Oh Boogers

Sometimes life just throws boogers your way.  Literally.  So, I was called to be the primary chorister in my new family ward.  For those of you out there not of the LDS faith, that means I was asked to lead the children in singing time during the last two hours of church.  It's been a real blast.  I get to play games and inspire the children to sing.  However, there are moments where I can tell the children are having fun testing my patience.  We have a big primary program that the children prepare for all year and present to the congregation in the fall.  This means that we teach them a new song every month and try to get them to memorize it!  So, we've been working and working on this piece.  Get this vision: I'm standing in front of the children waving my arm about.  I wore a black top, a black pencil skirt, and a purple sweater.  Scott chose my shoes for the day and he chose what my grandmother would think of as "call girl" shoes.  They are tall.  Very tall black satin beauties that are purely for fashion.  So anyway, I'm standing there in front of the kids and the youngest ones sit in the front so that means the little 3 year olds are the ones RIGHT THERE.  I sometimes feel like I need to present a broadway musical complete with a tap number to get their attention.  Well, I was noticing two of them were turned around in their chairs facing the back of the room and the one who was facing the front was picking his nose.  This little guy was digging DEEP.  All of a sudden something flew my direction.  It was a booger.  That's right...a booger.  And this thing was HUGE.  It was the size of a green pea at least.  I look down at my skirt and there it is.  This booger managed to make it all the way past my music stand, through my waving hand, and onto my beautifully pressed skirt. What did I do?  I wiped it off and kept conducting.  I didn't even think twice.  I guess that's one less nasty child thing that has the potential to gross me out as a mother.  (I've already dealt with the projectile vomit thing...that was nastAy! But I survived).  The moral of my story, when life throws a booger your way, just deal.

Talents

I'm teaching the lesson in church tomorrow on talents.  As I was brainstorming this topic a few things came to mind.  One is that not everyone feels that they have a talent but that God teaches each of us actually do.  When we say this in church I feel that we often miss the meat of the point.  It's not that we want to butter everyone up and say "oh, you are so special and you have talent".  We just have to look at the concept of talents from a different perspective.

Multiplying Their Talents

BY RYANNE ROBERTS

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Just like in the parable of the talents, my classmates used their talents to help me.

I recently had an experience that changed my idea of service. It started when a professor of mine gave everyone in the class a one dollar bill. Our assignment was to find someone who really needed help and find a way to serve them using just the dollar we were given.

I did not think much about the assignment. In fact, I gave my dollar to a little boy so he could get a snack while he waited for his parents.

The day the assignment was due, a girl got up to talk about her experience. She said that everyone in the class got together to do their service project because if they combined their dollars they would have more to help someone.

I felt completely out of place because I had no idea what they were talking about.

The girl walked over and put a cardboard box on my desk and then she said, “Ryanne, this class loves you for your strength. We each started out with just a dollar, but we were able to put our dollars together and collect some from other people to give to you to help you pay for your arthritis medicine.”

Each member of the class took turns going up to the front and telling me why they loved me. Then they took the money they had raised and placed it in the box.

There were only 10 people in my class, but all together they had raised a few hundred dollars because they cared about me. I was so touched. And I was so impressed and grateful for the thought they had put into the assignment and the caring they showed to me. I was very appreciative of the money because it would help me get medicines that I needed.

The point my professor was trying to make was that everyone is blessed with gifts and talents. It is up to each of us to come up with ways to share our gifts and talents to serve those around us (see Matthew 25:14–30). I learned how wonderful, sincere, and thoughtful service can be.

In my case, my classmates were able to find a way to use their dollars to impact my life. It was more than just the money; it was friendship

I'm having a ___________ day

I've been working as an instructor at The Little Gym since January. Let me tell you it's been one challenging but rewarding experience. I'd say I've learned as much about myself, teaching, and parenting as my kids have learned about coordination and confidence.

My kids always say the cutest things. Some things that stand out in my mind from throughout the semester came from my Funny Bug classes. I teach mostly the 3 and 4 year olds and they are the sweetest most energetic little things. I used to say that I felt awkward around young children. Infants, I was good. Pre Teens, I was good. But, 2 up until somewhere around 8 I didn't know how to talk to them or play with them. Not anymore! These kids have opened up my imagination, tested my patience, and proved to me that I will one day be an awesome mom. Well, anyway, back to the cute things my Funny Bugs say. One day *Nicholas looked at my toe nail polish. I had my nails done for Christmas when I was at home with my family. Nicholas touched my toe and said "oooh, I like your nails!" I imagined him hearing that phrase from his mother or aunts. It was so funny to me that he noticed. Another time, this little girl *Becca said "I'm pretending to be a puppy". I said, "ok, let's pretend to be a puppy while sitting here listening with our friends" (not my most creative teaching moment but hey, I was allowing her to be creative right?) So she joins her classmates as I demonstrate the skills we were to do at that station. Then all of a sudden as I sit down to tell everyone the magic word (which means they can finally explore the gym and run around after 30 whole seconds of sitting still) Becca licked my foot!!! Another time, just recently, I was subbing a grade school class (so a class of 6-12 year olds) and this one little girl was fawning over my engagement ring. I guess I thought it was so funny because it's quite simple and not really "eye catching" like some of these pillow diamond engagement rings you see these days. I was impressed that this little girl could appreciate it's simple beauty. Last but not least, in my dance class just this week I was bringing the girls over to our station to do our bar routine (which by the way is a level 1 USA Gymnastics routine aka my 3 and 4 year olds are doing REAL gymnastics) I was having a hard time convincing *Lilli to play along. I asked her why she didn't want to do the routine and she said "I'm having a bad day". I thought she was doing rather well actually but to her it was a bad day. I wondered if this was something her mom told her or if she thought it up herself. Kids really do say the darndest things.

