This is Satan the Mole Cricket.
And this is Goliath, the Wolf Spider. GROSS.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
This does NOT feel like opening presents at Christmas!
Tonight, I had the unfortunate task of opening the sealed plastic bathroom cups that each had a different bug inside that I caught in Florida before school started for a class project. It was NOT fun. I wasn't smart enough to label them, so I had a mini heart attack each time I opened one to find out what was inside. One did not have anything in it. Crap. Where did it go?!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
HOPE
A few days ago, I read a talk called "Hope" by Steven E. Snow that gave me a greater understanding of what hope is and what it can do for me.
"Hope is an emotion which brings richness to our everyday lives....[it] brings a certain calming influence to our lives as we confidently look forward to future events."
I love that.
I had a lot of anxiety this past week with all the changes, turning a new leaf over, and uncertainty that's been weighing me down. This article reminded me how hope can bring us peace and calm that we need.
Something else that I have been focusing on a lot this week is being able to recognize and listen to the Spirit. I've been feeling pretty lost for the past month, but the one thing I know for a surety is how my faith can give me the guidance I need through personal revelation. I heard a really awesome idea at church:
If you want to hear the still, small voice, then YOU have to be still and small.
"Hope is an emotion which brings richness to our everyday lives....[it] brings a certain calming influence to our lives as we confidently look forward to future events."
I love that.
I had a lot of anxiety this past week with all the changes, turning a new leaf over, and uncertainty that's been weighing me down. This article reminded me how hope can bring us peace and calm that we need.
Something else that I have been focusing on a lot this week is being able to recognize and listen to the Spirit. I've been feeling pretty lost for the past month, but the one thing I know for a surety is how my faith can give me the guidance I need through personal revelation. I heard a really awesome idea at church:
If you want to hear the still, small voice, then YOU have to be still and small.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Tuesdays with Morrie
After cleaning out all my "stuff" at home and consolidating my belongings into a few boxes I will leave behind while finishing school in Rexburg (3 more semesters!!!), I discovered that I had a copy of one of my favorite books: Tuesdays with Morrie.
Here are some quotes from the book that I love:
Anyway, I read it again (for the bazillionth time) and have a renewed sense of what is important in life. For those of you who haven't read it, Mitch, a former student of Morrie Schwartz (a sociology professor), wrote this book as a "final thesis" after his last "class" with Morrie. Morrie spent the last years of his life suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, (ALS), and Mitch visited him every Tuesday, listening to Morrie's philosophies on death and living. Funny enough, the book on dying truly teaches you how to live. As Morrie repeatedly states in this book, "once you learn how to die, you learn how to live."
Here are some quotes from the book that I love:
"Dying," Morrie suddenly said, "is the only one thing to be sad over, Mitch. Living unhappily is something else. So many of the people who come to visit me are unhappy."
Why?
"Well, for one thing, the culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. We're teaching the wrong things. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it. Create your own..."
"Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn't. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted.
"A tension of the opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle."
Sounds like a wrestling match, I say.
"A wrestling match." He laughs. "Yes, you could described life that way."
So which side wins, I ask?
He smiles at me, the crinkled eyes, the crooked teeth.
"Love wins. Love always wins."
"So many people walk around with a meaningless life They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things.
The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that give you purpose and meaning."
"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love and to let it come in."
His voice dropped to a whisper. "Let it come in. We think we don't deserve love, we think if we let it in, we'll become too soft. But a wise man named Levine said it right. He said 'Love is the only rational act.'"
"I give myself a good cry if I need it. But then I concentrate on all the good things still in my life.... I don't allow myself any more self-pity than that. A little each morning, a few tears, and that's all."
After a girl in class fearlessly falls back with her eyes closed to have another classmate catch her, this is what Morrie had to say:
"You see," he says to the girl, "you closed your eyes. That was the difference. Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them, too--even when you're in the dark. Even when you're falling."
"Mitch," he said, "the culture doesn't encourage you to think about such things until you're about to die. We're so wrapped up with egotistical things, career, family, having enough money, meeting the mortgage, getting a new car, fixing the radiator when it breaks--we're involved in trillions of little acts just to keep going. So we don't get into the habit of standing back and looking at our lives and saying, Is this all? Is this all I want? Is something missing?"
He paused.
"You need someone to probe you in that direction. It won't just happen automatically."
I knew what he was saying. We all need teachers in our lives.
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." - Henry Adams
"The fact is, there is no foundation, no secure ground, upon which people may stand today if it isn't the family. It's become quite clear to me as I've been sick. If you don't have the support and love and caring and concern you get from a family, you don't have much at all. Love is so supremely important. As our great poet Auden said, 'Love each other or perish....' Without love, we are birds with broken wings."
"There is no experience like having children. That's all. There's no substitute for it. You cannot do with with a friend. You cannot do it with a lover. If you want the experience of having complete responsibility for another human being, and to learn how to love and bond in the deepest way, then you should have children."
"You know what the Buddhists say? Don't cling to things, because everything is impermanent."
But wait, I said. Aren't you always talking about experiencing life? All the good emotions, all the bad ones?
"Yes."
Well, how can you do that if you're detached?
"Ah, You're thinking, Mitch. But detachment doesn't mean you don't let the experience penetrate you. On the contrary, you let it penetrate you fully. That's how you are able to leave it."
I'm lost.
"Take any emotion--love for a woman, or grief for a loved one, or what I'm going through, fear and pain from a deadly illness. If you hold back on the emotions--if you don't allow yourself to go all the way through them--you can never get to being detached, you're too busy being afraid. You're afraid of the pain, you're afraid of the grief. You're afraid of the vulnerability that loving entails.
"But by throwing yourself into these emotions, by allowing yourself to dive in, all the way, over your head even, you experience them fully and completely. You know what pain is. You know what love is. You know what grief is. And only then can you say, 'All right. I have experienced that emotion. I recognize that emotion. Now I need to detach from that emotion for a moment."
I thought about how often this was needed in everyday life. How we feel lonely, sometimes to the point of tears, but we don't let those tears come because we are not supposed to cry. Or how we feel a surge of love for a partner but we don't say anything because we're frozen with the fear of what those words might do to the relationship.
Morrie's approach was exactly the opposite. Turn on the faucet. Wash yourself with emotion. It won't hurt you. It will only help. If you let the fear inside, if you pull it on like a familiar shirt, then you can say to yourself, "All right, it's just fear, I don't have to let it control me. I see it for what it is."
Same for lonliness: you let go, let the tears flow, feel it completely--but eventually, be able to say, "All, right, that was my moment with loneliness. I'm not afraid of feeling lonely, but now I'm going to put that loneliness aside and know that there are other emotions in the world, and I'm going to experience them as well."
"Detach," Morrie said again.
"...It is impossible for the old not to envy the young. But the issue is to accept who you are and revel in that. This is your time to be in your thirties. I had my time to be in my thirties, and now is my time to be seventy-eight.
"You have to find what's good and true and beautiful in your life as it is now. Looking back makes you competitive. And, age is not a competitive issue."
"In the beginning of life, when we are infants, we need others to survive, right? And at the end of life, when you get like me, you need others to survive, right?"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"But here's the secret: in between, we need others as well."
"That's what we're all looking for. A certain peace with the idea of dying. If we know, in the end, that we can ultimately have that peace with dying, then we can finally do the really hard thing."
Which is?
"Make peace with living."
"In business, people negotiate to win. They negotiate to get what they want. Maybe you're too used to that. Love is different. Love is when you are as concerned about someone else's situation as you are about your own."
So there you have it! Some (just some!) of my favorite quotes from this book. This time around, I learned a great deal about how to soak in emotions instead of keeping them "under wraps" as well as how important each day is. I want to get into the habit of visualizing my days as Ghandi does: when you sleep, you die. When you wake up, you are reborn. I want to feel reborn every day, to turn over a new leaf, get my head out of the past, and look forward to the bright day ahead of me.
"But by throwing yourself into these emotions, by allowing yourself to dive in, all the way, over your head even, you experience them fully and completely. You know what pain is. You know what love is. You know what grief is. And only then can you say, 'All right. I have experienced that emotion. I recognize that emotion. Now I need to detach from that emotion for a moment."
I thought about how often this was needed in everyday life. How we feel lonely, sometimes to the point of tears, but we don't let those tears come because we are not supposed to cry. Or how we feel a surge of love for a partner but we don't say anything because we're frozen with the fear of what those words might do to the relationship.
Morrie's approach was exactly the opposite. Turn on the faucet. Wash yourself with emotion. It won't hurt you. It will only help. If you let the fear inside, if you pull it on like a familiar shirt, then you can say to yourself, "All right, it's just fear, I don't have to let it control me. I see it for what it is."
Same for lonliness: you let go, let the tears flow, feel it completely--but eventually, be able to say, "All, right, that was my moment with loneliness. I'm not afraid of feeling lonely, but now I'm going to put that loneliness aside and know that there are other emotions in the world, and I'm going to experience them as well."
"Detach," Morrie said again.
"...It is impossible for the old not to envy the young. But the issue is to accept who you are and revel in that. This is your time to be in your thirties. I had my time to be in my thirties, and now is my time to be seventy-eight.
"You have to find what's good and true and beautiful in your life as it is now. Looking back makes you competitive. And, age is not a competitive issue."
"Status will get you nowhere. Only an open heart will allow you to float equally between everyone."
