Filling Your Lamp

So today I was driving back to work, and my car died. The battery lightw as flashing, and then the radio turned off and the car turned off. That was lovely. It was wet and rainy (very very wet and rainy) and I had been at an Eye appointment earlier. My eyes were still a little fuzzy, and I was in flats, trying desperately to push the car over to the side of the road. I was trying so hard to push with one hand, and steer with the other. Whew! That was tough work. I was just hoping that one of the oh, say, 30? cars that passed by would stop and help me at least get out of the lane instead of just going around me. Fortunately, I screamed and growled loudly enough that a man came over to help me. I was SO grateful. It got me thinking. You can have your battery jumped, but that doesn't always guarantee you'll make it. Then I started thinking about the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Someone can give you a "jump" of oil, but if you don't do what it takes to keep that full (whether it's keeping the car on to make sure the battery recharges, or replacing the battery, or fixing some underlying problem like the alternator which is sucking all of the power out of the batter) then you are no better off. Faster than you know, you're back to empty. Besides, there isn't always someone around who can "jump" you. It's important that every day we do those things that keep filling our spiritual lamps, to keep driving around on the power we've stored up, so it can continue to grow stronger. Initially, someone can give us a push, but that's where it ends. It's up to us to do the rest. 'Tis the season! Oh, and if you see some chick in the middle of the road trying to push her car over (whether it's raining or not), don't just think someone else will help her, STOP and help. I will next time! Chances are, she's been out there in the soaking wet weather trying to push her car for the last 15 minutes or so. Merry Christmas, and in the immortal words of Charles Dickens, "God bless us, everyone."

New Nephew!!!

Today I got a new nephew! My brother Jeff and his wife Emily get to bring home a little boy named Zackary Alan! Since we are going to see them for Christmas, I will be spending plenty of time holding a snuggly little baby Zackary. Oh, and today also happens to be my niece Megan's birthday! Yay! What a special day.

Winter Wonderland

So yesterday it snowed a LOT here! I guess that's what you can expect here. I think there must be a lot of excited ski and snowboard enthusiasts. Since I've never done either, I'm not terribly excited about the snow. I HATE driving in the snow. I'm terrified of the icy roads, and other drivers that are probably either new to snow, or aren't as concerned about my life and car as getting to their destinations as quickly as they can. Anyway, when I left the house at 10:00 yesterday morning to teach my violin lessons, I had to scrape about 6 inches off of my car before I could go anywhere. I have to admit--there is some really pretty scenery around here. I think it's really pretty when the trees are heavy with snow and their branches bend under the stress of the thick snow. Unfortunately, the new management at our apartment complex was not very quick to get things plowed, and when they did get around to it, they didn't clear it well either. Very very icy! In January this year, I slipped and hurt my tailbone, and in February, I nearly slipped all the way down our stairs. Hopefully, I'll survive with minimal injuries this year. Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman...

Memories and Old Pictures

So I had a bunch of old pictures on my camera that made me chuckle, so I thought I would add them. We are with our friends Trent and Heidi and we went camping before they moved out of state. Problem was, it was a busy weekend, and there were no tent spots left. The attendant at East Canyon told us we could sleep in the boat for free since there weren't any other tent spots left. So we parked the boat (borrowed from Josh's brother) and the car (borrowed from Josh's sister) and made our dinner, hung out, etc. We decided we didn't want to sleep in the boat because we would most likely wake up with a splash of bug bites, so we all squished into the back of the (borrowed) Expedition. We blew up the Queen size air mattress, but we couldn't fill it completely because it wouldn't fit in the back of the car, so we left it a little low. Then all 4 of us crammed ourselves on the mattress and settled in for the night. We took a bunch of pictures of us making faces. We had a camera, and not much else to do. Can you blame us? Well, we woke up at 7:00 a.m. to a "policeman" knocking on our window asking us what we were doing. Apparently, you can only sleep in your boat if it's on the water. You can't sleep in the parking lot. You'd think they'd have clarified that. Luckily, he was kind enough to realize we were idiots, and spared us from a ticket. When we finally got up and decided to go out in the resevoir, the car was having issues shifting. We thought we broke the car hauling the boat up. Don't worry, we didn't break it. So we went to East Canyon to go boating and camping, and ended up squished in the backseat of a car, and no water action. Good memories though.

There was not enough room to move. We could barely move our legs.

Our delicious dinner. I love meat.

Josh and Trent making silly faces.

More silly faces.

See, no room!!!

