and the words, they're everything [08]

Today we have a very special Thanksgiving-themed WWIS post.

I'm grateful for my thoughtful earbuds.

I'm grateful for my thoughtful sister.

I'm grateful for my favorite book. Also this sounds like a sci-fi or near-future gadget. "With new silver sleeve, you can post right from your clothing!"

I'm grateful for the library where I could pick up my favorite book if I didn't already own it. I pick up pretty much every other book there.

I'm grateful for my phone that only does T9 texting (and that I am good at it). I'm also grateful that I don't stare into my own room all that much, even though you can see it from the living room, because I keep the door closed. Because I can't keep it clean.

I'm grateful for happy people, my nephew, and babies. All of them.

Well, that was enough gratitude. I'm out.

followers of my faith [Mormon Monday 60]

The principle you're supposed to extract from D&C 57:7-13 is We should use our individual strengths to help build the Lord’s kingdom as He calls upon us to do so.

(Not the only principle, probably. But it's the one the manual suggests.)

Then we ponder: what are my strengths?

When discussing this with seminary students, it can be helpful to remind them: you are yet early in the process of fully realizing your strengths. In the next few years your full complement of strengths will become apparent to you.

(Although, since 'full complement' seems like it could be a little heavy for high schoolers, you might word it differently.)

But what about me? I'm a little bit past the "next few years" that I was supposed to discover my strengths. Am I stuck with what I've got?

I read a blog post by a friend (acquaintance? How much do you have to hang out with someone before they count as a friend?) about how she has realized that she has more to learn, but that where she is now is where she needs to be. She may have strengths she'll yet discover. But where she needs to be, she has the tools she needs.

I still remember a stake conference where one of the old men (can't remember his calling exactly) saying that in his patriarchal blessing he was blessed with an affinity for family history. Finally he was like 60 and realized that this strength hadn't come to him yet. So he started. And it was awesome.

So there's hope for all of us.

here it is the knock of your own heart that matters [Scripture Mastery Times: 1 Samuel 16:7]

 So. This scripture sometimes makes me uncomfortable.

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.(1 Samuel 16:7)

The thought is great! It doesn't matter what we look like, whether we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are famous or forgotten (x). In such an appearance-based world, that kind of reassurance can be really comforting...

...unless you are really not sure what the Lord sees in your heart. Is there even anything there beneath the pride? Are any of my motives for doing good the right ones, or are they still rooted in self-consciousness, arrogance, lack of humility?

At least I look good.

I'm beginning to come to the conclusion that the cure for all this (having a prideful heart as well as worrying about having a prideful heart) is to develop a relationship with the Savior and with Heavenly Father. Even if my motives for beginning it are not the purest (for example, if I want the blessings of increased faith and reliance on the Atonement...because I totally want that), God can change my heart if I let Him. And I'll let Him when I trust Him.

So that's my work in progress. I'll let you know how it went in the next life.

the words, they're everything [07]

I'm actually really glad that this won't be my last installment of this series, because it's my favorite. It's easy and funny (funny to me at least, which is the important thing).

Let's get this party started!

Speaking of, this is an awesome party idea.

I bet if I had a smartphone it would love one of these cases.

Always nice to have a bit of poetry.

;) 

I do, truly, love it.

 See you next time!

followers of my faith [Mormon Monday 59]

I am having a hard time working out my thoughts on various posts I'm working on, but I feel bad not having posted one of these in a while, so have one of these lovely graphics:

My roommate posted it on Facebook; can't find another source (maybe she made it! on her phone!), so let me know if you see one. I also just discovered the General Conference Pinterest so I should have some more graphics for you if my actual thoughts don't work out.

And don't forget that you're loved.

followers of my faith [Mormon Monday 58]

A couple weeks ago I ended up taking the train with a girl in my ward whom I have always admired (to the point of being scared to talk to her, you know how it goes). As we spoke, she looked up at the sky and said, "Look! There's a sundog!"

source

"A few years ago," she told me, "I decided that my 'thing' in nature that when I saw it meant that God loved me would be a sundog."

"That's great," I replied. "Mine is little birds, and I saw some today too!"

"Wow, look, another sundog!" she exclaimed.

I probably said something awkward.

What later struck me about the conversation is she chose something that required her to look up. It is better to look up.

feel the echo electrify the resistance

I've had ten or so MRIs on my left thigh. It's kind of a lot. But this week I received the excellent news that, pending my surgeon's approval, I never have to have an MRI again! (Or a CT. I have no idea how many of those I've had, but they're generally less painless. Or, well, they were in the past. The new policy of having a machine inject me with contrast solution is another great reason to be happy I never have to have one again.)

