President Uchtdorf gave this talk last night as part of the General Relief Society meeting (a yearly meeting for all adult female members of our Church.) All of the speakers gave amazing talks, but this one particularly spoke to me. I especially like his "Golden Ticket" story. :)
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Decoration Dilemmas
I am not a decorator.
This became apparent at a fairly young age, when I was given a locker in middle school. Other kids personalized theirs with posters, family photos, mirrors, wrapping paper...
Me? I never put up anything. Oh, I always meant to. Just about everyday when I opened the dang thing or when I looked at my friends' snazzy decorative lockers, I'd think, "I really should decorate my locker. That'd be fun." But I was always too busy and too poorly motivated to do anything.
One of my friends went off on a rant once about people who didn't take time to decorate their lockers. "That's the only thing we can make our own in this place. Why wouldn't people take advantage of it???" Well... As I got older I tried harder. I did put up things in my locker occasionally, and when I got a lockermate, she helped improve things.
Then I came off to college. Over the years I have been blessed with many talented roomies who love to decorate. I watch them arrange things and drool over Crate and Barrel magazines and I've pondered how one day I need to be more into that. You know, when I have my own place and more disposable income, or something. Hopefully when I get to that point, I will be more into things.
For now, I've been trying slowly to build up my talents. Like today, when I went to the poster sale at the Bookstore. I have a lovely large blank wall in my room, I figured some posters would be just the thing to brighten it up! Except there was only one poster that really appealed to me, and it was pretty small.
Pretty epic, right? I love it! I was excited to come and set it up in my room. But... there was an awful lot of space on that blank wall, and I've never been particularly good at knowing where to place things so they look good...
So basically I think what I've done is highlight all the empty space that I have left, instead of making it seem like there's less of it. Clearly some rearranging is in order. I'm thinking I should probably have put it lower down, maybe just above the bookcase or something. We'll see. I'll play around with it! I also feel like I need to get more posters to help that wall, but I don't want it to end up cluttered either. Also... my days as a college kid are numbered. Posters are fun for a college kid's apartment, but once I'm a real grown-up out there, they probably shouldn't be my main decorating tool.
Oh well. For now I have gone ahead and purchased another poster to add to my collection. Is this adorable or what? And so appropriate for BYU! :)
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Never Forget
Ten years ago today I was a thirteen year old girl in the 8th grade. I was already in school when the attacks happened. I think admin must have asked our teachers to keep the unfolding events under wraps, because none of my teachers mentioned anything. Not one of them turned on a TV. Throughout the day, though, more and more parents arrived to take their kids home early. We knew that something must be going on, but we weren't sure what. Rumors came of an airplane hitting a skyscraper... but no one really seemed to understand the devastation (at least no one that I talked to). I was confused. In my mind I pictured a tiny two person plane, a Cessna or something, hitting a skyscraper and maybe destroying a room or two. Certainly such an accident would have killed a few people, but I couldn't understand why it was such a big deal. Why were people so afraid?
After school, both of my parents were waiting to walk home with me, which was unusual. They explained to me that two planes had crashed into the World Trade Center-not little planes, but huge airline jets. At that time I had no clue what the WTC was. My dad described it as a huge building with over 100 floors. He said that on any given day, somewhere between 20,000 to 100,000 people were in the twin towers. (Or at least that's what I remember). He also said that the Pentagon had been hit, and that a fourth plane had been hijacked, but the people on board had overthrown the attackers and then crashed.
When we got home, the television was on. My memory is a little fuzzy, but I don't believe the towers had fallen yet. At least one of them was still standing. I do remember watching a news reporter prepare to interview a woman on the streets of New York, a woman clutching a baby in her arms. Just as the interview started, the tower came down (or something to that effect. Again, my memory is fuzzy). A cloud of debris swept towards the camera. The interview stalled as everyone turned to look. The news reporter called for the woman to protect her baby. Everyone ran for cover.
I couldn't pull myself away from the TV. It felt traitorous somehow not to watch, to try to block out the suffering.
