Next year, Lawrence Welk!

This was hands down one of the best Valentine's Days ever in my very short history of fun Valentine's Days. We got to spend it with every old person within a thirty mile radius of Colorado Springs. Why would we do that? Because we got free tickets to see members of The Temptations, The Platters, The Drifters, and The Coasters in concert together! It was fantastic! It takes something like that to remind you how great songs like "My Girl", "Under the Boardwalk", "Up on the Roof", and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" really are. And let me tell you, if you are ever concerned that Grandma has fallen and can't get up just put on Chubby Checker's "The Twist". Apparently, the muscles in geriatric calves are conditioned to spring up if that song is played regardless of whether Grandma's hips are in any condition to twist again like she did that summer... in 1958. One of the funniest moments of the evening for me was when they ended the show with "Shout". It was TOTALLY Animal House without the togas! The only problem was when we were singing "A little bit softer now, a little bit softer now" I realized that we were pretty much the only ones getting down on the ground. It hit me, though, that we were probably the only people in the whole auditorium whose knees could handle the strain! I have to say I really missed my family that night because we would have rocked that joint!

The other great thing this week is that I got to subsitute Seminary for three days. I must admit that I did experience a twinge of terror at the prospect of entertaining five classes of teenagers but they were fantastic. It made me a bit nostalgic for Sister Kerr and seeing the gang every morning in the Primary Room. It never ceases to amaze me, the caliber of young men and young women we have in the world today. I know we like to act as if the youngest generation are slackers and losers, but that has not been my experience. Lets just hope I can keep that attitude when I have one of my own!

Just a perfect blendship.

I will admit to being a friend snob. The problem is I am perfectly content to be alone most of the time, so for me to spend energy on cultivating a relationship with someone means I really like you. I know that makes me sound horrible, but the first step towards recovery is acceptance.

Yesterday I spoke to a friend over the phone who I hadn't talked to in ages (totally my fault!) and I had that wonderful sensation of realizing that even after months of silence we could pick up exactly where we left off. Friendships like these are such a rare commodity in this world. I hope my friend and her crazy sidekick (you know who you are Burnham!), know how much I love and miss them. They were truly some of the great finds of my life and nursed me through the trauma of being YW president. For that alone, you have earned your place in heaven! Man, I miss you two...

For all of my shyness, one of the things I despise most about myself, I have managed to create a circle of friends I do not deserve. I am truly blessed. Last week, Nathan and I had the opportunity to attend a family sealing at the temple. For those of you who have never been, the family kneels at an alter and then is surround by a circle of friends and extended family. It struck me how important that circle is, how it supports you, protects you, and cries with you over the good and the bad. Thank you, those in my circle. I know I am terrible at getting back on emails and phone calls, but please know that you are in every prayer, both for a blessing of safety and peace and also for gratitude that, as Maria told Captain Von Trapp, somehow in my youth or childhood I must have done something good.