Yes. This is my own pity party. I really want to be happy for my friends and, truth be told, if I were in their shoes, I'd probably go, too. But, I'm not in their shoes. We'll be staying here while some of the greatest people we know leave for greener pastures.
I'm really feeling sad about it and felt like such a baby when I was given the news because I was fighting the tears from being obvious in my voice. We've really grown very close to a couple here in our ward and now they will be leaving for BYU for the Winter Semester.
I just want them to know that they are amazing people and they will go far in this world. Great people who we will miss very much but don't begrudge their opportunity...much. =)
Best wishes to them and don't mind me too much as I drop a tear or two out of selfishness.
13 November 2010
07 November 2010
Being Teachable
I am so grateful to be a Nursery Teacher. In the church I attend, we are served through a lay ministry, meaning, no one earns a paycheck for their service in the church. We all have different opportunities to serve and change callings (or "positions") fairly regularly. For the past 15 months I have been the Nursery Leader. Instead of attending classes and being taught, I spend the two classroom hours tending to the children ages 18 months to 3 years. I love it and it might be the easiest position I have held in the church as an adult, but sometimes I miss being taught myself. Our schedule goes from receiving the children to free play time, to a lesson, to music time, to a snack, to coloring, to blowing bubbles, to reading stories to closing activity. It is my duty to teach these children in their youth about the basic principles and concepts of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, it is my duty to open the opportunity for these children to feel and start recognizing the Holy Spirit. I honestly can't say that I perform this duty very well. I'm trying and I'm learning. And, I am taught.
Today we had a visiting child whom I will refer to as "Boy". His family lived here several years ago and they were back for a brief visit today.
Boy was my teacher today. I had prepared a lesson about The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I thought I knew how the lesson would go and had anticipated certain responses (or, non-responses as the case may be...). We had our song and prayer and then I began with an open question about favorite bedtime stories. Boy raised his hand and then related what his favorite story is. It brought tears to my eyes to listen to this beautiful son of Our Heavenly Father tell me, in his own words, the story of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection. The Spirit was so powerful in the room. Because Boy has been taught the gospel in his own home, he was able to share and bring the power of the Holy Ghost, that of testifying of truth, into our classroom at church. Because of his sweet and pure testimony, my lesson was much more powerful and I again was reminded that Christ has restored His church in full power of the priesthood to the earth in these latter days. I felt the power and love of our Heavenly Father from Boy's testimony as well as the words I spoke and testified to in our lesson today. I am so grateful to be taught and pray to be more teachable in the future so that I will be taught more from On High as I was today.
I thank Boy and his precious family for being obedient to God's plan and teaching him the gospel so that he could share that gift with all of us today.
Today we had a visiting child whom I will refer to as "Boy". His family lived here several years ago and they were back for a brief visit today.
Boy was my teacher today. I had prepared a lesson about The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I thought I knew how the lesson would go and had anticipated certain responses (or, non-responses as the case may be...). We had our song and prayer and then I began with an open question about favorite bedtime stories. Boy raised his hand and then related what his favorite story is. It brought tears to my eyes to listen to this beautiful son of Our Heavenly Father tell me, in his own words, the story of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection. The Spirit was so powerful in the room. Because Boy has been taught the gospel in his own home, he was able to share and bring the power of the Holy Ghost, that of testifying of truth, into our classroom at church. Because of his sweet and pure testimony, my lesson was much more powerful and I again was reminded that Christ has restored His church in full power of the priesthood to the earth in these latter days. I felt the power and love of our Heavenly Father from Boy's testimony as well as the words I spoke and testified to in our lesson today. I am so grateful to be taught and pray to be more teachable in the future so that I will be taught more from On High as I was today.
I thank Boy and his precious family for being obedient to God's plan and teaching him the gospel so that he could share that gift with all of us today.
03 November 2010
Dr. Emily, I Presume
I know there are tons of kids in the world that proclaim they want to be a doctor when they grow up. I just don't know how many of them are seriously considering it and doing things to get there at the age of four.
If you ask Emily what she wants to be when she grows up, she'll give you a list. She wants to be a mommy, a missionary, a doctor and a teacher. She talks a lot about becoming a doctor someday. It's really rather adorable. I don't know if she would site becoming a doctor if we didn't have the adventures in doctor visits a couple years ago (it was after this she began wanting to be a doctor). Between Eric's motorcycle accident and Gianna's birth, we were visiting doctors ALL THE TIME. She was curious about the bones on display at different doctor's offices. She asks questions about posters hanging on walls. Her request for toys have been skeltons and posters of the body (skeleton, circulatory system, etc which she saw at a school supply store).
