Thought for the Day: Leave a Profit

I liked this and had to share.

"The whole world benefits if we all leave more profit, touch something and leave it better than you found it.

"I talked to a man who rents a lot of apartments. He said, 'Mr. Rohn, you wouldn't believe it. When most people leave the apartment, it's trashed.' What a reputation to leave, that everything you touch gets dirty. You've go to turn that around. Train yourself to leave a profit instead.

"A friend of mine has made money on every car he's bought. Why? Because when he sells them, they're in better condition than when he acquires them.

"A key for parents is to touch a life and leave it better than you found it. The key for leaders is to touch a business nd leave it better than you found it. The key for employees is to touch a job and leave it better than you found it. Leave a profit.

"What a world this would be if everybody tried to leave it in better condition than they found it!"

I think I'll read that to my 2nd graders tomorrow.

My God Loves Broken Things

I believe this. Every time I hear this song I can't help but pause and think of the verity of it. It brings a calm assurance to my mind and peace to my heart. Metacognitively, I think I sometimes think that if I were doing the "right" things then I wouldn't have any brokenness in my life. But of course that is not true. That's part of the definition of this life. To experience trials, to experience pains. There is so much strength to be gained from making it through something. I've learned a bit about myself as I've made it through the hard things of my past (wahoo! I can say "past"!) I can do hard things. "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me." He is my Rock and my Hope. I believe we are stronger than we think we are. Perhaps part of our trials are to learn that about ourselves. After all, who are we "proving" these things to? God already knows it about us. He doesn't make our decisions for us, but He *does* know what we are going to choose.

Do you know who I admire? Not the rich. Not the famous. Not the flashy. Not the wise, even. I admire the people who I have seen face hard times, and quietly, humbly FACE them. Not back down. There are hard days for all of us, of course. But I admire the people in my life who stalwartly, faithfully, and often cheerfully do hard things--who might not understand why they have this problem, but without complaint against God or fate, move forward with faith.

We are all "broken things". But there is hope for us through Christ! I have many favorite scriptures, but this one always comes to my mind: "Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him!"

LYRICS:
Broken Things
By Kenneth Cope

Broken clouds give rain.
Broken soil grows grain.
Broken bread feeds man for one more day.
Broken storms yield light.
Break of day heals night.
Broken pride turns blindness into sight.
Broken souls that need his mending.
Broken hearts for offering.
Could it be that God loves broken things?

Broken chains set free.
Broken swords bring peace.
Broken walls make friends of you and me.
To break the ranks of sin,
To break the news of him,
To put on Christ ‘til his name feels broken in,
Broken souls that need His mending,
Broken hearts for offering,
I believe that God loves broken things.

And yet our broken faith,
Our broken promises
Sent love to the cross
And still that broken flesh,
That broken heart of His
Offers us such grace and mercy
Covers us with love undeserving.

This broken soul that cries for mending,
This broken heart for offering—
I’m convinced that God loves broken me.

Praise His name, my God loves broken things!

So broken cloud, give rain
And broken soil, grow grain
And broken bread, feed man for one more day.

Primary Funnies

My calling is Primary pianist. I play the opening and closing songs and for Singing Time (20 min.) so I'm tucked away behind the piano jobless for 1/2 the time. During that time I stay caught up in my Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society lesson reading...and...write down the funny things the kids say. I feel a little bit Henry Higgins-like. They don't know I'm writing down the things they say. But now that I have a bit of a collection, I'm glad I've been doing it. I'm thinking of printing these up and putting them in the roll binders that go around with fliers in it in Relief Society and Priesthood. It would be funnier if I knew all their voices and could put their names next to each one. But, I think you will find, it's pretty funny anyway =o)


Teacher: What's inside of here? (pointing to head)
Child: Brain.
Teacher: How can we keep our minds clean?
Child: Wash them.
Child 2: Take a bath.


Nov.16th-Jr. Primary
Teacher: Where was the Bible written?
Child: By the temple.
Child 2: By Joseph Smith.
Teacher: No...

