My Thoughts on the End of the World

As 2012 is hours away, I remember back 12 years ago when many people thought Y2K was the end of the world and all electronics would crash and burn, killing everyone. That was not the case. I think back to last May when that pastor predicted the apocalypse. Ironically, I still see those billboards up. And I think to the Mayan calendar that predicts the end of the world in a year from now.

But what if tonight really was the end of the world? Would I live today any different? This is a re-post from another blog I had that shares those thoughts. These are my thoughts on the end of the world.

(Originally posted May 20, 2011 here.) 
By now, I am sure that everyone has heard of the pastor in California who is convinced that the rapture will happen on May 21, 2011 and the world will end the following October. Because that date is so near, it was on my mind as with the rest of the nation (and maybe even world). Today as I spent most of my time in airplanes and airports, making my way to visit my mom, a great song came up on my iPod. I always thought of Bruce Cockburn's "Last Night of the World" as a love song expressing no regrets in life. Today it ironically had new meaning.

The chorus goes:
"If this were the last night of the world, what would I do?
What would I do that was different, unless it was champagne with you..."

From stories I have heard, people are taking this May 21 "prophesy" in different ways. I have heard of some who have sold everything they own, quit their jobs, and have gone on vacation. Others are planning post-rapture looting parties. So, I got myself thinking: if this really was "the last night of the world", would I change the way I live? And my answer in that honest moment of personal reflection took me off-guard.

Yes, I would. But not how I would have expected. When it comes to the issue of eternity and Heaven, I am 100 % certain that whenever the rapture happens (or I die, whichever comes first) that Jesus will usher me into Heaven with open arms where I will spend eternity worshiping the Lord. And I know it's nothing I have done that has earned (or could ever earn) my place there. Instead, it is everything Jesus has done in my place. He took all of my mistakes, short-comings, and everything else labeled 'sin' and died with them on the cross. Then three days later he conquered death so I could live free of the penalty of my sins. And he did all of this because he loved me so deeply that he wanted me to know God personally and intimately, both on earth and in Heaven. And all I had to do to save my place in Heaven was acknowledge what Jesus did and receive the life he offered me wen he rose from the grave. So I wouldn't change my actions to try and get into Heaven, because I already know I am going there. But this got me thinking about everyone who is not.

If I really knew that the rapture was going to happen tomorrow, I would want to tell people. There would suddenly be a sharp urgency to my words and to my ministry. But the reality is that I don't know. I can't know when it will happen. I only know that it will. In Matthew 24 it is written that we should always be prepared and we should always be ready. So why do I live my life with calm complacency? The stark reality is, whether or not Jesus comes back tomorrow,he is coming. And I am called to live my life with that expectancy and urgency.

So, if this was the last night of the world, I would do one thing different: I would tell you about Jesus. And it makes me wonder how different my entire life would be if I lived every day as the last night of the world...  
If this were the last night of the world, what would you do differently?

          “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

         “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

-Matthew 24:36-44 

The Birth of the Redeemer

Redeem: v. 1. to buy back; 2. to pay off; 3. to recover
Redeemer: n. 1. a person who redeems; 2. Jesus Christ
            (credit Dictionary.com)


As all the wrapping paper pieces settle and chaos gives way to silence, I sit and reflect on Christmas. Even before I decided to follow Jesus, I heard the Christmas story year in and year out. It seems to have lost its awe. It seems to have lost its wonder. A virgin teenager really gave birth to the Son of God in a smelly barn? Really?? And He came to not only save the nation of Israel, but the whole world?? Really??? This story is no longer new and wondrous, but old and stale. It is hard for me to remember the miracle that Christmas is all about. But it truly is miraculous that Christmas not only celebrates the birth of the Savior, but also the redemption of us all.

As I have been finding new reflections to freshen this Christmas season, I was surprised to find that the official definition of Redeemer is Jesus. Even secular, non-bias sources see Jesus Christ as not only a redeemer, but The Redeemer. So, I have found my fresh perspective on Christmas as I reflect on how I was redeemed. I am in awe of the ways Jesus has saved my life, saved those in my life, and blessed the road ahead. I am Redeemed because He is the Redeemer.

Thank you LORD for saving me, for redeeming me, for setting me free. Thank you for loving me so much that you paid the ultimate price to redeem my life from the ultimate bondage. And thank you for allowing me to spend your birthday celebration with those I love so dearly. Thank you LORD. I love you. 


*Looking for a fresh look at the Christmas story? Check out this cute video...

To All You Procrastinators...

Bought all your Christmas presents yet? For all you procrastinators out there, here's some good gift ideas for meaningful and unique Christmas presents...

Since when do babies need iPhones??

Doesn't this defeat the purpose of the cell phone??

Mmmmm... smells like bacon

You look like a handsome filet mingon in that scarf 

Getting hurt never looked so good!

