Afternoons with Enola

Today in church we sang one of my favorite songs! It reminded me about a journal entry I wrote a few months ago. It talked about one night when I was spending time with my family back in MD. My father, unknown to him, started singing another one of my favorite songs. At that moment warm, peaceful feelings rushed over me as I was brought back to the little sitting room where Enola Mangleson and I would sit together from noon until 5 every day. We would sit listening to the song my father was humming and reminisce about her days growing up on the farm in Idaho, or how her singing group at BYU could have made it big if she and her husband hadn't eloped the night before their debut.

It's been said that every person you come in contact with adds a bit to who you are. Well, I hope that is true. It's also been said that often when you serve others you benefit and grow the most. I KNOW that is true. I have had the amazing privilege to serve others for my job. No, I am not talking about Best Buy. I am referring to the time I spent as a CNA at Angel's touch assisted living home and caring for people in their homes with Aspen Senior Care.

I can honestly say that as I was blessed to get to know, love, and care for some of the top notch people in this world, I have been shaped and molded into a better Deborah then the one I was before I had the opportunity. I truly feel that I have sat at the feet of some of the wisest men and women and developed a better understanding of this world and what I want from it. I wish I could write a book about all of them and their life's lesson. From Dale I learned the need for silent constants in life. From Jill I learned that no matter what life throws at you and at whatever age, there still is happiness to be found and ways you can give. If you have lost your joys you can be one. If you have lost your independence you can cling to your faith. If you have lost your legs you can roll along filling everywhere you go with your outstanding spirit and beautiful smile.

Don and Vera Showed me what true love means through their 96 Year old examples of daily living. Ralph was a very special man. One of two client's I lost while still working with them. He shared with me his passion. Now I can not pick up my flute without playing for my music teacher who never taught me a note. Ralph also taught me what a true legacy was the day I sat in his home listening to his beautiful daughters in the room next to me fill the air with sweet music for their beloved father.

I could go on and on about Mary Ruth my cancer survivor, Al my Sargent Major, or Martin my sunshine and jujitsu master who've all helped me learn and grow. One of the most valuable things I've learned from them is the art of love and true friendship. I have learned that it is not restricted by age or experience. It is one of the most rewarding connections that can be shared by anyone of any race, age, or gender. The people I have worked with have each in their own little way given me something to live up to and a greater height to reach. I am not perfect by any means and neither are these men and women. But I sure am grateful for those warm summer days of reading poems and playing the harmonica with Enola.

BYU-I Update

It's 7:45 in the morning, I want to be in bed like my roommate next to me, I have about an hour of reading to do before 8:15, and yet I am sitting here in my PJ's (with the light off so as not to disturb my roommate.) I always say how busy I feel and yet I am still very happy. That my surprise anyone who has read my most decent and deleted rant. Let's see, there is so much to write and so little time. First of all it is FREEZING! I remember a conversation I had with my cousin Abby the first time I came to BYU-Idaho. She warned me that it was cold and told me of the time her nose hairs froze walking home from school. I laughed along with her and didn't quite understand the truth in that statement. I really don't remember that ever happening to me the first time I was up here. And then Tuesday morning when I walked out of my door into the -20 weather outside, Abby's words came rushing back when the strangest thing happened to my nose hairs. Personally I think it should be against the law for it to be this cold. It really is not conducive to studying when all i want to do is stay in bed under my warm comforter.

I really love my Social dance class. It is a ton of fun to meet my new partner everyday and laugh to myself at his nervous demeanor and sweaty palms. Is that bad? Um, maybe I should stop doing that. I just think it is funny to feel like I am back at the stake dances again. MY dance class is pretty much my salvation among the hours of reading I have for Econ, Pre calc, and Anatomy and Physiology.

I also really, really love my Job. I am an admissions counselor in the admission's office. It is such a change from best buy when I catch myself thinking of work as an escape from the stress around me. Best by WAS the stress around me. HA I guess we'll wait to see how I feel once the admissions decisions for fall are sent out and I have to deal with the angry parents. I love the people that I work with most of all. My bosses are more like friends and there is so much flexibility there!I never want to go back to retail.

Now that I have 20 minutes to read for econ, make myself beautiful, and leave for class I had better go. Stay tuned for future posts about my amazing roommate, crazy trips to Utah, and the huge goals I have set for myself. Oh and also pictures. My camera is in major need of some loving before it will work again.