Day 56: Self-Serve

Aha:
I have been asking the Lord to help me find opportunities to serve those around me.  I pray for it every day and today my wish came true!  I got a call from a friend who needed me to come over and sit at her house during an overlap of them leaving and her mother arriving from the airport.  I sat at their desk and wrote my talk while Clinton picked her mother up and brought her back to the house.  I feel grateful I could help my friend and I hope more opportunities to serve happen more regularly--cause I felt great!

Ha ha:
Clinton and I went out to dinner last night to celebrate our anniversary.  As we were walking out of the restaurant and back into the mall, we passed a gelato place my friend had recommended.  We already had plans to try Dairy Queen's Nutter Butter blizzard (I'm CRAZY for Nutter Butters), but I wanted to try the Sea Salt Caramel flavor that had been recommended to me.  So, we walked in, tried the flavor and I asked if they had it regularly so I could come back and try it another time.  He said I should try it now since it's not a regular flavor and only a little was left for today.  Instead of being quick on my feet and saying something polite like, "Oh, well, we just ate and I need a little bit of time for everything to settle, but we'll be back."  I was totally honest and said, "I just wanted to try the flavor today, we already have plans for dessert elsewhere, but thanks!" 
I didn't really think anything of it till Clinton pointed out that that probably wasn't the kindest thing to say after getting free samples. :)  Don't worry Gelato Guy, I'll be back soon!

Day 55: Is that Right?

Aha:
I was asked to give a talk in church this Sunday and I finally had a chance to sit down and kind of gather my thoughts.  I had some ideas I was throwing around in my head, but nothing seemed quite right - I felt stuck.  As I was reviewing some of my notes, a comparison jumped out at me that I had not noticed before.  I now have a great idea for my talk!!  I'm so grateful for personal revelation and I'm thankful that the Lord saw fit to help me out!  And now, you'll just have to wait till Sunday to read it!

Ha ha:
I shared this joke at work today and thought it worthy enough to share with all of you...

Mahatma Gandhi walked barefoot everywhere, to the point that his feet 
became quite thick and hard.  He also was quite a spiritual person.  
Even when he was not on a hunger strike, he did not eat much and 
became quite thin and frail.  Due to this diet, he wound up with very 
bad breath.  Therefore, he came to be known as a the. . .

Super calloused fragile mystic plagued with halitosis.

Day 54: A Diamond in the Rough

Aha:
I am amazed at the tender mercies from the Lord.  I've been feeling a bit blue lately and was really needing a boost.  I got an email out of the blue from the chair of the Illinois Chapter of Families Supporting Adoption just to see how I was doing and asking if I'd like to be a part of the committee! I asked her to call me this evening and after a 40 minute phone call I feel like I've found an old friend!  Her contacting me could not have come at a better time!!  She was definitely inspired and I thank the Lord for wonderful people in my life who, when they feel a prompting, follow it!

Ha ha:
I have tried a couple attempts at using the Fart Machine on one of the doctors I work with (Sach).  I've wrapped it in my sweater then stashed that twice in his office (if you want to call it that...I refer to it as "The Disaster") but somehow, he's managed to actually see it amongst all his mess.  Anyway, he brought it out today and was asking who's sweater it was and why it kept showing up in his office.  I couldn't get to him in time to grab my sweater and he started digging in the pockets.  He pulled out the Fart Machine, said, "What's this?" and then started laughing.  He called me crazy and I told him that although he'd ruined the surprise, I'd get him eventually!  As my coworker said, "It ain't over till Sach farts!"

Just after a commercial for Rimmel masara, I asked Clinton if he had an "Aha" moment from today that I could share and he said, "Um yeah.  When I realized they pronounce it 'Rim-elle' in Canada but they pronounce it 'Rimm-uhl' in the States."  I think his idea of "aha" is much different than mine. :)

Day 53: Misfits

I am going on about 4 hours of sleep and a non-stop sorta day.  This will be quite brief. :)

Aha:
Went to bed with a headache, woke up with that headache but felt fine while I was at work.  My mind was clear and I was able to get a good amount of work done even though I was outta my prime!

Ha ha:
This was from the other day actually, but I'm just remembering it now...
I saw a corporate woman walking up the Skywalk the other day wearing a pant suit that was so tight on her legs it pulled her butt-seam deep into her butt-crack.  I don't know how she walked around like that all day.  I've heard of underwear wedgies, but pantsuit wedgies??

Day 52: My Dream of Being a Professional Iceskater Will Not be Happening Any Time Soon

Aha:
It is rare to work in a place that is cheerful and positive.  I realized today just how much the Lord had a hand in placing me in my current position.  He knows what I need and I feel very blessed to see that!  I have been blessed with great coworkers.  Even after what I did to one of them today (see below) they still love me! 

Ha ha:
At some point this afternoon I heard my coworkers mention Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan.  I came around the corner and asked if I'd ever shown them my Nancy Kerrigan impression.  They said no, so after I had their full attention I proceeded to perform an on-land triple lutz.  My arms and body bounded across the office floor so gracefully, but as I was about to stick my landing, my arms made contact with the 9"x13" cake pan on the counter in front of my coworker's desk.  In a matter of seconds, all the cheerful, entertained faces of my coworkers turned into ones of fear as they realized the pan was now flying.  There was no time to prevent the catastrophe, and my impression of Nancy Kerrigan soon turned into Tonya Harding as the cake pan flew on to my coworker's desk, knocking over her water bottle and spilling cake and water all over her pants!
Oh man!  I was so embarrassed but we were all laughing too hard over the shock of it all to really think about that.  I think one of the funniest things about it was that EVERYONE saw it cause I made sure I had their attention before my "performance".  No hiding that one!  I have been laughing about it all afternoon.  When I told Clinton about it I was laughing so hard it took me about 5 minutes to get it all out!

