3.10.2013

OH, PRIMARY


i forgot what a joy primary is.  i remember being in primary and being so excited to get candy, or play hangman when the lesson ended, or sing the songs really loud, or give a talk, or hide our scriptures in the bushes outside the window {haha, we really did that.... oops}, or prepare an object lesson that one of my teachers asked us to prepare.  primary was fun.  i got to substitute a class today!  lemme tell ya, it was awesome.

i went into the classroom of 10 year olds, and said, "hey guys! i'm your teacher today!"

responses: "oh cool" "who are you?" "sweet!"

so i said, "do you guys know who i am?"

class: "no.."

me:  "do you know who jaren wilcox is?"

one little girl: "he's my brother's friend! how do you know him??!"

i started laughing. "he's my brother!"

man, it was funny.

and then we went into sharing time.  i haven't been in sharing time since i was in primary.  it was so fun and nostalgic and cute.  the kids in primary have the sweetest little spirits.  their innocence and joy and love for life is so special and cute.  but something hit me today that has never, ever, ever crossed my mind before.

in sharing time, the majority of the teachers were men.  now, the world would have us think that men are supposed to be rough & tough.  NOT sensitive.  rub some dirt in it, stick it to the man, strong, fierce, prideful.  but these men of the Lord?  i watched them tousle little boys' heads and high-five little girls and whisper the answers to them and watch over their little children with such love and humility. but what got me the most was when they started singing.  these men -- grown men, with jobs and degrees and families and experience -- were singing primary songs about jesus and birthdays and sunshine and happiness.

my heart melted. 

the gospel changes us.  it makes us better.  it is so beautiful. 

3.09.2013

EMBRACING THE CULTURE


yes, yes that's right folks.  this week, I ATE SUSHI FOR THE FIRST TIME.  it was erin and aubrey's birthdays this week so i trekked down to Provo and all my girls and i went out for sushi!  i was actually pleasantly surprised to find out that i liked most of it a lot!

EXCEPT.
the one covered in raw fish / fish eggs. 

if that's not the grossest thing you've ever heard of or seen in your life, i don't know what is.  the fish eggs reminded me of the one time i've been fishing with my grandpa and the fish that i caught laid eggs all over the boat.   DIS GUST ING.

buuuut, i mean, i guess i should get used to it. i'm sure they eat raw stuff in Hong Kong!

there it is... the one on the left... nooo thank youuuu.

not sure why this is so blurry...
jaydynn, ashley, julia, aubrey, melina, me, and erin.  SUSHI YA! 

3.02.2013

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?


story 1.  heber valley does this thing every year called piano festival.  aka, the worst weekend of the year.

{just kidding, mom!}

okay, so it's not the worst weekend of the year.  i will admit piano festival has helped me to become the confident pianist i am today.  however, it's way super stressful and we're always glad when it's over.  like, parker does heel clicks out of the building and we all scream and shout and cheer, "woo hoo! it's OVER!"

so anyway, tonight we were at the awards ceremony and it began with an opening prayer.  i didn't think a thing of it until after the prayer when someone nudged me and said, "we are so mormon."  i laughed and agreed, "yeah."

but then as i sat there, i sort of felt ashamed of myself.  yes, we are so mormon.  AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?! 

story 2.  last night, i was at a bachelorette party for one of my friends from high school.  {and just as an aside, it is the most bizarre thing that almost everyone i know is getting married off or leaving on a mission.  it just seems like we're all so old.  what happened to trick-or-treating and stake dances and eating lunch on the linoleum floor of the high school commons?} at one point during the party, we were talking about how people that decide they're going on a mission should start acting like it.  they are now full time representatives of Jesus Christ and His church.  we have a high standard to uphold, a high bar to reach.

as a "mormon" and a member of Jesus Christ's church, i am going to do my best to be proud of who i am.  yes, we are so mormon, we are representing Jesus Christ, we pray before public community meetings in this small little town of mine, and you know what?

we happen to be extremely blessed.  people would kill to be where we are, doing what we do.

let's decide to live it, and love it.  

oh yeah, and here's a pic of the bachelorette party for your viewing pleasure.