101 posts

What?! Just right after I posted about missions, I noticed that it was my 100th post. I should've done something awesome about 100.. like "100 ridiculous things I say" or "My 100 favorite things in the world" or "100 colors of joy" or "100 things in my room."  But you know what.. 100 is a lot. If I did a 100 of something on this blog, that'd just be too long. And probably boring.

Missions

 I’ve been home from my mission for a little over 2 years now (BLOWS MY MIND). And somehow missions are still so exciting to me. Everything about them. From deciding to go, doing the paperwork, waiting for the call in the mail, opening the call, waiting to report, the MTC (learning the gospel and/or language), riding bikes,  moving areas, new companions, sickness, letters, emails, not getting letters, teaching, baptizing, finding less actives, waving at people while riding past them, Mission President interviews, zone conference, district meetings, eating good food, speaking horribly in a foreign language, training, (being trained), serving in your greenie area again, political riots, breaking ankles, riding a klong monster, going to “da mall” to eat “farang” food, getting McDonalds’ delivered to your house, feeling the spirit (but not as a result  of eating the McDonalds)  seeing people truly change and feel Heavenly Father’s love, crying, loving, caring, trying, working, trying more, humbling yourself to learn, LOVING PEOPLE, not judging them, sharing the good news.  

Missions, simple said, are the best life changing experiences EVER.  I know not everyone may share my love and enthusiasm for missions, but I know for me, it was the best decision I’ve made to date.   After the announcement during general conference that the age has been lowered for boys AND girls (YES!) there has been a renewed sense of excitement about missions.  And for weeks after that, it was hot news. Everyone was talking about it and working on papers.   So many people are going on missions this year and I LOVE IT.  One of my personal favorite newly called missionaries is Cody. You can watch him open his mission call here.  SO, SO excited for him. He’s going to be great!

The blessings from serving a mission never end. I'm still amazed.  

Love

It's 2:14 AM and I have to get up for work in about 3 hours, but I really just can't get enough of this song.  It is my new favorite Christmas song. Or maybe just song in general. The piano is beautiful. Her voice is beautiful. The message is beautiful. Love. Just Love.

Merry Christmas Eve!

White Board Wonders

Last week we had an impromptu math lecture in our living room. We needed something to write on so I grabbed the whiteboard from my room and hung it up on the wall.  And then something magical happened. The white board became our new obsession. I don’t know why it was so fun to practice college algebra that night (especially when I felt so frustrated that I couldn’t remember how to do it) but it started a learning revolution and altered the way we spent time together.   

Just last night we were at dinner with friends and Erin looked over at me and said “You know what we forgot? The whiteboard!” and there was a general overall sadness that we forgot our new BFF.

I know that this may sound ridiculous- and you’re right… I’m romanticizing it all (I mean COME ON… a WHITEBOARD?)  But I just am in love with it and the idea of endless possibilities. We could do anything with that board!  It’s fun to say “oh we have a guest lecture tonight on Public Health, or Research Methods, or life skills  (“you have to break some boundaries to make some boundaries.” Pictionary has also made a comeback. It’s a nice throwback to the days when you actually had to spend time talking and interacting together instead of just spending time together looking at a screen.  But I’m not going to lie… if you know me at all, you know I love my youtube videos. Half of the words that come out of my mouth are quotes (ghetto grocery bag) .So I love both watching/sharing great hilarious videos, but I also enjoy talking with people and having old school fun.   

Posting Lag

I've written a few posts, just haven't posted them yet because they're not "ready" yet. I'm kinda slow sometimes. Also, I don't really feel bad about not posting everyday (even though it is my goal for 30 days) and I think it's mainly because 1) It's just a blog...the world is not going to end if I don't write and I won't die or anything if I miss a day and 2) I don't even think anyone is really reading this...so I don't feel accountable to anyone. Apparently I work better if I'm held accountable for what I do. Don't we all?  This isn't the quote I was thinking about just now from Preach My Gospel, but these ARE great quotes about goals:

“Carefully considered goals will give you clear direction and will help you fill your days with activities that help people…”  The achievement of goals requires that we make plans and then act to carry out those plans.  Goals are not achieved by magic. (what if I go to Hogwarts?)

“Challenging goals will help you work effectively and lead you to stretch and grow. Nothing good happens without work.  If you want to achieve something worthwhile in life, there must be effort put forth to bring about the achievement of good goals."   

Amen to that second quote.

New Job = New Life

Back in February my old companion and BFF (and now roomy!), Heidi, who knew I was looking for a new job, suggested that I email my resume into her boss because her company was hiring. All I knew about Heidi's job was that she worked with these crazy girls and that it was fun, but taxing. So, I sent my resume in, had an interview and BAM! I had a new job. And subsequently, a new life.


