I like to try and see the best in people.  It's something that does not come easy, and that I have worked on continually in my life.  I don't like watching people make bad/hard decisions in their life.  To bring it back to my last post on Holy Envy, I had an Elder on my mission who I had Holy Envy for, in the way that he viewed people.  He taught me a valuable lesson in the MTC and I have tried to be more like him since that moment. My companion and I had been joking about what one of the other sisters was wearing and we were something something along the lines that we didn't think it was appropriate for her to wear being a missionary.  

And then here comes the reality check.  This Elder heard us, and said something along the lines of "well maybe she has to wear it because of.....or maybe she needs it because of....or maybe she grew up in a place where....etc."  My companion and I then made the goal to be more like that.  And we worked at it.  And I've continued working at it.  

Really it doesn't matter what another person chooses to do.  I dunno.  It's a balance I guess.  Cause obviously you want to help other people and one of the ways we do that is through teaching and serving and helping, but one thing that I've tried to wrap my mind around is that idea.  Finding that balance.  Between doing what you know is right, and letting other people make their own decisions.  But still trying to help them make the right decision?  I don't even know if that makes sense outside my head.  But tis my ponderings of recent days.  

Life is grand.  Family is great.  Thankfully MA and VA weren't hit hard by the storm.  Super grateful for friends and family members who care.  Super grateful for the gratitude holiday coming up.  Super grateful for an adoptive family who is taking me in for thanksgiving.  Super grateful for a God who knows me inside and out.  Super grateful for best friends.  Super grateful for great roommates.  Super grateful for the scriptures.  Super grateful for my calling and the opportunity to love and serve.  Super grateful for my job.  Super grateful for my students and my coworkers and the crazy things we do.  Super grateful for the beautiful california weather.  Super grateful for the temple :)

Source: mrmn.org via Annie on Pinterest

Holy Envy

So I have been thinking a lot recently about relationships.  Things have been a little crazy at work.  Plus turning 25.  All these cause for a bit of reflection.

Also, a little while ago I taught a lesson in relief society where I talked about Holy Envy.  There's a bishop in the church in sweden who coined that term and was referring to religion when he used it.  "By this Stendahl meant that you should be willing to recognize elements in the other religious tradition or faith that you admire and wish could, in some way, be reflected in your own religious tradition or faith."  

So I started thinking about Holy Envy in terms of the relationships that I've had.  And some of these are like BF/GF relationships, and some are like bff relationships, but these are some of the things that I have Holy Envy for.  I have Holy Envy for:

• W and the way that he is so so so giving.
• J and the way she is bubbly and oh so nice all the days.
• D and how he is such a peacemaker.
• S and the adventures we would always go on.
• B and the way he was my best friend and we could talk about anything.
• A and how grateful she always is.
• M and how she is such a great cook.
• S and how he treated me like a princess
• G and how funny he is.
• R and how accepting he is of everything and everyone.
• D and how ambitious he is.
• K and how she makes everyone feel at ease in any situation.
• S and how focused and self controlled she is.
• M and how he respects my values and the way I live my life, and helps me set them higher.
• D and how passionate he is about the gospel.
• A and how he is so obedient in his life.
• S and the fashion sense that she has.
• A and how she loves learning.
• S and how witty she is.
• V and how goal oriented and organized she is.
• P and how he is always there for me.
• C and how she's my cuddle buddy when i need a good cry.
• C and how close he is with his family.

I could probably go on and on and on and on but can I tell you how good it's been to look back and look at all the good things that I've learned from all the amazing people in my life?  How blessed am I!  Love it :)

Blessings.

                     

Story of my life.  haha.  But really.  I boycott.  No, not really.  Life is funny.  God can be funny.  Plays funny jokes.  No.  That's not really true either.  My life....

I got sick this last week.  Throw up sick.  Haven't done that in a while.  Actually last time I did that was because I had a panic attack.  That was grand.  But not the case this time in case you were wondering.  Just a bug.  And my life is real wonderful.

It's gotten real busy.  Which is good.  Good to get involved in good things.  Conference was this weekend and I loved it!  Learned a lot.  About life.  About myself.  About my calling.  Oh ps. i got the calling to be relief society president again.  Which I finally came to terms with again this weekend.

