Unlocking your potential

The company I have been working for is moving and we're packing everything up. I came across a little box that said, "Keynote quotes: unlocking your potential." Wow! This must be pretty powerful stuff! I thought. Here's one of the first quotes I read:

"There is such a thing as giving up too soon. You can always get one more spoonful of juice out of a grapefruit."

Um, did that just come from the same little box that wanted to unlock my potential? OK, I do agree with the first sentence. Of COURSE there is such a thing as giving up too soon. Like the time I was in my gym clothes, walked to the gym, took one look at the treadmill and went back home. That's giving up too soon. I'll admit it. But I disagree that you can ALWAYS get one more spoonful of juice out of a grapefruit. It's simply not true. There is only so much juice a grapefruit can contain and I don't care how long you stay at it and don't give up, there just ain't no more juice!

Of course I can see what the quote is getting at and that it's trying to help me unlock my potential of never giving up but I think they could've done a LOT better. If I were an inspirational quote writer I would probably just say, "Never give up." Short, sweet and powerful. Why throw in random metaphors that aren't true? Just say what you mean people. It's much simpler.

Other favorite quotes from this little box:

"Each day, silently affirm that you are the type of person with whom you would want to spend the rest of your life." (Confused? I was.)

"Children are to be treated gently. They are like snowflakes- unique, but only here for a while." (...and then they melt away.... How is this unlocking my potential?!)

I think I'll just stick with the scriptures to unlock my potential.

Breaking the stereotype

Usually Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day, an omen of ill will. Some people probably carry garlic in their purse or walk backwards ever 5th step. Well this past Friday the 13th was anything but unlucky. It was one of the most wonderful days ever. Lazel, my best friend, got married and I had the honor of being a bridesmaid. I love helping brides on their big day. I love it when there is a frantic moment and I can help calm the bride's nerves. It's a day of compliments where I just keeping telling the bride how beautiful she is.

Lazel and I were able to share very special moments together like when I helped her change into her wedding dress. There were many people getting married the same day so it was quite a miracle when Lazel and I were the only ones in the Bride's Room. It was definitely a crowning moment of our friendship. What a blessing that I could share her special day with her and actually be with her in the temple.  Marriage is such a sanctified and wonderful thing. I'm just so happy Lazel and Hadji got married in Portland so I could be there.

Oh and the reception? Delectable food. Three different kinds of wraps, crescent rolls with chicken salad, pasta salad, broccoli salad, fruit salad, a chocolate fondue fountain with pineapple, strawberries and marshmallows AND to top it all off: deluxe cupcakes. Phew. Needless to say I stuffed myself beyond full. Then while we were all cleaning up, Katy, Heidi, David and I took spoons to the chocolate fondue fountain. No joke. Can we say sugar high? It was a great end to a spectacular day.

Forever changed

I will always remember today. The first line of one of my favorite Primary songs is "I love to see the temple; I'm going there someday." All of my life I have sung that song. Well, today is that 'someday.' I am entering into the Lord's Holy House to make sacred covenants that I will be obedient to Him and serve Him my whole life. I love the Lord. He is boundlessly merciful to me. That's why I want to serve a mission. God has blessed me beyond belief; my best way of showing gratitude to Him is to dedicate myself to His complete service for 18 months of my life. Peace IS possible in this world when we put our trust in God, acknowledging that He is in control and knows what's best for us. In the end, good will triumph over evil. And I want to be among His troops, fighting for the right and helping others do the same.

   

Lazel

Last night I had the honor of throwing a bridal shower for my best friend. Everything went just as I had hoped and it was an enjoyable evening. I can really see God's tender mercies through the timing of all of this. Lazel and I have always been best friends: same ward, same middle school, same high school, same choirs. Then we went to different colleges.

She went to BYU in Utah and I went to BYU in Idaho. Then she transferred to BYU-Hawaii and I went to Chile. Now she is getting married. I never would've thought, after being separated by thousands of miles, that I would get to give her a bridal shower...much less go to her wedding. We've had the past couple of months to be with each other again and catch up on all sorts of topics. Although we've had different life experiences we're both learning the same life lessons. It's quite incredible.

The biggest tender mercy of all is that I am able to actually go to her sealing (wedding). I'm overwhelmed with gratitude that after all I have done with Lazel, I am able to be part of this milestone in her life. I don't think there are many people that have had a life long best friend. I'm so grateful that I've always had Lazel.

She's getting married tomorrow and then leaving to go back to Hawaii. I'm leaving in December for Honduras. But I know that even though there will yet again be thousands of miles between us, we'll continue to be best friends. I couldn't be happier for her.

Rhymes and not rhymes

English is a weird and confusing language. Two words look as if they wouldn't rhyme but do (staple and papal) and words that look like they should rhyme don't (come and home). I decided to write a short poem to illustrate this point. I call it "Come (Hum) Home (Comb)":

To me you are so good:
You give me lots of food.
I don't even fear
when I see a bear.

I don't have to work,
and this is quite a perk.
When I see a goose
we always make a truce.

I never have to frown
when the wind has blown.
You tell me to come
and take rest at your home.

I'm glad we're a pair:
You complete my square.
I have lots of pride
even though I've been fried.

You only have one boot
and it's covered in soot.
To help I give you mint,
But only just a pint.

You give me a daisy
even though I have been lazy.
I have come to know
how I love you so.

I am afraid of death
so you give me a wreath.
After you put on your shoes
away your mother goes.

Absolute adorableness

I worked in a daycare for 2 summers. I have seen, changed, comforted, held, rocked, smiled at, fed and taken care of a LOT of little children. I kid you not, the cutest and most adorable kid I've EVER seen is my nephew. I wish he lived closer so I could squeeze him in big auntie hugs. But at least we have Skype. That'll have to do for now.

Novocaine

I went to the dentist this morning to get a sealant, whatever that is. (Is that a nice name for a cavity?) Since I didn't know what a sealant was, I didn't know whether they would make my mouth numb or not. I got all settled into the comfy dentist chair and he said, "Alright, let's put that tooth to sleep." Uh, isn't that the term they use when they're going to kill a dog?! So he killed my tooth, used some sort of weirdish apparatus to keep my mouth open as wide as the Columbia and started the procedure.

After it was all over I kept touching the right side of my face. It's the weirdest thing when your fingers feel your face but your face doesn't feel your fingers. I drank some water and half my tongue felt that the water was cold and the other half couldn't even feel the water. Quite a strange sensation. I just took another drink of water and realized, "Hey, my whole tongue can feel the water!" I hadn't even realized I wasn't numb anymore because the un-numbing process was so gradual.

I think life can be like that too. Some things are so incremental that I don't even realize a change until there's an experience to open my eyes. A lot of times I don't realize what I have until it's gone. I know that I didn't appreciate designated non-smoking areas until I went to Chile and those don't exist. Moral of the story? I want to take time out of my week to inventory how I'm doing and what has changed. As Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living."