Because I slept way too much this weekend, I am not the least bit tired right now. I've been laying in my bed trying to fall asleep- and failing miserably. So since I can't sleep, I think. My topic of thought tonight? Time.
I have:
-A month to complete this little gift for my grandparents that I haven't started. And because of clashing schedules with my sister and I, I can really only work on it on the weekends.
-19 months until Jeremy gets home.
-6 weeks to complete my online class (which I will no doubt wait until the last week possible to finish).
-Less than 48 hours to study for my chemistry test that I absolutely have to get an A on (wish me luck).
-5 days to figure out what in the world I am going to dress up as for Halloween.
-About 9 months to finish saving for a car.
-6 hours before I have to be in class
Yes, I am aware that some of those are more important than others. But as I was thinking all of those plus the few things I've planned for myself for this week that I'm not quite sure how I'm going to work out, I was getting overwhelmed. As I was throwing this little pity party for myself, a song called "You're Not Alone" from Chicago popped into my head. The line I was thinking of? "I don't mean to burst your bubble, but the world's got troubles worse than you." Well, yes. Yes it does.
Then I remembered that I hadn't checked my email all weekend. A little while ago I subscribed to the daily gems on lds.org (which I totally love and recommend to everyone) and when I clicked on the one from yesterday here is what I found:
"You need His help, and you know that you need His help. You cannot do it alone. You will come to realize that and recognize that more and more as the years pass. So live that in good conscience you can speak with the Lord. Get on your knees and thank Him for His goodness to you and express to Him the righteous desires of your hearts. The miracle of it all is that He hears. He responds. He answers--not always as we might wish He would answer, but there is no question in my mind that He answers."
-Gordon B. Hinckley
Coincidence? I think not. Pity party's over.
10.27.2008
10.24.2008
"Little by little
it's getting easier to pretend it's easier. Which means easier must be right around the corner."
Yeah, you'd think so. Tuesday (the 21st) marked month 5 in Jeremy's mission. Day to day, it is taking for stinkin' ever. But now its been 5 months, which means it's almost 6 months, which means I'm almost 1/4 done with this. (I know, I know, that's a big jump and I still have a whole month before I can really use the 1/4 thing, but don't ruin it for me.) Really though, it's gotten much better lately because school has kept me busy. I've been holding well to my goal of listening to President Monson and finding joy in the journey- and Jeremy has noticed. Go me. In a letter I got today he said, "I want to know how you stay so positive all the time" and that made me literally laugh out loud. Anyone that knows me well knows that I'm not really an optimist. Although, I am happier in my letters to him. But I've really been trying to be happier with this bitter sweet situation that I can't change (though I wouldn't change it even if I could). It's a work in progress.
For those who care, Jeremy is doing well. He tells funny stories but he is learning a lot. It's hard because people don't listen. He says even the members don't like them. The city he is currently in has about 600,000 people and only 15 members. He always talks about how blessed we are to be in America, and from hearing some of things he tells me I'm feeling more and more grateful for that each week. He gets to go to Madrid next week to renew his visa and he is very excited about that. I can already see a change in his letters from when he first left to now, but he still sounds like himself. He still struggles with the language but here is something he told us this week: "I have gotten some really good compliments on my accent. I met a lady on the street and she said that she couldn't even tell that I wasn't Russian. And then she said that she could when I made grammatical mistakes. So that was cool. She said that my accent was right on." So that is exciting and I'm sure that made him feel a lot better. He tells me I should learn Russian. Yeah... right.
Here is a picture he sent recently. I am just going to pretend that he doesn't really look thinner, just like I pretended he was kidding when he said he lost 14 pounds the first week he was there.
I'm just freaking out on the inside.
To borrow words from the lovely Stephenie Meyer, "Time passes. Even when it seems impossible. Even when each tick of the second hand aches like the pulse of blood behind a bruise. It passes unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but it does pass. Even for me."
Yes, time does pass, even for me. Slowly but surely.
