Choose to Dance

Our family experienced a fun celebration over the weekend. A nephew, on my husband's side of the family tree, married the love of his life and we all gathered to wish them well. And a good time was had by all. This event gave everyone a chance to relax, let their hair down, and have a really good time. It was a much needed break for everyone involved.

There was a live band that played classic hits to keep things festive:


Yummy refreshments in the form of cheesecake. (Need I say more?)


A good-sized crowd bearing gifts:


Not to mention the happy couple, who were really tired of having their picture taken by this point in the evening, but were trying to be good sports about that anyway. ;)

We laughed, visited, partook of delicious refreshments, and some of us tried to dance. In short, we had a really good time, and we even posed for a picture or two ourselves:

(Kennon's siblings and mother)

You would never guess from looking at these pictures that this family suffered a tragic loss nearly a year ago. Kennon's oldest brother passed away last April, but this family has survived and is currently flourishing. This doesn't mean we all are trial-free at the moment. Each family has had its shares of ups and downs during this past year. As with most who dwell in our nation, the economy has taken its toll. There have been health glitches in every family, and other challenging moments to deal with. But I suspect it's a good sign that we can all still find reasons to smile.

I believe that's how we're going to survive this troubled time in our nation. We need to smile, laugh, and not dwell on the icky stuff that comes our way. This is not always an easy thing, but I have found in my own life that laughter is truly the best medicine when life goes awry. Allowing ourselves to become discouraged is asking for trouble, something none of us need.

So whether or not the music is playing, choose to dance. Pick yourselves up and dust yourselves off when life flings you across the room, and smile. Find a reason to laugh, and soon you will discover that you don't need a reason to laugh. Laughing out loud dispels dark thoughts. And recently I heard this following phrase: "Faith and fear cannot dwell inside the same heart and mind." This means that faith dispels fear. Only the adversary would have us exist inside a darkened state of mind filled with doubting fear. It is our Father's hope that we will all learn to seek the joy in life, and to remain grateful for our blessings, even when bad things happen.

Look around today and see if you can't find a reason to smile\laugh. I can promise that once you start laughing, darkened thoughts will evaporate. And to my way of thinking, that's a better way to live. Choose to dance, to sing, to smile . . . or in other words, choose to live.

Jackson, Wyoming

(Hidden Falls)

I think it's important to have a fun escape location, one that's fairly close, but far enough away that it is an escape. ;) There are a few places like this that I love to visit, and as you may have guessed by now, Jackson, Wyoming is one such area.

I remember going to Jackson as a kid. It always seemed like a great adventure. Not only did our family possess the same name (my maiden name is Jackson) but there was so much to see and do. We would ride a boat across nearby Jenny Lake and enjoy hiking up the mountain side to see Hidden Falls or if you were really adventurous, hiking further up the trail to the impressive Inspiration Point. The view from this lookout is gorgeous. And depending on the time of year you embark upon this adventure, huckleberries line the trail, a tasty snack as you hike.

One year as our family made this climb, one of my younger sisters found a small huckleberry patch and made the most out of eating every berry in sight. A couple of tourists walked along the trail and totally freaked.

"Little girl, you are not supposed to eat berries in the forest!" one of them exclaimed.

My sister gave them both a disgusted look and said: "Lady, these are huckleberries." Turning, she consumed another handful. =) My mother then made an appearance; she had walked back down the trail to find my sister when she realized Heather was missing . . . again. She assured the troubled tourists that all was well, and encouraged them to sample the delicious purple berries for themselves. Fun memories of a most excellent day. ;)

I remember staying one year at the Colter Bay Lodge at Jackson Lake and absolutely loving it. Our family stayed in a rustic cabin and we all enjoyed this great adventure. It was like reliving the wild west, or so I thought at that tender age. =D

During another adventure, my family thought it would be great fun to ride the tram in Teton Village. I've always been plagued by a lovely fear of heights. One of my earliest memories is riding a tall Ferris wheel with one of my uncles when I was about three and screaming in an endearing fashion. ;) Since that time, heights have not been my friend. But I bravely went along with my family the day we rode the tram. I'm ashamed to admit I spent most of that trip huddling on the floor so I couldn't see how high up we were. Not one of my stellar moments, but I understand the view if one had looked, was spectacular. =D

In the years that followed, Jackson has been a fun place to visit. The town itself has so many things to see and do. Filled with fun shops that cater to tourists, you could spend a couple of days just browsing in all of them. There are also fun art galleries, a nifty bookstore, and great places to eat.

