Okay, right now I am in the middle of reading a captivating autobiography which accurately details living with schizophrenia. It's called "The Center Cannot Hold" by Elyn Saks.
In reading this book I am amazed at how vivid and true it is. Not many people have endured psychosis, depression, paranoia or delusions and yet are able to communicate the experience in a way others can understand. The truth behind so many of her simple statements is what got my attention.
Saks should be applauded for opening up her mind to others in a way that hopefully will work to dispel the stigma associated with living with a "severe mental illness".
Obviously every individual with Schizophrenia lives with it differently. Thoughts are as unique as the individual. I have to admit though, Elyn's process in dealing with her illness is much the same as mine has been. I highly encourage everyone to read this book. -MOPS
You can find it in your local library or on amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/Center-Cannot-Hold-Journey-Through/dp/1401309445/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282622733&sr=1-1
About Me
- Sarah
- I was born and raised in San Diego. Currently I'm a grad student at SDSU (class of 2013) studying Rehabilitation Counseling to help people with disabilities get the accessability and accomodations they need to achieve their potential! I'm an alum of Helix High, Rick's College & BYU. Yes, I'm a Mormon & I served a mission in The Texas Dallas Spanish/ASL Mission. Although it wasn't always true, I'm now successfully living with Schizoaffective Disorder. I've been blessed with a great family and many friends. Enjoy!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sarah-dipitous Jewelery
Hello all!
I've been making jewelry since about 1998. At first it was just fishing wire and seed beads, but in the past year I've launched into much more. I found a local supplier with amazing prices, colors, stones and glass allowing my jewelry quality to increase exponentially.
Many of you have asked me to post my jewelry on the blog so you can see it. My friend Heidi is a photographer and is building a light box to take professional pictures of the jewelry. Until then, you'll have to put up with my pictures. (Grin)
So, that's a sampling with more to come! -MOPS
I've been making jewelry since about 1998. At first it was just fishing wire and seed beads, but in the past year I've launched into much more. I found a local supplier with amazing prices, colors, stones and glass allowing my jewelry quality to increase exponentially.
Many of you have asked me to post my jewelry on the blog so you can see it. My friend Heidi is a photographer and is building a light box to take professional pictures of the jewelry. Until then, you'll have to put up with my pictures. (Grin)
Gladly Green
This necklace is made with dyed turquoise, glass and dyed shell with a silver, toggle clasp. And no, it really isn't shaped in a heart, only for the picture!
Sunshine Burst
Made with dyed shell, dyed turquoise, and rock. It has 14ct. gold plated earrings and toggle clasp. A friend of mine fell in love with this one and couldn't wait to buy it.
Friendly Flower
My aunt commissioned me to make this piece for her. It is actually made of amethyst & glass with a silver flower pendant and toggle clasp.
Sea Peacock
Made with cut, simulated abalone and peacock colored wooden beads with a silver, toggle clasp.
Sensual Saturn
Interesting in design because each shell circle has a black agate bead in the center. This design is completely original and very labor intensive. However the finished product is well worth it.
I've never gotten so many compliments on any other piece.
I made one with purple glass beads in the center. It was sold the very next day!
Tenacious Turquoise
Made of genuine turquoise and wooden beads with a brass clasp.
I love the rugged earthy feel to it!
(Also has matching earrings.)
Zany Zebra
(I made this piece for a dear friend who had just returned from her mission to Madagascar. That stone is actually called a zebra stone and when I saw it, I knew instantly it was a perfect commemoration!)
Who learns most when teaching lessons?
(This is an entry I wrote back in July and never posted)
Okay, so today I have been working on the Relief Society lesson for tomorrow. (for those who don't know what relief society is, it's the Women's organization of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any lady 18 or older can participate. It's a lot of fun, and I love doing things with the RS) I've been reading the article (Developing Good Judgement and Not Judging Others" by Elder Schwitzer I'll put the link at the bottom of the page.) over and over again since last Sunday and I really don't know how to approach it. I think I have taught two other lessons in the past ... ten years ... and gee... this is a tough topic. Probably one I needed to teach in order to put the appropriate amount of reflection into allowing myself to change.
Judging others is a weakness that I've been trying to overcome for a LONG time. I've realized I have no business making a judgement about someone else because I have no clue what experiences they've had and what has brought them to where they are right now. I mean, when I think about it, my high school friends and I had this running joke about an imaginary Mountain View Mental Hospital and how we were going to ship different people off there because they were obviously insane. None of which I remotely understood and therefore felt completely comfortable making fun of others with those types of problems.
How wrong I was! Enter my illness. Suddenly I found myself shipped off to several very real institutions and realizing that these people were just as normal as I was, they were struggling with life in a way I would only come to understand through years of going through it myself.
It's often easy and often more comfortable to make fun of something we don't understand than to put forth the effort necessary to comprehend it.
I've made some very dear friends while living in group homes, crisis houses, hospitals and institutions. Some of these people are absolutely hilarious and really have a way of lifting my spirits. All of whom I would have never even met had I not experienced a mental illness and the anguish, joy, humiliation, peace and down right bizarre life that can accompany it. All of whom I had completely discounted as a teenager.
Now when people do things, the first question I ask myself is why? What's their motivation? It's interesting because we can honestly never know. The only person who can see the whole picture is God. He's the only one who can truly not look on the outside appearances of a situation but instead look at our hearts. That doesn't justify our good or bad behaviour. But it does at least give us leeway for those things that not a single other person can understand in this world. And only He can take a step back and, if we let him, lead us to a better place in our lives, relationships, beliefs, hopes and expectations. Love, MOPS
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=1810de009da38210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
The interesting thing about this lesson is it just didn't come together until the very LAST minute.
The entire week I was preparing for this lesson, I kept getting caught up in how many times I've been judged by hundreds of people because of my illness.
I've even had friends call others and forbid them to let me become a roommate because I was too ill. However, at that particular time in my life, I was stable. It made me boil with anger because that old friend hadn't seen me in two years and had no clue how well I was doing.
As I was thinking about being judgemental during Sacrament meeting (the day I was to teach the lesson) I realized something very important. Here I was judging someone for judging me. The irony of the situation was mind boggling.
I had gotten mad and frustrated with people for making rash judgements about me and in the process I was judging them.
They were making judgements about me because they'd seen me ill (in a completely debilitating manner) for nearly 11 years. Yet, because they hadn't been around recently & and able to see my stability, they assumed I was still ill. If I had been around someone who'd been ill for so long, I would assume they were still ill too.
I judged people just as harshly as they had judged me. Lesson Learned!
Okay, so today I have been working on the Relief Society lesson for tomorrow. (for those who don't know what relief society is, it's the Women's organization of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any lady 18 or older can participate. It's a lot of fun, and I love doing things with the RS) I've been reading the article (Developing Good Judgement and Not Judging Others" by Elder Schwitzer I'll put the link at the bottom of the page.) over and over again since last Sunday and I really don't know how to approach it. I think I have taught two other lessons in the past ... ten years ... and gee... this is a tough topic. Probably one I needed to teach in order to put the appropriate amount of reflection into allowing myself to change.
Judging others is a weakness that I've been trying to overcome for a LONG time. I've realized I have no business making a judgement about someone else because I have no clue what experiences they've had and what has brought them to where they are right now. I mean, when I think about it, my high school friends and I had this running joke about an imaginary Mountain View Mental Hospital and how we were going to ship different people off there because they were obviously insane. None of which I remotely understood and therefore felt completely comfortable making fun of others with those types of problems.
How wrong I was! Enter my illness. Suddenly I found myself shipped off to several very real institutions and realizing that these people were just as normal as I was, they were struggling with life in a way I would only come to understand through years of going through it myself.
It's often easy and often more comfortable to make fun of something we don't understand than to put forth the effort necessary to comprehend it.
I've made some very dear friends while living in group homes, crisis houses, hospitals and institutions. Some of these people are absolutely hilarious and really have a way of lifting my spirits. All of whom I would have never even met had I not experienced a mental illness and the anguish, joy, humiliation, peace and down right bizarre life that can accompany it. All of whom I had completely discounted as a teenager.
Now when people do things, the first question I ask myself is why? What's their motivation? It's interesting because we can honestly never know. The only person who can see the whole picture is God. He's the only one who can truly not look on the outside appearances of a situation but instead look at our hearts. That doesn't justify our good or bad behaviour. But it does at least give us leeway for those things that not a single other person can understand in this world. And only He can take a step back and, if we let him, lead us to a better place in our lives, relationships, beliefs, hopes and expectations. Love, MOPS
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=1810de009da38210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
The interesting thing about this lesson is it just didn't come together until the very LAST minute.
The entire week I was preparing for this lesson, I kept getting caught up in how many times I've been judged by hundreds of people because of my illness.
I've even had friends call others and forbid them to let me become a roommate because I was too ill. However, at that particular time in my life, I was stable. It made me boil with anger because that old friend hadn't seen me in two years and had no clue how well I was doing.
As I was thinking about being judgemental during Sacrament meeting (the day I was to teach the lesson) I realized something very important. Here I was judging someone for judging me. The irony of the situation was mind boggling.
I had gotten mad and frustrated with people for making rash judgements about me and in the process I was judging them.
They were making judgements about me because they'd seen me ill (in a completely debilitating manner) for nearly 11 years. Yet, because they hadn't been around recently & and able to see my stability, they assumed I was still ill. If I had been around someone who'd been ill for so long, I would assume they were still ill too.
I judged people just as harshly as they had judged me. Lesson Learned!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
School is ALMOST here!!
Greetings!
Yay! School starts on the 30th and I am SO EXCITED! I have all my books and all my pens ready! I've even had this hankering to begin reading those books .... so I did! Weird huh?
I've been looking to move to somewhere nice and peaceful that would be closer to school and I think I found it. So ... I've got to start packing. My parents are taking me over tonight to just solidify things. Can I just tell you I am looking forward to this move in ways no one can understand! No more yippy dogs ... Did I ever mention I'm NOT a dog person? Dogs are nice to look at from afar.
I wrote an article for The Seagull again and I am working on another one!
