Before and After - MY NEW ROOM

Since my brother got a brand new room in the basement - aka "Man-cave" I've been moved into his old room. It's a lot smaller and I like it a lot better than the room I've lived in for the 8 yrs we've been in this house. Since the room was in bad shape due to an overly-active growing boy, I got to completely overhaul and redecorate...with approval from the master decorator - MOM. I started with a blank canvas (with numerous scuff marks, ball marks, dents, and bruises). After I steam cleaned the carpets, the real fun could begin. I'm a big fan of reusing old stuff to recreate something new so I scrounged in the garage for paint and supplies. It's been my dream to have a room with non-white walls. I found a beautiful sage green color for the walls. There was even just enough so we didn't have to buy more - BONUS!! In some light it also looks slightly blue or gray.

After 2 coats of paint, I could work my magic. Having my music-playing computer handy kept me entertained while I taped, painted, and decorated...and allowed for my brother to come in and boogie with me. I only had existing furniture and accessories to work with, but that was perfectly okay. I've had the same furniture since I was really little so I know a lot of arrangements for them (I get tired of the same thing all the time). In addition to giving my round side table table and reading chair new life in white, I was finally able to give my keyboard a place of its own that doesn't include being a makeshift table or stuffed in the closet never to be used. I feel that this redecorate was a complete success and I love finally having the room of my dreams...it took 20 yrs to get it and now only 2 1/2 weeks to enjoy it.

Heaven...Don't Miss it for the World

Youth Conference was a wonderful experience and I'm so glad I got to participate. No, I'm not still in Young Women and going to activities...I was in charge. Well sort of - the Young Single Adults were asked to be counselors for the tri-stake mock-EFY Youth Conference. The theme was "Heaven...Don't Miss it for the World" and only lasted 3 days so the EFY aspect of it was really pared down.
Each counselor was assigned groups of 10 youth randomly matched from the Harrisburg, Altoona, and York stakes. Our job was to corral, teach, and have fun. Believe me, I did all three...especially the third part. DAY 1 consisted of team games, banners and cheer-off, free time, and a dance. DAY 2 narrowed it down to classes, service project, more free time, and another dance. DAY 3 was the spiritual portion of the conference when we had devotionals and firesides followed by a testimony meeting.

Freetime started with a rather violent, unorganized game of "nail the guy near you as hard as you can with the ball" and ended in multiple games of dodgeball. Even the pink counselor Tshirts seemed to bring a sense of competition and caused us to be set against all of the youth. We won....sometimes. I loved working with the youth of many different backgrounds and it gave me a chance to break out of my own box a little bit. At the dances I loved to flit from group to group making sure everyone was having fun. Having all the line dances ingrained in my brain since my own youth dances there was no question who helped everyone learn them. And I loved it. I even used my matchmaker instincts so that every girl who looked lonely had at least one moment in the sun and one slowdance...thanks baby brother!

Being given multiple opportunities to teach on spiritual topics gave me confidence in my own knowledge on the gospel. I have never been the kind to willingly volunteer to comment in lessons at church because of the plethora of RMs around who know a WHOLE LOT more than me, but with a summer of study and confidence I've been giving myself a chance to try. My spiritual and physical strength were really tested this weekend and while the first excelled, the second was left in the dust and I got very sick. I appreciated having all the other counselors around me to be the examples and support that I needed. My group was the lucky one to have 10 extra youth so we had extra hormones sardined in one spot. That in itself was interesting. There were of course struggles, but the rewards outweighed them and the weekend was one that I really enjoyed.
We are amazing enough to even make the Mormon Times newspaper on July 26th. Check it out: http://www.mormontimes.com/mormon_voices/mormon_experience/?id=9840

Palmyra

I spent the past two days in Palmyra, NY with the Young Single Adults from the stake. It was quite a fun trip and a great time getting to know people I've never met before. We met Friday morning at the Stake Center and began the long 5 1/2 hour trip with a convoy of 5 cars. Between the 5 cars we played "get to know you trivia", "scattergories", and some other fun time-passing games over the walkie-talkies. We were lead by Bro Cox who happens to be a military man so he was quite official in his leadership and the convoy made it without a hitch...and he's really good at leading so no one gets lost and we're not driving bumper to bumper going 45 mph on the freeway. I occupied myself alone in the backseat with The Work and the Glory Volume 4 and Sudoku (if you're surprised then we need to spend more time together).

