I Know How I'd Feel If...

While standing in the Sistine Chapel just a few months ago, and watching while multiple people were taking pictures and videoing the art around us even though we were specifically asked not to, I remember thinking, "this is sacred to someone. Sure they want to preserve the art, but it is also sacred. And if they are being so kind to share it with the world, we need to respect their wishes. I know how I'd feel if someone were taking pictures inside MY temple."

Well, I experienced that yesterday. I brought a non member friend to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House last night. It was a wonderful experience overall. To start the silent tour inside the Temple, you are brought into a tent to watch a video. They specifically ask you not to take pictures inside the Temple, however, you may take pictures outside all you want. As we proceeded on the tour of the Temple, I noticed a man several people behind us with his flip phone out, quite obviously taking pictures with it. The first time I noticed it was when we were in a stairwell. I thought, "ok, it was just stairs..maybe that's not a big deal." But the more we went on, the more I was upset at my silence. This was my temple. A sacred place to me. A place that we were yes, sharing with the public, but doing so with the understanding that we hold it very sacred. I began watching the man. We then entered the Sealing room. He whipped out his phone again and started taking pictures. I couldn't believe it. I moved toward him and told him "no pictures, sir". And probably gave him a look that said this is a sacred place and you've been asked not to already. He pretended not to hear me so I repeated myself and then reported him to a stake president who was near. My conscience was feeling much better. I did not just stand by in my Father's Sacred Holy House.

What a difference it makes to Stand up for what we Believe in. Stand up for things we cherish. Stand up even when it's hard.

Tired or Simply Line repelled?

Ok, so I had a very interesting day yesterday. As most of you know, I have reached the young age of 31 years. What the heck does that matter? Well, it means I am transitioning into a phase in my life where I am searching for belonging in the church world. Don't get me wrong. I am most definitely NOT searching for a new spiritual belief, just a place to set my hat every Sunday to worship. My current singles ward is only for those up to age 30. Once you hit the big 3 1, it's time to set your sights somewhere else. Anyway, so I decided to try the mid singles ward yesterday. Big breath. Now granted, I did go to my regular ward (because I was asked to attend) and there happened to be a mingle at both wards...so we are talking church for 6 hrs, 2 mingles, AND wait for it...I had a baptism to top it off. So needless to say, I was pretty exhausted.

I thought I'd jot down my experience at the mid singles ward. This is more to just getting it out of my system. When my friend and I got there, a guy was lingering in the hall and immediately made verbal contact with us as we were headed to the bathroom before Relief Society. A little quirky, but alright. As we headed into RS, that same guy was now hanging outside the RS doors and made more verbal contact with me. Still alright. I get to sacrament meeting and same guy sits on the same bench on the opposite side as me. I notice this guy continually maneuvering positions to see me throughout all of the meeting. I smiled at him to let him know I did in fact notice him (hoping he'd stop making such an awkward attempt at getting noticed). Nope, he continued watching me throughout the meeting. After the meeting he stood at his end of the bench, waiting for me to get up, however, I was looking for the hymns we would be using for the baptism. So the next thing I knew, he was standing right in front of me making hymnal comments. Wow! This guy was trying SO HARD!!! Impressed and flattered that someone was going to ALL THIS TROUBLE to get my attention, I spoke with him for a few minutes and he went on his way as I finished with the baptism hymnal stuff. My friend and I went into the mingle to waste some time before the baptism and yep....there was my mystery man again. And for the next 30 or so minutes we talked. At one point he asked me a question and when it was time for him to respond, he said "I'm sorry, I was listening but I was just mesmerized by how beautiful your eyes are". Hahaha. Wow. I'm not sure if he's creepy AND nervous, just nervous, or just creepy?! I thought maybe I was just tired, but the more I think about it the more I realize, hearing blatant 'lines' is such a turnoff. Now, had I known this guy and he was just paying me a compliment... that's flattering. :)

Just a lil Bit of Joy

I have had much to be thankful and joyful about lately. I just wanted to share a few of the things that have caused my heart joy. :)

...being able to spend a week on the beach, a place where I find so much peace.

...being able to wake up to my niece and nephews and have them snuggle with me and giggle about silly things.

...learning how to fly the glider kite. A lot more fun than one would think. :)

...playing go-fish with the kiddos.

...playing on the play ground and watching the kidlets try to be safe AND daring at the same time. So proud.

...going for walks on the beach.

...watching sunsets.

...making funny faces.

...laughing lots.

...being present when my sweet Braxie wanted to say Dinner prayer (he's doing so well!!).

...being able to help Braxie hold his new baby sister, whom he loves oh so much!



