I delight in good dreams.

me with disguised camera

old faithful lodge

by nat

Summer.

Sadly, the next word that comes to mind at the moment is

sickness. boo.

Somehow my body gets confused almost every summer and thinks this season to get sick. 

Considering I'm on week two of being sick...here are a few of the delights I have come up with:

• sprite from mcdonald's, i don't feel guilty about it.
• ncis
• nap 1, nap 2, nap 3, nap 4, i don't feel guilty about a single one of them.
• fantastic dreams--i have the BEST dreams when i'm sick, one bonus as normally i don't usually remember my dreams.
• feeling comfort and happiness knowing i have a great job (officially!) (no more resumes, letters, applications, whew!) and that it doesn't start yet, thank heavens for time to get better
• living with wonderful people who take good care of me when i'm sick

I delight in sparking creativity.

lantern collection on green

antique shop in scipio, ut

erin

I delighted in a lot of things today.

-Going to the temple with Mary and her cousin Cameron
-Getting a Jamba Juice (I don't think I've had one in at least 4 years?!?  I forgot how I love them!)
-Driving up Big Cottonwood Canyon to places I've never been--BEAUTIFUL!
-Going to art class with LB and watercoloring (kind of a joke, but you know, I like to learn new things)
-PALS and Chickie-a-fil-a--the Monday regular

Besides those delights, which were truly delightful.  I also delighted in getting a little bit of my creative spark back.  Grad school required all those sparks to go toward planning sessions, I'm just getting them back for other things--like quilts.  I'm going to try new things.  Things I've never done before.  Things I don't know how to do, but that I'm willing to learn how to do.  I may have just appliqued a table topper I made from a kit my neighbor gave me for graduation.  And the best part?  It turned out better than I could have ever imagined--picture to come...when I take one.  :)

More to come regarding the new projects...I'll be delighting in things along the way I'm sure!

Also, if you read my blog via reader, you should check out the site itself.  I just created a new header, and its rather beautiful if I do say so myself.  The pictures are ones I took at Island Park this weekend.
Aren't the baby moose adorable?

I delight in daily ducks.

At least once a week, I stop for ducks.

I'm not even kidding.  Sometimes it's just one duck crossing the road, somedays its a few mallards, one day it was two couples and today it was a mama duck with 10 of her tiny babies.  I love ducks.

Every time the ducks make me stop in the middle of the road it seems to be when I'm in a hurry.

Coincidence?

I'm running late for my externship and something has already has me flustered by 8 in the morning.

Stopping for ducks once I didn't think much about it.
Stopping for ducks twice made me smile.
Stopping for ducks a third time made me smile and think perhaps this weekly stopping is not a random occurrence.
Stopping for ducks a fourth time got me thinking...what am I to learn from you ducks?

As I watched the mama duck today hop off the curb in front of the church and lead the way to the safety of the ditch as all her babies huddled around her I thought...you rock mama duck!

It's the mama's job to keep everyone safe and to be on top of things.

As future job is still firming up for me...I keep thinking...what's my job right now?  What should I be learning right now?  Life has gone through a dramatic shift over the past week and I suspect it will continue.  Life has gone from being absolutely totally crazy busy to...well...less crazy and soon we may dwindle to a not close to crazy.

Part of me wants to climb in bed and sleep for the next month (because I feel my body will never recover from all this sleep depravation) but the other part of me says...aw, forget it, move on, forget yourself and go to work.

And so here we are...going to work.  Taking time to slow down, look along the path and serve wherever possible.

This message brought to you by the ducks of Northern Utah.

a trustworthy gut

My mom could quote me on a statement I made just a little over a week ago that went something like this: it's interesting that a lot of the people I work with could have gotten help earlier in their neurological event had they acted on their suspicions that all was not right.

I am now quoting myself, on lesser of a severe scale than having a neurological event however, if I had recognized the signs that I myself was sick and had gone to the doctor a week ago, the last 3 weeks of my life could have been a lot more....peaceful.

Now I sit here thinking...why don't I trust my gut more reliably to actually act on what I feel? I've talked previously about never suppressing a generous thought and although I know it is something I should always do, I still question myself at times. And sometimes, I don't even let myself think about it long enough to act on it, dismissing the thought before the possibility of acting on such a thought.

Tonight at institute, we talked about the second coming of Christ. At the end, Brother Clayton asked each of us to identify something we would work to change to be more prepared. Too many things came to mind, but the overriding thought that I think could positively influence a lot of different areas is: to become quick to observe and act accordingly. While I appreciate my mind, it talks my heart out of doing a lot of things.

I'm grateful to be a work in progress. The keywords being work and progress.

I delight in lessons in love.

mom and lb after she won a gold medal in special olympics bowling on her birthday!

me and craig on the last day of carpooling to work together, for now anyway.

Lessons.

