Honey Hives and Mermaids

The many Beehive and Mia Maid girls in this audience remind me of this little anecdote written by a sister who was preparing for a Young Women activity.
She said: "My 5-year-old daughter asked me how many 'Honeyhives' I had.
After a little discussion, I determined she was talking about Beehives.
I counted the young women who were Beehives and told her.
She had made a paper airplane for each young woman, and proceeded to count out the appropriate number of airplanes.

"When she was finished, she still had a few paper airplanes left.
After a moment of thought, she asked, 'How many Mermaids do you have?'"

James E. Faust -Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor -April 2000 General Conference

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Day In Review -April 29th

Saturday, April 29th 2006

-My parents went up to Wyoming to clean out Grandma Turner's house, when they came back they said that they hadn't really made a dent in it at all with all the stuff that grandma had even though they took a lot of things home. I also had driving range today. We just drove around a parking lot with faded white lines all over and practiced maneuvers like parallel parking 2 and 3 paint turns, parking 90 degrees and 4 degrees and other things. I was pretty good at it, but I kept running through a particular "stop sign" (funny, I ran a stop sign on my driving test...which meant I failed my test...) and sometimes I would not let others have the right of way. (O.o crazy....I accidentally didn't give right of way on my driving test as well....another automatic failure.-I only failed twice but did two failures in one go. *sighs* who knew the driving range would predict my test..) So...basically....it sucked. The only good thing about it was that my teacher Lythgoe said I did great at the 90 degree parking.

Wednesday, April 29th 2009

-I had an Anthropology final today. It was a bad test to take. The teacher was in an obvious rush when he wrote the test from the spelling mistakes, number mistakes, and how hard the questions were to understand. I didn't like it at all. History was a little better but we had trouble getting our powerpoint to work so we went over time. XP At least I got to pass out my twizzlers. Then I went to the book store and sold 4 of my 8 books back which got me over $100 back...but I couldn't sell my other ones because new editions were coming out so they didn't need the old ones. >.< So dumb. I talked with Ephraim and Mike a bit from my geology class. I came back home and spent the rest of the day working on packing up my stuff to move home for the summer. Spent some time with the roomies watching "Bride Wars" later in the night my Cousin Ali and her husband dropped by to help me store my stuff that was left over for a couple of nights between my moves. She also helped to put my ribs back into place (they were out of alignment) ^^ She's amazing because of that. :)

Thursday, April 29th 2010

-I woke up from a dream of me doing ASL homework to actually work on my homework in real life. Finally got it done and I had to send the assignment in two parts since it was too big for a single email. I watched Princess and the Frog with my Mom -who was recovering from her Breast Cancer surgery. I read a book called Hush Hush. I didn't like it much, it didn't live up to its potential. I bought mom some juice as well and just basically hung out.

Friday, April 29th 2011

-It's 3:30 am of the 30th and I looked outside and saw SNOW! Yes! It's snowing! :D Awesome. I woke up today (29th) and Dan and I went to Hogle Zoo to see all the animals. It was rather fun, but cold. It's been snowing on and off today, but nothing has stuck (til now at 3:30am) At the Zoo I got to see the wolves and mountain lions and bats and a bunch of other animals. It was fun, I had a great time with Dan and after the zoo we went to lunch at Weinerschnitzechels (I'd never been before...haven't been back yet.) before we went back to the apartment and talked for 4ish hours before we kissed good bye and I stayed up to do writing stuff....and had the fire alarm go off randomly. O.o Wonder why.

Sunday, April 29th 2012

-I went to Shane's single's ward today to check it out, since I would be in that ward if I was living at home. My neighbor Mandie was there and I was able to talk to her and learn more about her wedding plans. (she now has a baby girl) It was a pleasant day really. The parents came home from their Panama Cruise as well today. I'm glad that they got back from there safe and sound. ^^ They also brought back souvenirs! I got a bunch of bracelets, a bookmark, a wood dragon fantasy creature, a windchime, a horse/carriage statue, a key necklace, a dolphin statute and for my graduation present they gave me a sapphire necklace. (which I basically never take off.) It's soo cool!! My parents spoils us so much bring back so many gifts. ^^ I'm so grateful that they're my parents. :D Kikay and I also go the both of them to Join Pottermore to see what house they would be sorted into. Dad got into Hufflepuff and Mom is in Gryffindor. ^^ (Me and my Brother are in Gryffindor, while Kikay is in Slytherin.)  

Monday, April 29th 2013

-Whew. Moving sure stirs up a lot of particles. I get into all these random sneezing fits all over the place. Oddly enough I've been sleeping pretty well for being in a new place. I really like my new bed I suppose. :) So after lazing about for a lot of the morning. I drove over to the Institute to get a summer parking pass, I then dropped by my old apartment so Kikay and I could transfer the Gas and Electricity accounts between us as she was still there and I had left. Dropped by Walmart for food, took a shower though it wasn't as nice of a geyser as my old place had. *sighs* The roommate's jimmyrigged shower curtain is rather...poor...I need to get a better one that will stay in place. I worked on unpacking. I have 4 boxes left out of 13, but I still need to get everything in its place as its just a big hoarding mess right now. It makes being in my room rather uncomfortable just because it's soo disorganized. Kikay dropped by for FHE where we had popcorn shrimp and fries for dinner. We were going to watch a movie but my DVD player just isn't connecting right (cus I had the wrong colored cords. >.<) so the movie was only playing in black and white. Kikay wasn't in the best of moods anyway because it was just one of those 'bad days' for her. :(

Tuesday, April 29th 2014

-I took a Me day today. I did a little bit of writing. I watched a bunch of movies. And basically hung out. :)

Wednesday, April 29th 2015

-I had work this morning, and surprisingly me and my coworker were able to get the department open at a good pace. Even with me needing to count all the animals, we moved at a good pace that I worried I would actually have nothing to do for part of my shift (besides helping customers.) For the past few days/week we've been struggling to get things done in such a time frame that I could leave without worrying that things weren't done. It was great, plus no major animal struggles though I think we might have a person who steals packages of crickets. >.< Because for the past two or three weeks I've noticed that we've been short in my counts...and there's no reason for them to get thrown away.... Sooo I'm guessing they were stolen. >.> In any case, my New Roommate dropped by briefly to double check that it was okay that she cleaned out the fridge. (It's so clean now. Basically our bottom shelf is empty of stuff. O.o who knew so much of the Ghost Roommate's stuff had expired...) I came home from work and gave Kikay some moving boxes from work as she's moving out this weekend, and took a nap, to be woken up by my friend Jessva calling to say she and Tay were on their way to kidnap me. O.o It took me a bit to comprehend that....as it's not something they've done before. lol They drove all the way down to take me out to dinner to Texas Roadhouse. ^^ Love that place! Though I accidentally ended up spilling food all over my lap when I tried to shut the 'to go box' Oops... but I managed to save it. ^^ Yay! I came home and had a good roommate chat with the new roomie. ^^ Now we're hanging out watching Lion King. :D ....and of course...deal with my cheek that is still aching. I'm guessing it's a sinus infection of sorts from having to do the cleaning check last weekend....

