I've been waiting to tell this story for a few weeks, but now that Christmas gifts are open, i can spill the beans. or the ping pong balls. . .
This year i did my Christmas shopping vicariously through Target shoppers who came through my lane. I never know if i should get presents for my siblings only, or for their families, or just for me. If i was rich, or had genius shopping techniques like my sis Cherece, i would buy for everyone. Last month this new game, called Cuponk, was selling like crazy and i thought it would be a great solution to my gift buying issues. It was some sort of challenge to get a ball into a fancy cup that required batteries. Sounds awesome right? (not really but it was so popular i just went with the crowd.) One day on my break at Target, I saw that it was on sale, so i bought it immediately and quickly put it in my trunk. A week before Christmas i went to wrap the gifts and found them to be quite suspicious. My suspicions were confirmed when i told a co-worker about my gift and she laughed at me and said, "you bought beer pong for your family!" She was totally right- faux pas barely adverted. Can you imagine Christmas morning when my siblings discover how well i'm preparing their kids for college? I don't think they'd really thank me for that one. Randomly, i told my cali friends about this and one of their bosses designed the game- here is the link: cuponk.
so i bought them flying monkeys instead.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Covenants and Cliches
about moving. . .
the first few months were a blur, school and autistic boy #2 kept me distracted with new, exciting things. but after school and relationships ended and i spent a weekend with my cali friends, things got really hard. i felt like my little "dental office" rut just moved to another state- but without my friends, social network and 15k of my salary. i miss you; i miss all of you.
a few weeks ago my parents were in town for my niece's wedding in addition to familial rejuvenation i got a father's blessing. in the blessing he said, "Heavenly Father is acutely aware of your anxiety." I hadn't really identified my feelings as anxiety, but that was/is totally it- "am i making a huge mistake," "wtf am i doing with my future?" "why am i doing the same things i was 10 years ago?" "had i known i was going to be single at 29 i would've made different plans" etc. . hearing my roommates' anxiety about dating/marriage helped in that i didn't feel alone but also perpetuated my discontentment. but then something amazing happened. . . (standby by another cliche). . . i went to institute and the lesson was for me. We discussed the saint's exodus from Nauvoo, i didn't know that they left in 3 waves across the plains. Since they were going to different states at different times, they made a "Nauvoo Covenant" that was indirectly poignant to me. They promised to do everything they could to "stand by and assist each other to the utmost of our abilities in removing from this state." and that by so doing they would realize the promise: “If you will be faithful to your covenant, I will now prophesy that the great God will shower down means upon this people, to accomplish it [the resolution] to the very letter.” The last wave to leave was the poorest, the weakest and faced the most struggles; but they also saw the most miracles.
So being the nerd i am, i applied their physical trial to our spiritual trials that come with being older and single (aka, never leaving the state we entered freshman year of college.) If you think about the temple, we cannot progress until we all can progress together. There is a reason we are all here and i think that if we focus on helping each other through the good and the bad we will all prosper and see miracles. While waiting for God to send quail I can at least be a little bit happier by helping other and NOT hyper-focusing on anxiety.When i made this connection, it gave me hope, faith and purpose in my decision to move. I began to see how the Lord is using my anxiety-filled-self as a small instrument here. My roommates each came to me last week and told me how much they enjoyed having me here, and that i had made a positive difference in their lives. My sister-in-law told me how grateful she was that i could be here to help support my brother and be a good influence for her kids. This gives me comfort that not only is Heavenly Father "acutely aware" of me, but of others trying to reach another state of progression also. Do you feel like you are reading a New Era article yet? (I probably wouldn't have even read this far.) So now there is at least purpose among the anxiety. But i'm open to suggestions about my future.
here is the link to info about the Missouri and Nauvoo Covenants.
the first few months were a blur, school and autistic boy #2 kept me distracted with new, exciting things. but after school and relationships ended and i spent a weekend with my cali friends, things got really hard. i felt like my little "dental office" rut just moved to another state- but without my friends, social network and 15k of my salary. i miss you; i miss all of you.
