Encouragement Needed

I need some motivation.

I'm on the final stretch of one (sadly, just one) of my three Independent Study classes: Evil English 291. Who told me that English was fun again??? Oh, I did. Gah.

Right now, I'm seriously reconsidering my major. I hear that happens a lot to people my age. I guess I still love English. But I just want to read and write about the things that interest me. I apologize to those who like the stuff, but British literature and poetry from the Middle Ages? Blahhhh. So boring to me.

Side note: I like English because I like reading, writing, and editing. That means I like creative writing. I like fun books. I want to be an editor so I can stay home with my kids and read books like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games all day. There are very few poets (particularly before the 19th century) that have truly impressed me or piqued my interest. I prefer stories. Fairytales. Historic and realistic fiction. With complex plots. That get your emotions involved. Not that abhorrent Beowulf stuff...

I already have an Associate's of Science in English degree (whatever that means exactly) from BYU-Idaho. Do I really need a Bachelor's degree from BYU? I'm more than halfway done, so it would basically have been a waste of all that tuition if I didn't finish now. But it's hard. I already have a blog that I love writing on. I have a tiny source of income writing short articles for a website. I write a lot.

So I have to remind myself why I'm doing this. I have to tell myself it's going to be worth it. I have to imagine how proud I will feel when I am finished; when I can say, "Uh, yes, I have a Bachelor's in English (no big deal...)." One thing that is driving me to finish is my desire to be the first in my family to graduate (not that it's a competition, but come on, it's first). On my side, I will likely be the very first grandchild and the only one in my immediate family. Maybe it's hard now that Grandpa French has passed away this year. He was my number one reason for wanting to graduate. But it's stupid to think that just because he isn't present in person that he isn't here in spirit rooting me on.

I've got to finish. I've reached a point where getting A's is no longer as big a priority as it always has been for me. If I can get away with doing mediocre work and still get B's, that's cool with me. I'm not saying I won't try (though it sure is starting to sound that way I realize...), but I am saying that getting grades less than an A is not the end of the world. I'm pretty sure like .00001% of people in existence actually care about me getting A's. When I am 63, I'm not going to be thinking, "Dash it all, I got a stupid B+ in that one English class." If I am thinking that for some reason, then my life will have to have gotten pretty lame.

So--anyway--I am telling myself right now that I can do it. I can finish.

Oh, and I technically have until January 4th to finish my three I.S. classes (which is not going to happen no matter what) but I think it's a reasonable goal to finish one of them. I have five assignments, an essay, and the final left for English 291. If Tenley was really, really happy and easy tomorrow, I probably could finish.

But as long as I get half of those things done before our Christmas trip (we leave Monday!) and the rest done after we get back on the 2nd of January, I might just get lucky. But we'll see.

Well, wish me luck! If you're feeling generous, please send a quick prayer my way! I just need to finish!!!!!!!

Have you felt discouraged about your major before? How did you cope?
Anyone else studying English (and not completely loving it)?
Do you think I realistically can finish this class before the 4th??

4 Fun Marriage Strengtheners & Traditions

Is this wrapping paper from the BYU bookstore not adorable?? It's a "box of chocolates"!
(Actually, it's an iPad mini that I got for $279:)

I am always looking for fun things to do with Dalin to strengthen our marriage and bring us closer as a couple. He is my very best friend, but sometimes we get so caught up in our responsibilities that we lose sight of maintaining the friendship that made us want to marry each other in the first place. So here are four ways we strengthen our marriage (and you can, too!).

Spouse Gratitude Journals (Daily)
Probably one of the best ideas I've ever had was to suggest to Dalin that we each start keeping a journal to record things about the other person that we're grateful for. Basically, I gave Dalin a blank journal (it was black and manly of course) and I chose one out of my collection (everyone always gives me journals because they know I love them and actually use them) and we decided that each night, as a part of our nighttime scripture study and family prayer routine (and my personal journal-writing), we'd each write one thing that we appreciate about the other (whether it was something we were grateful for in general, or specifically from that day). I'm not going to lie, I was very curious about what Dalin would say about me. And being the little sneak that I am, a few days in, I snuck a peek at what Dalin had written. His words touched me so much and made my entire week. I wanted to live up to the things he had said about me, whether I thought they were accurate or not. Since then, I've sneaked a few more glances at what he's written and doing so has encouraged me to strive to be a better wife, a better mother, and a better follower of Christ each day. One thing I've found is that I'm noticeably happier since we've made this a part of our routine. Start this tradition for with your spouse by Thanksgiving!

