The Little Things Add Up

Yesterday was one of those "the-little-things-add-up" days.  I had three small experiences that made me smile, in spite of feeling somewhat bogged down in my mind by other things. They really are small, so don't expect anything earth-shattering.

1. The Shopping Cart

On my way home early in the afternoon yesterday, I saw a woman in a red pin-striped blouse and a denim skirt. She had a few cases of Dr. Pepper loaded up in her shopping cart and was walking it all across the street. I couldn't help but think, "American." It just felt American. I imagined that she was having a barbecue with family and friends--an evening of relaxation, innocent recreation, and of course, soda. True? I don't know, but it satisfies the ideal hopes in my imagination. 

2. A Gallon of Tea

This moment is also about a drink...it's summer, so I guess that makes sense. While I don't drink it, nor do I encourage others to, I know that sweet tea is a big thing here in the South. That's why I smiled big after seeing a lady in her car outside of Kroger, drinking directly out of a gallon jug of tea. She must have been thirsty! I'm glad I could catch that moment in time.

3. Compliment Noted

Also while at Kroger...I was walking through line with my small containers of potato salad, doing the regular check-out routine. As I was getting ready to leave, the cashier mentioned that I smelled nice. That was the best thing of all yesterday! It's silly maybe, but I sometimes wonder if I do smell okay or if I under/overload perfume, etc...so hopefully he is a good person to trust. It was especially nice since I had been swimming that morning and hadn't yet made it to the shower. :)  I thanked him and happily walked out to my car. After thinking about its significance to me, I wanted him to know I truly appreciated it. I couldn't think of how to go back and thank him without it being kind of awkward, though. I also had some time constraints, so for better or worse, I simply hoped to myself that he would keep on complimenting! You just never know when what you say will really make a difference in somebody's day.

Linden Avenue

One of my favorite things to do is to take walks around my neighborhood. It's such a beautiful old community, and I love looking at the architecture and landscaping all around me. I like to pick out aspects of homes that would be fun to have on my own someday. While walking, I usually find a gem or two that make me smile.  Here are a couple I found as I strolled down Linden Avenue.

This picture, to me, is an adventure waiting to happen. When I look at it, I can't help but think of the careless summer days of childhood. I want my kids to have a tree house. The teacher part of me thinks, "That's a major liability,"....but the rest of me says, "Kids have been doing this for ages. Let kids be kids!" I kind of want to climb that ladder, myself.

And this! Knock-out roses surrounded by what I believe are honeysuckle. As I considered these flowers, I couldn't help but think of the jazz song "Honeysuckle Rose". I secretly hope that the owners of this property are part of the Nashville music scene and that this combination was intentional--a sort of disguised identity like the lamps on the Underground Railroad, but for people in the music industry instead. A sure sign that a jazz-artist (or at least a jazz-lover) lives here.

Love my neighborhood walks!

For your listening enjoyment, follow the links to watch/hear:

"Honeysuckle Rose" (Fats Waller will stare at you (kind of creepy)...but the song is great!)

The Muppet Version of "Honeysuckle Rose"

Mona's

Well, it's been over a year since I last wrote (sounds an awful lot like every diary entry I wrote when I was little). I was reminded today about how much I like to write. I've missed it. So why not start now? It can't hurt to try, so here goes nothing!

Today I joined in on a lesson the sister missionaries were teaching in Murfreesboro. I was surprised to find that my friend Farrah lives in the Walter Hill area of Murfreesboro. I LOVE Walter Hill. I've gone to the elementary school there several times for science kit trainings. My coworkers can't stand driving out that far, but I love the drive! It's picturesque. Every time I drive through the area, I leave with a renewed desire to live in the country--close to civilization, but far from traffic and ugly shopping centers.

Frankly, I've seen beautiful country on all sides of Nashville, but the Walter Hill area has one claim on my heart that none other has:

Mona's.

Click on the picture to see a 360 degree view.

Mona's is a small, family-owned restaurant on West Jefferson Pike. It's the lone restaurant for the space of a few miles. It's surrounded by farmland and is neighbor to a small church and the home of the restaurant owners. I decided that since I was in the area, I couldn't pass up a trip to the quaint cafe. Their menu is small, but so delicious....and you want to know one my favorite features of the restaurant? They serve Blue Bell ice cream--dessert straight from my homeland!

