Happy Birthday Dad

Today is my dad's birthday! All day I have been thinking of all the wonderful things that my dad has done. I am so lucky to have a father as wonderful as him. It is often said that a father is a daughters first love, and how true that statement is. I love my dad for everything that he has done for me. He is the one that I would go to if I was in need help on my homework. He has always been patient with me when trying to teach me something new. I could always count on him to teach me and help me with whatever I brought to him. Just sitting and talking to him is a treat. I appreciate the music he grew up with because he would play it, allowing me to be more conscious of what is available to hear.

I know that I can contribute my hard work ethic to him as well. He taught that you should not leave a job half done or without your best effort. My cooking skills also were influenced by him. I would be unable to make my own spaghetti sauce without his guidance. He has always stood up for me when needed, loved me, and supported me in all that I have done, even when it meant moving away and getting married. I know it was not easy for him to see me go, but I am grateful that he did.

I love my dad and grateful to be his daughter. He will always be my first love and I am proud to call him my dad.

I love you Dad!

Patience and it's Reward

A few days ago a friend of mine asked how I was able to have a long distance relationship with Jake. I had to sit there and ponder how exactly I was able to do it. It is no small thing to be able to have a relationship like ours and make it last. I eventually had to say that it took:

1. Patience (and lots of it!)
2. Visiting each other whenever possible
3. Endless phone calls
4. Countless letters and emails (while on his mission)
5. A deep determination for it to work
   And last but certainly not least
6. A strong love for the man he is and will become

This whole thing made me realize how blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband. I began to think about the innumerable things that Jake does for me.

1. Jake strives me make sure that the bed is made every morning
2. We are as financially sound as possible
3. That we always spend at least a little bit of time each day together
4. He shows his love for me in word and deed
5. Jake upholds his priesthood in the reverence it deserves along with the callings he has to manage at church
   
6. Gaining an education for the future
7. Puts up with my never ending mood swings
8. Listens to my rants about work(good and bad)
9. Trusts me
10. Gives me a hug and kiss every night when he gets home (can't have too many of those =D)
11. Allows me to go to California for a week
12. Eats meals I cook even when they don't turn out so good
13. Cooks when the opportunity arises
14. Helps with the chores
15. Always strives to do his best even when he doesn't really feel like trying at all
16. Makes me laugh and smile everyday
17. Reminds me (even though he doesn't know he is doing it) that I am the luckiest woman to have the opportunity to be his wife forever and always.
    
18. His willingness to serve others
19. Teaching me things that I, should probably already, know
20. Being patient with me
21. Loving me for me
    

The list could go on and on.....

It has been a long road to get to where we are today. The numbers were against us, along with half my ward in California, that we weren't going to make it. But we did! And I couldn't be happier. I love Jake and am proud and honored to be his wife.

Adventures at the Salt Lake Temple

Running with the theme of everyday being an experience I can add a new one to my ever growing list. Jake and I have made it a goal to go to the temple at least once a month. To help ensure our goal along with those of our families we trade off who we go with each month. This month was my brother and sister-in-laws turn. They decided that they wanted to go to the Salt Lake Temple for a session. This was the first time that I had been in the temple since Jake and I married. It was such a different experience going through a session without a movie to stare blankly at. Just having real people up there made it more interesting, that and they were old so it was fun to listen to them. What really made the whole episode wonderful was being in the temple and seeing all of the beautiful murals on the wall. I was constantly letting my eyes and mind wander as I looked at the paintings. It was awesome seeing the detail and expertise that was used through out the entire structure.

Another thing that was inspiring was that the Lord always knows where people need to be. The reason I say this is that if at least one person was not there that night it could have been far worse then it turned out to be. Near the very end of the session a women became faint with a pale face. The man with her was unable to help her because he did not speak Russian. Temple workers come out to help but no one was able to help her. A man stood up from among the seated men and came to the rescue. As he stood up a woman that was seated among us stood up to help as since she was a nurse. Between the gentleman, the woman, and the temple workers they were able to establish that she was having chest pains around her heart and the temple medical staff were able to be called and escort the ailing woman out with her translator. I was just dazzled that the Lord was able to place the needed people where and when they needed to be able to serve another.

