Utah in the News -

While I was off family-reunion'ing, a couple of Utah bits made national news - photo-shopping of year book pictures deemed immodest (wish I could find my 1977 Orem High yearbook photo - aaah, no I don't), and an NPR "All Things Considered" show on the MTC in Provo, and language acquisition. Both are pretty entertaining and worth reading and listening to. Make sure you entertain yourself by reading the comments on both. Enjoy!

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment2/58018570-223/shoulders-senior-yearbook-bow.html.csp

http://www.npr.org/2014/06/07/319805068/lessons-from-the-language-boot-camp-for-mormon-missionaries?cid=social_20140608_25573616

Sunshine -

Heading to Zion National Park for our family reunion. I'm so excited to have 5 of our 6 children and all their kids together. Our theme for this reunion is:

You Are My Sunshine

Our kids really do bring sunshine into my live, our lives. I love being a mom and a grandmother - these past 2.5 years they have been the carrot dangling in front of me to endure, heal, and now re-energize. I'm looking forward to playing with them as well as watching them. 

I read this thought the other day: "If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in."  (Rachel Carson)

I had a great friend in Brigham City who taught me to get on the ground and see the world through my children's eyes. I've never forgotten that lesson - and I have done my best to play with my kids and grandkids - to be in the moment with them, it's a great excuse to enjoy and let go - being present is a great present, it is something Scott and I can offer - in fact, it's one of our family "rules," when the kids are with us, they get our attention.

I am excited to finish preparing for the reunion today and then being able to rest on the knowledge that our children and grandchildren enjoy each other and know how to play.

Happy week -

A Nod to Jenn and Her Lessons -

Gosh, this year was supposed to be the smell the roses year, but it's quickly becoming a rat race. Slow down - I want to get off. Yup, that's right. I really hate high speeds, and I've been able to recognize this thanks to almost 2 years filled with either turtle slow or rabbit fast. However, a blessing arrived on Friday, disguised as a "you are not eligible" letter.

I applied for, and received, Utah unemployment for about 3 months last summer. Then I started back teaching at UVU, and my compensation stopped, supposedly to pick up in May. As I started hunting for the required 4 job applications per week last week, I began to feel quite depressed. How do I put a lifetime's experience into a one page resume, and even more - how do I sell myself for $12.50 or less per hour? My friend, Jennifer, who is this amazing job coach has told me, time and again, to not demean myself by even applying for these types of positions, and I did not listen this time, and I dare say ksl.com/jobs and craigslist job listers haven't listened to Jenn's pep talk. So I'm going to give it here, in an attempt to slow down my crazy mind and my dip into job-search hell this past week - which has put me in the rabbit-paced race and then taken me right out.

• Capitalize on your life experiences. Don't knock yourself down. Rather, cut yourself some slack - life experiences are valuable in the job world, you just have to use the correct wording.
• Don't look in ksl, craigslist, unemployment job boards for jobs. If you want to find a "job" then go to one of these sites, and you won't be disappointed. If you want to find a career - even if it's 20 hours a week, network, network, network. Keep your ears and eyes open. Don't be afraid to ask friends for contacts or leads.
• Those job search tricks and tips that worked even 10 years ago no longer work. A 1-page resume with 3 references will not get you an interview. Neither will a song and dance and 3-piece suit. What will though is this - sincerity, experience, and connections.
• Picture yourself at every job you apply for - and take the rose-colored glasses off. Is this what you want? If the company wants you, then don't play games with them, but don't play games with yourself either.
• Decide what it is you want to do, then stay on that path and work toward your goals. Life is to live - make your career fit your life.
• Work with like-minded people. Volunteer. Network. Join professional organizations.
• Don't waste your time while looking for a job. Schedule time each day to become better educated and gain more experience that will best suit your career goals. If you don't, your days will be filled with busyness that isn't necessarily profitable.
•  Sometimes you have to make your job. So there isn't a 9-5 M-F job posting that you're looking for? Well make it happen! Write, edit, mow, cut, polish, create, apply for grants, let your friends know you're available for contract work. Find a need or niche and fill it. 

So, no unemployment for me, that means 4 months without any wages. Lovely - thanks Utah UI. But - moving forward without regrets is the best way for me to live. Yet I'm putting my wants out to you, out to the world, with the knowledge that goodness can happen, if I'm on the path, I will meet others who are doing similarly. I will mold the career that best fits me, without panic, without compromise, in the speed that best suits my needs, which right now is a healthy dose of s.l.o.w.l.y.

• I am a chaplain; I want to be a hospital chaplain. I am on that path by volunteering at the hospital as well as taking a Palliative Chaplaincy course.

• I love teaching. I will continue to teach at UVU; I have 3 classes for this fall.

• I want to continue writing and editing. I have 4 articles to finish up - from book reviews to articles for publications.

• I want time for my husband and my family.

• I want to keep my body healthy.

• I want to live respecting my journey, living in its lessons and its goodness.

• I will acknowledge my passions and live accordingly. 

If I've Learned Anything -

It's this - we are not alone. No woman is an island - communities are extraordinarily important, and, dang it, it costs money to run a community. There's no better national organization than Living Beyond Breast Cancer. If you can donate, please do.