Let there be (bacon) light! 

Flavored flossing!

Need a nap? Grab a tie!

There's nothing classier than wine out of a mason jar! 

Merry Christmas Shopping!

Pass It On

When I first got engaged, I was first elated, and then overwhelmed when I started to think of everything that needed to be done. Now, two months into it, Almost everything is either booked or has been purchased, and even though things are moving fast as May rapidly approaches, I feel like I am able to relax and enjoy the planning. 

I have a friend who just got engaged this weekend and is planning to be married in February. I am so excited for her! But as we were talking about it, I could see the look of fear and stress overtake her face. This is a time where she should be joyous and excited to take this new step in her life, but instead she is burdened by plans and stressed that she doesn't know what to do or where to even begin. Being slightly ahead of the planning process, I offered to help her. And within 20 minutes I was able to give her nearly 20 different links to dress rental shops, caterers, marriage license and name change info, reception venues, how to register with various stores, easy invitations, and upcoming bridal expos. Having been in her shoes, I know how helpful and essential this is. 

If it weren't for Jackie, Sharayah, and other recently wedded individuals, I would have been so bogged down and lost, that I would have been on the verge of a stress-induced coma. I am so grateful for their help in my planning process (and continuous help), and I am so grateful that I was able to pay that forward today. 

So, as as the world prepares to pause (hopefully) and celebrate Peace, let's stop and think about what others have done for us. What can you do to pass this kindness on to another? What can you do for a friend or stranger that they can pass it on to someone else? As we are in the midst of the season of giving, think about what things you can give. Because the best gifts are those that can't be returned, but passed on. 

Looking 3 Years Back and 150 Days Forward

Three years ago today I took a risk and began a journey with my best friend. I had no idea where it would end up, but I knew I had to take that risk of heartache and disappointment and find out.

For the months leading up to December 7, 2008, Josh did everything he could to convince me I should date him. But looking at the situation, I was hesitant and doubtful. He was a freshman just starting college, and I was senior about to graduate college. Where could this even go except an untimely death and heartbreak? It took months to even allow myself to have a crush on him. He was (and still is) an attractive and charming man of God. What's not to like about that? But I couldn't get over the fear of risking it all and ending up alone.

It was an act of God that convinced me to date Josh. I knew in my heart that even if he was one year older, I would have thrown myself at his feet. But because of my hesitancy, it forced me to rely on God and his leading in a way I had never done before. Through listening to a song (you can read more of that story by clicking here) I realized I had been guarding my heart too hard and wasn't letting anyone in. God was asking me what the worst outcome could be and when thinking about it that way, it wasn't so bad. Especially when comparing that to the best possible outcome.

So, I agreed to date him and the conversations that followed are quite indicative of our relationship. We both agreed that two things needed to happen before we could date: talking to our other best friend and talking to my dad. Josh is very traditional and wanted to ask my father's permission to date me. We had formed a little three Musketeers group, so we knew we also had to talk to Jackie, the third Musketeer. Josh was under the impression that once these things happen, we would be dating. I was under the impression that once these things happen, we would have another conversation to officially start dating. Well, you can imagine my surprise when I get a text asking, "So, we're legit now, right?" I was furious. Even though it lead to a mini-fight, it makes a great story now.

December 7, 2008: After a long, tearful, but amazing conversation.

But we ended up having a great first official date on December 7th. We bared our souls to each other and found forgiveness and acceptance like I never even knew was possible. And over the past three years it hasn't been easy; there have been times of heartache and times of doubt, but when those happened, it all came down to what I wanted. And I couldn't imagine my life without Josh. He was what I wanted.

So now, looking forward, I am excited for what lies ahead of us. In 150 days we will be husband and wife, and I look forward to having the rest of our lives to continue to learn about each other and grow with each other and get old with each other. And I know it won't all be wedded bliss, but I will be with my best friend forever, so to me, it will all be worth it.

I love you Joshua. Happy Three Years, and I look very much forward to being your wife in 150 days... but who's counting? ;)

Something Heavenly

I love my job. But like all things in life, it's hard. It was especially hard tonight to see one of my girls wrought by fear and pain from her past. After comforting her, I cried harder than I have in a while and my heart fissured into a million tiny pieces. It's not fair. How could anyone so young and beautiful and vibrant be so crippled by fear that they remain paralyzed? It's so easy to get annoyed and frustrated by their attitudes and actions, but there's nothing like a humble dose of reality to remind you why they have attitudes and why they act as they do. I am so filled with compassion and empathetic pain that my soul aches.

Tonight I have prayed and prayed and prayed. I pray that God's presence would fill this place and dispel all fear. I pray that these broken girls would grow and blossom into strong and courageous women. I pray that the Lord would fill them with His Spirit and it would transform them from the inside out. I pray for healing and love to abound. I pray for radical change in their hearts and in their lives. I pray for peace.