The next day school was canceled because one of the schools in our district was located on a military base, and the base was on total lockdown. For days after, armored planes patrolled the skies above us, protecting us. I couldn't see them, but I could hear them. It was comforting but at the same time terrifying that they had to be there at all.
As a 13 year old, I couldn't fully process what had happened. I remember asking my father if he thought this one would make the history books. "Yes! Of course!" At that time I viewed history as something that had happened long ago; this was the first time that it really hit me that history is made as we go along. History is something we are all a part of.
Looking back now, ten years later, it's amazing how many of the frightened emotions come flooding back. We didn't understand what was happening or if we should expect further attacks. All we knew is that our country was in danger. We were united in a way I hadn't ever experienced before.
Let's all take a moment today to stop and remember those who passed ten years ago. We should never forget. We can never forget.
After school, both of my parents were waiting to walk home with me, which was unusual. They explained to me that two planes had crashed into the World Trade Center-not little planes, but huge airline jets. At that time I had no clue what the WTC was. My dad described it as a huge building with over 100 floors. He said that on any given day, somewhere between 20,000 to 100,000 people were in the twin towers. (Or at least that's what I remember). He also said that the Pentagon had been hit, and that a fourth plane had been hijacked, but the people on board had overthrown the attackers and then crashed.
When we got home, the television was on. My memory is a little fuzzy, but I don't believe the towers had fallen yet. At least one of them was still standing. I do remember watching a news reporter prepare to interview a woman on the streets of New York, a woman clutching a baby in her arms. Just as the interview started, the tower came down (or something to that effect. Again, my memory is fuzzy). A cloud of debris swept towards the camera. The interview stalled as everyone turned to look. The news reporter called for the woman to protect her baby. Everyone ran for cover.
I couldn't pull myself away from the TV. It felt traitorous somehow not to watch, to try to block out the suffering.
The next day school was canceled because one of the schools in our district was located on a military base, and the base was on total lockdown. For days after, armored planes patrolled the skies above us, protecting us. I couldn't see them, but I could hear them. It was comforting but at the same time terrifying that they had to be there at all.
As a 13 year old, I couldn't fully process what had happened. I remember asking my father if he thought this one would make the history books. "Yes! Of course!" At that time I viewed history as something that had happened long ago; this was the first time that it really hit me that history is made as we go along. History is something we are all a part of.
Looking back now, ten years later, it's amazing how many of the frightened emotions come flooding back. We didn't understand what was happening or if we should expect further attacks. All we knew is that our country was in danger. We were united in a way I hadn't ever experienced before.
Let's all take a moment today to stop and remember those who passed ten years ago. We should never forget. We can never forget.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Best Year Ever
Welp, I am back in P-town, getting ready for another epic year to start on Monday. And I determined to make my last year really count! I am going to make this the best year I have ever had! (*knock on wood*)
So far things are shaping up pretty well. My little sister Shauna is rooming with me, and also Kelly, one of my roomies from last year. I only have one new roommate, Natalia, and already I can tell that she is an amazing girl. I think we will have a lot of fun. :) Can I just say that it takes off a TON of stress to live in the same place two years in a row? It almost felt like coming home when I moved back here.
And as proof of how awesome my ward is, a large number of people from last year have stuck around. :) In fact, at least two people have moved BACK into the ward after being away for winter semester-I think they ventured out there and then realized what they were missing back here. Also, a few of the newbies in the ward are people I already know from my years here at the Y. So again, coming back to the ward was like coming home. Of course there are lots of new people here too that I am excited to meet. Even the bishopric changed over the summer! Hopefully Shauna and I will make a lot of new friends this year.
I have had a lot of good times at BYU and made a lot of good friends, but last year was probably my best year. It looks like this year will be very similar, but better because I have Shauna with me this time. :) I'll try to be a good girl and keep this blog up during the school year, but no promises! I'll be too busy out having fun. ;)
So far things are shaping up pretty well. My little sister Shauna is rooming with me, and also Kelly, one of my roomies from last year. I only have one new roommate, Natalia, and already I can tell that she is an amazing girl. I think we will have a lot of fun. :) Can I just say that it takes off a TON of stress to live in the same place two years in a row? It almost felt like coming home when I moved back here.
