tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53317443427126237352024-03-05T00:17:53.806-05:00Hilltop StarThe perfect life isn't having what you want, it's knowing what you love. -Marisa de los Santoschristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.comBlogger783125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-64983619031407079532020-07-11T18:10:00.001-04:002020-07-11T18:10:59.089-04:00quarantine recipes we've likedBeing at home together means lots of time eating together, which is great and a little stressful. We've experimented with some new recipes and enjoyed our meals a whole lot more. Our goal has been one trip to the grocery store a month, and to use our food storage items. Jesse is very interested in preparedness and wanted to practice our skills for a while. So, a lot of these recipes were chosen because I was looking for ways to use what we had in the cupboard. We also like to eat leftovers, because it makes meals during the week when I'm working a lot easier to manage. <div><br /></div><div><div><b><u>Instant Pot Beans</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>We love beans and have been eating a ton of them. With an instant pot there is no need to pre-soak the beans before cooking. For us, the secret to good beans in the instant pot is to use 3 cups of water to 1 pound (approximately 2 cups) of beans, 1 teaspoon of salt, and then whatever spice combo sounds good to you. Any less water and the beans don't get cooked all the way through, and when reheating you will need to add more water. I usually cook up 2 pounds of beans which lasts for several days. </div><div><br /></div><div>Additionally, you may need to experiment with the cooking times for different kinds of beans in your instant pot. We've found that beans need to cook at least 15 minutes longer than recommended in most recipes and in your instant pot's instruction booklet. The depressurizing time at the end can take up to 45 minutes, so be sure to plan plenty of time for cooking. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are discovering just how good bean broth can be, and let me tell you it can be soooo good. I've read lots of recipes for beans online and have developed my own combos for cooking beans. For instance, Jesse does not like bay leaf in anything. I discovered a good substitute for bay leaf is oregano, which deepens the flavor of a pot of Navy beans to levels of unknown to me deliciousness. I no longer miss seasoning with bay leaf. </div><div><br /></div><div>I love adding greens to pots of soup and beans. I usually keep bags of frozen kale, spinach and collard greens on hand. Adding frozen greens to the beans is a simple way to get more vegetables into meals, and they usually cook down enough that they aren't noticeable, especially spinach.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some of our favorite seasoning combos for instant pot beans. I don't really have recipes written out for these because I put things together that sound good to me and eyeball the spice measurements.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><u>Black beans</u> - Add your favorite taco seasoning packet to 1 lb of beans. </li><li><u>Pinto beans</u> - In addition to the water and salt I mention above, add: 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes, 15 oz. can of tomato sauce, 2 beef bouillon cubes, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, chili powder, oregano, cumin, and cayenne pepper. </li><li><u>Navy beans</u> - 1 chopped medium onion, 4 cloves fresh garlic minced, 3 large carrots chopped in 1 inch cubes, 3 stalks of celery, bag of frozen kale, Italian seasoning mix. </li><li><u>Split pea soup</u> - Use whatever recipe you like, and add smoked paprika to the mix. This flavor combo is die for. </li><li><u>Lentils</u> - Ina Garten's Stewed Lentils and Tomatoes was big hit for us. For the instant pot, it's only 20 minutes on high pressure. (<a href="https://barefootcontessa.com/recipes/stewed-lentils-tomatoes">https://barefootcontessa.com/recipes/stewed-lentils-tomatoes</a>) </li></ul></div><div><b><u>Desserts</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Founding Farmer's Carrot Cake - </b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeOjLj5jp64">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeOjLj5jp64</a><b> </b> </div><div>We have their cookbook. Jesse asks for this cake regularly. This video shows their recipe. We make half the recipe in a 9x13 pan, and smother it with cream cheese frosting topped with chopped pecans instead of putting walnuts in the batter. It's a hit at work too, and I let people add their own pecans due to allergy concerns.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Orange Cake - </b><a href="https://prettysimplesweet.com/orange-cake/#wprm-recipe-container-14065">https://prettysimplesweet.com/orange-cake/#wprm-recipe-container-14065</a></div><div>I went searching for an orange cake recipe because I had some oranges I wanted to use up. I kept finding recipes that asked for Greek yogurt or sour cream which I didn't have on hand. When I saw this one didn't ask for any dairy in the cake, I went with it. It was light and airy with a deep orange flavor. I do recommend greasing and flouring the pan before baking. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Chocolate Wacky Cake aka Depression Cake</b> - <a href="https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/king-arthurs-original-cake-pan-cake-recipe">https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/king-arthurs-original-cake-pan-cake-recipe</a></div><div>No eggs, butter or milk, and yet it's the best chocolate cake recipe ever. Jesse's favorite cake. We add chocolate chips sometimes.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Vanilla Wacky Cake</b> - <a href="https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/vanilla-cake-pan-cake-recipe">https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/vanilla-cake-pan-cake-recipe</a></div><div>Yes, it's pretty good too, especially with berries on top.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Pumpkin Pie</b> - <a href="https://www.thelunacafe.com/perfect-classic-pumpkin-pie-10-wild-variations/">https://www.thelunacafe.com/perfect-classic-pumpkin-pie-10-wild-variations/</a></div><div>I found I had 12 cans of pumpkin in my cupboard, so it was time for pumpkin pie in the spring. I used the Better Homes and Gardens classic cookbook recipe a couple of times and decided to go looking for some variations. I found The Luna Cafe's collection of various pumpkin pie recipes and dove right in. The Perfect Pumpkin Maple Pie was my personal favorite. The spice flavors were very pungent and delicious on the first day. However, the second day was the most amazing pumpkin pie I've ever had. Definitely making this one again!</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pie </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crust</span> - "Art of the Pie" by Kate McDermott <a href="https://artofthepie.com/">https://artofthepie.com/</a></div></div><div>Jesse and I experimented a few years ago with making pie crusts and still wanted to find a good crust recipe. I got this e-book from the county library and loved it. Her approach to pie making made sense to me. I asked for the book for Christmas and got it last year. I finally had time to experiment with her crust techniques and recipes. I will always use her tip for chilling everything -- the bowl, flour and salt, water, butter and shortening -- before even making the dough. My crusts are flaky and beautiful now. Her butter and shortening crust recipe is fool proof, which means even I can make it. Her pumpkin pie recipe is a solid winner, and I can't wait to try her cherry pie. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Pizza</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Crispy Cheesy Pan Pizza</b> - <a href="https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/crispy-cheesy-pan-pizza-recipe">https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/crispy-cheesy-pan-pizza-recipe</a></div><div>Ya bake this one in a cast iron skillet deep dish style. It's now our favorite homemade pizza style with any toppings we have on hand. We've made this a few times and each time we like it more and more.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Easiest Pizza You'll Ever Make</b> - <a href="https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/the-easiest-pizza-youll-ever-make-recipe">https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/the-easiest-pizza-youll-ever-make-recipe</a></div><div>We had pizza coming out our ears, but leftover pizza is the best! We made 4 pizzas on parchment paper. We used the parchment paper to slide our pizzas onto the pizza stone and baking sheets. Super easy to manage and slide onto hot baking pans. Clean up afterwards was a breeze.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Jesse also learned about making 100% wholewheat sourdough bread. I'll share some of his tips and recipes in another post. </div>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-13364716709967678372020-04-19T13:11:00.000-04:002020-04-19T13:11:45.009-04:00someone carried His cross<br />
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I thought a lot about Simon over Easter weekend, and into this week. Simon, the one who carried Jesus’ cross to
the top of Golgotha. We don’t know a lot
about Simon , only that as he was passing by, the soldiers “…laid hold upon one
Simon… and on him they laid cross, that he might bear <i>it</i> after Jesus” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/luke/23.26?lang=eng">Luke
23:26</a>). </div>
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I’m a curious woman, so I did a little research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simon was a common name among both Jews and
Greeks, and it is unknown whether he was Jew or Gentile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was “..a man of Cyrene…” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/matt/27.32?lang=eng">Matthew
27: 32</a>); Cyrene was a city in North
Africa just off the coast in today’s northeastern Libya.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark recorded that Simon was a father to Alexander
and Rufus (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/mark/15.21?lang=eng">Mark
15:21</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a visitor to
Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“…coming in from the
country…” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/luke/23.26?lang=eng">Luke
23:26</a>). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I don’t think these
facts are important, as they don’t add anything of relevance to the experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The accounts in Matthew, Mark and Luke do not mention why
Simon was “compelled to bear His cross” (<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/matt/27.32?lang=eng">Matthew
27:32</a>). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The assumption is that after
a night of torture by Roman soldiers, Christ was too weak to carry the cross
beam himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The soldiers, recognizing His
weakness, found a bystander to carry the cross for Him up to Golgotha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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As I pondered on all this, I was struck by the realization that
Christ needed to know what it was like to have another person bear His
cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He needed to experience the feeling
of being unable to bear His own cross, and of having someone bear it for Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He needed to know the difficulty, pain, and
even the humiliation of letting another person in, during a moment of absolute
and utter weakness, to help him, to bear His cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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And that's where we are every day. We feel that weakness, that pain, that humiliation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t want to let Him bear it for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are compelled to humble ourselves when we
allow Him bear it for us, when we give it to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ needed
to feel all we feel to truthfully say He personally knows how we feel and can succor
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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There is so much of significance to be explored here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for me this Easter weekend, the
importance of Simon following Jesus up the hill of Golgotha bearing His cross
took on greater meaning for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
Christ knows how I feel when I need Him to carry my burdens, because He needed
Simon’s help carrying His.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means He
really does know how I feel when I need help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He knows my pain and humiliation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He knows my weakness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> He knows how I feel when He picks up my cross and bears it for me. </span>Christ
knows all this for <u>you</u> too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m grateful for both Simon’s and Christ’s examples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helps me know I can call on Jesus in my
weakness and He will know how to help me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m grateful for the pondering and learning through the Spirit that led
me to this deeper understanding of Christ’s Atonement and suffering for me, for
all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-34203102152264507022020-04-10T21:44:00.001-04:002020-04-10T21:45:18.105-04:00Increasing Spiritual Capacity to "Hear Him"<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">I was asked to teach the Relief Society lesson in March from Sister Michelle Craig’s talk from the October 2019 called<b> <i>Spiritual Capacity</i></b><i>
</i>(Link:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/10/15craig?lang=eng"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/10/15craig?lang=eng</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">). I wanted to share it on my blog, because I wanted to follow the prompting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">What an interesting time we are
living in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sister Craig’s conference
address seems so timely right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
reiterated President Nelson’s powerful invitation from two years ago: <b><i>“My
beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual
capacity to receive revelation. … Choose to do the spiritual work required to
enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more
frequently and more clearly”</i></b><i> </i>(Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for
the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96;
emphasis added.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/04/revelation-for-the-church-revelation-for-our-lives?lang=eng"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/04/revelation-for-the-church-revelation-for-our-lives?lang=eng</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Sister Craig’s talk builds on President
Nelson’s invitation to increase our ability or capacity to recognize and
receive personal revelation from our Heavenly Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A young woman recently asked her, <b><i>“How
can I tell when God is trying to tell me something?”</i></b><i> </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all struggle with this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recently questioned if a repeated thought
to do something was because of worldly hype or the Holy Spirit’s prompting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hard to tell the difference, but as I checked
in with myself, and said a prayer I felt a quiet feeling that I was listening
to the right voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began to act, and
later my husband confirmed he had also received similar guidance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between these two experiences, I felt
confident I was hearing Him tell me to do something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Elder David A. Bednar held a recent
devotional for the Church Education System (CES) teachers where he shared many
thoughts about how we can tell when God is trying to communicate with us, along
with tips for teaching this to youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
I were teaching this lesson in person, I would have us watch the first part of
his remarks as part of our Sunday Relief Society meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I invite you to watch the first 15-20 minutes
of this devotional linked below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you
watch, pay close attention to Elder Bednar’s explanation of the gift of the
Holy Ghost and how he truly is our constant companion, and to his descriptions
of Nephi and Oliver Cowdrey’s experiences in recognizing and receiving
revelation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can apply these lessons
to our own lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are all teachers,
and this whole devotional is a spiritual treasure box in helping us to learn
and teach these important lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
apostolic blessing he gives at the end of the devotional is for <b><i>“wherever
you may be, anywhere in the world,”</i></b> and will impart much strength and
hope to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(An Evening With a General
Authority – Elder Bednar Discussion, February 2020.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts/watch/evening-with-a-general-authority/2020/02?lang=eng&vid=6129806906001"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts/watch/evening-with-a-general-authority/2020/02?lang=eng&vid=6129806906001</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Sister Craig shares four ways to
increase our spiritual capacity to receive revelation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">1.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><i><u>Be Intentional about Creating
Time and Space to Hear God’s Voice</u>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“…use
your agency to carve out time every day to draw close to God’s voice, especially
in the Book of Mormon, over time His voice will become clearer and more
familiar to you.”</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can choose
to start now to do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will bless
your efforts, no matter how small or where you are in this process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep going and trying, and you will blessed
with increased spiritual capacity to hear His voice more clearly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">2.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><i><u>Act Without Delay</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When you receive promptings and then act
with intention, the Lord can use you. The more you act, the more familiar the
voice of the Spirit becomes.”</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of my greatest regrets are times when I know I received distinct revelation
and then did not act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am grateful for
the gift of repentance and being able to start again to act on the revelation I
am given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you will be blessed as
you do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><i><u>Get Your Errand From the Lord</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You can pray and ask the Lord for an errand.
