...Are you a Carrot, Egg, or Coffee Bean?

Okay, so I received this email and it really got me thinking. I think the message in it is great. I don't often re-send forwards, but this message just hit home for some reason and I just wanted to share. I don't drink Coffee, and even if you don't either I still think you can get the basic idea of what the moral of this story is. Enjoy... :)



"..... Carrots, Eggs & Coffee 
> A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee....

 A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. 


Her mother took her to the kitchen... She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word... 

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see." 

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee." she replied. 

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hardboiled egg. 

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. 

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?" 

...So, think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? 
...Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? 
...Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. 

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? 

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. 

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. 

May we all be COFFEE!!!!!! ......."


So... after reading this email, it got me thinking... What am I? In trials that come my way, am I like the carrot where I am strong but then become weak? Am I like the Egg where I am soft hearted and free spirited, but then in trial do I become hard hearted and bitter? Or am I like a Coffee Bean, where I change for the better and change the circumstances? ... I think we all can say that in certain trials we have probably been 1 of the 3 at different times. 


If I were to choose between the two "not-so-great" one's, I would have to say I have had egg-like moments. I feel that between the 3 choices, I either am an egg or a coffee bean. Unfortunately it is true that through some of the trials I have been through it has/had hardened me a little bit... but that was the way I coped and handled the situation I was going through. I didn't want to fall apart and be weak, so I chose to harden and be tough. It is weird though because at the same time I didn't want to be too tough and unreachable, so I guess that is where the "coffee bean" in me comes through. 


As each day passes though, the hardening melts away, and the changes glimmer through showing how the trials, though incredibly difficult beyond my words, have definitely made me better. So much better. I am glad the Coffee Bean in me came through in the end, because life is much too precious to be weak, and much too joyous (yes!) to be hard and bitter. Thank goodness for my belief's and the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, ... and the great people like my family and especially my husband (he is seriously my rock, and I heart him!!!), ... or I fear I could have been the egg forever. I am so grateful for the gospel and the understanding I have of this life, and that the trials we go through are not beyond our capabilities to handle them. Our grief is just a moment, and there is nothing we cannot handle when we have our Heavenly Father and our Saviour by our sides. I know this to be true. 


So, my question to you is... Which are you? A Carrot, an Egg, or a Coffee Bean? None of us are perfect, and we all certainly have our weak moments... but my hope is that even if we start out as a carrot or an egg, that the end result will be the coffee bean. It is also my hope that everyone around me knows that I am more than willing to be a friend, a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to listen to if ever the need arises. 


So, here's to being a Coffee Bean! (Or Cocoa Bean! ... Mmmm... Chocolate!) ;)

Rescue Rangers

That's right! That is what me and Bret were the other weekend.

We were running [almost] late for Bret's work Christmas party at the Bellagio (which was totally amazing... pictures and post for that to come soon!) I was all hair & make up decked-out, but not in my dress yet because we figured we would change in our room in the hotel. Good thing too! Anyway - to the story... as we were leaving the neighborhood we were following behind this car that was driving extremely slow. Bret, who was driving, was slightly irritated as we were trying to get going. I told him to Chill-Bill and maybe the person in the car was just lost or something, so to give them a break and stop riding their bums! (Guys and their car-rage! haha. Luckily Bret's isn't too bad, but still!) Anyway, the car ended up pulling to the right and waving us around her. I was looking down as we started driving up the road more, when Bret says, "Oh, maybe that is what she is looking for?" I looked up and saw nothing, but then he pointed out a dog... and in a nut shell I told him to pull over so I could grab it and we could hopefully figure out who the owner was. There was a slight moment of a sigh from him, but as I reminded him that if our little lady pup, Myah, was roaming around I would hope that someone would do the same for me. The cute dog was such a sweety, he jumped right in the car (right on my dress with his dusty paws! haha) As I tried to move the dress and Bret's tux the dog must have figured I was taking much too long to take him for a "ride", and he jumped right back out and took off running down towards the busier street. I started running after him, telling him I'd give him a "treat"... told him I'd take him for a "ride" in the car... go for a "walk"... asked him if he wanted to go see his "mommy" (my dogs know what that means, so I figured he'd get as joyful as them at the word... nope!) Welp, none of those worked and he just kept running and running. Finally I just waved Bret towards me and told him to follow the dog to see if we could get him in the car. I wasn't giving up! There are coyotes where we live, and a few people in our ward have mentioned how their dogs got out, and never got back. Basically, the coyotes will attack your dog given the opportunity, or they could be hit by a car since at night it is very dark due to lack of street lamps. I couldn't stand the thought of leaving him. On top of that, it didn't help that all the handful of cars who passed us didn't look too concerned to help - so if we didn't catch him, who would? Luckily my last plan worked. We pulled up to the dog as if it were the first time and he hopped in the car. YAY! Win for us! He had a collar so we knew he belonged to someone, however the silly owner neglected to put any tags on the collar. No name, No address, No phone #, No rabies tag, Nada! Bret's genius guess that maybe the woman in the car earlier was looking for him was all we had to go off of. We discussed it and figured we would drive around our neighborhood and the other surrounding one's to see if we could find her driving around still, and if not then we would just put him in our backyard for the night with some food, and then post some pictures up the next day to hopefully find his home. I said a quick prayer that we would find the cute dogs owner and then we took off down the road again on our little scavenger hunt for this car. It must have been our lucky day, because as soon as we pulled into our neighborhood I saw the woman's car so I jumped out and waved her down. She looked at me like I was crazy (she's probably right. haha) and then I asked her if she was looking for a dog. All the sudden her eyes got watery and she said "YES!" she jumped out her car to ours and embraced her little lost four-legged friend. I found out his name is Yogi. And they are happy to be with each other again.
She was the most thankful person and couldn't believe I'd go chasing after her dog all fancied up. I told her my dog meant the world to me, and that I would hope someone would do the same for me given a reverse situation...

