Happy Birthday, Julie!!

It's Julie's birthday today!! We are so glad she is our sister, and here are a couple of reasons why:

 

Julie knows exactly who she is, and doesn't compromise. That's a rare quality these days.

Julie goes to extra effort to make things nice. She cares about doing things well and will put in the work to make things look effortless.

Julie has a lot of compassion and genuinely cares about others.

Julie likes to find smarter ways of doing things, and if something's not working well, she'll make "notes" on how to improve it - even if she's not in charge!

For all we like to tease her about her extravagant tastes, Julie appreciates nothing more than a cold Coke (see below), a tall glass of milk with dinner, a "surprise" Danielle Steele TV movie on her DVR, a package in the mail, or a new Kelly Clarkson song. 

Julie is great with children and is always a favorite with our nieces and nephews. 

Julie is a natural leader.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

A Confession

So here's a post I've wanted to write for a long time.  I've tried to think through everyone who reads this blog, and it's not my intention to offend, so this is solely based on my own experiences and personal opinion.  With that disclaimer, here goes:

I hate Mary Kay.

Hate it!

I cringe every time I hear someone say they sell Mary Kay.  I've been to well over a dozen Mary Kay "parties" through the years, even up to a few months ago, which was attended by several "red jacket" ladies (the kind who have earned the cars).  I think that last one was the straw that broke my camel's back.

Here's my reasoning:
1. Mary Kay is no longer relevant.  Gone are the days when your only options to buy makeup were the drugstore or high-end department stores.  But you know what we have now?  The internet.  And Sephora.  And Ulta.  Guess what hasn't changed? The little makeover kits with the mirrors where you squeeze in the little samples. It was the same ten years ago when I attended these parties with my cash-strapped college roommates.  It's the same now.  After having gone to so many, I think I could run one of these parties myself (not that I'm offering!).  Which brings me to...

2. The pressure sell.  I'm going to these parties because I know Mary Kay has given you a near-impossible target to meet, and I'm trying to help you out.  But then they make you fill out one of those cards where you list your complexion, problem areas - and by the way, how interested are you on a scale of 1-5 in receiving some free product to host a party yourself?  There's no option for 0.

3. Mary Kay is too expensive for what it is.  I go into these things planning to buy something, because I know that's part of the deal.  But have you ever tried to find something cheap??  Nearly impossible.  If it were a truly amazing product (like this little miracle tube!), I'd be willing to pay - but in my opinion, I've found Mary Kay products to be just "ok."

4. Mary Kay is not a good business model.  Their marketing strategy is very savvy - Mary Kay herself was a divorced single mother who needed to provide an income for her kids.  I think they appeal to a lot of women who have families and need extra money - nothing wrong with that.  The stories of female empowerment and pink Cadillacs are tantalizing. But I think very few have the personality to flourish in this type of direct selling.  Once you've exhausted your friends, family, and ward members, you need to have an almost bulldog-like tenacity to find additional contacts and convince them to host parties for you.  I think some can do this exceptionally well because they have that type of personality.  But I think most just give up and decide to try to use up the product they've had to pre-purchase to keep in stock.

Guys, my days of attending these parties are over.  I'm in my thirties, and I no longer feel trying Satin Hands for the 10th time.  What do you think about Mary Kay?  Do you like their products?  Have you ever/do you now sell for them?

Things I Am Loving Right Now

Here are a few things that I am loving right now . . . 

1.  According to the Shazam App on my phone, I'm really liking Kelly Clarkson's new song, "Catch My Breath"

2.  Scarves!  With a little chill in the air, I just love any excuse to wrap in lots of layers

3. Cafe' Rio's Tortilla Soup.  This is a hidden gem that Melinda turned me onto.  It's got their delicious shredded chicken and that's topped with cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo and tortilla strips.  All of that stuff gets bathed in a sumptious chicken broth that I lick every last drop of.  Plus, it comes with a tortilla.  Great, right?  I often stuff myself with my favorite pork barbacoa burrito, but this is a lighter option that is so yummy.  And, don't even get me started on my favorite chips and queso at the Rio as well.  Melted cheese sauce, chips . . . add that in too!

4.  Parenthood!  Oh, how I love this show.  Sometimes it's a little too real as I smile, laugh and cry all in one episode.  But, I love it!  I may love everything Lauren Graham because I still record every Gilmore Girls . . .even though I own all of the DVD's.  They are still so fun.  Well, with Parenthood, she is in a triangle this season with Ray Romano and Jason Ritter.  I had no idea how much I would love Ray Romano in this role.  It's one of those shows that when I see it on my DVR, I have to watch it right away.

5.  The Voice . . . my favorite of all the singing competitions.  I love how all of the singers are good - no messing about (as Len would say) with embarrassing bad singers on national TV.  Just good singers who are being judged on . . . crazy enough . . . just their voice.  I loved it from the start.   And I am even more in love with Blake and Adam as time goes on. 

