do and places to go because it's always been that way.  Many individuals have the tradition of going to see the lights at Temple Square, and I have done that from time to time, while others always get together for Gingerbread house making or Christmas caroling.  I guess it boils down to celebrating with the ones that you love.  This season is suppose to be a time of rejoicing for all that we have and giving thanks for the gift of the Savior Jesus Christ.  I know that he wasn't born on "December 25th", but as the Christian world has accepted it as the time to celebrate His sacrifice I need all to know that I KNOW that he is my Savior and Redeemer and that he sacrificed for me on an individual basis as well as for everyone else.

    I beleive that traditions are made from people coming together in a general love for one another and a hope that friendships will last for years.  I remember fondly a tradition that was created on my mission - carmel popcorn sundays.  I was with Hermana Bettger and we loved preperation days:), and so to celebrate that we had made it through another week and that we were on the eve of our favorite day we created this marvelous tradition.  We planned quickly so that we would have time to make the most fabulous popcorn ever - an old Bettger family recipie.  That became a time that helped us relieve the stresses of mission life and laugh and really get to know one another.  Since I have been home I have tried to carry that tradition on from time to time and I have to say that tonight has been one of the best carmel popcorn sundays - - - - I had one of the best helpers around - THE Samuel Chard . . .

"I don't wanna smile" - direct quote from Samu - so here we have a no smiling penguin wearing 4 year old - couldn't get cuter:)

Wishing and Hoping and thinking . . .

So I bet you all are not loving the snow but I actually love it all and can't wait for more!  I hope the heavens hear my pleas for snow, snow, snow . . .  Let's make it more than last year:)

Missionary Moment Friday . . .

Companion Spotlight:

              Name:  Judith Guynn(pronounced g-win)

     Hometown:  New Canaan, Connecticut

Current Town:  Provo, Utah attending the big BYU

Well, the above photo is not a mug shot as you might assume but just a photo to check the blackness of the hair color that I applied on a typical Guynn and Chard preparation.  Now she might kill me for some of these great photos but hey she was the one that sent me the disc with all of these so I figured she would approve.  There are so many things that I can tell you about this great person.  We were put together for her last transfer and my first in the dry land of Montana Vista, El Paso.  I have to say that I was in Tucson before I was transferred and did not want to leave and that made me very unhappy about going to Texas and I have to say that without Guynn I could not have survived.  Our days were spent tracting and knocking doors with many, many random first lessons and so many crazy moments.  It was hot and dusty and she was leaving and I still had 10 months and the jealousy of that fact at times was overwhelming (bad to say I know, but honest and true and all who have served missions will get the love/hate relationship:) but oh, the fun that we had.  She was an amazing teacher with a special ability of making a connection with anyone.  Her clever wit and funny randomness coincided just right with my own craziness as we talked in funny accents, composed classical music in the car and at times she was the only one that got and laughed at my "darkness" that came forth at times.  Anyway - she's great and all should know it.

The farthest point in our area was at the edge of the mission boundary and took 1 and 1/2 hours to get there - but the stark beauty of it all was worth it(we also taught some good lessons and that adds to the worth:)

Us on the sandy dunes of Montana Vista - we were always stopping to pose for pictures in the sand - it seems odd but trust me there was nothing and i mean nothing else out there:)

Ah, yes - the cowboy and the Indian.  This was something we cooked up for out last District Meeting and I have to say - you just had to be there

haha - again with the sand, and really I have no idea why we chose to lay down - haha, we had the craziest and most fun times - thanks for that, Guynn!  Pretty Sunsets, though, but the serious looks have to go . . .

Lessons with the District Leader and companion and I guess she was more excited than the rest of us:)

Last but not least - the typical missionary camera tricks:)  We were always the last district to get interviewed by the President and so we had boring moments with the only fun technology missionaries are allowed - cameras. 

There you have my first companion spotlight.  I have to say she is such a great person, artist and poet - - you rock, Guynn!!

They say it's your BIRTHDAY . . .

Here we have young Susy who we can see started her natural affiliation with horses and anything to do with them at a young age.  From then until now all know that you see Susy and you think horsey . . .

Here she is a beautiful 16 full of dreams and hopes of American men and a far-away adventure.  Little did she know then the grand adventure that being the wife to doug and the mother to gabriel, mia, mario, marcos would be . . .

Ahhh, yes - this is Classic Susy.  The hundred watt smile and the stylish scarf as her favorite accessory.  She is really one of the most beautiful women I know and more because of her charming and loving personality that draws all to her.  

Lastly but never leastly - - - -Here she is as my best friend and companion for anything fun and exciting.  I love you mom and could never be have made it through life thus far without your love and care and everything you do for me!!  I love you enough . . .