"In the beginning of life, when we are infants, we need others to survive, right? And at the end of life, when you get like me, you need others to survive, right?"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"But here's the secret: in between, we need others as well."
"That's what we're all looking for. A certain peace with the idea of dying. If we know, in the end, that we can ultimately have that peace with dying, then we can finally do the really hard thing."
Which is?
"Make peace with living."
"Death ends a life, not a relationship."
"In business, people negotiate to win. They negotiate to get what they want. Maybe you're too used to that. Love is different. Love is when you are as concerned about someone else's situation as you are about your own."
So there you have it! Some (just some!) of my favorite quotes from this book. This time around, I learned a great deal about how to soak in emotions instead of keeping them "under wraps" as well as how important each day is. I want to get into the habit of visualizing my days as Ghandi does: when you sleep, you die. When you wake up, you are reborn. I want to feel reborn every day, to turn over a new leaf, get my head out of the past, and look forward to the bright day ahead of me.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
In Conclusion...
Tomorrow is the last day of my internship at DBG, and my head is swimming with memories and lessons learned from the summer. In an attempt to clear my head and lighten the load a little, I thought I would write some of those down.
First and foremost, don't ever be afraid to take a step in the dark and go somewhere you've never been. You'll be surprised at how fast you grow and discover that adventures aren't so scary after all.
Learning doesn't only happen at school. It happens everywhere you want it to.
Every person that comes into your life is there for a reason. They have something to teach you, and it would be a disservice to yourself to miss out.
You can be as outgoing or as"hermit-crabbish" as you want to be.
Riding a bike is a great start to your day!
Take time to relax and unwind at the end of the day. Sleep comes much easier that way. :)
Cook slowly, and savor each step. It'll be the best therapy.
If you feel like curling up in a ball and hiding in your bed, keep moving. It's harder to get up when you give into sadness, and forcing yourself to keep moving will get those endorphins working!
On the other hand, it's OK to let yourself be sad for a little while. Soak in the emotion rather than sucking it up. Recognize you are sad, and CRY. Cry it out. Get into the "ugly cry," as I like to call it, and release your emotion instead of holding it in. Believe it or not, you will feel better.
I SO want to start my own CSA (Communities Supporting Agriculture) and provide shareholders with fresh, local produce that's becoming scarce in this world.
If you want to know where the idea above came from, read The Dirty Life!!!! It's the best book. Ever.
Living a life of frugality may leave you longing for a shopping spree every once in a while, but you'll soon find out what makes you happy.
The times I was happiest was not when I was dressed up, with my hair done and clothes pressed at a restaurant. It was when I had my hair thrown up in a messy bun, handkerchief wrapped around like a headband, running around the yard in flip flops with dirty nails, working on my farmer's tan with pruners in my hand.
Just because something didn't turn out the way you expected doesn't mean it's a failure. I don't consider anything a failure if you learned something from it.
Live life with an open mind.
My beliefs don't take me out of the world. Rather, they take the world out of me.
Don't be on Colfax Avenue at night. There are some scaaary people out there.
Even if there are miles between you and your family, keep them close. They are one of your best life supports in rough times.
The Atonement fills in the gaps and voids in my life. There is no need to feel empty inside with Jesus Christ in the picture. His love is infinite and knows no boundaries. He is my source of comfort.
One of the hardest but sometime necessary expressions of love is to let someone go.
From the lessons I learned to the people I met, this has been an unforgettable summer. I won't forget this past summer, but I am now looking forward to turning over a new leaf with my new knowledge/experience as well as circumstances. My future is bright, and I am SO excited to see where life is going to take me next. I've got my sights set on more adventures in new places. The world is my oyster!
First and foremost, don't ever be afraid to take a step in the dark and go somewhere you've never been. You'll be surprised at how fast you grow and discover that adventures aren't so scary after all.
Learning doesn't only happen at school. It happens everywhere you want it to.
Every person that comes into your life is there for a reason. They have something to teach you, and it would be a disservice to yourself to miss out.
You can be as outgoing or as"hermit-crabbish" as you want to be.
Riding a bike is a great start to your day!
Take time to relax and unwind at the end of the day. Sleep comes much easier that way. :)
Cook slowly, and savor each step. It'll be the best therapy.
If you feel like curling up in a ball and hiding in your bed, keep moving. It's harder to get up when you give into sadness, and forcing yourself to keep moving will get those endorphins working!
On the other hand, it's OK to let yourself be sad for a little while. Soak in the emotion rather than sucking it up. Recognize you are sad, and CRY. Cry it out. Get into the "ugly cry," as I like to call it, and release your emotion instead of holding it in. Believe it or not, you will feel better.
I SO want to start my own CSA (Communities Supporting Agriculture) and provide shareholders with fresh, local produce that's becoming scarce in this world.
If you want to know where the idea above came from, read The Dirty Life!!!! It's the best book. Ever.
Living a life of frugality may leave you longing for a shopping spree every once in a while, but you'll soon find out what makes you happy.
The times I was happiest was not when I was dressed up, with my hair done and clothes pressed at a restaurant. It was when I had my hair thrown up in a messy bun, handkerchief wrapped around like a headband, running around the yard in flip flops with dirty nails, working on my farmer's tan with pruners in my hand.
Just because something didn't turn out the way you expected doesn't mean it's a failure. I don't consider anything a failure if you learned something from it.
Live life with an open mind.
My beliefs don't take me out of the world. Rather, they take the world out of me.
Don't be on Colfax Avenue at night. There are some scaaary people out there.
Even if there are miles between you and your family, keep them close. They are one of your best life supports in rough times.
The Atonement fills in the gaps and voids in my life. There is no need to feel empty inside with Jesus Christ in the picture. His love is infinite and knows no boundaries. He is my source of comfort.
One of the hardest but sometime necessary expressions of love is to let someone go.
From the lessons I learned to the people I met, this has been an unforgettable summer. I won't forget this past summer, but I am now looking forward to turning over a new leaf with my new knowledge/experience as well as circumstances. My future is bright, and I am SO excited to see where life is going to take me next. I've got my sights set on more adventures in new places. The world is my oyster!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Watch and Pray...
Matthew 26:38 and 41
38Then saith he unto them, My soul is aexceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and bwatch with me.
41aWatch and bpray, that ye enter not into ctemptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Jesus wanted His disciples to watch, or in other words, stay awake, while He was in the Garden of Gethsemane. After thinking about these two verses, I noticed that there is a connection between watching and praying in verse 41. When we pray, we stay spiritually awake.
I have felt very spiritually tired recently as life has beat me to my knees. There isn't a better time for me to be sincerely praying and watching. My flesh is weak, but my spirit is willing. I need to pray. As I knelt by my bedside tonight, I poured my heart out vocally to my Heavenly Father, thanking Him for the blessings and asking for guidance and support in my trials. The difference in how I felt before and after that prayer was like night and day. I felt spiritually invigorated and re-energized.
38Then saith he unto them, My soul is aexceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and bwatch with me.
41aWatch and bpray, that ye enter not into ctemptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Jesus wanted His disciples to watch, or in other words, stay awake, while He was in the Garden of Gethsemane. After thinking about these two verses, I noticed that there is a connection between watching and praying in verse 41. When we pray, we stay spiritually awake.
I have felt very spiritually tired recently as life has beat me to my knees. There isn't a better time for me to be sincerely praying and watching. My flesh is weak, but my spirit is willing. I need to pray. As I knelt by my bedside tonight, I poured my heart out vocally to my Heavenly Father, thanking Him for the blessings and asking for guidance and support in my trials. The difference in how I felt before and after that prayer was like night and day. I felt spiritually invigorated and re-energized.
Friday, July 1, 2011
An Ode to Goodwill
Oh, Goodwill, how you make my heart sing and my wallet smile.
Tonight, I went to the BEST Goodwill I've ever been to. It was HUGE, clean, and extremely organized. And full of incredible brand name clothing in pristine condition!!! For $21, I bought Banana Republic jeans, Gap jeans, an Express skirt, a pair of shorts from Target, and the cutest wedge shoes. Clothes shopping really doesn't get better than that.
However, I do support the argument that going to a store and buying new clothes can be more refreshing and enjoyable, and I think everyone needs to go into a department store to blow some money on something they really want. But Goodwill is where I find most of the clothes in my closet. Now that I think about it, almost ALL of them came from Goodwill!
My wardrobe didn't used to be that way. I was terrified to put even a toe into a thrift store. I would feel like gagging because "it smelled weird." And who the heck knows whose armpits have been on that shirt?! And what if someone barfed on these jeans, washed them, and sent them to Goodwill? Gross. And to be absolutely honest, I was a little to prideful to wear "second-hand clothing." I'm really glad I got over that.
One characteristic I've been developing this summer is frugality. I definitely haven't ever been reckless with money, but there is room for improvement. I don't need NEW clothes, and there are a lot of things I want but don't need. Overall, this has been going well for me in all aspects except for food. I really like nice food. Everybody's got a vice, right? :)
Tonight, I went to the BEST Goodwill I've ever been to. It was HUGE, clean, and extremely organized. And full of incredible brand name clothing in pristine condition!!! For $21, I bought Banana Republic jeans, Gap jeans, an Express skirt, a pair of shorts from Target, and the cutest wedge shoes. Clothes shopping really doesn't get better than that.