...and this, this is what got me thinking. I'm not posting this blog to say we are coolio peeps for taking the time to catch the dog and find his owner, or to pat us on the back. I know many people would have done just the same! ... This experience just got me thinking a few things.... Well, one thing is, put ID tags on your dog with their name, your Address/Phone #. That way if they get lost, it's easier for them to get "found" and to the right person. Now, the two other main things that came to mind were... (1) The saying "WWJD" (What Would Jesus Do) often comes to mind for me. I know some people might think it's a silly saying, but seriously! It helps me to put things into perspective. We were running late for Bret's work party, I had fancy hair and fancy make up, we could have just driven away like the other many cars did, or we could try to catch him... What Would Jesus Do? When the dog jumped out and took off running again, we could have said "Well, we tried. We're late. Let's go." or we could not give up and try again.... What Would Jesus Do? Because it was a dog, and I love those creatures, it wasn't a hard decision for me. In fact it was instinct. But it got me thinking about those other things that aren't so "instinct-like" for me... I need to work on those so I CAN be doing more of the things Jesus Would Do.  (2) One of my favorite Hymns has always been "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today"... the song came to my mind as we were going through this adventure, and it reminded me that there are many days I let pass by where I haven't done much "good" in the world that day, and I want to strive to be better at that. So, in a nut shell my thoughts lateley have been, if we ALL were to live by the above motto's and try to really apply: What Would Jesus Do?, and Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?... just think about how much better, and happier, this world would be. I think it is easy for all of us to let opportunities to serve others and help others pass by us because we are easily caught up in the every day things of life. But life isn't about that. Life should be about bringing happiness to the people around you, which in turn brings happiness to yourself.

To serve others, to honestly try and be like Jesus, to do good in the world each day... That is what life is about.

There's one key to more happiness.

How can you be your own Rescue Ranger to another? ... Sure makes you think, eh!?

:)

Birthday shopping (six months later!) Buahaha

Yep, you surely read that correctly. I went birthday shopping for myself, almost 6 months after the celebration of my day of birth. I was given some money, and just held on to it until I knew what I wanted. Well, considering I hate almost all my clothes right now, and I am cold, I figured now was the time to go buy a few things. And let's be honest, going on the cursed (for me) birth-control pill did not do my body any favors. I never weighed more than 104 until after I went on the pill. I know, some people say, "It is because you got married and let go of yourself!" Now, now, let us not be too quick to judge. I can truly say I have not changed my eating habits and probably eat better now than before. It really was instantaneous, I started birth control, I gained weight. Simple as that. It totally messed with my metabolism and how fast it worked. So, now, my weight has ranged between 12-16 pounds more than I've ever been in my life (depending on if "Aunt Flow" is in town), but it has been a roller coaster ride for me having to try and find a way to deal with the slight weight gain and the fact I am just not able to apparently do anything about it. j!@#$$%@!$%$! I don't know what that spells, but it says something not-happy. So, anyways, clothes have been on my mind. And a few clothes is what I got! I am only missing gloves and a jacket, and I am all set for winter. Woo hoo!

Also, let me please mention that I have asked for a jacket for Christmas for 3 years now, and for 3 years now Bret has told me, "Come my sweetness, let us go buy you a warm jacket my Queen!" Okay, maybe he did not tell me I was his Queen, but he surely must have thought it. haha. However, every time we go to shop for one I look at the price tag and say, "Nope!" Silly, right? I know. And then there I am every winter, wearing my dinky hooded sweaters and wondering why I am shivering my face silly, and cursing myself for not having a warm winters coat... Well, I guess I only have my frugal self to blame. :). So, maybe this will be my year. P.s. Any suggestions on where to look for cute, but warm, coats? All suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

...Needless to say, today was a great day! It is always a little rewarding having a cute new outfit in your closet... Me gusta! And I must say that I am so proud of myself for hanging onto my birthday money and not putting it towards a car payment, or gas, or lunch - which has often been the case in previous years. Yay me! Even Bret told me he was so proud of his "little spender" bahahaha. Maybe one day, when I am not so afraid of what the next month or pay check might bring, I will relax a bit more in the monies department. But alas, that is not our situation in life right now. And quite frankly, I really do know we are truly blessed with all that we do have. I am so grateful Bret's got a wonderful job with a truly great company, which he get's better and better at every day. I am also grateful for mine and also for the slowly-but-surely voice teaching that I have growing on the side.

