As They Really Are

I saw a quote that says "If you do what you've always done then you'll get what you've always gotten."

It kind of stayed with me.

Then I heard a devotional by Amy Jensen, a theater professor at BYU. You can download and listen to her excellent talk here.

It kind of stayed with me, too.

Then I realized that I had been avoiding listening to this, because I knew what it would say and I wanted to hide from the truth.

The truth is I have a media addiction. I mindlessly burn through hours on Facebook every day. I am literally wasting my life staring at other people's lives on a computer screen. And it is getting me where I've always gotten.

I don't think facebook is an evil thing. On the contrary, I think it is a very powerful tool to take care of and keep updated on others, share testimonies, advice, knowledge, and humor.

Sister Jensen discusses in her talk about being contributors, and not merely consumers, of the media. I have not always been a contributor, but instead a mindless consumer of it all. 

The scriptures tell us that "this life is a probationary state, a time to prepare to meet God." I don't really want to meet Him and report to Him "Well, Lord, I spent my life that you gave me on facebook...." It would be sort of like the parable of the talents. Instead of increasing my abilities, I buried it.

So I'm going to take control. I am going to do things differently than I've always done and get different results than I've always gotten.

I now have posted on my computer screen these 4 Checks, inspired by Elder Bednar and Sister Jensen:

1. Does it invite or impede the Holy Ghost?
2. Does the time you spend with technologies enlarge or restrict your capacity to live, to love, and to serve?
3. Are you consuming or contributing?
4. Is it restricting your education?

I expect this adjustment to be difficult for me. I have abused the media every day for the past 4 years, and just like any addiction, I am going to have to readjust. But I embrace the prospect of a purposeful life. Of contributing and not just consuming. Of being in control of myself.

Speaking of media. I am so stoked for THIS!

This Post is for Mackenzie Peay.

I was notified by a lovely friend of mine that I have been slacking, as it were, in my blogging.

I deeply apologize, although I don't feel I owe this lady anything since she photoshopped a picture of me with Justin Bieber and posted said picture ALL over my building and the boys' building next to ours during Summer Term, 2010.

I am still recovering from that event.

So. Updates on my life.

I quit my job at the BYU Law School. Working there was a really good thing for me. I learned how to work and survive in a more formal business environment and how to cater to the needs of demanding superiors while still retaining my own self worth. I learned that I never want to go to Law school and that printers have personalities: no two printers are the same. You must be very gentle with them. Or they will punish you.

I learned to stop expecting perfection out of myself. There is only so much I can do. The rest is up to God and He is a very wise and loving Father.

I also took the past week off of work/classes/life for one class, Event Planning. Adobe (as in, Adobe Photoshop) hired the entire BYU Event Planning class to help with their international conference, known as Adobe Digital Marketing Summit. We basically took over the Salt Palace downtown and nine surrounding hotels for a week. I learned SO many things. I got a huge glimpse of life outside of Utah and the way people think and what they expect out of life. I learned that people in America often do have very selfish expectations, and that I do not want to be that kind of person. I want to serve and love and help. They want coffee. Now.

Yesterday I went to the Holi Festival of Colors. So much more fun than I ever imagined it would be. Tips:

• Do not bring children. Crazies who do, I'm surprised you didn't die of anxiety. There were a kajillion people in that crowd, how did you hold on to small kids??
• When they start throwing colors, look up. You only have about .67 seconds before the colors blend together into an orange cloud, but that .67 is so beautiful.
• It is pretty much Utah Valley Woodstock. Just be prepared for that and go with friends. 
• Order the colors online beforehand. The mob to get colors was also insane.
• Bring plastic trash bags/old sheets/blankets to sit on during the ride home. Or clothes to change into.
• Wear goggles maybe. And maybe a mask. The stuff is not harmful to health but it does taste gross, make it hard to breathe and if it gets in your eyes it hurts. (Another plug to not take kids)
• Bring water
• Put your camera/cell phone in a ziploc in your pocket. 

I start my job at Primary Children's tomorrow. I am SO excited. Chances are it will make me even more desperate to get in to nursing school. I'm excited to blog about all my new experiences. I'm so excited to love all the sweet little kids.

