new roommates!

Let me begin by telling you that Shane is not one of my new roommates. Tammy and Collette are. Before they moved in we did one billion projects from painting to furnace filter changing.

They moved in the other night. After unloading, what seemed like an enormous amount of goods, they went back for a second load.....with 3 vehicles! After unloading another overwhelming load of stuff, I learned that there was still a little more stuff that needed to come. My living room has space for us to get out the back door in an emergency. It may take some time to figure out how to shove our stuff all in here together. I'm afraid we haven't mastered the "work smarter, not harder" theory.

Overall, I'm pretty excited to have them here.

BiRtHdAyS

Birthdays are the greatest day of the year. Everyone deserves a celebration, whatever kind they want. Memorable birthdays for me are:

#8 - My teacher made the day good at school. I don't remember how but I liked it. Right after school, my mom helped me get ready for my baptism. Lots of family came, but I can't remember everyone. My 2 grandmas gave the talks. I don't remember the talks but I do remember they made me feel pretty special. I got my first set of scriptures too. It was a good birthday.

#12 - My parents took me, my sisters, and my brother to the Ogden Temple to do baptisms for the dead. This is when I really started to love the temple. I think we did family names. The temple workers learned it was my 12th birthday. They were so good to me.

#16 - I don't remember too much but I do remember that my family and friends made it a special day for me. It seemed like I got away with a lot.

#18 - Not super special but memorable. My friends took me to breakfast before school, I had to race to class to take a biology test, I started a brand new job and worked 8 hours, had to run straight to City Council Meeting to receive some award, and when I got home a few family members were waiting for me. I missed dinner. The day seemed long and my thoughts were drawn to my cousin who lost her mom on her 18th birthday.

#19 - I lived in New Jersey. It was a rough time. I had a few friends from institute though. My family and a friend mailed me a couple packages. My one good friend's mom was in town and they took me out to dinner. It was odd we had a table in an empty area. But then 15 people I hardly knew, and who hardly knew me showed up. It was a suprise party! It was so great! Really, I learned some great lessons in New Jersey and love and miss my institute family.

I'm not sure how old I was on a couple other birthdays, but my dad and I have gone to the temple together. They are good memories.

I don't especially remember too much about birthdays or gifts. What I love about birthdays is the chance I have to be thankful for all my blessings. Birthdays are like Thanksgiving, New Years, and Christmas rolled into one day. I'm glad I have the chance to reflect on my last year and look forward to the next. Mostly, I'm thankful for my family and friends who fill each of my years.

Relief Society Broadcast

The speakers were so great! I could have listened to them all night. I was even wishing President Uchtdorf would have gone on and on. After feeling the inspiration to improve my own efforts, I have determined to set a realistic goal and go forward. Unfortunately, knowing myself, sometimes I hear moving talks by Church leaders and feel the Spirit whispering to me and still I don't change. I write a few notes but then turn the page.

But....this time is different. Here's the deal: this week I have been thinking that I may be in a little bit of a rut. I don't want to minimize my blessings but I haven't moved forward in a while. Last night, I received the antidote to my situation. The sisters spoke on varying topics but had one common theme - service. Serving in my calling, serving as a member of Relief Society, and serving in the temples. Reaching outside of myself is the cure for what I'm feeling. Plus, besides serving, I can spend my time creating - all sorts of things. And creating can be service too. Developing myself is a good way to spend my time and will bring satisfaction (from what I understand).

Let's get down to brass tacks - I'm going forward with full force. There are opportunities to serve every time I turn around. There are opportunities to improve my skills and talents. I am a little ways from perfect but I can at least take a step. That's the goal....a step at a time. Wish me luck!

Aspiration: Be A Bum

definition: to somehow support myself and remain or increase social activity while decreasing the time obligated to structured activities (ie: employment)
objective: to be obligated to as little as possible while still maximizing happiness

Pro:

1. no work = no work stress
2. when fun happens, i'll be available
3. in case i ever lose my job during rage i won't go through "failure depression" because i will have actually made a step towards my goal
4. less people will be fighting against my existence
5. could find some sort of fun, punk-kid type job
6. save a ton because i'll be forced to move in with someone
7. overall, i'd appreciate a lot of things about being a bum

Con:

1. only have my income until i become uncontrollably honest
2. can't live independently if i succeed in becoming a bum
3. a lot of this seems selfish
4. won't actually save a ton because i won't make as much
5. may impede goals that are "wildly important"
6. even if i have the time, i won't be able to afford all the fun that happens
7. have to give up a few major assets
8. my happiness may become shallow and temporary
9. my time will become less valuable, thus taken for granted
10. this all may mean i take for granted what i already have

I guess after thinking this all through it may not be what I really want. The grass was seeming greener on the other side until I really thought out what I'd lose. I do like all of the things I get to do and the things I have. Maybe if I learn to appreciate them more I'll watch my tongue, soften my heart, and protect what I've got.

Lesson Learned: Bums may not have the life it's cracked up to be.

I'm trying! Again....

I just wrote, and deleted, a post reflecting awful aspects of my personality. I have decided there is no reason to air my dirty laundry, right? They had to do with things like sneaky anger, dirty dishes, grandpa's dead wife, not excelling in my calling, i killed my fish, etc. Plus...if I make those things public then they'll be harder to put in the past. And so instead I am going to try to give a few examples of my redeeming qualities. Hopefully, by spending time thinking about good things instead of poor things, I'll change my perspective (about me) and be a better person (someday). If I'm going to invest time in improving my quirks, I should probably choose good ones.

1. i don't mind telling people about stupid stuff i do (in fact, i can't help but tell)
2. i made some really great cookies last week
3. i've been to institute twice so far!
4. i try to do my job well
5. i try not to say everything i think
6. i take pleasure in keeping a clean, organized house
7. i'm good at sudoku
8. i have creative aspirations
9. i pretty much really like my family
10. i really appreciate what my friends and family do for me
11. i feel pretty good about the gospel

Of course, I can still work on all of the aforementioned items but they are a worthy use of my time. It's gotta be better than the alternatives, right? I'm always in the market for new hobbies and stuff so maybe I should make these my new hobbies. I'm not feeing real great about the way I am now, of course I've proven I can't change overnight, but maybe I'll have fewer regrets if I give it my best shot. So anyway.....

Lesson Learned - When the time for action comes, the time for preparation has passed.