Twitterverse

I joined Twitter a while ago so I could get a Pinterest account.  I must say that I am loving the quick little bits of information that are just right for my non-book reading, magazine loving brain.   In addition to food truck locations, the news of the day (thank you @peoplemag) and Saratoga Springs City so I can see if there is a fire or flood before I start my commute, here are a few other Tweets that I love to receive during the day . . .with the thoughts from today:

. . . @EFYprogram - "See others as they may become"  Thomas S. Monson . . . love that!

. . . @DeseretBook - "Why should we worry about what others think of us, do we have more confidence in their opinions than we do our own?" -Brigham Young

. . . .@ldschurch -  "How can you teach like the Savior did?" With a link to the new youth church curriculum for 2013

I love how the church uses social media and I appreciate the little thoughts that come my way during the day. 

Umm...

Somehow at home AND at work I am the IT department for certain coworkers.  I had a coworker today ask me for help turning a Word document into a PDF.  Below is the exact email conversation we had:

Her:   

"Here is the flyer.  Could you put in PDF format." 

Me:

"The file you sent me is already in PDF format.  So you’re good to go!"

Her:
"Great – Thank you."

Be Still My Heart

I thought I wasn't going to see you until Easter!!

Nine Inch Nails

Stop me if we've already talked about this. So, I have a cubicle, and get to hear all kind of weird sounds from my co-workers during the day. Right behind me is an office of all guys that we've lovingly dubbed the locker room due to all of the various burps and other sick noises that come out of there. Then I've got my across the wall neighbor who totally talks like a Valley Girl, and says, "Shah, totally dude!" at least 16 times a day. But the most cringe-worthy thing I hear is the distinct "click, click" of someone nearby clipping their nails.

Seriously, that is disgusting, and it makes me cringe. As soon as I hear it, I have to duck under my desk, because so help me, if I get hit by a piece of nail shrapnel, I will walk out. I checked the employee handbook, and there is nary a word on this subject, but in happy news, capri's and tank tops ARE allowed in my office. Yippee!

So, How Do I Get a Jacket?

A few weeks ago we had Regional Conference for pretty much all of Utah Valley that was broadcast from BYU.  There were some good speakers, as always, but the big finish was Elder Dallin H. Oaks.  He focused on the single members of the church and shared this analogy:

Imagine that your favorite hobby is stargazing and you’ve just joined a stargazing club. You come to your first club activity eager to participate. It’s a cold night, but you’re not concerned: most of the club members are wearing club jackets, and you’ve been told you should be able to get one as well. But there is no jacket for you. You ask about it, and you are told to keep looking and that if you do your best, you will find a jacket when the time is right.

Meanwhile, you are getting pretty cold and a little worried. And you notice that most of the other club members are talking about how nice and warm their jackets are. In fact, throughout the evening the topic surfaces continually in various forms: how to wash and dry your jacket, how to add extra pockets, how to mend it, and so forth. Some of the club members notice you don’t have a jacket. “You really need a jacket for these activities,” they tell you. “Why don’t you have one yet?”

Elder Oaks invited his favorite former older single adult (his wife) to speak.  Sister Oaks is Elder Oaks' second wife.  They were married when she was fifty three years old (two years after his first wife passed away).  She said that asking "Am I doing something wrong?" is the wrong question.  Instead we should be asking, "What more can I do that is right?"  She said to NEVER be discouraged, but to pray, read the scriptures, and have faith.  Elder Oaks continued his talk after Sister Oaks was finished and added these two quotes,

"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ prepares us for whatever life may bring."   "Do your best and then trust in the Lord and his timing."   

So . . . what to do with this?  I went home and related the story to my family and the question we still don't know is . . . so how do I get a jacket?  Does this mean there is a General Authority waiting for me in a few years?  Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one without a jacket (think ward parties . . I don't like them), or wonder how people around me are able to get multiple jackets when I just want one.  I mean, I like to shop, so what's the problem here?

A lady in my ward saw me at a recent activity and said that she was thinking of me when this story was told in Conference.  (Oh . . . thank you . . I wonder where this is going).  And, she said that she and her husband related to it as well as they have been married for 14+ years and haven't been able to have children.  She said that she and her husband thought that if the singles don't have a jacket - then they without kids don't have pants?!?!  I was uncomfortable at this point and wasn't quite sure what to say next.  Anyhoo . . . it was an interesting concept to think and talk about. 

Julie's Favorite Talks

I love the list that Kristen compiled and wanted to record some of my all-time favorite go-to talks.  The talks I love are kind of like the songs that I Shazam.  With Shazam, I seem to tag the same songs over and over again and with my favorite talks, I seem to print the same ones over and over again because I love them and want to be reminded of their messages. 

