Chinese Zodiac Signs

This month at work we are celebrating Chinese New Year. With this celebration we have gotten emails about the Chinese Zodiac signs. I am a Horse, read the below description, do you think it sounds like me?

YEARS: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

PERSONALITY: Occupying the 7th position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Horse symbolizes such character traits as strength, energy, and an outgoing nature. Extremely animated, Horses thrive when they’re the center of attention. Always in search of a good time, Horses keep the crowds happy with their humor and their wit.

Horses are extremely intelligent so they’re able to grasp new subjects with ease. They’re also capable of multi-tasking however they don’t always finish what they start because they’re forever chasing the next opportunity. Horses are honest, friendly and open-minded. They’re perhaps a bit too centered on themselves and have been known to throw tantrums when situations don’t go their way.

HEALTH: Horses are very healthy, most likely because they maintain a positive outlook on life and because they’re athletic. Lead Horses to wide, open spaces and watch them run free! Horses will usually only feel ill when they’re trapped inside.

COMPATIBILITY: Horses are compatible with a Dog or Tiger and incompatible with a Rat or Monkey.

*the line about "running free!" makes me laugh so I hard I cry. But maybe there is some truth?

My Goal This Semester

I have a goal to get all A's this semester. Cross your fingers that I do it! For every A I am going to reward myself. Not sure what the reward will be, but you better believe it will be awesome!

(((OPINION POLL))) Why Do I Blog Less Frequently

There has been a decline in the frequency of my blog posts. My friend Josh offered an interesting theory (that I can't tell you because it would bias this poll). But why do you think I have been blogging less over the last little while?

A Girl Can Dream...Can't She?

As I paid my tuition this semester, or rather saw my student loan double so I could pay my tuition this semester, I starting thinking about what I could to not have to take out loans to pay for school.

I am really stressed out about getting into more debt. REALLY STRESSED OUT.

Option 1:

Have some mysterious person offer to pay for my tuition, not strings attached (including my current student loan).

possibility: HIGHLY unlikely

Option 2:

Find a new job that pays more towards tuition than my current job. Down side: I like my job.

possibility: unlikely, since most companies have a waiting period before they pay tuition (say 6 months) plus add the time it takes to find a new job (say 6 months) and then I only have one more semester left.

Option 3: (BEST IDEA YET)

Marry a person who works for the my school then my tuition instantly gets cut in half! I would take a 50% reduction in a heartbeat. But who could I marry? I would even just marry them in name only (total SHAM wedding) and then we could divorce in October 2011. Great plan huh! I think so.

possibility: never gonna happen. I know this is unethical and maybe morally wrong. But what if I just happened to meet someone this semester (who worked for my schoo), fell in love, and got married BEFORE the next semester started. AWESOME!

Hey, a girl can dream can't she?

Looking Forward 2010

I love "new" things and that includes a new year. I have been thinking over the last month or so about what 2010 would mean for me. What goals would I set, what goals would I abandon, where would I be?

My thoughts tended to gravitate to the usual "pay down debt, diet, work out more, blah, blah, blah". I have set these goals many (MANY) times in the past and others like them and trust me when I say I don't feel like I have made a dent. Would 2010 be like other years? Or would this year be different? I often feel like I am running in place, and have been for several years. My life isn't moving in the direction I would like it to go, but feels like I am continually running in circles or taking a step forward only to take a step or two backwards. Would I break the cycle this year?

When I got home from Christmas vacation I decided to read the January Ensign and my heart was "pricked" when I read these words.

"Remember Lot's wife (Luke 17:32)...

My theme comes in the next verse. Surely, with the Lord’s counsel—“look not behind thee”—ringing clearly in her ears, Lot’s wife, the record says, “looked back,” and she was turned into a pillar of salt (see verse 26).

Just what did Lot’s wife do that was so wrong? As a student of history, I have thought about that and offer a partial answer. Apparently, what was wrong with Lot’s wife was that she wasn’t just looking back; in her heart she wanted to go back. It would appear that even before she was past the city limits, she was already missing what Sodom and Gomorrah had offered her. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once said, such people know they should have their primary residence in Zion, but they still hope to keep a summer cottage in Babylon.

It is possible that Lot’s wife looked back with resentment toward the Lord for what He was asking her to leave behind. We certainly know that Laman and Lemuel were resentful when Lehi and his family were commanded to leave Jerusalem. So it isn’t just that she looked back; she looked back longingly. In short, her attachment to the past outweighed her confidence in the future. That, apparently, was at least part of her sin.

As a new year begins and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives.

