For a Wise Purpose

Sometimes things just don't make sense and you have to dive in with your eyes closed and your heart full of faith.

Last year, I up and moved to Logan to go to Utah State. I have never felt so strongly that I should do something before. I had such an incredible experience up there, I knew I would go right back in the Fall. Something I have learned again and again lately is this saying: "Want to see God laugh? Make plans."



One day at Institute this Summer, I suddenly was crying. My answer was a big fat NO. No Logan, No Merrills, No "mattress-ing" down Old Main. No Aggies Rugby. For weeks, I had to learn to stop shaking my fist heavenward. About the same time, Todd and I broke up. I felt so abandoned. Journal writing stopped (gasp!) Little did I know...



I worked through the Fall semester, living at home. At tithing settlement, I didn't hear a word my bishop said. Instead, I heard the Spirit whisper, "Don't freak out (probably more like "Fear not"), but maybe- just maybe- you could consider going on a mission." Insert some tearful nights, some temple visits, advice and encouragement from Bubba, LOTS of prayers and Oo-da-lolly! I've got my answer!

(Photos taken from my cell phone- Timpanogos Temple, Me reading after doing baptisms at Provo Temple)

Words of Mormon 1:7

I Have Grown a Foot or Two

I am going on a mission. It's official. I started my papers tonight.

These are some photos Bubba and I took last year for our very own
Conference Edition "Ensign".

View the entire album here

Bang-a-Rang!

Today was destined to be awesome as soon as I put on my lime green Skittles® earrings. Harrison and I have been planning this wicked prank for months. Today was the day- the last shift we would have before we both quit.

There is a light switch by my desk, which is always down. There is a label which reads "Don't Turn Off".


I have always been intrigued by this switch. What could possibly be this important? Old tape marks show that it used to be forced on just in case some moron couldn't read the sign. Nic and I dared each other to turn it off. "No! Some alarm will go off!"

Months ago, I happened to glance over and notice it was off= freaking out! Clearly, someone must be dying. I am sure the switch was keeping their life support on. Harrison walks by and casually flips it back on. My heart slowly started beating again. He explained that it controls some electrical outlets on the top floor- no big deal. Ideas started forming. We plotted who our victim would be. Nic. It's perfect. We started gathering supplies.

Today was our last chance. I tell Nic that I have some mail for him. Carefully placed to my left, I reach for the package and look up to "suddenly" notice the switch is turned off. Word had gotten around that today was the day, so several people joined in on the fun. "Nic, I dare you to turn it back on." His face was classic. He fell for it! He was in total shock. "Shutup, someone turned it off. What do we do?"

He flips it on, turning on a tape player upstairs with a ridiculously loud siren sound recorded over and over. It was deafening. It was vile. It was the most beautiful, perfect scene. With his hands on his ears, Nic starts shouting, "What Is that? It sounds like a spoon in a blender!"

We got congratulations from all our coworkers (minus those who were on the phone at the time). Even our CEO and president thought it was funny. Go Team Awesome. I am going to miss this place.

Life is Good

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

My mom called me at work today to tell me that my Uncle Mike had been in a plane accident. He had been flying his personal plane alone from Denver to Aspen. Once I heard the news that he was missing, I could just feel that he wasn't here on earth anymore. It was really interesting and made it easier to hear my mom say, "He didn't make it" a few hours later. Uncle Mike absolutely lived his life with a NO REGRETS attitude. I admire him a lot. He and his wife were just like newlyweds although they had been married for like 30 years. It was disgusting sometimes how often they kissed! I know he loved his family more than anything and had a strong testimony of the Gospel.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

We went over to Aunt Kathryn's today to see how she is doing with the loss of her son. I am so impressed with her! She has now unexpectedly lost her husband at a young age, a baby, a nephew and now an adult son. She lost her mother when she was young and her father tragically a few years ago as well (and probably more I can't remember). You would think she would be a grouchy lady, but she is such an inspiration to everyone around her! The trip over was gloomy and depressing. We talked about details of the plane accident and how hard this will be on Mike's family. After visiting with Aunt Kathryn and seeing her excitement for her new singing/dancing Santa Clauses, we were able to relax and share fun memories. Driving home, we just laughed about how silly Mike always was.