1.  "There Are Many Gifts"
by Marvin J. Ashton, October 1979
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1987/10/there-are-many-gifts?lang=eng

I learned about this talk when I was a young woman studying about spiritual gifts and have kept this quote in my scriptures in D&C 46 ever since:

Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost.

I love this because everyone has special gifts that are given to them.  Just like talents, our gifts aren't always highly visible, but we all have real gifts with a responsibility to use and share them.

2.   "The Joy of Womanhood"
by Margaret Nadauld, October 2000 Conference

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/10/the-joy-of-womanhood?lang=eng

I have loved this since I heard it. The talk focuses on how important we as women are.  A few years after this, I was at girls camp in a pop-up trailer with Holli and we were writing some secret notes to our young women.  I noticed that Holli wrote this memorable quote in each of the girls' notes and I thought it was the absolute perfect thing that all young women should know and recognize about themselves. 

Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.

3.  Larry King Live with President Gordon B. Hinckley
Aired on Larry King Live, September 8, 1998
http://www.lds-mormon.com/lkl_00.shtml

Now this one isn't a talk, but it was a big deal to have the prophet of the church - at the time President Hinckley - be on a national platform talking about our church.   I think President Hinckley did so much good getting our message out into the media more and better than ever.  I listened and watched with intent and the following quote is also in my scriptures:


Larry King had just asked what is it about the church that draws so many people to it.  President Hinckley responded, "I think it -- many -- several things do. One, we stand for something. We stand solid and strong for something. We don't equivocate. We don't just fuss around over this and that. People are looking for something in this world of shifting values, of anchors that are slipping, many people are looking for something that they can hold on to, an anchor to which they can attach their lives. That's one thing.  Two: we expect things of our people. We expect them to do things. We expect them to measure up to certain standards. It isn't always easy to be a member of this church. It's demanding. But it's wonderfully fruitful and has a tremendous affect upon people."  Isn't that great!

4.  "O Remember, Remember" and "Remembrance and Gratitude"
President Henry B. Eyring, October 2007 and October 1989 Conference
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/o-remember-remember?lang=eng and http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/10/remembrance-and-gratitude?lang=eng

I am big on gratitude and I love the focus on remembering in both of these talks.  President Eyring talks vividly about the importance of seeking for God's hand in our lives and then recording and remembering it for those times when we may forget.  This summer as we traveled to Nauvoo, a message struck me about how every generation has to learn for themselves that the Church is true.  And, to that end, as we are all able to receive our own revelations and to look for blessings in our lives, I love this quote:

. . . "ask yourself, “How did God bless me today?” If you do that long enough and with faith, you will find yourself remembering blessings. And sometimes, you will have gifts brought to your mind which you failed to notice during the day, but which you will then know were a touch of God’s hand in your life.You can choose to remember the greatest gift of all. Next week, you can go to a meeting where the sacrament is administered. You will hear the words, “Always remember him.” You can pledge to do that, and the Holy Ghost will help you." 

5.  "Ye Must Be Born Again"
by Elder David A. Bednar, April 2007 Conference
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/ye-must-be-born-again?lang=eng

I love a visual aid!  And, this talk really spoke to me with a visual image of conversion through the "Parable of the Pickle".  Elder Bednar describes the careful process of cleaning and preparing cucumbers, immersing and saturating them in the pickling liquid, and then purifying and sealing the jars and likening it to the gospel.  I have used this visual many times about the importance of being fully committed to the gospel and through that process we will be converted and changed just like a cucumber is changed into a pickle.

 And after we come out of the waters of baptism, our souls need to be continuously immersed in and saturated with the truth and the light of the Savior’s gospel. Sporadic and shallow dipping in the doctrine of Christ and partial participation in His restored Church cannot produce the spiritual transformation that enables us to walk in a newness of life. Rather, fidelity to covenants, constancy of commitment, and offering our whole soul unto God are required if we are to receive the blessings of eternity.

These are just a few of my favorites.  Thanks, Kristen, for sparking my memory and reminding me of their messages.   I'm grateful for General Conference and the chance we have to hear our church leaders. 

5 Talks I Love

It's General Conference weekend, and I always like seeing which talks everyone liked best (the answers usually involve Uchdorf, Bednar, or Holland).  That got me thinking about some of my favorite talks of, like, all time...the ones that have stayed with me, that I go to over and over again.

Here they are:

WOMANHOOD: THE HIGHEST PLACE OF HONOR
James E. Faust, May 2000 Young Women's Meeting
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/print/2000/04/womanhood-the-highest-place-of-honor?lang=eng

Why I Like it: I was actually there at the General Young Women's meeting in the Tabernacle with my mom to see him give this talk in person.  I always love talks that discuss potential, divinity, and our roles as women. Plus, love President Faust!

Favorite Quote: One of your unique, precious, and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity. Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each of you possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty."

