Case in Point....

Here's an example from today of just how, and why..... I suffer from logorrhea!
Date: Today Scene: Sunday School People attending: Ward members & cousin
I was sharing a meaningful learning experience in Sunday School. The learning experience occurred at a family gathering. A couple of lines into it I guess I got nervous..... Marchelle looked at me, she was sitting in front of me and all of sudden, this is what came out.... True story!

"I don't know if Marchelle was there, or not. OK, that actually doesn't matter, Anyway...."

I did regain my focus, but it came at a high cost- it came with a serious set of giggles! For the rest of class I tried to bite my lip and avoid looking at Marchelle, because then we would both start giggling!

Good Times......

Logorrhea- I've got it. Have you????

Tonight I had some friends over for dinner and a movie. The movie of choice was "Akeelah and the Bee." My first time seeing the movie-LOVED it!!!
One of the last words spelled in the movie was "logorrhea" When the definition was about to be given, I indwardly cringed, thinking that it was going to be a form of illness (you know the kinds- those that end in "rrhea"

But lo and behold, I was wrong. Here is the definition:
excessive and often incoherent talkativeness or wordiness

Logorrhea: I've got it- have you????
OK- probably not, but it seemed a good closing phrasse for this blog post!

1/2 marathon

I have finally blogged about my first 1/2 marathon. For the details, read about it on my believe-ability blog. It seemed to fit better with the "believe in yourself" theme. And I could have copied and pasted it here, but well, I didn't really want to :)
Hope you have a happy day!

Shout out to Someone Special

This is a blogging tradition I would like to start- "Shout Out to Someone Special" The first recipient...... My cousin, Marchelle. I think a lot of people reading this blog know her, if you don't, too bad for you! You should......
Here are some things (OK, eight) I love about Marchelle:

• She shared my childhood love for Barbies
• She invites me and includes me in her activities and gives me rides to get there
• She shared her bedroom with me for a summer when I lived with her family
• She is completely beautiful and athletic, inside and out
• She believes in me and encourages my dreams
• She laughs at my jokes, reads my long texts and listens to my rambling stories, while smiling......
• She looks out for me in a loving way: "I'm here for you if you need me"
• She inspires me to be a better, more Christ-like person

Some Favorite Stories:

• When we were 9 and 10, she spent a week with me at my grandma's (not our grandma) who lived 2+ hours away, so I wouldn't have to go by myself
• When I could tell people I was moving to the Philippines, she was the first person I wanted to tell. I called her house every half hour until she came home because I wanted to make sure she heard it in person, from me
• We are both doing the SL 1/2 marathon tomorrow- when we found out tonight that I hadn't picked up my race packet, she willingly adjusted plans to go with me to pick up my race packet

I love you, Marce! Thanks for the memories- I can't imagine life without you. I look forward to the day when we are married with kids and our families can get together and our kids can play.

Why Wait???

I've been thinking lately.... (shocking, I know) Right now I am single, and while I look forward to not being single some day, my life is full and rewarding right now. However,.... there are things that I don't want to wait to do until I have a family. Why wait???
Here are some things I am going to do (or keep doing) And if you are a sibling reading this, I really am serious about the dinner and play date invites!

• Continue to have friends over for dinner, and start having my siblings and their families over for dinner, esp on Sundays
• Have regular playdates with my nieces and nephews. Invite them over to play with toys, read books, make a snack, etc.
• Travel (after I fnish grad school)
• Finish my Grandpa Morley's life history (actually, this should probably be at the top of the list....)
• Gardening (starting this week......)
• Keep trying new recipes
• Build up my food storage (isn't that what the space under the bed is for????)

YAY for life!!!!! At any point in time.....

Skirts and Slacks and Scriptures and Sheep

As long as the weather stays relatively warm I am pleased to announce that I will no longer need to wear pants/slacks to work. They are being replaced with skirts and leggings- yeah!!!! Now, I realize that wanting to wear skirts instead of pants to work especially when you teach preschool..... is not exactly the norm. Nevertheless....

I have had my fill of trying to find pants that me well in the first place and then.... slacks that are either short enough or shoes that have just enough a heel- that the hems won't drag on the floor or that my feet won't hurt after standing in them and I can still chase after small children. Plus, I think skirts are more flattering anyway, as they just have a flat front instead of having to fuss with a big button/belt. Plus, I own more skirts than slacks anyway, and leggings will take care of modesty. So, welcome knee-length, colorful, skirts- that I can wear with flats!!!!

Continuing on with the "S" theme......