Same conversation-Sr. Primary
Child: In Africa.
Child 2: Canada?


Teacher: What are we going to do to get to the temple? (Looking for *something* along the lines of...I don't know...living a good life...making good choices...)
Child: Walk! (I love when these kind of answers are belted out with enthusiasm.)
Teacher: No, we're not going to walk...
Child 2: Be quiet.
Child 3: We can drive to church...


Child: "The Holy Ghost...is like our G.P.S."


Teacher: What happens when you get married civilly? How long do you stay together?
Child: 'Til divorce.
Child 2: 'Til you fight.


Teacher: Does anyone know what the theme of this month is?
Child: January. (I love when answers like this are called out and they don't get why it's funny.)


We've been learning the song "I Lived in Heaven". The responses to Kieran's prompts to remind them of the words are hilarious stuff. (The whole 2 first lines: "I lived in heaven a long time ago, it is true. Lived there and loved there with people I know, so did you.")

Teacher: Where did we live before this earth?
Child: Heaven.
Teacher: Who lived there [with us]? (looking for "Heavenly Father")
Child: Melissa.

Kieran: *Where* did we live a long time ago? (looking for "in heaven")
Child: In West Jordan!

Kieran: When did we live in heaven? (looking for "a long time ago")
Child: 8 years ago.


Jan. 11:
Heber, giving his talk: "In the council in heaven our Father complained His eternal plan." (rather than "explained") (I love when these things are said at the primary pulpit and no other child catches it.)


Dec. 7
Picture a 4-year-old boy, unable to read, holding up Article of Faith #13. His job is to read it and say "Please repeat" in front of his pint-sized peers. His mom is prompting him in whispers. (FYI--Article of Faith 13 says: "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, and in doing good to all men. Indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul--we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." Now enjoy his version):

Child: "(whisper)If there is anything virtuous--I'm thankful for my mom & dad-- (whisper)lovely...pleeeeease repeeeeeat."


Jan 11
Child: When I grow up I'm go'n be a dad. And I'm still go'n be with my parents.


Child (in a really noisy primary room): BE QUIET! My brain is talking to me!


And now for my favorite:
Aug 31
Sister Mackay: A stranger offers you candy. It's your favorite candy. Do you take it?
Child: NO! ...I would say "Please".


And the bonus track:
In sacrament meeting a couple weeks ago I sat in front of my Kristin friend's family. Her 4 children are my little friends. Becca, who's barely 3 now, stood with mini-stickers in hand putting them all over my shoulder, arm and hand, telling me all about each one. As she was wrapping up she said, "This one's for the baby." She then paused, leaned forward looking at me very seriously, and asked, "Do you have a baby yet?" I smiled--she's seen me a million times and I've never brought a baby... "No." She thought. "I want you to have a cute baby," she responded. "Boy."

Sketches part 3 (or 4)

I was cleaning out a cupboard at school today that had old college binders & texts (and piles of random things). Found this old sketch. It's rare to find one that I finished. Dad says he likes it & it's my style. But, really, I guess that means not-finishing-things is my style. Hmm. I guess I can pretend that's what I mea....

2nd Grade Funnies, Part 1

I just overheard 3 of my little girls as they were getting ready for recess, the last of the 2nd graders to head out the door. One was struggling with a zipper and the other 2 were waiting. As they were standing by the door, the two were pointing to the numbers on their math books and saying, "She got married when she was...21." The other said, "She got married when she was...12." "Ew!" The one struggling with the zipper exclaimed. "You can't get married 'til you're at least 18," said another.

At that point I remembered my sister overhearing her own daughters talking about when you should get married..."When you're old, like 16"...and recalled my sister's motherly panic at what "old" sounded like to them.

I responded to my 2nd graders, "18?! We don't have to get married until we're older! We can wait until there's a boy who will treat us like *princesses*. And *then* we'll *think* about it." "Yeah. And if they beg," one of the girls added. "Like they're going to *die*!" chimed in the other.