For several years, my husband served as an EMT here in Bear Lake. This is a volunteer organization in our community, but one of the perks was the annual EMT conference held in Jackson, Wyoming. My husband and I looked forward to it each year. After sticking someone with our kids, (we called this quality bonding moments with the grandparents, aunts, etc.) we would leave for 2-3 days to thoroughly enjoy ourselves in this vacation hot spot. While my husband dutifully attended his classes each day, I would wander the shops with some of the other wives who were also there for this same conference. Since these conferences usually took place during the winter months, the fun shops weren't crowded and we could window shop to our hearts' content.

One year we ladies entered a store filled with expensive fur coats. Everything in that store was way out of our price range, but we had fun trying them on anyway and modeling for each other. ;) Then we'd find a candy store, or an ice cream parlor and enjoy a tasty treat as we continued to explore. At night, we would rejoin our husbands and savor a wonderful meal at one of the local restaurants. Our selections ranged from delicious Mexican food, to Chinese, to BBQ, depending on everyone's current mood. The important thing was, a good time was had by all.

We've taken our sons to Jackson quite often through the years. They've always enjoyed places like the famed Jackson Fish Hatchery, seeing the Elk Refuge, or buying treasures at the Jackson Visitors' Center.



They've also enjoyed seeing or experiencing everything I listed earlier. In Jackson, there is always something to go do or see. Not only does this scenic mountain village offer great photo opportunities, but it also provides lots of cultural events like free concerts, mountain man rendezvous, historical re-enactments, and art fairs, depending on the time of year.

During the winter months, snowmobile races are a hot attraction, or so my husband tells me. =) Basically, one watches as brave snowmobilers attempt to climb one of the local ski hills. Good times. ;)

If you feel adventurous, there are helicopter tours, river rafting adventures, skiing, and snowmobile tours, depending on the time of year. There are also a plethora (this means a lot) of fun campsites all around this area.

Myself, I enjoy Jackson for a variety of reasons. Since I'm a little bit of a shutter-bug (okay, I take my camera everywhere, always waiting for a fine photo moment) I love going to Jackson to capture the scenic beauty. We usually drive through Snake River Canyon to get to Jackson and it is always gorgeous, no matter what time of year you see it.


I also enjoy trying the different kinds of food available in Jackson. I mean, how often do you get a chance to enjoy a tasty buffalo burger? ;)

I also enjoy Jackson Town Square with my husband, enjoying the sights, sounds, and fun shops at night. To me, this is a romantic setting. This is especially fun around Christmas time. Even the famed elk horn arch is covered with lights, making it an added attraction.

So, if you're looking for a fun place to de-stress, I heartily recommend Jackson. There is something for everyone in this fun town, and even though some things are quite pricey, you can still find frugal ways to enjoy this area. As I've mentioned, I love just walking through the art and photo galleries, window shopping, and savoring the atmosphere. Since I also enjoy people watching, there are usually plenty of those to observe. ;) And places like the Elk Refuge, don't charge a penny to view their featured critters. There are a lot of other things to do for free that are enjoyable. Sometimes it's just good for the soul to get away and bask in the beauty our Creator provided for us in this world. Words to live by. =)

YourLDSneighborhood has added exciting new things to its website. Please drop by and take a look, browse around, check out our vendors, our radio station, our authors, our musicians and more. Check out the Neighborhood.

And while you're there, subscribe to the yourLDSneighborhood Newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the newsletter brings you articles, products, services, resources and interviews from around the world-all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Entertaining Moments

So it snowed again today . . . and last night . . . and it's still snowing.
Sigh . . . =) Joys of living in a mountain valley. We experienced one day of wonderful weather this past week, and it made everyone antsy for spring. As such, I've decided that today's blog will consist of ways to keep ourselves entertained, despite the less-than-spring-like weather.

