Hope from Russell Crowe

I saw Les Miserables last week, and it has been on my mind ever since. Not because I thought it was epic and amazing, as many people have versed. I thoroughly enjoyed it, was very impressed with the singing and acting, and thought it was the best possible screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's captivating story. However, it has been on my mind because of Javert.

I don't believe you are meant to emotionally connect with Javert as much as you are with Jean Valjean or Cosette, or even Marius. He is the bad guy. However, I felt so touched by Javert. His songs were the ones in which I cried most. As much as I like Russell Crowe, I do not believe in the least it was because of him. So, as I have spent time this week, thinking over it, I have come to the conclusion it was because the songs voiced so much of heart of Javert, and the pain and despair in his heart. Here is a man who has been brought up with strict adherence to the rules. He follows them to the letter. His life as a police officer is focused on enforcing that others do the same. The law is so much a part of his life, he believes he is the law. He sees obedience as the only path to salvation, as he so sings in "Stars:"

But mine is the way of the Lord
And those who follow the path of the righteous
Shall have their reward
And if they fall
As Lucifer fell
The flame
The sword!
...And so it must be
And so it is written
On the doorway to paradise
That those who falter and those who fall
Must pay the price!

Forgiveness is not a part of his world. His world revolves around the law. Insomuch that he cannot comprehend what is happening when Valjean lets him go. His world is torn apart. This was not justice. As his world crumbles, he sees no choice but death.

How tragic that is? A world without forgiveness. A world without redemption. A world without change. A world without hope. 

While we see the process of repentance and hope in many other characters, its absence in the life and death of Javert helped me to more fully appreciate the greatest of the gifts of God in my own life: that of hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I love this quote by Victor Hugo in Les Miserables:

The book which the reader has under his eye at this moment is, from one end to the other, as a whole and in detail, whatever may be its intermittences, exceptions and faults, the march from evil to good, from the unjust to the just, from night to day, from appetite to conscience, from rottenness to life, from hell to heaven, from nothingness to God. 

  It is not just what the book is about, it is what life is truly about as well.

2012 Happenings

January

Started off the year with one of my favorite people, Karen, at the happiest place on earth. In the fog watching World of Color.

Since I never spend enough time traveling, I headed up to Seattle in the middle of January to visit my family and attend my friend Carrie's wedding.

February

This month marked the beginning of Lent. I usually give up something as a sort of second new years resolution. This year I successfully acheived a facebook fast, but the other goals weren't as successful. I blogged about my goals and my success, or lack thereof.

The Penrose Stair Climbers team competed in the annual Fight for Air Climb for the American Lung Association. Climbing 23 floors to raise funds and awareness for lung health.

This is such a fun event, and a great cause to be connected to! It is coming up in 2013 in SLC on February 23. Sign up!

March

I went to Costa Rica.

It was a wonderful life-changing experience of service and learning. Check out my photo post and my wordy reflection.

One day, I asked Lance what I should wear to go out, and he said, "Whatever. Just wear something like what I'm wearing." So, I did.

April

Celebrated the end of the mid-twenties and had some delicious homemade sushi for my birthday.

Hosted my friend Tracey on her visit from England. We did all the SLC touristy stuff, as it was her first time in Utah.

So fun to have her here.

My good friend Karen came to Utah for a visit. For whatever reason, this is the only picture I have from that whole weekend...

May

Ended this month camping over Memorial Day weekend. Southern Utah should be warm, right? Wrong. Spent the weekend freezing in Escalante. But it was super fun and a trip we will all remember.

June

Convinced everyone to get trashi-fied to go to the Demolition Derby. Turned out it was sold out, but the costumes were pretty awesome nonetheless.

Rushley got married. It was so fun to have family in town for the long weekend.

July

Canada. Not much time there, but it was beautiful and a wonderfully fun trip. Plus another stamp in my passport.

We also spent a few days in Seattle for the bi-annual Holmes family reunion.It was good to see everyone and catch up with my giant family. Everyone has changed so much, and there are so many new kids! I love it!

August

I moved into a wonderful house! I love it so much! It is so much closer to work. Plus I have my own bathroom and a beautiful front porch that looks out at downtown. I'm loving the new ward, and everything about this place.

Spur of the moment Marci and Aubree and I took a quick trip up to the reservoir for a day of sun and swimming. Ironically, it rained most of the time we were there, but it was a beautiful day and a memory-making experience.

Also, my brother Shayne welcomed a new little girl, Molly, into the family. We love this adorable new addition.

September

After a crazy few months at work, I decided I need a break and took a long weekend to Boise, to try out my dad's new old boat. It used to be my grandpa's. It was a beautiful couple days on the reservoir. We even got Mom out on a tube.

October

Took a cruise to Mexico with Karen. I guess I never blogged about it, so here are some pictures from the epic week aboard the Carnival Splendor.

Snorkeling in Cabo

I got a lot of sun. This hat helped a bit.

The dive-in movie. Night time showings at the Lido pool.

Extreme Canopy adventure.

Viva la Mexico!

On the deck. 

Daily hot chocolate on the deck. Maybe more than daily.

Towel animals.

Formal night.

The piano bar.

