Miracle Mark

If you know the movie I modified the title of this post from, 100 bonus points for you!
Now, on to the important stuff. Just over a year ago, perhaps on New Year's Day (?) I was reading my sister's blog. This is her opening to hew New Year's post: "This past year we received two thousand ten plus blessings. I'm excited for the one more blessing we'll receive this new year. I am just feeling really blessed in my life right now." As I read that I stopped and asked myself if she was pregnant. Apparently others thought the same thing too, because some friends commented asking if she was indeed expecting. I realized quickly that she was referring to the year (2010, hence the two thousand and ten blessings, plus one more for 2011) and I laughed as I told her of her almost-folly the next day. To my surprise she got really quiet and looked around to make sure no one else was around then told me that she was indeed expecting! A Freudian slip! She really did mean the number of blessings to equal the year, but it just worked out that she would be receiving one more blessing in the form of a child. Little did we know that this one blessing would lead to so many others.
Being around for this pregnancy was a lot of fun, and a lot of work at first! It was so hard to know and not be able to tell! I was in charge of making sure that my sister got to eat when we needed to at parties, and that she didn't get too tired. I kept waiting and waiting for her to make the big announcement so that I wouldn't have to keep the secret anymore! Tell she did, on Valentine's Day, which was a lot of fun. Sam started saying "baby, baby, baby" and patting his tummy, and we all started making preparations for the new little guy to join our family.
On August 23rd little Mark Emmitt Clay was born at 7:15 pm, weighing in at 7 lbs 4 oz, 20 1/2 inches long. His best feature-his flaming red hair! Marmitt, as his Nanny likes to call him, is like the horse of many colors when it comes to his hair; sometimes it's strawberry blonde, red, flaming red, and all shades in between. I got to meet him the very night he was born and introduce myself, which I loved! Little Marmitt being born also meant that I got to spend some Nanny time with Sam, which I loved! We played, had tons of fun, and got things ready for when Mommy and the baby came home. It was great! I got to stay with the happy family for a few days to help everyone adjust, and then I got a new job so I had to take off for home. It was hard to leave my little guy, but a Nanny is never far away!
On September 4th I was in the middle of a long Sunday nap when my Mom woke me up. I could hear panic in her voice as she told me that our Marmitt had been taken by ambulance to Primary Children's (hospital) because he was having seizures. I jumped out of bed and in less than 5 minutes we were on the road, heading to SLC.
When we arrived at the hospital we were taken to the ER room, but everyone was gone to a test. We anxiously waited and a few minutes later everyone came back, little Marmitt on a big stretcher hooked up to machines, with Mommy and Daddy close by his side. We found out that he had bleeding on his brain, which was causing the seizures. This started a long and scary road for our little miracle boy.
Marmitt spent 13 days at Primary's, with lots of ups and downs. So many prayers were said for him, and I know that the faith of those prayers is what saved that little boy. At first we weren't allowed to touch him while he was in the PICU because they didn't want him to get over-stimulated. Seeing him hooked up to all of those machines and wires was really hard. One of the many miracles that this little boy experienced was in his Uncle J and Aunt Fishy's wedding day. Jolene and Nic left him in the PICU to come to the sealing and wedding brunch. When they got back to the hospital they found out that the little Marmitt had been graduated to a regular room-no more PICU! It was a perfect addition to that day! I know that the temples of the Lord bring blessings for those who attend, and this day was no different. Our entire family was in the temple that day, and we were blessed for it. We had a wedding miracle! There were plenty of other miracles that the little Marmitt boy experienced, this is just one of them.
Finally Marmitt got to come home after 13 days. It was a crazy time for everyone, but eventually life got back to "normal." Marmitt has been getting services from Early Intervention, and from them we learned that he is even more of a miracle. For the severity of his bleed he is doing amazingly well! He has a slight weakness on his right side, but that is it. The little miracle boy kept proving to be a miracle!
Earlier this month Jolene took Marmitt in for his regular checkup with his neurosurgery team. That was when they found out that Marmitt had hydrocephalus, also known as swelling of the brain. The doctors had initially believed that Marmitt's body would take care of everything on its own, but now it was telling them otherwise. The solution: a shunt. A shunt is a device that is surgically placed in the body that moves excess fluid from one place to another, in this case from Marmitt's brain to his belly. We were all nervous about this "minor" surgery, but excited for something that was going to help Marmitt in the long-run.
My Christmas wish this year was that our little Marmitt would be home to enjoy Christmas with us. His surgery was on the 19th, just days away from the festivities. More prayers were said for the little miracle boy, and once again, faith overcame fear and doubt. Marmitt came through the surgery like a champ, impressing his doctors and nurses. He came home as scheduled, and is doing great. It's crazy to see the difference the shunt has already made in the Marmitt boy! He was a happy baby before, and even happier now! (Minus a little minor grumpiness due to a cold...) He is truly a miracle boy! And my Christmas wish came true-the little miracle boy was with us on Christmas morning! Our entire family got to celebrate Christmas together, which is a great blessing!
I know that God hears and answers our prayers. Sometimes we go through hard times, but the Lord it with us through it all. When we are weak He is there to be our strength. The Little Miracle Boy, Miracle Mark, is proof that God is not absent from our lives. He still works miracles in our lives every single day. God loves us and showers us with his blessings.

Photos:

Top: Marmitt's hospital "mugshot"

Second: at home, a few days old

Third: Marmitt's hospital stay

Last: Marmitt 2 days post-surgery

Chasing heartbreak

Lately I've noticed myself being crazy envious of people breaking up in movies. Yes, you read that right. I am envious that they are breaking up. Why? The answer is quite simple: two people breaking up means that they had a relationship to begin with. My favorite breakups are the ones where the two people are meant to be together, and you can just tell it. When they get to the climatic breakup scene they are both so heartbroken over the fact that they are ending their relationship. This usually calls for an epic song (if you're watching a musical) and plenty of tears on both sides. There is generally some pretty awesome and quotable dialogue as well. I love the look of desperate love in the eyes of the breakees, and you feel like your heart is being ripped out, just like theirs.
I know that it sounds crazy, but I envy that these people had something so hard to let go of in the first place. I've had a few breakups in my life, and I don't want to repeat any of those moments (perhaps because they weren't as epically tragic as the ones in the movies) yet I long for my own breakup. I was talking to a fried today who was trying to convince me to take an institute class called "Happiness in Dating." I ensured him that I am finding plenty of happiness in being single, to which my friend replied that I needed to learn to find happiness in dating. And thus we get to the point of this post. I want to date. Even if it means getting my heart broken, I at least want to have cared and have been cared about that much by a person of the opposite gender.
I had such high hopes that this past Christmas season would bring a new relationship my way. I could just feel it! I knew that the twinkling lights and softly falling snow would surely bring a sweet romance into my life, leaving a soft smile on my face. Christmas has now come and gone, and no romance came my way. I'll blame it on the lack of softly falling snow, or any snow for that matter, but I won't give up the hope that it will come. I know that somewhere, someday, it will happen. Maybe what I should be looking for is a spring fling...haha! Until then I will keep enjoying my tragic breakups, and subsequent makeups, and keep that faith that both are coming my way!

