Hello friends!
Today service was again, small. I went to the grocery store with my brother and afterwards I went to return the cart while he finished loading groceries. Remember that today is day #2 of continuous snow fall so the parking lot was quite full of said glorious moisture. In places where cars were frequently driving the snow was packed down, or melted to slush and therefore, manageable to walk and push a cart in. In other places, by the cart return, for example, the snow was NOT packed down, melted, or moved at ALL. As I carefully maneuvered my way over there I noticed that another person had attempted to brave the snow drifts to return their cart... but it only made it part of the way to the return. I thought of joining my cart to theirs and leaving it outside of the cart return. After all, it was really snowy and deep in there! But then I thought about my days as a bagger... er... convenience clerk at a grocery store when I was in high school. How I dreaded cold and rainy/snowy days when I'd have to go out and retrieve carts from the parking lot. Playing hide and seek with the numerous carts that were left strewn about the parking lot was not my favorite game. Mostly because the carts did the hiding (in between other cars and objects in the parking lot) and I did the seeking. So I thought about the "convenience clerk" that would have to trudge out here during their shift to retrieve these carts, and I grabbed the lone cart, pushed mine into it and pushed them into the cart return. Did it take more than 30 seconds? No. But I hope it helped someone on this snowy (beautiful) day!
PS - dear all the people that drive the snowplows, I love you. Love, me.
PPS - dear Kaysville city who funds the snowplows, I love you too. Love, me.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Day #20 - Snow day!!
Welcome snow! Because of you I get to go skiing. Therefore, I love you.
Today with all the wonderful snow came the opportunity to shovel. My step-dad, is a hero, and he is always the first out to shovel, morning, afternoon, night, he's doing it. Without a groan. Without a hesitation. Even with a smile on his face! So today I got home from swimming and shoveled before heading out for the rest of the day. (thankfully it was the really light powder stuff... so I actually got off pretty east) :) That's proof that service has its perks and you're even helped to do it!
Happy Tuesday!
Today with all the wonderful snow came the opportunity to shovel. My step-dad, is a hero, and he is always the first out to shovel, morning, afternoon, night, he's doing it. Without a groan. Without a hesitation. Even with a smile on his face! So today I got home from swimming and shoveled before heading out for the rest of the day. (thankfully it was the really light powder stuff... so I actually got off pretty east) :) That's proof that service has its perks and you're even helped to do it!
Happy Tuesday!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Day #19 - I'm loving the holiday break!!
Hello to anyone who is still with me on this adventure!
Today was pretty simple - I'm learning that that's what most service is. Simple. I did some dishes for my mom after family left tonight instead of sneaking back to my room while I pretend that "maybe she won't do the dishes tonight and will leave them there. That way I won't feel bad for not helping because she isn't technically doing them!" That isn't, by the way, a frequent thought that crosses my mind. But it tempts me. I'll be honest. So it was nice. And I hope it helped her load. She does a lot when family comes over for game nights, movie nights, chill time, etc. She's always working hard to make food, clean up, entertain, etc and does it all so selflessly. I'll be like her one day.
I also want to share one thought that will seem general without me being able to expound and dig into the details. I thought of a specific experience that I've recently had in life and while talking to my sister-in-law I was hit with the truth that all things happen for a reason in our lives. And sometimes the experiences are painful, or seemingly "unwanted." However, they are for our benefit and good. We just have to be willing to look at them in that way and think, "Clearly the Lord wants me to be refined in some way or learn something from this experience. So I'll stay faithful and continue moving forward so that can happen." The Lord loves us so much. He never leaves us alone or walks with us through each part of life just to give us something we don't ultimately need. He is so kind!
PS - another VERY selfless service today was letting someone else win at a certain game called "nertz." I consider that a great service. So that would person...
Today was pretty simple - I'm learning that that's what most service is. Simple. I did some dishes for my mom after family left tonight instead of sneaking back to my room while I pretend that "maybe she won't do the dishes tonight and will leave them there. That way I won't feel bad for not helping because she isn't technically doing them!" That isn't, by the way, a frequent thought that crosses my mind. But it tempts me. I'll be honest. So it was nice. And I hope it helped her load. She does a lot when family comes over for game nights, movie nights, chill time, etc. She's always working hard to make food, clean up, entertain, etc and does it all so selflessly. I'll be like her one day.
I also want to share one thought that will seem general without me being able to expound and dig into the details. I thought of a specific experience that I've recently had in life and while talking to my sister-in-law I was hit with the truth that all things happen for a reason in our lives. And sometimes the experiences are painful, or seemingly "unwanted." However, they are for our benefit and good. We just have to be willing to look at them in that way and think, "Clearly the Lord wants me to be refined in some way or learn something from this experience. So I'll stay faithful and continue moving forward so that can happen." The Lord loves us so much. He never leaves us alone or walks with us through each part of life just to give us something we don't ultimately need. He is so kind!
PS - another VERY selfless service today was letting someone else win at a certain game called "nertz." I consider that a great service. So that would person...
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Day #19 - Wedding gifts, anyone??
Today is kind of funny. I thought of a couple things during the day that I could have counted as service but I didn't know if they'd be too small to count... which is funny because any act of service is service and counts!