Ahh, sweet retail therapy, how we love you and oh how you do us all some good when we are able to get crazy and justify to be able to drop some CA$H! ...I even made a post about it! *GASP!*

There Once Was A Time...

When I was determined to be good at blogging... but that lasted all of 1 week. Bah! I'm terrible! I truly have the best of intentions, I mean... blogging is like the new Journal-ing... kinda. Even if no one reads it, they are great to keep up as a personal keep-sake and memory-holder. Right? Right!

So, I need to get better... to say the least. Part of me doesn't blog more because I am truly computer.challenged.!!!! How could I be my father's daughter?? I do not know, I definitely did not get that gene. Oh well, you win some, you lose some!

I also DO have a camera, just no cord to upload pictures. And since blogging doesn't just include your say of "what's up" in your life, but also includes the picture updates, I feel like it is boring blah. ...Guess I know what I need to buy on my next Amazon.com shopping spree (a camera-to-computer-chord, if you did not catch my drift. :).).

Welp, I'm off to HARRY POTTER (Yes, I am proud to be an American(/Canadian!), and proud to be obsessed with Harry Potter). I will be one tired puppy at work tomorrow with only 3 hours of sleep, but, tradition is tradition! I have not missed a midnight premier EVER, so why start now? Just two left! Plus, you only live once... what's a night or two with some hours of sleep missed really going to do? :). Sadly, I was unable to succeed in getting Bret to go with me...( he will happily go if he does not have work the next day), but, since his obsession does not exist for the books/movies as mine does, he chooses sleep. haha. That's okay, I've got my sissy and some friends we are going with. ...And I'll just come home to an already warm bed with his cute face grumbling at me to turn off the light. :)

Labor Day Weekend

3 day weekend!!! Isn't that what we all love to hear? (Besides 4, or 5, or 6 days... or VACAY!?) :). 

Unfortunately Bret rarely gets Saturday's off ever (yes, it is the pits!) and this weekend was no exception. However, we were both happy that he at least had Monday off so we could play and spend time with each other. Always good times. We left Saturday night after he was off work and headed to Beaver, UT where his mom's lovely cabin is. We had a really fun time! All his siblings were there (minus Lindzie, her husband Kyle, and our cute niece Evelynn). I was uuuuber excited his sister, Kamille, was coming from SUU to play with us for the weekend too (sure she just left 2 weeks ago for college, but hey! We miss the girl! lol.) Also Bret's Grandpa & Grandma Owen's were there as well. We went quadding/4-wheeling; ate; lounged; played Solitaire, Speed, and Shaing-hai; and just had a grandeous time. I actually learned how to drive the quad for the first time in my life. Good times! The first time I ever went quadding was when I was 16 in good ol' Canada with my bffe/cousin Erin. We went with some good friends/who happened to be cute boys (of course that was a plus, right?! haha.) It was a great experience and tons of fun, and I have loved it ever since! But I have always been the passenger, hanging on from behind and enjoying the ride... I have this idea in my head that if I touch it, it will break (that applies to basically everything). So! Instead I choose to enjoy things from the passenger side and not take the chances of breaking things. haha. However, Bret finally convinced me I'd have to be a complete fool with the thing to actually break it, so I tried it out and he taught me well. I'm no mountaineer, but beginners have to start somewhere, right? :). So that was good fun. We then went for a long ride on a trail with the family and had a grand old time. We love going up to the cabin because it is gorgeous up there and it's just fun to be with everyone. We also had the pleasure of a mama deer and her baby coming close to the cabin and they were just oh-so-cute! Now we are home and letting it sink in we have to go back to work tomorrow. :)

Oh 3 day weekends, how we love you - please come back soon! :)

What am I doing?!

Well, well, well. Here I am - blogging! Who would have ever thought?! Little Miss Technologically-handicapped is trying it all out. (Side note: Please forgive me as I fumble through and try to "perfect" the process - yes, it may just take YEARS.) :). I am both excited, and overwhelmed! It is so fun to have been able to keep up with family & friends on their blogs and then I started thinking that I should probably do the same. Only fair, right? I always figured that since Im not a mama yet I don't have very much interesting to share, but life is full of fun and surprises - no matter what stage we are at in life! Besides, it is so nice to keep everyone posted about our lives in one place, and to also kind of keep as my own personal "journal" or whatever. SO! Here's to trying something new... it never hurts... right!? :)