6X6 Tag

Okay, I am convinced to do this tag that Asia and then Donna did.

Here is my picture - it was when Mama and Daddy were in Amarillo at the end of December, beginning of January when Grannie passed away. It had been a long couple of days of everyone worrying and I was feeling sick so Beth came over and saved the day. She taught the kids a little dance and song that was in her musical at school and the kids had a great time performing it. If you were at Aurora's birthday at the zoo they almost did it for us but Mandy was embarrassed which Nathan couldn't understand - maybe it was the other 100 or so people milling about that scared her off - who knows she does like to perform! I had a little video but it never made it to the blog because Beth would have disowned me.

They made me laugh so much I cried - it was the perfect medicine for us all. Thanks Beth!

Anyone who reads this blog is free to participate in this tag. I have copied Asia's post:
Rules:
1. Go to your pictures on your computer
2. Go to your 6Th folder
3. Go to your sixth picture
4. Post it
5. Blog about it:

I hope to see some more of these soon.

A Couple Random Thoughts

First off, my IRB application was approved so I am working on moving forward with my research, still waiting on a few last things.

I meet with my new internship "boss" and she is great we will have a lot of fun I think. It should be a great experience and very eye opening. I have started looking at fellowships and jobs for when I am done -which seems so strange and so far away but many of the applications are due in Oct this year so I guess I need to get ready.

I meet with our Food Storage Person for our ward this month. She is really cute and she gave me a great idea that I have already started to use. You know those hang over the door shoe organizers? Well, hang one over the back of your pantry door, laundry room door, etc. and then put root veggies on the top and fruit on the bottom. I was thinking you could put individual packets of things in the little sleeves as well. I bought one and started using it and Mama did as well and she said she loves it and that the kids can get to the fruit and it isn't sitting on the counter or taking up room in the frig. I also think that the food may last longer in it as well - be sure to get the one that has a mesh pocket thingy instead of plastic - they are about $7.50 at Wal-Mart and Target.

My VTee that has the pregnant daughter is not doing well - neither my companion or I know what else to do. It feels like going into an abyss when I go and visit which is about every week - I am not sure how else to help and wish I did.

Today in sacrament meeting a brother was bearing his testimony and talked about how the sacred grove is sacred because of what happened there and that our lives can be scared because of what happens in them, how we live them, the ways in which we interact with others. This of course we all know but it really hit me differently today and I was struck by the way that it comes down to how we approach this life and how we live for the next one.

From time to time I feel lonely - shouldn't be too big a surprise - I am not married, have no children and live far from my best friends and family. It is really easy for Satan to get to me when I feel lonely and so I have to work extra hard to keep a good balance. I have thought and thought about being single - pretty easy when you are - and in so many ways am so very grateful for all of the blessings I have - it is so amazing to me. I think that I have a tendency at times not to do things, go places, see things, experience things becuase I don't want to do them on my own. I decided this week, again (I have to remind myself from time to time) that this is the life the Lord has blessed me with and I need to make the most of it. I am so thankful for how things in my life are working out so very well and that I have been given so very much. I think that at times I just need a quick reminder and kick in the pants.

Catch Up

I feel like my life is in slow motion these days and very boring. Not too much happening. I put my IRB application in to do my dissertation research. For those of you who are not aware of what the IRB is it is the universities system of making sure that all research that happens with humans and animals is ethical and will not harm the participants - they are difficult to get through sometimes. SO, I headed off some problems by meeting with them first and getting answers to questions that I had before they had a chance to send it back asking me about those things. What this means is that I can't start my research until I hear back - should be after next week sometime, at least I hope.
I got an internship with the State Health Department and meet with them on Tuesday about that - mainly to see how on earth we are going to make it work. We will wait and see.

