Grateful Charts and Open Hearts

So I've been meaning to do this for a while now, but it required a poster. And I seriously have gone to get a poster for it several times and whichever store I happened to go to has been out of single poster boards.

SERIOUSLY

But then last night I was driving home from a night out with some old roomies (Can I just say I love Nancy and Alyse? I don't see nearly enough of them! And then I happened to end up seeing old roomies Kamie and Brett too... crazy love!) and just got thinking about various things (driving in the car is the best time for me to think) and just felt like now was the time to do it. No matter what.

So I got home, raided the craft closet and was able to find a very large piece of construction paper. It'll do. For now.

I sticky-tack-ed it up by my door and wrote across the top:

I AM GRATEFUL FOR...

Now, any time I go through my door (in or out) I write something I'm grateful for. And I try to put something that is IN THE MOMENT.

For example:
Just now I wrote "memories of Camille"
(yes Mills... YOU! You must say we have a lot... and I'm letting my hair go curly tonight but it was doing something funky on top -- new hair cut -- so I stuck in a claw... which I haven't done FOREVER)

Anywho.

I love it already.

I have a lot to be grateful for...and remembering that really does open my heart.

Life is good.

☼

And I go in/out of my room a lot (11 times in one day! 22 things on the chart!)

☼

And I wrote the start date on the chart. It might confuse some people though. I most definitely agree with this! (sidenote...this same blogger just gave birth to the cutest little boy! I'm super happy for them!)


♥ LOVES TO YOU ALL! ♥

Sharing Some Scriptorial Studyings...

So the other day I felt the need to write.

And when I started writing, I found myself writing about things that I'd been thinking about in the scriptural sense.

And it was good.

REALLY good.

...(and by good, I mean therapeutic)...

And I figured that if it did me such good, maybe some of my thoughts would serve as a positive reminder to someone else.

maybe.

And if not -- well -- you get an insight into my thinking.

(And I've got my thinking on hand for some future Sacrament Meeting talk☺)

SO... if you do choose to read... ENJOY!

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3rd Nephi is probably my favorite book in The Book of Mormon (9:14-22 and 11:7-17 are my favorite passages -- they seem to summarize the Gospel so well! Powerful stuff). The power that I feel each time I read of Christ's visit to the Americas is overwhelming. I've taken to comparing his sermon to the Nephites to the Sermon on the Mount, finding some of the more subtle differences. There is one slight difference that has had a real impact on me. Let me preface it with Moroni 10:32:


"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all you might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ, and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can nowise deny the power of God."


I think many people (such as myself) tend to look past the word "perfected". We forget it is a process and instead focus on the admonition given in 3N 12:48:


"Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in Heaven is perfect."


What a daunting task that seems! To be PERFECT just as our Father and Elder Brother are. Comparing it to the same verse (48) in Matthew 5, however, I found that slight difference:


"[Ye are therefore commanded to be perfect], even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect."

...([]=Joseph Smith Translation)...


Here, Christ does not include himself in the definition of perfection. For though he was the perfect example in all things, he was not yet in a perfected state... the Greek word for perfect also can mean complete, finished or fully developed... giving us insight to the fact that Christ could not call himself perfect as He still had work to complete. He had to be finished with his work on Earth and become fully developed spiritually through his sacrifice to be in that state of perfection.

We are here to be perfected... not to be perfect.

We too have to complete our own missions here on Earth and offer up our own sacrifice: a broken heart and a contrite spirit (3N 9:20). That's what I'm trying to focus on.

Another focus I'm trying to make in on my Divine Nature. In working with Young Womens-aged girls in Especially For Youth, you can probably imagine that I bring the Theme into play a lot.

...(One of my Co-Counselors had it memorized. We girls thought that was awesome of him)...


"We are daughter of our Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love Him. We will stand as witnesses of God in all thing, and in all times, and in all places, as we strive to live the Young Women's values, which are:
Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works
Integrity, and
Virtue
We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the Temple, and enjoy the blessings of Exaltation.


As literal sons and daughters of God, we have inherited, through our Divine Nature, God-like attributes which we should be working to develop. Many of these qualities are there within the YW values.

One thing I've found myself focusing on is not only the value of virtue in the sense of being pure, but also in the way it is used in Luke 8 when rehearsing the story of the woman who had an issue of blood. Here when Christ spoke saying that he felt virtue leave him, the word meant power. To me, the YW's value is not only a reminder of the need to be clean, but also of the POWER which we carry over the adversary to say, as Moses did(1:13, 16):


"Who aren't thou? For behold, I am a [child] of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?...

