KONY 2012

The new video from the makers of Invisible Children has come out this year and is making headlines.  The interesting thing is that a lot of headlines have been negative!  I first saw the Invisible Children video in 2005 at a showing on BYU campus.  I was very moved and donated money and bought T-shirts and the video to help spread the word.  The grass roots movement has made a big impact and a lot of publicity has helped more people become aware of what is going on in Africa and children soldiers- not as much publicity as the KONY 2012 video is going to get.

The KONY 2012 video has already had over 50 million views on YouTube and growing.  The main point of the video is to gain publicity and help the world become aware of Joseph Kony.  Joseph Kony is the evil man that is behind the group in Africa that kidnaps children and forces them to kill their parents and then for their army in general.  Watching the Invisible Children and Kony 2012 video makes it near impossible to not feel something and be motivated to spread the word.  I was shocked to hear that the group behind the videos is being criticized for not using 100% of donations for the actual cause.  There are even people on facebook making statements like "What's the big deal?  There's stuff like this happening in other places in the world too."  I can't believe how insensitive people are to be against such a great movement.  Just the awareness the videos are bringing is changing the actions of people and the government!  I support the cause!!!

Looking for work!

This week gave us a rude awakening of what it feels like to be out of work and have bills to pay.  Raul quit his job this week and I will be unable to work at the Missionary Training Center as of graduation next month.  We have been looking at all the usual places (craigslist, KSL, etc.) but haven't had any luck with getting an interview.  The job market is tough right now!

We are also looking for a new place to live because our landlord has to sell his place.  This leaves us with a month to find somewhere we can live and afford to pay the rent.  We will try to split rent by living with a friend or something.  If that doesn't work out, we will probably need to live with Raul's mom for a while until we find stable jobs.  We will keep praying and hope for the best!

A new start

This week, Raul and I have been making some steps toward a new life.  The first step was to buy our first bed together!  We got a queen size bed at Macy's closeout sale for only $300.  We had special hook-ups as well because Raul works at Macy's and gets extra discounts and "Macy's money." 

Another step we took was to look for our first place to live (other than with a professor).  We are searching on Craigslist for now, but we have a realtor friend who might be able to help us out if we don't find something soon.  We hope to move in to a new place right after I graduate in April.  In order to fund this, we are also looking for new jobs that will pay better. 

A New Addiction

This week, I found a new show to watch during every free moment I have a home.  If I'm not a work or school, I'm watching Arrested Development.  I had heard about it from friends, but it wasn't until we started doing the free 30-day trial on Netflix that I had unlimited access.  The show has been pretty funny so far.  We just finished the first season.  Sometimes they cross the line a bit for me, but overall, I enjoy the show.

I guess they are gonna make for more episodes exclusively for Netflix that transition into the movie they are producing right now.  I still need to get caught up on the second and third season.  That way, I will be ready for the movie when it comes out.  I hope I can do it during the 30-day trial!

Buying a "Coke" for a Stranger

This week, I was assigned to "buy a Coke for a stranger."  Basically, I had to do a random act of kindness for a stranger.  I forgot all about the assignment until today and then freaked out because it is Sunday, and I couldn't buy anything for someone anymore.  I brainstormed with my husband for a bit and then suddenly had a brilliant idea.  I asked him "how much money do you have in your wallet right now?"  He said he had three dollars.  I told him to give it to me and I went for a walk with it, looking for a stranger to surprise.

I walked about 30 seconds before I spotted a teenage boy running my way.  He was dressed in his Sunday best and looked like he was in a hurry to get home after church.  I called out to him "hey," and he stopped running and hesitated before walking closer to me.  When he approached he looked really confused and nervous.  I said "hey can I give you three dollars?"  He said "Alright, thanks."  I told him to have a nice day as I walked away.  It was an incredibly awkward exchange.  I was so embarrassed that I walked around the neighborhood a bit before returning home, as to avoid letting him see where I came from.  I laughed to myself when I imagined what he would tell his family at home.  He probably told them some weird girl gave him three dollars on his way home from church: random.

Wedding Day Pictures

Well, today I got back my wedding day pictures and had some mixed emotions.  I love the Salt Lake Temple in the background and I love my family and friends in the pictures.  The thing that I don't like, is me!  I wish I would have done my hair the way I originally wanted to, I wish I would have worn the dress I originally wanted to, and I generally wish I would have followed my own intuition instead of listening to every one's opinions.  I don't look horrible in the pictures.  They are really nice.  It's just that I'm not representing the genuine me in the pictures. 

I originally wanted to wear a two-piece suit (with a pencil skirt) that was really old fashioned and classy.  I had a vision of me wearing a white cap with a net that would go over my face.  I had already bought the suit and everything, but when I showed it to some friends they all said that I would regret not wearing a "real" wedding dress.  After enough friends said that, I gave in and borrowed my friend's mom's wedding dress.  It was really beautiful, but not me.  I also wanted to wear my hair braided to the side with cascading curls in a side pony tail.  I was ready to do my hair that way the morning of the wedding, but my mom stopped me and persuaded me to just wear it up.  I did, and it wasn't me. 

In the end, the wedding was wonderful and the most important things were performed.  As far as the pictures and other little details, I would tell every bride-to-be that they should follow their own vision and not listen to the opinion's of others.  It really is your day, you only get one. Those people who give you their opinions either already had their day or will eventually have their own.  The things I was happiest with at my wedding were the things that I didn't budge on and stayed true to my vision, even with all the nay-sayers!

Raul's "Surprise" Birthday Party

This week I decided to throw Raul a surprise birthday party at his mom's house.  I got together with his mom and older sister to plan out the food and decorations.  Laura, his older sister, has two little boys (Lucas and Sasa).  Lucas is the oldest at four-years-old and Sasa is three.  When I brought the balloons over the boys got really excited and wanted to play with them.  I had to explain to Lucas that the balloons were for Raul's birthday and that it was a secret until the next day.  I made him promise to keep it a secret and not say anything to Raul when he came over that night.  When Raul and I came over for dinner later that evening, Lucas met us at the door and said, "Uncle Raul, uncle Raul!  Rachel bought you balloons!"  We all looked at each other, but decided to just move on with out acknowledging it.  Today, when we went over for the party, Raul wasn't super surprised.  He really like the decorations and everything though.  Next time, I won't make a big deal about keeping a secret with the little kids.  It just made them more excited to tell the secret!