The Road Less Traveled

About 4 years ago, I hit the teacher burn-out wall. After much deliberation, I decided to take a leave of absence and spend some time exploring other career options. Luckily, when the school year ended, I still had a couple of months to look for a job before my teaching paychecks would stop coming. I looked into everything related to teaching that I was remotely qualified for. But about mid-July, I began to get worried I would soon be unemployed. So when a friend forwarded a posted job opening to me, the words "No experience necessary" jumped out at me and I applied immediately.

It was a few weeks and about 3 interviews later that I was offered the job of a software trainer for BrainStorm, Inc. I was woefully under-qualified and under-prepared for this new position. But I found out later that my manager, after interviewing me, told the boss she wanted to hire me even though I knew nothing about software - she just liked me. It was a small miracle I got the job at all - due in large part to her persuasion, of course. I kept it because I worked my tail off. :P

Nothing about learning all the ins and outs of various software programs came easily to me, and traveling around the country to train professional adults was miles out of my comfort zone. But I enjoyed the people at the small company and I gained a lot of experience and confidence in my ability to do incredibly difficult things. I also learned to rely more on the Lord in my job.

But the most incredible thing I gained from this unlikely pathway was lifelong friendship with two of the women I worked with. They are now an important part of my life and I trust their judgement and loyalty. We don't see each other often, but last weekend we were able to spend an evening together, catching up and reaffirming our relationship. I admire these women and I am blessed to know them.

Don't they look fun? They are!

These are the Moments

Logan, Utah temple

Today, I drove 2 1/2 hours to be with a friend for her wedding.

I have always loved the songs from musicals. Especially the epic, life-defining, power-filled ballads. As I sat down tonight to attempt to capture some of my feelings from the day, a song from "Jekyll & Hyde" kept playing through my mind-
"This is the moment, this is the day- when I send all my doubts and demons on their way.
Every endeavor, I have made ever- is coming into play, is here and now- today!
This is the moment, this is the time, when the momentum and the moment are in rhyme...
Give me this moment, this precious chance-
I'll gather up my past, and make some sense at last!"

There are "moments" in our lives that stand out as those that are most defining. Today was one of those.

Melis and I have been close for several years now, through various dates and boyfriends, a husband and annulment (hers, not mine), unemployment, change of employment, agonizing singles activities, family drama, chocolate shakes at Chiles, heartbreaks and triumphs. She is an amazing woman who has great insight into life and relationships. She is beautiful, compassionate, and fun (and the true "dancing queen"!) I treasure her friendship and she is truly like a sister to me. I was grateful to be part of her "family" for her special day.

This has been a contemplative day for me. There is nothing quite like the moments in the temple sealing room. I am prompted to consider what is most important to me and I am reminded of family ties and to look at things through an eternal perspective. These times bring loved ones together, connecting them on a deeper level. And that is really what this life is all about.

Family Fun

A couple of years ago, my sisters and I took their kids to visit the Hee Haw farm in Pleasant Grove during their October "tourist" activities. All the kids enjoyed this experience so much that they have been asking to go back ever since. Last weekend we took the opportunity to visit again and, despite the steep cost (we tried to find coupons, without success), had a great time. Unfortunately, darkness fell before we got to see the animals. But we were able to do just about everything else. I'll let the images speak for themselves.

A great swing - here are half of all my nieces and nephews - the Utah half. 

Me and the girls.

Cool swings made out of tires into horse and tractor shapes.

The jump into the hay.

Action shot!

The cutest farmer I've ever seen!

Not necessarily the smoothest slide...

These cool pedal-motored tractors were a little difficult for the kids to power - so we had to help out a little.

Yeah! We made it through the corn maze!

Enjoying the Season

Autumn and I have always had a very tenuous relationship. As the leaves begin changing their hues to gold, orange, and deep red and the temperature starts to cool, I find I am filled with conflicted feelings. I love the 70-80 degree temperatures, it is kind of fun to start wearing a whole different wardrobe of the clothes I pushed to the back of the closet in May, and I love the combination of colors all around outside. However, the onset of Fall means that Winter is right around the corner. Cold, snow, scraping windows, coats, the confinement of socks & shoes, charcoal mornings and getting home from work after dark. And with the unpredictability of Utah weather, cold winds and snow could come any day. And that is something I have to emotionally brace myself for every year.

All of this often leaves me very ambiguous about my feelings toward Autumn. My time with him is like that fun, exciting fling with a guy you are crushing on but you know is just going to leave you in the end. You can never truly enjoy your time together because you never know which day is the day he will decide to leave you. In short, Autumn toys with my emotions.

Nevertheless, I threw caution to the wind on Saturday and I have to admit it was fun to embrace Autumn and just live in the moment. Jeff knows I love 4-wheeling and he also happens to own a 4-wheeler (along with an exploratory and adventurous spirit), and he took me to the mountains above Castle Dale. I have been amazed at all the places I have never been that are within a few short hours of where I have spent my entire life! Anyway, the colors were amazing, and viewing them on the back of a 4-wheeler with the wind blowing my hair back and the mixture of woodsy smells....it was pure heaven. Yes, I am a teensy bit enamored of 4-wheelers. OK, so it's more than a teensy bit. I can't help it.

Jeff kept track of our altitude - over 10,000 feet much of the time - and at one point tried to find the highest point. Good thing it was a beautiful day and wasn't very cold, even at that height.

After the 4-wheeling, we ate at a true "greasy spoon" restaurant on the Main Street of Castle Dale (I think it was the ONLY eating establishment), then took off for a view of the Little Grand Canyon part of the San Rafael Swell. Very cool. Another place that I had never been before. The weather was warm - Summertime warm - so I was loving it.

I will have to re-evaluate my relationship with this fleeting Season. After all, even though he leaves me every year, he also returns each year like clockwork. I should enjoy him while he's here.