I just keep learning them.

Lately though, I have had a more difficult time articulating my strong feelings in to words. I've realized more than ever as of late, that life is dynamic. And that dynamic is difficult to get used to because circumstances are always changing. Circumstances as I know will be different in the future as they are now different than they were in the past.

Things change, people change, but we go with it, try our hardest and make it work. Things can and will work together for our good. Our abilities and capacities can and will be expanded to handle whatever comes our way. That is a blessing to know but difficult to remember always.

It is the simple things that have been getting me through. For example:

• Last night, LB and I were "eggosizing agether" (translation: exercising together) and as I watched her trying to keep up with Jillian Michaels (which is difficult for us all...right?) I couldn't help but smile at her willingness to try and to have a blast doing it.
• Earlier in the week, as Craig and I were driving to work, we saw a peacock running up the side of our road. Craig loves peacocks, loves them. He was thrilled!
• Mom and I have been getting up early and walking. Having Mom all to myself is a rarity so I know to appreciate it and enjoy every minute when it happens.
• I've had some good chats with Craig, even though the circumstances are trying, I am so grateful for the relationship we have.

The point of the story is that life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful. Even the awkward, uncomfortable, even flat out embarrassing moments of life can help us to have greater capacities to love and to appreciate the small and simple things.

I delight in feeling competent.

Today at the hospital, I did acutes. All day. Okay, some outpatient MBS' and voice treatment too.

The best part is that I felt really really good the whole time!

This picture is from when I stood in line to submit my graduation request.

Tomorrow is my last real class of my graduate school career. After that, it's only two exams that stand in my way--the praxis and my cleft palate final.

All I can say is, it's about time.

I delight in "just sitting."

There are very few people you can "just sit with" for an evening and leave feeling like you did something so much more exciting than what you actually just did.

For some, just sitting can be awkward.

Of course, just sitting isn't staring at another person for a couple hours, oh no, it's talking about the nearest book in the room, or that recent news report. It is catching up on recent events, activities, movies, books and thinking about what lies ahead. It is laughing but rarely crying. It's bouncing ideas, planning future activities (pencil and planner included) and dreaming about future adventures. It is counting down the last 60 seconds, so as not to appear too boring and leave at an unearthly early hour :). It is going home with more shoes than you left with.

Just sitting is just what I needed.

p.s. it is also essential that randomly breaking into the water buffalo song be completely acceptable.

I delight in the way to make my day.

(this is the picture the last comment refers to...the original blog header)

Today I was stressed out. Kinda.

At first, the day didn't start out as I had planned (suprise suprise...i need more accountability in the early morning hours). Then I thought I had plenty of time, but really I was running behind. But then I got to where I needed to be 15 minutes early. Oi.

And so began my second sewing class. I'm in sewing classes since I got a sewing machine for Christmas. It's a beautiful Bernina. I can't believe I haven't taken a picture of it yet. That will come soon!!! I delight in sewing. It is such a wonderful activity, full of creativity and trial and error. As the Mary Englebreit cards I recently bought say, "Arts and crafts keep you sane." And in my case, that is true.

source

And so, sewing saved my sanity. I came home, made quiche. I love quiche and I think I have finally perfected the pie crust. Now if someone could teach me how to make the edges descent, then it would look as good as it tastes.

I reviewed language development and played the "quizzy game" "skype style" with Mary (aka, the person I credit with my grad school success). We were both pleasantly surprised with our retention of language development stuff. Good news.

Now what happened to make my day? Well fastforward past a bunch of other good things (visits with aunt, cousin, visiting grandparents while delivering some quiche, building a better resume, etc.) Dad and Uncle get home and come to visit me in my cave (an endearing term for my room). Kind Uncle says he likes my cave and then proceeds to admire some pictures on my wall commenting that they're cool, to which my Dad replies, well Erin took them. "You took that?" Yes I did.

That was the way to make my day. Be impressed by a beautiful picture I took.

And so, my day was made.

I delight in enthusiasm.

(pardon the spots on my pictures. something is wrong somewhere in my camera. it's going to the shop this week.)

It has been a great week. Although lately, I've been in the business of 'making great weeks.' I had a roommate once, who always said, "Make it a great day." I'll be honest, somedays I was flat out annoyed as I was, at times, completely convinced that nothing in my power could 'make' the day any better--it was just bad.

Yesterday I was talking to my Mom. She was telling me about the epiphany she'd had during the week. My Mom does not live a solitary existence. Two other souls depend on her for their food, transportation, and at times entertainment. In fact, most of the time, it's mom+1, the +1 is LB. LB (aka Christin) is the sidekick, always there following often inches behind asking questions like, "what's for dinner mom?" and "is it pals yet?" or "slurpee day?" These questions can all get old after a while plus when you have so much to do during the day that dinner is the last thing on your mind--the question "what's for dinner" while eating breakfast, can make a long day ahead...even longer. Back to the point at hand. Mom realized that whatever her attitude is, rubs off on Christin. So if she's agitated, so is LB. If she's happy, so is LB. If Mom makes it a great day, then it's a great day for LB and if those two are happy--I think its fair to say that the rest of us are happy.

