- Life Stinks - By Pudge

One time...I had to go to the vet.

Ya know what I was told?
She said, "You've got to go on a DIET!"
And my persons are obeying her!

STUPID STINKY VET!!

Can you imagine what my Thanksgiving was like?!
So yeah...LIFE STINKS!!!

- I've Been Dreaming of a True Love's Kiss! -

I saw this fun test on a blog of a friend's - friend's - sister in law's - cousin's - brother's - wife's blog. Well not exactly along that path...but sometimes that's what it feels like, right? Anyway, it's fun so check it out!!

You Are Aurora! (A.K.A. Sleeping Beauty.)

Thoughtful and loving. Authority figures probably have been sheltering you all of your life. Thankfully you're a very tranquil person who is content with what life has given you, but secretly you want to know how the outside world works.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

- Endowed With Power -

My temple experience was ABSOLUTELY-AWESOMELY-AMAZING!!!!! I loved every bit of it!! I’ll admit, it was different…..but SO SO SO C-O-O-L!!! All of the cute workers, along with my family and friends, said that they have never seen anyone so excited to go through the temple!!! I’m sure they have, but they just thought it was fun seeing someone so excited. Apparently I was glowing and just happy as a lark! Little Miss Sunshine was definitely in the building!! I wasn’t nervous one bit which is actually quite unlike me. I just felt so prepared and ready for it that I could hardly contain myself!!!

My favorite was the washing and anointing and the beautiful blessings I received. Wow!!! It was pretty much the COOLEST THING EVER!!! Can you tell I’m still so excited?!! I’m so appreciative of all the love and support that everyone gave me. It felt really great and the fact that I actually accepted the love open-heartedly was even better. I just went around hugging everyone in sight!! The temple workers, my family, my bishop and his wife, and my cute little friends! I loved seeing everyone in their “white dress”. Wow! I loved it!! But I was a little worried that I may have been irreverent or something. I definitely still need to learn my temple etiquette. Especially what you can and cannot share outside of the temple. I wish I could just tell everyone everything so they could know what they are missing out on!!!! I just don’t get why people wouldn’t want to go to the temple every chance they can get. Sigh……

Anyway…most importantly, I felt my Heavenly Father’s love for me! It’s hard to describe other than it just felt SOOOO GOOD!!! My “ROAR” is louder than it has ever been in my life!!! Seriously. I’m not making it up. The temple is just so dang awesome!! I can’t wait to go back again and again and again!! My stake president just told me to enjoy the moment and not to think about it too much the first time, so that’s what I did. But now….it has opened up a whole can of worms into my little questioning mind. There is so much to learn and I can’t wait to increase my knowledge!!!! Any recommendations on where to start? I guess just going to the temple as much as I can is the way to go….especially since I’m a beginner.

- Oops!!! -

:) :) :) :) Oops!!! I think I just grinned my bummy off!!! I guess I won't have to worry about the "granny bum" dilemma. Just kidding. But yep, still grinning about the temple tomorrow afternoon!!! I AM SO EXCITED I CAN'T CONTAIN MYSELF!!! Seriously. I'm even having the hardest time sleeping cuz I can't contain my eager anticipation! I'm 200,000 times worse than a runny nosed kid on Christmas!!!

- Temple Mania -

I AM SO DANG EXCITED FOR THE TEMPLE THAT I THINK MY HEART IS GOING TO EXPLODE!!!!!

Here’s the series of fortunate events that caused this happy excitement:

I passed my interviews with my bishop and stake president…which I was SOOOOOOOOOOOO nervous about!!!! I was not so nervous about the interviews themselves, but more about the huge decision to make some serious covenants. I was so nervous that I started doubting my decision to go through the temple period. Then I decided it was that “motard” Satan who was trying to stop me and that going through the temple was something that Heavenly Father would want me to do. I was still a tad nervous until the stake president signed my recommend. Then all I could do was grin my bummy off!!! He even commented on how happy I was. Then I knew I had made the right decision and have been so happy since! I’m actually probably starting to annoy everyone cuz I can’t stop talking about it…even to the ladies at work!

On Saturday, I bought all my temple clothes. I love my cute little temple dress, but I’m worried that once I put it on in the temple I’ll start skipping around and start singing “the pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked.” Seriously! I feel like a cute little pioneer woman or something with it on. Sidenote: I walked over to my Aunt Pammy’s (my second mom) house to show her. She’s the one with the liver cancer and the giant hemotoma. Anyway, I put it on to show her and she started crying. Apparently she is so proud of me and feels so bad that she can’t come. That’s when I broke out into the pioneer children song and dance routine. I hate to see her cry but then it hurt when I made her laugh…so I guess it’s sort of a lose/lose for her, huh? No worries…I’ll make it up to her somehow.

