Love Life As It Is...

My sister sent me this quote: "Love Life As It Is...Not As You Want It."

Today I met with a student regarding her internship. I asked her what her dream job was (something I ask all students). She said she didn't know. And then she hesitated and appeared half embarrassed to admit that, well, she was 24 and not married. She might want to do "A" but then that is a two year commitment. Or maybe "B" but that is another two years. She just didn't know what she wanted to do. I finally said-- I am 40 and single. You have to live life. Life is good. You have to keep going and things will work out. I don't think she was convinced.

I am always amazed that there are women who get to the end of their college education and suddenly realize that they have to make decisions about their life and up to that point they have never considered what the answers might be. They thought they would come to college, get married and not have to think about work, a career, or any plans post college other than husband and children.

I guess for me this mindset it is somewhat strange. I never waited around to get married. If I had, I would have missed out on so many incredible opportunities. I would have missed meeting so many people who have influenced my life for good. Perhaps that is a post for another day. Anyway, I always planned to go to college, get a master's degree and work, at least for awhile. I was 29 when I realized that if I was going to work for the rest of my life, I wanted to do something I loved and could support myself. Hence, the PhD.

So for all you women out there.. married or single. "Love Life As It Is...Not As You Want It."
Life is Good! So Good!

Super Brother to the Rescue

It's Monday morning. I grab my bag, lunch, and a holiday decoration for my office as I head out the door for work. I push the button to open the garage door. It makes a sound that doesn't sound too unfamiliar (like when I leave the door partially open, so when I think I'm opening it, it is actually closing). So I push it again. Same noise but the door is not opening. So I:
1- call my brother. He knows how to fix everything. No answer.
2- call my colleague. Maybe I can get a ride to work and fix the garage door later. No answer.
3- call my parents. No answer. Oh yeah, mom had to be at the doctor's office at 7:30 a.m.
4- call my sister. Not that she can do anything, but at least someone is answering their phone. She calls her husband on the other phone. No answer. What is up? Where is everyone this morning.
5- turn on computer and try to find answer for door problem.
6- send brother text message to his work and personal cell phones "Need help"
7- sister calls back. Says I can pull the red cord, but then would have to heave the door open. I am having back pain and don't want to make it worse. Plus that doesn't solve the broken door.
8- change out of my work my clothes-- put on sweats and a sweatshirt.
9- get ladder and W-D40 out. Can't see any problems. W-D40 does not help make door work.
10- brother calls me. Yeah. He said he would come to my house.
11- 45 minutes later he is here.
And of course, he knows exactly what the problem is. We go to the garage door place and buy a replacement part. This must happen often, because they had the exact part that we needed.
12- $47 and about an hour later and my garage door is working again. And it actually sounds a lot better- more quiet.
Yeah for a brother who know how to fix everything (really, everything) and always comes to my rescue. It's the next best thing to having a husband to call, or maybe even better. Not all men know how to fix things.
Life is Good.

An Ah Ha Moment...

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I've been thinking a lot about gratitude. Today I had this ah-ha moment. Sometimes I do things to help students out that I think are going the extra mile. I'm happy to do it. I still remember what it was like to be student, so if I can pave the way for them, I try to do it. For example, giving them a lead or two (or more) with phone numbers and email addresses for places to do internships. I don't expect anything in return, but once in awhile a simple, "Thank You" would be nice. Perhaps the students think that because I am the professor I should be doing these things for them. Maybe they are right. Some students are very grateful and express their appreciation.

I wonder if God ever feels disappointed when I forget to say "Thank You" when things I ask for He grants. Or do I expect that He is supposed to do it for me, after all, I prayed for help, and He has the power to give.

I am reminded of Elder Eyring's talk where he said, "Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him. I testify that He loves us and blesses us, more than most of us have yet recognized. I know that is true, and it brings me joy to remember Him."

I am going to be better at acknowledging the Lord's hand in my life and all the bounteous blessings, both large and small. I wonder what my life would be like if all the small miracles and tender mercies God bestows upon me each day suddenly disappeared.
Life is Good!

