This is not getting any easier!

I think the questions for this 30 day challenge were designed to make me crazy! So far I haven't been able to answer any of the questions with just one thing.  And today's is no exception!!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE to read.  I have been a reader since I was in Elementary school and even won an award in Grade 5 for being the best reader in the school or something like that (I have a sweet picture of it from 1990ish if I can find it I'll add it later).  I read the entire Babysitters Club series that year.  It was a lot of books but I loved them!  I think it is one of the reasons that I tend to enjoy a series of books more than a single novel although some of my favorites are single novels.  So in no particular order here are a few of the most amazing books on the planet...please feel free to comment on books I've missed or must read as I am always looking for new authors.

1. The Giver, by Lois Lowry

"The Giver is a 1993 soft science fiction novel by Lois Lowry. It is set in a future society which is at first presented as a utopian society and gradually appears more and more dystopian. The novel follows a boy named Jonas through the twelfth year of his life. The society has eliminated pain and strife by converting to "Sameness", a plan which has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives. Jonas is selected to inherit the position of "Receiver of Memory," the person who stores all the memories of the time before Sameness, in case they are ever needed to aid in decisions that others lack the experience to make. When Jonas meets the previous receiver—the "Giver"—he is confused in many ways. The Giver is also able to break some rules, such as turning off the speaker and lying to people of the community. As Jonas receives the memories from the Giver, he discovers the power of knowledge. The people in his community are happy because they don't know of a better life, but the knowledge of what they are missing out on could create chaos. He faces a dilemma: Should he stay with the community, his family living a shallow life without love, color, choices and knowledge or should he run away to where he can live a full life?"

There are two other novels that are loosely connected with "The Giver"  the next book is "Gathering Blue" which is another look at a different society that exists at the same time in history as Jonas' world.  The third is called "The Messenger" and it ties the three stories together.  "The Giver" is by far the most effective of the three and the most enjoyable to read but I recommend all three.

2. The Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling

I know...you're thinking all I read is children's books.  Not true, but almost! lol  I actually really enjoy children's literature and look forward to whatever new gem may come my way because a niece or nephew had to read the story in school.  As for Mr. Potter I was introduced to this lovely story while in my first year of college.  It may have been a bit of my downfall seeing as I skipped more than one class because of the hold the books had on me.  I remember going to Costco and buying the fourth book the day it came out and then staying up all night to read it all in one sitting.  I finished it around 8 in the morning and could hardly stand that I had to wait at least another year to find out how the story was to continue!  Anyways, I love them and I love the movies.  It's just pure good make believe.

3. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 

It's one of the most famous books of all time and it's in my top ten for sure!  I spoke about the movie yesterday and I love the book just as much.  It's just plain European romance and I am swept away every time I read it. 

4.  The Life of Pi - Yann Martel

"Life of Pi is a tale about survival, belief in God and coming of age, that unfolds while the protagonist is floating in a lifeboat on the Pacific Ocean. The main character, Pi Patel, is a loveable teenager with a lifelong curiosity for animals and religion. Pi grows up as the son of a zookeeper in Pondicherry, India. He is intensely religious and practices Hinduism, Islam and Christianity with equal zeal. When Pi is about 16 years old, his father decides to relocate the family to Canada to escape the increasingly undesirable political developments in 1970's India. Pi's father arranges for the family to accompany some of the animals bound for North America on a cargo ship named Tsimtsum. "Midway to Midway" the ship suddenly and quickly sinks. Pi is instantly orphaned and left to survive in a lifeboat with a crippled zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a tiger...."

Seriously you have to read this book if you have not.  I have just started reading it again for about the 5th time (JaCobi posted it as one of her favorites and challenged people to read or reread it so I am) and I still love it and it still makes me think.   It's an amazing story and written beautifully.  Please enjoy it!

Anyways, that's about as much as I can come up with for today.  There are so many books that I love that I didn't mention (LOTR, Twilight, Fisher of Men, Hunger Games and the Forgotten Garden to name a few! hehehe).  I use reading to escape and to let my imagination wander and explore.  I love it.  I hope my son loves it as much as I do because I plan on spending lots of time with bedtime stories in the future!

One down and 29 more to go!

Day #2: A Favorite Movie

Oh geez! Okay seriously...I don't know how I am going to pick just one.  I have a serious addiction to movies and being married to my most amazing husband doesn't help either!  He buys just as many as I do! I'll share my favorites from different genres...how's that?  If you don't want to read on I won't be offended.

Romantic Comedy:  By far my most favorite has to be Never Been Kissed. 

I was not as big a geek in high school as Josie (at least I don't think I was) but I can definitely identify with her need to fit in with the popular crowd, having siblings in the same school that were way more popular than you ever were and wanting to be asked out by that one special boy.  It also doesn't hurt one bit that I think Michael Vartan is completely sexy (sorry Matt...I still love you!).  Here's the trailer for the movie just in case you've never seen it!

 

Drama:  Absolutely must be Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

I'm not a snob about it either.  I like both the BBC full length version (enter Mr. Colin Firth in all his British glory) and the condensed feature film version from 2007 with Keira Knightly playing Elizabeth Bennett.  I love the story, the era, the family and all the mishaps that arise along the way.  If you haven't seen it...shame on you!  Here's the trailer for the newest version...enjoy!

