Katelyn received her mission call Friday. As excited as she was to open it, she also wanted to have family & friends with her when she opened it and that wasn't going to happen until last night. So promptly at 7 p.m. last night, she opened her letter and read these words:
Dear Sister Graham:
You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Arizona Tempe Mission.
...
She reports to the Provo Missionary Training Center on February 12th. She thinks that sounds like forever away, but I know that it isn't far away at all. The time will pass quickly. I'm sure of it.
When people ask me how I feel about Katelyn serving a mission, I tell them I'm glad for her to have this opportunity. I share with them my hopes for Katelyn while she is out. I hope she learns how to be organized; how to be accountable and work hard; and how to be on a "wake-up before 10 a.m." schedule. I hope that if she can accomplish these three things, those skills will translate to school and post-mission life. I also hope that her testimony is deepened of Jesus Christ and his Atonement is deepened. I want this to be a learning experience for her, and yes, I realize that learning is often accomplished through trials. I don't want the trials to be defeating, but I do want Katelyn to learn to lean on the Lord daily. As she does this, she will be able to testify of the Lord's love for us and that all things are possible through Christ, who strengthens us.
I love the Lord. I love Katelyn. I am so happy for her to have this 18-month experience to develop a close, personal relationship with the Lord. I hope she takes full advantage of what has been offered her. I know that if she trusts the Lord, turns to Him at all times, all will be well.
Faith not fear.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
A Letter to Our City Council
This is the letter that I am considering sending to our city council. But rumor has it that the decision has already been made in regards to the further operation of this espresso stand, so maybe I am too late and my opinion is a moot point.
Dear Sirs:
Thank you for clearing most of the last Tuesday's council agenda and opening the floor to public comments. I know that you heard many constituents voice their concern and opposition to the Triple X Espresso stand located in our city. Many of those who spoke admonished you to enforce the codes already in place to protect our children from exposure to semi-nude woman. Debra Long, a school board member for Central Valley School District, even shared how the district has been forced to re-route some of the school buses to avoid going past the espresso stand.
The school district has a responsibility to do all they can to protect the students in their charge. And the city council has a responsibility to protect the members in their community, even when some of those members are too naïve and young to realize they need protection. Protection of the community and citizens is one of the reasons why we have codes and ordinances.
I am not so far removed from being a teen-ager and young adult to not remember how exciting it was to get attention from boys and men. My girlfriends and I had a great time flirting with the college-age guys that would come into our work establishment. It was a lot of fun until the day when some guy read too much into my friendly smile and "would you like fries with that?" and began stalking me. I was fortunate that there was nothing more than a few harassing phone calls and some late night drive-by's when I was working. I remember being scared and worried. But I also remember not wanting to let anyone know because I was afraid that no one would believe me and that somehow I was responsible for this guy's actions.
Now, at the Triple X Espresso stand, you have hormones mixed with scantily clad women and that is certainly more of a recipe for harassment, inappropriate touching and stalking than was my black pants and maroon-striped McDonald's shirt. And since you have not classified this establishment as an adult entertainment establishment, which it should be on Topless Tuesday's and Thursday's, there do not appear to be any special codes or ordinances in place to protect the young women who work at that establishment. If this espresso stand was classified as an adult entertainment establishment, there would be specific codes to protect the workers from touching and harassment.
It would be nice if the owner of the establishment was watching out for her employees; however, a brief look at the messages and pictures that are posted on Facebook demonstrate that the owner, if not encourages, at least allows sexually-suggestive banter and interaction to take place at the Triple X Espresso stand. The owner believes that providing Topless Tuesday's and Thursday's gives her a competitive edge in the crowded espresso stand market. So, anything for a dollar.
In order to protect the young women who work at Triple X Espresso stand, the council should recognize this establishment for what it really is... "live adult entertainment" on Topless Tuesday's and Thursday's and enforce the municipal code (5.10.080) that addresses live adult entertainment. Or ban Topless Tuesday's since those days appear to violate the definition of "seminude" as listed in municipal code 5.10.010.
