The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. -E.E. Cummings

the GRE is over. Yay!!! now I can go back to reading my book, watching Big Bang theory, and browsing Facebook at work. I was not as thrilled to be taking it. seriously it rocked me hard core, but I think I did alright given the time crunch and my general distaste for standardized math examinations. hopefully alright enough for GW....either way what's done is DONE. :)

also...Christmas is over. I know this a puzzling thing to point out, as in: duh Alicia, it's the 26th....thus Christmas is over, as well as similar thought: shouldnt this be a less than joyous passage? well as stated previously, I was less than excited about Christmas this year given my lack if funds and vacation time to travel home. however, thanks to fellow holiday orphans as we called ourselves, and to a miraculously quick passage of the cold that seemed to suddenly take over my sinuses over the weekend, I quite enjoyed my family-less, tradition-less, less-present-filled holiday. I enjoyed a quiet morning of reading and sleeping in to ease my tired, sickly mind. then cleaned. yes I cleaned on Christmas Day. yes I know that is not surprising. once again I am highly predictable. :) video chatted with the fam to exchange presents across the continent...always good for a laugh. then I ventured to my bishop's house to enjoy Christmas dinner with his boisterous family. it was hilarious and fantastic. we slurped jello from a plate as the first course. with no hands. no joke. we of course had goblets filled with sparkling cider which was for the toasting. everyone had to make a toast, all 9 of us. and let me just say, the toasts matched the general humor of the whole evening. twas a good night. :)
after dinner, saw Les Miserables with other holiday orphans and thus my Christmas Day was complete.

moral of the story: laughing makes everything happy. seriously, have you ever tried to be mad or sad when you laugh? it's impossible. thank you humor for making my days happy.

Peace

I absolutely love this video...the images and accompanying music are beautiful and inspiring. The peaceful feelings that come are from God, our Eternal Father. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." I know that this everlasting life is the greatest, most unimaginable blessing we can receive. And it starts with this peace, which leads us to His Son, and then to Him.

even the grayest clouds have silver linings

the next person who asks me when i am going home or what i am doing for christmas is going to get a nasty glare.....ok, not really. but i have been overly pestered lately (today most especially thus my thoughts on the matter) as to how i am spending the holiday. which is understandable, i know that is generally a harmless question. however for one who very much misses their family already and has for the past 26 years spent every christmas except for one with said family, its a rough reminder that she will not be seeing her family, or any familial relative, or even any close friends on the most tradition-filled, family oriented day of the year. it is not an easy thing i tell you. so in my usual desire to find the silver lining, i'm going to think of all the pros to not going home for christmas:

   no air travel = no germs, no TSA, no long lines, no worrying about bags, no cramped legs for 3 hours

   no worrying about weather in the midst of traveling

   no coughing up the $500 for the plane ticket

  no oversleeping every day and then getting used to 10 hours of sleep and then having to return to a normal schedule and hating it

   no re-acclimatizing to colorado dryness and high altitude 

  no overeating due to mom's cooking and mom's sweet tooth and thus...

  no gaining 10 pounds in 10 days

  no SNOW

  ......but really i would like to submit that if you are spending the holiday with your family, embrace the craziness, cherish every weird tradition, tell them you love them, laugh at every joke/random story/dramatic gossip....cuz you never know who wishes they were doing all of those things with their loved ones. 

our apartment complex has an office where they store and sort all the packages for all the residents, yesterday as i was picking up a shipment and noticed the over abundance of packages stacked up throughout the office in usual holiday season fashion. the thought came to me that all the packages in the world don't hold a candle to the worth of family and loved ones. 

in happy thoughts.....the GRE will be over in 3 days. 

and my applications to GW and UVa are almost done. :) :) :)

   

don't forget to be happy

i couldn't get the adorable picture of the african girl. so here are my random thoughts of the day instead:

thoughts.....
....i want a speaker on my shirt like Raj on the Big Bang Theory so i could have music to dance to any time i want. it would be like living with a soundtrack...which sounds fantastic! "he's doing his own theme music?" :)
....last night i had a dream in which i lost 3 teeth. i looked online on dream interpretations and apparently that means i'm stressed or insecure about something. i am not quite sure what exactly i'm stressed or insecure about. although today was one of those days....you know the kind of day when you don't want to eat dinner when you come home but instead something like ice cream or chocolate. or today's pick: joe-joe's. joe-joe's are trader joe's holiday version of oreos...with peppermint inside. mmmm... perfect dinner for tonight.
....today i saw Les Miserables at the National Theater. first time seeing it live. i was struck by many points of the story. and pondered much while i was watching it. mostly on how ironic it is that we talk about wanting peace and yet still make weapons to hurt each other and we value human life so little, how we often judge that justice is always the best route and forget about mercy or repentance, and how much i wish i could go around singing at the top of my lungs all day to express my feelings.
....i love kids. they are so carefree and forgiving. they are generally happy and just enjoy the things of life. i very much prefer their company to adults who complain and argue and doubt and hold grudges and are so serious. i love laughing with kids. how much i wish i could do that all day. (...future plans starting to look more and more fitting) i tutor a 7th grader every thursday and it is honestly the best part of my week. she gave me a Christmas card today and thanked me for being so jolly like the Christmas season. :) totally made my day. isn't it amazing how little things can make such a difference? its like we have to be reminded of things over and over...every day really. and really reminded that we already knew what we are being reminded about, we already knew how to be happy, but somehow in the crush of worries and in the rush of life we forget. be like kids - Christ told us we are to be like little children. and I think it's because they have not forgotten how to be happy. we are commanded to be happy: men are that they might have joy. don't forget how to be happy!

grad school application started...

..that's right. yesterday I met with a few faculty members at GWU and things are looking good. it was kinda funny to me...here I am trying to get into their school, so I'm asking them a lot of questions, trying to find out what I need to do to and make sure I get everything right..but they were so excited to talk to me, introducing me to everyone in the office, asking me all about myself...I felt like a shiny new toy that was being proudly passed around. I can't decide if that is a good sign or they are just super friendly. either way I'm stoked. I've always admired GW. we'll see if it admires me too. walking around the campus was so happy...def a good sign. (and I thought I was done with school...hah i think i like it too much)

so while I am typing this I am thinking of how I'm taking the GRE in less than 2 weeks. eeeeek. no, I'm probably not really ready. its hard to want to study during the holiday season...there is WAY too much going on. por ejemplo: this week alone I had/have 2 holiday work parties, 1 holiday dinner, 1 birthday/holiday party, 1 gift wrapping service activity and rehearsals up the wazoo for all the musical numbers I'm in. seriously. no time in this girl's schedule. I'm already exhausted and its only wednesday. so perhaps I'll ditch out early on a couple things to make sure I don't lose my mind, and the mindset of what all this celebrating is really about. I'm working on my time managing and prioritizing lately to make sure I can still get all the things done that I feel are important: reading my scriptures, exercising, praying, going to the temple, sleeping, eating well...and still enjoy the Christmas season. (oh yeah and studying for this 'big' important test too haaha) all about balance....good thing that was always my strong point in gymnastics. :)

today apart from being excited about GW I was happy about tights again (another grey cold day) with ballet flats, an afternoon walk around downtown with all the buildings decked out in holiday garb, keeping busy at work, listening to Christmas music while I worked, and this great video we watched during a presentation to the entire agency about some of the work USAID has done during the past year. yay for warm fuzzies. :) this pic of this little girl in Africa was adorable...I'm going to find it and put it on here so it can be enjoyed by others also.
AND trader joe's holiday treats...hands down.the.best.ever. i got a little too excited at trader joe's this week. trader joe's knows how to do the holidays. i always get excited when i have new food after going grocery shopping...is that just me? another strange alicia-ism? either way, i'll take it. i like being happy


