Be of good cheer!

I’ve been through an emotional roller coaster with the world news lately.

There is so much suffering. I mourn for those who lose loved ones and wish there was something more I could do to help. I feel mad at those who intentionally hurt innocent people. I call for justice.

I’ve finally realized something, though.

The world doesn’t need me to be angry. I am not doing anyone a service by letting my sorrow skew my perspective of society.

What can I give the world, then? My love.

It is natural to feel sorrow for those who have suffered great losses. However, the danger comes when I stew in the sorrow until I see the world through jaded eyes.

There is still goodness left, and all can contribute to it.

I lost a grandfather this year and I miss him greatly. I recently realized that the best way I can honor his memory is striving to develop his qualities. He had a wonderful sense of humor and the ability to make everyone around him feel important. He always had time to listen and just seeing his smile would make my day better.

Through trying to be more like him, I can share his life with others.

It takes courage to love, especially when hatred can come so easily. However, only true, selfless love can cure the world’s serious problems.

In The Lord of the Rings, Sam says,

“There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.”

I truly believe in that. I know so many amazing people who inspire me to stay positive when the world looks gloomy; to stay joyful when I start to feel bitter. To heal, to laugh, to learn. To forgive and look forward. Each carries a light that reminds me to stay courageous and keep fighting.

That light is ultimately an emulation of the Savior, who died for each of us. He loves us so deeply. His love truly saves us. Through His help, we can cultivate that kind of love. There is no limit to the good we can do!

Let go of the sorrows of 2012 to more fully embrace the joys of 2013. Thank you for all your love and support this year. May you have a wonderful and blessed New Year.

Love, Wendy

“Let us be of good cheer as we go about our lives. Although we live in increasingly perilous times, the Lord loves us and is mindful of us. The purpose of mortality is to learn and to grow to be more like our Father, and it is often during the difficult times that we learn the most, as painful as the lessons may be.”

-Thomas S. Monson

p.s. Did you see that Shel updated the blog too?! Check out her babely words in the post just below this one. 

the magic of bullet points

oh hi!

my name is michelle anstead &... i really have good no excuse as to why it has been a year since ive updated.

i guess ill just dive in and update you with the power of BULLET POINTS!

 

• i turned 20!
• my lovely sister shmenders got married to wonderful tombo!
• yes i know im not using correct punctuation or grammar :) im rebellious now that i never have to take english ever again!
• i worked at the alpine country club this summer where i got to flirt with old man golfers to get tips :) it was great
• i have the most amazing & fantastic roommates this semester! i really am not sure how i lucked out
• school was pretty rough this semester :/
• my best and longest friend Ashley nicole major got married!
• i live in an apartment complex called old farm that is located across the street from the football stadium
• our team is ranked #20! (avg.) best team in the WAC! GO AGGIES!
• i can now run 40 minutes without stopping!
• i saw Wicked with my mom & grandma wanda!!! It was SO great!
• there was a massive fire on the mountain by my house! it was pretty cool.
• my best friend cameron wilson came home from his mission in new jersey
• my best friend cameron wilson & i are now dating. heh heh.
• im just got accepted to go to Oahu, Hawaii for a service trip with an organization at my school over spring break!
• i still can't lie. it just doesn't work out for me.
• exp. in order to get out of class for my sisters wedding, i had to tell my professor that her wedding was in Virginia (first state that popped into my head). little did i know, hurricane sandy just happened to strike that weekend, which indeed hit virginia. explaining that one when i got back was difficult.
• people are so great! the anstead's definitely have a secret santa this year
• i participated in black friday & got a new lap top! which i am typing on :) so i REALLY wont have any good excuse not to update the blog more often
• the world didn't end yesterday!

I believe that is everything! I will post fun pictures of things that were done this year :)

enjoy!

<3. michelle

The man I love

I didn’t expect to fall in love.

Sure, Tom was cute, funny, smart, and kind, but I was in London for only two reasons.

I was getting my master’s degree and I wanted to see Europe.

He asked me on a few dates, which were amazing (touring Buckingham Palace and front row to Legally Blonde the musical).  However, I remained firm on my desire to focus on school.

We started going to church activities together and dating more frequently. I loved spending time with him. He made me laugh and he was always such a gentleman. I was still determined not to have a boyfriend.

As the classic chick flick goes, I was falling for him and didn’t realize it.

I went to Barcelona with my friend Nicole, who pointed out that I was talking about Tom incessantly. I denied it, to which she started bringing up everything I had said about him on the trip.

I started panicking. I was talking about him a ton. She said, “Just tell him already! When we get back to London, tell him you like him.”