I still believe that the very nature of this espresso stand places young women at risk for harassment, sexual deviants, and stalking; however, maybe removing the semi-nudity on Tuesday's and Thursday's will offer them some protection from these secondary offenses and make Triple X Espresso stand less of a public nuisance. No one deserves to be harassed and made afraid, even if they chose to wear pasties and a g-string to work.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely
Nurse Graham
Dear Sirs:
Thank you for clearing most of the last Tuesday's council agenda and opening the floor to public comments. I know that you heard many constituents voice their concern and opposition to the Triple X Espresso stand located in our city. Many of those who spoke admonished you to enforce the codes already in place to protect our children from exposure to semi-nude woman. Debra Long, a school board member for Central Valley School District, even shared how the district has been forced to re-route some of the school buses to avoid going past the espresso stand.
The school district has a responsibility to do all they can to protect the students in their charge. And the city council has a responsibility to protect the members in their community, even when some of those members are too naïve and young to realize they need protection. Protection of the community and citizens is one of the reasons why we have codes and ordinances.
I am not so far removed from being a teen-ager and young adult to not remember how exciting it was to get attention from boys and men. My girlfriends and I had a great time flirting with the college-age guys that would come into our work establishment. It was a lot of fun until the day when some guy read too much into my friendly smile and "would you like fries with that?" and began stalking me. I was fortunate that there was nothing more than a few harassing phone calls and some late night drive-by's when I was working. I remember being scared and worried. But I also remember not wanting to let anyone know because I was afraid that no one would believe me and that somehow I was responsible for this guy's actions.
Now, at the Triple X Espresso stand, you have hormones mixed with scantily clad women and that is certainly more of a recipe for harassment, inappropriate touching and stalking than was my black pants and maroon-striped McDonald's shirt. And since you have not classified this establishment as an adult entertainment establishment, which it should be on Topless Tuesday's and Thursday's, there do not appear to be any special codes or ordinances in place to protect the young women who work at that establishment. If this espresso stand was classified as an adult entertainment establishment, there would be specific codes to protect the workers from touching and harassment.
It would be nice if the owner of the establishment was watching out for her employees; however, a brief look at the messages and pictures that are posted on Facebook demonstrate that the owner, if not encourages, at least allows sexually-suggestive banter and interaction to take place at the Triple X Espresso stand. The owner believes that providing Topless Tuesday's and Thursday's gives her a competitive edge in the crowded espresso stand market. So, anything for a dollar.
In order to protect the young women who work at Triple X Espresso stand, the council should recognize this establishment for what it really is... "live adult entertainment" on Topless Tuesday's and Thursday's and enforce the municipal code (5.10.080) that addresses live adult entertainment. Or ban Topless Tuesday's since those days appear to violate the definition of "seminude" as listed in municipal code 5.10.010.
I still believe that the very nature of this espresso stand places young women at risk for harassment, sexual deviants, and stalking; however, maybe removing the semi-nudity on Tuesday's and Thursday's will offer them some protection from these secondary offenses and make Triple X Espresso stand less of a public nuisance. No one deserves to be harassed and made afraid, even if they chose to wear pasties and a g-string to work.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely
Nurse Graham
Monday, September 23, 2013
At First I Thought "Splat!" as in Failure
Several weeks ago I was asked to teach in Relief Society. I enjoy teaching and miss it greatly since being release from the RS presidency, so of course I said yes. I had many weeks to prepare and a great talk, Elder Holland's "Lord, I Believe", as the topic. I spent those weeks studying, cross-referencing, and praying about what words/message I should share based on this talk.
Yesterday was the day and going into RS I felt confident about what I was going to share. I felt that I had been guided by the Spirit in my preparation and was ready. And the lesson went smoothly with good participation by the sisters. Yet after RS I felt that somehow the lesson fell a little flat. I was quite discouraged. Splat!
