tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32844928823235905272024-02-06T21:48:35.830-08:00The Power of Cthe words that are my lifeJadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-79450444174183755522018-10-06T19:57:00.000-07:002018-10-06T20:11:33.056-07:00General Conference Weekend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of my favorite memories from watching General Conference as a child was playing a version of Conference Bingo, where our markers were candy and you could only eat them if you got Bingo.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NTrGkDRxjuILhav9wssBgPcDdx6S8F0I8fz8BsiN6Vr-ka2UC_JqbcBjEa9WjtKh6UkUfJOVFFaI9LA5XXkFVbdPA8M-qlmng4tXGX-PfyWxVnJr9cUizOZZPHxmMhvZhOGpqO7_f5LE/s1600/Screenshot+2018-10-06+at+10.52.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="810" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NTrGkDRxjuILhav9wssBgPcDdx6S8F0I8fz8BsiN6Vr-ka2UC_JqbcBjEa9WjtKh6UkUfJOVFFaI9LA5XXkFVbdPA8M-qlmng4tXGX-PfyWxVnJr9cUizOZZPHxmMhvZhOGpqO7_f5LE/s320/Screenshot+2018-10-06+at+10.52.19+PM.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The rules were lax about whether the card was cleared after every talk or you could play on through a session, and nobody was kept strictly honest about how many markers were eaten.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Given the recent and unexpected death of my mother, I have been feeling nostalgic and decided to bring Conference Bingo back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And I've also decided to share it (<span style="color: red;">scroll to the bottom and click on "Conference Bingo Download"</span>). This file includes five versions of the Bingo card (because my sister has five kids, so, you know, one for each of them).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghQa-s-DF3sWfLiVPIdPU5WT6wwjqj4E6fGNR9CXzkr6lgeK_MrZgtnT6CfycuwbGwHETMBRzh8eFLtPuGiMNr5I3c6tflLzDX8AHmE-1wOF-NJyK7uYYoit0t9llt0lHEP7HXj4oHV8i/s1600/Screenshot+2018-10-06+at+10.53.56+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="417" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghQa-s-DF3sWfLiVPIdPU5WT6wwjqj4E6fGNR9CXzkr6lgeK_MrZgtnT6CfycuwbGwHETMBRzh8eFLtPuGiMNr5I3c6tflLzDX8AHmE-1wOF-NJyK7uYYoit0t9llt0lHEP7HXj4oHV8i/s320/Screenshot+2018-10-06+at+10.53.56+PM.png" width="255" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It should be noted, this isn't super kid-friendly because it's hand lettered and doesn't include pictures. But hey, who says you need kids to play (there aren't any in my house!)? Also, we found that laminating made them more durable for multiple uses. Given that this was a first attempt, the print may be somewhat pixelated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cheers,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">C</span><br />
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1JXMtbLtr8f0dNCTBHWAk2w0njsGSvtuy" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Conference Bingo Download</b></span></a></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-69656011241726239142016-08-17T19:49:00.001-07:002016-08-17T20:01:10.883-07:00Ode on a Pair of Proton Pistols<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Any time she,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">tried to be the superhero instead of the damsel,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">tried to be the one coming home from work instead of playing in the kitchen with the </span></span><span style="line-height: 1.38; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">plastic </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">broom and dishes</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">wasn’t allowed to ride, play shortstop or stoke the fire</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">was chastised for going out alone at night, not knowing what it does to a man when she </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">dresses like that, asking for it </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-69829c4b-9b41-5908-e7b7-e029c4aab41b" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Because, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you’re a girl</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Any time she is told,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">be rational, calm down, she is too emotional, she will balk when making difficult decisions</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">that being a mother is the only way to be fulfilled, feeling maternal is an instinct, </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;">it is </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">something all women are meant to do</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">she is not as strong, is not as fast, cannot understand, that her body or brain are </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.08px; white-space: pre-wrap;">biologically</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"> inferior</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Because </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you’re a girl</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">For every,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">mother who taught her daughter to apologise even when </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">she was not at fault, to be </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">agreeable, not to draw attention, to smile in preparation</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">time she was reduced to T&A, sent a dick pic in lieu of a hello, passed over professionally</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">woman who hoped that the way she lived would finally prove that it does not have to be </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">this way</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“first woman”, “only woman”, “never before woman” who shoulders the burden and the </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">pride. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Because <i>you’re a girl</i>.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Holtzmann, laying waste to a host of shades,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the answer to them all</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">confident, decisive, fearless</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">all of us who refuse to listen when we are told--</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She reminds us that being a girl is not a curse, not a threat, not an epithet.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Because a girl is not the only thing you are.</span></span></span><br />
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JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-67438451258002132752016-08-03T12:21:00.005-07:002016-08-03T12:23:11.041-07:00How Being the New Girl is Ruining My Rep<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ok, we all know I don't actually have a rep to ruin because, well, who cares? Least of all me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But seriously, this moving business still kicks my ass on the regular.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">An alternate title for this post could be "How Decision Fatigue is Destroying My Ability to Human in 20 Minutes or Fewer."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Trying to find the face cream I've been using for the last four years (I never bothered before that because I'm no good at being a girl). I can't find it in the store. I walk into Ulta. They have Nivea, but not my product. Tired of looking and not finding, I decide just to pick up something else (also known as: The Fatal Flaw). Do you know how many different types of moisturizers and creams and toners and masks a place like that has? Too many. And not the one I want. I recently heard about toner (no, not the copier kind, that kind I knew about years ago), and as I am easing into my 30s, I am noticing some particularly unkind discoloring (especially on my upper lip, so it looks like I have a stache --which, despite their meteroic rise to popularity, are still not fashionable on women--that needs bleaching or shaving or both), and I am told toner will help with that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I finally make a selection (Eenie Meenie Minee Moe would have been equally as effective as my process) and make my way to the register. I am whipped into a savings card process where I give out my name, number, address, birthday, maybe my mother's maiden name, my social, and rights to my first born (ha! Jokes on them this time!), but don't-worry-it-is-not-a-credit-card.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After that, I walk up to the "Push" door only to realize I nearly walked right into it, expecting it to open for me automatically. This epiphany nearly causes me to trip over my own feet as I make my way through the second set of doors and I feel similtaneously dizzy and giddy and nauseous. I feel like I could maybe identify with a two-year-old tantruming in that moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Can I just not be new anymore?</span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-18561173606924797122016-06-01T22:13:00.000-07:002016-06-01T22:13:22.079-07:00The Big Move: Day 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We survived the first leg of the trip (which we have broken into five days) from Cedar City, UT to Gallup, NM.<br />
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Other than a few unanticipated stops for a tire strap that doesn't seem to want to stay ratcheted on Adam's Passport that we are towing, things have gone very smoothly.<br />
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I, of course, have been a basket case at times. During the first fifteen minutes of the drive I received a phone call that turned into a short phone interview and made it into the second phase of the hiring process. Lack of proper cell phone service during a stretch from Kanab to Flagstaff made trying to figure out our housing difficult. At one point I received a phone call that our former landlord needed to fill out a form regarding our rental history, but he hadn't done so yet. I called and left a voicemail which he promptly returned, only to find that the Windows 10 updated had locked him out of his email.<br />
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So far Arizona and New Mexico have felt a lot like Utah. Of course, we barely crossed the Arizona/New Mexico border, so I'm sure the landscape will change more as we go, and as we get to Texas tomorrow. It's so strange to drive through places we've heard of but never seen (like Winslow, which every time I say triggers the Eagles' song "Take it Easy" in my head).<br />
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We're staying in La Quinta hotels the whole way because of their great pet policy. The hotel here in Gallup even has a little fenced mini-dog park which was nice because the drive so far has been significantly less than dog-friendly. It seems finding dog-friendly stops was an oversight on my part when planning the trip.<br />
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We ate at a local Mexican restaurant for dinner, since we figure the further east we go the less access we'll have to proper Mexican food. When the server mentioned that the green chile was a little spicier today we knew we had authentic food, and it was delicious.<br />