The Return of the Daily Grind

The Return of the Daily Grind

Today I’m back at work. Honestly, I was excited to get back to work. I love my job. I do the grunt work, but I absolutely love the people I work with. I didn’t have too many e-mails when I got back to work, but that was to be expected. I’m glad I’m able to work full time. Sometimes it’s a challenge with school, in fact, most of the time it’s a challenge with school. Josh also working full time and being in school complicates things even more. After all the healthy food we ate in Texas (well, minus the gut-busting hot chocolate and the Crème Brule…) I feel we need to work on eating more healthily. I honestly believe this will be easier once the semester is over. Or at least once some of my classes are over. It’s just so much easier to make Hamburger helper, or something frozen bursting with preservatives and fakeness. It has to start with healthier shopping, which will also be easier once I can actually get home before 9:00 p.m. more than one night a week! So the daily grind returns, and the nose returns to the grindstone. Is that why that call it a daily grind? With renewed vigor, I’ll press my shoulder to the wheel, and push along!

Now for the important part…
Saturday December 1st, I’m going to give platelets at the ARUP blood bank. Please, any of you who have the ability to donate blood or platelets (you DON’T have to be in Utah), please join me. In order to donate platelets through ARUP, you must have donated blood and be in their system before. I am going about 2:00 p.m. Please feel free to join me from wherever you are. We usually remember to give food, and clothing, and toys during this Christmas season, but what if we could give something in addition. Something that is completely free for us to give, yet life-saving and priceless to those who receive this gift. For those of you who know about the story of Bryce Brown, this blood giving day is inspired by Bryce. Feel free to read his story at www.brycedbrown.com.


P.S. I'm having trouble getting the pictures to post. I'll keep working on this!

Thanksgiving Getaway!

So the day after tomorrow, Josh and I are skippin town! We are SO excited to get to go hang out with my brother Chris, his wife Chiara, and their awesome son Sam (also called Sammy). I can't believe it's already Thanksgiving! When we were growing up, my Mom used to put 5-7 m&m's (sometimes Jujyfruits) in a little package around each of our plates at Thanksgiving. Before we were allowed to feast upon the deliciousness that is my Mother's fabulous cooking, we each had to say one thing we were thankful for, for each m&m in our package. The catch was, we couldn't repeat anything that was already said by somebody else. We would think of a hundred ways to say we were thankful for family, church, food,--you know-- the only things you can think of while you have turkey and cranberry sauce on the brain. This year, I am realizing how many things I have that I am so blessed with. I sometimes feel like I could rip open a GIANT Costco size bag of m&m's and just list off so many blessings I've been given in my life. To name a few, I have an awesome family. 3 way cool brothers, and of course my spunky sister--whom I couldn't live without, my amazing parents who have not only given me (and my siblings) so many wonderful blessings (gift of music, shelter, food, clothing, love, testimonies, midnight snacks etc.), but have also given me examples (fabulous examples too) of charity, love, dedication, preparation, determination, and so many other things. Of course, I couldn't ever make my blessings list complete without mentioning my Josh, who is an example of so many things to me, but also so much fun, and super cute too! But I can't stop there. How could I list the things I'm thankful for, and not include his family as well?! I have some awesome parents-in-law. Also, two awesome examples of charity, patience, unconditional love, generosity, etc. Then there are my "siblings-in-law". The 3 sisters-in-law and 1 brother-in-law on my side, and then Josh's 2 sisters, their husbands, and his brother and his wife. Then, as if that weren't an awesome family enough, by the end of the year, Josh and I will be the proud Aunt and Uncle to a total of 18 neices and nephews! I love our families a lot, and I hope they all know that. Thanks family! My blessing list wouldn't be complete without friends too. We have had some hilarious, umm, well, adventures...with Trent and Heidi. Everything with them turns into an adventure. We hope you all know that you are all very important to us, and that we love you all very much. If I really had an m&m (or Jujyfruit) for every blessing I can think of and am thankful for, I would have one heck of a tummy ache! We hope you all have been as blessed as we have, and we pray for you all. Don't forget to count your many blessings, especially if you are discouraged thinking all is lost, or when you are upon life's billows feeling tempest-tossed. But we also hope that it doesn't take discouragement or tempest-tossing for you to count your blessings and be thankful. Happy eating on Thanksgiving (like I mentioned, we won't be here). Oh, and feel free to comment on what you read, let us know about life, as YOU know it.

