Missing...and Entertainment...

So I am missing my sister. I miss calling her almost everyday on my way home from work when I lived in Arizona. I miss her advice when I don't want to hear it even though some (and by some I mean most) of the time she is right. I miss being with her when she loses it and is incredibly giggly for no real particular reason. :)

I am giving her more space so that she can enjoy her newlywed bliss. Correction: trying to give her space. This is hard.

She called me today. That is a feat...usually it is I calling her...

She is one of my best friends, and I could not have been blessed with a better sibling. :) She is on my "What am I truly grateful for?" list.

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One night after watching the movie 'Taken' a group of us went to Outback to grab some dessert. The boys were talking about whether the principles in the movie would be backed up by the Gospel...and they got a bit lawyerish and scriptural, which didn't particularly peek the interest of Nichee...

So she started explaining something to me...I am still not sure what it was she was explaining, but it had something to do with physical therapy and the human anatomy...I think...I am a Music Major...everything she said went over my head...she was rewarded with a blank stare...evidently that isn't very entertaining...

So we created this to pass the time:

Actually, it was all Nichee. I just egged her on and suggested things to add to our tower.


Nichee and her masterpiece...:)

Rain Rain Go Away

This is what it did.......ALL DAY LONG......

Warm, but wet...not a fan...I mean, the rain is great......but all day? Yeah, not a fan...

SOOOO...Elizabeth did this to make her feel better:


Which she then:


And then she made these:


Yummy yummy yummy...I need more milk...

What a Week...fears...

This was an interesting four days of work...needless to say, I slept in until 10:00am today. And I think I actually really did need it this time...I feel much better. I probably would have slept more, but the thunder woke me up. We have quite the storm system over us right now...and more coming directly for us. This is great though, we need the rain quite desperately. Hopefully no tornado's are coming in this system though...

I know I have said this before, but the acoustics here in the South are AMAZING...the thunder is SO LOUD. I never heard anything like this out West.

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I am afraid of a couple of things...like, you could call them semi-phobias...I don't really flip out, but I am severely afraid of them. (lol, I just re-read this...like, am I totally, like, a California Valley Girl or what??)

One is semi-trucks. I speed as quickly as I can around them. I do not stand next to them, I don't park next to them, I don't like being directly in front or behind or even diagonal from them. I think this is due to a time when I lived in California. We were on the 101 between Santa Maria and Santa Barbara, it was really windy (Santa Ana's), we went around a curve, and a semi-truck was on half of his wheels...and we were not far behind it. Time went really slow for the next 30 seconds. If he went down, we (Mom, sister and yours truly) were going down with it. Luckily the truck got back on all its wheels. I remember begging my Mom to speed by him as quickly as possible...

I am even MORE afraid of cement trucks...why, I am not sure. I have been around them a lot because my Dad used to do a lot of construction projects on our properties. I stayed as far away from them as I could. If I had the option, I would've stayed home while they were laying the concrete pad. One time as I was backing away from one, I hyper-extended my knee. It hurt.

Another fear is of tornado's. Hurricane's are not enjoyable, but I am not really afraid of them. Tornado's, however, I am. As soon as the alarms start going off, I am not in a happy place. I will not miss Alabama for the weather, that is for sure.

I have a very strong fear of hurting my knee. All the time, any time. Me being the queen of stupid accidents that produce very bad results, I suppose this is an understandable fear. It has subsided quite a bit since my surgery two years ago (I cannot BELIEVE it has been two years by the by), but it's still substantial. If I am going downstairs, I hold the rail. I know, I know, there are germs on the rail, but I would rather have a cold than a twisted ankle or yet another knee injury...or any other injury that a bad step could produce on the stairs.

What are you afraid of?

Pay It Forward

NOTICE: There is still room for one more...I have two committed so far...

This is how it works..... The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a hand made gift from me during this year. When and what will be a surprise. BUT, in order for you to leave a comment on my blog, you have to post this on your blog first. (That means that sometime during this year you will send a gift to 3 people as well.) Get it? So, the first 3 people to comment on this post will be the lucky ones.

May I remind all of you that I am the daughter of the craftiest person I know...and I inherited a lot of her craftiness...and she has TONS of good ideas...:)...and I promise that it will be something that you will want to keep...

