Alexis and Michael's Wedding

Alexis and Michael got married on 26 May 2011 at the Bountiful Utah Temple!

More photos can be found here.

The Absolute Dumbest Dream.

A dream I had this morning:
It was at my old house in KF, and these cute little guinea pigs were walking around in the garage, driveway, yards, etc. There were even some cute ones all curled up in the grass, and I was talking to them and taking their pictures. They told me that they liked their pictures taken and thought I was nice.
Then these other animals, like little foxes, thought it 'd be fun to sneak up on the guinea pigs and scare them! Or even have them for a snack! They were right there saying so. I let the guinea pigs know of my concern for them with the foxes around (Who were RIGHT there! They had to have heard them as well!) And warn them that the foxes were planning on sneaking up and scaring them. The guinea pigs said they didn't care. Just then, a fox was all trying to be sneaky in the grass. And as he approached them, (I thought they were going to die!) he just greeted them and told them to have a nice day. And walked away. And the guinea pigs looked at me and said, 'We knew they were nice foxes. That's why we weren't worried.'
"Wow! how did you know?' I asked them' (as i was examining them with a magnifying glass). They were looking back at me through the magnifying glass and told me about how they believe all creatures are inherently good and that if you just let them be, they'll do the right thing by nature, etc.
So I took another photo of them and thanked them for their time.
As I was on my way to visit more friendly animals my alarm clock, THANK GOODNESS, woke me up!!!

Planets.

Ok, everyone is probably going to think I’m the weirdest human ever. But, I woke up this morning with a specific thought in my mind: What will happen to this planet after the “end of the world” occurs?

Hmm... I know that when people are resurrected their elements will be restored and we all will have our perfected bodies as they were in mortality. And knowing that we will be reunited with the elements that we are composed now, then our planet will have no evidence of our past existence. Which would erase evidence of past life on our planet! However, I know Earth will be resurrected too, but what does that comprise? Will it remain in the same location?


While lying in bed with this entire thought process, I immediately considered of our fellow planet, Mars. For so many years, people have searched for life on Mars. It’s one of the few planets believed to be able to support life! It even has an intricate ‘water system’ that has since dried up.

Maybe the reason why there is no evidence of past or present life on Mars...perhaps it once was inhabited with civilizations, but has since lived out its planetary life-cycle...? Could it be the remains of a now-resurrected planet such as our own? Could all evidence of life be so eroded and lost...Does the resurrection of a planet involve the dead planet becoming bare and desolate? Seriously, what happens to planets when they are resurrected?! Does they stay in the same spot and condition? Will Earth remain in her little Milky Way galaxy? Surrounded by her constant atmosphere and systems? I want to know!!! I’ll ask around. I’ll ask Dad! Haha.
This is probably my most jumbled, confusing post ever. I’m sorry.

Live life to love.

I'm currently reading a book containing numerous annotations of life and lessons various individuals have learned. One essay in particular, James Kullander recounted the experiences he had with his wife during her battle with cancer. I felt positively affected by his final reflections concerning the account, regardless of the painful nature of all that had happened.

Here I quote:

"A part of me died with Wanda, a part I was glad to see go: my resistance to love. I'd often put distance between myself and others as a way to keep from feeling trapped or getting hurt. I'd delivered wearying criticisms of people I thought were less than perfect, as if I were any better than them. Living like that had been a long, hard battle with many casualties, the most wounded sometimes being me. I think that during all those silent meditation sessions; in all the time I'd spent listening to the wisdom of renowned teachers, theologians, and sages; in all the millions of words I'd read in profound spiritual tracts, I'd been trying to learn how to love. But no amount of meditation or yoga or studies of scriptures could have given me that. Wanda's death put me in touch with one of the highest orders of human existence: to love others as though we are all dying all the time, because the plain truth of the matter is that we are. For a long time I didn't know how to articulate this new feeling, even to myself. Then a couple years ago I heard k.d. lang sing a Leonard Cohen song in which love is described as "a cold and broken hallelujah." And I thought, "Yes, that's it." In this love I found rest from a sort of homesickness that had afflicted me all my life."

