And here's pic of smiley little Brenna on Sat.:
We have really enjoyed watching the Olympics! We're pretty much addicted to watching it--we Tivo everything and fast forward through commercials and some of the stuff. Our favorite sports to watch have been swimming (it's been thrilling to see Phelps win all his golds!), gymnastics (even though we get ticked at some of the scoring that seems to favor the Chinese gymnasts but we are so proud of Shawn and Nastia!) and beach volleyball (May & Walsh rock!!). Other than watching the Olympics, pretty much all I've done is go to a Cub Scout swim party (I was in charge and thankfully other people helped a lot) and to a party at my parents' house, as well as a wedding open house.
As far as my recovery from the wreck, the real pain started a few days after the wreck, after the stiffness went away. It's been hard to find any relief at all and to get any sleep. At some points, I've been in so much pain I've cried. I went to see an orthopedic surgeon last Monday and he had me take lots of x-rays (didn't see anything, of course, since any real damage would only be seen in an MRI) and he sent me to physical therapy. I started the physical therapy this Monday and am going three times a week. Fun stuff, let me tell ya'! I'm happy to report that after only two sessions, the horrible pain I felt around my right shoulder blade, with referral pain in my chest, has lessened. I only hope I continue to feel better and better. I will defintely do all the exercises and stretches I'm supposed to!
I want you all to know how great Jared has been. Since I haven't been able to do much around the house, he has really been a huge help, coming home from working all day to do stuff around the house plus keep up with his yardwork. He really takes great care of me and is being so sweet and understanding (although he doesn't usually know what to do or say when I start crying because I feel bad for not being able to do very much). I love him so much!
Another side effect of the wreck--post traumatic stress disorder! We went to my parents' house on Saturday for the party to celebrate Tim getting his Master's degree. It was the first time I've ridden in a car in the rain since the wreck. I was petrified! I started breathing heavy, almost to the point of hyperventilating and I actually started bawling from being so overwhelmed with fear. Jared felt so bad--he said seeing me like that ripped his heart out. He had to stop at the first exit after we got on the interstate and wait for me to calm down. Then, he made me lay my seat back and close my eyes, and he turned the music way up, for the rest of the drive. I'm sure I will eventually get over that fear, or least mostly over it(it has to since we live in Louisiana and it rains so much here!), but I'm not looking forward to facing that fear again.
Here are some pics from Tim's party:
{Tim and Brenna--dontcha just love that outfit, especially the shoes?! It's an LSU shirt, BTW}
{Belle changed into this adorable outfit to go to a friend's birthday party}
{Brenna is smiling a LOT--it doesn't take much to make her smile! She is such a sweet, sweet baby!}
{Best buds Brandon, Tim & Greg--Tim wearing an SLU shirt, even though this party was to celebrate getting his Master's from LSU!}
I used Picasa to create the posts about the wrecked car and Sunday dinner—not sure what happened with the pictures. It’s fixed now, though.
So I noticed one of the young women in my ward reading an article about David A. in sacrament meeting yesterday. When she closed the magazine, I saw that it was the New Era! If you haven't seen it, here's what it says:
David Archuleta, a 17-year-old from Murray, Utah, a town centered in the Salt Lake Valley, made it as one of the top two on American Idol, a television singing competition.
In one interview given while in the middle of the competition, David was wondering about the changes that were coming with the fame of performing for millions of viewers each week. He said that he still felt like “I’m just David from Murray.”
The nation may have been surprised to hear such a pure, clear voice coming from one so young, but David’s classmates at school, and especially those in seminary, were not surprised at all. They already knew he had an amazing voice because they get to hear him sing at school programs and for seminary devotionals.
“Every time it’s his turn to do the class devotional,” says Brother Justin Harper of the Murray High Seminary, “he asks if he can sing. Then the other teachers will bring their classes in just for devotional to hear him. It really sets a wonderful spirit for class.” Even while busy and involved with the television show, Brother Harper said David reported on his daily scripture reading to keep up with his seminary class.
Mietra Aarabi, one of David’s close friends, says that David did not enter the competition to become a celebrity. She says, “David understands that he has a talent and that his voice affects people. He’s not arrogant about it. He is as humble and thankful to those who help him as you saw on the show. That’s how he really is.”
Was David the popular guy in school? Jessica Judd, another of David’s friends says, “If by popular you mean people like him, then yes, everyone likes him. At lunch, you know how everyone has their own group to sit with. You can never find David because he’s going around talking to people. He cares about you.”
The Church is a major force in David’s life. “He is so strong,” says Mietra. “He is the one that reminds us of what is right. He will keep on doing what he believes.”
