I don't know about you guys, but this song just gives me goosebumps! I've been listening to conference tapes and just thinking so much about the Gospel and about our purposes in mortality and about Heavenly Father's plan. The idea of serving a mission is SO EXCITING to me! We have such great purpose in this life, and such great purpose on the mission!
But I think the message of the song can be applied to our lives in mortality, and also our time on the mission. I love how C.S. Lewis wrote the Chronicles of Narnia and how much of it parallels our celestial and our mortal lives. I love his relgious thoughts and teachings. I think this song is a good example of how much it all relates. I just thought I'd share the lyrics with you.

The Call--Regina Spektor
from The Chronicles of Narnia --Prince Caspian

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word
And then that word grew louder and louder
Till it was a battle cry
I'll come back when they call me
No need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never been this way before
All you can do is try to know who your friends are
As you head off to the war

Pick a star on the dark horizon
And follow the light
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye

Now we're back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just because they can't feel it too
Doesn't mean that you have to forget

Let your memories grow stronger and stronger
Until they're before your eyes
You'll come back when they call you
No need to say goodbye
You'll come back when they call you
No need to say goodbye

Lila's Diagnosis

For those of you who are following this, I thought I'd keep you posted on the latest update on Lila written by her grandma:

It has taken me until today to be able to write an update on how Lila is doing. Yesterday brought the diagnosis we all feared – brain cancer. Lila’s tumor was made up of 2 elements; the outer section was a teratoma tumor (which is very rare to find in that location and in an infant), but the inner core was a yolk sac or germ cell tumor, which is the worst and most malignant tumor. It truly was miraculous that this very dangerous tumor was incased in a teratoma tumor and that the tumor was able to be successfully removed. Lila will start chemotherapy a week from Monday – June 16. She will have 8 months of chemo, which will involve a once a month treatment in which she will be hospitalized for 3-5 days. Germ cell tumors have a 40 -60% survival rate, which was devastating to hear yesterday but seems very hopeful today. We are hoping that all of you will be willing to hang in for a very long time with us. We need all of your prayers more than ever! I will keep Fast for Lila updated with new pictures (check out the one of Lila smiling that Ben posted today ☺ ), and frequent updates on how she is progressing. As soon as Ben and Annie have figured out how they are going to readjust their lives for her to be treated at Duke, I will post that too. We are completely humbled with immense gratitude for all of you. The comfort you have brought us is impossible to put into words.

Vote for Silvester!!

Do you agree that this is a pretty cute kid? Vote for him!

http://www.parents.com/app/sharemy/photoDetails.jsp?photoId=189600034

Silvester Clark Williams deserves your vote! (He's my cousin's kid--that's the technical term for our relationship)

Update on Lila

Lila's tumor was operated on on Friday. It hadn't penetrated the brain stem, like they'd feared. It'd partially calcified, so it also came out easier than they'd expected. The doctors used the word "miracle" on several occasions. They say she is 2 days ahead of schedule in her recovery. She is now out of the ICU and in her own room where her parents can stay with her. She's making eye contact with her family and they've been able to hold her and talk to her. The next step is to check her gag reflexes and sucking abilities and get her off the feeding tubes and back on a bottle. She's doing GREAT! Don't ever let anyone tell you that prayers don't work and that there's no such thing as a miracle! Thanks for everyone's support!

Pray for Lila

Lila Jane Howington is 3 1/2 months old. Her parents took her into the emergency room tonight and found she has a brain tumor the size of a golf ball in the back of her brain. She will most likely have surgery on Friday (tomorrow). The family is asking for friends and family's support in fasting and praying for Lila on this day.

(Lila's aunt, Kimmy was my roommate my freshmen year of college. Lila's parents, Ben and Annie were also friends of mine at BYU-Idaho)

We believe in the power of prayer!!

On a more positive note:

Desirae got her mission call! Most of you know, or have at least met my best friend, Desirae Rowberry. She has been called to serve in the Tennessee Knoxville mission and will report to the MTC on July 23. Desirae is very excited! If you'd like to congratulate her personally, her email address is anna_desirae@hotmail.com

Meso/TMBG/Song Lyrics

So, I don't gamble, so I don't know how to wager against Heather's song lyrics other than, "Umm ... I'll see you another one!"
My choice of lyrics has been inspired by two things:
1) Andrea's blogging trip down memory lane when she took me to the They Might Be Giants concert in Salt Lake and introduced me to one of the quirkiest, most enjoyable bands EVER!
2) Jessica and Joelle's recent return from the MesoAmerica tour. I was looking through Jess's pictures last night and reminiscing about all the good time I had climbing pyramids in Monte Alban and trying to see Monica Lewinski's butt in the trunk of a tree. I had a fellow TMBG fan on the tour with me, and Shawn and I would often see this song as we'd hike along rainforest trails and climb even more pyramids!

They Might Be Giants-- Whistling in the Dark

A woman came up to me and said,
"I'd like to poison your mind
With wrong ideas that appeal to you
Though I am not unkind"
She looked at me, I looked at something
Written across her scalp
And these are the words that it faintly said
As I tried to call for help:

"There's only one thing
That I know how to do well
And I've often been told that you only can do
What you know how to do well
And that's be you
Be what you're like
Be like yourself"
And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be

Whistling in the dark(x6)
There's only one thing that I like
And that is whistling in the dark
Ahhahhahhahh
Ahhahhahhahh

A man came up to me and said,
"I'd like to change your mind
By hitting it with a rock," he said.
"Though I am not unkind."
We laughed at his little joke
And then I happily walked away
And hit my head on the wall of the jail
Where the two of us live today

There's only one thing
That I know how to do well
And I've often been told that you only can do
What you know how to do well
And that's be you
Be what you're like
Be like yourself
And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be

Whistling in the dark(x6)
There's only one thing that I like
And that is whistling in the dark
There's only one thing
That I know how to do well
And I've often been told that you only can do
What you know how to do well
And that's be you
Be what you're like
Be like yourself
And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be

Whistling in the dark(x6)
Whistling, whistling, whistling in the dark
Ahhahhahhahh
Ahhahhahhahh
Ahhahhahhahh
Ahhahhahhahh
Whistling (whistling)
Whistling (whistling)
Dark, dark, dark, dark
Whistling (whistling)
Whistling (whistling)
Dark, dark, dark, dark
Whistling (whistling)
Whistling (whistling)
Dark, dark, dark, dark
[Repeat to fade]

New 'do

Before picture (you can't really see how long it is)

Okay, so Heather's been bugging me to post a picture of my new hair. After having my hair LONG for most of my life, I got sick of it and impulsive and I chopped it! 12 inches, to be exact. And really, I feel no different. Just a little less shaggy. There goes Mufasa! But it's still thick and crazy. I have to use a really expensive straightener, or else it's just a 'fro!

Anyway, here's a picture of it after it's all straightened.

after picture

There, Heather.