Only one other customer came into Mona's while I was there. He ordered some take-out, so I had the place to myself. I loved sitting there staring out the window at the falling rain. There's something so cozy about watching rain, but being safe and warm inside. In this hole-in-the-wall joint in Murfreesboro, TN, it's almost like time stopped...and I could just be. When I think of the country, I think of peace. Stillness. Beauty. And now, Mona's.

While eating, I got a text from Farrah, who drove by and saw me sitting there by the window. Lucky her--to live so close! She doesn't know this yet, but I'm now formulating a plan....it involves a tent and a small patch of grass on her lawn. Farrah, how would you feel about getting a new neighbor? :)

The Day I Became a Bass

It amazes me what the common cold can do to a person. After spending a little too much time in the snow before going home for Christmas, I developed a cold which consequently qualified me for the bass section of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. No audition necessary.

One night whilst I had this cold, I walked over to the piano, played a pitch, and gradually kept lowering my pitch a half-step until I had reached an ivory territory that probably no woman has ever before encountered. Randy will argue it, but for at least a half a second I was able to sing a low, low A flat. That's TWO A flats below middle C, which is not normal for people with two X chromosomes. Nor does it feel good on the vocal chords.

So look for me among the black suits and matching ties next time you see the MoTab. I'll be the only one with long, blond hair.

Auld Lang Syne

Don't let the date above deceive you. It is 2:05 AM on January the 1st of 2011. Today, well, yesterday actually, I was wondering why on earth the new year is such a big deal for people. Don't get me wrong--I love that it prolongs my Christmas break, but why is it such a cause to celebrate? In spite of the fact that I'm way past the time of night in which my brain tends to shut off (generally around 9), I'd like to take a stab at answering my own question.

I think part of the reason for the New Year's enthusiasm is that one moment when the countdown has gotten to 1, everybody cheers and yells Happy New Year!, and we suddenly bridge from one year to the next. I myself was fascinated at the thought that I had already embarked upon my first minutes of 2011, and yet some of my dear friends in other time zones were still living in 2010. Weird and insanely awesome all at the same time!

When you really think about it, though, it is kind of a neat holiday. It's a chance to look back on the last 365 days--to see how our lives have changed and how far we've come...to remember our struggles and triumphs...but also to look forward to the future. To the unknown. To the endless array of possibilities before us. That Phantom we call the Unknown has the uncanny ability to be both frighteningly paralyzing and exhilaratingly motivational. The unknown requires us to be a people of faith and action. We have to have faith that the Lord will guide us, and we also have to be willing to make a plan and act on it. Choosing what to plan for--that is my challenge.

My 2010 was full of new experiences and excitement. I completed my Teacher Work Sample. I finished my first year of teaching and now look back on it with such fond memories. I graduated from college and got my teaching license! I struggled to know where to go and had some disappointments along the way. Once I made the decision to move to Nashville, I was out of my apartment and on the road to my new home in five days. I moved in with my brother Randy's family and became part of the reading department at an elementary school. Though I can't list off all the reasons for my current location and status in life, I have a few ideas. One of those is that in coming to Nashville I have had the opportunity to meet and become good friends with some amazing, amazing people. That's the best part about where I'm at now. I'm so happy to be in Nashville.

But what does 2011 hold? What adventures can I pursue in the next 365 days? My good friend Enya has been known to echo these queries as well as answer them. "Who can say where the road goes? Where the day flows? Only time." Here's to a new year and to the details of life that will unfold in that time!

p.s. Although I cannot tell you everything that will happen this year, I can tell you one thing--and that is what will be happening in about five minutes. I'll be asnooze in my bed! :) (Thanks to Dr. Seuss for his one-of-a-kind terminology!)

Bugs and Skunks

(Thanks to Google Images for the pictures.) :)

Before I forget, I need to write something short about the insane amount of bugs that Tennessee seems to have. Sheesh! At first I thought, 'When God created animals and creatures, He must have had a whole bunch left over, and I'm pretty sure He dumped them all here in Tennessee'. Then I realized that didn't account for Noah and the flood. However it happened, we have an extraordinary amount of bugs. Grasshoppers and crickets, big blue caterpillar-looking things, ants--you name it.

When we went to Philmont in high school, Liz Childs and I performed "bug checks" in our tent at night because she was really frightened of them. Liz, I don't think TN's the place for you, unless of course you've decided to become an entomologist. Don't get me wrong-there are a ton of great things about this place, but why all the bugs?

The other unpleasantry: skunks. I smell at least a few a week. I've never smelled so much skunk spray in my life.

This bug/skunk situation may not sound very appealing to you....but in spite of it all, I still think Nashville is Zion. :)

Real, Fun, and Real Fun

real 1 |ˈrē(ə)l|

adjective1 actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed
fun |fən|nounenjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure

real fun |ˈrē(ə)l| |fən|adverb + adjectivea state of extreme fun, a derivative of the phrase 'really fun'

Lori, Me, and Jaclyn at Holiday World (an amusement park in Indiana)

I reeeeaally love water slides!

Waiting in line...you know how amusement parks go.

Me with Laura, afraid on the ferris wheel at the Wilson County Fair :)

Me and Chantel, looking at the chickens

Nashville Institute hike at Edwin Warner Park to kick off studying the Doctrine and Covenants

Scarecrows....enough said.

Nicole and I are posing for a picture to be placed on her next album. Right, Nicole??

I wanted a picture in front of these Gerbera Daisies that were growing in an organic garden.

Rowan's face says it all. Real. Fun. And real fun.

Nauvoo!

At the end of July, I went to Nauvoo, Illinois with some of the other YSAs. What a cool opportunity! I'm so glad I got to go. I'll share some pictures, and I'll try to keep my writing to a minimum. I know I tend to be a bit verbose sometimes.

Me with a statue of the Prophet Joseph and his brother, Hyrum

This is the sister missionary who gave us our tour of Carthage Jail. Carthage was my favorite part of this trip. The Prophet Joseph was kept here unjustly with others who volunteered to stay with him. What a special and solemn place!

Me at the window of Joseph Smith's martyrdom. He was shot at from inside the jail and from without its walls as well.

An angry mob burst into the jail. That bullet hole is big enough to fit your index finger through. I think another bullet broke the lock as well.

The window that Joseph fell out of upon being shot by the mob.

Beautiful outside view of that window. I kept an acorn that fell from the tree that is right outside that window.

Angela, Dave, Alberto, Tim, and me at the Carthage Visitor's Center

Me, Jaclyn, and Lori on a covered wagon in Nauvoo. (Apparently I missed the sunglasses memo.)

A gorgeous shot of Nauvoo at sunset. This was on our way to the Nauvoo Pageant.

The Nauvoo Pageant--singing, dancing, and acting out stories of the early Saints.

Waiting for the Pageant to start

The Pageant with a backdrop of the Nauvoo Temple that was gradually built during the program. At the end, they lit up the real Nauvoo Temple in the background and we heard a recording of President Hinckley talking about the Nauvoo Temple facing west and the SLC Temple facing east. It's cool that the Nauvoo Temple faces west, the direction of the early Saints' journey to a home safe from angry mobs and unfair governments. The Salt Lake City temple faces the opposite direction--almost like it's observing the journey that was taken and everything that happened along the way. Now there are so many wonderful temples all around the world!

A statue of Hyrum and Joseph. I think it's of them as they were leaving Nauvoo for the last time--headed to Carthage where they would be martyred. I wish that I could go back in time and meet the wonderful people of Nauvoo!

(As a side note, I just love Hyrum! Like Nephi's brother Sam in the Book of Mormon, Hyrum was a faithful companion and a very righteous man.)

Here's the group in front of the Nauvoo Temple!

It is super pretty! It was rebuilt in 2002 on the same property as the original Nauvoo Temple. The original was destroyed by fire and a tornado after the Saints left Nauvoo.

We walked along the Trail of Hope--the trail taken by the Saints on their way to cross the Mississippi toward the west.

Along the trail, you can ready quotes in stone from the people of Nauvoo. Some tell of the freezing winter conditions that the Saints had to endure as they crossed the Mississippi.

In this picture on the Trail of Tears, you can see the Mississippi River. It would be interesting to be here in the winter when you could get a better feel for the conditions the Saints had to endure. This is absolutely beautiful, but I don't think they had the same July weather on their side when they left.

They had to leave the Temple they had worked so hard on.

Here's me--my first time being at the Mississippi.

The whole group in front of the Mississippi.

I'm grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith. He was the first prophet of the latter-days, called to restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth in its fulness. He truly testified of Christ. He taught that Jesus Christ is the center of our faith, and that everything else is an appendage to that core belief. Joseph could not have made up the things that he taught--he was instructed by God and was given the authority act in His name. He was followed by many other wonderful prophets. Today the Lord's prophet is Thomas S. Monson, and I look forward to hearing from him at General Conference in October. In spite of the challenges that our world faces right now, there is a lot of good going on as well. I hope to contribute to that good. What a great time to live on the Earth!