Ps: is it sad that my favorite part of the day is getting into bed?

i want to celebrate Hanukkah

as i step onto the metro i always look around at my fellow DC commuters. and feel some sense of belonging as I'm sure I feel similarly to many of them: tired, not exactly excited to be going to work. when I get to work I sign into my computer, answer my daily security question (the gov is strange), open my email, and begin the sorting/reading of the morning batch of messages while I drink my coffee....oh wait. no, I don't drink coffee.....I almost feel like everyone else. and then remember that I'm not. apart from being that I am uniquely me, I also am not like the crowd of the general population of the world, or even DC. I think at times I am tempted to try to fit in with the crowd cuz it seems like the logical thing when you are in it....but then again what good comes from pleasing the crowd? not much. a sense of belonging only lasts as long as the trends that you are following...which is like a matter of minutes it seems like these days.
I then consider on the fact that people have been celebrating Christmas for thousands of years, and the crowd would tell me that I need to have great aspirations for expensive gifts to both give and receive and if I'm anticipating not receiving those gifts, I should just buy them for myself....because obviously that's what life is all about: getting new things....
but it seems no matter how many new shoes or cute sweaters I buy, I can never have enough. it seems no matter when I buy a new phone or how cool the TV I have is, there will always be one better and newer. how exhausting it is to feel never satisfied! no wonder everyone looks tired all the time.
I would like to submit that the only reason we think we need all these things is because the people who are trying to sell them to us infiltrate our minds with flashy images and tell us that we need them.
hmmm....we always reject those who try to tell us what to do and cry out against dictators who attempt to control their subjects, and yet isn't this scarily similar?
I'm not saying all media or advertising is bad, it's a way to promote messages to public audiences that generally wouldn't hear them otherwise, in fact the church uses it widely and what success has come of it!
however, perhaps we are too prone to following the crowd and giving into materialism....perhaps our country would not be in so much debt we lived a bit simpler.
I'm no expert and lest my thoughts come across hypocritical, this is something I am working on myself.
so here I go, trying to be more simplistic and happy with who I am and what I already have, in spite of the environment around me. wish me luck cuz it's not as easy as it sounds. :)

along those lines, Saturday was the first day of Hanukkah and in the midst of my emails this morning was a message from the Jewish Affinity Group wishing everyone a happy Hanukkah and inviting all to learn more about the holiday, which was described as: a celebration of the triumph of light over darkness, purity over compromise, and spirituality over materiality. YES. amen...I gladly celebrate that too. so Happy Hanukkah!

(insert witty comment about my randomness)

friday we went to the National Cathedral to listen to the Messiah. yes I was in heaven. seriously... the Messiah will be sung in heaven and i will be able to enjoy it every moment. and yes I had an epiphany. as I was listening to the music sung by the soloists, followed by the choir, I felt a distinct difference when the choir started singing. there was such a sweet spirit when the choir sang (besides the fact that they were amazing!!) that contrasted greatly with the individual solo performances. perhaps because the choir members were not trying to out sing one another, but were humbly trying to blend and listen to their fellow singers...as opposed to the soloists who proudly belted our their parts and gladly took center stage....somehow in spite of their obvious immense talent and experience, their parts were not as moving or touching. the choir, as each person gave way to the other next to them and each section blended with the others, was more powerful and poignant as one body, with all the voices working together and submitting to the music and the benefit of the whole. perhaps this could mirror/have applications in life...something to think about. (ps: i think that might be what heaven might be like...just a thought)

in other news...the Washington DC Temple Visitor's Center is all decked out for the annual Festival of Lights. it is stunning. if you are in the DC area,.. or even if you are not, go and see! http://dctemplelights.lds.org/  every night they have different performers give free concerts to celebrate the Christmas season. when I lived out here for my internship, I was part of an institute choir that sang at the visitor's center, and it was a great experience.....and secretly I have been wanting to perform again this year....well ladies and gents: secret wishes do come true. I will be performing there with a choir group next week. kinda excited. :)

funny story: I think I have realized my optimal workout time is in the late afternoon, between 3-6pm. I realize this because yesterday after cleaning and getting some things done I looked outside and was delighted to see that it was not only partly sunny, but also not freezing.....which obviously means time for a run! so off I went, and happily enjoyed running outside again after having to force myself to run at the gym on a treadmill for the past couple weeks due to early sunsets and cold evening temps. when I came back, I was still so pumped that I decided to add some strength and proceeded to work out for another 40 minutes...and honestly felt so great I probably could have kept going....well...not feeling as great today. haha. darn these muscles and tendons that get sore and tired. someday I will have a perfected body that will never get sore or hurt....this is what keeps me going. yay for the resurrection!

to add to the randomness of this post....I am SO glad I got a flu shot this year. usually I don't because...ok I'll admit I don't like needles. but this year I did since they were offering free shots at work and my coworkers were all going down to get them and saying things like "you can't work in the global health bureau and not get a flu shot." so I did it. (peer pressure does have positive effects at times...hopefully I only give into the good times) and as yet I have not gotten sick, even tho it seems like everyone else is......knock on wood. so I am promoting the flu shot as a living witness.

just another thursday

So today I am grateful for opposable thumbs and how, when functioning properly, they are extremely useful.
Yesterday while cutting up potatoes for my dinner, I sliced my thumb. (yes...shake of the head..hurting myself again--my poor body. thank goodness it's pretty good at healing itself quickly)
Not too much damage, just a small cut really, but you know how much even small cuts can interrupt your life....especially in your thumb.
Washing my hair, zipping up a jacket, putting on my tights, opening a jar....all of these things were a bit more difficult this morning with my thumb bandaged. And don't get me started on washing my hands! I try not to get it wet so I don't have to replace the current form of protection for my small wound, but that is harder than it sounds. And I guess it's probably good that I've had to replace it often as it always seems to be red tinged every time still.....

On a less blood-centric, positive note: one of the metro train drivers was extremely chipper this morning and I almost responded out loud when he boomed over the speaker "good morning!" as I boarded the train and similarly wished us all "a very good day" as people exited. I wish he could have heard my silent thanks and reciprocated wishes for a good morning and remainder of the day. Most of the time the drivers sound tired (which they probably are), bored (which they might well be also...except I wouldn't be--I mean, they're driving a metro train all day!), or just plain don't care. I very much appreciated my happy conductor this morning. I love happy people.