“Even while he was so busy in Hollywood, he asked about the meeting schedules of wards in the area and went to church,” says Jessica.
David Archuleta is not just David from Murray anymore. The music world now knows about a great guy with an amazing voice that has a quality they can’t quite describe. Those at home in his ward, in his seminary class, and his hometown know what that is. What he believes shows.
{picture from the article}
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That just makes me like him even more! :) BTW, he won the Teen Choice Award for Most Fanatic Fans. Yeah, I might be one of those fanatics but I love to promote him because I love his voice and there is finally a true GREAT example for the young people to follow! Nope, I don't care if any of you think I'm a dork, ha ha!
So here are some pics of the car, which my dad had the tow truck drop off in his front driveway: 
Before he actually saw the car, he had hopes of taking the battery out and using it in his truck but, nope, it's a gonner! He will get the gas out of it, though, and hopefully the fairly new transmission! ;)
That's how many freaking car wrecks I've been in now!
I took a ride with my mom to go pick up my Maw-maw to go bring her halfway to my Aunt Patty's but we only got 15 min. from my parents' house before we got in a pretty bad wreck. It was raining and this guy behind us hydroplaned, lost control of his car and hit us from behind. I was on the phone with my dad when all of the sudden my mom was looking in her rear-view mirror and screaming and saying, "He's gonna hit us!" Before I knew it, we were headed for the left side concrete guard rail (we were in the right lane) and we both started screaming. [So my dad heard us screaming, then the phone hung up.] We crashed in to that side (going at least 65 mph), crossed the interstate, and slammed into the right side concrete barrier. [Sound familiar? Yeah, that's because it's almost exactly what happened when Jared and I got in a wreck in Utah Christmas Night 2002! What the h*%#?!!]
So the airbags deployed, of course, and there was smoke so my mom was FREAKING out and yelling to get out of the car. So she gets out, was standing out in the rain, looking at the car and screaming like a banshee. I'm laughing about it now but it was freaking me out! So, of course, my dad called back and my mom was still screaming but I was trying to stay calm because I didn't want him to freak out, too. Last thing I heard him say was "Well, I'm leaving here and I don't care what they say!" hee hee! So he left work and headed our way.
It took a good bit for my mom to calm down. I thought she was gonna hyperventilate! I was so worried about her, though, that it kept me from freaking out. Thankfully, an off-duty paramedic stopped to help a bit before the cops and ambulance got there. Let me just tell you that the car was TOTALED! Even worse than when Jared and I got in that wreck--I know some of you have seen those pics. I didn't have my camera so I took some crappy pics with my cell phone so I'll put them on here later if I can.
We decided to go to the hospital and get checked out, especially because of my existing neck and back injuries. They strapped us onto the gurneys and everything. Those neck braces are very uncomfortable and I had to wear it for at least an hour, until they took some x-rays of my neck and I was cleared to take it off. Then, they took more x-rays of my neck and back. They said they didn't see anything major with either of so we waited to be discharged and they gave us each some Lortab for the pain. I am already in pain in my chest (from the seat belt--that'll leave a mark!), my neck, back, and butt (not sure why on that one). I know tomorrow will be worse and they 3rd day is typically the worst. I will probably ended asking my dr. for an MRI--my existing injuries were only seen using an MRI, not an x-ray.
Jared "won't let me" drive home, especially since it has still been raining, so I'm staying at my parents' tonight and I think my dad and brother will take me home tomorrow. I just wanted to post this tonight because, from past experience, even though I don't feel that great right now, the next few days are going to be miserable.
I am thankful to still be alive, though--I thought for sure that, since we hit the 2nd side pretty much straight on, that we were going to flip up, end up in the swamp, and get eaten by an alligator--my mom said she thought the exact same thing. I must have some major work to do here on Earth since I always come out fairly unscathed from all the close calls! Gives me chill bumps. I am starting to wonder what's wrong with me, though, that I attract so many car wrecks--especially when other people are driving. So, if you are ever driving me around and I am constantly "sucking wind" (as Jared says) or clutching the door handle, you'll know why! It's called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder! I already had fears while riding with other people and now it's gonna be tenfold. But, I'm still alive...I'm still alive!
OMGosh, David's first single premiered this morning on a radio show in NYC! Go to http://z100.elvisduran.com/pages/news/davidarchuleta/ to hear it! I love it!