This whole experience just reaffirmed my testimony of the trueness of the Gospel and that by following what prompting you might get, it may have a significant effect on another persons life. All in all with was a fabulous night.

Everyday is an Experience

I was presented with a unique opportunity. I was able to attend an enrichment night like no other. The women in my stake were able to have General Relief Society President Julie Beck come and speak to use. At first I was hesitant to go, but I decided to go and I am not sorry for it. What a blessing it was to be able to hear her speak. While there are many things that I rattle on about that she said I will only mention a few.
At the very beginning she would ask all the sisters that were young single adults, then the young marrieds with young kids, without kids, marrieds with teens, empty-nesters...you get the idea. After this little exercise she went on to explain that we were all in different seasons of our lives with some overlap depending on the family. This all led to the comment that we as women are all learning and growing differently and are able to strengthen and be strengthened by those around us. That really stuck with me because often times I feel like I am alone in what is going on with my life. There are times when I think that no one is able to understand what I am experiencing. This whole thing continued into her basic message that as women we have a divine role in helping those around, be it family or as a Visiting Teacher. Visiting Teaching is not just a check that we need to make sure to get checked off every month, but a responsibility to make sure that the sisters that we are put in charge of are being taken care of and that their needs are being met. This struck a chord with me. I am relatively new to this whole concept. The singles ward that I was a part of wasn't the best at getting it done or making it a priority. I can count the number of times that I was visit taught on my hands. I do not claim that I was any better. This was also something that was not a prominent feature in my home growing up, so the importance of it was never really bolstered and made to grow. It is only now that I am in this ward that I can see how it draws sisters in this church together and enables them to progress and become stronger. This is not to say it has been made easy for me. Quite the opposite. I am still struggling with the idea and spirit of it, but I am doing it. The effort is being made to better myself.
Sister Beck also had a Q&A (this where the bulk of her time was spent) session. Sisters were encouraged to think of questions that they wanted answered. It was amazing how Sister Beck was able to tie life experiences, the scriptures, and the general concerns we as women and mothers have in these times. She explained how we can be the strong covenant women that are needed to enrich, encourage, and bring up a strong younger generation and the older as well. I am so glad that I was able to go to this fireside and that we were able to get Sister Beck to come since it is hard to get such a busy women.

One of my favorite quotes that she said was a something along the lines of :

Time + crisis = future laughter. So why not laugh about it now and get ahead. Enjoy the experience.

I do have to remember that I need to take each day at a time, not get caught up in the problems, learn to laugh at it, and enjoy the experiences they are for my own benefit.

Local Celebs

To be perfectly honest I work in a school that is far under the radar of most people. In fact, it is so obscure that when I tell people where I work they think it is a big white house and not actually a school of learning. The reason I bring up this obscurity is that Walden will soon be local news. It isn't because they are that fabulous as a place learning, but they got the attention of the news. The kindergarten teacher there wrote to Channel 4 News explaining the plight of schools all across this great state and even nation in regards to the dramatic budget cuts that are being inflicted. To help bridge the cuts have caused they lower elementary classes have organized a Baking Back the Budget Fundraiser. Families are contributing baked goods and other offerings to be auctioned off and are even entered into a raffle to win a digital camera. While this isn't necessarily all that outlandish or uncharacteristic of a school to raise money, it is just amazing that the news has found it note worthy to put it on the 5 o'clock news tonight.
I was there when the news was brought to the teachers. They were all pulled out of class for a impromptu meeting in the hall and told the wondrous news. I had to just sit there and control my laughter at how excited and giddy they all got when told. I know that I'll be watching the news to see who is interviewed this afternoon and all that jazz. The frenzy that is generally Walden will be thrown even more out of whack as they quickly and frantically try to clean and organize the chaos of kids, rooms, and stuff into a sensible array.