Snapshot #112: Finding Beauty

September 30, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Tonight I attended a conference on the BYU campus sponsored by the organization Recapturing Beauty.  They invited Stephanie Nielsen to speak about what it means to find beauty in your life.  I have been following her blog for some time.  Her story is remarkable, and to hear her speak in person tonight was a true privilege.  In August I shared Stephanie's story with my mother...it was extremely touching considering what my mom has been facing in her fight with cancer.  Click here to see Stephanie's story for yourself.

Snapshot #111: Dave Interviews Vai Sikahema on BYU Football Independence

September 29, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Dave had a lot of fun this week interviewing Vai Sikahema and Chad Lewis...two NFL players who got their start at Brigham Young.  To see the interview with Vai, click here.

Snapshot #110: Happy Keri

September 28, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  This is how happy I was when I received a phone call from the Temple Department at the Church Office Building, inviting me to interview for the position of Interior Designer.

Snapshot #109: Operation "Eat It All"

September 27, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Several years ago I insisted on buying the food storage...now Dave is insisting that we deplete the stores.  We already paid too much to ship this food  across the country with us and he would prefer not to have to do that again.  So operation "Eat It All" is currently under way. 

Snapshot #108: Simple Mouthwatering Proportions

September 26, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  A picture is worth a thousand words.  Need I say more?

Snapshot #107: Cougarmania

September 25, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Can you find Dave and I in CNN's photo, taken at last season's opening game?  We're standing adjacent my father and brother, Nelson (ha-ha as if that helps any).  Today the cougars take on Nevada's wolf pack...it's going to be a tough match...Go Cougs!!   

Snapshot #106: Candy Box Nostalgia

September 24, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  So, I got embarrassingly excited in the dollar store today when I saw these candy boxes for Sixlets, Sugar Babies, and Gobstoppers.  Ohhh...the memories came flooding back...I can remember being so excited about buying little packages of Sixlets for 10¢ at the local grocery store growing up.  "They" say your sense of smell is the greatest memory enhancer you've got, but I'm sure that food reminiscence is also up there.  

Snapshot #105: Freezing Peaches

September 23, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  It's that time of year again...except instead of canning peaches, this time I have decided to freeze them. My proof of a good day is the freezer full of frozen peaches, freezer jam, and even some peach cobbler portions for Dave's lunches.  Yum!

Snapshot #104: The Huntsman Cancer Institute

September 22, 2010.  Salt Lake City, Utah.  Mom and Dad drove to Salt Lake today to see a doctor and get a second opinion on chemotherapy for Mom.  I drove up to meet them and accompanied them through the visit; it was nice being able to spend some time together, even for a few hours.

Snapshot #103: Campfires, S'mores, & Guitars

September 21, 2010.  Big Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake City, Utah.  Last night I set my cousin up on a blind date with an old college buddy.  You can't go wrong with a campfire, s'mores, and a guitar.  I had a truly enjoyable evening under the stars taking in the wonderland of God's creations.   

Snapshot #102: Researching Infertility

September 20, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Infertility is a difficult thing to talk about, let alone to blog about.  However...it's a substantial part of our life right now and I did spend all day on the internet and on the phone researching our options.  Dave and I still believe in miracles--even miracles aided by modern medicine.  Cornell University in New York is on the leading edge of Reproductive Medicine and Infertility.  This week I made several hopeful discoveries that bring us one step closer to our miracle. 

Snapshot #101: Reflecting Pool

September 19, 2010.  Salt Lake City, Utah.  This morning Dave and I drove to Temple Square and listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing for Music and the Spoken Word.  The broadcast was extra special because the Prophet, President Monson was also in attendance and sitting just in front of us.  (can you see him in the picture above?)  Our favorite song of the day was "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Exploring Utah: Red Pine Trail

September 18, 2010.  Little Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake City, Utah.  Yesterday I hiked to the Red Pine Lakes, nestled below Pfeifferhorn Peak in Little Cottonwood Canyon; an impressively splendid hike...both for the superb mountain vistas as well as the steep climb which makes for an excellent workout.  The trail to lower Red Pine Lake is 3 miles, with an elevation gain of 2040 feet.

 

  
Along the way I passed Little Cottonwood Creek

Changing Fall Colors

Views into the Salt Lake Valley

Red Pine Lake with Pfeifferhorn Peak in the background.

And finally...the top of the world with the euphoria that comes with it.  Elevation 9620 feet.