Allergy Patch Tests

I have allergies. I'm allergic to cats and dogs (cats much more than dogs), and probably other animals, but I don't seem to have too many problems around other animals with fur. I also have hayfever, or seasonal allergies that last year-round. Knock on wood... Not only do I have allergies, but I also have asthma. Over the years my asthma has gotten better, unfortunately, no such luck with the allergies. The other night we went to our friends' house (David and Sheila) whom we haven't hung out with in quite awhile. Since the last time we went to their house, they have acquired a cat. Josh is also mildly allergic to cats, but not enough that this would bother him. I get my allergies from my Mother. (Thanks Mom...) Awhile ago I went in to the eye doctor because I thought my eyes were getting worse, and he told me I just have allergies, and that makes my contacts seem fuzzy, so I should be taking an allergy pill daily. I went to Costco that weekend and bought a cheaper version of Claritin. So far, not much difference (That was at least 6 months ago). Anyway...back to the story...I took some allergy pills before we went, and did alright. Everytime I get allergies, it goes into my chest (this is where the asthma part kicks in), so by the time we got home that night, I was wheezing and couldn't breathe well. But at least I could see better! So I got to thinking about those allergy patch tests they do. They inject allergens in you (usually in your back) in little squares, and they usually do quite a few at a time. So, then if you are allergic to one, that spot turns all red and inflamed, and if you aren't allergic, nothing happens. You could end up looking like a chess board if you are allergic to everything!
While I was in my Boss' office the other day, talking about some problems that were happening, both work and personal, I decided that life is like an allergy patch test. I think everybody gets a taste of everything, it's just how much it will affect us. I'm not saying that our problems are entirely created by or because of our reactions. I'm simply suggesting that everybody experiences a little of everything, but the things that are hard for some, are not as hard for others. For example, my husband is very patient, and very forgiving. I on the other hand, am neither. Okay, that's not totally fair. I'm forgiving, but sometimes it takes me a little longer to get to that point. Josh is so quick to forgive. So on his allergy patch test, he does not exhibit a reaction to the "patience" allergen, or the "forgiveness" allergen. Patience is definitely NOT a strong point for me. My Dad has a friend who used to say "I have all the patience in the world because I've never used any of it". This is me. On my allergy patch test, I would be red, inflamed, itchy, infected, and have a miserable reaction to the "patience" allergen, and my "forgiveness" allergen would only be red and itchy. Sometimes, the sooner we learn our lessons, the less pain we have to experience in them. Again, this is not to say all of our trials come in the form of habits, or characteristics. My point in the allergy test is just that things are extremely difficult for some, while those same things are a breeze for others. At least this is my conclusion I've drawn from life. Well, life as I know it anyway...

Fire Drills and Tired Thighs

My "office" (really it's a cubicle--but calling it an office makes my work feel more meaningful) is on the 12th floor. Yesterday, during a staff meeting, we had a fire drill. I work for two separate departements (70/30 split), luckily both are on the same floor. Well, the building that our company rents space from, decided it was time for a fire drill. This occurred yesterday, like I said, in the middle of a staff meeting. Some of the people in one of my departments don't get around so easily, so my boss decided he would have them take the elevators a few minutes before the drill, so they would already be outside. Any of you who have ever participated in a fire drill know that you don't take the elevators in case of a fire. Stairs. 12 flights of stairs. So yesterday, the fire alarm went off, and off we went, down those 12 flights of stairs. Those 12 flights of stairs went so easily yesterday. I was feeling alright about not having been to the gym too recently, and then today happened.

Of course after the fire drill, since it was only a drill, we took the elevators back up to the 12th floor. So today when I was dropping off some papers and running some errands (my job description), I decided I could definitely take the stairs. I thought they were only to be used in case of an emergency, but my supervisor said we could take them, but hardly anybody ever does.They are open to anyone, but to get off on a floor other than 1, you have to have a badge to let you in. The closest floor down that our company is on, is the 6th floor. Easy trip down. No problem. Then down to the 4th floor. Again, easy trip, no problem. I then exited the building and ran some errands outside. When I had finished with my errands, I decided to take the stairs again. However--you can't access the stairs from the first level. I took the elevators back up to the 4th floor, and from there--took the stairs.

So I learned that it is 100 times easier to take the stairs DOWN, the UP. At least it was only 8 flights of stairs this time. But still!!! My legs were on FIRE and I had to sit down. It was sit down, or have my legs fall off. So I sat down. After a short break, I pushed myself all the way to the 12th floor, and by the time I got back to my "office", my legs were jelly and everything I could see was white. Not to mention my heart nearly jumped OUT of my chest. Whew! I'm tired just remembering this. Luckily, my legs are still attached.

New Goal: Take the 12 flight trek UP the stairs at least once a day. I'll go down the stairs from now on, unless I'm in a huge hurry. Then I'll head for the elevators. Hopefully I'll make it up the 12 flights of stairs a little faster, with no stops, and not turning beet red by the time I get to my desk. This is a goal, I'm not stupid, I know it won't happen tomorrow. My goal is to be able to do this by the end of January (I'm going out of town and won't have the luxury of taking 12 flights of stairs for a few weeks during Thanksgiving and Christmas). Hopefully, I'll shed a little excess food storage from my middle, and perhaps a few other places...