James Kullander's insights really helped me to realize that love truly is what makes life fulfilling. We can do many things throughout our life, searching for what we think might be what we're looking for, but what we need to learn is to love others. With a sincere, undying compassion and sympathy for all around us. To give fully of ourselves and serve everyone.
(Hey! Isn't that the basis of what the Book of Mormon teaches us? Charity never faileth!)
Anyways, I know I purposefully try to distance myself from others. I avoid attachment because I view everything as inevitably fleeting, passing, impermanent . Everything is so temporary to me that I don't want to risk being hurt, losing something I love. So in fear, I am overly cautious. However, in reading Kullander's account, I have been inspired to love more fully! And I wanted to share with you!

Thank You + Two Tags!

Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes! I had a great birthday! =)

Here are two fun tag things!

1st tag: Post the 4th picture of your 4th file of photos on your computer
...could be interesting...



Haha! Back when I worked for a sculpture class at BYU-I in 2006!

The 2nd tag: Google...your name and the word "needs"...for me that would be "Alexis needs", for you that means insert your own name....write 10 of them, if you choose.
1. Alexis needs to stop drawing on herself.
2. Alexis needs an angel.
3. Alexis needs a hero. [Lol, angels, heros, what else?!]
4. Alexis needs more guy friends.
5. Alexis needs a middle name!
6.Alexis needs convincing.
7. Alexis needs numbers.
8. Alexis needs to work on that cheating thing more.
9. Alexis NEEDS ATTENTION.
10. Alexis needs to eat some celery.
No go play and find out what YOU need.

First Post of 2009!

Happy New Year!

I just moved home the other week! It's been busy!

We had Grandma and Grandpa Argyle's funerals a month apart. Sad. =(

But, we also had Jennifer and Tanner's wedding last weekend in Oakland! It was great and the reception was sensationally outstanding! Unbelievable -words nor pictures could do its justice!

- At Jennifer's reception -

I wrote a letter to Max today!
He'll probably think "Alexis? She writes LETTERS?! No way!"
I hope to write a letter to Eric tomorrow!

And I'm leaving for my mission in just over a month now! Yahoo!

Oh, Mom and Dad got me this cool smoothie recipe book for Christmas, and today Mom got quite a few ingredients for a variety of recipes! So we'll have to try them out tomorrow! Yay!

Another cool thing I got for Christmas was a gift card to Borders! So I got a nice collection of books the other day, as well as a neat little address book for my mission! Right now I'm reading the coolest collection of Buddhist writings! It's so readable yet deeply introspective!
I love it!

After I finish that, I'm going to start Tale of Two Cities, then the Bhagavad Gita, then Sun Tzu's very own "The Art of War!"

This guy knows the Art of War

Krishna, a Hindu deity

Well, I think I'm going to run on the treadmill for a little bit now!

Peace and Love!

Mission Call!!!

I received my mission call this morning!!!

To the Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission!!!!!!

Words cannot describe how excited I am! I wish I could go NOW!

But, I leave for the MTC on 18 February 2009! Hurrah!

Where I Should Supposedly Live

Providence, Rhode Island New England’s Best Kept Kept Secret This Rhode Island spot is the home of the award-winning flaming sculpture WaterFire, installed on the three rivers of downtown... Population: 1,213,000 | Average Home Price: $242,000 | Precipitation: 48" | Snow: 32"

Portland, Oregon City of Roses This Oregon city has the nation's largest forested municipal park, the aptly-named Forest Park… Population: 2,000,000 | Average Home Price: $259,000 | Precipitation: 36" | Snow: 5"

Baltimore, Maryland The Sparkling Harbor City This Atlantic seaboard city is home to the National Aquarium… Population: 651,000 | Average Home Price: $310,000 | Precipitation: 40" | Snow: 18"

Little Rock, Arkansas Where America Comes Together All Maybelline products distributed in the U.S. are made in this fashion-conscious spot… Population: 595,600 | Average Home Price: $177,000 | Precipitation: 48" | Snow: 5"

Hartford, Connecticut The Insurance Capital This Connecticut city is home to America's oldest State House, oldest public art museum, and oldest continuously published newspaper... Population: 871,500 | Average Home Price: $221,000 | Precipitation: 41" | Snow: 42"

New Haven, Connecticut Home of Yale University The first hamburger was cooked at Louis' Lunch in this Connecticut spot in 1900... Population: 542,000 | Average Home Price: $262,000 | Precipitation: 43" | Snow: 30"

Worcester, Massachusetts The Heart of the Commonwealth This city at the heart of New England is home to the EcoTarium, a science center for all ages… Population: 524,700 | Average Home Price: $250,000 | Precipitation: 48" | Snow: 45" Albuquerque, New Mexico The Pulse of New Mexico This city's International Balloon Fiesta features 850 hot air balloons each October… Population: 471,900 | Average Home Price: $211,000 | Precipitation: 8" | Snow: 15" Charleston, West Virginia The Home of Hospitality For a taste of yesteryear, catch the boat races at this West Virginia city's annual Sternwheel Regatta... Population: 248,000 | Average Home Price: $216,000 | Precipitation: 41" | Snow: 26" Fayetteville, Arkansas Light of the Ozarks Near the University of Arkansas campus, this town's Dickson Street is filled with lively bistros, night clubs and galleries… Population: 62,000 | Average Home Price: $193,000 | Precipitation: 42" | Snow: 10" Eugene, Oregon The Emerald City This Oregon city is home to the Hendricks Park Rhododendron Garden, famous all over the world for its beautiful blossoms... Population: 142,000 | Average Home Price: $226,000 | Precipitation: 48" | Snow: 7" Washington, District of Columbia The World's Greatest Capital This most patriotic of American cities was laid out by a French architect… Population: 572,000 | Average Home Price: $572,000 | Precipitation: 39" | Snow: 16"

Corvallis, Oregon Heart of the Willamette Valley This Oregon city hosts "da Vinci Days," a festival of unique events revolving around art, science and technology... Population: 50,000 | Average Home Price: $225,000 | Precipitation: 43" | Snow: 6" Boston, Massachusetts America’s Walking City Here in "America's Walking City," you can stroll down to famous Franklin Park for the annual Kite Festival... Population: 3,400,000 | Average Home Price: $461,500 | Precipitation: 43" | Snow: 41" Salem, Oregon The Heart of Oregon This capital city is the home of the Oregon State Fair, as well as the state's largest on-going fine arts & crafts fair… Population: 143,000 | Average Home Price: $200,000 | Precipitation: 39" | Snow: 6" Baton Rouge, Louisiana The Cajun Capital This town was named after the red stick its founder saw on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River… Population: 603,000 | Average Home Price: $159,000 | Precipitation: 61" | Snow: 0" Champaign-Urbana, Illinois High Tech in the Heartland Nearly one-fourth of the working adults in this spot are employed in education… Population: 183,000 | Average Home Price: $220,000 | Precipitation: 40" | Snow: 23" Frederick, Maryland Where The Past Comes Alive This Maryland city's Great Fair is one of the nation's oldest county agricultural fairs… Population: 56,000 | Average Home Price: $305,000 | Precipitation: 36" | Snow: 21"

Danbury, Connecticut Small-Town Charm Near the Big Apple Zadoc Benedict began making beaver hats here in 1780, starting this Connecticut town's important hat industry... Population: 77,350 | Average Home Price: $329,000 | Precipitation: 39" | Snow: 50"

Milwaukee, Wisconsin The Genuine American City This Wisconsin "City of Festivals" celebrates its diverse ethnic heritage all year long, with over 20 major cultural festivals… Population: 921,650 | Average Home Price: $227,000 | Precipitation: 31" | Snow: 47"

Medford, Oregon Gateway to the Pacific Northwest This gorgeous spot boasts the West's only operating water-powered grist mill, located on the banks of Little Butte Creek since 1872… Population: 190,000 | Average Home Price: $238,000 | Precipitation: 19" | Snow: 8"

San Francisco, California The Golden Gate City The towers of this city's Golden Gate Bridge are purposely out of alignment in order to compensate for the curvature of the earth... Population: 751,700 | Average Home Price: $720,000 | Precipitation: 21" | Snow: 0"

Cincinnati, Ohio The Queen City This big Ohio city with the small-town feel is home to baseball's first professional team: the Reds started in 1869… Population: 1,690,000 | Average Home Price: $161,000 | Precipitation: 39" | Snow: 19"

San Jose, California The Silicon Capital This city is home to Lou's Living Donut Museum, a combination donut shop and museum with tours and a secret recipe... Population: 898,350 | Average Home Price: $747,000 | Precipitation: 16" | Snow: 0"

--
Alexis N. Pomeroy