Three weeks left of the semester, folks. Let us all press on!

Apparently I was Hatched.

Texting conversation with my mom:

Me: "Where was I born?"
yes I realize I am 20 years old and I didn't know where I was born. It happens.
Her: "You weren't born. You were laid on a rock by buzzards and the sun hatched you out."
Me: "Oh my heck. Tell the truth."
Her: "LDS hospital SLC Utah, operating room f3 5:12 a.m....."

What's In A Name

When I was a little girl, I thought the most beautiful name ever was Ashley. I wanted to be Ashley with blonde hair and blue eyes like all of my Barbies.

When I got to be a little older, I wanted to move states so I could start school over where no one knew me and go by Christine, my middle name. I thought Christine was the most beautiful name ever and it was ruined by having Bethany in the front of it. Then I found out that Bethany means house of the poor and I thought "GREAT. ugly name, ugly meaning."

But now, I love my name. Legend has it that my dad picked out the name way back before my parents were even married, Bethany for the city 2 miles outside of Jerusalem where Christ stayed during Holy Week and Christine because it contains the word "Christ". So, I am Bethany Christine. If it wasn't so many syllables I think I would honestly go by the whole thing: "Hi, I'm Bethany Christine...."

I have also come to love the meaning, house of the poor. The theme scripture for my life is D&C 81:5, which says "Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."
    I hope that my arms and my hands will become a house for those poor in spirit, poor in temporal need, poor in heart, and poor in hope.

This is also why I care so much that my name is not shortened to Beth. Beth is a beautiful name, but I am not Beth. I am Bethany.

Paul Revere's Ride and Best Friends

At Abby's school, the 4th graders have to memorize the poem Paul Revere's Ride, and they often win a Jamba Juice when they finish it. Abby popped up on my g-chat and was woebegone because she hasn't won her Jamba yet and she wanted to practice on me. Sweetest conversation ensued: 


Abby:  Paul Revere's Ride

by henry watworth longfello

w

listen my children and you shall hear

of the midnight

 me:  of the midnight ride of paul revere

 Abby:  ride

of paul revere

on the 18 of April in 75 harley a man is know alive

you remembers that famous day and year?

He said to his friend of the british march

 me:  Who, not you

 Abby:  ?

what?

 me:  Who remembers that famous day and year?

 Abby:  no one

thats why it has it like this =

Who remembers that famous day and year?

it a qeustion

 me:  I know..you said "you" and not "who"

 Abby:  oops

i didnt mean to

 me:  making sure you were learning it right

k keep going

 Abby:  be land or sea from the town to night

soory BY

land

hang a lantern aloft of the bell free light

sorry hight

of the north church tower ona signal light

 me:  arch, not hight

 Abby:  oh

opps

you know it better than i do???

haha

 me:  I may or may not have it up on the screen to watch your progress...

 Abby:  haha

i know the poem from top to bottom

but

its

just

hard without the clas

i mean class

i need to work on my typing

 me:  it will help if you stand and recite it to yourself in the mirror

 Abby:  i  do that when im brushing my teeth

 me:  how do you recite the poem with a toothbrush in your mouth?

 Abby: 

i dont know

i just do it

 me:  well. Do it without the toothbrush

and make eye contact with yourself

 Abby:  ok

 me:  and do it over and over and over until you can't make a mistake even if you tried

then you'll earn a jamba

 Abby:  haha really

 me:  yep. I used to do that with violin music

 Abby:  but i already know it ALL!!!!!!!!

 me:  well. Now you just need to polish it

 Abby:  its just hard to type a Poem into the chat

here one sec

i wrote this awesome poem a while ago

 Abby:  i gotta find it

  are you there miss. bethany??

 me:  yes miss abby

Abby:  oh ok

here is another poem
       Friends
By: Abigail Coleman
Friends are wonderful things to have
you laugh and giggle and play
and do homework all together,Do you have
lots of friends well I have tons and you be a friend to anyone
even if your mad or sad you could be a friend or a friend could
be a friend to YOU and then you would both be happy.