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Achy Cheek

I hate it when something randomly goes wrong with me.
Like.
Why would I randomly wake up with a cheek that is sore and swollen?
It's sore like the "after the numbing goes away from the dentist's needle' sore, but slightly moreso. Like sore muscles along the top of the gum line.
Seriously.
It's the most random thing ever.
Did I sleep wrong?
Did I get bitten by something there and I'm reacting against it?
Is it a precursor to getting a sinus infection of getting sick in some other manner?

Who knows.
All I know, is that it's irritating, and annoying to have it aching all the time.
I hope it fades away soon.
Because having something hurt for no explainable causable reason that I can find/remember
Is just another stressor in my life that I don't quite need right now.

:)
Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

October 2004 General Conference -Saturday Afternoon

Thomas S. Monson -The Sustaining of Church Officers

• Elders Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and David A Bednar are sustained as Apostles with the others.

L. Tom Perry -What Is a Quorum?

• "The genius of our Church government is government through councils."
• "A quorum is three things: first, a class; second, a fraternity; and third, a service unit."
• May the brotherhood that exists in our quorum be of comfort and strength and security as we pass through this mortal part of our existence.

Henry B. Eyring -Faith and Keys

• First, God is persistent and generous in offering the blessings of priesthood power to His children.
• Second, His children must choose for themselves to qualify for and receive those blessings.
• Third, Satan, the enemy of righteousness, has from the beginning tried to undermine the faith necessary to receive the blessings made possible by priesthood power.
• Satan will always work on the Saints of God to undermine their faith in priesthood keys. One way he does it is to point out the humanity of those who hold them. He can in that way weaken our testimony and so cut us loose from the line of keys by which the Lord ties us to Him and can take us and our families home to Him and to our Heavenly Father.
• The warning for us is plain. If we look for human frailty in human, we will always find it. When we focus on finding the frailties of those who hold priesthood keys, we run risks for ourselves. When we speak or write to others of such frailties, we put them at risk.
• Happy condition will not last without a constant renewal of faith.

Ned B. Roueche -"Feed My Sheep"

• "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."

Ronald T. Halverson -"I Stand at the Door, and Knock"

• Our Heavenly Father never gives up on us. The Savior said, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he will him."
• But we must have the desire to open the door, even if it shakes the very foundation of our past beliefs and way of life.
• But we must have the desire to open the door, even if it shakes the very foundation of our past beliefs and way of life.
• Doing a thing, introducing it into your very being, will convince you of whether it is good or whether it is bad. You may not be able to convince me of that which you know, but you know it, because you have lived it."
• To the less active, to the honest in heart, to my friend, and to the good people of the earth, I invite you to awake out of complacency and foolish contentment and come unto Christ and do whatever it takes to earnestly seek truth, to know God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. For "this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God."

Bonnie D. Parkin -How Has Relief Society Blessed Your Life?

• "The defenses of the home and family are greatly reinforced when the wife and mother and daughters belong to Relief Society." Why? Because women are the heart of the home.
• "[Woman] need to be together in an environment that bolsters faith."

Donald L. Staheli -Securing Our Testimonies

• "Do the best you can." But I want to emphasize that it be the very best. We are too prone to be satisfied with mediocre performance. We are capable of doing so much better."
• True testimonies bring the light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ into our lives and focus all of us toward the same goal of returning to our Father in Heaven--yet our individual testimonies come through varied experiences and at different stages in our lives.
• "But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."
• First, we must have a sincere desire to believe.
• To my young friend, and to all wherever you may be, never give up on the Lord. The answer to your prayers may not be as clear or as timely as you would like, but keep praying. The Lord is listening!
• Daily fervent prayers seeking forgiveness and special help and direction are essential to our lives and the nourishment of our testimonies. When we become hurried, repetitive, casual, or forgetful in our prayers, we tend to lose the closeness of the Spirit, which is so essential in the continual direction we need to successfully manage the challenges of our everyday lives.

M. Russell Ballard -Pure Testimony

• My experience throughout the Church leads me to worry that too many of our members' testimonies linger on "I am thankful" and "I love," and too few are able to say with humble but sincere clarity, "I know." As a result, our meetings sometimes lack the testimony-rich, spiritual underpinnings that stir the soul and have meaningful, positive impact on the lives of all those who hear them.
• Our testimony meetings need to be more centered on the Savior, the doctrines of the gospel, the blessings of the Restoration, and the teachings of the scriptures. We need to replace stories, travelogues, and lectures with pure testimonies. Those who are entrusted to speak and teach in our meetings need to do so with doctrinal power that will be both heard and felt, lifting the spirits and edifying our people.
• Clear declaration of truth makes a difference in people's lives. That is what changes hearts. That is what the Holy Ghost can confirm in the hearts of God's children.

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Busy Busy Busy ....Not

It's rather interesting.
How events tend to all clump together.
I mean.
I'll spend weeks and months with the usual non busy routine. An occasional outing.
But then suddenly.
All the stars seem to align in such a way that.
I'm suddenly very busy every day of the week.
O.o

It's like...I suddenly have a social life.
For a week.
And then I'm no longer busy, and life returns to normal.

This last week. I was busy like every day.
I took my cousin to dinner and a movie to celebrate his Birthday
I had an institute class.
I went on a date.
I had a Roommate bonding night.
I went to the Temple.
Had a game night with the family.

Seriously, only one day last week did I not have anything at all going on. O.o
So.
Weird.

And this week....
Basically back to normal.
No events planned at all. Just the normal work and home schedule.

It's crazy how things all seem to come together at once.
Like how people will all rush up to the register at the same time.
Or everyone will order the same food in a row.

Things just....clump together....

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

At the Temple

Me, Kikay, and Daddoo went to the Temple today.
To do Baptisms and Confirmations for some of our Ancestors that my Sister had found.

^^ Which is amazing! She found a ton of names!
In any case.
We had our pick of temples to choose from, since there are plenty in the local area.

But we chose to come to the HomeTown Temple.
Why?
Because 1. Our Dad would be able to come with us to do the guy names.
and 2. We figured it would be less crowded which meant.
3. We would be done faster.

Because the one time Kikay and I attempted to go to the CollegeTown Temple...
We were there four THREE hours. O.o
Yikes!
That's how long the wait was.
And that line never got shorter.
Seriously, a lot of people go to the CollegeTown Temple.
I don't believe there is such a thing as a "lull" time there. lol.

So we went to our HomeTown Temple. ^^
And we were right.
Wasn't crowded.
Well...it was crowded with people going to the multiple weddings taking place/photos and such around it. But the area we needed to go to was nice and not crowded at all.

Which meant that we were able to go and do the work of the Lord in less time than it would have taken us to go through the CollegeTown one.
We were there for like...an hour?

And it's kinda funny.
Because I observed that we could drive up to HomeTown and do names there, quicker....than if we'd just gone to our local temple down there. O.o
Considering our drive is like 45mins-1hour away....
It just shows how busy the temple is down there. *shakes head*
But that's because we have two colleges full of LDS students there....so there is a lot of saturation compared to other areas.

I definitely liked the HomeTown experience much better. ^^
It had a better spirit to it, not so many people around, I was able to focus on the names we were doing, and enjoy spending family time with Kikay and Daddoo. ^^

We're definitely going to come back up there whenever we find names.
It's less hassle that way. ^^

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Survival Instinct

So My Roommate and I have different sleep schedules.
Basically when I'm asleep, she's at work, and when I'm at work, she's asleep.