License to Drive

Today I had to say good-bye to my Texas Driver License. I'm not trying to be one of those annoying Texas pride people, but I think you'd have to be a Texan to understand why it was sad to give it up. I still had my vertical 'under 21' license that Texas gives out when you're a minor. I think I still had a few good years left on that card. I wish I could have finagled a way to keep it as a memento.

Even though I was sad to let go of my Texas license, it's kind of exciting to get a new one for another state. I'm a Tennessee resident now with a Tennessee Driver License! Woohoo!

Proverbs

This blog has different purposes. It keeps me connected with people I care about, but it also acts as a journal and a chronicle of my life. Some things I write about are fun and light-hearted. Others are more reflective, thoughtful, or serious. Tonight I want to write a more thoughtful record of an experience I had at Church on Sunday.

Yesterday in Sunday School, we were discussing Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. One verse that we had a little bit of discussion on was Proverbs 27:17:
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. I like this verse because it reminds me about an important aspect of friendship. Friends should help each other become better than they are. We each have different strengths and weaknesses, and we can help our friends improve themselves and minimize weaknesses.

My friend Chantel helped me do just this. I'm not very good about sharing thoughts and ideas in Sunday School and Relief Society. I prefer to listen and not draw attention to myself. I also frequently feel like I don't have anything unique to say, and when I do have something to say, I generally put off saying something until it's too late and we've moved on in the lesson. I'm generally like this in school, too. Most of the time I'm quiet, unless I've really got something I want to say. Well, Tim (our teacher) asked for volunteers to interpret and talk about some specific proverbs he had written down. To my dismay, Chantel willingly offered MY services. Hoping that Tim didn't hear her volunteer me, my heart dropped as he started to hand one of his notecards to me. I took a couple of minutes while others took their turn to speak. When it was my turn, I'm not sure if my ideas were completely clear. Sometimes I don't explain things clearly because I've already thought them through in my own head and I forget to verbally connect all of the dots that I've made mentally. I also get nervous and a little flustered. Silly, I know, that I'm still this way, but I am. I think overall my thoughts made sense, and to be honest, I ended up being really happy that Chantel volunteered me. I know that it's important to be an active participant in class, and she was helping me do that, whether she recognized it or not. She was sharpening me like iron on iron--helping me to be better than I was before.

Since I'm already writing, I may as well share the proverb that I talked about as well as some thoughts on it. Proverbs 22:1--

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Basically there are two things here that we're told are better than having riches: a good name and loving favour.

A good name: It's definitely better to focus on strengthening our character and keeping our integrity than it is to focus on becoming rich and attaining a lot of worldly possessions. This also reminds me of the covenant we make at baptism to "take upon you the name of Christ" (Mosiah 5:8). Taking a "good name" upon us--Christ's name--"is rather to be chosen than great riches". Like it says in Matthew 6, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and dust doth corrupt...But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." I want to make sure that my heart is in the right place.

Loving favour: I really like this part of the scripture. As I read it, the words of a hymn ( #140 Did You Think to Pray) pop into my mind.

Ere you left your room this morning,
Did you think to pray?
In the name of Christ, our Savior,
Did you sue for loving favor
As a shield today?

If we're choosing loving favour over silver and gold, we're choosing to seek for Heavenly Father's love and approval instead of the world's. We're trying to do what He would have us do rather than what the world thinks we should do or even what we want to do. Once we die, we don't take our temporal riches with us, but we do take the spiritual treasures with us that we have accumulated by staying close to the Lord and keeping His commandments.

I'm so glad for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. It has had a profound and unmistakable influence in my life.

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

~C.S. Lewis

The South Speech Diet

Since coming to Nashville, I've noticed the presence of southern accents much more than I ever did growing up in Texas. Maybe I just wasn't looking for it then. People have asked me why I don't have one, and when I tell them why, I also mention that I wish I had one. Well...I think that wish is slowly coming to pass.

When people diet, they change the way they eat. I guess if you change the way you speak, you could call that a diet as well. I choose to call what I'm experiencing the South Speech Diet (not to be confused with South Beach, of course.) Instead of dropping a few pounds, you would drop a few words out of your speech. Instead of combining and condensing meals, you would combine and condense your words, creating a slur effect--a drawl. Instead of sneaking sugary sweets, you would sneak apostrophes in between random words.