...having tender moments with another sweet lil one who loves to cuddle just like ME ;)



...partaking of the yummy goodness of Dairy Queens Tagalong Blizzard which is amazingly delicious.

Practice Makes Perfect

Many may wonder why I have gone with my chosen blog title. Call it what you want, but I simply call it my reminder. I truly believe it. Life IS about learning to dance in the rain. We DO either decide to stand still, never changing and simply getting wet for no good reason other than to be miserable in that moment. OR, we decide to MOVE, and learn from the situation what we will. Movement is key! Dance! Have fun with life. And when it throws thunder clouds, learn from it what you may. There is ALWAYS something to be learned.

So why the blog title? Well, it's my motto in life. Do I forget it sometimes? Well, hello! I AM only human. But I certainly try to remember it and I think most times I do ok. Perhaps practice makes perfect. ;) HA.

Banana Hands

Confession. I HATE bananas. It's true. The one exception is banana bread and only if a very small amount of banana is used. I only say this now because I recently had my first banana bread that TASTED like I was eating a nasty banana. They apparently used 4x the allotted banana requirement. But in most cases, you cannot taste banana in banana bread. But I loath bananas. They overpower any other taste. In a smoothie...there's the after taste that banana leaves. Banana tongue if you will. Fruit salad with bananas in it...there's the banana slim that banana leaves all over the other fruit. Who can enjoy fruit slimmed? It's just not good.

Interestingly enough, my hate for bananas comes up a lot. Apparently people find it intriguing. Inevitably, they always ask the questions about when I have children, will I refuse to feed them bananas. To me, this is a funny question.

Exhibit A. This weekend my nephew was eating a banana. For all good friends who know me, know I have an extremely sensitive smeller. I smell EVERYTHING. Well,what can I say, he wanted to sit on me and eat this crazy huge banana. I love him. Of course I want him to sit with me. And I only cringed inside when he was putting his banana hands all over me. Cause I love him. He has NO idea that I loath bananas. None of my kidlets know Aunt TT is completely grossed out by bananas...the smell and all that goes with it. Because that's just how I roll. I love them, banana hands and all. :)

Aware

I suppose one thing you could say I've been doing lately, is trying to become more aware. Aware of myself. Aware of those around me. Aware of my Father in Heaven. And in this journey, the one thing that has trumped all others, is HE is aware of ME. I suppose when we are trying to be more spiritually grounded and in search for good things, we are blessed and able to bless the lives of others.

The last week I have been overwhelmed by such wonderful experiences. I love that life is such a learning experience. In the last week I've received 4 notes from friends. I've been overwhelmed by my experiences with each friend. All I can say, is that I am truly blessed to know each friend. I'm blessed to brush shoulders with them. It is amazing to me that these 'notes' would come at a time when i would be questioning myself and perhaps whether I could be doing better. Boy our Father in Heaven knows when to put people in our lives and when to motivate people in our lives. I am truly grateful for the lessons learned. And yes, I feel I am aware more and more every day.

Please and Thank You!

For those of you who know me well, you know that I invest A LOT of hopefully 'quality' time with my nieces and nephews. It's important to me. Pretty much children are my life. Anyway, while I spend that time with them... there are just things that they know I WILL allow and things they know i WILL NOT allow. Please's and Thank you's are a must. You may be scratching your head right now and thinking, this girl is crazy. The 'please' and 'thank yous' will come and kids will be kids. But I'm a firm believer in teaching children kindness. A kind child is a kind adult. Who's gonna complain about having too many kind adults? Seriously!

Exhibit A. I was getting lunch today. Cafe Rio. I put in my order and couldn't help but note the behavior behind me. This woman was on her phone the entire time. First of all she acted as if she was inconvenience by having to give her order (I'm sorry that the Cafe Rio staff are not mind readers), and then when it came to payment she actually threw her credit card across the counter top at the woman. No she didn't place it ON the counter (which is only slightly better). She tossed it, it slid across the counter and I thought for a second that it would go all the way off and onto the floor. I thought to myself...who does that?! Sadly....I think a lot of people do. In my reflection over this...I was grateful to note that I had used my pleases and thank yous. My mother taught me well. Thank you mom!

So why do I stress pleases and thank yous with the little ones? Because we shouldn't live in a world where behavior like the kind that I witnessed today is acceptable. We shouldn't live in a world where WE contribute to that kind of behavior. Because as soon as we do...what does that really mean? If we stop saying it, does that mean we stop feeling it? Does that mean we actually stop feeling thankful? I hope not. Because there is much to be grateful for. :)