Do you have a best friend well i DONT because what if you
said to a friend that there your best friend a diffrent fried might here you
and fell sad that there not good enough so have everyone your best friend
and then you will be as happy as me

..................

 me:  I have lots of best friends

 Abby:  ya

EVERY one is my best friend

 me:  different best friends are there for different things

some best friends you can trust with ANYTHING, some best friends would do anything for you, some best friends are just there to help you cheer up and laugh

 Abby:  you friends from school outside friends from school friends from church

 me:  some best friends are in your family

 Abby:  ya

 me:  Mama is my very, very best friend

her and Jesus

 Abby:  my whole family is my very very very best friend

 me:  family are good best friends to have

 Abby:  ya

 me:  I have to go do my homework, best friend

 Abby:  guess so

 me:  love you best friend

 Abby:  ok love you best friend

bye beautiful

best friend

 

 

Trust Me

Yesterday I was home, in Sandy.

Because I love being home.

Me, Abby, and my mom were in the car, taking Abby to a fitness center to swim with friends.

Abby was being the worst backseat driver I have EVER seen.
"Well, I think we should turn here...nope, nope, keep going straight....ok this looks familiar....I think I've seen this before....I think you should turn.....that might be the building....nope, keep going...."

The glory of it was we were taking her somewhere my mom already knew where it was. After Abby's input got to be a little much, my mom said "Abby, trust me. I know where we're going." To which Abby replied, "I know, I know, but just let me see....." and on she went. And again, my mom said "Abby! Trust me. I know where to turn."

I haven't been able to get that memory out of my head, because I feel like I'm being the Abby in my life right now, and Heavenly Father keeps saying "Bethany! Trust me. I know where to turn." and I keep saying "I know, I know, I trust you, but...." and then I fill up the space with chatter and wondering, and then He says to me again, "Bethany. Trust me."

He already knows where I'm going and where He's taking me. I just need to trust Him.

So here's to stopping the chatter and the back seat driving and enjoying the ride! Happy Sabbath

Only at BYU

This might be one of those "have to be there" things, but I thought it was so funny that I'm going to blog about it.

Testing center process: walk in, hand them your ID card, tell them which test you need, and then wait for your bubble sheet to print. Person at printer calls out the names on the bubble sheets as they are printed.

So. Walked in. Asked for my New Testament test. Waited in line for the bubble sheet, and the person starts calling out the names....

"Luke? Bethany?...."

Oh what I would've given for the person after me to be a Matthew or Mark.

*if this doesn't make sense to you:

I'll do a full blog post on my really cool name later. For now, me and my New Testament brain think living in Happy Valley is awesome.

You Knew I Was Going To

Today is my very dearest best friend's birthday.
Sometimes I call her Advice.
Sometimes I call her Nurse.
Sometimes she's my Counselor.
Sometimes she's my cheerleader.
She's my Teacher.
She's my Culinary Tutor
and my Hero.
She's my Inspiration
and Motivation
and Example.
She helps me laugh at myself
and she cries with me
and helps me try again.
But my favorite name for her is Mama, because that is the safest and most love filled word in my vocabulary.
And I'm so happy to celebrate her today, and who she is. She is kind, funny, beautiful, and faithful. She is a fighter and a conquerer. She is thoughtful and smart. She is devoted and full of integrity. I simply can't say enough to honor my mother.

Happy Birthday Mama!

To my Boy

Thank you for being the joy we all needed when we felt sad.
Thank you for cuddling me and holding my hand.
Thank you for your kisses.
Thank you for the way you talk.
Thank you for your wild run-and-jump into my arms hugs
Thank you for calling me Buphie
Thank you for saying love you, too
Thank you for making me feel like the luckiest.
Thank you for the long winded stories you tell.
Thank you for your sweet prayers.
Thank you for making me laugh all the time.
Thank you for coming to our family and being my bud.

Happy Birthday Nater! Stop growing, now. 

Shower Talk

Things that have occurred in our shower recently:


1. Cosmetology school heads hanging from the shower head, inciting screaming, fright, and an increased gratitude for a nearby toilet.

2. Conversation with Emilie this morning through the door (she was in the shower)
    Me: "Em, I borrowed your sweater."
    Em: "What?? *waterwaterwater* I can't hear you."
    Me: "I ROBBED YOU."
    Em: "Awe! I love you too!"

3. Bathing.