And as proof of how awesome my ward is, a large number of people from last year have stuck around. :) In fact, at least two people have moved BACK into the ward after being away for winter semester-I think they ventured out there and then realized what they were missing back here. Also, a few of the newbies in the ward are people I already know from my years here at the Y. So again, coming back to the ward was like coming home. Of course there are lots of new people here too that I am excited to meet. Even the bishopric changed over the summer! Hopefully Shauna and I will make a lot of new friends this year.
I have had a lot of good times at BYU and made a lot of good friends, but last year was probably my best year. It looks like this year will be very similar, but better because I have Shauna with me this time. :) I'll try to be a good girl and keep this blog up during the school year, but no promises! I'll be too busy out having fun. ;)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Just a little earthquake
Last night, around midnight, I should probably have been asleep. Instead I was playing with my dog. We were hanging out in my bedroom. I left to go get something, leaving the door open just wide enough for him to fit through.
(This is my dog. Isn't he cute? <3)
Well, apparently he tried to get out, and somehow accidentally closed the door. I could hear him scratching to get out. I called to him that I'd be there in a minute. Usually, if he hears that, he'll calm down because he knows you've heard him and you'll be coming back. But instead he just scratched harder, over and over again. He was desperate to get out of that room! I finally made it back to let him out, and he headed upstairs.
I didn't think anything of that until I heard him barking hysterically in our front room. Right away my mind turned to my parents and siblings, all of whom were trying to sleep upstairs. Usually Max (my dog) knows better than to bark at night and wake people up. I was a little bit upset with him for being so loud. I should have paid more attention, I guess. He was doing his "trouble" bark, like something was wrong.
I went to find him and ran into my mom, coming to do the same thing. She was concerned because she recognized his worried bark and wondered if something was wrong. But he calmed down pretty quick. He noticed my mom left her door open and tried to hide in her bedroom, but we managed to coax him back downstairs.
My mom and I were standing in the kitchen talking when we heard a strange rattling noise. It sounded exactly like the sound Max makes when he shakes his head and his ears slam together. But I was looking right at him when we heard it and he wasn't moving. This took us back a little. We wondered if maybe there was another animal outside and that's why Max had freaked out? Then we heard a strange creaking noise behind us-much like the noise made when someone walks through our family room. But we could see in the family room and no one was there. This was starting to get a little bit creepy. We heard another burst of creaking that seemed to extend farther through the house, but when it faded it was replaced with the sound of footsteps upstairs. We relaxed and I figured we'd just been hearing someone moving around upstairs. We both went off to bed.
My dad came down a couple minutes later to explain why Max had freaked out: we'd just gone through a mini earthquake. My dad had been in bed, listening to my mom and my conversation downstairs, when all of a sudden the bed started shaking. It didn't shake very hard, and he says it lasted about half a second, but he felt it when we were hearing the strange creaks in our house. My dad figured the quake was so minor it wouldn't even register on the Richter scale, but he did a google search anyways to see what he could turn up. Sure enough, around the time he felt the tremor, a 5.5 earthquake happened a couple hundred miles from here. He thinks that we felt the very edge of that. He also thinks Max freaked out to warn us because he could sense it coming, with that awesome sixth sense that animals seem to have.
Anyway, that's my little earthquake story! Glad it was only a little one. I'm an even bigger fan of dogs today now that I know they really can warn us of danger.
Well, apparently he tried to get out, and somehow accidentally closed the door. I could hear him scratching to get out. I called to him that I'd be there in a minute. Usually, if he hears that, he'll calm down because he knows you've heard him and you'll be coming back. But instead he just scratched harder, over and over again. He was desperate to get out of that room! I finally made it back to let him out, and he headed upstairs.