I think she is serious, too. Not only does she say it, but she seems to know what it is all about. Tonight, for her bedtime story, she requested that I read from the First Aid booklet she was given this past Saturday at Verizon during a "pay back to the community" event held there. She chose the portion and then discussed it with me. You try explaining to a four-year old about cardiopulmonary resuscitation! She gets excited and her eyes light up and she tells me she wants to help make people live. How cute is that!!
It's funny that kids can see the excitement of different professions but it gets soiled later in life by the financial payout later on. I want my kids to grow up and study the things they have passions for instead of studying the things that will put the most money in their pockets. I want them to be happy with the professions of their choice, not because of prestige or price tag.
In the meantime, Emily has asked not to be called "Emily B." anymore (she has another Emily in her class at school, thus the designation of the "B.") but would prefer to be called "Dr. Emily" instead. Think they'll go for that?
If you ask Emily what she wants to be when she grows up, she'll give you a list. She wants to be a mommy, a missionary, a doctor and a teacher. She talks a lot about becoming a doctor someday. It's really rather adorable. I don't know if she would site becoming a doctor if we didn't have the adventures in doctor visits a couple years ago (it was after this she began wanting to be a doctor). Between Eric's motorcycle accident and Gianna's birth, we were visiting doctors ALL THE TIME. She was curious about the bones on display at different doctor's offices. She asks questions about posters hanging on walls. Her request for toys have been skeltons and posters of the body (skeleton, circulatory system, etc which she saw at a school supply store).
I think she is serious, too. Not only does she say it, but she seems to know what it is all about. Tonight, for her bedtime story, she requested that I read from the First Aid booklet she was given this past Saturday at Verizon during a "pay back to the community" event held there. She chose the portion and then discussed it with me. You try explaining to a four-year old about cardiopulmonary resuscitation! She gets excited and her eyes light up and she tells me she wants to help make people live. How cute is that!!
It's funny that kids can see the excitement of different professions but it gets soiled later in life by the financial payout later on. I want my kids to grow up and study the things they have passions for instead of studying the things that will put the most money in their pockets. I want them to be happy with the professions of their choice, not because of prestige or price tag.
In the meantime, Emily has asked not to be called "Emily B." anymore (she has another Emily in her class at school, thus the designation of the "B.") but would prefer to be called "Dr. Emily" instead. Think they'll go for that?
01 November 2010
What I Would Give
I have this strange expectation that when you pay for a product or service, it should be reliable and deliver what it promises. Is that too much to ask? Apparently.
What service, you ask? Why, internet, my dear! It seems a fairly reasonable request to have reliable internet service in the year 2010.
We recently had business with Cox (strictly for internet service). It's the only thing we need in this "package" driven industry. All I want is when I boot up the internet, for it to sustain a connection without timing out or having trouble finding service. Cox began to fail at that a couple of months ago. We've done business with Cox for nearly five years and suddenly their service product (customer service is a whole different fish) just didn't deliver.
We are now with AT&T (again, strictly for internet service). It's DSL. It should be faster and more reliable than cable, right? WRONG! We still suffer from the internet not working. I can be composing an email or blog and when I want to save or publish, all the sudden I no longer have an internet connection. It's ridiculous!! This shouldn't happen.
Here's the loophole for internet providers: the phrase "up to". See, they don't actually have to ensure your ability to get the number of megabites or whatever that you are paying for by using that lovely catch phrase of two words. I HATE those two words because they hide the fact that the service provider stinks!
Now, some of you techies out there may think it's a problem with the modem. Nope. We've had those checked and AT&T even provided a new one. So, it can't be that problem. And, to top it off, I've heard the same complaints from others.
So, any of you internet service providers, you should truly consider offering a more reliable product. You'll keep business better and longer because we'll overlook poor customer service skills when we don't actually have to contact you to complain and have things fixed.
What service, you ask? Why, internet, my dear! It seems a fairly reasonable request to have reliable internet service in the year 2010.
We recently had business with Cox (strictly for internet service). It's the only thing we need in this "package" driven industry. All I want is when I boot up the internet, for it to sustain a connection without timing out or having trouble finding service. Cox began to fail at that a couple of months ago. We've done business with Cox for nearly five years and suddenly their service product (customer service is a whole different fish) just didn't deliver.
