There's not much more that makes me happier than spending time with good friends. And right next to that, is getting pictures with those good friends. Specifically good pictures. Pictures that represent the closeness that is our friendship--pictures that represent special memories. While I enjoy taking pictures of my friends that savor their personality and who they are to me, I love pictures of my friends and I together most.
No friendship is complete without a picture that represents that friendship.
That's just how I feel.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Countries to Visit
I was talking to my friend Ann today as we were walking through the grocery store about countries we had the desire to visit. Ann mentioned that she had once written a blog about the next 10 countries she had on her list of places to visit, so I decided that I would do something similar.
So here we go...
Countries I would love to spend an extended amount of time in:
1. Ireland
2. Brazil
3. Israel
4. Australia
5. India
Countries I would love to visit:
1. Tuva (technically a Republic of Russia)
2. Egypt
3. England
4. Jamaica
5. Mexico
6. Greece
7. Tibet
8. Cuba
9. Rwanda
10. Argentina
11. Wales
12. Costa Rica
13. Puerto Rico
So here we go...
Countries I would love to spend an extended amount of time in:
1. Ireland
2. Brazil
3. Israel
4. Australia
5. India
Countries I would love to visit:
1. Tuva (technically a Republic of Russia)
2. Egypt
3. England
4. Jamaica
5. Mexico
6. Greece
7. Tibet
8. Cuba
9. Rwanda
10. Argentina
11. Wales
12. Costa Rica
13. Puerto Rico
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Hartman Personality Test
So I took this personality test for my homemaking class... and it's actually pretty accurate. I pretty much tied between Blue and White.. with a hint of Yellow (and absolutely no red lol).
Does that make me pale green? Haha, jk.
Judge for yourself, for accurate do you think it is?
Blues: The Do-gooders
Blues are motivated by Intimacy and without their natural talent to insist on quality and to provide service, our world would be a far less pleasant place. Blues want to connect and to be understood and appreciated. If they are not connecting with you, if they are not plugged into humanity, then what’s the point? They believe if you don’t have a sincere connection in life, then there really is no other value. Earning money, having the Mercedes, and being in the windowed office are nice but do not represent a purposeful life to a blue. Blues are very purposeful people who love to serve and give of themselves freely to nurture others' lives. They are loyal friends, employers and employees, and their personal code of ethics is very strong. They expect other people to live honest and committed lives as well. Blues are dependable, thoughtful, and analytical; but they can also be self-righteous, worry-prone, and moody. They hold on and never let go of something/someone once they are committed.
Blue Strengths: Blues are very observant and intuitive, noticing quality and detail. With their combined assets, their sense of purpose, and their ease with showing compassion, they become integral parts of every society. In fact, they become an integral part of whatever they commit themselves to doing, whether it be fundraising, raising a family, or running an entire department. Blues sense of commitment can sometimes trap them. They will often stay in a job much longer than will serve their best interest simply because they said they would. They tend to stay because they are loyal and they care about everyone with whom they connect. You can bet Blues will be the ones to refer back to the Color Code materials because they have made a commitment to learn, to become self-aware and to be their best.
Blue Limitations: Ruling by the heart can be a double-edged sword for Blues. If you don’t appreciate their gifts, they won’t give at all. This is a constant threat when in a relationship with a Blue. A common statement from Blues is, “My emotions have ruled me all my life.” Their emotions are their Achilles’ heel. They want so badly to be loved and accepted, constantly seeking understanding from others while often refusing to understand and accept themselves.
Blues remember their limitations—or what is wrong with them—more than they remember their strengths. It is inborn. Abraham Lincoln is a good example of possessing a desire to reveal insecurities. He often talked about his flaws and inadequacies as president. Yet he continues to be seen as one of the greatest presidents of our nation. Blues need to remember that the reason they have these limitations is very connected to their gifts. The reason they care so deeply is also the reason they tend to struggle more with depression. Blues must realize that the reason it is so hard for them to break off a relationship or leave a job is tied to their capacity to dedicate themselves so completely and feel so deeply about those commitments.
