It's the eve of the school year and all through the house,
no one else was stirring
besides Suzette the louse.
Why yes, it is 2:15 am and I am the only person up. Why am I blogging? Well, I need to capture this moment.
What have I learned this summer might you ask? I learned how to stand on my own, and on my own testimony. I realized that I had a strength within me that came from following the Lord. I learned how to laugh and love unconditionally. I learned how to be a good waitress...and how to be a good customer. I RElearned the love of reading. I learned that friends are not hard to come by, but keeping the good ones takes hard work, and forgiveness. I learned that no matter how cheesy a TV show is, it still can motivate you in the worst of times. I learned that making money is not as hard as controlling the urge to spend it. I learned that working out 5 days a week makes you 10x more confident in yourself. I learned that I love having guy friends! I don't need to feel marriage-bound with every guy I meet! I learned that it'll be hard raising a family, but that it will be worth it. I learned that roller coasters and tiny, girl pockets equal broken phones. I learned that homeless people have stories too; and they are willing to share if you but take the time to listen. I learned that dates are much appreciated! I learned some fantastic culinary tricks and recipes to eat healthy this semester. Most importantly, I learned further that Jesus Christ is my Savior. That Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. And through the power of prayer and the priesthood, the gospel has been restored and the Book of Mormon brought forth for our day.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Finding Truth In Art, Science, and History
My mom keeps asking me what my favorite part of Washington D.C. was. I enjoyed the museums, the food, the people. But, honestly my favorite part was seeing Christ in everything.
At the National Gallery of Art, I saw predominately Renaissance artwork and sculptures. Those famous artists depicted the life of Christ. They knew the importance of His life, and His suffering in the Atonement. Those artists wanted to portray the feelings they felt and what those close to the Savior felt. Why? Because He is real and our Savior. I was so touched by this Renaissance/Medieval artwork section because the artists had faith in a Higher Being. How often does our perception of artistic people lean towards the faithless? They seem to push the boundaries now, instead of trying to understand life's meaning.
At the National Gallery of Art, I saw predominately Renaissance artwork and sculptures. Those famous artists depicted the life of Christ. They knew the importance of His life, and His suffering in the Atonement. Those artists wanted to portray the feelings they felt and what those close to the Savior felt. Why? Because He is real and our Savior. I was so touched by this Renaissance/Medieval artwork section because the artists had faith in a Higher Being. How often does our perception of artistic people lean towards the faithless? They seem to push the boundaries now, instead of trying to understand life's meaning.
Then, the artist portrayal of the ideal woman stood out to me too. They showed mythological goddesses of wisdom and strength, clothed in flowing feminine gowns. The women’s strength did not come from stealing man’s strength; rather, these women found their divine nature in other ways: service, charity, understanding, maternal instinct, sweetness, wisdom, wit, etc. I kept thinking: How can I be like these women? Confident in themselves and their purpose. I know who I am and what my purpose is; now, I just have to constantly develop that understanding. It might take a lifetime, but the important thing is to try everyday.
The experience in the Natural History museum was not entirely different. Though the two worlds of art and science seem at odds, they have a common element of the Savior. Our artwork can be an expression of our love towards him. And natural history is an expression of His love towards us. I remember observing the gems and precious stones and thinking, He gave us these! He gave us these precious jewels. And yet, he always says that we’re more valuable than them. A virtuous woman is worth more than a ruby! The way people flocked to the gems of the world made me think how precious we really are.
Even in the Evolution exhibit. I do not know everything on how change in nature occurs. However, I do think Heavenly Father is understanding of people that are just trying to figure out where they came from. They get confused; but that doesn’t mean He doesn’t love them.
The Natural History museum made me happy for mankind! We were genuinely interested in the world that our Heavenly Father gave to us. People are eager to discover new life in the deepest, darkest waters. Even in that darkness, He provided light!
The hardest part was probably the Holocaust museum. I do not understand why those human beings needed to go through so much suffering and pain. I can only imagine Satan’s insurmountable influence in this tragedy. And while I have had a much better life than those poor souls, I do know that our Heavenly Father does love those people. I can imagine Him watching as His people suffer: the pain that He must felt. I can also imagine the open arms He extended once those precious souls reached heaven. I can only imagine the sacred place reserved for those victims, or victims of any human inhumanity. What I do know is that despite this inhumanity, people were true to their faith. One survivor said, “This should teach everyone to never, never, ever give up.” They prayed and showed gratitude for what they did have. The girl’s passport that I had was a Jehovah’s witness. She chose to be imprisoned because she would not denounce her religion. These are the people that I admire. Even though they never had the fullness of truth on this Earth, what truth they did know they clung to. They would not let anyone take that away from them. The people I feel sorry for were those that had nothing to believe in.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
I feel almost a responsibility to write this post write now. I just finished my last day at wing warehouse. Weird. I am going to miss those bunch of misfits. I learned so much there. I felt mostly a duty to myself to blog about the people.
