The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Last night was our final show of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It was my first time ever being in a play, and 

I loved being a part of a greater contribution to bring wholesome, fun, family entertainment to Laie! I was Millie the munchkin and delivered my 3 lines flawlessly (hehe). I also 

really loved rehearsing with my wonderfully talented husband, THE SCARECROW!

Keola was a beautiful and perfect fit for Glinda the Good Witch, and Phil joined me in the obscurities of Munchkin Land :)

All of Adam's family was able to come and watch our last night and it was so much fun to have them there. I loved getting to know new people and spending time with the whole cast. I am on the front row, far right. Adam is in the middle by the tin man.

(I stole this pic from someone else's facebook...thanks)

I cannot tell you how many compliments I got on my husband's acting skills. Everybody was AMAZED at his performance. I wish you all could have seen him! He was "flawless," "dead-on," and "hilarious." Everyone's kids' loved him and said "he was so funny!" Our friend Eliza even said if he ever got sick of the computer business, he always had a job acting! 

I love him so much. 

He is my everything, my wonderful brain-less man of straw (just kidding of course)

Beach Day!

We spent the morning at the beach, collecting sandy treasures and soaking up the sun. We have spring term finals this next week, and are flying out Wednesday night to spend some time with Adam's sister Noelani. We are going to DISNEYLAND!! I've never been so I am so excited! 

Tonight is the last night of the play; Will post pictures of that soon!

Favorite Treasure of the Day:

Would I be Happy?

"What we insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity" (Elder Neil A. Maxwell).

I've been thinking lately, What are my sincerest desires?

My first reaction to that question is to travel and serve people around the world, 

photographing everything along the way

Seeing the jungles of South America, the Sahara and grass plains of Africa,

the temples of Thailand, the art and history in

England, France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Germany ....

the whole. entire. world.

I want to see all there is to see...

But then I think, if I got that wish, and nothing else,

Would I be happy?

No.

So what I've found I truly desire is to have my own eternal family, raised in righteousness and loving the Lord

making their own covenants in the temple, eternal love between my husband and I, and our children.

If have just that, and nothing else,

Would I be happy?

Yes.

Inexpressibly so. 

I need to put that desire first, and all the other wishes of my heart will either 

melt away in comparison, 

or add to my already glorious happiness. 

What are the desires of your heart?

Humility

Have you ever though to yourself when you see a beggar on the street

"The man has brought upon himself his misery;

I will not give my hand or my food, nor give him any of my substance -

He must suffer the consequences of his own actions"

I know I have. 

But God says

Aren't we all beggars?

Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have,

for our food, our homes, our money, for the remission of our sins

and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

Have we begged in vain? 

Never.

Then how I ought to impart of my substance to others.

(Mosiah 4:17-21...basically)

So humbled today when I read this. I do depend on Him - 

For. EVERYTHING.

How will I know when others depend on me unless I am willing to give at all times? 

Baby Maeli

My first ever baby shoot. Thanks to Jessica and Erik Fenenbock, and their beautiful baby Maeli.

Sunday.

I love the  rain.

I love my new lens.

I love  homemade zucchini bread.

I love my husband.

(but it was time for a haircut...)

Since you've been gone....

Well, really, since WE'VE been gone, off the blog, anyway.... lots has happened!!!

I've done two engagement photo shoots (which you can see both on my I am Photography facebook page). I'm scheduled for 3 weddings this summer - contact me if you are getting married this summer and need photos!!!

I've had a birthday! Wahoo! No longer a teenager. As you can see below, I needed new shoes..

So, Adam got me cute new pink Pumas! 

I also took a trip to Utah for the National Undergraduate Literature Conference! There I presented a research paper on Philip Roth's Goodbye, Columbus and was able to hear all my peers present their papers as well. I was able to go to the Ogden temple twice, which was so nice. Michael even drove down to watch me present and go to the temple with me.

 Since I was in Utah, I was able to spend Easter with my mom, Michael, sister-in-law Keola, and my brother Jeremiah. We watched General Conference and dyed Easter eggs!

I also entered a photography slide show of some of my images into an Art Exhibit Competition - and I won! I was awarded a certificate and $250. You can view my slideshow here. 
We went bowling with Adam's family to celebrate Keola and Kiara's birthday. My magnificent score of 26 and mad chucking skills wowed the whole crowd!

Lastly, and the REAL reason why we have been off the blog for so long..... WE SURVIVED WINTER SEMESTER!!!!! This was the hardest 3 months of my life. 18 credits. 16 credits of english, 2 credits of online religion. 16 hours of working at the Reading/Writing Center on campus. Taking an extremely jet-lagged, 5 day trip to Utah the week before finals, and being newlyweds certainly took a toll on us. But, we both are officially SENIORS in college now!!!! Only 2 terms and a semester left and we will have a degree in our hands!
Oh, and by the way, these are the books I read in the last 3 months...in fact, this is an understatement....