Work has been going okay. I am realizing the insanity of working with a company who has a computer system of the dark ages. Our computers are constantly down or kicking us out and then telling us when we sign on again that our passwords are invalid. (sigh) BUT I will only be working there until school starts and then I will be a starving student! (I'm accepting donations! ha ha!) Of course I may be one in the literal sense because heaven knows I can't cook! Anyone have tips for ways to plan a weeks worth of food for one person. Ideas for a meal plan? In this new place I will not be sharing groceries. Which is good because I won't run the risk of offending my roommate for not eating her scary meat dishes and BAD because my roommate really had a knack for pulling together recipes I'd never tasted before. In someways I feel like this move is probably akin to when I left home for the first time because I had no idea how to cook or plan meals then either. Anything I had learned food-wise was completely erased with the ECT. Too bad they don't have classes for these things. I really could use one!
Anyway! I'd better get to the packing! Love you guys! -MOPS
Yay! School starts on the 30th and I am SO EXCITED! I have all my books and all my pens ready! I've even had this hankering to begin reading those books .... so I did! Weird huh?
I've been looking to move to somewhere nice and peaceful that would be closer to school and I think I found it. So ... I've got to start packing. My parents are taking me over tonight to just solidify things. Can I just tell you I am looking forward to this move in ways no one can understand! No more yippy dogs ... Did I ever mention I'm NOT a dog person? Dogs are nice to look at from afar.
I wrote an article for The Seagull again and I am working on another one!
Work has been going okay. I am realizing the insanity of working with a company who has a computer system of the dark ages. Our computers are constantly down or kicking us out and then telling us when we sign on again that our passwords are invalid. (sigh) BUT I will only be working there until school starts and then I will be a starving student! (I'm accepting donations! ha ha!) Of course I may be one in the literal sense because heaven knows I can't cook! Anyone have tips for ways to plan a weeks worth of food for one person. Ideas for a meal plan? In this new place I will not be sharing groceries. Which is good because I won't run the risk of offending my roommate for not eating her scary meat dishes and BAD because my roommate really had a knack for pulling together recipes I'd never tasted before. In someways I feel like this move is probably akin to when I left home for the first time because I had no idea how to cook or plan meals then either. Anything I had learned food-wise was completely erased with the ECT. Too bad they don't have classes for these things. I really could use one!
Anyway! I'd better get to the packing! Love you guys! -MOPS
Sunday, July 25, 2010
THE EXTRACTION!
Okay, so this past month, I went to my friendly dentist and what to my horror, I had an absessed tooth! It was tender, but, as far as pain goes it didn't feel all that bad. It was a baby tooth I never got to trade for some cash. I'm sure the tooth fairy was quite disapointed at the time. What she didn't realize was she'd be paying big bucks for it later.
My dentist, Scott, was very kind and told me that he was learning how to extract teeth and put in implants and that he was willing to give me a good price if I'd be willing to let him practice on me. HA! That's that last thing you want to hear from your dentist. Images of jawbreaking pliers and loud drills just sort of cloud out the better judgment of getting it done for a deal. So I called around, too cowardly to let him practice on me. The cost of the average extraction and implant? 4,500 DOLLARS!! Um hello?? I said extraction not extortion! So I went back to Scott and asked him how much he was going to charge. $2,000. I didn't even have that kind of money and so I basically just left it at that. Living on a fixed income is hard, and unfortunately I couldn't pay him off 25 dollars a month. But then my parents stepped in to my rescue and said they were willing to pay for the proceedure. By that time the tooth had become pretty sore and I was ready to pull it out myself and make an implant out of paper mache'. I mean they probably had a RS lesson on it at one point in my life and .... well, I can't remember how to do it . Maybe it wasn't paper mache' but recycled lace table cloths ... that actually sounds more familiar! ;)
You have to understand, Scott is the Hubbie of one of my YW leaders and they've known me for a long time! He is an angel and his wife is serioulsy a walking celestial being. Nearly up there with my parents and family. Can you get higher than celestial? Hmmm ... I'll have to think about that later.
Thurday arrived. I went to Scott's office and he numbed me up. I think that was the most painful part of the entire thing. The drilling wasn't all that bad and pulling the tooth, well, it seemed to just pop right out. And the tooth fairy had prepaid!
Then Scott was looking in my mouth and he turned the reigns over to the supervising Dr. That dr was nice and he seemed to have no problem doing what he was doing. Then all of a sudden he says, "this is a LOT worse that I thought." then Scott starts looking in my mouth and says something like, wow that infection goes a lot deeper than it looked on the x-ray. So they started asking each other what size ... 10mm? 11mm? 11.5mm? No, 12mm! I think they were debating the size of drill to use. I honestly have no clue. But suddenly they both lean back and tell me, "whatever you do, don't close your mouth!" I was thinking ok, whatever. They wanted to get another x-ray taken. So, I got up and on my way to the x-ray room I glanced in the mirror and stopped short. I had a drill bit stuck in my jaw where my tooth had been!
I just started at it in disbelief because it looked horrifically painful, but I wasn't in the slightest bit of discomfort! Weird! so after they took the drill bit out, they let me take a picture of just how big the metal bit was:
Anyway, the tooth is gone. It's interesting because I am really working on keeping my mouth washed out and using the rinse that they gave me. Gratefully it really doesn't hurt. It tastes awful, and I'm sure that the people sitting around me at church today were leaning as far away from me as possible because my breath is so bad, but the pain is gone and I am happy. Honestly it looks like the Dentist used my mouth as a quilting project.
I'm still on soft foods. I've been eating a lot of soups, yougurts and smoothies. If anyone else has a good idea for a little one like me, please pass it along.
August 23, 2010
The other part of the story is that I popped those carefully placed stitches that weekend and then went back into see Scott to have them replaced.
He stitched me up even better than before and we talked for a bit afterwards while I was still reclined. Everything was GREAT until he sat the chair up. Suddenly it was as though the chair was spinning on hyper warp speed. I told Scott I wasn't feeling good. In a moment I felt like I was sinking into a heavy darkness. It was like I could hear all the around me, but couldn't respond. (Scott said I was repeating over and over again, "I'm fine. I'm Fine" I'm sure he would have loved to smack some sense into me, gratefully he didn't. Instead he ran and got smelling salts.
Man, I don't know if you've ever smelled those fragrant salts before but it is a JOLT of smell --- worse than having your nose stuck in a bottle of bleach!
When I came to (if you could call it that because I was still unable to really respond appropriately) I could hear the ambulance coming to get me.
Imagine my confusion when I realized I couldn't move the left side of my body. People were wondering if it had anything to do with the dental procedure, but Scott had worked on my right side, not left. I was rushed to Grossmont Hospital where they immediately sent me through the CAT scan before even checking me into the ER.
It was an odd feeling to be half paralyzed. But what was even odder was that I wasn't panicked, scared, anxious or anything of that nature. For whatever reason I caught myself kind of joking about it. I think joking must have been a natural instinct of some sort, because it really wasn't anything to joke about. I could talk better out of the right side of my mouth that was all shot up with Novocaine!
Slowly I regained my feeling and ability to move the left side of my body. My eyes lined up again.
My dad and Grandpa came to give me a priesthood blessing, during which I was promised that I would be healed completely and there would be no residual side-effects.
They ran a whole bunch of tests and couldn't find anything to explain what happened. They finally said it had to be a TIA, or mini stroke.
I was transferred to Kaiser Hospital and placed in a room. The Dr came in and did some things to test muscle strength. I couldn't walk on my own so he said that I would have to stay over night.
That night, Scott and his wife came in to visit me and see if I was aright. He said there had been a little boy in the waiting room who completely freaked when the fire engine and ambulance pulled up and dragged me out on the stretcher. His mom rescheduled the appointment. Going to the dentist will never be the same for that kid!
When I woke up the next day I was perfectly fine, and VERY tired! I was sent home.
I talked to my parents about it after I was released. The Dr's had determined it wasn't a side-effect of the dental proceedure or a conflict of meds. Basically they said they didn't know why it happened, what caused it or even what to call it. There was no indication of a stroke or TIA on any of the charts. I had normal blood tests including sugar levels, cholesterol, liver, you name it! My parents and I decided it was truely a blessing that it had happened while I was in the office and not on my bike somewhere, at work or on a bus or trolley. That could have been disasterous! Instead Scott had swung into action, even calling over the MD in the office next door and emergency crews were able to get to me within 10 minutes of dialing 911. It is a miracle I was not permanently effected. Man! I am grateful for fast acting dentists, priesthood blessings and prayers!
Love you guys! -MOPS
My dentist, Scott, was very kind and told me that he was learning how to extract teeth and put in implants and that he was willing to give me a good price if I'd be willing to let him practice on me. HA! That's that last thing you want to hear from your dentist. Images of jawbreaking pliers and loud drills just sort of cloud out the better judgment of getting it done for a deal. So I called around, too cowardly to let him practice on me. The cost of the average extraction and implant? 4,500 DOLLARS!! Um hello?? I said extraction not extortion! So I went back to Scott and asked him how much he was going to charge. $2,000. I didn't even have that kind of money and so I basically just left it at that. Living on a fixed income is hard, and unfortunately I couldn't pay him off 25 dollars a month. But then my parents stepped in to my rescue and said they were willing to pay for the proceedure. By that time the tooth had become pretty sore and I was ready to pull it out myself and make an implant out of paper mache'. I mean they probably had a RS lesson on it at one point in my life and .... well, I can't remember how to do it . Maybe it wasn't paper mache' but recycled lace table cloths ... that actually sounds more familiar! ;)
You have to understand, Scott is the Hubbie of one of my YW leaders and they've known me for a long time! He is an angel and his wife is serioulsy a walking celestial being. Nearly up there with my parents and family. Can you get higher than celestial? Hmmm ... I'll have to think about that later.
Thurday arrived. I went to Scott's office and he numbed me up. I think that was the most painful part of the entire thing. The drilling wasn't all that bad and pulling the tooth, well, it seemed to just pop right out. And the tooth fairy had prepaid!
 |
| My cute little baby tooth which turned out to be not all so cute! |
 |
| drill bit! |
 |
| the drill bit salvaged from my jaw |
I'm still on soft foods. I've been eating a lot of soups, yougurts and smoothies. If anyone else has a good idea for a little one like me, please pass it along.