As I left the gym the other day I decided I was having a bad day. I left and locked the place, headed into my car, and tried to check my phone. I couldn't find it anywhere. I searched through my bag and found nothing. I decided I needed to go back into the gym, get the phone there, and call my cell. Well, I got back out to my car and heard it ring. I searched my bag again but no luck. As I was digging around I found my rasberry chocolate bar that I got from a dance recital the night before. I have been substituting for a friends performing class where she teaches song and dance. It's been an AWESOME gig and they performed really well. I digress. So, at the end of the performance the owner of the studio gave the teachers Ghiradelli chocolate to thank us for our hard work. Well, mine melted in my bag!!! Still no luck with the phone. So, I emptied the contents of my bag on the passenger seat and finally found it. I went back into the gym and locked everything up...again...and headed on my way.

I was just pulling onto center street in Orem and I realized my car was running on fumes. I had to get to a service station and quick! So I pulled into Will's Pit stop which is on the way back to Provo and only got a gallon of gas. Prices are rising now that we're closer to the summer. I just needed to get to the next, more reasonably priced, station. As I pulled onto the street a car rounded the corner and honked up a storm at me. As far as I could tell he was the one speeding. Geez. So, I'm continuing my drive home and all of a sudden this big SUV slows to the speed of a small turtle and pulls into a doctors office without even signalling. ARRRGH! I slammed my breaks and everything that I had just dumped out of my bag (in the search for my phone) went flying down to the floor of the passenger side. Now that's just annoying. By the time I got to my street I decided that this was just a bad day. I looked at the clock to calculate what I was going to do with my afternoon. I realized it had only been about 15 minutes since I left work. Thus, I decided that it was only a bad 15 minutes and that the rest of my day was going to be awesome. It was. :)

Where the heart is

They say that home is where the heart is. Well my heart is physically in California right now. Literally, I'm at home with my fam and celebrating my bridal shower tomorrow. I love the people that live here so yes, my heart is here. However, I've also built a home in Provo Utah where my school friends reside, where many of my family members reside, and where my dearest Scott resides. Can I call him that...is it too mushy to call him dearest publicly like this? Well...he is my dearest. I am happy to share the love in my heart and divide it so I can call many places home :) I heard once from a Sunday school teacher that love is the only thing that multiplies by division.

Speaking of home: I brought a shutter guy into the home Scott and I will be living in to measure the windows and give us a quote for shutters. My parents own the place and we're taking care of maintenance and upgrading the place a bit before they put it on the market as a vacation rental. In the meantime we get to live in a quality community and get way more bang for our buck because we are paying rent to the best landlords money can buy. So, back to the shudders. Dan the blinds man came by and quoted a reasonable price and my mom put money down on the shudders that same day. Then Dan sent an official measuring guy my way. He gave me a call and set up an appointment for the following Thursday. Then I got a call from him asking me if we could reschedule for Tuesday. I had Scott call him and as it turned out, he didn't even come down to Provo on Tuesday at all. So, I thought we were still on for Thursday. Our man Cameron said he'd call after Tuesday and oh surprise surprise he never did. Needless to say when come Thursday I was waiting at the house and didn't see the guy I was pretty ticked. I called Dan and informed him that Cameron rescheduled not once but two times and I wasn't cool with the lack of communication he gave. Mainly that he said he'd call and oh...didn't. Boo I say. I requested that, whether or not Cameron decided to show at our new appointment the following Tuesday, I pretty much demanded that Dan be there to make sure everything went according to plan. Takin. Care. Of business.

In other news I'm working at The Little Gym of Orem which is a total blast. The kids I teach are awesome and I've been teaching there since January. I teach the 3-4 year old classes and these little gems make me smile every day. Sometimes I get done teaching a class and suddenly realize how exhausting it is to chase after 12 3 and 4 year olds for an hour. But then I realize how rewarding it was to see them accomplish something like walking on the high beam by themselves or using the springboard to do an awesome jump forward roll or doing a tummy roll around the beam. They wow me every day and I can tell that they wow themselves because I constantly hear them say "I did it!" with surprise and excitement. I love it.

I'm only taking one class this term (which was the best idea I ever had), studying for the GRE, and having fun playing house with Scott as we get the place ready for August when we finally share our home together.

Game Day 9/4/10

Today is a game day in Provo! I woke up at 8:30 to the sound of text messages. There was a girl who said a week ago that she wanted my contract well, she's been dragging her feet and she said she'd give herself until 9 this morning to make a decision. I get the texts at 8:45 annnnd it was a no. I was thinking arrrrgh! what does she have to lose? Nothing! Park Plaza is where her brother lives even annnnd it would save my life. By life I mean it would save me $1000. Sadly, she chose to stay where she is at. boooo I say to that.

I got dressed for a run to hit campus and look at the wilk board. I wanted to see if girls had picked up my posts...and they had! I figured they would just take my number and leave it there but they didn't. I ran back to campus plaza to make more cards. On my way back I decided to stop by Park Plaza to see if I could talk to my roomies there. I had this crazy thought that maybe, just maybe, since they were already living in a two person room they might be willing to pay the two person price and have management take the bunk out...just in case I couldn't sell my contract. It was just a thought. Keep in mind that I'm trying every angle I can think of to sell this thing. I'm about two days away from printing up a bunch of flyers and putting them in all the women's restrooms on campus. How's that for desperation? There are MANY bathrooms on that campus. Well, the roomies weren't there so I left a note. I decided that my situation totally sucketh. What could be worse than paying $1000 for something you're not even using???

So, I start freaking out. I text the girl that was interested in said girl's contract to try and convince her to buy mine. She didn't want it. I say...why not? yargh. Well, I went back to my apartment eventually to make those other posts for the wilk board. I changed into my swimsuit and decided that after running a few errands I would hit 7 Peaks for some fun. I'm trying to squeeze every penny out of that thing. It's more than paid for itself by now but I'm sure the gross earnings of that water park are large large large. So, I hit the bank and the grocery store. I said a prayer in my car aloud asking God to help me figure out what to do with all my stresses. Right now, mainly the sale of my contract. I continue to run my errands and not more than 10 minutes after that prayer, I get a call about my apartment. God really does hear our prayers. Not that I'm saying he always makes it all right or answers right away but, he is mindful of us. I could attribute this to "chance" or "luck" or "coincidence" but, I prefer to believe that God's hand is always in my life and why?? because he loves me. Because I am his daughter. He and my Heavenly Mother created me. If you're not familiar with this terminology, I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- which means I'm Mormon...so these terms might sound a bit silly but, it makes sense to me and I like it. Give it a try. Try on that thought. You have heavenly parents who gave you life on Earth along with all the joys and trials because they love you. Let that thought marinate in your mind. You might like it too. :)

9/2/10

Today I counted my blessings. I felt so incredibly blessed to be a student at BYU. I felt blessed by the beautiful weather to enjoy. The conditions for life on Earth today seemed absolutely perfect. I had a very full and productive day yesterday. My life just felt in order today. I have a plan of attack for success this semester and I'm feeling ready to make it happen.

As I walked up to campus I listened to "Eye of the Tiger" on my mom's old ipod. I walked to the beat of the music. I was empowered.

5/26/10

Tonight we saw the Holst singers perform in the Temple Church.  Come Jesus Come was such a powerful work.  I got the sense that these singers really understand what they are singing about.  They can feel just as well as the audience the pleading in the opening lines of the piece "come, come, come Jesus, come".  We talked about this piece in class and there was some discussion of how the music aids the text in the pleading prayer to the converging of the different parts on the second page.  I think that maybe the converging voices represents the praying/ pleading individual growing nearer to the Savior or perhaps drawing nearer to his rest.  Such would be the case if the individual was dying.  I also noticed that as we get further into the piece we loose the energy and dynamic contrast from the beginning.  The blend also seems a bit more lazy.  I'm thinking that this may be an intentional reflection of the text speaking of weariness and a longing for death but, then we move into a rejoicing/ dance like section which is full of live and energy.

The concert was interspersed with cello solos which was an absolute delight.  I want to study what it is about stringed instruments that really just seem to penetrate right to the heart.  Interestingly enough, the cordae tendonae pull down on the valves that bring blood from the atriums to the ventricles.  These valves play a major part in creating the pressure necessary for the heart to pump.  Well I digress.  I just wonder if these strings vibrate at a frequency similar to the frequency of low stringed instruments.  It might sound "way out there" but something really happens to me when I hear beautiful cello and violin music.  I nearly cried as the cellist played his first piece, Bach's "Cello Suite no. 1".  This is a well loved piece featured in diamond commercials and car commercials.  It is a lovely piece that, aside from it's pop culture use, can stand it's own among great suites for solo instrumentalists.  I was overcome with emotion hearing this piece in this setting.  It took my breath away. Sadly to say, after the initial effects wore off, I wished the cellist played into his instrument more.  It just felt sort of lack luster by the end.

The Holst Singers came back on with a few German motets that I felt lacked performance qualities like musical nuance but it did have beautiful clarity of tone.

"Sing Ye to the Lord" I felt had great performance quality on the part of the conductor and the choir.  There were some fun stylistic things going on such as trills.  I was impressed by the agility of the choir in the melisma lines; the kind of agility we heard in the London Bach Choir.  By the time we reached the climax of the melismatic-ness in the first section of the piece, things were a mess.

Overall, I was impressed to see this group move from rehearsal mode to concert mode shortly after.  The gave an emotionally charged concert.