Big news for the LDS church this weekend is that our missionaries (which in the past have consisted of typically 19 year old boys and some 21 year old girls) can now begin at ages 18 and 19 for boys and girls respectively.  I was at work when the announcement was made, and got out of work to a text from one of my best friends saying "Annie!!! I AM GOING ON A MISSION ASAP! I already have a meeting with my bishop.  Oh ho ho I am so happy."  To which I immediately started crying.

I have been home from my mission for about 2.5 years.  Weird.  I just turned 25.  Weird.  I have this extremely overwhelming calling.  Again.  Which is weird.  But I have a Heavenly Father who knows what's up and I am blessed in oh so many ways.  And so, as part of President Monson's counsel, here is a list of just a few of my recent blessings:

1)  I have an incredibly talented and amazing presidency.  They are phenomenal.  Really.

2)  Best parents on the planet.  Enough said.

3)  Roommates who are super chill and easy to get along with.

4)  I get to work with kids every day.  And they are angels.  And I love them.  Even the crazies.  Actually, especially the crazies.

5)  I have a job that keeps me active and having fun.

6)  I have friends I can count on to take care of me when I'm sick.

7)  I am provided for.  I have a job, apartment, food, etc.

8)  I got to step on crunchy fall like leaves this weekend.

9)  I have friends in distant lands who love me and know the perfect times to send messages/packages/texts/call, etc.

10)  I have learned how to say no.  At least a little bit.  Not my strongest suit.  But I am getting better at it.  and I consider that a blessing.

and many many many more.  i'm continuing the list elsewhere, but you just get the taste of it.  It was funny cause Pres. Monson gave this counsel and all I could think about was how I already do it thanks to the dear Sister Walker and her example on my mission.  It has made all the difference in my life.  5 blessings/tender mercies written down at the end of each day.  I highly recommend it.  It'll change your life :)

Perfect Words

So I've had so much on my mind in the past two weeks.  Plus just being busy.  Just can't find the words to adequately describe how great my life is.  One of my bestest friends/favorite souls and I drove up to the temple this last week and I came to some realizations.  But to put it into words on my blog, I couldn't think of how to do it.  And then I read one of my other best friends/favorite soul's blog and he used many of the words that I have been lacking.  Click here to see the post.  Step by step life goes and we grow.  Gotta love it :)

God Knows What's Up

So let me just say.  This weekend has been a bit of a whirlwind of emotions.  I have been on my knees just a little bit praying to figure out some stuff in my life.  Becoming an adult can be hard.  Grand.  But hard.  Responsibility is hard.  And a bit overwhelming at times.  But like I said, God knows what's up.  He really does.  And for some reason it still surprises me sometimes how He knows EVERYTHING.  I mean, obviously we know that.  But how often do we really understand that?

He has this grand plan for each and every one of us, and I find myself getting constantly reminded that He is in control.  He is so so so involved in our lives and wants to help us all the days.  How blessed are we?

never ever ever ever

sometimes i'm grateful that life changes.

sometimes i get to interview new hires at work.

sometimes i act according to what i want to do.

sometimes i decide i'm going to make a trip to europe.

sometimes i get reminded of my purpose and my goals.

sometimes i get hugs when i need them.

all the time i love the temple.

all the time i have great family and friends.

all the time i have a Heavenly Father who loves me and gives me tender mercies all the days.

Daddy

I have an incredible dad.  This post is my belated but promised Father's day one.  I found the photo above on pinterest and thought it a fitting way to begin the post.  And I'm going to do this one a little different than my mom's.  This is my list of things my daddy taught me/ways that he is that make me want to find a guy like him.

1)  He loves and adores my mom.  All the days.  They cuddle on the couch.  He gets her flowers and presents for no reason (does that for me too.  love random packages from daddy.)  One of the only times I ever remember him getting really really angry with me was when I was probably in elementary and i was practicing backhandsprings in my room and oblivious little kid that I was I didn't realize that mom was trying to sleep in the next room over and I guess my backhandsprings on our second floor in the room next door probably didn't help her.  I have never seen my dad so angry, but for me, it showed how much he cared about my mom.  

