Just Around the Bend

I'm rounding a lovely little bend in my life and I feel good. I know where I'm headed for the most part and the things I don't know are just details I'll have to trust the Lord about. I feel like I can do so many things - and that feeling is amazing! It's been awhile... It has also been a little while since I wrote a blog post. Since June I have been spending most of my time at EFY serving, loving, and teaching the youth to the best of my abilities. I am amazed by how able the Lord has made me in my endeavors to be a good counselor, and I know He will continue to bless me as I strive to do His work and His will. It is so much easier to swim downstream. That is the way the water is meant to flow, and when you follow that path you are pushed along your way - your efforts are magnified. That's how I feel about serving people and the Lord. His way is the right way and when we go that way so many wonderful things are made possible to us. I've learned lately that the Lord knows what is best for us - when it's best for us. We always call this "the Lord's timing" but I dont' think that's completely correct - it is OUR timing, but He is the one who knows when, how and why. Sometimes the greatest factor, I think, is how we will react to each situation - whether we are ready or not for certain trials or opportunities to come our way. So, the best way to deserve what you hope for is to pray for it and do all you can to qualify for it. That's more than just planning out logistics - it's preparing yourself to make the right reaction and have the right mindset. I feel like I've learned a lot lately, actually. This is just one of MANY important things, and I'm loving every drop of it! I am excited for everything that's coming up. I'm excited to see how things will pan out in reference to my schooling, housing, job, church involvement, family life, social life, dating life and personal goals. It looks like another bend or two could come my way... as usual!

Something Happened Today

Yeah, it took me by complete surprise and sort of knocked me into a different gear - the right one. I guess that's sometimes necessary when you refuse to shift by yourself, even if it feels like a slap in the face.

Thank you, little something that happened today.

Little Darlings

I had a reunion with my old primary girls today. It was most glorious, but probably too exhuberant to really be accptable behavior in church, especially for eleven-year-olds. In fact, I was driven to lecture the poor things about it after my lesson.

Here is an old photo of the little darlings two Christmases ago when I was their real teacher. They are actually quite darling...

The experience today kind of amazed me, though. Here was a class of girls less than a year away from entering Young Women's who were sprawled out on the floor, noisily fiddling with rocks or pencils, yelling to each other over my voice [during the lesson] as well as over each other's, and sauntering about the room as they wished. Honestly, these are eleven year olds I am talking about. Manners did not exist in this classroom. Well, they were simply not expected of anyone, and neither was focus or respect for anyone or anything. Their hearts are, as always, very pure, but I think the environment was just too lax and the social order too judgmental for them to be very inclined to show it. Ultimately, I was shocked by how important acceptance and attention from peers is for them , but even more amazed by how they attempted to claim it.

Basically, their ultimate goal during class was to make everyone laugh at whatever they said or purposely did. I could tell it was very satisfying to each and every one of them when fits of giggles spilled in their direction. They fundamentally seem to depend on the support of each other. It's crazy - but I totally remember being their age when that was so true for me and my friends. I wonder when each of them will realize why the whole concept is so absurd. I wonder when I did.

But even so, when I was ten and eleven my own primary classes were so much more reverent. We would discuss the gospel, read and memorize our scriptures almost all class - well, that's how it seemed. I remember trying so hard to pay attention to what the words meant, but it was difficult for me to focus at the time, so I really should give these girlies some kind of credit. But someone should set expectaions for them as well. It would be good for them!

The point I'm trying to make is simply that they could do so much better, and I really am curious what factors have made their situation - the whole class dynamic - become so chaotic. Even in our separated classroom, we are still in the Lord's house, and [as I explained to them] we still need to respect the building, the spirit, and our neighbors. Heavenly Father will love us even if we aren't reverent or kind or successful in every thing we do, but we should still try to show our love for Him by respecting the reverence He asks from us when we are in His holy buildings.

It makes me sad to complain so much about these girls, especially since I love them so much. I think what really made me sad, though, was just the fact that I knew they were better, kinder, sweeter and much more mature than that.

Blog Bits

I have some questions about blogging, and if nobody answers them I will pretend they were intentionally rhetorical... How do I get my layout to cooperate with spacing and photo placement and such? Why do we have SO many social media outlets? Why hasn't somebody created one master site that combines facebook, flickr, twitter, blogger, etc. all into one? How many people actually read my blog? Why do they ask you to type silly security words before you comment on some blogs and not on others? Where do they come up with these words? It's fun to try and think up fake definitions... exicalen - the process by which a fish's scales resituate during growth and development synch - a grotesque Native American execution ritual (you know the one I'm talking about... with the horse... OUCH!) thobshe - a thick, sticky growth that usually develops at the base of a rotting log ...oh, Balderdash!

What am I thinking about today?

Maybe I should implement more structure into my blog. I could write about a certain topic and try to attract readers and then sell ad space and make lots of money. Lots of people do it! But that's not really me, I'm kind of a "go with the flow" kind of girl... I think... Anyway, I just decided that today I'm thinking about networking. It seems like everyone has to do it to get anywhere in life these days. It's more about WHO you know than what you know (and please don't quote me on that - I'm most definitely not the first person to say it). In the business world, nobody will remember a faceless person who emails all of their resumes and doesn't know anybody in the industry. Some of the most successful actors in the entertainment business got their big break because of someone they knew in particular who introduced them to someone else in particular. So I guess I need to get crackin' especially since I'm thinking of doing music PR. Whew. It's amazing how early you have to start in some fields of study. While in school, you are almost as focused on securing a job or internship as you are on gaining the skills to actually complete it. Next year I'll be VP of Professional Development fpr BYU's chapter of PRSSA (student version of the nation's PR trade society). It will be my lovely responsiblity to help the members I serve realize this and act upon it. Come to think of it, that might be one reason why I am thinking of networking and planning for my future NOW... I guess it's a good thing I believe in the concept. But even though it's kind of scary to get started, NOW really is the time to set the example! Woot!