Memory & Adventure Album (As needed)
When we were engaged, we were given an album by my roommates for my bridal shower. In the beginning of the book, on each page is a dried rose petal or two that contains something I said that I love about Dalin. It ranges from physical appearance to spirituality to personality to actions, and thanks to my roommates, it's adorable. My best friend Sarah then took the book and did the same thing for me, having Dalin tell her things he loves about me for every rose petal included. She tried to copy the format my roommates used. It makes me so happy when I look back and read what he wrote about me. So anyhow, we had this great gift in our home, but there were still several pages in the back that needed to be filled. Not having a place for small things we collect, I decided to use the rest of the album to keep things from our adventures. Included in it are postcards from our honeymoon across New England; tickets to movies, museums, General Conference, etc.; love notes/cards we've written each other; our annual letters (which I'll tell you about below); and anything else. We even have a page dedicated to keeping all of the fortune cookie fortunes we've collected over the years. They're fun to look at all together! :) We love and cherish this book as it reminds of the love we had before we were married, and the love and adventures we continue to have now that we're together forever. (Tear) It's pretty wonderful. And the album is convenient because we can just stick little slips of paper and ticket stubs in the sleeves.

Love notes from our early marriage ;)

Tickets and our Christmas letters (discussed below)

Postcards from our honeymoon in Boston and tickets to a movie we saw while there

Fortune Cookie fortunes collected over the years (we still have several others in wallets/purse pockets that we have yet to add)

Bucket List Jar (Any time we think of it)
This is one idea that we are just starting. There are a lot of goals we have individually and as a couple. We want to support one another in our individual goals and make them our own. Most of our "bucket list" goals include traveling with our little family. We are just recently figuring out how we can make these goals and plans reality. We also have family goals and personal ones that we are working daily to achieve. How this idea works is we keep little slips of paper available and as a goal occurs to us, we write it down and stick it in the Bucket List Jar. Once a year or every so often, we will empty the jar and tape any that we've accomplished in a place we can see it (such as our Memory Album or our bulletin board or perhaps the fridge) and return the ones we've yet to accomplish back in the jar. That way, we're reminded of the adventures we still have yet to have! A few that will be included in our jar are:

• Have another baby in/by 2015
• Travel to Ireland/Scotland
• Buy a house
• Get rich (haha jk that won't be in there)
• Live by a lake or ocean
• Graduate school!

Christmas Love Letters (Annually)
This tradition is my favorite of all and was one we began our first Christmas together, just four months after we were married. On Christmas Eve, we sit together and write each other a love letter. We include things we love about the other person and favorite memories from the last year together. Then we stick our letter in the other person's stocking (before Santa comes obviously ;) to be read on Christmas morning. Pretty simple. But it is maybe the only time that we actually write a full letter to one another during the year and for that reason, I cherish this tradition. You know it's a good tradition when it makes you so happy that you cry. I am not a fan of crying or even happy crying, but this is one time it doesn't bother me. In fact, I kind of look forward to it. The first Christmas we did this, I was shocked by how similar our letters were. We both spoke about the first time we met and both shared how we felt in that moment when we saw each other in person for the first time. When we finished reading each other's letters, we compared them because they contained so many similar things. It was a lot of fun for me, and I literally look forward to reading my letter more than anything else on Christmas. This is an AWESOME tradition! Start it this year!

What are some awesome and fun traditions you and your spouse have?
Will you be starting any of these traditions?

5 Passions & A State Test

This post is for my series, 30 Things My Kids Should Know About Me.

Reading
Probably my favorite activity and how I spend most of my days. Also, the reason I want to become an editor. So I can read all day.
Writing
I write a lot. I write in my journal (I'm about to start my 30th any day now), I write on my blog (well, type), I write notes to Dalin, I write letters and thank-you cards, and just recently, Dalin and I each started Gratitude Journals for one another (I'll blog about that later). I love writing and would like to write a book someday--when I have the time (Haha! Like that will happen).
Painting
I have always been fairly blessed with a talent in art my whole life, mainly because artistic genes run in my family. I never used to think that being artistic was cool--in fact, I used to think it was a pretty useless talent. I enjoy doing art for fun, but I've always thought a career in art seemed ridiculous (much to my parents' dismay--they have always wanted me to become an artist or illustrator). Now that I'm a stay-at-home mom, I think it might be a fun way to make a little extra money. I'll share more on this in another post.

