Because Life is Worth Celebrating

I like themes, and this week it's CELEBRATIONS! This familiar scripture comes to mind-

"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25)

We are on this earth and we are imperfect. We are tempted to sin, we disobey and lose the Spirit, we get disappointed and discouraged, we become ill or injured, we are wronged by others, we lose hope, we struggle to overcome the tests of mortality. That's why it's important to celebrate when we can! There must be opposition in all things:

"And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet." (D&C 29:39)

This week, I tasted much sweetness, starting with this delicious lunch on Monday from Whole Foods :)

Monday night - met up with a group to watch the new Batman movie. Chowed down at Chipotle at Sam beforehand

Vegetarian burritos are mighty tasty if you add sour cream :D

Lesson learned the hard way: be informed about the context when watching a part of a series. Otherwise, frustration, confusion, and boredom will ensue. Oh well, at least the people were cool!

Tuesday - met up with my awesome coworker, Tigi, for lunch. She's part Ethiopian and part Eritrean! I love learning from friends from different backgrounds :)

Had an amazing Brazilian salad - it tasted as good as it looks!

Tuesday night - went to Institute as usual and had an unusually powerful lesson on building trust in relationships with friends/family, people we date/marry, and God. I looked back on the last year and realized how many times the Lord has proven His trustworthiness to me by answering my prayers, keeping promises, and blessing me beyond imagination. Must remember this when my faith wavers...

Wednesday - my soon-to-be roommates, Mariaby and Karen, threw a sweet party to celebrate PIONEER DAY (July 24), a Utah state holiday to commemorate the first generation of Latter-day Saints who sacrificed so much for their faith. Karen served a mission in Temple Square and shared some stories/facts about the pioneers. She also prepared some homemade apple pies!

Some people played this popular game from the 1800s - it's like one-on-one tug-of-war with a stick. I would've played but I had too much apple pie haha

Thursday - hung out with a great new girl in the ward. She must've sensed my days-long craving for frozen yogurt when she suggested we get some :)

Friday - whatdya know, it was PERUVIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY! (the next day, July 28 - but The Salsa Room celebrated a day early) Got a good group to go dancing :) This is part of the group...

Saturday - NATIONAL DANCE DAY!!! Apparently this holiday was created very recently, in 2010, by the executive producer/co-creator of So You Think You Can Dance. There was a festival on the National Mall and, of course, I had to check it out! Miss District of Columbia and DC Congresswoman Eleanor Norton helped host.

It was basically a big, extended outdoor concert that featured a huge variety of dance groups (alas, no ballroom - how sad it wasn't even mentioned).

Colorful local hip hop group

DC Redskins cheerleaders. They were very tan and wore very little clothing.

South African dancing that involved alot of intricate stomping and clapping

Talented local guys, many of whom were super double-jointed

The US Postal Service revealed 4 new stamps that feature "Innovative Choreographers". They've issued other dance stamps in the past. Again, ballroom is not mentioned/represented. C'mon, guys...

Partway through, a fabulous Zumba instructor led us through a whole routine! Here she is teaching the body roll. I always tried to sneak body rolls into my Latin Ballroom routines haha.

You bet your bucket I danced along!

And sweated rivers in the hot sun

Had to take some dance pictures of my own

Reminiscent of former cha cha/samba routines

Rushed back just in time to go to the temple with Britt! A great opportunity to feel closer to the Lord and refocus.

Loved being in/around the temple. Can't wait to progress through the eternities with my own family, sealed in the temple.

Saturday night - went to a hoppin' HOUSEWARMING party. Congrats to Ray, Chris, Bryce, Oliver, Eric, and Wayne! Your new "bromansion" is undeniably cozy, roomy, and superbly and tastefully decorated :) It kind of turned into a SUMMER OLYMPICS-watching party. Everyone was glued to the TV (except for Jarilyn and Chris haha). Gymnastics will always be my favorite :)

Finished off National Dance Day by watching Step Up Revolution!! (note to self: work on gangster face)

The acting was mediocre, the plot predictable, but you can't deny these kids got moves (the main actress was a finalist in So You Think You Can Dance)! Good dancing is so inspiring. I've quoted this before, and I'll quote it again:

"If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving." (D&C 136:28)

Dancing is an approved and encouraged way to express joy!

Sunday - was all about saying GOODBYE :( But to look at it from a optimistic perspective, it was also about celebrating the positive influence people have had in my life and the good they'll go on to do in their own lives. (I hate goodbyes and get nostalgic/sentimental easily, can you tell?)

Got to sing a gorgeous arrangement of "Nearer My God to Thee" with the ward choir - our last performance directed by David! He got a new calling; pretty big shoes to fill. You've been phenomenal, David, and we will miss you!

Visit taught Siera with Stephanie for the 2nd and last time. She's finishing up her internship and going back to Utah in a week :(

Sunday night - 2nd week in a row joining in the tradition of Disney movie night. We watched Over the Hedge, a very entertaining satire on American consumerism and gluttony. But it also had a really good emphasis on families that made it a great Sunday movie!

Went to Melissa's goodbye party. Sad most of our hang-out plans never materialized and she's leaving before we've really gotten to know each other :(

Life's been good this week. Thanks for the memories :)