A Mother's Heart

"As a covenant-keeping daughter of God, she had prepared all her life for motherhood…
A woman with a mother heart has a testimony of the restored gospel, and she teaches the principles of the gospel without equivocation. She is keeping sacred covenants made in holy temples. Her talents and skills are shared unselfishly. She gains as much education as her circumstances will allow, improving her mind and spirit with the desire to teach what she learns to the generations who follow her…

Oh, that every girl and woman would have a testimony of her potential for eternal motherhood as she keeps her earthly covenants…

She knows that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily mothering is far more lasting, far more powerful, far more influential than any earthly position or institution invented by man. She has the vision that, if worthy, she has the potential to be blessed as Rebekah of old to be “the mother of thousands of millions” (Gen. 24:60)

Every girl and woman who makes and keeps sacred covenants can have a mother heart. There is no limit to what a woman with a mother heart can accomplish. Righteous women have changed the course of history and will continue to do so, and their influence will spread and grow exponentially throughout the eternities. How grateful I am to the Lord for trusting women with the divine mission of motherhood. Like Mother Eve I am “glad” (see Moses 5:11) to know these things. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Julie B. Beck, ‘Mother Heart’,” Liahona, May 2004, 75–77

This is one of my favorite talks. It is so important to have a testimony and understand the role of motherhood. To all who have mother hearts- happy mothers day!

I read this article while I was waiting...

“The scene for this nonstop creativity is a towering, light-filled loft in midtown Manhattan, which, semantically, is neither home nor office but a cozy place in between. On the seventh and tenth floors of the building, Isabel designs and produces her niche fashion label, Isabel Toledo, while the 11th-floor penthouse doubles as their living space and Ruben's painting and drawing studio…

Their apartment is a creator's paradise, where the smallest bit of inspiration (a bicycle wheel, a sketch, a portrait of Isabel) is hoisted up into Calderesque mobiles, while walls double as canvases. "Ruben will draw on anything that's in front of him," sighs Isabel, citing the telephone numbers climbing up the wall…

Hostess gifts are never store-bought but always a Ruben art special. "I look around Ruben's studio, and I pick something that reminds me of the person," says Isabel, who also uses her husband's discarded sketches as her personal stationery. Clearly, intimacy trumps social and fashion conventions…

‘Everything is somehow connected to us," continues Isabel…"We experience art. We're makers.’”

(Wendy Goodman of New York Home Design)
for the full article:
http://nymag.com/homedesign/greatrooms/15915/

(I realize that the excerpt above might not completely make sense because I just put in the parts that I liked.) I LOVE their home. I love that it is a loft and has high ceilings with sky lights so that there is a lot of natural light. I love that it is a studio/home. I love how there is art everywhere. This(with a more international/traveled feel) is my dream home.

i think people should talk to people

In order to get from my job every morning and to go home every night I ride the DC metro. After living in quaint Rexburg for three years, I've noticed that the way I see things is different then when I was growing up in some of the biggest cities in the world. The metro is a prime example. The first day of work I was a little anxious riding the metro because I didn't know where I was going. By the time I came home my mind remembered the routine and was falling asleep between stops, not holding on to handrails, looking bored, staring at no one- all the thing the expert routine metro riders do. Yesterday on the metro after trying not to make eye contact with anyone I finally gave up and decided to actually look at the people in the car. Looking around at them the Beatles came to mind: (sing it, don't read it)
All the lonely people,
where do they all come from,
all the lonely people
where do they all belong
They looked like mannequins holding one position, separate from everything around them- inanimate objects. All I could hear was the sound of the metro rushing by the traffic. No one spoke; we all just gently swayed with the car. I looked at these people with little feeling on their faces and wondered if they were happy. They looked tired. It's probably because they were. I wonder why no one speaks.

Yesterday on the bus (after the metro) I didn't have enough change for the fare and so asked the other passengers for change. The Hispanic family with cute kids asked around themselves, the Asian man talked to me and offered to pay, and a black lady gave me some change. While it was embarrassing it brought camaraderie to those on the bus. Everyone was trying to help this naive girl or busy talking about how ridiculous I was. At least they were talking.

As Said by Lorna

Every day is a great day to wear a dress! I love how EXCITED she gets over a pretty dress that she gets to wear and how she has to wear cute shoes that match and assessorize with bracelets, hair bands and over course- her dora glasses. I don't think any of us could forget her cinderella dress, her red christmas dress, or her many pink dresses that are all so pretty. Some of the choice memories I've had with Lorna this visit:

"Don't do that Sam, you're the best friend I've got"

Singing "Some Day My Prince Will Come" while taking a bath

Whenever we've been more than 10 minutes apart: "Oh Karen, I missed you!"

