Home Town Pride

So I grew up in Upper Arlington, Ohio. It's a small suburb of Columbus, with a total population of about 35,000. We have 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school. Our mascot is the Golden Bear. For those of you who might pay attention to sports, and golf in particular may know that there is a very good golfer named Jack Nichlaus who's nickname is "The Golden Bear". For the record he got the nickname from being a student at UAHS, we didn't get our mascot from him.
(a younger Jack)

Anyways Jack Nicklaus builds golf courses, and be built a pretty sweet one up in another suburb named Dublin. Every year there is a huge golf tournament called the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield. It's a pretty huge deal in these parts, and tickets are expensive. I have only been once, and it was a blast!

Reza is going today with his boss and some clients from work. It's perfect weather, and I wish I was there too...instead I am revising progress reports for all my clients. Boo.

1987 NBA Finals

The 1987 NBA Finals is of my earliest memories of watching sports on TV. I remember being so excited about the Lakers winning game six I remember running out the door and running around with excitement. I couldn't tell you the score or how many games I watched; but I do remember the Lakers winning and running outside like a giddy 8 year old.

The Lakers and Celtics will play once again for the NBA championship. This even warrants it's own wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nba_finals#1980-1990:_The_Lakers_-_Celtics_Rivalry

Also Please check out the CBS intro to game four. Even if you have no interest, this is worth watching to see what TV was like in the eighties.

Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia

Reza and I finally have a Ghazimoradi family tradition! Last Memorial Day weekend, I went camping in Moab, UT with Reza and all of his married friends, and we fell in love. This Memorial Day weekend we went to the Monongahela National Forest that is semi-close to Elkins, WV. It was a great weekend, and we decided that we would camp every Memorial Day weekend!

I had just turned in a 36 page paper the day before we left, so it was great to get away for a bit. It was also great to break in our new tent, and other camping gear we got for our wedding. We also went on a 10 mile hike back to these waterfalls. The trail was along side a creek and it was amazing. I absolutely love trees and mountains so I was in heaven, even though I had a migraine for a lot of the hike. Reza proclaimed the day "his favorite day together since we got married!" Anyways it was fabulous and I recommend the locatioThe picture below is us at the highest point in West Virginia--a whooping 4800 feet. We drove to the top:)

his letter writing skills suck

So my brother Jacob has officially spent 1 week so far on the streets of New York City as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Needless to say I have spent the week remembering my first week on the streets of San Marcelino, Philippines. I have constantly wondered what he is doing, who he is meeting, what his experiences are. I was actually WAITING for his email today so that I could know everything he has been doing. Here is his first email:

"im sorry it such a short letter. I have been really busy in new york and at p[-day. I want you to know that new york is awesome and I promise you that I will write more next week. It a awesome city and the people are friendly! I know the gospel is true and congratulation jenny and kevin, you're in my prayer. BE strong and be patience!"

(remember that Jacob has a severe-profound hearing loss, grammar never was his strong suit:) ) Anyways--what a SUCKY letter! I am actually going to tell him I demand more details.

Anyways here is a google map image of his current apartment in the bronx:

(ok this isn't the exact apartment building, i couldn't figure out how to save the google map pictures, but this is the gist of it)

On another note---how crazy is it that I can put his address in google maps and a interactive street view picture shows up?!?! Technology......

Madelyn Rae (Ray?) Thomas

At 5:01 pm PST a beautiful baby girl was born to my favorite Sister Jenny, and my favorite older brother-in-law Kevin. I am in love already!

gratitude

So a girl in my class and I were talking about blogs and blogstalking the other day and she told me about one of her favorites. The website is written by a 30 something year old mom who lives in Salt Lake City. Apparently she has won blogger of the year, and her blog even got her fired from her job early on in her blogging career because of stuff she posted. Needless to say I was intrigued. She was born an raised as an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and attended BYU. However, at some point during college she decided that she no longer wanted to be a member of the church and left. (She also is married to a returned missionary who also is no longer active in the church.)

She is not ashamed of the fact that she no longer is a member of the church, although it appears that her family is still active. I will admit her site is very funny, as she simply blogs about the everyday life of being a stay at home mom of a 4 year old girl. She really must be well known because she has been featured on the Today show recently.

Anyways, today's post she wrote about her stepfather recently being diagnosed with serious cancer, and the complications that have arisen from the cancer. She admits the difficulty she is having in digesting the situation without the "safety net of the Mormon religion" she further goes on to say that she hasn't figured out what she believes quite yet and that she is not ok with that.

In this same post she also talks about how she would be having a baby this week were it no for a miscarriage that occurred last year, as I read the links that talked about the miscarriage and some other heart-wrenching experiences that she has had sense leaving the church my heart was filled with sadness for her, and gratitude for my religion which does do so much to answer all of my questions about the purpose of life.

I cannot personally imagine the pain that comes from not knowing what will happen to you after you die, or the pain that can come from a miscarriage without knowing you have a loving Heavenly Father who is there for you. I also cannot personally imagine making the conscious decision to leave all of this knowledge behind. My heart goes out for Heather B. Armstrong and her losses. But I wish she would remember the things which she has been taught, and that she would remember that God does have a plan, and that our families are meant to be together forever.

I am personally very grateful for everything that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has given me. It has given me the peace that comes from knowing who I am. It has given me the knowledge of God's plan for life. It has given me joy in knowing that I will see my loved ones again. If you would like to know more about what I believe and what does give me such inner peace and happiness feel free to ask me or to visit this website: www.mormon.org

My Alma Mater

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/05/13/upper_arlington.html?sid=102

ya...sketchy/scary.

Apparently my brother Jacob will be safer in the Bronx then in good old UA! (Yup--Jacob's first area is the Bronx, sweet!)