Just recently, my little brother made an art gallery of my work in his bedroom (my old room). I thought it was really sweet of him :)

Teaching
I love teaching. If I could have picked all the careers I want to do, teaching would definitely be among them. I loved teaching Primary for a year, and now I love having the opportunity to teach my daughter. Right now I am teaching Tenley to speak Spanish, American Sign-Language (neither of which I'm fluent in), to count, colors, shapes, the alphabet, body parts, to sit up, to stand, to listen, to talk, and to have as great a love for reading as I do. Teaching an infant involves a lot of repetition and the progress is slow, but I know that my efforts will be rewarded if I am patient and persistent as a good teacher ought to be.

Reading with my baby like we do every morning.

Laughing
I love to laugh! (Saying so always reminds me of the song in Mary Poppins with Bert and Uncle Albert). I probably laugh way too much. It used to get me in mild trouble at church and school. I just can't help it though! I laugh my way through life. People probably think I'm weird because I have such a broad sense of humor--I kind of laugh at everything. One of my favorite quotes is by Marjorie Pay Hinckley: "The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh." This quote is kind of my motto. That, and honoring the words, "Live, Laugh, Love." Because what things could make one happier? I count my successes as a mother  daily not by how much we did that day, but how much I made my little girl laugh. I really hope I can teach her to love laughter.

I just love these lyrics from Mary Poppins:

We love to laugh! (ha ha ha ha!)

Loud and long and clear

We love to laugh

So ev'rybody can hear!

The more you laugh!

The more you fill with glee

And the more the glee

The more we're a merrier we!

★   ★   ★

For fun, Dalin and I took this interesting (slightly controversial) state mood test, which, with ten simple questions, determines where you should live. 

Basically, Dalin took it first and got Tennessee. 

Then I took it and got South Carolina. 

Then...Dalin took it for me and got Georgia. 

And I took it for him and got Washington. Random. 

We thought it was funny that three of the states are tucked away into the southeast. I especially thought it was weird because I had been telling Dalin a few days before that we should look into schools in North Carolina because I just have a good feeling about that place (I've only driven through it on family trips to Florida so I don't know much about it other than that the weather is lovely) and all three states are touching North Carolina. Maybe it's just me, but I thought that was weird. Or a sign. Or something.

Anyway, the test was fun to take and so I thought I would provide the link so you can take it! But then you have to comment (pretty please!) and tell me where it said you should live! You can take it for your spouse, too, if you want!

TAKE THE STATE MOOD TEST HERE!

Let me know where it says you should live (and what you think about it) by leaving me a quick comment! 

My Dream Job

Being a mom is my dream job. I'm serious. And you think you like kids now? Wait until you have your own (it's infinitely better). I love children, but Tenley is a highlight in my every day life now. Her existence alone makes me feel so incredibly happy and grateful that I have been given the opportunity to be her mom. She causes me to love my role as a mother so much that I can't help but look forward to having more babies that I hope are as wonderful (and amazingly easy!!) as their eldest sister has been. Sure it has its challenges like any job--but they are immensely worth it. And though changing diapers and getting spit up or pooped on are never fun, it's definitely better when it's your own child. (Don't worry, you'll learn it's better to laugh about it rather than get upset that it happened.)

Motherhood, like marriage, is sacred. Because of this, like any other sacred topic, it is being attacked in today's world. Motherhood is degraded, looked down upon, and called too great a sacrifice for the modernized women of today. While it is a sacrifice, it is not as many people now believe, one that is not worthwhile. The benefits and blessings are endless. What could possibly be more important than raising a new generation of children that are prepared to tackle every challenge that this increasingly evil world throws at them? I can't think of anything. Those people who constantly complain or preach that the world is messed up and ask the question, "who would want to bring children in it?" have zero perspective. People are going to have children anyway, and it is therefore important that these precious children have loving parents--and especially a devoted mother--to teach and instruct them. I love this inspired talk by our last prophet in these latter days, President Gordon B. Hinckley, called "Your Greatest Challenge, Mother". It really emphasizes the precious nature of a mother's role.

Who wouldn't love to stare at this pretty face all day??

If you look down on motherhood or mothers in any way, stop. Stop it now. Have some gratitude for your own mother and read these quotes by two of our most famous former presidents of the United States of America.

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.
~George Washington

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
~Abraham Lincoln

Being a mom is so much fun. If I had known how happy it would make me, I'd have begged Dalin to have children sooner. I can't say I would trade this role for any other job in the world. But if I were capable of being a mother and something else, well, there are a number of things that interest me.