I was talking and crying to my roommate about how my heart literally ached and that I don't think I can pray hard enough or loud enough. I told her that, "I know God hears my prayers, I just don't know how powerful they are to move mountains, and with these girls, mountains need to be moved." To which she replied, "That's why He brought you to them. They can't move mountains on their own."

While processing this, these lyrics came on the radio:
"Whatever you're doing inside of me, it feels like chaos but I believe you're up to something bigger than me, larger than life, something Heavenly." 


My heart feels like chaos, but I know all of this is bigger than me. The girls, their stories, my story, working here, it's something heavenly. That brings comfort to my breaking heart tonight.

Simple Joys

Today, before going to work, I was faced with a choice. What to do with the 20 minutes I had to spare. I needed to get an oil change, but did I do that or something else just as productive that needed to be done? No way! Instead I opted to accentuate the beautiful ring I will be showing off this week at Thanksgiving with an elegant manicure. My hands are so beautiful!! And it was so cheap! Plus, it is industrial-strength nail polish, so it won't chip for 3 weeks... Just in time for Christmas! I guess it will be another excuse to get pampered again. *twist my arm!*

It is amazing how one simple little thing can impact my day. I feel that I've been cheerier today, and that when I look down at my beautiful nails I feel just a bit lighter and smile. Oh the joy of life's little pleasures.

To any of you in the Salt Lake City vicinity, go to Sky Nails in Sugarhouse. It is extremely affordable and great quality! I will definitely be going again anytime I need my nails done! Click here for their info.

When You're Exhausted You Lose More Than Your Mind

I lost my keys yesterday. I was frantically tearing my room apart for almost 15 minutes and was late to work. I was only able to get to work because Josh was so sweet and brought me my keys at 6 o'clock in the morning (which was 10 minutes after I had to leave for work). I came home from work late last night and still could not find them anywhere. And I mean anywhere. I was absolutely stupefied.

I have been exhausted the last few days. It didn't help that previous to the 9.5 hours of sleep I got last night, I had only slept 2 of those previous 40. Odd work hours and the new Twilight movie is mainly to blame. The movie was good, by the way, if you were wondering (which most of you probably could care less about). I'm not usually one to be all about midnight showings, but a good friend rallied me into going, so I dragged my roommate, Jackie, along too. The only thing was that I had to be up at 5 to get to work the next morning. If only I had known the chaos that would ensue, I probably would have opted to see the movie on my day off instead.

So, I came home from the movie, set my keys down somewhere I couldn't remember and went to bed. I usually throw them in the same place on the floor or on my bed. They weren't in either of those locations. Or anywhere else. Even yesterday night I couldn't find them. But when I woke up this morning I stumbled upon them, completely unintentionally. When I awoke, I sat up in bed and heard a strange clinking noise, that oddly resembled my keychains hitting one another. The best part? My bed was made. So I tore off my sheets, and there were my keys. How did my keys end up underneath my sheets? Great question. I am asking myself the same thing. It's like a weird, twisted version of the princess and the pea. I'm not even one who is prone to losing keys, or anything for that matter. But I guess when I am exhausted I lose more than my mind. I should go to bed right now to get sleep. But fist I am going to make sure I know exactly where my keys are!

A Weekend of Wedding Shopping

Last weekend both of my wonderful moms as well as Josh's mom and sister came to visit for a weekend full of wedding planning and dress shopping.  I am so honored to be blessed with so many wonderful and supportive women to walk this wedding journey with me (did you catch that amazing alliteration? My English-major skills are still intact!). 

Beforehand, I was nervous about getting stressed out by an overload of people and information, but the weekend went so well! We had lots of girly bonding time, toured reception places, and I even bought my dress! Okay, well, I didn't buy it, but I have one! (Thanks Pamela!) If you want to know what it looks like, too bad. You have to wait until May when I post wedding pictures. Can't leak the secret to Josh! 

However, I will share the response I got back from my dad from seeing a picture of my dress. It's one of my favorite top ten lists he's done. Best of all, he made his little girl cry... 

Amie-

Pamela e-mailed me some photos of your wedding gown options. They all were gorgeous. However, my mind did go through some gyrations while viewing the gowns along with the image of you getting married in one. So I will share with you my brain’s activity as I give you the top ten thoughts going through your Dad’s head regarding this wedding gown:

10. Is there enough gold left in Ft. Knox to pay for this gown!

9. With a train like this, should I bring my locomotive whistle to the wedding?

8. How do they harvest heavenly clouds to make such a gown?

7. After the wedding, it will still have value as camouflage when hunting in the snow!

6. This gown is a bit over-the-top, though, if Amie opts for the Vegas Elvis wedding chapel!

5. This looks like a serious tripping hazard for Dad walking down the aisle!

4. How close is Amie’s collection getting to the magic # 27?

3. Will little blue birds help to assemble this gown?

2. This gown will definitely elicit a “WOW” from Josh at the front of the church!

And the number one thought going through your Dad’s head regarding this wedding gown is 

1. Imagining what an absolutely stunningly beautiful bride my little Girly-Whirl will be on her

wedding day!