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Now to prepare for the next leg tomorrow. Over 400 miles today and nearly that many tomorrow. Our Google map told us the drive today would take just over seven hours and it was closer to ten. Tomorrow's drive says just under six, so we'll see how accurate that is.</div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-63531913022507794622016-05-19T23:46:00.000-07:002016-05-19T23:46:19.860-07:00Spilling Feelings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Too many thoughts keep competing for space in my head. It is as though I am shattered into tiny pieces - one piece worrying about work, another worrying about a place to live, another concerned about the drive to South Carolina, and another concerned about how the dogs will do, a piece for finishing work here, a piece for saying goodbye, a piece for Adam, a piece for each member of my family, a piece for selling the house, a piece for each friend, piece, piece, piece, until I feel like there are no pieces left. No pieces for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday, as my sister dropped me off from our customary pre-school pick-up and Pepsi (yes, we are VERY into alliteration), I teared up as I thought about saying goodbye, and that I had a limited number of chances to do it again before I left. For good. Not for a year. Not for school. Not for a mission. For good. You know, the thing I've always wanted to do since I was four? Anyway, I choked back the tears. I reeled it in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I learned something. I can control when I cry now. I didn't used to be able to do this. If you had told 14-year-old me that I would learn how to do this, she would have thought it akin to a super-power. But with that control there is a cost. The emotions come bursting out in different and sometimes ugly ways. So I realized, it's ok to cry. It's dialectic really. I can be tremendously thrilled about leaving, and completely heartbroken at the same time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I made a rule for myself, if I have feelings, I am going to feel them. In the moment. Even if that means I cry at work, sobeit (I cried five times today, three times at work--I'm a rules and regulations kind of girl, so if I make rules, I stick to them).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because really, how does one say goodbye to her home of 31+ years? Piece by piece, I suppose.</span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-72787785791685322062014-12-12T09:37:00.006-08:002014-12-12T09:37:59.969-08:00New Leaf<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>I never thought it would happen to me</i>.</b></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How many times have people thought that? We never think it will be us. <span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;">"Those things"</span> happen to other people.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Infertility.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've talked about it in the past--being more sensitive with what we say and how we frame things. <span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">But I didn't know I was talking about myself.</span> I have suspected for a while that things have not been "normal", but I didn't want to say anything until I knew what I was saying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So far, the results of tests have done <span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">two things:</span> cleared Adam, and required further testing on me. Further testing meant an MRI of my pituitary to determine if there is a tumor causing my<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-size: x-large;"> <b>{very}</b> </span>high prolactin levels (results [AND story!] to come).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1LI5RYTFXK_To-geES8SCdwFu1CbP6jokzYsFfimsikGcJU0QQegGu6V15lipOpAQlt1T-EG_CM7ZUuIw-GGIFTIh2S1OWFchlWSdRNsx1R616MiBDOXZP40BiHQ0GXFDyxZ615YyTai/s1600/MRI+Machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1LI5RYTFXK_To-geES8SCdwFu1CbP6jokzYsFfimsikGcJU0QQegGu6V15lipOpAQlt1T-EG_CM7ZUuIw-GGIFTIh2S1OWFchlWSdRNsx1R616MiBDOXZP40BiHQ0GXFDyxZ615YyTai/s1600/MRI+Machine.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>That hole feels A LOT smaller when I'm squished inside it!</b></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Part of the treatment my doctor has prescribed is changing what I eat, as I am also Hypothyroid and Vitamin D deficient. So, starting Monday, Adam and <span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">I will be transitioning from Take Shape for Life to Whole30.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I must confess, I wasn't really sold on Whole30, even after reading through the website. But I was curious enough to buy the book (<u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Starts-Food-Discover-Whole30-Unexpected/dp/1628600543/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418405087&sr=8-1&keywords=It+starts+with+food" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">It Starts with Food</span></a></u>). It sat on my table for close to a week before I finally picked it up to read. And boy did I go <span style="color: #f6b26b; font-size: large;"><b>down the rabbit hole.</b></span> Read the book in a day, and was sold.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNd3AiM_m5ILg7LL561xxGSaSCBkFue_tdD_U1o3XjA6yPlRLdxYXs5b0xQygRTPE6F3UqyTaOLL8YVpl3VzLiwBT0vmgchcm6mF8WKitk9-bjjQ9keaC2Kx5O7BtrGNPHHrc51Vyt1cd/s1600/doing-the-w30-IG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNd3AiM_m5ILg7LL561xxGSaSCBkFue_tdD_U1o3XjA6yPlRLdxYXs5b0xQygRTPE6F3UqyTaOLL8YVpl3VzLiwBT0vmgchcm6mF8WKitk9-bjjQ9keaC2Kx5O7BtrGNPHHrc51Vyt1cd/s1600/doing-the-w30-IG.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Yup. This is totes happening.</b></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These 13 gallon garbage bags, an eight gallon bag, and one box later our pantry, spice cabinet, and fridge/freezer have been <span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-large;"><b>purged of all non-compliant food</b></span> products. Today marks the trip to stock the pantry and fridge/freezer. Tomorrow and Sunday will be food-prep, and Monday--well, Monday is going to be <span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">the beginning of a whole new life.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's a lot of <span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: x-large;"><b>change and uncertainty</b></span> in the near future, and that's why I'm documenting here--a place to record <span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: large;">results, ups, downs, and to be accountable.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Let it begin.</b></span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-56501292860763536672014-09-10T14:19:00.001-07:002014-09-10T14:19:04.009-07:00Walking to Bring Suicide Out of the Darkness<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/v5W0OO71jWg" width="459"></iframe><br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ever wanted to help someone in need, but didn't know what to say or do? Organizations like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (ASFP) help with research, raise awareness, and reduce stigma about suicide.</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On Saturday, September 27, there is an ASFP walk called Out of the Darkness. I will be walking as a participant, and representing a friend who died of suicide almost a year ago. If you would like to join as a participant, our team would love to have you! Register at <a href="http://www.outofthedarkness.org/">http://www.outofthedarkness.org</a> Team: Cowboy Up. </span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am also looking for donations as a participant to raise awareness, increase research, and decrease stigma. If you have anything to donate, you can do so using my <a href="http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=618694" target="_blank">link</a>. Every bit helps! And if you want to try to make more of your donation, you can see if your company is willing to do a matching gift (it's really easy to see if your company participates--just click <a href="http://www.matchinggift.com/afsp/">here</a>).</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As anybody involved with research knows, it costs money to fund. As a result, the event is also looking for community support for raffle donations and participant donations (water bottles, ice, fruit, etc.).</span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a way to be part of the change. Whether you or a loved one has experienced depression, attempted suicide, lost someone to suicide, or not, it doesn't matter. What matters is what we do moving forward.</span>JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-49619215939044493922014-08-02T18:40:00.000-07:002014-08-02T18:40:03.424-07:00I Promote Fighting. Here's Why.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've never been much of a runner, so when my fight or flight response is triggered it seems like a no-brainer. I stand and fight. I fight a lot of things. I used to use my fists. I've learned to use my words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Words like the one on this bracelet. I wear it every day (literally--to bed, in the shower, swimming, it doesn't come off).</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VUNKzDuRcZTiinUgOqmO252UWIwTakD6ObobrhP_iLkYfoiM8j00EcKHRljgJY7jK12aCoZbACOdx7sd4-gcj2RPbLjWkcH9-Ltryx5NjHglWmcK-5q5k4wnpxZ0dmJui94B6NCraKIp/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VUNKzDuRcZTiinUgOqmO252UWIwTakD6ObobrhP_iLkYfoiM8j00EcKHRljgJY7jK12aCoZbACOdx7sd4-gcj2RPbLjWkcH9-Ltryx5NjHglWmcK-5q5k4wnpxZ0dmJui94B6NCraKIp/s1600/photo.JPG" height="289" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yup. Just my everyday arm and my everyday bracelet doing our everyday thing.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It opens a door to have conversations. People ask me what I'm fighting/why I promote fighting. They're usually shocked at my response.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Four years ago I had the opportunity to meet my first Fighter. He gave me a card with something about Fight the New Drug (FTND). My curiosity was piqued. I had just begun working in addiction recovery, and wondered if pornography could actually be comparable to traditional drugs and alcohol.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Four years later I've come to my own answer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Addiction is addiction is addiction. I don't care if its sex, drugs, food, shopping, exercise, etc. It is insidious, it is no respecter of persons, it is self-seeking, and it only quits when there is nothing else to be taken. At least, that's how it used to end.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The truth is, nobody can stop an addiction anymore than a person can stop a loved-one's cancer or diabetes. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It can be easy to judge those who are addicted--to ask why they can't appreciate the lives they have, their attractive partners, promising careers, why they just can't choose to stop. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For those who have moved beyond the "why" and into the "how", there are still unanswerable questions. There is no answer to the heart-broken family/friend/loved one who asks, "How can I fix it? How do I make them stop?" </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It has to be the choice of the person who has the disease to have it treated, and in most cases requires life-long monitoring/upkeep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every day I'm fighting--working to put myself out of a job--to help people treat addiction and to educate about prevention. Some really amazing people are doing the same. They're over at <a href="http://www.fightthenewdrug.org/" target="_blank">Fight the New Drug</a>. They have non-judgmental, research-based information to help people gain understanding about Pornography. They have also developed an online program to help those who have already found themselves trapped by addiction called <a href="http://www.fightthenewdrug.org/get-help" target="_blank">Fortify</a> (click the link to apply and find other FTND materials).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And to you I say, join the movement. Become a fighter (want your own bracelet? You can buy it <a href="http://store.fightthenewdrug.org/" target="_blank">here</a> along with tons of other awesome Fighter swag).</span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-23897398092119181132014-05-13T01:25:00.002-07:002014-07-30T13:22:54.569-07:00One...Two...THREE!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jLMpQUwxANAMZp9TPaoMnTs8HG0JGBhCewsxCfM_VdhJsU6r5iOGsC7bG_8Nz4kIl9nOoRO9MvNU0Rw6EukjDBEye3taVpztenNGGYKYsv4Y4wCaPwutvhyphenhyphenkG-RUd8FIOdPBfdBQmMjL/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+CD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jLMpQUwxANAMZp9TPaoMnTs8HG0JGBhCewsxCfM_VdhJsU6r5iOGsC7bG_8Nz4kIl9nOoRO9MvNU0Rw6EukjDBEye3taVpztenNGGYKYsv4Y4wCaPwutvhyphenhyphenkG-RUd8FIOdPBfdBQmMjL/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+CD.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of three CDs for the third anniversary this year.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While I am a tenderhearted woman, <span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">I'm not very good at sentimentality.</span> For instance, a few months ago a co-worker asked how many years Adam and I would be married on our upcoming anniversary, to which I thought (for an over-long amount of time) then responded, "I think two." Then, with her help, I realized it would actually be three years. <span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;">THREE YEARS!</span> Already? Seriously??? Where did the time go? I can remember so many things about our courtship and wedding day so vividly that much time could not possibly have passed already.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WmNAZvgHer2M9HOAYfMiHaukS5yk3VoohykQpk5sI8Tucbl6kjI6XiHp1InVGFTVAk3hhGoo_UZdvyfEJVPGn9phIOjUMY9PKHms7KXfFYjUbkj7TrxY0xCTejV9jA7q3h92dYhYA7Nq/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Aquarium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WmNAZvgHer2M9HOAYfMiHaukS5yk3VoohykQpk5sI8Tucbl6kjI6XiHp1InVGFTVAk3hhGoo_UZdvyfEJVPGn9phIOjUMY9PKHms7KXfFYjUbkj7TrxY0xCTejV9jA7q3h92dYhYA7Nq/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Aquarium.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aquarium in Vegas while dating.