Selflessness

I get emails from the Tabernacle Choir. I usually just delete them. But this week the title of the email caught my attention.

Selflessness as been something that I have really been trying to work on lately. I think it sparked with my renewed desire to be the person I really want to be. So I have reflecting on those people that I admire in my life, and what qualities do they have that I want to have. And one of the main ones that I have noticed is that of Selflessness. Therefore, this has been my focus of life within the past few weeks. What can I do for other? What can I share with others? etc.

So when I got this email, I was excited to see what they had to share. . . . Let me share a few of my favorite lines:

"Our greatest blessings and deepest joys always come from helping others, from opening our hearts to someone in need. Service is evidence of our love, but it can also be its catalyst. While it’s true that we serve those we love, it is equally true that we love those we serve."

"Selflessness is usually not manifest in grandiose, dramatic ways but in simple, day-to-day opportunities and interactions we see around us."

This was a great reminder to me of the Savor and His example for us to follow. As I have been striving to make Him apart of my daily thoughts and actions, I know that truly emulating Him comes from selflessness desires.

Birthday Weekend!

I tend to have extended Birthday-Days/Weeks! As much as I dont like all the attention, its nice to be able to have an excuse in this crazy busy time of life to get together with friends.

Thursday - Woken up by my roommate Brooke decorating my door and Singing me happy birthday at 645am. Then I got a call from my nephews Jack and Taylor. So CUTE! Worked 10+ hours. Gross. Than I went to dinner with Roommates Marian and Suzy, and then Kristy and Jen Flygare. I really appreciated that it was a small group. I went to my favorite Asian restaurant by my old house. All in all: Good day

Friday - Called in Sick. Come on, work a 10+ hour day of really annoying reporting type stuff on your birthday, its a given not to work the next! Instead, I did all those things that you just dont get to when the week is crazy busy, and the weekends are even crazier. It was great. Changed from summer to fall clothes. Watched some Netflix while cleaning the bathroon and the bedroom. Off to the Bank, Post Office, a Pedicure, car wash. Then I was off to a concert for my local folk artist, Brian Webb. It was such a great concert. Embarassingly enough, Brian knows my name, and pointed me out a few times during the concert. Oh well! There are worse things.

Saturday - Hartford. I went and spent the day with my brother and his family. They took me to Texas Roadhouse for my birthday Lunch! Love that place. And then I played with the boys for hours. We even went down to the land and saw how things are coming along. I really wished that I had a boyfriend that would want to go help him. It just makes such a different when there is help.

Sunday - Church. It was such a good Sacrament Meeting. I ended up hanging out with William Johnsons, 2 y/o of the other wards 1st Counselor during Sunday School. And Relief Society was really good. (Yes, you heard that right. I went to RS. Second time in the new ward!) Then I had dinner at my cousins. Suzy came too. It was rather amusing. Those boys are crazy fun. Then we headed off to a Fireside. It was a panel discussion with the Bishopric and wifes, and how to build solid relationships. . . . And then Party at my house. It was fun. And lots of people showed up. I really like my house for hosting parties. I think everyone enjoyed themselves too. Here are some pictures from that:

The roommates - Brooke Clayton, Suzy Richardson, Marian Clayton, and Me!

Brooke, Me, and Peter Stone. He brought the apartment a present, the best 90's hit mix ever!

We were all very surprised that the "HBS" boys showed up. (Harvard Business School) Robby, Brooke, Marian, Bill Edwards, Me, Alex Lowe.

2 of the 3 Dental School Boys. Brian Nelson, Me, and Mike Visser

A few of the the girls - Linda, Suzy, and Brenda Heaton

A few of the good ones! Jamie Wyatt, me, and Kristy Williams.

-- Note to self, dont let tall people take pictures, the angle is weird

What a great Weekend! Thanks to all those that made it possible!

Sept 20, 1984 "Cosby Show" premieres on NBC-TV

How appropriate that Cosby's premiere was on my birthday?! I love that show. Watch it often. Even now. Ask the roommates, its Tivo-ed!

Birthdays really arent my favorite day of the year. Something about it being at the beginning of the school year. Its a busy time of year. Friends are coming and going. Especially now in my life, friends are skattered across the country. But so far this one has been good. . . .

Motherhood

So. I survived the weekend. And so did the four kids and the house! It was actually really fun to spend time with the boys. They really are good kids.

I was actually excited to go to their ward. I know a handful of families and it was fun to be in a "real" ward. You know. With families, and kids, and screaming during sacrament. Keeps the reality to life.

Well. It was interesting trying to keep twin 2 year olds from screaming for the same book, or talking about the book loudly, or keeping the 9 year old from eating all the snacks for the little ones. There were a few minutes when I was about to throw my hands up in the air. But an hour does seem to pass rather quickly when you are keeping others busy! Afterwards as I was cleaning up the books, some older gentleman came over to me and told me "I just wanted to come over and let you know that you are such a great mother." First reaction of mine was shear laughter! In order for me to have a 9 year old, I would have been giving birth as a 16 y/o! I politely thanked the man, and told him that I was in fact only the cousin to the mother. He seemed embarassed, but still told me that he was rather impressed with how patient I was with them throughout the meeting. WOW! I was thankful for the compliment. Dont worry! Im not running out to find the first sperm donor available. But its reassuring to know that maybe I will be alright at that whole motherhood thing, when it finally comes my way.

Family Time

This weekend I will be babysitting for my cousin that lives in town, Jen Thomas. She has four kids. Walker, 9, William 6, and Henry and Owen that are 2. William is spending the night with a friend for the most of the weekend. So it will be me with Walker and the twins! This will be interesting.

My Uncle Ron is retiring from BYU. He has been a historian and professor their for years (Im not really sure how long, but I would safely say 30 years.) All of his children, Jen being the oldest of 7, were going to be able to attend. Except that Jon's 3 y/o was diagnosised with Leukemia earlier this week and so he will not be going out for it now. Please keep them in your prayers.

Well. . . . It will be an interesting weekend!

Wrong Stats

On a side note.

I was alittle bugged this weekend. I realized that I got 6 calls for Babysitting, and 0 calls for a date. Thats is right, a big, fat ZERO. My life is pathetic! I hope it changes, alittle atleast! Well, atleast Im making some extra money instead of wallowing . . . and hanging out with some of the coolest kiddos this side of the Mississippi!

Happiness!

My love for Nordstroms came during college. My roommate Courtney and I would go when it opened up in the Orem Mall. And we always had a great time, and there was this one particular sales associate that we just loved. She even reminded me a high school friend, Natalie Crofts Joyner. Well, my love for Nordstroms has just blossomed over the the years. Retail therapy is a very real thing, and this is one of those places that is top on my list. Until this weekend, I have had to drive all the way to Providence whenever I have wanted to go to Nordstrom. Well. Not anymore! This opened one in a town called Natick, MA. Its outside Boston about 12 minutes. They also opened a Zaras in the same mall. I have a feeling that I will being going often! The mall itself is gorgeous. It reminds me of those back home. . . . What a great way to spend a Saturday night than with good friends at great stores!