...Get thee hence, Satan; deceive me not; for God said unto me: Thou art after the similitude of mine Only Begotten."


Also as heirs, we are entitled to receive the same blessing given to our Elder brother. Romans 8:16-17 is one of my favorite scriptures reminding us of what lies for us in the world to come.

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♥ Man -- the Gospel is GOOD! ♥

Well, hello there!

Ok... considering the fact that I haven't written anything since... February? (wow...) You are all probably expecting an update... here is the [very] short version:

1- Mitch got his mission call the first week of March to Sapporo, Japan. He actually said a few days earlier that he felt like he was jinxing himself, but that if he could choose his own mission, he would go to Northern Japan... I guess it wasn't a jinx! He was like a little boy on Christmas morning:
Notice the dazed look? Yeah... he was in blissful disbelief.

2- Mitch left for the MTC (Missionary Training Center) on May 19th. Matt, Michelle and Callan were able to come down for the farewell!

The Oh-So-Handsome Missionary:

The Fabulous Family:


And the most delightfully, darling, chunk of a nephew around!:Mitchell is absolutely loving the MTC and is devouring the Japanese language. He's always had a thing for Japanese culture and language, though -- so we aren't surprised :)

3- School ended. I officially survived my first year of teaching! (With no parents yelling at me either... though I was assumed to be a HS/College aide more than once...) Once the year was over, I spent the next week cleaning out my classroom for the summer, sorting supplies, etc. It's a never-ending job! I miss my kiddies, but it's nice to have the summer off and still get the same paychecks! ;)

4- The week after cleaning and before starting #5, I got to see my dear friend, Camille, her hubby, Cody, and their darling boy Jaden! They were in town for a bit during their crazy 3-week road trip so we took a morning to enjoy a Smoochie Smoothie :) I also got to go to my friend, Greg's, cabin at Bear Lake.

5- I've been working EFY again. I worked three weeks straight, had last week and this week off then go back next week. I love it! I had forgotten how exhausting being a counselor is, though. All three of my groups have somehow worked out with more guys than girls. For anyone who has been to or done EFY, you know that this is unheard of... and yet this year is crazy common. I had it 3 weeks in a row! And 2 of those weeks it was two guy counselors with me! Craziness! (My girls have been loving it... ;) )

6- Last week I was actually somewhat social! (Ok... I have had a few other sporadic social events since summer started...) I went to a birthday party one night and a house party another night.

I also went out to lunch with some of the girls from High School and was pleasantly surprised when another of my best friends, Katie, walked in the door with her baby, Kyson! They're living in Texas, but randomly decided to drive up since her husband wasn't in school and she was still on maternity leave -- it pretty much made my day!

7- Today Alex (16 and 6'1") and Jackson (13 and 6'2") left for a 19-day trip. They are on the 100th anniversary Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree and I'm pretty sure that they were more excited than they were willing to display... they get to tour in NY, PA and DC as well as camp and go to Busch Gardens... I'd be excited! (I love roller coasters...) The rule at our house is that to go they have to be an Eagle Scout... all four of my brothers have gone on the Jamboree now. Isn't that awesome? :)

8- Tonight... I'm going to the Days of '47 Rodeo!

How was that for an update? Still breathing? Seeing straight? Good...

♥ you all! :)

I Love To See The Temple...

I went inside today! :)

Dislike & Love

As I totally stole this idea, I feel the need to give proper credit to Lindsay
who made such a list most recently on Monday.

She's great.

So THANKS Linds!

Anywho. Some of my thoughts on the past couple days . . .

Things I dislike:

~Chapped lips
~My mic still being broken
~Having extra things happening at school, making me feel rushed
~Cold feet
~Swallowing 9 pills in one . . . standing . . . (a bunch of vitamins/herbs plus allergy and decongestant pills plus ibuprofun for the headache)
~Feeling lonely


Things I love:

~Chocolate
~Perfect days for driving home with my sunroof open
~Chapstick
~The loving hearts of children
~Wearing green
~That wearing green makes the red in my hair stand out
~Thunderstorms
~Institute
~My little brother giving me hugs
~New shoes
~My pillow-top queen bed
~Gospel discussions with my dad
~Looking for and finding the tender mercies in my life
~Chatting with my mom
~My friends
~Laughing so hard that it hurts

~LIFE~

*Live*Laugh*Love*

Bishop Turner

We got a new Stake Presidency about a month ago. I predicted correctly that my incredible institute teacher would be the new Stake President (I miss him in class!). What I didn't predict is that now-President Blair Morris would be taking our own Bishop Reed Merkley as a counselor.