Women's Conference...Atonement...

Women's Conference was awesome yesterday...

Although I have to be honest with you...I did not want to sit on the stand. I actually was totally caught off guard when Nancy came up to me and said we were sitting up on the stand. I am the secretary, I don't have any real leadership in the presidency, I don't have to sit up there...but then I thought about how the executive secretary for the ward always sits up on the stand during Sacrament Meeting and the stake executive secretary sits up on the stand for Stake Conference...so I repented quickly and went up there...

All I had to do was sit. So I hid myself behind the Stake Relief Society Presidency. :) And took notes.

I thought the talks were wonderful, I learned a lot, I was rejuvenated. And it's amazing how everything that I learned yesterday was reiterated today during Church...

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The Atonement is really truly real. I am so grateful for our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I have learned and understood much more about the role the Atonement plays and of its importance in my life recently. I am so grateful for the gospel of repentance, for the companionship of the Holy Ghost, for the chance I have to renew my covenants every Sunday in Sacrament Meeting.

Blog Personality Type...

So I went about the internet looking up some things, stumbled across an interesting blog, and found this website that gives your blog a personality type...

So I put mine in...and this is what I got:

ESFP - The Performers

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

They enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.




I have my own opinion of whether I agree with this analysis or not. My question is, what do you think?

Bothered...

A few years ago I took conducting lessons from the best conductor at the University of Alabama...simply wonderful conductor. It's AMAZING what he does with his ensemble...really it was a privilege to be his student...

...well, one day he said something to me that really bothered me. I was frustrated with myself that I hadn't mastered something by the time I came back in for another lesson...and he said something to the effect of "Well, the goal here isn't to turn you into a world-class conductor."

That bothered me.

However AWESOME that would be (one of my dreams is to conduct the New York Philharmonic...) I don't expect to actually be a world-class conductor.

But why not have the goal of being as good as a world-class conductor? If you are going to be something or do something, shouldn't you have the goal of being the best at it? Not for the glory necessarily, but (forgive the cheese...) to be the best that you can be?

Why not have the goal of being the best music theorist in the world? The best musician, the best sign language interpreter, the best boss, etc...

Or, for a different perspective, the best mother or father in the world?

That way you are always trying to improve and be better than you are. You may not achieve that goal, but at the very least you have the satisfaction of a life working towards a worthy goal.

And if you just happen to reach that goal...then you can go to Disneyworld to celebrate!

Or go there anyways because it's a cool place to go...:)

Collections...Hail...and Elder Scott...

Have I ever mentioned that I never want to hold a job where I have to call people? Well, I hold one now. I call patients to remind them of their appointments. I don't mind that so much, usually they appreciate the call. Amazingly, sometimes they don't appreciate the phone call at all.

Well today I was very quick at my work and finished all of my usual responsibilities early. I went to my boss to inform him of this. He asked me if I would like to call patients about their bills...

"No, no thanks, not interested, thank you, but no," were among the many thoughts that went through my head when he asked me the question. But, I really had nothing to do, and I would like to keep my job, so instead I said "No, but I will."

One hung up on me.

Yeah, I am SO finishing my thesis ASAP. :) Don't get me wrong, I actually like my job. I get along with my coworkers quite well, I have a good boss, and there are a number of perks that come along with working at the office.

BUT this is definitely temporary.

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We had hail an inch in diameter. It sounded like the house was under fire. I REALLY hope my car doesn't have scratches and dents on it now...

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Elder Scott is amazing. He really is just SO insightful...

I receive quotes from ldsgems in my email three times a week and lately I have the "keep as new" button on each of these emails because it was so what I needed to read at that moment.

The one I received today was just LOVELY...

"It is so hard when sincere prayer about something we desire very much is not answered the way we want. It is especially difficult when the Lord answers no to that which is worthy and would give us great joy and happiness. Whether it be overcoming illness or loneliness, recovery of a wayward child, coping with a handicap, or seeking continuing life for a dear one who is slipping away, it seems so reasonable and so consistent with our happiness to have a favorable answer. It is hard to understand why our exercise of deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not bring the desired result."No one wants adversity. Trials, disappointments, sadness, and heartache come to us from two basically different sources. Those who transgress the laws of God will always have those challenges. The other reason for adversity is to accomplish the Lord's own purposes in our life that we may receive the refinement that comes from testing. It is vitally important for each of us to identify from which of these two sources come our trials and challenges, for the corrective action is very different."

