Chick Mechanics

So about three or four years ago, my two roommates, Jen and Jackie, and myself changed the alternator in Jackie's car. We did an excellent job if I say so myself. Except for getting the wrench stuck. . . . well anyway.

After getting a taste of mechanical independence, I decided to expand my repertoire. This week my parents came up for Thanksgiving and I asked my dad to help me change the serpentine belt and show me how to change my own oil. I had already done the research on how to change the belt and had all the parts for both projects. I would have taken a picture, but I forgot, so you will have to go on faith.

I don't expect to have to change the serpentine belt again, but I know how to do it. As far as the oil, I am looking forward to not having to pay twenty to thirty dollars each time. It will take some getting used to, especially the next time when I am on my own, but it will get easier.

Some people find it simpler to have someone else do it, but I like being independent and learning how to do things for myself. I find great satisfaction in finishing a project even if it's a slightly messy one like changing the oil.

Take Life Seriously?

I've always had the nagging feeling that I take life too seriously. Being able to reach out to others with an easy smile and laugh is such a simple thing, yet has such profound affects. It lightens life's load for yourself and everyone around you. Those that are blessed with that sublime talent of optimism and seeing beyond their own reality are so wonderful to be around. I want to be more like that, but I get swallowed up in my own little world so easily.

I think my issue is that I see life too narrowly, as something to accomplish--an end--and not a journey with a thousand vistas to be enjoyed. I feel I miss much of the bigger picture that makes life full. Consider this analogy: I play ultimate frisbee with an LDS group on Saturdays. I enjoy it very much, but all I really understand of the game is that you have to get the frisbee to your end of the field despite the obstacles (the other team). I can run, throw, and catch with moderate competence, but strategy is almost lost on me. As a result, I sometimes feel more of a hindrance than a help to those with more sports savvy. I wonder if I as well as others would enjoy the game more if I got the strategy.

So, what's the strategy to not taking life so seriously? Anybody want to weigh in? (Of course the irony is that this whole topic is far too serious, but I needed to air this idea and clear my brain.)

Lift Where You Stand

I have been attending the Young Single Adult FHE and other activities for about a year. I've enjoyed getting to know some of the other single's in the area and have done a lot of fun things with them. Recently, however, I've felt very agitated when I go to these activities. It's not that anyone has made me feel unwelcome, nor is it that I don't find things and people I like. Overall, I just feel unsettled. Finally, I realized I had to make a decision: would I follow what I was being prompted to do or would I persist in what I thought I wanted? I decided to not go to the YSA activities any more.

It was not an easy decision, but President Uchtdorf's Priesthood session talk title "Lift Where You Stand" helped me feel good about it. (http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,49-1-947-18,00.html) I stand in the Hillsboro Ward of the Hillsboro Stake. I stand among other bright and uplifting single adults. I stand with those who organize "Mid-Single" (30 to 45 yrs) in the area. I stand as a teacher. I stand as a music director, an activities committee member, and a building scheduler. I stand as a witness that God loves his children and leads and guides them if they will listen.

I don't know what this relatively small decision will bring, but I know it will be the Lord's will, and that's what counts.

Conference + Prayer = Well Behaved 7th Graders

I've been rereading and listening to Elder Bednar's last two general conference talks on prayer. Everything he says really helped me understand prayer a little better, but two thoughts struck me in particular. In his first talk on prayer he explains the importance of phrasing our requests to reflect our intent to act and not just to ask. From his second talk, the idea that our morning prayers can be times of commitment and our evening prayers a time of reflection on those commitments helped me rethink the way I pray.

Today, I saw in a simple way those two ideas combine to make a difference in my life. I've been praying that I will be guided in my choices and actions especially as it relates to my students (intent to act) knowing that at the end of the day I would report. As I started my third period, my first regular Language Arts class, I knew it could be a struggle to help the students stay on task since I was giving them a "catch-up" day. The thought came to me to ask them what should happen if a student chooses not to respect the need for quite as people work. They came up with all sorts of ideas (including expulsion from school), but out of the discussion, I formulated a three step plan: first instance of talking brought a warning, second instance brought a change of seat, and a third instance meant a 30 minute lunch visit with me and a chat with parents. It worked beautifully. It was clear and simple, and I never had to go beyond the second step nor move more than a handful of students total (some of them moved themselves).

I am grateful for Apostles and Prophets who teach correct principles from the Lord.

Ask in Faith and Pray Always by Elder David A. Bednar
http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,49-1-851-31,00.html
http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,49-1-947-14,00.html

Tomatoes

A couple of weeks ago I decided to dig up my tomatoes and be done for the season. A sister in my ward let me use a small portion of her garden in exchange for physical labor, which I enjoyed. I planted two Roma tomato plants which grew to a marvolous Oregon size with lots of green tomatoes. The season, however, was somewhat cold and they didn't ripen very quickly. I was sad that I didn't get as many tomatoes as I wanted.

Another sister from my ward suggested pulling up the plants and hanging them upside down in the garage to allow the remaining green tomatoes to ripen. It sounded good to me. The issue came in that I had to transport them from the garden, which was about a 10 minute walk away, to my house. I could have driven, but out of principle, I didn't. It shouldn't be too hard to carry them home. They were just a couple of tomato plants.

Well, as I got them out of the ground, I realized they were bigger and heavier than I expected. So, I bundled up the bamboo sticks which held the plants up while they grew and stuck the tomato plants on the end and carried them home on my shoulder rather like a traveler who has tied all her belongings in the knapsack at the end of a stick.

The end result was a cascade of plants with green tomatoes down my back. I like to think that anyone who saw me got a laugh out of it and their day went better afterward. Here are pictures of them hanging in my garage. Notice that they have ripened nicely.

My Very First Post

I spent quite a lot of time thinking about the name for this blog. It had to be just right. I didn't want to limit what I could put on the blog, nor make it so broad that it meant nothing. At intervals I wondered if the name even mattered. Who was really going to care?

Finally I asked my self what would be the purpose for by blog. Did I want to just write about things in my life or did I want to be a little more purposeful? Everyone has their own reasons for starting a blog, but for me I wanted to accomplish something with it or at least I wanted to try. I actually kept thinking about starting this during the last couple of weeks of the election fervor, but I didn't want this to be a political venue.

What I really wanted was a place I could state my ideas about things in my life, things in my community, and things in the nation and world. With so many intense issues abounding, I wanted to have a voice. This is my voice. It is a small voice, and very simple, but if I keep at it, maybe it will make a difference in someone's life. Whether it be making someone laugh or providing correct information about an issue, as long as it brings truth and joy into people's lives, I'm satisfied.

I certainly welcome any comments from anyone with this same purpose.