But as soon as we knew that, I was pretty sure who the bishop would be!

I was right :)

Yesterday (July 12th), my Dad was set apart as the new Bishop in the Park Meadows Ward in the Centerville, UT Stake of Zion.

Love you, Daddy!

It's all about the kids!

Back on the 3rd I was unaware of having work off until I was already up and ready for the day (and wondering why on earth Mitch was still in his PJs). So I "randomly" decided to fill out the online application for Granite School District with all my spare time.

I was definitely inspired.

Most of the applications that I've filled out have asked about grade preferences, etc., but this one didn't. Those of you with whom I've discussed my teaching career know that I was quite opinionated when it came to the grade(s) I wanted to teach:

I'm an upper-grade teacher.

5th would be the ideal position.

I don't even KNOW how to PROCESS information at a beginning level.

Good thing Heavenly Father knows me better than I know myself :)

So I submitted the application and didn't really think much of it until I received a call from a principal Monday morning -- she wanted to interview me the next day for a 1st grade position at her school.

My thoughts: First grade? No. But interview practice is always good!

So Tuesday I drove 23 minutes to Rolling Meadows Elementary School in West Valley City. I was the first interview of the day and Mrs. Kayla MacKay would be interviewing all week. She was an absolute sweetheart! One of the 1st grade teachers (Cherrie) was also in the room for the interview and she, too, was one of the sweetest ladies. I didn't even know them and they made me feel loved and welcomed as though they'd known me for years. I left the interview loving them.

Suddenly all thoughts went to 1st grade.
Classroom themes -- lesson ideas -- just how cute those kids are!

Friday morning (July 10th) -- just one week after submitting my application -- I was offered the job. I was feeling so good about it, but it took me by such surprise that I asked Kayla if I could have the weekend to think about it. As soon as I got off the phone, I ran into my dad's office and had a heart-to-heart. He made me recognize how much trust and confidence Kayla was putting in me -- a first year teacher -- to offer me a position teaching first grade. Wow! She picked ME. Not someone with a lot of experience.

ME

So I prayed. I still felt good about it. I called Kayla back and I accepted the job. I didn't need the weekend.

She was thrilled!

She told me that right after she had spoken with me she called Jenny (the third teacher) and Cherrie to tell them that I wanted to think about it. Cherrie is such a sweetheart! Kayla told me that Cherrie mentioned that maybe I just needed some time to pray about it . . . and that she would think of me when she went to the temple later that day. Kayla expressed to me her desire that I would realize I wanted them as much as they wanted me. She immediately called the other two teachers back.

I am so blessed to not only have found a job, but to have the opportunity to work with such wonderful women!

Yep. Heavenly Father's plan is a whole lot better than my own. :)

N'Abandonne Pas

N'Abandonne Pas

N'abandonne pas lorsque la marée est à son plus bas,
Car bientôt elle changera.
N'abandonne pas en cas de doutes ou de questions,
Car peut-être que tu apprendras quelques chose.

N'abandonne pas lorsque la nuit est à son plus noir,
Car l'aube ne saurais tarder.
N'abandonne pas lorsque tu as courru le plus loin possible,
La course est presque gagnée.

N'abandonne pas lorsque la côte est à son plus abrupte,
Car ton objectif est presque atteint.
N'abandonne pas, car tu ne connaîtras pas l'échec,
Sauf si tu n'essaies pas.

Jill Wolf

Almost 2 years ago I decided it was time for me to improve my journal-writing habits, so I went looking for a journal that would make me want to write. For those of you who didn't know this -- I have a slight obsession for all things French. I found a journal on the clearance shelf in the BYU bookstore with the short story/poem Footprints on it in French -- it was too perfect, so I bought it. And I filled it quite quickly. When it was nearly full, I went looking for another journal, so I'd already have one to continue writing in when the first was full. I again found it on the clearance shelf at the bookstore and again it caught my eye because of the French writing on the front. The poem above is what that writing contained.