Richard G. Scott, "Trust in the Lord," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 16

No, I have not been praying about finding the right guy and getting married lately, although that does show up in my prayers often enough because it is a good thing to desire and pray for. I have other things that have been pressing on me though, and this is just exactly what I needed to read...and it helped me understand a part of my patriarchal blessing that I just never really paid sincere attention to...:)

Dickens...Two Months...Art Museums...

I am reading "A Tale of Two Cities"...

I am looking forward to finishing it...

And NOT because I am enjoying it...

I know it's a classic, and I probably should have better taste and enjoy it for the sheer brilliance of it, and usually I do enjoy the 'classics'...LOVED The Count of Monte Cristo for example...

I am not loving this book...I am only a third of the way into it too...maybe the last 2/3 will change my mind about it...

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Two months people. Two months...

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I LOVE going to art museums. I enjoy them whether I am with someone or not. I walked through the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC by my lonesome and had a grand time and took TONS of pictures of, yes, pictures and statues and all kinds of things there.

I went to the Westervelt-Warner Museum of American Art here in Tuscaloosa on Friday (the Thirteeth) because I had a couple of hours to kill and went driving around until I found it. I went there once before with Amber, but we got there about 30 minutes before it closed so I didn't get to walk and look and take my time like I like to. This time I did. Really interesting and beautiful works of art. There is an entire room dedicated to paintings of George Washington.

Mr. Warner was at the Museum that day. He was watching a film about George Washington actually. I guess he comes quite often. I didn't get to meet him, but maybe I will one day. I think I am going to visit more often. The guard told me he (meaning Mr. Warner) knows details about pretty much every single painting in the museum, and he being in his 90's. Not sure if that really is his age, because he sure did not look that old...

Anyways, cool stuff.

#300 plus one...and Young Women stuff...and CELLOOOOOO...

So I didn't notice, but that last post of mine was #300...so this is post #301...yeah, so anyways, I thought it was cool...

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So today I was all about taking the day off. I didn't have to travel anywhere for my calling, the next thing-a-ma-gig isn't until the end of the month and I have already done all that I really needed to do for that thing...

...then the high councilor over Young Women's comes to my ward...and ideas start flying through my head...

...then I come home, get home taught (yay, they are the kind that I don't have to remind to home teach me, very excited about that), have every intention to take a nap...and I get online and LO AND BEHOLD they have updated the young women's site.

For those of you lovely ladies not already in the know, they have added a new value to the Young Women's theme and program. The value is virtue, and the color is gold. This is kinda old news now for young women's, but they just came out with the new Personal Progress goals and such. Me being secretary, I promised to inform the Young Women's presidents and their presidencies as soon as they published the new stuff. So I wrote a nice email about that...

Well, guess what? Mom's can now get their Young Womenhood Recognition done too. And that is pretty dang cool in my book. I mean, the program that I grew up with didn't exist when my Mom was a youth...they didn't have the medallions or anything. They have changed the program even more to where they don't have the Beehive, the Mia Maid or the Laurel medallions anymore, and the Young Womenhood medallion is different now...has the Salt Lake Temple on it instead of the Young Woman in the dress...

Anyways, Mom's who have daughters that are Young Women can get their recognition as well. How totally freaking cool is that?

Yeah, so much for taking the day off. I wrote a BUNCH of emails today...

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I practised today.
For an hour.
It felt good...

I am going to do more of this for a while. I have a strong urge to rebuild my chops. There really isn't a reason excepting the last couple of times I performed I did not sound good and it made me angry. So I decided to do something about it.

Mostly open string stuff for the right hand and scales, arpeggios and finger exercises for the left. I tried started the Kabalevsky Concerto No. 1, and my word I have some work to do. Intonation, technique, etc. etc....yeah, I have a ways to go...I wish I could afford a teacher right now, cause I sure could use one...

Confession...

So one day I am on my way up to the office and this UPS guy gets onto the elevator.