Whites: The Peacekeepers
Motivated by Peace, Whites will do almost anything to avoid confrontation and to create tranquility. They have a remarkable ability to understand and draw objective conclusions—they are the voice of reason, and this is their gift to us.
Whites truly believe that with patience all things come to those who wait. The problem is that they are sometimes too content with sitting around waiting. They seek contentment more than power, money or, for that matter, more than friends. They are happy having one or two good friends and one or two hobbies. In fact, they tend to have only one hobby at a time. Instead of trying to carry on with two hobbies, they will drop one to take on another. Having two is too much effort. Their only demands from life are the things that make them feel comfortable. That feeling fosters their need to feel good inside.
White Strengths: Whites are kind, considerate, patient and accepting. Unlike Blues and Reds, they are not judgmental or critical of others’ actions or behaviors. They simply accept people for who they are: the good, the bad and the ugly. They are tactful, because they don’t want to create confrontation or rock the boat too much. Not rocking the boat is also revealed in Whites through their strength to self-regulate. Controlling their own behavior is a natural strength and this precludes impulsivity. To the rest of us, they offer a clear perspective that is objective and factual. They are excellent listeners, taking what is said sequentially, understanding why it is said, what it is going to take to deal with any problematic situations, and what they can do to help. They simply hear the facts, making no judgments on what is being said. In essence, they are virtually devoid of ego. They are good at constructing thoughts that did not exist before, just from careful listening and taking time to think things through.
White Limitations: Whites don’t commonly share what they are seeing, feeling or understanding. When they have a conflict, they won’t show it. Like a duck, they are paddling violently underwater, but on the surface, they appear calm and comfortable.
Whites can be unwilling to set goals. They are generally very content with the way things are. If you try to force them to set goals, they may reply, “I don’t know where I’m going to be in a month. How can I possibly set goals?” Better yet, they will write down the goals to get you off of their back, but have no intention of following through with them. They resist working at someone else’s pace.
Even though Whites seem ambivalent about most things, they can be very self-deprecating. They are very generous when it comes to accepting others’ limitations, but will be disapproving of themselves. On the flip side, they can also become uncomfortable when receiving public praise and fanfare. People with the DCM of Peace tend to operate on a very logical basis like Reds, but move through life using their ability to reason in a milder manner than Reds. They don’t need to dominate like a Red, but will calmly offer a voice of reason that benefits everyone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartman_Personality_Profile#Yellows:_The_Fun_Lovers
Does that make me pale green? Haha, jk.
Judge for yourself, for accurate do you think it is?
Blues: The Do-gooders
Blues are motivated by Intimacy and without their natural talent to insist on quality and to provide service, our world would be a far less pleasant place. Blues want to connect and to be understood and appreciated. If they are not connecting with you, if they are not plugged into humanity, then what’s the point? They believe if you don’t have a sincere connection in life, then there really is no other value. Earning money, having the Mercedes, and being in the windowed office are nice but do not represent a purposeful life to a blue. Blues are very purposeful people who love to serve and give of themselves freely to nurture others' lives. They are loyal friends, employers and employees, and their personal code of ethics is very strong. They expect other people to live honest and committed lives as well. Blues are dependable, thoughtful, and analytical; but they can also be self-righteous, worry-prone, and moody. They hold on and never let go of something/someone once they are committed.
Blue Strengths: Blues are very observant and intuitive, noticing quality and detail. With their combined assets, their sense of purpose, and their ease with showing compassion, they become integral parts of every society. In fact, they become an integral part of whatever they commit themselves to doing, whether it be fundraising, raising a family, or running an entire department. Blues sense of commitment can sometimes trap them. They will often stay in a job much longer than will serve their best interest simply because they said they would. They tend to stay because they are loyal and they care about everyone with whom they connect. You can bet Blues will be the ones to refer back to the Color Code materials because they have made a commitment to learn, to become self-aware and to be their best.