As you do, He can use your ordinary skills to accomplish His extraordinary work….
The Lord sends revelation to those seeking to help others.”</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love Sister Craig’s story of how her
grandfather responded to promptings to help a brother he was assigned to home
teach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He left church on a Sunday, and
went to help him finish roofing his house all while dressed in his suit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The brother responded by putting down his
hammer, and returning to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We too
may receive unexpected guidance on how to serve our family and neighbors, and
we must be ready to act on what the Lord wants us to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are His hands, and He knows the needs of
others better than we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><i><u>Believe and Trust</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“… each of us has a different mission to
perform, and at times the Spirit may call us in ‘another way.’ There are many
ways to build the kingdom of God as covenant-making, covenant-keeping disciples
of Jesus Christ. As His faithful disciple, you can receive personal inspiration
and revelation, consistent with His commandments, that is tailored to you. You
have unique missions and roles to perform in life and will be given unique
guidance to fulfill them.”</i> </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because we are each different, Heavenly Father
can and will speak to us in ways we can understand, and at times that may seem
surprising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often listen to scriptures
and conference talks from the Gospel Library app on my commute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my way home one day, as I listened, I
received an answer to a question I had struggled with for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not in a quiet place--I was on a metro
escalator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that because I was
making an effort to keep my heart focused on Christ and making my own quiet
place, the Spirit was able to speak to me even in the midst of a rush hour commute
on a metro escalator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned an
important lesson from that experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
meets us where we are and gives us what we need, sometimes when we least expect
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants to tell us what we need to
know!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our task is to be as ready and open
as we can to recognize and receive it on His timetable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">By applying the principles taught
in the lessons from both Sister Craig and Elder Bednar, I believe each of us
can increase our capacity to recognize the Spirit and act on the revelation we
receive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need revelation more than
ever for our family, our friends and our neighbors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure many of you over the past week or so
have been praying for help from heaven to navigate your families safely through
the unsettling events happening right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I pray the thoughts I shared with you will help to spark confidence in
your own spiritual capacity as well as help identify areas of improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know we are daughters of Heavenly Parents
who love us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know Jesus Christ lives
and He is our Savior; His atonement is real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know He will bless us to increase our
ability to <i>“Hear Him”</i> and recognize the still small voice of the Holy
Ghost, who is our promised constant companion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my testimony of the principles taught
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(#HearHim: President Nelson
Invites Us to Hear the Voice of the Lord, link: </span><a href="https://youtu.be/sGhQym_vhFU"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">https://youtu.be/sGhQym_vhFU</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Sister Craig ends her talk with her
own testimony:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><i>“Each one of us,
regardless of age or circumstance, can strive to seek, receive, and act. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you follow this eternal pattern… you will
draw nearer to Jesus Christ—His love, His light, His direction, His peace, and
His healing and enabling power. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you will
increase your spiritual capacity to become an everyday instrument of His hands
in accomplishing His great work. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”</i></b><i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Questions to consider:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">1. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can I create a time and space to increase
my ability to hear God?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">2. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who does Heavenly Father want me to help and what
does He want me to do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who can I teach these principles to solidify my understanding of them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-71751673604378094432018-09-09T21:52:00.000-04:002018-09-09T21:52:55.972-04:00j & c's story - part four<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
During that first week, so many tests were run to figure out
what I was actually sick with, and the doctors were getting no answers. The
chiefs of infectious disease and pulmonary medicine were both on my case, and
were the nicest doctors ever. The infectious disease doc even looked like Kris
Kringle from the original “Miracle on 34<sup>th</sup> Street.” Both of them
would pat my hand reassuringly as they would prepare to leave my room. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the meantime, Jesse got used to being called Mr. Boyer by
the stream of nurses, doctors and technicians who came and went. It was just
easier to let it go than explain to everyone that we were only engaged. My
pulmonary medicine doctor had apparently talked with one of my nurses and
learned that we were engaged. He asked us our story during a visit, and was so taken
by it that he kept asking questions. Soon everyone knew that we were not
married, but engaged, and were even more impressed by Jesse’s very apparent
loving care of me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Throughout this week, Heavenly Father’s care for me was also
very readily apparent. Jesse also gave me a blessing before each of the big
tests I would undergo, which helped me a lot to stay calm. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pulmonary chief decided he needed samples of the fluid
both in and around my lungs. Drawing fluid from around my lungs required a
needle to be inserted into my upper-lower back into the pleural space (yes, I
WebMD’ed this) to collect the fluid specimen. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pulmonary doc did this procedure himself right there in
my hospital room. I sat on the edge of bed supported by the table, Jesse and a nurse,
a very nice young woman who was wearing a hijab. The doc administered a local
anesthetic in the spot he would insert the needle, which thankfully worked very
well because I didn’t feel a thing. He inserted the very large needle through
my back into the pleural sack and after waiting for a moment no fluid came out.
He withdrew the needle, and announced he would need to try again. I was holding
onto both Jesse and the nurse’s hands. As the doctor prepared to insert the
needle a second time, I began to pray out loud whispering quietly, asking
Heavenly Father help make this time successful. I hadn’t even finished my
prayer, when the doctor announced it was working and he collected enough fluid
for the required tests. I thanked Heavenly Father and relaxed my grip on the
hands I was holding. The nurse looked at me with tears in her eyes, and
squeezed my hand while the doctor put a Band-Aid on my back. I’ve never
experienced such an instantaneous answer to prayer before. I knew I was being
watched over, and I experienced no pain at all from this procedure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Daily blood draws were a nightmare. The vampires… er,
phlebotomists were really good their jobs and for the most part didn’t hurt me.
The only problem was that one phlebotomist kept using the same spot to draw
blood for three days straight. Finally on the fourth day, my poor, tired,
little vein decided enough was enough and collapsed. The attempted blood draw
was so painful, I wanted to smash the guy’s face into the bed rail. I refused
to let him or anyone else touch me again for several hours. Finally, a young
woman convinced me to let her try on the back of my hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was successful--thanks heavens!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I even had a bronchoscopy so that the kind pulmonary doc could
look at my lungs on the inside and collect tissue samples. Thankfully, I was
put under while the scope and pincers were inserted and biopsies collected, but
awakened to violent, bloody coughing and nose blowing. I used up a small box of
tissues until I could catch my breath and stop coughing. It was pretty awful.
The good doctor was so kind to me though, and stayed in the room with his
anesthetist until I was breathing regularly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The blood and tissue tests kept coming back with negative
results. In other words, they couldn’t figure out what was causing the
pneumonia. Among other things, I was even tested for cancer, hence the lung
tissue biopsies, which came back negative too. This was all both good and bad,
because it meant that it wasn’t a funky bacterial thing or streptococcal
infection, but they had no idea what was going on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One night I was awakened for the hourly vital signs check by
the night nurse, and I could barely move I was tired. I remember feeling so
tired that I almost didn’t say anything to the nurse. I mustered up the
strength to tell her that everything felt really heavy and dark. Immediately,
she tested my blood oxygen level which was in the low 80s. A team came rushing
into the room with a nebulizer. They removed the <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal_cannula">nasal cannula</a></span> and
fit the nebulizer over my face and turned up the oxygen. I had to use this for
the next couple of days until my levels were constantly above 92, and then they
weaned me off of it and back onto the nasal cannula. I hadn’t experienced not
having sufficient oxygen before and it was a weird feeling. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everyone took such good care of me, and Jesse led the way.