August 23, 2010
The other part of the story is that I popped those carefully placed stitches that weekend and then went back into see Scott to have them replaced.
He stitched me up even better than before and we talked for a bit afterwards while I was still reclined. Everything was GREAT until he sat the chair up. Suddenly it was as though the chair was spinning on hyper warp speed. I told Scott I wasn't feeling good. In a moment I felt like I was sinking into a heavy darkness. It was like I could hear all the around me, but couldn't respond. (Scott said I was repeating over and over again, "I'm fine. I'm Fine" I'm sure he would have loved to smack some sense into me, gratefully he didn't. Instead he ran and got smelling salts.
Man, I don't know if you've ever smelled those fragrant salts before but it is a JOLT of smell --- worse than having your nose stuck in a bottle of bleach!
When I came to (if you could call it that because I was still unable to really respond appropriately) I could hear the ambulance coming to get me.
Imagine my confusion when I realized I couldn't move the left side of my body. People were wondering if it had anything to do with the dental procedure, but Scott had worked on my right side, not left. I was rushed to Grossmont Hospital where they immediately sent me through the CAT scan before even checking me into the ER.
It was an odd feeling to be half paralyzed. But what was even odder was that I wasn't panicked, scared, anxious or anything of that nature. For whatever reason I caught myself kind of joking about it. I think joking must have been a natural instinct of some sort, because it really wasn't anything to joke about. I could talk better out of the right side of my mouth that was all shot up with Novocaine!
Slowly I regained my feeling and ability to move the left side of my body. My eyes lined up again.
My dad and Grandpa came to give me a priesthood blessing, during which I was promised that I would be healed completely and there would be no residual side-effects.
They ran a whole bunch of tests and couldn't find anything to explain what happened. They finally said it had to be a TIA, or mini stroke.
I was transferred to Kaiser Hospital and placed in a room. The Dr came in and did some things to test muscle strength. I couldn't walk on my own so he said that I would have to stay over night.
That night, Scott and his wife came in to visit me and see if I was aright. He said there had been a little boy in the waiting room who completely freaked when the fire engine and ambulance pulled up and dragged me out on the stretcher. His mom rescheduled the appointment. Going to the dentist will never be the same for that kid!
When I woke up the next day I was perfectly fine, and VERY tired! I was sent home.
I talked to my parents about it after I was released. The Dr's had determined it wasn't a side-effect of the dental proceedure or a conflict of meds. Basically they said they didn't know why it happened, what caused it or even what to call it. There was no indication of a stroke or TIA on any of the charts. I had normal blood tests including sugar levels, cholesterol, liver, you name it! My parents and I decided it was truely a blessing that it had happened while I was in the office and not on my bike somewhere, at work or on a bus or trolley. That could have been disasterous! Instead Scott had swung into action, even calling over the MD in the office next door and emergency crews were able to get to me within 10 minutes of dialing 911. It is a miracle I was not permanently effected. Man! I am grateful for fast acting dentists, priesthood blessings and prayers!
Love you guys! -MOPS
Friday, July 16, 2010
Holy Cow! It's July!
So here it is the third week of July and I honestly can’t remember anything that I’ve done in the past couple of months … so I’ll try to stick to the basics.
I was officially called to serve in the San Diego Deaf Branch. (Otherwise known as the University City 3rd Branch.) I am an assistant interpreter. I been interpreting in the branch since February I think. I do it for sacrament mtg and Young women’s almost every single Sunday. I got to interpret for Stake conference last month. It’s a pleasure to work with these faithful people and I really enjoy the education I’m receiving from the experience.
I've interpreted for two brethren who are Deaf and Blind. It is an amazing experience to be someone’s eyes and ears. It takes a lot of physical strength because they have to rest their hands on yours as you are signing. It can become quite heavy, but I hope my arms and shoulders are working up to it.
Last month I interpreted for a High Council member who only spoke Spanish. It was a LOT of fun! For once the deaf knew what was going on before all the Hearing people and I loved that experience! Who would have thought serving a Spanish Speaking/ASL mission would have such practical application!
My Aunt Sid, Uncle Bill and Grandma Mueller when they came for a visit this past month! They are looking great and I sure had a great time being with them.
I have also been trying to relearn how to cook. I’ve been making desserts once in a while and sharing them with my grandparents. They don’t seem to mind that I am practicing on them. ;) I've moved so many times that I have lots a lot of things in the process. I seem to have lost any cookbooks I once had (Including my Aunt Lorraine’s!) and with the ECT I am effectively starting over. The one cookbook I have, my mainstay is a recipe book I was given by my friend Judy. If any of you have any good recipes I would love to have them. Just email them to me!The more the merrier!
I am still working at H&R Block until the end of Aug, when school starts. My hours have been severely cut though, so I have also been cycling and bus riding up to the Bishop’s storehouse to help out up there. It’s been so rewarding to see the people and watch the Lord’s Humanitarian process at work. There are so many people who need our support. Plus, it has air conditioning, something I don't have at my house! :)
We’ve been having a lot of earthquakes in these parts. A couple of days ago, while I was at work, we had a 5. 4 or 5.9 something. It really shook hard. I was on the phone at the time and it jolted the person I was talking with. I guess the increase of earthquakes is only natural since we’re approaching the final chapters of the earth . . . but we’ve had more in San Diego, and larger then I can ever remember having in my entire life. But I guess given my faulty memory that’s not saying much! Ha! ;)
I have been able to hit the LDS singles scene a bit this past month. It was easier because my friend let me borrow her car while she was out of town. So I went to a fireside, a dance and couple activities. It was a lot of fun to meet a whole bunch of new people.
I wrote an article about my Grandma Price and her needling pursuits for The Seagull (a local LDS newspaper). I got a copy of it this week and loved seeing grandma and grandpa’s smiling faces in it. It was fun to interview Grandma and it was also fun to have something published. I have to live up to my name and email right??
I had fun celebrating my Aunt Chris’ 60 birthday with her, the family and a whole bunch of friends! And it was great to finally meet Katheryn! I am so blessed to have such a great family!
My Aunt Lorraine is here and I've been having a blast with her! Yesterday she taught me how to make 2 pies. I learned how to make a no-roll pie crust and then I we made a coconut creme pie and an apple one with a crumbly crust and caramel all over it! Look at that beauty!She even taught me how to make the crust and everything. When all was said and done, I had a blast and then never even got a piece!
Like I've told you, I make necklaces, earrings and bracelets. But, get this ... I've started selling my jewelry! Yay! I have sold quite a few. Aunt Sid bought a couple when she was in town. I’ve also been able to sell them to people at work. My boss even went to my supplier and bought the beads she wanted and then she paid me to make two necklaces. I just love to test out different color combinations and bead sizes. I have a great source to buy my beads and right now I’m just enjoying the creative process. I'm way excited because My friend, Heidi is making a light box. She is a photographer. I've taken pictures of some of my necklaces with my phone, but they don't really look like anything great. I'm excited to have her take some pictures. If any of you have any requests, or if you’d like to see what I have, just email me.
When I was a kid, one summer my parents took us on a ride out East San Diego County. It was our vacation for the summer. A day vacation. My parents said that we could go and stop anywhere we wanted, we did. We stopped at a HUGE bridge. We wanted out pictures taken at it and so my dad lifted us up onto the bottom rung. We sat down in the hot sun on the metal, burning our butts! The bridge was dubbed Burning Butt Bridge. My parents weren't all that fond of us using the word Butt over and over again so we called it BBB.
Over the July fourth weekend my parents and I went for a drive. (thus the picture of the back of my dad's head!) It was quite a long drive in the same direction we went when I was a kid.
We stopped at BBB and at other places, including a place called "Desert View Tower" It was so much fun. Evidently the Tower was built in the early 1900's by a man who really liked to carve, if I understand correctly. Do we stopped and climbed the tower and then explored all these carvings made into the rocky mountain.
Mom and Dad (above)
Well, I am working on writing more often. Writing in general that is. I've actually been in the mood to write and I have to take advantage of that, right? I shelved the "thorn in my side" novel and have taken to writing little tid bits of information about my past life, yes, I'm reincarnated from a duck. (Thus all the dreams about flying, right???) too funny!
So much for covering just the basics! Hope you're having a fabulous Summer! Take care! Love, MOPS
PS. Last week I think the temperature high in San Diego was 65 or 70. Today it got up to 110 in a community called Santee---pretty close to my house. So, my parents were kind enough to donate their house to me this afternoon as a place to rest while everything was melting outside. My house doesn't have an AC. AHHHH Thank goodness it hasn't really been all that hot until today. Love ya!
The Spreadsheet Tells All . . .
On a tour of the Price’s home atop Mt. Helix the first thing you’ll notice is Sister Price’s infectious smile, sparkling eyes and then you’ll feel the spirit of testimony and love. Take one step farther and your eyes will be drawn to the masterpieces hanging from the walls.
When many people think of needlepoint they envision a painted canvas someone has stitched. However, trammé needlepoint is quite different, instead of painted canvases, the patterns are made with an underlay of colored yarn placed over the horizontal meshes of a double threaded canvas. The purpose is to indicate when the color and design changes. “Usually there are about five shades to each color in the tapestry,” she explains.
When looking at the finished pieces from afar they appear to be an actual oil painting. Reproductions of artwork by Cezanne, Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet and many others dot her repertoire.
Watching Sister Price needle away has added to Brother Price’s knowledge that she is a “very patient lady. I’ve noticed when she does needle point she’s very happy.” When asked what Muriel has learned from her needlepointing she says, “it’s relaxing for me.” As her granddaughter, Sarah Price puts it, “watching her finish a reproduction of so many famous pieces one stitch at a time helps me see life from a different perspective. Our life tapestry requires the same patient and persistant effort. She’s been needlepointing for as long as I’ve been alive.”