1) Steve. Imagine a typical fisherman type with an earring and a tattoo or two. Built sturdy and strong. But, contrast that with his goofy smile and glasses that give off a wittier side. He loves to joke around, and spend time with his kids. He picked a flower from the back once because he said I deserved something pretty. He also would give me massages when we were slow or dead at work.
2) Ed. The Head. Cook. When I first met him, I was nervous around him. And, he seemed to get along well with other girls, but not me. He has a larger built; however, in recent months he's been losing weight. His teeth are a little discolored from his chewing tobacco. But, it doesn't make his smiles less spirited. He had small beady eyes too. However, most people automatically notice his pants (he's been called Mr. Funny Pants before). The patterns and colors burst from his bandana down to his toes. What I love most about him is his sincerity. He actually is a priest at his church! I never would've seen that coming! I was utterly shocked that someone else was religious there too! Ed is a fantastic cook (he let me try a stuffed mushroom he made for his church) which he attributes to his mother.
3) Tracey. After our old manager took her pregnancy leave, I was introduced to this perky mom and now manager. Her short, bright burgundy hair is her standout trait. I can't help but smile at the way her whole face beams when she smiles. She's bubbly, but also firm. She knows how to run a business. Come to find out she's the mother of my old manager at Subway. Small world! But, most importantly, every time I hear "The Lazy Song" by Bruno Mars, I think of Tracey's little bop she'd do.
4) Angie. Now, I never really knew what to think of older ladies as waitresses. To be honest, I thought they were "second-class." While I feel terrible writing this, I can resolutely say Angie and Julie (I'll get to her) have changed my opinion. They are magnificent servers with a talent for working with people. I think it could be their maternal instinct in them. I can't talk about Angie without mentioning her confidence in her body, specifically her derriere! She would often kid around about it. I still remember my last night of training with her while she'd shadow me with her fierce brown bob hairstyle and bold, silver hoop earrings the size of my fist. Again she loves her little angels very much, and frequently whips out her phone to get a snapshot of their cuteness.
5) Laticia. If you saw this girl, you would NOT think she had a kid with how petite her frame is. She'd occasionally wear her thick-rimmed glasses with fit her face well with her striking blonde, shoulder length hair. The best was her facial expressions. Her looks of disbelief, sarcasm, and annoyance never ceased to amuse me.
6) Brittany P. Another girl down the same road as Laticia in that she's petite, but significantly shorter. She's also got these big eyes that contrast with her dark tanned skin. And don't let her size fool you. What she lacks in height, she makes up for in her temperament. I thought she'd hate me and rip me to shreds. I honestly thought I'd end a night with her screaming at me. However, as she told me later, she doesn't hate a lot of people. She can get annoyed and lose her temper, but she doesn't hate them. She speaks her mind, which is something I admire. I'll never forget when she told her boyfriend about me and how I was the girl who brought in the delicious brownies and gave her a free kid's pass to the zoo. I think after that she found me tolerable. I also admire her love for her son in that she tattooed his birthday in Roman numerals on her neck.
7) Randy. You know, when I was applying for the job, Randy actually came out of the kitchen and said to me, "I just started here. Trust me, you don't want to work here." I looked him up and down, staring at his goofy getup. His looks classify him as a typical "gangster" but his eyes give away his kindness. I'll always remember that goofy smirk he'd give me with that dark brown goatee and mustache. Then, he'd walk away, showing off the Mickey on the back of his hat. I gave him a Book of Mormon. I keep praying that he'll read it. I need to get his number to give to the missionaries. I hope there's still time before I leave.
Alright, that's all I have time for tonight. More to come. I hope you get a taste of the people there. I felt misplaced at first; but, just like in a family, they adopted me in. They found room for me. And even though we may look different or have different beliefs or even completely different lifestyles, we all wore that crazy little chicken and a memorable phrase on our shirts:
1) Steve. Imagine a typical fisherman type with an earring and a tattoo or two. Built sturdy and strong. But, contrast that with his goofy smile and glasses that give off a wittier side. He loves to joke around, and spend time with his kids. He picked a flower from the back once because he said I deserved something pretty. He also would give me massages when we were slow or dead at work.