When we arrived in Palmyra we first went to our hotel in Rochester and then scurried over to the Hill Cumorah for the Pageant. Bro Cox wanted to be sure that we made it in time to save good seats so we arrived 5 1/2 hours early!!! While killing time with Phase 10 and reading, I happened to glance up and thought I recognized a girl passing up ahead. I DID! Tiffany was there with her family. Oh it's great when the LDS world is so small that you find people you know in a gathering across the country from where you met. The Pageant itself was phenomenal! The weather cooperated too and I didn't get a single bug bite or sunburn. PERFECT!!! My favorite part of the Pageant happened towards the end when Joseph Smith is reading the Book of Mormon to the saints and as he mentions the prophets in it, they are brought on stage and take their recognizable poses. That gave me chills. After the Pageant, we caravaned back to the hotel where everyone in my room was already in REM cycle the second their head hit the pillow. I was too - a welcome change from my night-owl status I've had since coming home.

Saturday started at 8 with a trip to see the temple and go to the Sacred Grove. The sky threatened rain but I wouldn't let that stop me from enjoying the scenery. Car 4 - for that is the name we were given - was ready to move on after walking through the Grove because we didn't take the tour. (I've had enough tours for awhile after spending 6 weeks doing nothing but) The three of us loaded up and headed to the "Grandin Press" where the Book of Mormon was first printed. While waiting for the rest to come join us from the Grove Kiely and I found an antique shop to get lost in as the skies poured buckets and barrels. We were ready to go after that, but the rest of the group was still stuck in the Grove. We waited 20 min before they came and we headed home. I am so grateful for riding up with a car who didn't want to waste time wandering without a plan so we went home. The ride home was treacherous as the rain just came down harder and harder. Some of the group opted for an extended trip up to see Niagara Falls...they didn't get home till 6am Sunday. Glad I didn't take that option!

Looking back, I'm so glad that I took this opportunity to travel to some historic church sites and enjoy the company of strangers who have now become my friends. All I have to say to that is "Car 4 checking in, and checking out the prospective ECs" ;)

The Winner Takes It All

To quote a very amazing music group....

"Though it's hurting me, now it's history...The winner takes it all, the loser standing small...I was a fool, playing by the rules...the loser has to fall, it's simple and it's plain, why should I complain...the winner takes it all..."

Next time, tell me there's still a scar under that band-aid before you rip it off!!

Face Fear in the Face

Somehow and for some reason my fear has been conquered - my fear of being the center of attention that is. Since coming back to PA I've become a lot more open and willing to put myself out there without fear of getting hurt, embarrassed or judged. I'm me and I'm not afraid for others to see that. I volunteer for things and I bear my testimony in public. In Sunday School I voice my thoughts instead of just writing them down for myself. Those are big things for me and this is truly a summer of change. This Sunday I just decided to bear my testimony - in front of my entirely too large for comfort ward - and I kind of liked it. I probably made no sense, but I'm proud of the fact that I put myself out there. Maybe the fact that I was wearing red had something to do with it - the color of bravery. I was asked to play the piano for our institute my first week (comprised of three stakes and is held 2hrs away in Harrisburg) and I did it without being afraid. This whole year has been about change and sticking my neck out to people and putting my heart on the line, and I don't know why but I don't mind anymore. Call me crazy! I think the time has come to put the Worry Stone on the shelf....at least for now.

"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself...And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity."

Climate Wonder Peaceful Thunder

Thunderstorms are fantastic!!! I sat in the sunroom today reading when the beautiful sunshine gave way to a wonderful thunderstorm. The breeze wafting through the window was perfect. Oh how I love a good thunderstorm!!