Point of the story, our attitude makes a difference in our lives and the lives of those around us. We have gifts and talents insomuch that when we utilize them, great things can happen!

What does all this have to do with enthusiasm? Elder Perry spoke at the Salt Lake Institute tonight. He started by telling how all his siblings were full of talent--musical talent, athletic talent, scholastic talent. He, however, did not possess any of those talents, but he soon realized he did have enthusiasm. I spent the first 10 minutes, wondering if he was joking, surely he has other talents, but none so significant he felt to address them. Enthusiasm it was. However, as the oldest current general authority spoke I realized how his enthusiasm was a great gift in his life and in his presence. At the age of 89, Elder L. Tom Perry doesn't look much different from the first picture I remember seeing of him (besides his glasses...they're different now).

Elder Perry spoke of how the the word enthusiasm is derived from a greek word meaning 'possessed by god' 'inspired.' He quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson as saying something to the effect of, Nothing great ever happens without enthusiasm. Up to this point, I hadn't thought much about enthusiasm but as I listened to Elder Perry speak the following words, I realized how he personified this quality. "I am an average person whose had extraordinary opportunities." "God can do extraordinary things with ordinary people who invite God to be with them."

He spoke about the need of enthusiastic leaders in this church. Elder Perry told of three lessons he would have us learn from his life, 1) aAlways be active and a part of a community, 2) Keep alive the great Christian heritage in America, and 3) Remember who you are and that God is our Father.

In closing he shared, "Whatever your talents are--they can make you extraordinary because God is in your life."

Sometimes we value some talents over others. But tonight I had the epiphany that perhaps it is not about the talent its self, it's about how you've invited God to assist you in developing that talent.

I think I've been blessed to have some pretty extraordinary opportunities in my life. I know I'm an average simple soul but a significant soul to my Father in Heaven. It is my hope that I can always say that I have taken advantage of every opportunity God grants me so that by His guiding hand, I can find myself leading an extraordinary life by being both a builder of this great nation and church.

Because I choose God's influence in my life based on the choices I make--I can make it a great day.

I delight in powering down.

Powering down means:

• Turning things off--lights, computer, car, etc.
• Getting back to the basic--normal sleep/wake cycles, reading books, exercising, spending time where time should be spent
• Relaxing and trusting things will work out rather than getting worked up so much that you're completely convinced things won't work out
• Listening to nature's sound waves, not ones generated by a speaker (e.g., the rain falling outside right now)
• Writing, not typing everything
• Talking in person, not always on the phone

I delight in Ruby.

source

This week+puppy=bearable

That's the equation of the week. This week is...almost over, thank heavens! There is still so much to do (and the lack of sleep is not helping).

My family went to just look at a puppy the other day. Somehow the looking turned into adding a new member to the family. My Mom sent me a picture of Christin holding Ruby (the little pup) and the text said, "She is ours." I wondered if she meant Christin or the dog...she meant both. My whole mission I loathed dogs. If you were my companion--you'd know I loathed pretty much any animal (the cats, the cats, the cats, the dogs, the cats) but puppies melt my heart and little yellow lab puppies...ah! Ruby and I are going to be having some serious bonding time this weekend!

So, in summary--delights getting me through today:

• A successful session!
• A wee-bobby in a batman outfit (complete with cape)
• A chat with Craig
• Thoughts of a puppy
• The rainbows and butterflies group
• The team effort of the social skills group
• The reality of sensory integration
• The hamburger dinner I've been craving all day

I delight in a plan.

Plans make me happy. I get a lot of satisfaction out of life by creating a plan and then moving forward to carry out the plan. When I saw this creation (pictured above) over the weekend, my heart was instantly happy because I identified with the artist. I feel the same way she does about plans.

I delight in good dentistry.

As I sat in the dental chair for approximately 3 hours today I couldn't help but think...I'm so glad I live when I do. I'm grateful for modern dentistry practices where they can numb you up real well before they carefully drill away at your teeth. Goodness, most of the time there's even televisions in the ceiling for an 'at home' feeling or just distraction from the destruction going on in your mouth. I'm grateful for a dentist who are willing to numb you again when the feeling starts coming back. For a dentist who carefully works around the nerve and who keeps me informed about what he's doing in my mouth. I'm grateful for answers to extraneous questions I'm oh so good at asking. And...I was extra grateful for a sweet sister who convinced my mom to drop her off (since I was there forever) so she could stay and drive home with me.

I delight in crows.

crows: dumbo, secret of nim, the cabin

I delight in different.