DECISIONS FOR WHICH I'VE BEEN GRATEFUL
Clayton Christensen, BYU-I Address, June 2004
http://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/transcripts/devotionals/2004_06_08_christensen.htm

Why I Like it: Because it's so down-to-earth.  Here's a Harvard professor talking about his years at Oxford University seeking a degree in "applied econometrics" (huh?), and he's able to explain in a very real way, how putting the Lord first has helped him reach beyond the capacity of what he thought was possible for himself.

Favorite Quote: He's discussing his decision not to play in a championship basketball game because it's on a Sunday. We've heard this story before...but not quite this spin on it: "But you know, as time has passed, and that was a decision I made now almost 30 years ago, it looms as one of the most important decisions I have ever made because it would have been very easy to say, in general, keeping the Sabbath day holy is the right commandment, but in my particular extenuating circumstances, it’s okay, just this once, if I don’t do it. And the reason that decision has proven so important to me is that my whole life has turned out to be an un-ending stream of extenuating circumstances, and had I crossed that line just that once, then the next time something came up that was so demanding and critical, it would have been so much easier to cross the line again."  


WHAT IS YOUR MISSION?
John H. Groberg, BYU 1979
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=882

Why I Like It: This talk was part of the readings we had for a class I took in college that was supposed to help us choose a career.  I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I remember thinking how helpful this talk was - not that reading it gave me a specific answer, but that it outlined principles of decision-making that I've gone back to again and again.

Favorite Quote: Because he knows we need the growth, he [the Lord] generally does not point and say, "Open that door and go twelve yards in that direction; then turn right and go two miles . . . " But if it is wrong, he will let us know—we will feel it for sure. I am positive of that. So rather than saying, "I will not move until I have this burning in my heart," let us turn it around and say, "I will move unless I feel it is wrong; and if it is wrong, then I will not do it." By eliminating all of these wrong courses, very quickly you will find yourself going in the direction that you ought to be going, and then you can receive the assurance: "Yes, I am going in the right direction. I am doing what my Father in Heaven wants me to do because I am not doing the things he does not want me to do." And you can know that for sure.



JESUS CHRIST: GIFTS AND EXPECTATIONS
Ezra Taft Benson, BYU 1974
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=90

Why I Like It: I love how it talks about how the sacrifices we make for the gospel aren't really sacrifices at all.  And it includes My Favorite Quote of All Time.

Favorite Quote (of all time): Yes, men and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that he can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life to God will find he has eternal life.

LEARNING TO RECOGNIZE ANSWERS TO PRAYER
Richard G. Scott, October 1989 Conference
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/10/learning-to-recognize-answers-to-prayer?lang=eng

Why I Like it: Elder Scott often speaks about personal revelation.  This talk has the clearest explanation I've seen of why sometimes it feels like we're not getting answers.

Favorite Quote: When He answers yes,it is to give us confidence. When He answers no, it is to prevent error.  When He withholds an answer, it is to have us grow through faith in Him, obedience to His commandments, and a willingness to act on truth. We are expected to assume accountability by acting on a decision that is consistent with His teachings without prior confirmation. We are not to sit passively waiting or to murmur because the Lord has not spoken. We are to act.

And knowing what Elder Groberg said - that once we move in a direction, the Lord will let us know if it's not right - this concept all started to fit together for me.

Family Picture Outtakes

We had our annual family pictures taken recently and had a little time to kill while other family members were being photographed . . . 

Business Trip

Now this is the way I like to travel for business!

Favorite Hot Pads

 My Mom loved to crochet various things . . . and making hot pads was one of them.  I used to make fun of these homemade hot pads and never wanted to use them.  Well, I've since learned the error of my ways.  These are the best hot pads ever.  Have you ever tried to use an oven mitt to take things out of the oven?  I think more of the mitt actually ends up in the food as I try to take it out.  These little beauties are flexible enough to grab onto things and thick enough that you don't hurt yourself.  I'm sure that Mom was smiling down on me when I made this realization.  Mom tried to teach us how to crochet, but we just never caught on.  I have always wanted to learn how to make our fabulous Christmas stockings . . . and now these hot pads, but didn't know how.  We happened to mention this in passing to our Aunt when we were up in Morgan at a family function and then didn't think anything of it.  Lo and behold . . one day Dad told us that Aunt Lyn had been by and she had dropped off some of these beloved hotpads - some for each of the girls.  We were so excited that she had been thoughtful enough to do this for us.  I'll think of Aunt Lyn . . . and our cute Mom . . . everytime I use one. 

Darling Davis

I was lucky enough to spend the day with this little guy recently.  We played games, watched a show or two and had a delicious lunch at Smashburger with Melinda . . . 

Then . . . we were so tuckered out it was time for both of us to take a nap.  It was a good day.