11 July 2007
10 July 2007
Critics (My) Review :: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
So, let's get "harry." Tonight, I drew my metaphoric invisibility cloak, garnered my phoenix-feathered wand, and broomed my way to a local theater to see the latest "movie" installment of JK Rawlings world-altering stories: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I came by way of the tickets from a good friend of mine that lives in the complex - he's a dude that produces games for Playstation and strangely-new gizmos, like the Wii (see Brad and Carolyn's brood for details). And I'm just elated. Is it escapism I'm thirsting for? Would witches and wizard treats and classes engage my memory more than perhaps my once-learned calculus (have any of us used it since senior year in high-school? If so, who, and for what. You may remain anonymous if you'd like). Like you've read and like you've seen, Harry and his crew are getting older, and just like puberty, the changes are more than skin-deep. I remember reading the book and feeling of sense of "this is more serious, more... adult." The movie heralds the same feeling. Definitely more morose. Less and less laughy and more and more morose. I totally enjoyed it. The art direction was beautiful and the conflicts he deals with are more loving and deadly than ever. I'm amazed at JK Rawlings pursuits, her inventiveness, her way with words. So go see it. Are you going to ask me which of your kids can see it? I will have to defer that question: you see, all of you raise your kids in such fun interesting ways, I'd not like to get in the middle of one of summer's biggest block-buster hits. And let's not forget: the last book is only wks away. Patronus!
Happy Birthday to Joni
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JONI!!!! Sorry this is a day late, dear. Just for the rest of you to know, we had a little birthday dinner for Joni. Dad, me, Dallas and Doug met Joni and Jesse in SLC hoping to go to the Loco Lizzard, only to find that it was closed. Darn! So we went and had a great little big of Greek food. Of course the food was good, but the company was the best. I am sure you can imagine a few laughs. Jodi was gone on Trek and Doug's kids were in Logan, so lonely Doug came by himself. Sure is fun to actually see Joni on her birthday! This was 26 for her and that I have a hard time believing. I want Joni to tell you all what Jesse did for her birthday. Hopefully, Joni, you can even add the photos. What a good guy you are Jesse! We love you Joni, and wish you many, many more birthdays! xoxoxo Mama
New Invites
Hey Dallas, since you set up our blog, are you the one that does the invites to those who aren't there yet? If so, would you send an invite to Landon, Abby, James, Dane, Shelby, Mady and Stan? When Brad has his own E-mail address, he needs another invite too. I love the color change to the black and red. I assume you are the one that made that happen. Right? Hey, how about you tell us about all the 'shoots' you are doing? Also, tell about the celebrities you see at Tony's. Everyone would be glad to hear. xoxox Mama
05 July 2007
Letter from Elder Graham
Austin was transferred from Midland to Elliot Lake. Here is his first letter from his new field of labor. His new address is:
149 Mississauga Ave., Apt. 113
Elliot Lake, ON P5A 2P9
CANADA
I might add that it is really cool to use Google Earth to see from the satellite what the area looks like. The census of the 2006 says there is just over 15,000 in the small community.
July 5, 2007
Hi Fam.
P-day is still on Wednesday. We just had some trouble yesterday, so we are using our break again.
Thank you all for your letters. I have got them from Kayla, Garrett, and Mom and Dad. Thank you. Dad, I didn’t get the letter that you sent with the talk in it. Not that I know of. Mom, I didn’t get an e mail from you this week. I don’t know why that is. Sorry.
Happy B-day Garrett. Just because you are 17 doesn’t give you rites to go out and have a girl friend. Just remember that. You still have a mission to go on. Trust me; you don’t want to waste your time.
Elliot Lake. What a place. It is so beautiful. I left my camera in the car that I was driving up in. But I will get it in a couple days and send you some pictures. But it is just awesome.