The Prices are interwoven with the LDS San Diego heritage. As a child, Muriel remembers sitting on the lap of President Heber J. Grant. Other apostles visited her home as well because her father, William Arthur Tenney, Jr. was the branch president for 16 years. (At that time the branch included the entire San Diego County). Muriel’s sisters Louise Smith and Gwen Brown live in the University City tenth ward. David and Muriel’s children, beginning with the eldest, are William D. Price of North Salt Lake, John A. Price of La Mesa 1st Ward, Christine Sharp of San Diego 8th Ward, Lorraine Johnson of Dallas, TX and Marla Foulger of Potomac, MD. They have 23 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren.
When Sister Price left that London tapestry shop 35 years ago, little did she know she’s be creating beauty for a long, long time to come.
(This article was first published in the July edition of "The Seagull", a Mormon San Diego newspaper.)
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Is May really almost over?
Greetings and salutations!
Hi all. I was looking at my things in my room and laughing at a whiteboard that's sitting in front of me. It says, "How fast can you clean your room?" I guess it's a never ending battle. I remember when I was a girl my parents would tell me and my brothers we couldn't come out of our room on Saturdays until we'd cleaned our rooms. I remember stuffing things under my bed, in my drawers and closet, only to have one of my parents come up "to check" and find everything I had so slyly hidden! They'd pull it out and make these piles in my room and I would sit there and cry thinking my parents were so cruel to not let me go outside and play with my friends on a beautiful San Diego Saturday! I don't think it registered until I was much older that the way I could go play with the kids in the street was to clean it right the first time, let alone just keep the silly room clean to begin with! So here I am, on a beautiful Saturday with the fan on. I've made a vow that I will clean the room by 5:30pm . . . I have less than an hour! I guess I'd better just let you go and save this for later!
You will be happy to know MY ROOM IS CLEAN! Dusted, vacuumed, organized and . . . get this . . . drum roll please . . . if you opened my dresser, the stuff in the drawers are even folded and neatly stacked! Ha ha! To make it even funnier I invited my parents to come over "to check." So far they haven't taken me up on the offer.
I cleaned out my closet of all the clothes that are 16 or larger. At my largest I was 247. Now I am a more slender 185! Last weekend I even tried on a pair of size 14 jeans. They were too big! So, since I had the money, I bought the same pair size 12 jeans that FIT! I think I bought them just because they DID fit!
All the time people ask me how I lost the weight. I answer, "Sell your car to pay the bills and walk, bus or trolley everywhere! Cut the soda, juice and make smaller portions." What I don't say is change your psych meds! When I was on the other meds I was hungry ALL the time. It was as though I never got full. I'm still on one that causes hunger, but I think I've balanced it with another that doesn't. Happy Equilibrium!
Yesterday I got my hair slaughtered. I spent a lot of money to have it done too. Today I went to my dear friend Renee and she cut it again and styled it and . . . basically I'm back to the short hair again. It's a different cut though and she taught me how to do it so I look like a HOTTIE! If I may say so myself. ;)
Well, I've been working at H&R Block. I really enjoy the people I work with. My boss has a sense of humor much like my own and it makes me laugh.
I was accepted to the SDSU Rehabilitation Counseling Master's program!! Yee-HAW! If you're interested in what I'll be studying check out this link: http://interwork.sdsu.edu/arpe/web_education/rcp_sdsu.html You'll have to scroll down a bit, but you can see what types of classes I'll be taking and what kinds of jobs I'll be able to apply for when I'm finished. I'm passionate about this field. Those who've worked in this field have helped to rehabilitate me and give me hope for a brighter future.
Well, I'll have to catch you up on the rest later. Until then, MOPS
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Big 35!
Greetings and Sautations!
I am now 35! (and we see kermit the frog Wildly waving his arms as he dances off stage cheering, "Yeeeeeaaaaahhhhhh!"
This past weekend was the BEST! I can't remember a birthday where I have had more fun!
It all began on my birthday-eve. After work I went with my friend Cat to a Bead warehouse called Suncoast Jewlery. They are amazing! Everyday they have a tent sale outside and Friday was no different. AND everything was a whopping 75% off. I was able to use disgression and not buy too much, but boy was it fun! I have been thinking about the jewlery that I make and I will have to show some of it to you. I'm thinking of putting some of it on Ebay. I think it's unique and fun.-MOPS
I am now 35! (and we see kermit the frog Wildly waving his arms as he dances off stage cheering, "Yeeeeeaaaaahhhhhh!"
This past weekend was the BEST! I can't remember a birthday where I have had more fun!
It all began on my birthday-eve. After work I went with my friend Cat to a Bead warehouse called Suncoast Jewlery. They are amazing! Everyday they have a tent sale outside and Friday was no different. AND everything was a whopping 75% off. I was able to use disgression and not buy too much, but boy was it fun! I have been thinking about the jewlery that I make and I will have to show some of it to you. I'm thinking of putting some of it on Ebay. I think it's unique and fun.-MOPS
Sunday, March 21, 2010
She's BAAACK!!
My Pageant Days!
Greetings and Salutations to all!
Just a little update. My friend Xochie wondered what the plans were for the birthday . . . so let me tell you. I have NO CLUE!! I am turning the big three-five on Saturday and I have no clue what I'm going to do on that day, but my friend, Deanna H (a YW leader from my youth) is throwing me a party the Saturday after conference/Easter. She is sending out invites and all sorts of funny things. The theme is something like "SHE'S BAAACK!" since I am doing so well, acting like I once did and living life as it should be lived again. She is using that picture on the invite.
I know, none of you knew I was in pageants. I wasn't. But my mom loved helping me dress up and I was a Toys for Tots Princess and got to wave in parades and such . . . I personally wasn't a fan of the entire hair piece and makeup thing. (although I would have loved to have curly hair, the reality was I didn't. Mine was straight as a piece of bamboo. That's straight right? I can't remember how you say that . . . anyway! That's one thing I hate and love about having ECT. I can't remember all the idioms and people stare at me funny when I say something they've never heard before. But recently my brain has cleared to the point that I am able to use some vocab that I learned growing up and actually remembering it on the spot. (I guess dreaming at night has taken on a whole new level now that I'm using the GRE test vocab in the dreams. I guess I sub consciously I am learning it! Too bad I can't take the test while asleep. I'd probably do better)
Boy! This post has lost it's point and I'm only on the 3rd paragraph!
I learned tonight that my mom's in the hospital. She was admitted after having been severely ill for a few days. Honestly she has been very ill for quite sometime, but she won't admit to me how ill she really is. Like all moms, she doesn't want to worry her children. But the hospital can't figure out why her body is riddled with infection when she's been on massive doses of antibiotics for 3 months now. No, that is not a typo. She's been on antibiotics for 3 whole months. Today she was too the point that she wasn't able to walk or stand well without aid and she just plain doesn't feel good. So, if you could keep her, her Doctors and my dad in your prayers I would really appreciate it.
I was able to go to the Deaf Branch today. I really do enjoy the branch so much. Today two men who are Deaf and Blind passed the sacrament. There was something about it. Something about them passing the sacrament, being led with a hand on their leader's shoulder, going around to the congregation that made me think about our Savior's atonement for me in a completely different way. Like these two men who each had their own guide, I cannot live this life without the Saviour to guide me. Like these two men, whom others have pitied because of their "limitations", I can achieve more than I know, because of the Saviour's strength in my life. Many people pity the Deaf. They really pity the Deaf and Blind. But, as these two men so regularly demonstrate, they aren't limited! They are beyond smart! When I interpret for them I sit in front of one man and he rests his hand on my hand as I am signing. He understands everything just from feeling me sign with one hand! I love seeing them at church because often members of the branch will sit in front of them (one person in front of each man) and they will copy what is being said to the men who are Deaf and blind. The Deaf have the opportunity to interpret and feel what it is like for the interpreters who listen to the English and interpret into ASL for them. The Lord gives us so many opportunities to learn and serve one another. Back to the Sacrament today. I felt so grateful today for the opportunities I have been given because although many people view my illness as a severe disability, with the right tools (meds, therapy, ECT, your support and who knows what else . . .) I can live a normal life just like these men are able to participate fully in their lives.
It's interesting because what most the world's population considers a disability is actually an opportunity to be creative and learn how to do something in a way other's haven't even imagined.
My ASL teacher, Vadja, grew up in a situation where his parents wouldn't learn sign language to communicate with him. They only used gestures. When Vadja was 9 (I think) his Deaf uncle came to visit and Vadja had never seen sign language before. Only the home signs that his dad had created. His dad grew up with his Deaf brother and didn't learn sign language to talk with him either. So when Vadja's uncle arrived, Vadja just stared in disbelief as his uncle started teaching him sign language. He said that within a few weeks it was like he'd known sign all his life. I just can't imagine going all my life with parents who couldn't or wouldn't talk to me.
Vadja taught the Deaf for 30+ years. He said that 75% of all deaf kids have hearing parents. Of those hearing parents only about 70% (or more) have parents who refuse to learn sign. Can you believe that? He said that most often deaf kids are behind because (for example) some hearing kids can ask easily 500 questions a day, wondering what things are and how they work . . . but a deaf kid with parents who don't know sign will ask the same questions and realize their parents can't answer them, so they just stop asking. It's not because they're any less curious. It's simply because they can't get the answers they need, so they stop asking.
I think about my friend Laurel (who is Deaf) who's parents who were both Deaf (which is VERY rare) and with siblings who were all Deaf. I bet she had all her questions answered. Okay, not all, who can have all their questions answered??? But still, she was very fortunate her communication wasn't limited. Today I met a young woman who's mom is Deaf, yet the girl can't communicate with her mom because she refuses to learn sign. I just don't get that.
That situation was interesting. I went to dinner after church at the Riddle's house. That girl was there, visiting from Tijuana and spoke no English. She was relying on her sister to interpret for her what her mom was saying and what the English speakers were saying. Then I look at one of the missionaries there and he is completely Deaf and doesn't understand what other's who didn't know sign language there were saying. I was interpreting for both. In an instant I actually remembered something from my mission. I remembered that when I was in the Missionary training center learning Spanish I was scared I was going to forget my ASL since I wouldn't be with my friend Laurel everyday, or with other Deaf friends like I was before my mission. So I started saying my personal prayers voicing them in Spanish and signing them in ASL at the same time. I think I may have even done that after my mission to remember my Spanish because I wasn't using it everyday and I was back to interpreting for my Deaf friends.
