Good Friday... Not for the Kinghorn cars!!!

This has been the worst storm of the year for us, hands down. Even worse than the time the car was frozen shut and I couldn't get to school. It really snowed a lot so I decided against driving to Lansing. Instead we went to the store as a family. On the way home we were getting off of I194 onto Columbia Ave. in Battle Creek. It was pretty icy so I was going slowly. There was a longer line of cars in the right turn lane than the left turn lane at the light, but when I went to merge left into the left lane my car kept going forward. I managed to slow it down to a near stop, but the final force that stopped us was the bumper of the car in front of us. The impact wasn't too hard and the airbags didn't go off. We were also all fine (including the older couple in the car we hit) just a bit shaken up. We pulled off into a parking lot and waited nearly an hour for a police officer to come. Even though I was probably going less than 10 miles an hour when I hit the car, and the road was solid ice and wasn't salted, I got a ticket for going faster than the conditions would allow. I guess that is life. Even with the conditions if I had slowed down sooner it probably could have been avoided, but where I was supposed to be heading (the left turn lane) I still had another 150 feet or more till the next car. Leah and I were a bit shaken up, and Lexi was furious that we were not taking her to Grandma Val's house. Every time I got out of the car she would throw a fit because if I wasn't in the car I couldn't drive her to Grandma's house.

You've probably noticed that I have pictures of two wrecked cars above. Yup, the excitement wasn't over yet. We got everything taken care of with the Suzuki accident, called in our claim, dropped Lexi off at her grandparents' house and switched the Suzuki for the Jeep. We decided it would be best to take Leah into the hospital to have the baby checked out and make sure everything was ok. Better safe than sorry. Everything seemed fine but they were going to be keeping Leah for some observations for a few more hours so I left to take care of a few errands we had to finish today. I was driving towards home when a guy ran a red light right in front of me and I T-boned his car right on the passenger side. I'm not quite sure what happened next, but I ended up turned around a complete 180 degrees and back in the crosswalk I had driven through before I hit the guy. Newton's third law works. Thankfully no one was hurt too bad. The woman in the passenger seat I hit, hit her head on the window, but she was up walking around and talking to the officer. An ambulance and fire engine came to make sure we were all ok. The damage to both vehicles was pretty bad. It was also a blessing that a cop was at the intersection and saw the whole thing happen. The guy thought he had a green light and I know I had a green light, but without the cop there it would have been my word against his. Still, I think I totaled the Jeep. The front end is all smashed in and the radiator was busted and dripping coolant all over the place. Part of the fender is also rammed up against one of the front tires. Unfortunately the guy's insurance had lapsed, but the officer said that if he got it current in the next 10 days it should cover it. However, I'm assuming that the cost to fix the Jeep will be more than the vehicle is worth. We'll have to see.

I was so shaken up. What are the odds of getting in two accidents with two different cars in the same day? Even more odd was the fact that both of the cars I hit had recently been repaired from other accidents. I was even driving extremely carefully because of the bad road conditions. I managed to handle the first accident ok, but the second one really put me in shock. I am so thankful that Leah wasn't in the Jeep with me, because that accident really could have hurt her and/or the baby. I barely managed to drive the Jeep the two miles home and parked it in the back yard. Then Jim, Leah's ex father-in-law was nice enough to pick me up at home and go to the hospital to pick Leah up. Things happen for a reason. Maybe someday we'll know the reason for today's double mishap. We're just so thankful to Heavenly Father that we emerged safe and unscathed and that nobody else was hurt. We're now safe at home, shaken and carless, but ok.

Spring in Michigan

So it is the second day of Spring and this is what we get, a freshly snow covered car. I'm looking forward to my trip to Washington DC and Baltimore next weekend. Hopefully it will be more like spring there.

Domestication

Yesterday I felt very domesticated. I baked friendship bread and cupcakes. I cleaned the house. Then I made a birthday dinner for my girlfriends, Audrey and Angie. It was a delicious meal. I was most excited about the cupcakes. I tried my hand at frosting semi-professional. It was messy but fun. I am very excited at how they turned out. They tasted really good too.

Easter Bunny and Books

Last Monday we decided to take Alexis to the mall to see the Easter Bunny for (as Alexis says it) Homey Home Ebennin'. We got to the mall and there was no line so we went right in. Alexis sat down smiled for a quick picture and then left to go into the book store. She loves the book store. We looked at a lot of different books. She seems to be picking Cinderella a lot lately. She is a romantic like her Mommy. Enjoy the pics.

Doctor's Visit

Brian and I went to the Doctor's office today. Everything is good. My uterus measures 27 inches and I am 28 weeks. I have only gained five pounds so far (I am very excited about that. Escpecially since the baby is growing normaly too.). I think she said the baby's heart rate was around 140 beats, which is average and healthy. Our next visit is in a month and then we start going more often until it is time.

