Perfect Moment Monday

I follow a blog called Write Mind Open Heart. Every 4th Monday of each month the author, Lori Luz, writes about a perfect moment that happened during her week and invites her readers to do the same.

In her invitation she writes, "Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between."

What a great idea!!! I have been very guilty of running from task to task trying to check things off my pesky to do list that I miss the many perfect moments that happen in my life. Tonight however, was the exception. After I got home from school and vegged on the couch for much longer then I am willing to admit, I gathered my energy, grabbed my computer and a movie, and went down stairs do some post wedding/school/internship clean up.

While in process, my phone rang and it was my Bestest Best Friend Catherine. She too is equally as busy and so our contact is not as often as either of us would like. I decided the clean up project could wait yet another day and I answered the phone. Best decision I have made this week! For an hour and a half we talked and laughed like we were teenagers again. She told me about boys she thought I should date and I told her about school, the boy I have written off, and a dramatic voice mail I received that made me want to say bad words. We giggled and didn't censor our thoughts at all. When our conversation turned to more adult things like houses, husbands, and jobs we decided I am much to young to be referred to as a "therapist" and she is much to young to have the youth in her ward think her first name is "Sister". So we changed the subject to boys again. (because she wants me to be just as hopelessly happy in marriage as she is, the topic of potential beaus is one of her favorites).

As we talked and laughed I stopped to take it all in. It's these small moments that really matter. It's in the small moments of laughing with my best friend that I am energized and rejuvenated. That's what gives my life value. Not my to do list. How grateful I am for that perfect moment.

My productivity strike!

Last night I pulled the last all nighter of my educational career. Yes, yes, I know. I don’t have to pull all nighters and if I would only start earlier.... but you know, It is what it is and I am what I am. I went to bed at about 8 am this morning and when I got up at 10:30 am to go to my internship I decided. There was no way I was going to do anything productive. Mainly I wanted to go on a computer strike and not sit and write any of my reports. I was nervous I was going to be dead to the world but surprisingly I am doing fine.
During my productivity strike I had an hour long session with a client, built two chairs, wrote case notes, rearranged the waiting room a little bit, and did my makeup. And I still have 4 hours to go! Now I am writing a blog post to continue my productivity boycott. Pretty soon, probably in about 20 minutes I’ll most likely give in and be found working on the quarterlies I have to get done.

But I am counting this as my hand of the Lord post today. Today Heavenly Father blessed me with an 8 hour of sleep type of energy just because I prayed for it. I don’t know why I doubted the Lord would answer my prayer but I was really looking forward to having an excuse to not do my work….

Lent

I know, I know, I am a week late for lent this year. After my rather successful lent last year, I am sure you all have been in pins and needles to find out what my sacrifice will be this year. Well I will tell you.
This year I will sacrifice ............NOTHING! That's right folks. I am still going to observe lent but I have decided I am not going to give anything up. I've decided to do something with a little more positive twist. To put it short, lately I have found myself consumed with school work, field work, and... Well that pretty much covers it. Field work and school work. I've become rather self absorbed and you know what that can do to a person.
So I have decided to take this time to refocus and to work harder to remember the savior and to recognize his hand in my life every day. While it may not be as entertaining for you dear readers, it will be very helpful to me. So everyday I plan to post at least one way I have recognized the Lord's hand in my life.
Today I am feeling very humbled. Everyone who talks to me on a semi regular basis is aware of the crazy week and a half I have ahead of me. I have a paper due....tomorrow actually and instead of starting it, yes, I said starting it, I decided to go to institute. The lesson was basically about me. Well really it was about Saul, but I hate to say that I see myself in a lot of his short comings. It felt like an answer to a prayer of how I can improve my faith and relationship with God. So that was number one.
Another way I saw the Lord's guidance today was in a therapy session with one of my clients. It is very often that I feel guided or prompted to say something that will guide the session in the perfect direction it needs to go for the client. It happened yet again today. I have seen that whenever there is progress with a client it is because of something the spirit has prompted. It's a pretty cool experience.
So there you have it. My commitment for lent. It's not as entertaining as hearing about my FB withdraw symptoms, but it is much more helpful. Actually I have thought of something to give up and it's a toughie. I'll wait until tomorrow to write about it because its 12:30 am, I'm writing this post on my phone and I'm so over that, and unfortunately I have not given up procrastination for lent this year.
Happy lenting!