And her work....tends to be the graveyard shifts.
So when she has her day off, she tries to stay awake like she would have been if she'd gone to work that night.
And her method of staying awake usually involves Cleaning.

A lot of cleaning.
Lol, it's so interesting to wake up to a clean apartment when you left it dirty the night before. O.o
(Though I do try to not make a mess and have her clean it up. :S )

She's always concerned though, that she woke me up during the night as she cleaned.
Either by like Vacuuming or Using the DishWasher, Basically noisy things.

The good thing is....I'm a heavy sleeper.
Once I'm out...I'm pretty much out unless you catch me in that stage of sleep where I'm close to waking, then yah....I can be woken up easily enough.

As of yet, her night owl cleaning hasn't disturbed me.

What is interesting to note though.
Is that my roomie can clean the apartment and I don't wake up.

But if I'm taking a nap, and I hear someone enter the apartment who usually doesn't enter. (Like Maintenance guys or people who do cleaning checks, or most the time the ringing of the doorbell...)

I wake up.

O.o It's the weirdest thing.
It's like I can sense that 'something doesn't belong here.'
And I wake myself up.
I guess it's a flight/fight sense.
Something doesn't belong!
I'm in danger!
Wake up and see if I'm actually in danger.
So a survival instinct. Yah. That. :)

It's alive and kicking strong whenever there is a stranger nearby. lol.

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Blessings of Tithe

Each of us who pays a full tithe can testify that the blessings of the Lord come to us personally and meet our individual needs.
The Lord has promised that if we pay our tithing, He will open the windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing so great that we will scarcely have room enough to receive it.

Many years ago John Orth worked in a foundry in Australia, and in a terrible accident, hot molten lead splashed onto his face and body.
He was administered to, and some of the vision was restored to his right eye, but he was completely blind in his left.
Because he couldn't see well, he lost his job.
He tried to get employment with his wife's family, but their business failed due to the depression.
He was forced to go door-to-door seeking odd jobs and handouts to pay for food and rent.

One year he did not pay any tithing and went to talk to the branch president.
The branch president understood the situation but asked John to make it a matter of prayer and fasting so that he could find a way to pay his tithing.
John and his wife, Alice, fasted and prayed and determined that the only thing of value they owned was her engagement ring--a beautiful ring bought in happier times.
After much anguish they decided to take the ring to a pawnbroker and learned it was worth enough to pay their tithing and some other outstanding bills.
That Sunday he went in to the branch president and paid his tithing.
As he left the office, he happened to meet the mission president, who noticed his damaged eyes.

Brother Orth's son, now serving as a bishop in Adelaide, later wrote: "We believe that [the mission president] was an eye doctor, for he was commonly called President Dr. Rees.
He spoke to Dad and was able to examine him and offer suggestions to help his eyesight.
Dad followed his advice, ... and in due course sight was restored--15 percent sight to his left eye and 95 percent sigh to his right eye--and with the help of glasses he could see again."
With his vision restored, John was never unemployed again; redeemed the ring, which is now a family heirloom; and paid a full tithing for the rest of his life.
The Lord knew John Orth, and He knew who could help him.

"President Dr. Rees" was my mother's father, and he probably never knew of the miracle that was wrought that day.
Generations were blessed because a family decided they would pay their tithing regardless of the difficulty--and then met a man who "happened by" and "happened" to be an eye surgeon who was able to make a great difference in their life.
While some may be tempted to believe these are just coincidences, I have confidence that even a sparrow cannot fall to the ground but He knows it.

-Sydney S. Reynolds -He Knows Us; He Loves Us -October 2003 General Conference

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Spider Standoff

So there I was, at work, doing my usual morning tasks.
Checking in with our animals to see if they were doing well.
I was in a back room, checking out the charts.
When I happen to look at the wall...and see this Giant Spider making its way along it.
Seriously.
Big.
It was a daddy-long leg.
Which meant that even though its' body was smaller, its legs were creepily long. Long and slender like hair. Like 4 inches long, which is long for a spider, considering I don't see them that big....

:S

In any case, I stared at the spider...
I didn't want to kill it.
It was gigantic.
And I had other things to do...
so very reluctantly I turned away to resume checking in on the animals in that room.
And what do you know when I turn back?
It had vanished!

Cue. Freak out!!
AAAAHHHH!!!!
*scream run wail*

What if it had jumped on me while my back was turned! What if it was climbing to my hair! Where was it where was it?!

Oh...still there on the wall.

Basically, I did that everytime I had to turn back around. :S
Because seriously, that spider could blend in!
It doesn't help at all that the chart it chose to climb on was full of lines and papers and charts that made it difficult to see, especially because it would not hold still!!
No it would be in a different spot! But always going upwards.

To make it creepier, was watching its long slender legs move about.
At one point, it seemed to just go up onto two legs and stand up!
-I think there was a bit of invisible webbing there it was navigating.
Using it's first two legs to feel things out and such.
But finally.
Finally I was able to finish the charts.
About the same point the spider reached the ceiling.

That was the point where I was like "Okay. It is not Okay for you to be all the way up there!"
I did NOT want the thing Dropping on my HEAD the next time I opened the door.
*shudders*

So I grabbed the broom.
Held the very tippy top of the handle, keeping as far away from it as possible, stretching out my arms so I could brush at the spider.
Until it got on the broom,
At which point that dumb plastic cover at the top of the broom decided to fall off, dropping broom and spider onto the floor.
Cue Jump. Freak Out. Desperately pray that the spider stays in its corner while I stay in mine.
As I slowly pick up the broom.
Paranoid it's going to run and attack me. (which is silly I know. Drama people drama. ;) )
put the broom back together, hardly taking my eyes off of him, I again got the spider on the brush part of the broom, and gently swung it.
Trembling, shaking, sure that it would race up the broom handle to attack me.
I dropped it in the sink there.
Only to realize.
This is a HUGE spider!
It would take a whole lot more effort,
And waaaayyy to much of a close proximity of my hands to it to make it worth it to try and wash the bugger down the drain.
I was sure its long legs would have spread out and saved it from certain drowning.
And of course it could have climbed BACK UP out of the drain at a future point and ATTACK me then!! :S
Mehahaagggahhaaaaaahhh!! Do not want that to happen.
I mean, I just saw the thing climb the wall! A drain wouldn't be a problem for it! It could probably hold it's breath just fine!

So I grabbed a cup.
Which again put my hand too close to the giant creature.
As I, trembling, placed it over the spider, telling myself all the while that it can't jump...surely it won't jump and attack me. 
Managing to trap it there,
I grabbed a paper towel.
After all the thing could climb!!
To cover the top so it couldn't escape.
Gingerly I held the papertowel in place,
My hand as arched as it could be without letting the top slip off, nor leave gaps for it to wiggle it's way through to attack my hand (can spiders wiggle through gaps? O.o)
I sped walked through the store to the outside,
Eyes on the spider,
Confident that if it could it would sink its fangs right through the paper towel into my hand. (And I was not thinking of becoming Spiderman. No. Just the pain, the itchiness, the stupidity of thinking that it would try and bite me.)

