Just Rannin' Around

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Children are incredible bubbles of happiness.

Today as I was sitting up on the stand in Sacrament waiting for it to be my turn to speak, I was taking particular notice of the small human beings out in the audience. Closer to the back of the room there was a two-year old little girl that was edging closer and closer to the father of the family that was sitting next to her family. The dad was holding a new born baby in his arms and she wanted to get as close to that baby as possible but was a bit apprehensive about approaching the giant of a man that she didn’t know.

When the dad noticed what she was attempting to do, he kindly smiled at her and with the encouragement of the little girl’s grandpa, she finally leaned over and kissed the baby ever so gently. It was a game during the entire meeting. It was one of the sweetest things that I have witnessed in a while.

Closer to the front was a family that I have spent some time with because the mom has been my visiting teaching companion the whole time I have been in the ward. She has a three-year old little boy and a nine-month old little girl. The little boy was sitting there smiling up at me and so I winked at him and he just giggled. Then I started shaking my head yes, to which he would reply with shaking his head in dramatic fashion no. I played this game with him during most of the meeting. Don’t worry....I was listening to the other speakers also!

Over to the side was one of my favorite little girls. She is a year and a half old and her favorite game to play with me is peek-a-boo at the side of the church pews. I wasn’t down there to have fun with her and she was out cold on her mom’s shoulder.

Although it was one of the toughest adjustments to make when I started attending the family ward, I have found that a little noise during the meeting is nothing in comparison to the benefits of having all of those precious little ones around. They are such a huge reminder to me of how much love our Heavenly Father has for each one of us and they also teach me how willing I should be to love all those around me.

My niece wrote me a note that is currently hanging on my refrigerator. It says...Dear JRA, I love you Aunt JRA cuz you are so much fun! How can you not just love these little ones!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Remember when all you wanted was to be older....

I think that it is ironic that now some days all I want is to be carefree. Being a grown-up is overrated! I think that this Saturday I am going to wake up at a ridiculous early time, like 4 am, and run downstairs with my pillow and blanket and sit and watch cartoons and eat cold cereal all day long. Oh wait I have responsibilities that cannot be shirked. Well a girl can dream.

I start a second job this Thursday. There are some definite pros and some cons, but it must be done. The market doesn’t look to be pulling out of the slump anytime soon and so I am picking up a second job....also commission. I am a sucker for sales jobs. I will be working at The Buckle in Fashion Place Mall. They are being really good to work around my already crazy schedule. I guess once again it pays to know people. So if anyone needs some new jeans or shirts, just call to make sure I am there.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Raining, raining.....

I sitting in my bed just listening to the sound of the rain. That is a comfort to me.

I have had a really grand day today. There are just some days that I can't miss the hand of the Lord in my life.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Reading myself out of this world.

I have an issue….well actually I have a whole lot more than one, but we shall stick to one for the moment. I refuse to start reading a book if I know that it is a part of a series and the series has not yet been completed by the author. I lack the patience for waiting a year or two for the next book to hit the shelves. So I will never be caught standing at a store at midnight because book three of a ten book series just came out.

I didn’t even begin reading The Work and The Glory until all nine books were out and I knew that would be the last of them. This is just a little knowledge about me that nobody probably even cared to know, but there it is nonetheless. (**Side note** I was recently corrected when I was speaking to someone about this issue---I do read the scriptures and I do realize that there is more to come and so I do read some books that are not yet completely in published form as of yet, but those are the only exception.)

Anyway....

I picked up the first Harry Potter book on Labor Day weekend. Yes, that was just a little over a month ago. I was unsure whether or not I even wanted to spend the time reading them, but have needed a make-believe world to disappear into lately and I figured that would be as good a place as any. I have been trapped in the wizarding world!

I finished book seven today. I was pleasantly surprised at how fantastic these books were written. They completely succeeded in helping me escape the reality to which I haven’t wanted to be an active participant. I was surprised that for as many people around me that have read and loved these books, nobody ruined anything for me by telling me what happens. It was a great journey.

My biggest problem at the moment is having to choose what I am going to read next. Not that I don’t have a lack of books currently sitting at my house waiting to be picked up and read, but I don’t know if I am ready to come back into real life.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

A little sun is good for the soul, too much causes the flesh to ache.

So I am a little on the red side although nobody will find me complaining as I enjoyed every minute of obtaining the new color. I forgot how much I enjoy the islands. It is such a different environment. Everything seems to move on a slower pace....no rush just kick back and enjoy. Some of that may be due to the fact that I am only on vacation while I am there, but the locals all seem to live by that rule also. I was ready to come back home, however I was not ready to come back to the weather! That was a bit of a shock to the system.

It was fun to play with Tammy Tinkle for a minute while I was over there. Although I wasn’t able to see her as much as I would have liked, it was at least nice to be able to say hi and talk for a while out on the beach. The discovery that night was that one should never walk alone to the bus stop because although the road may be filled with people, the bus stop isn’t and one never knows who will be sleeping there. :)

I did get kissed while in Hawaii. Well okay so it was just on the cheek (1 year 10 months and STILL counting), but it was by an incredibly attractive guy that was only wearing a grass skirt. I wouldn’t have minded packing him up in my suitcase and bringing him back home! I have a definite weakness for those island boys.

The session at the temple and the Polynesian Cultural Center were the highlights of the vacation for me. I was a little taken back by how small the temple there is since all the pictures that I have seen of it gave me the impression that it was a bigger temple....beautiful nonetheless. Usually the scuba diving is up there on my favorites list, but it didn’t even come close to the top of the list this time. The waves were so out of control that even at 25 feet under I was hanging onto the rope as it whipped me like a rag doll. I ended up hanging over the side of the boat more than once and I don’t get sea sick. Not an experience that is fondly remembered.

I did get back in time for General Conference and I am extremely grateful for that. Much of what was said went straight to my heart and reminded me that I have much to accomplish and do with my life. Words of comfort and healing touched me and softened my heart. At times I feel so alone and it was peaceful to be reminded that I have a loving Father in Heaven who knows me and knows what I need to be told to help me get through another portion of my life. The gospel is true. The gospel is exciting. I think that I am going to tell everyone.


 

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