30 Day Picture Challenge: Days 27-30

OOOk - lets just get the rest of these out of the way, yes?? I want to tell you all of the fun and wonderful things about each picture but... I'm not going to. 30 days is a long time!

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss: Nick. My sweet brother is away at boot camp and I miss him dearly!


Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile. This is Michael and I at a little music video shoot. Gross right? Even the kiss looks awkward!


Day 28 - A picture of your day. Today is the first of this April's semi-annual general conference! So wonderful!



Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member. Me and my sweet Joycie Mama - my assistant mom/godmother. She is the best. Love her love her.

30 Day Picture Challenge - Day 26: Relief Society

Day 26: Something that means a lot to you

I've been thinking about this a lot... so I decided to stop thinking and start writing. Sometimes if you don't do that you just never get "there". I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: I am a Mormon. There are a lot of wonderful things that come along with being a member of the Mormon church, which is why I think I've thought about this so much. One of the things that I love the absolute most, however, is the Relief Society. This is the women's group within the Mormon church that focuses on providing service (relief) to those in need, strengthening the women's beliefs and strengthening the homes of the women. Every week we meet together for an hour during church and hear a pre-prepared message from one of the society's members and everyone gets to participate and learn from one another. We build friendships and care for one another and it gives us a place to unite with the women around us for good. We also meet during the week to do things like share recipes, do service, learn new skills, and strengthen one another through our beliefs. Since I love: women, service, learning new things, being part of something wherein everyone has a common purpose, making friends, and the truth of the gospel, I love Relief Society.

Since this is a church-wide organization with over 5 million women involved the organization of leadership has been put in place very intentionally, containing a general (meaning for the entire organization) Relief Society president, two counselors, and a secretary. Since there are so many women looking to the General Relief Society President for guidance in our pursuits, you can imagine that when she (Julie B. Beck) came to American Fork, Utah this last Saturday that I was pretty excited to hear what she would have to say! My main questions pertained to what I needed to be doing better personally to offer more service to those around me, improve my home life (even though things are going really well, I can always be a little more... something.), and improve my own strength as a member of the church. Well... ask and ye shall receive! And then some!

Some of the things that I took away from her talk:
-Sometimes your greatest successes come from extending yourself past your comfort zone
-There will be times when you need to start fresh. Whether this is a personal decision or it is brought upon you, TAKE YOURSELF WITH YOU and GO FOR IT!
-You may need to take a step into the dark before the Lord will illuminate your path. Things will not always be clear or make sense
-Relief Society is not a program, it is a way of life
-Relief Society is the Lord's invitation for women to join in the building up of His
kingdom
-We are expected to lead and serve in the gospel
-Relief Society is a conduit for our service to others. It is not there to serve US but to prepare US to serve OTHERS
-The biggest concerns that she has for women worldwide are:
1. Women aren't aligned with the Lord. Those who need strengthening don't have enough strength around them
2. Women are becoming infected with the diseases of apathy, entitlement, and anger
-Within the things to do day to day, there are essentials, necessaries, and nice-to-do's.
a) Essentials: give service, read your scriptures, pray, keep your covenants
b) Necessaries: feed yourself and your family, take care of your home, school, become self-reliant (work, education, etc.)
c) Nice-to-do's: hobbies, interests, all else
-Sometimes the spirit makes us feel guilt to correct bad habits or actions
-The greatest ways we can help our brothers and sisters around the world when they are in need are to prepare and provide missionaries; do temple work; contribute to the humanitarian, fast offering, and tithing funds; teach the young people; and share the gospel to lead the world to good
-Have the spirit with you always. "When I have the spirit the world can go up in flames and the mountains crumble to the ground and I'll be ok." Put your trust in the spirit that leadeth to do good.
-Never suppress a generous thought
-When we ask for help we must truly believe that the Lord can provide what we're asking

Things I was asked to take action on in this talk:
-Get more involved in my community
-Read Luke 10
-Read Doctrine and Covenants 1 and ponder how I can contribute
-Establish more solid habits now so that you'll be prepared for the hard times
-Be more open with the sharing of my thoughts, feelings, and beliefs

Things I have done since Saturday to improve:
-Applied to volunteer at the American Fork Developmental center
-Read my scriptures, prayed and exercised every day (this is a huge improvement)
-Delivered baked goods to some friends
-Blogged about my experience

I wish that there were a way to really share the spirit with you that I felt in that meeting. It was so special. I felt like I knew her and that she knew each woman in the audience. She hit on so many key concerns for women in general and I really appreciated the time she spent with us. This experienced really moved me to change. I love Relief Society.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 25 - Fears

Day 25 - A picture of something you're afraid of.

