Thoughts from ME

Seeing:  the bright sun shine on Aunt K’s piano, sleeping old cats, comfort Making:  sure I am trying to be my best self every new day Cooking:  brown rice – yum! For dinner: brown rice and stir fry veggies -  yum Drinking:  H 2 O – because I don’t drink enough of it and I’m trying to sugar purge (wish me luck ;) Reading:  do you follow me on Goodreads? On my “currently reading” bookshelf are eight books . Apparently I’m having a hard time of it on settling in and reading just one at a time. I’ve always sort of been like that. It’s because they are different genres. If I’m reading a fantasy novel I also have to be reading something intellectual. Unless, of course, on those rare occasions, I have picked up a fantasy that is intellectual enough to satisfy. In which case, I have to also be reading a non-fiction book or some such. Hearing:  my new running playlist. My dear friend Christy turned me on to some new bands which I am enjoying too lo...

One year. It's been one year since I lost my older brother David. I've been pretty ill for the last few days and honestly that's been a hidden blessing. Between being ill and working I haven't had too much time to wallow in missing him. In the year since we lost him, a lot has happened in my family. My little sister finished a year of college and started her mission papers. My brother finished law school and got a job. My older sister is expecting her second child. My other brother has almost finished a year tour for the military. I took the MCAT, got into medical school, and graduated from college. Pretty amazing things actually when you stop for a moment and look at them. I'm sure there are plenty things I am forgetting. It is part of the human condition to have a shifty memory after all. On my really bad days I am a doubting Thomas. On my excellent days, I feel him close to me. Both are important I think. For they make up who I am.

Post graduation update for you lovelies. I really miss being a student! Surprise ;) Just kidding, about the surprise part, not the missing school part. I am grateful I have chosen for a career something that will require me to be a student all my life. I've been working at a residential treatment facility for troubled teen girls. It's a bit crazy. And overwhelming, humbling, and occasionally really awesome as well as rewarding. I work full time and my schedule is a bit crazy which is difficult for me but is excellent practice for my internship and residency years - This is what I tell myself to lower my anger levels at not getting the sleep I want to get when I want it. You don't realize that college is actually a pretty sweet set up really. I've been frustrated though. I live at home and we live in a country town and I don't know anyone here that is even remotely close to my age. I've found myself getting pretty moody about this lately and I realized I need...

From the doctrine of Christ/ Rel200 packet and Proclamation From personality theories and Psychology in general (Quotes taken from Hergenhahn and Olsen's "An Introduction to Theories of Personality" 1 unless otherwise stated.) ALFRED ADLER “Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children… In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.” (Family A Proclamation to the World) “Every marriage is tested repeatedly by three kinds of wolves… the third wolf is excessive individualism.” (Bruce C. Hafen’s “Covenant Marriage”) For Love and marriage to succeed requires these three ideas: Preparation of involving two people, consciousness of equal worth, and capacity for devotion. (Social Interest) We declare that God’s commandment for his children to multiply an...

An experience. I'm a teacher's assistant and part of my job is holding the open labs for students in neurobiology to come study neuroanatomy. I'm in charge of Tuesday nights. It was the week of Thanksgiving and my school doesn't hold classes on Wednesday so many students had already left for the holiday. I didn't want to hold the open lab and even considered not holding it. I'm so glad I did. One student came. Just one. He studied for fifteen minutes before we began to talk. I asked him a simple question that led to what I sincerely hope will be one of the most influential moments of my college career. This kid is young. Just started college. He doesn't know what he's doing yet. He probably isn't comfortable living on his own, making his own choices, making his own dinner even. But he is old enough to be a missionary. So I asked him whether he was planning on serving a mission for our church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He ...

The prospect of graduating from college is terrible-nerve-wrecking-awesome-exciting-throw-up-in-your-mouth-happy. Does that explain it to you? Does that properly explain how you felt when you graduated? After a HUGE amount of time which I'd rather not share because it's slightly embarrassing, I am graduating with my undergraduate degree in Psychology. A Bachelor of Science. My degree qualifies me to do nothing. Absolutely nothing. Do you know what you have to do to use your BS in Psychology? You have to get more schooling....  ...  So what will I be doing? Honestly? I don't know yet. It sounds awful. It feels awful.  I have been admitted into a medical school. I'm grateful for an acceptance. And it's definitely a path and a continuation and will lead me into a career. So there's that.

"Thus saith the Lord of hosts; consider your ways." Haggai 1:7, KJV Seeing: colors. the bright yellow-orange-pink of grapefruit. the grey-blue of the day waking up. Making:  baby steps to perfection and eternal life. Cooking:  feijouda (a brazilian black bean meat stew - it's delicious, trust me.) Drinking:  raspberry herbal tea. the color of this tea is beautiful. a rich brown with red tones. Reading: textbooks. sensation and perception. abnormal psychology. the lesson on pride today for sunday school. Hearing:  some of my favorite christian rock music. there is a lot of christian music i can't stand. but there are plenty that i love. jj heller's love can make you new - a beautiful testament on the enabling power of the atonement. Wanting:  this moment to last forever. more frequently than not, i find myself comfortable in my now and not wanting it to go. the lesson of enjoying my now took a lot of work and patience and maybe i learne...