So a more theological way to talk about Lot’s wife is to say that she did not have faith. She doubted the Lord’s ability to give her something better than she already had. Apparently, she thought that nothing that lay ahead could possibly be as good as what she was leaving behind." (from the article "The Best is Yet to Be by Jeffery R. Holland")

The Spirit whispered "in 2009 you learned to stop looking longingly back. You have been moving forward." I felt such joy. Let me explain, I think it was in early 2006 that life felt perfect. Seriously. That was until one day I was counseling with the Lord about a situation and the answer I got was not the answer I wanted, so I didn't listen. I moved forward veering from the life path I knew the Lord had planned for me in this one SMALL area. I did not realize the impact it would have on my life.

In the following years I found myself looking back longingly and those seemingly perfect times and wondered how to get them back. I tried very hard. Although I didn't turn into a pillar of salt I did experience much heartache over my decision. I cried more than I was proud of, and spent WAY to many hours thinking and talking about it.

In 2009 I started moving forward, this time on the path that the Lord wanted me too. I feel lighter, more free.

So what goals am I going to set for 2010? I am not sure yet, but you can bet I will listen and follow what the Lord has planned for me.

And I will always remember "Faith is always pointed to the future."

Things That Must Go: Nickels

Did you know that I kind of hates touching money? ESPECIALLY coins. They are smelly and yucky and metally and SMELLY.

Well, the nickel is the WORST. For some reason unknown to normal human beings I have decided I hate nickels.

If I never saw one again...I wouldn't cry about it.

I mean, they are so random. They are bigger than dimes in both diameter and weight but they are worth less monetarily. Who decided that was a good idea....seriously!

BFAW - Chay used to need change for a dollar on occasion. I would give him all my nickels, then pennies, then dimes, then quarters (in that order until I had made change). Just ask him.

I always use nickels first to just get rid of them.

Also, I have been known to not pick up a nickel if it drops. Good Riddance.

Bye Bye to the Nickel.

p.s. I do understand that having 1 nickel is better than 5 pennies...but lets just decide to not have any reason to need nickels or pennies...and while we are at it dimes too.

Blessing: PEOPLE

I am surrounded by the most amazing people.
GOOD people.
People who are SPIRITUAL.
KIND people.
People who are trying to make the BEST of the talents they have been blessed with.
SMART people.
Super SMART people.

I have been so blessed.

3 Things

3 blessings I have received today:

1. To wake up and start a fresh new day.
2. Having dinner with friends that talk about important things and bear their testimony (sometimes is words, but more often in actions) to me each time I am with them.
3. Feeling the Spirit. Having Him as a companion is truly one of God's greatest gifts.

November 27, 2009

Hola Dad,

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope all is well. Dad, I really wish I could talk to you. I have so many things I want to ask you. Your sister Alberta passed away and it raised many MANY questions about past history.

Joe and I were talking the other day and we wondered out loud what you would have done if Alberta had passed away before you. We both decided that your reaction would have been close to Uncle Edwards. You would have been sad, and you would have wanted to be involved in everything. You wouldn't have mentioned at the funeral all the negative things that happened in your relationship, but instead would have just been a support. I think you would have been sad to see your sister pass away. I bet you were there standing in the wings when she arrived on the other side. Tall and silent, that's how I picture you.

I went with mom to Alberta's viewing and funeral, you would have wanted that. You would want your family to support hers. That's something you and mom taught us, family comes first, no matter what your relationship is or was. It was interesting to compare your viewing and funeral to Alberta's viewing and funeral. The differences having me pondering why they were there, I think I have it figured out...it wasn't really that hard.

The burning questions are about what was said at her funeral about her life and history. Some of the things that were shared about her growing up had some interesting parts left out from the stories you told...I wonder if she didn't know or if she didn't tell her children. Alberta was described as a kind, loving, caring, person with great taste. This is not how I viewed her or how she treated us. Do you think this was because of your relationship with her? Is this because of Grandma Gaer? It is all very strange. Very strange. I know you and mom tried to do all you could. I wish things could have been different, that the relationship would have been there. I think it would have made a huge difference.

Dad, when we see each other in heaven again and if there is a movie of your life...do you think I could watch it? I have all these questions. I would like to see for myself with you sitting by explaining what is going on...just to clear up all my questions.

Much Love,
D'Nell

p.s. Going to Alberta's funeral reminded me how much I miss you. Thank you for watching over me...I know you are. I love you.

Heart Full Of Thanks

Today I have a heart full of THANKS.

I am thankful for being a part of the Ardell & Dean family. I truly couldn't imagine better parents, or better brothers and sisters. For me, this was the perfect family, including all the ups and downs.

I am thankful for just best nieces and nephews. I went to see New Moon with two of my nieces last night, truly my nieces and nephews are some of my best friends (even the in-laws). It helps that they are about my same age.

I am thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which has taught me about eternal families. This gospel helps me to have peace each day, not only peace, but HOPE.

I am thankful to have a job. A job which I love...even if I sometimes complain...I still love it.

Today, I have a very thankful heart.