Blue Limitations: Ruling by the heart can be a double-edged sword for Blues. If you don’t appreciate their gifts, they won’t give at all. This is a constant threat when in a relationship with a Blue. A common statement from Blues is, “My emotions have ruled me all my life.” Their emotions are their Achilles’ heel. They want so badly to be loved and accepted, constantly seeking understanding from others while often refusing to understand and accept themselves.
Blues remember their limitations—or what is wrong with them—more than they remember their strengths. It is inborn. Abraham Lincoln is a good example of possessing a desire to reveal insecurities. He often talked about his flaws and inadequacies as president. Yet he continues to be seen as one of the greatest presidents of our nation. Blues need to remember that the reason they have these limitations is very connected to their gifts. The reason they care so deeply is also the reason they tend to struggle more with depression. Blues must realize that the reason it is so hard for them to break off a relationship or leave a job is tied to their capacity to dedicate themselves so completely and feel so deeply about those commitments.
Whites: The Peacekeepers
Motivated by Peace, Whites will do almost anything to avoid confrontation and to create tranquility. They have a remarkable ability to understand and draw objective conclusions—they are the voice of reason, and this is their gift to us.
Whites truly believe that with patience all things come to those who wait. The problem is that they are sometimes too content with sitting around waiting. They seek contentment more than power, money or, for that matter, more than friends. They are happy having one or two good friends and one or two hobbies. In fact, they tend to have only one hobby at a time. Instead of trying to carry on with two hobbies, they will drop one to take on another. Having two is too much effort. Their only demands from life are the things that make them feel comfortable. That feeling fosters their need to feel good inside.
White Strengths: Whites are kind, considerate, patient and accepting. Unlike Blues and Reds, they are not judgmental or critical of others’ actions or behaviors. They simply accept people for who they are: the good, the bad and the ugly. They are tactful, because they don’t want to create confrontation or rock the boat too much. Not rocking the boat is also revealed in Whites through their strength to self-regulate. Controlling their own behavior is a natural strength and this precludes impulsivity. To the rest of us, they offer a clear perspective that is objective and factual. They are excellent listeners, taking what is said sequentially, understanding why it is said, what it is going to take to deal with any problematic situations, and what they can do to help. They simply hear the facts, making no judgments on what is being said. In essence, they are virtually devoid of ego. They are good at constructing thoughts that did not exist before, just from careful listening and taking time to think things through.
White Limitations: Whites don’t commonly share what they are seeing, feeling or understanding. When they have a conflict, they won’t show it. Like a duck, they are paddling violently underwater, but on the surface, they appear calm and comfortable.
Whites can be unwilling to set goals. They are generally very content with the way things are. If you try to force them to set goals, they may reply, “I don’t know where I’m going to be in a month. How can I possibly set goals?” Better yet, they will write down the goals to get you off of their back, but have no intention of following through with them. They resist working at someone else’s pace.
Even though Whites seem ambivalent about most things, they can be very self-deprecating. They are very generous when it comes to accepting others’ limitations, but will be disapproving of themselves. On the flip side, they can also become uncomfortable when receiving public praise and fanfare. People with the DCM of Peace tend to operate on a very logical basis like Reds, but move through life using their ability to reason in a milder manner than Reds. They don’t need to dominate like a Red, but will calmly offer a voice of reason that benefits everyone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartman_Personality_Profile#Yellows:_The_Fun_Lovers
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Studies Abroad
One of my dear friends has gone on two study abroads. One of which was a few years ago, when she was just the age that I am now, and that was to London. Most recently however, she returned from Jerusalem. To hear her talk about that land--the land where Jesus walked--is extremely powerful. Even listening to her is life changing. I won't go into detail, because that's her story to tell, not mine... but one of our other roommates has also taken trips to London and such places.
