Warm Blanket

So I basically love Relief Society more and more all the time.
It's like a warm blanket.
As my younger sister would probably say, "She's becoming one of them!"
Ha. I think what she means by that quote is that I am becoming an old lady because I'm going to Relief Society now and I actually enjoy it. :)
But seriously, wow, there is so much to learn and so much to do; it's simply incredible. Digging deep into history, responsibilities, and service... I love the increase of the spirit in my life through these, and so many other things.
"And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another." Mosiah 18:21.
Knit together in unity.
What an amazing image this is for me. It makes me think of a blanket; all the tiny chain stitches tightly linked together in unity that creates this bond, or connection; all distinct and individual, but of one purpose: to stick together and bring warmth...
So basically I love Relief Society more and more all the time.

Nothing Special

Ah, today was just another day.

Nothing special.
Just the warm, fall sunshine, was special.
I got up early and ran out the door for class.

Nothing special.
Just the blue, clear sky, was special.
I forgot my notebook for class; I wore my hair in a pony tale.

Nothing special.
Just the nice guy who held the door open for me when I was running in, was special.
I had a salad for lunch today.

Nothing special.
Just the cute, small birds hopping around the cafe patio was special.
My knee was so sore; I limped all day.

Nothing special.
Just the service from a friend to lend me a brace for a while, was special.
My day was swamped with classes and meetings.

Nothing special.
A word of encouragement, a voice of kindness and understanding, was special.
A trip to the canyon with friends this weekend canceled because of my knee.

Nothing special.
Just compassionate roommates who turned it into a game night instead, was special.
Coming home late after a long day.

Nothing special.
Just good food in the house, pictures of Christ and the temple on my wall, the scriptures to read, and the peace and spirit in our home was special.
Just another ordinary day, but I'm so grateful for that
something special.

My Knees Up

Fact about me: Ever since I was a little girl, I have always found it more comfortable to sit with my knees up.
I would always 'perch' myself, as my mother puts it, everywhere I would sit. On the couch, on the floor, at the table, on the piano bench, on the back porch, everywhere.
Especially when I was little, I did it at school up to my desk; I would squat in my chair, sit cris-cross, or just with my knees up. My teachers and classmates probably thought I was weird.
*shrug* Oh well.
It drove my mother crazy at the dinner table growing up. "Put your knees down!"
To this day she still reminds me.
"How can you not like sitting this way?" I would say. "Try it!"
My mother insisted that it wasn't polite for me to sit with my knees up, and I just insisted that it was more comfortable for me to sit that way.
Now-a-days I don't sit in my chair quite as unusually as others do, but to this day I still enjoy sitting up to my desk or the table with my knees up.
You should try it.
Today however made me (almost) think twice about sitting with my knees up again.
As my roommate and I were sitting together this evening, I got up from the table to get something. When I returned to the table, I intended to sit with my knees up as I did my homework. As I sat down in the chair and raised up my knees a little too quickly, I suddenly whacked my left knee on the bottom of the edge of the table.
Very, very hard.
WHACK.
.....ouch.....
I had to limp out of the room for a while...
Will I learn from this lesson? Will I ever sit with my knees up again?
Well.
That's why I said it almost made me think twice...

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Where the Sidewalk Ends.

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.
Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.
Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

--Shel Silverstein

Weakness

Fact about me: I love Oreos. End of story. Oreos + Peanut butter = Match made in heaven.
After we came home from ward prayer tonight, I wanted something to snack on while I wrote a few emails and took care of some business before bed. Problem was, I couldn't quite put my finger on what I wanted. I had fruit, popcorn, cereal, yogurts... a few different options.
College students have limited food choices you know.
I was trying to go for something healthy when my roommate made a sly suggestion.
My roommate knows me too well. She mercilessly pinpointed my weakness.
"I have a package of Oreos if you want them, I'm not going to eat them."
Oh, she hit the spot.
No I must resist, it's too late at night to eat junk food.
Just a couple.
Oh look! I have peanut butter too!
No don't do it.
*Drawer opens. Butter knife and peanut butter retrieved faster than I thought.*
Just a couple.
What the serving size is two? That can't be right.
I can justify five, right? I ran all the way to the trax tonight to make it to ward prayer!
And I didn't even make it! Seven is ok.
*Five minutes later*
Roommate: "You ate the whole package?"
Me: "Well, you offered!"
(PS: The package only contained like 15 cookies, ok? Just letting you know.)

Mission Impossible?

So, remember when I said we were going to get them back?
So let it be written, so let it be done.
Returning to our story of the four innocent roommates who were wrongfully taken advantage of because of their cooking skills, sweet spirits, and kind hearts one dark night when the three sneaky boys from their ward had dropped by.
As you recall, the three boys had frightened these poor girls to pieces by leaving a considerably sizable and loud firecracker on their front door step late one night. What a dirty trick, and for no reason what-so-ever! They didn't even clean up the mess!
From that very night, the four girls vowed to get the boys back.
And so they fulfilled their oaths this night.
(This kinda sounds like we are a 'Secret Combination' or something...)
Anyways.
The air was chilly, but still and calm. Four black shadows peered around the corner of apartment B. All dressed in various styles but all in black, and all with a different colored marker in hand.
One was red, another white, yellow, and blue.
Carefully and quietly they approached the vehicle with the Oregon licence plate.
And so their work began.
The back window was taken by the girl with the red maker, who wrote: "Just Married!"
The white, yellow, and blue markers wrote other related messages on the side and front windows like: "What a stud!", "Multiply and Replenish!", and "What a Babe!"
No job was complete with out marshmallows.
Pictures were taken (and will later be posted) and the girls snuck back to their apartment.
Mission Accomplished.
Can't wait to see that car in the parking lot at church tomorrow...

Good Times

Fridays are always good to me. Wow, I had such a great day today!
Fridays are my easy days, I only had one class today.
I slept in a bit this morning and worked on some of my homework before class. I caught the trax around 11:20am and headed to the school.
Around noon, I met up with a dear friend of mine whom I have not seen all summer. We met up and ate lunch together; it was so pleasant and fun to catch up with her, she is so sweet.
After lunch, I had my English class for an hour and then I was done and on my way home for the day.
My roommate and I spent the mid-afternoon together, and later this evening I had a date! :)
I had such a great time, my date was super fun and it was great to meet a few new people.
First we went out to eat and then we walked around the capital for a bit. I had never been up by the capital before, so it was way fun for me. All the doors were locked, so we couldn't go inside, but it was still great to see the city lights and the view. Afterwards, we headed towards the dance; it was a way fun.
When I came home (what else did I expect?) my dear roommates demanded the scoop.
So I scooped some ice cream... ha.
We chatted about our day and our plans for the rest of our weekend over a bowl of ice cream.
Ah, what a great day.
Good times.