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRlGEyBe8iJn3oFgEYO3nHsKfUtenRi3Npm3Xp2xUfQtzQ9V0S9uKgOi-Rr2MsvzeNVJqs3XPVURuIpDxwxWSc-u1d7O3ysfUs4sx7gM9pbc_xqhIi7fH1CpZnpYCgdm6hdl8p2ku0Yvc/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Stratosphere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRlGEyBe8iJn3oFgEYO3nHsKfUtenRi3Npm3Xp2xUfQtzQ9V0S9uKgOi-Rr2MsvzeNVJqs3XPVURuIpDxwxWSc-u1d7O3ysfUs4sx7gM9pbc_xqhIi7fH1CpZnpYCgdm6hdl8p2ku0Yvc/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Stratosphere.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just minutes before he proposed and I was SHOCKED!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the same time, when pressed to think about it, <span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">remembering a time before Adam feels like an alternate reality.</span> He is such an important part of my life now I can hardly imagine life without him. He can tell you, I often have to sort through memories to determine why he can't remember the event (turns out I was 11 and he was on a mission--duh! Ok, ok, it's not that bad, but seriously...).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVjWs1iZnLQ4IHV4W816Fzc9V-RpiB-bQDhO1r0YmHVJwj9LSBxBQ0PWgzB3iyk_Oi6XUPLgyRf9fsPq7SkVM_KN7MXAqemVxTOxqp92CMoq2kKX7RiU5vvDF1DcwBRZz2ZkEF6LVN6dT/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Laughing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVjWs1iZnLQ4IHV4W816Fzc9V-RpiB-bQDhO1r0YmHVJwj9LSBxBQ0PWgzB3iyk_Oi6XUPLgyRf9fsPq7SkVM_KN7MXAqemVxTOxqp92CMoq2kKX7RiU5vvDF1DcwBRZz2ZkEF6LVN6dT/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Laughing.jpg" height="266" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He can always make me laugh.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadKc4geOGexvSwDFM7roYfTu27QRkgzzlkDVI8i449wsHY90ioOPSgIbB9fWGkcKm4awTDaQGMNXtJJ22pZblyNn_fnl6v73LYboe7f8Xy9vnAvCjx6LDpd98e3aPV8vCoAecLJeAeI9D/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadKc4geOGexvSwDFM7roYfTu27QRkgzzlkDVI8i449wsHY90ioOPSgIbB9fWGkcKm4awTDaQGMNXtJJ22pZblyNn_fnl6v73LYboe7f8Xy9vnAvCjx6LDpd98e3aPV8vCoAecLJeAeI9D/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Reading.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the things we share best.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before getting married my sister Natasha asked me, <span style="color: #e06666; font-size: x-large;">"Why do you love him?"</span> I wondered why it was so important for her to know, and she told me that I would come to a place when I might need to remember those things when times got hard and I maybe questioned why I did choose him. <span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">I don't remember what I said to her that day.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnH4xlL4M4hqSlndYlnnYLEPaNyMf-toJBvnW0_Tu1Rf3j4f-F4wZQFlD9jwD7VvCOUNXU9xT7hdsmliluFLuxZe5t-swy4yEWn_tZ3pBcu_ZN_S5hyphenhyphen00fqTtCJSeoUh6_ndI-H2WKmXW/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Sunbeam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnH4xlL4M4hqSlndYlnnYLEPaNyMf-toJBvnW0_Tu1Rf3j4f-F4wZQFlD9jwD7VvCOUNXU9xT7hdsmliluFLuxZe5t-swy4yEWn_tZ3pBcu_ZN_S5hyphenhyphen00fqTtCJSeoUh6_ndI-H2WKmXW/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Sunbeam.jpg" height="255" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shameless excuse to use engagement/wedding photos.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">So I'll tell you what I've learned.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSnjLzSTkcL58vQtUisNr5NXyuceDH_dncnDQKOenzSE-53SKwHoo_LYX8_Z2hvxpppPXYLweYK9dnGkJOYddZRokzW5Gsa1jIGAhSRfHsYRKV6eALYIunLSDiKH4DZf4loC48IKYUld8/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Copse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSnjLzSTkcL58vQtUisNr5NXyuceDH_dncnDQKOenzSE-53SKwHoo_LYX8_Z2hvxpppPXYLweYK9dnGkJOYddZRokzW5Gsa1jIGAhSRfHsYRKV6eALYIunLSDiKH4DZf4loC48IKYUld8/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Copse.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am an outspoken, stubborn, extroverted, opinionated, lazy (it's true!), excitable, spicy woman (I would say lady, but my mother would argue with that). I love Adam because he is thoughtful, easy-going, introverted, considerate, hardworking, mellow, chill man. <span style="color: #e69138; font-size: x-large;">He is all the things I am not</span><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;">(except thrifty when it comes to books--neither of us are that, and both of us are ok with it).</span> </span>He provides grounding to my cloud-surfing ideas. <span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;">And because he tethers me, this kite can soar.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3h-siPmEeiS1Ft9SG6_-dSe0oP98h-K-7HxLOhGZAiINdtmFhcQqcL8eYcUh8Dhqu7E0fqQE4rFvT2P1H1UhuOa9gBr9Ktpx0rCbKkTeyqXkY3eAMSkXojPaau7uTa-iDhudzccnDzOm4/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Whisper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3h-siPmEeiS1Ft9SG6_-dSe0oP98h-K-7HxLOhGZAiINdtmFhcQqcL8eYcUh8Dhqu7E0fqQE4rFvT2P1H1UhuOa9gBr9Ktpx0rCbKkTeyqXkY3eAMSkXojPaau7uTa-iDhudzccnDzOm4/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Whisper.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2Js2hj3PFyv8ZydOdw8jhPmlH1pZwf0LQTtw0dici4xaj7WeFDlbPrcd3pwZ_eHEed_qAsoFB6h3X5caqGMsAHQdJRBAUOEBULXDBX9mdwwj8wuA0cPfDFd7TL_Juga57bp0KwkVvlDC/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Vows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2Js2hj3PFyv8ZydOdw8jhPmlH1pZwf0LQTtw0dici4xaj7WeFDlbPrcd3pwZ_eHEed_qAsoFB6h3X5caqGMsAHQdJRBAUOEBULXDBX9mdwwj8wuA0cPfDFd7TL_Juga57bp0KwkVvlDC/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Vows.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwWwz_-fKB2Ww4qye14jbI8XIYYmT-ZBSMbeu03IWTrOAgoiQ7YS5mwP40RdqjlWABOTpuWIfBgfz8ug6pGhWBTBC4QWn7HMan18aVBfO_lBjOF_NlPoKonm6XYCcvsvfs6QrDh7JPCBu/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Cheeser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwWwz_-fKB2Ww4qye14jbI8XIYYmT-ZBSMbeu03IWTrOAgoiQ7YS5mwP40RdqjlWABOTpuWIfBgfz8ug6pGhWBTBC4QWn7HMan18aVBfO_lBjOF_NlPoKonm6XYCcvsvfs6QrDh7JPCBu/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Cheeser.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgUAmbYY8of1h5LicFUp7a1x9r_C2Z8NuVEBellTBFvZRgS362EOXpPPJQ8I8A8BPuO3R-bUn-626A2FeBgnlq4PO4tV6oRNKwR1DPgK0CMvcwdH0yGeb1NG6PoF8nbPDFD5g42jVH3UG/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgUAmbYY8of1h5LicFUp7a1x9r_C2Z8NuVEBellTBFvZRgS362EOXpPPJQ8I8A8BPuO3R-bUn-626A2FeBgnlq4PO4tV6oRNKwR1DPgK0CMvcwdH0yGeb1NG6PoF8nbPDFD5g42jVH3UG/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Cake.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun Fact: We didn't actually cut our cake!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since before we were married Adam put his goals on the back-burner to follow me on crazy adventures <span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">(</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">안녕하세요 South Korea--I'm looking at you!</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">) </span>and waylaid dreams of my own (yeah, no, still not going to be a teacher, still don't know what I'm supposed to do. Trust me, when I know you'll know and we'll all celebrate together, but I digress). <span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">He puts me first, he pushes me higher, and he loves me through it all--</span><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;">mistakes and missteps included.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVMxD7dVJsZwMWCyg4fzNXCECopeBkuyxZweUsmCE-N3e1gK9R095XS2WkL4eMx-4JYM3CJBjKAjXCg6HSSlaNV66Zo_krhbu4xJr4OExMixTfenISi_XmndRa0UQoj8ZmDntVlpfGQGX/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Farewell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVMxD7dVJsZwMWCyg4fzNXCECopeBkuyxZweUsmCE-N3e1gK9R095XS2WkL4eMx-4JYM3CJBjKAjXCg6HSSlaNV66Zo_krhbu4xJr4OExMixTfenISi_XmndRa0UQoj8ZmDntVlpfGQGX/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Farewell.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Open Mic Night at the Double Decker in English Village.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was thinking the other day how I dislike when people get all competitive over their spouses with the, "I know you all say you have the best husband, but you're dead wrong because I married him...blah, blah, blah..." I decided, instead, to recognize that </span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I married the best husband <i>for me.</i></span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-3rcZzWjUSWFKDVoMb4WKjiIi7pFc0O6nGErxUOwTDVIalz0IPwADXUpoF5lT-lmI3UVpOg39URT7PSN125LdK5KVfn1MnbEIg1hAqymF3gpGcCXoLF44vaAxFokVlCBmR3COZMaKBSR/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Tuacahn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-3rcZzWjUSWFKDVoMb4WKjiIi7pFc0O6nGErxUOwTDVIalz0IPwADXUpoF5lT-lmI3UVpOg39URT7PSN125LdK5KVfn1MnbEIg1hAqymF3gpGcCXoLF44vaAxFokVlCBmR3COZMaKBSR/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Tuacahn.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tuacahn's 2012 Production of <i>Aladdin</i>.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This last year has included some real doozies for downward slumps, and he has hugged and loved me fiercely through it all. </span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever tried to love a strong-willed, independent, competitive, Type-A through a downturn?</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> I'm telling you, I know I'm not easy to love in that place, but he does it and with the greatest tenderness and devotion. </span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">He is the best husband for me.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbz25L1mEbu09oFZh_uctqP69ay4zWVgepr5-BFOMrD7E3EArRiam1gc0IF0r4v2BGeEJ5x-pDmEY0QqG_au5H3aLQSTz-wj-3g5S1l9bcSmc37E_ttMtEYZ7K0Bom2_-nObRj9NYja3G/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Grand+Canyon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbz25L1mEbu09oFZh_uctqP69ay4zWVgepr5-BFOMrD7E3EArRiam1gc0IF0r4v2BGeEJ5x-pDmEY0QqG_au5H3aLQSTz-wj-3g5S1l9bcSmc37E_ttMtEYZ7K0Bom2_-nObRj9NYja3G/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Grand+Canyon.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Grand Canyon Trip August 2013.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He constantly tells me he loves strong women</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> (seriously--his sisters and mother are amazing, he loves stories with strong female characters, he listens to strong female musicians, he married me--he is truly more of a feminist than I am), but I must say, </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">it takes an incredibly strong man to love such a woman.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUtCKxEmv_fBx6uHTzV14eBCriBUKrT0qWCjhtEJfqF43tLwEAHzhBeQyg2JDrrL_jOBZw-FV6gUg-ElPJTF6FY0zPEmtVgfDL7lJQFUA2SG-S-_EY9JtbzaM38EnJ6NHPalZWuQOgpcl/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Gymnastics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUtCKxEmv_fBx6uHTzV14eBCriBUKrT0qWCjhtEJfqF43tLwEAHzhBeQyg2JDrrL_jOBZw-FV6gUg-ElPJTF6FY0zPEmtVgfDL7lJQFUA2SG-S-_EY9JtbzaM38EnJ6NHPalZWuQOgpcl/s1600/Adam+and+Chelsea+Gymnastics.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">SUU Gymnastics 2013.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In three years we moved to South Korea, moved back, lost a dog, adopted two more, moved apartments, have found six jobs (and kept two), had our plans for the future utterly wrecked in every way possible, fallen down, picked each other back up, and are looking forward to a bright future. I do believe, <span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">year three will be our best year yet.</span></span></div>