However, I do support the argument that going to a store and buying new clothes can be more refreshing and enjoyable, and I think everyone needs to go into a department store to blow some money on something they really want. But Goodwill is where I find most of the clothes in my closet. Now that I think about it, almost ALL of them came from Goodwill!
My wardrobe didn't used to be that way. I was terrified to put even a toe into a thrift store. I would feel like gagging because "it smelled weird." And who the heck knows whose armpits have been on that shirt?! And what if someone barfed on these jeans, washed them, and sent them to Goodwill? Gross. And to be absolutely honest, I was a little to prideful to wear "second-hand clothing." I'm really glad I got over that.
One characteristic I've been developing this summer is frugality. I definitely haven't ever been reckless with money, but there is room for improvement. I don't need NEW clothes, and there are a lot of things I want but don't need. Overall, this has been going well for me in all aspects except for food. I really like nice food. Everybody's got a vice, right? :)
This is one of my new favorites: Hudson's Baked Tilapia with Dill Sauce
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
My Life of (Somewhat) Solitude
The other day, I realized that I was acting somewhat like a monk this summer...
After a hellish winter semester of long days in the Benson building doing homework, stressing about getting everything done, and having NO time to relax, I promised myself that this was going to be the summer that I change and detox from the fast-paced lifestyle. For my health (in all aspects, not just physical!), I knew I had to lessen the amount of stress and increase the amount of relaxation.
When I moved to Denver, I made sure not to fill every single day with tons of items on my daily agenda. What I DID fill my agenda with is lots and lots of down time. I don't accept all the offers to go out, and I don't seek for them as often as I had before. Although I'm sure I'm missing out on opportunities to develop new friendships, I had to weigh out my options, and my sanity is probably a good thing to save.
This summer has been hard to adjust to, but I am FINALLY able to enjoy things like curling up on the couch with a blanket and good book (which is something I've wanted to do for a loooong time). My stress levels are low, and my health is GREAT. My goal for the rest of the summer is to stick with it and make this lifestyle change permanent. I know it will be SO difficult to carry this into school life, but I have to if I want to be healthy and happy.
Thank you, Denver, for the chance to make positive changes in my life.
After a hellish winter semester of long days in the Benson building doing homework, stressing about getting everything done, and having NO time to relax, I promised myself that this was going to be the summer that I change and detox from the fast-paced lifestyle. For my health (in all aspects, not just physical!), I knew I had to lessen the amount of stress and increase the amount of relaxation.
When I moved to Denver, I made sure not to fill every single day with tons of items on my daily agenda. What I DID fill my agenda with is lots and lots of down time. I don't accept all the offers to go out, and I don't seek for them as often as I had before. Although I'm sure I'm missing out on opportunities to develop new friendships, I had to weigh out my options, and my sanity is probably a good thing to save.
This summer has been hard to adjust to, but I am FINALLY able to enjoy things like curling up on the couch with a blanket and good book (which is something I've wanted to do for a loooong time). My stress levels are low, and my health is GREAT. My goal for the rest of the summer is to stick with it and make this lifestyle change permanent. I know it will be SO difficult to carry this into school life, but I have to if I want to be healthy and happy.
Thank you, Denver, for the chance to make positive changes in my life.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Soup, meds, and cough drops. AND JOSH GROBAN!
One of my LEAST favorite things in the whole wide world is being sick. But I can at least use the experience to REALLY appreciate when I'm not sick. :) I had to miss a field trip to DBG's research center in Eagle County, but at least I got to sleep!
And once again, in case you were wondering, Josh Groban is going ON TOUR!! And I just can't justify buying tickets. I swear, one day, I'm gonna go, and I'm going to have awesome seats. Yes, the tickets are pretty dang cheap (like $30 a person which is WAY cheap for Josh, thank you student discount), but I'll have to wait for the right time in my life when I actually have money to spare to go to his concert. And I have told myself before that I need to be married to someone before I go, or else I will involuntarily run up to the stage and propose to that man. I did have a dream once that I went to his concert, and got to MEET HIM. The only thing that stunk was that for some unknown reason, he was sulking the whole time I was hanging out with him outside the venue. Oh, Josh. If only I knew how to comfort you!
And once again, in case you were wondering, Josh Groban is going ON TOUR!! And I just can't justify buying tickets. I swear, one day, I'm gonna go, and I'm going to have awesome seats. Yes, the tickets are pretty dang cheap (like $30 a person which is WAY cheap for Josh, thank you student discount), but I'll have to wait for the right time in my life when I actually have money to spare to go to his concert. And I have told myself before that I need to be married to someone before I go, or else I will involuntarily run up to the stage and propose to that man. I did have a dream once that I went to his concert, and got to MEET HIM. The only thing that stunk was that for some unknown reason, he was sulking the whole time I was hanging out with him outside the venue. Oh, Josh. If only I knew how to comfort you!
One of my favorite "old-school" photos of Josh. Of course I don't have
a folder dedicated to collected photos of Josh on my computer...
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Our Deepest Fear...
I went to church today, and the best way to describe how I feel is that "my cup runneth over."
There is a very famous quote from Nelson Mandela that I had heard bits and pieces from before. After taking the time to read it with my heart open, I have been touched.
Fear is a very common weakness among society, and it only holds us back from achieving our potential. Letting our light shine isn't just for us and God; it's for those around us that are afraid to do the same. Once we have the courage to shine and do so, others obtain that same confidence and step out of their rut of hiding in the shadows.
There is a very famous quote from Nelson Mandela that I had heard bits and pieces from before. After taking the time to read it with my heart open, I have been touched.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Fear is a very common weakness among society, and it only holds us back from achieving our potential. Letting our light shine isn't just for us and God; it's for those around us that are afraid to do the same. Once we have the courage to shine and do so, others obtain that same confidence and step out of their rut of hiding in the shadows.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
1/3 of the way done already?!
At work this week, someone reminded me that I'm a THIRD of the way through this internship. Where the HECK did those 4 weeks go?!
Anyway, first off, I want to tell you about something that happened this past week. I haven't been feeling well (I think it's allergies), and yard work didn't look appealing. Instead, I decided to water the plants really quick and call it a day. After stepping outside (barefoot and cellphone-less, might I add), I realized that the mudroom door had closed behind me... And it automatically locks... And I didn't have my keys... AND Tamar was out of town on business for another week. 2 1/2 hours later, and 5 bazillion phone calls later (and after waking up the next-door tenant to have her help me get in touch with Tamar), a plumber that lives 30 minutes away came to save my butt. The butt saving became mutual, because he had left a paint trail from the door to where he left the paint stick the other day... I told him I'd clean that up for him. Lesson learned: NEVER leave the house without your keys! You usually learn that lesson once and never learn it again.
Secondly, I want to proclaim that I LOVE OLD PEOPLE!!! They are the greatest people to talk to about their lives. They have SO many fun stories and a keen sense of looking at life simply. I went to a church dinner and started up a conversation with Bob who must have been at least 85+ years old. He's a very old, small, sweet gentleman who was keeping to himself the entire night. After chatting with Dorothy (another one of my geriatric friends, as Tamar likes to call them), I sat next to Bob and heard his life story. It was awesome! He was drafted into the military before he was even out of high school and was a part of WWII. Long story short, he transferred from the Army to the Air Force and became a teacher for a class he took and did well in.
He retired from the service after 9 1/2 years and tried to find work. We talked about how hard it is for military veterans to find work, and many resort to alcoholism to deal with the trauma they experienced. It's true. I've seen it recently, and talking to Bob helped me understand that 1) Being in the service is a HUGE sacrifice, and all come back home scarred and hurt. And 2) The gospel can be a great blessing in this situation. Turning to Christ rather than alcohol is a much better alternative.
Anyway, first off, I want to tell you about something that happened this past week. I haven't been feeling well (I think it's allergies), and yard work didn't look appealing. Instead, I decided to water the plants really quick and call it a day. After stepping outside (barefoot and cellphone-less, might I add), I realized that the mudroom door had closed behind me... And it automatically locks... And I didn't have my keys... AND Tamar was out of town on business for another week. 2 1/2 hours later, and 5 bazillion phone calls later (and after waking up the next-door tenant to have her help me get in touch with Tamar), a plumber that lives 30 minutes away came to save my butt. The butt saving became mutual, because he had left a paint trail from the door to where he left the paint stick the other day... I told him I'd clean that up for him. Lesson learned: NEVER leave the house without your keys! You usually learn that lesson once and never learn it again.
Secondly, I want to proclaim that I LOVE OLD PEOPLE!!! They are the greatest people to talk to about their lives. They have SO many fun stories and a keen sense of looking at life simply. I went to a church dinner and started up a conversation with Bob who must have been at least 85+ years old. He's a very old, small, sweet gentleman who was keeping to himself the entire night. After chatting with Dorothy (another one of my geriatric friends, as Tamar likes to call them), I sat next to Bob and heard his life story. It was awesome! He was drafted into the military before he was even out of high school and was a part of WWII. Long story short, he transferred from the Army to the Air Force and became a teacher for a class he took and did well in.
He retired from the service after 9 1/2 years and tried to find work. We talked about how hard it is for military veterans to find work, and many resort to alcoholism to deal with the trauma they experienced. It's true. I've seen it recently, and talking to Bob helped me understand that 1) Being in the service is a HUGE sacrifice, and all come back home scarred and hurt. And 2) The gospel can be a great blessing in this situation. Turning to Christ rather than alcohol is a much better alternative.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Hmmmm...
