A Celebration of Integration

In my life I have gone through many phases. You know... the "I want to be a spy" phase so I'm going to wear a trench coat and carry binoculars everywhere and of course the "I'm eco-friendly" phase so let's ride our bike to church and carry cloth bags to the grocery store. Right now I'm in the phase where I like food to match situations. I touched on this phase a bit in college, but recently I have really put more time and thought into it. For example, I get a kick out of eating Chinese food while watching Mulan or snacking on a Three Musketeers bar while reading The Three Musketeers. Sounds fun, right?

With that said, it makes sense that when Martin Luther King Day rolled around, I felt the URGE to celebrate in style. Sunday afternoon I made what are commonly called homemade oreos. Now, they are my integrated cookie. What better way to celebrate the holiday than to make black and white cookies while wearing a black and white apron! Hurray! (and of course, I also had my tap shoes on.)In all seriousness, Martin Luther King Day is a very important holiday to me. The importance and necessity of integration is not a problem of the past, but something we still encounter daily. In high school I remember walking into the lunch room one afternoon and having my eyes opened to the segregation happening all around me. All the Latinos were on the left side of the lunchroom and all of the white people were clustered in the back. I wondered why... and even tried to start a moment to change this behavior among my peers. It was a sad day when a friend of mine, who is from Mexico, pulled me aside to tell me what I was doing would never do any good and that I was hated because I was American. I was blown away and would be lying if I said I wasn't discouraged. The effect segregation has on society, whether of religion, wealth, or race, is not healthy and can only lead to sadness and hate. But what is the solution?

Last week I attended a seminar of Rabbi David Rosen. It was fascinating to listen to his ideas on the contention that is happening in the Middle East. And although he didn't have a concrete solution to the problem, he suggested that because religion was part of the problem, religion needed to be part of the solution. I believe that principle can be applied to the segregated monster we face today. I don't have all the answers (clearly), but I do know I can choose to integrate myself among all people and hope and pray others will follow suit.

My dream is similar to that of Dr. King. I dream, that one day, we will be a society of individuals. Each with a unique heritage that makes us who we are rather than a people segregated by petty things we frankly cannot control.

Tapping

I always knew I LOVED school, but I didn't realized how much I loved it until I graduated. After sitting out fall semester, I decided to take a night class Winter. What class? Beginning TAP! I was inspired after seeing the play "Singing in the Rain" during the summer. I just wanted to jump out of my seat and dance! The enthusiasm that prompted enrollment hasn't died down. In fact, it's just increasing. Although I have been in the class for three weeks, I just got my tap shoes last Saturday. From the moment they were out of the box, they were on my feet. Eventually, it came time to go to bed. My dear friend, Claire, was sleeping over at my house and we were up late talking in our jammies...I was still in my tap shoes. I felt like a little kid again in a dress up I just didn't want to take off. So, I did what any kid would do....I went to bed in my tap shoes! Oh the love! (I am 21)
Trouble came in church the next day. I needed to slip out at the beginning of Relief Society to make an announcement in Elders Quorum. When I returned, the sisters were done with the announcements and were diving into a lesson regarding talents. Somehow we got on the topic of dance and a comment was made about my interest in tapping. Suddenly, a sister called out that Claire had told everyone during "good news minute" that I had worn my tap shoes to bed. HA! I was as red as the 2' shoes I was wearing.

Thank goodness for the quirks that make me, me and that I can still get enthused over the small and simple things in life.

His Hand

FACT: I am a terrible journal keeper. It's not that I don't try. It's that an event will pass that I will want to write about, but before I get the chance something new comes up. Eventually, I have lost many intended stories I had plan to write down because I am concerned about chronological order. However, with that said I am going to put an end to that terrible habit of mine and write about an experience I had today with the understanding sometime this week I will hopefully post about my weekend adventures.

As I was leaving home this morning, I yelled from the front door my "I love you's" to my parents, like usual. However, as I stepped outside I felt like I should run back and give them a hug. Listening to this prompting, I ran back inside, leaving the door open, to hug my parents good bye and express once again, my love.

The snow was thick this morning, but I am a fairly confident driver in winter weather. I had already flipped through my radio stations and decided I would commute to the tune of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Just over one mile from my house and into the entrance of Provo Canyon, I lost control of my car and I began to fish tale. My elbows locked and my mind was blank. I am a girl that likes to have control over a situation, but at this moment I had none. Oncoming traffic was to my left and giant rocks/mountain were to my right. It seemed that no matter which way I turned I was in trouble. I remember thinking, I don't want hurt my car. Suddenly, the impression came to me that I had put my foot on the clutch and I needed to take my foot off. After sliding perpendicular to the road, my car landed on the right side of the road, in an open area--between two metal poles. I sat in my car stunned for sometime before making a phone call home to get help. Shortly there after the incident truck of Provo Canyon came to the rescue. Did that really happen? An overwhelming sense of gratitude came over me. God was watching over me and my car this morning on my daily commute and I have no doubt he directed my car.

