Did you belong to girl scouts as a child. Tell about your experiences.
Well I know that I am probably supposed to write about a bunch of life lessons/life skills that I learned as a child from Girl Scouts. Well actually I was never a scout-but I was in Brownies once. Unfortunately this is not going to be one of those kind of posts.
Lets see what I remember. Randomly my mom asked me as a kid if I wanted to join Brownies. It was going to be in North Battleford but there were 3 other girls from Rabbit Lake that would be doing it so we would go together. There was Jennifer (my neighbor), Tenille (a friend) and Darcy (a friend). All of our moms would take turns driving us into town for Brownies once a week. I think that pretty much all I learned was that I absolutely hated driving into town with other people's moms. I hated riding in the back seat of Jennifer's dad's Bronco while he smoked in the front seat especially. And I learned a super annoying song, "Um Um went the little green frog" which is now Allie's favorite. That is all I remember. Okay so I guess there are a couple of life lessons tucked in there with the trauma.
What has been the most significant world event that has taken place during your lifetime.
This would have to be 9-11. I remember it very clear. I was at BYU. I had taken Ashlee to her flute lesson and was on my way back to our apartment. It came on the radio. It was like a dream-I remember thinking "this can't really be happening." But it was real. I became terrified. I was alone in college, my family was in Canada. I didn't know who would keep me safe if something were to happen, how would I get to my family, would I even be able to cross the border? I felt a lot of panic. Ashlee kept on telling me it would be okay-but I was very worried. I remember hearing that President Hinkley was going to be doing a broadcast the next night on the situation. I just wanted to know what He would say. I knew that whatever the Prophet felt about the situation is what I needed to feel too. President Hinkley was so calm and expressed no fear or concern. He told us to keep living the gospel and trusting in God. I took his words to heart and felt such peace in them. I remember that I was in attendance at the General Conference following 9-11. I was at the conference center. We managed to get seats quite close to the front. President Hinkley got up at the end of the session and announced that he had just heard that troops were being deployed overseas. There were some gasps in the crowd and the choir sang (I don't remember what they sang) with tears running down many faces.
Showing posts with label Journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Journal. Show all posts
Monday, March 7, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Journal #5
What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done? When I was a Freshman in college at BYU I took a outdoor recreation class (mostly because I was really good at trying to find fun classes rather than ones that required a lot of work). One of the activities we had to do was to build and sleep in a snow cave over night. Let me just tell you that this was both the most adventurous thing I have ever done and one of the worst things I have ever done and hope to never do again. First we drove up in the mountains, then snow shoed into a canyon. The boys and girls were separated and we had to build a huge mound of snow. I was fresh off the farm and pretty much the only one who knew how to use a shovel so guess who got that job? Next we had to hollow out the mound to make the cave. I was fresh off the farm and pretty much the only one who knew how to use a shovel and had any strength and experience with snow so guess who got that job? By the time the thing was hollowed out we were supposed to eat. I was tired and wet and frozen. I didn't have any proper snow gear at college with me and the things that I had borrowed just didn't cut it. I didn't feel like eating my Dinty Moore Beef Stew (which I wasn't thrilled about eating prior to building and hollowing out a snow cave) so instead I changed into dry cloths, lit my 24 hour candle (which only last half the night p.s.) and tired to go to sleep. Have you ever slept in a snow cave? Ya well it is like an igloo I guess and I was terrified the whole night that it would collapse on me, plus I was laying on an angle because i choose the one spot I hadn't leveled quite well and I was worried my 24 hour candle may start my sleeping bag on fire (though it was soaked through so I don't think it was even possible). We got up at the break of dawn. I had some granola bars I had packed and was the first one up the hill to get back in the van and get the heck out of there. Did I mention I did all this to impress a boy that I was in love with who was on a mission. Ya, he never gave any indication that he thought it was cool. At least it makes for a good story.
Second runner up in the most adventurous things category is the blind date I went on with the man I have nick named "Slimbo Jimbo." My friend Ashlee and her boss decided to set me up on a blind date with a guy named Jim. He was a country guy and I was big into that type of guy when I was in college and just after. I think this actually took place when I was living in Logan. Anyway Ash told me that he was quite a bit older than me but her boss was married to a lady a lot younger than him and they were so happy and I was desperate and open minded so I said okay. We talked on the phone (he sounded hickish). We arranged to meet at Hogi Yogi and then go to my favorite place to country dance. All the way there as I was driving I was thinking of the worst case scenario: He would be bald, have a handle bar mustache and a pot belly. I was 3 for 3. We went dancing; he asked how old I was. I told him 24. He said he was much older than me. I guessed he was 40...nope 46 (YA-that is A LOT older than me). Our age combined made us the oldest people at the dance that night. He also let me know that he was in the process of getting a divorce (not divorced yet-just separated..."Great a still married, 46 year old with a handle bar mustache!!") He said it had something to do with his wife leaving and taking his prized goat or pig and hiding it somewhere along with some other animals. I think I ended the date with a high five. He called the next day-I let it go to voice mail. I never called back.