It's one of the things they have in common. While I love hearing Ann talk about London and Jerusalem, the moment our other roommate pipes in, I have to admit, I start to tune out. Because I know that the moment they both start talking about their experiences in foreign lands I will have nothing to say, and I am entirely cut out of the conversation.
In the last five years of my life, my family has become an extremely international family. With relatives in Brazil and India, there are more visits and stories and than you can possibly imagine. Let alone the "famous family trip" of 1985 that I of course didn't go on, because I wasn't alive. I've never been the one to go. I could go on for hours telling you the stories that come from my family going abroad... but they're not my stories.
When Michael started sending letters detailing the love he has for the Australian people... I admit, I was jealous. I've always known that I have a great capacity for love. Whenever I take one of those color tests, I always test blue. No matter what the code is. I always test blue. Blue for empathy, loyalty, intimacy, all that. I know that if I were ever to live in a foreign country, I would gain that love for the people. It's something I've always desperately wanted to have. How can I appreciate America, how can I have the patriotism I am told to cherish, when I have never been anywhere but here? I have always wanted to be able to have experiences that allow for a perspective of that greater picture of the world.
I want to love the people of some land. I've always wanted to go to Ireland, see Stone Henge, walk across the streets of London, look into the eyes of a Hindu woman in India, taste the food of Jamaica... I know I'm an impressionable person, and I want the impression of those lands in my soul. I want to walk the Earth. I want to have experiences.
I want some land to change my heart, my soul.
I would desperately love to go on Study Abroad.
I would desperately love to take a tour of those beautiful foreign lands, and see the mountains of Tibet, of Tuva, see the home of the Dalai Lama... Hear the voices of God's children across the Earth. I know it would change me forever. And I'm so ready for a change.
Whatever that change may be.
Learning by the Spirit
There are two types of learners. There are those that learn by what their teacher tells them, and there are those that learn by the spirit. If you learn only by the words of the teacher it is possible for you to come to a lesson and learn absolutely nothing, because the teacher does not know more than you do.
But if you allow your teacher to instead be the Spirit, you can learn great and powerful lessons from even the most humble and weak of teachers. Someone made a comment to me a few years ago that when people stand up and pray at the beginning of class "Please bless the teacher that the spirit will guide their words that we may learn" or any variation thereof... it is a useless prayer. What good does the teacher having the spirit do, if the students are not listening? What good does the spirit guiding the teacher's words do, if the students hearts and minds are unresponsive?
So instead, I've been recommended an alternate prayer. "Please bless us as the students, that we may be able to learn by the spirit."
I think it's an important principle we would all do well to remember. Similar to the sentiment that you only get as much out of an activity or relationship, as you put into it.
But if you allow your teacher to instead be the Spirit, you can learn great and powerful lessons from even the most humble and weak of teachers. Someone made a comment to me a few years ago that when people stand up and pray at the beginning of class "Please bless the teacher that the spirit will guide their words that we may learn" or any variation thereof... it is a useless prayer. What good does the teacher having the spirit do, if the students are not listening? What good does the spirit guiding the teacher's words do, if the students hearts and minds are unresponsive?
So instead, I've been recommended an alternate prayer. "Please bless us as the students, that we may be able to learn by the spirit."
I think it's an important principle we would all do well to remember. Similar to the sentiment that you only get as much out of an activity or relationship, as you put into it.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Teaching
Well I taught 5th graders for the first time today. I admit I was intimidated at first. But once I stepped into the classroom I was set and determined. I felt confident and ready. The lesson admittedly didn't go all that well, but since I only prepared it like a few hours before class because I found out this morning that we had prepared a lesson for the wrong week. But I was cool and confident the whole time. And I had a really good time actually. I'm pretty sure I'm going to grow to love those kids.