I felt bad because the sister who had asked me to sub expressed her confidence in me & my teaching and I felt that I had let her down. I also felt like I had let the RS sisters down because I wasn't sure that I had left them feeling uplifted or edified. And really, what is the point of staying at church for 3 hours if you can't be strengthened and uplifted in all the classes? Finally, I felt that perhaps I had not delivered the message God had intended for me to teach and therefore let him down.
But God shows us tender mercies daily if we keep our focus on Him. And this morning on my Facebook page there was a message from a sister who had attended RS yesterday. She said she had tried to catch me after church to tell me she related very well to the lesson, that the message was what she needed that day. And so my spirits were lifted and knew that even if she was the only sister who felt the spirit of the message, that was enough.
Yesterday was the day and going into RS I felt confident about what I was going to share. I felt that I had been guided by the Spirit in my preparation and was ready. And the lesson went smoothly with good participation by the sisters. Yet after RS I felt that somehow the lesson fell a little flat. I was quite discouraged. Splat!
I felt bad because the sister who had asked me to sub expressed her confidence in me & my teaching and I felt that I had let her down. I also felt like I had let the RS sisters down because I wasn't sure that I had left them feeling uplifted or edified. And really, what is the point of staying at church for 3 hours if you can't be strengthened and uplifted in all the classes? Finally, I felt that perhaps I had not delivered the message God had intended for me to teach and therefore let him down.
But God shows us tender mercies daily if we keep our focus on Him. And this morning on my Facebook page there was a message from a sister who had attended RS yesterday. She said she had tried to catch me after church to tell me she related very well to the lesson, that the message was what she needed that day. And so my spirits were lifted and knew that even if she was the only sister who felt the spirit of the message, that was enough.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
A Happy Place to Be
Do you have a happy place to be?
A place that is comfortable and warm?
A place that just unwinds all of the wound-upness of the day?
I do.
My place is at home in my flannel pants and the ugliest sweatshirt you have ever seen.
Some afternoons my work clothes come off as soon as I walk in the door.
Other times I wait to change into my jammies until after Dave gets home.
And that is just so he knows that I wear something other than the workout clothes he saw me in before he left for work in the morning.
Tonight's happy place to be is even happier because I have my jammies
And chocolate chip cookies
AND chocolate milk.
In my flannel jammies is my happy place to be.
A place that is comfortable and warm?
A place that just unwinds all of the wound-upness of the day?
I do.
My place is at home in my flannel pants and the ugliest sweatshirt you have ever seen.
Some afternoons my work clothes come off as soon as I walk in the door.
Other times I wait to change into my jammies until after Dave gets home.
And that is just so he knows that I wear something other than the workout clothes he saw me in before he left for work in the morning.
Tonight's happy place to be is even happier because I have my jammies
And chocolate chip cookies
AND chocolate milk.
In my flannel jammies is my happy place to be.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
A Few Senior Pictures
I'm lucky to have a good photo subject (when we find an agreeable location).
And Carson's lucky to have a great photo editor who can change the lightening, "blue up" his eyes, and whiten his teeth. Great job Katelyn!
Monday, September 16, 2013
What's Going On
Tired. Exhausted. Completely worn out. Those words pretty much sum up how I felt each and every night last week. Matter of fact, last week found me crashed out on the family room floor by 8:30 every night. So I was much too tired to blog about what happened last week which is to bad because I missed out on blogging about...
This week should be better, no less busy, but I should have my energy back.
Oh, and yesterday Carson and I were able to find an agreeable location and got a few pretty nice pictures. Those will be coming soon.
- the committee I was asked to join and how, after attending the first meeting, I am re-thinking my membership. I understand what the committee is trying to do, I'm just not sure I agree with its approach and apparent myopic vision.
- the first, very frustrating attempt at taking Carson's senior pictures. He didn't want me to hire a photographer; he wanted me to take his senior pictures. I picked, what I thought, was a very cool venue but he didn't like it and so was a very difficult subject to photograph. We left after only taking 2 pictures.