He helped me to eat, and drink, to sit up, and held my hand through every blood
draw. I was so thankful he was there because of him I was never alone during
that first week. My housemate LP was a lifesaver, bringing needed clothing and
toiletries, and her miraculous turkey neck broth with rice that tasted so good
in comparison to the hospital food. My friend SAS also came a couple of times
sitting with me as well so Jesse could get food and shower. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were told that I needed to go 48 hours without a fever
with urine and bowel movements on my own before they would even begin to
consider releasing from the hospital. So, the big goal became to get my temperature
down and keep it down. The fever would break for a few hours and then shoot up
back again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, I got a break. My fever broke and stayed away for
24 hours, so we started feeling hopeful. I started sitting in the chair for a
couple of hours at a time. I went to the bathroom by myself a couple of times. The
physical therapist visited and I went for a walk down the hallway. I was quite
a sight, I had the oxygen, IV and a walker. I was wearing two hospital gowns,
one to cover my front and one to cover my back, and those awesome hospital
socks with the anti-skid plastic on the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Plus, I had a big belt around my waist that the PT used to steady me
when I got a little wobbly. I made it to the end of the hallway and back with
my entourage attending me every step of the way, and a high-five from my doctor
when he saw me out and about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were one step closer to me going home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-90824958079181487542016-11-20T06:12:00.000-05:002016-11-20T06:12:19.892-05:00things that make me smile this week 11/20so this covers the past three weeks.<br />
<br />
- talking with my mom and hearing how much she is enjoying her phone. it's helping her to reconnect with friends. and she gets to watch her newest grandbaby. it's fun to get her texts and to video chat with her and my dad.<br />
<br />
- pioneer woman's christmas line came out this week. it's so pretty!<br />
<br />
- the cubs won! bill murray's face was priceless.<br />
<br />
- i was really sick this week for few days with lots of green goo pouring out of my nose and hacked up lung too. J took great care of me all week, and i really felt loved and cared for.<br />
<br />
- i got new glasses.<br />
<br />
- my husband coming home from work and we hug for a really long time.<br />
<br />
- meeting a goal to go to the gym three days this week.<br />
<br />
- primary kids singing and sharing their testimonies during our sacrament meeting program. they are so full of light and desires to do the right things.<br />
<br />
- deciding that something is not right for me anymore, and following through on it.<br />
<br />
- i really love the bbc4 show "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4082744/" target="_blank">detectorists</a>" because it's so quirky, nerdy and human.<br />
<br />
- saying i'm sorry.<br />
<br />
- prayer. it really does change things, but mostly it's me that changes.<br />
<br />
- the late afternoon sunlight slanting through the trees and illuminating the jewel-toned leaves on the almost bare trees. honestly, there's not a more beautiful sight at times.<br />
<br />
- crunching leaves on a walk through woods.<br />
<br />
- waking up at 4am so i can leave work at 2:30pm. (i'm trying to be positive on my early mornings.)<br />
<br />
- pumpkin roll. good earth tea. salted caramel hot chocolate from starbucks. chopping vegetables. thick socks and boots. layers of clothing. heat. hot water. hope. hard work. fall colors.<br />
<br />
- this view from my porch.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BM2DPokBU3I/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">The #viewfromthefrontporch is so pretty these days. 🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁The last of the #fallcolors are winding down. So sad to see them go. So thankful for the beauty of this place. #calvertcounty #fall #autumn #autumncolors #myhome🏡</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer Cole (@cmboyercole) on <time datetime="2016-11-15T20:40:19+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Nov 15, 2016 at 12:40pm PST</time></div>
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<br />
- this video on faith being a principle of action and power.<br />
<br />
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<br />
- primary kids practicing for the sacrament meeting program. these kids are the strongest, cutest and most loving kids i know.<br />
<br />
- mexican pulled pork in my crockpot, and rice beans on my stovetop. when you combine these in a tortilla with cheese it's burrito magic. plus you can make burritos and freeze them for later. so easy!<br />
<br />
- when you're friends with someone since you were toddlers it's always a treat to share a visit. it was so good to see KH and show her a glimpse of my maryland home.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NLAJPtQDMHw/WBTqPrmZQXI/AAAAAAAAHW0/SFGnzKYZ3Kk24BQu8SGll1TJNrC5jGgcACK4B/s1600/collage%2Bkandis%2Bme.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NLAJPtQDMHw/WBTqPrmZQXI/AAAAAAAAHW0/SFGnzKYZ3Kk24BQu8SGll1TJNrC5jGgcACK4B/s320/collage%2Bkandis%2Bme.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
- my husband really likes watching gilmore girls. it's so fun to watch together. AND YES we're both excited for the new episodes coming out over thanksgiving weekend.<br />
<br />
- texting with my mom is really sweet. i love her enthusiasm to learn new things.<br />
<br />
- i deactivated my facebook account for a couple of weeks about a month ago. let me tell you it was the most peace inducing thing i have done for a while in my life. i am starting to have a love-hate relationship with facebook. i'm honestly considering being with it completely, except that i really do love seeing posts from family and friends. i'm thinking about my way ahead on fb and how i want it to be a part of my life or not. so, thinking about deactivating my fb account again makes me smile.<br />
<br />
- i'm doing the pathway program through byu-idaho. it's been so fun to be back in school again. the dread i felt over the years as i contemplated going back to school is gone. i'm enjoying learning in a school again. i'm grateful for this.<br />
<br />
- i had a pretty intense day at work on wednesday. when i got home that night <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hilltopstar/posts/10154461532415325" target="_blank">i posted on fb</a> that i needed a shake and fries to take away the stress of my hard day. a couple of hours later there was a knock at my door. i opened it to find my friend AG standing there with a chocolate shake and fries. i was in tears and stunned by her kindness. i know she has health struggles and her day hadn't been easy either, but there she was serving me and lifting me up. i felt so loved and all i could was smile through my tears as i worked on my homework that evening. thank you AG!<br />
<br />
- i made a goal last week to not focus on reading about the election and instead read other news or general conference talks. this really made me smile a lot, because i wasn't getting angry. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/10/25/election-stress-coping/92736942/" target="_blank">an article i read</a> talked about how angry and uncertain people in the usa are feeling because of the election. i dislike being angry so i wanted to work on changing my focus. i'm not sure how successful i was but at least i felt more aware of how i was feeling instead of just going with the flow. plus, quitting reading an article after the first paragraph a couple times just made me smile.<br />
<br />
- thinking about thanksgiving this year and my list of things and people for which i'm grateful. i decided to begin posting my <a href="http://hilltopstar.blogspot.com/search/label/attitude%20of%20gratitude" target="_blank">things that made me smile</a> lists again. i have ignored my blog for a while. i think this will help me get back to it.<br />
<br />
- relaxing music. reading the scriptures. herbal tea. lifting weights. gouda is my spirit cheese. homemade burritos. my husband washing the dishes--seriously. chocolate. cinnamon. lemon tea. thinking. quiet time. reading. a hot bubble bath.<br />
<br />
- this little video on the sacrament.<br />
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<br />
<br />
- this photo on instagram. i love autumn.<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BL5ixNijiYf/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Julia (@humphreyandgrace)</a> on <time datetime="2016-10-23T08:42:06+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 23, 2016 at 1:42am PDT</time></div>
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<br />
- the lindsey stirling concert on a monday night date with my love.<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BMAGATlj1MU/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Lindsey Stirling (@lindseystirling)</a> on <time datetime="2016-10-25T21:45:27+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 25, 2016 at 2:45pm PDT</time></div>
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christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-9280144839947737452015-10-27T13:49:00.002-04:002017-01-16T15:35:41.174-05:00j & c's story - part threeSo, we were engaged. And apart. Yet things were going well despite the fact we missed each other desperately. We began planning a trip to Utah over Memorial Day weekend so that my family could meet Jesse. Little did we know that God had other plans for us.<br />
<br />
About three weeks after his visit to DC and proposal to me, Jesse called me one Friday morning in late April out of the blue. His job was over and he was laid off. He wanted to know if he should say in Iowa and wait for the Union to call him out to a new job or drive to DC and spend a few days with me waiting for his new job. Of course, the answer was simple. He drove 900 miles and was in DC early the next morning. It was great being together again.<br />
<br />
That evening we went to Union Station and had dinner at Shake Shack, because their fries and concretes (shakes made from custard) are ridiculously good. Then we hopped on the metro to go see a movie together in Chinatown. Jesse had never ridden a metro before so it was fun to show him the ropes. He said it was like being in a movie because he was doing something that he had only seen in movies or TV shows.<br />
<br />
Of course, I had to go work like a normal person, so Jesse spent time catching up on things he needed to do. We spent every evening together for the next week cooking, relaxing, dinner with friends from my ward, and just spending time talking and planning. Things were going really well between us.<br />
<br />
By Friday afternoon, I was really looking forward to the weekend with Jesse. We had plans to go out for Indian food and walk the monuments as the weather was nice. I left work not feeling too great, as I was having chest pains and couldn't seem to quite catch my breathe. The pains weren't too severe, but I had never felt anything like it. We opted to stay in and have a quiet night relaxing to see if I felt better. Both Jesse and my housemate were concerned, and came up with different ideas of what could be wrong. By ten o'clock that evening, the chest pains were a lot worse, breathing was difficult and painful, and I was running a fever. Jesse made the call that it was obvious I was getting worse, and that I needed to go to urgent care. After giving me a priesthood blessing we headed out.<br />
<br />
After ruling out a heart attack with an EKG, the doctors and nurses started running other tests. Blood was drawn, chest x-rays taken, a CAT scan with contrast dye (iodine yucky!) was completed and an IV needle was poked into my arm. By the time all this was done, I was very thankful for a wheelchair, as I felt considerably weaker and was having a hard walking on my own. Finally, they asked me for a urine sample. Jesse helped me walk the short distance and take care of things.<br />
<br />
I stood washing my hands, and looked at myself in the bathroom mirror. I was a little shocked by how sick and haggard I looked. I started to feel a little worried, and then I had a very distinct thought, "This is why Jesse is here." As I absorbed this thought, another thought came into my mind, "It's serious, but you are going to be okay." These two thoughts together were so clear and unmistakable, that I knew they were not my own, but impressions from the Spirit.<br />
<br />
Finally, the doctor came back with his official diagnosis: "You have pneumonia!!! Here have some Motrin 800, a strong antibiotic and an excuse from work on Monday!!! And you'll be better and able to go work on Tuesday!!!!" And he sent us home. We collapsed around four o'clock in the morning.<br />
<br />
That weekend Jesse played nurse, cook, launderer, and assistant. I was miserable. My chest hurt so dang bad. Sneezing hurt. Breathing hurt. Yawning hurt. Swallowing hurt. Everything hurt because lungs are essential to well... everything! And by Monday I was not better, in fact I was much, much worse with a consistent fever.<br />
<br />
So, that afternoon back to urgent care we went. The doctor this time was amazing. He had had pneumonia earlier in the year, and knew just how miserable it is. He said he was so miserable and in pain that all he could do at one point was moan. I totally understood what he meant, except that I hurt too much to moan. We repeated all the tests from Friday night which all came back the same as before, but showing fluid not just in my lungs but outside them as well. It also appeared that the antibiotic was not having any effect.<br />
<br />
As we discussed my care options and the test results the doctor was concerned because he said that the blood cultures and other labs were all coming back negative and not showing any cause for the pneumonia. Basically, my systems were more severe than what the tests were showing. And given the severity of my symptoms he felt that I needed to be monitored overnight, which they were prepared to do there. Additionally, we needed to request a bed at a hospital if I did not improve overnight. He didn't think we would need it, but it was better to be prepared.<br />
<br />
That night in urgent care was miserable. I was given three different IV antibiotics and each time they switched to a new one I would throw up. My fever was climbing too and I had the most severe, deep and painful chills I have ever experienced in my life. The worst was when I had to go for another CAT scan with contrast. They did the first scan and then administered the iodine dye via IV. I felt my whole body go warm from the iodine dye for about a minute and then I crashed into full on chills. I was so cold and in so much pain that I was shivering and my teeth were chattering so hard that I had to be lifted from the scan table back into the wheel chair by the technician.<br />
<br />
Once I got back to my room in urgent care, the nurses grabbed blankets from the warmer to cover me up. (Honestly, those warm blankets are the best thing ever in all the universe and world...seriously!) I was finally warm and not shivering when my new nurse walked in the room.<br />
<br />
This woman made <a href="http://villains.wikia.com/wiki/Miss_Hannigan" target="_blank">Miss Hannigan</a> seem like a good guardian for orphan girls. She ripped the warm blankets off of me, saying that we needed to get my fever down and that I needed to be uncovered to do so. She wouldn't let Jesse help me any more, because "I needed to learn to help myself and use my own strength to sit up and stand if I was going to have any chance at getting better." She was not pleased that she had clean up vomit either and complained loud enough to the nurses at the station outside my room, that I heard her. Honestly, I get tough love, but this woman's bedside manner was so brusque and uncaring that it was all I could do not to order her out. But then again, I didn't have the strength to do it. When I went to the bathroom with Jesse's help and went back to bed afterwards wearing socks because my feet were so cold, she tore them off without even asking permission to do so because my fever had shot up even more. And when I started having chills again, Jesse was the one who got me warm blankets so that I could warm up again over her objections.<br />