Last night had peppermint custard at dairy godmother (yes that is the name of a frozen custard place here) and it was delish. I LOVE winter time flavors. Mint, peppermint, dark chocolate....a few of my favorite things! Almost makes cold of winter bearable....almost. :)

Another favorite thing: my outfit today. I actually had another outfit all planned last night, but thought of another option this morning and as I was putting all the pieces on, I got all excited. Is it strange how much I love wearing a great outfit and how happy it makes me?? not too sure....ill try to reconcile that one with my current attempt to keep my priorities/thoughts on things of eternal consequence....although: that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. (Book of Mormon, Moroni, Chapter 7). Happy = good right?....But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (New Testament, Galatians, Chapter 5)
Conclusion: joy = spirit = good
(ps: thank you to whoever invented warm tights...I am glad they were born on a day like today with a morning temp of 34 degrees when I get inspiration to wear a skirt)

conclusion: i love this city

I have now been at USAID for 3 months...here are some of the things I have learned:

words, words, words...all I hear is words---I feel like the government just makes a lot of reports, holds a lot of meetings, and talks about of abstract plans/goals that don't make much sense

I hate bureaucracy. the end.

it takes forever to get things done

just because people are educated and employed does not mean they are necessarily intelligent or have common sense.

the government is way too big for not actually doing that much

I have also discovered some pet peeves of mine....
first of all, I don't understand why people get mad if you open the door at the same time as them from the other side ....how would I ever know you are on the other side of the door? sorry I can't see thru walls or doors. (if you are wondering why i bring it up, this happens all the time here)
second of all, why is it so difficult for people to leave bathrooms clean? especially women.....really it's gross
third of all, people: respond to emails please. i don't just email people cuz I feel like it, I have a question and I need an answer. it's not really that difficult.
fourth of all, I very much dislike working at a desk with no windows near by. no good my friends, no good.

......but on the upside, I have met some amazing people that want to do some good in the world

AND I have learned ...well more remembered really, how much I love this city. I really do. I love DC.
it has been unseasonably warm for the beginning of December and I am milking it for all it's worth while I can. (my dislike of cold knows no bounds) so I have been taking brief strolls during my lunch breaks to escape my dungeon office and absolutely relishing in the awesomeness that is DC. don't believe me? here's proof:

(ps: I'm not that bugged by my pet peeves....I'm over it really.. :) )

morning present

those who know me know how much I dislike waking up early. I like my sleep. A lot. And i am something of the opposite of a morning person. So when I had to be at work an hour early this morning...I was not super excited about it. But I got up and miraculously made it to the bus on time. Somehow I actually get up on time better when I have to wake up earlier...perhaps my mind worries that I won't get up on time and thus does not allow my body to even entertain the idea of snoozing past my alarm.
So I was less than thrilled to be a part of the early morning commuters, which were few, especially given that today is Friday. As I got on the yellow line I actually was grateful for the lack of commuters as it meant I could sit down on the metro, which never happens, thus saving me from another mishap like last week in which I was standing between the wall of the train and 3 other bodies on one side and a sitting passenger on the other...and when the train lurched to a sudden stop, in my tired haze I lost my footing and fell on the sitting passenger....add that to the list of embarrassing DC moments. Somehow they happen here more often.
Anyhow, back to this morning....as the train came out of the tunnel to go over the bridge across the Potomac, I looked over my fellow commuters' heads to see the most beautiful sunrise over the Potomac. The cold morning sky was streaked with thin, ice-laden wisps of clouds all running parallel to the horizon, bending the light from the rising sun to cast pink and yellow and orange rays on the calm waters of the river. It was beautiful! I wish I could've taken a pic but at the risk of looking like a tourist (when I have clearly departed from that group :) I opted to just sit back and soaked in the gorgeous view. It was like a little morning present at 7:15am for this non-morning-lover.
In other good thoughts...I just recently noticed how good are the lyrics to the not-so-new song by Katy Perry, "Firework." I actually don't like most of her music as it is very overplayed and sometimes contains questionable material. However, I heard "Firework"the other day after shunning it for quite sometime as it was played a bagillion times a year or so ago, and actually listened to the lyrics. Here's a sample:

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe the reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightening bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know

Ok I know it's not Emerson or Thoreau, but I liked it. It made me wish I had a teenage daughter to inspire with the message, cuz I know I would have loved hearing this as a teenage girl.
So let your colors and light shine! We are unique and that is perfect. And good things are always on the horizon...just can't see them yet.

i want to go to italy

I learned something this morning:
Pitigliano, Italy is also called 'little Jerusalem' for its Jewish history, Semitic architecture, and rich culture. In Pitigliano, a local delicacy is called Sfratti. Sfratti is a stick-shaped biscuit filled with walnuts, honey, nutmeg, and orange peel. (Sounds delish!) The word sfratti comes from the Italian word sfratto, meaning eviction. The story is told that police used to hit Jews with rods to force them into the ghettos of the town starting in the 1600's, where they were segregated continuing through the 20th century until they were almost eradicated from the city during WWII; the Jews transformed their pain into something edible.
What an amazing example! It has made me think.....What causes you pain, and how could you transform it into something positive, even the actual reminder/representation of this pain?

warning: cheesy-gratitude post alert

As much as it has become a bit cliche to count your blessings during this time of year and many have scoffed at those who plaster social media with expressions of gratitude, I will venture to do so as I reflect on this statement from President Thomas S. Monson (prophet, seer, revelator, and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints):

I have found that, rather than dwelling on the negative, if we will take a step back and consider the blessings in our lives, including seemingly small, sometimes overlooked blessings, we can find greater happiness....I would recommend this same exercise to you—namely, that you take an inventory of your life and look specifically for the blessings, large and small, you have received. 

(http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/consider-the-blessings?lang=eng)

Since I always welcome more happiness in my life, I thought I would follow President Monson's advice, and since I also enjoy sharing what happiness I find with others, I thought I would post what I find from my life inventory of blessings here.