Comedy: I'm too embarrassed and ashamed to list my real favorite so I'll go with my second...  Dumb and Dumber. 

I know.  Judge me.  But I love it.  It's a classic and it never gets old to watch it.  I laugh every time and it makes me happy.  Here's the trailer for it...just in case you've never seen it and you're curious as to what could be so dumb about it!

Horror: I'm really not a fan of these movies at all but if I have to watch one "The Sixth Sense" is my choice. 

I have terrible nightmares if the movie is too realistic.  So this one is a good compromise. I won't say much about it because if you haven't seen it already I don't want to ruin it for you.  Here's the trailer:

Animated:  I have two favorites: The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.  I love them both.  And I am sure you have all seen them. 

 Fantasy:  I have to go with the LOTR Trilogy for this one.  I loved the books and I think the movies are all spectacular.  

 

 Here's the trailer for those of you that live under a rock.

I'm sorry but I just can't stop now that you've gotten me thinking about it! A few of my other favorites include Notting Hill, The Cure, My Best Friends Wedding, Sense and Sensibility and How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days.  I think that's enough for now.  Don't you? lol

30 days of getting to know me...we'll see if I can stay on track and do them all!

So a good friend of mine and her sister have been posting for the past few days from the list below.  I have really enjoyed reading all of the answers to the questions and getting to know my friend better so I thought I might as well join them even if I am almost a week behind.  I thought it was fitting to start on the 1st day of November.  Here is the list of questions if anyone else out there would like to join in!!  Thanks JaCobi for the great idea!

Day 1: A favorite song
Day 2: A favorite movie
Day 3: A favorite book
Day 4: A favorite quote
Day 5: A favorite pair of shoes
Day 6: A moment you wish you could relive
Day 7: Five things you couldn't possibly live without
Day 8: A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life
Day 9: A photo you have taken
Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11: A photo of you taken recently
Day 12: A song that you played at your wedding
Day 13: Five strange facts about you
Day 14: A vacation you would like to take
Day 15: Five funny fears
Day 16: A song that makes you cry
Day 17: An art piece
Day 18: A photo of your favorite room in your house
Day 19: A talent of yours
Day 20: A food you like and a food you do not like
Day 21: Something you know you do differently than most people
Day 22: A website you like
Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered
Day 24: A movie no one would expect you to love
Day 25: A recipe
Day 26: A childhood memory
Day 27: A physical feature you love
Day 28: A scar you have and its story
Day 29: Hopes, dreams, and plans you have for the next 365 days
Day 30: A motto or philosophy

The first question is a favorite song.  Oh man!  This is really hard for me because most of you know that I LOVE music and singing and can hardly have just one favorite song.  So I will share two or three!

My most favorite "church" song is called "Mercy's Arms".  I first heard it when I went to EFY in 1997.  I love the sweet pure melody and the beautiful emotion of this song.  And most of all I love the spirit I feel as I am reminded of my Savior and all that He has done for me and that no matter where I am in life He is ALWAYS there for me.  I have often listened to this song over the years when I have felt alone or unsure or depressed and it has never failed to make me readjust and refocus and recommit myself to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know this is kind of creepy, but this is one of the songs I want sung at my funeral.  The last verse sums up exactly what I strive for and what I want to happen when all is said and done here on earth.   

My boyfriend, Josh Groban, sings my next favorite song... ok actually he sings most of my other favorite songs.  There are too many of his to list.  But I especially love "Remember" from the movie "Troy".

And "Remember when it rained."  I hope you enjoy them both, because I was only supposed to chose one!

Ok, I couldn't end this post without including my most favorite song from my most favorite Broadway show of all time "WICKED".  I am such a sucker for duets and ballads and this song is no exception.

Okay, I'll stop.  I've spent way to long on youtube watching all the music videos and listening to all of my favorite music! Hope you enjoy!!

I do actually finish a thing or two...once in a while!

My cousin Katelyn emailed me a couple pictures awhile back and i thought I should share them with you just to prove that I can get the odd task finished...it's not often that this occurs but every once in a blue moon I do finish what I start.  Here's a picture of the project...

This is a quilt that I made for my cousin Chris and his wife Echo.  I think it turned out beautifully and was so happy with it.  I had the "Quilting Grandma's" in Fort Macleod and my Mom help to hand quilt it.  So much fun!  I even finished the quilt on Wednesday when the wedding wasn't until Friday!  Pretty good eh! lol 

Now onto other things...Grandpa's book is finished pretty much too!!  Just waiting for a few edits to be done and then a quote from the printer and we're off to the races!  Feels good to have accomplished that task as well.  Maitland's pictures are the next thing on my list...mostly because I want to see if the pinterest link I got the idea from really is awesome and to prove to Matt that I am not just wasting my time looking on pinterest.  I actually get ideas and make things to add to our home.  I just gotta get to the making and adding part! :)  That will have to happen next week as I am off to Youth Conference in Edmonton this afternoon.  Wish me luck with that!  I haven't stayed up past 10 in a very very very long time and I have to help chaperone the dance tonight!  Good times ahead I am sure.

