The Sweat Escape

As I sit to write this answer to the pond for the week I can feel my cheeks get a little rosy and a chuckle starting to escape my lips because although it is embarrassing, time has healed the wounds into a moment of laughter. The pondering question this week was "What have you learned from your most embarrassing moment?" I must admit that I posted this question already knowing my answer but it has been fun to relive and relearn my moment.
I don't know if my most embarrassing moment could really be classified as a moment but rather a period of life that all accumulated into a moment in time. When I was in high school I started sweating a lot, now it wasn't from sports, running, or any other physical activity, as would happen to a normal person. No, I could be sitting perfectly still and still have sweaty arm pits (not quite to the extent as the picture above though). Now, I know that is gross, but none the less it is true. Well, I did everything that I could think of change deodorant (many times), walk with my arms down and never raise my hands, wear dark colored shirts, wear jackets over my shirts, etc. Well, I made it through high school without too much attention drawn to my short coming but then came college. I was able to keep up with my same tactics and wardrobe necessities that was until Old Navy entered my life.
I had searched all over Rexburg for a job and finally found one in Idaho Falls working at Old Navy. One might think, "Wow, great discounts and a fun job, what else could a girl ask for!" Wrong, my first thought was, "Oh crap, I have to wear a red shirt!" Now, red is the WORST color for a sweaty girl, white, black, cream, anything but red. Well, I tried to wear a jacket over the top of my shirt, that didn't work because 1. it was too hot and 2. they told me I couldn't. So, I just tired to wear another shirt underneath the red one to soak up whatever might come my way, once again, nope didn't work! So, in all desperation I stooped to low levels and did the ONLY thing I could think of, Panty liners. Yes, you read it right, panty liners. I would stick the sticky side on a shirt, have the absorbent side next to my skin and then put the dreaded red shirt over the top. I was stoked!! It totally worked, minus the raw, red armpits I would come home with but anything was better than armpit stains. Well, it was smooth sailing from then on out, or so I thought. Unfortunately I did not have a shirt that fit the right way and that the panty liners fit on so I had to borrow one from a roommate and rig it up every day before work, without her knowing, mind you. One night I got home late from work and just threw my shirt over my desk chair. Well, I got up late the next morning and had to run to class before I "unrigged" the shirt. I didn't think anything of it until I came home that afternoon and found 2 lone pant liners stuck to my desk and the shirt gone. She knew!! I wanted to die!! Later that day she came home wearing the beloved undershirt and just busted up laughing when she saw me. I ended up having to tell her my story and the reason for the madness that I put myself through. In the end we were both laughing at my misfortune and set out to find another solution. In the end I found a better solution and was able to retire my underarm panty liners for good.
So, onto the lesson that I learned from this tragic yet funny time in my life. I have learned that it is okay to laugh at yourself. It is okay to look in the mirror and just laugh. I tend to take myself too seriously at times and feel the need to do and be perfect, which none of us are. But I have seen that the times that I am able to get over my shortcomings, my less than perfectness, my silliness, and just laugh I am so much happier and have much more energy to give to those around me. So, thanks Candra for unknowingly lending me your shirt, for informing me that the backstreet boys sweat too, and for helping me laugh at myself. You're the best!

To Visit or Not to Visit...

So I have had the "pond question" posted for about a month now and I have yet to post an answer and change the question. So, hopefully you have had enough time to ponder this question because today is the day that I actually attempt to answer it myself. The question, "why is it so difficult to get visiting/home teaching done by the end of the month," was inspired by my aunt Julie. It is not the first time that this question has been posed to me however when she was talking about how difficult it was to teach the sisters in her ward how important visiting teaching was I sat guiltily in my chair and thought about how I have been less than perfect with this important calling. I remember thinking, "I bet that my Relief Society president is thinking the same thing about me." There are many people out there who love visiting teaching, who get it done by the 2nd day of the month and arrive with a thought, lesson, handout and treat. And there are others in this world that have good intentions but then allow themselves to get caught up in the thick of thin things, therefore allowing visiting teaching to fall by the wayside with promises to "do it next month." I am one of the latter and so I have asked myself, "why?" Why can I have my lesson planned for relief society every month without a problem, why can I get all my laundry done, why can I plan play dates for my 2-year-old, why can I plan trips to Utah, but for some reason struggle when it comes to a small visit with a friend once a month?
My first thought was it was because I have a companion that doesn't want to go. We started off great, we started off strong and then I started hearing from her less and less. We would plan appointments but she wouldn't show up. We would try and find a date that worked for both of us and there would be no appointments set up. I struggled with the fine line of "not doing it FOR her vs not getting it done." For a small minute I rationalized that that was my problem but then reality sank in and I realized that my rationalization was simply an excuse and a poor one at that. Visiting teaching is not about having a companion that likes to go or that will set up all the appointments it is about serving the Lord by serving the sisters.
So I continued to ask myself "why?" I then decided that it was difficult for me to get VT done because the few small minutes that I have with my family are cherished and the last thing that I wanted to do was leave again. It isn't very often that I get my husband and child both in the same house and awake at the same time. "I need to hold onto these moments and make the most of them," I told myself. I held onto that rationalization for about a millisecond when I realized that, once again, my thinking was all backwards. Visiting teaching can be done at any time during the day and once again, VT is not about me it is about serving the Lord by serving the sisters.
I continued to ponder and I decided that there is no good reason why it should be difficult. I have realized that what it boils down to is that my heart was not converted to the vision of Visiting Teaching. I have to stop and evaluate my motives. Visiting teaching is not about numbers, it is not about the "reporting phone call," it is not about crossing another thing off the list or adding another thing to it. What it really boils down to is Love. It is all about loving the Lord and wanting to help take care of His children. It is about forgetting yourself, your "to do list," your errands and loving you sisters. There will always be time to get the dishes done, to run to the store, to change the laundry but there wont always be time to make a friend, to love a sister, to help, support, and rejoice with those that you will come to love as you serve.
That is my journey, that is my new resolve, that is what I have learned about myself. VT is not "inconvenient" and when we look at it that way we are not truly fulfilling our calling. VT is an opportunity to love, to serve, to learn, to grow, to be obedient. So, I am making a promise to myself and all those that are reading, I will do my visiting teaching every month. I already love the sisters I get to visit so now it is time to really visit, how lucky am I!?