Well, I WAS going to make homemade bread tonight, but due to the fact that I just chopped off a chunk of skin from my thumb, I'll probably have to wait a week or two. :( Instead, I have a desire to blog, but nothing is really coming to mind...
OK, I found something! Instead of making bread, I made peanut butter cookies. Those don't require any kneading. As I was making the cookies, I automatically searched for a fork to make the criss-cross pattern on each cookie. I stopped for a moment, and thought why the HECK do we do that?! And only on peanut butter cookies! After a little bit of research, I found that some claim peanut butter cookies, unlike other cookies that are much lighter, need to be squished down in order to get the flat cookie shape. Others say it's just tradition. I'm going with the tradition idea, because when I tried to put them in the oven without the blessed fork squish, I just couldn't do it.
5 cookies and 1 cup of milk later, I'm ready for bed.
OK, I found something! Instead of making bread, I made peanut butter cookies. Those don't require any kneading. As I was making the cookies, I automatically searched for a fork to make the criss-cross pattern on each cookie. I stopped for a moment, and thought why the HECK do we do that?! And only on peanut butter cookies! After a little bit of research, I found that some claim peanut butter cookies, unlike other cookies that are much lighter, need to be squished down in order to get the flat cookie shape. Others say it's just tradition. I'm going with the tradition idea, because when I tried to put them in the oven without the blessed fork squish, I just couldn't do it.
5 cookies and 1 cup of milk later, I'm ready for bed.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Stop This Train...
I woke up yesterday morning on the wrong side of the bed (figuratively speaking, that is). I was tired, and for some reason, I felt defeated. My body and spirit wanted to stay in bed and mope. Life's so hard. I just wish that it could be easier. I didn't want to deal with opposition of any sort. I sulked around at work and felt so... cloudy, as if I was in a daze. I smashed my finger moving a plant cart because I was off in some other world. Thankfully, eating lunch at an Indian buffet made me feel better and snap out of it.
As I was listening to my iPod today, I heard a song I've heard about 100 times, but I finally GOT IT. I actually paid attention to the lyrics, and it was just what I needed to hear.
Stop This Train
John Mayer
No I'm not color blind
I know the world is black and white
Try to keep an open mind but...
I just can't sleep on this tonight
Stop this train I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly won't someone stop this train
Don't know how else to say it, don't want to see my parents go
One generation's length away
From fighting life out on my own
Stop this train
I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't but honestly won't someone stop this train
So scared of getting older
I'm only good at being young
So I play the numbers game to find away to say that life has just begun
Had a talk with my old man
Said help me understand
He said turn 68, you'll renegotiate
Don't stop this train
Don't for a minute change the place you're in
Don't think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly we'll never stop this train
See once in a while when it's good
It'll feel like it should
And they're all still around
And you're still safe and sound
And you don't miss a thing
'til you cry when you're driving away in the dark.
Singing stop this train I want to get off and go home again
I can't take this speed it's moving in
I know I can't
Cause now I see I'll never stop this train
As I was listening to my iPod today, I heard a song I've heard about 100 times, but I finally GOT IT. I actually paid attention to the lyrics, and it was just what I needed to hear.
Stop This Train
John Mayer
No I'm not color blind
I know the world is black and white
Try to keep an open mind but...
I just can't sleep on this tonight
Stop this train I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly won't someone stop this train
Don't know how else to say it, don't want to see my parents go
One generation's length away
From fighting life out on my own
Stop this train
I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't but honestly won't someone stop this train
So scared of getting older
I'm only good at being young
So I play the numbers game to find away to say that life has just begun
Had a talk with my old man
Said help me understand
He said turn 68, you'll renegotiate
Don't stop this train
Don't for a minute change the place you're in
Don't think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly we'll never stop this train
See once in a while when it's good
It'll feel like it should
And they're all still around
And you're still safe and sound
And you don't miss a thing
'til you cry when you're driving away in the dark.
Singing stop this train I want to get off and go home again
I can't take this speed it's moving in
I know I can't
Cause now I see I'll never stop this train
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Focusing on the positive...
Two more great lesson from my best friend and worst enemy. Darn it seeds!
Lesson #1:
Slow down.
Cleaning seed manually without any machines can be very labor intensive and time consuming. Today, I was given some nemastylis geminiflora to clean. Each seed pod had to be opened carefully by hand, so it took a while. BUT, I learned that as I was forced to sit down and do something that was slow and time consuming, I had time to think.
Lesson #2:
Don't focus on what you didn't accomplish in the day, but rather focus on what you DID accomplish.
I can easily become overwhelmed when I look at the big picture and realize how much I need to do, and all I'm thinking about it was I didn't get done. I was using a blow dryer and sifter to get all the chaff separated from the seed, and I was focusing on this one piece that I could NOT get to blow away. As I focused on that one piece that wouldn't move, TONS of other pieces were flying out of the sifter.
Your inbox will ALWAYS be full, so you'd better get used to it. Don't expect to get to the bottom of the piles of "to-do's," but rather take a step back frequently to see how many papers are in your "done" pile.
I'm tired. Good night!
Lesson #1:
Slow down.
Cleaning seed manually without any machines can be very labor intensive and time consuming. Today, I was given some nemastylis geminiflora to clean. Each seed pod had to be opened carefully by hand, so it took a while. BUT, I learned that as I was forced to sit down and do something that was slow and time consuming, I had time to think.
Lesson #2:
Don't focus on what you didn't accomplish in the day, but rather focus on what you DID accomplish.
I can easily become overwhelmed when I look at the big picture and realize how much I need to do, and all I'm thinking about it was I didn't get done. I was using a blow dryer and sifter to get all the chaff separated from the seed, and I was focusing on this one piece that I could NOT get to blow away. As I focused on that one piece that wouldn't move, TONS of other pieces were flying out of the sifter.
Your inbox will ALWAYS be full, so you'd better get used to it. Don't expect to get to the bottom of the piles of "to-do's," but rather take a step back frequently to see how many papers are in your "done" pile.
I'm tired. Good night!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Seeds, seeds, and more seeds.
I spent the entire day cleaning seed, organizing seed, and separating seed. Gee whiz! BUT, I learned an important lesson.
As I was cleaning aster seed (which is a HUGE pain in the butt), it was initially very difficult for me to decipher between what was the seed and what was what they call chaff (inert material that once surrounded the seed). Then I realized that many of the so-called good seeds I picked out were actually undeveloped and therefore deemed bad seed. Slowly but surely, with the help of a nifty magnifying lamp and a little encouragement/advice from my supervisor, I started to understand what good seed looked like.
As I was squinting at these TINY seeds, separating them from the chaff, I thought to myself, you know, learning how to separate good seed is a lot like life... Kind of a Forrest Gump moment.
It takes a while to learn understand what our purposes are, but once we realize that this process is a lot like finding good seed, we relax. Initially, it's a hard process, and we feel lost and uninformed. Over time, however, with the help of various "tools" and "supervisors," we start to figure it out, and soon enough, we can easily tell what our "good seed" is. When you look back at yourself in the beginning and see how well you were able to focus on your purpose and clear out the chaff over time, you feel a sense of accomplishment.
And that's what I learned at work today.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Cooking!
While I'm in Denver, I've chosen to enjoy having extra time to myself instead of planning every minute of every day. It's been hard to get used to feeling productive when I'm not planning my whole day, however, I am slowly, but surely learning how wonderful it is!
One of my favorite past times for a while has been cooking, and with all this extra time, I have been able to let loose and make cooking a deeper, more enjoyable experience. I take my time cutting up fresh vegetables, sneaking a piece or two before placing them in the pot/pan as I listen to my Pandora station. I'm playing with spices more. I'm learning how much better homemade sauces, jellies, and bread tastes. Most importantly, I'm focusing on mentally, emotionally, and physically relaxing while cooking so that I can use this as a tool to de-stress.
So what did I make today? Raspberry bars. And boy were they good.
The recipe came from allrecipes.com: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Jammin-Good-Bars/Detail.aspx
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup shortening ***(I used 2/3 cup Smart Balance butter)
1 egg
1 (10 ounce) jar raspberry preserves
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Cut in the shortening until the mixture is coarse and crumbly. Stir in the egg. I use my hands to mix it all together, it just seems easier. Press about half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the raspberry preserves over the crust then sprinkle with the remaining crumb mixture.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly toasted. Careful not to overcook. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Then cut into squares, enjoy!
Now, what made it even better is that I made the raspberry preserves from scratch! And it was SO easy.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Old-Fashioned-Raspberry-Jam-230700
Ingredients
4 cups fresh raspberries
4 cups sugar
Lesson learned: Don't try to microwave leftover raspberry preserves without keeping an eye on it. Otherwise, be prepared for a broken plate, burnt, fingers, and lips, and raspberry preserves.
One of my favorite past times for a while has been cooking, and with all this extra time, I have been able to let loose and make cooking a deeper, more enjoyable experience. I take my time cutting up fresh vegetables, sneaking a piece or two before placing them in the pot/pan as I listen to my Pandora station. I'm playing with spices more. I'm learning how much better homemade sauces, jellies, and bread tastes. Most importantly, I'm focusing on mentally, emotionally, and physically relaxing while cooking so that I can use this as a tool to de-stress.
So what did I make today? Raspberry bars. And boy were they good.