It is really small. 13 thousand. Really small. When we went to church, there were 9 people counting us. One other man. Yes, it is really different. There is a lot of work to be done. Like I said, the area has been closed for the past bit. But we have already had some success. We have 4 less active coming to church – we hope. We also have 1 investigator coming as of now. We are hoping that will grow. There have been a lot of bad things happen in this area with regards to the missionaries. It is really hard. Lots of strife between members. We really have to work hard. We are trying some different ideas. Some things that most missionaries would not think to do. We really need to light a fire. We were told that this transfer, 6 weeks, would be key in deciding whether missionaries would be staying in Elliot Lake.
I know there are people here that need and want the Gospel, so I am working really hard to see that missionaries stay. I just pray that the Lord will help us on our path. The hardest thing is trying to find people. There is a lot of Jehovah Witness, JW, in the place and they all knock on doors, so people really don’t like it when we knock on doors. So we are trying some different ways of finding. If anyone has some clever ideas, Please o please send them. I need all the Help I can get. Let me know as soon as you can. We have 4 1/2 weeks left. Not much time.
This time is really causing me to stretch. But what is funny, is that I asked the Lord to break me down and build me back up the way he wants me to be, and that is what is happening. I am getting stretched and molded into what God wants me to be. It is a long process. This hard area is going to be a key factor in this. It is really going to make me work. It makes me so excited. I am ready. I really am ready to be tried. I know that the Lord will not give me anything that I can not overcome. He is going to be with me. I know that this place will grow because of the hard times. It is only after the test of our faith. I stood up in church and told the members that it is crucial that they help us. I really let them know that we have to have faith.
Man, I just get so excited when I think of hard times, because I know that that means there will be blessings. What a comfort that is for us to know. If we will work our hardest, the Lord has to bless us. This place will grow. It will! The Lord is about to perform a great and marvelous work in Elliot Lake. It has been through some hard times. Know is the time for Blessings.
Man, I love how the Holy Ghost feels!!!!!!!!
My companion is named Elder Romine. He is from New Mexico. He is a really easy going missionary. We are going to get along great. He has a wonderful testimony. He is a little quiet though. But that doesn’t stop him or the Holy Ghost testifying.
Pray for me. I am really going to need it. I know that if we have faith, anything is possible with the Lord. He is there and is just waiting to pour out the blessings of heaven upon us his faithful. Now let us be faithful!!!!
I love you all so much. Thank you again for your letters. Sorry if I didn’t answer any of your questions. Write them in the next email.
Dad, I would really love a Tape recorder. It would be really great to keep a record with that as well as in my journal. I would also like to send you some tapes of me. If you could find me one that is not to big, I would really love it. I also need my contacts. Thanks Dad, I love you so much
I love you all so much. You are so wonderful. We are really blessed to have each other. Don’t let anything get between us.
Love elder Graham
149 Mississauga Ave., Apt. 113
Elliot Lake, ON P5A 2P9
CANADA
I might add that it is really cool to use Google Earth to see from the satellite what the area looks like. The census of the 2006 says there is just over 15,000 in the small community.
July 5, 2007
Hi Fam.
P-day is still on Wednesday. We just had some trouble yesterday, so we are using our break again.
Thank you all for your letters. I have got them from Kayla, Garrett, and Mom and Dad. Thank you. Dad, I didn’t get the letter that you sent with the talk in it. Not that I know of. Mom, I didn’t get an e mail from you this week. I don’t know why that is. Sorry.
Happy B-day Garrett. Just because you are 17 doesn’t give you rites to go out and have a girl friend. Just remember that. You still have a mission to go on. Trust me; you don’t want to waste your time.
Elliot Lake. What a place. It is so beautiful. I left my camera in the car that I was driving up in. But I will get it in a couple days and send you some pictures. But it is just awesome.
It is really small. 13 thousand. Really small. When we went to church, there were 9 people counting us. One other man. Yes, it is really different. There is a lot of work to be done. Like I said, the area has been closed for the past bit. But we have already had some success. We have 4 less active coming to church – we hope. We also have 1 investigator coming as of now. We are hoping that will grow. There have been a lot of bad things happen in this area with regards to the missionaries. It is really hard. Lots of strife between members. We really have to work hard. We are trying some different ideas. Some things that most missionaries would not think to do. We really need to light a fire. We were told that this transfer, 6 weeks, would be key in deciding whether missionaries would be staying in Elliot Lake.