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JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-49811399398741228302014-02-23T09:38:00.000-08:002014-02-23T09:38:56.705-08:00Thawing Frozen Hearts...and Ideas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Disclaimer: I am not a well-behaved Mormon woman. In fact, by most standards I'm not a well-behaved woman. I believe in radical things like human rights are women's rights, that a lot of the world's issues would be resolved if we focused on improving ourselves as individuals rather than using energy to tear down others, and that what we direct our energy toward grows (positivity breeds positivity). Oh, and I'm a </i>Frozen<i> fangirl. *squee*</i></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmu8Mj8Spun8S3VA4CD9pobsbrkV97fr3lAXKri4rwySGD02iKT4bU-Q5glKYNcf23OdMbLcho1tAu4P5lujbMQ1rlWDL1yyl_o337S2y6UuUCgB3WTTBTDQ6pneL009Hc1RpdsuMHGeg3/s1600/Screenshot+2014-02-20+at+3.05.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmu8Mj8Spun8S3VA4CD9pobsbrkV97fr3lAXKri4rwySGD02iKT4bU-Q5glKYNcf23OdMbLcho1tAu4P5lujbMQ1rlWDL1yyl_o337S2y6UuUCgB3WTTBTDQ6pneL009Hc1RpdsuMHGeg3/s1600/Screenshot+2014-02-20+at+3.05.58+PM.png" height="320" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: yellow;">Hope I don't let you down, sis.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few days ago a friend posted a link to a personal blog of a woman, Ms. Kathryn Skaggs, who did an in-depth analysis of <i>Frozen</i>. Using literary theory terms, she did what is called a "queer reading" of the "text." Allow me to begin by saying, I believe people are entitled to opinions. Conferences the nation and world over are filled with academics putting works old and new through the lenses of theories to find new meaning in them. It is my opinion that this particular woman fell into a trap of persuasive fallacy. That trap is one of single-meaning reading in artistic creativity. In other words, that a creative piece can only be interpreted one way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The beauty and joy of film and stage, when done well, is that it allows the audience to experience a catharsis. People are able to participate in a willing suspension of disbelief which allows them to accept that giant robots really can fight enormous aliens that come from under the ocean (did I mention I'm also a <i>Pacific Rim</i> fangirl? *double squee*), or that two sisters can discover that love is, in fact, the key. We crave being taken along on a journey, becoming part of relationships, crying when the main characters experience loss, laughing when they find joy, and applauding when they succeed. Very few things in the world can do that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In general, people respond differently to the same things. For instance, my husband is enamored with all things Jim Henson, and really loves <i>Labyrinth</i> (yes, David Bowie in his wild hair and crazy cod-piece glory). I cannot stand the movie. Detest it. I encourage him to watch it whenever I'm not in town so I don't have to see it. I believe this is in part due to the fact that I was 28 years old upon first viewing a film meant for children in the 80s (I think the Barney Stinson theory of age applies to this like it did with <i>Star Wars </i>and the Ewoks). My point is, I firmly believe we are entitled to our different interpretations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here is where I differ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">People are entitled to different interpretations, but I do not believe that we--as people who are working on making the world a better place (for some, trying to be more Christlike)--ought to promulgate, support, share, or participate in hate-speech or any thing which debases, lowers, degrades, or others human beings in any way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I strip away all of the analysis of <i>Frozen</i> from the other blog, what I choose to see is a woman encouraging people to filter what content to which their children are exposed. I support that. She and I may have different standards regarding what is or is not appropriate, but I do believe it is the responsibility of parents to be proactive in ensuring children view age-appropriate content, and have meaningful conversations about things they may (and, let's be honest, will) be exposed to outside the home or parents purview (i.e., school, friends, public places, etc.).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Perhaps it is because of the explosion of popularity that Ms. Skaggs has chosen to single out <i>Frozen</i> for it's so-called "liberal agenda." My suggestion is that we put more of what our children consume under a microscope: Curious George is more than a cute monkey--have you ever noticed how he suffers no consequences for his, sometimes quite seriously damaging exploits? What kind of message does that send to children? Plenty has been said about other Disney films and how they teach our daughters that they must change everything about themselves to be worthy of a one-true-love (a concept I abhor, btw). But what about how the men in Disney films are portrayed as, well, idiot-heroes? And that if they complete a quest, even unintentionally, they are entitled to be given a beautiful (and talented and wealthy and usually royal) woman as reward for "being a good guy"? What is THAT teaching our children? I could go on, but that's a post (or two or three) for another day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One more thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At one point Ms. Skaggs did a close readying of the lyrics of <i>Frozen</i>'s, arguably, most popular song "Let it Go" (I mean, seriously, how many <i>best cover EVER</i>s can there be?). In it she highlighted what she felt were the lyrics supporting her "queer reading" of the film. Afterward she stated,</span> "<span style="background-color: #faeefa; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The words to "Let it Go" are clearly not Christian-values friendly, by any stretch of the imagination, when understood and heard. This is not an innocent song, with a catchy tune. It is rebellious. It mocks moral absolutes. It is careless. It is unaccountable. It is anti-obedience. It is regardless. It is selfish. <u><i>And if you still disagree, then by all means, feel free to show me how I've misinterpreted the lyrics </i></u></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(underline and italics added for emphasis)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I feel this is perhaps the most egregious statement Ms. Skaggs makes in the post. As a student of English and Communications I have been taught to seek out multiple meanings. I learned from poet and professor, Joshua Marie Wilkinson, that artistic language is like a galaxy. Anyone can draw a grouping of stars (series of lines or phrases) together to create a whole sky full of constellations (meanings or interpretations). None are right and none are wrong so long as they are founded in the text. While I may not appreciate her interpretation, I deign not to state it was wrong anymore than I believe mine to be more-correct. What I do find fault in is her statement that any disagreement with her interpretation is incorrect. Ms. Skaggs, I must protest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">People seeing things differently does not mean either is right or wrong. Different is merely, beautifully, wonderfully different. Please don't white-wash the delightful colors that make this world such a glorious place out for the sake of needing to be right. In all honesty I am reminded of <i>Flowers are Red </i>by Harry Chapin (lyrics <a href="http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Flowers-are-Red-lyrics-Harry-Chapin/60E61BF77D825B0748256CAA002FEA32" target="_blank">here</a>). It hearkens to the teacher who insists, "Flowers are red, young man/Green leaves are green/There's no need to see flowers any other way/Than the way they always have been seen" when a little boy is seen painting with all colors of the palette. Another literary character this resonates with is Menolly from the <i>Dragon Song</i> series by Anne McCaffrey who is hidden away and punished by her parents because it is thought her singing will disgrace her community since she is a girl, and that is a man's occupation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My final take on <i>Frozen</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ms. Skaggs, even if you are right--even if <i>Frozen</i> revolved around promoting what you code the "gay agenda" may I ask what is so bad with people wanting to be accepted for who they are? What is so wrong about showing parents that forcing their children to hide their differences, the things that make them unique, rather than exploring and developing their talents and gifts harms them and the rest of the family? Or that when we ostracize people for being different it hurts the individual, the family, and the community? Would it be so bad to teach our children to love people not <i><b>in spite of</b></i> but <i><b>because of</b></i> their differences? Love is, after-all, the key.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I may not be a very good woman or a well-behaved Mormon, but I do recall the Plan of Salvation and Atonement being very strongly associated with unconditional, eternal love. It is embraced in that love that <i><u>all</u></i> children flourish. May we show a little more love. OK, a lot more love. I said in the beginning, I believe positivity begets positivity. So it would follow that love also begets love. Perhaps we could interpret <i>Frozen</i> through that lens.</span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-22023063146473282592014-01-13T19:49:00.000-08:002014-01-13T19:49:03.905-08:00The Unknown Road<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7dr6JBdHd8aOQ4Wh75FBod7FZ3Iq7Dlq3Sp_xkDYLnUUF9zSnZZhMjdA0Hi_AKtI89ODF9XxCvhm_-HWuGBxnG6Oa-JJveoAz_k0fFfMkVLHrN_Dea-eBhNlIJPFwjEkqxejVyqK_JIb/s1600/tmp_photo-198350180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7dr6JBdHd8aOQ4Wh75FBod7FZ3Iq7Dlq3Sp_xkDYLnUUF9zSnZZhMjdA0Hi_AKtI89ODF9XxCvhm_-HWuGBxnG6Oa-JJveoAz_k0fFfMkVLHrN_Dea-eBhNlIJPFwjEkqxejVyqK_JIb/s400/tmp_photo-198350180.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The above image depicts my life right now. The road is moving quickly beneath me, I can only see exactly where I'm at, and everything around is shrouded in darkness and fog renders the distance unclear.<br />
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People don't generally respond kindly when you answer their question, "Why did you quit (insert activity here--whether it be school, work, a pastime, behavior, or what-have-you)?" honestly with, "Because God told me not to."<br />
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Ok. That's oversimplifying the case. <br />
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But how do I get into the depth of my divine intuition and connection which guides my life--which I seek and strive for daily--to ensure that I'm living the kind of life I <i>want</i> to live across simply and clearly?<br />
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I'm not saying that everybody has to get on the path to Jesus (it's not a bad path, I'm not naysaying either), or that they have to be in order to get where I'm coming from. Can I just say, "It's not what I was meant to do." And leave it at that? I only wish. That leaves me open for the onslaught of questions, "Why not?" "How did you come to that conclusion?" "Did something cause this?" Or, my even less-favorite: the directives and thinly-veiled doubts. "You're so good at it, just do it anyway." "Someone with your talent can't quit. Maybe you were wrong."<br />
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Here's where it comes down to for me: I fully respect everyone else's right to not believe in God, to not believe that He speaks, and that our lives are not directed/protected/enhanced by any Higher Power of any kind. I unequivocally concede that. I merely ask the same courtesy be extended to me. I do believe. I also believe I have a close, personal relationship with my Heavenly Father, and I believe that He watches over and gives me direction when I need it and as I seek it.<br />
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So when you find out I quit the teacher education program with only student teaching left to finish, and all you want to do is ask me, "WHY?!" My answer is simply this: I wasn't meant to do it. And when you want to follow up with, "So what are you going to do instead?" I'll probably shrug and whisper, "I have no idea. I only know what I'm not supposed to do. And I know I'm not supposed to student teach."<br />
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Because you see, the funny thing about being a woman of faith is that I don't get all the answers at once. I get one piece of a very large puzzle. I don't know where it goes, I don't know how it will fit in. I only know that I have it, and that it will go somewhere, and that it will all eventually fit together, and somewhere down the road I will look back and say, "That's why. That's why."<br />
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It also means I don't drive forward looking into the rearview mirror wondering "Whatif...?" or musing on when the course changed from what <i>I</i> thought was supposed to happen. I get to turn my gaze completely forward.<br />
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So for now, I speed into the unknown future. I do not doubt. I do not fear. The road is not unknown, it is simply unknown to me.<br />