2)  He is so stinking smart.  Not only has he graduated from college and gotten a PhD and all that, but he got it from MIT (no big deal).  And while I don't know all his reasoning and thoughts that went into his major and  life decisions like that, I do know that it does provide well for our family.  

3)  He taught us kids to be passionate about something and do what we love.  My dad loves baseball and basketball.  Do any of us kids play either of those sports?  No.  haha.  Did he have us try them?  Yes.  Did we all find our own passions and have supportive parents every step of the way?  Yes.  I can't count the number of gymnastics meets that my dad stood by the recorded so I could watch them later and learn from, not to mention driving me home from practice everyday.  While I might not have learned to set goals and achieve such high academic standards as my dad, he did teach how to set goals and achieve them through other means.

4)  He has an amazing testimony of the gospel.  He got baptized while he was in college, married my mom in the temple, and is an avid gospel scholar.  We have sooooo many gospel books at home, not to count the hours and hours of talks and podcasts he has on his computer and in his car that he listens to.  I have never had a gospel question for him that he hasn't answered to satisfy my curiosity.  He magnifies his calling.  He goes to his church meetings.  He is what I would call mostly an introvert, but he gets pushed outside his comfort zone all the days with his calling and he does it well.  He's had to deal with some intense stuff and I admire him for how much he cares and how much of his life he dedicates to the gospel.  

5)  He loves his family.  I can't count the number of times I went outside with my dad just to play catch and talk.  He loves his new grandbabies in my cute little nieces. He made our house into one with the cool gadgets and games to play at with my friends growing up.  Some place for extended family and friends to come have game nights and fun.  And he loves his immediate family too.  I feel as though with that comes a love of the state of oklahoma, where he grew up and where his mom and one of his brothers still live.  I remember going to visit one time in high school, and when we were flying home, talking about how both places kinda felt like home cause of the memories and people there.  

6)  My dad is so stinking generous.  It's like his favorite thing in the world to give the perfect present.  My parents have to set a cap at christmastime cause my dad goes a little crazy wanting to get everyone everything that they want/need or that he thinks they will like.  Many a package that I have gotten from him while being away (at school, mission or here in CA) have come at just the right times when I've needed them most.  Just a little thing normally, to let us know he cares and that he's thinking about us.  Not only is he generous to our family, but I know that I have seen my parents give things to families in need that can never be repaid.  

7)  My dad had standards for me.  And when I wasn't living up to them, or my potential, I had privileges taken away.  He wanted me to be my best self.  I remember many a lecture in the car on the way to or from gymnastics, normally about grades.  I want someone who is going to expect me to be better, someone who will continue to push me to improve, while loving me along the way like my daddy does.

8)  He always has time for me.  If I am locked out of my apartment in Idaho 2500 miles away, getting a flat tire, needing help with taxes, forgetting to register my car and needing my title overnighted to me, my parents both have always always been there.  No matter the time of day or night.  He even plays draw with me with me even though I am absolutely so horrible at it it's funny. 

9)  He's hilarious.  Ever so witty.  You just have to listen to catch his jokes sometimes.  Family time always was filled with lots and lots of laughter.  Partially because my mom and I both laugh alot, and partly because my brothers and dad are hilarious.  Nerds.  But hilarious nonetheless.

10)  He has always been so incredibly supportive of me and trusts me and my decisions.  He has taught me how to make big decisions and how to follow through with the decisions I make, including the one that moved me 3000 miles away to work a job that doesn't have much to do with my degree.  If I were to say tomorrow that I wanted to come home, he'd probably put my mom on a plane to help pack me up and drive me back.  Well that's a lie.  He'd probably make sure I wasn't making a rash decision but i have absolutely no doubt that if i said I needed to come home there would be no hesitation.  

Mostly this is me just bragging about my daddy.  He's too modest most of the time anyways.  But I love him.  He's the grandest soul.  Best guy you'll ever meet.  :)

Crazies

I've been thinking a bit this week about crazy people.  Maybe because I have some in my life.  But I was thinking about what makes crazy people crazy.  I had a roommate at one point in college who I called my crazy psycho roommate.  I have kids who come into the gym who are CRAZY.  I have parents who come in who are on a whole different level of crazy.  Then I have acquaintances etc. who are crazy.  And this is the conclusion I have come to.