1.) Have a relaxing massage. I do this twice a month and it helps a great deal with the arthritis thing. In fact, I braved the scary roads to drive in for one of these earlier this morning. Now I can move with what I hope is grace the rest of the day. =) Not only do massages relax a person in general, massages can help ease the muscle strain that takes place for someone like me who endures a form of rheumatoid arthritis.

2.) Read a good book. I love to read, and I don't always find the time to do so. On yucky days like today, I don't feel so guilty spending quality time reading a good book. Incidentally, I just finished JoAnn Arnold's "Prince Etcheon" and loved it. Thumbs way up on that book. If you enjoy fantasy novels, you have to read this one. Currently I'm reading "Almost Sisters," by Nancy Anderson, Lael Littke, & Carroll Hofeling Morris. It is also a good read. I'm enjoying it in part because I've met several "almost sisters," throughout my life. They've made my life an enjoyable journey.

3.) Catch up on those projects you've been putting off. Like the scrapbook\family history book I'm trying to finish for son # 3 before he returns home from his mission this May. His was the only book I didn't have to have finished by Christmas. Now I'm paying for that. ;)

4.) Write a letter. It's old-fashioned, I know, but sometimes writing a letter instead of the instant e-mail option is a needful thing, and it means a lot to the person on the receiving end.

5.) Watch a funny movie. That always perks me up on a grey day. Laughter truly is the best medicine, as far as I'm concerned.

6.) Do a jigsaw puzzle. I love tackling one of these. Again, I don't usually have time to mess with them during these busy days I call my life at the moment. A stormy day like today gives me that excuse.

7.) Call someone you haven't talked to in a while and have a good visit. That always boosts spirits on both sides of the telephone line . . . or should I say on the cordless, wireless, cell phone thingy?

8.) Browse through a seed catalogue like Gurney's. I did that the other day and I've already picked out what we'll plant in our garden this year. Since I love to play in the dirt, this always cheers me up. Incidentally, you can browse Gurney's on the internet. Just click on the highlighted word in the last sentence. Enjoy!

9.) Try a new recipe. This is always an adventurous pastime. I call it playing with food. ;) And since I love to do just that, this is generally a good time. Of course there was that one time when I tried making quiche. That was the day I learned that real men (ie: my husband) don't like quiche at all. Even if it looked wonderful and I thought was rather tasty.

10.) Take a bubble bath. Soak in warm water and pretend you're playing in the Carribean. Or enjoy a lengthy soak and read a good book. This is a wonderful way to relax unless you drop the book. Then it becomes a tragic moment. So be careful. ;)

11.) Go shopping, even if it's the "window" variety. Just being out and about around other people tends to lift my spirits.

12.) Play fun games. This works best if you can talk other people into playing them with you. =D

13.) Savor pictures of the grandchildren. That's why I posted one of those at the beginning of this blog. This is a recent picture of my little granddaughter, Aari. =) I can't help but cheer up when I look at pictures like this one.

14.) Tackle something you've always wanted to do. Develop a new talent. Myself, I've always wanted to paint landscapes and one of these days, I'm going to do just that.

I'm sure if you think about it, you can come up with other fun\entertaining ways to perk things up on a dreary day. Spring will eventually come (in our realm, about June or so) until then, dress in bright vivid colors, make snow angels, and try to make the best of things until the sun decides to shine again.

Medicinal Miracles

So I'm sitting here today in a hospital in Idaho Falls. Since this kind of adventure tends to happen frequently in all of our lives, I guess I'll will touch on the amazing part of our culture known as health care.

If you think about it, it is astounding what is possible in today's world, compliments of medical technology. Take this morning for instance. We received a phone call from my mother-in-law, telling us that her husband had experienced a heart attack. Not cool. So we (my husband and I) flew to Idaho Falls . . . going the speed limit mind you, since we are very safe drivers . . . picked up Kennon's sister on our way up, and arrived in Idaho Falls around 1:00 p.m. this afternoon

In the length of time that it took us to arrive at the hospital, my step-father-in-law, Bob, had been rushed from the Rexburg hospital to the one in Idaho Falls by ambulance, endured an angioplasty procedure, and was in a hospital room recovering when we arrived. And he looked great, all things considered. Whew!!!