- Katelyn's mission papers being submitted. Yep, they went in on September 11th. Dave and I joke with her that since they were sent in on the 11th, she is going to be called to New York.
- spending Saturday morning and early afternoon at Carson's cross country meet. By time he ran it was hot, hot, hot! Considering the heat and that this was his first meet, he did OK.
This week should be better, no less busy, but I should have my energy back.
Oh, and yesterday Carson and I were able to find an agreeable location and got a few pretty nice pictures. Those will be coming soon.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Happy, Happy, Happy
The start of every school year is always busy and stressful. I have grown accustomed to the fact, that in spite of my many reminder calls in August, parents will not have their children's paperwork--paperwork that directs the care plans I must write so the child's teacher will know how to best care for them--until the last possible moment. Usually the night before school starts. I can always plan on being at the school (or schools) until 10 o'clock p.m. the night before school starts working in a mad fury to get those care plans done. And yes, I do find this irritating but I've learned to deal with it.
But this year I was just plain pissed off all of last week. I wasn't sure why this year was so much worse. The parents were still the same. Their habit of turning in paperwork late was still the same. I didn't really have any reason to be so mad. But there I was all last week, sour-faced and mad, mad, mad. On Sunday I finally put my finger on the reason behind the irritation. And even though the situation has not been resolved, identifying the problem allowed me to wake up happy, happy, happy about going to work today.
So what was the problem? See, here's the thing. I get very little to no validation about my job and performance. My only validation is knowing that I am considered the medical expert in the building(s) and that I give good, medically-safe advice. So I find it highly offensive when in the name of appeasing parents, my advice (advice that follows district policy) is not only summarily dismissed but completely undermined. When things like this happen, particularly at the beginning of the school year when I am working my butt off, it pisses me off and makes me question why I am even necessary. Fortunately, I have a strong lead nurse who totally validated the advice I was giving and worked to help rectify the situation.
I'm still not sure if the situation is completely resolved, but I feel better for identifying the problem and talking with someone who could help run interference and fix the problem.
Happy, happy, happy.
But this year I was just plain pissed off all of last week. I wasn't sure why this year was so much worse. The parents were still the same. Their habit of turning in paperwork late was still the same. I didn't really have any reason to be so mad. But there I was all last week, sour-faced and mad, mad, mad. On Sunday I finally put my finger on the reason behind the irritation. And even though the situation has not been resolved, identifying the problem allowed me to wake up happy, happy, happy about going to work today.
So what was the problem? See, here's the thing. I get very little to no validation about my job and performance. My only validation is knowing that I am considered the medical expert in the building(s) and that I give good, medically-safe advice. So I find it highly offensive when in the name of appeasing parents, my advice (advice that follows district policy) is not only summarily dismissed but completely undermined. When things like this happen, particularly at the beginning of the school year when I am working my butt off, it pisses me off and makes me question why I am even necessary. Fortunately, I have a strong lead nurse who totally validated the advice I was giving and worked to help rectify the situation.
I'm still not sure if the situation is completely resolved, but I feel better for identifying the problem and talking with someone who could help run interference and fix the problem.
Happy, happy, happy.
Friday, September 6, 2013
The Last "First Day of School" Picture
Yes, yesterday was "technically" the first day of school, but Carson said it didn't count as a real day because he didn't have to be to school until 11:30 and wouldn't be in any of his classes. So with that logic in his head, he refused to have his picture taken yesterday; hence, today's "first day of school" picture on the second day of school.
I should have a lot more to say about it being the start of his senior year and all that. But honestly, right now I am at a loss for just the right words. I think I'm still processing this whole "last kid, last year at home" phase.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
You Might be Disappointed
Dear Friends,
Thank you for following me on Pinterest. It makes me smile every time I get a notice stating that "so and so" is now following me on Pinterest. I hope you won't find following me to be too much of a disappointment.
