The Good Days

I guess I am a bit weird, but I've always known that. So I miss early-morning Seminary today. Like reeaaaally bad. I never had a problem going to Seminary during High School. I loved it. The only mornings that I can really remember my Mom coming into my room to wake me up were the times my alarm didn't go off at all. Other than that, the last two years of going to Seminary at least, I remember getting up just fine. It feels so long ago, hearing the alarm go off at 5:00am, dropping to the knees and mumbling an incoherent prayer, zombie-ing it to the bathroom to turn on the bathroom fan/faded-light combo (which was always perfect for the mornings when you weren't ready to be blinded by normal light bulbs). Turning on the shower and putting the eye-balls in while letting the water warm-up and then jumping into the shower to be awoken. Some people claim showers put them to bed, but for me--that's when I pop awake and become alert. My mind is so clear in the mornings (only when I've hit 7 hours of sleep) and I'm just able to think. It was those quiet mornings, in the kitchen making some oatmeal or eating some Special K by myself that I became such a contemplative person. Then usually, stopping into my parent's room to wake them up to say family prayer before climbing into the van (by 5:55am). There was something so comforting and relaxing to me driving on the dark highways before the sun woke up, seeing another car every few minutes--maybe. Listening to my latest favorite Churchy song really REALLY loud on the radio, the way I like it. Then I would head down Housers Mill Road, pick up Titus and listen to him chat non-stop til we picked up Alex. Two of the most chattiest-Seminary kids in the class. Alex lived in Sis. Holbrook's huge sub-division; the poor girl use to scooter her way through quite a few others' backyards, driveways, with the her flute case and lunch box flailing in her arms while her wet hair would freeze into hard-ness. That's when I decided to start picking her up, haha--just the thought of it puts a smile on my face. For some reason I love the people that most people don't like to be around--Titus and Alex were definitely not the most popular kids in Seminary. Oh, the memories. But I knew how much it meant to them to feel needed and to participate. I loved walking into Sis. Holbrook's living room. It always reminded me of the temple--weird, I know. But the big picture of the Savior on one wall. Oh, and that owl photo; it was something else, truly. And the white/off-white match of colors between the walls, carpet, couches and base boards all gave it that "temple feel". Winter days were the best when I would grab my favorite rag-patch quilt of Sis. Holbrook's and wrap up inside of it and sit myself down by the fireplace that was on. I loved Sis. Holbrook's lessons. Loved is probably an understatement. She was so good! One of the best teachers that I've ever had, still. She had a way of teaching with the Spirit and love that inspired us. The class wasn't picture perfect, but we knew that what she taught she believed and lived. We warmed our hands by the fire of her faith. The Spirit she taught with lit a flame in me and always taught me to become. After her lessons I was so excited and happy for life. I tried to never leave Sis. Holbrook's house without a hug from her. [I just can't live without giving hugs and receiving them--or I begin to ache inside--all over and my 'tude from the attitude is definitely dependently related to the length of time I had last received a hug]. I remember driving Peter and Titus (the pookies) away from Seminary, watching the red sun rise on the flat horizon, listening to the same favorite Country songs that came on the radio at the same time every day, dancing to some T. Swizzle, and realizing just how blessed I was and how happy I was to just live.

Happy Centennial Birthday Seminary. I miss you.

A Few Sacred Minutes A Day...Keeps Life At Bay

Totally stole this from my old Seminary teacher's blog. I LOVE Sis. Holbrook. This is so very true:

"I fear that many of us rush about from day to day taking for granted the holy scriptures. We scramble to honor appointments with physicians, lawyers, and businessmen. Yet we think nothing of postponing interviews with Deity—postponing scripture study. Little wonder we develop anemic souls and lose our direction in living. How much better it would be if we planned and held sacred fifteen or twenty minutes a day for reading the scriptures. Such interviews with Deity would help us recognize his voice and enable us to receive guidance in all of our affairs.

We must look to God through the scriptures." (Elder Carlos E. Asay, “‘Look to God and Live’,” Ensign, Nov 1978, 52)

First Listen To This....