What a wonderful daddy :)

I Heart Josh!

Last week a chapter of my life got a fitting bookend. My time dating Josh started with a concert, and it turns out it ended with a concert too.

For the past five years, my friend Jess and I have been enormously huge fans of Josh Wilson, before he even produced his first official record, let alone received a spot on the top of the Christian music charts. His best friend from high school, also named Josh, lives in Salt Lake City and they would often do concerts together at the tiny chapel at the University. That's when I first heard Josh Wilson. I paid $2 to get into the concert and $5 for a plain white CD with "Josh Wilson Unreleased Tracks" written on it. I knew he was a talented musician from the first chord he played. He has unique sound equipment that records what he plays and can record and playback multiple tracks at once, thus sounding like a whole band from one man. Jess, who was my roommate back then, and I would blast Josh Wilson's music whenever we would clean our house and find motivation from singing his music at the top of our lungs. Our favorite song by far was "The Saints."

My senior year of college Josh Wilson got his big break and got his first song in the top 20 of Christian music and went on tour with Matthew West. When Jess and I heard that the tour was passing through Grand Junction, CO, we decided to drive the 4.5 hours to see him. Then Freshmen, Jackie and Josh decided to join us. We made tee shirts and had a blast on our roadtrip. Josh Wilson even recognized me and Jess from the times he had played in Salt Lake. Not to mention he was extremely flattered that we professed our love of his music on our pretty pink chests. And he wrote a blog about us, so we were flattered too.

So, when we heard that Josh Wilson was on tour with Steven Curtis Chapman and had a concert in Idaho Falls, we knew we had to make that drive and reunite the 4 original roadtrippers with our bright pink tee shirts. Wanting to hear "The Saints" like we yelled for at every concert, I began tweeting Josh Wilson a week in advance, in hopes of hearing our favorite song at his concert. He didn't play it, but tweeted me back to meet us by the curtain after the show so he could give us a private concert. It was seriously the coolest thing ever. You can watch the video below. The concert as a whole was also really amazing.

Going to the concert was such a beautiful bookend not only for Josh and Jackie's college career, but also for  me and Josh's dating relationship. For months I refused to date Josh because he was a freshman and I was a senior and I couldn't see it going anywhere. Then one night I was crying out to God, asking him what I should do. I was listening to one of Josh Wilson's unreleased songs, and God spoke back to me through the chorus. "They always told me I should guard my heart, but who are they anyway. Nobody told me not to guard too hard, that's why they never stay." I knew I was guarding my heart too hard and not willing to wait and see if God would move the relationship to something more. And it was shortly after that first concert roadtrip that I agreed to date Josh and see where it would go. So, how beautiful that three years later, we would go to his concert again and shortly after which, end our dating relationship... by getting engaged! God's timing is beautiful. :)

You can check out Josh Wilson's music by clicking here. 
And please ignore the few places where I sing along in the video. I was really excited and couldn't help myself ;)

The Engagement Story

As I write this, I feel so distracted because every time I move my left hand a sparkle catches my eye and my train of thought is replaced with, "Oooohhhh.... Preeeetttyyyy..." After 3 days I am still getting used to the glittering rock that adorns my finger. I also have moments quite often where I randomly remember, "Oh! I am engaged!! I am getting Married!!!!!!" And then I huge dorky smile races across my face. Good thing I am too high on Cloud 9 to care what my face looks like. It helps that no one even notices because they're all too busy staring at my ring and asking me the story. And after retelling it a few hundred times already, I thought it would be a good idea to write it down and just refer people to my blog to read it. It'll at least save my vocal chords! So, without further ado, here is 'the story'...

Saturday was the Navy's birthday ball, and Josh hates Navy Ball. Every year he is in a bad mood due to the "mandatory fun" required of him. Ironic, because he doesn't have much fun at all. I, however, love Navy Ball. It is one of my favorite events all year. I love dressing up and going out for an evening all dolled up and feeling extraordinarily beautiful. But every year Josh's grumpiness brings my excitement down a few notches. So, Friday night he asked to take me out to breakfast to butter me up and store up brownie points for the following evening. When I told my roommates that, they snickered and told me that if he was going to take me out to breakfast at 8 o'clock in the morning, it better be freaking magical. I laughed but didn't think anything of it.

Well, I got a call waking me up the next morning from Josh, asking me to let him in. Confused, asking why he was at my door when I was supposed to pick him up in 30 minutes, I opened the door to find my handsome man holding a bouquet of roses that were beautiful, but imperfect just like our relationship (according to him). I was stunned by his effort and thought he must really be buttering me up! I changed out of my pj's and into nicer clothes and higher heels (per Josh's request), and we left for breakfast.