Then this weekend, I passed out all my invites/announcements. My sister made them for me. They’re pretty dang awesome! I was just joking that she needed to put Amanda Diane on them, so of course she did! But I still love them anyway. I want to invite practically every single person I know to come!!!! Unfortunately, some of my extended family members don’t hold a current recommend…I’m gonna work on them. I gave them invites anyway hoping to spark a little somethin’ somethin’ to get them motivated to do what’s right.

Today on my lunch break, my mom, my sister, and I went to buy my garmies!! I was such a nerd there. All I could do was grin and tell the lady, “I don’t know!” I’m pretty much went with what my sister likes…and some other one that was #2 on my poll results. But I did tell the lady I was worried about having a granny bum….cuz the waist on them is so dang high! I don’t want the waistband to be all the way up to my arm pits. Then I felt a tad embarrassed because I’m sure she’s a grandma…but she totally understood what I meant and agreed that the granny bum is not a good thing. So we’ll see how it all goes….I’m sure I’ll adjust to the granny bum if it happens. After all, I won’t have too much of a choice, right?

Holy cow!!! My face is getting tired….I just CANNOT stop grinning!!! I’m so excited!!!

- Mandy's Poll -

Good morning fellow sisters in Zion! I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. I sure did! Wasn’t it absolutely BEE-YOU-TEA-FULL?!

Announcement: I’m not sure you have all heard, but on July 11^th Mandy will become endowed with power! That’s right…I’ve decided to go through the temple on my birthday. Yipee!!! I know…I know…it’s about time, right? Anyway, I’ve decided it would be fun (and beneficial to Mandy) to take a poll on the different flavors of garments. So…what kinds do you like and dislike? Any little facts and findings on what you’ve discovered? Any temple preparation tips? Anything you’ve got or would like to share would be awesome!

When you get a minute, let me know. Thank you for being such great examples of women of faith to me! Love you all tons!!!

PS: If you’d like a copy of the poll results…I’d be glad to share. I might even make a pie chart or graph or something to display my findings. You know…just for kicks.

- Flubber Bustin' News -

Hey there Mandy Pandy’s Flubber Buster Biggest Loser Fan Club!!!

Here’s the scoop:

Good News: Since February 4th, Mandy’s lost 20.8 lbs, 19.25 inches, and 5% body fat. WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! (I've been meeting once a week with my team and our trainer. We've been exercising our bums off! Literally!!)

Bad News: Mandy will not – I repeat – will not be moving on to the next round. I’m sorry to disappoint you all. (Sniffle, sniffle, sob, sob…) For those of you who are extremely sensitive, hold back those tears for there is more good news ahead!

Good News: There’s a new twist in the game!! All those competitors eliminated from the first round, which includes me, can still workout on our own to come back in August to claim victory!!!! I still have a chance!!!! Go Mandy…it’s your birthday!! (Groovin in my chair at my desk! Dang! The Mayor just walked by while I was in mid-celebration. Hee…hee….I’m just a tad bit embarrassed!) But honestly, there’s a chick on another team that has lost over 50 lbs and I’m afraid I won’t be able to catch her. But that ain’t gonna stop me from trying!!!!! Anywhooo…..I’m sharing with you all so I will be held accountable, k? So when you see me, just give me a high five and a “Keep on keepin on sista!”

Stay tuned for more “flubbie bustin” progress reports. Thanks! Love ya! Bye!

- Pug Bowling - By Pudge

- Gordon B. Hinckley Tributes -

- ANNOUNCEMENT -

Ladies and gentlemen. . . boys and girls. . . it is a joy and a pleasure to announce to you that I am a proud member of THE FLUBBER BUSTERS!!! You may be asking yourself, "What?! What does that mean my darling friend/ sister/ daughter/ aunt/ cousin/ pug-owner/ niece/ neighbor/ president?" Well, you'll just have to stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, carry on. . . carry on. . .

- Elder Richard G. Hinckley's Testimony -

This was an email forwarded to me. It's really neat to read. It was from an acquaintence's cousin who lives in the same ward as Elder Hinckley (son of Gordon B. Hinckley). It's a bit long but worth the time. Check it out:

Elder Richard Hinckley bore his testimony in Sacrament meeting today. He thanked everyone for the notes, calls, food, flowers, and all they had done for their family.