And took it to a grassy area.

Opened the cup up.
Expecting it to just kinda dump out onto the grass.
But instead it clung to the paper towel.
Which obviously made me freak out.
Again, thinking it would attack me, bite me, hurt me. (I am being slightly overdramatic in this, but when adrenaline is rushing through your body....it comes up with crazy ideas.)
I dropped the paper towel with the typical quiet girly shriek of terror, with quick hand waving to make sure it hadn't latched onto my hand as it fell to the earth.

The spider,
Making landfall.
Quickly used it's long legs and blending abilities to move oh so creepily (like moving hair...O.o) away in the grass.

Away.
Keeping my eyes on it with difficulty,
I picked up the cup and paper towel.
And retreated to the safe confines of the store. Far. Far away from the spider. (I hope.)

Ugh.
I can still see it moving when I close my eyes!
Why do spiders have to move in such a freaky way?!

*sighs*
I hope some good comes from sparing the spider's life.
Because in the end....it may have been easier to try and get it down the drain....
Though I still would think it would climb back up the pipe at the most inopportune moment....
No outside is better for sure.

....Until it comes back.
....if it comes back.
Don't bring your friends, spider, okay?

;)

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Day In Review -April 21st

Friday, April 21st 2006

-I stayed after school for the National Honor Society. I had to color an ABC book for a service project. It took me forever to color all the little pictures that went with the letters of the alphabet. Around three hours I think. The president of the NHS and the teacher in charge thought my pictures were wonderful "So detailed, you're really good." "Wow, I just colored mine solid colors, yours is way good." I don't understand it. What kid would want to open an ABC book and see a Quilt for Q colored all red? Why not put more colors into it to make it better? Make the pictures exciting to look at. Take your time. I guess its different for the other members they were just doing it as fast as they could for several hours. I mean I was doing it for hours too but I think I was being a lot neater and creative than they were.

Tuesday, April 21st 2009

-I woke up at 645 this morning to work on writing my history notes. I didn't need to write down all that information that was annoying to find out. Walked in the sun to institute and played the piano, whent o do ASL, we discussed our final. Had more history stuff to do during lunch, went to Phil where we reviewed for our Final on THursday. Ran into Steve...Cook? Chatted with him for half an hour about how 18 year old girls are spiritually *and mentally) immature compared to the Return missionaries. I totally agreed with him and went along with it. He wants girls to have a 2 year spiritual enlightenment period as well to bring them on the same level as the guys. (Totally *rolling my eyes as I read this.* Girls can be way spiritual without having to spend two years focusing on it.) It was somewhat funny when he found out that I was 18. Ha. He backpeddled really quick saying not all 18 year olds are like that. I took my history test after that and 2 hours later emerged with a cramped hand. Met up with Ali and Brad at the baseball field but didn't see the game. Oh well...maybe next time. (I never did go to a baseball game while in school) I was glad to come home and relax for a bit sticking my feet into the hot tub after dark and watch the boys trying to splash all the girls in the hot tub. It was a relaxing way to end the day.

Wednesday, April 21st 2010

-Today was the last day of my 2010 Spring Semester College Classes! And I admit, once again, it doesn't feel like class has ended. (it never did feel like a 'last day' in college...so weird.) In communications we made an Eggstress thing where you can hit the egg and it will bounce back into an upright position because of a weigh tin the bottom of it. We also talked about our group project and what could have been done to make them better. Sociology was kinda a let down, because we couldn't use the power point. Why? Apparently a virus had gotten into the school main frame and was wrecking havoc on all the school computers so everything had to be shut down. In my business class I was told that this was happening nationwide. O.o It was only affecting Windows programs though, this virus. So for both those classes we ended up just talking about the final and test reviews. Came home to work on my ASL grade paper before retuning to the school. In Psych we presented our group project. I think people enjoyed it. Went to my ASL class early because psych finished early. Drew on the board working out final paper problems, talked about Oralism. Joy. (so tired of that subject) Came home and printed out my bibiliography went to Kristins for a ride and got a brownie. Went to the Ethics class and the teacher had tech difficulties and confused us on how to do another questions with the word "best" in them, but had a good time. Came outside to find that the rain I'd managed to avoid being in all day was coming down hard. I ended up getting wet walking to Kristin's car. Came home and relaxed and had a slight headache.

Thursday, April 21st 2011

-Today was officially the last day of classes. For my last dance class we practiced our routines and had a food social. I brought cookies. :) Went to my two institute classes where I got creamies. :D Afterwards I studied for my last Anatomy quiz on the Urinary, Male, and Female systems. Took it. I think I did alright but I don't know for sure. It was a different type of quiz where we took it in a different room...not detrimental, just different. I picked up Kikay afterwards and went to the store, and took a nap afterwards. At 7 I went to an LDSSA meeting where we introduced ourselves and talked about plans and goals for next year. I actually had a pretty good time even though it was a 2 hour meetings (short meetings are the best meetings beyond no meetings at all.) Brother Spencer put me in the spotlight at one point by telling everyone that I had applied for counsel a couple of times or three before to be considered for the counsel and all those times before the Lord had give the "No" when they asked if I should be a counsel, but this time I got the go ahead. I wonder what the Lord has in store for me for being on council now...I just hope I pass and whatever it is I can learn and grow from it. :)

Saturday, April 21st 2012

-I stayed up til 5am working on a story with Jesva, woke up again at 10 am to talk to her before work, fell back asleep til 2ish, Worked off and on attempting to do my paper for Deafness and the Law. I found some information, but I've yet to write the things I'm not sure what I can write for 5 pages...but I need to write it soon since it's due on Monday. At 6 Kikay and I and the Neffie girls went and saw Mirror Mirror. :) Its a cute movie. ^^ I enjoyed watching it. Came home and got distracted watching Ghost Adventures when again I should have been working on that paper.....still can't think on what to write...

Sunday, April 21st 2013

-Since I had work at 2am this morning I didn't actually end up going to bed. I stayed up all night. Work itself went well. (was given a stocking shift) I rearranged two of the driveway isle displays. Odd how that can take so much time. Dozed for 2 hours before going to church. Actually felt awake for it mostly. In relief society we got a book and we had munch and mingle afterwards. Came home and then went to the Neffies. Home again and finally able to go to bed.

Monday, April 21st 2014

-I'm feeling slightly ill at the moment with a headache and a slightly unhappy stomach. Must be subconsciously stressing over something or else I'm getting bombarded with everyone else's stress auras. Who knows. Work went well, Sirch wants me to try to do bedding changes for birds faster. I don't think he realized I would have been done sooner if I hadn't stopped to talk with him more than once. Oh well, room for improvement. I was able to stay busy at least. :) yay. Came home and took a short nap as Danielle woke me up with a rather loud stressed sounding phone call. I don't know why she talks to her mom via speaker phone, but it sure was loud. I went to FHE tonight and played volleyball. ^^ tons of fun.