I really had no idea what I was getting into when I took this job. I can't really describe the feeling I had after the interview and before I accepted the job. It wasn't overwhelming excitement (because it was so unknown), but it wasn't the feeling of “oh, well I really need a job, so I’ll take anything I can get.”

So yes. Now I work at a drug rehab (group home style) for teenage girls.  I never could have imagined myself working at a place like this (I mean, really. Look at my job history: teller, little house on the island bear hunter/fisher, conference assistant/ door locker/ freshman couples heckler, Westward Ho fry maker, receptionist, missionary, nanny, copy maker/book binder. Yoah, what the random? Maybe it's not so weird after all, as random seems to be my norm). 

Like any new job, the first couple weeks were intense and slightly overwhelming.   I constantly felt like I had no idea what I was doing and was very cautions because of the legalities involved with working with high-risk youth, in state custody.  I felt kinda like insta-mom with 14-16, crazy/silly/drug abusing/manipulative/sweet/hilarious and sometimes “beezy” teenage daughters.  As much as I am concerned/complain about my job (sorry Tran, you hear it all) I really, really love it.  I just feel like there is so much possibility and growth. I am privileged to work with girls who have had a crazy (short) life.  It feels similar to missionary life- in the way that we teach life changing principles and then get to watch their personal journey.

And these girls are crazy/fun and we do crazy/fun things (cooking classes, llama farm, color festival, walking in parades with llamas, etc).  I know I’ll talk more about work later, (because it’s taking over my life) but for now you just need to know that I am very thankful for my job and my co-workers (especially Heidi). I feel blessed to have a job that I love and that is helping me to progress in life (it is the reason why I am now starting to prepare to go into Social Work).

Stories

         If I were a girl at the treatment center where I work and I had applied to move up this week, I would have been rejected because I wasn’t doing my stage work consistently. I missed posting for 5 days in a row already. I had a solid 3 days and then nothing.  It’s not that I forgot about it. I actively think about it and even start working on an entry,. I just don’t finish.  Which is the problem that I’m trying to overcome.  I just get overwhelmed sometimes by the thought of posting. Not because it’s a hard thing, but because every time I tell a story, I feel like there is so much more that I need to retell or share so that you, as the reader, can truly understand and know what I'm talking about. (I mean come on…If I were to say that I just really love Transtriperraberiib Limberlost, 3^rd how many of you would really understand what the heck that even means or why it’s so funny? Maybe 3 of you…tops.) There is always more to the story.  And because I’m not a consistent writer (blog, journal, weekly journal), I’m missing out on remembering some my life.

       So I’ll just write and not worry about getting every detail explained/written in chronological order. That’s just too much..

Exactly

This is how I feel sometimes

I have the best friends. EVER.

Back to School

Yesterday was my last class of the semester. Some of you probably didn’t even know that I was back in school (Shout out to Jessica!), but it’s true. I have been taking a research in Stats class at BYU since August. I’m also taking a of couple classes through independent study at BYU, but I don’t want to talk about those right now.  

I felt silly, and then ridiculous for feeling silly, as I walked to my first class of the semester in the JFSB.  Even though I graduated from BYU five and a half (yes…5 ½) years ago, I still spent a decent amount on campus. Especially last year as I studied for the GRE. But I love that I still experienced those first day of school jitters/excitement.

I’ve always loved school. I remember begging my parents to let me take summer school every year (they were creative and had Lisa, my older sister, be our teacher. I got my summer school. She earned money for cheer camp while trying to set Megan and Scott up in every play we ever performed for our end of the summer showcase.  Win-Win-Win (well… Scott and Megan did get married. But not to each other…so a different kinda  Win there.).  Then when August FINALLY came along and we could make the walk/bike ride up to Marengo to look on the lists to see what teacher we would have for the next year, it felt almost like Christmas Eve to me.  Just typing that memory right now got me all excited for another school year (oh to be in 3^rd grade again!)

Overall I had a great experience being back in school after such a long break. I had a great group for my research project (and one over achieving guy that really helped. Thank goodness for that kid!) and I really did study and read this time. I don’t know what I did as an undergrad…. Was I even awake? Dang…now I see why they send Elders out so early. Missions change your life. I felt like a real human student this time around.  I realized I had more control in my learning that ever before. AND the study skills I learned on my mission really did help. (win win again!)

Now I just get to go take my final!  Awesome.

Happy Father's Day!