They discovered during the procedure that a collection of small clots was the culprit. Luckily they were in a lesser vein---the main vein looked good. The heart specialist decided that it was too risky to try to remove the clots, so they'll be using blood thinners to take care of the problem.

My step-father-in-law is 83 years old, but he looks and acts like he's in his 60's. It is still amazing to me that he is alive lying in his hospital bed this afternoon, joking around with all of us about his very busy day. ;) And you should hear what he has ordered for his meals tomorrow. =D Today's adventure hasn't slowed him down a bit.

We're all very relieved that things turned out the way that they did. We know that we're still not out of the woods quite yet, but for the moment, all is well. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the fast-acting medical personnel who responded as quickly as they did. In Rexburg, Bob was given medication to keep things going until he reached Idaho Falls. And here in Idaho Falls, he has received excellent care.

So while things in the world may seem a bit scary and dismal with regard to the economy, etc. think about how lucky we are to live during a time when precious lives can be spared because of the technology that is ours.

I suppose I'm a walking example of that as well. I'm a Type 1 diabetic who uses an insulin pump. I've been told by my diabetic specialist as well as the eye specialist that I see a couple of times a year, that this technology has not only spared my life, but it has kept me from developing complications that used to be quite common for diabetics. I still have to watch what I'm doing with regard to diet, exercise, etc. but the pump makes it possible for me to lead a fairly normal life.

I could go on and on, and but I think you get what I'm saying. We live in a remarkable time and tremendous things are possible because of the advances in medical technology. So on those days when life seems to inhale, ponder the good stuff taking place. This afternoon, I'm counting my blessings for the tiny miracle we witnessed today. ;)

P.S. My step-father-in-law (Bob) is currently discussing a trip to Alaska that he will be making with my husband and a few other family members this summer. I don't think today's adventure made a dent in any of his future plans. =D Way cool.

And be sure to visit the neighborhood and check out all of the neat futures available there.

Through the Glass Darkly

I love imagery. While reading a good book, I've always been able to picture the images hinted at compliments of a vivid imagination. Symbolic icons often help me understand important concepts.

One of my favorite scriptures possesses symbolic imagery. Taken from one of the epistles of Paul, it is as follows:

"For now we see through a glass, darkly . . . now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

To me this means there will be times in our lives when we won't understand everything that is taking place, nor why it has to be. Those are the moments when we have to cling to faith and hope for a better day. And someday, possibly when it won't matter anymore, we'll comprehend why we endured a particular trial or challenging test. I think what matters most is how we respond to the set of circumstances during the traumatic event. Did we allow it to be a learning experience, using it later on to help others who may walk a similar path? Or did we allow this hurdle, whatever it may be, to block us from continuing on? Was it a stepping stone, or an obstacle? Often it is our attitude that determines the outcome.


A popular adage states that an optimist sees the glass half-full while a pessimist focuses on the fact that it is half-empty. Or to quote a poem I memorized in school years ago:

"Twixt the optimist and pessimist
The difference is droll:
The optimist sees the doughnut
But the pessimist sees the hole."

McLandburgh Wilson

During my adventures in life, I have tried to look on the bright side of things. I don't always succeed in this. There have been moments when I've thrown tremendous temper tantrums over
challenging obstacles. Like the time I was told that I had Graves Disease. Shortly after this diagnosis, I remember walking with a good friend, venting quite a bit about my unwillingness to endure this particular trial. Wasn't the fact that I was already dealing with diabetes and lupus enough? Did I have to endure this current affliction as well? I threw myself quite a pity party for a short time.