Tuesday, April 21st 2015

-I woke up with a headache from yesterday *sighs* I hate it when sleep doesn't get rid of those. >.< Thankfully warming up my muscles at worked helped it go away for the most part. Opening went way better than yesterday in that we had the department basically open by noon, though after my coworker left it took me two hours to finally feed the fish because I had to help customers, mop up some spills, and finish changing the Betta Water before I could get to it. All in all, it was a good day at work. Had the Oranda Asian guy come in for his fish....but when I went back to get the two of them...O.o one had randomly died in the couple of hours between the last time I checked them and right then....O.o Fish are so weird. So I had to inform him that that one died....so he ended up getting a different one. I came home and crashed for a couple of hours waking up in time to get to my last Institute class of the Spring Semester. We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet was the theme of the class, it was cool because I got to hear a little history information about previous prophets. ^^ I always enjoy history. :D I dropped by Barnes and Noble like usual to check out the books there before coming home and hanging with the roommate. :)

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

October 2004 General Conference -Saturday Morning

Gordon B. Hinckley -Condition of the Church

• Elders David B. Haight and Neal A. Maxwell passed.
• Elders Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf and Elder David Allan Bednar are called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Jeffrey R. Holland -Prophets, Seers, and Revelators

• The apostolic and prophetic foundation of the Church was to bless in all times, but especially in times of adversity or danger, times when we might feel like children, confused or disoriented, perhaps a little fearful, times in which the devious hand of men or the maliciousness of the devil would attempt to unsettle or mislead.
• "It seems to be a[n] ... unreasonable thing, to suppose that there should be a God ... that has so much concern [for us], ... and yet that he should never speak, ... that there should be no word [from him]."
• "Whoever heard of true religion without communication with God? To me the thing is the most absurd that the human mind could conceive of. I do not wonder."
• For without revelation religion is a mockery and a farce. ... The principle of present revelation ... is the very foundation of our religion."

John H. Groberg -The Power of God's Love

• God's love fills the immensity of space; therefore, there is no shortage of love in the universe, only in our willingness to do what is needed to feel it.
• Trying to find love without helping and sacrificing for others is like trying to live without eating--it is against the laws of nature and cannot succeed. We cannot fake love. It must become part of us.

Dale E. Miller -Bringing Peace and Healing to Your Soul

• Conversion does not normally cone all at once, even though the scriptures give us dramatic accounts. It come sin stages, until a person becomes at heart a new person. Being "born again" is the scriptural term. It is a change of both how we think and how we feel.
• "[God] has infinite attention to spare for each one of us. He does not have to deal with us in the mass. You are as much alone with Him as if you were the only being He had ever created. When Christ died, He died for you individually just as much as if you had been the only man [or woman] in the world."

Richard G. Scott -Peace of Conscience and Peace of Mind

• Peace of conscience is the essential ingredient to your peace of mind. Without peace of conscience, you have no real peace of mind. Peace of conscience relates to your inner self and is controlled by what you personally do. Peace of conscience can come only from God through a righteous, obedient life. It cannot exist otherwise. On the other hand, peace of mind is most often affected by external forces such as concern for a wayward child, economic pressures, real or imagined offenses, deteriorating world conditions, or more to do than sufficient time to do it. An unsettled mind is temporary, transitory. Peace of mind is restored by resolving the external forces that disturb it. Not so with a troubled conscience, for it is unrelenting, ever present, a constant reminder of the need to correct your past mistakes, to resolve an offense to another, or to repent of transgression. Oh, a disturbed conscience can be temporarily masked by physical stimulation of the mind and body where one yields to the temptations of alcohol, drugs, pornography, and worse. All this at the cost of an increased appetite for false efforts to calm an aching conscience with the risk of incurring unrelenting addictions. There is a better way to restore peace of conscience.
• It is well to remember that even with peace of conscience you can have temporary periods when your peace of mind is interrupted by external concerns.
• Don't burden your own life with thoughts of retribution. The Lord's mill of justice grinds slowly, but it grinds exceedingly well. In the Lord's economy, no one will escape the consequences of unresolved violation of His laws. In His time and in His way full payment will be required for unrepented evil acts.
• To continue to suffer when there has been proper repentance is not prompted by the Savior but the master of deceit, whose goal is to bind and enslave you. Satan will press you to continue to relive the details of past mistakes, knowing that such thoughts make forgiveness seem unattainable. In this way Satan attempts to tie strings to the mind and body so that he can manipulate you like a puppet.

James E. Faust -Where Do I Make My Stand

• "If pain and sorrow and total punishment immediately followed the doing of evil, no soul would repeat a misdeed. If joy and peace and rewards were instantaneously given the doer of good, there could be no evil--all would do good and not because of rightness of doing good. There would be no test of strength, no development of character, no growth of powers, no free agency. ... There would also be an absence of joy, success, resurrection, eternal life, and godhood."
• How we use our God-given moral agency explains why some things happen in our lives. Some of our choices have unforeseen results, which may be good or bad. But often we know in advance that some of our choices will have detrimental or even harmful consequences. I call these "informed choices." because we know our acts will have disastrous results.

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!
 
-Sarnic Dirchi 

A Day of Not Rest

I had to work today.
On a Sunday.

Something I really dislike to do.
Because I look forward to the Day of Rest.
I like to not work Sundays.

Doesn't mean I can't.
I just request not to.

This time....I had to work Sunday.
Because basically every coworker who is able to work on Sunday....randomly requested to have this weekend off. O.o So weird.
So I ended up being the only one able to come in.

I can't complain too much.
It's been forever since I've had to work on a Sunday. (A blessing really.)
So to be asked to work this one...... I took it with good grace.

Though the work day didn't start out well for me.
It seemed like for the first hour or two, maybe three,
Every customer I went to to see if they needed assistance, I was unable to provide them with the right answer, the right assistance.

Totally frustrating.
I like being able to help people.
And to be unable to help find the right product, or provide the right kind of service in the first little bit of my shift....Totally made time move slower.
*sighs*

Maybe I was just off my game, since I hardly work Sundays. It's a different crowd.
Though I did have one gentlemen come to my manager, who then came to me, to tell me that he was really impressed with the service I'd provided him. ^^ Yay!

In any case, I eventually got into the swing of things, the low getting back to a high point.

I'm just glad that for now (as things always change with work), I am not needed to work Sundays.
Because really...I like having them off.

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Dream

I was staring at a creepy photo of a bunch of skeleton/shriveled mummy like corpses found in a basement, when the image seemed to come at me, and immerse me in the situation, where me and a bunch of others had just been sentenced to join these odd, still actually living people (as we joined in somepoint before the photo was taken.) In order for them to survive, there was a vote, where one had to be sacrificed to ensure that the others would be able to live for a while longer. Many of the original group volunteered and they all appeared to die, with more taking up the vote and choosing to too make a sacrifice of themselves til it go to the point where me and only a handful were left, and then, all the 'dead' rose up with their head leader -a queen of sorts- proclaiming that I was the last, and therefore I would be the one to be the actual real sacrifice. Which didn't make any sense to me, why did I have to die if I was one of the ones choosing to not die? I ran to avoid them, trying to hide so I would not become one of them and not be sacrificed by them.....

Then the unholy tones of daylight pulled me away....
and I became myself again. :)

-S.N.D

A Change

There are some days where I'm glad to be proven wrong.
Days where it's a nice surprise to experience something different.

Like a date.