So much to do...so little time to do it in...

So like I said in my last post, I am working on compiling my Grandpa's personal history.  I have been sitting at the computer pretty much since 9 this morning working on it.  I am hoping that by the end of the day I will be ready to send it to the printer.  Cross your fingers for me!!  While I was working on the book I came across a picture that I just love and I wanted to share it with you...

This is my great grandmother and the picture was taken in 1901.  Is it not adorable?  I'm going to try and get it blown up and then hang it up at my house in an old vintage style frame.  

I also need to finish my other craft that I have started which is some canvas pics of Maitland that I took of him in the bathtub.  So cute with his yellow ducky!  I also have a baby quilt that just HAS to get finished asap because the baby was born 2 weeks ago! AHHHHHHH!!! lol And we are feeding the missionaries tonight so I need to get going on dinner too!  

Oh shoot.  I also need a nap.  My little Maitland was not cooperative last night for sleeping at all.  I was up at 11:30, 2:15 and from 4:30-6:00 and then I got an hour more sleep and had to go and save Matt from the very very fussy baby.  It was not a good night for any of us and yet Maitland is as happy and smiley and cute as ever today.  Wish I could say the same about myself!

Family History

Matt and I have been working hard over the past few months to type up my Grandpa Hartley's personal history.  He hand wrote about 60 pages of his life.  It's been a big job but it's been so interesting to me to see the types of things that my Grandpa remembered and made note of through out his life.  There are lots of stories about the ranch and farming which is what my grandpa loves to do.  That, and serve in the Church.    I've also really enjoyed getting to know my Grandpa better and to work with him to accomplish this goal of his.  I'm not sure if my Grandpa kept any kind of journal and used it as a reference for things to include but if that is the case I'm in pretty deep trouble! lol My Hartley grandparents gave me a small journal as a gift for my baptism when I was eight years old...I filled the last page just before I left on my mission at 23.  Either I have a super uneventful life or I am a slacker and should of written more often (I think it's a little of both).  It's made me reflect on what I would include in my own history if/when I actually sit down to write it.  What's worth remembering and what's better to forget?  Maybe I should start to compile memories now and work towards a finished product by the time I'm 85.  Or I could get on the ball and catch up to the present and then try to be more diligent in capturing all of the memories and experiences of our family from here on out.  Maybe I'll try to remember some of the things from when I was a kid and growing up in Orton and see if my memory matches that of my siblings...now that could be interesting!!!  It's a challenge and an experiment! 

Food Drive

This past week has been pretty focused on the food drive that our Branch was doing.  I signed Matt and I up for two areas (about 250 houses total).  We had to go around on Monday and Tuesday and deliver fliers to each house in our area to let them know about the food drive.  We had two perfect fall evenings for the walk around the neighborhoods.  It was beautiful.  Maitland was so cute in his stroller and happy as could be to hang out with Dad and Mom and walk around Lloyd.  I actually thought it was pretty fun until I stepped off the step of one house and sprained my ankle.  Just call me grace! haha What a mess.  Anyways I walked it off and continued on my way.  Matt was way faster than I was and we were finished our area rather quickly.  Once all the fliers were delivered we had to go back to our areas and pick up any donations that people had left on the doorstep.  Matt was working today so I recruited one of the YW to come with Maitland and I to help out.  I was quite disappointed with the first area we went and picked up in.  Only 5 houses out of over a 100 left donations.  We had better luck in our second area but not much.  I was pleasantly surprised when Mandy (my sis-in-law) called and told me that a guy on her route had filled the back of his pick-up with cases of soup and left them for us to collect.  That was impressive.  When we got back to the church it was amazing to see all of the food we had collected from around town.  There was a lot!  We had to go through each bag/box and check all of the expiry dates and then sort the food into different categories.  This took a long long time (several hours).  Once we had them all sorted and put into banana boxes we loaded them on pallets and then into the back of a semi trailer. We took the loaded trailer to the Salvation Army and proceeded to unload all of the food.  I went to help with this...bad idea...jks!  We ended up having to lug each box of food ( and most were NOT light)  I was put into the line at the top of the stairs...had to hand each box down to the next person in line (sorry Indie for almost dropping a huge box on your head!).  I may have slipped and let a cuss word or two slip...most of those boxes were freaking heavy!!!  I was amazed as I watched one of my friends from the ward work so hard to pass the boxes.  She is a petite woman and was born with only one arm.  This didn't deter her from doing her share of work or trying to lift even the heaviest boxes.  I did laugh a few times as she was grunting to heave the next box on to the next person in line.  Very inspiring to watch.  Warms my heart to see all of the amazing people in our area who are so willing to give of their time and effort for others.  It took just about an hour to unload the trailer and we had around 140 boxes of food to donate.  It turned out to be a very successful event and I think it can only get better with repetition.  I had a lot of fun spending the day with the members of our Branch and serving our community.  I hope the people who need the food get it and are able to appreciate all the work that went into that donation.  And I hope that my back recovers swiftly!!!