Yeah, you'd think so. Tuesday (the 21st) marked month 5 in Jeremy's mission. Day to day, it is taking for stinkin' ever. But now its been 5 months, which means it's almost 6 months, which means I'm almost 1/4 done with this. (I know, I know, that's a big jump and I still have a whole month before I can really use the 1/4 thing, but don't ruin it for me.) Really though, it's gotten much better lately because school has kept me busy. I've been holding well to my goal of listening to President Monson and finding joy in the journey- and Jeremy has noticed. Go me. In a letter I got today he said, "I want to know how you stay so positive all the time" and that made me literally laugh out loud. Anyone that knows me well knows that I'm not really an optimist. Although, I am happier in my letters to him. But I've really been trying to be happier with this bitter sweet situation that I can't change (though I wouldn't change it even if I could). It's a work in progress.
For those who care, Jeremy is doing well. He tells funny stories but he is learning a lot. It's hard because people don't listen. He says even the members don't like them. The city he is currently in has about 600,000 people and only 15 members. He always talks about how blessed we are to be in America, and from hearing some of things he tells me I'm feeling more and more grateful for that each week. He gets to go to Madrid next week to renew his visa and he is very excited about that. I can already see a change in his letters from when he first left to now, but he still sounds like himself. He still struggles with the language but here is something he told us this week: "I have gotten some really good compliments on my accent. I met a lady on the street and she said that she couldn't even tell that I wasn't Russian. And then she said that she could when I made grammatical mistakes. So that was cool. She said that my accent was right on." So that is exciting and I'm sure that made him feel a lot better. He tells me I should learn Russian. Yeah... right.
Here is a picture he sent recently. I am just going to pretend that he doesn't really look thinner, just like I pretended he was kidding when he said he lost 14 pounds the first week he was there.
I'm just freaking out on the inside.To borrow words from the lovely Stephenie Meyer, "Time passes. Even when it seems impossible. Even when each tick of the second hand aches like the pulse of blood behind a bruise. It passes unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but it does pass. Even for me."
Yes, time does pass, even for me. Slowly but surely.
10.12.2008
Stole this :)
50 random things about me.
1. I love music. Its really my favorite thing in this world.
2. I love watching sports. Watch being the key word.
3. My favorite color is green, but I love wearing black and white.
4. I talk a lot. And usually too fast (or so I've been told).
5. I've become obsessed with T.V. and I watch way too many shows. Some of my favorites are Gilmore Girls, Grey's Anatomy, Friends, The Office and The Hills. Oh and Jon & Kate Plus 8.
6. I have scoliosis and I wore a back brace for 2 and a half years. My spine is still not straight, but it used to sort of be the in the shape of an 'S' so I'll take what I can without having to get surgery.
7. I want like 6 kids. I know, I know, I'll probably change my mind once I have a few, but for now, 6.
8. I love to sing. When I was little I would walk around my house singing as loud as I could. I still do that.
9. I'm a Sun Devils fan. I love going to and watching the football games (even though they're not good anymore).
10. I want to go to California and walk down Santa Monica Boulevard.
11. I don't like taking long car trips. I've been pretty spoiled with the whole free-flights thing.
12. I hate shopping, but I love clothes. If I ever won money from something, I would get a whole new wardrobe.
13. My favorite scripture is Galatians 2:20.
14. I love food! I'm a picky eater, but I've gotten better.
15. I find something I like at a restaurant and order that every time I go there. It drives my dad crazy.
16. I like to read. My favorite books are (you guessed it) the Twilight series.
17. My favorite movie of all time is Father of the Bride part II. I can pretty much quote the whole thing, as can my siblings.
18. I miss going to St. Johns every year for the pioneer celebration.
19. I have a funny family that I love very much.
20. I love little children. If I could live off of babysitting money, I would.
21. I'm an Arizona girl through and through. I don't do snow and as long as I can help it, I will live here my whole life.
22. I only like the rain because we only get it about twice a year.
23. I am SO excited that it is finally cooling off. Arizona's fall/winter is my favorite time of year.
24. I love the saying (that I stole off a T.V. show) "We're almost there and no where near it. All that matters is that we're going" because you can apply it to just about anything. The Temple is right around the corner for me but it still feels so far away. But the important thing is that I'll get there someday.
