I LOVE this talk re: Social Media. Just as relevant now as it was 9 years ago . . .

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/amy-petersen-jenkins/some-hopeful-words-on-media-and-agency/ Notable quotes: "We should acknowledge that our cell phones and laptops carry no secret powers that will push us toward one side or the other of the war that began in heaven; they are simply tools that amplify the choices we make through our agency." How are you keeping records of the good, happy, and worthy things in your life? " . . .everything she wrote or shared on the Internet was meant to help someone or demonstrate something decent or testify of something great. Her engagement with the world through technology was something more than just entertainment, a hobby, or an interesting way to pass the time. To her, these were holy activities—purposeful, consecrated actions and sacramental exercises of faith that helped her obtain and share the vision of our Heavenly Father." You can often tell if the media and technology in your life are having a positive or negative effect on your soul by the quality of the media conversations you are having. We should regularly ask ourselves three questions: 1. Am I having media conversations, or am I simply consuming the media? As a media scholar, I can tell you that simply consuming media messages is one of the most destructive things we can do to ourselves. The changes that unchallenged consumption has on your soul are also small, simple, and incremental but oriented toward your eventual destruction. 2. What conversations am I having about media with my family and those closest to me? Any media practice that discourages conversations with others or is focused inwardly on your appetites rather than outwardly on others will rob you of your faith and prove debilitating to your soul. 3. What am I doing to improve the conversations around me when I use media to communicate? Remember, you can find ways and you can go to places and you can create circumstances in which you can unite symbolically with your Heavenly Father. In so doing, you can gain moment-to-moment access to His power. Choose to be a record keeper: it will build your faith and the faith of those around you. Choose to engage in active media conversations and avoid passive media consumption. Choose to consecrate your every day—your thoughts, communications, and actions. Choose to look outward in service to others for answers to your prayers. Choose to “find ways and go to places and create circumstances where [you] can unite symbolically with [our Father] and . . . gain access to His power” to help you navigate through the choices and challenges of your generation.

Merry Christmas 2012!

Merry Christmas 2012!! I can't believe it's been three years since I posted on this Blog. Shame on me. Gladly, I now have a new reason to breathe some life into this blog with my new CAMERA!!! (Thank you Stin, Dad, Sherry, & Kenzie!!!) This was the standard pic that 3/7 of our family took with Santa at the mall this past Saturday. Great pic. Makes me happy.

Merry Christmas 2009

What a year is has been! The highlight of the year was having everyone together for Christmas -- Thank you Santa Claus!!

Luci's 7th Birthday Disney World Adventure

On the morning of Luci's 7th birthday, we woke her up with the news that she was having a non-traditional birthday. Instead of going to school and having a family/friends birthday party in the evening, she would be flying down to Orlando, Florida for a five-day birthday extravanza at Disney World!!! It was fun for mom, dad, and Lola as well!

Mackenzie home from Malawi!!!

Soooo great to have her home safe and sound. Sadly, she did not take a camera with her, so we do not have pictures of elephants, beautiful Malawian children, nor "mouse on a stick." If you have Mackenzie as a friend on Facebook, maybe you can catch some there!



Nice corn rows Kenzie!!

Memorial Day camping with the Han Family at Pohick Bay

It was a beautiful location, delicous meals were prepared and devoured and fun was had by all!

Grandpa Papito comes to town!!

Grandpa Don aka Papito, came to visit in late May before Scott took off to the sandbox and Kenzie to Malawi. Baby Lola loves her grandpa!

Scott also made Grandpa take out the Chapman's canoe on it's maiden voyage down Goose Creek ( . . . a 3 hour tour . . a 3 hour tour . . .). Scott and Grandpa ended up going into the water on at least 3 separate occasions going over some rapids, and Grandpa ended up with 2 broken toes (we only had flimsy sandals to offer him for the journey) OUCH!

Cherry Blossoms and Sherry Blossoms

Sherry came to visit the clan for 48 hours. The highlight was our trip to the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC to celebrate the last few days of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Just walking and enjoying the beautiful day and listening to great Bubble- Gum Rock Music at the Jefferson Memorial.

