Monday, July 14, 2008

Love

Today, Tomorrow and time through each of our days, I believe we should each take a step closer into looking at what we have to offer this world in the ways of love. For scripture study tonight, we got into a very deep conversation about death, how to more fully, horizontally love and thoughts concerning this. Daniel Derricott left this page pulled up on my computer - http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-479-26,00.html - which I greatly appreciated. It's titled "The Women in Our Lives" and spoken by President Gordon B. Hinckley only about 6 months after his beloved wife passed away 'to eternity'. In bed reading this page, I am wondering why he might have put that on my computer, whether it were to give me more insight to how people have dealt with death and carried on or if it were to remind me that even though I may get down once in awhile, I am a precious gift from God. Either way, I appreciated reading this talk. It's been a while since I last read/listened to it.

Most of the thoughts for the night are rather personal but I will share a few that we discussed. We evolved the evening from discussion into a chapter reading/discussion base. Reading from Moroni 7, we each took three versus in which any body with thoughts could at anytime interject. Thoughts that arose, that I'm willing to share are concerning charity. Charity never Faileth. a) you choose to have it, b) the atonement never faileth, c) it is treasure laid up in heaven, like a bank account that never decays and that we are continually being blessed from, and d) it's a lifestyle that will never end up wrong/bad/collapsing. In discussion we discussed concerning the Prophet George Albert Smith. He was asked by his great Grandfather in a vision what he had done with his name. How do we truly honor those people's names and lives that have moved on? I believe in what Jonathon Drysdale said that it's by doing those things that would make those people not here proud. We carry on their legacy, honor their name.

Scriptures that hit home in our discussion were in such order
Moroni 7:48
1 John 2:10
D&C 42: 45-46
Moroni 7:26
Moroni 7:39

Saturday, July 12, 2008

So really, this week has been rather hectic and crazy with the many different things that have happened. Between work, dance, and my new ward, I've come to understand when some of my friends stare at me baffled and say [in awe] "She's got so much energy!". I've had two friends say that over the past month now - Mike Henderson, in Petra, while we were on some subject I was so very passionate about and Daniel Derricott one night this week in the apartment when I was just being me. Energy, I figure, is partially a mental thing. Trust me, I've tried the energy drinks and they really do squat for me except screw with my body's mellowing system (I can still fall asleep on them though). Energy is positive, mental energy one lives in. Really, it's so much easier when we don't complain about those spilled strawberry shakes of life. Now, for an explanation why energy and me shouldn't really be synonymous most of the time (regardless the fact that I'm resting my sore, weary feet on the coach arm as I type):

1) Work is awesome. Work is never steady hours both in duration nor in beginning of time. I applied for a new position in work and got it, started it, and have been working as the closer this past week for 3 of the 6 days out of the week. This means that I get to explore all the dark recesses I never knew catering had before. Also.... the pOwEr - muahhahahahaha... no, not really. I'm not all that power hungry but it's fun for effect. We get to eat awesome food which is a plus (and if the boys in my ward don't fatten me up this summer with all of our ice cream escapades then catering might do the job). I get to end with everything all neat and orderly clean which is a love love love of mine - all clean and orderly when I leave or go to bed (or at least preferably). But this means that on top of school (which I'm only going part-time right now but soon....), being a social butterfly, and regular shift hours, I know spend another 10 hours in closing (but don't get me wrong - this is great constant hours that I can have through fall as well. I love it because it means a small constant steady income). So, this affords no reprieve in life (but did I mention a pay raise?) to recoup energy but it's wonderful the same.

2) I love dance. Dance is a way to express yourself. It is a form of communication in which energy is given and taken between you, the dance, the floor, and your partner. It is a way to constantly move and explore different muscles in the body not normally used. It's an art which can make a girl truly feel like a princess; an art that can look ultimately elegant, graceful, and fluid while simultaneously being rather fast-paced. I've begun dancing with a few people in my class late at night after my night class. With a little bit of music, a lot of medical tape, and a constantly running water fountain, we dance. Perfecting an art that is trying to be taught to us while thoroughly enjoying each other's company and the possibilities of friendships that can possibly arise. No, I am not ever resting due to dancing but I'm enjoying life to the brim, drinking to the lees!

3) Why do all summer wards just really seem to rock my socks off?! Truly my prayers have been answered. Not only am I living with wonderful roommates but with people that I am beginning to love for their humor they're bringing into my life and their insights to how life can really be enjoyed. We watched My Fair Lady, Singing in the Rain, and the Sound of Music this past week along with playing games last Sunday night and a great scripture study. I respect those people so much and love them for their examples and friendships. Jonathon Drysdale, Dustin Briscoe, Daniel Derricott, Veronica Benavides, and Mary Linford (and today, Daniel's sister Sarah). There's more as well such as Ashley Burton, Kelly Steinbeigle, David Ross, and others. They really are a great social network. Really, if anybody were to ever know anybody amazing - it'd be these people right here.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

My Favorite Sites

Alright, so in my free time, which is becoming more and more limited with my lovely knack of scheduling and ordering things (I lOvE having full schedules!) I've found a few websites or videos that help me unwind after a long day of work/school. The first I found off of Google's "Reader" under photography.

http://www.google.com/reader/view/?tab=cy#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A
%2F%2Fwww.durhamtownship.com%2Findex.rdf


The photographer in here has a wOnDeRfUl eye. In general it's very pleasant to view her photos (Greta would really enjoy looking at this site). Something about art has a relaxing and unwinding effect on me - which is the reason why I love looking at this photographer's photos.

A second website is on Google Video. This one is more for the memory factor from my Freshman summer but if you are bored and want to view something that will probably make you laugh at the hilarity of it, it's 8 mins long and exactly what the dorm-life experience should be for everyone. Go to:

video.google.com

and type in "BYU Budge 1100 Floor Summer '06" or any variation off of that (if you like Eiffel65's Blue song and interesting humor - you'll love this)
"If you ain't got it in ya, you can't blow it out" - Louis Armstrong