I have never had such a stressful plane ride in my life. I rehearsed over and over what I was going to say.

When I got to his apartment, I completely forgot my prepared speech. I fumbled over my words like a stammering idiot. The most embarrassing part is he knew what I was trying to say and just stood there with a satisfied smile.

My eloquent mess of a speech ended up with the words, “So are we cool?” Not quite Jane Austen. However, in a very Mr. Darcy fashion, he smiled said, “We’re cool,” and took my hand.

Fast-forward nine months.

The Proposal

Tom and I got delicious curry and then ice cream for dessert. Afterward, he took me to Tower Bridge, which happens to be my favorite place in London.

It was the opening ceremony of the Olympics and fireworks erupted from the bridge while David Beckham sped down the Thames with the Olympic torch. It was truly amazing.

People started leaving after it was over, but Tom wanted to stick around a bit longer. We watched as the bridge turned different colors, and I was perfectly content to be with him.

After a while, he turned to me and said some really sweet things. All of the sudden, it hit me! He was proposing! He pulled out a little black box and got down on one knee.

At that point I couldn’t help myself; I broke down in floods of tears. He asked, “Will you marry me?” I couldn’t even say yes right away because I was so emotional. Finally, right before Tom’s legs fell asleep, I said, “Yes, of course!”

And the rest is history.

We recreated the proposal a week after while
taking engagement photos.

Thank you!

As I said before, I didn’t come to London looking for love. (This is the part where my former college roommates are telling themselves, “I told her she’d meet a British boy!” Yes, you were right.)

I think that’s the best kind of love, though; the kind you never expected.

We’ve been overwhelmed by the messages and posts from dear friends and family, congratulating us on this big step. Thank you all for your support and for sharing in our happiness. We are who we are because of your love and encouragement.

Tom

Tom is everything I could ever hope for. He makes me laugh so hard, I cry. He also holds me when I’m crying and can make me laugh again.

I am so blessed to have such an amazing man at my side.

I love you, Thomas John Clack. I can’t wait to be your wife. Here’s to the rest of forever xxxx

Finished with school!

This post brings some happy news:


I've completed my master's degree! I now have a finished website after many weeks of filming, editing, designing, and coding.


Check out Mormon for President! 


Please visit it and leave comments. I'd love to know what you think about it.


It's hard to believe that it's almost been a year since I moved to London! It's an exciting time to be here, with Wimbledon just finished and the Olympics right around the corner. 


So what now, you may ask. I am actively searching for a job, hopefully in the marketing, communications, pr vein. If you know of any places hiring in London, please let me know!


Special thanks to everyone who played a part in my life this year (chances are if you're reading this, I'm talking about you!).


I wouldn't be where I am without many, many people who support me. 


Thank you.

Ten reasons why my dad is cooler than yours

1. He plays the saxophone.

2. He makes a mean BBQ sticky chicky.

3. He taught me how to play baseball. During a game, I tripped on my shoelaces while on the way to home plate and cut my knee up. I was tagged out and hobbled back to the dugout. I sat on the bench with my head hung in shame. My knee hurt, but my pride hurt more. I was so close to scoring.

From the other side of the fence, I heard my dad’s voice. Instead of chiding my obvious error, he said, “Let’s see that knee. Oh nice gash! You totally earned it.” That was not the response I was expecting. I looked up at him with my muddy, tear-stained face and started laughing. Even though my team lost (by one run), he still took me to get ice cream. Sweet.

4. He introduced me to Journey, Styx, Kansas, Steely Dan, Chicago, and Boston. “All I want is to have my peace of miiiiiiind.”

5. He’s the world’s best artist. I am in awe of everything he creates.

6. He knows just what to say. I didn’t get an internship last week that I really wanted. His response? “Ok, the day started out crummy, but it ended with the first perfect game ever thrown for the Giants!” Now if that isn’t a silver lining, I don’t know what is. Play ball!

7. He’s still crazy in love with my mom. Growing up and even now, he’ll look at us kids and say, “You know what? Your mom is a total fox.” Fair enough.

8. His hair used to look like this-

9. He read to me as a child. Even though I bet he wishes he hadn’t introduced us to “Hop on Pop.” Sorry for any internal bruising Cole and I caused…

10. He is a man of conviction. He shares his beliefs by simply living them. And he always challenged me to find out for myself what is true.

Thanks dad for being an amazing man and example to me. I wish I were home to celebrate. You are my hero.

Love,

Punky

Lessons from Cinderella

She had it tough.

Scrubbing floors for an ungrateful family doesn’t sound like my idea of fun. Her only friends were animals, who at least sang songs of encouragement.