25. I would love to be a writer. If I was creative enough to write a book, that would be amazing.
26. I love lyrics. I can take any song, no matter what it's about, and I will find a way to apply it to my life. I think songs can teach us a lot.
27. I have the best mom and I'm a lot like her.
28. I'm blunt and that sometimes gets me in trouble (one of the ways I'm like my mom).
29. I love my dad. I hope I marry someone as hard-working as he is.
30. Despite what my family will tell you, I like being busy.
31. I want to travel to all 50 states. I've been to 11 and would like to see the other 39.
32. I love Costa Vida. I never get sick of eating there.
33. I've looked up to my sisters my whole life and have always wanted to be just like them. They could not be more different, but I'm realizing more and more that I've become a combination of the two.
34. I love strawberries. I will eat anything that is strawberry flavored.
35. I hate exercising. I use my back as an excuse, but really I'm just lazy.
36. My favorite hymn is #220- Lord, I Would Follow Thee. It was a very exciting day when I learned how to play it.
37. I love my little brother. I call him the pride and joy of our family.
38. I want to learn to speak Russian. Can you guess why?! ;)
39. I think moving into our current home and ward has been one of the best things that has happened to me.
40. I love soda and do not drink enough water.
41. I want them to hurry up and build the Gilbert Temple so I can get married in it.
42. I like to tell stories.
43. I become obsessed with a song or CD and listen to it over and over until I get sick of it and then I can't listen to it for months after that.
44. I have a lot of respect for missionaries. I never realized how long two years was until my best friend left to serve his mission. I think these boys are amazing.
45. I love the beach, but hate the ocean.
46. I've been stung by a stingray on two separate occasions (hence my disliking of the ocean). I have a scar on each foot.
47. I consider my siblings to be my best friends and I hope it always stays that way.
48. I play the piano, but I'm self-taught so I'm not very good.
49. In all four years, I never went to a dance at my own high school.
50. I don't like keeping things the same for very long. We've been in this house for 4 and a half years and I've already switched bedrooms and rearranged my room about 12 times. And that's not an exaggeration. Good luck to my husband!
1. I love music. Its really my favorite thing in this world.
2. I love watching sports. Watch being the key word.
3. My favorite color is green, but I love wearing black and white.
4. I talk a lot. And usually too fast (or so I've been told).
5. I've become obsessed with T.V. and I watch way too many shows. Some of my favorites are Gilmore Girls, Grey's Anatomy, Friends, The Office and The Hills. Oh and Jon & Kate Plus 8.
6. I have scoliosis and I wore a back brace for 2 and a half years. My spine is still not straight, but it used to sort of be the in the shape of an 'S' so I'll take what I can without having to get surgery.
7. I want like 6 kids. I know, I know, I'll probably change my mind once I have a few, but for now, 6.
8. I love to sing. When I was little I would walk around my house singing as loud as I could. I still do that.
9. I'm a Sun Devils fan. I love going to and watching the football games (even though they're not good anymore).
10. I want to go to California and walk down Santa Monica Boulevard.
11. I don't like taking long car trips. I've been pretty spoiled with the whole free-flights thing.
12. I hate shopping, but I love clothes. If I ever won money from something, I would get a whole new wardrobe.
13. My favorite scripture is Galatians 2:20.
14. I love food! I'm a picky eater, but I've gotten better.
15. I find something I like at a restaurant and order that every time I go there. It drives my dad crazy.
16. I like to read. My favorite books are (you guessed it) the Twilight series.
17. My favorite movie of all time is Father of the Bride part II. I can pretty much quote the whole thing, as can my siblings.
18. I miss going to St. Johns every year for the pioneer celebration.
19. I have a funny family that I love very much.
20. I love little children. If I could live off of babysitting money, I would.
21. I'm an Arizona girl through and through. I don't do snow and as long as I can help it, I will live here my whole life.