a few weeks ago my parents were in town for my niece's wedding in addition to familial rejuvenation i got a father's blessing. in the blessing he said, "Heavenly Father is acutely aware of your anxiety." I hadn't really identified my feelings as anxiety, but that was/is totally it- "am i making a huge mistake," "wtf am i doing with my future?" "why am i doing the same things i was 10 years ago?" "had i known i was going to be single at 29 i would've made different plans" etc. . hearing my roommates' anxiety about dating/marriage helped in that i didn't feel alone but also perpetuated my discontentment. but then something amazing happened. . . (standby by another cliche). . . i went to institute and the lesson was for me. We discussed the saint's exodus from Nauvoo, i didn't know that they left in 3 waves across the plains. Since they were going to different states at different times, they made a "Nauvoo Covenant" that was indirectly poignant to me. They promised to do everything they could to "stand by and assist each other to the utmost of our abilities in removing from this state." and that by so doing they would realize the promise: “If you will be faithful to your covenant, I will now prophesy that the great God will shower down means upon this people, to accomplish it [the resolution] to the very letter.” The last wave to leave was the poorest, the weakest and faced the most struggles; but they also saw the most miracles.
So being the nerd i am, i applied their physical trial to our spiritual trials that come with being older and single (aka, never leaving the state we entered freshman year of college.) If you think about the temple, we cannot progress until we all can progress together. There is a reason we are all here and i think that if we focus on helping each other through the good and the bad we will all prosper and see miracles. While waiting for God to send quail I can at least be a little bit happier by helping other and NOT hyper-focusing on anxiety.When i made this connection, it gave me hope, faith and purpose in my decision to move. I began to see how the Lord is using my anxiety-filled-self as a small instrument here. My roommates each came to me last week and told me how much they enjoyed having me here, and that i had made a positive difference in their lives. My sister-in-law told me how grateful she was that i could be here to help support my brother and be a good influence for her kids. This gives me comfort that not only is Heavenly Father "acutely aware" of me, but of others trying to reach another state of progression also. Do you feel like you are reading a New Era article yet? (I probably wouldn't have even read this far.) So now there is at least purpose among the anxiety. But i'm open to suggestions about my future.
here is the link to info about the Missouri and Nauvoo Covenants.
Monday, September 27, 2010
best. bday. night. ever.
Funny moment: Marie was taking pictures with my camera and then decided she wanted to check herself in mirror. When a tall, black man came around the corner, she thought that he was mistaken but when the 2nd guy came around the stalls and said, "oh man! you have a camera in here?!!" Marie figured things out pretty quickly. We all laughed really really really hard because both of the guys followed her out of the bathroom and teased her in front of us. Today in Sunday school, the topic was "Standing in Holy Places," I leaned over to her and asked her, "was the men's room a holy place?" irreverent, maybe; funny, definitely.
If this post doesn't make sense. . . it is because I'm watching a show on polygamy that is blowing my mind.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Month of Perfection-
My ward is striving for a "month of perfection." I, of course, will only need one month to become perfect, so this will work out nicely.
The theme for this month is, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13) This scripture was followed by 10 things we need to do for perfection.
I thought for sure the flyer was wrong:
First, I'm sure they didn't mean to underline and bold and *star* and make #5, which is "everyone ask someone on a date," 30pts larger than the other goals. Dating requires more emphasis than prayer or service?
And secondly, shouldn't the theme read, "I can do all things through Christ WHO strengthens me" instead of "WHICH?" Is "which" a typo? Well I checked, and Philippans told me that "which strengthenth me" is indeed correct.
So what does that mean if Christ isn't the person strengthening me? what is strengthening me? Oh crap, i'm pretty sure that its doing the things that I think I can't do that will strengthen me. (Omitting words like "crap" from my lexicon comes later in the "month of perfection.") So let's break it down, hip-hop style:
I can do all things.
I can do all things through Christ.
I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.
I can do all things when Christ strengthens me.
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
I can do all things that will strengthen me through Christ.
I can do all things (even the hard or yucky ones) through Christ. This will strengthen me.
"If they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me (Christ), then will I make weak things become strong unto them."(Ether 12:27)
With humility and faith in Christ, I can do all things and he will make my weak things strong.
I always forget that it is actually easier to rely on Christ, with faith, to make me stronger. Often, I allow what I perceive as my weaknesses to consume me as I hyper-focus and try to fix them myself.
