Reflections on my Math Test

How did my test go, you ask? Well, suffice it to say that I now have something in common with Edison. Unfortunately it is not in the intelligence department. Edison said that he never had a failure, just a multitude of opportunities to find a way it doesn't work. Well, I had the same success on my last math exam. Nearly half the answers were new revelations on how numbers shouldn't be combined. To put it simply - my light went out. How can I be so philosophical about the first test in my life that I have actually failed? Well, this is only the first test that was graded by a fellow human being that I have ever failed. I think there have been many instances where my heavenly professors are shaking their heads and wondering aloud -"do you think she will ever really get it?" Hopefully the Lord allows a lot of extra credit. Hmmm....do you think that is where the Atonement fits in?

The Nelson family recently gave me a gift certificate to Bear Mill - St. George's version of Build a Bear. We went there for Chelsea's birthday and had a great time. I had recently visited the Golden Compass site and found that my daemon is a fox, so naturally, that is what we built. Kristen named her Roxy the Foxy Coed and we put a little letterman's jacket on her. I bought the DSC pin and Dixie College socks at the bookstore and she now adorns my bookcase sitting next to her hiking bear counterpart. I haven't received the words of wisdom that a daemon is supposed to supply but she brings me a lot of joy. She reminds me of the fun part of this school experience, and as my stomach has a tendency to knot up Sunday nights in anticipation of the looming school week, I need that.

Sometimes Do You Think You Have To Do It All?

I think that this picture just about sums up my first couple of weeks back in school. I have been overwhelmed and ready to quit because the load was not only heavy, but incomprehensible as well (I have a college algebra class and I could swear it was being taught in a foreign language). Upon self-reflection, blended with a fast, I realized that I had left the One who really does put the sun in the sky, out of the equation. I am not here to do it all myself and this moment in my life is less than the blink of an eternal eye. I probably had similar panicky feelings as I began 7th grade, kindergarten, or even learned to walk. I read in Corinthians today that "So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." My professors plant the seed, I water with study - but ultimately it is the Lord who gives me understanding.
I can sit here safely in my office this beautiful Sabbath evening, basking in the afterglow of a Spirit-filled day and wonder how I ever feared. The trick will be to retain these feelings as I face my Algebra exam on Tuesday, Grammar exam on Wednesday (tell me again what an adverb is?), and Geography exam on Thursday (how many degrees does earth tip on its axis from the elliptical plane?).
I will post a picture reflective of my success in the future. Meanwhile, I keep chanting my mantra - and this too shall pass.

The Stranger

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger. . . he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to our first major league ball game.

He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind. Sometimes, mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home,... not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.

My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol, but the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked and NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name? We just call him "TV." He has a younger sister now. We call her "Computer".

Faster Than A Speeding Bullet

There is nothing more beautiful than Ivins on a cool summer morning. I am the first to admit that exercise consistency is not my strong suit, so Kent needed to document this event.

My Favorite People in this World and the Next

This group would be perfect - Bryce and Bambina are even there tucked safely away - except we are missing Grace, Ethan, and Chris :( I love you all and thank you for indulging Dad and I for this family photo shoot. You will understand one day why this is so priceless to us.

Tagged, I'm It - But What is IT?

The old phrase "better late than never" may not apply here, but this is my tag anyway. Now I can sleep at night.

4 Jobs I’ve Had

1- Assistant Butcher

2- Receptionist/Secretary at place that sells electronic innards

3- Snack Bar hostess at roller-skating rink

4- Maker of babies (maybe I really shouldn’t classify that as a job – sorry Kent)

4 Movies I Can Watch Over and Over

1- Friendly Persuasion

2- Pride and Prejudice (the five hour job)

3- Emma

4- Shrek 2 (I know, there is a bit of dichotomy here [look it up, I am in school and have to use it or lose it]. Maybe it’s the line “I love the ogre I married” that gets me – sorry Kent . . .again).

4 Places I’ve Lived

1- Redondo Beach

2- Davis County – Bountiful/Centerville/Farmington

3- Salt Lake County – Sandy/West Jordan

4- Ivins

4 Places I’ve Been

1- CA, from San Diego to San Francisco

2- Hawaii – thanks to Thompson’s

3- Ohio

4- New York, state - not city.

4 Favorite Foods

1- Not candied yams

2- Not oysters

3- Not liver

4- Everything else

4 Websites I Visit Every Day

1- Dixie College Homepage

2- Gmail

3- Google Search

4- Blogs

4 Places I’d Rather Be

1- Hawaii with family

2- Cabin with family

3- Beach with family

4- With family

4 People I Want to Tag

1- Cami Ellis

2- Hillary Kirschman

3- Amber Thompson

4- Kent Cook

Not too exciting a life, but I have absolutely loved it and hope it is only half over.

p.s. - could someone please teach me how you fit your pictures in so nicely, sometimes framed, and sometimes even in a slide show?