I also got to spend some time with some friends in LA before the cruise. Fun times with my friends Andrew and Randy. Thanks for the donuts!

Took another trip to Seattle for Miss Molly's blessing. Also got to spend some quality time with the family, including a super awesome cruise in the Puget Sound and Lake Union.

At the end of October, the sibs headed to Boise for Chantry's last time marching in the District III tournament. They did awesome!

We also took the time to go through the newly renovated Boise temple during its open house. They changed a lot. It is so beautiful!

November

We had pre-Thanksgiving dinner at my house. Turns out we can set up our house to have dinner seating for 16. Not sure we will have that many again, but in case we have another large gathering, we know it is possible.

Since I missed election night four years ago, I was not about to miss another one. Watched it with my friend JaNae and her husband. With red and blue sodas and many treats. Wished it would have gone a little longer, as I love the drama, but that's ok.

Went home for Thanksgiving. Finished the gratitude gobbler.

And played a rousing game of Karaoke Revolution with the sibs.

Of course ate some tasty Thanksgiving food, complete with turkey (although we ate that at the same time as pie).


December

Lots of Christmas concerts and shows. All of these were free. I love SLC.

First Presidency Christmas Devotional

A Christmas Carol: The Musical

 MoTab Christmas Concert. I love Tom Brokaw.

 Christmas Carol Service at The Madeleine Cathedral

Christmas at home in Boise. Fun notes from Santa, and doing absolutely nothing except this puzzle.

It was a pretty packed, busy, exciting, crazy, fun year. Here's to another! Bring on 2013!!

On Tragedy and Pants

While I recognize that these two topics are vastly different, because both have occupied my mind and my conversations quite a bit lately, I felt like they should go together in this post.

First, Connecticut. It makes me teary-eyed writing this now. How terrifying it is that such an atrocious tragedy could take place. In my heart, and the hearts of oh so many other people, there is a plethora of emotions. We feel hurt. Sorrow. Compassion. Love. Empathy. Anger. Then we move past feelings looking for answers. Let's never let this happen again. Ban all guns. Give teachers guns. Rework our mental health system. And in the process of trying to find solutions, we end up attacking each other for our differing opinions. We move past the hurt and compassion and express our anger to those going through exactly what we are. While I don't agree with many solutions that are preached and touted, I do believe in love. It is only through complete love and compassion that we can collectively grieve and move past this tragedy. That love can then impact the policies we may make and move us as a united country into something better.

"Because while nothing can fill the space of a lost child or loved one, all of us can extend a hand to those in need -- to remind them that we are there for them, that we are praying for them, that the love they felt for those they lost endures not just in their memories but also in ours."
- President Obama

Now on to something much more trivial. Pants in church. With the "movement," there were essentially two issues. First, changing the cultural expectation of wearing pants in church. and second, making a political statement about supposed gender inequality in the LDS church.

First, it makes me sad to think that some may feel that they are not welcome in a worship service because of what they wear. It isn't about what you wear. It is all about being prepared for the worship service. As a Mormon female (with feminist leanings) I feel blessed that I can get dressed up weekly to attend a service to worship Christ and renew my covenants with Him. While I recognize that I have the option to wear whatever I please, I also recognize that my dress is a symbol of my love for the Lord. The cultural assumption that a dress is more (surprise!) dressy than pants is not a Mormon thing. It is an American thing. Wedding dresses. Prom dresses. Cocktail dresses. If I have a nice dress to wear, I will do so, because I love the Lord. And if someone wears pants, I am okay with that, because I love the Lord. Again, the answer here is love. For the Lord and our fellow men and women. Pants or no pants.

The second issue of making a political statement. While the differences between men and women do not signify inequality in my book, I recognize that some women may feel somehow oppressed. However, a worship service is not the place to make a political statement. Period.

All in a day's work

I have often thought about how I should blog about my job, but I haven't ever felt a compelling reason or timing to do so. Until tonight. My gratitude is so overwhelming I must share.

I work in the most amazing place ever. I work for the Lowell Bennion Community Service Center at the University of Utah. Tonight we celebrated our 25th anniversary with a wonderful celebration. We had hundreds of people come celebrate the legacy of community service and civic engagement over the last 25 years.

The mission of the Bennion Center is to foster lifelong service and civic participation by engaging the University with the greater community in action, change, and learning.

My job is to promote that. And I couldn't be more proud of the students and activities I help promote. We have students who give up many hours each month to lead an after-school program. We have students who work with the community to start and build community gardens, literally from the ground up. We have students who are working with professors to use their academic skills to help in the community. And it is awesome.

While I was in charge of a huge portion of the evening tonight, the effect of it seemed to all be a surprise. The whole evening was a success because of the committee and all the supporters who came. I sat there feeling so amazed at the many, many people who work together to support the students and the mission of the Bennion Center.

I was also so touched at the connectedness of all of these individuals. Hundreds of students, community members, faculty and staff coming together despite their many differences. All bonded together by the passion and goal of community building. How empowering is that? What a great mission to be involved in.

I have never felt so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful organization. Who would have thought I would find my dream job by this time in my life?"

"Life goes on and will continue. Let it be in search of meaning. Let it be for the things that matter most."  -- Lowell L. Bennion