Mission accomplished. =o)

Goofin Around

Last glasses (see how happy I was with them?):












New glasses (because I need a stronger prescription and they don't make my old frames):












I don't know, guys.












I think they look a little more...












They don't even look any different to the average eye, do they? This can be like a Highlights magazine activity. (Who didn't used to love those?) "What are the differences between the glasses?"

Answer (which I would type upside-down if I knew how):
old: brown, rounded-er on bottom
new: black and squary-er on the bottom

Next time I do a before and after I'll take one pic when I first wake up and the other when I'm ready for the day. I think the whole same-shirt thing kinda throws it off (or rather, doesn't throw it off enough... =oP )

Better Than You Think You Are

I read a book this weekend which was given to me on my birthday last year (our shared birthday) by my sweet friend who lifts me up with her influence! She is going through chemo right now, and I miss seeing her at school. Her inscription in my book is as uplifting to me as anything the author wrote.

"Happy Birthday! -a shared birthday to a delightful teacher and a good friend. You have become very dear to me - you light up my life."

I hadn't read the book until this weekend, but it's a week I needed the reminder of it's overall message. The anniversaries of both my parents' heart attacks, my mom's death, and my divorce finalization are all within a 2 week period, and I have an added feeling of disappointment atop those things.

My friend, who was in a head-on collision the other day, asked our congregation as he led our Sacrament meeting today, "How do I live the gospel in times of trial?" I believe most all of us are trying our best. I've tried my best...and I'm happy (and hopefully prepared now to *fully*) move forward--onward and upward!

I believe Orson F. Whitney's comments (p163): "No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God...And it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we came here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven." (I love him for including "Mother".)

At times I've wondered if He is still listening to my unceasing petitions. But I have a testimony that He hears us! This book, and my father, have inspired me to write and memorize what I'm calling my own personal Strength Mantra...because I know satan (I refuse to capitalize his name) gets to me through what my mom would have called "stinkin' thinkin'". I gathered thoughts throughout the book, and will formulate from them and other things, my mantra to recite to myself when satan is spewing his fiery darts at me.

"Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not," Jesus tells us.

Dad told me: "When satan discourages you with thoughts of your past, remind him of his future." God is my strength. He is who I depend on for sustenance. I can do hard things. And I do believe that we are "better than we think we are." Ours is a divine lineage and inheritance. Of what have we to fear?

one year.

i don't know if time is my friend or my foe.

perhaps both.

Soldier's Hollow

So, I'm motivated to write more about this day now (as opposed to just leaving the pics here), seeing as Michael, my cute Lindsay niece's husband has written more about this on their blog about this than I did =o) which I think is funny. Not that I'm sexist. Michael can blog.

Anywho. This day was very fun. Happy birthday, Nique & Jared! I love how since you have December birthdays you can milk it for parties November through January. I'm pretty sure we can fit in some more this month, what do you think?! =o) My cute Lindsay niece and VoNique sister.
Friend (cool friend who got us in for free. Maybe I shouldn't say that without blurring his face so my many blog followers don't stalk him =o) jk.), Lindsay & Michael, Jared & Vo, me, Ashley & my Ryan nephew, friendly people.

























Cool story (true, cool story) (and no wintery pun intended): We were doing two lanes of double-tube competition. Lane 1: Ryan and VoNique. Lane 2: Ash & me. ("Lane Meyer. What an awesome spectacle.") Ryan and Ash have a theory on fastest tube-racing strategies, and therefore competed as pushers. So Ryan kicked butt and we were eating their dust (aka ice chips)...then, very Men's-Olympic-Swimming-Team-like, we came out of nowhere and closed the gap like nothin' and won it in the end by a fingernail. It was intense. And forevermore, Ashley has earned the nickname of Phelps. (Some sort of inexplicable kicking strategies mixed with push-away-and-crash-tubes...I don't know what it was. I was even right there. But wow. I'm telling ya. The woman's got mad skills.) Fun times =o)