Life Is Beautiful

**Warning: Movie Spoiler Ahead**

Last night Paul & I watched Life Is Beautiful. It's a 1997 Italian film about a Jewish Italian man, Guido, who helps his son, Joshua, and his wife, Dora (Italian but not Jewish) survive in a Nazi concentration camp by making his son think the whole thing is a game, a contest to win a real tank--the first one to 1000 points win; and by communicating to his wife through the intercom and music while in the camp. He gives Joshua rules (no crying, no wanting your mommy, no snacks, he has to stay hidden and quiet, etc.) and then helps to remind him how important it is to keep the rules and win. Near the end of the movie, Guido is informed by a fellow detainee that the war is over and the Nazis are trying to destroy all evidence of the camp and prisoners. Guido hides Joshua, tells him not to come out until there's no one left and he doesn't hear anything, and then rushes off to find Dora to try and save her. In his efforts, he is caught by a Nazi guard who takes him and kills him. The next morning, the camp is quiet and Joshua leaves his hiding place. He enters the empty street and looks around to see a U.S. tank drive down the street. He's excited, believing his dad was telling the truth and he just won a tank. The U.S. officer picks him up and as they leave the camp along with several detainees who survived the night. Along the way Joshua sees his mom and is reunited with her telling her that he won! The movie is narrated by an older, wiser, grateful Joshua who recognizes the sacrifice his father made to keep him alive. The movie won several Academy Awards including Best Foreign Language Film.

Paul was working in a movie theatre when it was released so he had seen most of it before. This was my first time watching it and it touched my heart. I enjoyed the beginning of the movie and then was tense and nervous, and sick, for the rest of the movie. I was sickened as I thought of the real victims of the Holocaust and as I realized that their experiences were undoubtedly much, much worse than it was portrayed in the film; that families and people were torn apart and treated as animals, less than human.

The movie was very well done. I was moved by how the father tried to make every experience in the concentration camp a positive one for his son, to constantly give him hope, never giving up the facade he had created, never exposing the truth as to why they were really there... all the while knowing they may not make it out alive. It really made me just want to hold my children and my husband close and give thanks to a kind Heavenly Father for them. It made me remember how blessed I am to live in a day and time when, probably thanks to the Holocaust, such an atrocity would not be responded to as slowly as it was then.

It also made me so much more grateful for the plan of salvation and the atonement of my Savior, Jesus Christ. To have knowledge and faith that, thanks to Jesus Christ, this life is not the end. We will be able to be reunited with our families forever and all those families who were, are and surely will be unrighteously ripped from their families were, are and will be reunited with those families again. Though it may be little consolation to those without such understanding, and even to some with, such faith and knowledge gives me great hope as we live in these last days--of wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, natural disasters, diseases, pestilences, when living a moral life and seeking that for our children is viewed as intolerant, bigoted and weak; when "bad" or sin is preached as good and desireable, and when Satan's grasp on the hearts of men is so strong and his reign here on the earth and is so open and rampant--that if I remain strong and endure to the end, I can have my family forever! And for that reason, life really should be "beautiful" all of the time!

The Birth of Clark

So when Lissa said she wanted to name her baby Clark there were several people who weren't thrilled about the idea. I wasn't sure what to think. After explaining her reasoning, it made a lot more sense. She wanted to give new, good meaning to the name.....so that it's not necessarily a "4-letter word" to my family forever after...especially considering we still have family members with the last name and a whole new generation of Clarks. Well, Clark Abram McDonald was born Thursday, November 6.....ironically, the same date and day even that my mom and dad were married 33 years ago. I just thought it was interesting that he was born , giving a rebirth to the name Clark, on the same day that our own Clark family was born, so to speak. Just kind of makes it mean more I think.

Clark Abram McDonald -- 7 lbs, 8 oz 20 inches long

Happy Birthday Mom!

This is MY MOM! Today is her birthday and I just thought I'd let everyone know what a great mom she is! She has been a huge support to me throughout my life as well as a great roommate, a personal/spiritual advisor, a fun grandma, and most of all a best friend! She is incredibly talented and has always been a wonderful example to me of faith, hard work, endurance, and love.
I love you, Mom!

New callings galore!

So it's been awhile since I've mentioned what's going on with me personally. I've started walking everyday with my neighbor Jamie and that has gone great! She's a fun walking partner and we get along very well. We usually get in a good 45-50 minute walk every morning and we talk the whole time! I don't think I've lost any weight yet but still, I feel better knowing that I'm doing a little exercise everyday. I'm building my way back up to a healthy resolve! Hopefully the cold & snow will hold off a little this year so that we don't have to quit too soon.

Tomorrow I start working for a couple of weeks to help out at Digis. The receptionist is getting married and it sounds like she's having a lengthy honeymoon so I'll be filling in for the next two-three weeks. I'm looking forward to it since it'll give me a chance to get out a little each day. I'm only actually going in to the office during the day (4 hrs a day) for the first week or so while they train me and then I'll be able to go in when Paul gets home so that he can watch the boys. There's a chance that I may be able to do some of the work at home too!