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By the time morning rolled around and the new doctor said he was sending me to the hospital I was so relieved to get away from "Nurse Hannigan" that I didn't care that I was being admitted to the hospital for the first time in my life. After an ambulance ride during which I was swaddled in warm blankets, I feel asleep as soon as I was settled into my hospital bed. The nurses just left me alone until Jesse got there.<br />
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For the next three or four days, I had IVs with loads of antibiotics, and morphine for the pain (hallelujah morphine!). Oh, and the daily blood draws from the same vein in my arm were loads of fun. I was on oxygen too. My blood oxygen levels were carefully monitored. With a 103-104 degree fever running consistently they put me on a cooling blanket to bring the fever down. So much fun! I even got my first catheter (ahhhhh the relief!).<br />
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I was so exhausted that I didn't want to talk on the phone or watch television. Jesse stayed at my side and gave my parents updates three times a day on how I was doing. He also talked with people from work and church to give them updates as well. We allowed only two people to visit, my housemate LP and my dear friend SAS. I listened to hymns on Pandora and Jesse read scriptures to me for a while, but mostly I just slept.<br />
<br />
I had moments of lucidity but was having horrible hallucinations from the morphine. The bacteria was alive all around me, and threatening me. People who were the wrong colors with rainbow neon colored skin, hair, and clothing, wanted to help me and were freaking me out. I was stuck alone in a room in an abandoned outpost in Afghanistan and could hear the enemy getting closer and closer, but could do nothing to help myself because I was so sick. I finally had to tell myself on this last one that it wasn't real and that I just needed to open my eyes. Thankfully that worked and I didn't revisit that particular hallucination again.<br />
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The nurses were amazing during that first week. They helped me keep my spirits up, which was pretty hard to do. They made sure both Jesse and I were comfortable, and coordinated treatments, tests and doctors visits. I credit much of my recovery to them. They were just incredible.<br />
<br />
<br />
More to follow on part four.... christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-6817146092710872972015-09-02T12:17:00.001-04:002015-09-02T12:17:47.348-04:00j & c's story - part twoSo, as Jesse and I talked to each other we revisited our meeting on United Flight 658. That flight was on a Sunday, and I found myself thinking of staying in Idaho for a few more days. I talked with my sister, and we agreed I would stay a couple more days if I could get another flight out. When I started to look at booking a new flight, I had this distinct feeling, "No, Christine just go home when you originally planned." I didn't think much of it, but I didn't change the flight. Turns out Jesse was originally going to fly back Iowa later in the week, but he finished his business earlier than planned, so he changed his flight.<br />
<br />
I was already settling into the window seat when Jesse walked up. He didn't say anything until after he put his bag in the overhead compartment, and then looked down at me and something along the lines of, "Looks like this is my seat." As he took his seat, he accidentally elbowed me. He didn't hurt me at all, but was so overly apologetic about it that I started laughing. And because I was laughing, he started laughing. So we started off on a good note, laughing.<br />
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I don't remember everything we talked abut, but I do remember how intently Jesse kept looking at me. Honestly, I don't think I've ever met anyone whose gaze was so intense. It was like he could see who I truly am. At times I had to look away to the window, just to give myself a break. Looking back it's interesting to me how comfortable I felt with him and that I knew I could trust him. <br />
<br />
Jesse told me that he always had a fantasy of meeting an attractive woman on a plane. He later told me his fantasy came true when he saw me on the plane <span style="font-size: x-small;">(yay!)</span>. This thrilled me to no end!<br />
<br />
During the month of January, we burned up the airways between us talking and getting to know one another. We began sharing more details of our lives and things that were happening to each of us. We were talking one evening about some things we were each going through in our lives, and how we could help and support each other. We set the intent to pray for each other and outlined specific things we would include in our prayers. I remember having a very tangible impression that although we were on separate paths, they were beginning to merge and we were becoming a team. I had never felt this before, and it was both exciting and scary.<br />
<br />
Jesse is very creative and came up with a couple of games we could play while talking. For instance, we played the A-B-C game. We would share something about ourselves that started with each letter of the alphabet. For example, "A" is for that I like apples and Jesse served in the Army; "K" is that I like kisses, but not Hershey's kisses and Jesse likes to be a kid and do the fun things kids do; "Q" for me is quality time and for Jesse is quality of work and taking pride in it; and "T" for both of us is the temple. This was just one fun way for us to to get to know each other.<br />
<br />
As January came to a close, I knew I was falling in love with Jesse. Yeah, I know I had only seen this man once... What was I thinking? I even ended a couple of dating relationships, telling them I had met someone else because of how sure I felt about Jesse. I even wrote my SIL TB, who was in Japan and wouldn't tell a soul other than my brother an email telling her how I was feeling to see how it felt to tell someone in my family I was in love and thinking about getting married.<br />
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In the meantime Valentine's Day snuck up on us. Jesse and I planned a video chat, and mailed off our gifts to each other. He sent me flowers, a card, some lotion and bath salts <span style="font-size: x-small;">(not the kind you smoke)<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">and a drawing of our paths merging and us walking on the path. It is the sweetest, best Valentine I've ever received. As we gazed longingly into each others eyes, talked about nothing at all, and grinned from ear to ear through the wonders of video chat, I knew for sure that I loved this guy!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
We shared our feelings for each other shortly after Valentine's Day. We had talked about love before and how we wanted it in our lives. We shared what we hoped it would be like and what we each felt we brought to the table. And then over the next couple of weeks, we started talking about getting married. Oh, and somewhere in all this we celebrated our birthdays which are two days apart in March.<br />
<br />
So, what was I thinking? Here I was in a long distance relationship with a man I had only seen once for less than two hours, and I knew that I loved him. Somehow this was both scary and not scary all at the same time. Quite a contradiction I know, but honestly underneath my initial mix of excitement and fear was a quiet, deep calm that this was the right partner for me, and that if Jesse was who I wanted and chose all would be well. So, as I sorted through the fear and uncertainty with a lot of prayer and pondering, I began to hold onto that calm feeling more and more certain as I did that he was the right man for me. Jesse seemed to be certain right from the start, and each time I brought my doubts to the table, he listened and was reassuring. He didn't try to convince me either way. He simply let me work through what I was feeling and thinking until I made my decision.<br />
<br />
Throughout the experience of falling in love with Jesse and deciding to marry him, I had the very distinct feeling that I was choosing someone to love and share with my life with. It's often said that you don't choose who you love, but in this case I very much chose who to love. I wasn't just being chosen, I got to choose also. All along the way, I kept feeling that Jesse was a choice and a good one, and that I was being guided to make this choice. I could have made the choice to not love Jesse, to simply be his friend, and it would have been an okay choice. When I chose to accept his love, and love him in return, I felt the goodness of this choice. And when I finally chose to marry Jesse and we talked it through, I knew it was the right choice. The peace I felt was undeniable and is still with me, as I recall this period of our courtship.<br />
<br />
And then we started planning his first visit to Washington, DC. And finally on the last weekend in March Jesse arrived for the first time in Washington, DC. On Friday evening, I picked him up from Reagan National Airport, where we met for the second time. I had butterflies of excitement in my stomach but felt that calm deep inside that this was the right thing. It was so good to see him, and get a big hug from him right there in the terminal. And then to walk out to my car holding hands and looking at each other felt like the biggest moment of my life. <br />
<br />
We headed out to the Jefferson Memorial <span style="font-size: x-small;">(my favorite!!)</span> where we looked out over the Tidal Basin, taking in the iconic panorama of the White House, the Washington Monument, the MLK Jr. memorial, the cherry trees with their leave and blossom buds, and the DC skyline. We even shared our first kiss in a private moment on the portico. It was so cold that night, but neither of us felt it.<br />
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We grabbed pizzas at 7th Hill and gelato from next door at Pitango, and headed back to my house to eat dinner and talk. It felt so comfortable to be with Jesse. I felt like I was talking with a longtime friend. We talked, and talked until pretty late. I then dropped him off at a friend's house who had a spare bedroom so he could sleep. I floated home and somehow feel asleep after telling my sister and housemate how things were going.<br />
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Saturday we ran over to Eastern Market for breakfast and did some food shopping for the weekend. The wind was blowing so hard and so cold, that we didn't do any walking for sightseeing, but drove the length of the National Mall instead so that we could stay warm. We spent the afternoon talking, and practicing dancing. <span style="font-size: x-small;">You guys, Jesse loves to dance!!!!</span><br />
<br />
That evening we met up with my friends O & M at a country bar to go dancing together. It was fun to have O meet Jesse, as she was the first person I told about him when she picked me up from the airport. It was really fun to dance and chat. We ran into several people from work, and had a fun evening! We didn't stay out too late, because Sunday was going to be a big day and we wanted to get some sleep.<br />
<br />
We got up early for church the next morning. Jesse was a little nervous and understandably so. The Capitol Ward (congregation) is my home and family here in DC. Most of my closest friends are from this ward, and so taking Jesse to church was like taking him home to meet my family over Easter or Thanksgiving weekend. Everyone wanted to meet him!!! It was really cute, because as soon as the main service was over my girlfriends were lining to introduce themselves and meet Jesse. Poor Jesse the quiet introvert that he is handled all the attention well.<br />
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After church we headed up to the Washington, DC Mormon Temple. Another favorite spot in this city! Again it was freezing cold, but Jesse and I walked the grounds talking and taking pictures. When got to the east side of the temple underneath the spire with the angel Moroni statue, Jesse stopped walking. He pulled me in close and we looked at up at the statue and chatted some more. He then turned me around to face and took both of my hands in his, and said that he had an important question to ask me.<br />
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He looked me in the eyes, and after telling me that he loved me, he simply asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes! He then pulled a simple diamond ring from his pocket and placed it on my finger. I was all smiles as we kissed and sealed the deal. <br />
<br />
As we pulled back from the kiss, I took Jesse's face in my hands and told him that I had a question for him too and needed his undivided attention. I then pulled a ring box out of my coat pocket and asked him to marry me. He wasn't even fazed, he smiled the biggest smile and said yes! I put the ring on this finger, and we kissed again.<br />
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I felt I was saying yes to marrying a man who looked me in the eye as his equal partner. I felt that we were on the same level with our spiritual commitment to God, the outlook we share on life and our desire to serve our church, community, and each other. It was such a good feeling!<br />
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After taking some photos, we continued our walk hand-in-hand around the temple. I took a moment to explain to Jesse that a few weeks ago I had this crazy thought that when he asked me to marry him, I should ask him to marry me. The thought didn't leave me, and as I considered what to do it felt right to ask him too. So I did! <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Before meeting Jesse I had never considered actually proposing myself.)<span style="font-size: small;"> He was really pleased with my surprise proposal and the ring I chose for him. It was definitely the right choice.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We walked over to the Temple Visitors Center to warm up and look around before heading home to eat dinner. As we looked at the very intricately detailed model of the temple, a cute sister missionary came over to talk with us. She asked why we had decided to come to the temple that day. Imagine her delight when Jesse told her that we were there because he had proposed to me. She was so excited and enthusiastic in her congratulations. She even called her companion over as well and shared the news with her. We had a very sweet conversation about choosing to be married and what it means to us. I'll always remember this sister fondly.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We then headed back to my house and found my housemate LP waiting for us to arrive. I shared with her that Jesse was going to propose that Sunday while he was visiting and she was so excited. She met Jesse on his first night in town, and talked with him a little throughout the weekend. She would check in with me when Jesse wasn't around, and text me to see how things were going throughout the weekend. She even managed to talk with Jesse without me around when I was busy with something. She shared with me that she really liked him and felt like he was a good man .<br /><br />LP was beside herself with excitement. It was great to come home from the temple to her joy at our joy. She made sure to take several photos of us and captured our first candlelight dinner together that Jesse ended up cooking because I wasn't feeling too well after all the excitement. She even got on the phone with my parents to tell them about Jesse when we called to tell them about our engagement. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We ended up spending a quiet Monday together resting and chatting before I took Jesse to the airport. I cried as I walked away from the security gates, because I felt so lonely and didn't know for sure when I would see Jesse again. And because I was engaged to marry the man I loved. Finally!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">To be continued... </span></span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-17415092769900126132015-08-02T21:54:00.000-04:002015-08-02T21:59:56.566-04:00j & c's story - part oneThere is so much to write about in my life over the past seven months. So, you would think that I would be more actively blogging about all the news and goings on. Funny how time seems to run out and my thoughts and feelings are left inside my head.<br />