The recipe came from allrecipes.com: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Jammin-Good-Bars/Detail.aspx
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup shortening ***(I used 2/3 cup Smart Balance butter)
1 egg
1 (10 ounce) jar raspberry preserves
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Cut in the shortening until the mixture is coarse and crumbly. Stir in the egg. I use my hands to mix it all together, it just seems easier. Press about half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the raspberry preserves over the crust then sprinkle with the remaining crumb mixture.
Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly toasted. Careful not to overcook. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Then cut into squares, enjoy!
Now, what made it even better is that I made the raspberry preserves from scratch! And it was SO easy.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Old-Fashioned-Raspberry-Jam-230700
Ingredients
4 cups fresh raspberries
4 cups sugar
Directions
1. Place sugar in an ovenproof shallow pan and warm in a 250°F (120°C) oven for 15 minutes. (Warm sugar dissolves better.)
2. Place berries in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a full boil over high heat, mashing berries with a potato masher as they heat. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
3. Add warm sugar, return to a boil, and boil until mixture will form a gel (see tips, below), about 5 minutes.
To determine when the mixture will form a gel, use the spoon test: Dip a cool metal spoon into the hot fruit. Immediately lift it out and away from the steam and turn it horizontally. At the beginning of the cooking process, the liquid will drip off in light, syrupy drops. Try again a minute or two later — the drops will be heavier. The jam is done when the drops are very thick and two run together before falling off the spoon.
After dipping a spoon into the mixture to test the thickness, that spoon inevitably went into my mouth, and I was shocked. This stuff tasted a MILLION times better than the stuff they call preserves in the store.
1. Place sugar in an ovenproof shallow pan and warm in a 250°F (120°C) oven for 15 minutes. (Warm sugar dissolves better.)
2. Place berries in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a full boil over high heat, mashing berries with a potato masher as they heat. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
3. Add warm sugar, return to a boil, and boil until mixture will form a gel (see tips, below), about 5 minutes.
To determine when the mixture will form a gel, use the spoon test: Dip a cool metal spoon into the hot fruit. Immediately lift it out and away from the steam and turn it horizontally. At the beginning of the cooking process, the liquid will drip off in light, syrupy drops. Try again a minute or two later — the drops will be heavier. The jam is done when the drops are very thick and two run together before falling off the spoon.
After dipping a spoon into the mixture to test the thickness, that spoon inevitably went into my mouth, and I was shocked. This stuff tasted a MILLION times better than the stuff they call preserves in the store.
I love homemade.
Lesson learned: Don't try to microwave leftover raspberry preserves without keeping an eye on it. Otherwise, be prepared for a broken plate, burnt, fingers, and lips, and raspberry preserves.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Ruin is a gift.
Out of curiosity, I started watching the movie, Eat Pray Love. It wasn't really my cup of tea (Julia Roberts' character isn't my favorite), but I did acquire a very good quote from the movie:
Ruin is a gift. Ruin is a road to transformation.
This concept is one that I've learned (and am still learning) to embrace. I love that this quote uses the word "ruin" instead of pain or trials. When you think of ruins as in ancient artifacts, they are often broken, torn, and are missing pieces. When we are "ruined," we go through that same process. We become broken, torn, and have missing pieces as well. Our Savior can fix our broken and torn hearts, and sometimes give us our missing pieces back.
However, we often lose pieces of our lives in order to make room for a better piece. We may not realize this at first, but as we turn to God for direction, He will lead us to that piece we are looking for. I have always been amazed at how beautifully and perfectly it fits in my life when I relax and let God take control of my life.
Monday, May 23, 2011
First day at the gardens...
I made it through my first day at the Denver Botanic Gardens!!! I'll be here for 12 weeks working on the DBG's seed herbarium, and I must say that we have a LOT of work to do. Although today was rather overwhelming (as all first days are), I am extremely excited about this internship. So here's what happened today:
I arrived at the Waring House (administrative building for DBG) at 8:00am to meet fellow interns for a morning of paperwork which also included multiple rounds of introductions as each intern joined the group outside of the building. :) After an hour or two of paperwork, we toured the gardens and all necessary behind-the-scenes facilities we would need to know about. We were endowed with our glorious crew T-shirts that would make it "official" in my brain that I was on the DBG crew!
I arrived at the Waring House (administrative building for DBG) at 8:00am to meet fellow interns for a morning of paperwork which also included multiple rounds of introductions as each intern joined the group outside of the building. :) After an hour or two of paperwork, we toured the gardens and all necessary behind-the-scenes facilities we would need to know about. We were endowed with our glorious crew T-shirts that would make it "official" in my brain that I was on the DBG crew!
The logo on my shirt that makes me feel oh-so cool...
We had a nice welcome lunch with many of the staff members we were going to work with, and everyone is so friendly and fun! They all seem down-to-earth (excuse the pun) and will all be great mentors to get to know. After a few more hours of orientation, I got to spend time with my own mentor, Katy.
Katy is AWESOME! And her boss, Mike, is a hoot. I am so grateful for the people I've been chosen to work for, and the projects I've been assigned are going to stretch my little horticulture muscles. I will be leaving this internship with a LOT more knowledge than I came in with. What exactly have I been assigned to? Well, I am helping with propagation for the gardens which includes many native and unique specimens. Let's just say that I'm not germinating petunias and snapdragons all day. :) Also, I am going to help organize and establish DBG's seed herbarium, which is a large collection of different types of seeds collected locally as well as from different parts of the world. I am going to learn a LOT of scientific names.
All in all, today gave me a lot to be excited about for this summer!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Love casts out fear
Just a short entry today...
I've heard it a million times that "perfect love casteth out fear," yet I still doubt and worry. In church, we are taught about how important it is for us to learn this simple truth instead of the Lord compelling us to understand. I thought to myself, I don't want a tragedy to have to teach me this lesson.
With this thought in mind, I am choosing to turn to the Lord for relief from fear. I'm replacing fear with trust in all aspects of my life which will reduce stress, increase happiness, and help me progress more efficiently. There is no need to worry. I don't want to be kept awake by a racing/palpitating heart, waste time thinking about "what-if" scenarios, or feel like I don't have control of what is going on.
I DO have the ability to have an amount of control in what happens to me. Funny as it sounds, when you allow Heavenly Father to be in control, YOU start to feel more in control of your life.
I've heard it a million times that "perfect love casteth out fear," yet I still doubt and worry. In church, we are taught about how important it is for us to learn this simple truth instead of the Lord compelling us to understand. I thought to myself, I don't want a tragedy to have to teach me this lesson.
With this thought in mind, I am choosing to turn to the Lord for relief from fear. I'm replacing fear with trust in all aspects of my life which will reduce stress, increase happiness, and help me progress more efficiently. There is no need to worry. I don't want to be kept awake by a racing/palpitating heart, waste time thinking about "what-if" scenarios, or feel like I don't have control of what is going on.
I DO have the ability to have an amount of control in what happens to me. Funny as it sounds, when you allow Heavenly Father to be in control, YOU start to feel more in control of your life.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
For all the dirty diapers...
Happy Mother's Day! It's days like these when we stop and commemorate someone/something special in our lives that I stop and think about how important it is to daily recognize the blessings in our lives, such as our mothers. Not a day goes by that I don't need my mom around for something; a hug, phone call, or even simply using a technique or skill she taught me. Without her, I would be pretty lost in life. She taught me so many things that have literally saved my life, physically and spiritually. She is one of the rocks in my life that I can run to and know that no matter how old I get, she'll sit on the couch and hold me close for as long as I need. She listens to the silly drama, worry, frustrations, and struggles as well as my triumphs, pointless funny stories, and dreams/plans for the future.
There are countless acts of sacrifice and incredible strength that have gone unnoticed by me and my sisters, and not necessarily by choice. She quietly gives everything she has for us: her time, energy, love, patience, and laughter. She does all of this for the satisfaction of making sure we are happy. Mommy really is the glue that holds our family together, and there's no replacement for it.
I personally am so indebted to my mom for what she's done for me. It's not common in society for a child to have a mother who stayed at home to raise her children and did so without being a pushover. Mom didn't take crap from us, and that taught us to do the same. She raised three strong young women who can stand up for themselves in a world that so desperately needs people with high standards. We are who we are largely in part because of Mom and all she taught us.
There are countless acts of sacrifice and incredible strength that have gone unnoticed by me and my sisters, and not necessarily by choice. She quietly gives everything she has for us: her time, energy, love, patience, and laughter. She does all of this for the satisfaction of making sure we are happy. Mommy really is the glue that holds our family together, and there's no replacement for it.
I personally am so indebted to my mom for what she's done for me. It's not common in society for a child to have a mother who stayed at home to raise her children and did so without being a pushover. Mom didn't take crap from us, and that taught us to do the same. She raised three strong young women who can stand up for themselves in a world that so desperately needs people with high standards. We are who we are largely in part because of Mom and all she taught us.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
No more pink!!!
One more coat of paint on the upper half of these walls, and the family room will no longer be a bubblegum pink color!
I love the feeling of looking back on something you did with huge satisfaction. I've spent the past 2 days working on this room, and all I want to do is stop and keep staring at it. Hard work is such a valuable principle, yet it's a dieing one. I am SO grateful that my parents taught me the importance of work!
I love the feeling of looking back on something you did with huge satisfaction. I've spent the past 2 days working on this room, and all I want to do is stop and keep staring at it. Hard work is such a valuable principle, yet it's a dieing one. I am SO grateful that my parents taught me the importance of work!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
My fingers smell like rosemary...