Day 51: S"pun" Around Like a Record, Baby

Aha:
1.  Both of my students had to cancel their lessons tonight which gave me an entire evening to get some things done that I would not have had time to do otherwise.
2.  I took Peter for a walk and had a chance to enjoy the quiet, peaceful evening.  I found that as I was walking a particular song from my youth kept playing through my mind like a broken record,
"Choose you this day, whom ye will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.  I'm accountable for everything I do.  I'm accountable for all that I pursue.  For I have the right to choose, to take or to refuse.  I'm happy when I choose to serve the Lord."
In such a quiet moment the words really sank into my mind and heart.  I felt like they were brought to my memory for a reason; giving me an opportunity to further reflect on my dedication to the Lord and to strengthen my resolve to choose the right.


Ha ha:
I couldn't think of anything funny from today and neither could Clinton, so I'm going to post a punny joke instead.
"There was a man who entered a local paper's pun contest. He sent in ten different puns, in the hope that at least one of the puns would win. Unfortunately, no pun in ten did."
Ha!  We love a good pun!

Day 50(!): Say What'cha Mean, Mean What'cha Say

Holy crow!  I can't believe it!  I have been blogging now for 50 days straight!  I don't know if anyone even reads this anymore, but I am thankful that I have this record for myself and my family.  I read on another friend's blog that they are printing theirs to keep as a family scrapbook and I decided I'm going to do the same thing.  Here's to another 50 days!

Aha:
I was asked by a friend to sub in her Primary class today and although none of the kids were there, I had in fact prepared a lesson and learned a bit from it.  The topic was on the "Betrayal of Jesus Christ". 
Here is a very Cliff"s Notes version...In the garden of Gethsemane, Judas kissed Jesus cheek to show the Jewish soldiers who he was and they took him away to be tried.  Jesus was taken to Caiaphas and was tried and found guilty of breaking the law by saying he was the Son of God.  Those that Jesus worked with daily in the temples shouted that he should be killed and sent him to Pontius Pilate for authorization.  Pilate found no fault in Christ.  Witnesses were called and no one defended him, even one of his close friends and disciples denied knowing him three times.  The people wanted him dead.  During the trial Pilate discovered Jesus was from Galilee he sent him to Herod.  Herod too found no fault and sent him back to Pilate.  Again Pilate found no fault in him but the people were insistent that He be crucified, so Pilate told the people they could do so, but the sin be on them.
This was an interesting lesson for me to prepare because it seems so crazy that these people would actually deny everything they had seen the Savior do.  These people were around when he performed miracles.  He even healed one of the soldiers, who had had his ear cut off by one of Jesus' disciples, at the time he was taken from the garden!  Yet they would deny all these things and sentence him to death?  What surprises me even more, is that Peter, one of his closest friends, would deny him three times!  Why?
It makes me think about what I would say if I were questioned about the divinity of Jesus Christ.  Would I have the courage to bear testimony of Him, or would I too deny Him? 

Let it be known now.  I have a testimony of Jesus Christ.  He is my Savior and He is my friend.  I have not seen His face, but I have felt him close to me and have seen His influence in my life.  He has been there for me and helped me through my struggles.  He knows who I am, who I can become and what I need to do to get there.  I love Him and want to do all that I can to return and live in His presence again some day.  He is the Begotten Son of God and came to this earth to fulfill His father's will, to be the Savior of mankind and atone for the sins of the world.  His Atoning sacrifice was for me.  I know he felt my pains and because of that he knows how to succor me.  I have felt His love and understanding more times than could be coincidence and continue to feel close to Him as I try to do what's right.  I know He lives!  I know He loves me!  I know He is my advocate with God and is rooting for me each day.  I hope to learn more of Him and that my relationship with Him can continue to grow stronger and stronger till I, hopefully, one day see him face to face.  He means so much to me and I love so very much!

Ha ha:
The topic in Relief Society was "The Law of Chastity".  The teacher did a great job teaching and discussing physical intimacy to such a large group of women, but the lesson was humorous for a couple reasons.
1.  With each successive comment, the levels of diversion and creativity to say anything but the word "sex" got more and more extreme.  I heard "sharing something special", "being together", "tell your kids about...it", "symbol of love", "when you talk to them about (blank stare, but no words were said)", and "sexual intimacy".  I realize people were just being sensitive to what might be kosher to say in church, but I just thought it was funny that no one ever actually said "sex" even though that was the topic.
2.  The teacher had asked for people to share situations when we had discussed intimacy with their children and the usual stories were shared.  However, this lady in the back raised her hand and said, "When we don't discuss it at home they will learn from school.  My sister's kids came home and loudly announced in front of others that 'Girls have a (whispered) vagina, and boys have a (whispered) penis.'"  It literally took all I had to not bust up laughing.