Now, let me tell you, this does NOT happen often for me. I do NOT look at a guy for looks usually...height, yes, looks, not quite so high on the scale...I am FAR more attracted to a guy by who they are than by pure looks...

But if this UPS guy had said something to me, I would've continued to stare at him, and even if I had attempted saying something back, it would've been mumbo jumbo and I probably would've drooled right then and there.

He was stunning...literally. Arms, face, hair, everything...

Unfortunately the moment didn't last long since he got off on the second floor...

My goodness, that hasn't happened to me in a LONG LONG time. Really, amazingly attractive. Heart racing, knees about to give kind of experience...I am amazed I was able to push the button for my floor.

Boy was I in a good mood the rest of that day...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you lovelies! I hope that you have someone special to share this day with...and if not, you can just pretend that I am giving you a great big hug because I would if I were around and we would get chocolate covered strawberries...or better yet, MAKE chocolate covered strawberries and eat them while watching either a sappy or a action movie, whichever one you prefer...I don't enjoy watching the scary/horror flicks all too well...but if that is what you would really like to watch, I would be more than happy to leave to allow you to watch it. :)

Give my love to your families, cousins...I miss them and of course I miss you and I am working hard to come back ASAP...even if it's just for a visit...

Uninspired...A Friendly Reminder...

Sorry about the lack of blog entries lately, I just haven't been all that inspired...

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Dear Menfolk of the world who actually read my blog,

There is this lovely holiday coming up tomorrow that you may think is really stupid and the lovely lady by your side may say is really stupid, but it really is a serious matter. Yes, it is over advertised and yes even when I have been in a relationship in the past I got sick of all the pink and red and hearts and oversized bears and such that were in EVERY SINGLE STORE.

Seriously though, don't forget that it is Valentine's Day. A male colleague of mine (married, children) made the argument that every day should be like it were Valentine's Day...it's a lovely idea, but from what little experience I have, it's hard to make that come to pass. Anyways, here is my reasoning of why you should remember this holiday tomorrow:

You once were single and alone. She once was single and alone. And that, my friends, is not fun. And when this time of year comes around and you are without anyone, you avoid going out shopping because you are so overwhelmingly reminded that you are single and alone.

Even if you have had someone special on every single Valentine's Day, you HAVE felt what it's like to be alone. And there are times when things don't go so well in any relationship. So there was a time in both of your lives when everyday was NOT Valentine's day.

Now, there are a select few of you who may make the argument, and I suppose that this could be true, that you have never gone through rough times with your loved one...

So think of this day as Thanksgiving...except you are thankful that you have someone to spend it with.

I am not writing this as a bitter diatribe because of the fact that I am six and twenty and still single, or to make all of you feel sorry for me (PLEASE don't, I am a big girl and can handle it)...

AND I am not writing this because I think all men are losers (they aren't) and they all forget about things like birthdays, anniversarys and Valentine's Day, because I know many of you are fabulous about remembering those kinds of things...

AND this isn't just for the menfolk actually, cause all of us lovely females could also use this reminder...

I am writing this because I have a great love for my friends and my family, and I want you all to realize and remember how blessed and lucky you are to have someone there when you wake up in the morning. You have someone to argue with all the time. You have someone who you fell in love with...and they fell in love with you...and they have stuck it out with you.

So, consider this your reminder to do something a little out of the ordinary for your sweetheart, and show her that she really is important to you. It can be as simple as just one single rose. (NOT a carnation, unless that happens to be her favorite flower...) It can be as simple as getting a couple of candles and eating by the light of them. It can be as simple as pulling out her favorite romantical song, bringing it up on your itunes, or even just making an attempt at humming it and dancing with her in the middle of your living room.

Just do something. She will appreciate it.

A Meme...

So I went searching around for a simple meme, and I found a website that I like that asks a couple of random questions...so I am going to answer them for your entertaining pleasure...they are of course Valentine's themed:

What is your favorite candy?

My favorite candy is dark chocolate...the darker, the better...it just needs to be smooth, and I am happy. :) Add almonds, and I am in heaven...

Name one thing that you'd want to receive as a gift for Valentine's Day.