I read through the poem again tonight and realized how much I love this poem and so, I'm sharing it with you. I couldn't find a real English translation of it online, but I'll translate it for you:

Don't Give Up

Don't give up when the tide is at it's lowest;
for soon it will change;
Don't give up when there are doubts and questions;
for you may be something to learn.

Don't give up when the night is at it's darkest,
for dawn will never come late;
Don't give up when you think you've run your furthest,
the race is almost won.

Don't give up when the coast is the roughest,
for you have almost reached you goal;
Don't give up, for you will never know failure
unless you never try.

**EDIT** I found an English version. It's not an exact translation, but the same idea . . . and it rhymes :)
Don't quit when the tide is lowest,
For it's just about to turn;
Don't quit over doubts and questions,
For there's something you may learn.
Don't quit when the night is darkest,
For it's just a while 'til dawn;
Don't quit when you've run the farthest,
For the race is almost won.
Don't quit when the hill is steepest,
For your goal is almost nigh;
Don't quit, for you're not a failure
Until you fail to try.

There are times that I feel like I just want to give up on some things, but I know that I'm here and I'm in the middle of it. If I stop trying -- I will fail -- but as long as I keep pushing forward, I will be able to continue on. My Savior is there for me -- carrying me in the darkest times and leading me in all that I do. All I have to do is trust in Him and do my best. I WILL SUCCEED!!!

*Here's the French translation of the Footprints story . . .*
(Photo taken by me in southern France -- 2007)

Empreintes
Un homme, un soir, eut un rêve. Il rêva qu’il marchait au bord de la mer avec le Seigneur.

Sur le fond du ciel se déroulaient des scènes. Dans chaque scène, il remarquait deux traces parallèles de pas dans le sable. L’une, la sienne, l’autre selle du Seigneur.

Quand la dernière scène de sa vie s’alluma, il se retourna pour revoir les traces de pas sur la grève. Ici et la, sur la route de sa vie, il n’y avait qu’une seule trace de pas. Et ces moments de marche solitaire correspondaient aux heures les plus tristes et les plus déprimantes de sa vie.

Intrigué, il interrogea son compagnon. “Seigneur, quand j’ai décidé de te suivre, tu avais dit que tu marcherais tout le chemin avec moi! Et je vois qu’aux pires périodes de mon existence, il n’y a qu’une seule trace se pas; m’aurais-tu donc abandonné quand justement j’avais le plus besoin de toi?”

“Je t’aime, mon très cher enfant, je t’aime st jamais je ne te laisserais. Une seule trace de pas, oui aux temps les plus difficiles de tes épreuves et de tes souffrances, mais c’est alors que je to portais.”

~Auteur inconnu

It's ok that my life isn't exactly where I thought it would be at this point -- it doesn't mean that my path will be any less fulfilling. In fact, it will probably be more fulfilling than if it went exactly the way I had it planned out in my mind. Heavenly Father really does know best.

Trust.Love.Learn.Live

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1.02.28

Life is Grand!

Can I just say that I LOVE MY LIFE?!? Seriously.

First of all -- I was home for the week (which is always relaxing) and Conference was AMAZING. As I was driving back to Provo after the weekend home, I was thinking about the talks and which one I would label as my "favorite" should someone ask. Well, I don't have one. There isn't even one that stands out more than the others because ALL of them were amazing, wonderful, and directed toward me. I think it was the first time in my life that I didn't even start to doze while watching. Wow. You can REWATCH ANY OF THE TALKS HERE!

Secondly -- I'M GOING BACK TO EUROPE!!! Wahoo!!! My parents told my three younger brothers and I that we're going to Europe for two and a half weeks this summer and I CAN'T WAIT! We'll be starting off in London on June 8th (been there) and ending in PARIS on June 23rd (OBVIOUSLY I've been there ;) -- and I can't wait to go back to my "second home") and we'll be hitting Amsterdam, Vienna, and Frankfurt in between . . . possibly more.

Thirdly -- Yesterday I was feeling all sorts of love from my friends. I have the greatest friends. Ever. Hands down. I also have the greatest family. And I'm getting a nephew in August! :)

Finally -- I had my LAST BYU observation yesterday. Don't worry -- I've really passed! (Not that I was worried) But it's done. Over. I teach a short day tomorrow, have Thursday and Friday off, teach all next week and then Graduate. Crazy.

I'll repeat -- I LOVE MY LIFE!!! :)