Well, thank you all for taking the time to read this. I am working on updating it more often . . . we'll see how that works ;) I love getting your comments, because then I know you really are reading this and I'm not just sending it out to a void. I love you guys! -MOPS
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Home Sweet Home!
Today my brother, Klint and his family left San Diego. I had so much fun with them.
I got to go out to dinner tonight with my grandparents, Klint, Heather and their family. It was so fun.
Last night we all went to Grossmont Mall for dinner. When we were walking to the car three of my nieces were bartering to drive home in my parents' car. My dad turned to me and asked if I would be willing to go in my brother's car so that my dad and mom could take the girls in their car. When we arrived at my parents' house afterwards my dad pulled me aside and told me that the girls were upset when they got to the car and I wasn't there. I guess riding in Grandma and Grandpa's car wasn't the selling point. Instead it was riding with Aunt Sarah. I guess I'm training them right! I love being an Aunt. I wish we lived closer to one another so I could see all those funny kids more often. Maybe I can take a tour of AZ and GA so I can see the rest of my family.
My niece, Taylor is writing a book. She wanted me to help her with it. So, I taught her how to outline and write the details of situations. She'll probably finish her book before I finish mine! Maybe I should start working on that again.
Tonight my brother, Jeff, called. He was absolutely hilarious! We talked about all of nothing and had a great time---all in Spanish. I had forgotten he served a Spanish speaks mission. I am always amazed at how well we can remember our Spanish after having left the mission field so long ago. What a blessing.
I am happy to announce that the room is clean! Ta-dah! I know you're all pleased. I hope and pray that you are all doing fantastic!
H&R Block is going well. My District Manager, Pat, talked to me about staying on after tax season. So, we'll see.
I need to make sure that all my paperwork is in and ready to go for my SDSU graduate application. I want to take the GRE test the week after next. AHHH!!! And she runs screaming down the street, wildly waving her hands overhead.
My Dr perscribed ankle braces for my feet. They are large. They must be worn with tennis shoes. They are covered in velcro and laces. They are a hassle and they itch regardless of how thinck the socks are. However, last Sunday I was walking to my friend's house and I stepped wrong on the edge of the curb. Surprise of Surprises, I didn't hurt my ankle!! Yeah!! I am so grateful for theses braces, even if they are annoying.
Norton, the beta is doing well. I finally got that silly filter to work! Amazing Grace!
Well, I am off to make the ward bulletin. Love ya!
-MOPS
I got to go out to dinner tonight with my grandparents, Klint, Heather and their family. It was so fun.
Last night we all went to Grossmont Mall for dinner. When we were walking to the car three of my nieces were bartering to drive home in my parents' car. My dad turned to me and asked if I would be willing to go in my brother's car so that my dad and mom could take the girls in their car. When we arrived at my parents' house afterwards my dad pulled me aside and told me that the girls were upset when they got to the car and I wasn't there. I guess riding in Grandma and Grandpa's car wasn't the selling point. Instead it was riding with Aunt Sarah. I guess I'm training them right! I love being an Aunt. I wish we lived closer to one another so I could see all those funny kids more often. Maybe I can take a tour of AZ and GA so I can see the rest of my family.
My niece, Taylor is writing a book. She wanted me to help her with it. So, I taught her how to outline and write the details of situations. She'll probably finish her book before I finish mine! Maybe I should start working on that again.
Tonight my brother, Jeff, called. He was absolutely hilarious! We talked about all of nothing and had a great time---all in Spanish. I had forgotten he served a Spanish speaks mission. I am always amazed at how well we can remember our Spanish after having left the mission field so long ago. What a blessing.
I am happy to announce that the room is clean! Ta-dah! I know you're all pleased. I hope and pray that you are all doing fantastic!
H&R Block is going well. My District Manager, Pat, talked to me about staying on after tax season. So, we'll see.
I need to make sure that all my paperwork is in and ready to go for my SDSU graduate application. I want to take the GRE test the week after next. AHHH!!! And she runs screaming down the street, wildly waving her hands overhead.
My Dr perscribed ankle braces for my feet. They are large. They must be worn with tennis shoes. They are covered in velcro and laces. They are a hassle and they itch regardless of how thinck the socks are. However, last Sunday I was walking to my friend's house and I stepped wrong on the edge of the curb. Surprise of Surprises, I didn't hurt my ankle!! Yeah!! I am so grateful for theses braces, even if they are annoying.
Norton, the beta is doing well. I finally got that silly filter to work! Amazing Grace!
Well, I am off to make the ward bulletin. Love ya!
-MOPS
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Joke's on me!
Greetings faithful followers . . . all three of you. ;)
Well, as I said, the joke's on me. That Irishman was a sweet talking guy, with nothing to show for it. We never even saw each other after he got my number, although he called me several times. He would tease me about wanting to kiss me and I have to admit it was a very tempting idea. He seemed really nice and I really enjoyed talking with him. Yesterday he announced on facebook that he was in a relationship with some other girl, so . . . ha! Bummer! But, I'd rather know than just be sweet talked.
My niece, Kristen is in town and she is a bundle of energy and fun. At times things get a little out of control, but she's a youngin' so we have fun. We went for a ride on the roller coaster at Bellmont Park last Saturday and scared her silly. She was screaming and crying, poor thing! She started wailing just as we started climbing the first swell (or whatever it's called). And it only got louder and more desperate after that. I looked over at her and she honestly looked like she was in the middle of having her life pass before her very eyes. Meanwhile, I couldn't stop laughing. I was having an absolute blast! Afterwards she said she never wanted to go on it again and was scared out of her goard to even get herself out of the roller coaster car. She cried hard for a good 10 minutes afterwards before settling down. However, an hour later she was saying she LOVED it and wanted to do it again. She couldn't wait to tell people about it. That got me to laughing again.
One of my niece's favorite games to play in the car is tuti-fruiti. I guess that's what my dad called it. It's really "I'm thinking of a fruit [or vegtable] what is it? It was just me, Kristen and my dad on Saturday. When it was my dad's turn he kept thinking of a fruit and we'd ask him all these different questions only to discover it was a banana THREE TIMES IN A ROW! So now the joke is:
I'm thinking of a fruit . . .
Is it yellow?
YES!
Is it a banana?
YES!
Oh goodness. The joys of consistency.
I just found out one of my friends from HS is engaged to be married. I'm excited for him and his fiance. I have no way of getting in touch with him, I guess I could if I tried harder, but MOTO if you're out there . . . CONGRATS!! I'm excited for you.
My little fish has taken to hiding behind the filter. The firt time he did it I honestly thought he'd jumped ship. But the little guy is getting more adept at staying in that little corner and I think he likes just hanging out there.
We're getting the plans laid out for the big 35 Birthday! Any ideas? My friend and I are working on something fun, just tell me if you want to know more . . .
My room has turned into a virtural pig sty and I'm not talking about a virtual as in solely on the internet. I was doing so well keeping the room clean. It was probbly cleaner than any other time of my life. And for those of you who have been my roommates, or come over for a sleep over, you know just how bad it can get. BUT, I am turning over a new leaf and I'm going to clean it all by the time I go to work tomorrow. Promise.
The entire changing time thing has thrown me off a bit. I can't believe it's already almost 9pm.
My group, "Support For Mormons With Mental Health Concerns" now has 70 members and growing strong. I have made some new friends through it and feel that it's a good sounding board. Spread the word, we'd love to meet more people!
Well, I'm going to sign off and go catch up on that movie my family is watching downstairs. If any of you have seen a good movie tell me about it. I just saw Lightening Thief. It was pretty well written and the graphics were well done, but the fighting was like watching those movies from the early '80's where everything is prepositioned and, well, you get the idea. I really had fun watching it though.
Until later, MOPS
Well, as I said, the joke's on me. That Irishman was a sweet talking guy, with nothing to show for it. We never even saw each other after he got my number, although he called me several times. He would tease me about wanting to kiss me and I have to admit it was a very tempting idea. He seemed really nice and I really enjoyed talking with him. Yesterday he announced on facebook that he was in a relationship with some other girl, so . . . ha! Bummer! But, I'd rather know than just be sweet talked.
My niece, Kristen is in town and she is a bundle of energy and fun. At times things get a little out of control, but she's a youngin' so we have fun. We went for a ride on the roller coaster at Bellmont Park last Saturday and scared her silly. She was screaming and crying, poor thing! She started wailing just as we started climbing the first swell (or whatever it's called). And it only got louder and more desperate after that. I looked over at her and she honestly looked like she was in the middle of having her life pass before her very eyes. Meanwhile, I couldn't stop laughing. I was having an absolute blast! Afterwards she said she never wanted to go on it again and was scared out of her goard to even get herself out of the roller coaster car. She cried hard for a good 10 minutes afterwards before settling down. However, an hour later she was saying she LOVED it and wanted to do it again. She couldn't wait to tell people about it. That got me to laughing again.
One of my niece's favorite games to play in the car is tuti-fruiti. I guess that's what my dad called it. It's really "I'm thinking of a fruit [or vegtable] what is it? It was just me, Kristen and my dad on Saturday. When it was my dad's turn he kept thinking of a fruit and we'd ask him all these different questions only to discover it was a banana THREE TIMES IN A ROW! So now the joke is:
I'm thinking of a fruit . . .
Is it yellow?
YES!
Is it a banana?
YES!
Oh goodness. The joys of consistency.
I just found out one of my friends from HS is engaged to be married. I'm excited for him and his fiance. I have no way of getting in touch with him, I guess I could if I tried harder, but MOTO if you're out there . . . CONGRATS!! I'm excited for you.
My little fish has taken to hiding behind the filter. The firt time he did it I honestly thought he'd jumped ship. But the little guy is getting more adept at staying in that little corner and I think he likes just hanging out there.