Monday, November 17, 2008

I have never been to such a hilarious funeral! There were a few tears, but mostly smiles and laughter! It was phenomenal, really. It was a closed casket, so there was a photo of Mike on the top. The one the family chose perfectly displayed the love he radiated wherever he went. Taken in Mexico or Lake Powell, there he sat on a beach chair, soaking up the sun with his classic teaser grin. Stories were shared of his office pranks and family inside jokes. Some of his favorite phrases were "Life is Gooooood" and "I Love You". Funerals really can be so uplifting if you remember the Plan. Families are eternal and we can party it up in Heaven once we are all done with this "Earth Thing". In my own simple words, I think we are alive right now to figure out who we are. We show God that we can make good choices and want to live with Him again once we are finished here. Simplifying life is the key. I've been struggling with this lately and am working on de-stressing and focusing on what is important.

Indian Ruins, Forgotten Canyon, Lake Powell.
Taken by Jessyka, August 2008

Not Away, Just Out

Today I went running. It's been a while. The cool Autumn air was exactly what I needed. If you have never run through a field with your eyes closed and your arms out, I would highly suggest it. Then, go watch the movie, "Powder".

I've been so overwhelmed lately. It was like my whole life decided to need my immediate attention, like a jumping Mac Application. I felt annoyed with everyone I talked to. Avoiding my problems did not make them disappear. With too many goals, I was stressing myself out in every aspect of life.

Moms can be the best medicine. I stayed up late with her and just vented and vented. She reminded me that this stage of life will pass. My scholastic goals can be reached, my dating life won't always be so confusing, and my health issues will eventually be okay. The things I am feeling are normal. I don't have to fix everything and change the world...at least not today, all at once. There were tears and hugs and cliche phrases. It was perfect.

Thanks, mom. You are the best friend anyone could ask for.

Change

I am dedicating this post to Todd. He's been on my butt lately to get me to finally go to the physical therapist for my neck. I've gone twice now! It hurts, but Dr. Peterson says I am doing better. "We'll get this neck of yours fixed in no time!" He's been working on my neck, back and S.I. joint. The massages and stretches are great, but I don't so much enjoy the electric shock idea. I giggled the entire time during my first experience. The girl thought I was nuts.

I'm reading "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" right now. Holy cow! I have learned so much. I am already trying to apply some of the suggestions to help me be more understanding of the guys in my life. How men deal with stress and communicate affection is so different from how I do. Yes, the book warns the reader that the ideas are very generalized and pretty much lump all men/women into one category...but I have found myself relating to much of it. It's been sooooo good so far. I randomly found it in my parent's basement while tying to find my iPod (which is lost for the bajollionth time).

Change can be so vital, so healthy. Progression is such a beautiful, eternal principle. I'm so grateful for a Savior who can help me change for the better. Without Him, I abosultely am nothing. The best part is that with Him, I can do anything! Repentence is so powerful. I've learned that again, recently.

Here are some cool quotes about change:

• American Proverb:
  

"It doesn't work to leap a twenty-foot chasm in two ten-foot jumps."

• Alan Cohen (author "Chicken Soup for the Soul"):
  

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."

• Charles Kettering (inventor):
  

"If you have always done it that way, it is probably wrong."

• James Yorke (mathematician):

"The most successful people are those who are good at plan B."

This photo was taken with my new phone, right outside my physical therapist's office. Gorgeous! This is the cropped version, where the mountains are cut out-sorry! The colors are phenomenal in the Fall. I love it!

Claritin-D Side Effects

I always tell people I am allergic to three things: Fish, Country Music and the color Pink. Symptoms may include difficulty swallowing, clammy hands, nausea and most frequently random violent outbursts (I once threatened to jump out of a car going 40 when the driver refused to turn off Garth Brooks).