We are now with AT&T (again, strictly for internet service). It's DSL. It should be faster and more reliable than cable, right? WRONG! We still suffer from the internet not working. I can be composing an email or blog and when I want to save or publish, all the sudden I no longer have an internet connection. It's ridiculous!! This shouldn't happen.
Here's the loophole for internet providers: the phrase "up to". See, they don't actually have to ensure your ability to get the number of megabites or whatever that you are paying for by using that lovely catch phrase of two words. I HATE those two words because they hide the fact that the service provider stinks!
Now, some of you techies out there may think it's a problem with the modem. Nope. We've had those checked and AT&T even provided a new one. So, it can't be that problem. And, to top it off, I've heard the same complaints from others.
So, any of you internet service providers, you should truly consider offering a more reliable product. You'll keep business better and longer because we'll overlook poor customer service skills when we don't actually have to contact you to complain and have things fixed.
15 October 2010
Compliments
When is the first time you were told you were pretty? And, I'm not saying your parents, either. But, some non-relation who took the opportunity to boost your self-esteem and give you that coveted compliment.
It may sound shallow to want to be beautiful, but it isn't. Definitely people can go too far with it, but I think every individual at least at some point in his/her life desires to be viewed as being easy on the eyes.
I was discussing this with Eric and out of all the guys I ever dated, I don't actually remember anyone telling me that I was beautiful except for Eric. I've had compliments on my hair, my eyes, my smile or even my voice throughout the years, but it wasn't until I was an adult that I had anyone outside of my family tell me I was beautiful.
In fact, the first non-relation who told me was a girl named Tericka. She was one of those natural born beauties with dark skin and hair and was petite. I, on the other hand, have always felt kind of like a giant and big. I never felt delicate or really that feminine. I have "man hands" and have a lower voice. I don't have any distinctive features that would be referred to as beautiful. She knew I was struggling to feel beautiful as a guy was kind of toying with my emotions. She pumped me up and made me start believing that maybe I was beautiful after all. But, there were still a lot of negative self-image issues handing around.
I always viewed myself as plain even though I had a fun time dating in my college days. I look pretty much the same as I have since the eighth grade. Sure, my face has "aged" or "matured" over the years, but that's about it.
Today I feel like a beautiful woman. I feel put together (most days...or, at least when I want to) and accomplished. I have an education that I am proud of and hobbies that keep me busy when I want to be. I have two gorgeous children and the most affectionate man who somehow came to love me and married me nearly five years ago.
The difference in my view of my appearance today is that I get to hear every day how beautiful someone thinks I am. We all need to share that compliment a little more often so people feel special and beautiful, just like they are.
It may sound shallow to want to be beautiful, but it isn't. Definitely people can go too far with it, but I think every individual at least at some point in his/her life desires to be viewed as being easy on the eyes.
I was discussing this with Eric and out of all the guys I ever dated, I don't actually remember anyone telling me that I was beautiful except for Eric. I've had compliments on my hair, my eyes, my smile or even my voice throughout the years, but it wasn't until I was an adult that I had anyone outside of my family tell me I was beautiful.
In fact, the first non-relation who told me was a girl named Tericka. She was one of those natural born beauties with dark skin and hair and was petite. I, on the other hand, have always felt kind of like a giant and big. I never felt delicate or really that feminine. I have "man hands" and have a lower voice. I don't have any distinctive features that would be referred to as beautiful. She knew I was struggling to feel beautiful as a guy was kind of toying with my emotions. She pumped me up and made me start believing that maybe I was beautiful after all. But, there were still a lot of negative self-image issues handing around.
I always viewed myself as plain even though I had a fun time dating in my college days. I look pretty much the same as I have since the eighth grade. Sure, my face has "aged" or "matured" over the years, but that's about it.
Today I feel like a beautiful woman. I feel put together (most days...or, at least when I want to) and accomplished. I have an education that I am proud of and hobbies that keep me busy when I want to be. I have two gorgeous children and the most affectionate man who somehow came to love me and married me nearly five years ago.
The difference in my view of my appearance today is that I get to hear every day how beautiful someone thinks I am. We all need to share that compliment a little more often so people feel special and beautiful, just like they are.
10 October 2010
I'm Not a Perfect Person
I am not a perfect person. I think that most days I am fairly put together and feel happy with my life and the decisions that I make. I think I have a wonderful family and am so blessed in every aspect of my life. It IS almost perfect.