Whew! Deep breath, and then the gym!

Forgiveness on the Bus, and All in the Family

So today I was riding the bus to school, and there was a handicapped man that was a little older that came in and sat down one seat away from me. Across from him was another woman who absolutely flipped out at him because he drooled on the floor of the bus. She threw a wet wipe at him, and he threw it back. Back and forth they went, throwing the wet wipe like they were 2. My 3 year old violin students behave better than that. Her argument was that he "spit" (it was really just drool) on the floor and that's where people walk. My first thought was to tell her I would wipe it up, but then I thought--who cares? It's the floor of a bus??? I'm afraid to admit it, but I think I sit in worse sometimes. My next thought was to ask her, "Do you lick the bottom of your shoe? Then why do you care about a spot of drool on the bus floor, that was almost dried by the time you stopped throwing the wet wipe around?" After deciding to participate in the 100 Days of Love (see www.100daysoflove.blogspot.com), I kept my mouth shut and wondered, what would have been the right thing to do? Wipe up the drool? Keep my mouth shut? What would YOU do?

I'm trying to forgive today, since that seemed to be a good theme for Day 2. There are people that continue to hurt me on a regular basis. I'm trying as hard as I can, though it seems I'm not making any progress, I know that even trying is progress. When people attack the things that are dearest to you, it is not always easy to let go of that pain quickly. I'm doing what I can, and trying to just be happy and let things roll off my back. I've decided to do what I can to give them the benefit of the doubt, to love them, to give to them, and most importantly, to focus on them in a positive way. As I forget about myself, I don't give them the opportunity to hurt me.

Here's to another Day, and another chance to forgive. I think this forgiveness thing is going to take more than one day, and a significant amount of time pondering, and praying. Wish me luck, I'll finish the night, hopefully making it further in my attempt to forgive these recurring pains, and begin again tomorrow--hopefully further ahead.

New Things

New thing #1: I have a blog! I have been to 2 blogs EVER in my life. (Prior to this one of course).

New thing #2: I'm handing out treats at my OWN place of residence on Halloween. (I have bad teeth, so I shy away from handing out sweet treats with lots of sugar and high fructose corn syrup--thus--Play-Doh). I bought the Play-Doh from Costco over a month ago. 160 mini packages to be clear. Besides, you can be a lot more creative with Play-Doh than you can with a kit-kat.

New thing #3: I got a new crown in my mouth yesterday (see "New thing #2").

New thing #4: I met someone on the internet. No, not that kind of someone. I met Bryce and Tammy (and the adorable Miss Dani) Brown on the internet. Yes, they live in the houses just behind my apartment complex, but I had never really met them before. For those of you who are reading this because you linked me from Bryce, you will know he lost his fight against Mela-sucka-noma after 100 intense days of battle. Bryce's funeral was yesterday.

Not-so-new thing #1: I went to a funeral. I cried at the funeral.

New thing #5: I understood death very clearly. The funerals I have been to, were when I was a small child (6 if we are getting specific here), and they were also for those who lost the fight against cancer. My Grandmothers.

To continue on a serious note. After this last week, I feel like a new person. I feel I understand some very important things more clearly. The things I have learned? Faith, Hope, Charity, the value of service, Why I am here.

Faith: More than just prayer, closely linked with hope. Not a guarantee that you'll get what you ask for when you hit your knees.

Hope: Comes after faith. I feel hope is believing that the Lord will do what is best, and since He knows all things, trusting that He will. It is also positive thoughts. Imagining what you are praying for is going to happen as you would like, but being mature enough to submit our will(s) to the Father's.

Charity: Having a strong enough love for someone (often comes after service, sacrifice, and lots of prayers--depends on the person), that you not only want to know someone and be their friend, but that you mourn with them, you rejoice with them, you support them when they can't support themselves, and you respect them.
Value of Service: Helps you forget your own problems, as well as helps others' problems fade. Helps you love the person you are serving. There are some people in this world that I don't immediatlely love. Serving them, helps me realize they are sometimes in need of a little love, an arm around their shoulder, a cheerleader on the sidelines, whatever. When we can serve someone and end up seeing them as the Lord sees them. Valuing them as an heir to greatness.

These are some new things for me. I've always been told what these words mean, but now I've felt what they mean. I understand what they mean. This is why we are here. This is what life is about. Well, life as we know it anyway.