Fish touching me

Getting large and in charge

Hitting a pedestrian

Needles

People touching my back in the dark... especially haunted houses

30 Day Picture Challenge - Day 24: Save Uncle Sam

Day 24: A picture of something you wish you could change


Sorry to be so... honest. When I was in training to become a teller at a credit union during the summer after my freshman year in college I was told that, "People will talk about anything before they tell you about their finances." This story rang true as member after member sauntered up to my teller window to spill the beans on their latest one night stand, son's sticky divorce and infection under their big toe nail. Very rarely, however, would people actually want you to know the truth about their money. As an American, with pride on my sleeve at times, I have supported that level of privacy for far too long. It is easier to feel secure when you're the only one that knows the numbers. It is definitely important not to post your bank statement on your blog... so please don't do that... but I truly believe that this extreme level of privacy is often in place because it allows people to appear successful, no matter what is really happening down at the local bank. I am up here on my soap box to announce that I am willing to give it up. I am willing to do whatever needs to be done to fix this mess. You may not like the people in charge and you may not agree with the plans in place but nothing will ever work out without a little unity. I believe in the power of this nation and I remember what our country looked like on September 12, 2001. There are too many people in tents and too many empty houses for us to forget that it is up to us. We need to have faith in our leaders and we need to fortify our own foundations so that we have the strength to make the necessary sacrifices. America is a great nation. Don't dull the colors of the flag.


My brother Nick teaching a church lesson while away at boot camp. This picture was sent along with this message from the branch president's wife:

Brother & Sister Taufer,
I took some pictures of Nick teaching priesthood today. He came to church with a happy smile on his face, brought four nonmembers, one less-active and LOVED all the emails and the news about BYU. We printed the brackets for everyone and there was much joy. Enjoy the pics.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 23 - Favorite Book

Day 23: Your Favorite Book


A couple of years ago my best friend Michelle gave me this book for Christmas with a sweet ode to friendship written in the front and a testimony of the sweetness of the story... She could not have been more right. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows is a beautiful story written as a compilation of letters of a writer searching for a story in the aftermath of World War II. She is witty and heartfelt, lending more of her friendship to her readers with every letter. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys laughter. It has been compared to books such as 84 Charring Cross (which I haven't read) and Anne of Green Gables (which I read so long ago that I can hardly remember the story). Please read it and let me know if you fall in love like I have.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 22 - The Race

Day 22: Something you wish you were better at


Running. Not that I want to look anything like this girl... I mean of course not... Who would, right? Beautiful when sweaty? Nah. Perfect abs? Not really my style. The fact that she is a runner though?? Bring it. So here's the question... Can anyone be a runner? Is this a mind over matter thing or are some people just not cut out for an enjoyable jog around the park?

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 21 - Retainer Disaster

Day 21: Something you wish you could forget


The other night I decided to be a good girl and wear my retainers to bed for the first time in about 2 years... Well you know how that goes... Serious pain. In the middle of the night I must have popped it out of my mouth because the next morning I was retainer free! The only problem... where had it gone??? Much to my dismay I found it in the middle of my living room floor several hours later. I don't know if it was Tank or Ruby but either way this is going to take some serious sanitizing...

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 20 - Zanzibar

Day 20: Somewhere you'd like to travel

Zanzibar, Africa

Zanzibar is gorgeous and cultural. I have never been anywhere quite like this. I want to go to their market place and see what is there being sold, then I want to go see the wildlife (I don't know if they have things like safaris in this area) and then I want to tan on the beach holding hands with my honey... without finger tan marks.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 19 - Baby Brit

Day 19: A picture of you when you were little

Just another day in the life...
I just love how all-American this photo is! Right down to the freckle-faced red-haired neighbor boy.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 18 - Belly Button

Day 18: A picture of your biggest insecurity.