Later at work I was overwhelmed with a task. I sat at my desk wondering how I would ever comfortably assign all 411 people to lodging and a conference space. Then the thought came to mind to pray about it. I bowed my head and said a little prayer over my paper. The next twenty minutes or so was spent racking my brain, trying to feel impressions on where to put people. It wasn't long before we had everyone in place.

Today was a day of remembering. Remembering the power of God and the influence that he can have on every aspect of my life. I know that He is looking out for me and is guiding my work. He lives!

Happy Birthday Dad!

There is not many things I love in this world more than birthdays! All kinds of birthdays....kid birthdays, adult birthdays, half birthdays....all are just awesome! This week was my dad's birthday. He is the big double nickel...55! Wowee! I am glad he is thrilled he qualifies for some senior citizen discounts! I went to a store called Color Me Mine. My new favorite shop! You pick the piece you want to paint, paint it, then they will fire it for you. My dad loves ice cream so painted him an ice cream cup that says "dad's" It was fun to see him use it. Hurray for ice cream and awesome dads!

Giant Little People at Thanksgiving

This holiday weekend has been was simply incredible! To be honest, I was a bit apprehensive about the Thanksgiving holiday because I all my siblings are married and have kids.Sometimes I feel like the odd gal out. But of course, the Lord took care of me and I had nothing to worry about. I was so blessed to have my niece and nephew to brighten my day...every day during the holiday. I was reminded of SO many little life lessons.

My family may say the most important lesson I learned from my nephew Mark is that footed flannel pajamas are much cuter on 19 months year-olds than 261 month-olds. Drat! It's just that he looks SO cute in them I want to look just like him! Mark reminded me that it's okay to cry sometimes when I'm sad, if I eat candy first I won't be hungry for real meal, there are times when if I can't get what I want I should find something else to do, the small things in life--like cardboard boxes, blocks, and baths--are really fun, when something is important to me but I don't have words to explain I can take people by the hand and show them, I need take time to be outside everyday, nothing is better than a good book, hearing the word "no" is never fun, when I want to talk to someone just pick up the phone and to sing loud even though I don't know any words.

I also had such a wonderful time with my sweet niece, Anna. I learned from her that when I'm on a walk to take time to stop and pick up sticks, opening and closing the mailbox is a highlight--even if there isn't any mail inside, it's important to take turns, names are important and everything needs a name (ie: the big yellow ball is now named Fred), sharing is important but a hard lesson to learn, rootbeer is delicious, sometimes people just need a good tickle, and in candyland (or any game) it doesn't matter who wins just moving your piece to the next color is thrilling.

I think the biggest lesson I learned from Anna was when she was bouncing on a ball and hit her head on the counter. When she hurt she turned straight to her mom, no one else could comfort her. I thought about the many things I can turn to when I'm hurt...sometimes I turn to friends, sometimes I hold it inside, sometimes I try to find things to distract me and take my mind of the hurt. She was big example to me. I want to follow her example and rely on my Heavenly Father as she relies on her mother. When I'm hurt or sad, I want to be like Anna and immediately turn to Him for comfort.

Oh thank Heaven for little people and their giant example!

Halloween!

When I watch the great Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, the movie is only 45 minutes because I fast forward all the scary parts. Needless to say, I don't like scary things. I really don't care for blood, vampires, skeletons, devils, or many of the other things associated with Halloween. However, I do like the holiday. I just wish everyone would dress up like inventors or fairys--like me.

One of my favorite things to do to celebate the holiday is to carve pumpkins. This year my friend Dan came over to carve pumpkins with me and I have to say, his pumpkin was much more creative than mine. We were able to put it on! He even carved holes for my pigtails to stickout...what a good friend. Life looks good from inside a pumpkin!

girls just want to have fun!

A few weeks ago my dear high school friend, Celecta, and I discovered our inner child. I think it's peculiar that when I was little I liked to get together with friends to play dress up and now that I'm an adult, I like to build forts and drive cardboard cars when friends come over. I saw this fort as a practice run before my nieces and nephew get here for the holidays. I have this secret goal (that's not so secret) to be the best aunt ever! Building forts....one of many great tactics!