Now Listen To This.

When I find new songs that I love, it goes on my repeat list until I can appreciate every musical part of it. And, might I add that I also LOVE listening to the brothers talk!? Several times a week, I'll call one of them, and then the other will call one of us and then we end up in a 3-way. Where I usually get complaints for being 'too' noisy (background noise...) and get told to go on mute. Boo. But it reminds of old times, hanging out, listening to them talk late into the night. And me, just listening. Honestly, I don't know why I adore them so much.

It's All About Pizza, Eggs, And Fishing.

This is the kind of blog post I try extra hard to never do. The kind that talks about serious things; the kind that spits out to the public (of like...4 people) what is rambling around aimlessly in my head. Although, once you live with me, you know I get into my contemplative mood and think about this stuff WAY too much. Jim, John, and I love to analyze it though. Makes for good sibling conversations--since we are all in the same boat. Haha, get the fishing connection already? But I'll make it quick. :)

It first started off with another friend's BYU analysis about dating. It's actually pretty good. Because I really like his version, I'll just copy and paste it from his blog and then add on my last epiphany:

"One of the most profound things I've heard in the last little while about dating and about love came from ELDER'S QUORUM. I know miracle right? Amongst the legions of 20-somethings flinging angry birds at walls and checking ESPN on their smart phones, my friend related dating to pizza, and it totally clicked for me. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I shouldn't be surprised. Not only do I love food but since I did live in Italy as missionary and all... Anyway I can't remember the context of the conversation, but he talked about how we are always too eager to make a relationship work every time there's a little spark. Every time we feel anything at all, we get all overly excited and impatient about this one, being THE one. The analogy was that we often try to pull the pizza out of the oven too early, before it's done. And it's so true. Be patient, let things run their proper course and the reward will be so great.

My second thought is something I'm sometimes guilty of, but I think a lot of us do it. The old saying is don't put all your eggs in one basket, but sometimes I think that's the worst thing you can do in dating and relationships. Sure it's important to date around, to have lots of friends of the opposite gender to get perspective, but if you like someone, and you think it's right, go all in. The worst thing you can do is to be enamored with someone one day, and then worry about getting hurt and hang out with 4 other people during the week just so that if the first option doesn't work, you can pretend it never mattered to you that much anyway. We all need ways to cope with rejection and frustrations, but be brave, have hope, and most of all, be honest with yourself and those around you."

Good stuff, huh?

Thankfully, I still have married friends that are bored and listen to my dating ups/downs. My married friend Baylee made the analogy that dating is like fishing. I mean we always are hearing about there being more fish in the sea when things don't work out with someone--so it makes sense that you could take the analogy farther. And as a side note, I hate when girls only blame guys for their dating problems and when guys say its all the girls fault. So go with me here and let's assume that girls are the fish and guys are the fisherman and both the fish and the fisherman have responsibilities.

First, I know WAY to many people who tell themselves that they have "personal walls" that keep them from throwing out a line or swimming around. This is dumb. Get over yourself if you ever want to progress towards exaltation (kinda huge).

A typical fisherman's job is to throw out the line, the fish need to nibble if they like the bait, and the fisherman then reels it in. Therefore, second, girls can never, ever pursue the guy. Always be the pursued and not the pursuer is a safe girl motto. As a girl, if you try and chase a guy, you take away his manhood! He needs to be the one to be the knight in shining armor and make most of the moves. If you don't let him be brave and courageous, then it almost always doesn't work out. How many times have we heard guys boast about how well they did when they had to fight for something. In sports? Fishing? Girls? It's all the same. Okay, for you fishy, you have to first nibble on the bait, don't just sit there right in front of the bait waiting and waiting. Taking the bait means to be encouraging, flirtatious, and consistent (don't see how much bait you can eat before being reeled in or try pulling the fisherman into the water to close the distance). Have some patience. Sure, give some resistance if you want, but still keep the bait. As a fishy or the fisherman, you have the right to decide at anytime, that the fish (or bait) is not for you or is for you. And when you do make a decision, be courteous and do your job. You see, it's just as simple as fishing!