I've come to expect dates to go a certain way.
Where it's more stressful than enjoyable.
Where I'm not always sure if the guy is there to get to know me, or to just see a pretty face.

I went on a rare date last night.
One where I felt like the guy was genuinely trying to get to know me.
One where the compliments weren't directed to my physical characteristics.
But more to my personality, and traits.

It was a nice change.
a super nice change.

To experience a guy who consciously worked to ensure I was safe, comfortable, and was willing to change plans when the chosen place turned out to be rather noisy, so that we could hear each other.

It's unlike many dates I've experienced.

Really, I loved it.

I hope that there's another opportunity for another date to happen.
Because this...we really enjoyable.

Chivalry does exist. :) It's just a rare commodity now, one to be treasured and held in high esteem. :)

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Dream

There was a shuttle leaving the planet. A dying planet. Only a select few were able to get on, me I had to act the perfect part, because my kind were fugitives, weren't supposed to be able to escape the planet before it was destroyed. My people depended on me to be able to get on this shuttle. And I did. Pretending to be those who had called my kind fugitives. A girl sat next to me, recently married, Sydney from Institute Council, she and her husband had been lucky and won the seats....only her husband wasn't there when they called for the doors to close. They weren't willing to wait for him to show up though he was coming any second. So the husband ended up using a crowbar to pry open the door and get in just before we shot off for another planet.
Earth. To take over it, the enemy displaced the humans, destroying them, all except a few rebel groups that went underground (term not actually) to survive, working to find a way to destroy the invadors.
I only noticed them because there was an odd little boy dressed up like a grey skinned creature wandering around, not acting quite right. I followed him to their hidden lair, where a group of young adults were surviving by taking on disguises to mingle with the invadors. They were a lot like the group from Recess. And they didn't immediately realize that I wasn't one of them...and I soon grew conflicted because I was starting to care for these humans, and it was putting everything I had come to earth for at risk, because the enemy were becoming suspicious of me....

Then the unholy tones of daylight pulled me away....
and I became myself again. :)

-S.N.D 

A Day In Review -April 17th

Monday, April 17th 2006

-I went back to school from spring break down to the Confluence Area of the Colorado River. Always hard.

Friday, April 17th 2009

-I had class today, An ASL one where we worked on how to describe/sign objects by playing around with balls. In Anthropology we talked about Economics, English we went over the research paper...again, and got let out early...again. I met up with an ASL classmate, Cassie, and we complained about the ASL classes we're forced to take for our major. I ran into a guy named Matt and chatted to him in Sign about History teachers before going to my history class where we wrote important events that had happened since the 1950s on the board. I came home and took a nap but woke up with a headache. Told the roomies that Brecken (girl in ward) had been the one to give them the bunnies (I'd left stuffed animal rabbits on the sink and they wanted to know who'd done it.) My roomie Ali had a Rootbeer party because she turned 21 the day before, we had a party at Scott's parent's place in their pool. It was fun, though the party didn't start til 9ish and we didn't get home until after midnight. :S

Saturday, April 17th 2010

-I slept in til 11am today, and read a book until 1-2ish before I did a rough draft on a sociology paper I needed to write. Mom called from her girl's retreat to check up on me and see how I was doing with the news (there were lumps in her breasts that turned out to be cancerous, got the news the day before.) I'm glad that I could hear her voice and that I was calm and not blubbering. (She had surgery on the last day of my finals to have the lumps removed, I drove home as soon as I was done to see her. She recovered well, the surgery worked. :) ) I went to my school's library to watch another movie for Sociology and came home where I didn't feel like doing homework and don't really care, though I'm going to hate tomorrow by procrastinating it.

Sunday, April 17th 2011

-Got a ride to church with my roommate Tasha today, we had church from 1-4pm (it seems like I've always had church at that time.) and to top it off...it was fast Sunday. (probably had General Conference the week before...maybe a stake conference...)Needless to say I was starving by the time church was over. I watched some Living Scriptures with Dan before we went to the LDCC Institute concert. Came home and talked with Kikay and Tasha about boys and this and that....

Tuesday, April 17th 2012

-We had an Earthquake drill in school today. (funnily enough I heard that something like this happened again a few days ago.) Where statewide everyone would be doing an earthquake drill. I was super excited for it, as I haven't had a drill since like...4th grade. lol, I was known as the EarthQuake girl to my principle in Elementary because I would constantly ask her when we were going to do another Earthquake drill (never seemed to happen.) This one took place in my Criminal Justice class at 10:15. Instead of the fun rumbling noises of an earthquake though we had to listen to a minute of the fire alarm. Many of the guys complained about trying to fit under the desk, so the teacher compromised and said they just needed to be on the floor for the drill. I could fit under my desk easily enough, but all too soon we were back to learning CJ stuff. In my Institute class we went over Samuel the Lamanite and doing what the Lord asks us to do. My next institute class we started going over Emma Smith's story, covering the events that happened around the time she was pregnant with her children. After school I took the roommates and Kikay to the Disney Store at the mall to buy stuff because we thought that they were having a Buy one Get one free sale off everything in the store. :( It wasn't. Just Car stuff. But we bought things anyway. Came back home and worked on writing with Jessva til 7 when I went to an Institute party. It was for our publicity committee. We had food and played games and the new cochair Amanda and I had fun delivering the leftover pizza to classrooms because we had extras. :)

Wednesday, April 17th 2013

-My mouth has been continuously hurting (achy gums from what I can tell.) I ended up hanging out around home, doing a little packing, a little writing, a lot of hugging my heat pack to my cheek to try and dull the pain, but it keeps coming back. I really want it to disappear, but I think its more of a waiting game as meds only bring temporary relief...

Thursday, April 17th 2014

-It's been one of those days where I'm taking things harder than I should or I'm overthinking things. lol my coworker, Ali, today called me "scary fast" as I managed to do some of the reptile bedding changes quicker than she expected me to. However helping to her out put me behind on opening the rest of my department. I could have done it faster, but I ended up having to play ring around the rosie with a few animals to get some out to the floor and to isolate others. One of the things that have got me down is that 6 of the 9 guinea pigs I personally received into our store....have died. (such a freak event.) SIX and there is a seventh that is a customer return that could die too (I think it did.) It's unheard of (totally is. I think 8 of the 9 died if not all of them, hasn't happened since or before) It's crazy! and I'm partially blaming myself for this situation (as it costs us money wise to have animals die...) because I had the chance to turn the away when they came in. But they had looked healthy enough when I saw them! A bit mellow, but maybe the cage conditions were different?...I don't know, but it's super depressing. I also felt like I was "missing" with most of my customers (not connecting, not getting them what they needed, making them happy) It really was only 2 people I could  help, but it was one right after the other. :( Still I managed to help one fellow find tennis balls for his dog. :) yay. My temper came out a bit during lunch as I attempted to drive home to grab my heat pack and get back to work, but I got stuck behind slow drivers and rush hour traffic. I managed to only be 4 minutes late clocking back in...but still frustrating. >.< I hate being late. Work went well enough otherwise...I drove home and dropped by the RSpresident's place to grab some pizza before heading to PG to see my friend Chad at his wedding reception. I even ran into my cochair shawn, but got the "cold shoulder" vibe from him which might have been nothing...but it made me feel....undesirable...like I wasn't wanted around. Which has kinda put me in a damper mood...The reception itself was great, but I'm just going to head to bed and hope that tomorrow goes better for me.