But, today was not one of those days. I got up with plenty of time to take care of everything that needs to be handled in order for us to make it to church on time. In fact, I commented to Eric that "it's Sunday and I actually did my hair!" I looked the part. Hair done. Make-up done. Children freshly bathed (thank you, Honey). Lunch packed for the girls to eat during choir rehearsal. Eric was even going to pick someone up for church.
I'm not sure when it happened, but things changed. We still got to church early (and, by early, I mean we were not arriving "on time" or during the first hymn...it was a miracle). But, somehow, I became overly emotional in that first hour.
A member of our bishopric (the guys who basically take care of the governing of the church on a local basis and all for free) was there for his last Sunday in our ward because he just married a wonderful woman and moved out of our area and into a different ward ("parish"). He's been a hero of my husband's for a long, long time and became one of mine. Apparently, seeing him today made me realize how much I love this man who has been such an amazing role model for so many of us.
That sorrow mixed with joy (because this man truly has earned his good reward of this amazing woman) was not the only emotion to be had. My children did not behave well and I was embarrassed and irritated that I couldn't enjoy the meeting more. I felt helpless as the Lord reminded me that I'm not a perfect person.
And so, I let things get to me, one thing at a time. By the time we made it to choir practice, my emotions were gathered on my shirt sleeves and I'm afraid I did cry. I'm sorry. I'm not a perfect person. I'm not a perfect parent. I have my limits and apparently I hit them today. I'm sure the Lord will show me with another stressful Sabbath to allow me to demonstrate that I learned from today, but I'm really not looking forward to that.
In the meantime, I just want to tell you that "I'm not a perfect person/ There's many things I wish I didn't do/ But I continue learning." I really do want to change. I want to be better. And, I'm incredibly grateful for friends who will give me a hug when I need one. I'm grateful for the faith they have in me that I can do this and I'm doing fine as a parent. Thanks for your confidence. I'm trying!
But, today was not one of those days. I got up with plenty of time to take care of everything that needs to be handled in order for us to make it to church on time. In fact, I commented to Eric that "it's Sunday and I actually did my hair!" I looked the part. Hair done. Make-up done. Children freshly bathed (thank you, Honey). Lunch packed for the girls to eat during choir rehearsal. Eric was even going to pick someone up for church.
I'm not sure when it happened, but things changed. We still got to church early (and, by early, I mean we were not arriving "on time" or during the first hymn...it was a miracle). But, somehow, I became overly emotional in that first hour.
A member of our bishopric (the guys who basically take care of the governing of the church on a local basis and all for free) was there for his last Sunday in our ward because he just married a wonderful woman and moved out of our area and into a different ward ("parish"). He's been a hero of my husband's for a long, long time and became one of mine. Apparently, seeing him today made me realize how much I love this man who has been such an amazing role model for so many of us.
That sorrow mixed with joy (because this man truly has earned his good reward of this amazing woman) was not the only emotion to be had. My children did not behave well and I was embarrassed and irritated that I couldn't enjoy the meeting more. I felt helpless as the Lord reminded me that I'm not a perfect person.
And so, I let things get to me, one thing at a time. By the time we made it to choir practice, my emotions were gathered on my shirt sleeves and I'm afraid I did cry. I'm sorry. I'm not a perfect person. I'm not a perfect parent. I have my limits and apparently I hit them today. I'm sure the Lord will show me with another stressful Sabbath to allow me to demonstrate that I learned from today, but I'm really not looking forward to that.
In the meantime, I just want to tell you that "I'm not a perfect person/ There's many things I wish I didn't do/ But I continue learning." I really do want to change. I want to be better. And, I'm incredibly grateful for friends who will give me a hug when I need one. I'm grateful for the faith they have in me that I can do this and I'm doing fine as a parent. Thanks for your confidence. I'm trying!
08 October 2010
Couponing, Is It For Me?
This is my dilemma. I have several friends who share their excellent shopping skills in the grocery store. They save a ton of money and I'm always impressed with what they are able to find.
I'd say I'm pretty good at finding good sales for clothing and I never pay full price for those items, but I tend to be fairly clueless on couponing. In fact, sometimes when I'm in a store I see a "sale" and am not even sure if it is a real sale or not.
