Fun Friday

We don't get a whole lot of time to fish lately because of the wee one(we worry he will jump in!), so we decided that we would go on an adventure to celebrate our upcoming anniversary.  This happened Saturday, but I figured it went with the Fun Friday theme.

Lake Selfie

Us.

I'm so glad I married my best fishing buddy and a great cook.  Here he is harvesting crawfish for a dip we ate on Father's Day.  Delicious.  

Two Tips for Readers

1. It is okay to be reading more than one book at a time. I'm reading four currently. 

2. If you do not like a book, you do not have to finish it. In the words of my favorite librarian: "There are too many good books in the world to waste your time on a bad one!"

I met an author today at my class. He opened my world to the graphic novel. Give Nathan Hale a read if you get a chance. His historical graphic novels are funny, cleaver and make history fun! This YouTube video is a lot like his presentation today. It rocked: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsagIbxDfpU&sns=em

Writing Wednesday: Poem

For my class, we have to polish two pieces of writing.  I am thinking that this will be one of mine.  I am looking for some feedback on this piece.  Do you like it? Does it makes sense? Are there parts that are confusing or need revising?  What are you favorite parts?  Thanks for your input, and enjoy.

Cemetery Contemplation

I sit feet away from a baby girl

Who died about three months before I was born.

I wonder what she would have been like today.

            Would we have been friends?

I sit yards away from an open tomb

That waits for its occupant to arrive today.

Whose partner has waited for nearly thirty three years

To meet his sweetheart again.

I wonder what that reunion would be like today.

            Would seeing it comfort the broken hearts of those who lost

                        Mom, sister, or grandma today?

I scan the hundreds of worn and weathered headstones

Each of them representing a person

Each a person who was important to somebody

I wonder if those memories begin to also fade with time.

            Will we all one day be forgotten?

I see flowers and trinkets

on or near many of the headstones

Only the most recent have such tokens

I wonder about those who leave such tokens.

            Will their hearts ever be mended?

I realize that this place is for us; the living

Here we come to remember and to reflect

It’s not for them; the dead are not here

I wonder if they ever look down on their own graves.

            Would they find our rituals strange and out of place?

I notice the walls that surround this place

Separating this place from the outside world

Allowing us to leave that world for a moment

To feel the peace and the quiet of this place

To reflect about what we are doing here

About the fact that we will one day die

I wonder about that day for me

            Will I be scared?

I reflect on what is truly important

Those flowers and trinkets mean nothing to the dead

But the people who visit and those who now rest matter

I wonder who will one day visit my future grave.

            Will they know I loved them enough?

Top Ten Tips to My Single Friends.

Most of you know that I didn't get married until I was older, which is more and more the norm in our society, but if you happen to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, you may feel a bit of pressure to get married, especially if you are over 30.  I have been thinking lots about writing a book about some of the tips I would give for surviving your thirties as a single woman in the church.

Do you think people would want to read it?  Let me know your thoughts on this subject, and here is a Top Ten of ideas that may make my book:

1.  Love You
If you can't love yourself, I'm sorry to be blatantly clear, but people won't like you and seriously, men will never love you.  You must take care of yourself.  The love you have for you is reflected in how you manage stress in your life, take care of  your body, and how you talk about yourself.  Find time to relax, eat well and exercise often, and be positive when referring to yourself.

2.  Travel
You will never regret getting out and seeing the world.  And when you get tied down with the responsibilities that come with marriage, you won't get the chance to see the world, especially when you become a parent.  I am so glad I saw England, Scotland, and Russia.  I hope I will one day get to travel again, but for now road trips will be an adventure with kiddos.

3.  Do What You Like to Do
Don't sit around pinning about what you want your life to look like(the perfect little house, with a perfect little yard, with a perfect husband and six children).  Get out and do the things you like.  First, get educated and get a good job.  Work in a field that fascinates and stretches you.  Do something you love to do each and every day(if you are able, do 20 things you love to do!).  Doing things you love make you happy and happy people are very attractive and desirable.  Finding purpose in your life is the best give you can give yourself and to anybody who will come along to woo you.

4.  Be Open 
Get out of your shell of safety a bit.  Be open to do things that aren't easy and may not be exactly what you like.  This will open many doors to you and you will learn lots about yourself.  Be open to experiences in the dating world too.  Date and date and then date some more.  Never, ever say no to a date offer.  You limit yourself when you aren't open.  You may often overlook guys based on what they are into or by what you assume they are like.  Realize that you will never ever find the perfect man, he does not exist.  But you will find the perfect man for you.

