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...