All I can say is that sometimes...its time to be somewhere else!

I delight in t's!

After THIS happened, I was pretty distraught. How to survive grad school without a properly functioning 't' key was getting a little worrysome. I could still get a t out of it but it took a lot of effort AND I noticed a dramatic decrease in my typing effectiveness. But alas, good news. Maybe it was the extra exercise I gave the t-key when I pushed it down a lot in frustration. Maybe it was my computer freezing in my car for a while yesterday. Maybe it was just tired but either way. As you can see, iT's back and funcTioning properly! :)

I delight in T's!

My finger however, does now have a bandaid after I chopped it accidentally today.

I delight in simple days.

last year...brother martin made sister b and i thanksgiving dinner! :) and then sister k and i christmas dinner...turporkin!

sunday. one. gratitude. study. catch up. reorg. clean. breathe

that's my day in a nutshell. its been real nice. the calm before the storm which begins at 4 in the morning! i have a test at 8. the last exam before the comprehensive final in but 3 weeks! oi! finals already? how did this happen? i have no idea! but alas, i'm ready for it! in 3 days i will have taken 2 test and have written 9 more pages of my paper.

then on to thanksgiving.

baking pie, eating massive amounts of garlic dip with people who love me even when i smell like garlic and turkey, making advents, playing games, seeing harry potter, running around ogden in a santa suit, celebrating craig's birthday, and waking up ridiculously early in the morning to go people watch with mom at target (and probably pretend like we need to buy something) then on to breakfast at sams club...mother daughter tradition!

needless to say, i love thanksgivings on my mission but...

i'm really happy to be celebrating thanksgiving this year with my family and all the fun traditions i hold so near and dear to my heart! :)

I delight in 10 simple things.

1. An alarm clock with a loud volume.

2. Blue fine point pens--I have an affinity for fine point pens.

3. Paper...so I can make never ending to-do lists.

4. A sister who loves me and makes me smile everyday.

5. A telephone, so I can call my Mom and ask her questions I already know the answer to.

6. Dad, who cleans out the refrigerator and sends me home with surprises---oranges!

7. A big brother who remembers my family history and shares my age.

8. Friends who make grad school entertaining.

9. Non-rainy days.

10. My electric blanket. Seriously...best invention ever...next to the panini maker.

I delight in little things.

-Yesterday I saw ducks waddling all over the front yard of this person's house. They didn't have a pond in their front yard, or their back, but the ducks seemed to enjoy the large puddle that had formed from all the water coming out the rain gutter.

-I also had to stop yesterday (in the same neighborhood) for a quail family to return home after a family reunion across the street (okay, maybe that's a stretch), but seriously a whole quail family 20 or so of them all walked across the street while I waited for them.

-I got a free newspaper today!

-I'm going to go to the gym and FHE later.

-I'm writing a card to a dear dear friend tonight.

-Today I found out that I excelled better in some school exams and papers than I thought I would. That's always delightful!

-I finished the Book of Mormon last night. And I took Moroni's challenge and I'm here to tell you...its still true! If you haven't read it, you should. If you've read it, you should pray about it. If you want to know more about what I'm even talking about...click the little yellow "I'm a Mormon" badge on the left of my page!

-Yesterday I saw my Grandpa, Great-great Aunt (is that the term for your Great-grandmother's sister?) and my Aunt Jean (who isn't actually my Aunt, she's my Dad's Aunt. Does that make her my great Aunt? I get all these familial terms confused). Anyway, it was delightful to drive safely down to Utah Valley in the rain and the wind to see family that I love so much!

-I went to bed at 9:30 last night. Maybe it was 10. Either way, it was quality sleep!

-I had a good chat with my Mom today, thanking her for the yummy YUMMY soup she sent home with me!

-Therapy went well! I'm actually coming up with good ideas!!!

-I delight in having a furnace. 62 degrees in my apartment this morning. I'd say that's a little nippy!

-It was POURING all night, everytime I woke up, I loved just lying and listening to it! So peaceful!

-And finally, there was snow on the mountains. So joyous! I tell ya, its the most wonderful time of the year! It starts in October and goes till January! The season makes my heart rejoice!

I delight in the preservation of my sanity.

Things that have recently been preserving my sanity recently:

fall break, colorful leaves, impromptu trip to park city, studying with mary, seeing other people from my program at the library over fall break, my journal, water and thus bathroom breaks, baking, the field houses elliptical machines, starting every day with scripture study, cool air streaming in through my window, uplifting visits with friends, surprise notes on my windshield after 8 hours at the library, watching you've got mail (the perfect fall time movie), happy messages from christin on my phone, prayer, being crafty, picnics, talking to grandpa, keeping my space clean and semi-organized, going to the temple, listening to conference talks, AND turkey and cheese panini's with an apple (the staple of life). :)