In an interesting twist, a part of me refused to believe that I had to deal with this condition, too. The stubborn part of myself came to the fore and I beat the odds. The Graves Disease faded into nothingness, kicking into remission on what I hope is a permanent basis. My doctors were stunned. They had told me from the beginning that I possessed a 1 in 1000 chance of winning this particular battle. They had been trying to decide if surgery or an interesting chemo treatment would be required to fix the problem. My vote was neither . . . and I won. Not necessarily because I was being a good sport about things . . . I just refused to believe that I would be saddled with this condition. I suppose it was the power of positive thinking . . . my version. =D

I am learning that thinking in a positive manner is one of the keys to succeeding in life. When we focus on the negative things taking place and ignore the good stuff going on, it can plummet us to the depths of despair and discouragement, two of the adversary's favorite tools. It takes courage and determination to rise above the dark thoughts that plague us all---the doubting fears that hold us back.

A few years ago, I experienced an extremely vivid dream. I know most dreams are silly nonsense, our mind's way to clean house, but I also believe that once in a while we can receive an important message through that format. This dream was one of those.

In this dream, I was making my way through a darkened tunnel with three others that I know and love. We were understandably frightened, not knowing what lay ahead, or if we would ever see the light of day again. Finally, we came to a sheer drop-off. Pausing, we looked things over, in agreement that to continue would be extremely dangerous. And yet, I was drawn to continuing forward.

It was pointed out to me that the cliff that descended below was made of glass. I was cautioned that I would be cut to shreds if I pressed on. I knew what my fellow travelers were telling me was true, but I couldn't ignore the strong impression that burned within. To find what I was seeking, I had to continue forward.

Shaking their heads, those who had been with me, turned around and trudged back the way we had already come. I stood, uncertain, contemplating all I would suffer by climbing down the cliff. Then, gathering my courage, I did just that. And it wasn't as bad as I had feared. I did receive a few minor cuts, but for the most part, I wasn't seriously injured. Turning, I saw the end of the tunnel ahead, something that had been out of view from the top of the cliff. I had found the way out of this particular tunnel by pressing forward, despite the risks involved.

Elated, I hurried toward the light that I could see, and walked out into the sunshine, where I was surrounded by loved ones.

I've reflected on that dream quite often through the years, especially when trials descend. I hope I will remember the lessons I have already learned and keep my face toward the sunshine, where all shadows fall behind, to quote Helen Keller. We do indeed live during a challenging time, but to my way of thinking, as long as we'll hold tight to hope and keep our faith intact, we'll eventually walk out of the darkened tunnels that lie ahead.

This Is My Quest . . .

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm always on the lookout for tasty food. We tend to travel around a bit, and this provides ample opportunity to sample varying cuisine. This also means that periodically I end up with something rather interesting for my taste buds to experience. Like the time my husband and I were in New Orleans and I decided to order the blue crab special with a side of sweet potato fries.

Now usually, and my husband can attest to this, I end up with something savory that he wishes he had ordered too. The one time I missed the boat immensely was the afternoon I ordered the blue crab special with the side of sweet potato fries. I guess I was feeling adventurous; after all, we had just survived wrestling alligators on a bayou tour.


Actually it was our tour guide who wrestled the alligator. We mostly stayed inside the tour boat and observed, although my husband did coddle a baby alligator at one point during this adventure.


After we survived the bayou episode, we journeyed to a nearby seafood establishment located on the west side of Lake Pontchartrain. The special that day, as I already mentioned, was the ever-popular blue crab delight with a side of sweet potato fries. And I ordered it. This was bad. In my defense, I tend to sample new and interesting types of food. I love seafood, and I've always liked crab. When I picture crab, I envision tender white meat that you pry from a red-colored leg segment with an interesting metal utensil that tends to flip the meat across the room. (A story for another day.) This kind of crab is very succulent. Let's just say that the blue crab special wasn't my idea of a fun time.

I was slightly goaded into trying it by my husband's co-worker we'll call Gary. Gary had come to New Orleans like my husband, to help with a special project at the Monsanto Plant in nearby Luling, Louisiana. Gary had also experienced the alligator bayou tour with Kennon and me, and he was now having lunch with us. When we learned what the special was, Gary leaned over and said something like:

"Cheri, you've got to try the blue crab. It's part of the New Orleans experience."

Gary was not my friend that day. I followed his advice and when my plate of food arrived, I know my face turned an interesting shade of whiteish\green. Instead of delicious blue colored leg segments filled with tasty white meat, I was handed a plate that looked like a giant spider was sitting on top of it. Spiders are my least favorite creatures on the planet, so maybe you can understand my dismay.

The crab was deep-fried, but to my way of thinking, this just made it look like a big spider that had been breaded and deep-fried. Not a cool image when one is hungry. So I sampled the sweet potato fries first. One word sums up that experience for me: "BLEAH!" I should have known better. I've never been a yam\sweet potato fan. I love potatoes, but not the sweet variety. Maybe it's the diabetes thing I endure, but they taste too sweet to me. I always avoid dishes that contain them for that reason. (Nothing personal, Mom. I know you love sweet potatoes covered in a brown sugar glaze and decorated with tiny white marshmallows. Just not my thing.)

What a lovely combination I had ordered for lunch that day. All of my favorites sitting on one plate together. Deep-fried spider and sweet potato fries. (My stomach just knotted up at the thought of it.) The downside was I had already punched in a bit of insulin (via my insulin pump) to cover this meal. This meant I had to consume carbs or suffer an insulin reaction. And since I had ordered a diet drink that day, the carbs had to come from the food I had ordered.

I suffered through a goodly portion of the sweet potato fries, then kind of poked at the deep-fried spider looking thing with my fork.

"You need to eat that before it gets cold," my not-so-good friend Gary advised.

I shot him a withering look and then bravely attempted one of the legs. Blue crabs are smaller than normal crabs, and you're supposed to eat the entire thing. Yum. The legs weren't too bad. I tried to convince myself that I was eating a crunchy type of french fry. It was the rest of the crab I had a difficult time enjoying.

Gary and my husband each volunteered to help. I think by then my retching had indicated I wasn't enjoying my food that day. ;) I did courageously sample a tiny portion of the crab body, and I was relieved when it disappeared from my plate compliments of Kennon and Gary. Just as I was breathing a sigh of relief that this traumatic event was over, here came our waitress with another plate complete with a deep-fried blue crab.

"I didn't care for that crab the cook sent y'all earlier," the waitress drawled with a bright smile. "It just didn't look right. {This brought me great comfort. It also made me wonder what was wrong with the first crab.} So I'm bringing y'all another one . . . on the house. Enjoy!" And with that she deposited the deep-fried spider-looking thing in front of me. Rapture filled my bosom. NOT!!!

Once again, I bravely tried the legs, and Gary and Kennon took care of the rest. [I had pointed out that "y'all," was plural and meant them too.] When it was mostly gone, I beat them both to the cash register, intent on leaving before I was blessed with yet another crab. ;)

That was the only less-than-tasty meal I consumed during the entire trip. Everything else was heavenly and divine, from the char-grilled oysters at the famed Drago's, to the muffaletta sandwich we sampled near the French Market in the French Quarter, to the spicy Cajun shrimp kabobs I devoured at this fun establishment one night:


I love food. I love sampling different kinds of food, and although I'll never order the blue crab special with the side of sweet potato fries ever again, I can actually look back on that experience and not endure a session of dry heaves. ;) It's all part of the life experience to my way of thinking. It's good to step outside of our comfort zone and try different things. Just avoid deep-fried spiders and you'll be fine. =D

YourLDSneighborhood has added exciting new things to its website. Please drop by and take a look, browse around, check out our vendors, our radio station, our authors, our musicians and more. Check out the Neighborhood.

And while you're there, subscribe to the yourLDSneighborhood Newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the newsletter brings you articles, products, services, resources and interviews from around the world-all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Book Review\Timely Author Interview

Greetings. Today's blog entry will tackle a different subject. Instead of blogging about travel adventures, fun traditions, or interesting culture observations, I will be reviewing a wonderful new book, entitled: "The Forgotten Warrior," by Kathi Oram Peterson. I thought I would begin by helping you all get to know Kathi a little better. I e-mailed her today with several questions that I thought were pertinent. =) They are as follows, complete with her responses, and my helpful remarks. ;)

But first, here's a picture of the author in question: Kathi Oram Peterson. She's a nice young lady from Idaho, just like someone else we all know and love. (Okay, for those who aren't aware, I was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho . . . a "few" years ago. Also, in an interesting coincidence, I attended junior high with people from the land of Rigby, which is where Kathi was born and raised.)