Blessings:

knowledge of, faith in, love of God, our Heavenly Father
similarly, His Son, Jesus Christ and the miraculous atonement He gave us
the gift of the Holy Ghost...the ultimate comforter, teacher, testifier
the priesthood...God's power and authority that he has bestowed on worthy men, and those men who hold it/exercise it worthily to bless those around them

living, modern prophets and apostles

temples...the House of the Lord
living close to a temple so I can enter frequently
saving ordinances... that cleanse us from sin, seal upon us blessings, and bind us together for all eternity
family
sisters....fun, craziness, long talks, inside jokes, traditions, short arguments
parents...who showed me good examples, taught me eternal truths, and loved me always
friends...so many wonderful friends who have blessed my life in so many ways!
scriptures and words of living prophets...bringing the spirit into my life and teaching me how to be better
Christ's true church restored to the earth
laughter...i LOVE to laugh! at myself, at movies, with friends, with family. the day is not complete without moments of spontaneous bouts of laughter
music...for when I'm happy, sad, angry, lonely, excited, energized, spiritual..music is always there and always knows how I feel :)
education
the ability to read/write
books
hot chocolate
dark chocolate
mint and chocolate...together they are amazing
sunshine
seasons...although I don't really like winter, I'll admit it helps me appreciate my beloved summer more
water...to drink, to shower, to clean, to swim
mountains
beaches
my car
shelter..warm/dry/comfortable place to live
hobbies
entertainment
a job
clothing
cute, colorful clothes (there are clothes to cover your body/keep you warm, but then there is more...)
shoes
boots
scarves
electricity
technology

the Sabbath day
holidays
traditions
food
tasty food!
heaters
water heaters
football
a strong/healthy body
access to medicine/health care
computers
phones....and smart phones most especially :)
communication
movies
Disney movies (yes I am a sucker for a really good/funny Disney movie, thank you Walt Disney for bringing wholesome entertainment to the world)
art...in various forms
mentors
teachers

opportunities for learning/growth
talents
shampoo/soap
bleach....mold be gone!
GPS
people who are more intelligent than myself
Relief Society
visiting teaching
girls' nights
vacuums
washer/dryer

language

hair.....yes I might be a bit prideful of my healthy, thick, honey-colored locks. I now go to repent.

repentance

chapstick

travel

variety...in everything!

working senses...sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell

color

men...I'm a woman and I love men. so sue me.

being a woman...I love feeling pretty!

hiking

camping

rivers

waterfalls

nature...brings me peace/joy, reminds me of my Father in Heaven

sugar...makes everything better

pizza

pictures...to remember good times

patience 

examples of strong/wise people

sleep

running...it kills my knees but feels so good!...don't ask me how

dancing

fun

memories

my bed

blankets

service

living in the United States of America

freedom

agency

the metro

opportunitites to serve/reach out to others

innovation

intelligence

time to be still and think

progression

goals

work

commandments

happiness

I know this is a really long list...and I honestly could have kept going, but you get the idea and the exercise has fulfilled its purpose. I have been so incredibly blessed. I have SO much that others do not and have everything that I need to live. I have never lacked for any of the necessities of life. How I got to be so blessed I will never know. 

onward, ever onward

Today I am finding great joy and peace in the true principle of progression and its best friend and constant companion: repentance. I have been extremely busy of late and thus perhaps this has damped my usual fire for goal setting and improving. But I recently made my typical supplication to the Lord to find out where I can improve and what areas of my life needed refining.
Disclaimer: if you are not feeling humble or ambitious I do not recommend doing this as He really will answer your prayer and help you identify areas needing improvement and then you will feel guilty until you work on them. :)
But what an amazing opportunity we have to do this and to change ourselves as we turn our will over to the Lord and become as he would have us be. To see yourself in a fresh light and through His eyes.
Sometimes I get a bit stubborn (yes i am slightly...ok maybe a bit more than slightly..strong-willed) about some things and resist the gentle promptings until they become blaring/flashing warning signs and I realize that he was trying to prod me in one direction for a while. Luckily though, I have yet to ignore Him completely thanks to His great love and knowledge of me better than I know myself, and thanks to the Holy Ghost who is my constant friend. I am then able to make course corrections and know that it is in line with His will, not mine. I am eternally grateful for a Father in Heaven who is unfailing patient and loving as we stumble and struggle to be what he wants us to be. And more than anything for the atonement that makes this progression possible.
I am also finding joy in patience....which, ill admit, is at times hard to find joy in. I think as humans we can all relate to the easy trap of impatience. Time is such a huge and defining part of this life, however we are not temporal beings. We are eternal beings and will not always be defined by time. In fact more of our existence is not defined by time than that which is. Time is but a function of man's desire to control his world around him, when in reality he has almost no control whatsoever. Ironic....so remember that time is temporary. We do not, and cannot, be perfect over night or really ever in this life. But we can begin to try...and keep trying.
Also ironic, but not at all a coincidence in my book, I just received an email with a quote by Elder Bednar: "Continuing Conversion is constant devotion to the revealed truth we have received - with a heart that is willing and for righteous reasons." I'll let you connect the dots and let the spirit teach you about that. :)

On a lighter, less eternal note...I recently had a 3-day weekend due to the Veterans Day holiday. So what did I do? Go hiking of course....twice in those 3 days of course. I won't say I'm not predictable. And of course it was a gorgeous fall weekend to do so. I still get a bit tripped up that it is the middle of November and still very pleasant outside every now and then. My time in Utah/Colorado has accustomed me to fierce, cold fall weather...well lets be honest, it's not fall weather but simply early winter. (As they currently recover from massive snow fall)

I retract my former statement, recalling the words of the Lord: "all things unto me are spiritual"..and "all things bear record of me." Methinks, therefore, that He knew I needed my double hiking time this weekend and that it would administer to my whole being. Isn't our Heavenly Father amazing? And isn't life wonderful? If you don't really think so right now, take a step back and pray, ask your Father to feel of His Spirit, love and see things in His perspective...then I guarantee you will agree. Tell yourself: I can do this! God loves me, Jesus will help me, and that's all that matters!
Sometimes I make up little mantras like this to motivate myself to face big challenges and then repeat it in my mind over and over...don't laugh cuz it totally works!....thanks mom for teaching me about positive thinking. :)

storm quote wall

Meredith: yeah, i just did more whipped cream

Meredith: i wonder what would happen if you were riding a bike right now or rollerblading?

caitlyn: let me pick up the cheez-its i spilled..
meredith: i ate them...problem solved...

Meredith: you're not with us! get over here!

Caitlyn: well, if i stay up, i'll just keep eating!

Caitlyn: frankenstorm turns us into 3 giggly girls

everything i need to know i learned during a hurricane from NCIS

Tonight I am relishing in the sweet relaxation of a day off from work and the excitement of the natural phenomena of Hurricane Sandy. I am strange and crazy, as many have told me, as I enjoy witnessing the power and wonder of the earth's natural forces. I can now say I have experienced a hurricane! Next on the list....tornado. :) I've already lived through a million earthquakes, a volcanic eruption, and a couple blizzards. I am so grateful that I am getting to experience this storm in a safe elevation, in a sound structure, and far enough inland that we are not experiencing the brunt of the storm's wrath. It occurs to me that this has been a great opportunity for me to evaluate my emergency preparedness without actually having to use it all fully. I know the worst is not over, but doesn't look like it will be rocking us too bad in the DC metro area....course I could just have jinxed it worse by saying that..oh well.

