Applications

I have started to apply for jobs up in the Portland area, and can I just say how tired of it I am already and it has been less than 24 hours!  There is something not fun in inputting the same information over and over and over again, tweaking your resume to fit the position, and submitting.  Hopefully some good comes of it.  In the mean time, I will keep submitting away-as my brain continues to melt.

Mum's Day

The Girl in a Whirl by ‘Dr. Sue’ (a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!

You could do what I do

If you only knew how.

I study the scriptures one hour each day;

I bake,

I upholster,

I scrub,

and I pray.

I always keep all the commandments completely;

I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.

I help in their classrooms!

I sew all they wear!

I drive them to practice!

I cut all their hair!

I memorize names of the General Authorities;

I focus on things to be done by priorities.

I play the piano!

I bless with my talents!

My toilets all sparkle!

My checkbooks all balance!

Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;

I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)

I’m taking a class on the teachings of Paul,

But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all .

I track my bad habits ’til each is abolished;

Our t-shirts are ironed!

My toenails are polished!

Our family home evenings are always delightful;

The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.

I do genealogy faithfully, too.

It’s easy to do all the things that I do!

I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;

I know all the names of each youth in my stake!

I read to my children!

I help all my neighbors!

I bless the community, too, with my labors.

I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;

My visiting teaching is done the first day!

(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.

It’s the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)

I chart resolutions and check off each goal;

I seek each “lost lamb” on my Primary roll.

I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.

But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all .

I write in my journal!

I sing in the choir!

Each day, I write “thank you’s” to those I admire.

My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!

My kids get straight A’s!

And their bedrooms are clean!

I have a home business to help make some money;

I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.

I go to the temple at least once a week;

I change the car’s tires!

I fix the sink’s leak!

I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;

I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.

I make sure I rotate our two-years’ supply;

My shopping for Christmas is done by July!

These things are not hard;

’tis good if you do them;

You can if you try!

Just set goals and pursue them!

It’s easy to do all the things that I do!

If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!

It’s easy!” she said

and then she dropped dead.

I know, kind of a goofy poem, but I like it.  And while not all of these things were done all the time growing up (which was the point of the poem in the first place, that no one can do it all), it is amazing to see how amazing moms are at doing so much.  I am grateful for my mom and all the sacrifices she has made for me and for the example she has been to me of service, of a job well done, and being kind to those around me.  She is amazing to say the least. Happy mother's day!

Sunscreen

My grandparents have always been sun people.  As soon as the weather is warm enough to get something accomplished outside, and the sun is out long enough to finish a project they will be outside all day long.  This can be working on things at the cabin, working in my grandma's beautiful garden and yard, or just sitting outside to soak it in.  We had a BBQ outside for mothers day today and I could tell I was starting to burn, so I asked my grandma if she had any sunscreen.  I got a look of concern as she replied, "I think I do".  Several minutes later she came out with sunscreen.  My grandpa saw it and said, "I have something much better, I have to use it almost every day and it works great."  What he brought out was After Sun Moisturizer, to help sooth sunburns and prevent peeling.  Grandparents are pretty fun, even if they don't really believe in sunscreen.

Wednesdays

This summer JD and I get the same day off-Wednesday.  I am pretty excited about this because instead of stressing and rushing to the temple as soon as we get off work, we now can go in the middle of the day.  We can go to movies-like the Avengers.  We can use gift cards for dinner.  We can be out in the sunshine together.  If you can't tell, the first Wednesday this summer was pretty neat.

Piglet

When I was growing up my mom would always call us piglets when we had made a mess.  This was not necessarily a term of endearment, but rather one of exasperation.  This expression would come from projects being left out, socks left in the living room, dishes left in the sink after a cooking experiment etc.  This week I have been a 100 billion percent piglet.  The key part of being a piglet is that you don't really notice what you have done, you make your messes and over time they build up into what could be referred to as a pig sty. My projects that have culminated into such a mess include:

• Assembling my new bike
• Creating an amazing card for Erin's graduation
• Experimental enchiladas
• Primary lesson
• Remnants from our trip
• Redoing my Summer blocks
• To do pile

I am not proud of this mess, but the first step in piglet recovery is to observe the individual projects on a whole and come to the conclusion that it is indeed a mess.  Now I am trying to wrap everything up as quick as I can to get this mess out of sight so that full remission can be obtained. In the mean time: I am a piglet.

USA Cycling

I volunteered at the US Collegiate Cycling National Championships today in Ogden.  My job was to make sure no one walked into a guy or gal riding their bikes, since that would probably hurt....a lot.  It was crazy cool watching the cyclists who were incredibly fast, zooming around downtown Ogden.  They were out on Antelope Island yesterday and will be in the valley going through Hunstville and Liberty tomorrow.  Pretty cool stuff!

Camino Rio

Sometimes random river parkway walks with one of my best friends are just what I need.