And now for the informative interview:

1.) "Kathi . . . can I call you Kathi?"

"Most people do."

"Ah. Kathi, if you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?"

What first pops into my mind is I'd love to live in a cabin near the Tetons. But here's the deal. My parents had a cabin near Palisades Lake in Idaho. I went up there once all by my lonesome
. . . for two very long weeks. I wanted to finish a book I was writing. I took a watch dog, my fearless Yorkie, Lizzie. A lot of help she was; she'd bark if the wind rattled the windows. But the most troublesome thing was, I was so lonely. Sure I had my cell phone, but still to just see another human being was a treat. So while I'd love to live in the mountains, I couldn't do it alone. I'd have to have my family and friends there, too.

I hear you on that one. I love quiet moments in the woodsies myself, but I would eventually get lonesome. And for the record, the area surrounding Palisades Lake is gorgeous. Not to mention the square ice cream cones available at nearby Swan Valley. Okay, we weren't mentioning ice cream, but I threw it in for bonus information. And while these ice cream cones aren't necessarily gorgeous, they are extremely tasty.

2.) Kathi, I see you were born in Rigby, Idaho. Has this fact influenced your writing?

Yes. I had a very idyllic childhood. My summers were filled with floating down the canal, walking to the movies (there were two theaters in that small town), drinking Coke Floats at the drug store, going to the rodeo (the rodeo grounds were a block away) and participating in the town's parade. As much as I loved the summers there, winter was a magical time. Santa Claus would arrive in town on the fire engine and pass out small bags of candy and an orange. The stores would light up with beautiful displays in their windows. We would hookie-bob to school (don’t ever do that), have ice-skating parties at the Dry Beds, and most people participated in lighting up their homes for the town's Christmas Lighting Contest. The town definitely influenced the writing of my Christmas book, An Angel on Main Street.

Way cool. As you may have seen above, I once attended Midway Junior High with people from the realm of Rigby. (I lived in Menan during my formative years.) I travel through Rigby a few times every year, on purpose, even. And now my m-i-l and her current spouse live in this location. You're probably happy I shared that information.

3.) What is your favorite color? Dark purple.

What another amazing coincidence. Aside from the fact that my favorite color is blue and not purple. But purple is a great color. I even have a purple dress.

4.) What is your favorite animal?

I admire horses, have respect for lions, but I adore my little Yorkie, Lizzie. I didn't know how much until one day she disappeared. My husband was watching both Lizzie and our grandson in the back yard. I went in and took a shower. As I was toweling off, I heard my husband calling the dog, and I knew she'd escaped our fence. She's so little she can crawl under in many places. Everyone in the family started looking for her. She was missing for several hours, when we received a phone call. It was our dog's vet. A lady had found her, read her tags which had the animal clinic's phone number and called. I'm so grateful she was an honest person.

Me, too. That's often a surprise in today's world, finding an honest person. As for animals, I like horses, lions, and dogs, too, but I really like penguins. They're so cute; pinch their cheeks.

5.) Did you know that television was discovered in Rigby?

You bet I did. I had a science class in the very room where Philo T. Farnsworth drew his first diagram of a television tube. I wasn't there when he drew it. He was much older than I am. But the legend of the room lived on. The sad thing is the building is no longer there. Okay, so I am old.

You're not old. Trust me. And Midway Jr. High was torn down, too. I understand your pain.

6.) Where did you attend college?

The University of Utah. I graduated in 2000. See, I'm not that old. Okay, here's the thing, I went back to college after my children finished high school.

I'll bet you were excited over how well the football team from your alma mater did this year. I saw U of U play against Alabama, and I don't even like watching football on TV. But that was a great game. I even cheered when Utah won.

7.) What is your favorite food?

Love Italian. Pizza, noodles, cheese, and creamy sauces.