We're getting the plans laid out for the big 35 Birthday! Any ideas? My friend and I are working on something fun, just tell me if you want to know more . . .
My room has turned into a virtural pig sty and I'm not talking about a virtual as in solely on the internet. I was doing so well keeping the room clean. It was probbly cleaner than any other time of my life. And for those of you who have been my roommates, or come over for a sleep over, you know just how bad it can get. BUT, I am turning over a new leaf and I'm going to clean it all by the time I go to work tomorrow. Promise.
The entire changing time thing has thrown me off a bit. I can't believe it's already almost 9pm.
My group, "Support For Mormons With Mental Health Concerns" now has 70 members and growing strong. I have made some new friends through it and feel that it's a good sounding board. Spread the word, we'd love to meet more people!
Well, I'm going to sign off and go catch up on that movie my family is watching downstairs. If any of you have seen a good movie tell me about it. I just saw Lightening Thief. It was pretty well written and the graphics were well done, but the fighting was like watching those movies from the early '80's where everything is prepositioned and, well, you get the idea. I really had fun watching it though.
Until later, MOPS
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
The Irishman
Well, It's happened. I have been picked up on by an Irishman. Being the cutie that I am, I get picked up on by guys all the time on the bus, trolley and while waiting at those stops to catch that blessed means of transportaton. I've had weirdos slip their numbers into my hand, pocket & purse. I'm talking Wierdos! Why can't I get the good LDS guys to try and pull something off like that?
Anyway, back to the Irishman. I met him a week ago tomorrow. He seemed very plesant and funny. He even walked me to my class, opening the doors on the way. A gentleman! He was cute, when he dropped me off at my class he turned to me and said, "I have this feeling that if I don't get your number now, I'll never see you again. I'd like to take you to lunch." Well, he caught me and reeled me in. So I gave him my number.Now that I think about it, I'm wondering what gave me the guts to give my number to a complete stranger, let alone agree to go to lunch with him. I mean I don't know him from Adam, and he's not a member of the Church. But, for whatever reason I just gave him my number. As I was walking away he said, something to the effect that he didn't want to sound too forward, be me wanted me to know I look pretty. Ah . . . melt the heart.
Anyway, I have to go to bed. I hope you're all having fun. Love, MOPS
Anyway, back to the Irishman. I met him a week ago tomorrow. He seemed very plesant and funny. He even walked me to my class, opening the doors on the way. A gentleman! He was cute, when he dropped me off at my class he turned to me and said, "I have this feeling that if I don't get your number now, I'll never see you again. I'd like to take you to lunch." Well, he caught me and reeled me in. So I gave him my number.Now that I think about it, I'm wondering what gave me the guts to give my number to a complete stranger, let alone agree to go to lunch with him. I mean I don't know him from Adam, and he's not a member of the Church. But, for whatever reason I just gave him my number. As I was walking away he said, something to the effect that he didn't want to sound too forward, be me wanted me to know I look pretty. Ah . . . melt the heart.
Anyway, I have to go to bed. I hope you're all having fun. Love, MOPS
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Playing the Catch-up (Catsup??) Game
So let’s see . . . where did I leave off?
So . . . I have a job at H&R Block. I was promoted from the “Customer Service Professional” or CSP (Celebrated Sarah Price ;) I am now the District Client Care Specialist. That’s a nice name for someone who calls people all day. I like it actually, because when I do find a person on the other line I have fun talking to them. More often than not I meet really nice people. I have met some people who are angry with H&R for whatever reason, but after talking to them I can see why. It’s kind of like life. I mean if I meet someone from the Ukraine and they are mean, does that mean all Ukrainians are horribly mean? No. Maybe I met that person on a bad day, or for whatever reason they are mean. But, no all Ukrainians aren’t mean. Just like one poor tax professional doesn’t represent all of H&R. They’re actually pretty good, if not very good. Same with men, Mormons, Schizoaffective people, plumbers, government officials . . . you get the point. What?? The Master of Pointless Stories has a point??? Maybe not all my stories are pointless, (Whew! A sigh of relief from yours truly ;)
My District Manager (whom I keep calling my District Leader . . . I guess you can leave the mission, but the mission never leaves you) she called me into a meeting Tuesday and told all the Office Leaders/Managers and even the Regional Manager (I call him the Regional Rep ;) that I was a valuable part of our district and the voice of H&R here in East County. It felt good. She likes the work I’ve been doing and quite frankly I like working in the district office and the people with whom I’m working. We laugh, we joke, and we get a lot of work done, so I look forward to coming into the office. I even got a little pin that says “Rock Star-Responsibility” Doesn’t that mean I have a responsibility to be a rock star?? I choose drums!
I started my ASL 4 class and love it. So far I’ve learned some new vocab. But, I think the main reason I am taking the class is because my dear old friend Vadja is teaching it. I love ASL so much. Honestly. Sometimes I can express myself better in ASL than I can in English. Part of that has to do with the extreme memory loss and the severely crippled vocab in English. I have been working on building my ASL skills with my Deaf friends. And I’ve been meeting people on the bus, as the mall and in restaurants who are Deaf. I ran into some old friends last Saturday in a restaurant and they were so kind to me. If I say Hi with enthusiasm in my voice my friends know all is pretty good. If I run into some random person and say hi with enthusiasm they might wonder where on earth I’m from. If I greet a Deaf person with enthusiasm, more often than not they’re happy to see me too, even if we’ve never met each other before. (okay, so that’s a huge generalization contrary to my first point, but . . . it’s true so far.)
I’m still having problems with my little left foot. It’s even been waking me up in the middle of the night and weird things like that. It’s the top left side. Bizarre. Until you realize that’s where the huge lump was when I hurt the crazy thing in October! But in the same breath I walked about 4 miles this past weekend and enjoyed a nice talk with my friend as we walked around Lake Murray. I was more than surprised because my foot didn’t hurt all that much during or afterwards. We were going at a nice leisurely pace. However when I speed walk to work . . . maybe a mile away (>15 minutes) after three blocks the silly little thing HURTS! And so does the right one . . . when I take a leisurely stroll into work it doesn’t hurt at all.
I was talking to my friend Vadja today and he said that I need a mentor to help me finish my book. I have two mentors, Colleen Whitley and Dean Hughes. Both of whom have helped me immensely!! However I was talking to Vadja and he said that maybe it would be best if I had someone asking me questions about the book or about things that I want to happen and stuff like that on a regular basis and then it will spur me along. My friend from Rick’s is reading it. She is actually reading it and talking to me about it. Other’s who’ve read it say they like it but don’t give me feedback. My mentors have given me a LOT of useful feedback. Unfortunately, I’m just plum burnt out!
I am trying to decide if I'm going to grow out the hair. I enjoy having longer hair, but then again I saw some old pictures of myself and they really were awful! Seriously horrific!
That facebook group has grown! It now has 60 members. “Support for Mormons with Mental Health Concerns” Join up! Pass the word.
Well, I’m off. Look forward to hearing from you. Take care and Happy Belated Valentine’s Day -MOPS
So . . . I have a job at H&R Block. I was promoted from the “Customer Service Professional” or CSP (Celebrated Sarah Price ;) I am now the District Client Care Specialist. That’s a nice name for someone who calls people all day. I like it actually, because when I do find a person on the other line I have fun talking to them. More often than not I meet really nice people. I have met some people who are angry with H&R for whatever reason, but after talking to them I can see why. It’s kind of like life. I mean if I meet someone from the Ukraine and they are mean, does that mean all Ukrainians are horribly mean? No. Maybe I met that person on a bad day, or for whatever reason they are mean. But, no all Ukrainians aren’t mean. Just like one poor tax professional doesn’t represent all of H&R. They’re actually pretty good, if not very good. Same with men, Mormons, Schizoaffective people, plumbers, government officials . . . you get the point. What?? The Master of Pointless Stories has a point??? Maybe not all my stories are pointless, (Whew! A sigh of relief from yours truly ;)
My District Manager (whom I keep calling my District Leader . . . I guess you can leave the mission, but the mission never leaves you) she called me into a meeting Tuesday and told all the Office Leaders/Managers and even the Regional Manager (I call him the Regional Rep ;) that I was a valuable part of our district and the voice of H&R here in East County. It felt good. She likes the work I’ve been doing and quite frankly I like working in the district office and the people with whom I’m working. We laugh, we joke, and we get a lot of work done, so I look forward to coming into the office. I even got a little pin that says “Rock Star-Responsibility” Doesn’t that mean I have a responsibility to be a rock star?? I choose drums!
I started my ASL 4 class and love it. So far I’ve learned some new vocab. But, I think the main reason I am taking the class is because my dear old friend Vadja is teaching it. I love ASL so much. Honestly. Sometimes I can express myself better in ASL than I can in English. Part of that has to do with the extreme memory loss and the severely crippled vocab in English. I have been working on building my ASL skills with my Deaf friends. And I’ve been meeting people on the bus, as the mall and in restaurants who are Deaf. I ran into some old friends last Saturday in a restaurant and they were so kind to me. If I say Hi with enthusiasm in my voice my friends know all is pretty good. If I run into some random person and say hi with enthusiasm they might wonder where on earth I’m from. If I greet a Deaf person with enthusiasm, more often than not they’re happy to see me too, even if we’ve never met each other before. (okay, so that’s a huge generalization contrary to my first point, but . . . it’s true so far.)
I’m still having problems with my little left foot. It’s even been waking me up in the middle of the night and weird things like that. It’s the top left side. Bizarre. Until you realize that’s where the huge lump was when I hurt the crazy thing in October! But in the same breath I walked about 4 miles this past weekend and enjoyed a nice talk with my friend as we walked around Lake Murray. I was more than surprised because my foot didn’t hurt all that much during or afterwards. We were going at a nice leisurely pace. However when I speed walk to work . . . maybe a mile away (>15 minutes) after three blocks the silly little thing HURTS! And so does the right one . . . when I take a leisurely stroll into work it doesn’t hurt at all.