Second runner up in the most adventurous things category is the blind date I went on with the man I have nick named "Slimbo Jimbo." My friend Ashlee and her boss decided to set me up on a blind date with a guy named Jim. He was a country guy and I was big into that type of guy when I was in college and just after. I think this actually took place when I was living in Logan. Anyway Ash told me that he was quite a bit older than me but her boss was married to a lady a lot younger than him and they were so happy and I was desperate and open minded so I said okay. We talked on the phone (he sounded hickish). We arranged to meet at Hogi Yogi and then go to my favorite place to country dance. All the way there as I was driving I was thinking of the worst case scenario: He would be bald, have a handle bar mustache and a pot belly. I was 3 for 3. We went dancing; he asked how old I was. I told him 24. He said he was much older than me. I guessed he was 40...nope 46 (YA-that is A LOT older than me). Our age combined made us the oldest people at the dance that night. He also let me know that he was in the process of getting a divorce (not divorced yet-just separated..."Great a still married, 46 year old with a handle bar mustache!!") He said it had something to do with his wife leaving and taking his prized goat or pig and hiding it somewhere along with some other animals. I think I ended the date with a high five. He called the next day-I let it go to voice mail. I never called back.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Journal #4
List your 10 greatest joys.
1. My husband
2. My sweet girls
3. The gospel
4. My parents
5. My talents
6. My brothers
7. My friends
8. Living in the USA
9. Nature
10. Being creative
If you could choose a different time period to live in when would it be?
I would choose to be a pioneer. I have always had a great fascination with the pioneers and admire everything about them. I would have loved to know Joseph Smith and other early saints. I would have loved to have been one of the first to read the Book of Mormon. I would have loved to walk across the plains. I think it would have been so interesting to not have the modern day conveniences we have today. I would have liked to help in the building of temples and the settling of Utah. I love how life seemed less complicated than it is today. Family was close and the work ethic was much stronger. There was much less influence from "the world" and I think there was a deeper appreciation for nature and a reliance on the land. I would definitely want to be a pioneer if I had a chance to go back.
1. My husband
2. My sweet girls
3. The gospel
4. My parents
5. My talents
6. My brothers
7. My friends
8. Living in the USA
9. Nature
10. Being creative
If you could choose a different time period to live in when would it be?
I would choose to be a pioneer. I have always had a great fascination with the pioneers and admire everything about them. I would have loved to know Joseph Smith and other early saints. I would have loved to have been one of the first to read the Book of Mormon. I would have loved to walk across the plains. I think it would have been so interesting to not have the modern day conveniences we have today. I would have liked to help in the building of temples and the settling of Utah. I love how life seemed less complicated than it is today. Family was close and the work ethic was much stronger. There was much less influence from "the world" and I think there was a deeper appreciation for nature and a reliance on the land. I would definitely want to be a pioneer if I had a chance to go back.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Journal #3
1. Where did your grandparents live? What was their home like? Did it have a certain smell or look?
My Baba (grandma in Ukrainian) lived a mile across the field from me in the same home my Aunt and Uncle live in now. They lived their too. The house is pretty much the same now as it was when I was a child. It wasn't overly bright, kind of empty and smelled like baked bread. My favorite things about her house: they had chairs that turned at the kitchen table, there were always peanuts to shell and eat, you drank water from the tap out of a huge cup (well it wasn't a cup it was like a cup but with a long handle, I guess it was a water ladle-what is the name of something like that), they had an organ for a while and I used to like playing on that, the basement was really cold but there were lots of really cool old things down there, her bedroom was bright and had a wrought iron bed frame. I remember sleeping with her sometimes-it was really small and I had the hardest time ever falling asleep but it was warm. She had homemade quilts and a butterscotch candy or two in the kitchen cupboard. One of my favorite memories of her house was coming home after school and getting off the bus there when her and Wayno would be making twiddle bugs (a fried bread twist). Oh they were so good. Baba's bread was always really good and her gravy and pie. I also remember her old house which she no longer lived in but it was on her property and we used to go in there and explore and play. It was amazing to me. I loved the kitchen-the old appliances and the wooden cupboards. She had a cellar filled with bottled things and potatoes. The upstairs was really neat-small, from what I remember but it just possessed such a charm for me. The walls had wallpaper on them and there was no toilet-that is what the outhouse was for. My Uncle tore part of it down and turned half of it into a shop. I hated and still hate everything about that move. Then my cousin in his reckless teenage years spray painted all kinds of crap all over the inside of it with his other buddies. Baba would have been so mad. To me if feels like such a desecration of something I considered so magical and wonderful. Now there is so much stuff and dirt in there you can hardly get to the kitchen anymore. I have such fondness for that house, the new house and my Baba.
2. What do you remember about yourself as a teenager?
Oh brother-I remember that I was not confident at all, I was shy, I had big dreams and goals, I was a good student, I loved art and crafts, I was not popular or even close, I had plenty of awkward moments and some pretty bad taste in clothes. My best friends were: Charelle Racicot, Christine Sidebottom, Chelsea Bull, Leanne Murphy and Maria Mogdan as well as Chris (a German exchange student) and Carolyn (a french exchange student). We were all pretty similar. We had cooking parties and sleepovers, we all ate lunch together at the same table. We were all smart. Charelle and I were the only members of the church in our little group. We had pretty much the same interests in everything but she was a bit more ambitious that I. I loved the gospel, I played the piano for my branch, I had crushes on lots of boys but never any dates. I loved to dance but rarely got asked. I wanted to be a High School Art and English teacher and my only college choice was BYU. I was extremely close to both my younger and older brothers. In my high school years my younger brother Daniel and I started the door notes. He actually started by leaving little notes on my door. I began to follow suit and we would write eachother a note everyday. That was one of the greatest things that could have happened to me as a teenager. We also began nightly pondering sessions where we would just talk about things together just the two of us. That also is one of my favorite things from my teen years. Pretty much except for Charelle and times with my brothers I would like to just forget most of my teen years and early teen years-well I have almost completely blocked those from my memory (thank heavens). Neither are a time I would ever like to relive and I will do everything in my power to not have my own children have to repeat anything like my teenage life (except for the best friend part).
My Baba (grandma in Ukrainian) lived a mile across the field from me in the same home my Aunt and Uncle live in now. They lived their too. The house is pretty much the same now as it was when I was a child. It wasn't overly bright, kind of empty and smelled like baked bread. My favorite things about her house: they had chairs that turned at the kitchen table, there were always peanuts to shell and eat, you drank water from the tap out of a huge cup (well it wasn't a cup it was like a cup but with a long handle, I guess it was a water ladle-what is the name of something like that), they had an organ for a while and I used to like playing on that, the basement was really cold but there were lots of really cool old things down there, her bedroom was bright and had a wrought iron bed frame. I remember sleeping with her sometimes-it was really small and I had the hardest time ever falling asleep but it was warm. She had homemade quilts and a butterscotch candy or two in the kitchen cupboard. One of my favorite memories of her house was coming home after school and getting off the bus there when her and Wayno would be making twiddle bugs (a fried bread twist). Oh they were so good. Baba's bread was always really good and her gravy and pie. I also remember her old house which she no longer lived in but it was on her property and we used to go in there and explore and play. It was amazing to me. I loved the kitchen-the old appliances and the wooden cupboards. She had a cellar filled with bottled things and potatoes. The upstairs was really neat-small, from what I remember but it just possessed such a charm for me. The walls had wallpaper on them and there was no toilet-that is what the outhouse was for. My Uncle tore part of it down and turned half of it into a shop. I hated and still hate everything about that move. Then my cousin in his reckless teenage years spray painted all kinds of crap all over the inside of it with his other buddies. Baba would have been so mad. To me if feels like such a desecration of something I considered so magical and wonderful. Now there is so much stuff and dirt in there you can hardly get to the kitchen anymore. I have such fondness for that house, the new house and my Baba.
2. What do you remember about yourself as a teenager?
Oh brother-I remember that I was not confident at all, I was shy, I had big dreams and goals, I was a good student, I loved art and crafts, I was not popular or even close, I had plenty of awkward moments and some pretty bad taste in clothes. My best friends were: Charelle Racicot, Christine Sidebottom, Chelsea Bull, Leanne Murphy and Maria Mogdan as well as Chris (a German exchange student) and Carolyn (a french exchange student). We were all pretty similar. We had cooking parties and sleepovers, we all ate lunch together at the same table. We were all smart. Charelle and I were the only members of the church in our little group. We had pretty much the same interests in everything but she was a bit more ambitious that I. I loved the gospel, I played the piano for my branch, I had crushes on lots of boys but never any dates. I loved to dance but rarely got asked. I wanted to be a High School Art and English teacher and my only college choice was BYU. I was extremely close to both my younger and older brothers. In my high school years my younger brother Daniel and I started the door notes. He actually started by leaving little notes on my door. I began to follow suit and we would write eachother a note everyday. That was one of the greatest things that could have happened to me as a teenager. We also began nightly pondering sessions where we would just talk about things together just the two of us. That also is one of my favorite things from my teen years. Pretty much except for Charelle and times with my brothers I would like to just forget most of my teen years and early teen years-well I have almost completely blocked those from my memory (thank heavens). Neither are a time I would ever like to relive and I will do everything in my power to not have my own children have to repeat anything like my teenage life (except for the best friend part).
Monday, January 10, 2011
Journal #2
1. What are you thankful for? I am thankful for a husband that works hard to support his family and that we are not in a desperate living situation. I am thankful for the gospel which provides such a framework for how to live, who to be; that gives purpose and meaning to everyday and hope to the days that are gloomy and dark. I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who listens to me and how allows me to pour out my heart about things even if He is not going to change anything. He is such a perfect listener. I am thankful for 2 beautiful girls who get me going everyday, who show unconditional love and who give meaning to each day. I am thankful for my husband who makes me laugh and smile and is patient and helpful and good. I am thankful for my talents, for those who helped me to learn the skills I have and for many opportunities to use my talents. Lastly I am thankful for people who believe in me and encourage me, who are kind and complimentary and who are true friends (whether I hear from them all the time or just on occasion).
1. What is your big dream currently? My big dream is to have a super successful blog, one that makes some money, to get a sponsor, to get cool free samples, to have one of my ideas published in a magazine or shown on TV. My other big dream is to move somewhere new, meet new people, to give my husband and I a chance to make friends together, to live closer to events and opportunities (for me, Greg and the girls) and to be some place where I am needed and my talents can be put to use.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Journal #1
I am going to start something new for the new year. Since this blog is to help me record things about my life and my family I am adding a journaling section as well. I found a website with tons of journaling prompts. One day a week I am going to choose one and write about it on my blog. This blog is like a memoir of my life so this seems like a fitting place (plus I can type so much faster than I can write.) So if you don't think this will be of any interest to you then whenever you see "Journal" in the title just skip it.
1/2/11 Todays prompt: Were you ever in any school clubs (speech, drama, etc.)?
Yep I was in the craft club and the aerobics club in High School. The aerobics club was actaully a bunch of older women and teachers and we met in the early early morning before school started-well I think we might have met at lunch some too. My friends Charelle and Christine did it with me. I really enjoyed it though it didn't last for that long.
The craft club was my favorite. My teacher-Mrs. Stadnyk was in charge of that and she thought I was amazing and I loved everything about her. She let me teach a bunch of ideas and my friends were all part of it with me. I loved everything about art in High School and probably felt more of a boost in my self-confidence from those classes and this club and my dear teacher than most everything else about High School.
Hey that was fun-I think I want to do one more.
Prompt #2: Do you wish you had more sisters or brothers, and why?
When I was younger I remember that I wanted a sister really bad. I even asked my parents to adopt a sister. But in reality that would have meant that I had to share all my girl things and space with another girl and I don't know if I would have wanted that. I didn't want any more brothers and actually I grew out of the wanting a sister phase relatively quickly because my brothers were some of my best friends and we were really close so I never felt lonely or a need for more. I loved playing with my brothers (both of whom were born with amazing imaginations) and we were very close all growing up. We have wonderful memories together.
1/2/11 Todays prompt: Were you ever in any school clubs (speech, drama, etc.)?
Yep I was in the craft club and the aerobics club in High School. The aerobics club was actaully a bunch of older women and teachers and we met in the early early morning before school started-well I think we might have met at lunch some too. My friends Charelle and Christine did it with me. I really enjoyed it though it didn't last for that long.
The craft club was my favorite. My teacher-Mrs. Stadnyk was in charge of that and she thought I was amazing and I loved everything about her. She let me teach a bunch of ideas and my friends were all part of it with me. I loved everything about art in High School and probably felt more of a boost in my self-confidence from those classes and this club and my dear teacher than most everything else about High School.
Hey that was fun-I think I want to do one more.
Prompt #2: Do you wish you had more sisters or brothers, and why?
When I was younger I remember that I wanted a sister really bad. I even asked my parents to adopt a sister. But in reality that would have meant that I had to share all my girl things and space with another girl and I don't know if I would have wanted that. I didn't want any more brothers and actually I grew out of the wanting a sister phase relatively quickly because my brothers were some of my best friends and we were really close so I never felt lonely or a need for more. I loved playing with my brothers (both of whom were born with amazing imaginations) and we were very close all growing up. We have wonderful memories together.
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