I didn't think anything of that until I heard him barking hysterically in our front room. Right away my mind turned to my parents and siblings, all of whom were trying to sleep upstairs. Usually Max (my dog) knows better than to bark at night and wake people up. I was a little bit upset with him for being so loud. I should have paid more attention, I guess. He was doing his "trouble" bark, like something was wrong.
I went to find him and ran into my mom, coming to do the same thing. She was concerned because she recognized his worried bark and wondered if something was wrong. But he calmed down pretty quick. He noticed my mom left her door open and tried to hide in her bedroom, but we managed to coax him back downstairs.
My mom and I were standing in the kitchen talking when we heard a strange rattling noise. It sounded exactly like the sound Max makes when he shakes his head and his ears slam together. But I was looking right at him when we heard it and he wasn't moving. This took us back a little. We wondered if maybe there was another animal outside and that's why Max had freaked out? Then we heard a strange creaking noise behind us-much like the noise made when someone walks through our family room. But we could see in the family room and no one was there. This was starting to get a little bit creepy. We heard another burst of creaking that seemed to extend farther through the house, but when it faded it was replaced with the sound of footsteps upstairs. We relaxed and I figured we'd just been hearing someone moving around upstairs. We both went off to bed.
My dad came down a couple minutes later to explain why Max had freaked out: we'd just gone through a mini earthquake. My dad had been in bed, listening to my mom and my conversation downstairs, when all of a sudden the bed started shaking. It didn't shake very hard, and he says it lasted about half a second, but he felt it when we were hearing the strange creaks in our house. My dad figured the quake was so minor it wouldn't even register on the Richter scale, but he did a google search anyways to see what he could turn up. Sure enough, around the time he felt the tremor, a 5.5 earthquake happened a couple hundred miles from here. He thinks that we felt the very edge of that. He also thinks Max freaked out to warn us because he could sense it coming, with that awesome sixth sense that animals seem to have.
Anyway, that's my little earthquake story! Glad it was only a little one. I'm an even bigger fan of dogs today now that I know they really can warn us of danger.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Stupid Biased Dictionary
*Exploring the wonders of an online dictionary*
Shauna: *types in Shelece* "No results found. Did you mean 'shoelace'? Hi Shoelace!
Shelece: *doesn't bother typing in Shauna* Shauna.... No results found. Did you mean Sauna? Hi Sauna!
Shauna: *types in Shauna* No, actually it says the closest result is Shaun.
Shelece: What? But that's not a word.
Shauna: Shaun-a male given name, form of John.
Shelece: *types in Shauna* What??? That's not fair! Your name is practically in the dictionary???
This is what comes from having a name that was randomly made up.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Nostalgia
Today I am suffering from a particularly strong case of nostalgia (dang, that is a hard word to spell!). I am missing a time not so long ago. Logically I can look back and remember that it was not perfect. There were still many challenges to be faced, and even the best parts of life came with difficulties too. Emotionally, though, looking back at that time I feel as though it was perfect in a way that can never be beat. I am longing to go back and relive that time. But I know that if I did, it wouldn't be as wonderful as I remember, and anyway, going backwards is impossible. I'm reminded of a devotional Elder Holland gave at BYU a couple years back called "Remember Lot's Wife." One of my facebook friends reposted it recently and it was really good for me to read it again. One quote in particular stood out to me:
But for today, I think, I will let myself dwell on the past a little bit. Maybe remembering some of the good times I've had will help me build better times in the future.
I know I need to keep going and trust that my best days are still ahead. Life gets better as it goes along, doesn't it? It can, at least, if we choose to perceive it that way."Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ is the 'high priest of good things to come.' I pray you will have a wonderful semester, a wonderful year, a wonderful life all filled with faith and hope and charity. Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant, and live to see
the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, trust and divine love
transform your life today, tomorrow and forever."
But for today, I think, I will let myself dwell on the past a little bit. Maybe remembering some of the good times I've had will help me build better times in the future.
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