5. Be Less Judgemental.
People are not perfect.  Not all people are like you.  Not all people will like you.  It doesn't matter.  LOVE THEM ANYWAY.  Women are tough on each other.  Quit it.  We are on the same team.  Build instead of knock down.  You will find that you can be friends with anybody and it is important to have a wide range of personalities in your friend sphere.  Different views can help you make better decisions and treat people better.  Again, there are no perfect men either and many by our age have a slew of issues.  I am not saying to not judge righteously but I would have never dated Reuben, if I judged him based on the things he did the ten years prior to us meeting.

6.  Be Spiritual
God wants to lead you on your journey.  He also wants to comfort you and knows all your challenges. Pray, read the good word, and have faith.  Without faith one is lost.  When you are in tune with the spirit, you will be able to make wise decisions and you will also be happier.

7.  Find a Good Support Network
You may live alone, and feel alone, but reach out to others.  Find places where you can find good friends and treat your friends well.  Call them, invite them.  You will sit around a long time waiting for their calls and invites.  Do it!  Learn how to communicate your feelings too because that helps so much in relationships and hello, friendships are relationships!

8.  Be Financially Responsible
Don't be afraid to invest your money.  Real Estate is a great investment.  Do not be afraid to save your money and buy a house.  Homeownership is amazing and you aren't just throwing your hard earned money away to a landlord.  I wish I had done this before I was married.  Also, get good at taking care of your money.  It is a great thing to keep you free from the bondage of debt and will help you when you do get married.

9.  Be Healthy
Now, many people have a hard time with this one.  I am not implying that you become what I refer to as a skinny mini, but it is important to be at a healthy weight.  I am not there now and I hate it because I just don't feel good.  I am tired, emotional and can't do things I like to do.  Learn to eat healthy and also to move more.  You don't have to run marathons, but you should be moving.  Walking is an easy way to get exercise in; everybody can walk!  A body in motion stays in motion.  A body at rest tends to stay at rest.  When people quit moving they quit doing good things, and you have lots of great things to do.  I also hate to say it, but guys are physical beings.  No matter how we try to change them, they notice our bodies first.  I'm so sorry for that, but really this matters!

10.  Be Happy and Don't be Offended Easily
I am sorry to say this too because I have heard a few people get offended by this. You choose to be happy.  Yes, you may have an issue that needs to be addressed with medicine, but really you have a lot of choice in this.  Pessimists die sooner than optimists.  It is proven through science.  Happy is attractive, just sayin'.  I hate when Reuben is down.  It makes clouds surround all of us.  And with offense, which I added because being offended makes you unhappy.  Holding grudges doesn't punish other people, it punishes you.  Get over stuff.  The more you get offended the more you block off people and experiences.  Quit it!

Me Monday

So, do you know me well? 

Could I actually stump you with anything?(I know I threw somebody a little with my tiring of hamburgers!)

Here is a fact about me that you may or may not know...

I LOVE cemeteries.  I always have; it might have something to do with the fact that my dad always took me to the Memorial Day Program.  I don't see cemeteries as scary or weird places(of course I don't hang out in them at night, either).  In fact, I actually find them as very peaceful and calm places. It's almost as if they are places where there is a quiet waiting going on.  See, to me, cemeteries are not the end of this journey we call life, but actually just a little step in the journey of eternity.  We don't end at the grave.

Last week in my class, they had us write about what our last words would be and I had a very hard time coming up with anything because really, when I die, it won't be the end, and I won't be saying last words and really I also think that we should be too busy to worry about coming up with something profound to say at the end.  Our last words really come from what we do and in the person we are becoming through our experiences.  It's how we live our life that matters. 

That's where the peace in the cemetery comes from for me.  Sure, death is sad but really it is sad because of missing people, but really we will see those people again.  This silly life just can't be "it" for me.  It is too full of pain and sorrow to be "it."  Don't you think?

I took a fun little walk in a cemetery today and saw some cool things.  I thought I would share some pictures of my walk.  I did write a little poem too, but it isn't finished yet, so you may have to wait until Writing Wednesday for that!  Enjoy your little virtual tour of The American Fork City Cemetery:

I always am reminded of those who sacrificed so much for our freedom

On a day when somebody would be laid to rest, I was reminded how short this life really is. 

I was also reminded that we are all pioneers. 

This garden was so peaceful and I felt the importance of knowing Christ and his role in eternity!

I hate seeing babies in cemeteries. 

Cemeteries are beautiful!

Tears rolled out with these signs. 

Well, next time you need some peace and quiet may I suggest a cemetery walk?

(Another thing you may not know about me is that I have a very hard time spelling cemetery!)