Hermana

I have talked to Misty almost everyday for the past 20 years of my life. Every. Single. Day. Do you understand how hard it is to go cold turkey and not talk to one of your best friends for over 2 months?! It's hard. WAY hard. So that's why today is such a happy day! Hermana Madsen called from the airport on her way to Guatemala! I got to talk to her for 15 whole minutes (and skip my music class). Do you have any idea how difficult it is to catch up 2 months worth in 15 minutes?! I think we got the important things talked about at least. It was great to hear her and I'm so grateful to have a sister who is serving the Lord and bringing our brothers and sisters in Guatemala the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her testimony is ever so strong, it's gotten so you can even feel it in her words across the phone. Misty is my hero and one of my best friends. But I usually just call her my sister. I only have 3 of them, which makes the word 'sister' among my favorite words.

You know what? 15 minutes just wasn't enough.

Beginning of a New Talent?

I. Am. Making. A. Bowl.

You heard me! I'm making a bowl. Out of wood. And no, I don't know what kind of wood it is. T is making something out of wood too. A pen. Then a pencil. Then maybe another pen. The bestest cousin ever is helping T out with one of his projects for his History of Creativity class. We're also going to make homemade paper so he can get an A on his project. I thought it was a genius idea. Yeah, I know, my family is awesome. I'll give you permission to think so too. AND as a plus... I got to smell like sawdust and wood chips. Which due to the nature of wood shavings and whatnot, it all ended up in my hair, my clothes, and every other crevice you may or may not possibly think of.

On a side note, I took the PRAXIS on Saturday and think I rocked it. We'll see when my scores come in about a month or so. Shout out to Elaine who helped me out!

Without a Doubt

I once thought I was in love in Elementary school. Tony Gervais once made paper airplanes with me during inside recess while it was raining. We threw the planes out the window and watched them tumble in the wind carrying their precious passengers which were in the form of worms. He then took the heat for me and said it was his fault when the teacher caught us. He got detention from recess for a week while I spent recess playing soccer with the other guys. I still feel guilty that I let him take the blame. He did make me fall in love with him that day though. Tony was my best friend, we were even married on the playground after he played knight in shining armor and sacrificed his recess time for me (which is a huge deal for a second grader). I loved him more than any other 2nd grader could have.

Looking back, I realize it was just puppy love. Even all of those boys through middle school and high school were just more extreme versions of puppy love. Today I realized I had never been in love during any of those times at all. I'm not sure I even really fully comprehend true love right now. All I know is, I didn't even have to fall in love with T. It just was. It just happened. It was automatic. Call it chemical. Call it gravity. Call it timing. Call it soulmates.

I will just call it perfection.

G. E. N. I. U. S.

Check this out! Pretty cool, eh? It's so cool that I'm blogging about it instead of studying for the PRAXIS which is tomorrow. Which reminds me... I really need to get off the computer and actually study for it. Pray that I actually pass it. I'd really like to not have to take it again. Happy Friday the 13th!

Dreams and Reality

You know that place in between dreams and reality? Those few seconds of getting your bearings straight when you wake up in the morning or from a midafternoon nap? The place where everything is perfect because you feel so good because you're not asleep, but you're not awake. Does that make any sense to anyone else except my head? Anyways... that's where I want to be right now. Instead, I'm stuck in reality where I'm up to my ears in lesson plans, projects, and math problems that I'm convinced are practical jokes because there is no way to get the answer that is in the back of the book. One more class that goes til 8 tonight and then I'm going to welcome that place in between dreams and reality. You heard me right, I'm taking a nap at 8 o' clock at night. I think I'll cuddle with T while he studies his Biology. And the game plan for when I wake up? A mug of hot cocoa... then study study study for the lame-o PRAXIS test. I'll be glad when that is over!

Until then... watch out reality, Jamie is here is kick. your. trash.

P.s. I have the best boyfriend ever. Hands down. T, I love you. ;)

Warm Fuzzies

"Men [and women] are that they might have joy." I love that scripture. I just read it today and it got me thinking throughout this entire Monday. I AM so that I can have JOY. Now there's some food for thought. So many people in the world today are so full of pessimism and the downright "I hate the world and everyone in it" type of attitude toward life. I feel so sad for those types of people.

Now I know we all have those down and out days, I mean, come on, I'm a real person too. But we're here on this earth to have joy! What a wonderful, glorious, beautiful thing that the Lord put us here on the earth so that we can be happy and joyful. Who doesn't like to be happy? I'm sure Heavenly Father loves being happy and I know that He is happy when we are.

I also read over Pres. Monson's last conference talk. Remember when he talked about the "warm fuzzies" jar? I remember listening to his talk and giggling over that clever idea. I think I want a "warm fuzzies" jar for when I teach. I'm pretty sure that having "Warm fuzzies" makes everyone joyful too. So... my challenge for myself this week? I wanna hand out some good ol' warm fuzzies to at least 3 people each day (not actual physical warm fuzzies, but compliments and good deeds). I'll let you know how it goes.



So what it all comes down to?

Be happy, it makes everyone else around you happy too!

Wonderings and Ponderings

I'm sitting here on my couch. At my house. Listening to my mom talk to one of her best friends from way back when. Her friend lives in Idaho now. They've been talking for 5 minutes, laughing the whole time as if they just saw each other yesterday. Now they've changed the subject to their children who they just sent off on missions and how they both felt. They're really, truly, interested in each others lives and still want to know about each others successes and failures. I'm sure that they'll stay on the phone with each other for the next half hour talking and catching up and giggling like high schoolers again.

It makes me wonder, Will I be like that in the future? Will I still keep in touch with my very best friends who have helped me become the person I am today?

I sure hope so. In fact, I need to go. There's that one friend I need to call and talk to.