I was talking to my friend Vadja today and he said that I need a mentor to help me finish my book. I have two mentors, Colleen Whitley and Dean Hughes. Both of whom have helped me immensely!! However I was talking to Vadja and he said that maybe it would be best if I had someone asking me questions about the book or about things that I want to happen and stuff like that on a regular basis and then it will spur me along. My friend from Rick’s is reading it. She is actually reading it and talking to me about it. Other’s who’ve read it say they like it but don’t give me feedback. My mentors have given me a LOT of useful feedback. Unfortunately, I’m just plum burnt out!
I am trying to decide if I'm going to grow out the hair. I enjoy having longer hair, but then again I saw some old pictures of myself and they really were awful! Seriously horrific!
That facebook group has grown! It now has 60 members. “Support for Mormons with Mental Health Concerns” Join up! Pass the word.
Well, I’m off. Look forward to hearing from you. Take care and Happy Belated Valentine’s Day -MOPS
Saturday, January 02, 2010
The novel is comming along!
Okay, I put a poll on here about when you thought I would finish the book and the majority of you (2) said March of this year. Unfortunately, I don't think that is going to happen. I am currently outlining the rest of the book and trying to come up with a good conclusion. It may only be a small book, but I will finish it. I promise! I have only outlined the first 15 chapters. I realized that my chapters are quite short. I talked to a new friend about my book that I'm writing. I told him that it was about a young girl who was dealing with her mom's depression.
He said, "so her mom's crazy!"
I looked at him and said, "no, she's depressed."
"Crazy!" he replied.
"Um no, crazy is a state of mind, and not being able to deal with it."
"Well, depressed people do crazy things."
"Um, severely depressed people sometimes do some things which don't always make sense to other people, but that doesn't make them crazy."
"Yes it does!" he argued.
"Ah, forget it." Man, is this how the average person sees it? No wonder so many people don't want to talk about their depression with others! Please!
Well, I started a group on Facebook called "Support for Mormons with Mental Health Concerns". We only have 12 members so far. I hope to grow. It just seems that people who are diagnosed with or know someone who deals with mental health issues and who are LDS needed a fourm. Oh! I just looked we have 14 members!
I discovered a new show that has made me laugh. It's called "Castle". It's about some writer who gets to tag along with a detective on her cases. The guy who plays the writer is hilarious. The dective is great and the situations they get themselves into make me laugh. My roommates son had downloaded them onto a device that we were able to hook up to the TV and we had a Castle party. I guess it really was, I had a Castle party. But I liked it.
My new friend gave me a bracelette for Christmas that has beads on it that say, "dream, believe, achieve." I really like the sequence. I've been wearing it everyday. Unfortunately, it looks like my allergies to metals have fired up again because it's turning my wrist green. I wonder if the necklaces I make for others turn their necks green. Who knows?
I was able to make the bulletin today. I walked to the Aztec building today to make copies of the program for tomorrow but there were only 43 pages of paper in the copy machine. So . . . since the only other paper I could find was a stack of 3-hole-punched paper that gets stuck in the machine I was only able to make 43 programs. I walked home. My feet are still not used to all this walking. I am sure they are doing better, but they sure hurt a lot. But I went to the podiatrist this past week and he said that they are progressing well. (after he poked and prodded and practically drove my poor little left foot into shock.)
A friend of mine called today and tried to talk to me while his family was chanting "He likes you! He likes you!" Nice. Poor guy. My family would have gotten the sarah Schrunchie eyed glare if they had done that to me!
I get to start at H&R Block this Monday at 9am. We'll see how it goes. I am anxious because I haven't had a set schedule in 2 years let alone a job. I got my first pay check on the last day of 2009 and was thrilled to have some money! Yea!! Good thing I've learned to budget! heh heh heh
A friend gave me a purse for surviving this past decade. Over 300 ECT treatments, failed memory, scary group homes, depression, voices . . . all things considered, I think I pulled through the decade pretty well. I even like where I am right now in my life. I am going to enjoy the purse!
Well, I had better let you go. Look forward to hearing from you. Love, MOPS
He said, "so her mom's crazy!"
I looked at him and said, "no, she's depressed."
"Crazy!" he replied.
"Um no, crazy is a state of mind, and not being able to deal with it."
"Well, depressed people do crazy things."
"Um, severely depressed people sometimes do some things which don't always make sense to other people, but that doesn't make them crazy."
"Yes it does!" he argued.
"Ah, forget it." Man, is this how the average person sees it? No wonder so many people don't want to talk about their depression with others! Please!
Well, I started a group on Facebook called "Support for Mormons with Mental Health Concerns". We only have 12 members so far. I hope to grow. It just seems that people who are diagnosed with or know someone who deals with mental health issues and who are LDS needed a fourm. Oh! I just looked we have 14 members!
I discovered a new show that has made me laugh. It's called "Castle". It's about some writer who gets to tag along with a detective on her cases. The guy who plays the writer is hilarious. The dective is great and the situations they get themselves into make me laugh. My roommates son had downloaded them onto a device that we were able to hook up to the TV and we had a Castle party. I guess it really was, I had a Castle party. But I liked it.
My new friend gave me a bracelette for Christmas that has beads on it that say, "dream, believe, achieve." I really like the sequence. I've been wearing it everyday. Unfortunately, it looks like my allergies to metals have fired up again because it's turning my wrist green. I wonder if the necklaces I make for others turn their necks green. Who knows?
I was able to make the bulletin today. I walked to the Aztec building today to make copies of the program for tomorrow but there were only 43 pages of paper in the copy machine. So . . . since the only other paper I could find was a stack of 3-hole-punched paper that gets stuck in the machine I was only able to make 43 programs. I walked home. My feet are still not used to all this walking. I am sure they are doing better, but they sure hurt a lot. But I went to the podiatrist this past week and he said that they are progressing well. (after he poked and prodded and practically drove my poor little left foot into shock.)
A friend of mine called today and tried to talk to me while his family was chanting "He likes you! He likes you!" Nice. Poor guy. My family would have gotten the sarah Schrunchie eyed glare if they had done that to me!
I get to start at H&R Block this Monday at 9am. We'll see how it goes. I am anxious because I haven't had a set schedule in 2 years let alone a job. I got my first pay check on the last day of 2009 and was thrilled to have some money! Yea!! Good thing I've learned to budget! heh heh heh
A friend gave me a purse for surviving this past decade. Over 300 ECT treatments, failed memory, scary group homes, depression, voices . . . all things considered, I think I pulled through the decade pretty well. I even like where I am right now in my life. I am going to enjoy the purse!
Well, I had better let you go. Look forward to hearing from you. Love, MOPS
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Top Things That Happened in 2009
(Thanks to my journals I can actually tell you about it!)
January
Became Assistant Ward Librarian of the San Diego 8th Ward
February
Had a ship (currently docked in Madagascar) named after me!
(Yes, that's a real boat and no, it's not photoshopped!)
(Yes, that's a real boat and no, it's not photoshopped!)
March
Turned 34!! Celebrated with some friends and family
April
Visited AZ and family (including 4 nieces and 1 nephew)
May
Last hospital stay of 2009!! As of today I've been out seven months in a row---new record since 2002!
June
Quit ECT!
July 1st
Moved out of the nasty group home! No more rationed toilet paper!!
Moved in with Leslie McEwan and her two cute little doggies.
Became a member of the La Mesa 2nd Ward
Began feeling like myself again!
August
Relearned how to subtract
Taught how to efficiently budget money (newly improved subtraction skills help)
Began remembering things taking place in this month.
September
Played to my hearts content with Klint, Heather and family during Labor Day weekend.
Unintentionally performed a perfect Back Flop off Grandpa and Grandma’s diving board
Began teaching Advanced ASL for the CA North Stake
Interviewed by State of CA Vocational Rehab. Dept. for eligibility to be trained.
October
Played way too much (if that’s possible) with the Forbushes! (Visiting from UT)
Relearned a key rule: Don’t chase after the Elders!! Ended up in TWO orthatic boots!
Pushed around Sea World like a princess! (In a wheelchair)
Handed out treats for Halloween as stay-puff marshmallow boy
Accepted into State of CA Voc. Rehab Program!!
November
Called as “Ward Bulletin Administrator”
Celebrated Thanksgiving with parents and grandparents
December
Hired by H&R Block as a “Customer Service Professional or CSP” (Personally I prefer receptionist ;)
Funding comes through for GRE test and Master’s Program at SDSU to become Rehab Counselor and help others with disabilities get the accessibility they need.
Played with Klint, Heather and kids for 3 days!!
Put together a 500 piece puzzle of the USA (by myself) in less than 3 hrs!
Okay, well, as you can see I've had quite the variety of things happen during this year. If'I could take one thing away from it I would have to say . . . hope. During this past year I have been on the brink of hopelessness feeling lost and alone---wondering hour after hour if I would ever be able to control my illness instead of it controling me. Now here I am with my illness in check for the most part and I have the world at my fingers. I may not be able to control my illness, but I have a tighter reign on things. I also have something waiting just over the horizon. 2010 is going to be the best year yet, I can feel it! Happy new year! -MOPS
Friday, November 20, 2009
Greetings and salutaions! I was in the worst of moods yesterday. Well, I guess I shouldn't say worst . . . I have had much worse. But I felt awfully fat yesterday. I watched the Biggest Loser and there is a girl on it who weighs as much as I do. She is a big girl. I guess I knew I was too, but seeing her in that little weigh in outfit made me think twice. I am the big girl! I hope I don't look it. I know that I have lose 50 Lbs since . . . I think it was 2 years ago when I weighed in at 247. So I am grateful for that. Last night my roommate couldn't figure out why I was crying at the kitchen table and suggested I make some cookies. Um, not a good idea. So instead she made the cookies. I had gone for a little walk and come hope to a huge batch of unbaked oatmeal cookies. They were the really sugary kind as they had 3 CUPS of brown sugar. I have never had that kind before. I love oatmeal cookies to begin with. My goal was to just taste one, but I think I had six-eight. Um Hello Sarah! Maybe I need to set some goals and stick to them.
But I was able to talk to my brother, Jeff and my friend, Winder. They have a way of picking me up when I'm down. I was feeling so far behind in the grand scheme of things. I mean I have yet to get married let alone have kids. And I'm creeping up on my 35th b-day. Ah well. We all have our own divine schedule.