We talked to her about pain reflief options, orintation of the baby and various other topics. I feel really comfortable with our doctor. I don't remember to write down my questions so when I am there I don't remember anything. I need to be better about that. Next Tuesday is our last birthing class. So after that I guess Brian and I will practice breathing together. That is hard for me because he always makes me laugh. We are having fun picking out what music will be playing during labor.

The baby is moving like crazy while I am writing this. It is very distracting!

Getting Ready for Baby

Brian and I put together the crib today. I am so excited!!! Thank you Nana! It looks so good in the "Girl's Room." I love saying that. I know that we still have a few months but it feels really good getting things together and ready. I am so thankful for the ease of this pregnancy so far. I hope the delivery follows suit.

Swimming for Special Olympics

Alexis did a great job today during Special Olympics. It was funny, when it was her turn she really took her time going down her lane because she knew she was only swimming once and she wanted to enjoy the ride. Then when the race was over she didn't want to get out. We are so proud of her and her accomplishments.

Wedding

New Church Website

I got an interesting email today from a friend named Rich Hunter (a friend I met when I was living in Hong Kong) who works for the public relations department of the LDS church. The email contained the link to a new website the church launched today about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. He is writing an article about for the Church's media site and wanted some feedback/comments about the site to help him write the article. I really enjoyed looking through the new website and wanted to share what I shared with him here in our blog.

First, I was excited to see the multimedia page. It was one of the first things I looked for. As I've visited temple and church history site visitors centers I've been impressed with the interactive multimedia tools. It was nice to have some of the same clips from Special Witnesses of Christ on this site. I was also very glad to see the transcripts of the video clips printed below the video for easy quotability. It was nice to see the addition of Elder Bednar, and I was wondering if all of the clips (including the apostles who have recently passed away the newly called apostles) would eventually be available on the site. I have the DVD, but it is obviously missing the clips with Elder Bednar and President Uchtdorf that I saw at the Laie temple visitors center.

The other part of the site that really drew me in was the page on Worship Through Hymns. The page effortlessly guided the reader through the different functions of hymns in our worship. I thought the hymn selection was very appropriate and that the page gave an excellent glimpse into how latter-day saints worship, thank, learn of, remember, and praise the Lord through song. As I read about how the hymns can help teach us the simple truths of the restored gospel, I thought back to my own childhood at the feet of my parents as we learned and sang the hymns of Zion as a family. At a very young age I knew, in no small part because of the hymns my mother taught me, that I am a child of a loving Heavenly Father who sent me here to Earth and wants me to return to Him someday. As a child I understood this simple and wonderful truth about the nature of God that much of the world does not understand. As a future father expecting my firstborn daughter in May, I am looking forward to teaching her many of the simple truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we sing the hymns of Zion together in our home.

I was also impressed with the hyperlinks throughout the site. It was nice (and will be useful for those learning about the church) to have links to the Gospel Library: Gospel Topics definitions of terms. It was also nice that I could click on the hymn links and go to the Church's interactive music player where I could see the music and text as well as listen to the hymn being played or sung. Very cool!

Mommy! Help Me!!!

Funny story. We had Family Home Evening and afterwards we had Alexis get ready for bed. While I was in the bathroom getting her toothbrush, I hear "Mommy! Help ME!" I go into her room and all I see is a tight clothed head or what was supposed to be a head. Lexi had tried putting her head through the sleeve of her shirt. I yelled for Brian to get the camera all the while Alexis was trying to escape her trap. She let us take two pictures. Then we helped her out and she finished putting on the shirt correctly. She then let us take an after shot. Just thought you might enjoy.

Baby Excitement

Today was a fun day. I got the bassinet I won on ebay and set it up. It's a lot bigger than what I thought it was going to be. We were using a friends before and Lexi had put her two babies in it so that we could practice. So I put her babies in the new bassinet. I am really excited!!!

In the evening Brian and I went out to dinner at the mall. Afterwards we walked to the other end and on the way we stopped in The Children's Place because they advertised sale prices. We went to the sale racks and Brian found a little hat that he liked. We then looked through the rack some more and found a long sleeve onesie that had "Daddy loves me" printed on it. So of course we needed it. Brian then picked out a pair of jeans. It was so fun and cute to see him hold up the jeans to the top to see how they looked together. I had fun and it was exciting to have Brian get involved. Brian said that that was going to be his only clothing purchase for the little one. I say let's wait and see. I have a feeling she is going to be daddy's little girl.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we were saddened and surprised to hear of President Gordon B. Hinckley's passing yesterday. I'm not sure why we would be so surprised at the death of a 97 year old man, but President Hinckley's vitality and energy were such that he seemed so much younger than he was. Truly the Lord blessed him and sustained him with the Spirit as he went about doing the great work he was called to do. I guess the fact that he has been the prophet my entire adult life may also have something to do with my surprise. However, as I thought about his life and his tireless service, I (like many of the people who posted on the Facebook sites dedicated to his memory) was happy for him and the reunion he was sure to be having with his faithful wife who he has missed so much. I also thought of the opportunity he was having to reunite with family and friends who had gone before and his reunion with the Savior whom he had spent his entire life serving. While we will miss him here, I am not sad for him at his passing. What a wonderful blessing it is to know of the plan of salvation and to know that this life is not the end and families can be eternal through the ordinances and blessings of the temple.