An editor (You should already know all about this one--I love to read and I love to improve people's work--and I would love it if I could read all day!)
A good writer (Writing daily in my journal and frequently on this blog have only served to increase this desire. But being a writer is easy. It's being a good writer that is the hard part)
An artist
An English, Spanish, or Art teacher
A tennis coach
An interior designer 
A movie director

Do any of those surprise you?

I always used to want to be an interior designer until one day in middle school gym class, I remember the class going around in a circle naming off our dream job and like five girls said interior designer, so then I didn't want to do it anymore.

I don't know all that being a movie director entails, but I know that when I am coming up with an idea for a book I'd like to write, I am always imagining the scene as though it were a movie and I think it would be fun to make my own movie (or one that I would want to watch).

What is your dream job and why?  

Hello again.

Hello friends that read my blog!

I hope you all knew that I did not get kidnapped or die, I've just been a little (or a lot) busy adjusting to life as a new mom! Can I just start by telling you that it has been glorious. I love everything about it so far. On Facebook, I've posted a zillion pictures of our precious girl already and everyone just adores her...almost as much as Dalin and I do. I have a ton to catch up with on here, but now that I am a full-time mommy and part-time student (who is a huge slacker by the way), I should optimistically have a little bit of time to do that. I would love to introduce you to our daughter, but I already have a separate post all about her. So if you enjoy reading/stalking my life (I'm just teasing about the stalking part...kind of), definitely "tune in" more often...I promise I will have several interesting things for you to read over the next several days!

And, like Rapunzel, when I promise something, I never ever break that promise. So hold me to it! 

Much love!

Excuses, Excuses

Well, I haven't posted in over a week and I feel kind of bad about it. Mostly because I was doing so well up until the Thanksgiving break.

Let me just give you a brief synopsis of why I am lacking in my blogging:

Número Uno, I have SO many papers to write!
I have to write:

• A ten-page analysis of James Joyce's "The Dead"
• A five-page theoretical analysis of a work I have not even read yet
• A four-page essay on a specific section of the Doctrine and Covenants and its history (I chose section 49--revelation for the Shakers--if you're curious)
• An essay on "La Dama del Alba" for Español
  
• A delivery outline for a final presentation
• A preparation outline for that very same presentation

#2, I need to study!!!!
I need to study for:

• My Marriage and Family final exam
• My D&C final exam
• My Spanish oral exam
• My Spanish final written exam
• My English final on various literary theories (zzzz...)

#3, We are planning to get a new car!
In the next week are so, we are planning to buy or lease (whichever we end up being able to afford) a car with a warranty. We are considering:

• A Honda Accord
• A Honda CR-V
• A Honda Pilot
  
• A Toyota Camry
• A Toyota Rav-4
• A Hyundai Elantra

So many choices....

#4, Our apartment is an endless pigsty of doom.
I need ought to:

• Do laundry
• Put our tornado of clothes away
• Unpack from Thanksgiving break (or just leave it for Christmas, ha ha not)
• Pick up our living room which looks like an explosion of school papers, pillows, and jackets/sweatshirts
• Clear our kitchen table (which has basically been unusable for months because of the mess on it)
• Clean our bathroom (or beg Dalin to do it for me...)
• Get rid of the tons of extra crap that we have...seriously, why do we have so much stuff
• Simplify. This goes with the last point, but it needs re-emphasis.

Here are some lovely quotes on simplicity:

"Let us turn to the pure doctrinal waters of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us joyfully partake of them in their simplicity and plainness." ~Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

"Let us simplify our lives a little. Let us make the changes necessary to refocus our lives on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship—the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace." ~Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ~Leonardo da Vinci

 

It looks like I will need to do some mighty praying to accomplish all of these things. 

I'm also recovering from the most obnoxious cough which began (unfortunately) the day that we left for Boise for Thanksgiving break. I promise I will blog about our wonderful holiday as soon as possible. For now, wish me luck! 

Essays . . . are easy.

I truly, sincerely, honestly enjoy writing essays. But I am not sure why--it even sounds boring.

Maybe it is because I enjoy expressing my personal thoughts, whims, and analysis in an educated and formal style that makes me feel eloquent and clever. 

Or maybe it is because I enjoy writing (period) but have yet to be able to finish a novel or story idea. 

Essays are much more manageable as they frequently are given limits. 

Books have no limit.

Someday I will write a book. Just like I told my AP Literature class as we named our future aspirations. Only we'll see what sort of book it is. Perhaps when I'm an old woman with time slipping away, I'll become desperate and cheat and write a cookbook. 

Or maybe I'll write the next Harry Potter or Hunger Games series.....

These are my thoughts for today. 

Well, time to go write a paper.