Celebration!

Wow, it's been a whopping 5 days since my last post! Haha! My journal is grateful though, things were getting pretty boring because I didn't feel like writing everything out twice!
It's been a nice start to the month of December. Yesterday we got to celebrate my Dad's birthday. I did my best to make it a fun day for him. Before I went to bed on Saturday night I put little signs all around the house wishing him a happy birthday. To top it off I made a happy birthday banner! I thought that it was pretty darn cute! I hope that he liked it too! When my Dad got home from his meetings I gave him a special pre-present present: some crackers, cheese, and salami. When he opened it he just rolled his eyes! The salami had been purchased a few days before, by my Dad. The crackers came from a box in the kitchen, but the cheese was a new addition purchased by yours truly! I wanted him to have a nice birthday snack! So thoughtful of me, so thoughtful!
Later in the evening we had everyone over for birthday dinner. Dad got to choose the dinner-ribs, baked potatoes, and other random dishes that my Mom made up. :) It was a fun time celebrating my Dad's birthday! He got some pretty cool gifts, including a Harry Potter book that talks about how they made the movies, new belt, new pants...good times!
I think that about covers the past five days! I'm looking forward to Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year!

I'm thankful for...

Day 30
Last week I was helping one of my students write a list of things that he was thankful for. The first thing on his list was Thanksgiving. I smiled at his "thanks" for Thanksgiving and went on with the list. Over the past week or so I've realized the depth of this little man's answer, and so today I too, am thankful for Thanksgiving.
Many people don't really care for Thanksgiving, and that's their own prerogative. As for me, I love it! Being in the South taught me to love THANKSgiving (they really emphasize the THANKS part of the word and holiday), but it's not a new love. I love the love that stems from this holiday, and how thankful people become for all of the little things in their lives. I am thankful to have a reminder to look deep down and think about what it is that truly makes me thankful. I am thankful for a holiday that brings families together. I am thankful for the service that so many offer in effort to make the Thanksgiving holiday nice for others. I love the opportunity to give thanks.
Thank you to my little man for teaching me to be thankful for THANKSgiving! It took me a few extra days, but I caught on!

Princess Fruit Smiles

Day 29
Today I am thankful for the kids that I work with. Each day brings something new from them and I love it! Sometimes they give me challenges that I have to work really hard to overcome, but each challenge is a learning process, and I become wiser because of them! I want to share three quick snapshots of why I'm so thankful for my students.
At the beginning of the year when the weather was nice I would go with one of my students out to recess. We would lie on the grass in the shade of a nice tree and talk. One day he turned to me and said "This is the best day ever!" That one sentence made my heart so happy! As the days wore on we played games where he was the prince and I was the princess. Now that the days are colder we don't get that same opportunity to just take it easy at recess, and we haven't talked about princes, princesses, or dragons in a long time. Yesterday while we were reading my sweet little guy looked at me and said "You're the princess. I'm the king." Every girl wants to get told that she is a princess, and each time I hear those words from this guy my heart smiles!
Another one of my students is a very picky eater, and one of my jobs is to make sure that more fruits and veggies are consumed. Easier said than done! Seriously, you would think that I'm trying to poison the kid with the faces that get pulled. I'm not a completely terrible person, I only ask that my student take one bite of whatever we chose as our fruit/veggie. We've missed many minutes of recess just waiting for that one bite to be taken, I've offered so many bribes, and still that one bite is the most dreaded part of lunch. A few weeks ago I had to miss a couple of days of school for training. When I came back my student proudly told me that they had eaten a bite of orange. I did a quick mental check and couldn't come up with any way for my sub to know of this routine. I asked if the sub had enforced this rule, and the reply totally made my day. "No, I did it myself. I told the sub that's what we do." After so many days of wincing, grimacing, gagging, and finally swallowing, my little student willing participated in our tradition even when I wasn't there! Someone really does listen to me! Getting the one bite is still quite the production, but knowing that my student will willingly do it without me there makes each battle worth it!
The last heart-warming tale from this post is quite simple in nature. It is simply the smile that one of my students gives to me. Smiles are hard to come by with this student, and when I get a true, genuine smile it makes me so happy! That smile that starts in the eyes and travels to the mouth is what I search for each day, and finding it is like finding something that you thought was forever lost but now is found. Such power in smiles!
Needless to say, I LOVE MY STUDENTS! I could go on and on about a million other things that I love about or from my students, but I won't bore you with all the details! For now you may call me Princess Miss Amanda, the fruit & veggie queen, on a quest for smiles. You may now be envious of my job!

Zzzzzzz....

Day 28
Today's thought of thankfulness is very simple: I am thankful that I didn't feel as tired today as I should have. I wasn't feeling well last night and didn't get to sleep until around 3 this morning. Normally this is a recipe for disaster, but somehow I got through the day without feeling sluggish and sleep deprived. For this I am oh so thankful!

Hope

Day 26
Today I am so thankful for lazy weekends! I spent most of my day reading ("The Hunger Games" will pull you in every time!) and watching movies. I did manage to throw in some closet cleaning, oh, and I moved my couch into my sitting room. By myself. It was quite the adventure! It may not have been my most productive day in history, but it was a good day that I am totally satisfied with. I got to take some time just for me, which was really nice.

Day 27
Today I am thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ. So often in life I fall short of who I should be and what I should be doing. I make dumb mistakes, sometimes repeatedly, and sometimes I just overlook doing things that I know deep down I should do. That is where my Savior steps in. He makes up the difference where I so greatly lack, and He so freely forgives. Today in my Sunday School class we talked about hope, and one sister applied it to mean that we hope that we can change. In the gospel of Jesus Christ hope isn't just a wish, it is a sure knowledge that something will happen. When we have the hope that we can change and be better it is a hope that is sure-we can change. It is through our Savior Jesus Christ that we have this bright hope. I know that with His help all things are possible. His atonement makes it so. The atonement gives me hope each and every day that I can be better, and that I can overcome the obstacles which do so easily beset me. I love my Savior with all of my heart, and my hope is anchored in him!

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." Ether 12:4 (Book of Mormon)

The Family Pet

Day 25
Just because Thanksgiving day has come and gone is no reason to stop being thankful! I am going to keep posting my thanks for the remainder of the month, just to help me keep in the spirit of the season.
Today I am thankful for all of the pets in my life, and there are quite a few of them! When I was younger I felt like we were Noah's ark: 2 horses, 2 dogs, 2 cats. It was pretty fun! Pets have always been a big part of our family, and most times they are treated like family! I have learned many valuable lessons from our pets about faith, trust, loyalty, and friendship. So this is a shout-out to all of the awesome pets in my life! Tinkerbelle-my sister dog, Stubby my nephew dog, Sanders my nephew cat, Gus my nephew dog, and Ruger my nephew dog. :)
*I don't have pics of everyone, so I'll have to work on that!

Nanny tales

Day 24
Today I am thankful for my nephews, Turkey and Marmitt. They are the two cutest little boys in the world, and I love being their Nanny!
Today is Turkey's second birthday! We celebrated with him on Sunday. I came quickly to the realization that I have a spending problem when it comes to my little guys, but that's ok! Seeing how much Turkey enjoyed his presents was so much fun. He's growing so fast and learning so much. A few weeks ago when Marmitt was blessed we were all at my sister's house for dinner afterwards. It was past Turkey's nap time, so I decided that the two of us would sneak into Jolene and Nic's room for a little nap. We were both on the bed, me with my eyes closed and pretending to be asleep when suddenly I felt a little hand on my face. "Nanny, you sleepin?" Try as I might I could not contain my laughter! It was so adorable to hear that little voice ask me if I was sleeping. I tried to pretend to be asleep again with similar results, only it moved from a hand on the face to a little boy climbing on my back. My little Turkey is the sweetest thing ever, and I am so lucky to be his Nanny! There is no sweeter sound in the world than to hear "Nanny! Nanny! Nanny!" when he sees me, and there's no greater feeling in the world than him hugging and kissing me. So thankful for that little boy!
Yesterday was Marmitt's 3-month birthday. He is the same age now that Turkey was when I met him. My little Marmitt is getting so big and so fun! He has started smiling now, and as I held him the other night he was so happy and smiling at me! He is even starting to love kisses from his Nanny. Just like his big brother, this little guy has his Nanny wrapped around his finger! My little Marmitt is so stinking cute-with hair that changes from platinum blonde to red depending on the day (and probably his mood!) and the sweetest little smile and cheeks...he's a keeper, that's fo sho! I'm so excited to watch this little Marmitt grow, and can't wait until he's yelling "Nanny!" too!
Today is Thanksgiving day, and so it deserves a special "thankful" moment. I am so thankful for my extended family. We had Thanksgiving dinner with my Dad's sister and her family for the first time in years (everyone usually splits up and goes different directions for Thanksgiving, but we do Christmas together) and it was so much fun! I love my Aunt Suzy and Uncle Allen so much! They are the best aunt and uncle that a kid could ask for! Being at their house and just laughing and talking was the best! Their son Danny and his wife Heather were also there with their tow kids, as well as Uncle Allen's mother, Nelly. Such a fun gathering! I am so thankful for family!

The power of the Sister Rings

Day 23
Today I am oh-so-thankful for my wonderful sister, Jolene. Not everyone knows this, but when she and I were younger we didn't really get a long. There is a 9 year age gap between us, so for a long time I was the "annoying little sister" that everyone talks about (really, I was!) and she was the "mean big sister" who never let me have any fun (at least that's how I remember it!). We did plenty to torture one another back in the day, and somehow we both survived.
Fast forward to Jolene going on her mission. I missed her while she was gone, and was excited when she came home, but there still wasn't that deep connection. Then she was home, and we started to do things together. In the 18 months that she had been gone we had both done a lot of growing, and it helped us to grow closer together. Plus, she gave me a pretty awesome "sister" ring, to which she has a twin. To this day we both wear our "sister" rings to prove that we're really sisters!
I am so thankful that we both finally grew up and really got to know one another. In my sister I have found my dearest friend, my kindred spirit. For better or for worse my sister knows me inside and out-and she loves me despite my faults and shortcomings. My sister is someone I know that I can turn to no matter what, and she'll always listen and offer support and counsel. Jolene is my cheerleader, my motivator, my mediator, my sounding board, my rock, and she's a really good shoulder to cry on! We have so much fun together, and it's usually quite the adventure when we're together! Nic calls Jolene and I "surround sound" because we tend to say the same thing, at the same time, over and over again. It's a pretty decent accomplishment, if you ask me! We laugh until we cry, share our most embarrassing moments (crazy enough-plenty of mine have happened in the presence of my sister! Jolene-remember my awesome face-plant in your car?!), and share our innermost secrets and desires. Now you're wishing that you have a sister as awesome as mine! I'm so glad that I get to call her my own. Jolene is one amazing and beautiful woman, and I am so thankful to have her in my life!

"Ask me if I'm a truck."

Day 22
Today I am super-de-duper thankful for my little brother, Jason Dee! Ever since we were little he has always had a way of making me laugh like no one else does. My all-time favorite joke of his goes as follows:
"Ask me if I'm a truck."
"Are you a truck?"
"No."
I don't know why, but when he first told me this I would laugh my head off! Even now as I sit here and type I'm laughing! There was just something about the way he would say no, like it was the most obscure and ridiculous thing to ask him if he was a truck...I guess you had to be there! (Please note, we were like 11 and 8 respectively when he told me this joke.)
There are other things about my brother that I love and am thankful for besides his sense of humor. When I left for my mission I left behind a teenage boy, but when I came back I found that a man had replaced him. My little brother is so responsible and mature, and he knows how to take care of things. I am so impressed everyday with the man that he has become, and I am so proud to call him my little brother!
We had the opportunity to work together for nearly a year recently, and I loved it. We carpooled everyday and had so many good chances to talk about life and our plans. My brother is someone whom I trust and know that I can talk to, and I know that he will listen and give me sound advice. Now that we aren't working together and he's married and moved out of the house I miss those talks and really look forward to when he comes home and we talk. So here is to my handsome, funny, mature man of a little brother! I love you!

You name that movie!

Day 21
Today I am grateful for my sister in law, Felicia. She is one fun lady! Felicia and my brother started dating while I was on my mission, and I remember that I was a little nervous about it. I wrote Felicia a letter telling her how much I was loving my mission, how wonderful missions are, how much a mission teaches you, how a mission changes you, how awesome missions are...catching a theme here? I wanted to encourage Felicia to go on a mission, just to give me some time so that I could get to know her. Luckily, she didn't heed my advice!
When I got back from Bama she was there at the airport waiting for me with my family, and though she wasn't expecting it, she got a big hug! Since then she has been like a second sister to me. We have fun sister dates eating pizza and watching movies-we even love the same movies! Our first bonding moment was in St. George two years ago at a little store looking at jewelry. Felicia said something like "I'm just here for the food." I told her to name that movie, and she looked at me with a challenge in her eye and said "You name that movie!" That's when we knew that we were meant to be sisters!
Felicia is so much fun, and I am so grateful that she is now part of my eternal family!

She ain't crazy, she's my Mother!

Day 20
Today I am thankful for my Mother. Just in case you didn't know, she's amazing! My Mom is a woman so full of love for her family, and she works so hard to make us happy. Today I got to watch her as she and my Dad prepared a Thanksgiving feast for our family. My Mom likes to make things homey and fun, so we got holiday themed rugs in the kitchen. I love sweet potato soufle with pecans on top, so she made it. My nephew is allergic to milk, so she made him special mashed potatoes with soy milk. We celebrated my nephew's 2nd birthday tonight, so she made sure to have cupcakes and candles ready for him (on top of 3 pies that were brought) so we could celebrate. And her crowning moment for the night-surprise family pictures. My Mom is super amazing, and I am so thankful for all that she teaches me. She might be crazy, but she's my crazy! Here's to the b-e-s-t best of all the r-e-s-t rest moms!
Love,
Tinkerbelle
oops-I meant Manda...I get them confused! :)

The Young Shepherd and the Nativity

Day 19
Today I am thankful for the spirit of the temple. I love going to the temple and taking the "long way" to get there (meaning I walk all around inside Temple Square before actually entering the temple). As I walk I love to just enjoy the sweet spirit that resides on those sacred grounds. It's truly a special place. As I was walking today I found myself walking in-step with a young man. I was off in my dreamy temple-land, so I didn't really notice until he asked me where the entrance to the temple is. I politely pointed it out, and continued walking. I don't know who initiated the rest of the conversation, but for the next few minutes we talked. It was fun. It was his first time going to the SLC temple, and he was there for a friend's wedding. I told him that I really enjoy watching the happy couples come out, and how it makes me laugh a little to see these brides in short sleeves. In Utah. In November. As we reached the main entrance to the temple the young man thanked me again for helping me, and held out his hand. "I'm Lamoni, by the way." My heart smiled. Lamoni and his father are two of my favorite characters from the Book of Mormon! I gave Lamoni my name and we parted ways. Lamoni really helped to set the spirit of the temple for me-unity. As I worshiped today I felt a sense of unity not only with the women whom I was doing the work for, but of the temple workers as well. I saw so many familiar faces too, which added to my feelings of unity.
Upon exiting the temple I was feeling so blessed, peaceful, and full of joy, I didn't want it to end. I gave a little prayer asking to be guided to where I needed to be (hoping that perhaps I would run into Lamoni again...) and started to walk around. Temple Square has all of their lights up for Christmas, and I enjoyed walking around looking at the set-up. (I was there in the afternoon, so no lights for me.) I was drawn to a Nativity scene by the North (?) visitor's center. I saw a little girl in the scene area, dusting off the sheep. A little shepherd in the making! It was really sweet to see her dutifully sweep the snow off of each lamb. As I reflected on the efforts of this young shepherd I found myself gazing on the centerpiece of the Nativity-Mary and Joseph holding their baby, Christ the Lord. It was such a powerful and profound moment, from the feelings of the temple and temple grounds, to the little girl shepherding, to this depiction of our Savior. I don't even know how to put it into words! I was so full of emotion, and I could have stood there all day.
In a little manger our Savior started out His humble life-a life that was lived and spent for the sake of human kind. Because of His life I can have a day like today, full of the temple and the sweet spirit. Because of His life I know that we are all children of God, and that we will all be united with Him again one day. All things are possible through our Savior Jesus Christ, something that He proved to us with His own life. What a great day!

I'm going to say it- TGIF!

Day 17
Today I am thankful for the tender mercies of the Lord in everything that we do. Lately I've been keeping a really close eye on what I eat (school lunch=no bueno! I put on an absurd amount of weight in 3 weeks by adding 2-3 days of school lunch per week!) and trying to get to my goal weight. When I got home my Dad asked if I was making dinner, to which I readily agreed. I had been pondering something light when I saw that he had already taken out some meat-hamburger. I asked what he had planned for it, and discovered that it was all up to my imagination. I decided on tacos-sort of healthy, right? A little meat and cheese, lots of veggies and salsa...sounded good to me! As I started to cook the ground meat I noticed something peculiar about it-it was light, and stayed light even after cooked! It was ground turkey! So much better than ground beef! I smiled as I cooked, knowing that my Heavenly Father is mindful of all that I do, and that my prayers to help me take control of my weight again were not going unanswered! *Note* I'm not sure how the ground turkey came to be-it's not a staple in our house, but I'm not complaining!

Day 18
Today I have so many things that I am thankful for, it's hard to chose just one! This might be another cliche thought, but I am honestly thankful that it is Friday. Monday and Tuesday were two very difficult days to get through, Wednesday was full of trepidation and homework, Thursday still found me on pins and needles, and finally today it's Friday and the start of the weekend. My week has gotten progressively better, but the relief of being able to take a break from work is like having a huge weight taken off of me. It was funny to note at work today that everyone was ready for it to be Friday-we had all fought through the week! I know that my battles this week have left me ready for a mini-vacation and some much needed rest. Not having to worry about what tomorrow will bring at work because there is no work tomorrow is wonderful. Plus, it's snowing and looking like a winter wonderland. Life is good!

Lessons from the King

Day 16
Today I am thankful for Elvis. Yes, I really did just write that I am thankful for Elvis! Here is why: today I was driving home from work and listening to the radio (my Christmas music stations, of course!) when Elvis started singing "Here Comes Santa Claus." Lately I've noticed in the older versions of classic Christmas songs that God is mentioned a lot. This song is no exception "Santa Claus knows we're all God's children and that makes everything right...Peace on earth will come to all if we just follow the light, so let's give thanks to the Lord above..." Sounds a little out of place in a song about Santa Claus, but somehow it works!
Listening to Elvis sing about us all being God's children took me back to Tupelo, MS, and the awesome P-day when I got to visit the Elvis Presley birthplace. They have Elvis' home and church where he first sang. When you take the tour you get to watch a video in the church that portrays how Elvis started out singing gospel music. This set me off to thinking about how Elvis was from the South, and in the South God IS life. He is not a part of your life, literally He is your Life. That was one of the things that I loved about the South-how abundant God was, and how no one was afraid to talk about Him, and most especially-that people actually knew God like He was their friend. They shared a close, personal bond with the Lord, and knew that everyday came from Him.
Thinking about this I came to the conclusion that I want to be more like that in my life. Coming home from the South had me in that mindset, but having lived in the West for almost two years now I have lost sight of that. I live in a predominantly LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) culture, but it's not the same as the South. God is reverenced and worshiped in a completely different way, and that experience has added to my life greatly. I have caught sight of that vision again. The King of Rock and Roll has helped me to turn my sights to the King of Kings and Lord of Hosts. So thank you Elvis, for reminding me what is most important in life, and helping me to remember my Friend.

C*R*A*Z*Y!

Day 15
Today I am so thankful for all of the support staff at work. Hooray for them! Today I had a situation where I realized that I no longer had control, and it was a relief to know that I was not in it alone. Thanks to the fantastic help of the support staff we got things back under control and rolling smoothly. Life can get really crazy, really fast, and it's nice to know that there are always people around to help ease the crazy. I am so blessed to know that this is true, not matter what and no matter where. Crazy seems to follow me like a shadow (hence the title of this blog!) and can strike at any moment. Sometimes it's funny crazy, sometimes sad crazy, sometimes out-of-this-world crazy, and even just crazy-crazy. When crazy does happen I know that it will all turn out, just like it always does! So here's to the craziness of life, and all of the crazies who help me with my own crazy!

Made it Monday

Day 14
Today I am thankful for fresh starts. Finding something to write about today has been a little hard. Today wasn't a horrible day, it just wasn't a fantastic day either. Thus, I am thankful for a fresh start tomorrow. Tomorrow doesn't have to be like today, and I've learned things today that will help me be better tomorrow. The lessons of the past prepare us for the future. I'm looking forward to a Terrific Tuesday!

Things that give me the warm fuzzies!

Day 12
I am thankful for my Abbey! She is A*MAZ*ING! For those of you who don't know, Abbey was one of my mission companions. I love that girl to death! She called me today and we got to have a nice chat. Abbey and I are so much alike, and we really understand one another. It's the best to be able to share your crazy feelings and have someone who understands and doesn't think that you are cray! I am so thankful for the ways in which Abbey encourages and uplifts me! My days are always brighter when I get to talk to her!

Day 13
I am so thankful for the young men in my home ward who bless the sacrament each week for our congregation. They are so thoughtful as they say the words of the prayers, and they aren't afraid to take their time. I was in a sacrament meeting last week where the young men were rushed, and I don't get the same feeling then as I did today as I really got a chance to feel the spirit of the sacramental prayers as they were said. I am so thankful for the time that they give me to feel the spirit and take part of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Thank you so much to those young men!

The Waitress and the Military-man

Day 11
Today is Veteran's Day, and a HUGE thanks goes out to all those who have served, currently serve, and will serve our great country. " Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) So many have given so much, including their lives, so that we might live and enjoy our life and our liberty. I am so grateful for the wonderful Veterans in my life, from my Dad, to uncles, cousins, and Grandpa. I am so grateful for the rich legacy of service to one's country that they set for me.
A special day like this calls for more than one thanks. Thanks to our Veterans was offered in so many ways today, one of which was Applebees. They offered a free meal to Veterans, so that's where we went for dinner tonight. As I was sitting at the table with my parents I looked around at all of the men and women who have served our country I was silently thankful. I must admit though, my mood wasn't where it should have been, so I did not properly take in the scene for what it truly was. I noticed a waitress stop to talk to the older gentleman behind me, and she asked him which branch of the military he had served in. Then I noticed her sit down across from him and talk to him about his experiences. Listening to that conversation brought tears to my eyes. Here I had been caught up in my own little world and thought that I was paying tribute to Veterans with my happy thoughts their way, but here was a girl who was actually putting her thanks into play and talking to a man who had come to dinner all by himself. I got teary eyed and silently kicked myself for being so caught up in myself and not noticing this man. It is men and women like him who quietly do their thing and don't ask for recognition that we are honoring this day. This is my thank you to the waitress at Applebees for teaching me about love, honor, respect, and saying thank you, and for teaching me to look beyond myself.

Ice Away!

Day 10
Today I am thankful for defroster systems in cars, and that mine actually works. I love being able to start up my car and less then five minutes later have the front and back windshields defrosted! How blessed and lucky I am!

If I tilt my head like this...

Day 9
This thankful thought is kind of a cheater one-I've been planning it for quite a few days! Today I am thankful for new contacts! I thought about going all philosophical about this and new sight and clarity, but in reality I'm just thankful for the new lenses themselves. I change out my contacts every month, on the 9th to be precise. I've been looking forward to this change for about three weeks now. No, I'm not cray obsessed with getting the new ones. At some point during the first week of wear last month I managed to scratch my right lens (thank you mascara brush!) and I did a pretty good job of it! I had two lines etched into the lens, which in turn altered my vision. If I cocked my head to the side and squinted I could almost pretend that the line wasn't there, but that's a silly position to walk around in! So I dealt with it, and my glasses got some extra evening wear, as well as some extra daytime mileage. But the new lenses are in and life is good. I am so thankful for these little pieces of plastic (or whatever they are) that allow me the freedom to see without boundaries!

Please, just one bite!

Day8
I love and am so thankful for my job! Yesterday I was at a training, so I wasn't able to be with my students. Today I was so excited to see them, and I had missed them so much! Each of my students has a way to make my heart smile in ways that I can't even begin to explain. Here was a sweet moment with one of them today: one of my students is a very picky eater, and doesn't eat very much. Everyday I make this student choose a fruit or a veggie, and the student has to have at least one bite before we can leave. It's a battle everyday, but my student is a good sport and tries the one bite (with milk in one hand to quickly wash the undesired food down!). Today at lunch my student told me that they had eaten one bite of orange yesterday. I asked who had told my sub about our one bite rule, and the answer surprised me-it was my student! My sweet little anti-anything healthy had actually taken the initiative to tell a visiting adult about a rule which said adult would have otherwise not even known about. So sweet! I was so proud that I just had to reward my student-with a chocolate eyeball! Haha i seriously love my job, and I am thankful for the little moments that make each day amazing in a new way!

It's a Bird! It's a plane! It's Super...wait, it's my DAD!

Day 7
Today I am sooooo very thankful for my Daddy! Just in case you don't know, I have the BEST Dad in the ENTIRE world. Hands down. No contest. My Dad is my hero, one of my very best friends, the best listener in the entire world, a great cook, a Veteran, a merry-maid, source of calm when life is cray, car-man, horse-man, everything-man. There isn't anything that my Dad can't do! Honestly, I'm pretty sure that he is Superman. Don't ya'll wish that he was your Daddy too! My Dad does a lot that goes unnoticed, but not unappreciated by this little girl! I love that he makes dinner 5/7 nights, and that it's delicious to boot! I am so thankful for my Dad and everything that he does for me. I love my Daddy!

"Talked to God like he was talkin' to a Friend..."

Day 6
Today I am so grateful for my brother-in-law, Nic. He and I don't always see eye to eye and we have our differences, but even when we're acting like a couple of old billy goats I know that he is an amazing man deep down. One thing that I particularly love about him is his ability to pray and actually talk to God. I love the opportunities that I have to share prayers in the Jenkins household for this reason. Nic has a way of making a blessing on the food sound real, personal, and so sincere. Hearing him pray always makes me evaluate and change the way that I pray.
My newest nephew (if you don't count Ruger) was given a name and a blessing today. I was really looking forward to this as I had missed Sam's blessing while I was on my mission. I love my nephew, Mark Emmitt Clay to pieces, and knowing that my awesome bro-in-law with his amazing gift to pray and speak to Father made it even more better. Unfortunately, due to some technical issues only the people on the first couple of rows of the chapel got to hear the blessing. I laughed as I realized that I have not heard either of my nephew's blessings (but hey, it keeps it fair!) but it's ok because the important part is that Mark Emmitt Clay was given a blessing, and I know that it was great because it came from Nic. I am so grateful that Nic is a part of our family!

Majesty

Day 5- I love to see the temple, and I am so thankful for it! On my mission we watched a lot of Church movies-they are the best! One of my favorites is "Mountain of the Lord." It wasn't until I was in Clanton, AL and watching that movie that I came to appreciate the majesty and beauty of the Salt Lake City temple. So much time, sacrifice, blood, sweat, and many tears went into the building of this beautiful temple, and I am so grateful for it all! As I walked around Temple Square and over to the temple (I like to take the scenic route!) I could feel the cold air all around me, and as I breathed it in I got a thrill and felt like a giddy schoolgirl! I was about to walk into the temple, and there is no greater feeling in the world than knowing that you are walking into a house of the Lord, that you are worthy to do so, and that He wants you there. I love the spirit of the temple. I am so thankful to all who worked so hard to build it, and for all who keep it running today. I got a picture while I was there, so I'll post it tomorrow!

Days 3 & 4

Day 3- I am so thankful for the institute program that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saints offers its young adults. Institute is a safe-haven where I get a chance to delve deeper into the gospel and hear other thoughts besides my own! Some of my best memories come from institute buildings!

Day 4- I am thankful for perfect timing. Tonight as I got in my car to leave a friend's house I discovered that it was snowing. Big, beautiful, sticky flakes were coming down and had already coated my car. I was a little upset by this arrival, but when I got in my car my attitude changed. I flipped the station to FM 106.5 to see what Christmas music they had going, and right at that moment "Winter Wonderland" started to play. It's one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs, and it so perfectly fit the moment! Although there weren't any sleigh bells ringing as I drove I still got to enjoy my own winter wonderland! So thankful for that timing!

THANKSgiving

'Tis the season...to be thankful. That's right, THANKSgiving is right around the corner, and on fb I have noticed that a lot of people are doing a countdown to the big day by listing things that they are thankful for. Thus, you are getting a new post. I am going to make a goal to give you one thankful post everyday for the rest of the month! Won't that be a change!
Since I'm behind one day I have to play catchup, so...
Day 1-I am thankful for warm coats. I woke up to snow flurries, and as the morning progressed it started to stick. Since my mission I don't deal with the cold as well, so I was especially thankful to have a nice warm coat to protect me from the elements! Actually, I am thankful for all protective clothing!

Day 2-There are so many things to choose from today...but I want to say a BIG thank you to my cohort groupies, Teresa and Vivian. They are such a good sounding board when I need ideas, they help me with things that I don't understand, and they listen when I just need to talk. It's so nice to talk to people in your same field of work because they really understand what you're saying. They know exactly where I'm coming from, and they don't mind the tears I shed as I come to realize how hard it is to love what you do so much. So THANK YOU to them!

Stay tuned for more THANKSgiving!

Leap of Faith

As I was looking at my blog the other day I noticed two things: 1)I'm not very good at keeping up with things, and 2) I haven't written about some of my "Only in Amanda's world" kind of experiences. Oops! So here's to working on that!
First, let's get cozy and catch up with one another! I am officially pursuing my degree in Special Education through Utah State University-Tooele Campus. We are in our third semester of classes, and I am loving it! I've learned so much about what it takes to be a teacher, and I'm more and more sure everyday that this is absolutely that path that I am supposed to be on. I love working with children who have special needs-it is so rewarding for me! Over the summer I was required to complete a practicum, which means that I "volunteered" my time for 6 weeks and kept teacher hours. This meant that I had to quit my job. Ouch, right? Actually, no! It was a huge leap of faith, but I knew that I was doing what the Lord wanted me to do, and thus He would take care of me and provide the means for me to get through. And so I went forward with faith, quite my job, spent time pretending to be a teacher, and even squeezed in an extra trip to Alabama in the middle of it all! Guess what-it all worked out!
My practicum taught me so much! I spent the first three weeks in a 1st grade class and had the time of my life! My cooperating teacher was so amazing and helped me start "files" of activities and work for my future students. She taught me how to love students and always see the best in them. She believes in her students so much, and they can feel that. It is vital to believe in your students and their ability not only to learn, but also to make good behavioral choices, and to succeed in all things. I will never forget the lessons I learned from her! The next three weeks I spent in the 3rd grade-another amazing experience, and for completely different reasons. I didn't love my cooperating teacher's classroom management, but I still learned so much. She taught me what it's really like to be a teacher. She was great to let me teach the class-from planning the lesson, teaching, and following up. There were times that I had no idea what I was doing, or I could tell that the kids weren't getting it, and even a time or two when I had no idea what to do. She never let me fall, and was always there to help in those moments. We shed many tears together, and I grew so much as a teacher. Being a teacher isn't easy-something that I've always known, but now I understand. Such great experiences-I wouldn't trade this summer for any thing in the world-even an income. :)
Remember how I said that things worked out? Well they did, and it was one of those "Only in Amanda's World" moments. I was unemployed, but not too worried (yet) because it gave me time to stay with my sister who was expecting her second baby. During this stage of unemployment the ladies in my group from school told me that there were openings for paras in the school district and that I should apply. This was something that I had wanted to do, but figured that because of timing it would be next year before it would work out. I applied, used my group as my references, and waited. As I was chillin with the Turkey (nephew 1) waiting for little Arliss (nephew 2) to be born (literally-my sister was in labor at the hospital and Turkey and I were anxiously waiting at the house) I got a call asking if I could come in for an interview the next day. It was a little crazy and required a parking lot switch-off of the Turkey with Felicia (my new sis in law!) but I made the interview. They told me that they would let me know by Friday if I had a job, and this was Wednesday. Friday came and went with no word. On Monday morning I got a call asking if I was interested in a job starting the next day. Wow! I took it, and I now work as a paraeducator at an elementary school 20 minutes from my house. Life is good. I start work at 9 am (wonderful!) instead of 6 am with my last job, the commute is 20 minutes vs. 40 with the other job, and I get to hang out with kids all day and do what I love and what I'm meant to do.
Through all of this I can really see the hand of the Lord in my life. None of this could have worked out without him. It has all worked out even better than I could have imagined, and that it thanks to the Man who knows what I need so much better than I do. He is molding me into the person He wants me to be, and I am grateful to bend, shape, and sometimes even break to become what I know will be the best me.
Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Oh, and that new nephew of mine-he is wonderful. Truly a miracle, but that is a story for another day. For now here's a picture.

Who's Your Nanny?!

When I was on my mission we had these missionary trading cards that were part of package we used to deliver copies of the Book of Mormon. On your first night in the mission field they had you fill out this paperwork that had a generic, fill-in-the-blank questionaire of "about me." We did this as our last activity of a very long and physically/emotionally/spiritually draining day. One of the questions of the form I chose asked something about what my life's ambition was, or what I had been doing prior to going out to serve the Lord. I was all out of witty things to say, and the only thing that came to mind was what I had been doing just days before-nannying for a neighbor. So that's what I wrote. I didn't fully understand what this was going to look like until I got my trading cards, and it said that I had left my life's passion as a Nanny to come out and serve the Lord. That accompanied by my, er, stellar first day picture made for some awesome trading cards. Needless to say, I wasn't too anxious to hand those out...
Rewind a few years. Jolene and Nic had an adorable bull mastiff named Gimli. Gimli was a good sport and did almost everything with Jolene and Nic, but every now and then he had to stay home. On those rare occasions I would get to watch him. Before long I became known as the dog Nanny. And not long after that I became officially known as Nanny Manda. We always joked that someday when Jolene and Nic had kids I would be their official Nanny, taking care of the kids, dogs, and whatever/whoever else Jolene and Nic threw at me.
Fast forward, back to the mission. In the fall of 2008 I found out that I was a Nanny again-Jolene and Nic had gotten a new english mastiff named Gus. Once again, I was a Nanny! Then again in the spring of 2009 I found out that I was going to be a Nanny once again, this time to an actual person! I was so excited! Even though I woulnd't get to be there when my new charge made his entrance to the world, I would still get to be his Nanny. My little Turkey was born in the fall of 2009, and before he was even born he had his first outfit from his Nanny, just the first of what was to come. For my birthday that year I got a bag from Jolene, Nic, Turkey, Gimli, and Gus that had a pic of baby Turkey wearing a tie and surrounded by scriptures. The caption said "I hope they call me on a mission....so I can be cool like Nanny Manda!" Before Turkey even met me, he wanted to be like me! :)
As I was leaving my mission I handed out my missionary trading cards and at first thought that it was silly that they said that my life's passion is to be a Nanny, but I would soon find out that I had actually written a very true statement.
When I got home in February of 2010 I got to meet my little Turkey for the first time, and it was love at first sight. Even though he was asleep Nic got him out of his car seat and let me hold him. Man, that little boy stole my heart right away! Ever since that moment we have been the best of buds. I don't get to see my Turkey everyday, but when I do get to see him we spend plenty of time together! I've gotten to practice my Nannying skills with my little Turkey, and we have tons of fun! I always used to sing "twinkle twinkle little star" to Turkey when he was upset and I would make my fingers "twinkle." One day when I was singing Turkey started to "twinkle" his fingers too! It was a special moment for me! Other cute Turkey/Nanny moments include:
*First Kisses
*Hugs (he's the best hugger!)
*Hearing him say "Nanny! Nanny! Nanny!"
*The way his face lights up when he sees me.
*Turkey's first sucker (classic cuteness!)
*Turkey's first birthday
*And every other thing he does!