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JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-5670110889104781292013-11-11T18:29:00.000-08:002013-11-16T07:38:35.625-08:00Birthweek: Day Seven<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ok, <span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: large;">for reals this time,</span></span> <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!</span></span> Yup, today is the big day. At 10:30pm I will roll over to 29 years. <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">I can hardly believe it.</span></span> The last year of my twenties. Feels kind of surreal, honestly. My <span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">newest favorite</span></span> part about my birthday is that <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">I get to share it</span></span> with <span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">this <span style="color: #45818e;">{little}</span> angel.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhIn_CBxZVqdp59_lVhxAdQ-lkMpAan-CVtQq_JxEoOPlpTKqI2sv51H38St2-4xN9uXnoq-iBSdXKstty0QFj-UuacurAxOrzvd83TLFg_8FbO47gBSpeQqD8ar22ScvcSY3hnISnIo6/s1600/Titus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhIn_CBxZVqdp59_lVhxAdQ-lkMpAan-CVtQq_JxEoOPlpTKqI2sv51H38St2-4xN9uXnoq-iBSdXKstty0QFj-UuacurAxOrzvd83TLFg_8FbO47gBSpeQqD8ar22ScvcSY3hnISnIo6/s1600/Titus.JPG" height="320" width="299" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Isn't he great? He was <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">the best present</span></span> my sister ever could have given to me. And,<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;"> just like me,</span></span> the boy knows how to arrive in style, rolling in at 9:30pm on a Friday night. <span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We are destined to be kindred spirits.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When I see his smiling face <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am reminded</span></span> that every mother who has ever looked at her baby boy like this<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> has never imagined</span></span> that someday he will disrespect and violate a woman. Never that he will brutalize and do unspeakable things to girls. <span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;">No mother ever</span></span> starts out that way. <span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No baby boy does either.</span></span> They start like this, innocent, pure, filled with genuine joy at the smallest things, and brimming with potential.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So what happens?</span></span> How do our beautiful baby boys grow up to be rapists and abusers? <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Honestly, I don't know.</span></span> But it sickens me. <span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It sickens me</span></span> to my very core. Many women who have daughters worry about their futures--how women are portrayed in media, the stress that is put on girls to be perfect, and the possibility of being violated. Just as much as <span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: large;">I worry for my nieces,</span></span> <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I fear for the world that my nephews are growing up in, too.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Rather than stand on my soap box against victim blaming <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">(because I have one, and it's big, and my <strike>rant</strike> speech is LONG)</span></span> or be angry, I want to try to do as <span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ghandi said,</span></span> and <span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">be the change I want to see in the world.</span></span> Not too long ago, I was sitting in one of my Sociology classes and I just couldn't take the pitting of men against women anymore. And <span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;">I may have blown up.</span></span> I blew up about how <span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">tired I am of the culture of fear</span></span> that is being perpetrated on women as a guise to "protect" them (more about that later). I want, instead, to see <span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">real</span></span> change.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today's organization is one I have supported from a distance for a long time, but this year <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">I became personally involved.</span></span> Because this year, learning about another woman who was raped while on the campus of her university, was the last straw. <span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had to <span style="color: #76a5af;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>DO</i></span></b></span> something.</span></span> Eve Ensler, the founder of this organization, has been doing something for years. Today's organization is <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.vday.org/home" target="_blank">VDAY</a></span></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Their largest campaign, in honor of the 15th anniversary of V-DAY this past February, is <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.onebillionrising.org/" target="_blank">One Billion Rising</a></span></b>. The name comes from the fact that, statistically, <span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 in 3 women</span></span> will be the victim of violence, meaning ONE BILLION women will be affected. <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">ONE BILLION</span></span>. The organization not only fights to end violence against women and girls, it does so through education with programs such as <span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span style="font-size: large;">V-Girls</span></span> and <span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: large;">V-Men</span></span>, which are found on their <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.vday.org/take-action#.UoGERydyadw" target="_blank">Take Action</a></span></b> page.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Maybe you aren't prepared to <span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: large;">perform in the Vagina Monologues</span></span>, or perhaps you feel this agenda is <span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-size: large;">too out-spoken </span></span>and are not ready to <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://secure3.convio.net/vday/site/Donation2?df_id=1325&1325.donation=form1" target="_blank">donate</a>.</span></b> I implore you, <span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>do something</i>. </span></span>Speak up when people joke about rape. Speak up when people mock abusive relationships.<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Stand up for women.</span></span> Not only that, <span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: large;">stand up for men.</span></span> Don't allow them to be side-barred or minimized in this fight. <span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Their role in the ending of violence against women and girls is immense and immeasurable.</span></span> Educate your sons and your daughters. <span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span style="font-size: large;">Be the voice</span></span> amongst your peers who will not tolerate the mistreatment of women or the minimization of the role of men in doing so. It's time to <span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">change the tide of this hate</span></span> and to rinse our world free of its toxic influence. <span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Take a stand. </span></span>Be the change you wish to see. <span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-size: large;">Celebrate the end of this birthweek by making the world a better place for having <span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">you</span></span> in it.</span></span></span><br />
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JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-85561530650106732742013-11-11T17:11:00.001-08:002013-11-15T12:56:20.132-08:00Birthweek: Day Six<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One of the <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">three jobs</span></span> I have right now deals with the<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> disease of addiction.</span></span> It is destructive, it can be terminal, and it is <span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;">no respecter of persons. </span></span>An addiction that is running rampant and unchecked is <span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pornography Addiction.</span></span> One non-profit organization is doing their best to fight against this multibillion conglomerate. It's called <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.fightthenewdrug.org/" target="_blank">Fight The New Drug</a>. </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">They work to <span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;">educate</span></span> youth and adults against the <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">harmful effects of pornography</span></span> as well as help rehabilitate those who are addicted to pornography. Best of all, they have a <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;">variety of ways</span></span> to get involved, and they're all listed on their <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.fightthenewdrug.org/Get-Involved/" target="_blank">Get Involved Page</a></span></b>. Not only that, they have a great <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.fightthenewdrug.org/Store/" target="_blank">Store</a></span></b>, which features items you can buy to also support them including Fighter bands, t-shirts, and their Fortify literature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If fighting against the harmful effects of pornography isn't something you can get behind, then<span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: #a64d79;">I encourage you to support</span></span> a cause which is fighting against something you find harmful to our society. And, as always, let me know how it goes!</span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-18317749812709618632013-11-11T16:03:00.000-08:002013-11-14T11:21:58.352-08:00Birthweek: Day Five<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's been an <span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">amazing </span></span>four days, and things are just going <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">UP</span></span> from here! Yesterday was all abut literacy, which is fundamental. However, it's not going to do the future any good to be able to read <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;">if there isn't anything worth reading.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's true, as an English major I'm more or less a <span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: large;">Grammar Goddess-in-training,</span></span> but even if I wasn't I still believe that the things being trotted out as readable material would drive me nuts. Maybe that's the Grammar Goddess-in-training speaking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At any rate, that's one of the reasons I want to support <span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://826national.org/" target="_blank">826 National</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here is their informational video.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">power of community</span></span> that comes together to support the local chapters of this program <span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: large;">astonishes me. </span></span>I would love to have something like this where I live. As there isn't anything, and my time here is limited, I'm supportive of 826 National and what they are doing to <span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">improve the writing, publishing, and tutoring</span></span> of children ages 6-18. Want to help out? <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://co.clickandpledge.com/sp/d1/default.aspx?wid=71980" target="_blank">Donate today!</a></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you aren't prepared to donate, I want you to <span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;">let me know</span></span> how you are going to help make a difference with tutoring children with the goal of helping them improve and publish their writing.</span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-51755966899866559672013-11-11T15:18:00.002-08:002013-11-13T11:05:16.891-08:00Birthweek: Day Four<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My entire life is defined by <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">books.</span></span> The first book I <span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: large;">"read"</span></span> was <i>Hop on Pop</i> by Dr. Seuss <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">(I say "read" because really I had made my sister read it to me so many times I had it memorized).</span></span> My reading skills were actually subpar in school. My first grade teacher, <span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mrs. Jensen,</span></span> actually sent home one of her Cabbage Patch dolls with me <span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;">so I could practice my reading.</span></span> It wasn't until third and fourth grade that books actually came alive for me. <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">They opened my world</span></span> beyond Cedar City, UT, and--for the first time--<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I could <i>see</i></span></span> what other people saw. The world was bright and fresh and new, I wanted to drink it all in. Books allowed me to <span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: large;">travel</span></span> to far away places, to see past my prejudices, to <span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;">experience complex emotions</span></span> I could not even begin to fathom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That is why I wholeheartedly embrace <span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.firstbook.org/" target="_blank">First Book</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZILXxQDHFDAGCyHnzehnGdJdlJsiewGzOht-NLkqC3DsSQV1fnvMtfa-hQiZCQCnDyBFrclESm9cXRMjzmJkVVIn4uCSEJLvJbnOxzQDzHrDBP5_Btpde3HC-NhwNOViNh2oB11PNlNh/s1600/First+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZILXxQDHFDAGCyHnzehnGdJdlJsiewGzOht-NLkqC3DsSQV1fnvMtfa-hQiZCQCnDyBFrclESm9cXRMjzmJkVVIn4uCSEJLvJbnOxzQDzHrDBP5_Btpde3HC-NhwNOViNh2oB11PNlNh/s1600/First+Book.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Their approach is multidimensional. You can <span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.firstbook.org/get-involved" target="_blank">get involved</a></span> by providing monetary donations, and volunteering, participating in virtual book drives. They also have a program called Authors in Action or you can choose to participate in their monthly book club.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you aren't familiar with this program, they <span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;">provide books to children who do not own books.</span></span> <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A $10 donation can buy four books.</span></span> Don't believe illiteracy is a problem in North America? First Book has put together some <span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.firstbook.org/images/pdf/Statistics-on-Literacy.pdf" target="_blank">statistics</a></span> on just that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today's challenge:</span></span> help put an end to illiteracy today. Whether that's through First Book or by <span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;">volunteering at a local elementary school,</span></span> begin to make a difference today.</span><br />