I don't do the whole Pinterest thing very well; matter-of-fact, I'm not sure what the whole Pinterest thing is. I go on the site about once a week, sometimes less, sometimes more. I never search for anything in particular. I'm happy to just browse the "everything" page. I never post anything original on Pinterest because I don't how.
You'll find that my pins revolve mostly around food, especially treats/desserts. There are some pins for side dishes and main dishes. I also have some boards for home décor/up-dates and gift ideas. If you are looking for craft ideas, well that's where the biggest disappointment will come. I'm lousy at crafts so you won't find many repinned to any of my boards (well, there might be one or two but not much more).
So there you have it. Thanks again for following me on Pinterest, but don't hold out huge expectations that I'm going to be awesome to follow because I pin lots of things. I don't. I pin a few things every couple of weeks.
Happy pinning,
Nurse Graham
Thank you for following me on Pinterest. It makes me smile every time I get a notice stating that "so and so" is now following me on Pinterest. I hope you won't find following me to be too much of a disappointment.
I don't do the whole Pinterest thing very well; matter-of-fact, I'm not sure what the whole Pinterest thing is. I go on the site about once a week, sometimes less, sometimes more. I never search for anything in particular. I'm happy to just browse the "everything" page. I never post anything original on Pinterest because I don't how.
You'll find that my pins revolve mostly around food, especially treats/desserts. There are some pins for side dishes and main dishes. I also have some boards for home décor/up-dates and gift ideas. If you are looking for craft ideas, well that's where the biggest disappointment will come. I'm lousy at crafts so you won't find many repinned to any of my boards (well, there might be one or two but not much more).
So there you have it. Thanks again for following me on Pinterest, but don't hold out huge expectations that I'm going to be awesome to follow because I pin lots of things. I don't. I pin a few things every couple of weeks.
Happy pinning,
Nurse Graham
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Katelyn's Plus One
Yesterday I was privileged to go as Katelyn's "plus one" to her work party at Silverwood. It was a such a good day and made my heart happy. Oh, there wasn't anything specific that made it a fabulous other than I was my daughter's choice to go as "plus one" (OK, so I was the back-up, back-up choice, but at least I was still a choice).
I have often wondered, if given a choice, would my children choose me to hang out with. You see, now that the time-intensive years of child rearing are basically behind me, I have plenty of time to reflect on those years. Unfortunately, hindsight is not kind to me. All I see when I look in the rearview mirror are the glaring errors an imperfect parent made. I see too much time as the "not-the-fun mom"; too much inflexible rule enforcing; too many critical words instead of loving, kind words. There have been many hours of quiet crying and regret, wishing I could do it all over again.
I doubt Katelyn knew how much it would mean to me to be her "plus one" when she asked me to go. To be honest, I don't think I realized how much it would mean to me...the meaning of it set it as I sat watching her and her friends wait in line for a ride and I was reflecting again on raising that beautiful young woman and being amazed that in spite of all my screw-ups and mistakes, she would still ask me to go. I am grateful for that moment and that small tender mercy from God.
Thanks Katelyn for asking me to be your "plus one". It meant a lot to me.
I have often wondered, if given a choice, would my children choose me to hang out with. You see, now that the time-intensive years of child rearing are basically behind me, I have plenty of time to reflect on those years. Unfortunately, hindsight is not kind to me. All I see when I look in the rearview mirror are the glaring errors an imperfect parent made. I see too much time as the "not-the-fun mom"; too much inflexible rule enforcing; too many critical words instead of loving, kind words. There have been many hours of quiet crying and regret, wishing I could do it all over again.
I doubt Katelyn knew how much it would mean to me to be her "plus one" when she asked me to go. To be honest, I don't think I realized how much it would mean to me...the meaning of it set it as I sat watching her and her friends wait in line for a ride and I was reflecting again on raising that beautiful young woman and being amazed that in spite of all my screw-ups and mistakes, she would still ask me to go. I am grateful for that moment and that small tender mercy from God.
Thanks Katelyn for asking me to be your "plus one". It meant a lot to me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)