<br />
I am in awe of how much has changed in my life. It's a testament to me that Heavenly Father truly has me in His hands, and is directing my life. I am so grateful.<br />
<br />
First things first: You probably want to know how I met "the one." Well, get comfortable...<br />
<br />
I flew to Idaho and visited my sister for Christmas. My parents even came up, so I got to see them as well. Flying in December is not easy. I got delayed twice <span style="font-size: x-small;">(thanks United! but not really)</span> leaving Dulles Airport and then had to switch planes, thus missing my connecting flight in Denver to Idaho Falls. My sister and mom ended up spending the night in a hotel in Idaho Falls. I called a long time Navy friend and begged a room for the night. She was gracious enough to pick me up at one o'clock in the morning with water and homemade muffins for a snack. I slept in a comfortable bed and caught up with friend SL for a while the next morning, and then was off to Idaho Falls.<br />
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Christmas was great fun. I brought matching flannel pajama bottoms for all the boys. And matching flannel nightgowns for my mom, sister and I--classic! We had fun opening presents, spending time with one another, cooking and eating good food, and talking with other family members. My favorite toy was nephew B's horse barn complete with brand new horses, and some dinosaurs. He left the whole thing unattended, and thanks to Grandpa and I those dinosaurs made quite a mess at the horse barn--carnage galore! <br />
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It was great to spend time with my sister. I'll always remember the morning we went for a walk to the grocery store when it was two degrees. We both walked outside, and stood for a minute to gauge the temperature. We then turned around, went back inside and put on another layer of clothing. On our walk we caught the sun rise. The town deer kept an eye on us for the whole walk but didn't run away. It was a really beautiful, cold morning. I love mountain winters.<br />
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My mom, sister and I went for lunch together at a new tea room that recently opened. We had fun exploring the premises and checking out all the tea cups and pots on display. Mom and I recognized some of the English china from our trip through England years earlier. We had stopped at the potteries in Stoke-on-Trent, and shopped the seconds stores for some of the biggest names in fine English china. Becky and I wished that the shop's handmade mugs were cheaper because we both wanted one to remember our trip. It was a fun outing.<br />
<br />
We ended my trip by celebrating my nephew B's seventh birthday. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(It's amazing to think that he was born right before I went to Afghanistan and that it's been seven years since I did that.)</span> We partied with a sledding trip up in the mountains where it was 12 degrees. We had a much needed fire to help us stay warm, and filled up on hot chocolate, hot dogs and doughnuts. It was a perfect birthday-sledding party!<br />
<br />
That evening I made nephew B's birthday cake, a chocolate cake with blue vanilla frosting topped with coconut. We had dinner with some family friends who were so excited to celebrate with us. We lit candles, sang happy birthday, demolished the cake and opened lots of birthday presents. That kid loves his horses!<br />
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Then the following day I flew out of Idaho Falls back into Denver. This time the flight was on time and there were no delays. An interesting man with a really nice smile sat in the seat next to me. He introduced himself as Jesse and we started talking. He was in town to take care of some personal business over the holidays and was heading back to work in Iowa.<br />
<br />
We talked the whole flight and kept talking as we walked through the terminal to our departure gates. We talked about why we were in Idaho and where we lived now. We shared about our families, single life, and jobs <span style="font-size: x-small;">(he's a welder/pipe fitter)</span>. We both told funny stories and enjoyed each others' company. After confirming that yes we wanted to stay in touch, I gave him my card with my contact information, and left the ball in his court. As we parted ways at his departure gate, I impulsively stepped forward and gave him a quick hug. I was kind of surprised by this, but it felt like the right thing to do.<br />
<br />
I arrived back at Dulles right on time around one o'clock in the morning again, and another kind friend OS picked me up and took me home. When I got in her car, she asked how my flight was. I remember having a quiet feeling that something important had happened when I told her about the nice guy named Jesse who sat next next to me on the plane. OS asked if we were going to keep in touch. I said that I hoped so, but I honestly had no idea. I got home around three in the morning and went straight to bed.<br />
<br />
When I finally woke up about eight hours later my first thought was, "I really hope Jesse contacts me." I was quite surprised by how much I really wanted this to happen. As the day went by I remember thinking several times how much I wanted him to contact me. I went to bed that night thinking about Jesse's nice smile, his kind eyes and how much I enjoyed talking with him.<br />
<br />
The next morning Jesse emailed me <span style="font-size: x-small;">(finally!!!!)</span>, and asked if it was okay that we started communicating. He also said that he didn't want to be an interruption to my life. I remember thinking to myself, "Silly man! Don't you know I want my life to be interrupted?" We emailed back and forth a couple of times and set a time for a phone call the next evening on New Year's Day.<br />
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Let's just say that once we got on the phone that we didn't run out of things to talk about for the next three months. It's a good thing that we both have the same phone cell phone carrier because otherwise our bills would have been in the thousands of dollars. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(We also used Google Hangout to message each other during the day and for video chatting at least once a week. Technology is so amazing!)</span><br />
<br />
We talked about everything. We told the good, bad and ugly stories, the funny, sad and not-so-great ones too. We had phone dates where we read poetry and stories to each other. A couple of times we even cooked dinner and ate together over the phone. I started reading <a href="http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/summer-monkeys#cart/cleanup" target="_blank"><i>Summer of the Monkeys</i> by Wilson Rawls</a> to him which we both really enjoy <span style="font-size: x-small;">(we still have a ways to go to finish)</span>. We compared political ideologies, outlooks on life, interests and hobbies. We shared our testimonies of the gospel and hopes for the future.<br />
<br />
We started finding all the things we have in common as well as our differences. Yes, he likes Star Trek, and Star Wars, and super hero movies. He hasn't met The Doctor yet, but an introduction is in the works. He appreciates my interest in space and my crushes on astronauts and the Mars Rover. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(The nerd potential is strong with this one.)</span> We are excited about camping and fishing together. We are both Mormons and actively participate in church. We both served in the military-he was active and reserve Army for several years, so he gets my reserve life. He's from Idaho and I'm from Utah, and both love the mountain west and being outdoors. He likes maps, and emergency preparedness. I like to crochet, and sew. He's teaching himself to play the violin, and I sing and play the piano. We are both generally happy people, optimistic about life. He's as hopeful a romantic as I am. And he really likes to dance! <br />
<br />
My interest in Jesse was changing from mildly interested to highly interested as we talked and learned about each. I know that people sometimes will hold back and not show their true selves in dating situations. I feel like we were both able to be ourselves, and as our comfort and trust levels grew, the safer it felt to be completely open and honest. We even told each other about those not-so-great things we had done in our lives <span style="font-size: x-small;">(you know, the things you're afraid if someone you like found out that they wouldn't like you any more)</span>. We were both able to share these things with each other despite our fears, and in returned feel un-judged, supported, and accepted. <br />
<br />
Eventually, I shared my blog with Jesse. As he read it he shared with me things that he liked and asked for more details about my experiences or thoughts I shared. He reminded of things I had written where I expressed my faith and hope for good things in my life. It was interesting to see myself through his eyes as he got to know me through my blog.<br />
<br />
Years earlier I swore never to do the long distance thing again in my life. Funny about those things you swear you're never gonna do--eventually you end up doing thing them and sometimes they turn out better than before. So, this time it was different <span style="font-size: x-small;">(yes, I know so clich<span data-dobid="hdw">é</span>, but really it was)</span>. I kept feeling hopeful and at peace all the while Jesse and I were talking. Most importantly, I was having fun! I also knew my feelings were deepening for Jesse, and I wasn't scared by this. Rather I was excited and hopeful, and very much looking forward to our next conversation.<br />
<br />
I kept waiting for that feeling I knew all too well from previous dating experiences, that feeling of no-this-is-not-the-right-one-for-you-Christine. And I kept not feeling it. This was new for me, and I kept thinking, "Okay, I'm just going to keep going with this then." In fact, the feeling I was having was "This is a really good man, Christine. This is a really good man. Christine, this is a really good man" over and over. This feeling persisted even when I wasn't talking to Jesse. I remember sitting on my couch thinking about all this, when that same feeling almost overwhelmed me again. I finally looked up and said, "Okay, Father I hear you. I've got it. Jesse is a really good man."<br />
<br />
To be continued.... christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-13222729683221494582015-01-31T13:53:00.000-05:002016-10-29T14:51:04.396-04:00what made me smile in january* the first phone call of many phone calls.<br />
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* the answer to a prayer that came right as something new was starting in my life. thus opening the way for what i really, truly wanted to come into my life.<br />
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* my nephews not wanting to talk to me on the phone when i was because they didn't want to get sick with my cold. silly boys!<br />
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* a feeling, a tangible and very real feeling, of being supported and loved.<br />
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* snow flurries and flakes that accumulated just a bit. i love snow.<br />
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* daffodils, hyacinths, and dark chocolate from Trader Joe's. <br />
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* my mom talked to me about <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/02/living-a-life-of-peace-joy-and-purpose?lang=eng" target="_blank">this article from elder scott</a> and asked me to read it. i've been reading, pondering, and even listening to it a few times. i'm being taught some of the things that i need.<br />
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* playing the piano. singing. cooking. baking. bacon. cheese. cold, clean water. cups of tea. sleeping late on saturday mornings. organizing. laundry. sewing.<br />
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* my sister's birthday is in january. i sure do love my becky-doodles. sis, you are such an amazing, righteous and strong woman. i hope that i can be more like you. love you!<br />
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* my brother R1 is doing his final semester of law school in tokyo with his entire family. it's so fun to hear their adventures and follow along on their blog. i so wish that i could go and visit him. <br />
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* a couple of years ago the relief society (the women's ministry from my church) from my congregation made hats for the oncology ward at children's hospital here in dc. we had a goal of 500 and we ended up donating over 1100 hats. they recently contacted us again, to ask if we would be willing to make more because they were out of hats. so we are starting to make hats again, and i'm teaching people how to make them on knitting looms or crocheting. i'm really excited about this. one of these days i need to learn to how to knit though. if you're interested, please leave a comment below and i'll get in touch with you about how to help.christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-65774581241205082502015-01-04T21:13:00.000-05:002015-01-04T21:13:31.117-05:002014 in review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here are just a few highlights from 2014. It was a fun year with lots of friend and family time. It was also a rough year with the unexpected loss of beloved family members as well. An overall good year. I'm hoping for an even better 2015!!<br />
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December
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/xBJL2zRMid/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Classic Christmas with the Boyer women. #MotherDaughters #ChristmasFlannel</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-12-25T05:24:50+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Dec 12, 2014 at 9:24pm PST</time></div>
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November
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/v6QpgAxMgg/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">#FallBeauty #DCFall #latergram</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-11-27T16:43:58+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Nov 11, 2014 at 8:43am PST</time></div>
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October
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/uWxi1QRMuC/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">The train ride was amazing. The engine pushed us up one switch back, and pulled us up the next one. Our "fireman" was a woman about my age who shoveled three-quarters of a ton of coal to get us and down the mountain! #trainride #CassWV #whittakerrun #fallcountry #fallleaves #fall #viewfromatrain #steamengine #whenigrowupiwannabeanengineer</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-10-20T01:27:22+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 10, 2014 at 6:27pm PDT</time></div>
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<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/uT5WJwRMga/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">At the Green Bank Radio Telescope. That there is the world's largest full movable telescope-all 17M lbs is rotated on 16 wheels. It's surrounded by a 10 mile Quiet Zone, so no cell service around it. #NRAO #sciencestuff #spacestuff #nerdgirlheart #fall #wildwonderfulwestvirginia</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-10-18T22:37:49+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 10, 2014 at 3:37pm PDT</time></div>
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September
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/slhS4oRMtm/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Caught up with another friend from high school this evening. So fun to live in a city that friends come to visit! #DCLove #HSfriends</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-09-06T01:51:12+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Sep 9, 2014 at 6:51pm PDT</time></div>
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August
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/slhS4oRMtm/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Caught up with another friend from high school this evening. So fun to live in a city that friends come to visit! #DCLove #HSfriends</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-09-06T01:51:12+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Sep 9, 2014 at 6:51pm PDT</time></div>