I know there are people here that need and want the Gospel, so I am working really hard to see that missionaries stay. I just pray that the Lord will help us on our path. The hardest thing is trying to find people. There is a lot of Jehovah Witness, JW, in the place and they all knock on doors, so people really don’t like it when we knock on doors. So we are trying some different ways of finding. If anyone has some clever ideas, Please o please send them. I need all the Help I can get. Let me know as soon as you can. We have 4 1/2 weeks left. Not much time.
This time is really causing me to stretch. But what is funny, is that I asked the Lord to break me down and build me back up the way he wants me to be, and that is what is happening. I am getting stretched and molded into what God wants me to be. It is a long process. This hard area is going to be a key factor in this. It is really going to make me work. It makes me so excited. I am ready. I really am ready to be tried. I know that the Lord will not give me anything that I can not overcome. He is going to be with me. I know that this place will grow because of the hard times. It is only after the test of our faith. I stood up in church and told the members that it is crucial that they help us. I really let them know that we have to have faith.
Man, I just get so excited when I think of hard times, because I know that that means there will be blessings. What a comfort that is for us to know. If we will work our hardest, the Lord has to bless us. This place will grow. It will! The Lord is about to perform a great and marvelous work in Elliot Lake. It has been through some hard times. Know is the time for Blessings.
Man, I love how the Holy Ghost feels!!!!!!!!
My companion is named Elder Romine. He is from New Mexico. He is a really easy going missionary. We are going to get along great. He has a wonderful testimony. He is a little quiet though. But that doesn’t stop him or the Holy Ghost testifying.
Pray for me. I am really going to need it. I know that if we have faith, anything is possible with the Lord. He is there and is just waiting to pour out the blessings of heaven upon us his faithful. Now let us be faithful!!!!
I love you all so much. Thank you again for your letters. Sorry if I didn’t answer any of your questions. Write them in the next email.
Dad, I would really love a Tape recorder. It would be really great to keep a record with that as well as in my journal. I would also like to send you some tapes of me. If you could find me one that is not to big, I would really love it. I also need my contacts. Thanks Dad, I love you so much
I love you all so much. You are so wonderful. We are really blessed to have each other. Don’t let anything get between us.
Love elder Graham
good things...
it has been awhile since i have posted on the blog but i thought that i might share a thought with you...well...not so much thought as a talk. all 3 of my kids are asleep right now...which NEVER happens...so i decided to do some ironing...yes, ironing. as i was in my quietness i turned on a talk by Elder Holland. it is called "An High Priest of Good Things to Come". i am sure you have all heard it and love it. i ended up listening to it twice because of how close it hit home with me. and i wanted to share it with my wonderful family. having been feeling a little bit of an emotional roller coaster lately and dwelling on my own little troubles i found peace in the voice of Elder Holland. i believe he speaks to all of us in this talk no matter our age or circumstance. i urge you to LISTEN to it. take a quiet morning or a quiet moment and listen to it. it truly is nourishing. i love you.
saturday afternoon session--last talk
saturday afternoon session--last talk
01 July 2007
European Update
Hi everyone! Still having a fantastic time in Europe - I read Jen's post about crying a bit since we've been here (which is true), but seriously - they have been tears of joy! We had a great anniversary trip to London last week - I posted a bunch of pictures on AllenWorld - Here: http://allenworld.spaces.live.com/. Just to give you a sneak preview - here's a shot from each of us: Me and the Tower of London; Jen on the Thames River; Lucy with her Sunday curls; and Myles in front of yet another fountain. :) I'll be in Moscow this week for work - so make sure you all check in with Jen for me. Next week is Paris and then Orlando. Guess I had better buy Jen some stamps or something to keep her busy while I am gone. TTFN - Tyler
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)