“It's like when I had this garden party for my father's birthday, right? I put R.S.V.P. 'cause it was a sit-down dinner. But some people came that like did not R.S.V.P. I was like totally buggin'. I had to haul ass to the kitchen, re-distribute the food, and squish in extra place settings. But by the end of the day, it was like, the more the merrier. And so, if the government could just get to the kitchen, rearrange some things, we could certainly party with the Haitians. And In Conclusion may I please remind you, it does NOT say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty!”
The Top 10 Things I'm Most Excited About this week:
1. My new best friend Rob at AT&T has promised me I will be cradling a newborn white iPhone 5 before Friday
2. Institute...is back up and running! Brother McConkie is teaching "Doctrines of the Restoration" and already the first class was amazing. I'm beyond excited to see what this semester brings.
3. Tennis on the pier...it never gets old.
4. Boston this weekend?!...road trip!
5. LifeProof...finally someone listened to my need to make reading possible in the shower/jacuzzi. Waterproof casing for iPhones and iPads, perfect for filming my upcoming Florida beach trip!
6. My mom is giving me her backup professional canon camera, and it arrives this week! I can't wait to dress up in photographer clothes and snap cool pictures...
7. EVERY DAY IS GAME DAY. Like a champ, Chlo snagged me a couple of this year's BYU football t-shirts (you know, the ones they only sell in the bookstore), white with blue lettering...for me and Aubs. Say hellooo to college football season, in STYLE
8. Mom said she sent me a present from dad...it could be a sock he picked up off the road and I'd Still be excited, I love getting mail...but the anticipation is killing me
9. The National Zoo's Mei Xiang gave birth to a new baby panda...speaking from past Zoo Tycoon experience, I know exactly how big of an accomplishment it is to re-populate the panda population!
10. Flu Shot!! Right. Is Anyone excited about those?! But the nurse gave me two lollipops for my bravery...and non-stop nervous chatter.
Do you ever get glimpses of your life and feel like you’ve seen it before, you know, like maybe…in a movie?! Don’t laugh. I’m serious! Regional YSA conference, and we had 50 people without places to sleep. I already had my friend Shannon staying with me from DC. A large group of Canadians (boys and girls) had no place to go and were attempting to sleep on the floor of the church for the night. Seriously?! That’s the best we could do?? Come On New York!! That Friday night I found myself leaving the fireside with an extra four girls, after convincing James that he too was hosting a slumber party this weekend. (To be fair, once he was on board he really took charge-great type of person to have around for these moments). Once we got them situated, we met up for food with Jacob and his crew at 1 AM. He with his guys, me with my girls, feeling like chaperones…and totally exhausted. I have to hand it to my roommate Natali, zero notice and she immediately got to work, setting out towels, sheets, pillows, asking who was hungry or thirsty, and making four 18 year old French Canadian girls (total strangers) feel welcome and loved on their first visit to New York. Later, I texted my thanks to Natali. I loved her response: I hope you know I would have done literally the exact same thing. After all, if we can’t be charitable, who are we suggesting our comparables are?” It was just like Cher said, the more the merrier. And in the process it felt like we made lifelong friends with Jessica, Sandryne, Ariana and Catherine.
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| Tacombi...best Corn esquites EVER!! |
Hot fudge sundaes on a Sunday night are a Johnson family tradition, something I'm only happy to continue on my own. I called my mom while I was stirring the big pot of homemade chocolate sauce and she told me she was packing for Florida. My parents are taking a road trip across the US, to Florida, where they've rented a house for two months. They're traveling Bill Johnson style- a giant sprinter van outfitted with a shower, microwave, drop down TV, Vespas, surfboards and who knows what other toys. Just the two of them. I can't help but think it's the coolest idea ever.
My word of the week is "glamping." Technically this is defined as "glamourous camping," but SEE ALSO: Bill Johnson. My dad pioneered glamping, so I'm only too happy the rest of the world finally caught on. Basically you have all the luxury amenities-A/C, king size bed, shower, toilet...with the outdoors. Think giant tree forts, spacial yurts and kingly tents. All for a low nightly fee. Specialized camping. It's the hot new thing, tons of websites have surfaced featuring glamping accomodations, shout out to Aubrey Potter for this find. You can still be adventurous, still be outside, and yet you don't need to pack the camping stove, burn your hand on your tinfoil dinner, or mistake poison ivy for toilet paper. Idyllic? I think so!
Friday night Clayton Christensen showed up for a fireside. I couldn't take notes fast enough. Seriously, my thumb has developed some kind of nervous twitch when I get typing too fast. My favorite quotes:
"We will only learn when we are ready to learn. When we ask a question it creates a place where an answer can be put; God can't give us the answer unless we ask questions."
"If we think we have all of the answers there is no need for revelation."
"God doesn't hire accountants. God doesn't need to aggregate people, the way he measures has nothing to do with numbers or hierarchy."
"The comparable isn't perfection because the Lord knows we aren't going to be perfect. The comparable is: 'Are the people that we interact with becoming better people because of their interaction with us?'"
"Our higher calling is to be a doer of good and a person that helps other people be better."
He shared a story about struggling to teach at Harvard in a way that all of the students would enjoy. He had received feedback from some students that they didn't like his teaching style and they were struggling to learn in his class. Someone gave him the advice to teach with Love. So before each class he prayed to be able to teach with love, that his students would be able to feel his love for them. It made all the difference. He said that no matter our church calling, career choice, or background, our most important calling is to help people around us become better.
There's another way to look at it though--am I being the type of person that others Want to keep around? Small yet important distinction--do others see me as bettering their lives? I know for a fact there are friends in my own life that I keep around because they make me a better person, I can feel it and I can see it, by so many of the little things they do. I think the key is being that kind of person. The irreplaceable, the "linchpin," the "go to", the "it" girl with a Pollyanna attitude, cheerleader support and dog-like loyalty. Or whatever strengths you produce that added up, contribute to bettering others. I read an incredibly moving story about a NYC taxi driver, that inspired me to be better: The Last Ride...A Sweet Lesson on Patience
"We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments...But great moments often catch us unaware--beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one."
Big or small moments, every interaction has the potential for greatness.
Friday night Clayton Christensen showed up for a fireside. I couldn't take notes fast enough. Seriously, my thumb has developed some kind of nervous twitch when I get typing too fast. My favorite quotes:
"We will only learn when we are ready to learn. When we ask a question it creates a place where an answer can be put; God can't give us the answer unless we ask questions."
"If we think we have all of the answers there is no need for revelation."
"God doesn't hire accountants. God doesn't need to aggregate people, the way he measures has nothing to do with numbers or hierarchy."
"The comparable isn't perfection because the Lord knows we aren't going to be perfect. The comparable is: 'Are the people that we interact with becoming better people because of their interaction with us?'"
"Our higher calling is to be a doer of good and a person that helps other people be better."
He shared a story about struggling to teach at Harvard in a way that all of the students would enjoy. He had received feedback from some students that they didn't like his teaching style and they were struggling to learn in his class. Someone gave him the advice to teach with Love. So before each class he prayed to be able to teach with love, that his students would be able to feel his love for them. It made all the difference. He said that no matter our church calling, career choice, or background, our most important calling is to help people around us become better.
There's another way to look at it though--am I being the type of person that others Want to keep around? Small yet important distinction--do others see me as bettering their lives? I know for a fact there are friends in my own life that I keep around because they make me a better person, I can feel it and I can see it, by so many of the little things they do. I think the key is being that kind of person. The irreplaceable, the "linchpin," the "go to", the "it" girl with a Pollyanna attitude, cheerleader support and dog-like loyalty. Or whatever strengths you produce that added up, contribute to bettering others. I read an incredibly moving story about a NYC taxi driver, that inspired me to be better: The Last Ride...A Sweet Lesson on Patience
"We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments...But great moments often catch us unaware--beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one."
Big or small moments, every interaction has the potential for greatness.
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