I took my Claritin-D last weekend before a blind date, not wanting these socially awkward symptoms to appear. It was "Homecoming" (the day after BYU's), which meant I got to wear a big, schmancy prom dress! I borrowed one that I had fallen in love for its unique elegance and just...awesomeness. My decision to wear it seriously was a HUGE DEAL because I knew it would appear pink in pictures and to other people. I described it to my date, Parry, as "wine/reddish brownish goldish...burgundish". His tie somehow matched perfectly.

When some country came on at the "dance" (which was super awesome, by the way: a bunch of couples, chocolate fondue, lights...all at a place someone was house-sitting), I didn't start kicking people in the head or screaming while covering my ears. I tried to drown out the music, instead, by talking to Parry. The song repeated again later and I kindly skipped it on the playlist. I think I will take my allergy medication more often. Side effects may include, but are not limited to the following:

Love this picture of Jess and Kevy Wevy!

April did my hair. We were still curling at 8:20
(5 mins after we planned to leave)!

Homemade! Super cool, low waist and
Medieval style creme accent...luv it

Jessyka and Kevin

Me and Parry- I don't think he ever stops laughing

Procrastination

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

I am working on being a better, more responsible adult. Today, I crossed a few things off my eternal To-Do List and finally put them on my To-Done List. Woohoo!

1. Call up people in the ward for my church calling
2. Make an appointment with the dentist
3. Find out more info from the physical therapist (I sprained my neck last February and it still bothers me)
4. Call up UHEA and find out when I have to start paying back my student loans
5. Go visiting teaching

This is a shirt Mike has. Awesome.

Sell-You-Lards and MATHS

MATHS stands for

Mathematical

Anti

Telharsic

Harfatum

Septomin

(See video here)

I am enrolled in an online math class where nothing is due until December. I know... bad choice, Roo. I did my first assignment the other day (We started in August). Go, me! Thanks to my iTodd, I don't hate math anymore. This summer, he helped me to appreciate it more.

I had a cool little milagro recently. I was under the impression my 2 year contract with AT&T ended this November. I was driving home from work and suddenly had the thought that it might just have ended at the beginning of October. That night, I called up customer support to find out. "Your contract ended a few days ago, on the fourth." Ahh! I freaked, thinking they would be charging me monies and signing me up for another century of expensive service. He verified with me that I would like to cancel and that was that. I suddenly had no service and was forced to accept the fact that all my contacts were probably lost, along with my pictures and important/meaningful texts.

I send out an email and Facebook message that my phone is now dead. Then the house phone rings and I answer (it's 11:30pm). It's Jess. "You are not going to believe this. Ummm, my phone died? today? I happen to be over at my parents [which is across the street] trying to figure out a phone I can use....ummm, I happened to have checked my email and got your message about your phone...can I use yours?" The coolest part is that my phone used to be hers. Last year, my phone died and she let me use her old one! Crazy! She can email me my pictures and send me my old texts and stuff! We laughed for like half an hour. God is funny like that.

This is a photo Bubba took earlier this year, which he titled "Trig" and turned in for a photography assignment. Pretty cool shot.

Finding Joy in the Journey

Even the prophet agrees with my new NO REGRETS! attitude. I don't want to even try paraphrasing. This is taken from his talk last week during the Sunday morning session of General Conference:

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now...

"Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future..."

And speaking of out Savior, Pres. Monson says, "He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to serve. He taught us how to live. His life is a legacy of love."

I want to be thought of and remembered like that by my children someday.

(read or listen to the whole talk)

President Monson in Orem, UT at the UVU Library Dedication July 1, 2008. Isn't he cute?

It Wasn't Really So But It Seemed To Be

Some people are just plain stupid.

If the subject line of an email from your "friend" is PLEEEEEASE REEAD! IT WAS ONGOODMORNINGAMERICATODAYSHOW ,DOIT!!!! ... delete it right now. At work, I answer the info/support emails. Yesterday, we received two of these "Bill Gates is sharing his fortune" Emails. Please, my dear readers, do not fall for this scam. It is not logical that he would do so, be able to "track" how many morons you forward the email to or be able to send you a personal check in the mail for thousands of dollars. Do not believe that your distant relative in Africa left millions for you and his agents just need your bank account number. You did not win the Netherlands Lottery. Nor do you need to give your social out to someone for failing to show up for jury duty.