And as for the "new callings galore," well, about 3 weeks ago Paul & I were released as the Valiant 10 teachers and called to be the Cub Scout Wolf Den Leaders. We have about seven 8 yr old boys that come over every week now for us to teach them something new! Thank goodness for the helpful calendar of activies they have in the BSA magazine that's sent out. The boys are, well, boys! It kind of makes me nervous for when Ryan & Ben grow up! YIKES!! So much energy!!

Today I was called as the Enrichment Leader for Relief Society. Since that's really more of a quarterly calling now it shouldn't interfere too much with the Cub Scout calling but I must say, I was somewhat surprised! I got a call last night from Brother Larson saying he needed to meet with me this morning to discuss some "ward business" and I was kind of confused. I mean, I just got a new calling 3 weeks ago! I knew he was over Relief Society so I went over the possibilities but to be honest, I couldn't come up with much. The RS presidency was just reorganized in August and with it, almost every calling in the RS! Almost. The only thing I could come up with that made sense was Enrichment committee....and I turned out to be right! And yet, Heavenly Father still always manages to surprise me! I expected to be called as a committee member but had never even considered Enrichment Leader! But I've been blessed with more strength and ability to handle the two new callings and my family and have been given a vote of confidence not only by Heavenly Father but the Enrichment Counselor and bishopric as well. So with a lot of prayer and help I should be able to pull it off!

It's kind of funny. I've always told everybody (when it comes up) that my lot in the church certainly appears to be Primary and Enrichment. Ever since I was 18! First it was Sunbeams, then Primary 1st Counselor, then RS 2nd Counselor (over Enrichment), then CTR 5 teacher, then Enrichment committee, then Primary again for the Valiant 10, now Cub Scouts--which is close enough to Primary that I'll count it in with that--and now Enrichment Leader. There have been a couple other callings sprinkled in there but they didn't last long and for the most part, Primary and Enrichment is where I've spent the majority of my time. I've always believed that the Lord puts people where he most needs them and where they can do the most good. I must have some serious talent in these areas that I really need to hone in on and develop because it does seem that is where the Lord seems content to place me time after time and therefore, where he must need me the most!

Happy Birthday to ME!

I know.....I'm vain! I've always loved my birthday every year and I intend to enjoy it to the fullest! And in some ways it's pretty amazing I made it to 29! (Being the accident-prone "klutzo" that I am!) But I've made it this far and overall, life's been pretty good to me! And I'm really not nearly as accident-prone anymore like I used to be so I really am improving! I have a great husband, two wonderful children who are often too cute for words!! A great family and wonderful set of in-laws have been a great blessing in my life. And I have pretty great friends as well. Thank you to everyone who's helped me get to where I am today! I know I've a long way to go but I wouldn't have gotten this far without your help. Thanks for being great influences in my life!

Biting the Bullet

It's been a long time since my last post. I've had several requests for another one, though they were probably referring more to my family site than this one. But since it's been longer for this one I thought I'd start with this one. The truth is, I haven't really lost any weight yet. Although I did get on the scale one morning and it said 229.8, twice in a row! But then later the next day I was already back up to 236.4. Must have been water weight.

The good news is, I found a walking partner!! WOOHOO!! My neighbor, Jamie, walks her kids to school every morning and then usually extends her walk to a 40-60 minute exercise. She actually walks three times a day but for the time being, I will only be accompanying her for the first walk of the day. She understands my desire to lose weight and seems genuinely interested in helping me out which is encouraging. And since school is five days a week, it'll be a five-day-a-week program!

There are several benefits to this: One, I'll be exercising daily. Two, I'll have someone holding me to exercising everyday (Jamie told me, "I'm gonna hold you to it!"). Three, I'll actually be getting up and out of the house at least one time a day. Four, my kids will actually get a little sun everyday. Five, I'll be more conscious of my eating habits because Jamie (a vegan--not that I'm going to become vegan but she eats healthily) has already questioned me on my eating habits and is holding me accountable for that and encouraging me to knock the refined sugars. And, six, I'll feel even better knowing that I am finally doing something consistently that will make a difference over time!

SO! I am recommitted. I know that sounds hollow after the last 3 months of no progess at all but the truth is, I have a hard time following through on things, especially on my own. Now that I have a partner who will, at the very least, just get me walking daily, I feel like I can add the other elements myself. And although I'm putting a lot of confidence in her saying, "I'm gonna hold you to it," that in no way releases me from the responsibility of following through. It's still my responsibility to see that the changes are made but I can do it! So weight loss goal, take two.

Week 1 Update...

Well, it's now been a full week and let's just say I've had a rough start. The good news is, I do believe there were several occasions where I ate less than I would normally have eaten and I did exercise at least once. And I ran around (just running errands and things like that) a little more than I normally do. I'm going to have to make a more concerted effort if I'm really going to make a difference though. The other good news is that I finally have a bathroom scale and I can therefore track my progress more accurately. I really still have a strong desire and even still feel motivated to change so that's also encouraging.

Thanks to all of you who have shown your support already! It really does help!