The number one reason that I think people (including myself) act crazy is because they don't know and trust in God's plan and timing.

Example 1:  I had a parent today at a birthday party who was one of those helicopter moms and her child was an 8 year old boy.  in a gymnastics gym.  and she was trying to keep him from doing anything.  good luck sweetie.  but I think if she knew what life was about, she would understand that her child needs to experience things for himself.  part of life is making mistakes and growing, and what a better place to make a mistake than in a fully padded gym meant for little kids.

Example 2:  Crazy psycho roommate.  She had an understanding of God's plan.  She was one of the most giving people I've ever met in my life.  So incredibly nice, and very upfront in her communication.  I learned loads and loads from her that semester.  However, I think that she was missing some of that trust, as we all at times in life do.  Last I checked she's super happy now though so that's good :)

Example 3:  Crazy kids.  Let's take my friend J that I talked about last post.  This one is on me, thinking that he was crazy.  So often at the gym, these kids come in with different lives, and situations.  But I have found with every single crazy that I have had come in, give them a couple weeks and you'll feel that love for them.  And then they're still crazy, but you are the one who understands the plan more.  And then they learn more from you.

Example 4:  Sometimes, people get irritated when they aren't dating.  hahaha.  Sometimes people get a little desperate and act a little (or a lot) crazy.  Makes me laugh.  But it's crazy.  And I admit, I have at times acted crazy when it comes to this sort of thing.  But the thing to remember, as always, is God.  He's great.  He knows what He is doing.  You don't have to rush anything or get all crazy.  It'll happen with His timing.

Which brings me to the conclusion.  I am so incredibly blessed it's ridiculous.  I have the best job on the planet.  Spectacular coworkers and bosses.  Amazing kids who teach me daily.  Wonderful roommates.  Fun friends.  Perfect parents.  US Women's gymnastics winning the team gold.  Gabby Douglas winning the individual all-around.  Life is grand.  Couldn't ask for a better one myself :)

J

Let me tell you a story.  Once upon a time, I started coaching here in California.  And when I started coaching, it was the first time I had coached sooo soo many preschool gymnastics classes everyday all day.  And I've talked about my favorite class from those first couple months here.  I also had my not so favorite class.  Three 3-year olds.  Not hard right?  3 kids, when normally a class has between 5 and 7 kids.  But oh my goodness this poor class.  2 boys.  One girl.  Angel girl who is actually a pretty talented little gymnast who I caught singing popcorn popping one time (but that's a story for another time).

My gym is decently small.  We put classes and little circuits (obstacle courses) in small spaces so we can maximize gym use.  So during the 3:30 hour, as most gyms know, the gym gets to be pretty crowded with lots of classes going on.  And keeping these three kids in our little area and out of the way of getting squashed by bigger kids was my main goal for this little class.  Now.  The class at first was just two, one boy and one girl, and manageable.  But add my dear little friend J to the mix and all chaos ensued.

Luckily I work with splendid other coaches who knew what I was going through and most were understanding when all the sudden J or the other boy would sprint off across the middle of the floor to get trampled.  As I have since learned, it takes three weeks for kids to get it.  And I had J for about three weeks of him sprinting off when my schedule got flipped around and I got taken off his class to coach some of the older girls.  Another coach coached him for a while, and he just lost interest I guess cause I realized I stopped seeing him at class.

And then came this week.  He signed up for summer camp.  3 straight hours of Jad.  With 6 other kids between the ages of 3-4.  Needless to say I was a little scared for this week.  Scared is an understatement.  I had Jad, another girl who just barely turned 3 last week, plus some other characters.

But let me tell you.  I love J.  We finally get each other.  When the huge group of camp is playing a big game, or practicing for their big performance, both J and I know he can't pay attention, so today for example, we took a break and built towers to karate kick down.  I had to leave for part of the day today to set stuff up for my parent tot class that I teach, and he came up and gave me this huge hug.  He wanted to show off to me his winnie the pooh and tigger crocs.

I am by no means a perfect coach.  I still have tons and tons to learn.  But sometimes it's breakthroughs like this that make it worth it.  Still exhausting.  But worth it.   I love it.  I feel like I learn and grow each day, and I don't feel that that is going to stop anytime soon which is exciting to me :)