music monday.

saturday night i joined my family in attending the annual mormon tabernacle choir christmas concert. each year, the church invites two special guests to accompany the choir. this year was alfie boe and tom brokaw. i thought it in good taste, in acknowledgement of the recent tragedy in connecticut, that the program started with a moment of silence. during that moment, i said a silent prayer for the families of the victims, asking that our omnibenevolent father comfort them at this time. 

then on to the program we went. i forget if it was the first or maybe the second song, but at some point they sang "hark the herald angels sing". i've heard and sung this classic christmas hymn as much as the next person but on saturday night something stuck out to me in a way it never had before:

"mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die; born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth."

it was the answer to my prayer; a witness to me that because of that babe whose birth we celebrate each december, broken hearts and anguished souls can received peace and hope, the sting of death hath no victory.

"and if christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. but there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory and the sting of death is swallowed up in christ. he is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."

mosiah 16:7-9

from laurel to you {part two}.

i think this letter was probably 2 or 3 weeks before i came home. i was in laurel with stales again. can you imagine a better death? it was that good. i saw two baptisms this transfer and we witnessed loads of miracles. and we were on bikes, which is the ultimate reason i loved it. 

i hope you enjoyed this little commemoration of my mission. my mission was the best thing i've ever done, my fondest dream. a day doesn't pass that i'm not grateful for that calling. it has made all the difference in my life. i know that when we give ourselves to christ, he responses with peace and joy and comfort and happiness; maybe not right away, but he always keeps his promises and in a way that we can't even imagine.

the gospel is sweet.

oh what a week. 
i don't have much time because we just fininshed playing marshmellow wars for our zone activity. it took forever. but was fun. what happened in the last 7 days?

thursday 
-i got my travel itinerary. did you? it is super weird. and don't think that just because my plane lands at 840pm means we don't have to go to cafe rio. think again friends! actually, when i got it i said "840pm, hmmmm ... too late to go to cafe rio? I DON'T THINK SO!!!!" since i go then i've been doing some serious reflection on my mission. we were asked to send in our most memorable spiritual experience, humorous experience, and conversion story. hmmm. i feel proud of my service. i really can say that i've tried my very hardest. and luckily, the atonement makes up the rest. it's been good. it's been the BEST. but it's not over. 
 -also on thurs a member came in and pretened not to be one while i gave hime a temple tour and explained to him the restoration. GEH! then he went to the temple. 

friday
-we went to the temple.
-i found out that casava leaf comes from the yuka leaf. random factoid.
-i went to SUITLAND on exchange!

saturday
-i was on exchange in SUITLAND. and i got to see a bunch of loves. including the haddads. she even bought me this cute lil gift that i love. i was fun to see everyone and everything. loved it. 

sudnay
-FRANCIS' baptism! yippee! it was so great. lots of people came from the ward to support him. sister ellsworth and sister hazen came too. he is wonderful and has truly had 'a mighty change of heart and has no desire to do evil but do good continually.' 
-i decided that standing in holy places can mean more than physically standing in a holy place. and i like that. 
-i'm joyfully, joyfully, marching to my home {or sprinting}.

monday
-i thought to myself as i was teaching a great guy named bill that is our new investigator that has a baptismal date, "i'm gonna miss this. i'm gonna miss teaching." bill is so great. he is the only guy left in his family and really needs to gospel and the plan of salvation. we taught him in shoppers, which was pretty cool.
-also on this day we taught another new investigator named kenyona. it was interesting to see how different it was teaching her than teaching bill. she has had a really hard life and, because of the suffereing she has seen, doesn't believe in god anymore. so we we're stuck on the first principle. but that's ok. i like telling people that there is a god and that he loves them and knows them. i like encouraging them to look in their lives to see for themselves. and i know they can see. 

tuesday
-SO great.
-i was in a really good mood yesterday. 
-FRANCIS came to the vc and he loved it. he learned about baptisms for the dead and about the temmple. he is so good! i love him. also i saw michelle. 
-the reason i saw all these people is because it was the night of music and inspiration. i sang "lean on my ample arm" in a quartet {i sang alto ... the easiest part} and spoke on "peace through repentance". the theme was "sweet is the peace the gospel brings". oh it was great. i loved every second of it. including when the assistants sang a marvelous version of "lead kindly light". i'm sure francis will make us all cds and we can listen to it as many times as we want. i read "star of wonder" in my talk. thanks dad. it was great. 

wednesday
-i emailed YOU!

i love you people. i love this work too and i'm soakin it all in. i'm like bread pudding. 

LOVES! and until next time.
-sister WIGHTMAN

grandma eleanor.

i'm happy to announce the reuniting of my grandpa jack to my grandma eleanor this morning at 6:00am.

"and now if christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption. and if christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. 

but there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in christ. 

he is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."

mosiah 16:6-9

glad to have this knowledge today.

merry christmas.