"Can I have the purple? Purple pees!" (purple ice cream.)

Telling mom that I'm really her sister, not aunt.

Running out on the deck naked... ha ha

When she wakes up and wants to snuggle with you, with her head in your neck.

"Silly Karen!"

Admiring the pretty maniquins at Maceys

The many many many kisses and hugs

A Couple of Good Farm Hands

After Austin's birthday party these two cousins were just playing around on the four wheelers and barn. It was such a good photo opportunity! My favorite was when Spencer stopped walking to remove a large rock from the ground. After pulling it out he started to dig in the dirt where it had been. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "working!"



If you're going to visit Vale(and I only do because my amazing sister lives there,) you need to visit during the spring. This visit I was there to witness the first signs of spring and it was beautiful. The temperatures reached 70 degrees and the cool wind was blowing strong. Trees started to show buds of green instead of the dry brown that characterized them all winter long. The farms started to turn a lime color reminding me of the neon green rice fields in Vietnam. Upclose they're a wet mess but from the road the fields look like you could lay in them. It really is beautiful around this time of year when the sun comes out and everything starts to grow! It makes me just want to write all the time!

A Visit in Vale

Vale is to desolate as pumkin is to dead.
Austin is to reading as Rachel is to clogging.
Emma is to princesses as Karen is to facebook.
Ruth is to sleeping as the Romans are to car trips.
Rachel is to scrapbooking as Karen is to boys.
Spencer is to pot belly as Karen is to weak arms.
Emma's hair is to static as Karen's clothes are to pajamas.
Rachel is to amazing mom as Karen is to aunt-who-lets-them-get-away-with-too-much. ha ha
Karen is to journal writing as Rachel is to laundry.
Rachel is to popcorn as Spencer, Emma and Austy are to popcorn too.

Fiji Water and French Bread

Before the semester ended Jen called me one night and asked if she could come over. Of course the answer was an emphatic YES! And in true Jen fashion she came with a thoughtful gift and creative scrap booked card. Last summer, 2006, I had the happy opportunity to be her roommate in Carriage House #305. From the very beginning I was impressed with her discipline. Going to bed at 10:30pm so that she could get up early and run impressed me. I soon learned that her discipline carried over to every area of her life. As I got to know her another quality impressed me: her thoughtfulness. Jen takes the time to remember people and visit them. She is always giving people gifts and when talking to her she is always interested in you. As I’ve continued to get to know her there have been so many things that I love about her. I love Jen and the testimony she has that is seen because she applies what she knows to her life. I love the way we talk to each other and how easy it is, how ridiculous we get and how understanding she is. I love how comfortable and happy I am around her. I love how excited she gets. I love her for the true friends she is as she is honest and always encourages me to be my best self. I love her down to earth personality and her beautiful eyes. I know it’s cliché but, she is so beautiful inside and out. I love Jen Shiess! This girl is fabulous.

Islands in My Mission

My mission includes the islands of Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna.

Release Your Inner Hippie

As I sat down to write about Brynn I thought of a scene that has happened several times over the past two semesters. It’s me, leaving the Reading Center in the David O. McKay library. I have on all my winter gear: my warm green coat with the fur lining on the hood, my orange hairy scarf that envelops my chin and my white rabbit fur hat that only lets strands of dark brown hair to poke out. I'm already getting hot with all the winter clothes on as I grab my backpack and head out the door. As I pass by the glass windows of the Reading Center Brynn is sitting on the red couches. She sits with her legs crossed and a student folder in her lap. You can't help but notice her Swedish-blond hair that is straight and gently layered around her chin. She raises her eye brows so that her blue eyes grow large and gives me an enthusiastic wave. My mouth automatically stretches into a teethy grin and then I have to keep walking to my next class. Making my way through the walls of books I think on the past couple of minutes and I smile. As usual, Brynn and I had talked between tutoring and had caught up on each others lives. As I walk away I feel calm. I feel understood. I feel like I can handle life.

This is Brynn. Throughout these past two semesters we’ve been involved in much of the same things: Student Ambassadors, the Reading Center, Relief Society presidencies, school, elementary education, strange boys, making decisions and some more strange boys. When I first met her I felt like I already knew her and that we’d been friends for a long time. From there we’ve had many good talks were I always come away feeling good. Brynn possesses the talent of listening and has been my refuge many times as I’ve dumped my feelings on her. She’s calmed me down when I feel frazzled and given an understanding heart. She’s been the much needed support as I’ve made my decision to serve a mission. She is fun and has a great laugh but I know I can also share things of my heart with her. She is spiritually minded. She has been an example to me of how to handle all the demands of life.