One of the best feelings is walking out to your yard or patio and harvesting produce that you grew. Not only does it taste better than what you would get in the grocery store, but you experience a feeling of satisfaction and pride in knowing that YOU grew that! I just put sprigs of fresh rosemary in between slices of a pork roast and rubbed minced rosemary all over it. Even after washing my hands, they still smelled like rosemary. The smell was wonderful, and I can't wait to taste it in a few hours.
Call me granola, but I have grown to develop a deep and lasting love for nature, the grand teacher of simplicity. I find joy in harvesting produce, satisfaction in spending hours working in the yard, and peace amidst the quiet, often sacred surroundings of nature. As the world becomes more complicated, nature remains constant. You can always rely on nature to bring you lasting happiness and peace of mind, and this is a huge testimony to me of the love that God has for us. He didn't just put us on this earth without putting a great deal of thought into the design. Not only has it been created with aesthetics in mind, but we can learn many lessons from nature as well. There is powerful symbolism everywhere in nature, and many notable spiritual experiences happened in nature because of its ability to create a sacred environment. And on that note, I feel empowered...
Dieter F. Uchtdorf said: "The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter."
Creating gardens and maintaining them is somewhat spiritual! I can create sacred environments where people can feel the spirit and have incredible experiences. That's awesome. :)
Call me granola, but I have grown to develop a deep and lasting love for nature, the grand teacher of simplicity. I find joy in harvesting produce, satisfaction in spending hours working in the yard, and peace amidst the quiet, often sacred surroundings of nature. As the world becomes more complicated, nature remains constant. You can always rely on nature to bring you lasting happiness and peace of mind, and this is a huge testimony to me of the love that God has for us. He didn't just put us on this earth without putting a great deal of thought into the design. Not only has it been created with aesthetics in mind, but we can learn many lessons from nature as well. There is powerful symbolism everywhere in nature, and many notable spiritual experiences happened in nature because of its ability to create a sacred environment. And on that note, I feel empowered...
Dieter F. Uchtdorf said: "The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter."
Creating gardens and maintaining them is somewhat spiritual! I can create sacred environments where people can feel the spirit and have incredible experiences. That's awesome. :)
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Green Bean...
About a week or two ago, I had some friends over for dinner on Sunday. My friend, Lanae, had brought a can of green beans to share, so when she came in the door, she said "I brought green beans!" And then I ran and hugged her. Well, I guess Jordan thought that she was calling me Green Bean! Now the name has stuck. I like it. :)
Anyways, life has been great! Sure, school is kicking my trash, but I am remembering to stay balanced and have fun too.
Anyways, life has been great! Sure, school is kicking my trash, but I am remembering to stay balanced and have fun too.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
I got euphorbia in my eye!
I am SO busy with tons of homework at the moment, but I decided to stop for a minute and tell you a funny story:
In Nursery Management class, we took several cuttings of different "xerophytes," also known as cacti, succulents, and euphorbia. It was one of my favorite labs! I can't wait to plant all of them next week.
Well, my eye started getting pretty irritated, but I didn't check it out in the mirror. I thought I had gotten some dirt in it or something. Well, I soon find out from a friend that my eye is REALLY red. My immediate response "I think I got some euphorbia in my eye!" Hahahaha! Only a plant nerd would say that. And I LOVE that I was the one who said it. :)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Shoot for the Stars!
I've been thinking a lot about this concept: Shoot for the stars, and even if you land on the moon, it's still pretty awesome!
Not a day goes by that I don't think about my experience at Disney World for that year at Epcot. I shot for the stars, and I made it that time. It was one of the most amazing years of my life that I am forever grateful for. It shaped me and paved the way for a brighter future full of more exciting adventures and ambitions. That internship help lead me towards the direction I'm headed in my career. Ultimately, I want to use my education to get others excited about horticulture, whether it's in a botanic or community garden, through a landscaping company, as a sales rep or a PR for a company, or in my own home. I am SO excited!
Because of this newfound ambition and direction, I applied to numerous internships for the summer in botanical gardens and their community garden programs:
Longwood Gardens (located in Kennett Square, PA): A very prestigious internship to do, and having Disney on my resume helps a LOT. I applied for 3 internships: Indoor Display, Outdoor Display, and Greenhouse Propagation.
Chicago Botanic Garden: I applied for their display internship as well as their "Green Youth Farm" community garden program. The display internship would have me working in the botanic garden while the Green Youth Farm internship would have me in one of four community gardens in Chicago supported by the gardens. I would be working with middle/high school students from under served areas to teach them all I know about gardening and help them develop who they are.
Denver Botanic Garden: I basically applied for the same internships like Chicago, but their CSA program is not with middle/high school students. It is more focused on the community as a whole.
No matter where I end up, I am going to have SUCH a blast.
Not a day goes by that I don't think about my experience at Disney World for that year at Epcot. I shot for the stars, and I made it that time. It was one of the most amazing years of my life that I am forever grateful for. It shaped me and paved the way for a brighter future full of more exciting adventures and ambitions. That internship help lead me towards the direction I'm headed in my career. Ultimately, I want to use my education to get others excited about horticulture, whether it's in a botanic or community garden, through a landscaping company, as a sales rep or a PR for a company, or in my own home. I am SO excited!
Because of this newfound ambition and direction, I applied to numerous internships for the summer in botanical gardens and their community garden programs:
Longwood Gardens (located in Kennett Square, PA): A very prestigious internship to do, and having Disney on my resume helps a LOT. I applied for 3 internships: Indoor Display, Outdoor Display, and Greenhouse Propagation.
Chicago Botanic Garden: I applied for their display internship as well as their "Green Youth Farm" community garden program. The display internship would have me working in the botanic garden while the Green Youth Farm internship would have me in one of four community gardens in Chicago supported by the gardens. I would be working with middle/high school students from under served areas to teach them all I know about gardening and help them develop who they are.
Denver Botanic Garden: I basically applied for the same internships like Chicago, but their CSA program is not with middle/high school students. It is more focused on the community as a whole.
No matter where I end up, I am going to have SUCH a blast.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Daily Bread...
Today was a great day... :)
It's so wonderful when you have one of those Sundays that you needed so badly. You get so much instruction and revelation meant just for you to help you in your current situation.
This week was rather stressful as I left home for the millionth time and caught a plane to Salt Lake City. I did not want to leave! This past weekend, I was able to go down memory lane and meet with old friends, drive down familiar roads, and feel back at home. Coming back to school was difficult.
And when I got back to school, I felt like I was thrown in the deep end of a pool with sharks in it without any floaties! I am taking the Production block of classes where nearly all classes are taught by the same professor that doesn't like to publish assignments and due dates. I am so worried that I won't write down every assignment and when it's due, and I keep getting classes mixed up. Point being, I am overwhelmed.
Today was such a great day full of spiritual advice:
- First, I have SUCH a great ward with an incredible bishop.
- In Sunday School, we learned about John the Baptist's parents and his mission on earth. I learned that we may not have as "grand" of a mission as John the Baptist, but we DO have missions to fulfill on Earth, and we need to be preparing every day for those missions that will come our way.
- I've been thinking a lot about this concept: You can't always pay someone back, but you can always pay it forward. I have a hard time accepting help, as you can tell from my humble pie entry, and I realized that what I should be doing instead of paying people back is to live my life in a way that I am focusing on what I can do for others, going by the spirit instead.
- There was a CES Fireside today with D. Todd Christofferson, and he talked a lot about daily efforts. Heavenly Father appreciates EVERY effort we make to becoming a better person. It's the daily efforts that Heavenly Father wants; don't try and be superwoman! I need to look at my life day-by-day instead of looking at my agenda book and syllabus, freaking out about all that I need to do. Baby steps.
It's so wonderful when you have one of those Sundays that you needed so badly. You get so much instruction and revelation meant just for you to help you in your current situation.
This week was rather stressful as I left home for the millionth time and caught a plane to Salt Lake City. I did not want to leave! This past weekend, I was able to go down memory lane and meet with old friends, drive down familiar roads, and feel back at home. Coming back to school was difficult.
And when I got back to school, I felt like I was thrown in the deep end of a pool with sharks in it without any floaties! I am taking the Production block of classes where nearly all classes are taught by the same professor that doesn't like to publish assignments and due dates. I am so worried that I won't write down every assignment and when it's due, and I keep getting classes mixed up. Point being, I am overwhelmed.
Today was such a great day full of spiritual advice:
- First, I have SUCH a great ward with an incredible bishop.
- In Sunday School, we learned about John the Baptist's parents and his mission on earth. I learned that we may not have as "grand" of a mission as John the Baptist, but we DO have missions to fulfill on Earth, and we need to be preparing every day for those missions that will come our way.
- I've been thinking a lot about this concept: You can't always pay someone back, but you can always pay it forward. I have a hard time accepting help, as you can tell from my humble pie entry, and I realized that what I should be doing instead of paying people back is to live my life in a way that I am focusing on what I can do for others, going by the spirit instead.
- There was a CES Fireside today with D. Todd Christofferson, and he talked a lot about daily efforts. Heavenly Father appreciates EVERY effort we make to becoming a better person. It's the daily efforts that Heavenly Father wants; don't try and be superwoman! I need to look at my life day-by-day instead of looking at my agenda book and syllabus, freaking out about all that I need to do. Baby steps.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
Monday, December 27, 2010
I am SUCH a nerd.