My sophomore year of college I took a Bioethics class where we talked about all of the goods, bads, rights, and wrongs of manipulating genetics and every tangent of the subject. One day I was lucky enough to walk in late to a group discussion where the topic had been explained before I had arrived. I sat down in the circle of about 20 other students and handed the "since you were late we will let you go first" line. I politely asked what it was that we were discussing and the group leader explained the question, "if there were ANYTHING about yourself that you could change to benefit your future offspring, what would it be?" Not having any prep time I thought quickly of the thing that I liked least about myself and confidently proclaimed, "definitely my belly button". The other students went on to suggest things like their family's history of heart problems, mathematical skills, financial status and other substantial things. Me? Nope. I was stuck with belly button.


This is not my belly button...

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 17 - The Big Time

Day 17: Something that has made an impact on your life recently: My Man!

(little Michael is off to the right start!)

I have been SO proud of Michael lately. He was born with a knack for... well, just about everything and a huge passion for media. He has done everything possible to follow his dreams and develop his skills to set himself up for huge success. Michael has experience in all types of motion graphics and animation and has a goal of working at a studio in California to allow these talents and abilities to become his way of life. For the past 18 months he has been working on BYU's most recent animated short called Dreamgiver. Dreamgiver is a 6 minute film wherein the main character (the dreamgiver) goes into an orphanage and gives the children dreams. A catastrophe takes place and one child is sucked into a nightmare and rescued by the dreamgiver to end the story beautifully (that is the 2 sentence version... mind you it took 2 years to produce).

(such wonderful friends that came to support! Merrick came too - so wonderful!)

This last Wednesday the film was burnt onto a blu ray and set to premiere at BYU's DeJong concert hall along with a presentation by Disney's Bill Perkins (one of their key art directors). They were pretty sure they could get 200 attendees but the goal was 700... the result? 1500 alumni, students, professors, and supporters of the film! It was an absolutely flawless presentation that was met with laughter, sighs and applause at all of the appropriate times. Bill Perkins was kind and accurate in saying that this is the best film that has come from BYU yet and has no resemblance to that of a student film, but to one of professional grade. The film has already won two Student Emmy's (which we get to go to LA for the Student Emmy Awards Ceremony to accept), awards in Canada and France, and many domestic awards. I could not be more proud of the hard work that went into this film and all of the students and faculty that made it happen.

(so much love from family and friends)

Michael was the Supervising Technical Director for the film (aka assistant director, lighting lead, rendering technical director, etc.) and has been noted for his work on the film because of his talent and because of his computer science emphasis. After the premiere of the film Michael was interviewed by the BYU Computer Science department to produce THIS ARTICLE. He was also the only student referred by BYU to apply for an internship with The Academy, interviewed for an internship with Sony Imageworks, and has an interview with Pixar today! This man is really going places and I just couldn't be more proud of him. He is humble and respectful and can be because he does such an amazing job. Thanks for listening to this proud wife! I will keep everyone posted as to the outcome of his interviews.

(the stage before the premiere)

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 16 - Daddy Kim

Day 16: Someone who inspires you

My Dad. When the going gets tough the tough get going... That is my dad.

No resemblance, right?










He is the funniest man I know. He's been a ringmaster for a circus and a stand up comedian and never fails to keep us laughing... and spraying across the dinner table.

He is the most loyal man I know. He never turns his back on his friends... whether they value the relationship or not. He is true to the people around him even behind closed doors. You don't meet a man like that every day.

He is the most qualified and well-equipped man I know. He has spent over 40 years in the financial industry and knows the business world inside and out. He can turn any idea into a lucrative business plan that produces a quality product and produces quality employees. He is a born leader and people-builder. He has an amazing ability to allow the people around him to realize their own true potential and to achieve that potential without even realizing it.

He is one of the hardest workers I know. He works until the job gets done and doesn't stop till then... except for Christmas lights... he likes to leave those up all year round, haha!!