In an awake moment during institute class last week, I felt impressed to start sharing favorite scriptures and why they are my favorite. Here the first one: Mormon 5: 16-18
These verses compare the Nephites of the past who were "led by the Good Shepherd" compared the present-day Nephites, who are like a "vessel without direction" Though I have not yet engaged in murdering, stealing/plundering behavior, and don't believe that I ever will, this scripture still has a lot of modern-day application.

I found this scripture in a time when work and school were at a high busyness level. I found these verses when I had a rare, quiet night at home. I realized that my life at that time was "shooting from the hip" God kept trying to get through to me, but I kept telling Him to leave a message and I would get back to Him. I was not allowing myself to be led. Satan's tool of distraction, distraction of busyness, distraction of illness or emotional pain, even just a little.... at times can be too powerful.

So, after reading these verses I developed a motto which I now share with you: Be a sheep, not a vessel!!! And that is a lesson I am still learning, for myself. Yesterday I had an experience with myself that I got felt upset over something (now) small. Yet Satan worked at distracting me doing others things to help myself feel better. Which didn't, and finally I thought, "Why didn't I just kneel down and share my feelings with God when it first happened?! Even though it may be small, I know He still cares and wants to know about it.

Thank goodness for learning experiences!

Hmmmmmm........

So Why.........??????

• Do they not sell more adult style shoes in more size 5's?
• Why can I not keep track of a pair of gloves for more than a month?
• Why are my white shirts the first to get stained and the hardest to keep clean?
• Why do I always stuff my homemade burritos too full?
• Why do I drink too much water while at restaurants?
• Why does the cat poop in front of, beside, and behind the litter box but not consistently.... inside the litter box?
• Why do I have more pennies than other form of change?
• Why is it so difficult to find a matching lid and canister?
• Why do pens always die in the middle of recording an important message?
• Why do I over-use the word "seriously"? Seriously.

I mean this in the spirit of humor, not complaining. Feel free to add to the list!

Singing Amidst Protesters

Today I had a tremendous first-time experience- singing hymns just outside the gates of Temple Square, in the midst of protesters. I went with members of my singles ward, my cousins Maegan and Marchelle were there, too and I had the fortunate experience of bringing my 16 year old neice, Katie, with me (thanks, Jenn and Jim!) . I think were about 40 of us total, divided up into two areas.

We arrived at the Visitor's Center at about 3:00pm and were briefed by a member of church security, about the legalities of free speech and the free speech zone. For example, you can carry a sign while moving on the sidewalk, but the sign can't hit anyone. You need to stay on the grass or right against the edge of the wall/sidewalk. The main thing is that the sidewalk needs to be clear, if you stop, the police will ask you to keep moving. There was a great emphasis placed on following the rules as protestors will take pictures to ensure that rules/laws are being followed. There was a significant police force on hand as well as lawyers.

Anyway..... I know it sounds trite or cliche, but the spirit there was electrifying! It goes all the way from the top of your head down to your toes. My favorite hymn we sang was #263- Go Forth With Faith. It seemed to exemplify the purpose/message of the gospel and why we were there. Other favorite hymns we sang: How firm a foundation, I Know that My Redeemer Lives, We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet, and Praise to the Man. We sang for about an hour, but I truly wish that there could have been more!

My favorite part of the experience was seeing the expressions of the saints who walked by us as they were leaving conference. There were a lot of smiles, waves, thank you's, even some blew kisses. A lot of them were taking pictures with their camera phones.

But I truly felt blessed that I could be a small part in helping to solidify someone's conference experience. I can't wait to go back and do it again. And the protesters were mostly non-existent. A couple walked by with shirts and I could see a few signs in the distance, but I couldn't hear any yelling and no one directly walked by hoisting a sign.

Yet, despite different beliefs or attitudes we are all children of God and though I don't always agree with others beliefs, I hope to love the person, the individual as God does.

Feeling Blessed and Smiling

As follows....

• "Bag Credit" and fruit leather at Sunflower Market- love that store!
• Food processor- I hate chopping with a knife!
• Gift of love from Mom, a 9x13 glass pan with my name etched in the bottom
• New recipes to try
• Ensign magazine
• Holding my 6 month old neice while she slept
• Finally..... breathing without congestion!
• Tax refunds
• Clean sheets
• Staying awake for all Saturday sessions of General Conference
• People who read my blogs. I know it sounds cheesy, but it really means a lot to me. Thanks, everyone!!!

But what am I most grateful for? My challenges and trials. Why? To me, they testify of God's love for me. He knows me so well that he knows what I need to grow, to become genuinely happy, becoming more Christlike. He trusts me to make it through the hard times and be better for it. Trials also provide tremendous learning opportunities, if we let them, and chances to help others.