So my brother, who just got married a little over a week ago, and his wife opened their wedding gifts tonight but they wanted to do it with family members there. I had no idea about this until last night and I wasn't sure what to think of it. I mean... I hadn't ever heard of anyone waiting to open their wedding gifts with other people there to watch so it was new to me. And I'll be honest, at first I wasn't really planning on going. But then my mom asked if I'd go with her since Blake, my step-dad, wasn't able to go... and, again, I'll be honest, I thought, "I guess I can count it as service if I go!" Is that horrible?? Probably. Maybe on day 365 I'll have better outlooks on stuff like this than I do! I'm learning. :)
Anyway, I went and it was, as it always is with things like this, a really fun time! It was great to celebrate with them over their stash of goodness and money. And it was just good to be there to support them. I loved it. Service is rad. I feel kinda bad counting this as service. So just in case, while I was there, I cleaned out some trash for my brother. I feel better now. ;)
The end!
Long live Sundays!! I love these days!
So my brother, who just got married a little over a week ago, and his wife opened their wedding gifts tonight but they wanted to do it with family members there. I had no idea about this until last night and I wasn't sure what to think of it. I mean... I hadn't ever heard of anyone waiting to open their wedding gifts with other people there to watch so it was new to me. And I'll be honest, at first I wasn't really planning on going. But then my mom asked if I'd go with her since Blake, my step-dad, wasn't able to go... and, again, I'll be honest, I thought, "I guess I can count it as service if I go!" Is that horrible?? Probably. Maybe on day 365 I'll have better outlooks on stuff like this than I do! I'm learning. :)
Anyway, I went and it was, as it always is with things like this, a really fun time! It was great to celebrate with them over their stash of goodness and money. And it was just good to be there to support them. I loved it. Service is rad. I feel kinda bad counting this as service. So just in case, while I was there, I cleaned out some trash for my brother. I feel better now. ;)
The end!
Long live Sundays!! I love these days!
Day #18
My internet went a little crazy last night when I tried to write this so technically it's day #19 but I'm filling in for yesterday. I served yesterday by going to the temple. *sigh* I really can't say enough of how much I love that place. I love everything about it. But most especially I love the feeling of comfort and calm that I get when I'm in there. It doesn't matter what kind of confusion or stress is going on in my life when I'm in the temple. For that amount of time, and afterward, I feel so good and I'm reassured again of eternal perspectives and the importance of being faithful to my covenants, and the blessings that come as I am.
I love serving there. I feel like I receive more help than I give to the special "brothers and sisters" I go through for.
I love serving there. I feel like I receive more help than I give to the special "brothers and sisters" I go through for.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas! Day #17
Merry merry Christmas, my friends!
I hope your day has been wonderful and so full of good things/people!!
Here are some clips of my Christmas day:
For service today I decided to reconnect with a couple of friends - both who I love dearly, and one who I haven't talked with in SO long! And today seemed the perfect day to reestablish our friendship! The thought of texting to wish them a merry Christmas crossed my mind... however, I knew to make it more personable I should call. Let me tell you that phone calls sometimes aren't my favorite things when I know the conversation potential is going to be very short (BUT if there are any boys reading this... phone calls are good! Especially if they involve asking out on a date, phone calls are the only way to go... anway...). But I was excited to send a personal hello and "Merry Christmas" wish over the phone. Unfortunately when I decided to do this, it was already 11 p.m. on east coast time and I knew a phone call wouldn't be the smartest idea. So for that one, a text had to do. I'm just grateful for the opportunity to speak with dear friends. The Lord is so good to us as He blesses us with wonderful people in our lives! It's important to let those people know how much we appreciate them... and sometimes texting just doesn't fully clarify that.
I wish you all a merry Christmas! I hope you've taken this day and season to grow closer to our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is our greatest friend and example.
I hope your day has been wonderful and so full of good things/people!!
Here are some clips of my Christmas day:
Brinley got in "hug" mode and little Jackie couldn't escape it!
You better believe I'm gonna learn how to play this thing! Boo ya!
For service today I decided to reconnect with a couple of friends - both who I love dearly, and one who I haven't talked with in SO long! And today seemed the perfect day to reestablish our friendship! The thought of texting to wish them a merry Christmas crossed my mind... however, I knew to make it more personable I should call. Let me tell you that phone calls sometimes aren't my favorite things when I know the conversation potential is going to be very short (BUT if there are any boys reading this... phone calls are good! Especially if they involve asking out on a date, phone calls are the only way to go... anway...). But I was excited to send a personal hello and "Merry Christmas" wish over the phone. Unfortunately when I decided to do this, it was already 11 p.m. on east coast time and I knew a phone call wouldn't be the smartest idea. So for that one, a text had to do. I'm just grateful for the opportunity to speak with dear friends. The Lord is so good to us as He blesses us with wonderful people in our lives! It's important to let those people know how much we appreciate them... and sometimes texting just doesn't fully clarify that.
I wish you all a merry Christmas! I hope you've taken this day and season to grow closer to our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is our greatest friend and example.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Day #16 - Merry Christmas Eve!!
Hello my friends!
A big shout out for Christmas Eve!! What a wonderful time of year. And a BIG shoutout for the snow. Woot!
Today service was simple. My parents made a final run to the grocery store this morning in preparation for a family fiesta and while they were gone, I took the opportunity to vacuum and dust to help out a bit. I wasn't available much to help with the food prep so I hope the cleaning prep helped them out!
That's all, my friends. Merry Christmas tomorrow!!
A big shout out for Christmas Eve!! What a wonderful time of year. And a BIG shoutout for the snow. Woot!
Today service was simple. My parents made a final run to the grocery store this morning in preparation for a family fiesta and while they were gone, I took the opportunity to vacuum and dust to help out a bit. I wasn't available much to help with the food prep so I hope the cleaning prep helped them out!
That's all, my friends. Merry Christmas tomorrow!!
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