I've been thinking back to my many memories of President Hinckley and decided to share a few. I remember being in Salt Lake with some friends on a senior trip the weekend they had the press conference as he was called as President of the Church. I had gone down to do a church history tour that weekend with a bunch of my friends from high school. It seemed rather fitting that he was the prophet, since I couldn't remember a time when he was not in the First Presidency.

Later in 1995 President Hinckley spoke at a regional conference at Ricks College. I had the privilege to sing in the choir and sit in the Hart Gymnasium where he was speaking. The theme I recall from that talk was from the New Testament (John 20:27) where the Savior tells Thomas to "be not faithless, but believing." I was also impressed with President Hinckley's keen sense of humor. The words "Please do not save seats" had been printed multiple times on the program so that the gym could be filled to capacity. As soon as he got up, President Hinckley commented on this and said he'd been wondering what he was supposed to do with his seat after the meeting. He joked that perhaps the budget at Ricks was so high because they threw the chairs away after each meeting. Along with his humor, I got to see the more human side of President Hinckley that night. At one point he told us he was speaking as Gordon, not the prophet, and joked "I think Heavenly Father loves his daughters more than his sons. I know I do; they make me cookies." We all got a good laugh, but I also felt the deep love he had for his family. That was an amazing day for me. Not only was it the first time I had been in the same room as the living prophet of God, but I was blessed to receive my patriarchal blessing later that evening.

One night as a missionary in Michigan my companion and I came home from a particularly difficult day. A family who had been investigating the church invited their pastor to our discussion and had spent the whole time trying to tear us down and malign the church. We chose not to give into the spirit of contention and simply bore our testimonies and left. I was downhearted that such a wonderful family was being prevented from hearing the good news of the gospel we were there to share. As we walked in our apartment, I saw a picture of the First Presidency on the wall. At that moment I felt the spirit testify unmistakably that I had been called to represent Jesus Christ by a living prophet of God who was acting under the direction of the Lord. Gordon B. Hinckley was that prophet.

I remember talking with my dad about President Hinckley's sense of humor and Dad shared some very useful insight with me. He reasoned that Jesus is perfect and therefore has a perfect sense of humor so it would stand to reason that the closer President Hinckley came to the Savior the better his sense of humor would be. Under President Hinckley's leadership, it has been wonderful to see that same sense of light-heartedness without levity emerge among the members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve over the last 13 years. However, with that sense of humor it was also clear when our prophet was being serious. He did not mince his words and was never afraid to tell things like they were. He was straightforward and honest, humble and wise, caring and a servant to all.

I know that the priesthood has been restored to the Earth and it is the power given to man to act in the name of God according to His will. I know that President Hinckley held all of the keys of that priesthood until his death last night. I also know that those keys are safely held by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and will soon be bestowed on the new President of the Church under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ whose Church this is.

As I have read the many articles (and comments to articles) on the web today, I was impressed with President Bush's comments. It is quite a rare occasion that I am impressed with anything President Bush has done or said lately, but how can you go wrong describing such a wonderful man as President Hinckley? Said Bush, "While serving for over seven decades in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon demonstrated the heart of a servant and the wisdom of a leader. He was a tireless worker and a talented communicator who was respected in his community and beloved by his congregation." Truly President Hinckley had the heart of a humble servant (as many of us have felt) and the wisdom of a great leader.

Senator Joe Lieberman said "President Hinckley was known and beloved throughout the world for his spiritual guidance and good works... His life story was quintessentially an American one - and he tirelessly dedicated his life to building his Church and promoting our nation's ideals of understanding and tolerance."

The world is a better place because of President Hinckley. In addition to helping bring the church out of obscurity, I think he also helped take some of the obscurity out of the world. I'm grateful that I was blessed to be on the earth to see his mission fulfilled. The world has lost one of the greatest and most influential forces for good of this generation. And I think this is true for Mormons and non-Mormons alike. Gordon B. Hinckley showed us in all that he did that he loved and served God with all his heart and loved and served his fellowmen.

The quotes from Pres. Bush and Senator Lieberman came from the following articles:
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8100480

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22873451/

For more information about President Hinckley or the church:
www.lds.org
www.mormon.org

Testing 1, 2, 3

Brian Here,
Leah is the blogmaster but I wanted to have a chance to put in my two cents occasionally as well. We'll see if it works.