I just got on Facebook (no surprise there) and was reminded that today is Father’s day in Thailand.  And seeing that I am half Thai (ลูกครึ่ง) I thought I’d give half a Father’s Day shout out to the wonderful man I call Fawther.

 (Dad... we need more pics together.. ok? Kthanxbai)

This man, simply said, is awe-mazing! Seriously. You know how when you’re in second grade and they ask who your hero is and everyone says “my mom” or “my dad” or “ fire trucks”? Well, I’m not really sure what my response was. Maybe someone churchy like Joseph Smith (yay for being 1 of 4 Mormon kids in my entire grade) or maybe it was Captain Planet (EARTH!) or maybe I said my parents…. I don’t remember.  Anyhow… right now I definitely (and confidently) want to say that one of my biggest heroes, and someone I love the most in the history of the world is my Fawther. 

My dad has taught me everything I know. Well… probably not everything. I mean.. I DID have lots of teachers and friends, and siblings, and pets, and “children”  and companions, and church leaders and a mom (Oh, Debbie) that I’ve learned a lot from throughout the years. But everything that was really essential, fundamental and important to know, my dad took time and effort to try to teach me. Granted, I’m not the smartest bulb on the tree (yay, Christmas!) but I’m a lot brighter because of his sagely wisdom.  I love talking with him.  Sometimes we talk for hours and it seems like just minutes have passed. Sometimes we don’t talk for very much at all, but it’s just as equally satisfying. He taught me the value of hard work, compassion, forgiveness, and laughter. He taught me to appreciate the simple things in life (drinking slush while eating BLT sandwiches made from tomatoes he grew in the backyard), and he spoiled me with all things [Daddy! (Tiffany?)  I joke… but really…He’s too good to me].  I will never (EVER EVER—Taylor Swift style?) be able to repay/thank this good man for everything he’s done for me. My gratitude will always be found wanting.  The only thing I hope to do is to pass along his example and traditions to the next generation and to everyone around me. People always joke with my dad that he’ll only get into the Celestial Kingdom because he married my mom (and we’ve discussed how it’s true to an extent… but we’ll talk about Debbie another day) but all I have to say is that Debbie wasn’t looking for another charity to help when she married you, Dad. Likes attract and she knew your potential and your true value and married the crap out of you (before her roommate could).  And Mazel tov to that!

So Fawther - Happy Father’s day!

Peace and blessin’s.

***Happy 'Murican  Fawther's day! *** This is now 6 months later. All of this is still true. I really do have the best dad.  We have a great time together. Thanks for everything!

Challenge ACCEPTED!

So lately when I teach group I will share TED talks with the girls. Last week while I was searching, I came across the 30 Day Challenge . Thanks to the Supersize Me man and his subsequent TV show, this was not a new idea to me. However, watching that TED talk that morning gave me new energy to try it out.  So I’m starting with something relatively easy: blogging.  I realize today is day three, and I’ve already missed one day… but baby steps, right?  Plus I really like this idea. It just seems full of possibility, progress, and fun. Maybe blogging about it will keep my motivated to actually DO it (as I have a problem with finishing things I start…ugh).  

I'm going to pretend it will be half as cool as Wendy's  " The Yes Project" or as dedicated as Amy’s blog, and at least 1/16th as smart as Chris's blog.  However, seeing that my audience is small and filled with close friends and family anyways… it doesn’t matter.  I do what I want.

I need a list of things to write about so I know how to organize this/keep it going.

-Travel blog

-Videos

- Being home for 2 years

-Thailand and my feelings now

- Mission calls

-Miracles

-Friends

-Jobs

-5k/10k/ mud runs

-movies / music

-Use of time

-Favorite Holiday traditions

-City/country life

-Social Work

-being back in school

-Middle school/High school

-hiking

-weddings

-llamas

...and some other stuff. What do you want to read about?

Thanks

I last wrote right before I went to the motherland (Vernal) for Thanksgiving and now I'm writing right after Thanksgiving. A YEAR LATER. Yoah... That was one doozy of a ya-ear.  How did I not write at least ONCE for the past year? Seriously.  Thanksgiving was great [both years. Last year we ended up winning a bunch of stuff at the (surprisingly awesome) Vernal Day's festival. This year I had a southern style Thanksgiving with my BFF's, the Parks, in the morning and then took the girls (more on them later) to Sizzler in the afternoon].  Sitting here right now reflecting on the past year and seeing all the miracles, blessings, challenges and changes that have occurred is kind of blowing my mind. How did I get so lucky?

ok...there will be more (and soon!) and it will be legen-wait for it...and I hope you're not lactose intolerant because the second half of the word is- dairy!