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JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-90120337727823599632013-11-11T14:23:00.004-08:002013-11-12T05:31:38.852-08:00Birthweek: Day Three<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: large;">Isn't this fun?</span></span> I feel like it's the first day of school, <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;">all giddy and anxious.</span></span> This is the same feeling I get every time I help someone else. It may be fair to say <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm in love with this feeling.</span></span> And today the love continues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I featured this organization last year, and am just as enthused to have them on the list again today. Yup it's <span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Shine Project.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QdpAySpFl7WsCtHfdWY1-MM0YRJYqA2IcLF6KfXjhvtzZLuaS1xCcLx5xwBKocAaIDVpCnMfQrnkItKxM-UJJ6yNTT60fezkWjREFXDgE522mptPRygUGJRyAGwR0RW7oAK7d2oRoD9U/s1600/The+Shine+Project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QdpAySpFl7WsCtHfdWY1-MM0YRJYqA2IcLF6KfXjhvtzZLuaS1xCcLx5xwBKocAaIDVpCnMfQrnkItKxM-UJJ6yNTT60fezkWjREFXDgE522mptPRygUGJRyAGwR0RW7oAK7d2oRoD9U/s1600/The+Shine+Project.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> This organization believes in helping others and promotes,
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Shine where you are."</span></span> Additionally, they work with inner-city youth to
help them attend college (you can read about the project <span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.myshineproject.com/2013/04/why_3.html" target="_blank">here</a></span>). The youth are paid to work where they make <span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://theshineproject.storenvy.com/collections/86458-threads" target="_blank">these amazing bracelets</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-NAsH141cY0hU0aI7Y6aRGV8yaUQp54_UssXG7H54IzkbRpv_GfMO78Zc5DPEvmHhvRSxEKYcnmXKr5cPw2GPyOtwiVzK0lqNy642FxnFAedIAO05cC1ZmM66kBY42HLqJeHoO5JHZQv/s1600/Threads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-NAsH141cY0hU0aI7Y6aRGV8yaUQp54_UssXG7H54IzkbRpv_GfMO78Zc5DPEvmHhvRSxEKYcnmXKr5cPw2GPyOtwiVzK0lqNy642FxnFAedIAO05cC1ZmM66kBY42HLqJeHoO5JHZQv/s1600/Threads.jpg" height="175" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> You can always choose to donate monetarily at <span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.myshineproject.com/" target="_blank">The Shine Project</a> </span>(funds go toward scholarships for students from Cesar Chavez High School), or you can <span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;">get something pretty </span></span>from Threads <span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">AND</span></span> employ these students (I'm getting the <span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://theshineproject.storenvy.com/products/575649-jahlil" target="_blank">Jahlil</a></span> this year--Eee! it's so great).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">People say all the time that <span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;">the youth are the future,</span></span> but it isn't very often that we see people doing something about it. So today, <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">do something</span></span> that will help youth in some way. <span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Help the youth</span></span> <span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and fall in love with this amazing feeling.</span></span></span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-32097271346470047412013-11-10T22:39:00.001-08:002013-11-11T12:46:54.784-08:00Birthweek: Day Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The organizations for today are near and dear to my heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">Seriously,</span> how could you not love that face? And those ears! <span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">Oh those ears...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The organizations (yes, two, because <span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">I couldn't pick</span> just one) for today are <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">Friends of Festival Country K9s</span> and <span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;">BAM</span> (Because Animals Matter). The former is an organization local to Cedar City which is working to educate the community on pet ownership/responsibility as well as establish a local dog park. If you know <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Joë,</span> you know she LOVES to run and play. We could really use a dog park. You can help move their cause forward by </span><a href="http://www.cedarcitydogpark.info/Donate-Now.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">donating</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> today! The really nifty thing about their site is their donation page <span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">also lists other local shelters</span> who are in need of assistance<span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: large;"> (including Dust Devil Ranch Horse Sanctuary if horses are more your speed).</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTta7SSUqhYlE8SZ5RAjA2r-Us-jFwXGok3p7Fat0TuU8zZKXwkWLES3f06thDTa4GhfWTjfxZTc_-ybWMfaWHO2bFdnXmeBRMALClM3gRr8u4mSh2q16kzvAPBZb-9Kp4F5KSn6yv9BkS/s1600/Friends+of+Festival+Country+K9s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTta7SSUqhYlE8SZ5RAjA2r-Us-jFwXGok3p7Fat0TuU8zZKXwkWLES3f06thDTa4GhfWTjfxZTc_-ybWMfaWHO2bFdnXmeBRMALClM3gRr8u4mSh2q16kzvAPBZb-9Kp4F5KSn6yv9BkS/s320/Friends+of+Festival+Country+K9s.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: x-large;">BAM</span> is the organization that<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"> rescued Joë</span>, who was originally Brownie, then Fiona, but when I saw her picture on PetFinder I cried out, <span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-large;">"She looks like a baby kangaroo!"</span> Thus she became Joë. One of the things that I love most about BAM, beside their no-kill policy, is that all of the animals they rescue are <span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">placed into foster homes</span> to be socialized with people and other animals. In addition, they update vaccinations and require spay/neuter before permanent home placement. <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">The group of volunteers that work together to make it all function are truly remarkable.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There are a variety of ways you can become involved with BAM, including </span><a href="http://www.becauseanimalsmatter.com/donate.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">donating</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.becauseanimalsmatter.com/volunteer.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">volunteering</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">, </span><a href="http://www.becauseanimalsmatter.com/fostering.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">fostering</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">,</span> assisting with their </span><a href="http://www.becauseanimalsmatter.com/kibbles_on_wheels.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Kibbles on Wheels</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> program, or helping out at one of their many </span><a href="http://www.becauseanimalsmatter.com/events.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">community events</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once again, the theme of today is <span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: large;">LOCAL.</span> If you aren't from the Iron County/Washington County area, you may want to look into how you can help out closer to your own home. <span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">As a pet lover,</span> you can help ensure that these little fur babies find loving homes. <span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">If you aren't a pet lover,</span> you can also help ensure that more unwanted pets aren't produced by supporting spay and neuter programs. Let's celebrate today by helping those who can't help themselves!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">REMEMBER...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I want to see what you're up to! Make sure to leave comments about how you are celebrating with me <span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: large;">wherever you are.</span></span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-33944361677854004902013-11-10T22:05:00.000-08:002013-11-10T22:06:20.637-08:00Birthweek: Day One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Happy birthday to me!</span> Ok, so it's not <em><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">the</span></em> day just yet, but the week is here. Thus, the celebrating commences!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This year I decided to change up the order of things. I want to start by <span style="color: #f6b26b; font-size: x-large;">doing something local</span> first. I think trying to make a difference in the community where you live is <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">crucial.</span> One, because we ought to help those around us to <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">improve the culture of community </span>where we live. Two, because reaching out on a local level <span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">helps you</span> see the difference you are making.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">First on my list of organizations I can stand behind is the <span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: x-large;">Iron County Care and Share</span>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMuoPhpu0UUAtJT73gbH17Ip_e3Js7JraZV2WxShUOQUk9vnHOdkptokkRDgM811M8KoEsMrpdiUyd1L0YzeBf4BCO1i1d7f2yn70fqcUjKeYgjrxPd-bqJGwLdEtx_JEC_XRyBnPbu4e/s1600/Iron+County+Care+and+Share.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMuoPhpu0UUAtJT73gbH17Ip_e3Js7JraZV2WxShUOQUk9vnHOdkptokkRDgM811M8KoEsMrpdiUyd1L0YzeBf4BCO1i1d7f2yn70fqcUjKeYgjrxPd-bqJGwLdEtx_JEC_XRyBnPbu4e/s320/Iron+County+Care+and+Share.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The facility provides a variety of services, including sack lunches, temporary housing, rent assistance, clothing and gas vouchers, etc. You can read about their<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;"> list of services </span></span><a href="http://www.careandshare-utah.com/about-iccs/services/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">here.</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> If you would like to be of assistance, but <span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">aren't able to provide a monetary donation,</span> you can also visit </span><a href="http://www.careandshare-utah.com/care-and-share/volunteer/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">this link</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> to see how you can become involved as a <span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;">volunteer</span>. Of course, you can also donate. Aside from financial contributions, the Iron County Care and Share also participates in a <span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"Grocery Rescue"</span> program with local grocers. They also accept food donations from individuals. Information for all types of donations can be found on the </span><a href="http://www.careandshare-utah.com/care-and-share/donate/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">donation</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> page.