Bodies, Books and Burgers

This weekend I took my two nieces out for their birthday. I starting doing this a few years ago instead of buying them presents, which they don't need, and probably at this stage of life don't want (pre-teen and teen). And it is a great way to spend time with them. Usually I do it individually, but this time it was a two for one deal.

We started out at Body Worlds 3. I had seen a similar exhibit in Atlanta, and thought it was amazing. My nieces were a little grossed out. They thought it was cool, but didn't want to look too long or too intensely at each exhibit. This exhibit was smaller than the Atlanta one, but still intriguing. I am disturbed by the idea of just where they might get fetuses that they can use for plastination. I would not recommend this exhibit for young children.

Second we went to the SLC library to see the art exhibit of Mark Buehner. My niece is good friends with his son. You may recognize Mark Buehner's artwork from books like "Snowmen at Night." One of my all-time favorite children's books is "Fanny's Dream." Maybe it is because I can relate to Fanny's life, though I have not married. The exhibit was small but beautiful. I think I am going to have to get other books that he has illustrated. My nieces told me which ones are the best.








Lastly we went to lunch at Five Guys Burgers and Fries (after my nieces indulged me at two stops-- Orson Gygi and DSW). I had not eaten here, but my nieces promised it was good food. It must be good because the place was packed! This made people watching very interesting!
I am not one to order a hamburger (I'll eat one over the campfire), but I went with the flow and trusted their judgement. My one niece recommended ordering a burger with A-1 Sauce instead of catsup. It was actually pretty good. Just a FYI-- if you go to Five Guys, a regular burger is two patties, and a little burger is one. The fries were pretty good too (though I am not a fry fan either). Make sure to get the Cajun flavored ones.

All in all, it was a great day out. It is fun trying to be the favorite aunt. And with such incredible young women, it is an easy thing to be.

Life is Good.

Wonders of the Waters

My nephew recently got an award for this picture he drew. He only decided the night before to enter the contest. I can only imagine what he could do if he started a few weeks earlier! This is the nephew who had a brain tumor 5 years ago and continues to receive treatment and monitoring (e.g, regular MRI scans). We think he is pretty special!

This is what my sister wrote when she sent the photo:

"He decided to enter this years Reflection's contest at school; the theme being WOW. He has been learning about explorers and has been drawing ships during his teacher's reading time. This is a picture of the ship he drew. He won honorable mention in the visual arts category. He received a medal, certificate, and gift certificate to Chili's. He was very excited to be chosen and we are very proud of him. He is quite artistic, (we are biased) he gets that from his dad!"

Today was a blustery, windy, rainy day. It reminded me of the story from Winnie the Pooh.
I braved the weather and made the trek across campus to the Marriott Center to attend our weekly University devotional. I stood at the intersection with a number of students, my bright pink umbrella keeping me dry, waiting for the traffic light to change and signal that we could cross the street.
In front of me I noticed gentleman, I imagined that he was a faculty member or administrator, in a long black winter coat and a coordinating umbrella. A few moments later I noticed him quietly reach over and share his umbrella with a young woman, who too was waiting in the rain. "Thank you" I heard her reply as a smile came to her face.
The traffic light changed, we proceeded to cross the street and they continued their walk, together, to the Marriott Center, his umbrella sheltering her from the rain.
What a simple act of kindness that brightened another person's day. It is encouraging to know that there are still thoughtful, generous people in the world, and in particular, men that know how to be gentlemen.

A Halloween Memory

When I was growing up, our church always had Halloween party. We lived in a rural area and trick or treating was not an event. In fact, I never remember having trick-or-treater come to our house. As a result, everyone always went to this party. All church members, young and old, would dress up in costume. The only rule was no masks.

This one year, our family went as pumpkins. If I had a picture I would post it. I can still see it clearly in my mind. My mom made each of us pumpkin costumes out of orange crepe paper. Mom tells me that you could sew crepe paper (she learned this from her mom). Who knew?! That year, our family won the costume contest. The prize money was $10. Dad gave the $10 back to the missionary fund. That is so typical of my dad- generous as the day is long.

Life is Good