Pickleville

So a little while back we went and saw another different production of El Bandito at Pickleville Playhouse. On our way we went to Taco Bell and they had fun sauce packets. I couldn't resist taking a picture. Non of us really loved the show. But hey at least now we can say we've seen it now but I don't know that it's an impressive thing to admit. S and T came with us. After the show we got raspberry shakes. The shakes made the whole trip worth it to me. We went inside a small shop that gave us a free sample of fudge. We also played the "Heads-Up" game on the way home and that was super fun too.

Birthday Shoutouts

A's post on Facebook:

"Here's a shout out to a fabulous little sister, best friend, and partner-in-crime. Happy Birthday Jessica!!! Love ya!

 ‪#‎happybday‬ ‪#‎earlytbt‬ ‪#‎whatevs‬ ‪#‎sisters‬‪#‎besties‬"

M's post on Facebook:
"Happy Birthday Jessica! I am so lucky you are my sister and a best friend! Here's a flash back of a great night! Love you forever!"

Beautiful Thoughts

Awhile back at my Brighton job my roommates and I would share a thought and pray together at night. One night one of my roommates, Waffle, told us this quote and I really love it.

"There is no human condition- be it suffering incapacity, inadequacy, mental deficiency, or sin- which He cannot comprehend or for which His love will not reach out to the individual' This is a staggering thought when we contemplate the Mt. Everest of pain required to make it so. What weight is thrown on the scales of pain when calculating the hurt of innumerable patients in countless hospitals? Now add to that the loneliness of the elderly who are forgotten in the rest homes of society, desperately yearning for a card, a visit, a call- just some recognition from the outside world. Keep on adding the hurt of hungry children, the suffering caused by famine drought and pestilence. Pile on the heartache of parents who tearfully plead on a daily basis for a wayward son or daughter to come back home. Factor in the trauma of every divorce and tragedy of every abortion. Add the remorse that comes with each child lost in the dawn of life, each spouse taken in the prime of marraige. Compound that with the misery of overflowing prisons, bulging halfway houses and institutions for the mentally disadvantaged. Multiply all this by century after century, and creation after creation without end. Such is but an awful glimpse of the Saviors load. Who can bear such a burden or scale such a mountain as this? No one, absolutely no one, save Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of us all." - President Ezra Taft Benson

 "There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, “No one knows what it is like. No one understands.” But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens. And because of His infinite and eternal sacrifice (see Alma 34:14), He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy. He can reach out, touch, succor, heal, and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do relying only upon our own power. Indeed, His yoke is easy and His burden is light." -David A. Bednar 

The Lord is truly mindful of us.

My Job

I absolutely LOVE my job. I get to hang out with little kids all day. Yes, I am entirely exhausted when I get home but it is so worth it. Some weeks I feel like I raise the kids like they are my own. Some, I just get so attached to. Each child is special and deserves the same enthusiasm, understanding, and listening ear. I have definitely learned patience, when the same child asks to use the bathroom for the third time in the same hour.

We go through the same motions every day but even though the activities are the same, there are always new things. (A typical day) Ex: check in, get water bottles, use the bathroom, do one of the planned activities, use the bathroom, fill up water bottles, snack time, use the bathroom, game time, use the bathroom, other planned activity, bathroom, craft, bathroom, put away water bottles, check out. These children don't know how to hold it and so we use the bathroom frequently.

Being around kids makes me realize a couple of things:
1. I can better understand why our Savior wants us to be as little children.
2. In a way we are all children. We are our Father in Heavens' children.
3. Sometimes, like children, we just need to be heard to be understood.
4. We still go through the motions that every child goes through. ex: acceptance of others, some drama, still trying to figure out who we are and what we like.
5. I can see how Father could look at what we do and sometimes shake his head and wonder why we do some things while other times he is so happy that we make the right choices. He is wiser than we are and we don't know everything like He does.

I have had some children in my groups that openly admit that they are Mormon and that they are happy to be getting baptized soon. I get asked if I am a Mormon. I wear a CTR ring which has also given me the opportunity to explain to them what it is and why I wear it when they ask.

These are a couple pictures of some of my favorites (if I can do that) that have been in my groups.

(And what do you do when you have a dull moment? You get creative and you make a 14 page game board. Colored rocks for game pieces, each square tells you what you have to do to stay there)

Arctic Circle

Fun outing with Mom, A and C. Mom treated us to Arctic Circle after I got home from work. A was lucky because a worker came out with a dipped cone and asked if she wanted it for free. They didn't get someone's order right and so they just gave it away for free. C and I also got a dipped cone. When we first came in they had these saddle seats, they are pretty sweet. No, we didn't stay on them but they were cute. 

Double J

This is one heck of a girl. She is a gusher loving, fan-girl, Walking Dead addict, breakfast making, bony bummed girl, swimmer, to name a few. I remember there was one real hard day for me. I decided to head to institute anyway to try to lift my spirits. B usually came with me but she was busy and couldn't make it. When I got there, I quickly realized that the class would be over in 10 minutes, I'd come too late. I sat in a different seat since the spot I usually take had been filled now for an hour. I buried my hands in my face and I silently cried so that no one would see. I tried to listen to the message of the lesson by I couldn't focus. We said the closing prayer and people left. My teacher came around to me and asked me if he could do anything to help. I still hid my face but shook my head no. He put his hand on my shoulder. When he took it off, I immediately felt another hand on my shoulder. I looked up and there was J. She and R came to institute because they have the same class after B and I. She is so sweet.

Another time it was just she and I at the apartment and it was a nice day outside. We decided to go to the park. We grabbed blankets and stuff to do. We went out by the farthest tree and spread the blankets. She turned on music from her phone and we jammed out to music. We laughed real hard because we would sing so hard and confidently but we really didn't know all the words. (Story of my life)

I noticed at other times how sweet she is. She had other friends in other complexes and she would go to them when they were having a rough day as well. She is so sweet. She definitely thinks of others.

On Sundays she would watch the new episodes of The Walking Dead. K and B and I would be reprimanded for being loud while the program was on. Whether it was turning on the water to get some dishes done or turning on a mixer for some kind of cupcake, we knew we had to wait for commercial break.

She also had to live through the crazy dance parties that B and I would have. She would sit on the couch on her laptop and just laugh. She is so cute. Love you J!

Shopping

Fun shopping trip today with A. We went to Old Navy and to Target. We are too goofy when we get together. Normally if Mom were with us she would say something like, "I can't take you guys anywhere." which means that we now go on more solo missions. Just me, A, and Jane. Jane is my Google Maps on my phone. She has gotten us to a few places and for that reason, we try to keep her around. There has been a couple of times though that we get too reliant on her and then she loses reception and then before we know it, we are lost with only the hope of seeing landmarks the rest of the way. I really enjoy taking funny sunglasses pictures, I don't really know why. Tonight I sported miss-matched socks with sandals. This means I really didn't care what I looked like. When we went to Target, A convinced me (although I don't know how) to buy a whole bunch of frivolous things. Junk food and dog pajamas (had to be now or never since they were 70% off) I got back in the car and I was speechless, I couldn't believe I actually bought that stuff. Not needed at all but pretty fun.