Friday, April 17th 2015

-I had the day off of work today, which is kinda weird because for the past little while I've been getting weekends off, so it was weird to have a weekday off. I took advantage of it by taking my car in for an Oil Change and ended up spending more money (about what I expected to, but not what I wanted to) to fix other things on the car that needed 'updating.' Discovered that a Rock that had hit the windshield of my car while driving back to Happy Valley the other day had indeed left a chip in my windshield that I now need to find a place to fix it... Because I had Friday off, I was able to go to the Institute Devotional. ^^ It was the last one of the year since the semester ends next week (with finals the week after. So glad I don't have to worry about those.) the LDCC choir and Chorale sang and it was great! It's been forever since I've been to a devotional. I ran into a couple of friends, and had one girl comment on my Sinceriously shirt (word that Stephen Amell is trying to get into the dictionary) and she actually knew what it was (i'd had three people before her ask me what my shirt meant.) so it was fun to actually connect and see a fellow fan of Stephen Amell (in his part as the Arrow in the TV show the Arrow) I met some of the old institute council members I worked with and we chatted for a bit before I left to go food shopping. (fooooddd) I came home and took a nap (social interactions can exhaust me.) before hanging out anxiously waiting for the clock to strike 630...as I had a date tonight. I was trying to not be too nervous about it. (First date in like a year) And it actually ended up being a ton of fun! He was a total gentleman, opening doors for me, walking on the outside (closest to the road) that sort of thing. We went to a Volleyball game at the University, but only ended up staying for one of the matches because it was loud, too loud to talk comfortably, and he was more interested in getting to know me instead of the game. ^^ Totally a sweetheart. Loved this date. He took me to a Japanese/Korean restaurant and we spent an hour and so just talking while we ate. It definitely was a good date, it was like we were instant friends, immediately felt at ease with him. He dropped me off just after 9 and I ended up meeting up with my friends/sister so they could hear how the date went. Which basically went amazing. :) it was fun. Nonstressful, a good experience. ^^

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Pearl and the Box

Do you think it possible for those of us who are called upon to speak to draw attention away from this wonderful building long enough to focus on the purpose for which it was built?

Perhaps it can be done with a parable and a poem.

The parable: A merchant man seeking precious jewels found at last the perfect pearl.
He had the finest craftsman carve a superb jewel box and line it with blue velvet.
He put his pearl on display so others could share his treasure.
He watched as people came to see it.
Soon he turned away in sorrow.
It was the box they admired, not the pearl.

The Poem:
We are all blind, until we see
That in the [universal] plan
Nothing is worth the making if
It does not make the man.
Why build these [buildings] glorious,
If man unbuilded goes?
In vain we build the [world], unless
The builder also grows.

Boyd K. Packer -The Cloven Tongues of Fire -April 2000 General Conference

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Suddenly Switched

Do you ever wonder what changed?

It's like somebody flipped a switch.

And suddenly everyone is trying to find me a date.

O.o

Seriously, what switch was flipped?

Acquaintances, Family, Roommate, Even Coworkers.

All trying to set me up with different guys that they think I'll like.

lol
So far it's all been whispers in the wind...

Lots and lots of talk, possible encounters....
All that fall through.
So far.

We'll see if anything ever comes out of this whirlwind of attempts. lol.

Still it's odd.
I really wonder why suddenly so many people have taken an interest in setting me up.
O.o

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi 

Crazy Weather Madness

I had plans to go out today. Go out and searching, apartment hunting, just to check out places in the area.
And then....I saw the news, then I looked outside...

Yah. Weather definitely wasn't weather where you just wanted to jaunt around willy nilly.

High wind warnings, strong enough to knock down trees and semi's. :S
Then rain, salty from the lake. Mucking up the windshields to the point where you had to use the windshield wiper fluid to clear the windows or else you'd just be looking through a window covered in salty white streaks. Yikes!

Then. We got snow! :D Which is awesome! Not fun to drive in, but awesome to see once more. ^^

But yah, the weather, wasn't one you'd want to spend the day out in.
Wasn't one where you'd want to leave the house really unless you had to.

So, I stayed in.
And watched the weather change from the safety of my home.

It was confirmed that staying home was good, when at one point it sounded like every police car, ambulance, and firetruck in the valley whizzed by the main road by my apartment. ()_()

Yah. Definitely a Stay in Day. :)

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Dream

I was in redrock country, and something happened when a red rock ledge tumbled down exposing the petroglyphs there that had been there for centuries, now threatened with ruin because they were now exposed to the elements and I was trying to figure out how to help the Indian people protect their heritage....

when the unholy tones of daylight pulled me away....
and I became myself again. :)

-S.N.D

April 2004 General Conferece -Sunday Afternoon

M. Russell Ballard -The Atonement and the Value of One Soul

• The gift of resurrection and immortality is given is given freely through the loving grace of Jesus Christ to all people of all ages, regardless of their good or evil acts.
• We are all the spirit sons and daughters of a loving God who is our Father. We are part of His family. He is not a father in some allegorical or poetic sense. He is literally the Father of our spirits. He cares for each one of us. Through this world has a way of diminishing and demeaning mean and women, the reality is we are all royal, divine lineage.
• I believe our Heavenly Father's everlasting purpose for His children is generally achieved by the small and simple things we do for one another. Sadly, in today's world, a person's importance is often judged by the size of the audience before which he or she performs.
• Yet, in the eyes of the Lord, there may be only one size of audience that is of lasting importance--and that is just one, each one, you and me, and each one of the children of God. The irony of the Atonement is that it is infinite and eternal, yet it is applied individually, one person at a time.
• Brothers and sisters, never, never underestimate how precious is the one.

Robert D. Hales -With All the Feeling of a Tender Parent: A Message of Hope to Families

• "Satan [has been going] about, leading away the hearts of the people," and his influence is increasing. But no matter how evil the world becomes, our families can be at peace. If we do what's right, we will be guided and protected.
• I want to remind all of us today that no family has reached perfection. All families are subject to the conditions of mortality. All of us are given the gift of agency--to choose for ourselves and to learn from the consequences of our choices.
• Our families should be in our thoughts continually.
• Hold family councils. 
• We should regularly counsel with each of our children individually.
• They can choose their actions but not the consequences of those actions. We can also gently help them understand what the consequences of their actions may be in their own lives.
• Leave the door to our hearts open.
• An understanding and compassionate heart, a soft answer, a listening ear, and a forgiving embrace.
• Liken the scriptures to our lives.
• Take advantage of everyday teaching moments.
• Trust the Good Shepherd.

Clate W. Mask Jr. -Standing Spotless before the Lord

• "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; ... for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

W. Douglas Shumway -Marriage and Family: Our Sacred Responsibility

• Today we are witnessing an unending assault on marriage and the family. They seem to be the adversary's prime targets for belittlement and destruction. In a society where marriage is often shunned, parenthood avoided, and families degraded, we have the responsibility to honor our marriages, nurture our children, and fortify our families.
• "When the satisfaction or the security of another person becomes as significant to one as is one's own satisfaction or security, then the state of love exits."
• Marriage is meant to be and must be a loving, binding, harmonious relationship between a man and a woman.
• 'Youth needs fewer critics and more models [to follow].'
• The world may be a little better because we were important in the life of a boy or a girl.