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July
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/qm5FUfxMkg/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">The plus side of coming home for a funeral is seeing my nephews. #auntietime #family #chieffamily</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-07-18T21:35:31+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 7, 2014 at 2:35pm PDT</time></div>
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June
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
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<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/piJfv4xMlv/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">This just made my heart melt today while at my aunt's funeral. My older nieces and nephews just gathered around my brother Chris's grave next to my grandparents and just sat and talked. I am so grateful for the Gospel and the eternal view. #familytime #lovemybrother #lovemyniecesandnephews</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-06-22T04:51:20+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 6, 2014 at 9:51pm PDT</time></div>
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/pNMFUlxMvQ/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">The 2014 Boyer Family Reunion in Nauvoo, Illinois. What a fun week! #familytime #family</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-06-14T01:29:53+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 6, 2014 at 6:29pm PDT</time></div>
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/pBVNDURMi3/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Girl friends for life. I love these women! I have known them since I was about 2 years old. #bffs #friends4life #goodforthesoul</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-06-09T10:58:42+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 6, 2014 at 3:58am PDT</time></div>
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/o9DTgyxMt9/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">#FishingLadies with a 3.2 lb 21 inch catfish. #thecountrylife #countrygirl #fisharegross</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-06-07T19:05:20+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 6, 2014 at 12:05pm PDT</time></div>
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May
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April
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/mdn62bRMoG/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Silly kids make silly faces. I miss these boys already. #sillykids</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-04-06T21:06:48+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Apr 4, 2014 at 2:06pm PDT</time></div>
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March
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/lmpmUKxMsH/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Birthday party selfie #noselfiecontrol #birthdaygirl</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-03-16T12:43:14+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Mar 3, 2014 at 5:43am PDT</time></div>
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February
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/kazd3ARMkx/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">We're just a bit crazy over here.... I love these ladies. #homicidalmaniacs</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-02-15T01:47:11+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 2, 2014 at 5:47pm PST</time></div>
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January
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/jvZmDWxMns/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Let it snow! Fingers crossed for some serious snowflakes. #snow #snowatnight #onthestreetwhereyoulive</a></div>
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A photo posted by Christine Boyer (@cmboyerdc) on <time datetime="2014-01-29T05:13:46+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 1, 2014 at 9:13pm PST</time></div>
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christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-69526478550546899312015-01-02T13:00:00.000-05:002015-01-04T20:12:19.077-05:00newHappy New Year!<br />
<br />
It's so strange to my head that it's 2015 already... and we are already 1.5 days into it. I must say that this year is definitely off to a much more intriguing start than last year. Woop woop!<br />
<br />
I've been thinking a lot lately about what I want. Selfish, I know, but I realized that it's a really important and big question for me. I was asked what I wanted for Christmas and I didn't have an answer. I honestly didn't know. A friend recently asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" and again I didn't know. So it feels right that I start this new year off by asking myself what do I want. I hope to figure it out this year.<br />
<br />
Things I'm going to do this year:<br />
<br />
1. Be the biggest loser and get my butt to bed earlier <br />
2. Keep the Sabbath day holy<br />
3. Learn how to create and follow a budget, and then do it!<br />
4. Read more books, watch less stuff<br />
5. Read the Book of Mormon again with real intent<br />
6. Set a retirement date from the Navy Reserve and begin planning it<br />
7. Call more and text less<br />
8. Forgive myself, and trust God more<br />
9. Sing and play the piano more<br />
10. Be open and available to answer the call<br />
11. Answer the question "What do I want?"<br />
12. Be the hopeful romantic <br />
<br />
This all feels do-able.christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-18553251376813473962014-09-01T22:53:00.000-04:002016-10-29T14:51:04.400-04:00things that made me smile...* a weekend without alarm clocks. sleeping until i'm ready to be awake. cooking avocado omelets for breakfast.<br />
<br />
* a new calling (or assignment) at church. i'm the single adult representative for my congregation. should be interesting... ?<br />
<br />
* fall cleaning. the feeling of a room that's been deep cleaned, it feels more open and brighter somehow.<br />
<br />
* my nieces and nephews starting school and listening to their thoughts on new teachers and classes. so fun!<br />
<br />
* a friend who is a fellow chief and whovian, who asked some very insightful questions when i talked with him one night about something i want to happen in my life. our conversation led me to some insights about where i am and a couple of things that were holding me back. thanks bro!<br />
<br />
* the excitement of possibilities that meeting someone new brings until they don't. i'm so grateful for answers to prayers. sometimes it's important to try things out and see how they feel.<br />
<br />
* my sister who listens without judgement. love ya!<br />
<br />
* dinner with my cousin. so fun to catch up, enjoy good conversation and amazing food at <a href="http://richardsandoval.com/ambar/" target="_blank">ambar</a>.<br />
<br />
* painting a friend's basement. i found it easy to clear my mind and stop thinking for a while as i painted.<br />
<br />
* word of advice: if you happen to end a meaningful friendship that is holding you back from being open to what you really want, do not watch the series finale of a beloved show. because you will cry, the ugly sobbing cry as you watch everyone say goodbye as they go off to their new duty stations on starships around the galaxy. thanks Star Trek: Deep Space 9 for nursing a breaking heart.<br />
<br />
* a new season of doctor who has begun! so many new adventures to enjoy. (hopefully, moffat doesn't ruin anything else i enjoy in this world, like angel statues, libraries, the internet... )<br />
<br />
* so, i've been lazy about being faithful to a goal that the bishop of our congregation set for us to read the complete book of mormon this year. it's not that i haven't been reading it, but i've been reading the parts that call to me. so, after he spoke again about our goal in church yesterday i'm setting the goal to read it all the way through by the end of the year. i'm using <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0c0JCVZbJS8M_-bm9uB1HcgVbNw2jLKkUCwFrETz2WBglhK150fH6xkrI1neBUZGMD36eG03jmX2gKwcQqmSr9Reynn-aKJiIgyvYKKkMeqe4lkqIP6gQTpvQ7GWhF-lA3HTvN_sH2y0/s1600/Book-Of-Mormon-90-Day-Reading-Schedule.png" target="_blank">this 90-day schedule</a>, so i have a bit of wiggle room. feel free to join in.<br />
<br />
* my mom is learning spanish without even trying. being immersed in the language as she teaches english and attends the spanish-speaking congregation is really helping her to catch on. it's so fun to hear her excitement as she realizes what she understands.<br />
<br />
* the soundtrack of guardians of the galaxy is pretty awesome. every time i play <a href="https://play.spotify.com/user/hollywdrecrds/playlist/1xY6msLHX1W34EzB0UkkbU" target="_blank">awesome mix vol 1</a>, i'm dancing and singing around the room or in my car. always makes me smile.<br />
<br />
* holding a new baby is the best thing in the whole world.<br />
<br />
* <a href="http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/washington-dc/" target="_blank">founding farmers</a> for dinner with my best friend. best food-gasm in a very long time.<br />
<br />
* a new <a href="http://www.heruniverse.com/brands/star-trek/city-on-the-edge-tee.html" target="_blank">star trek t-shirt</a>. i seriously love this print.<br />
<br />
* a stuffed elephant. excessive nerd syndrome. air conditioning. long walks. my book shelves. a clean bathroom. clean sheets. <a href="http://tedsbulletincapitolhill.com/" target="_blank">ted's</a> millionaire bar milkshake. a good deep belly laugh. <a href="http://instagram.com/cmboyerdc" target="_blank">taking photos</a>.christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-73891982715195992692014-07-14T00:00:00.000-04:002016-10-29T14:51:04.407-04:00more things that made me smile<div dir="ltr">
* <a href="http://tofw.com/How-Trek-Saved-My-Life-Laurel-Christensen%20Day/s/1027">this post</a> on how Heavenly Father can bless us when we do our part... or when we don't. been there, heard that a few times in my life. nice to know i'm not alone. </div>
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* so, i was supposed to fly to germany this weekend on orders, but that didn't happen (long story). naturally, i was disappointed, but all in all okay with how it turned out. i'm at peace with it, and that's a good feeling.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
* i was asked to be a co-sponsor for a former sailor as he goes through chief training. it's such an honor.<br />
<br />
* two junior officers who care about a shipmate and are bravely doing the right thing reminded why i love the navy. and i needed that reminder one day last week. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
* a friend and i were chatting, and he reminded me just how much i love the show MASH. seriously, being the navy i have worked with all those characters in real life.</div>
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<br />
* re-learning a lesson. you know how you end up in a situation where once you have some hindsight you realize that you once again were learning a lesson that you thought you had already learned? yeah.... that was me again recently. i'm very thankful for do-overs. hopefully, i got it this time and will remember it for the next time.<br />
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* going from a hole in the wall to an AC unit in the wall. it took 3 friends, 3 prayers and lots of patience.</div>
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* the realization that many of the things on this list are navy-related. funny, cause i wasn't feeling it last week. </div>
christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-82109211459277336032014-06-25T16:36:00.001-04:002016-10-29T14:51:04.411-04:00things that make me smile<p dir="ltr">so many smiles with laughter, and smiles through tears lately. i just feel the need to say it all out loud again.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* my family's reunion in nauvoo, illinois. so much fun and so many memories. a loose tooth, scaring older cousins again and again, river sunsets, hugs, fireflies, concern for my singleness from my nephews, cousins!, ice cream for lunch, a's little smile. all this and so much more did my heart good!</p>
<p dir="ltr">* time spent with 3 lifelong friends who can still come together to make new stories while retelling the old ones, who just love each other, who just enjoy the good company.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* time with family friends who were part of our missionary experience. </p>
<p dir="ltr">* people i work with who say, "I'll pray for you and your family." and knowing they mean it.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* a quick trip home to paradise, utah. even though it was for my <a href="http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hjnews/obituary.aspx?n=sylvia-kirkland&pid=171464926">aunt's funeral</a> it was so nice to be with my family again. my heart needed it.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* weeding. nothing better than yanking weeds to take life's frustrations.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* answers to prayers before i knew i needed to pray them.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* sunrises.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* dinner with friends and catching up after not having talked for years and years. </p>
<p dir="ltr">* a lonely cat who wanted my company.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* coming home. </p>
<p dir="ltr">* next please. i'm ready.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* a best friend who: picked me up early from the airport. made sure i ate actual food. got home safe. checked in with me the next day and made sure i ate real food again. was good company. gave me hope. and confirmed a right decision. </p>
<p dir="ltr">* getting on the earlier flight which i made by the skin of my teeth.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* flying over the Grand Canyon. seriously beautiful.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* keeping my mom company.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* hugs from nieces and nephews who saw me only a week prior, but the hugs are just as enthusiastic as if it's been a year.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* time talking with my sister and mom.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* aunt 'tine and aunt becky in action. </p>
<p dir="ltr">* my poor nephew's face after he met the treadmill on high. ouch! his big sister and cousin who jumped in to save him and unplug everything. </p>
<p dir="ltr">* seeing someone I grew up with who is happy in her life. and having things work out.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* the serendipity of asking for a ride from the airport and getting the opportunity to visit with a high school friend who was giving her husband a ride to the airport at the same time. not much more serendipitous than that.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* a cancelled flight.  a paid for hotel room. and being able to receive the phone call.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* i caught a fish and cleaned it. it was so gross. </p>
<p dir="ltr">* washington, dc at night on the mall.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* the illinois sky at night. stars, stars and more stars.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* this book: <a href="http://boomama.net/a-little-salty-to-cut-the-sweet/">A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet</a> was perfect reading for flying home and back for a funeral. reflections on why family stories are necessary to life. amen!</p>
<p dir="ltr">* conference talks. 3 Nephi 11. Matthew 6:10. </p>
<p dir="ltr">* siblings who text me photos of their kids. smiles galore.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* a housemate who prayed right then and there for me.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* mountains. </p>
<p dir="ltr">* homemade cinnamon rolls.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* my own bed. </p>
<p dir="ltr">* waking up without an alarm. </p>
<p dir="ltr">* friends who send texts at the right time. </p>
<p dir="ltr">* a ride to church.</p>
<p dir="ltr">* second chances.</p>
christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-86676875195991147692014-03-30T19:46:00.003-04:002016-10-29T14:51:04.414-04:00things that make me smile this week returnsSo, the past few months have not been particularly easy for me. I've been in a winter funk brought on by life creeping up on me with some realizations that left me with the wind knocked out of me. And so I retreated, and hid for a while hoping no one would notice. But Someone did, and He made sure I was taken care of, loved and given what I needed, and I am so grateful.<br />
<br />
So, at the urging of a friend who says my life is more interesting and that people like me, I am recommitting to sharing my little light through my blog. And so I will start by once again sharing the things that make smile on a weekly basis.<br />
<br />
- Mom and Dad are coming for a visit!!!! This caught me by surprise, because I invited them, listened to all their reasons for not coming, and thought that they wouldn't actually get on a plane to come out here. But they are, and I'm so very giddy to have them visit.<br />
<br />
- They are coming out because I am reenlisting in the Navy Reserve for two more years. Yes, I am actually smiling about this. I need to renew my enlistment contract in order to be eligible to retire, which is still in my plans. I'm excited too, because the ceremony is going to be pretty cool, and performed by a close friend. I'll share the details when it actually happens.<br />
<br />
- I've talked on the phone with my family a lot this week, and it's been really fun. The other night two of my brothers and I all met up for a Google Hangout session and it was so cool to have the three of us and the little ones hanging out together for a few minutes from different parts of the country. Just makes me happy!!<br />
<br />
- I really love hearing about the adventures of my nieces and nephews. I had forgotten the magic of a hotel room as seen through the eyes of a child. Nephew G hated the art museum, because he couldn't touch anything or run around, but still could tell me about the art he saw that he thought was cool. And Niece L loved the lily painting by Monet because that flower is her namesake and they grow in the water. It was so fun to hear about their trip.<br />
<br />
- It snowed this week, and got really, really cold. And yes, I know, it's the first week of spring, but I really liked the snow and the cold, and bundling up to stay warm.<br />
<br />
- On the way to work the other morning, I saw a herd of deer and a flock of wild turkeys right in the middle of DC. Granted, I was driving through a park area, but it's surrounded by a very large urban residential area. Apparently, it's enough of a green space to support a variety of wildlife.<br />
<br />
- As cold as it has been, there are still signs of spring all around. My front garden is greeting me with signs of bright yellow crocus. The daffodils and tulips are poking up the dirt, and the day lilies in the backyard are showing signs of life. In a couple of weeks things will be bloom all over the city, I hope.<br />
<br />
- Spring cleaning! I started it this week and have been doing a little every day. I'm not that far along, but it's a start, and it feels good.<br />
<br />
- Making new friends. I'm so thankful for the Church in my life which just helps the process of making new friends with people who are kind, amazing and fun.<br />
<br />
- Good books! I've been reading the Acorna series by Anne McCaffrey. I always wanted to read this series, and just decided it was time. What an adventure!<br />
<br />
- I really love the Harry Potter movies, and crocheting.<br />
<br />
- I was part of a lovely group of women who hosted a baby shower for a dear friend who is expecting her first. It was so nice to be a part of sending someone so much love and hope for a new little life to come.<br />
<br />
- <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch?cid=HPTH032714628&lang=eng" target="_blank">LDS General Women's Conference</a> was just lovely! So many great messages about how we need and can learn from each other.<br />
<br />
Here are a few Instagram photos to end things this week.<br />
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christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-82584418853614310722014-02-14T12:31:00.002-05:002014-02-14T12:31:41.790-05:00love is all you need?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRErdxupzQa3tZMmV9vU5OH2SEPv9Ua4gWYrX5-uYxhT_bFXtEWZ-AYmaMXq_MNhbIue-tppNGr2LpoWZF25s5pOpe5LyIFfqnoYgC4Y7R_t_1knW3ijxHB0PkZs6eaEJZE5Zn8t3o_K99/s1600/01+beam+me+up+hottie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRErdxupzQa3tZMmV9vU5OH2SEPv9Ua4gWYrX5-uYxhT_bFXtEWZ-AYmaMXq_MNhbIue-tppNGr2LpoWZF25s5pOpe5LyIFfqnoYgC4Y7R_t_1knW3ijxHB0PkZs6eaEJZE5Zn8t3o_K99/s1600/01+beam+me+up+hottie.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Yay, it's Valentine's Day! <span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(aka Singles Awareness Day)</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0yFQQr4YLvM/Uv5P0aj-8KI/AAAAAAAAEiE/nm0GCcDO-ko/s1600/01+if+only+someone+love+you.jpg" height="192" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the evilest Disney prince ever</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I freely admit that I'm a Valentine's Day cynic. I don't particularly enjoy the holiday and have never had the sort of Valentine seen in movies or books or dreams. But I do get Valentines from my family and friends that just make me smile and remember that I am loved. And as a person who gets more than a little depressed during the winter, this is a good and much needed thing for me. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1yy-YSVbMoe7CSmLve3gOHeSsebzq5xUIIU3izPKqoLZFS2-mhvYbEy7V_d7XikwM7FYDIPaQa2J8Gl21JIJlQ7a4KHC3RS8gLL-zAgP3ozvL3sQGe_tqAfZi0LsmiaSCsL0dKxz6AZd/s1600/01+hug+me+t-rex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1yy-YSVbMoe7CSmLve3gOHeSsebzq5xUIIU3izPKqoLZFS2-mhvYbEy7V_d7XikwM7FYDIPaQa2J8Gl21JIJlQ7a4KHC3RS8gLL-zAgP3ozvL3sQGe_tqAfZi0LsmiaSCsL0dKxz6AZd/s1600/01+hug+me+t-rex.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i love t-rex. i couldn't find a source for this.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One year when I was particularly down and cynical about the whole "love thang". I had an epiphany about this day. <i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Valentine's Day is like Thanksgiving Day!</span></i> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We should express and show our gratitude every day. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Seems a little silly to have a day dedicated to expressing gratitude when you think about it... </span></span>And yet we have this holiday every fall where we gather with family and friends, eat ourselves to death, watch football, sleep off turkey comas, (and in some cases get an early start on our Christmas shopping) all in the name of giving thanks, and celebrating gratitude. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Can you see where I'm going with this yet?</span></span></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxI4qccs_N4/Uv5QkwI-_mI/AAAAAAAAEiM/wNc5IKJIE9E/s1600/01+nothing+is+stonger+than+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxI4qccs_N4/Uv5QkwI-_mI/AAAAAAAAEiM/wNc5IKJIE9E/s1600/01+nothing+is+stonger+than+love.jpg" height="320" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://jennsblahblahblog.com/valentines-day-quotes-love-quotes-funny-quotes-love/" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A part of me agrees with the naysayers of Valentine's Day. We should be telling our loved ones that we do indeed love them every day, and we shouldn't need a holiday to remind us to do that. We also shouldn't need a holiday to remind us to be grateful. <br /><br />And so here we are with this "silly" holiday that celebrates love. And you know what? It's okay to celebrate love. I received Valentine roses from my dad (Papa Bear) this week along with a note that said, "A Daughter Bear for a Valentine! What more could I ask for? Love, Dad". And I sat and cried, because I knew he did love me--I knew it before he sent me roses. But I really appreciated the extra effort he made to let me know that he did. He also called to make sure I received the flowers, and told me that he wanted to make sure that I got a Valentine this year. Sometimes it's the little things that can make all the difference. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-chEZhXeFU7A/Uv5QkwQ4ifI/AAAAAAAAEiY/yoyUfBTE0B0/s1600/01+I+love+you+more+than+my+teddy+bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-chEZhXeFU7A/Uv5QkwQ4ifI/AAAAAAAAEiY/yoyUfBTE0B0/s1600/01+I+love+you+more+than+my+teddy+bear.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/73887239/i-love-you-more" target="_blank">Gayana</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I think we need to celebrate love, because heaven knows that we all need it. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stop for a minute and look around. </span></span>I bet there are people around you who need a little extra love. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZD-NvWG4P4/Uv5N2nGFaCI/AAAAAAAAEh4/ajLk6MePJT0/s1600/all-you-need-is-love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZD-NvWG4P4/Uv5N2nGFaCI/AAAAAAAAEh4/ajLk6MePJT0/s1600/all-you-need-is-love.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.bewareofimages.com/" target="_blank">bewareofimages</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-76448417160306857402013-12-17T13:09:00.000-05:002013-12-17T13:14:03.362-05:00remembering hilltop star<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Remembering Chris today. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMVlyLzRCiYohNXB_tCYAytks68VSzY2I478Vab-c2duXOT5WRTU4u2RsFnB7GcIcv4rIpAipeHWW2UEx3yvae-mFTZZdq3SkN9QGPf8LUqDoEyn78qlAv7Y38wn2ABhNJbGx0VWzEK-h/s1600/chris.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMVlyLzRCiYohNXB_tCYAytks68VSzY2I478Vab-c2duXOT5WRTU4u2RsFnB7GcIcv4rIpAipeHWW2UEx3yvae-mFTZZdq3SkN9QGPf8LUqDoEyn78qlAv7Y38wn2ABhNJbGx0VWzEK-h/s320/chris.jpeg" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris and I with our niece Caitlin and all her barrettes in our hair.</td></tr>
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It's so weird to me to think that it's been 10 years since he passed. I went back and looked at some of the things I wrote over the past few years.<br />
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<a href="http://hilltopstar.blogspot.com/2011/12/memory.html" target="_blank">a memory</a> - Recounts an experience I had the day before Chris passed. I wrote about it in third person, because it was easier for me to do so. I thought about this experience last night, and remembered that it's one of the last times in my life when I felt truly at peace. It was such a gift.</div>
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<a href="http://hilltopstar.blogspot.com/2011/12/hilltop-star.html" target="_blank">hilltop star</a> - Here I share the meaning behind my blog's name Hilltop Star, and a song that Chris and I wrote together. </div>
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And here's a photo of The Hilltop Star from my dear Paradise friend Lisa who shares a photo of our star with me every year. I just love that she does this for me. It brings me a little piece of home.</div>
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<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It feels important to acknowledge this place I'm at right now... T</span></span>his place in my life
where it's really hard to see <i>what I do have</i> in comparison to what I
don't have. And what I don't have is REALLY BIG, or at any rate it seems that
way right now. Lately, I’m often feeling very alone, and very small, and
unwanted, and unimportant. And lacking. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yet, my life is full of...</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~People who care about me.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~People about whom I care a great
deal.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Activities that bring me joy.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Things that make me smile.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Quiet and loud.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Friends that make me giggle.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Books, movies, music and plays. Escapes
into new worlds and characters. Sparks of ideas on how I want my life to be.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Projects that keep my hands and
mind busy creating.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Clean clothes, sheets, blankets,
dishes, floors, socks, towels, water.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Good food cooked by me and
others--honestly food is one of the simple pleasures in life.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~My vacuum cleaner--I know it's
funny to be thankful for a vacuum cleaner but it sure does make my life easier.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Hot water, dishwasher, washer and
dryer, ice cream maker, crock pot, stove and oven.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Warm coats. Hats. Scarves. Gloves.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~My little brother's pack back.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Mistakes. Repentance. Forgiveness.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Love.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Crying tears of sadness and joy. Lots
of this lately.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~A friend who says, "Hey, when
the zombie apocalypse happens, you're coming over to my house. My back door is
always open for you. You know that right?" </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~People who enjoy Doctor Who at
least as much I do, if not more, and who want to enjoy it with me.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Nerdiness--so much nerdiness. Yes, I'm mainly talking about Star Trek fun here.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Cookies and ice cream. Really,
really good burgers and fries and milkshakes. Pho.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Phone calls from family and
friends. And the conversations with young nephews who really know how to sum up my life.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Lots and lots of laughter.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Opportunities to take care of
others and be taken care of myself.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~People who say thank you. Who stop
and listen, and make me talk in spite of myself.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~People who choose me, and let me
choose them back.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~People who make really hard
choices to do and be better, and inspire me to do the same.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~People who say "Man that
really, really stinks." And don't try to figure it out for me. Sometimes
it's important to just acknowledge the stink and let it be.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Once a week phone calls from my
dad.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Getting right it wrong, a lot. And
getting it right a lot too.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~A Father who has a plan and so
much love. And right now my tiny ounce of faith in that plan and His love. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Conversations with people who are
in my boat, or who have moved onto another boat, but have been in my boat. This
is so helpful.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~Saying goodbye and hello. Letting go.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~So much more than I listed here.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">See, that's a long list of goodness
that I have in my life! But the lack pushes its dark little self up to the top of the
pile, and is the only thing that catches my attention even though it's
surrounded by so much light. The lack feels and looks really big, and I'm having trouble focusing in on the light and there is a lot of light. I know that.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I guess my point in writing this
today is to just say out loud that I’m struggling a bit with being single, and it’s also in
the face of an upcoming milestone birthday. I honestly never imagined I would come this far as a single woman. I thought that by now I would be sharing my
life with my man at my side and our family.