I was watching an episode of NCIS tonight....I know, not only is that not a surprise but very predictable given my large dosage of free time indoors today. But today I appreciated the episode I watched more than any other. It was a flashback/the Christmas Carol-type story line of Gibbs' life. He would ask 'what would have happened if this had not happened?' and then saw his life if certain choices he had made had been altered. He ended up learning a great deal about the lives he had touched through out his life and came to the conclusion that he would not have changed anything, his life was just the way he wanted it because it was the best for everyone, including himself. He learned that if certain things had not or had happened, he would not have been able to help so many people, even if he had wanted something to be different for himself, and he appreciated the opportunities to touch people even in the midst of  or in spite of his own hard times. I realized that I can see the same in my own life. If things had happened that I had wanted to happen in the moment, I would not be where I am today and would not be able to bless the lives of those I know today with the things I have learned and experienced. And similarly, those I have been blessed by would not have had the opportunity to serve me. Sometimes, I am grateful for unfulfilled wishes. Ironic because I am sometimes very stubborn and impatient...ok I'll admit I am frequently stubborn and impatient, but I am humbled by the grace and omniscience of a loving Heavenly Father who knows so much better than I the best path for me, and others, in this life.

I feel like I say this a lot here....but I am truly in awe and thanks for the wonderful people in my life, for the people that I can serve and that have served me. I am also very appreciative for the Spirit that reminds me of the many blessings I have and humbles me daily. I love learning each day through personal revelation from the Holy Ghost. I feel like my spirit is a sponge that soaks up tidbits of spiritual kernels of truth and savors the joy of connecting with my Father. How wonderful the opportunity to progress, change, grow, learn, and become better each and every day....and that I can learn some of these things from my fav TV show. See good things can be found any where and every where, we just need to have 'eyes to see, and ears to hear.'

loose yourself

Tonight I met a husband and wife who are living out of their car. All the man wanted was to be happy and he knew he could find more of that by simply coming closer to God. He didn't want a house, a big car, or a new job. He just figured if he did what God wanted him to do things would get better but most of all he would be happy and purposeful. That is truth. That is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have made it a goal lately to look outward, to think of others and find ways to serve them, to put myself in their shoes, and see them as God does...as His children. And as the Savior teaches to forget yourself, if you truly "loose your life, he shall find it." He is not implying that we forget to take care of ourselves or that we don't live our own goals and dreams, rather that as we become selfless - to God and those around us - we find the true purpose of this life. As I have looked past my own insecurities, worries, and struggles, and thought more of my fellow man, I have felt lighter, happier, and more confident. That is the secret to this life. There are times in my life when I have remembered and practiced this better than other times and those have been the times when I have been the most at peace and joyful.

My joys/loves of late:

-beautiful new clothes....I know this is not new nor surprising but I needed new work clothes and I just love the feeling of confidence when you are wearing something that makes you feel pretty. Pres Eyring during conference said that women need to feel beautiful, therefore I do not feel it is unrighteous to appreciate this feeling
-uplifting people who accept you for who you are
-people who inspire me to be better
-crisp air meant for wearing jackets
-making someone else laugh or smile
-j.crew...I am hooked
-humility

a dream is a wish your heart makes

Last week I started at USAID. At first I didn't want to tell anyone because it was almost too good to be true. I guess I'm kinda funny that way, that when good things happen suddenly, I don't think they could actually be happening for real, so in my crazy mind I think if I tell someone then it might not work out....or something... :)
But it really happened! I. work. at. USAID. This really has been my dream for quite a while. I don't think I've ever actually articulated it to anyone (probably again for the reason stated above...we've established I'm quite strange). It is amazing to me to think that I have, for so long, wanted to work where I knew I was helping people. Each day, in some way, I help to improve the lives of people who are living with HIV/AIDS...... If that's not cool...I don't know what is.
I've come to know that Heavenly Father does know our dreams and desires, and even though they may not be of eternal consequence, He wants us to be happy, and if achieving a dream or goal makes us happy, He will help us achieve it. It's hard for me to believe one of dreams has actually come true, and I know that it has not been through my own efforts alone. I know that He helped me to come to the place where I am and placed people in my path, then worked out some miracle so that I could get this job over someone else.
My life is far from perfect. No one's is even close. I have my own trials and challenges (and sometimes it is only through the power of the atonement and lots of faith that I can make it through). I know that everyone of us has our individual sets of trials in this life. But I am so grateful for the path my life has taken thus far. I know that it has been guided by the hand of the Lord as I have chosen to keep His commandments. His way is the way of peace and happiness. His way is the way of success and fulfillment of dreams.
The world, every day, tries to tell me otherwise. It tries to tell me that I don't need faith, I only need me. It tries to tell me that I don't need Christ, I only need the glory of men. It tries to tell me I don't need to keep God's commandments, I only need to please myself, or even worse, others. But I know what is right and true. I know that God's way is about so much more than momentary fun or power, it is about eternal joy and everlasting life. I know that true light leads one to follow Christ and attempt to emulate Him, instead of emulating a super model or a pop star. I know that I do need faith, I need it every day of my life. I know that  I have felt the power and Spirit of God, teaching me and leading me in so many instances. How can I refute that? I cannot. God loves us. And so because of that He sent His Son to show us the way to live to find happiness. And that is all that really matters.

So today I am grateful for the following sources of JOY in my life:

-Jesus Christ...my Savior and Redeemer
-the scriptures...that bring His words into my life each day
-dreams...if you don't dream, How can God make your dreams come true?
-trees...the trees out here on the East coast really are beautiful
-good people...there are good people everywhere who are trying to make difference and help others
-fall!...I absolutely LOVE fall in DC! everything about it is just fabulous (which means that the next couple months of posts will probably be consumed with thoughts/images of fall :) )

PS: if you do not know what USAID is...google it. Just kidding! Its the United States Agency for International Development. I work in the office of HIV/AIDS...and its just like it sounds. http://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/global-health/hivaids

you can't step into the same river twice

Yesterday in celebration of the decisions of our employers to allow us a paid holiday called "Labor Day" across the country, as well in celebration of the continued denial of the ending of summer, we ventured out to the Shenandoah Valley once again to float down the Shenandoah River. I have been wanting to do this for months! The weather threatened rain and thunder, but this deter us? Of course not...(once again my stubbornness refuses to let something as small as rain, ok maybe lightening would, stop me from having fun) It was overcast pretty much the entire day, but we did not witness a drop of precipitation nor a rumbling of thunder. (see, now if we had cancelled prematurely due to the forecast of inclement weather it would have been in vain :) )
 We found our launching spot and began our 3.5 hour-long journey down the shallow, mellow river. I had faith our journey would be without incident, and I was mostly correct, despite 3 popped tubes we all made it in one piece! The shallow depths of the river combined with random angular ridges of rock along the river bottom made for some gentle rapids (really you can't even call them rapids) but also made for some possibilities of fissures in the cheap plastic of Target-bought tubes as a human body attempted to traverse the ridges of rock supported by the tube and only buoyed by inches of (hardly) flowing water. A few unlucky souls did not make it very far before the underside of their tube was punctured and air began to escape, thus decreasing their level of flotation on the water.
 I in fact felt my tube flatten towards the end of our journey and prayed that I would be able to last till the landing site as we already had 3 people straddling a one-person cane. (which, by the way, made for a very interesting sight and some amusing capsizes) I almost made it....in fact I was within sight of the landing spot and was inching closer due to the aid of my fellow river floaters who were dragging me along...until I capsized and they let go.....then the slippery rocks of the shallow waters got the best of me. Ok so it really wasn't that bad but I'm sure I looked pretty funny trying to trudge through water, falling and sliding as I went coming up to the shore. Really it is pretty difficult when these large ridges of slippery rock protrude upwards. We met a couple of local friendly (redneck) fishermen who helped me not make a complete fool of myself...ok so really I did, but one amusingly helped me up the shores nonetheless.
It was quite a long journey down the river, most of us did not anticipate us lasting over 3 hours, but it was great fun! The river is so calm and peaceful. It is surrounded by thick forest on each side and the gentle flow almost puts one to sleep...almost, but not completely due to the need to navigate around the large rocks that appear every so often.
We then commandeered a picnic shelter to begin our BBQ feast.... cuz, well, we were all starving. The tray of veggies and cookies didn't even make it to see the hot dogs done as they were easy and ready fodder. Definitely the best way to spend the day celebrating how we "eat (our) bread by the sweat of (our) brow." (does anyone else think it's funny that we have a holiday to recognize that we work?)
Sadly....very sadly....I do not have any pictures to document this excitement as I did not think it prudent to bring my camera while floating down a river...of water. But here are a couple of pics I found of the river that accurately represent what we experienced:

