the rest is just sand

Have you heard that story about the psychology professor who teaches his class about priorities? If not, you really should. Basically, he fills a jar with golf balls and asks the class "is it full?" Yes, they say.

Then he fills it with gravel and asks "is it full?" Yes, they say. Then, he fills the jar with sand and asks "s it full?" Yes, they say. Then, he pours a bottle of beer or coffee or something (here is where the story differs) over the top and declares it full.

The lesson? Fill your day with the big, important things and fit in the rest as you go. Don't fill your day with unimportant things (the sand) or the important things (golf balls) won't fit.

Or put another way

I have been thinking about this story a lot lately. I have been filling my day with sand. Sometimes, I get up to gravel, but I have been neglecting my golf balls for some time. I have been focused so much on work, I have neglected many other things. One day, I realized that work is not even a golf ball! Wow. It is necessary, yes, but not the most important thing in my life. Here's my short, planning to grow list.

Golf balls (in no particular order):

• Health
• Family
• Testimony
• Embroidery

Gravel (in no particular order):

• Work 
• Cello 
• Travel

Sand (just as they come to me): 

• social media
• TV
• movies
• almost anything electronic

But at the end of the day, there is always time for a drink with a good friend.

adventures in va - part two

I am now spending my second Saturday in my own place in VA. I was hoping to do more than work this week but that didn't really happen. We have six proposals due next week plus I was asked to give a presentation on what I've been doing for the past six weeks to the board of directors. Needless to say, my time has been spent working.

However, I did find some time to squeeze in a few personal things.

1. I went to my soon-to-be permanent ward. What a fun group! I can't wait to get more involved. They have already offered to come visit me but since I don't really have any furniture, I thought either sitting on my bed or my floor would be a bit unaccommodating. So, we decided to have them come visit on my next commute.

2. I ordered a couch! Yup, it is a queen size sleeper so I can host company. But also amazingly comfy. I also ordered a storage ottoman so I can really lounge if I want to. :) They didn't have what I wanted in stock so I had to have it special ordered. It will be done in 6-8 weeks, just in time for me to enjoy on my next commute.

3. I ordered a rug and new bed set. I looked everywhere for a rug. All the sales associates kept asking what I wanted. I told them I had no idea but would know it when I found it. Well, I found it. And isn't it beautiful? I love it. And it is a soft wool. Will be a bugger to clean but I'll worry about that when it gets dirty. My bed set is fun. It is call script and has words (I think in French) written all over it. It doesn't add much color to my place, but I have a plan for that. And no, I'm not spilling my plan. You will see evidence of it in a future adventure! Here are some close ups of my amazing rug. Isn't it just full of fabulousness?

4. I got a new fridge! It is really not much but a big improvement over the one I had. It is still a counter height fridge but the freezer is a separate compartment so my food won't freeze and the stuffs in the freezer will stay frozen. Believe me, this is a major improvement.

5. I got the wireless to work. I had access to an ethernet port but I have so many devices, I really wanted wireless. After a quick trip to the local RadioShack, I installed a wifi booster and now everything works with full bars. Love it!

6. I raided the garage for additional furniture. Ann helped me raid the garage for a chest, end table, dining table, a couple of chairs and some lamps...to help me fill up the space until I bring my own stuff out in June. The chairs are falling apart and I don't dare sit on them much, but at least I can sit somewhere besides my bed or the floor. It is a nice change. Here is my place a week later. Good improvements don't you think?

7. I found a back way to work! It took me a couple of days (kept getting lost) but I finally found a back way to work! It now takes me 6 minutes to get to work instead of 8. :)

And, other than some food and miscellaneous shopping, I haven't done much of anything....besides work. Still, I feel like I had a productive, adventurous week. I am starting to find things without the GPS and am getting really good at U-turns.

when i'm the one standing in my way

This week has been very enlightening to me personally. I have always thought I was a strong individual and able to conquer the world. This week, I realized how many insecurities I was still harboring. Wow! It is kind of a bit scary how insecure I still am in some ways! And, here I was patting myself on the back for being such a cool cat. But, I'm tying myself down, limiting my potential, rereading the last chapter of my life.



Seriously, I realized this week how much I was letting my experiences at New Dawn decrease my chances of being successful at AMCAD. See, whenever I tried something new at New Dawn, the answer was always no. I would sometimes move ahead as much as possible and the executive team would change their minds, but most often not. I stopped asking and just did.

At AMCAD, I am expected to ask. I need to have data behind my requests and there will always be a compromise, but I have to ask! I have tentatively asked some questions and the answers are tentatively YES! I am viewed as the expert, not just someone who is pushy. I am empowered to make radical changes, as long as they are the ones that will make the best, most positive changes throughout the company. I am truly starting a new chapter in my career, self-esteem, and confidence.

I said this was going to be an interesting year. Well, here it is just barely the end of February and I feel like a new person! I just can't express how excited I am to step into this new role and really change the world! At least my little corner of it. :)

adventures in va - part one

Well, it is official. I have my own residence in Virginia! No more living out of hotels and eating out. Although I am still "commuting" back and forth, it is nice to have a place to call my own and feel welcome.