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Like I said at the beginning, I want this support to be local. If you aren't from Cedar City/Iron County, <span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: x-large;">I urge you</span> to find the nearest food bank/emergency shelter in your area and see what you can do to <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">reach out and give a hand up</span> to those members of your community who may not be able to help themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">AND...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;">I want to hear about it!</span> The point of celebrating birthweek is to spread good by being alive. I want to know what differences <span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">you</span> are making this week, so <span style="color: #f6b26b; font-size: x-large;">leave a comment</span> and let me know how you choose to <span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: x-large;">help me celebrate this wonderful adventure we call <span style="color: #6aa84f;">life.</span></span></span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-28337263351182175692013-01-24T23:49:00.002-08:002013-01-24T23:49:41.658-08:00Their Eyes Were Watching God Pantoum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One of my resolutions for this year is to do one thing every day that makes me happy. Creating makes me happy. I've spent a lot of time lately reading the creations of others, including the much-acclaimed novel <em>Their Eyes Were Watching God</em> by Zora Neale Hurston. Much of her language is poetry in prose form. It's beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This semester I'm also TAing for one of the Creative Writing Professors. One of the activities I prepared for the class was the form for a pantoum (information available </span><a href="http://www.baymoon.com/~ariadne/form/pantoum.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> on what that is). As part of my reading of <em>Their Eyes Were Watching God</em> I've been asked to keep a reading journal. I had a spark of an idea today when I was finishing the novel; taking some of Hurston's words and formulating them into a pantoum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I pulled the phrases I noted in my journal, then used a number randomizer to assign them line numbers (as the lines repeat in a specific order). I'm sure this may seem like a cop-out for creativity, but the honest truth is, I loved each of the lines so much, and the pattern is so intricate, that this is the best way I could come up with to bring it all together. And, honestly, I don't think I could have thought up a better organization if I had worried it out for weeks and months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I don't have a title yet. Therefore, the working title is an homage to the text from which it is drawn.</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Their Eyes Were Watching God</span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The mother of malice had trifled with men
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the palm and banana trees had began that long distance talk with rain,
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"Have
the nerve to say what you mean."
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It
was just so.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The
palm and banana trees began that long distance talk with rain--
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">it
was hard to love a woman that made you feel so wishful
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It
was just so.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"There
ain’t no tellin what I’m liable to do yet."
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It
was hard to love a woman that made you feel so wishful
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">several
men sat around stuffing courage into each other’s ears,
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"There
ain’t no tellin what I’m liable to do yet."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">God
would do less than He had in His heart
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">several
men sat around stuffing courage into each other’s ears--
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">after
a while the people finished their celebration
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">God
would do less than He had in His heart;
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">she was too busy feeling grief to dress like grief
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">after
a while the people finished their celebration
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"Have
the nerve to say what you mean."
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">She was too busy feeling grief to dress like grief--
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the
mother of malice had trifled with men
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And might I suggest; do something today simply because it makes you happy.</span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-53946843116038540112013-01-19T22:33:00.000-08:002013-01-19T22:33:21.378-08:00Feedback<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I generally try to be even-handed. If I get great service I like to spread the word. If I have lots of issues with a place I like to do the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Enter our experience here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When Adam and I were returning to Cedar City from South Korea we had a really difficult time trying to find a pet-friendly place to live. I enlisted the help of my little sister, and she was able to do some great footwork for us. She found an apartment that let us keep Ojo, and was within our price-range. The neighborhood was less-than desirable, but our actual neighbors were wonderful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That said, I felt unsettled about the rental company, Century 21 Prestige Realty. The woman we were actually in touch with in Korea mysteriously quit, so we dealt with her new, untrained replacement. She was nice enough, and we didn't have any real problems. Then, when Adam went in to pay the rent the following month she was gone, too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We always paid our rent on time, reported all the issues we had, took care of the apartment, and even cleaned up after our dog every time he went out (not something we can say the same about the rest of the pet owners). But the uneasy feeling lingered. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At the end of October we decided to give notice when we paid rent at the first of November. We reviewed our contract and made sure we wouldn't be violating any terms. So Adam gave notice in writing when he paid rent. We agreed to be out of the apartment by November 27.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We actually had everything moved out by November 25, and spent the last two days cleaning top to bottom. We even shampooed all the carpets. The morning of the 27 I had the keys to the apartment, storage closet, garage, and mailbox, and the garage door opener to Prestige Realty by 8:30am. We gave them our forwarding address, and I was told by the woman at the desk that she would file the paperwork and we should expect a deposit in two weeks. I waited until the week before Christmas and still hadn't heard anything I called the office. Nobody answered. I left a message. Two calls. Two messages. No response. The day after Christmas I received a call back. The woman told me she would pass our information on to the owner because he was the one who actually held the deposit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Questions I should have asked at the time: Why hadn't this happened sooner? And, how long would it take? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fast-forward to January 8 with no word. I called again. They said: The owner had been sick and didn't have time to check the apartment yet. It would be two days at the most until a check would be in the mail, and she would personally call me. The two days later, and no call came. I called. The owner was out of town. It shouldn't be more than a week, and they would call. Nobody called. I called again. The owner was trying to move equipment from Kanarraville and was supposed to stop by the office; she would try to call him and then call me right back. It wouldn't be more than 10 minutes. She never called back. I called again. She put me on hold, came back and said the owner would be coming in tomorrow, and she would call me so I could pick up the check. Can you guess? She didn't call. I tried calling them well before closing. Nobody answered. I left a message. Nobody has called back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In short, we are now at January 19, only eight days away from having been moved out for two months, and we STILL don't have our deposit back. Not only do we not have a deposit back, we keep getting the run-around about getting it back, and without going a legal route have no recourse for getting our money back any sooner. What's more aggravating is that if the shoe was on the other foot, if we had taken this long to pay the deposit or the first month's rent, we would have been long-evicted by now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So we're spreading the message by word of mouth. After seven (there is a record of each and every one on my phone) calls, a myriad of excuses, nearly two months, and absolutely no progress it seems our battle has just begun. If this is the level of service you expect or the kind of business you'd like to experience then by all means, we recommend them. But if you find timely responses, follow-through with what you've been told, problem solving, or straight-forward communication to be solid business practice then we only have one recommendation for you: do not do business with Prestige Realty. Beyond that, it's generally considered polite to forewarn people you like, even remotely, about things you know to be bad for them. That's why we're sharing this story with you. We hope you'll do the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>For those of you who might be curious about any repercussion for me publishing this: the first point of libel, burden of proof resting on the accuser, is that a false statement was made.</i></span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-18596070156089035852012-11-16T13:03:00.001-08:002012-11-16T13:03:20.100-08:00Birthweek Day 5: Let the Change Continue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today is my birthday! Don't worry, we'll still have two more days of giving thanks by paying it forward, but today my choice is close to my heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Two weeks ago we said goodbye to our little Ojo. After suffering a severe traumatic head injury and subsequent seizures life was too difficult. Instead of focus on the pain, I want to reflect on the good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We adopted Ojo during our time in South Korea. He was rescued after being abandoned in Seoul. Several people combined to provide a loving atmosphere for him, to help him heal and regain confidence in himself and humans. Though our time with Ojo was short, we are eternally appreciative of those who helped him, and people like them throughout the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In my hometown Cedar City, like-minded people are working to build a dog park. And so much more. According to their "About" page, "<span class="text-class-32">Our group would like a centralized location
to conduct educational classes to enhance human-animal bonding, animal
assisted therapy, animal adoptions, demonstrations, seminars and other
activities to protect and enhance the quality of life and economic
