So What, I'm an Open Book!: March 2014

Friday, March 28, 2014

Ugly Sweater Party

To have the perfect Christmas party, one must think

ugly sweater meets white elephant party...

and this is exactly what happened.

I will let the pictures be the words for this one.

This past week I was lucky enough to go back home to my folks house and celebrate our 10 year anniversary of moving to Canada. While South Africa, the place of my birth, will ALWAYS be a very special place to me...and I love almost everything about that place... It had no future for me, and my parents made the GOOD decision to move out of that country and to a better (colder) one. Canada is quite different than SA, and was a hard adjustment at first. But as I let my "old life go", I was able to flourish in my new life. Looking back I see now that I have been able to accomplish so much more than I ever would have if I had stayed in SA. The Pro's drastically outweigh the Con's here.

So, here is my trip in a nutshell....

(Beware of my sweet baby Nephew Atticus picture overload...couldn't resist)

Got picked up from the Airport

Drove and picked up my brother Wayne...who I only saw for like 10 minutes, but that's better than nothing.

Then we started to Party.

We had lots of friends come over on Saturday night to celebrate with us. It was wonderful to see how many people care for my family and how many friends my parents have. My dad has done such an amazing job at establishing himself in the country, my mom is taking advantage and has gone back to school. Wayne and Mindy both have good jobs... it's great!

I planned to spend as much time as I could with my sweet nephew

(he loves swimming, but we didn't end up going since he had a cold :(

Every time I go back to Canada I'm amazed by the colorful money!!!

Had lunch with the girls! It's been wonderful to know that we are all still friends and know what's going on in each others lives. They will always be my besties.

(I got to see a few other old friends and catch up with them which is always wonderful!)

More Attie and Aunty Tess!!

Loved doing some shopping with these two..and dads credit card ;)

HAD to have lunch at Tim hortons.....

I would seriously recommend the Canadian Maple Doughnut

MMM MMM MMMM

Found an old painting I did that I completely forgot about haha NBD

Sushi to celebrate Mom's Birthday!

Of coarse it was cold and it did snow all day on my last day there...

Canada is honestly such a great place! The people are nice, the government isn't too bad and it's just a happy place to be... it's just so dang cold!!!!!! It's nice to be back in Bako where it's warm!!

Friday, March 21, 2014

A Clean and clutterless Home

I want to share 10 things I do everyday that help me to maintain my sanity and keep my home in an orderly state: Just like our bodies need to be clothed, cleaned, and looked after, so do the places we live!

Keep the kitchen clean and clear the sink EVERY DAY.

Also, keep the microwave clean-use vinegar!

When your laundry is finished being dried, fold it and put it away, right away...

you know you won't get to it later

Make your bed, every day

Put stuff left on counters into organized draw spaces... looks better, trust me

Open and close curtains every day

Fluff up your living room pillows

Train your husband to put his shoes away in a closet or shoe rack, not leave them out

Keep the bathroom sink free of anything you use to get ready in the morning with..

that's what the drawers are for.

Find a place for everything, and put everything in it's place.

10.

Do a walk through of your home each morning, and take 5-10 minutes to fold blankets, unpack the dishwasher and pick up things.

I don't have any kids yet to pick up after (although I find myself finding my dogs toys everywhere and have to put them back in her toy box!!) BUT I hope that I will be able to fit these 10 things in, EVERY DAY to maintain my home.

Once a month, make sure you clean out vents, window sills, wash windows, Launder bedding, wash baseboards and clean out the fridge. Doing these things REALLY helps. Besides, I live in a LDS community where people "stop by" or "drop in" all the time... I would be super embarrassed if my house was a complete disaster- that being said- everyone has their own personal standard of what tidy is... but the CLEAN standard is the same... so all in all, and most importantly, keep it clean!!

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

What does it mean to be a mormon?

I BELONG TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

I've been given numerous church callings over the years, and participated in many functions. I've been a primary teacher, sunday school teacher, Temple worker, chorister, pianist, I made the sunday Bulletin, teaching in relief society, visiting teacher etc. etc.

In my childhood I loved Primary parties and achievement days. In my youth, I enjoyed wednesday night activities, seminary, dances on saturdays, completing my personal progress book, firesides or bishop's youth discussions on sundays, and girls camp. In my Young Adulthood I enjoyed going to Dances, firesides, Institute, service projects, relief society activities and practicing the piano to play in church. Now I enjoy my calling in Young Women which includes monthly meetings, wednesday night activities and teaching lessons on sundays- this is over and above my church attendance, visiting teaching assignments and other ward activities.

All of the above = blessings, blessings, blessings.

To be a part of the LDS church, you need to be 100% in and devoted...Why be a member of this church and do everything you're "supposed to do" but go shopping on sundays, or drink coffee, or wear immodest clothing, or have more than 1 piercing in your ears??? GIVE IT UP- Devote yourself to the right thing and you will be blessed. It's pretty simple. I'm not saying I'm perfect at any of this and trust me I have made my own mistakes... The Tattoo on my bum is a great example of that. But I truly believe that it doesn't matter which step of the ladder you are on, it just matters that you are facing up. So while you participate in seminary, relief society birthday dinners, presidency meetings, ward parties, visiting teaching, feeding the missionaries, paying tithing, mutual activities, church recreation activities, going to the 3 hours of church on sundays, missionary work, having home teachers over, going to the Temple, visiting people, service projects, firesides, girls camp/scout stuff, preparing sunday lessons etc. etc. etc. Why not take out those piercings and buy a few T-shirts?

BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF PUTTING BOTH FEET INTO ONE DOOR (not one in and one out)

There is a horrible website about how much money and time people save when they become less-active, but here is a chart that is pretty true: (this is per month and not all apply, but most)

Number	Miles	Hours
4 trips to church for Sunday service. Many times we would drive two vehicles because of one of us would have to stay for meetings either after or before.	24	12
4 PEC/WC/Welfare meetings	Counted in #1 - 10	10
1 BYC meeting	4	2
1 Fireside	4	2
1 Stake youth function-at the stake center	15	3
1 Elder's presidency meeting	4	2
1 YM Youth presidency meeting	4	2
YW Youth presidency meeting	4	2
1 Stake YW Adult presidency meeting	15	2
4 Wednesday night youth activities (both cars used each time)	32	8
4 Tuesday night basketball to reactivate/con non-members	16	8
1 Home teaching to 2-5 members for the men	15	4
1 Visiting teaching to 2-5 members for the women	15	4
1 Monthly service project	10	2
1 Scout committee meeting	4	2
1 Ward social function	4	3
1 Scout off-night function	4	2
1 Scout campout	100	12 (if you just say 'working' hours)
1 Clean the church	4	2
1 Splits with missionaries	15	2
1 Adult temple trip	180	8
20 EARLY MORNING seminary	160	20
1 Being home taught for our family	in home	1
1 Wife being visit taught by assigned sisters	in home	1
Magnifying our callings (doing all the support work with lessons, activities, supplies, scouting, planning, counseling YW/YM, etc.)	20
Month	683	136
Year	8,196	1,632
8,196 miles @ 13mpg = 630gal @ $4 gallon = $2,520	1,632 hours @ $9.10 (Oregon min wage)... = $14,851	Annual real expenses plus free service.. = $17,371

There are approximately 720 hours in a week, so out of that and according to this chart (which is pretty general and has excluded any monthly temple trips, Family Home evenings, time spent for personal prayer and scripture study, reading the ensign, extra conferences or devotionals etc.)- there are 136 hours spent on doing church stuff. That's (136/720=) about 18.9% of our month.

I don't look at it like a waste of time at all... in fact I wish I could do MORE-more visits, more time studying the scriptures, more baking bread and giving it to others!

If my Heavenly Father has given me everything that I have on this Earth right now, and plans to give me exaltation and eternal life in my future, you are damn straight I'm going to be dedicating my life to His Gospel, and be doing all I can to help His cause. He sent His Only Begotten Son to Atone for my sins, and all He asked is for me to be a good girl, devote my life to His church and be an instrument in His Hands....

This is 100% doable, and besides... why wouldn't you want to stay busy and committed to service and charity- what have you got to loose???

Forget yourself and go to work

What else would I spend 136 hours a month on (great for social skills anyway)? Probably something to do with watching TV and being LAZY!

Anyways my testimony of this Gospel is small compared to the greatness of God, but it is enough light to keep me moving forward in this dark world and I have seen it grow throughout my life. My testimony of the Book of Mormon grew after I read it. I thought I would have a big pillar of light above my head as my answer to it's truthfulness, but really, i knew it was true throughout the entire book, each word, each chapter-and this continues each time I read it. I have witnessed that the Book of Mormon has the power to change lives. My favorite scripture is D&C 123:17- we can do all things, and cheerfully if we are on the Lord's side. My testimony of Joseph Smith Grew when I went to visit the sacred grove. There, a simple farm boy offered a simple prayer that made him the man and prophet He was. I felt for myself the peace that is there. When I moved away from home to go to school, I knew that Heavenly Father was indeed there for me, and mindful of me. I love that through prayer, I can talk to my Heavenly Father ALL the time, and He ALWAYS listens. My tour through Europe that I went on was a Religious History Tour of the reformation and restoration. I started the tour with 50 strangers and came home with 51 best friends..That extra 1 was my Heavenly Father. We visited Many other churches and learned of their beliefs. There are some things that they got right, but none of them were perfect like this gospel. We ended our trip in Denmark, in front of the original sculpture of the Christus by Thorvaldsen in a Lutheran church. I stood beneath this magnificent statue of christ, and there He was; great and powerful, looking down at me with his arms outstretched. My Savior, and my big brother loves a sinner like me- this is a brilliant feeling. We sang some songs while we were there; How great thou art, I stand all amazed, I know that my redeemer lives-The Spirit is there when we sing.

When I think of Christ's atonement, I not only thank Him for what He did for me, but I also thank my Heavenly Father for not failing us by answering His Only Begotten Son's request to 'remove the bitter cup'. Heavenly Father is omnipotent, He had the power to do this, but He has us in mind- He knew that through Christ, was the only way that we, His children, could be saved and able to return to live with Him again. He did not fail us. He stuck to the plan and watched as His Beloved Son sacrificed and atoned for the sins of the world. Two divine beings suffered for my sins that day and I am so grateful for that and the knowledge I have of how to use my Saviors atonement in my life every day. As I struggle with Infertility, I feel as though my prayers aren't being answered. Each day I pray for a child, each month, I fast for a child- I have had 20 months of side effects and unanswered prayers. My faith flame at times get's burned out. I am so lucky that I have an amazing and supportive husband to lean on and other angels who have been put in my path, to help relight that flame. I know Heavenly Father gives us tests and trials to help us grow while we are on earth. I also know that when my human nature gets the best of me, He is forgiving and so patient...He already knows who I will become, it's just up to me to get there.This Gospel is about eternal Families. I understood that more as I got married to my love in the temple. I know that if I live worthy, and do all I can to qualify for the grace of God, I will meet my Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus christ again, and be crowned with glory, immortality, and eternal life.

Isn't it simple!!??

Getting a Degree & Choosing a Major

"It is so important that you young men and you young women get all of the education that you can. The Lord has said very plainly that His people are to gain knowledge of countries and kingdoms and of things of the world through the process of education, even by study and by faith." Gordon B. Hinckley

Well, that being said, I made it a priority to get a Bachelors degree from a good University. For many people, it takes a long time before they are able to choose a degree, but I was lucky and never needed to change my Major. It was just going to be ART.. But then I decided to do Art Education because I could always fall back on the teaching aspect (incase my budding art career came to a stop) I feel like I have LOTS of interests and things that I'm decent at, so it is definitely hard to focus on just one. My degree being a Major in Art Education, and a Minor in Health Education still had a lot of diversity; I studied ART (drawing, color and design, ceramics and oil painting), HEALTH (biology, anatomy, physiology, Physical Science) and then EDUCATION (philosophy & Psychology of education, art/health methods, teaching kids with disabilities (that class was during the SA world cup...didn't get too much out of it) lesson planning etc etc.) Pretty divers if you ask me.

I would still love to learn so much more; how to fly a helicopter, become a yoga teacher, learn aromatherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy and I have seriously considered getting a Masters degree in Art History.... Time will tell.

I honestly had the BEST college experience, I am so lucky!

Elvis was my first painting I did when I was in Grade 11, with Acrylic paints.

Later, when I got my Patriarchal Blessing it said that "I will enjoy the beauties of the earth, especially because I have a talent in the artistic realm" Well... that helped.

I don't know how much is "talent" and how much is hard work, because especially when I was in my art classes with other Art majors... they were all so good, and so above me because I also had to balance my health and education classes... oh well.

This baby won me the "Art 30" prize in high school... pretty much the only prize I've ever gotten in academics. I'll take it!

Then I started in with my classes, but found to love color composition and oil painting... I do wish I did more mixed media and watercolor..I just didn't have enough time!

I love painting portraits, and find if you can paint a face, you can paint anything.

I love Impressionism, but have yet to find my own exact style. My life painting teacher was Albin Veselka- he is amazing and will definitely be very famous one day.

Art classes are 3 hours long, 3 times a week, but only 3 credits. It's a very time consuming and taxing major. I thought it may have been a walk in the park, but let me tell you it was not. Just being graded on your ability to create and mix paint is stressful enough!

This below was done in Oil painting1 that I took from Leon Parson- he is a genius, and teaches with the spirit. I also took head drawing from him and learned a lot...I'm just not the best drawer.

I took figure drawing from Josh Abaglin. I was terrible at it, but enjoyed learning the anatomy and theory behind it. I broke my right arm during this semester, and didn't do too well.

My first painting I ever sold... 50 bucks! Boo YEAH!

I did this one for my sister. I'm pretty sure my mom has some sort of art of mine in every room in her house. I love their support! I really enjoy getting commissions and creating things for people-I'm pretty out of practice, having being graduated for a few years though. I'm not very good at just painting just to paint or for no reason... I need to do more though to keep up my 'talents'. haha

This is my pride and joy, one of two of my pieces of art to be displayed in the student gallery in the BYU-I art building.

I love that I got to graduate with my two high school besties Jenae and Stacey.

And of coarse, Jer was there to support me :)

My thoughts:

Do what you can to get a degree. Choose a major and go with it. Don't waste time, find things you like, Be practical. Remember to have tons of fun while in college too. Find ways to use your degree, even if your job does not require any of the skills you learned. For example: I work in an office now- so I paint for people, sell hand-painted cards on Etsy, and substitute teach on my days off.

Caribbean Cruise:Key West, Jamaica, Cayman Island

This was our first time on a cruise and we are now hooked forever, we love cruising, especially the great deals and minimal planning. I will tell you some things we did and places we saw:
First of all, we took a cheap redeye flight over to Fort Lauderdale, FL to catch the boat. We did it this way, so we wouldn't have to spend money on staying in any hotels. We took a cab from the airport, over to the port.

Don't mind my actual Red eyes!!!

We cruised with Carnival and had a great experience.. they say this is the party boat, and that is what we wanted!

Each night our room was made up and ready for bed for us. This is when we got the "funtimes" which was an itinerary of things going on on the boat for the next day. We had 3 port days and 4 sea days, so it was important to take advantage and keep busy...or just laze around in the sun. They had comedian shows, 3 mini broadway shows (AMAZING), live bands, Art Gallery, shopping, arcade, movies under the stars, dancing on the deck, they had games, hot tubs and spa's, basketball court, mini golf etc.

We made some friends on the boat who were super fun and nice. we got put at the same table for dinner. (Devyn, Tim, Josh and Michelle)

This is the life.

Oh and everything on the ship was super elaborate. Great food displays, ice sculptures and delicious food...we really ate so much!

This is Jer eating frog legs!

Our first off-shore day was in KeyWest, Florida.

It is beautiful there. We got some snorkel gear and headed for the ocean.

Jer got stung by a jellyfish :( so we weren't in the ocean for too long haha

We mostly just hung out, shopped around and explored the town.

Then back on the boat, and off to Cayman Island.

The weather is perfect there and the people are pretty funny-total beach bums!

A PIRATE ship!

My first coconut water

Then we went swimming with the stingrays!

IT.WAS.AWESOME.

I still can't get over how blue that water is!

Then we were off to JAMAICA

My first impression was kinda sad... it's a beautiful place, but there is a lot of poverty on this island!

I WISH i had a banana tree!

This below is FERN GULLEY...where Krista, Maggie and her pals hang out (from the animated movie) Anyways, it was beautiful. I took these pics on our guided tour drive through the town.