2) Ed. The Head. Cook. When I first met him, I was nervous around him. And, he seemed to get along well with other girls, but not me. He has a larger built; however, in recent months he's been losing weight. His teeth are a little discolored from his chewing tobacco. But, it doesn't make his smiles less spirited. He had small beady eyes too. However, most people automatically notice his pants (he's been called Mr. Funny Pants before). The patterns and colors burst from his bandana down to his toes. What I love most about him is his sincerity. He actually is a priest at his church! I never would've seen that coming! I was utterly shocked that someone else was religious there too! Ed is a fantastic cook (he let me try a stuffed mushroom he made for his church) which he attributes to his mother.
3) Tracey. After our old manager took her pregnancy leave, I was introduced to this perky mom and now manager. Her short, bright burgundy hair is her standout trait. I can't help but smile at the way her whole face beams when she smiles. She's bubbly, but also firm. She knows how to run a business. Come to find out she's the mother of my old manager at Subway. Small world! But, most importantly, every time I hear "The Lazy Song" by Bruno Mars, I think of Tracey's little bop she'd do.
4) Angie. Now, I never really knew what to think of older ladies as waitresses. To be honest, I thought they were "second-class." While I feel terrible writing this, I can resolutely say Angie and Julie (I'll get to her) have changed my opinion. They are magnificent servers with a talent for working with people. I think it could be their maternal instinct in them. I can't talk about Angie without mentioning her confidence in her body, specifically her derriere! She would often kid around about it. I still remember my last night of training with her while she'd shadow me with her fierce brown bob hairstyle and bold, silver hoop earrings the size of my fist. Again she loves her little angels very much, and frequently whips out her phone to get a snapshot of their cuteness.
5) Laticia. If you saw this girl, you would NOT think she had a kid with how petite her frame is. She'd occasionally wear her thick-rimmed glasses with fit her face well with her striking blonde, shoulder length hair. The best was her facial expressions. Her looks of disbelief, sarcasm, and annoyance never ceased to amuse me.
6) Brittany P. Another girl down the same road as Laticia in that she's petite, but significantly shorter. She's also got these big eyes that contrast with her dark tanned skin. And don't let her size fool you. What she lacks in height, she makes up for in her temperament. I thought she'd hate me and rip me to shreds. I honestly thought I'd end a night with her screaming at me. However, as she told me later, she doesn't hate a lot of people. She can get annoyed and lose her temper, but she doesn't hate them. She speaks her mind, which is something I admire. I'll never forget when she told her boyfriend about me and how I was the girl who brought in the delicious brownies and gave her a free kid's pass to the zoo. I think after that she found me tolerable. I also admire her love for her son in that she tattooed his birthday in Roman numerals on her neck.
7) Randy. You know, when I was applying for the job, Randy actually came out of the kitchen and said to me, "I just started here. Trust me, you don't want to work here." I looked him up and down, staring at his goofy getup. His looks classify him as a typical "gangster" but his eyes give away his kindness. I'll always remember that goofy smirk he'd give me with that dark brown goatee and mustache. Then, he'd walk away, showing off the Mickey on the back of his hat. I gave him a Book of Mormon. I keep praying that he'll read it. I need to get his number to give to the missionaries. I hope there's still time before I leave.
Alright, that's all I have time for tonight. More to come. I hope you get a taste of the people there. I felt misplaced at first; but, just like in a family, they adopted me in. They found room for me. And even though we may look different or have different beliefs or even completely different lifestyles, we all wore that crazy little chicken and a memorable phrase on our shirts:
 |
| "If it's not on your face, you ain't eatin it right" |
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
(23) Days of Summer
I neeed sleep right now. But, I've been thinking about starting this blog post for a while, and I have finally gotten around to doing it.
Reasons why I can't wait for school to start:
1. When I buy clothes, I won't be thinking in the back of my mind, "Will I be able to fit this into my suitcase?"
2. I will have air conditioning! My family has gotten used to this. I have not. I feel 10x LESS productive because we don't have air conditioning. The humidity and heat just weigh me down.