vitality of the local community." They seek to provide county-wide services, but have been unable to find a suitable location thus far. They have been approved as a non-profit organization and state, "</span><span class="text-class-3">The organization is organized exclusively for</span><span class="text-class-25"> charitable and educational purposes." For more information you can visit their website <a href="http://www.cedarcitydogpark.info/default.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="text-class-25"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="text-class-25">If you are willing to, you can donate money. But if you want to effect additional change, you can also write letters to the city council members and mayor of Cedar City to voice your support and ask for theirs. The website has all the information for contacting these civic leaders (click <a href="http://www.cedarcitydogpark.info/default.html" target="_blank">here</a> and scroll almost all the way to the bottom).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="text-class-25"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="text-class-25">Or, if you would prefer, find your local animal adoption/education organization and donate/support them in their efforts. The vast majority of these groups are non-profit organizations that require contributions to survive, and provide services to their communities.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="text-class-25"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="text-class-25">Be a part of the change for the better.</span></span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-80912187004295333352012-11-15T09:51:00.001-08:002012-11-15T09:51:42.989-08:00Birthweek Days 3 & 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">After working a 17-hour day yesterday, I was a little behind getting the organization up for Day 3 of the Birthweek organization/charity pick (do not fear, one has still been chosen!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">826 National focusing on the tutoring, writing, and publishing of student writing from ages 6-18. Initially begun in San Francisco, CA, as a single entity, 826 Valencia, the organization was co-founded by veteran teacher Ninive Calegari and author Dave Eggers (<i>A Staggering Work of Heartbreaking Genius</i>). It has since spread to eight chapters across the U.S. Each chapter has a store front which supports the organization's work, and are themed to represent the area (for instance: in the 826 Valencia chapter the store front is a pirate shop, where the Chicago shop has The Boring Store (which does not sell spy supplies like trench coats or night-vision goggles). The organization has a network of over 5,000 volunteers who range from all careers and backgrounds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I want to support this organization because the ability to write is a necessary life-skill. Being taught to write well is a gift not many are given. Helping students gain the confidence to express themselves in writing is an invaluable gift.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Help the gift-giving continue by supporting 826 National today. You can do so <a href="http://www.826national.org/" target="_blank">here</a>. While listed donations begin at $25, you are able to specify an "other" amount in a field below.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Day 4 has me excited. Let's be fair. They ALL have me excited. What I like about the organization for Day 4 is the versatility, the number of ways a person can get involved, and the change that is taking place at an increasing rate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fight The New Drug (FTND) is a non-profit organization that seeks to educate the population about the harmful effects of viewing pornography. Not affiliated with any religious groups or political agendas, FTND seeks to display the scientific facts of how viewing pornography is harmful. From their information page they say, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Learning from the past, Fight the New Drug takes a non-religious,
non-legislative, non-judgmental approach. We recognize an individual's
right to view and produce pornography, however, once they are educated
on the harmful effects of pornography we believe they will choose to
avoid it. We only wish to educate about the negative effects of
pornography on individuals, families, and communities." (You can read the whole "About" page <a href="http://fightthenewdrug.com/About/" target="_blank">here</a>.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Recently FTND has begun encouraging college-aged students to begin campus chapters of FTND. Many participate in parades and other community events to spread the word. Additionally, FTND goes on school tours to begin educating the population at an important age.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When a person decides to support FTND a change is made. One is not a supporter, one becomes a fighter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fight The New Drug. Become a Fighter! Support can take many forms. If donation is your goal, you can do so <a href="https://fightthenewdrug.com/Store/Donate-to-FTND/" target="_blank">here</a>. All donations go to support the Education Outreach Program, University Chapter Program, and Teen Recovery Program. A minimum donation of $10 is required. Their motto is, "Give a little, fight a lot." One can also purchase t-shirts, hoodies, belt buckles, or wristbands to wear their support.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am a fighter!</span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-27335890601868478792012-11-13T19:52:00.000-08:002012-11-13T19:52:01.566-08:00Birthweek Pick Day Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As I sit on my couch with books toppling into my lap, stressed about prepping a lesson plan for tomorrow and Thursday (and the additional stress that implies), I want to make sure I mention the second pick for my birthweek.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">During my service as a missionary in the Ohio Cincinnati Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I met many amazing people. One of them was a fellow missionary. Sister Hovik. She was stylish, she was driven, and you couldn't help but love her. Since returning I've been following her blog. Now Ashley Lemieux, she began a non-profit organization called The Shine Project. In its genesis, Ashley encouraged people to effect change wherever they were. Noting that we may not necessarily single-handedly change the world, she makes the valuable point that if we are making positive changes wherever we are, and enough of us join, our circles of influence will overlap, we will inspire others, and we can all shine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Later, Ashley expanded her vision by beginning a scholarship fund. Now, there is an entire line of items produced by at-risk students that generates funds for scholarships called Threads (you can buy them <a href="http://theshineproject.storenvy.com/" target="_blank">here</a>--they are incredibly fashionable and trendy).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You can donate directly to The Shine Project <a href="http://www.myshineproject.com/" target="_blank">here</a> (all funds support a scholarship for students of Cesar Chavez High School), or you can peruse <a href="http://www.storenvy.com/stores/25642-the-shine-project" target="_blank">The Shine Shop</a> and a portion of every purchase goes toward the scholarship fund as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This video is pulled from The Shine Project's "About" page with the tagline "watch the video to feel the power of TSP." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Feel the power. Be part of the change.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Oh, and when you make a purchase they will send you a card to pass along to others to help share change. Each card comes with a unique number, so you can see where you card has been, and where it goes. Be the change. Track the change!</i></span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-33566143860317023822012-11-12T15:33:00.001-08:002012-11-12T15:41:21.819-08:00It's My Birthday: Let's Celebrate by Paying it Forward!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Whenever people ask me what my favorite holiday is, I tell them my birthday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yes, I know it's rather narcissistic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The biggest part of what I love about my birthday is the timing. It's right in the midst of the holiday season, just after Halloween, and before things get into the full-swing with Thanksgiving and Christmas. People are kinder, the weather is cooler, and there's pumpkin (one of my most favorite things!) in just about everything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This year for my birthday I was inspired by my dear friend Bethany. She always does unique and interesting things for her whole "birth week." And they are things that take the focus off of her, and put them onto others. So this year, I've decided to choose seven charities/organizations, one for each day of my birth week, to donate to. I invite you to join me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In a world where initiatives for change are focused on just about every point of the globe, I wanted to choose organizations that I personally support and believe in; organizations that promote ideas I try to stand for and can get behind. The majority of these are not global enterprises, but groups that focus on more localized change.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For the first day I've chosen one of my first loves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Reading. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Books opened the door beyond my rural Utah home to the world; they helped me see more, live more, and believe more. When I hear of children growing up without books (like one of my husband's favorite artists <a href="http://www.skottieyoung.com/" target="_blank">Skottie Young</a>) it breaks my heart. I think every child should have books. Sometimes they might be their only friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The organization, First Book, does just that. It gives books, <i>new books</i>, to children who don't have them. 97% of donated funds go directly to buying books ($10 can buy 4 new books). Thus far, 90 million books have been distributed.You can read more about their impact <a href="http://www.firstbook.org/first-book-story/our-impact" target="_blank">here</a>.They even have a marketplace which provides qualified groups new books at prices 50-90% below retail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You can also make memorial or honor donations. There is a minimum donation of $5 (in part to offset credit card processing fees). All donations are tax-deductible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Visit <a href="http://www.firstbook.org/" target="_blank">First Book</a> today and make a donation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Happy Birthday to ME!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Make sure to check in each day this week to see what other organizations and charities I like to support!</i></span></div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284492882323590527.post-30764289208777692592012-09-23T09:02:00.000-07:002012-09-23T09:02:21.736-07:00The Salesman: An Open Letter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dear Sir,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I do not feel that this title is befitting for one such as you; however, seeing how I have manners and you apparently lack them it behooves me to provide you with an example.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On Friday, you were plying your trade at a local grocer, a delivery service for goods at cut-rate prices. When first I passed your stand there was a gaggle of geriatrics asking questions and taking flyers, signing up for the "$100 Giveaway!" You seemed to be doing well.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I ran my errands, collecting take-and-bake pizzas, purchasing necessities like toilet paper and milk, and again I passed by. This time there was no buzzing crowd, solitary you stood at your utilitarian stand. When I had nearly passed you by completely you called out to me at over ten feet away, "Come, take a flyer!" Quite frankly, I ignored you. I did not want your service, my hands were full, and I had other things to do. When I kept walking you sneered, "Or not."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Excuse me? Excuse me! I must tell you, sir, that you are very fortunate I was so busy because as I walked away I played in my head the alternate ending to this scene.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It went like this: Instead of me walking away, arms loaded with a purse, a large package of toilet paper, a half gallon of milk, and two family-sized pizzas, unable to collect your superfluous flyer even if it had interested me, I turned on my heel toward you, came charging at your impotent stand and bellowed, "Or not?! How dare you! Who do you think you are?" Depositing my goods atop your barren counter I would rage, "You see a woman, burdened with goods, not a finger to spare, and you chastise her for not stopping to talk to you about something she clearly does not want or need? Perhaps you should do the world a service by removing yourself from the service industry as you are not fit for human interaction. Shall I go on <i>or not</i>?"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Regardless of the fact that I did not, in truth, say these things to you, I maintain that my sentiments are not far off the mark. You, sir, are a disgrace to your trade. May you never have the misfortune of crossing me again, as you are unlikely to be so lucky as to escape my wrath twice.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sincerely,</span><br />
Me</div>
JadeLuckMoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15165896737141301756noreply@blogger.com0