I listened to the interview, too--he's just so sweet and adorable! :)
So Jared had the opportunity to sleep in ‘til 8:00 this morning since he’s taking a ½ day off today. So what does Chloe (my cat) do at 6am? First she starts playing with a plastic grocery bag that is on the bedroom floor. Jared threw a pillow at her so she stopped. A few minutes later, she jumps up on the bed and starts meowing and Jared yells, “Just get up and get her what she wants—she won’t stop until you do!!!” So I finally had to get up and turn on the tap in the bathtub for her for a couple minutes then I went and filled her food bowl. She doesn’t always do that, BTW—I usually put food in her bowl before I got to bed to keep that from happening but I had forgotten. Yes, I have a very spoiled cat but I love her. And I have to laugh that, of all days for her to meow incessantly early in the morning, it had to be a day that Jared could have slept in. Hee hee! Sorry, Jared!
Ack! I have a new addiction! I finally joined Facebook yesterday, after several friends and family told me about it a while back. If you love getting in touch with people you’ve lost contact with over the years, or if you love to stay in contact with people, you must join. BEWARE, however, it is very addicting! I’m not feeling well today so I spent much of the day resting and watching TV and the rest of the day on Facebook! I have gotten back in touch with tons of friends I haven’t seen or spoken to in years. It’s fun to see what all my LSU Tigerband peeps have done since they graduated. So cool!
BTW, it is hot as h*** here!!! It is 98* right now—The Weather Channel says it feels like 103! Yep, I’m staying indoors!!!
All I can say is wow! I had so much fun with the youth and it was a truly spiritually uplifting experience. The only down part was having to drive overnight Tuesday night to get there Wednesday morning and overnight Friday night to get back home Saturday morning. Here are some of the things we did:
Wed.: Watched a film, “Remembering Nauvoo” in the Visitor’s Center and walked through the Women’s Garden (the girls took goofy pictures with all of the statues); the kids did baptisms in the temple (my job was handing them towels as they exited the font and it was so neat to be able to see the baptisms and see their faces as they finished—there were some baptisms where I felt the Spirit really strong); watched the “High Hopes and River Boats” show (a musical drama documented from histories and journals of early Nauvoo residents); walked down the Nauvoo main street and visited some of the shops with my group of four girls
Thurs.: Walked the 3-mile hand cart trek with the kids {the weather was awesome—really cool and breezy—we were so blessed!}; took pictures at the temple; went on the horse-drawn wagon tour of Old Nauvoo; toured some of the Nauvoo sites (Family Living Center where we made a rope and learned how to make bread and candles; got cookies at the Scovil Bakery; played games at Pioneer Pastimes; got a “prairie diamond” at the blacksmith shop and a Nauvoo brick from the brickyard); watched the “Sunset on the Mississippi Show” (a really fun variety show featuring senior missionaries and young performing missionaries); went to the Nauvoo Pageant—A Tribute to the Prophet Joseph Smith. The pageant was AWESOME!!! The actors, music, story, costumes and props were all fantastic! Probably my favorite part of the trip.
Fri.: Walked around Old Nauvoo; watched the “Just Plain Anna Amanda” show—a short musical play; had lunch, played games, and watched some of the youth in a stick pulling competition at Pioneer Pastimes; took my group of girls to get ice cream; watched the “Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration” movie; drove to Carthage Jail and had a testimony meeting. Between the movie, the jail tour, and the testimony meetings, my eyes were swollen from crying so much. It’s been a while since I felt the Spirit that strongly for such a long period of time. Even the tour guide at Carthage Jail cried a bit and said she rarely gets that emotional but she really felt the Spirit with our group—I was bawling, BTW.
I loved, loved, loved Nauvoo. I really want to take Jared now.
I’ll just add a few of my favorite pictures but I’m not even going to edit them to make them look better, like I usually do—these are straight out of my camera:
{My girls in the Women’s Garden}:
{The beautiful Nauvoo Temple}:
{The Pageant}:
{Carthage Jail}:
Sweet little Brenna was blessed on Sunday. We drove to their ward for the blessing. Jared left after sacrament to go teach Elder's quorum in our ward then go to work. I went to Primary to observe (as a stake Primary presidency counselor). After church, Becky's nephew was ordained to the Aaronic priesthood then we went had tons of food at Becky's parents' house with family and friends. It was a fun day. Here are some pics of Brenna in her blessing dress and her proud parents:
Isn't she an angel?! She is 7 weeks old today. She is getting chubby. I love chubby babies! :)
I had to leave the dinner not long after I ate to go to a fireside about Nauvoo and a meeting for everyone going on the stake youth trip to Nauvoo this week. We are leaving tonight, driving all night to get there in the morning. We are doing baptisms in temple tomorrow (I can't wait to see that temple!) then spend the rest of the day touring and seeing shows, etc. Thursday and Friday is all touring and shows, too. We are driving home all night Friday. I'm sure I'll have a blast and you know I'll have lots of pics to share when I get back! :) I'd better get going and finish packing!!!