3. Buying my own food (and not having anyone criticize what I buy)
4. Having a spacious fridge!
5. Getting on a regular sleep pattern.
6. Not having to work 30 hours a week at a sports bar and grill! Icky!
7. Being able to set my own hours for work!
8. Planning out my weeks!
9. Seeing my friends again. :)
10. Buying cute decorations for my apartment
11. Meeting new people in my ward! (I'm really going to try and focus on friendships NOT relationships).
12. Not having to pay for gas!
13. Trying new recipes.
14. Living feet away from friends, rather than MILES away from them.
15. Running at night!
16. Swimming with Eleise! I cannot wait to start some new swim workouts!
17. Going to the temple every week!!! I miss going every Friday night. :(
18. Challenging myself in chemistry
19. Wearing my new cute outfits to school/work/church
20. Writing my sister on her mission!
21. Going to free events on the weekends! Yay for college towns!
22. Not being the youngest in the area (I'm like the youngest in my singles' branch, at work, in my gym classes...)
(more to come)
Of course I have a list of things I'm going to miss:
1. My sister, Monique. :)
2. Lucky.
3. My parents.
4. Being so close to Kirtland!
5. The Singles' Branch. They're a really strong, and spirited group. They have welcomed me in when I thought I wouldn't find anyone to befriend.
6. Earning so much money as a waitress!
7. Being a light and example to those at my work.
8. Wing Warehouse. Those people grew on me. They are human too. They have their joys and insecurities and problems and talents and families and humor.
9. The Natatorium. I love going there. It feels like a jungle of possibilities!
10. All the Disney movies within reach.
11. Having my mom cook and wash my dishes and clean up after me. Basically, she keeps me in line. :)
12. Going to Wyoga Lake. Boy, I love my neighborhood lake.
13. Time to read everyday. Lounging around. Man, I have enjoyed reading so much this summer. I have rekindled my love with books.
14. The amount of Oxygen in the air. I can definitely tell the difference from Utah air.
15. The green rolling hills. You can't get enough green forest here. It's beautiful.
16. Having the ability to drive a car.
17. Cedar Point.
18. My friends. They were very understanding of my working situation this summer. And very patient when I didn't have a phone.
Not going to lie, it was a lot easier to write the first list than to right the latter. However, that is the way of life: You want what you can't have (at that moment) and take for granted what you are enjoying at that moment.
Reasons why I can't wait for school to start:
1. When I buy clothes, I won't be thinking in the back of my mind, "Will I be able to fit this into my suitcase?"
2. I will have air conditioning! My family has gotten used to this. I have not. I feel 10x LESS productive because we don't have air conditioning. The humidity and heat just weigh me down.
3. Buying my own food (and not having anyone criticize what I buy)
4. Having a spacious fridge!
5. Getting on a regular sleep pattern.
6. Not having to work 30 hours a week at a sports bar and grill! Icky!
7. Being able to set my own hours for work!
8. Planning out my weeks!
9. Seeing my friends again. :)
10. Buying cute decorations for my apartment
11. Meeting new people in my ward! (I'm really going to try and focus on friendships NOT relationships).
12. Not having to pay for gas!
13. Trying new recipes.
14. Living feet away from friends, rather than MILES away from them.
15. Running at night!
16. Swimming with Eleise! I cannot wait to start some new swim workouts!
17. Going to the temple every week!!! I miss going every Friday night. :(
18. Challenging myself in chemistry
19. Wearing my new cute outfits to school/work/church
20. Writing my sister on her mission!
21. Going to free events on the weekends! Yay for college towns!
22. Not being the youngest in the area (I'm like the youngest in my singles' branch, at work, in my gym classes...)
(more to come)
Of course I have a list of things I'm going to miss:
1. My sister, Monique. :)
2. Lucky.
3. My parents.
4. Being so close to Kirtland!
5. The Singles' Branch. They're a really strong, and spirited group. They have welcomed me in when I thought I wouldn't find anyone to befriend.
6. Earning so much money as a waitress!
7. Being a light and example to those at my work.
8. Wing Warehouse. Those people grew on me. They are human too. They have their joys and insecurities and problems and talents and families and humor.
9. The Natatorium. I love going there. It feels like a jungle of possibilities!
10. All the Disney movies within reach.
11. Having my mom cook and wash my dishes and clean up after me. Basically, she keeps me in line. :)
12. Going to Wyoga Lake. Boy, I love my neighborhood lake.
13. Time to read everyday. Lounging around. Man, I have enjoyed reading so much this summer. I have rekindled my love with books.
14. The amount of Oxygen in the air. I can definitely tell the difference from Utah air.
15. The green rolling hills. You can't get enough green forest here. It's beautiful.
16. Having the ability to drive a car.
17. Cedar Point.
18. My friends. They were very understanding of my working situation this summer. And very patient when I didn't have a phone.
Not going to lie, it was a lot easier to write the first list than to right the latter. However, that is the way of life: You want what you can't have (at that moment) and take for granted what you are enjoying at that moment.
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