At breakfast I joked with him about how Morgan and Jackie said our breakfast ought to be magical, and to that he devoured his biscuits and gravy and exclaimed that his breakfast magically disappeared! We laughed and joked and had a good time. After breakfast Josh drove me up one of the local canyons to try and see the fall colors. The leaves had already fallen, but it was still beautiful. We stopped at the trailhead at the top of the canyon where many late-night conversations happened that eventually lead us to date over three years ago. We had never been there during the day and enjoyed the view of the mountains and the valley below. He lovingly asked me if we could do a devotion together. My heart fluttered at the rare opportunity to dig into God's Word together. We read over 1 Corinthians 13 to reflect on what love truly is and how to apply those principles into our relationship. Josh concluded that I am patient and kind and am not arrogant or rude and that he needs to be more like me. I laughed. We spent some time praying and then Josh suggested we should explore some one of the trails. I looked hesitantly down at my high heels, but agreed to explore. But I did so with the understanding that if our hike ruined the high heels he told me to wear, he would buy me a new pair of shoes. :)

I climbed the hill/mountain trail with surprising ease despite my footwear and nagging cough and cold. But the view from the top was worth it. It was beautiful. even though the leaves had already fallen, it was slightly cloudy and crisp, but quiet and serene. We were eye to eye with the nearby peaks, and it was stunning. He held me close against him and told me that it was so beautiful, but not as beautiful as me. I love when Josh is cheesy and romantic. The funny part was though that he said that exact phrase six times in a row! And when he repeatedly pushed me away and then pulled me close over and over, I knew something was up. I couldn't tell if he was nervous or just being funny. But before I could really think about that, he got down on one knee. My eyes immediately went wider than my sockets and I started freaking out. I kept saying, "SHUT UP! NO WAY!! OH MY GOSH!!! YOU'RE TOTALLY KIDDING ME!!!!" over and over and he couldn't get a word in edgewise. Needless to say I was shocked. I knew it was coming, but I had been given false information stating that it wouldn't happen till after Thanksgiving. So I was genuinely surprised. Once he was finally able to squeak out, "Amie, will you marry me?" I freaked out even more. "OH MY GOSH!!!! YOU'RE KIDDING ME!!!! SERIOUSLY???? I mean, YES!! Of course! YES!! YES!!!!" We kissed and savored that moment in each others' arms and admired the view sparkling from my finger as well as the scenery. It felt so surreal, like a dream you'd never want to wake up from. Afterwards he told me that he was nervous about what he would say. Haha. Little did he know that I wouldn't even give him a chance to say much of anything!

Now, having a few days to process, I still have my moments where I wonder if I'm dreaming because it seems unreal to be able to marry the man of my dreams. Josh and I are so perfect for each other. By no means are we perfect, but we compliment each other so uniquely that I can't imagine myself with anyone else. Following this story, many have also asked me if I'm prepared to be a Navy wife. Honestly, I have no real idea what that entails. But I know that being able to walk with Josh in life is worth the sacrifice that is inevitable. And I know that if God really does have a perfect plan for my life and marrying Josh is part of it, then I know he's been preparing me (and will continue) to deal with the challenges of military life. But the best part of this story is knowing that marriage is a commitment, and there's no one better to commit your life to than your best friend. I love you Joshua. 

Showing off my ring and my fiance at the Navy Ball that night. What a great looking couple!
Can't believe this wonderful man will soon be my husband :)

My Life as of Late

I have not been good about writing every time I intend to, and so I have lots of things to share that I just haven't yet. So, before too much time has elapsed, here's a recap of some things you've missed (yes, this is my life in pictures)...

Josh and I went to Denver a few weeks ago to hang out with my parents, and while there, we took the car and camera out for a spin while it was still very warm.

And the next day it looked like this! Gross! 

So we stayed inside and made our own version of Top Shot. My dad created a mini shooting range obstacle course in our basement and we competed with the pellet gun to see who is the Mossrock Top Shot. Let me just say, it wasn't me. 

But I was pretty fierce and blew the smitherines out of this CD in one of the rounds. 

Then we watched the Chargers and Broncos football game on that Sunday. I couldn't talk to Josh during the game, because I was decked-out in my pink Broncos jersey. As you can tell here, we fought about it a lot ;)

But Josh wasn't "mad" long, because the Chargers won (unfortunately).

I love my job. Even though it's quite a drive to get to work, this is my view of the Great Salt Lake as I'm driving
along I-80. It is so beautiful! And it makes the drive so much more pleasant. 

Remember a few weeks ago when I wrote about what my perfect date is and that I love 68 degree days? (If you missed that one, you can read it here.) Well, this is what it looked like the very next day. Boo! But now it's gotten warmer and I have had a few 68 degree days, so I'm okay with winter coming now. I've had my perfect date. 