My first MRI ever was on Friday the 13th, February 2009. It was notable not only because it was my first (and also they gave me my first Lortab so I could work through the pain long enough to stay still for it -- guess who overreacted emotionally the rest of the day?) but they also, for some reason, gave me the negatives. So I took them home and took pictures of them.

At least the issue was super obvious. Hint: That big white spot shouldn't be there.

Then I just...had a lot more scans done. Before all my surgeries, at the end of my treatment, every 3 months after, then every 6, then (before recommended but I have a hard time making an MRI a priority) annually. Until today! Never again!

Gotta tell ya, MRI technology has moved on a lot in the past five and a half years. When I went in yesterday the staff allowed me to choose a soothing video of fall colors that played on the ceiling while we got set up. Also the mood lighting was nice (it was fuchsia). The first couple years I went in there was no option to really listen to anything, but for a while I've been taking advantage of the option to watch a movie on magical metal-free goggles (last year I even remembered to bring in my own movie in case none of the options spoke to me, but I forgot this year). That's been especially nice ever since the rod in my leg has doubled the time I spend in the machine. Who gets to watch almost an entire movie while remaining completely motionless the whole time? I do! (Not anymore, though! Guys I am so thrilled about this.)

Had I known it was my last scan, I might've been a bit more effusive in my gratitude toward the staff, who are always awesome and answer my dumb questions and help me not be lost. I did thank them, though.

Maybe I would've taken more pictures (especially of the magical MRI room -- it's so lovely). I did end up taking one picture that I will show below, because I thought it was quite funny.

So, I had a bit of a break between my CT and my actual appointment at the clinic. I could've gone to the cafeteria for lunch but haha there was no way I was going into the cafeteria. Not spending money, not being assaulted by cafeteria smells that haunt me to this day. So I brought a bagel and some potato chips and went and sat by the piano on the 3rd floor.

Anyone can play the piano. A young man was doing some nice work on it when I first walked by, but then he left and I thought, "I can at least do that well." Unfortunately my left hand was not cooperating so it was a little embarrassing because you can hear the piano just about everywhere. Oh well, I'm sure everyone enjoyed it anyway. I also busted out about two measures of Taylor Swift at the end because I could. And I couldn't stop myself.

Then I walked by the bathroom, and the thing-from-nature they'd chosen as a watermark on the sign made me laugh, so I took a picture.

A praying mantis? I guess we should be glad enough it's not a black widow.

followers of my faith [Mormon Monday 57]

I bet you have all been wondering about what our new Monthly Health Tip is. Well, it's about forgiveness.

Forgiveness, a Prescription for Health
Grudges and anger hurt our bodies by producing toxic levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, and insulin.

• These lead to increased cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, gastric ulcers, headaches, depression, and strokes.
• They increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, allowing toxins into the brain; thus, memory and neurological functions are short-circuited.

With Forgiveness the Healing Begins

"If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of self-esteem and well-being." James E. Faust, "The Healing Power of Forgiveness,"Ensign, May 2007, 68.

the words, they're everything [06]

Good news, everyone! I just succumbed to a moment of weakness and created a bunch more #wwis statuses so that when I run out of the posts I've already lined up I can just make more!

We were nearing the end of this saga, but I was probably a lot more accurate when I said this was never going to end.

Today let's do some more About Me statements.

I have a thing about my watch.

Wait, this isn't About Me.

That's more like it.

This is the most About Me thing ever.

I really love this one and its unintended accuracy.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

followers of my faith [Mormon Monday 56]

I'm really not into the Harry Potter movies. A few years ago when either the 5th or 6th came out I was at a party and someone asked me if I'd gone.

"The only way I'm seeing that movie is on a date," I proclaimed. "Otherwise I'm just probably not going to."

They were surprised, and I have continued to surprise myself by pretty much never going to movies anymore. Unless on a date. (And I'm not going to go to a movie on a date now that Elder Scott has said it's a stupid idea!)

So when I decided I was going to go see Meet the Mormons it was kind of a humbling thing. I had to give up my pride to go to the theater (as a 5th wheel, mind you) and experience the big screen.

But I'm glad I did it. Meet the Mormons is a good show. I was engaged in the stories they told (man, I am so not into documentaries usually either) and I think I got the message it was supposed to convey: that being Mormon has shaped the lives of these people in a positive way. And it can shape my life in a positive way too.

If you haven't seen it, I recommend it.

And I ... will probably not go to another movie anytime soon.