Two Motion Pictures

It's official. I am a bad blogger when I'm not required to post something about once a week for a class. At the end of the day, I'm just not thinking about slapping words together in some body of text because I feel like all I'm doing these days is writing anyway. It's good because writing alot helps you improve your creative skills and usage, but it still burns you out and sucks all the words out of your brain by about 3 p.m. each day.

Today I just really want to comment on a couple of particularly interesting movies I have seen recently. I have always made it clear that my favorite movie is Memoirs of a Geisha, closely followed by Life is Beautiful. One of these two films I'm about to discuss challenges my top picks for their status, and you get to guess which one!

The first is a movie my roommate, Kayla told me about. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the film , titled The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, is that it is portrayed through the eyes of an eight-year-old boy named Bruno. It is amazing how completely his innocence breathes simplicity and clarity to the story and the issues involved, despite the horrific things he literally comes face-to-face with.

Bruno's father is a German Commandant at a concentration camp during World War II. His family is basically oblivious to the hideous, infamous acts and operations their father is commanding in the camp only miles from their new country home. I believe one of the most potent themes of the movie becomes prevalent when Bruno, hungry for adventure, sneaks away during the day, discovers the camp itself, and makes friends with an eight-year-old Jewish boy wearing a striped jumpsuit sitting slumped, tired and jaded on the other side of the fence. He has absolutely no reservations about befriending the young prisoner, something so basic to the forces of humanity yet so foreign to German society at the time. It is profound to also realize that through the entire course of the story, Bruno never truly understands what is going on behind those barbed wire fences. His heart is pure and true, untainted by ideas propagated at the time, just the way Heavenly Father placed it in his tiny little soul.

The beautiful kinship which develops between the two boys is tested and re-tested by fear, intimidation, and social stigma. Thoroughly shocking, the ending perhaps asks more questions than it answers. I couldn't stop thinking about it for... well, I'm still thinking about it aren't I?

The second movie, Penelope is probably one of the most pleasant, artistic, charming movies I have seen yet. I noticed on the cover of the DVD that it received an award for being a "truly moving picture," a well-deserved recognition, in my opinion.

Penelope is a girl who was born into blue-blood society with a pig snout nose. In an effort to reverse the alleged curse which bestowed her the abnormal nose, Penelope must marry a fellow blue-blood who accepts her as she is... or so her mother thinks as she centers Penelope's entire young adult exsistence on the courting of young men who each ultimately run with fright upon sight of her.

In my opinion, she is actually a rather pretty girl despite the snout and her tender yet clever countenance make her even charming. The overall message Penelope teaches viewers is one about physical appearance. However, after one young man sticks around a bit longer than usual, makes return visits to Penelope and develops sincere feelings for her behind closed doors, literally, he inspires her to break free of her home's confines and enter the world with courage and curiosity.

Penelope's acceptance of herself is the most inspiring facet of the film. It teaches us that being happy with who you are can get you much further now than accomodating your skills to a pre-determined success-type.

Well, I'm sure you have figured it all out already.... drumroll...

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Really, I just loved both movies. I saw some similarities between both, actually, what with the constraints both had on their lives.

Stones and Sand

It has been about a month since I've posted. I apologize to anyone who may have been biting their fingernails waiting to hear the latest news and chatter about my quaint little existence, only to find that I have continued to neglect my beloved blog. I don't feel bad about not posting, though. It's not like when you open your journal and see that the last date listed was a lot further in the past than you realized. Then you read the entry and think about everything that has happened since, everything you now feel the need to record before you jot down that certain event or feeling that prompted you to open your journal in the first place. Yeah. I don't feel like that. Even so, I will perform the customary quick-list update that happens when such an event occurs... -I have successfully finished half the semester. Woot! -About thirteen articles written by yours truly have been published in BYU's Daily Universe and people actually read them - and come talk to me about them! -I still love my job even though things are kind of changing and it feels wierd. -My high school friends keep coming home and I don't know what to do with myself or what to think. The whole experience is bringing me face-to-face with something I feel totally disconnected from now. At least I'm recalling nice memories!

-I am still financially stable enough to pay rent and have a little wiggle room for groceries and necessities while keeping a safe amount in the bank. Just keep swimming... just keep swimming...

-My group won the midterm case study competition thingy in my COMMS 336 class. We had to present a PR case to Elder Ballard (aka Professor MacFarlane) about a campaign we organized as an effort to increase and improve full-time missionary service by young men in the church. We worked so hard... and basically dominated.

-I made a tough, annoying, beautiful, frustrating, should-have-been-expected realization last week. I know I have to do something about it - and that's the scary part!

-I love my PR friends. -I have no idea what I am going to do with my life when this semester ends, and I think/plan/worry about this multiple times daily. That's really not sufficient enough to do this month justice, but it's some of what's been going on. I'll take it. :) So, in conclusion, and in reference to the title of this post, I have a commentary to make about time management. [sorry- random, I know] It's so true what they tell you in young women's when they fill a jar half full with sand and then try to squeeze in a bunch of rocks that won't fit. When they put all the rocks in first, then pour in the sand, letting it fill in all the holes and cracks left by the stones, they make a perfect point. You really can't do everything when you put off the most important things. I'll bet a lot of people would be surprised to find out all the things they really can accomplish in one day... when they plan right and work hard. It is the most amazing feeling to go to bed at a decent hour near the end of one of those days, feeling totally and entirely complete - that you accomplished everything you needed to that day, and still had a little bit of time to do something that makes you happy or lifts you up spritually. Stones first, my friends! I'm pretty sure a little prayer or two or ten will help you out too...