22. I only like the rain because we only get it about twice a year.
23. I am SO excited that it is finally cooling off. Arizona's fall/winter is my favorite time of year.
24. I love the saying (that I stole off a T.V. show) "We're almost there and no where near it. All that matters is that we're going" because you can apply it to just about anything. The Temple is right around the corner for me but it still feels so far away. But the important thing is that I'll get there someday.
25. I would love to be a writer. If I was creative enough to write a book, that would be amazing.
26. I love lyrics. I can take any song, no matter what it's about, and I will find a way to apply it to my life. I think songs can teach us a lot.
27. I have the best mom and I'm a lot like her.
28. I'm blunt and that sometimes gets me in trouble (one of the ways I'm like my mom).
29. I love my dad. I hope I marry someone as hard-working as he is.
30. Despite what my family will tell you, I like being busy.
31. I want to travel to all 50 states. I've been to 11 and would like to see the other 39.
32. I love Costa Vida. I never get sick of eating there.
33. I've looked up to my sisters my whole life and have always wanted to be just like them. They could not be more different, but I'm realizing more and more that I've become a combination of the two.
34. I love strawberries. I will eat anything that is strawberry flavored.
35. I hate exercising. I use my back as an excuse, but really I'm just lazy.
36. My favorite hymn is #220- Lord, I Would Follow Thee. It was a very exciting day when I learned how to play it.
37. I love my little brother. I call him the pride and joy of our family.
38. I want to learn to speak Russian. Can you guess why?! ;)
39. I think moving into our current home and ward has been one of the best things that has happened to me.
40. I love soda and do not drink enough water.
41. I want them to hurry up and build the Gilbert Temple so I can get married in it.
42. I like to tell stories.
43. I become obsessed with a song or CD and listen to it over and over until I get sick of it and then I can't listen to it for months after that.
44. I have a lot of respect for missionaries. I never realized how long two years was until my best friend left to serve his mission. I think these boys are amazing.
45. I love the beach, but hate the ocean.
46. I've been stung by a stingray on two separate occasions (hence my disliking of the ocean). I have a scar on each foot.
47. I consider my siblings to be my best friends and I hope it always stays that way.
48. I play the piano, but I'm self-taught so I'm not very good.
49. In all four years, I never went to a dance at my own high school.
50. I don't like keeping things the same for very long. We've been in this house for 4 and a half years and I've already switched bedrooms and rearranged my room about 12 times. And that's not an exaggeration. Good luck to my husband!
10.05.2008
Find Joy in the Journey
I LOVE general conference. I've been so looking forward to this weekend for a while now and I am a little sad that it is over. I had a lot of favorite talks and I've learned so much in these last two days. Some of my favorites were Elder Holland's talk about angels, Elder Uchtdorf's talk about hope and Elder Cook's talk about trials. I love that Elder Cook quoted President Monson in his response to how members could help him, "find someone who is having a hard time and do something to help them." What a simple request.
My very favorite was President Monson's talk at the end of the Sunday morning session. He spoke about living for today and being less worried about the past and future. As I was listening to him speak I felt like he was talking directly to me. I've been praying all week that I would be able to get something out of conference and I didn't quite know what I was looking for until I heard it. Lately I've been thinking a lot about the future. I've always been what I guess you would call a dreamer. I don't like the unknown, so I make plans for myself. They are not always realistic plans, and I don't really get dissappointed if things don't happen how I planned them because things have always worked out to be the way I needed them to be, whether I wanted it that way or not. In his talk, President Monson said, "There will be no tomorrow to remember if we don't do something today." He also used the phrase "find joy in the journey." And so I've decided that is my new motto: Find Joy in the Journey. I will still be making plans because I think it is important to have goals and have some idea of where you're going and who you want to become, especially at my age, but I am going to try to worry less about tomorrow and focus on today.
I also was so happy that the choir sang Faith in Every Footstep. It is one of my favorite songs and I felt the spirit so strong while listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing it.I am so grateful that we have the opportunity to listen to our prophet. I love that the Lord is able to use his mouthpiece to speak to us. I LOVE general conference! :)
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