Last Sunday my Bishop talked briefly about the Lord Storehouse and how it goes beyond the tithing and fast offering that we offer each month but that it is our talents, time and ability. He asked us to sit down and think about how we/ what we do to build Zion. So, for FHE Kim and I sat and talked about hte different things we give / provide to build Zion. We had a lot of fun with it and I made a list of almost 50 things - some pretty insignificant others more in line with what I imagined the Bishop thought of when he made his request. It was a really good exercise in thinking about what we have to give, in what ways we can help and what I may be keeping a secret so that they don't call me to a certain calling. :) I would suggest that you sit down sometime and do the same thing - we want to build Zion so how are we going to do it - by helping each other!

I am working on a new quilt - I am designing it off of one that I have a pattern for. It is fun to make something my own. I will take some pictures when I am further in the process.

This Sunday

So last Sunday I complained I didn't have enough to do well the Lord made up for that this week. One of the sisters I VT called this week and asked if we could meet and talk because she just found out that her 18 year old is pregnant and needed someone to talk to. So we set up a time and she had to cancel because of a sick kid. The week passed and she didn't call back to reschedule and I was hesitant to call her for many reasons. Anyway, her husband stopped me in the hall this week and we talked for about 10 minutes about the situation, the daughter, my friend, etc. So, I told him I would come over and see her this afternoon. Well I mulled around at home and finally left about 3 to go. I had just missed them because they were on the way to the hospital with the daughter. So, after visiting all three ERs in town I found them, but there were too many people in the room so I waited in the wiaitng room. After what seemed like forever and was actually about 45 minutes I went and asked again and then was told that they had left. WHAT?!? So I went home and called. But the Bishop was on his way and she was trying to get her very dehydrated daughter settled and liquids in her. So then it was time to cook dinner because Kim was coming over for FHE (I know it is not Monday but I have stuff tomorrow) and so I cooked, we had our lesson, etc and I was called by the a bishiporics wife, the bishops wife and so i called my VTee back and talked with her. Craziness!
The 18 year old is planning to marry this guy - they have only known each other 9 weeks! But the wedding is planned for next month and the mom is freaking out. The parents have tried the adoption idea but the father of the baby's mom won't let them think about giving up the baby -that is her grandchild and on and on. I just think that the whole thing is a mess but what a selfish thing from the grandmother to be. I am meeting my VTee on Friday for lunch so hopefully things will be a little clearer then. I just feel so bad for my friend!

Good News

Well the more important news is that Arabella is doing better after her surgery. If you want to follow or catch up on her progress follow her blog here. She is doing better and that is great news!

For me - much less important but exciting in my little world is that I am going to have my proposal meeting on March 12th at 1pm. This is the meeting where they decide if I can go forward with my dissertation research (looking at rural low-income moms). If you want to read the proposal and tell me what you think I will send it to you just let me know. I am sure that I will have people just crashing down my email door! :)

Today while at work and trying to avoid reading the boring article I emailed an old boss here in Columbia that I used to teach for last semester. It was my night class that I taught on MU campus and asked if I could teach again. I specifically asked for a Human Development/Lifespan kind of class and guess what? She emailed me back and said she would love to have me teach a Human Lifespan course in the evening! Yeah for me! So hopefully she can get approval and I will teach again in the fall. I miss teaching, I didn't think I would but I do and so it would be nice to keep things going in that part of my life.

In other news, I am meeting with the Deputy Department Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services for MO on March 16th to see if I can do an internship with her. I have one going right now but feel like I am just putting time in not really learning anything so I talked with the internship director and she suggested this. The only real problem is that I don't have 80 hours in a work week, so we will just have to wait and see how it pans out. I have until next May to do my 360 hours and I have done about 12 so far - not so good, but at least a start.

Sundays

Sometimes Sundays seem to last a very long time. I have church at 9am, get there around 8:15 or so to set up for primary and then have choir right after, so I get home around 1pm. Today seemed like one of those days that went on forever. I went on a walk, cooked, baked, read, listen to a book on tape, worked on my quilt, etc. I was reading the March Friend about Sunday Stations and thought I should do that so I tried to call Pepa but he must have more of a life than I do and was gone! :) So, next week I am going to try and have Sunday stations for myself, maybe the day won't seem so long!