GORGEOUS

Yes we drove across this 'bridge' to get to our launch site...

This girl was a happy camper. :) The whole day was one big feast of joy.

Saturday was similarly grand. Mary and I went to the National Cathedral in the morning and then enjoyed authentic Italian pizza (once again) at 2 Amys. The cathedral of course is magnificent and I fell in love all over again. The stained glass is amazing, I love how every window is different in style, theme, and color scheme. Due to the modern time of its construction, the cathedral is a bit more eclectic and accessible.
It was so peaceful and we enjoyed not only the architectural and artistic gems, but also the whisperings of the Spirit as we observed Bible scenes in the glass, as well as the quoting of scripture as they began the noon Eucharist. And although I appreciated this good feeling and faint presence of the Holy Ghost, I felt it poignant to note that it did in no way compare to the power and strong stirrings of inspiration I feel at church during the Sacrament, or most especially, in the temple. It was a further witness to me that while all who preach of Christ are good and strive to follow what light they do have, they do not have the whole light and truth. There is so much in the Lord's restored church that so many do not even realize they are missing. God has given us so much more!
The views from the observation level of the cathedral were very notable, and the gardens surrounding were beautiful, quiet, and a bit mysterious. This trip actually produced pics as I was not endanger of ruining any electronics in water :)

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. -Albert Einstein

My goal to post something (almost) every day has failed...but not due to lack of joyful things to post about or adventures to share, instead due to the great amount of adventures and happenings taking up much of my time, although very welcome distractions.
Last weekend I finally went camping! A group was planning on going...but the threat of rain was a bit much for some....did that stop me? Of course not. (for the record I am a very determined person and when I set my mind to do something, nothing will stop me) We set out late and thus did not have time for much beyond driving through the dense George Washington National Forest, trekking through the woods to find a suitable camp spot, and setting up the tent. It rained a bit in the night, but we stayed nice and dry in the tent and in fact welcomed the decrease in temperature due to the precipitation. As much as I love camping and can 'rough it' as well as the next girl, I also welcomed the fact that there was no sleeping on the rocky ground beneath the tent due to the presence of a thick foam mattress. Don't judge....I pulled a muscle in my lower back recently...
The morning dawned cool and misty, with a thick fog enveloping the forest, obscuring the sun but making for a storybook scene and a welcome reprieve from the harsh heat of this past summer.
We meandered through the forest as the sun rose higher in the sky and burned off the low cloud cover. We were hoping to come across a trail in the National Forest or some kind of ranger station to point us in the right direction, however after a time of driving along, we realized we had left the forest and happened upon a few quaint towns. One of which had a couple old historic churches right across the street from each other... which made me wonder if both churches actually had full congregations seeing as the town only seemed to consist of 1 post office, a cemetery, and a handful of homes surrounded by farmland. It was an idyllic sight and we admired the country scenes as we continued along the highway.
We then made our way into the new favorite of all VA attractions, Shenandoah National Park. Due to overall sleepiness and lack of defined direction, we rambled along Skyline Drive, paused at a few overlooks to admire the view, trekked through a trail or two beside the road, and then continued on once a course of action was decided: the River. Having cherished the view of the Shenandoah River on many trips out to the Valley previously, I had longed to go down and improve my relationship with it through a close personal encounter. After physically testing a long branch hanging precariously low over the river, determining a good landing spot, and taking in the gentle flow of the water, it was pronounced necessary to float down the river the next possible opportunity.. thus plans for Labor Day. Yay!
I then proceeded to pass out in the car and dreamed of the beautiful green branches stretching across the road, vast views of rolling hills, and butterflies flitting along sunlit paths. (maybe I should have been a writer..) All in all another very peaceful, delightful, calming adventure to the 'mountains.' Good because the next day my pristine, pampered, pretty car was hit. Ah life...
This weekend proved to be a laid-back one, in comparison with my weekends of late in which I have traveled, hiked, or otherwise involved myself in activities of amusement. Having no other excuses, plans, or desires to engage myself in another social event on Saturday evening...I caught up on my long list of DVR'd episodes of NCIS. :)
Sunday, however, brought the desire to go for a stroll, as I am wont. First I attempted to explore the Potomac shoreline in Alexandria, and was only mildly successful, as they tend to crowd the shore with restaurants, shops, and parking lots, although I did enjoy admiring the colonial architecture and overall stylistic appeal of the historic small town.
I then remembered the quiet paths of Roosevelt Island and set off. Roosevelt Island is a small island in the middle of the Potomac, right across from the Kennedy Center and the Georgetown waterfront. Cars, bikes and any other vehicle are strictly forbidden and the island is wholly dedicated to pedestrian traffic. The island serves as a monument to President Theodore Roosevelt, owing to his love of nature and adventures. In the middle of the island stands a statue of the late president, with a simple, stoic structure made of stone surrounding the statue that always reminds me of something out of Lord of the Rings.....see pics...
I started at the narrow bridge that links NOVA with the island and wound my way around its perimeter on a dirt path that transitions to a boardwalk above the marsh of the eastern side of the island. The clouds threatened rain above me...but as we have noted, a little rain never stops me. So I continued my walk around the entire island and was just crossing the bridge to get to my car when a downpour soaked me head to toe. Perfect timing I would say. :) The island is a paradisaical refuge of nature and serenity in the midst of the bustling capital. Whoever planned/designed/imagined its existence is my hero.
I find that when I take time out of my busy life to do things like this...strolling through forests, admiring trees, quietly taking in a pastoral vista....my outlook on life improves. My mind calms and I am able to better see the forest through the trees.(...yep that was a perfectly themed cliche I just had to use) I frequently find myself conversing with the Lord on these occasions and feel the Spirit envelope me as I "consider all the works (the Lord's) hands have made." My soul marvels at the 'beauty of the earth' and sings 'grateful praise' of  'how great thou art!' How wonderful that God, in His infinite power and wisdom created this earth for us with such beauty, for our joy and pleasure. As I get caught up in the world and the mundane things of life, I tend to feel overwhelmed and antsy. However, as I go for a walk, reflect on nature, or drive through a countryside, I feel invigorated, calm, and at ease. I think He knew that we would need that outlet. He knew that this life would be stressful and hard at times, and thus made this earth to be a reprieve and source of peace.

I feel like I have posted about this way too much....I guess this is the real theme of my blog. I would apologize...but in the words of LeRoy Jethro Gibbs...don't apologize, its a sign of weakness.

gratitude

I feel so grateful this evening for what I have, for what I know, for what I have experienced, for the people in my life.
If you, reading this, are one of those people who has, in any way, touched my life, thank you. I know that I am the sum of all these things.

Joys of today:
- completing security clearance check...that's right..stay tuned for updates on that
- realizing I have many wonderful people who care about me, even if they live far away
- seamless process taking in my car to get the damages appraised leading right into getting it checked in to get repaired to getting me a rental car. such a relief (yes i was in an accident. no it was not my fault. yes my car is now an ugly mess on one side. no I will not have to pay for it to be fixed. :)
- laughter...I literally would not make it through a day without it. specifically today's laughter was a compton ghetto spoof of beauty and the beast on YouTube...awesome. go look up beauty and the beat
- scriptures..the word of god gives so much peace, direction, light. it brings clarity to my life and helps me feel god's love for me every single day. and boy do I need it!
- country...not the music. the environment. I have appreciated the simplicity and quiet calm of the country lately and it is calling into question my long-time affirmation that I am a city girl. hah
- change..hard sometimes, but I appreciate it

there is beauty all around

We drove up to Philly this weekend for a whirlwind 12 hour visit to the city of brotherly love. I never realized how artsy Philly is. I found these gems while rediscovering this historic city.

I have discovered that every place has its own style/points of beauty. One simply has to look.

It is the same with people as well. Everyone has good in them, something to offer to the world. Sometimes we are blinded by our own good points to see them in others but they are always there. I'm working to see these good things in everyone I meet, even if, or maybe especially if, they drive me crazy.

I have been so blessed, how can I not?

recreational activities

someone recently asked me what have i done since moving to DC and i realized in the 3 months i have lived here i have done quite a bit of fun having...so here's a list, and i will update as i continue to enjoy the many possibilities that exist here

hiked in Shenandoah National Park
traversed Skyline Caverns, just outside of Shenandoah
paddle-boated the Tidal Basin
sunbathed (or burned rather) in Virginia Beach
road-tripped to Palmyra, NY
oohed and ahhed over Niagara Falls
watched 4th of July fireworks at the Capitol
re-kindled my friendship with the French Impressionists at the National Gallery of Art
patronized a local farmer's market (fresh fruit=mmmmm)
historicized (yes i just made that up) in colonial Williamsburg
drove the wrong way on a one-way street downtown DC (a first)
ate Indian, authentic Neapolitan, Thai, Italian....(i think there's more...i'll update later)
and this weekend going to Philly! so more fun adventures to come. i guess its not as much as i thought it would be since when i first arrived i tried desperately to find employment, and now i am very fully employed, as well as the fact that i attempted to do everything possible when i was out here for my internship. but there will be more....

I heart flip flops...I hate mosquito bites

6 new mosquito bites in the last 2 days. Ugh. I am being eaten alive this summer.

Despite food poisoning and intense lower back pain from straining some muscles last weekend, I found have some joys:

Went out to lunch with the work team to welcome the new girl yesterday...and the company paid for it. Cute French cafe in Old Town to boot. Score

Felt the spirit as I read some talks from BYU and was so grateful for the love and peace that immediately comes from inspired words of latter day apostles and prophets.

Good friends

Laughter (usually at myself)

Men who actually and sincerely treat women with respect.

The network of friends and connections in the church. I can't imagine moving across the country without that support system.

And flip flops. For days like today when my back is struggling and I choose to wear heels to work to complement my outfit.

lhi-ghtah buulb....(gru style)

so here I am, sitting in my basketball shorts, on my computer, in front of my TV (my large, LCD TV I might add, not that I am a bit proud of it or anything), watching the Olympic events of the day which I already know the outcome to.
couple realizations: I love technology. not just, oh yeah i grew up with computers so now i use them every day of my life, but more like I am in love with technology...a friend recently called it an addiction....and I might actually agree. recognition is the first step right? anyway, my computer has been slow recently, and not like, "oh yeah 12 seconds to load instead of 2 seconds..you spoiled 20th century kid," but illegitimately slow. so I've been ruminating the thought of buying a new computer...looking through new dell prices and what not. then I had a dream last night that I had an iPad. and now I'm looking at iPads. and now I want one really bad. I'm telling you...I'm in love with technology. maybe its just because I truly am a kid at heart...I love shiny new toys. did you notice how many times i mentioned technology and love in the same sentence....? :)

another realization: I miss swimming. need to figure out a way to get back in the pool.
and another: real athletes are not skinny twigs. they're not fat, but these gals are not only ripped, but they've got meat on them.
and...the men don't. which is kind of funny when you consider that most of the time, in american culture, women have to be completely meat-less, while men can have a little gut and it's ok. ironic....

and last realization: i NEED to study for the GRE. i do not remember any math. ironic that i was such a math whiz in high school and i celebrated the fact in college that i would never have to take math after my junior year of high school ever again. isn't it ironic? (isn't that a song?...)

so maybe this is not funny...but it all was to me. :)

a couple of the JOYful things today:

• as I am now currently employed, I got a paycheck on Tuesday, and i was able to pay my car payment today...without going into my savings account for the first time since moving to DC. feels so good.
• i have been going outside during lunch almost every day for the past couple weeks, taking a walk and enjoying the sun and warmth since it is of course freeezzzing at my desk in a corner. and today i sat at a bench and pulled up my capris in an attempt to to help my fading summer tan from disappearing completely. sunshine makes me so happy.
• cookies. made by caitlyn vernon. delish!
• last night was absolutely beautiful: perfect temperature for the humidity, large/.bright moon, and lightening streaking through large thunderheads. you could see the arms of the bolts arching through the clouds, illuminating them every few seconds to make every outline suddenly visible. it was amazing.

monday ramblings

thoughts today:

I seriously love watching olympic swimming events. by far the most exciting, most athletic, and for me the most relatable. I envy those swimmers. I want to race again. sigh.

taking a serious look at the GRE now. it's gotta happen soon ...much to my chagrin. I was looking at sample test questions online today...totally blew my mind. while attempting to answer the questions I decided reading/studying anything on the computer is so not effective for me as I tend to skim things on my screen and my ADD kicks in as soon as I enter computer mode. this could be a problem. might need help on this one. how does one even study for a standardized entry exam? don't judge or hate but I never had to. suppose I could have studied for the ACT and gotten above 30 if I really wanted to....but why waste the time and money when I got into the school I wanted without the hassle?
goal: figure out how to study for the GRE.

i heart my iPhone. watched the men's 400 free relay on it, reminded myself of visiting teaching today, currently updating my blog from it. yup love it.

discovered this weekend that for the sake of my sanity, time spent outside is required every day. I won't regale this blog once again with my strong opinions on the health benefits of said habit, suffice it to say, had a rough day on saturday, took a walk through a little piece of wilderness on sunday, and suddenly a great cloud felt lifted from my mind as I strolled through dappling sunshine beneath a canopy of trees, and it was further banished from my memory by the time spent picnicking along the shining waters of the Potomac. (wow that was quite poetic....)

these are all the thoughts currently crossing my mind....other than my roommate is awesome. gift from heaven if you will.

Sunshine

I haven't posted anything in a few days as I've been crazy busy and out of town to Palmyra, NY. But today is an absolutely GORGEOUS day so I thought I'd share the beautiful things I'm enjoying on my lunch break:

These fir trees along the sidewalk smell fantastic. reminds me of christmas or Seattle...take your pick.

The sun is shining. Bright and clear like it does in SoCal.

There is a gentle breeze that is brushing my hair out of my face as I walk.

I work right down the street from these cool townhouses-typical, picturesque Old Town architecture. Love it.

Birds are chirping. No traffic. Just quiet. Ahhhh

Summer flowers. Need I say more?

Fresh air. Warm sun. I love being outside. It should be illegal to make someone stay inside all day. There is no way it is healthy. So I don't.

it's the little things in life

simple JOYs:

• after a week at work, i finally figured out the soap dispenser in the bathroom. 
• my outfit came together PERFECTly today. perfect mix of summer, office, style, trend, and me.
• the hair cooperating nicely today.
• raw almonds. i love them.

employed and bored=long post

In case anyone cares or was wondering about the theme of my blog, here is the talk by President Thomas S Monson that inspired my daily search for joy in my journey.Finding Joy in the Journey, President Thomas S Monson, October 2008 I love this talk and felt inspired to start finding and recording the joyful things I see in my days when I read it recently.

Tuesday I started my new job...that's right I am finally employed! It's not the dream...at least I don't think. I have had some fun looking at voting data in a project the other day...ok that sounded super nerdy. My political geography class and all the crazy data projects I did in undergrad are actually paying off. Yay! Maybe it's not so far from the dream as I thought.... we shall see.

JOYs:

• pondering/meditating/thinking (whatever you want to call it)... I have had time lately to think about many things: about my priorities, my relationship with the Lord, my goals/dreams, my desires, my struggles, my weaknesses....the list goes on. I appreciate these opportunities to ponder and reflect. It's not easy to think about these things as they usually require some sort of introspection and work, but definitely worth the effort. I highly recommend taking the time to think, not about what you have to do that day, or about your bills, nothing that would induce stress. That would be counterproductive. But instead, think about something you want to improve in the world, then try to make plans to put it into action. Or ponder on something you would like to improve or augment in your own character. Think about why you chose your current job/profession, does it still apply? Think about any weaknesses or struggles you may have, do they affect your daily life? Do you ever wonder why you could possibly have those weaknesses? What could you learn from them? (just a couple thoughts..) Then write it down, it is fascinating what you find out about yourself through reflection and the action of writing down those thoughts.
• Spanish...I love walking down the street and randomly hearing people converse in Spanish. (and yes there are still a bunch of Latinos here in DC) It just fills my heart with warm fuzzies. Funny story though: many people make fun of me for my Spanish-isms, voice inflection, accent, etc., but I guess it never occurred to me how much it affects my English until today when I said "you learn things new every day." Ummm...yeah that's not English. It totally sounded right to me (and still kinda does) until I thought about it. Spanish is just more efficient to my brain now. Don't laugh until you speak another language fluently. 
• Utah...yes one of my Joys lately has been Utah. I appreciate that almost everyone out here has some connection to Utah- either they went to school there, they have family there, they lived there, whatever it may be. Here, in DC of all places, ALL the Mormons have connections to Utah. So I admittedly have missed all the comforts and familiarities out there. And all my great people out there. I am definitely not in Utah anymore.
• People...I LOVE PEOPLE. I love talking to them, being around them, learning from them, learning about them. I appreciate listening to them very much, so if I ever ask you a question, PLEASE elaborately respond, and feel free to keep talking.
• diversity...i very much appreciate diversity in thought, culture, religion, language, nationality, etc. And I appreciate those who recognize it as a positive in this world.
• Parks...thanks to whoever invented urban parks. I very much appreciate having a place outside to sit and enjoy fresh air, sunshine, for a break when I'm stuck inside at a desk all day.

I just realized this is a long post, without even any pics to add length/content. So props to you if you are still reading. I don't have too much going on at work yet, so just chillin...and getting paid. 

why do i live in the city?

Yesterday went out to Shenandoah to hike in the "mountains." They are beautiful, but I will persist in referring to them as hills as the highest point was only 2890 feet. But it is WONDERFUL to get out of the hustle and bustle of DC and enjoy fresh air. We found a trail that lead down to a set of waterfalls, ending in a pool of water deep enough to swim in. We were enjoying the down-ward, rocky, yet manageable descent, when we realized we weren't even all the way to the bottom yet and we had to turn around and climb all the way back up at some point....so that's what we did. And it ended up being a very exhausting uphill return trip. But luckily it wasn't too hot under the canopy of the trees, and a cloud cover had shielded the sun almost the entire time we were on the trail. My calves are a bit tighter the day after, but other than that, no noticeable side effects. As we were driving back through the Park on our way out, the sun was shining through the trees over the road, sprinkling the air below, and dappling the road in spots of brightness. It was gorgeous.

By the way...I now know why they call them the Blue Ridge mountains...they actually do look blue in the haze of the hot, humid, summer air. Who'd a thunk? Very cool. I want to go out there every day. Sigh



Recent JOYs in my days to be grateful for:

• clouds...you never fully appreciate clouds until they shield you from glaring sun rays that make 100 degrees feel like 120 in humid conditions.
• laughter...I have recently been around awesome people that make me laugh. and I very much love to laugh.
• old friends...Sarah, my old roommate from BYU, was here from NYC for the holiday and it was simply fantastic to hang out with her for a few days. It was so refreshing to be around someone who already knew me, has a history with me, who I didn't need to explain anything to, and who I could just be myself around. Plus it helps that I love her and have a blast with her always.

• water...I have a fetish with water - rivers, waterfalls, oceans - you name it. Gotten to see beautiful forms of water lately. Happens a lot out here on the East Coast.
• health...I very much appreciate that my body is strong, (almost) fully functional, and healthy. Its not perfect (whose is?) but it works, and as long as I understand its needs and take care of it, it takes care of me.
• dresses...yep, went to the factory outlets and got a gorgeous new dress. on sale. I appreciate dresses that make me feel feminine without making me feel trashy or having to pull and tug or fix things in order to be comfortable. Most of the time I do enjoy being a woman.