No tears here.

Today was a big day for Isabella, she finally started kindergarten. She has been anxiously awaiting the start of school for months and it didn't disappoint. Originally I thought she had been assigned to pm kindergarten but luckily found out last week at her one on one with her teacher that she was actually in the am. This was great news to Bella because one of her great friends from church is in the am class.

She did have one concern about starting kindergarten and that was how she was going to get through the whole not-even-three-hours of school without a snack. She must have done alright because she can't wait to go back tomorrow.

While Bella was in school Miss Lilly had her 4 month check up. She is up to 14 pounds and has reached 25 inches long. She is simply the easiest baby ever! She didn't even cry during the 4 shots to the chubber thighs. (chub helps) She does have a bit of a drool problem, as seen here in her "just chillin'" picture. Isn't she a cutie?!
I have no recent pictures of Ayva. In all honesty its because she just hasn't looked or done anything cute over the last week. She woke up with pink eye last Thursday and has also had a nasty cold that won't go away. She is as grumpy as a a bee stuck in a hot window. (it's all that would come to me)

Surprise, it's Jack Johnson

Last night Peter surprised me with tickets to the Jack Johnson concert at the Usana Amphitheater. I was totally shocked. He secretly arranged for babysitting and even missed his soccer game to take me to the show. I had never been to the Usana Amphitheater before and didn't know that it was so close to our house. So as we were driving there he had me thinking we were going on some sort of mine tour out near Kennecott. (Boring) Luckily it was all an act to throw me off and keep it a surprise as long as possible. To make things even better the tickets were for the area right at the front of the stage so we were just about 20 feet from where Jack was standing. We had a perfect view and Jack Johnson definitely didn't disappoint. He sounded great and was very entertaining. He even let one of his band members, Zach Hill who plays the piano and a multitude of other instruments, steal the show. He sang The Devil went down to Bolivia while playing the accordion and it was awesome. I think he got the loudest applause of the night. I had a wonderful time and am grateful to Peter for making it possible. Thanks hon!

In other news...I had a celebrity sighting this weekend. Saturday afternoon I took Bella school clothes shopping over at a large shopping complex near our house. As we were walking into one of the stores a car pulled up next to us and a woman asked if there was a movie theater near by. I pointed her in the direction she needed to go and then realized it was Marie Osmond. Pretty cool, huh?! I remained cool and unimpressed until she drove away and then I started saying to myself over and over out loud, "that was Marie Osmond, that was Marie Osmond."

I believe in Jesus Christ.

Recently we had a lesson in Relief Society about a talk given by M. Russell Ballard entitled Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet. In his talk Elder Ballard encourages members of the church to use the Internet as a tool to share our message about the gospel with others and to be a positive voice amid the critics. After that lesson I contemplated putting my testimony on my blog but for some reason never quite got around to doing so. Then today I gave a lesson on establishing Zion. Part of what I gained from the lesson was a greater sense of responsibility to do missionary work and to share the gospel with others. I decided that one way I can do that is to post my testimony on my blog and hope that it might make a difference for someone else.

I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe that he was crucified thousands of years ago by a wicked group of people but that he was resurrected and lives again. I believe that through his resurrection he has made it possible for us all to be resurrected and live again after our time on this earth comes to an end. I also believe that during his time on the earth he atoned for our sins. This makes it possible for us to seek forgiveness for times when we error thus freeing us from the pain that sin can cause.

I believe that we are here on this earth to be tested, to learn and to grow and become better people so that when the time comes we will hopefully be worthy and able to be in his presence again.

I believe that He restored His church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, through a young man named Joseph Smith. I also believe that he continues to lead the church through a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who receives modern day revelation from God for our benefit.

I am grateful to have these beliefs because they help me to know why I am here and what my purpose is. Through his teachings I know what I must do to have peace and happiness in this life that at times can be overwhelmingly difficult and scary. He loves me, and it is this knowledge that gives me strength when I am weak.

I testify of these things in His name, Jesus Christ, Amen.