Snapshot #100: Cisco Offer

September 17, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Today is a very exciting day in the Wood household.  In addition to it being our Centennial Snapshot Blog Post, Dave got a full-time offer from Cisco!  Oh, now, what to do with it!?  (Originally I was going to post something about my 5 hour hike, or perhaps a post about the beautiful flowers my husband brought home for me...but I suppose the job announcement will suffice.  It's a little bit of a big deal.)  If he accepts the offer the company will move us to San Jose next summer and he will begin working for them beginning September 2011.

Snapshot #99: Morning Market Call

September 16, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  One of Dave's big things this year is Morning Market Call, which is BYU's broadcasting program for the Business School.  I am so proud of him.  He's absolutely adorable as an anchor man.  Find  clips of him here or here. 

Snapshot #98: Business Spanish, Flunked Quiz

September 15, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  I am attempting to audit one of Dave's classes--Business Spanish.  (The first week I tried to audit Golf, but the instructor ended up asking me to leave...something about class size)  So, I went to Business Spanish for the first time today only to get a 6 out of 20 on my first quiz!  Yikes!  In my defense, every one else has attended at least four sessions already.

Recipe Diaries: Snapshot #97: Corn Chowder

September 14, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  After a day of job searching, this homemade corn chowder really hit the spot.

Ingredients:  1/2 large onion-finely chopped, 1/4 cup butter, 1-1/2 cups water, corn off of 3 cobs-cooked, 1 large potato-peeled and cut into 1/4 inch cubes, 1 can evaporated milk, salt, pepper, and cumin to taste.  Feta Cheese.

Directions:  In frying pan, saute onion in butter until tender.  In saucepan, combine sauteed onions with water, corn, potatoes, and salt & pepper; bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.  Reduce heat to low, stir in evaporated milk, additional salt, pepper, and cumin to taste.  Use a potato masher to crush and mix the soup.  Simmer for an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Serve and sprinkle with feta cheese.

Recipe Diaries: Snapshot #96: Scrumptious Cornbread

September 13, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Yesterday we had a wonderful dinner at Dave's Dad's house.  His wife hosted a dinner for 17!  Wow, what a woman!  She also sent us home with a ziplock bag full of corn on the cob--so I've been busy creating fabulous recipes with fresh corn.  This cornbread turned out really, really good. 

Snapshot #95: Living Apostles

September 12, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Today we had the mighty privilege of attending a regional stake conference and sit at the feet of prophets, seers, and revelators.  We heard from Sister Julie Beck, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, and President Boyd K. Packer.  I don't think it's possible to be in the presence of a living apostle without being changed.

Snapshot #94: Dave's Free Razor and Shaving Cream

September 10, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  I got a TA job for a beginning undergard Finance class and was instructed to take my driver's license and SSN to a campus career office. Unfortunately for me, I hadn't shaved in a day and was promptly told that a neighboring office had "free razors and Shaving Cream" so I could be compliant with the Honor Code. I am now compliant.

Snapshot #93: Two Towers

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September 8, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Today I unpacked a few more of the remaining boxes and also finished reading "The Lord of the Rings Part Two: The Two Towers."  I've decided that I need more courage in my life...courage to defy odds and do something truly amazing. 

Snapshot #92: BYU Broadcasting

September 7, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Dave is more than a little bit excited about the BYU Cougar's new status in football as Independents.  This deal, he believes, is greatly facilitated by the Y's new broadcasting studio.  Needless to say, he was overjoyed when he passed by one of their trucks on campus and was given an exclusive tour.

Snapshot #91: Labor Day

September 6, 2010.  Wendell, Idaho.  We took a break from the traditional "Labor Day" holiday and decided to do some real labor at the King household today.

Snapshot #90: Long Line of Love

September 5, 2010.  Wendell, Idaho.  We spent most of the day today going through old picture slides, organizing them by year, and them viewing them with a slide projector; all the while reminiscing our truly great heritage.

The first set of photographs are the engagement photos for my grandparents, followed by my parent's engagement photo, followed by a photo of my parents taken several years ago.

Snapshot #89: Safety Goggles

September 4, 2010.  Hagerman, Idaho.  I have thee most adorable nieces and nephews in the world.  Hands down.  They did some fishing today while the older 'kids' went to the gun range.

Snapshot #88: Fire Light

September 3, 2010.  Wendell, Idaho.  One of our preferred gathering places at home...around the fire pit--built by Dad and the boys.

Snapshot #87: Ty'r Brenin

September 2, 2010.  Wendell, Idaho.  Ty'r Brenin is Welsh for "House of Kings."  Today Dave and I drove to Wendell to spend a fun-filled reunion weekend with the family at home.

Snapshot #86: Striking Gardens

September 1, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  I visited the Provo Temple today.  Have you ever seen so many beautiful vibrant flowers in one place before?