I came home actually wanting to be a teacher again. All of a sudden I remembered how much children can touch your heart and teach you as you're attempting to teach them. It makes me want to do all that I can to tailor my lessons to these kids and make a difference in their lives even though I'm only seeing them once a week.
I think things will go much better in future weeks when I actually have a lesson plan ahead of time, haha. And more time to teach, which we will have next week. I need to find out what the other half of my group taught after my team was done teaching though.
Anyway... it actually makes me want to consider actually becoming a teacher again. Full degree and all of that. Although I don't think a masters will ever appeal to me.
I came home actually wanting to be a teacher again. All of a sudden I remembered how much children can touch your heart and teach you as you're attempting to teach them. It makes me want to do all that I can to tailor my lessons to these kids and make a difference in their lives even though I'm only seeing them once a week.
I think things will go much better in future weeks when I actually have a lesson plan ahead of time, haha. And more time to teach, which we will have next week. I need to find out what the other half of my group taught after my team was done teaching though.
Anyway... it actually makes me want to consider actually becoming a teacher again. Full degree and all of that. Although I don't think a masters will ever appeal to me.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Rexburg In the Summer
I told Ann the other day that if I found a job in Rexburg, I would be willing to consider staying for the summer. While part of me is desperate to be home when Michael gets home... I really am concerned that it would put too much pressure on the two of us. Especially him during that time of transition just barely getting off the mission. I really feel like it would be healthier for him if I wasn't there when he got home. I think it would make the transition a whole lot easier. Even though I know it would kill me to be here, knowing I had chosen to be here rather than there with him.
I really don't know what to do. And the idea of having a job scares me out of my mind. As the unknown does to most people. Anyway... I really haven't decided yet. It's only January. I wouldn't need to really worry about needing to buy my ticket home until more like March... but of course Job hunting would begin much sooner than that.
I do love Rexburg summers.
But I also love Texas in the Spring.
But if I did get a job, I'd be more productive than I have been any other time at home.
I really don't know what to do. And the idea of having a job scares me out of my mind. As the unknown does to most people. Anyway... I really haven't decided yet. It's only January. I wouldn't need to really worry about needing to buy my ticket home until more like March... but of course Job hunting would begin much sooner than that.
I do love Rexburg summers.
But I also love Texas in the Spring.
But if I did get a job, I'd be more productive than I have been any other time at home.
Word
One of the most important things to me in a person, is their ability to keep their word. If you tell me we're going to hang out, I take you seriously. If you tell me you'll do the assignment, I take you seriously. If you tell me you'll call, I take you seriously.
I think of all the times I've ever been hurt or disappointed, it's usually because someone went back on their word. I suppose this stems from the importance I place on trust. And when people go back against their word, I have problems trusting them.
I do want to trust people. But sometimes people make it hard for them to be trusted.
I think of all the times I've ever been hurt or disappointed, it's usually because someone went back on their word. I suppose this stems from the importance I place on trust. And when people go back against their word, I have problems trusting them.
I do want to trust people. But sometimes people make it hard for them to be trusted.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Garden Tomb
One of my friends spoke to me recently about the Garden Tomb.
The image that came to my mind... is standing in that Tomb, seeing it empty and bare. I think for once in my life I understood some small portion of how Mary must have felt coming to the tomb and finding it empty, devoid of the body of Christ.
And the question that came to my mind was "What if there was no Christ?" What if that tomb was just a barren room. What if he really and truly had been gone?
And this thought... just made me cry. I'm not sure how strong a testimony I have had in my life of Christ, and the Atonement... I believe in them, of course... but I just don't know how firm an imprint they have left on my heart. But considering the idea of not having a Savior really touched me. Even if there are so many more things I should be doing to rely on Christ, I still cannot imagine a world without Him. What is this life without Christ?
Christ Lives.
I only wish that with this knowledge, I can do my best to open my heart to his gospel and make any and all necessary changes in my life to better facilitate having the Spirit in my life.
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