I was going to go on a date tomorrow, but the guy wanted to go at 10:30am and I have a NAMI meeting from 10:30am-12:30pm. I guess he's too busy to go after that. Bummer. I'll see him at church on Sunday and we can talk it over. He's a security guy, so maybe he works all night and sleeps in the day or something.
Today I am applying for a receptionist job at H & R Block. It's only part time and minimum wage, but it will get me more busy, which is something I need so that I'm not sitting around watching TV.
I've got a couple blood tests to run. Hopefully those cookies didn't push me over the edge for my fasting blood glucose test. Cross your fingers. I'm off!
-MOPS
But I was able to talk to my brother, Jeff and my friend, Winder. They have a way of picking me up when I'm down. I was feeling so far behind in the grand scheme of things. I mean I have yet to get married let alone have kids. And I'm creeping up on my 35th b-day. Ah well. We all have our own divine schedule.
I was going to go on a date tomorrow, but the guy wanted to go at 10:30am and I have a NAMI meeting from 10:30am-12:30pm. I guess he's too busy to go after that. Bummer. I'll see him at church on Sunday and we can talk it over. He's a security guy, so maybe he works all night and sleeps in the day or something.
Today I am applying for a receptionist job at H & R Block. It's only part time and minimum wage, but it will get me more busy, which is something I need so that I'm not sitting around watching TV.
I've got a couple blood tests to run. Hopefully those cookies didn't push me over the edge for my fasting blood glucose test. Cross your fingers. I'm off!
-MOPS
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The Human Experience
I've been thinking about something that I want to share with you. When I was a kid I didn't think much about the fact that my grandpas on both sides of the family had served in World War II. Nor did I think much of the fact that my Uncle served in Vietnam. I never thought much about my grandma's brother who died while serving in WWII. I just didn't think about it. To me war is a horrible, nasty thing and I didn't want to be involved in it.
When I was at BYU I had the opportunity to take a personal history class from Don Norton. He taught me the importance of finding out those things I can about the people I am related to and to record that information in a way that would be accessible to the person and also to the family if they so desired.
I had the opportunity to become Brother Norton's assistant. At first I was working as a copy editor with him. He would let me do the first read of professors' articles to be published and then would teach me what I need to learn in order to become a better copy editor.
Later, he included me in a project that he was working on---Oral History. At the time he was interviewing WWII veterans and finding out about their stories and their experiences. 99% of them felt they had nothing to share, but Don has a way of asking just the right question and sharing his understanding in a way the people come alive with memories and stories. WWII became real to me! Suddenly I was hearing about the Pearl Harbor bombing from people who were in their late teens and early twenties at the time. Basically they were my age and they had the same kinds of reaction that I hope I would, pure terror and a sense of obligation to do something about it.
Having interviewed my grandpa about his experiences in WWII, I gained a greater respect for him and a what I would hope was a sense of compassion. It's grown with every person I've interviewed or transcribed since. Some of these people we call heroes. Like my grandpa, they would never call themselves heroes, but they are simply because they did the best they could under awfully horrible circumstances. Many veterans feel it was just their duty. But while doing their duty, while being pushed to the edge, they dug down and found that determination to overcome and fight tooth and nail to accomplish the task. They strived to do whatever they could to better the lives of others.
I've had the opportunity to interview and transcribe many interviews. It doesn't matter if they were involved in the military, or if they weren't. People have a story to tell and we need to listen.
While interviewing someone about their experiences, whether it be war on the battlefield or war in daily life situations, we all have experiences that are unique and that can help others. How? Well, many people experience something and feel all alone because they feel like no one can understand their situation. However, once I began learning of the experiences of other people, I began learning about myself. We all have that desire to understand who we really are. We all have those experience that push us to our very edge and or experiences that make us dig deeper within than we ever thought possible. I'm sure we have all experienced being lonely and feeling like no one remembers us. Perhaps we've felt grief stricken and didn't know how to express ourselves. We've felt inexplicably happy or down right confused. At times we feel enraged, offended or frustrated. Sometimes we feel completely stupid. Hopefully there comes a time when we feel smarter than all get out for a brief moment. For some there is depression and despair. At other times there may be this feeling you're infused with energy. Hopefully we've all felt full, and I think that everyone has felt starving---real or imagined. There's humiliation, sickness, love and hatred. That feeling of being completely stuck or that desire to be accepted. We're addicted to something, be it food, TV, exercise, drugs or even the comforts of life as the case may be. We feel completely ignored by others and maybe there are even days we wish we were ignored. There are hours, days, weeks, months or even years where we may feel completely overwhelmed or even on the brink of giving up---not knowing where to even begin. While there are or will be times when we feel we need to do more. There's pride. There's guilt. There's humility. And yes, there's even that silly side that pokes it's head in and makes us want to laugh like a kids again when we hear someone fart. The point is, the human experience is actually quite similar. Granted, none of us experience the same things in the same ways.
I think Heavenly Father wants us to learn from our brother, Jesus Christ. He also wants us to learn from each other. Just like he wants us to liken the scriptures unto ourselves (1 Ne 19:23), I believe he wants us to relate to one another.
No, I don't have to be a veteran to understand war or the ravishes thereof. And you don't need to know what hearing a voice in your head for seven years is like to understand me. All we need to do is learn compassion. We need to learn that while our situations may be completely different---opposite even---we have the same kinds of feelings. No, we might not react to things in the same way. But we have felt or one day will feel what the other person is feeling. Learn from each other, and the only way we can honestly do that is to listen with an open mind.
It is not my intent to belittle the sacrifices of those many veterans who've served our country through out the years, some of whom gave their very lives, nor is it to tell people I understand what they're going through. Instead, I hope there is some inkling born in each of us to try and understand. Try and get to know others. Try and become better accuainted with our family members and the others who surround us daily. Everyone has a story to tell and I am willing to bet that everyone wants to be better understood.
How's that for being preachy? Hope you're having a great day and that your dreams and wishes come true.
-MOPS
When I was at BYU I had the opportunity to take a personal history class from Don Norton. He taught me the importance of finding out those things I can about the people I am related to and to record that information in a way that would be accessible to the person and also to the family if they so desired.
I had the opportunity to become Brother Norton's assistant. At first I was working as a copy editor with him. He would let me do the first read of professors' articles to be published and then would teach me what I need to learn in order to become a better copy editor.
Later, he included me in a project that he was working on---Oral History. At the time he was interviewing WWII veterans and finding out about their stories and their experiences. 99% of them felt they had nothing to share, but Don has a way of asking just the right question and sharing his understanding in a way the people come alive with memories and stories. WWII became real to me! Suddenly I was hearing about the Pearl Harbor bombing from people who were in their late teens and early twenties at the time. Basically they were my age and they had the same kinds of reaction that I hope I would, pure terror and a sense of obligation to do something about it.
Having interviewed my grandpa about his experiences in WWII, I gained a greater respect for him and a what I would hope was a sense of compassion. It's grown with every person I've interviewed or transcribed since. Some of these people we call heroes. Like my grandpa, they would never call themselves heroes, but they are simply because they did the best they could under awfully horrible circumstances. Many veterans feel it was just their duty. But while doing their duty, while being pushed to the edge, they dug down and found that determination to overcome and fight tooth and nail to accomplish the task. They strived to do whatever they could to better the lives of others.
I've had the opportunity to interview and transcribe many interviews. It doesn't matter if they were involved in the military, or if they weren't. People have a story to tell and we need to listen.
While interviewing someone about their experiences, whether it be war on the battlefield or war in daily life situations, we all have experiences that are unique and that can help others. How? Well, many people experience something and feel all alone because they feel like no one can understand their situation. However, once I began learning of the experiences of other people, I began learning about myself. We all have that desire to understand who we really are. We all have those experience that push us to our very edge and or experiences that make us dig deeper within than we ever thought possible. I'm sure we have all experienced being lonely and feeling like no one remembers us. Perhaps we've felt grief stricken and didn't know how to express ourselves. We've felt inexplicably happy or down right confused. At times we feel enraged, offended or frustrated. Sometimes we feel completely stupid. Hopefully there comes a time when we feel smarter than all get out for a brief moment. For some there is depression and despair. At other times there may be this feeling you're infused with energy. Hopefully we've all felt full, and I think that everyone has felt starving---real or imagined. There's humiliation, sickness, love and hatred. That feeling of being completely stuck or that desire to be accepted. We're addicted to something, be it food, TV, exercise, drugs or even the comforts of life as the case may be. We feel completely ignored by others and maybe there are even days we wish we were ignored. There are hours, days, weeks, months or even years where we may feel completely overwhelmed or even on the brink of giving up---not knowing where to even begin. While there are or will be times when we feel we need to do more. There's pride. There's guilt. There's humility. And yes, there's even that silly side that pokes it's head in and makes us want to laugh like a kids again when we hear someone fart. The point is, the human experience is actually quite similar. Granted, none of us experience the same things in the same ways.
I think Heavenly Father wants us to learn from our brother, Jesus Christ. He also wants us to learn from each other. Just like he wants us to liken the scriptures unto ourselves (1 Ne 19:23), I believe he wants us to relate to one another.
No, I don't have to be a veteran to understand war or the ravishes thereof. And you don't need to know what hearing a voice in your head for seven years is like to understand me. All we need to do is learn compassion. We need to learn that while our situations may be completely different---opposite even---we have the same kinds of feelings. No, we might not react to things in the same way. But we have felt or one day will feel what the other person is feeling. Learn from each other, and the only way we can honestly do that is to listen with an open mind.
It is not my intent to belittle the sacrifices of those many veterans who've served our country through out the years, some of whom gave their very lives, nor is it to tell people I understand what they're going through. Instead, I hope there is some inkling born in each of us to try and understand. Try and get to know others. Try and become better accuainted with our family members and the others who surround us daily. Everyone has a story to tell and I am willing to bet that everyone wants to be better understood.
How's that for being preachy? Hope you're having a great day and that your dreams and wishes come true.
-MOPS
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