He said President Hinckley had been diagnosed with cancer early in 2006, and was not expected to last until the end of the year. He and his five children met with Dr. Ward, his cancer doctor, to discuss options. The doctor said they did not know how chemotheraphy would work in a 95 year old, as they had not tried it before. President Hinckley said he had three questions, and had them written down on a paper. The first question was "Will I still be able to live on my own?" "Yes", the doctor answered. The second question was "Would I still be able to put in a full day's work?" "Yes", the doctor answered. President Hinckley's final question was "Will I lose my hair?" "No", the doctor answered. President Hinckley then agreed to have chemotheraphy. He said his life belonged to the Lord, and He would take him when He was ready. President Hinckley said he needed to do all he could do to prolong his life, for he had work to do.

The doctors discovered the chemotheraphy was not working in January (2008). Again, the Hinckley family met with the doctors. At 97 years of age, recommended President Hinckley do nothing. President Hinckley replied again his life belonged to the Lord, and that he needed to do all he could do. He received the more aggressive chemotherapy the Tuesday before he died. On Wednesday, he went to the office and did a full day's work. Thursday morning, he did not get out of bed.

Elder (Richard) Hinckley said he was scheduled to go preside over a stake conference in Henderson , Nevada that weekend. Before he left, he talked with his dad, and felt prompted to give him a blessing. He also said he would take his cell phone, and keep it on. Saturday, after meetings, around 4pm, President Packer called and told him he needed to come home. He did, and stayed with his father and other members of his family until his father died.

Sunday afternoon, Presidents Monson, Eyring, and Packer came and gave President Hinckley a blessing. About 7pm, President Hinckley took his last breath, and passed away peacefully.

Elder Hinckley shared some anecdotes about his father. He said one of his dad's favorite pictures was a picture of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, with a photo of a singing President Hinckley electronically placed right in the baritone section. He would show it to everyone who came to visit. Elder Hinckley said this photo was something family members would fight over. Thursday night, after their practice, members of the Tabernacle Choir asked for their own private viewing. After, they presented each member of the Hinckley family with that photo.

Elder Hinckley spent a lot of time at the Conference Center during the viewing. One of the ushers shared a moment with him, which he thought was sweet—a small girl came through with her father. She asked her dad "Do you think President Hinckley has met Nephi yet?"

Elder Hinckley said true to form, his father had his funeral planned down to the last detail, leaving no decisions to his children. He planned the speakers, the hymns, everything. He said his father had "every button buttoned, and every knot tied"—as always, prepared.

Some of the things Elder Hinckley said about his father were that "he was reverent, faithful, humble, and true". As a family, the Hinckley 's said, "We hope others will turn their hearts to the Savior".

He said a new prophet would be announced tomorrow, around 11am, and, although the Hinckley family had never tried to be in the limelight, they were ready to step back and fade into the background as this new prophet takes his place.

Elder Hinckley said there were many flowers at the funeral, so he brought up two arrangements to our chapel for us to enjoy. One arrangement was from President Hinckley's counselors; the other from the quorum of the seventy. He said they didn't need all of the flowers at home, and that they were going to die anyway, and invited all of us to come up and take a flower after sacrament meeting. Many of us did so after the meeting, and we have made a bouquet we are enjoying here at the house. We are planning to dry as many as possible.

Annie babysat this morning for Michael and Heather Hinckley while they attended Music and the Spoken Word. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was singing a medley of President Hinckley's favorite hymns. They had reserved 100 seats for the Hinckley family, and Heather and Michael (they are the ones who lived in our house while we were in Honduras ), went.

It has been a very spiritual day for me, and something I really need during this dreary winter. We have had snow about every other day this January, and cold since the first of December. We have four feet on the side of our driveway, and two feet in the yard, and it is snowing again. I am glad I have these beautiful flowers, and memories of President Hinckley, to lift me up.

Love,
Shelly

- Story Behind The Hymn That Was Sung At President Hinckley's Funeral -

This is an email that I got from Melissa. One of her friends is good friends with someone in President Hinckleys ward and also in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Cool stuff!

From: Janice K. Perry
To: Senior Missionary Friends
Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2008 8:28 AM

During President Hinckley's funeral the Tabernacle Choir sang a hymn text written by President Hinckley which I set to music in December.

I would like to share the story of it with you:

About two months before my niece Kathy Blacker died, on January 11, 2008, she found a three-verse poem by President Hinckley among her files. Although she was resigned to dying, she had some fears about the dying process and his words greatly comforted her—especially the second verse which descibed exactly what she was feeling. She wrote to Pres. Hinckley 's office to ask permission to have the poem printed on her funeral program, and she received a very nice letter from his secretary Don H. Staheli saying that President Hinckley gave his permission for her to do so. The letter also conveyed some very comforting words from Pres. Hinckley which were helpful to helpful to Kathy in her final weeks, and he said he would remember Kathy in his prayers.