She finally got a pretty dress, and her sisters ripped it to shreds.

Then she had to wait while the prince put her glass slipper on every foot in the kingdom. Luckily no one else had her same shoe size. He found her in the end and they lived happily ever after.

Why do I love this story?  Because she overcame all the obstacles put in front of her, and got the prince in the end. Even though things were hard, she pushed through it. She even found a way to turn a pumpkin into a mode of transportation. Now that’s imagination!

If poor Cindy hadn’t gone through such struggles, people wouldn't care. No one wants to read about a spoiled girl who gets whatever she wants without even trying (famous heiresses, anyone?).

The past few weeks have been difficult, but this classic fairytale inspires me. My rough moments shape who I am. I’ve adopted a new mantra:

“Your adversity is what makes your triumph so astounding.”

After all, I have to earn my happily ever after. However, if I start talking to animals, gently correct me please. Many thanks!

How to be Barbie

First, learn Photoshop. Second, get some plastic surgery. Third, put on lots and lots of make up.

Courtesy Facebook

Ukrainian model Valeria Lukyanova has taken the Internet by storm by purporting to be a human doll. Rumors have been circulating that it’s all a hoax, but she insists she’s the real deal.

One plastic surgeon estimated she’s spent hundreds of thousands in plastic surgery to achieve her doll-like look.

Out of control?

She’s not the first to make waves for being a human doll. Sarah Burge has apparently spent more than $800,000 on plastic surgery to look like a Barbie. MSNBC reports that Burge, originally from the UK, is living in America so her 8 year old can compete in beauty pageants. 

Here’s the worst part. As a present, she bought her daughter vouchers that can be redeemed for plastic surgery when she’s 18. They’re for breast enhancements and liposuction.

Wait a second. What?!

My take

I wonder what kind of a message that sends her daughter. Probably something along the lines of, “Your great, but you could be better with a little nip tuck here and there.”

When I was young, I thought I was too chubby. I would complain to my mom, and she’d say, “You are perfect just the way you are, sweetheart.” Even if I didn’t always believe her, it did much more for my self-esteem than if she’d said, “You’re right, hun. You are a fatty. Let’s head on down to my favorite plastic surgeon and he’ll make you perfect.”

See what kind of a ridiculous message that sends? That woman’s poor daughter will grow up thinking that she needs external assistance to be beautiful.

So guess what? I have a secret for you.

Listen really close.

You’re perfect the way you are. No, seriously!

So please, do yourself a favor and stop believing that bratty voice in your head that says you aren’t good enough. You aren’t pretty enough. No guys will ever like you because you don’t look like Barbie. Lies, lies, lies.

Beauty is not a dress size. It isn’t a number on a scale. It isn’t found in cosmetics. Beauty is you. It’s divinely within you. There’s no denying it; you are amazing.

You are beautiful.

Let them eat American cake!

 First off, I need your help! What is the beautiful little flower? I've fallen madly in love with it but I can't seem to find anything about it on the Internet. I saw it at a flower festival, but all the guy could tell me was, "It's a traditional British flower." Ay! But which one? He didn't know. 




Anyway, on to my latest adventures...

I got to see the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum! So cool. I thought with a name like 'British' the museum would be filled with artifacts from England. Nay, my friend. 


As my boyfriend Tom put it, "It's a collection of everything England stole as they conquered all of the other countries." Fair enough.
Here's a close up of the engravings:

I also went to the Museum of London. They had the original costume worn by Peter Pan the 1920's stage play! 

Last week I celebrated my 23rd birthday, which was wonderful. My amazing friends Claire and Sophie managed to find funfetti cake and rainbow chip frosting. My non-US friends couldn't understand why it brought me such happiness. It's just not a birthday without rainbow chip. Thanks again my lovely ladies for bringing a piece of home to London!

 Also, my wonderful boyfriend took me to see Les Miserables at the West End! Oh my, was it ever breathtaking. We had amazing seats and it was an overwhelming experience. Tom kindly explained the storyline to me beforehand (pretty sure I'm the only person on the planet who didn't know it.)

 The funny thing was Tom warned me I might get emotional. I shrugged it off and said, "Naw, man. I'm tough!" 


By the end I was a blubbering mess. Oh brother. Super moving production. No wonder it's the longest consecutive show in London.

Well, that's about it for me. I'm jumping in to my final masters thesis project for the next three months. It's a documentary all about Mormonism and what those of my faith actually believe (despite what you might hear from the media.) Feel free to pass along any suggestions you might have!


Anywho, thanks to all who made my birthday such a wonderful experience. I felt so loved and blessed to have incredible people in my life. Thank you again.

To those who feel like quitting

While chopping up vegetables, the knife slipped and I gave myself a sizeable gash. I bit my lip so I wouldn’t scream.

“Why?!” I thought with helplessness. I was trying to eat more healthily, and injury was my reward? What was the point of attempting to make a positive change when it caused me such pain?

I’ve noticed this has been a common theme in my life. No, not having mishaps with sharp objects (I chalk that one up to pure klutziness). It just feels like whenever I’ve come to the point where I decide to be better than I am, I suddenly face a wall of opposition.

So what do I do about it? Do I hang my head and vow to never make a goal again? Not a chance. I’ve realized I just need to try harder.

Sometimes, encountering serious opposition is a red flag that you aren’t supposed to go down a certain path. Other times, however, it means you are on the brink of excellence. As cliché as it sounds, you have to listen to your heart to know the difference between the two.

I came across a quote from Jeffrey R. Holland that says, “If for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart. So it has been with the best people who ever lived.” (His whole speech is excellent. Read it here!)

As I’m entering the last few months of my graduate program, I am getting nervous. The final project is daunting and I don’t know where to start. However, I want to do what my mother suggested and “finish in a blaze of glory.” The final stretch is not the time to wimp out.

The other frightening part is that I’ve come to the end of my list. When I was 16, I had to write down my future plans for school. My list ended with a masters degree. Yikes!

So now what do I do? To quote an academic source (namely ‘Tangled’), “Well, that’s the good part I guess. You get to go find a new dream.”

Is it going to be hard? Yes. Will I encounter opposition in the next step? Yes. Will it be worth it? Oh yes.

I may not end up changing the world, but I can always change myself for the better.  Maybe I'll fail, but at least I’m trying. After all, slicing your finger one time while chopping vegetables doesn’t make them any less healthy for you.

To quote Jeffrey R. Holland again,

“The best things are always worth finishing…Take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow. Dream dreams and see visions. Work toward their realization. Wait patiently when you have no other choice. Lean on your sword and rest a while, but get up and fight again.” (Excerpt from the great speech “However Long and Hard the Road”)

To the U.S. and beyond!

Well hello!

This is a very special edition of our blog, because it’s all about when Wendy and Michelle reunited! I went quite literally from Logan to London in a space of hours. How exciting!

Tom and I flew to Salt Lake with little problem (except when they lost our luggage. Don’t worry, they found it!) Then we got to see my champion brother’s track meet.

Oh, that’s what the winning 15’ 10” jump looks like.

 He also got first in his relay 4x1 race. Future Olympic athlete right there.

 

We got to watch my other athletic brother play soccer, which was amazing. My siblings are so very talented!

It was amazing to see the Mount Timpanogos Temple, which takes my breath away every time. I miss it so much!

Then it was off to Las Vegas!

On the way down, I got to see the famous Whitnie Whitbeck and eat at her family’s delicious restaurant in Beaver. So fun! Don't forget to hit up Old Mill if your looking for good eats in Beav-town!

TIme to hit up the strip.

We also went boating! It was Tom’s first time.

Special thanks to Laurel and Gavin for an amazing time in Vegas! You guys are the best.

Zion’s was next on the list. None of us had been before, but it was so beautiful. My siblings basically dominated the canyon and claimed it as their own. Boss.

Couldn’t resist the sepia. Isn’t Michelle so beautiful? Love this girl.

Next it was time to go to Idaho.

On the way, we unfortunately had to tell Shel goodbye and leave her in Logan. Not without getting some famous Aggie ice cream first though. Luckily she’s a good sharer.

Words can’t express the things we saw at a gas station on the way.

For starters, there were alpacas out front.

Please also note the painted on curtains in the windows.

It literally said, “Welcome to the middle of nowhere.” There were baby rattlesnakes on display. Wha….?

 'watch for bats'->

The Alpaca with the underbite. It says everything you need to know about this strange land we ended up in.

We had an amazing visit with my awesome cousin and grandparents. Such a lovely time! It was worth driving through miles and miles of nothingness just to be with them.

Love Jess!!!




We had a wonderful time! It was cool to show Tom the place a grew up (yeah cavemen!). I apologize that I didn't have more time to see more people when I was home (sorry Nonz, Whit, Libs and Loran). I love you all and want to see you next time I'm home! Thanks for everyone who made it such a great trip!

On another note, I finished my personal website! It was my final project for the semester. Feel free to check it out. 


Lots of love from London!


p.s. Make sure you visit Michelle's radio show Facebook page! Her last show is next week so tune in on Wednesday from 4-6 p.m.!