Picture Tag

My friend Bret tagged me. He didn't really explain exactly how the tag worked, so I am taking a stab at it. I think that you blindly pick a photo album and then a photo in the album. I had Karen pick the numbers. She randomly selected my second photo album, 43rd picture.

This picture was taken when I was in Thailand the March before I left for law school. It was a steal of a trip because it was right after the tsunami struck and they were trying to jump start the tourism economy. Well, being the altruistic person that I am, I decided to help out :) We had a couple of unplanned days at the end of the trip so a few of us took off to different places. Some people went to Phucket to see the tsunami damage, but there wasn't really any so far as they could tell. Four of us flew up to northern Thailand. We were considering going to Cambodia, and I wish we had. But this day trip was incredible just the same. We found a fantastic tour guide who took us all over to see amazing ruins, markets, and even a thai boxing school. It was an amazing day, and this is one of the buildings that I saw.

Studette of the Month - November 2008

Since today is Veterans' Day, and Amy is a Veteran, today is the day to actually write her blog entry.

Probably most of you reading this have never met her, and I assure you, you are missing out. In my second year of law school, on the first day of class I had the impression that I should move down a row to the empty seat in front of me. But I just couldn't get up the nerve to move. As it turns out, that empty seat was right next to Amy and Kristie, and by coincidence, I ended up sitting next to them in every other class I had that semester. I didn't really know them, so this wasn't at all planned. When I invited myself to their study group later that semester, we all became friends.

How was I to know that I would be discovering someone I would grow to greatly admire. There were SO many nights after class, when she would drive me to my car, and we would just sit and talk. I always walked away with such an admiration for her, for her maturity of perspective, depth of character, her good heart, and her giving nature.

Amy wears a gold-cross around her neck. Because of this, I always thought she was religious. As I got to know her better, I learned that according to Amy service "is my church." She doesn't belong to any organized religion, but she serves religiously. And her service is contagious. My last year of law school I found my self attending a plethora of charity events. I blame each of these squarely on Amy. While there, I noticed that the majority of the others there were also there because of Amy's influence. And that is just the beginning. She will literally drop everything to help anyone in need. On the occasions that I forgot to bring a lunch to school, Amy would literally split her PB & J sandwich in half and give it to me. And even with all of that, it still doesn't even begin to sum up all that she does.

It only follows, of course, that Amy is well loved. It may seem from this description that she is incredibly saintly but lacking in personality, which I assure you is not the case. I wouldn't call it wit, but I am not sure what I would call it, Amy just IS funny. I can't tell you how many times Kristie and I had to keep from laughing in class by some off-handed comment Amy said or something she did...the best part is that she has no idea she is funny.

She is hard working, but not one to shirk play either. She joins us for hockey whenever she gets a chance. She often persuaded Ashley and I to forget about the books for a while and play racket ball. She is not too bad at bowling either (actually, she is great at bowling...even has her own bowling ball).

She'll invite you over for dinner and it is always great. I have yet to study at her house without leaving with freshly backed cookies, brownies, cakes, you have it. She knits, crochets, sews, and plays the piano. She serves in the Air Force Reserves, keeps up with old friends, yada, yada, yada. But, since she doesn't read my blog, I can say this, her car is a disaster. Yup. Move the banana peels, I need a place to sit disaster. It is so endearing; quite possibly one of my favorite things about her. (Amy if you ever read this, I'll delete this part :)

In the mean time, to someone who is kind, full of integrity, and really made a world of difference in my life, and who gives of her time to serve in the military, I nominate Amy as Studette of the Month for November of 2008.

On Gratefulness

I was mindlessly waiting at the cashier's office in the county courthouse today when my eyes focused on the images stuck to the cashier's window. It was decorated with thanksgiving stickers, turkeys, etc. It clicked that Thanksgiving is only weeks away, indeed, we are in the month of Thanksgiving. I decided that this month will be a month of gratefulness on my blog.

A few years ago I picked up an old classic I hadn't read since junior high, How to Win Friends and Influence People. The first chapter which can be summed up by saying, the first virtue of being a good people person is to abstain from criticizing, condemning, and complaining ESPECIALLY criticizing, condemning or complaining of, to, or about people. At that point in my life, that chapter really resonated with me. I started to take a mental tally of how much I condemn things just in my own thought process. The outcome was alarmingly bad. I concluded that I criticized, condemned and/or complained nearly 80% of the time. Hummm. I set about to change that.

Today, by contrast, I took note of my appreciation. I noticed today that I spend a great deal of time appreciating people and things. Perhaps I both criticize and appreciate, but tend to notice what I am looking for.

Here is some of my appreciation du jour:
Today the weather was that PERFECT fall weather. Breathtaking. The street west of the botanical gardens was GORGEOUS. It was warm enough to go outside without a jacket. The bright blue skies were contrasted by yellow, orange and red leaves, which were crisp, but not yet off the trees. Tomorrow it is supposed to rain, and then all the leaves will be gone, so I especially wanted to take it all in.

I had a moment of appreciation for the people I work with; all of them. Tom, the senior partner, has a heart of gold, as does his son. I also appreciate the office manager. I love that she is family oriented and how organized she is.

When I got home Debbie was over. I love it when she comes to visit. I appreciated that Holly called. She called right when I was leaving for the temple. Since being in St. Louis, we've had a tradition of talking while I am on the 20 minute drive to and from the temple. She didn't know I was going. How does she do that? I also had a great talk with Sara. Great conversations are SO amazing, and recharging and I LOVED it. I appreciated how great it is to have friends who draw me up and bring me to higher heights.

And that is only a VERY small portion of my appreciation today. I even appreciate having things to appreciate, because sometimes, let's be honest, life presents a dearth of things to be grateful for. Not so today, thankfully.