Easter Egg Hunt at Ida Lee park (Leesburg, VA)

Luci and Malloy (long-time neighborhood friend) enjoyed the Easter Egg Hunt at Ida Lee park the Saturday before the Saturday before Easter Sunday . . .

Luci and Malloy also enjoyed some of the other "fun bounce" festivities. Mom, Dad, and baby Lola enjoyed just being outside on a nice sunny warm day after some nasty winter weather!

Christmas Nativity . . .

It has been wonderful to have all the kids here and be one big undivided family for the first time in the last seven years!! We've really tried to take advantage of this special Christmas, including this Nativity Program we created as part of our Christmas Eve festivities (Thanks Kenz for putting it all together, and thanks Stin for making it happen!)
Lola: Baby Jesus
Luci: Mary
Anders:Joseph
Tate: Angel
Kenz: Narrator
Stin: Shepherdess
Scott: Wise Man (although everyone really wanted him to be the "donkey")

Han's Advent Round Two

This was our last of the Four Sundays (we only we able to get together for the 2nd and 4th Sundays) and we celebrated the Theme of "Love" and, of course, continued with more Puppet Antics . . .

Christmas Caroling . . .

As part of our Christmas traditions, we will bake some treats, and then take them over to a few neighbors, presenting our snax as a family at each neighbor's doorstep while singing Christmas Carols. I'm not sure what's more fun - us actually baking and then caroling to our neighbors, or to see the look on their faces when they see all seven of us at the door and wondering . . . what the!!?? Here are a few photos of the baking of the treats (Stin even make Caramels!) and the look on Lola's face after we got back (it was a FRIGID night!!)

Santa Claus Wishing . . .

Luci, Kenz, Lola, and Patrick all had the opportunity to make their wishes known to Papa Noel . . .

Gingerbread Christmas Choo-choo train

Stin made sure we added many new wonderful Christmas traditions while Scott was away protecting the homeland . . . .this is one of them:

Han's Advent

Our most precious friends from the Belmont Ridge Ward -- the Han Family -- included us in one of their Christmas traditions -- The Advent. This included the 4 Sundays prior to Christmas Day. Each Sunday leading up to Christmas is focused on four themes: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Each included readings, hymns, stories, and lighting of a candle representing each of the four themes. Along with the previously mentioned activities, puppet shows were introduced which led to great amusement and mayhem! This new tradition added greatly to our present and hopefully future Christmas festivities . . . Love you Hans!

Luci's Spy-Theme Birthday Party

Luci celebrated her much anticipated 6th Birthday party with a Spy Theme and a few of her friends from school. Activities included fingerprinting, handcuffing (in anticipation of extraterritorial rendition), "Detect the Mole," Pizza feasting, obtaining Junior Special Agent credentials, defusing (or consuming, as the case may be) the Bomb (cake), special (black frosting) moustache disguise techniques, and a spy scavenger hunt, among other things (the rest is Classified!).

Virginia Chapter of the Cookie Lover's Club . . .

Nana Judy instigated a wonderful new tradition with the founding of the Cookie Lover's Club - a way for the generations to connect through the wonders of making, baking, and (of course) partaking of amazing cookie recipes. Luci was the recipient of this special intro package from Nana Judy to get the Virginia Chapter of the club established. Although, we all know that Tate and Kenz are the true mayordomo's of the club at this point!!! Yum, yum, yum!

The Lights on Temple Square . . .

Truly a highlight of our trip out West was our visit to The Lights on Temple Square, just a short walk from Margy/Ray's place. This little visit definitely got us all in the Christmas Spirit!! We even got a surprise visit from Nana Judy!

Thanksgiving with Grandma Margy and Grandpa Ray

We had such a great time with Grandma Margy and Grandpa Ray!

Gateway shopping, SLC

Part of our trip to Salt Lake included a little shopping excursion to the Gateway shopping center. Just had to grab a picture with the little shop called LolaBella for obvious reasons!!!