For instance, I recently went to Kroger and saw their Old Yeller 50 lb dog food bag advertised "on sale" at the same price it's been for at least 6 months, which is about a dollar more than it was a year ago. Not much of a sale in my book. Now, I can recognize this as a marketing strategy because I purchase this dog food once a month. I know the price and I know what I believe to be a savings on the matter. I also am not naive enough to fall for Walmart's marketing ploy. They are at least gracious enough to post their savings on their "look for falling prices" sticker. I don't even remember the item it was marked on, but it was promo-priced at $9.96 with the "WAS" sticker proclaiming $10. Ummm...four cents may be enough to sway me to fill up at one gas station over another, but on clothing? Yeah, no thanks. That isn't really classified as a savings. It just means you can say "less than $10".
So, then I think all about that couponing thing again. I've purchased the paper to get the exclusive sales coupons found in the notorious Sunday paper (and I hated every minute of getting it on the Sabbath to begin with!!). When I looked in the paper, sure, there were a FEW things that might be worth it, but I didn't get savings immediately. It was like for things if I sign up to be a frequent shopper of that particular store and then I'd earn money off my next shopping spree. These items weren't even actually groceries, so I may purchase this once but then not again for five months or more! Sure, maybe the savings will still be stocked up on that card, but will I remember it and will there be another sale worthy of using that "free" money I supposedly saved? Probably not.
So, I still sit pondering about the coupons. I'm pretty frugal as it is and I can't say that the coupon items are even things I'd purchase. Know what? I even looked at getting the $5 rebates offered when you buy Beauty and the Beast and Campbell's soup or the bagels' offer. But...I didn't. Know why? My family doesn't really eat canned soup. We make soups from scratch, so it's not even an item I'd regularly purchase. If this, then I'm not actually saving money, I'm just distributing it out over more items. This then leaves a MINOR savings, but not less than I can find with other deals (like shopping at Movie Stop and getting someone's used DVD b/c they upgraded to the newly released version).
So, I still sit here in awe and wonder at my friends who seem to make great purchases for groceries without a clue to if it is even practical for me to worry my "pretty little head" about it. I think I need a bit more Scarlett O'Hara when it comes to money and figures surrounding groceries. (And, if you don't know, Scarlett may have been manipulative and vain, but she certainly DID make good business decisions....just so you know.)
I'd say I'm pretty good at finding good sales for clothing and I never pay full price for those items, but I tend to be fairly clueless on couponing. In fact, sometimes when I'm in a store I see a "sale" and am not even sure if it is a real sale or not.
For instance, I recently went to Kroger and saw their Old Yeller 50 lb dog food bag advertised "on sale" at the same price it's been for at least 6 months, which is about a dollar more than it was a year ago. Not much of a sale in my book. Now, I can recognize this as a marketing strategy because I purchase this dog food once a month. I know the price and I know what I believe to be a savings on the matter. I also am not naive enough to fall for Walmart's marketing ploy. They are at least gracious enough to post their savings on their "look for falling prices" sticker. I don't even remember the item it was marked on, but it was promo-priced at $9.96 with the "WAS" sticker proclaiming $10. Ummm...four cents may be enough to sway me to fill up at one gas station over another, but on clothing? Yeah, no thanks. That isn't really classified as a savings. It just means you can say "less than $10".
So, then I think all about that couponing thing again. I've purchased the paper to get the exclusive sales coupons found in the notorious Sunday paper (and I hated every minute of getting it on the Sabbath to begin with!!). When I looked in the paper, sure, there were a FEW things that might be worth it, but I didn't get savings immediately. It was like for things if I sign up to be a frequent shopper of that particular store and then I'd earn money off my next shopping spree. These items weren't even actually groceries, so I may purchase this once but then not again for five months or more! Sure, maybe the savings will still be stocked up on that card, but will I remember it and will there be another sale worthy of using that "free" money I supposedly saved? Probably not.
So, I still sit pondering about the coupons. I'm pretty frugal as it is and I can't say that the coupon items are even things I'd purchase. Know what? I even looked at getting the $5 rebates offered when you buy Beauty and the Beast and Campbell's soup or the bagels' offer. But...I didn't. Know why? My family doesn't really eat canned soup. We make soups from scratch, so it's not even an item I'd regularly purchase. If this, then I'm not actually saving money, I'm just distributing it out over more items. This then leaves a MINOR savings, but not less than I can find with other deals (like shopping at Movie Stop and getting someone's used DVD b/c they upgraded to the newly released version).
So, I still sit here in awe and wonder at my friends who seem to make great purchases for groceries without a clue to if it is even practical for me to worry my "pretty little head" about it. I think I need a bit more Scarlett O'Hara when it comes to money and figures surrounding groceries. (And, if you don't know, Scarlett may have been manipulative and vain, but she certainly DID make good business decisions....just so you know.)
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