Greetings from El Salvador

Hi Blogging World!

For the last 6 days I have been out of the internet loop. I have not checked my email, blog, and (brace your selves) facebook! I didn´t plan to either. However it is monday night and that means it was time for me to write Tressa. I am not about to let being in a forgin country stop me from sending her a hello. But once I got on my email it was just second nature to type in facebook.com and by the time I realized what I was doing it was to late. So I figured I might as well blog too.

I am here in El Salvador and having quite the time! The poor man in the lobby of our hotel, I am sure, wants me to make this quick...so I will try. It has been over 4 years since last time I was here eating real papusas and shewing away stray chuchos. I thought I knew quite a bit about El Salvador, but on this trip I have seen a side to El Salvador that I have never seen before. I have been back less then a week but it feels like it´s been two. This trip has been extremely enriching but also mentally draining. Holy cow! My eyes have been opened to the corruption in the government and the injustice I did not know was happening when was here last running around with the orphans. (They don´t talk about politics much.) It´s hard to hear and take in. Especially about a country that I love so much. But I have been inspired by the resiliency of the human spirit and the wonderful things that can happen when people work together for a common good.

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I am grateful for the safety and comfort it has given me. It gives me something to hold on to in times I have lost all other hope. It also seems to be something the people of this country have clung to as well. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church and I am so grateful for the prophets guidance and leadership.

Anyway, there will be pictures to come of course. I have had a fabulous time and wont come back the same person.

What's in your wallet?

One of my favorite stories to tell when asked about my top worst dates is when I went out with a kid named.....well it started with a "G" and ended with a "uillermo". Yep. It was quite the name. One of my favorite parts about this date was when he ran out of things to say and in his nervous efforts to fill the silence emptied all of the contents of his pockets on to the table at the restaurant and proceeded to tell me about every item found on the table and in his wallet.  I heard about the comb he carries, the gas station the receipt was from, and the gum he spit out right before he picked me up. Oh and who could forget the wadded up tissue from last week's cold? It was quite the treat. Then he asked me to empty out the contents of my purse and continue this activity. I declined explaining "Over the mysteries of female life there is drawn a veil best left undisturbed".

Last year in May I was called to the primary. In august I decided I needed to switch purses and emptied out the one I was currently using. I laughed at the contents and took a quick picture. All of the things I used in primary. Tonight as I was in a rush to walk out of the door I poured the contents of my bag out onto my bed once again to get rid of extra weight. The contents made me smile yet again. So in the spirit of laughs and bad dates I will push back the veil and share with you the oh so mysterious contents of my purse.

August 8, 2011

The thing that gets me the most are the ear plugs and the exacto knife. I mean let's be real now. You never know when you are going to need either one of those things around children. They are MUST HAVES! ;-)

January 2, 2012 (I can't believe it's 2012!)

I lost the exacto knife and scissors (and apparently an earring), but as you can see, not much has changed. Funny enough, there was no wallet or money either times! My purse has gotten larger but only so I can accommodate the atlas and extra koosh balls. Who knew 8 year olds were so in love with geography!? With the silly putty, candy, and tissues constantly in tow, at first glance you'd think I was a mother. No. Just a prepared primary worker.

testing, testing, is this thing on?

Dear family, friends, and stalkers,
      It seems to me that when I need to use my time wisely the most it actually happens the least. I have so much to do and yes, I only checked one thing off my list today. This month of December has FLOWN by while jam packed with big exciting events. There have been temple trips, birthdays, graduations, weddings, and silliness all before Christmas! It's late and I am too tired to write about them all (they each deserve their own post). Therefore ladies and germs I give you:

My life according to a camera phone!

"I love to see the temple!"

Me and my fellow camera hog!

Someone stole my camera! But secretly I love it!

My office Before

My office after (still in progress. I've spent less then $100 and it feels good!)

Happy Birthday Rachel J!

The graduate

All you need is love!

Wait what? You miss Tressa? Me Too!

I found this while cleaning Tressa's room. It cracks me up! Yep. She really did send herself a postcard to remind her to change the sheets. What the?

And for your viewing pleasure Thanksgiving wishes to our current favorite Sister Missionary. Yep....I didn't have any makeup and my hair is wet.