I've noticed over the last few days that the way I speak has been affected by the people around me. A couple times words have come out of my mouth, and all I could think was, Did I really just say it that way? I wish I could remember what it was I said today at work that took me by surprise, but all I can remember is that it was something you would hear come out of a southerner's mouth. I remember feeling kind of happy about it as well as a little uncertain about these new changes in my speech.

Here are a few situations I've come across since coming here.

1) Nashville: I've heard it pronounced NashVILLE and NashVUL. I think the second way is indicative of someone who is a true southerner. I hope the day comes when I naturally say Nashvul.

2) Yesterday while assisting in a 4th grade class, the teacher, Mrs. Smith, praised a student for doing a good job on an informal assessment. Right afterward, another kid piped in earnestly, "I DONE GOOD, TOO!". As a teacher, maybe I should have been worried about this grammatical error, but instead I couldn't stop myself from smiling. It was so awesome. I made a mental note to write down that moment of happiness.

3) I have a cowgirl puppet that was given to me by my friend Amber. The puppet's name is Lou Etta, and she has a southern accent. When I told Randy about her, he laughed at the thought of me using a southern accent in a class full of children with the real deal. Would it be offensive to use her here? Would it seem like I'm making a mockery of the people here? Personally, I find the situation funny. I also can't stand the thought of making Lou Etta change her identity while we live here. :)

Lou Etta, keeping an eye on my students from her place on the bookshelf

4) Today I heard a student say those two special words-- "I ain't..."--and he said them with vehemence, too. "I could tell it was a regular part of his vocabulary. So classic...so wonderfully southern. I love it.


Well, that's all for now. I don't think you have to worry too much about me as I'm not an extreme South Speech dieter. I still sound mostly like me--my southern moments aren't extremely frequent yet. If there are any major developments with it, though, I'll be sure to keep you posted. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm fixin'na go somewhar...

East to Chattanooga

My friend Stephanie told me if I ever get lost and don't know how to get home, just follow the signs that say East to Chattanooga--just don't follow them all the way there. I've followed this advice several times now, and it's helped me find my way to familiar roads and exits. It's so exciting to say that I live in NASHVILLE now! I thought something as important as that should have its own blog post. Thanks to a persistent brother and sister, I was convinced to move out here where I had family, but no job, no car, and no friends. Now I've got a job and friends...still working on the car thing.

One of the great benefits of the Church is that anywhere you go, you can pretty much have instant friends. There are some fantastic people here, and I'm glad that I moved here (though the decision wasn't an easy one)! The YSAs (Young Single Adults) here are great, and the fun times I've had with them helped me get through the stinky job hunt.




I just got a job as an reading educational assistant at Roy Waldron School--an elementary school that is only a 3-4 minute drive from my house. I will be pulling out small groups of struggling readers to try and help them learn and catch up. I've already tested some of these kids--I had a couple of 3rd graders who struggled to read and understand even a 1st grade passage. I look forward to helping them!




Another great thing about being here is having family around. I live with my brother Randy and his family, while my sister Meredith lives about an hour away. It's been fun to spend time with both siblings and their families. Now half of my family lives here in the Nashville area!

Me and Mere:

Meredith is my only sister, and we're 15 years apart. Everyone agrees that she's Superwoman.


Here's a picture of the cute kids that live in the room next to mine:


My nephew Rowan is most often found toddling around in only his diaper. He actually calls me "JUH-nay" instead of the standard Nae-Nae or Nae. I sing a round to him that I really love, and now he loves it, too. My favorite thing he says is (and with a slight lisp), "JUH-nay...Ah San San". It translates to "Janae, I want A-Ram-Sam-Sam". He likes it even better when we dance to it. He also has quite the vocal range. He most often speaks in a high-pitched voice, but occasionally says something that is low enough to compete with the bass section of a choir. "DRAGON!" or "CRACKER!" are two things I've heard him say in a really low voice.

Mikayla is my niece, and she is just about to start Kindergarten Readiness at the primary school that feeds into the elementary school I work at. The other week I taught her how to find 'C' on the piano. She's pretty good about finding it in the different octaves. She wants to introduce me to everyone she knows and doesn't know. She also really loves her little dog, Alice. I, however, do not.

My sister-in-law Beth has been my professional fashion advisor and has taken me to several interviews. She says she'll be devastated someday when I move into my own place, but we'll see if she's still saying that when that time comes.

And Randy....well...


......I'm not quite sure what to do with him. :)