He is incredibly talented. He can do everything from winning a Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving, to writing poetry and award winning essays ;-), to playing the drums, to chopping onions better than Julia Child (even though he cries the whole time), to giving meaningful gifts, to throwing the party of the century, to fixing cars and anything household, to teaching a child to tie their shoe. He really does have it all. This is what you call a 'natural talent' just like Nick and Michael.

He is the most genuine man I know. His actions and dedication to people is completely pure and honest. Everyone makes mistakes but I have never met a man that knows how to remedy them quite like my dad. He has an amazing ability to square off to his situation, figure out the root of the problem, and extinguish it from the base up. He is genuinely interested in people and in always doing the right thing.

He is an amazing priesthood leader. In my religion we believe that men have the ability to hold the priesthood of God and to use that power to do the work of the Lord. My dad works hard every day of his life to utilize this power righteously to honor the Lord and his family. He has brought amazing blessings to my life through this power and has shown me how a man is supposed to preside in the home as an equal partner to his wife.

He is the most amazing father I know. He coached every one of Nick and I's sports teams, never missed a music recital, videoed every event, planned and took us on wonderful vacations, and made home life an absolute joy and sanctuary.

He is the most amazing husband (along with my sweet Michael) that I know. He is so good to my mom. He has taken the time in their marriage to really understand her as a person and knows what makes her happy, what makes her sad, what makes her melt, and what makes her give him "the look" (not a good look to get). He knows just how to push her buttons and just how to sweep her off of her feet. They still hold hands at church and love going on dates and trips by themselves. I love their love.

I love my dad. If I could describe him in one word it would be genuine. I mean it when I say that I want to be like my dad when I grow up.

Love you Daddy Kim!!

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 15 - Flash Mob

Day 15: Something you want to do before you die


I am absolutely DYING to participate in a flash mob!!! Seriously. I think this is THE SINGLE COOLEST THING IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD!!!! Nobody even knows what hit them then there is dancing and singing and then it's over. Please watch this clip. It will be the most inspiring 3 mins and 57 seconds of your life. While you're watching please keep in mind HOW MANY PEOPLE were involved in this AND the fact that the Black Eyed Peas and Oprah had NO IDEA this was going to happen!!! AAAHHHH!!!

CLICK HERE

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 14 - Mama

Day 14: Someone you couldn't imagine your life without





My sweet mama. She has shown me what true friendship, love, and commitment really are. She has been at every concert, every event, every up and every down. She is more forgiving and more trusting than anyone I've ever met. No matter what teenage outburst I threw at her, she continued to recognize the good in me and emphasize my true potential. She is a proactive advocate for my wellbeing and success as well as the wellbeing and success for everyone around her. I love my mama. The world just wouldn't be vibrant without her.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 13 - Chick Flicks

Day 13: A picture of your favorite movie


"It's a love fern!"
"My boyfriend thinks I'm fat! And I can't eat in front of him - I can't eat in front of you!"
"Can't see... Can't hear and can't see."


"I wish I ate meat. Mary had a little lamb..."

And a close second:


"Woot woot!!"

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 12 - Disneyland

Day 12: Picture of something you love

DISNEYLAND!!!

I was born in Anaheim, California overlooking Disneyland and lived in the LA area until I was about 3 when we moved to Santa Barbara, CA (2 hours from the park) then moved to Las Vegas when I was 11 (4 hours from the park). Michael grew up in Irvine (10 mins from the park) and Porterville, CA (3 hours from the park). Both of us suffered withdrawls when we moved to Utah for college... Now that we are married and have combined our Disney love we go as often as humanly (humanly = financially) possible. We lie awake at night dreaming of Michael working as a Disney Imagineer until the time we can retire in Sleeping Beauty's castle.

Our next trip is going to be March 10-13 for our family holiday... wait for it... Disneyland Day!! This holiday takes place the 2nd weekend in March every year (this is year #2). Click HERE for the link to our Disneyland Day blog that features our family competition that leads up to the crowning of this year's Mouseketeer at our kickoff breakfast! We are SO EXCITED!!! Only EIGHT days until departure!! Hold on to your hats and glasses folks!!!!