My adventures began on Monday. I finally made it to VA about 9am after a very long day playing with the SCA and night traveling from Vegas to DC. On my drive to the office, I thought I would make it without my GPS turned on, partly because my phone died and I was feeling lazy, partly because I thought I was amazing, and having driven that way three times already, I could surely do it again...right? Well, if I would NOT have missed my exit, all would have been well. Having missed my exit, I got so turned around I really had no idea which way I was heading. Was finally able to pull off the freeway, plug in my phone, and get back on the right track. I was an hour late getting to the office, but I don't think anyone noticed. I worked for a couple of hours (until I couldn't think straight anymore) and then drove to my new....very empty....place.

But Ann made sure that I felt welcome.

Although I had a key to my place, I didn't actually stay there until today. I needed a bed. I was offered a mattress to stay on the floor but couldn't get my achy bones to agree with that idea. So, I stayed in a hotel until last night. Today, I unpacked the kitchen and bathroom stuffs I had brought with me and waited for my bed to be delivered. I was lucky in my bed shopping. I was able to get a platform bed (love the clean look of the lower foot board) with a sleigh headboard (another style of bed I love) and two drawers (can we say yay for storage!). The beauty of a platform bed is that you only need one mattress, the bed acts as the foundation. But alas, when my bed was delivered, this is what I got.

Yup, that sucker is about FOUR FEET TALL!! I have to use a chair to get on it. I knew immediately the person who put my order together messed up. I thought about making the delivery peeps just take it right back out the door but I wanted to make sure I could return it without any problems so I needed to call the store, and not wanting to hold up the deliveries of other people waiting on new stuff that I day, I just signed the paperwork. I was on the phone with the store before they even pulled out of the driveway. And, I was able to get a full refund for the unnecessary mattress and schedule a pick up.

What a week!

today was just one of those days...

Yup, one of those days where everything goes wrong and the stress builds up until...



I know it will all pass. I know things will get better. I know that this is not permanent. But still. I don't love days like today. I'm tired, I forgot to eat lunch, and I haven't exercised for over a month (so much for my foundation for fitness). I'm really looking forward to the weekend. Who knows, I might even do something quite dangerous. :)

sometimes it is not worth coming home...

Wow, what a week. Seriously, I am only in Logan for one week and so much has happened.

First, it has snowed EVERY. SINGLE. DAY! And, we are not talking a little bit. I've moved at least six inches of snow every day. I know this area needs to moisture. I know everyone has been praying for it. I just need to let it happen. If I could just hole myself up in my house and watch it snow I wouldn't mind. Unfortunately, I need to be out and about and driving around in this mess. Here is a picture of what fell last night. This is day 5.

Second, I get a NEW FURNACE! Yup, that's what I said, a new furnace. I kind of figured that something was wrong but didn't know how serious it was until I had someone come out and look at it. 1. The filter design is severely lacking. As in, it doesn't actually filter what I needs to. So, the furnace is dirty and that was causing problems. 2. It has a prolonged flameout, which means that the flame is coming out as far as the door and shouldn't be working as it is a HUGE fire hazard. The safety measures that would prevent the furnace from working with such a flagrant fire hazard were never installed...like ever.

And now, tonight I travel to Savannah, GA for five days. Back to Logan for 2. Down to Vegas for 3. Back to VA for three weeks. YaY!!

feeling blessed in so many ways

When I was offered this job in Virginia, I was very apprehensive about moving that far away from family. Kaitlyn said she felt like I was abandoning her. Wells said he expected random packages to show up on his doorstep (now that he is only 1.5 hours away).

However, I felt like I was being led in this direction. Everything seemed to just work out. I took a deep breath and accepted the job knowing that things were never going to be the same. I am now in week four of the craziness that is 2014. Here is an update.

1. The job is very interesting. I'm working with some great people. The proposal process (my first assignment) is a complete mess but not unmanageable. I know what to do and how to do it. I am now just working through the many processes and trying not to get overwhelmed. This is always the fun part for me, the part when I never lack for things to do, the part where I can see huge improvements by making small, simple changes. The part where I am challenged.

2. I have been so worried about moving into an apartment complex. I just didn't like the idea...at all! All those people crammed together, noise above and below, 2-3 flights of stairs just to reach the door, the expense...all of it. When visiting with a family I know in VA, the mom talked about how she found a basement apartment for her oldest daughter. It got me thinking. Maybe I needed to find a room and not an apartment. I found several listings and even went to look at one place and just didn't feel good about any of them. I had decided to quit trying to find a share and go back to looking at apartments. Then one morning, I had the thought "check the listings today." I talked myself out of it because I was leaving the next day to go back to Utah. Again, "check the listings today." And there it was, the perfect listing. A studio apartment over the garage of a "empty nest" couple in a home neighborhood (not an apartment complex) about 1/2 block from the rail trail (45 miles of paved cycling!!). I texted them but they couldn't meet until Saturday and I was flying home on Friday. Then, they agreed to show me the apartment over skype. I didn't get a great view of it but I loved what I saw and I seriously feel in love with the landlady. I have a private entrance. I have 2 skylights. I have access to 1/4 acre backyard. I can grow a garden if I want. I can hit the trails and get lost on my bike for hours. And, only about $100 more than what I am paying for housing in Logan.  Perfection! Here is my new crib ...

3. My company agreed to pay the rent and utilities for the next five months (Feb - June). Woot!

4. I am blessed beyond compare. I know the next five months are going to be completely insane but I also know that everything is going to work out. How can it not? I am being helped every step of the way. I must have a Grandma Guardian Angel telling me to ...



You know who I'm talking about! :)