As the weather gets colder, most people start to get sick and sicker. Well, Josh got sick while he was home on fall break a few weeks ago. I felt so bad and wanted to cheer him up, so this is what he came home to: everything to make him feel better. And he did. But not before he got me sick! At least he gave me the leftovers you see in this picture
so I could start feeling better, but it hasn't happened yet...

A few days ago I went to a local Asian restaurant with a friend and these were the fortunes I got from my cookies, and in this order too! So, I feel something very exciting may be coming my way... Stay tuned so see what it might be!
It may be nothing at all, but I'm hoping that just this once, a fortune cookie can actually predict my future ;)

Highway to the Danger Zone

I am so excited. Today Josh got selected to serve as a pilot in the US Navy. He's wanted this for a long time and I am so proud of him that he was able to get what he wanted. He won't get his orders for flight school until the spring, but at least he knows he has one of those few spots that thousands of midshipmen across the country compete for every year. This is a huge accomplishment and a step towards the career he's always dreamed about. I am so proud of him and excited to walk alongside him on this journey.

If you're not familiar with what flying in the Navy looks like, check out this video...

Okay, maybe this is the opening scene from the movie Top Gun, but you get the idea.
Pretty cool nonetheless.

With this attitude, I think he'll make a pretty good pilot and officer in the Navy. ;)

I love you Joshua. Congrats :D

My Marketable Mommy Skills

My roommates and I joke with our other roommate, Morgan (who is LDS), that if she wants to find a good Mormon boy to marry, she needs to develop her marketable marriage skills such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, and general wifey attributes. Well, all this last week I have been going through training for my job. I have been learning how to teach to behaviors through effective praise, preventative teaching, and corrective teaching during the day, and at nights I've been learning how to keep my cool while the girls try to push all of my buttons to my breaking point.

My mom always told me as I grew up that when you have a baby, no one teaches you how to be a parent, that there's no manual for mommies. Well, I have discovered the secret to parenting: my job. Usually parents start from the beginning and figure it out as they go. It's slightly unconventional to start with teenagers, but my job is preparing me to be a parent, and a good one at that. I am learning how to deal with tantrums, encourage healthy behaviors, teach to inappropriate behaviors, and be a good role model of what a healthy life looks like. So now I can not only market my marriage skills to potential suitors who come to call, but I can also market these mommy skills I am developing to snag a good Jesus-following boy to marry ;) But hopefully these marketable skills will not evolve into a brochure that will get pulled out along with my baby pictures when my boyfriend comes home. That would be embarrassing. 

Despite working a billion-and-a-half hours these past few weeks because of training, we've also done some pretty fun stuff. Here's some pics of activities that have marketed my mommy skills...

Tonight the whole campus went to the REAL Salt Lake soccer game against the Portland Timbers. It was a tie, but funny to watch the girls get into the game and root for Portland just to rebel against the staff. As far as rebellion goes, I'd gladly take that over anything else any day! 

I've become the official hair-braider in the house. This is what I missed out on not having sisters! Glad I get to be a part of girly bonding now though :)

We take the girls running around the local farms just about every day. This is a sunflower one of the girls found against the backdrop of a blue sky and the Oquirrh Mountains. Beautiful. 

There are a few apple and pear trees in the back yard, so we've been eating really fresh fruit! So delicious! The girls seem to enjoy healthy eating more when they have the experience of picking their food themselves! :)

Friday was the campus service project of picking up trash in random places around Tooele. They were all rewarded with a pizza party and cookie decorating. This is my happy Halloween cookie. It made my tummy happy too. Yummm...

After having a few really hard days in a row of training and working with the girls and working a 17-hour day, I came home to find a bouquet of my favorite flowers by my bed. Thanks Josh for keeping me sane when work is hectic! 

Adventures of the Amateur Culinary Genius

As most of you know, I love my job. I love my girls. Yes, I call them my girls. I love the moments when, despite their emotions and mistakes of the past, they smile and laugh like any other teenage girl. I love the moments when they see their behavior for what it is and realize they need to adjust. I love the moments of accomplishment when pride beams from their soul. I love the other women I work with. And most of all, I love when they feel like being lazy and ask me to cook dinner. 

I, like many of my girls, am beaming with pride this week having realized what I am capable of. And what is that? Cooking. I have always viewed myself as a so-so chef-in-training who can cook a step above buttered noodles, but this week I see myself for what I truly am: an amateur culinary genius.

On Monday I made honey mustard chicken. It was supposed to be a sandwich, but I improvised and made it into a casserole. And it was delicious. But tonight I succeeded in creating the most daunting dinner I have ever attempted: Spicy Asian Orange Chicken, completely from scratch! I thought it was going to be disastrous; the chicken took forever to thaw and the sauce wasn't thickening like it should and the rice cooked too quickly, but it all came together and no one was the wiser of my fears. And it got rave reviews. Just from looking at the recipe I would have never even given it a second glance. But because my job required me to cook that meal tonight, I had no choice. I had to try. It was stressful knowing that if I failed, 9 girls would have starved tonight. But I did it, and I did it well. And I will have delicious leftovers for lunch. Be jealous. 