Then Kathy suggested that I write and ask permission to give the poem a hymn setting. I did so, and Brother Staheli conveyed President Hinckley's permission for me to write the hymn. After offering some heartfelt prayers that I might be able to write appropriate music for his profoundly beautiful and moving text, I wrote the hymn setting and sent a copy to President Hinckley's office for approval at the end of December. I received no immediate response.

Kathy passed away January 11 and after her funeral I sent a copy of her funeral program to President Hinckley's office so he could see how nicely his poem was displayed along side my brother Gary Kapp's painting of Christ. When I heard President Hinckley had passed away last Sunday night I was feeling a little sad to think I hadn't received a letter with his official approval. But the very next day after his passing, the hoped-for letter arrived with his approval, his permission for me to publish it in a future volume of my series Inspirational New Hymns for Choir and Home, and leaving it to my discretion as to whether to submit it to the Church Music Division. The timing was so unusual and I was extremely grateful to receive the letter as a tender mercy in my life.

Then on Monday afternoon Craig Jessop, Tabernacle Choir Director, heard about the hymn and had his office call me to obtain a copy of the hymn for consideration for President Hinckley's funeral. On Tuesday, while travelling in California , I learned that the hymn would be performed by The Tabernacle Choir at President Hinckley's funeral on Saturday.

Having seen the great comfort this hymn brought to my niece who died just two weeks before President Hinckley passed away, my great desire is for people throughout the world to have a free copy of these magnificent words of President Hinckley to comfort them in times of the loss of loved ones. This is just one more way his influence could be felt down through time.

Here are the words to the song:

"What Is This Thing That Men Call Death"
By President Gordon B. Hinckley
Music by Janice Kapp Perry

What is this thing that men call death,
This quiet passing in the night?'
Tis not the end, but genesis
Of better worlds and greater light.

O God, touch thou my aching heart,
And calm my troubled, haunting fears.
Let hope and faith, transcendent, pure,
Give strength and peace beyond my tears.

There is no death, but only change,
With recompense for vict'ry won.
The gift of Him who loved all men,
The Son of God, the Holy One.

- Butler Pictures -

- Join the Hinckley Challenge -

As most of you know, our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away at the age of 97 on Sunday, January 27, 2008. His funeral was held on a Saturday, February 2, 2008.

I received an email from my sister, Melissa, that talked about a great way to honor his teachings by joining the Book of Mormon challenge (which is reading the Book of Mormon in 97 days). I signed up for the challenge, along with Wing, Melissa, Parker and Grace, and I'm excited for you to begin the challenge too! Melissa even posted my progress on my blog for a little extra accountablity and motivation. She's such a helpful big sister! My progress chart can be found within the left hand column of this page.

I have a testimony of the truthfulness and power of the Book of Mormon. We have been promised many blessings if we will seriously study the Book of Mormon. "There is power in the Book of Mormon which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path" - President Ezra Taft Benson. I have felt this power and I know it is real. I hope you can too!

So, click on the links below and start reading already! What are you waiting for?

Here's the information that was emailed to me:

http://www.hinckleychallenge.com/

I was thinking of how I could honor his legacy and I came up with an idea. My friend and I have created a challenge for those willing to accept it: Read the Book of Mormon in 97 days. We are trying to get everyone to start on the same day. Here are the details:

Go to http://www.hinckleychallenge.com/ and create an account (free, of course).

On Feb 4, 2008 (the Monday following the funeral) have an FHE lesson on the Book of Mormon and begin your reading.

Each day you read, record what page number you are on by going to http://www.hinckleychallenge.com/.

We would like this challenge to be heard all around the world! Please forward this message to everyone you know. We would love to see over 1 million pages of the Book of Mormon read by the time this challenge has ended.

Do you want to show your support? Do you want to follow the prophet? Do you want to get rid of all of your excuses for not reading and become a warrior? Then join me in this challenge!!!

We are going to spread this throughout the news media (TV and radio) and we've already contacted Fox news, KSL, CBS, and ABC. But we cannot get the word out to everyone without your help! Please forward this on to EVERYONE in your address book. Time is of the essence!! This will be the one forwarded message that everyone will be happy to get. :)

- Welcome To My Blog! -

Welcome to Manders & Pug's blog! It's so nice to see you here. Visit our blog often to see the fun stuff that we do. Besides, this is the best place for some good ol' fashioned Pug hugging without the stinky Pug tooters and hot dog breath.

See you soon!

*Disclaimer: My sister Melissa created this blog for me and was the author of this post. Thank you.