Join me in my efforts to support Living Beyond Breast Cancer!

Thank you for supporting Living Beyond Breast Cancer. The money I raise by fundraising via yoga, will allow LBBC to continue to connect people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support. LBBC uses 86 cents of every dollar donated to fund programs and services such as the Breast Cancer Helpline, the many LBBC Guides to Understanding Breast Cancer and education events such as national conferences, webinars and local community meetings.

- See more at: http://lbbc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1095236&lis=1&kntae1095236=DD08B5AD471D42B299CB3AA1B1DF2DF2&supId=386878927#sthash.zDuuP88Q.dpuf

Join me in my efforts to support Living Beyond Breast Cancer!

Thank you for supporting Living Beyond Breast Cancer. The money I raise by fundraising via yoga, will allow LBBC to continue to connect people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support. LBBC uses 86 cents of every dollar donated to fund programs and services such as the Breast Cancer Helpline, the many LBBC Guides to Understanding Breast Cancer and education events such as national conferences, webinars and local community meetings.

- See more at: http://lbbc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1095236&lis=1&kntae1095236=DD08B5AD471D42B299CB3AA1B1DF2DF2&supId=386878927#sthash.zDuuP88Q.dpuf

Join me in my efforts to support Living Beyond Breast Cancer!

Thank you for supporting Living Beyond Breast Cancer. The money I raise by fundraising via yoga, will allow LBBC to continue to connect people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support. LBBC uses 86 cents of every dollar donated to fund programs and services such as the Breast Cancer Helpline, the many LBBC Guides to Understanding Breast Cancer and education events such as national conferences, webinars and local community meetings.

- See more at: http://lbbc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1095236&lis=1&kntae1095236=DD08B5AD471D42B299CB3AA1B1DF2DF2&supId=386878927#sthash.zDuuP88Q.dpuf

Join me in my efforts to support Living Beyond Breast Cancer!

Thank you for supporting Living Beyond Breast Cancer. The money I raise by fundraising via yoga, will allow LBBC to continue to connect people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support. LBBC uses 86 cents of every dollar donated to fund programs and services such as the Breast Cancer Helpline, the many LBBC Guides to Understanding Breast Cancer and education events such as national conferences, webinars and local community meetings.

- See more at: http://lbbc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1095236&lis=1&kntae1095236=DD08B5AD471D42B299CB3AA1B1DF2DF2&supId=386878927#sthash.zDuuP88Q.dpuf

Helpline -

Miracles and Wonders -

A Paul Simon tune says, "These are the days of miracles and wonders . . . " Today marks the 12th and 6th anniversaries for 2 people whom I love dearly.

12 years ago my sister-in-law received a life-saving donor liver. This has given her a second chance at life, an opportunity to rear her children, and a chance to be a grandma! She has health struggles still, but she is one strong woman, made only stronger by her deep faith in God, her strong sense of hope, and her boundless faith. She is a miracle. 

6 years ago today I was at work when I received a call from Cliff's work, asking if I knew where Jenna was. She was at work. I met her at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, where we were greeted with the news that Cliff had been in a terrible accident at work and was being life-flighted to the University of Utah. On our long drive to the hospital, Tyler, Annette, and I held Jenna in our arms, and wondered and prayed - the unknown is horrible, and the 45 minute drive almost unbearable.
We arrived at the hospital; he wasn't in the ER. I remember bile coming to my throat, wondering, worrying about these young ones, about the changes that were about to take place in their lives, our lives.
Jenna, strong, tough, young Jenna, a new UVU graduate, ready to begin her new phase of life as a non-student, walked into the room where Cliff was, alone, and faced the most grueling news a young woman, young wife, could hear - electrocution, burns - internal and external, stopped heart, severe injuries to his head and body, drug-induced coma.
Two months of pain, surgeries, illnesses, rehab, and Jenna and Cliff did it. They made it - through their faith in God, their strength as a couple, their love of life. With the help of amazing hospital staff, the prayers and fasts of family and friends, the strength and support of both Jenna's and Cliff's work associates and their dear family - they came out of the hospital road weary and ready to heal. I say "they," because Jenna and Cliff have always been a team, and it certainly took this team to push through days, weeks, months, years to heal.
I am so proud of these two - I love them dearly. Cliff's life, his health, his beauty are today's miracle.

And on the days when I struggle, I look at my pain, my aches, my loss, my sorrow, and I remember something Jenna said, to a woman whose daughter had just been terribly burned in a tragic plane accident, "Tell me what you want me to pray for, because I KNOW God hears and answers my prayers."

Yes, He did; He does -

Gardening -

Ha! After 2 summers of not being able to play in my yard, I shoveled dirt and planted flowers and vegetables today!!! Nothing, nothing, nothing compares to being able to get my hands in the soil, commune with the earth - touch the stuff I'm created from, aaaah.

It's times like this, when I'm yanking morning glory from the flower bed, mashing turkey poo into the surrounding dirt, watching critters crawl and squirm, pulling starts from plastic containers and placing them in their rightful home - healthy soil, that feed my soul.


I sang this tune as I gardened today -

 

And to me there really isn't any more to the story than this - I am a part of the earth, I will return to the earth, and that is beautiful.