For those of you looking for a culinary challenge, here's the recipe to try for yourselves (and for those of you who look at this and say, "Daunting? Ha! It's a piece of orange chicken cake!" I say to you, teach me your ways!)

Asian Orange Chicken

Sauce:

5-1/4 cups water

1/3 cup orange juice

3/4 cup lemon juice

1 cup 3 tbsp rice vinegar

1/2 cup soy sauce

3 tbsp grated orange zest

3-1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1-3/4 tsp minced ginger root

1-3/4 tsp minced garlic

1/3 cup chopped scallions

1 tsp crushed red pepper

~

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/4 water

Chicken:

7 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2" pieces

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1/2 cup olive oil

Pour 5 1/4 cups water, orange juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce into saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Stir in the orange zest, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, scallions, and crushed red pepper. Bring to boil. Remove from heat and cool 10 to 15 minutes. 

**Optional if time allows** Place chicken pieces in a large Ziplock bag with 2 cups of sauce. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Save remaining sauce. 

Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Combine flour, salt, and pepper in another large Ziplock bag. Toss raw chicken in flour mixture until coated. Place chicken in skillet and brown. Set chicken aside.

Wipe out skillet and add remaining sauce. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Mix cornstarch and 1/4 cup water; stir into sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low, add chicken, and let simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve over steamed rice with vegetable of choice. 

Manifesto

Manifesto:  n. /ˌmanəˈfestō/ 
                    A declaration of principles, ideas, intentions, ambitions, or actions. 


A manifesto is a powerful thing. One of the most famous is the Communist Manifesto written by German political theorists Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Written in 1848, it presents the Marxists ideas about the nature of society and politics, particularly with class struggles. Today it is considered one of the most powerful political manuscripts. But it started as two individuals voicing what they believed to be true.  


Belief is a powerful thing. It shifts perspectives and perceptions. It powers thoughts and actions. It shapes cultures and nations. What would have happened if Martin Luther King Jr. didn't believe that his infamous dream could ever become reality? What would have happened if the American colonists believed in the monarchy of England? What would have happened if our ancestors really believed the world was flat and believed the coast of Ireland was the end of the world? What if Martin Luther believed that the Bible should only be read in Latin and in mass? What would have happened if the apostles believed Jesus really was dead? Belief is a powerful thing. 


I went to a concert last night to see The City Harmonic, who are known for their song "Manifesto." The lyrics combine the Nicene Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the story of the Bible to declare their beliefs about the world. These are the same beliefs Christians have had throughout history. And it is this belief that has shaped, shifted, and empowered my life. Today, this is my manifesto... 

The City Harmonic performing "Manifesto"

Me, Josh, Jackie, and the band

The Perfect Date

Like Miss Rhode Island from Miss Congeniality, my perfect date is any day that is 68 degrees, because it's not too hot, not too cold, and all you need is a light jacket. Whether this happens April 25 or any other day of the year, I get annoyed when it gets skipped over.

I just checked the weather and was grumbling about the alert at the top of the page. The title read: "SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE WEATHER LATER THIS WEEK..." Never a good sign. The next line: AFTER A PROLONGED PERIOD OF ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES...A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN WEATHER PATTERN IS FORECAST." For those of you who do not speak Meteorologese, let me translate. "It's been hotter than normal. Now it's going to be colder than normal. Oh yeah, and it's going to snow. Enjoy."

But for those of us who like our 68 degree days, we will not enjoy. Oh no. My perfect date will get completely bypassed by 5 degrees. I feel jipped. And what's even worse is that it will span from almost 80 degress today to the 40's by Thursday! SAY WHAT??!? Gross. And the ski bums are happy because they can start skiing this weekend. Even grosser. I was just starting to get mentally prepared to get out my light sweaters and fashion boots, but my down jacket and snow boots? I object. I object very much. I was spoiled last winter living in Portland. I don't want to deal with the snow again. But just you watch; once the first snowflake falls in the valley, I'm sure I'll sing a different tune. I just wasn't ready for that extreme change yet.

So, to take my mind off this and think about pleasanter things, I think I'll watch this movie. And for my first paragraph to make more sense, check out this clip.

My Favorite Places: Roadside Farm Stands

I have many favorite places. One of them I discovered yesterday. Roadside farm stands are amazing! I got a basket of apples and peaches and two ears of corn for 5 dollars. $5!! And they are amazing. So fresh. So delicious. So juicy. And the best part is they were so cheap! How have I never stopped at one before??