So if you see me in November, you will know that the "month of perfection" did not lead to immediate translation, as I had originally supposed.
The theme for this month is, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13) This scripture was followed by 10 things we need to do for perfection.
I thought for sure the flyer was wrong:
First, I'm sure they didn't mean to underline and bold and *star* and make #5, which is "everyone ask someone on a date," 30pts larger than the other goals. Dating requires more emphasis than prayer or service?
And secondly, shouldn't the theme read, "I can do all things through Christ WHO strengthens me" instead of "WHICH?" Is "which" a typo? Well I checked, and Philippans told me that "which strengthenth me" is indeed correct.
So what does that mean if Christ isn't the person strengthening me? what is strengthening me? Oh crap, i'm pretty sure that its doing the things that I think I can't do that will strengthen me. (Omitting words like "crap" from my lexicon comes later in the "month of perfection.") So let's break it down, hip-hop style:
I can do all things.
I can do all things through Christ.
I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.
I can do all things when Christ strengthens me.
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
I can do all things that will strengthen me through Christ.
I can do all things (even the hard or yucky ones) through Christ. This will strengthen me.
"If they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me (Christ), then will I make weak things become strong unto them."(Ether 12:27)
With humility and faith in Christ, I can do all things and he will make my weak things strong.
I always forget that it is actually easier to rely on Christ, with faith, to make me stronger. Often, I allow what I perceive as my weaknesses to consume me as I hyper-focus and try to fix them myself.
So if you see me in November, you will know that the "month of perfection" did not lead to immediate translation, as I had originally supposed.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
moe faux pas- mass texts.
My big sis had the brilliant idea to add "moefaux pas" to my blog. We all know I am a frequent offender, and to prove it (and entertain you) i'll be posting my latest faux pas for you all to laugh at me.
This week an old college friend texted me (and 6 of his other closest friends) to invite us to a drive-in movie. I responded a day or so later and forgot when I hit "reply" that I had changed my iphone settings to include group MMS. Group MMS is like an email chain with several recipients, if you hit "reply all" the sender and all others on the email will get your response. This is exactly what happened to me on my cell phone; to my friend AND 6 of his friends, I sent "We are in, thanks for the invite. When should we do dinner?" Agggghghghhgh!! Within minutes I had 6 text messages, from unknown numbers, asking, "who is this?"
Can't wait to meet these people tonight at the drive-in! Maybe I should put a sign around my neck that says, "user error here."
This week an old college friend texted me (and 6 of his other closest friends) to invite us to a drive-in movie. I responded a day or so later and forgot when I hit "reply" that I had changed my iphone settings to include group MMS. Group MMS is like an email chain with several recipients, if you hit "reply all" the sender and all others on the email will get your response. This is exactly what happened to me on my cell phone; to my friend AND 6 of his friends, I sent "We are in, thanks for the invite. When should we do dinner?" Agggghghghhgh!! Within minutes I had 6 text messages, from unknown numbers, asking, "who is this?"
Can't wait to meet these people tonight at the drive-in! Maybe I should put a sign around my neck that says, "user error here."
Friday, September 17, 2010
together is our favorite place to be
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| holy moely |
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| Jenn & Marlon, Me, Sherri & Bob, Cherece and Marci |
Friday, August 20, 2010
i suck at blogging.
lately i've been thinking i need to start a blog and keep up with it; which could also be applied to working out, eating healthy, spirituality. . . anything else that is good for me.
turns out i have a blog. i discovered it when i was visiting a friend's page and saw a link to my own. wow. i guess it saves me the trouble of coming up with a creative name that hasn't already been used because we all know i would've been frustrated when my name was used (by myself earlier) and was forced to come up with something cheesey.
Well, i guess to keep up with my 1 pic a month idea that i started 3 years ago, i'll find something from this month and post it.
turns out i have a blog. i discovered it when i was visiting a friend's page and saw a link to my own. wow. i guess it saves me the trouble of coming up with a creative name that hasn't already been used because we all know i would've been frustrated when my name was used (by myself earlier) and was forced to come up with something cheesey.
Well, i guess to keep up with my 1 pic a month idea that i started 3 years ago, i'll find something from this month and post it.
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