And then I was 22...

I love birthdays! There is nothing better. Last month I turned 22 and it was a weekend full of ups and downs, but overall it was great.

The celebration began on Friday when my co-workers decorated my office with streamers and brought cupcakes to celebrate. There is no question, I work with the world's best!

The next day I got my birthday wish! I've never been to the temple with my dad before. We woke up early Saturday morning and did baptisms in the Provo Temple. He hadn't done baptisms for a very long time, so he was amazed how many youth were doing work on a Saturday. As a teen, he only did baptisms once before his mission! Crazy! That really helped me appreciate what a blessing it is for me to be able to hold my own temple recommend and have four temples within 30 minutes. In the temple I was really emotional, which isn't typical. I was so happy to be with my dad. After he finished performing the baptism ordinance, he gave me a hug in the font and whispered, "Happy Birthday." Elder Holland said something to the effect of, "Heaven wouldn't be heaven if my family wasn't there." I understand that now. I'm grateful for temples and that families are forever.









Next up was my mommy/daughter date. We decided to do something girly and go get our toes painted. It was so fun. We sat in this chair that massaged our back as these gentleman from Asia took care of our toes. Near the end they used this scrub stuff on my legs. For those who don't know, I am extremely ticklish. As he was rubbing this stuff on me, I just lost it and began to laugh and laugh. The guy wasn't sure what to do. He didn't know how to talk to me so he just kind of chuckled too and said, "You tickle." What a highlight! There is nothing better than quality girl time with my mom. She is my best friend.

Later in the afternoon I went to lunch with my dear friend, Brandon. We have the same birthday so we decided to take each other to lunch. It was fun. We both love Mexican so we tried this great place in Orem. I like that I share my birthday with others. Why can't everyone be born on February 21st, eh?

Sunday morning came and although I was born at 6:36am, I was not awake to celebrate it. Although shortly after that I woke up and the tutu came on. I had to wear a tutu to celebrate my 22nd birthday right? TUTU (22)? Get it? Awesome!

I didn't wear my tutu to church, but regardless, there was a lot of excitement. Right before Relief Society my secretary, Claire, came up to me and told me that my birthday surprise was on it's way. Then five minutes before Relief Society ended, the member of the bishopric pulled me out and told me I needed to go to the Bishop's office. I walked down and the whole bishopric was there to talk to me. I was surrounded.They told me that they wanted to release my first counselor and move her to a different calling. I honestly thought they were kidding. Because Claire had told me a surprise was coming, I thought that she had put the Bishopric up to this. We talked for a while and I was calm through the whole thing. When they asked me how I felt about it I just said, "Well, you're the bishopric!" I really didn't believe they were serious! When I was leaving they asked me if I wanted a picture directory to help me choose a new counselor. I said no. I really was impressed at their acting skills and how far they were going to make me believe they were serious. It wasn't until I went back to the Relief Society room and no one was there that I realized it wasn't a joke or surprise, the bishopric was serious! I went back and approached the counselor, "You were serious" I said. "Yeah." Then I asked for the picture directory. Bummer!

After going home and crying over losing Esther, I prepared for my next adventure. I decided I wanted to share my birthday with the homeless people in Orem/Provo. My favorite dessert and birthday tradition is trifle. Because trifle is hard to share, we made a special chocolate cake for me to pass out. I cut the pieces and put them on a a birthday plate, added sprinkles, saran rapped them them with a fork, and loaded them up in the car. I drove around for over an hour up and down Provo searching for homeless people. And I couldn't find one! I was so sad! I guess it was selfish to be sad I couldn't find homeless people to share with. I should be happy there aren't oodles of homeless! I gave up and was driving home and on the way I spotted one! I was so excited! I pulled over, parked my car, jumped out and ran over to my new friend. I explained to him, "today is my birthday and I want to share my birthday cake with you." I smiled and extended my cake to him. He looked at me and then looked at my cake. Then he shook his head no and continued walking. I was so sad! Turning 22 is emotional business because I cried again! I was just so sad he didn't want my cake. I was so excited to share. Thinking about it, it makes me understand the atonement a bit better. Christ has this gift He wants to share with me, but I have to accept it. What a life lesson for me. In the end, I decided to give my homeless man the benefit of the doubt and assume he was allergic to chocolate and didn't have the heart to tell me. Yep. That's it. Allergy. I think I'm going to go to the store and get like toothbrushes and toothpaste, and $5 gift cards to McDonald's to keep in my car for the next time I run into another homeless person. I don't think anyone is allergic to toothpaste. :D

Finally, it was time to blow out the candles. My parents gave me everything I wanted! The best present was the quality one on one time I was able to spend with them on Saturday. When they asked what kind of gifts I wanted, I said "I love Lucy" (what high class entertainment) and thank you cards. Typically I enjoy making thank you cards, but just haven't made time for that recently and my "need to thank" list is getting really long. Anyhow, when I made my request I simply expected generic cards. Mom exceeded my hope and hand made nearly two dozen thank you cards for me. There's nothing more I could have asked for! I can hardly wait to start writing in them all.

I'm glad birthdays only come around once a year and I'm glad everyone has one. Birthdays give people reason to celebrate life and those who make life great. Thanks to all my friends and family that made my birthday and everyday SO special!

Loves!

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!