One of my favorite parts about being an adult is that I can eat whatever I want for dinner. So tonight I decided to eat freshly harvested corn on the cob and peaches. Best. Dinner. Ever.

I don't have a grill, but I discovered the magical secret to cooking magnificent corn in the microwave. It was the best piece of corn I have ever had. And I would love to share my secret with you.



Magical Microwave Corn on the Cob
-While in the husk, soak it in warm water for 5-7 minutes depending on the size of the ear
-Cook it in the husk in the microwave for 2-4 minutes depending on the size and the microwave (an average size ear in my microwave cooks to perfection in 2 minutes 15 seconds)
-Then husk the corn and cut off the leaves to hold the end (unless you have corn holders)
-Finally I spread butter around the cob and sprinkle lemon pepper on it as well. You can season it to taste as you please
-Then Enjoy!

And if you prefer to eat corn in different forms, maybe this informational video on how to cook popcorn will help you too ;)

Around the World in 55 Seconds

Have you seen this video? It's unreal. So surreal. It's a video from the international space station as it orbits the planet at night. Here's what you see...

"This movie begins over the Pacific Ocean and continues over North and South America before entering daylight near Antarctica. Visible cities, countries and landmarks include (in order) Vancouver Island, Victoria, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles. Phoenix. Multiple cities in Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. Mexico City, the Gulf of Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula, El Salvador, Lightning in the Pacific Ocean, Guatemala, Panama, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Lake Titicaca, and the Amazon. Also visible is the earths ionosphere (thin yellow line), a satellite (55sec) and the stars of our galaxy."


I seriously can't stop watching this. It's amazing. It really feels like I'm flying. So beautiful. Check it out. 

I Get Paid for This?? Seriously???

The best jobs are the ones that don't even feel like jobs. I know I haven't even been working for a whole week and have barely even started the honeymoon phase, but I love my job. I am an assistant at Utah Youth Village working in one of their residential treatment facilities for teenage girls. So far I've gotten paid for doing a puzzle, having a dance party, watching a soccer game, cooking, reading, and best of all, talking. Can't beat that! I know the job has difficult parts (like the hours and discipline), but overall, they are just teenage girls who just need love. Plus, it's in what seems like a remote part of the world on a farm with tons of horses. It's a great environment and despite what it feels like, it's not really that far away at all. A new girl came yesterday, so I know it's just going to get harder as she adjusts and more girls come, but it was so clear that God opened this door for me, and it's so clear already that this is a good fit for me.

My job is assisting the live-in staff, but right now, there are no live-in staff. So, needless to say I'm working a lot. But the days pass so quickly it doesn't even seem like I am working. I don't get to see my roommates much, or Josh even, but the Lord provided this job, so hopefully He will still provide for those relationships despite the busyness.

All in all, I find myself loving what I am doing because I know it's a good fit for me. How many people can say that? So grateful :)

The puzzle I did with the girls and my co-worker. Piecing together those brick pieces were a beast! 

Josh, my pilot boyfriend, did a fly-over at their soccer game on Saturday. I tried to take a picture of his plane, but I couldn't see the screen. Even though I missed the plane, it's a cool picture anyway!

The view of the campus from our driveway. SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!

It's Time to go to Work!

On a whim, I applied for a job that sounded interesting over labor day weekend. That Tuesday morning I got a call asking to me to come in that week for an interview. I had the interview last Friday. They asked me on the spot to come in for a second interview. Tuesday (a week after the first call) they called and asked for a copy of my driving record and three references and said they would call soon to set up the second interview. Even though it was moving pretty quickly, I didn't think much of it and figured it would still be another week or so before I really hear any news back.

Well, they called me yesterday confirming they received my driving record and has spoken with two of my references. Then they offered me the job. SAY WHAT??!?!? Yeah, they offered me the job. No second interview. No more hoops to jump through. And they asked me to start today. SAY WHAT??!?!? So, in less than a week and a half I applied for a job, had an interview, got hired, and started work. Wow. Just wow.

This morning when I woke up and read the Bible verse for the day, I was surprised at what I found. "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Say What?!?! It's almost as if God whispered to me in that moment that getting this job is a reward for honestly seeking Him (as I wrote about in my last post). Even though I didn't feel as if I found Him, He apparently found me. How amazing!

Since I am jumping in head first and working all weekend, I asked Josh out to breakfast this morning to celebrate and to spend some time together before my life gets too busy. I mentioned that I needed a watch (because mine broke ages ago and it's not likely I'll be able to have my phone on me). So, he took me to Kohls (which has the best sales in the world by the way) and bought me a beautiful sparkly one (on sale, of course) to celebrate my first day of work. He really is the best guy anyone could ever ask for.

So, as I look down at my wrist and wonder what time it is, I realize, it's time to go to work! :D

*And if you're wondering what my job is, don't worry. I'm sure my next post will tell all about it, so check back in a few days for that update.