Sherry Dew calls it <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/375015072/Sheri-Dew-Living-the-unexpected-life.html?pg=all">living
the unexpected life</a>, and my life is certainly unexpected too. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I suppose I never did choose the expected route, especially as an LDS woman, so it really should be
no surprise that I’m here single. Right? I just never thought of my choices as excluding the possibility of marriage and family. Maybe they have and
maybe they haven’t, I'm still figuring that one out. All I know is that I try to do what I feel is right,
and to be as Christ-like and loving as I can. Yes, I know in the end these two things are the most
important, but at times it’s little to no comfort as I contemplate my life and
what’s next for me.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">All I know for sure (most days) is I’m where I felt He
wants me. He said be patient a bit longer, and I’m trying--sometimes not succeeding at all. But right now it’s really hard. And that’s okay to acknowledge.</span></span></div>
christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-52324218877334116932013-11-17T14:52:00.001-05:002013-11-17T14:52:50.562-05:00contagiously happy<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Earlier this week, some friends and I were sharing our Myers-Briggs personality type indicator results. (If you're curious about your type indicator, you can take a quick test <a href="http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp" target="_blank">here</a>.) The conversation then turned to the fan-made charts of each personality type matching a character in a popular book or movie series, like <a href="http://imgur.com/iRCaD4u" target="_blank">Harry Potter</a>, <a href="http://www.geekinheels.com/2013/10/23/star-wars-mbti-chart.html" target="_blank">Star Wars</a>, <a href="http://churchm.ag/lord-of-the-rings-personality-types/" target="_blank">Lord of the Rings</a>, and <a href="http://www.graspingforobjectivity.com/2013/11/downton-abbey-mbti-chart.html" target="_blank">Downton Abbey</a>. There is even an <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/whats-your-animal-personality-type" target="_blank">animal chart</a> if you're not into fictional characters. Anyway, it's a fun way to explore who we are, and how we interact as human beings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the animal chart I'm a dolphin, and the first words of the description are "contagiously happy," which I wasn't too sure about. Then a friend said that she felt like it was totally true about me. I laughed and said that I felt like I was contagiously <strike>bitchy</strike> crabby last week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RSZZ9QP1ATv2gt-t1lDWoUmDgz73BRnjNGTSD80cII1VubF88Q7xuv0FeUd5MdqKtHVsXCJZat8kb-uWtkbJhQSFPQwfwghYyBLY1-xvziKZpY0sn7LJ8CWIbVL_G34gHAybhhadstog/s1600/contagiously+happy+dolphin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RSZZ9QP1ATv2gt-t1lDWoUmDgz73BRnjNGTSD80cII1VubF88Q7xuv0FeUd5MdqKtHVsXCJZat8kb-uWtkbJhQSFPQwfwghYyBLY1-xvziKZpY0sn7LJ8CWIbVL_G34gHAybhhadstog/s320/contagiously+happy+dolphin.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">contagiously happy dolphin<br />via <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/whats-your-animal-personality-type" target="_blank">here</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, on Friday morning, I woke up feeling rather <strike>bitchy</strike>... er, crabby. And I had to cover to the front office desk, which meant I needed to be pleasant and polite, or exactly opposite of how I was really feeling. As I walked from the car into the office I remembered my friend saying that she felt I really was contagiously happy, and I said to myself, "Okay, Christine, you need to own this "contagiously happy" piece in you today, because if you don't people will be hurt."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, I owned it. And people left my desk laughing all day long, and it was fun! And I still felt crabby at times, but more often than not I was smiling, and genuinely so. It took a little while for it to feel completely genuine, but I was glad that it finally did. Friday turned out to be a pretty good day in spite of my waking on the wrong side of the bed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My point in sharing all of this? It's always surprising to me where the reminders come from to be better than I am. <br /><br />I'm grateful that a fun conversation with my friends about personalities, and fictional characters would be the inspiration for me to choose to be in a better mood, and remember to treat others how I want to be treated. <br /><br />I'm grateful for the variety in my life that allows friends and moments like these to help me choose better.<br /><br />Thank you.</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-8211074289564522782013-10-04T12:52:00.003-04:002013-10-04T12:52:35.529-04:00i gave myself 15 minutes...I gave myself 15 minutes to write today. I don't know what will come up during the next 15 minutes, but whatever it is will be posted for the world to read, so I hope it's meaningful in some way.<br />
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I'm meeting a friend for lunch at 1 pm on a Friday afternoon. This is a complete luxury, because on any other Friday I would be at work in a windowless cubicle trying to focus on what's in front of me, instead of what's around me. Friday afternoons at work tend to drag a bit.<br />
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So, today on this Friday, I'm discovering how "I can while away the hours ago, conferring with the flowers, consulting with the rain. And my head I'd be scratching while my thoughts were busy hatching, if I only had a brain". <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Name that tune and that movie, please.)</span> The Scarecrow from the <i>Wizard of Oz, </i>sings this as he explains to Dorothy what he wants from the Wizard. It can be applied to what I'm thinking about today. How I've wished for time to work on some projects, and clean my house, and read some books, and play some music, and run some errands, and talk to people, and sleep, and cook, and...well, you get the drift. I would ask the Wizard for time, or Hermoine for her time turner. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(By the way the auto-correction for Hermoine is heroine, which I find totally fitting.)</span><br />
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And here I am suddenly with an abundance of time on my hands, feeling the pressure to get things done, but also not wanting the success of being furloughed to be a completed to-do list; rather, I want to fell more rested and more better. I've read some fun books, cleaned some nooks and crannies that desperately needed it. Thankfully, I haven't discovered a carpet beetle infestation like some other friends did, who are now spending their furlough days doing laundry, cleaning, and running to the Goodwill or the dry cleaners. My time is my own, and it's so very nice.<br />
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I guess my point in writing this, is that I hope I use this time off wisely. Sure, I have a to-do list, and I've crossed a few things off it. But in the end, time spent on the back porch in the hammock, soaking up the last sunlight of summer, drinking cold lemonade, listening to some really good music, and reading a lovely tale is the most delicious part of this time. Who knows, maybe I'll blow off my to-do list entirely, and just give myself up to the back porch entirely?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXKbW_nd_QI/Uk7xwgmj-MI/AAAAAAAAEZo/cdVWScIVZ84/s1600/00+backporch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXKbW_nd_QI/Uk7xwgmj-MI/AAAAAAAAEZo/cdVWScIVZ84/s400/00+backporch.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How I wish this was my back porch...<br />via <a href="http://www.countryliving.com/homes/how-to-get-the-look/Outdoor-Space-0606#slide-3" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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<br />christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-28094490539829022202013-07-04T06:39:00.000-04:002013-07-04T06:39:00.831-04:00thoughtful thursday: my country<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S7h0J-SjQEg/UCvHNhAW_AI/AAAAAAAADhE/5TU8p0Z02_0/s1600/country.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S7h0J-SjQEg/UCvHNhAW_AI/AAAAAAAADhE/5TU8p0Z02_0/s400/country.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-22924184921563222192013-06-22T23:13:00.001-04:002013-06-22T23:13:19.838-04:00boxing up<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today I helped a woman pack up her life. She has cancer and will soon go home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I went through her papers and photos. I decided what should be shredded and what should be kept. It was sobering. I found myself holding back the tears as I sat on the floor catching just a glimpse of her adventures and her life. It was so hard, realizing that we were helping her put her life in order. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She has so much she still wants to do. She's worried about hurting feelings and treating the people around her with love as she deals with being very, very sick and leaving behind the life she loves here. Her body is starting to have to work much, much harder to do even the simple things like lift her hand to her mouth. Her attitude is the best, she's still laughing and enjoying the life she has. I hope I can be more like her in living and appreciating the life I have no matter what.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All week I've been thinking about her, praying for her, hoping for a last minute miracle. I have also done a lot of thinking. How life is so short, too short, too often. There's so much I want to do. That God has a plan for each of us. That it's the plan even when it seems like the plan has been abandoned and thrown to the wind. That I'd like to know more of the plan up front sometimes. And that life really is good even when it's not, and I would not trade this life for anything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Above all I was thinking that I know she's in good hands. We all are. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #2f393a; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">And I kept thinking about this quote:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #2f393a; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things.</span><span style="color: #2f393a; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #2f393a; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> - <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/the-hope-of-gods-light?lang=eng">Elder Uchtdorff, General Conference, April 2o13</a></span></span></span><br />
<br />christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-87671471682169593402013-06-06T07:00:00.000-04:002013-06-06T07:00:08.927-04:00thoughtful thursday: make these days memorable<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">i love this quote!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Do not let us speak of darker days;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Let us speak rather of sterner days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">These are not dark days; there are great days--</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The greatest days our country has ever lived;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And we must all thank God that we have been allowed...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">To play a part in making these days memorable</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In the history of our race.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">--Winston Churchill</span>christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331744342712623735.post-34576650493534250512013-06-03T10:06:00.000-04:002013-06-03T10:06:08.610-04:00i create<b><span style="color: #45818e;">"Creativity is not something you wait for. It is something that waits for you. You must <i>decide</i> to be creative, not wait to be. You must challenge yourself. Pick up the brush. Grab hold of the camera. Start cooking the meal. Get to the workplace early. Propose the solution. Advance the idea. <i>Become</i> the answer."</span></b><br />
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I don't know who the author is of these thought provoking sentences. It's stuck with me ever since a colleague, who sends daily emails with inspirational quotes, sent it to me. I copied and pasted it into a Word document, played around with the font and color, printed it, and stuck it up in my cubicle with my magnet that says, "Keep Calm and Boldly Go". I needed those words that day.<br />
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I've been feeling stuck in a funk lately, and very bored with work. Those words helped me start to look at what I create when I'm at work. They were the kick in the pants I needed.<br />
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I read somewhere else lately, that waiting around makes a person a consumer, who takes what they can get, instead of being a creator, who makes their own reality. I don't want to be a consumer. I want to contribute and create.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://paulambrett.com/">here</a></td></tr>
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I started a mental list of all the things I create in my life, and then started writing them down so I could remember them.<br />
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I create...<br />
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Beauty in my garden by taking care of the plants I put there and removing the weeds.<br />
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Smiles from people walk by looking at my garden. It's fun to sit and watch people coming and going.<br />
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Order at work by keeping on top of y projects and filing completed projects. (I really dislike filing, so this one is really hard for me to keep up on.)<br />
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Music when I sing and play the piano.<br />
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Warmth by crocheting hats and blankets. <br />
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Cleanliness when I clean up after myself and keep my house neat.<br />
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Friendships with people at work, in the neighborhood, at church, in line at CVS.<br />
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Love through service.<br />
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Laughter when listening to people share their funny stories or when I share my own.<br />
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Food. I enjoy cooking and making good things to eat and share with people.<br />
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Ideas by thinking about stuff and writing.<br />
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What do you create?<br />
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<br />christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450107285194913871noreply@blogger.com0