We could so be close friends. ;) Have I mentioned that I have a talented Italian friend who makes her own pasta and sauces?! Heavenly, simply heavenly.

8.) If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 items would you consider crucial to have with you?

My goose-down pillow, a strawberry Pop Tart, and my computer with internet access or maybe my cell phone, unless there's no service, then definitely the computer.

I so agree with two of those choices. (Lifts eyebrow over strawberry Pop Tart.)

9.) What are your favorite hobbies?

Other than writing fiction and reading, hmmm I'd like to learn digital scrap-booking. I received the latest and greatest software for Christmas, I just haven't had a chance to use it. I love going to the movies, I guess that's a hobby. Oh and I quilt. My oldest daughter and I took some classes. I'm not very good, but working on it.

Great hobbies . . . aside from quilting. Not that I have anything against people (like my m-i-l) who live to quilt, it's just not my thing. Mostly because I'm so bad at it and I usually stick myself with the needle and bleed all over the place, but that's just me.

10.) If you could visit a certain era during Book of Mormon times, when would that be?

Although I love the stripling warrior story and I'd do most anything to meet Captain Helaman and Captain Moroni, I'd have to say that I'd like to be in the land Bountiful when Christ came to the people. I can't even imagine how joyous that would be. One time I had a dream that I was on a boat that Jesus was on. His back was to me. I walked over to him. He started to turn about, and I knew at any moment I was going to see him . . . and then, I woke up. I've often wondered why I awoke at that time. And I realized I wasn't ready to meet him, even in a dream. There's so much to do and so little time.

Great answer, Kathi. I've often wondered what it would have been like to have existed during that time. I think it would have been so wonderful.

And you were probably wondering how I was going to lead back into commenting on your new book that is centered around a historical moment from the Book of Mormon. Now you know. ;)

I love history, and I love the Book of Mormon. Combine the two and add in a dash of time travel and you have Kathi's novel, " The Forgotten Warrior." Thumbs way up on this book!!! I was hooked from page one and had a difficult time putting it down once I started reading. In fact, I read the entire book in less than two days time, which says quite a bit for me . . . and for this book.

Here's a brief synopsis:

A young woman named Sidney Morgan is transported back in time to the land of Zarahemla right smack dab in the middle of the famed Stripling Warriors. Accused of being a Lamanite spy, Sidney has to prove herself worthy of trust. A black belt in karate, she quickly establishes a reputation as a valiant warrior, and she is asked by Captain Helaman to help train the Stripling Warriors for future battles.

Because of her short hair, and a tendency to defend herself, Sidney is mistakenly labeled as a young man. This proves to be an interesting plot twist. As is the fact that back home, Sidney's mother is fighting a battle of her own against cancer. It is after Sidney bumps into a trio of strange gentlemen I suspect may be the three Nephites, that she is propelled back through time, away from the hospital where her mother is being treated.

I thought Kathi did a great job of blending the two eras. It is obvious that she has done careful research and there were moments as I read when I felt like I was right there watching as history unfolded. This is a sign of a good book.

Warning: This novel ends on a cliff-hanger. Will Sidney find her way home? Will the young Stripling Warrior she falls for survive the current battle? Will Sidney's mother win her personal battle with cancer?

For answers to these and other questions, be sure to read this book--and all future books in this series.

And here are two purchase links where you can buy Kathi's book:

http://deseretbook.com/store/product/5017602

http://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Warrior-Kathi-Oram-Peterson/dp/B001QGNF1I/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235163682&sr=8-13

Also, Kathi is sponsoring a neat contest on her website. Here's the information:

People nominate a youth girl or boy between the ages of 8-18 to be Latter-day Stripling Warriors simply by writing down a kind deed or deeds that the youth has done. The entry forms are on my website www.kathiorampeterson.com, click on "Events", then print out the entry form and mail it to me. I will then sent each and every entry that has a return address a certificate that says "_____ is a Latter-day Stripling Warrior. It will be signed by me and three of the heroes in the book. The grand prize winner will receive a $50. gift certificate from Amazon.com."

This sounds like a cool contest. I encourage you to participate in it, and to read Kathi's book.