{nativity, brian kershisnik}

i hope your christmas is merry and bright and christ centered.

love,

courtney

thanksgiving is upon us.

tonight, the night before thanksgiving, is one of the best nights of the year {perhaps THE best}. all my life, this night has been filled with jingle listening, bread drying, crust fluting, pie cooking, egg whipping, and pumpkin smelling. a time just before the hustle and bustle of the season for just the 4 of us to prepare for thanksgiving feasting. oh, just thinking about it makes me a little teary. i'm excited! probably because for the last two years i was street walking, guest greeting, book sharing, and family less.

last year on thanksgiving i woke up at 6:30am, studied my scriptures for two hours, then set out to deliver the turkey treats we had made the night before. one to a less active member in chevy chase, one to our member friends the menzels, one to sammy our investigator who worked at the apartment building on mass ave, and one to our homeless investigator at 18th and e. we also shared some with the sisters who fed us thanksgiving brunch. we had mulled cider and a "harvest crepe stack" {as they called it}, turkey shaped rolls, sausage stuffing, and pumpkin crepes with maple syrup and cream cheese spread. we ate again when we got to the visitors' center for our shift. this time we ate all the traditional fixins made with love by the senior couples. my parents had sent me homemade thanksgiving costumes, so we played around with those for a while. after that meal it was back to work, greeting the crowds of people who came to the temple to celebrate their thanskgiving night. it was so wonderful to kick off the season on temple grounds with 500,000 christmas lights and the christus watching over us. oh that spirit!

each year, i make a list of the many things i have to be grateful for. it's the perfect time to reflect and acknowledge what you've been blessed with. this year i am especially grateful for my family. for each and every thing that they are. for their love and support. and right now, i'm so grateful that i will be able to spend the holiday season side by side, with them!

in addition, i'm thankful for:

• salt lake city
• church employment
• my misson
• friends
• knowledge
• ikea pillows
• starbucks hot cocoa
• sleepy time tea
• yoga {especially when its with annie!}
• speaking of annie, GOOD FOOD!
• sufjan stevens
• technology {aka, my ipod}
• my scriptures
• my savior and redeemer, jesus christ
• prophets
• creative minds
• j crew
• cute little scions
• cute little {actually it's huge} city apartments

"therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our god forever. behold, who can glory too much in the lord? yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? behold, i say unto you, i cannot say the smallest part which i feel."

alma 26:16

i hope you have a spectacular thanksgiving filled with gratitude and pie.

even though i haven't blogged in a week {whoa!}

i've be productive.

i'm moving right along on my 24 things list.

- i am on the search for a good, well-educated, humble, not snobby, cheap{er}, yoga teacher. mind you, this is a large task. this summer, i searched a bit with annie, but was not impressed by the "this is where our all vegan restaurant is going"-nose in the air-hipster-elitist receptionist at trolly square's studio. i got that same kind of treatment plus a "HURRY AND TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES BECAUSE WE DON'T LET ANYONE IN CLASS LATE!" bark and also i almost died from the hell they call bikram yoga. then yesterday, i got some lady that doesn't even do cobra or downward facing dog correctly, not to mention her closing her eyes throughout the entire class and "teaching" us how to bend up and down for 15 minutes.

long rant = i need a new yoga class asap. but in the process, i've partially fulfilled #3 do more yoga.

- on monday, i finally finished reading jesus the christ {#5}. finally. this was actually on not one but 2 to-do lists in 2011. glad i finished.

highlights:

"prayer is made of up heart throbs and the righteous yearnings of the soul." pg 238

"happiness is not akin with levity, nor is it one with light-minded mirth. it springs from the deeper fountains of the soul, and is not infrequently accompanied by tears. have you never been so happy that you have had to weep? i have." pg 248

"bounteously did he impart of his healing virtue to all who came asking with faith and confidence. thus, accompanied by the twelve, he wended his way northerly to capernaum, making the pathway bright by the plentitude of his mercies." pg 338

"ought we not be liberal and charitable in our judgment as to the intent of others?" pg 446

"god needs workers and such as will labor faithfully and effectively are welcomed into the vineyard. if, before beginning they insist on the stipulation of a wage, and this be agreed to, each shall receive his penny provided he has not lost his place ... but those who diligently labor, knowing that the master will give to them whatever is right, and with thought for the work rather than for the wage, shall find themselves more bountifully enriched." pg 482 

oh, its good.

- i've been steadily working on #16 obtain a larger, more age appropriate wardrobe. i'd like to thank jcrew and their weekly emails for this. i plan on continuing my labour by checking out the new stuff at rox&sam later this week.

- strangers on a train has been added to #19 {watch five, never before seen, classic films}. very good, very hitcockie. perfect for the season. however, i was more frightened after the movie ended when emily and i had a discussion about how psycho, silence of the lambs, and texas chainsaw massacre were all based on the same, real life, person. uh ... scariest thing ever!

- and on sunday, i walked to a pumpkin patch {wasn't on any list, but still stimulating}.

here's some cheer for you.