You know you are the nerd of all nerds when you get really excited about textbooks that come in the mail and you feel so much satisfaction from organizing your school supplies for the next semester. I'm coming clean. I am SUCH a nerd!
I got super excited about next semester today. I got all my binders organized with the papers I needed for class and started packing all my books in my duffel bag. I am taking the "Production block" of classes where they are all Horticulture classes that end 2 weeks early and all the students travel up and down California visiting various nurseries for 16 to 17 days. Woo!
I got super excited about next semester today. I got all my binders organized with the papers I needed for class and started packing all my books in my duffel bag. I am taking the "Production block" of classes where they are all Horticulture classes that end 2 weeks early and all the students travel up and down California visiting various nurseries for 16 to 17 days. Woo!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Patience --> Anticipation --> HOPE!
I went to Rockledge ward today with my family, and I LOVED the lesson in Relief Society! We talked all about the talk that Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave called "Continue in Patience," and it was great. A sister made a comment about how patience allows us to experience anticipation, and that is what leads us to hope. This is why our microwave generation of kids aren't as optimistic anymore.
You can find yourself so focused on what you're getting at the end of the road that you forget about the journey! Patience is more enjoyable than people realize; you can experience SO much more if you just wait a little bit and stop to smell the flowers on the road side. You can savor the experience of getting to your destination instead of only thinking about the end.
It's hard though! It's so hard to slow down in our speedy, instant-gratification society that expects you to get things done and get them done quickly. People wonder why you haven't graduated from college yet or haven't settled down and gotten married, and you feel so much pressure from outside forces to conform to that mentality. It's so important to use this as an opportunity to fine tune your line of communication with Heavenly Father to see what He wants instead of relying on the arm of flesh. It's an opportunity to work on putting your trust in God instead of worrying about whether people think you are becoming an old maid or not. WHO CARES!
I am grateful for the experiences I've had in my life. I am SO happy with where my life is right now, and I always hope that I can keep the mentality of enjoying what I am experiencing now instead of waiting for some future event to make me happy. Finding happiness right now is actually the way to have lasting happiness. If we seek for joy in certain events all the time, we'll get it, and then the happiness wears off as we get used to it.
You can find yourself so focused on what you're getting at the end of the road that you forget about the journey! Patience is more enjoyable than people realize; you can experience SO much more if you just wait a little bit and stop to smell the flowers on the road side. You can savor the experience of getting to your destination instead of only thinking about the end.
It's hard though! It's so hard to slow down in our speedy, instant-gratification society that expects you to get things done and get them done quickly. People wonder why you haven't graduated from college yet or haven't settled down and gotten married, and you feel so much pressure from outside forces to conform to that mentality. It's so important to use this as an opportunity to fine tune your line of communication with Heavenly Father to see what He wants instead of relying on the arm of flesh. It's an opportunity to work on putting your trust in God instead of worrying about whether people think you are becoming an old maid or not. WHO CARES!
I am grateful for the experiences I've had in my life. I am SO happy with where my life is right now, and I always hope that I can keep the mentality of enjoying what I am experiencing now instead of waiting for some future event to make me happy. Finding happiness right now is actually the way to have lasting happiness. If we seek for joy in certain events all the time, we'll get it, and then the happiness wears off as we get used to it.
Happiness is more a state of being than an emotion.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
We Just Laughed!
Since I wasn't able to leave when I wanted to on Friday to play with friends in Utah, I had to take the torture train (aka Salt Lake Express) to Utah this morning. It took nearly 5 stinking hours! BUT, I had a simple lesson taught to me. There were two older people sitting in front of me that we picked up in Idaho Falls who had their flight cancelled after they had driven up from Utah. They were headed all the way back down to Utah to catch another flight at 6pm tonight. The man was telling someone about it on the phone, and all he had to say about it was "and we just laughed!" That was it! No complaining about stupid airlines or crappy weather, just that they laughed about it. And then said "there's nothing you can really do about it but laugh, you know?"
So then I stopped complaining about having to take the shuttle.
Sometimes... No, EVERY TIME, you should just laugh!
Click here to watch my favorite laughing baby!
So then I stopped complaining about having to take the shuttle.
Sometimes... No, EVERY TIME, you should just laugh!
Click here to watch my favorite laughing baby!
Friday, December 17, 2010
One Big Piece of Humble Pie
I like pie a lot, so why use the phrase "humble pie?" Why not "humble sardines?" But if has to be pie, mine would be mincemeat. Gross.
So, today I had to eat a huge piece of humble mincemeat pie, and it tasted nasty. Yesterday, I was diagnosed with bronchitis during finals for college, and it came at the worst time. I still had finals to take, portfolios to turn in, and needed to move into my new apartment for next semester. I had no energy, no motivation, and no appetite.
There was no way that I was going to be able to get through this on my own. I had to accept rides, meals, people moving all my stuff for me, and give what I had done on my greenhouse portfolio and understand that it wasn't going to be the quality I wanted it to be. When I was packing and moving my stuff to the front of the apartment, I was completely drained of energy. I sat on the couch and just cried. Heavenly Father had me down to my knees where only then could I really understand that I couldn't do everything on my own. I HAD to ask for help and take it.
Kristin and her friend came over to move my stuff, and I started crying again. I told them that I was having to eat my humble pie and say that I couldn't help them move my stuff. Then my friend Jordan came over since I'd asked him to come and help when I realized I couldn't. Well, he ended up being moral support instead, and it was so much needed. At that moment, as Kristin and her friend were moving my things and Jordan was sitting next to me while I cried, I was so grateful for the "whipped cream friends" that make the humble pie taste not as bad. Jordan made a really really good point that I needed to hear. Even when I do take help, I have this inherent need to pay them back somehow. He told me that I need to be able to take help and not pay the person back all the time. Thank you notes and dinners are great, but don't feel like you always have to do that. If I feel like I need to pay everyone back for everything, then I'm going to have a darn hard time paying back my Savior for the Atonement He gave to me.
I've learned my lesson, and I hope it stays that way. I don't want bronchitis again. :)
So, today I had to eat a huge piece of humble mincemeat pie, and it tasted nasty. Yesterday, I was diagnosed with bronchitis during finals for college, and it came at the worst time. I still had finals to take, portfolios to turn in, and needed to move into my new apartment for next semester. I had no energy, no motivation, and no appetite.
There was no way that I was going to be able to get through this on my own. I had to accept rides, meals, people moving all my stuff for me, and give what I had done on my greenhouse portfolio and understand that it wasn't going to be the quality I wanted it to be. When I was packing and moving my stuff to the front of the apartment, I was completely drained of energy. I sat on the couch and just cried. Heavenly Father had me down to my knees where only then could I really understand that I couldn't do everything on my own. I HAD to ask for help and take it.
Kristin and her friend came over to move my stuff, and I started crying again. I told them that I was having to eat my humble pie and say that I couldn't help them move my stuff. Then my friend Jordan came over since I'd asked him to come and help when I realized I couldn't. Well, he ended up being moral support instead, and it was so much needed. At that moment, as Kristin and her friend were moving my things and Jordan was sitting next to me while I cried, I was so grateful for the "whipped cream friends" that make the humble pie taste not as bad. Jordan made a really really good point that I needed to hear. Even when I do take help, I have this inherent need to pay them back somehow. He told me that I need to be able to take help and not pay the person back all the time. Thank you notes and dinners are great, but don't feel like you always have to do that. If I feel like I need to pay everyone back for everything, then I'm going to have a darn hard time paying back my Savior for the Atonement He gave to me.
I've learned my lesson, and I hope it stays that way. I don't want bronchitis again. :)
Thank goodness for whipped cream!
Monday, December 6, 2010
72... no, 63. 72. I added tax and tip.
Funniest moment today: I was in a manager meeting with the professor I work for, and we were trying to figure out how much something was going to cost. Here's how the conversation went.
Jace: All you have to do is 6 times 9 to see how much it costs.
Bro. Toll: 72
Valerie: No, 63.
Bro. Toll: I added tax and tip already.
I died laughing. Good try at covering up! Hahahahaha!
Anyway, the more I think about it, the more excited I get about going home for Christmas. It just doesn't feel like Christmas to me right now, and I realized it's because I'm not home. So Dec. 19 couldn't come sooner! ... Well, actually, it could wait. I have a lot of homework to do first.
Peace, love, and happiness.
...And Coldplay
Coldplay - Christmas Lights
Jace: All you have to do is 6 times 9 to see how much it costs.
Bro. Toll: 72
Valerie: No, 63.
Bro. Toll: I added tax and tip already.
I died laughing. Good try at covering up! Hahahahaha!
Anyway, the more I think about it, the more excited I get about going home for Christmas. It just doesn't feel like Christmas to me right now, and I realized it's because I'm not home. So Dec. 19 couldn't come sooner! ... Well, actually, it could wait. I have a lot of homework to do first.
Peace, love, and happiness.
...And Coldplay
Coldplay - Christmas Lights
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Self Evaluation...
Happy Sunday! I woke up this morning and started getting ready for church only to find out that there was no way for me to get there. I tried walking and made it maybe 10 feet out the door before I turned around. It's snowing, and the sidewalks are VERY slippery. So for now, I resorted to watching broadcasts that I had missed on lds.org. I watched the CES Broadcast from Nov. 5 that M. Russell Ballard spoke at. It was great! It made me really think about where I stand in my life spiritually and what I need to fix to remain on the path. He asked 10 important questions:
- 1. Are you happy with the direction of your life and the depth of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?