Oh What Do You Do In the Summer Time?

I have had the opportunity of thinking about summer this week, partly because it is our "pond" of the week and partly because it is 100 degrees by 8:00 a.m. so there is no escaping the fact that summer has arrived. I have pondered a great deal about the celebration of the summer season which brings many things to mind: watermelon, lemonade, swimming, kids saying "mom, I'm bored," riding bikes, family vacations, going to the beach. There are so many things to do in the summer time that are so exciting and looked forward to all year long. However, I have realized one thing during this pond.... I am getting OLD! Yes, I know, I am only 24 years old, but that can be the only explanation as the why I love to be home. Don't get me wrong, I love vacations just as much as the next guy but I also love to come home from them as well. I love my own bed, my own sheets, my own food, my own crazy routines, my own smells, my own home. I remember as a child we were not a big traveling family which was mostly because I was the first of the 4 and therefore lived in the "poor" years if you will. However, I always knew that family vacation time was important to my parents. So, out of pure creativity and resourcefulness my mom created the "city vacation." I must admit that I was a little hesitant about the idea when it was first introduced but in the end couldn't wait for the next year to come so we could do it again. Each child had a $100 dollar budget and a whole day to plan actives that the whole family had to participate in. Upon hearing that we got a $100 dollars our imaginations started to run wild with thoughts of hot air balloons and water parks which were quickly deflated and turned toward fishing and the Nickel arcade but still just as exciting to a 10-year-old mind. We spent the whole week exploring the city we lived in and discovering things we didn't even know existed. As we grew older our city vacations were replaced with trips to Orlando, Florida and Duck, North Carolina which were still exciting but could never be as enchanting as our "city vacations" were to our young minds. Now that I am in the "young family" stage I look forward to the days that I can take my children out to explore our city and then come home to our own beds.
However, summer is not just about vacations. As I have thought about this season and loathed the merciless heat I have decided to make the most of it. We have found ourselves at the pool countless times and have made many stops at the ice cream shop. However, I think that my very favorite thing about summer is the fruit. I cannot help but smile when berries finally come in season and a tear comes to my eye when the fruit prices begin to go up and the taste begins to go down. I have always loved fruit and I do not think I have met a fruit that I didn't like but I think that fruit has brought on a whole new meaning of summer in my old age. It brings me so much joy to fill my fridge with watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple and bananas. I love to feed them to Cade and I love to eat the fresh juicy berries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I know that it is strange considering all the great things there are about the summer but I have found that it is the fruit that makes the heat worth it.

Pondering Response

I have always loved this picture of the 10 virgins. My grandma Joyce had this picture hanging in the hall by her front door when I was a little girl and I can remember countless times that I would look at the picture on the way out and think, "which one would I be?" As I have prepared my lesson for Relief Society this week and pondered on our question I have taken a wonderful journey into my soul. I have learned a great deal about being prepared and how it is that I can help my family become not only prepared but Completely prepared. I have come to learn that the parable of the 10 virgins is not about good and bad, righteous and unrighteous, followers and unbelievers, but it is about those that are prepared and completely prepared.
In Jewish tradition when a wedding was drawing closer much time was spent in preparation for the event and the feast that would follow, of which preparation all 10 of the virgins were involved in. As the day approached the bride would stay at her home with her family/friends and the bridegroom would stay at his home with his family/friends and finish the celebration preparations, which could have lasted hours upon hours. Once the bridegroom had finished, he along with those that were with him would start the procession, call upon the bride once they reached her home and then the bride and her family/friends would join and they would all make their way to the place of the wedding and feast.
Back to the parable, the 10 virgins were waiting for the bridegroom to finish preparations and had fallen asleep. When the bridegroom was heard coming at the unlikely hour of 12 midnight 5 of the virgins realized that they would not have enough oil for their lamps to light the way. These were women who loved the couple and wanted to be part in the celebration, not just random people off the street, but loved ones. They had made many preparations for the celebration, they waited all hours of the night for the bridegroom but none the less they were not Completely Prepared with enough oil. They quickly asked the other 5 who had brought enough oil if they could borrow some, to which the reply was "Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves." Matthew 25 However, once these women returned from purchasing more oil the procession had left and the door to the celebrations had been shut.
The thing that I have learned to most from this journey and the parable is that often times we put a great deal of time into preparing ourselves and our families but when it comes to the little things the physical things: food storage, staying out of debt, saving money, we forget that we must do those things ALSO to be completely prepared. We are not expected to do it all at once but it is a journey, here a little, there a little. But, we have been counciled time and time again by our prophets to prepare ourselves that I think that often times we forget that they are talking to us and not just everyone else.
I also know that for me the thought of food storage is a little overwhelming, expensive, and "where am I going to put it?" comes to mind. However, through this journey I have seen that the Lord will provide a way if I am willing to listen and submit. "... prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10
In answer to the question "If you were part of the Parable of the 10 virgins which one of the virgins would you be and why?" I would have to say that I would hope that I would have enough oil for my lamp. I know that my preparations are not complete but I am diligently working on "having enough oil," physically and spiritually. But this I know to be true, the Lord will provide if we are willing to ask, listen, and act so that we might be prepared when he calls upon us.

Pondering

Monday is here again which means time to add another question the the "pond." I am preparing my lesson for Relief Society on Sunday and the topic is being self reliant and prepared so this topic has been on my mind a great deal lately. So today when I was reading an article out of the newest Ensign about the parable of the 10 virgins it really hit home and touched my heart. I started thinking about how all 10 of these women were converted, willing, and had the desire to follow the bridegroom but 5 were not prepared. Therefore the inspiration for the pond this week....

"If you were part of the Parable of the 10 virgins which one of the virgins would you be and why?"

I know that it is a little bit of a different question but I think it will be an interesting journey to find where you are, why you are there, and where you want to be. Enjoy and I look forward to hearing your insights on Friday.

Pondering #2

What are the things that are absolutely essential in your life and how do you simplify and purify your perspective?


Absolutely essential...those are definitely defining words that causes one to really look inside and dig deep into their soul. As I have pondered I have realized that often times in our human world we categorize those things with little importance such as: favorite TV shows, shopping trips, or a blog of a friend of a friend as "absolutely essential", of which I am guilty. I have found myself many times rearranging my schedule to fit in a TV show or not taking advantage of toddler play time to finish a sink full of dishes and somehow rationalizing that it is "absolutely essential" that I do so. However, as I have pondered this past week about where I have drawn the line in my life and what things I truly consider as absolutely essential I have realized that it really boils down to two things, the gospel and my loved ones. I have seen that when my focus is on the real essential things in my life that every thing else falls into the proper place and proper perspective. However, I must admit that it is easier said than done because those things that are essential require energy whereas those not so important things require nothing but zoning out.
It has been interesting this week as I have thought about the concept of energy as it relates to the essential things of life because the greatest lesson was taught to me by my almost 2-year-old. As I was watching him shoot hoops the other day I was amazed at how he just kept going and the common thought came to my mind, "oh, if only I could have that much energy," to which quickly followed, "we all do, just for different things." As I continued to think about that I realized that the reason why he kept going and going is because he loves it, he thrives on it, where as for me, I don't find quite the enjoyment out of a plastic basketball hoop and a rubber ball. However, if it is taking pictures, searching for the right easter outfit for Cade, or finishing a project for a loved one I have all the energy I need to keep going. Which brings us back to the "absolutely essential" things in life. Many times the things that we have the most energy for are the things we mistakenly categorize as essential, for example: how many of us can recite the names, plot, details, and location of our favorite TV show but in the same breath cannot recall the sequence of events in the Book of Mormon? Once again, I am guilty. But can you imagine how amazing life would be if we put the time into not only recognizing the need to rearrange our priorities but actually placing the things that are absolutely essential into the correct category and truly finding a love and a passion for them. Can you imagine the energy that would come and the things that would happen as we were able to keep going? Can you imagine the difference we could make in the world and most importantly our families? Can you imagine the immense payoff we would receive for the time it would take to reevaluate and rearrange?
So, back to the simple question, what are the things that are absolutely essential in my life? I would have to respond, the gospel and my loved ones. I am continually reevaluating and rearranging my perspective so that my actions align with my words and desires. And secondly, how do I simplify and purify my perspective? It is a journey, one that never ends because this life is all about learning how to simplify and purify in every season of life. I have found great solace and direction in my "hour of pondering." I cherish the time that Cade naps, that is the time that is all about the inside me. I am not only able to shower, hallelujah, but that is when I reminisce past memories, evaluate actions, determine to become better, think of my family, and ponder those things that are absolutely essential and how I can make a difference. I have a few quiet moments to ponder my scriptures and pray uninterrupted. That is how I simplify and purify my life in the season that I am in.
So, in closing of my long journey, I encourage everyone to dig deep, find what is absolutely essential in your life and ask yourself if you have the energy to keep going with it. And if not, how can you get it? Can you imagine....