{image.}

i've been re-listening to conference via this while i sit at my wonderful, happy, desk at my blessing of a job {i'm applying the teachings i learned two weekends ago and being happy with the mundane}. it's great. give it a try if you are ever forced to sit at a desk for 8 hours a day.

i feel quite productive.
and quite spiritual.

which is why i am sharing the following song with you. i think it explains, as perfect as mere words are able, the tender mercy of forgiveness, the gift of the atonement, and the joy of the gospel.

savior redeemer of my soul

savior, redeemer of my soul,
whose mighty hand hath made me whole,
whose wondrous pow’r hath raised me up
and filled with sweet my bitter cup!
what tongue my gratitude can tell,
o gracious god of israel.

never can i repay thee, lord,
but i can love thee. thy pure word,
hath it not been my one delight,
my joy by day, my dream by night?
then let my lips proclaim it still,
and all my life reflect thy will.

o’errule mine acts to serve thine ends.
change frowning foes to smiling friends.
chasten my soul till I shall be
in perfect harmony with thee.
make me more worthy of thy love,
and fit me for the life above.

orson f. whitney, 1855–1931

cheerfully do all things that lie in our power.

"in short, to 'always remember him' means that we do not live our lives in fear. we know that challenges, disappointments, and sorrows will come to each of us in different ways, but we also know that in the end, because of our divine advocate, all things can be made to work together for our good . it is the faith expressed so simply by president gordon b. hinckley when he would say, 'things will work out.' when we always remember the savior, we can 'cheerfully do all things that lie in our power,' confident that his power and love for us will see us through."

-d todd christoffersen.

{christ in gethsemane - carl bloch}

i'm rarely overtly religious in this setting, but i thought i should share an article with you. it is primarily about the sacrament, our desire to be one with god and to always remmeber him. important stuff.

i love it.

 and i am what i love!

easters.

happy easter.

now go eat some cake. or something. 

am i stuck in the past?

no.

well, maybe. 

but i did want to put this lil letter on my list of loves. i wrote it my last preparation day in the mission ...

 

"this is sister wightman.

i would like to end this volume of my life with ... A LIST {of course}.
before i left, i wrote a list a letters to things that i would miss at home. to my TOMS, my bed {not that comfortable}, my blog, etc. and that is what i will do today.

to my scriptures,

i've fallen in love with you. you've become my bestie. i like how marked you are now, filled with thoughts and impressions, love, and the scent of lavender.

to value village,

you've no idea how much i'll miss you. i have quite enjoyed spending my time with you these past 18 months. you have really taught me the value of village, wait the value of a thrift store. i'll never forget you and you'll always be in my heart {some of you will be on me sometimes too}.

to trader joes,

come to utah.

to being full pros,

you taught me how to work! thanks a bunch. i love tracting because of YOU.

to the suitland ward,

you've also got some great people with you. that bishop ... AWESOME. thanks for sharing him with me.

to the air force base,

thanks for the air show that one time. you rock.

to those big houses we tracted in suitland,

you're great. i had a fun time getting to know you.

to the dc second ward,

oh you. i hated you at first. you are intimidating. but i think you eventually became my most favoritest area. serving with you in the summer with sister chan was when i experienced SO much joy. and you gave it to me. thank you for your members. they're awesome. i hope they continue to be the best member missionaries i've ever met. oh. you're so good. i'll really miss you.

to the district of columbia,

i'm speechless. i love you with all of my heart. you are wonderful and i'll never forget the experiences i had while serving with you. keep on being the best city in the nation. because you are. i'll see you soon though.

to sister chan,

i love you. thanks for loving me.

to 7-11 on connecticuit,

thanks for opening and quenching my thirst.

to dupont circle,

you changed my life. some of my fondest memories of the past year and a half consist of evenings spent with you.

to the chevy chase ward,

you're so fancy. i love you.

to the chevy chase apartment,

i wish i could live in you for the rest of my life.

to fall in the city,

please visit me sometime.

to running in the city,

thanks for helping increase my endorphins.

to laurel,

oh the bikes, oh the apartment, oh the people. thanks for making my death SO good.

to my bike,

i'll miss you lots and i hope i can find someone else that can even come close to replacing you.

to the temple,

i had a great time with you today. it was an honor serving next to you.

to the vc,

.... eh. i'm gonna miss you lots. stay true.

to the sisters,

i don't want to cry so i'm not writing a goodbye letter to ya'll.

to my misson,

mmm ... you are the best thing that ever happened to me. i know i struggled to want to make you a part of my life, but thanks for being patient. thank you for loving me right back. thank you for making me a better person, friend, daughter, sister, servant, leader, christian, mother, spouse, etc, etc, etc. i will never forget the joy you brought me. i will never forget the things i learned from you. i won't ever forget the people i met. you'll be near and dear to my heart with each thing i do for the rest of eternity. i know that it is because of you that i have come fully unto christ. and THAT is the reason i love you most. because you led me to come humble to the savior of the world. and HE is why i've gained my "fondest dreams" here. thank you thank you thank you.

signing off."