- 2. Do you love God with all of your heart, soul, strength, and mind, as the Lord taught the lawyer in Luke 10?
- 3. Are you doing the simple things in your everyday life?
- 4. Are you being kind and thoughtful of the needs of those around you?
- 5. Are you following the counsel of the Brethren emphasized in this past conference to avoid completely any kind of pornography?Pornography cannot exist in our lives if we have true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I say with all the strength that I have: if this is a problem in your life, “Leave it alone!”
- 6. Are you living worthy of a temple recommend?
- 7. Are you actively participating in your Sunday meetings, especially sacrament meeting—partaking of the sacrament worthily and renewing your covenants with the Lord?
- 8. Are you returned missionaries maintaining the dignity of a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ in your dress and in your personal demeanor?
- 9. Are you preparing for and actively pursuing finding your eternal companion?I could spend the rest of the evening on this question, but I am sure by now you understand that we do not endorse “hanging out.” If you haven’t gotten that yet, get it tonight. In your vernacular, “Cool it!” We recommend proper dating—you know, it’s simple: a boy asks a girl for a date, and you have a good time together. Are you really looking for a companion who loves the Lord and honors His holy name?
- 10. Those of you who are married, are date nights a regular occurrence as you continue to build and strengthen your relationship?
He also read a poem by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr., titled The Oak Tree:
A mighty wind blew night and day.
It stole the oak tree’s leaves away,
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark.
But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around.
The weary wind gave up and spoke,
“How can you still be standing, Oak?”
The oak tree said, “I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two,
Carry every leaf away,
Shake my limbs, and make me sway.
But I have roots stretched in the earth,
Growing stronger since my birth.
You’ll never touch them, for you see,
They are the deepest part of me.
Until today, I wasn’t sure
Of just how much I could endure.
But now I’ve found, with thanks to you,
I’m stronger than I ever knew.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Black Friday... What?!
As my Dad and I were driving to the airport at 4:30am, it was unusually busy on the streets. I thought, what the HECK people?! Then we drove past Target...
Oh yeah! It's BLACK FRIDAY! Target's parking lot was so full of cars! I'm not gonna lie: I was very sad that I spent the entire day traveling instead of shopping, but it was a good set up. I would have definitely spent too much money that I don't have! One day... One day, I'm gonna marry a millionaire and go nuts on Black Friday. Then I'll get to walk through a shopping mall with millions of colorful bags hanging from my arms. :)
Oh yeah! It's BLACK FRIDAY! Target's parking lot was so full of cars! I'm not gonna lie: I was very sad that I spent the entire day traveling instead of shopping, but it was a good set up. I would have definitely spent too much money that I don't have! One day... One day, I'm gonna marry a millionaire and go nuts on Black Friday. Then I'll get to walk through a shopping mall with millions of colorful bags hanging from my arms. :)
Well, I'm back in the frozen tundra called Rexburg, and I'm taking the day to start cleaning the apartment to move out (3 weeks til the semester's over!) and keep trudging through homework. I'm almost done!!!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Only 3 days in Florida, but only 3 weeks until I come back!
I am SO sad to be getting on an airplane back to Utah when I've only spent 3 days at home, BUT beggars can't be choosers! It has been a huge blessing to be home for Thanksgiving; and to have everyone at the table for the first time in 4 years?! We were very blessed to have everyone there, including my grandparents... Grandpa had just been released from the hospital last night! And boy did the food taste good this year! I'll have to steal a picture from my little sister...
My favorite food this year was the Pecan Pie. Holy COW. That was probably the best pecan pie in the world!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Basking in 78 degree weather...
In case you were wondering, there is an 80 DEGREE DIFFERENCE between where I am in Florida and where I will be going back this Friday (it's 2 degrees in Rexburg!). Boy, am I glad to be home. And the weather is supposed to be much better on the day I get back! I believe in miracles!
Anyway, at this very moment, it is THANKSGIVING DAY! So here's my list of what I'm thankful for. First off, I must say that there is no way that I could write everything, and there are so many blessings that I may not even recognize in my life, but I recognize that my Heavenly Father's hand is in everything.
I am thankful for:
Very first and foremost, my Heavenly Father and the plan He has for me. Boy, do I live the good life when I follow His plan!
Jesus Christ, my Mediator and Best Friend. I am so thankful for all He's done for me to provide a way to fix my mistakes
A wonderful family
Technology
When my Dad makes homemade popcorn
Cell phone covers.... and warranties!
Good health and the modern medicine we have to keep us that way
Beautiful weather
Sunshine
Being able to attend BYU-Idaho and be in one THE best Horticulture programs in the nation. Seriously! Nationally known!
Having good food to eat
Electricity
Plants (oh yeah!)
Disney World :)
Computers
Nail polish
Hugs and cuddling
Thrift stores
Yummy Florida-grown citrus
My little space heater I bought for $10 that keeps my bedroom at school, also known as the Arctic Circle, nice and toasty
Cotton candy
Good quality tissues when you cry
Plumbing!
Soft, squishy carpet
Knowledge
Scriptures
Prayer
Good teeth and being able to go to a dentist to keep them that way!
Rain boots that keep my feet dry
Ski socks my mom bought to keep those dry feet warm
Flip flops (when I can wear them! I've worn ONLY flip flops while I've been home)
German chocolate. Natalie, you have ruined me! I can't look at this crap they make in America and call it chocolate.
Hamsters!
Beautiful nature
Clouds
Stars
Warmth
Fall leaves!!!!
Coconut covered marshmallows
SALT! Food would be SO boring without it
The ocean and the waves
Light
A bottle of REALLY good lotion
Being HOME for Thanksgiving
Living in a free country
I could go on forever! All in all, I am so thankful to be ALIVE. I'm thankful for the opportunity to progress in life and become a better person. I'm grateful for the chances I get to help other people and help them along their own journey towards Happiness.
Words can't express how much gratitude I have for all that I have in my life. God is good!
Anyway, at this very moment, it is THANKSGIVING DAY! So here's my list of what I'm thankful for. First off, I must say that there is no way that I could write everything, and there are so many blessings that I may not even recognize in my life, but I recognize that my Heavenly Father's hand is in everything.
I am thankful for:
Very first and foremost, my Heavenly Father and the plan He has for me. Boy, do I live the good life when I follow His plan!
Jesus Christ, my Mediator and Best Friend. I am so thankful for all He's done for me to provide a way to fix my mistakes
A wonderful family
Technology
When my Dad makes homemade popcorn
Cell phone covers.... and warranties!
Good health and the modern medicine we have to keep us that way
Beautiful weather
Sunshine
Being able to attend BYU-Idaho and be in one THE best Horticulture programs in the nation. Seriously! Nationally known!
Having good food to eat
Electricity
Plants (oh yeah!)
Disney World :)
Computers
Nail polish
Hugs and cuddling
Thrift stores
Yummy Florida-grown citrus
My little space heater I bought for $10 that keeps my bedroom at school, also known as the Arctic Circle, nice and toasty
Cotton candy
Good quality tissues when you cry
Plumbing!
Soft, squishy carpet
Knowledge
Scriptures
Prayer
Good teeth and being able to go to a dentist to keep them that way!
Rain boots that keep my feet dry
Ski socks my mom bought to keep those dry feet warm
Flip flops (when I can wear them! I've worn ONLY flip flops while I've been home)
German chocolate. Natalie, you have ruined me! I can't look at this crap they make in America and call it chocolate.
Hamsters!
Beautiful nature
Clouds
Stars
Warmth
Fall leaves!!!!
Coconut covered marshmallows
SALT! Food would be SO boring without it
The ocean and the waves
Light
A bottle of REALLY good lotion
Being HOME for Thanksgiving
Living in a free country
I could go on forever! All in all, I am so thankful to be ALIVE. I'm thankful for the opportunity to progress in life and become a better person. I'm grateful for the chances I get to help other people and help them along their own journey towards Happiness.
Words can't express how much gratitude I have for all that I have in my life. God is good!
 |
| I LOVE fall leaves! |
Monday, November 22, 2010
I'm FLYING!
Seriously... I'm 37,000 miles in the air right now! Thanks to Delta's holiday present of free WiFi, I am blogging on my way HOME. This will be the first time that I've been home on Thanksgiving Day since 2006! And it's going to be awesome since Natalie just got home from her mission a few weeks ago!
I am SO grateful for many things. Technology that allows me to write in my blog while flying on an airplane across the country in 4 hours, listening to music... I'm grateful for such a wonderful, supportive family that I love very much. I am grateful to be alive! I am SO BLESSED to be here on this earth at this time with so many incredible resources to help me in my quest to become a better person.
Heavenly Father has blessed me so much, and I have NO idea what I did to deserve it! ... Actually, I don't really deserve this. We don
I am SO grateful for many things. Technology that allows me to write in my blog while flying on an airplane across the country in 4 hours, listening to music... I'm grateful for such a wonderful, supportive family that I love very much. I am grateful to be alive! I am SO BLESSED to be here on this earth at this time with so many incredible resources to help me in my quest to become a better person.
Heavenly Father has blessed me so much, and I have NO idea what I did to deserve it! ... Actually, I don't really deserve this. We don
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