Bible Study

Learning is one of my focus words for this year. So when my schedule finally had an opening on a Monday afternoon I was excited to join the T.R.E.E.S group at McDonald Elementary. T.R.E.E.S is a group of teachers who meet once a month for bible study. I have been wanting to attend since this group started last year. I'm glad I went and I felt that it was an hour well spent.

This month the focus was on "goodness" and we studied scriptures in the bible that outlined the goodness of God. It was interesting to be listening as other members of the group read from the NIV translation. Sometimes it was a significant difference from the KJV, but mostly the message was the same and the wording not too different.

I did appreciate the difference in the translations when we read 1 Timothy 2:9-10, particlularly verse 10. To me, The NIV reads better to describe what a righteous, modest woman should dress herself in. Sometimes I think in the LDS culture we focus too heavily on trying to define "modest" in regards to clothing (especially for young women) almost to the exclusion of thinking in terms of behavior. Having the NIV state "adorn yourself in goodness" helps place the focus on where it should be--good works that glorify Christ.

I'm pretty sure that if my schedule continues to have openings on the Monday's that T.R.E.E.S meet, I will continue to go. This was a nice way to study the Bible and get a little different perspective. My hope is that I will also be able to enrich the conversation and reinforce that Mormons are Christians, too. Believe it or not I still run into this notion that Mormons aren't Christians from time to time. That notion is so weird to me.

Finally I want to share this Benedictine prayer I saw on the Segullah website a couple of weeks ago. It spoke to me as another piece of my focus words this year....learning and leadership..

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedome, and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done,
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
-Sister Ruth Fox

A Great Date Night Show

We went to see CVHS's production of  Singin' in the Rain. It was pretty fantastic.  There were a few technical glitches with the body mikes, but those glitches paled in comparison to the quality of the acting, set design, singing and dancing. It was amazing to watch it literally rain on stage as the classic scene of Don Lockwood sing & dance in the rain was performed.

Brandon Carter as Cosmo, Ashton Toth as Don Lockwood, and Maitlin Stewart as Kathy Seldon were excellent as expected. However, the breakout performance that stole the show goes to Ashley Stewart as Lena Lamont. Ashley nailed the essence of Lena without parroting the original performance of Lena in the classic 1950's movie. Ashley's singing of "What's Wrong with Me" demonstrated an impressive amount of control as she sang in Lena's squeeky, slightly off-key voice.

If you live in the Spokane area, go see this show.

And of course I can't blog without posting a picture of the girl who we really went to go see.

Oh the attitude I get!

Well maybe one more picture

OK that's better

One final picture

I love that dimple !

A Slow Good-bye

It always makes me giggle a little when people express their surprise when they discover I eat junk food. I really don't know why they make the assumption that I am a non-junk food eater, but it seems to be a common misconception.

I guess they figure runner + nurse = healthy eater.

I think not being able to eat wheat probably perpetuates that misconception because while others are gorging themselves on  enjoying cookies, donuts, cake, etc. I just walk right on by. Not being able to eat wheat also means that I don't participate in the occassional fast food run. So yeah, I guess I can see why people would make the assumption that I only eat healthy food.

But truth be told, I do like junk food in the form of chocolate, chips and Dr. Pepper 10.

That is until I started training for this marathon. Now even my favs don't sound so awesome. I seriously analyze whether or not I need to eat the peanut M&M's or share in the bag of Cheetos. And I have traded in the Dr. Pepper 10 for even more water. Food now has really become a focused on fuel source & I don't want to gunk up the engine.

Darn this marathon training.

If We Won the Lottery

Last night we were watching the high-brow entertainment The Lottery Changed My Life. It started the conversation between all family members--Katelyn was present but she ws sleeping so I don't think that counts. Anyway, Carson asked what would be different or what would we do different if we won the lottery. Dave and I both said almost in unison "I don't think we would do much different than what we do now."

"What about inivesting?"  Well we invest now, but I suppose the types of investments might change a little.

"What about travel?" Well, we actually travel quite a bit now, but I suppose we might take a few more trips. Dave could go fishing and hunting more in more exotic locations than North Idaho & Eastern Washington. And I might actually get to visit Charlotte, South Carolina.

"What about your job, Mom?"  Oh, my job. Well actually that would probably change. I would quit. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy what I do, but yesterday's Relief Society lesson left me feeling a little guilty. Not that the lesson had anything to do with women working. It had absolutely nothing to do with that. The lesson was about "serving the one". The RS president was giving the lesson and she expressed her appreciation for her presidency (of which I am a part) and how much they had done last week. What she should have said was how much the 2nd counselor and secretary had done. All she got from me at our presidency meeting was "I'm sorry I can't this week."

That phrase, "I can't", was what I kept hearing as the other speakers presented their feelings on service and how to serve through visiting teaching. And why can't I? Well work does interfere with some of the available time that I have for serving.. And then when I'm not at work I'm trying to take care of home things. But that really isn't a good excuse or rationalization because my kids are mostly big and can take care of themselves. And then I thought about how tired I am when I get home from work. But really, aren't we all tired at the end of the day?

We all make choices in how we use the 24 hours we are given. I guess on Sunday I was just questioning if my choices have been the best. They certainly haven't been bad choices & my family has been blessed through my working (thank you CVEA for negotiating good benefits), but I can't help but wonder if there is more I can do to serve & strengthen those in my ward family and in the community if I wasn't working.

Just So You Know

Today is March 2nd.

I don't like March.

I think it it feels like the longest month EVER.

I know some really cool people who were born in March.

I'm sorry I don't like your birth month.

Maybe if we get lots of sun this March I will like it better.

I doubt it.

Just call me Eeyore.

That's all.

Katelyn's Yearbook Ad

Today I wrote out the ad for the yearbook. The ad that will try and sum up 18 years worth of feelings in 300 characters or less. This is what I wrote:

Katie B,

We love you and are so proud of you. The work ethic you have developed will bless you in all your endeavors. We have no doubt you will accomplish many good things.

Love, Mom and Dad

I should probably change the Katie B  to Katelyn. Other than that, what do you think?

Now I just need to pick out a picture.

From the "Love List"

Yes I have a love list. I make it the last day of January so I can have  omething to reference in case I wind up with completele brain block during the month of February. It only helps if I actually blog, which for some reason has not been a daily occurrence this year as it was last year during February. Anyway, I have a lot of things left on the list so...

Tonight's installment is about my love of trip planning.

Actually I love trip planning because it helps me deal with the stress of the trip, particularly if there is flying involved. I really don't like to fly. So planning helps me not think so much about the flying part.

And guess what!

 I have a trip to plan for this summer. Dave, Carson and I are going to Germany and France for about 10 days. Don't worry that Katelyn is getting left out. She will already be over there. We are meeting her in Paris.

I have two guide books for France.

I have been all over tripadvisor.com, raileurope.com and several town tourism websites. I don't have the itineraries worked all the way out, but I have several months to obsess about this. My family can vouch for me when I say that I don't go into any trip unprepared & not  planned out.

I get giddy when planning for a trip. I also really enjoy helping other people plan their trips--especially if they are going some place that I have been before & absolutely love, like DisneyWorld or Yellowstone.