So Kiki and I got to go to this concert in Salt Lake City Monday night. All I can say is WOW!!! We had so much fun! Most of them were completely awesome! It was the loudest concert I have EVER been to! SO much screaming, especially for David A. The screaming didn't stop AT ALL the whole time he was on stage. I've never seen anything like it. I'm not kidding when I say I think I have permanent hearing damage.
Here's my order of faves, with commentary:
1. David A.--he sounded sooooo unbelievably awesome! And his stage presence just keeps getting better and better! He's moving more and is exuding more confidence. He's very humble still, though, and would chuckle between songs at all the applause and screaming. He was so adorable! He even cried at the end of "When You Say You Love Me" because of all the applause and screaming, then said "See what you made me do!" He loved singing for his home crowd. SO cute! I can't wait for his CD to come out!
2. David C.--sounded awesome. Total opposite of David A. as far as receiving applause, etc.--he eats it up and even did this one long part where the band just kept playing this interlude while he went to each section of the stage to get applause and screaming from each side of the audience. I'm sure I will buy his CD, too.
3. Michael J.--loved his performances! Such a great stage presence!
4. Brooke W.--sounded better than any time on the show. I would go see her in person any time, just would like it in a smaller setting so I could hear her better. Her rendition of "Yellow" was amazing!
5. Jason C.--love his singer/songwriter vibe. He sounded great, too.
6. Carly S.--sounded great! Such a powerful voice.
7. Chikezie--gets my award for most improved! Wow! He was so fun to watch and sounded really good!
8. Kristy Lee--sounded better than on the show. Don't like the way she stands, though. Dumb little criticism, I know.
9. Syesha--sounded good but just didn't hold my attention. I think part of the problem is she did such recent songs and, let's face it, she is definitely no Rihanna, Alicia Keys, or Beyoncé!
10. Ramielle--I wanted to like her. She's so cute. But she sounded really bad--lots of pitch problems--and had zero stage presence. Just plain boring.
If any of you are wondering what each contestant is singing on the tour, here's the setlist:
Chikezie:
1, “I Believe to My Soul” (Donny Hathaway)
2, “Caught Up” (Usher)
3, “So High” (John Legend)
Ramiele Malubay:
4, “I Want You Back” (The Jackson Five)
5, “Love Will Lead You Back” (Taylor Dayne)
6, “If I Never See Your Face Again” (Maroon 5 featuring Rihanna)
Michael Johns:
7, “We Will Rock You”/”We Are the Champions” medley (Queen),
8, “It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right” (Dolly Parton)
9, “Dream On” (Aerosmith)
Kristy Lee Cook:
10, “Squeezin’ the Love Outta You” (Carolyn Dawn Johnson)
11, “God Bless the USA” (Lee Greenwood)
12, “Cowgirls” (Kerry Harvick)
Carly Smithson:
13, “Bring Me to Life” (Evanescence)
14, “Crazy on You” (Heart)
15, “I Drove All Night” (Cyndi Lauper)
Brooke White:
16, “Let It Be” (The Beatles)
17, “1234″ (Feist)
18, “Yellow” (Coldplay)
Group medley (just the bottom 6):
“Pride (In the Name of Love)” (U2)
Intermission
Jason Castro:
“Over the Rainbow” (Israel Kamakawiwo’ole version)
“Crazy” (Gnarls Barkley)
“Daydream” (The Lovin’ Spoonful)
Syesha Mercado:
“Umbrella” (Rihanna)
“If I Ain’t Got You” (Alicia Keys)
“Listen” (Beyoncé)
David Archuleta:
“Angels” (Robbie Williams)
“Apologize” (OneRepublic)
“Stand by Me”/”Beautiful Girls” (Ben E. King/Sean Kingston)
“When You Say You Love Me” (Josh Groban)
David Cook:
“Hello” (Lionel Richie)
“The Time of My Life” (2008 “American Idol” Songwriter’s Competition winner; first single for David Cook)
“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (Aerosmith)
“My Hero” (Foo Fighters)
“Billie Jean” (Chris Cornell version of Michael Jackson song)
Group encore:
“Don’t Stop the Music” (Rihanna)
Just so you can get a taste of what it was like while David A. was performing, check out this video:
I'm so glad we got to go to the concert together! One of my favorite concerts so far!
{Carma is one funny girl! Here's she is doing her "Hmm, I wonder" thing where she taps her index finger on her cheek when she's thinking.}:
Utah was GREAT but it's good to be home!!!!
Judson went to a friend's birthday party and I played with Carma while Kiki napped then we went shopping at Wal-Mart. After dinner, the kids were put to bed and we watched "Dan in Real Life" If you haven't seen that movie, I think you should! It is SO CUTE!