I replied to the emails (maybe it was inappropriate and unprofessional) by simply proving a link to an article about the scam. By the way, snopes.com= awesome.

Totally unrelated, there was one thing that happened yesterday that I do regret. No one is perfect. :) I was a few minutes late driving to work, which was fine until I run into a big traffic jam. I'm trying to be patient...I finally peek my head out the window to see the cause of the delay.

(This video was uploaded about a month after this was posted)

There is a white duck crossing the street (which is normal for these parts). Then I notice why he is taking so long. He must have had a broken leg, as he could not bend it and had to lift it awkwardly up and around to take a step. I had this image of me getting out of my car to carry him across the street. I opened the door, but then decided against it. 2 minutes later, he was still struggling! The semi in the front honked at him (as if that was going to urge him to hurry? Jerk). When I got to work, I was like, "I should have carreid that poor duck to safety."

I made up for it by playing football with some coworkers.

This photo, taken in 2006 is 100% totally legit. I got ran over and died. If you forward this to 15 friends, something will pop up on your screen and tell you how stupid you are.

Please Don't Hate Me Because I'm Trendy

(That is from a Reel Big Fish song, p.s.) Yesterday, I spent my Target gift card on a jacket. I've never really been into big jackets. Here goes nothin'!

Turn Left On Memory Lane

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Harrison, some other coworkers and I overrode the "yay for 6 packs" cheer at work after our meeting. Yeah, we limped our manager. Da best!

Another facial up in Midway. I'm getting over the whole "naked thing." Whit is very modest about the whole thing. I have a robe and she leaves the room any time there isn't a robe. To much info? Sorry. It was a large hurdle for me!

Driving home, I stopped by my Wallsburg. I turned on some nice piano music and thought about good memories had with Bubba there. I miss him way too much. There was a girl getting her bridals done up there...Fall leaves contrasting her white dress...it was gorgeous. My C'rolla decided to go off-roading. I couldn't believe I actually made it BACK UP the muddy hill I went down. Man, everything I do these days is so last second.

I took a few fotos with my cell and had some nice one-on-one time with God. It was really, really neat.

Down Here, It's Our Time

Saturday, September 20, 2008

I went against everything that was telling me not to and road tripped it down to Cedar City with Mike (and his black lab, Lexi) to see Bubba. It was one of the best weekends I have had in a while. First, I spilled my soul to Bubba, finally told him how I felt about things--you'd think that would be one of the hardest things ever, but I felt really good about it. I think it was just time.

Second, I AM NOW A GOONIE! We hiked up Kanarra Falls (between Cedar and San Jorge). Actions speak louder than and are worth a thousand...wait...anyway, here are some photos:

Natural rock slides!

View the entire album here

C'rolla, I Love Ya, But...

Thursday September 18, 2008

Today, I locked myself out of my car. If you know me at all, you will know this is a regular occurrence. For whatever reason, a '98 Toyota Corolla is impossible for cops to jimmy rig the window, so I'm hopeless without spare keys. I used to have 7...I'm down to O-N-E. This time, after calling my parents and getting no answer, I began to weigh out my options. I decided to call up some old friends- an uncomfortable thing sometimes, not gonna lie. I'm all about challenges these days, though. My one buddy was very willing to drive me, but was stuck in the library. He ended up inviting me to a party this weekend. Cool- glad I called. Anywho-April ended up saving me.

Ir de Compras

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

I splurged and went nuts at Savers. I got 3 dresses, 3 pair of pants and a jacket. I know, Roo doesn't wear dresses. Think again! I also got a bunch of art supplies so I have no excuse to not paint.

I love Ebay! Can I just tell you that? I got a pattern to make a kangaroo costume for like $5. Sa-weet! I called up April and we fabric shopped.

Also my new dress from Savers reminds me of a 50s mom, so Andj and I thought it would be funny to pull this pose and photoshop some sweet hair in. The canned peaches, however are not photoshopped.