Bruce C. Hafen -The Atonement: All for All

• The Lord restored His gospel through Joseph Smith because there had been a apostasy. Since the fifth century, Christianity taught that Adam and Eve's Fall was a tragic mistake, which led to the belief that humankind has an inherently evil nature. That view is wrong--not only about the Fall and human nature, but about the very purpose of life.
• The Fall was not a disaster. It wasn't a mistake or an accident. It was a deliberate part of the plan of salvation. We are God's spirit "offspring," sent to earth "innocent" of Adam's transgression. Yet our Father's plan subjects us to temptation and misery in this fallen world as the price to comprehend authentic joy. Without tasting the bitter, we actually cannot understand the sweet. We require mortality's discipline and refinement as the "next step in [our] development" toward becoming like our Father. But growth means growing pains. It also means learning from our mistakes in a continual process made possible by the Savior's grace, which He extends both during and "after all we can do."
• If you have problems in your life, don't assume there is something wrong with you. Struggling with those problems is at the very core of life's purpose. As we raw close to God, He will show us our weaknesses and through them make us wiser, stronger. If you're seeing more of your weaknesses, that just might mean you're moving nearer to God, not father away.
• We grow in two ways--removing negative weeds and cultivating positive flowers.
• It isn't enough just to mow the weeds. Yank them out by the roots, repenting fully to satisfy the conditions of mercy.
• Once we've cleared our heartland, we must continually plant, weed, and nourish the seeds of divine qualities.
• Only the restored gospel has the fullness of these truths! Yet the adversary is engaged in one of history's greatest cover-ups, trying to persuade people that this Church knows least--when in fact it knows most--about how our relationship with Christ makes true Christians of us.
• Some people want to keep one hand on the wall of the temple while touching the world's "unclean things" with the other hand. We must put both hands on the temple and hold on for dear life. One hand is not even almost enough.
• Almost is especially enough when our own sacrifices somehow echo the Savior's sacrifice, however imperfect we are. We cannot really feel charity--Christ's love for others--without at least tasting His suffering for others, because the love and the suffering are but two sides of a single reality. When we really are afflicted in the afflictions of other people, we may enter, "the fellowship of his sufferings" enough to become joint-heirs with Him.

Richard G. Scott -How to Live Well amid Increasing Evil

• You have a choice. You can wring your hands and be consumed with concern for the future or choose to use the counsel the Lord has given to live with peace and happiness in a world awash with evil. If you choose to concentrate on the dark side, this is what you will see. Much of the world is being engulfed in a rising river of degenerate filth, with the abandonment of virtue, righteousness, personal integrity, traditional marriage, and family life. Sodom and Gomorrah was the epitome of unholy life in the Old Testament. It was isolated then; now that condition is spread over the world. Satan skillfully manipulates the power of all types of media and communication. His success has greatly increased the extent and availability of such degrading and destructive influences worldwide. In the past some effort was required to seek out such evil. Now it saturates significant portions of virtually every corner of the world. We cannot dry up the counting river of evil influences, for the result from the exercise of moral agency divinely granted by our Father. But we can and must, with clarity, warn of the consequences of getting close to its enticing, destructive current.
• Now the brighter side. Despite pockets of evil, the world overall is majestically beautiful, filled with many good and sincere people. God has provided a way to live in this world and not be contaminated by the degrading pressures evil agents spread throughout it. You can live a virtuous, productive, righteous life by following the plan of protections created by your Father in Heaven: His plan of happiness. It is contained in the scriptures and in the inspired declarations of His prophets. He clothed your intelligence with spirit and made it possible for you to enjoy the wonder of a physical body. When you use that body in the way He has decreed, you will grow in strength and capacity, avoid transgression, and be abundantly blessed.
• "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
• Moral agency allows you to choose what you will, but you cannot control the outcome of those choices.
  You cannot ever sample those things that are forbidden of God as destructive of happiness and corrosive to spiritual guidance without tragic results.

Gordon B. Hinckley -Concluding Remarks

• May what we have heard and experienced remain with us as a residual of love and peace, an attitude o repentance, and a resolve to stand a little taller in the radiant sunlight of the gospel.

General YW Meeting

Susan W. Tanner -All Things Shall Work Together for Your Good

• In a sense all of us are in the middle of our own novels, our own lives stories. Sometimes our stories feel very intense, and we would like to read ahead to know our own end, to make sure that everything is going to turn out all right. While we don't know the particular details of our life's experiences, fortunately we do know something about our futures, if we live worthily.
• All things shall work together for our good is repeated many times in the scriptures, particularly to people or prophets who are suffering through the trials of their own life stories.
• "God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom."
• I learned the importance of following promptings, even when it involves a lot of work and seems improbable."

Julie B. Beck -My Soul Delighteth in the Scriptures

• You have not already developed the habit of daily scripture study, start now and keep studying in order to be prepared for your responsibilities in this life and in the eternities.
• Just as eating and breathing sustain my physical body, the scriptures feed and give life to my spirit.

Elaine S. Salton -Believe!

• The Lord has promised us that as we "search diligently, pray always, and be believing, ... all things [will] work together four [our] good." That doesn't mean that everything will be perfect or that we will not have any trials, but it does mean that everything will be okay if we just "hang in there."
• Don't give in when the going is rough, for you are laying the foundation of a great work, and that great work is your life.
• "I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."
• Believe in yourselves. Believe that you are never alone. Believe that you will be guided.

Gordon B. Hinckley -Stay on the High Road

• You are the strength of the present, the hope of the future.
• You are the sum of all the generations that have gone before, the promise of all that will come hereafter.
• You are second to none. You are daughters of God.
• "It may make a difference to all eternity whether we do right or wrong today."
• You have the potential to become anything to which you set your mind. You have a mind and a body and a spirit. With these three working together, you can walk the high road that leads to achievement and happiness. But this will require effort and sacrifice and faith.
• Life has become so complex and competitive. You cannot assume that you have entitlements due you: You will be expected to put forth great effort and to use your best talents to make your way to the most wonderful future of which you are capable. Occasionally, there will likely be serious disappointments. But there will be helping hands along the way, many such, to give you encouragement and strength to move forward.
• As you walk the road of life, be careful of your friends. They can make you or break you. Be generous in helping the unfortunate and those in distress. But bind to you friends of your own kind, friends who will encourage you, stand with you, live as you desire to live;  who will enjoy the same kind of entertainment; and who will resist the evil that you determine to resist.
• I do not hesitate to say that you can be attractive without being immodest.
• Your appeal to others will come of your personality, which is the sum of your individual characteristics. Be happy. Wear a smile. Have fun. But draw some rigid parameters, a line in the sand, as it were, beyond which you will not go.
• Never assume that you can make it alone.  You need the help of the Lord. Never hesitate to get on your knees in some private place and speak with Him. What a marvelous and wonderful thing is prayer. Think of it. We can actually speak with our Father in Heaven. He will hear and respond, but we need to listen to that response. Nothing is too serious and nothing too unimportant to share with Him.

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi