FREEDOM! ...At least for a little while...

Finals are done. Thank goodness. I did well in my art classes. My GE's suffered a little bit.
For those of you in SC we will be there from the 28th to the 2nd.
For those of you in UT, I can't wait to hang out.
Merry Christmas.

Thanksgiving!

What I've been up to lately

I had to make 27 of these baby chicks for a class show that we were doing. Supposedly, 5026 (or so) chickens die in Provo every day, so we were representing every one of them with our art. We then sold each one for a dollar and gave the money to the food coalition.

some more... - these are the original pictures

Art on a Friday Night

What I did tonight...

What Jeff did tonight...

Proof that I have the best husband ever.

Thanks to everybody for a great birthday.  All the calls, emails, letters, packages, etc.  were awesome.  You guys are amazing.  

I was really happy all day yesterday.  Maybe it was the fact that I got to communicate with so many family members and old friends.

Last night rocked.  After work, Jeff and I went home, and to my surprise, the house what clean, the dishes were done, dinner was made, and there was a cake with twenty candles sitting on the stove.  I have an amazing and wonderful husband.  Jeff doesn't usually cook, but he made delicious fajitas.  Now that I know he has a hidden talent, we will be utilizing it more frequently.  :)

Funny that the best pictures here are the ones taken by Jeff, and not his photog major wife.  :)  My excuse is that the camera was running out of batteries.  

More pics from the story below

The wouldn't fit on the other one.

Walking on Air

This weekend has been one of the best up to date that I can remember.  

Friday night, I had the opportunity of filming the Homecoming Spectacular at BYU.  It is a concert featuring many of BYU's greatest choirs, dance groups, and bands.  The performance was marvelous, but afterwards, I got to do interviews with members of the audience as well as the performers.  The two most prominent people were LaVell Edwards (BYU's Star Football coach for 29 yrs) and, none other than Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I can't tell you how bad I was shaking as I set up the camera for the shot, wanting to make sure everything was absolutely perfect.  He is so awesome - he even stayed a few moments after the interview and chatted with the reporter and I.  I was literally walking on air for a while afterwards.  

Saturday was REALLY busy for Jeff and I.  We started out the morning by going to the Provo temple.  It was great to be there again and get to feel the Spirit.  Afterwards, we went and visited my Grandma Wilkerson and played a few games of "Spite and Malice."  She is so fun to be with.  Grandma can really get an attitude when the cards are in front of her.  :)

After Grandma's we went to the BYU vs. New Mexico football game.  My cousin Susan had some tickets to the game that she couldn't use, so she gave them to us.  What's funny is that the week before, we were discussing how we would probably never go to a game unless someone gave us the tickets... now we had some and decided to go.  Becky (Jeff's sister) came with us.  This was our (mine and Becky's) first college football game.  It was an awesome time, and wasn't near as cold as everyone was saying it was supposed to be.  Jeff and I have decided that we actually kind of like football games now, so this may not be the last game we attend.  

After the game, (and lots of weaving through HEAVY traffic... sometimes it's best just to close your eyes when your husband is making illegal U-turns...) we came back to our apartment and watched a movie with some friends.   It was called Army of Shadows, if any of you want to check it out.   It's about the French resistance during WWII.  (Not recommended for little kids, and it's a pretty slow movie.  But, it's really good.)

Now, I have three large art projects and a Doctrine and Covenants test to finish.   

Isn't life grand?

Pet Sins

Everyone has their pet sins - those they would rather hold onto than give up for better things.  I was talking today to a girl I work with who has developed an addiction to coffee in the last couple years.  I commented to her that she should give it up, and she told me that there are some things in life that you want to get rid of or work on, but for her, this is not one of those things.  She said she likes it way too much to give it up.

For some reason, I didn't feel judgmental towards her; it simply made me think about the pet sins that I'm holding onto in my own life; things that I - in one sense - love more than God because I'm not willing to give them up for him.  The first thing that came to my mind is participation in the petty gossip and talking behind people's backs that sometimes happens around me (or that I instigate) and that I sometimes participate in.  I know God isn't pleased when I do this, yet I still continue to do it.  Sometimes it's fun to make fun of people - especially if they are different from you and you feel (hopefully in your subconscious) that you will make yourself seem better by doing it.  

I challenge everyone who is reading this to think of one aspect of their lives that they would like to improve upon, and then do it.  I'm going to strive to stop gossiping.  What are you going to give up in order to know Christ better?

First Charcoal Drawing

Not bad for a beginner, huh?  :)  No... I'm plugging along.  It is getting easier the more I do it though.  On this drawing, I was supposed to focus on line quality, and not do any shading.  

 Jeff and I are still doing well.  We are finishing up our first set of midterms this week.  So we will be glad to get that behind us.  

We had some friends over for the Sunday morning session of General Conference (wasn't it awesome?!), then had a yummy lunch of bbq'd chicken sandwiches afterwards.  (Crockpots are amazing.)  It's fun hanging out with old buddies again and making new acquaintances.  Sometimes I think we believe we're too old to do that, and that any friends we make will only be in our lives for a short time before they leave us just like everyone else.  I had that mindset for a long time.  I didn't feel like getting attached to new people I met because I didn't see any value in it.  They were like a fleeting thought to me.  Why get close to someone I'm never going to see again?  

I have since changed my views, however.  I decided that every person has infinite worth and is worth my time.  With this attitude, it makes it a lot easier to get close to people without the fear of loss.  They can impact who you are for good, and even if you never see them again in this life, I believe there will be a glorious reunion in the next. 

Star Players

Jeff and I have taken up tennis as our new form of recreation.  We've played the last two nights and are starting to get the hang of it.  Of course, we've mostly been giving each other lobs, but who cares?  You have to start somewhere right?  

Thank you Jerry and Shelley for the rackets and balls.  

The HBO series John Adams is a highly recommendable show.  Jeff and I rented it from Blockbuster.  All those political science junkies and those interested in the founding of our country should check it out.  I'm not sure if all the events are factual, but it gives a cool new perspective on the our country's history.  I don't know if I'd watch it with little kids though...

We're finally almost moved into our apartment.  We just need to find a place to put our clothes and we should be gold.  I can't wait to get into our permanent ward and get a calling.  Being a transient isn't really as fun as it sounds. :)

For all of you who think drawing is fun...

Can you tell i made him take this picture with me?

These beginning level Visual Arts classes seriously make me question why I was ever accepted into this program in the first place.  I can't tell you how frustrating it is to work very hard on a drawing, bring it to a teacher, and have them hem and haw for a few moments, fishing for something... ANYTHING good to say about it.  It doesn't help when you sit at a table with a bunch of illustration majors...

That has essentially been my life for the past two weeks.  Some people write papers, I draw.  I'm beginning to wonder if the former option is preferable.  Drawing has become to me a personal kind of hell.  Jeff and I learned yesterday in Doctrine and Covenants class that one type of hell is the hell that is for the telestial beings from the moment they die until they go to the telestial kingdom.  It is a place for learning - spirit prison - and it has an end.  So, drawing = hell.  Or at least hell in one sense of the word.  

But it's all good.  If I can get through this, I'll be able to finally start taking classes I like, such as those dealing with photography.  

On top of all this, I'm working 3 nights a week from 5-10pm and 2 hours on the other 2 days.  :) It's an interesting system, because I sit in a room in the Joseph F. Smith bldg. called "The Dungeon" and wait for a reporter to call schedule me to shoot something for them.  If no one calls, I can do homework.  And lately, (even though it's probably not kosher), Jeff has been coming and hanging out with me so it's not such a bore.  

Jeff is doing well.  He is getting some GEs out of the way and is trying to decide which career he wants to pursue.  He took a career placement test that is making him question whether or not engineering is the job for him, so we'll see.  He's thinking of throwing in the towel and becoming a professional chess player.

School is stressful and fun and uplifting all at the same time and it encompasses our entire lives.  

peace for now.

Perseverance

The task of getting 50 sales looms on our horizon like a large black cloud.  We're down to the home stretch, the last week of the summer in which we make or break our chances of this summer being profitable.  

Can we do it?  

Of course.  

When Jeff puts his mind to something, there's no stopping him getting it done.  Crunch time is when he is especially productive.  (Isn't it the same with all of us?  Most people don't write the paper until the night before it's due...)

But I think we'll pull it off.  And even if we don't I think this summer has been a good experience overall.  If nothing else, it has gotten us out of Provo for a while... Long enough for us to miss it and want to go back.  

Yes, I'm ready for our vacation.  A vacation from APX.  

Hurrah for college.

God bless.

Walking

There's something very organic and good about walking.  It lets you slow down, get down at ground level and see things from a different perspective.  After walking someplace, driving almost seems like a sin... Like you are robbing time by getting from point A to point B so quickly.  With walking, you become a part of every place that you step.  You don't have to worry about other people on the road or road signs or anything.  You can just go at your own pace and enjoy the fact that you are out in nature getting exercise.  

I walked to the post office today.  On the way home I saw some of those pokey weeds that I used to see (and sometimes run into) riding my bike around Spring Creek when I was a kid.  If I had been driving, I never would have noticed.  

I think cars are part of the reason we've become such a consumeristic society.  Think of it... if you had to carry all that crap home, do you think you would ever buy it?  

Sure, I know that cars are a blessing and a necessity, but sometimes I think it's good just to slow down and ponder the world.  We are in such a hurry all the time to get where we're going, and I think it's affecting our social, mental, and spiritual health.  (So maybe I'm going a little bit overboard...)

Anyways, life is good.  

Stop and smell the roses.

A Long-Expected Party

We just got done with a visit from Mom and Dad Wilkerson.  It was awesome to be in their company again.  They have two of the most amazing, cheerful, inspiring spirits.  

This was the first time they've come to visit since we've been married.  It was strange being the host to my own parents... like sometimes I wasn't sure whether to be in the kitchen cooking, or to just let my mom (the far superior cook) do it.  

The visit was too short, but we had a good time nonetheless.  The highlight was watching them go head to head playing tennis in Wii sports.  Mom would squeal every time she took a cheap shot with her front player.  Good times.  

Happy trails.

Missionary Work

Sharing the gospel is a lot easier than we make  it out to be in our minds.  I have been pondering and debating to myself for months now about what to write in the front of a Book of Mormon that I wanted to send to an old friend.  Then, this morning, I don't know if it was a bout of inspiration or what but the words just came and I started writing them down.  Basically we just have to bare witness of Jesus Christ.  This is His gospel, so tell the world about it.  It's true.  What do you have to be afraid of?   

For Sure

Well, it's official. We're moving to Yakima, WA on July 13. Hopefully it's going to be a great experience. I'm actually getting really excited about it. We'll be there until the end of summer.

An Unexpected Uprooting.

Well, we're moving.
I felt sympathy for Frank and Jessica when this happened to them, but I guess now I can start feeling a little empathy. We don't know where yet, but it's going to be in an area that hasn't been knocked, so hopefully there'll be more success for everyone.
We'll probably be living in a hotel. : So much for settling down, huh?
It feels like we just got all unpacked and got to know the layout of where we live, and we're just starting to get to know people in the ward. …And now we're moving again. I was expecting to be here until the end of summer. Oh well. The best laid plans, right?
There's nothing I can do, so I may as well not complain.
I'm choosing right now to be happy about this situation.
Who knows? We might like it.

I apologize for that. I don't want anyone feeling sorry for us, believe me. Change is stress, and everyone must endure it at one point or another. I just hope we can get everything to fit into our car again. :) Some of you saw how full it was when we moved up here…and we've since accumulated more stuff.

I'm enjoying the office job. It's fun being the middleman, getting calls from all the sales reps and having to schedule techs to go out and install the systems. It's like having two gears working together, and I'm the grease in the middle that makes it run smoothly. On top of that, when I'm not getting any calls, I can do whatever I want, like read, or write, …or play Rock Band.:)

Jeff's allergies are still bad. Thanks for all the tips. Amber, I don't know if we could handle the "in one nostril and out the other" trick. It might be a bit much. But, then again, if it works…
We're thinking of taking him to a specialist to see if they can do anything.

I've been having all sorts of weird dreams lately. I had one last night where Dad and I were in a church, and these guys came in and started shooting us with acid-filled paintballs. The only way to stop it from eating us away was by spreading on a pasty base that Dad just happened to have with him. Weird. I had another one that wasn't quite as weird where I gave a Book of Mormon to a long-lost middle school friend that I'd always wanted to give one to, but never had. Maybe it's a sign that I need to send her one. Ponder on this I will.

I finally got my ring fixed, hopefully for the last time. That thing has given us more grief than it's worth, I'm afraid. This is like the 5th time we've had to get it fixed or adjusted. The silly diamond keeps getting loose or falling out. But, this time the goldsmith built up the gold around it and drilled holes for all of the corners, so it should stay in. If it doesn't, at least we know we have insurance. (Unlike the last time it fell out…)

The weather has been a lot warmer lately, thank goodness. I hated sending Jeff out into the rain and wind. Except now he's getting sunburns. What're you going to do? :)

Allergy Season

Sometimes, when certain harmless substances are encountered by receptors in some people’s bodies, there is an overreaction by the person’s immune system to the substance causing an outpouring of bodily fluids through the nasal and visual ducts. This causes severe discomfort to the subject and the ability to function normally is disrupted.

Such it is with the summer months in Washington state.

Jeff has been hit by the vilest of allergy attacks that is disrupting his (and my) sleep and hindering his work. Snoring is the reason of the first, and the second is only more obvious… “Hebwo, wub you wike poo bwuy a secwurity swystem?” Let it be known to the world that the over-the-counter drugs known as Claritin and Zyrtec do not effectively treat the symptoms of outdoor allergies (at least they haven’t with Jeff. Maybe they could work with your allergies…) If anyone has any other suggestions, feel free to make them known here. We are open to new ideas, (short of having him wear one of those respirator masks. I don’t think the customers would dig that very much.)

To my utter and absolute horror, I must announce to you that my soul has not been “saved.” While I was working in the office, a crazy looking dude and his son came to our door, wanting my coworker and I to chant to Jesus to forgive us of our sins, after which we could go about our normal lives – not making any changes (except for “accepting Jesus into our hearts”) and staying our same religion, with the firm assurance that we would then have a ticket into heaven. I kindly replied that I believe there are a few more requirements (like baptism and keeping the commandments) to get into heaven and I didn’t think chanting to Jesus was going to help. Of course he tried to rebuke me, even saying to my pregnant coworker that it was especially important for her to do it because she could have “complications” and it would be good to have the assurance that she was going to heaven. We promptly sent him away.

This experience has made me very grateful for the knowledge I have about the true church of Jesus Christ. For more info, check out http://www.lds.org/ or http://www.mormon.org/.

Just a couple pictures from the big day.

I have writer's block and this is only the first one. ...oh dear.
I suppose that in doing this, I am to write experiences from my life and publish them for the world to see and (hopefully) enjoy. Unfortunately, it feels a lot like writing a simple email, and those have never been very inspiring to me. Oh well.
Yesterday I did yard work for about 3 1/2 hours. This may seem strange since I live in an apartment complex, but the photographer I work for needed some work done on her outdoor set, so I volunteered. The whole time, as I baked out in the sun, I couldn't stop the phrase, "Pulling weeds is the bane of my existence," from running through my mind over and over. Remind me never to get a big yard. The only satisfaction I was able to find was how good it looked when I was finished (and that my arms were more tan than before.) Needless to say, I was a bit sore this morning.

I almost ran into this as I was mowing.