Now as I’m leaving for Fiji and she’s on her way to become the rich stellar teacher she was meant to be, my heart aches that I’ll have to leave her. But I realize that the Lord has taken care of her before I entered her life and He will continue to. It was my privilege to know her. I’ve realized she has been my gift from Heavenly Father these past two semesters.

Like the song, For Good says,
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend

I love you Brynn!

Rachel

You can’t do anything but laugh really hard when you’re about to leave the apartment and Rachel starts whimpering. Making her big brown eyes look sad she lets out a “NOOO!!!!” and latches herself on to you, trying to make you stop. With her arms suctioned to you and her thick brown hair all around it’s the only thing you can do to try not to fall down. And don’t bother trying to answer through her wailing because you’ll be laughing so stinkin’ hard.


This reminds me of Rachel. It reminds me of all the crazy random things we’ve done together. It reminds me of our late night talks. It reminds me of our Taco Bell visits where we laugh hysterically. It reminds me of the many sleepovers. One of our friends said when we're together it's like watching a show because it's so funny and entertaining.


As we have experienced the things that come with life, she has always been there for me. As we both have changed and grown I’ve appreciated her friendship. Growing up I didn’t always feel comfortable being myself around others but with Rachel I did. Her acceptance and personality gave me the confidence to be myself and in turn be able to help others. She has helped me so many times. She has always listened and laughed when I needed someone. She is really one of the most generous people I know. You are my blessing Rachee! Love you!




From Rachel:

Favorite Memory of Us: Staying up late and laughing super hard

Favorite Food on the Taco Bell Menu: Burrito Supreme


Person You Would Least Like to Disappoint: Not counting God- Karen or my mom


Perfect Time to Wake Up: 10am


Favorite Song Right Now: Hands Down by Dashboard Confessionals

If You Had a Free Afternoon What Would You Do?
Go to a warm beach and be in the sun all day…with you…except you don’t like water.

Tutoring

It's easy to write about superficial things. It doesn’t require any risk on the author’s part. It can meet the requirements for a good grade and be completed in a short amount of time. Despite this every semester I have one or two students who take a chance and share themselves through their papers. These students choose to put a part of themselves into their writing. As I read these student’s papers I realize the courage it takes to sift through their pain and relive these memories. I feel honored that I'm allowed to read their feelings.

One student I worked with wrote about his mom. I've never heard a boy talk about his mother the way he did. His feelings were so deep and his appreciation and respect evident.

Another wrote about growing up and being teased. She found herself amid the hatred of others.

Another wrote about the death of a best friend and how it was the start of a testimony.

Another wrote about struggling and living with a problem that has to be dealt with everyday. These are just some of the papers that I’ve read.

After reading their papers, I look at these students differently. I have more respect for them. I understand a little more about who they are because of what they have gone through. I’m impressed with how they handle their challenges…and it inspires me.

For Good

Yesterday while I was tutoring, one of my students used this song, For Good, from Wicked in her paper. It fit perfectly with how I've been feeling about my friends so I wanted to include it and introduce my little project that I'll be doing before I leave on my mission. I want to interview and write about some of the people who have touched my life and post it here.

I've heard it said

That people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn

And we are led

To those who help us most to grow

If we let them

And we help them in return

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today

Because I knew you:Like a comet pulled from orbit

As it passes a sun

Like a stream that meets a boulder

Halfway through the wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you

I have been changed for good



It well may be

That we will never meet again

In this lifetime

So let me say before we part

So much of me

Is made of what I learned from you

You'll be with me

Like a handprint on my heart

And now whatever way our stories end

I know you have re-written mine

By being my friend:Like a ship blown from its mooring

By a wind off the sea

Like a seed dropped by a skybird

In a distant wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you:

I have been changed for good

My Cowboy Boots

I like to think of myself as a chameleon. At least in part. Growing up, whatever culture I lived in, I would adopt parts of their lifestyle to my own. The clothes, language, holidays and mannerisms became a part of me. (So maybe that's why I'm so confused? :) So when I came to Idaho I did the same thing I had always done wherever I moved- immersed myself in the culture. Thanks to Rachel, I started listening to country music and finally found something that resonated with me. The twangy tunes about their family, blue jeans, God and tractors were addicting. Listening soon led to a need to own cowboy boots and while shopping in Idaho Falls I saw a pair and had to try them on. With the light brown leather, the pointy toes, the white embroidery, the square heel, (and the killer price), I bought them. Thus opening a new obsession.
Every Wednesday from eight to ten I'd put on my cowboy boots and make my way to the MC. For a dollar and an icard you can two-step, spin, triple step, line dance and dip. Every single week I swear I'm going to bring a water bottle but I never do. We get sweaty and the water fountain lines are long. There are plenty of girls standing on the sides and even more people jammed packed on the dance floor. It's a beautiful feeling gliding around the dance floor, around the circle, passed all the other dancers. It's fun to stomp your boots on the wooden dance floor with the disco ball going around when line dancing. But the best feeling has to be teaching. It's so fun to find a couple who is new to country dancing and to go over with your partner and teach them something. It's a blast teaching the country cha cha or a line dance. It feels so good to have them get it and watch them have fun.
Then when ten hits and we've said the closing prayer I (eventually) make it home and kick off the boots. They usually don't stay idle for the whole week; I have to wear them throughout the week too. I wear them with jeans and slacks, but the best is with a skirt cause then everyone can see them. I love the pointed toe. I love the way I just want to swagger when I wear them. I love what I can do and the memories made from them.

Sometimes I think about this girl I met in Nepal while we lived there. She was the niece of one of the members in our small branch I think. A couple of Sundays she came to church with them. She was my age, my height- we were the same except I was a Caucasian American and she was Nepali. We were instant friends(how is that always the case when you're young?) and we wrote letters for a little while. I remember I would receive her letters on notebook paper with her neat cursive that was like all other Nepali's. (It's interesting to notice handwriting, especially cursive and how different countries teach it. By looking at the style of cursive you can often tell which country or at least what part of the world they are from.) It was written in pencil. It was exciting to be her pen pal. But after we moved away from Nepal I can't remember writing her.

I really don't even remember her face, it's blurry in my mind. I know she had short black hair, just like I had short brown hair. But her big eyes and face are gone from my mind. I'll sporadically think back to her and wonder what her life is like. I wonder if she's still in Nepal, if the political unrest has upset her life. I wonder how much education she's been able to receive and if she went abroad for any of it. I wonder if she's married or if she has a boyfriend. I wonder if she's ever learned more about the gospel.

I wonder if she's happy.

My Call

Yesterday, Thursday, March 20, I kept telling myself my mission call wouldn't be here. It had only been in nine days. I went to check the mail just to make sure it wasn't there but secretly wishing, maybe feeling that it would be here. I opened the mailbox and there was one letter and behind it was a large white envelop. I immediately knew what it was and my heart got nervous right away. I quickly grabbed it out of the mailbox and ripped it open right there. Holding the letter in my hand I didn't even read it but scanned down to see where I'd be going and it said, "Fiji Suva Mission" and I scanned down a little further and it said French speaking. I'm not sure if I was just so surprised and/or shocked but I read and reread it as my hands shook. I think because it was so unexpected I was just kind of stunned. I kept thinking, is this my call? Are you sure?

Later that night after lots of phone calls, visits and making a really big sign that said 'VIVE LE FIJI!' on it, I thought a little more about my mission call. I was so happy! I felt so privileged and honored to be called as a representative of Christ and to be trusted in this calling. To know that the Lord has that much faith in you and knows you can do this with His help is very inspiring and humbling. Seeing the prophets signature at the bottom of my call was amazing as well. Knowing that this call came from the Lord and was inspired touched me. I felt then, as I do now, that President Monson is the true and living prophet today. I also felt wary about learning a language on top of being a missionary. But this call is just one more witness to me of how perfectly my Father in Heaven knows me and what I need to learn and grow and how I can bless the lives of His children.

Now that it is the day after and I've had a little time to think about it I'm still amazed and I think I'm starting to wrap my mind around it. I'M SO EXCITED!!! It is such a blessing that I have the time in my life and my amazing family has the means to send me on a mission. To experience a new culture, to work with such good people and share something that is of greatest value-the true gospel of Jesus Christ...

I'M SO EXCITED!

February 22, 2008

It's the middle of the winter semester and it hit me this week that I only have a couple of weeks left in Rexburg. And as I've been thinking about this it hit me that I will really miss this place. A lot of learning and growth has happened here but even more I'm going to miss the amazing people I've been blessed to meet. Each has taught me and I've been impressed with their abilities and how they handle life. I feel like my eyes have been opened and I've been able to see the raw goodness of all those around me.

So here's a shout out to all those who have touched my life: my amazing roommates every semester I've been here, those in my classes, student ambassadors, those in my wards, my country dancing friends, my family...thank you for sharing yourself and blessing my life!