The Snoopy Valentine's Day stuffed animal for this year. Yes I am serious. I would LOVE it. Hallmark has a new one out every year. I haven't gone to the Hallmark store because I would buy it if I even glimpsed it. But any of you lovelies may...:)

Can we truly love someone who loves another?

Ha, I had this really long answer written out, and I decided to cut it out and just say yes, I think you can.

Look at the Savior who was the ultimate example of this...he gave up His life for all of us because He truly loves us, whether we love Him by keeping His commandments or love the world...

It's a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad Week...

Starting Monday through to Saturday, it was just a bad week. I am just grateful that am relatively healthy, because that would've made this week SOOOO much worse.

I mean, there were moments here and there that involved me playing with babies and children and good friends and family, and they were lovely and wonderful moments, and there were moments that also involved some really good food...but they didn't last very long...

Not the worst week of my life, by any means, but this week was...yeah, it was just amazing how it just kept getting worse. I started laughing as things kept piling on...and of course, because I am such a baby there was a good deal of crying and some lack of sleep that happened too...ha, I even locked my keys in the house, I just remembered that. Yeah, this was definitely not a good week.

What I Learned Today...

I learned from one of my doctors what it really means to do well in your profession. I was witness to him going out of his way to call the spouses and children of those of his patients that recently passed away. He was completely sincere...and I was glad to assist him when he had a bad phone number. I was just glad I was there so that I could pull up the correct number.

I learned from one of the front office staff that it's best to laugh at oneself when you do something ridiculous than get mad at the situation. It also provides the rest of us who have had a stressful day to let off some steam and laugh right along.

I learned from one of the nurses the importance of going out of ones way to do your own job so that everyone else can do their job well. In fact, I saw that a number of times today.

I learned from a number of those that I work with and even from some of the patients to be grateful for what I have. To be really truly grateful.

I learned from another doctor the importance of smiling and smiling often.

I learned from many who I work with the importance of getting along with your coworkers and working hard to get along if need be, because otherwise you would go crazy.

I learned again that I have the best sister ever who can laugh at my silly ways.

I learned that I need to be a better friend to my friends.

I learned that I need to be a better person.

It was cool, I took the time to observe others today, and I saw so many little Christlike exchanges happen...I think I am going to do that more often, just observe whatever happens in front of me.

Good night all. Elizabeth is definitely tired...

Again, perspective...

Today is the first sick day I have taken in a LOOOOOONG time. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself...

Then I was flipping channels trying to distract myself since I was bored to tears but am still really weak, and I watched an episode of A Baby Story...

I'm good...bless all of you lovely ladies that I know that are pregnant...

And thank you Mommy for being willing to go through that with me...and then again with Emily...

Perspective...and some neat things...

It's AMAZING how one's perspective can change when you do what you are supposed to...

I have been pretty upset about something all week. And it's something that I don't have control of. No I am not going to tell ya'll what it is, just play along...

I have been REALLY bad about doing my scripture reading lately. REALLY bad...well, this morning I decided, after I said my morning prayer, to read some in the Ensign. Although the topic of the talk was pointed towards a totally different situation, it really did relate quite nicely to my problem. And it changed my perspective on everything. I realized that I needed to change. Yes, I can't really control the situation, but I can change the way I am handling it. I am still not pleased, but I am far more at peace...I am SOOOO grateful for the atonement...

Wow, I have a long way towards perfection. I need to get cracking...

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Yesterday I went to the temple, and a couple who were baptized a year ago and another man who was baptized just over a year ago (all in my ward) went to the temple, got their endowments, and the couple was sealed and then their kids were sealed to them. I didn't know that it was happening yesterday, I had made plans to be there with my president and her counselors, so it was a real coincidence that I was there. As I was leaving I saw their kids in the front room. I don't know the son, but I know their daughter and I had to run and give her a hug and tell her how happy I was for her.

The three getting their endowments were all Spanish speaking, so the session was a Spanish speaking session. That was really cool...it showed to me how little Spanish I knew. And I had to pay attention that much more to the subtitles...

I just checked my email, and one of the lead stories was extremely heart-warming...this six year old was having his birthday party in his class, and there was this HUGE present sitting in the room. He went to open it, and inside was his Dad who had just returned home from Iraq...yeah, I cried...