Last Friday (July 18th) was my birthday. Normally I wouldn't announce that to the world, but I just wanted to thank my friends and family for making it a great day (I just won't mention how many candles were on my cake). I received some beautiful flowers from a friend and a co-worker, received phone calls, emails, and ecards wishing me a happy birthday, went to lunch with my parents, went to dinner at Le Nonne--one of my favorite restaurants--with Daela and Alayna, and then to see Mama Mia that night. 
After a lot of tears, heartache, and stress over my RAV4, I finally was able to get my new car yesterday--a 2009 Toyota Corolla. This certainly isn't what I had in mind when I thought about selling my RAV4 back in March and cashing in on the equity that was in it. (Instead I ended up spending about $6,000 in repairs and it was still having problems.) Even though it's not how I thought it would turn out, I am glad to finally have a car, and have it be one that I can rely on. Thanks so much to my dad for getting me through these last couple of weeks, and to my uncle Chuck for helping me get the car! The Corolla is a beauty. Now I need to name him (yes, it is a boy). I'm open for suggestions.
Ode to my RAV4
RAV4, RAV4, you will always be
A very special vehicle to me.
You hauled my boat proudly,
You were so strong and sturdy,
And I drove you with such joy and glee.
However, our time together is done.
Yet I will never forget all of the fun.
You are such a great car,
And I know you’ll go far.
And I hope your new driver is a good one.
Jumping on the tramp must have worn her out as well. So it was time to relax in the hammock with Gretchen, Aubree, and Brinnan.
Grandpa enjoyed playing with Beau, while Grandma spent a long time making the perfect birthday cake--Curious George! 
Campbelle LOVED her cake. She also loved blowing out the candles. So we had to light them several times and let her blow them out several times. After we ate the cake, she pointed to her stomach and said "Gee "(for George) to let us know that he was in her stomach.
After the cake, it was time to head to the park for a bubble party!
And then finally it was time for the best part of a birthday party--presents! Jen and Steve (Campbelle's mom and dad) helped her open all the gifts, most of which were books. I think she enjoyed opening the gifts just as much as getting them. As soon as she was done opening one, she would put it aside then put her hand up and say, "Boo" (book), expecting that there were more gifts and it would be a book as well. Campbelle loves books and was so excited for each one.
What a great day. You throw a pretty good party, Campbelle! Happy Birthday, and I love you!
The evening was amazing. I loved watching Cristina and Brandon, seeing how much in love they were with each other. I loved seeing how happy and beautiful Cristina looked. And I absolutely loved watching Joshua and Collin play together. At first they were a little shy with each other, but within just a few minutes, they acted as if they had been best buds forever. I have no doubt that their souls were bonded from their time in the orphanage together. It is amazing to me to see these two now and yet remember what it was like for them while they still had to live in the orphanage. It truly is a miracle.
I also wanted to add some pictures of me and my buddy, Collin, at the temple. Ginger and I had some taken of us together, but they really didn't turn out. As Ginger mentioned on her blog, Collin has recently discovered the wonder of "bunny ears" and will produce them at every opportunity he can. He's such a goof!
Since the title of my blog is "Living in the Moment", I decided to share some moments in my life that have been very significant to me. One of the significant moments that immediately came to mind was my experience volunteering in orphanages/hospitals in Romania.
I traveled to Romania on three different occasions with a non-profit organization called Bridge of Love (a link to their website is located under the Favorite Sites section). My friend, Ginger, had heard Laurie Lundberg, the founder of Bridge of Love, speak at a Relief Society meeting and called me to tell me about Laurie's story. It's hard to explain the feeling, but both Ginger and I knew that joining the Lundbergs on a trip to Romania was something we needed to do. So we went on our first trip in August 2000.
An excerpt from the Bridge of Love website describes what we encountered. "Babies and toddlers stayed all day in their cribs, starved for love and attention. The bedroom walls were bare, and a cold breeze seeped through the windows of the poorly heated orphanage. There were no blankets or toys in the room, and the workers changed the babies' diapers in silence. The toddlers rocked their little bodies back and forth for hours, the only stimulation they could create. The older toddlers banged their heads on the side of the crib—over and over—creating a new noise and huge lumps on their heads. They were as children living in a zoo. They each had their own cage from which they couldn't escape. Most of the children had been abandoned at birth, with little or no information on them left behind. There were no plans for the children—they just existed. Nobody was their voice."
It is impossible to share the many experiences I had, or the many small and great miracles I witnessed (one of the great miracles being the adoption of Georgie--now known as Collin--by Ginger) on this blog. But I wanted to share that I do believe that my opportunity to go to Romania was a gift given to me. The children I met and interacted with did more for me than I ever did for them. This is something that I will never forget.
The following is a promotional video that my dad and I put together for Bridge of Love. It is somewhat outdated, but it still gives an idea of what we experienced, what the children's lives are like in the orphanages/hospitals, and what Bridge of Love is trying to do to help. I hope you enjoy the video. You may want to watch with a box of Kleenex nearby.
As a side note, the Lundbergs have been called to serve as Mission President in Romania. They leave in June. I am so excited for them!