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 11 - Olives... BARF

Day 11: Picture of something you hate: OLIVES


You want the story?? I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Love them. In 2007 I went to volunteer in an orphanage and lived in Cuenca, Ecuador for 4 months where they had lots of wonderful fruit, bread, and children... but no real peanut butter. I craved American peanut butter for the entire 4 months and was determined to eat a PB & J sandwich the very second I got home. The day came and I boarded my return flight to Las Vegas, devastated to leave the children, bubbling with excitement for my sandwich. We flew for what seemed like forever but about 18 hours later I was back in my parent's kitchen and ready to make my peanut butter dreams come true. With all of our traveling I hadn't done much eating so by the time I sat down I was convinced that I had passed into the 4th stage of malnutrition and the look of that sandwich was overwhelming. I spread peanut butter over one slice and jelly over the other, then RIGHT when I was going to press the two together to let the magic begin... my dad (olives are one of his favorite foods) tossed a green pimento olive from across the kitchen right into the peanut butter. Now, I am normally pretty even keel... but I COMPLETELY lost my cool. I plucked the olive out of the sandwich started waving my arms and yelling something about how he KNOWS I HATE olives and that all of my peanut butter fantasies had been shattered and threw the peanut butter olive at my dad (luckily I hit him pretty good). After realizing that everyone was dying laughing and nobody was internalizing the severity of the situation I wiped the olive juice off of my sandwich, patched the hole, and ate in silence. It was all funny about 15 minutes later but at the time... ooooh dear. I was one unhappy monster of a girl. My dad can't even think about olives without crying from laughing so hard bc of that experience. Sometimes he even sends me sweet texts that just say "olives". Barf.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 10 - Forever Friends

Day 10: A picture of the person you have most recently hung out with


Ok... so I made this one up... But to be honest I could not think of the person I have done the craziest stuff with! My dad took me sky diving, Bryce Turner took me bungee jumping, the girls helped me become one with nature in the Jordan Reservoir, Randi Baker bought me my first thong, Savanna introduced me to the shaker weight, Michelle bought me my first bikini... the crazy is there... it's just pretty evenly spread out!! So I'm going to highlight my favorite Utah sister in law and her hubby: Jon and Savanna. It has been so much fun to have a sister right here under my nose!!! She is one of my best friends and I am certain I could not live without her. The best part is that I seriously get an ab workout every time we get together with these two - our senses of humor... they're both just SO FUNNY!! Love you little Savvy girl!!!

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 9 - Sweet Michael

Day 9: A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.


When I was little I remember having a lesson in Primary about making decisions. The teacher told us that whenever we were faced with a hard decision that we should ask ourselves what Jesus would do. The next day my dad took Nick (my brother) and I to get ice cream at Thrifty's (R.I.P. Thrifty's!) and I remember walking along the glass ice cream display case thinking HOW HARD it was to decide what kind of ice cream I wanted and asked myself, "What would Jesus do?". I had no idea what Jesus would do. My guess is that I probably got cookies and cream like I always did when I was little at Thrifty's but came out VERY confused as to how Jesus could have possibly been of any assistance.

It has been a year or two and now I'm beginning to understand how decisions and trials get a little bit harder once you pass ice cream phase! I have had so many supports throughout my life so picking just one person is not really fair but my sweet husband Michael has shown me what loyalty, selflessness, and love truly are and I am so grateful to him.

XOXO Snooker!!

30 Day Picture Challenge - Day 8 - Night of Mayhem

Day 8: A picture that makes you laugh

When Michael and I were dating we used to love coming up with pranks that we wanted to play on our friends/Provo. We had been married for about two months when we went on our first pranking date...

Some of you may know of the Provo housing complex called The Colony. Tip: if you ever own a housing complex in a college town don't name it The Colony... This sign was painted to just read "The Colon" probably once a week. Michael thought "semi colon" was so much more original!


We then rode our bikes a little further down the street and accidentally TP'ed Chuck's car... OOPS! Sorry Chuck!!


And lastly... The famous garbage bags sealing the door to your sister-in-law's apartment. Works like a charm... Until they get you back x 500!!! Revenge is still at hand...