Turkey and I have had some really awesome times together. And now there's going to be another baby! Turkey and I are quite excited! (Well I am, he still isn't sure what's going on. He just pats his belly and says "baby, baby, baby!")
My goal is to be the best Nanny. Ever. How am I going to accomplish this, you ask? Well I'm buying lots of fun stuff, for the kids, of course! So far I've gotten a Cars snuggie, a Toy Story snuggie, a dinosaur shaped sandwhich cutter, and some really cute stuffed animals. I've started buying things in twos, one for each kid. I've also discovered that my little Turkey loves, and I mean loves fruit snacks, so I make sure to have a good supply on hand when he comes around. Turkey came and stayed at our house during spring break, and it was so hard for me to go to work each day and not get to stay home and play with him. It made coming home that much more fun. It seemed like every day when I got home poor little Turkey was upset and crying, but he would smile and crawl right to me as soon as he saw me. A hug and some snuggles usually did the trick to dry the tears, along with a snack! (I got to try out my dinosaur sandwhich cutter, and I promise, it made the PB&J taste even better!) Turkey and I have shared some fun snuggling moments. I love those times. I am looking forward to more special Nanny moments with Little Arliss (what we are calling the baby for the moment) and Turkey, and any other little ones that come my way!
So, who's your Nanny? I am! Nanny Manda to the rescue!

Reflections on mirrors...

One year ago...I was in Starkville, MS with my dear friend and companion, Jessica. It was a Thursday, so we were inside weekly planning, but Jessica still made sure that it was a special day for me. She made me a beautiful smiling breakfast, did my hair super cute, and even let me wear her sweater (which I later swapped for one of my sweaters...)! To top it off, Jessica even wrapped up some gifts that I had bought the night before with my birthday money and gave them to me at random times during the day. The day concluded with a wedding, fireworks, and a decorated room in our Eupora room. It was great day, and I was surrounded by so many people whom I love! It was a great birthday, my best to date, and it is all because of where I was and who I was.
This year I find myself looking back to that birthday, and I see some big differences. I was with people whom I dearly love, and they did a great job of making this a really special day! I got to choose what I wanted for lunch, there was singing and bugle-ing, I got a yummy cherry cheesecake, and my car is officially "legal" again. Oh, and I did get fireworks! Mama Gerri sent me a firework filled ecard, and as I pulled out into the road after I dropped Casey off, some people a few houses down set off a few fireworks, just for me as I passed. What a great birthday!
I am not the same person I was a year ago. My calling and responsibilities are different. I am different. People still ask me, ten months post-mission, if I am back to "normal" yet. That question makes me uncomfortable, because I don't want to be "normal" ever again, and I am saddened when I realize that I have done something "normal." Not that being "normal" is bad, but it would be turning my back on God to just put everything that I learned from my mission in a rubbermaid container, with my planners and random items I collected, and put it in the basement to collect dust, and only to be remembered randomly. My mission changed me, for good. Sometimes I regress from what I learn, and that is when the disappointment sets in. I know that I know better, and I feel bad for going against that.
Yesterday I celebrated my birthday with my family (a day early) and I wanted to look nice for the celebration. My plans didn't work out as well as I had wanted. My makeup was not what I wanted it to be, my hair was showing my roots from an ill-attempt at becoming a red head, plus it's growing out and looks funky some days, my face blessed me with a birthday present-a birthday breakout, my clothes don't fit the way I want them too...it all just added up to me not really being satisfied. That didn't take away from the fun I had with my family though-they love me and accept me no matter what. I really enjoy being with them! When we got home from our adventures I was in the bathroom getting ready for bed. I had just pulled my hair back to wash my face when I realized how dirty the mirror was. I cleaned it and was amazed at what a difference it had made. Then I realized that the other mirrors were dirty too, so dirty in comparison to the newly clean one, so I cleaned them too. As I was admiring how clean they were I noticed my reflection in the mirror, and what I saw surprised me. There standing before me was a beautiful woman. Her makeup was nice and flattering, her hairdo was cute (she even had a cute flower in it!) you couldn't really see the blemishes on her face, and her outfit was flattering. What had happened to the other girl from a few hours earlier?
It was then that I realized that life is all about perspective, and sometimes we are looking at life through a really dirty mirror, not even realizing how bad it has become. We just get used to it, and it becomes "normal." But once that mirror is clean, oh what a difference it makes! The next logical thought would be a question-how do I get the mirrors in my life clean again? The answer is one that I learned and knew so well a year ago-through our Savior, Jesus Christ. What happens if the mirror gets dirty again? Jesus Christ is still there to help us make it clean again. The best part is that we don't have to wait until the mirror is so dirty that we can't even see ourselves for who we really are-we can have a daily cleaning. Repentance is that process of cleaning, and it is ongoing. Everyday there will be things that come along and start to blur the image in our mirror, "normal, worldly" things, but they don't have to get the best of us. We are children of God, heirs to all that our Father has. We are divine in our nature, loved to the very core, and supported in all that we do. For these reasons and many more we don't have to have blurred, dirty mirrors. We can constantly and consistently have clean mirrors, allowing us to see who we really are. I am a daughter of God, and though the world may try to blur that imagine from time to time, I will always know that truth.
As I've reflected and written all of this out, I've come up with some ideas (goals, if you will) for how I can continue to be that beautiful girl in the mirror. Repentance is a big part of that, along with the daily work of keeping the mirror clean and continued work on the girl herself. They say that beauty radiates from the inside out, so that's what I want to work on-being a more beautiful person on the inside and letting that shine out. The churches in the South are known for the slogans they post on their signs in front of their churches, and one day I saw one that sticks in my mind. The church itself was undergoing some major construction and renovation. Their sign simple read "Please pardon our progress." I liked that because they were looking not at what they were right then, but what the church would be when it was completed. That's my motto too-please pardon my progress. I have character flaws and things that dirty up my mirror, but I'm working on them. I have a Savior to lead and guide me every step of the way, and together we will help that beautiful woman keep her mirror clean!

ps-pun totally intended on the title!