April 2006 General Conference -Sunday Morning

James E. Faust -The Restoration of All Things

• "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has many beliefs in common with other Christian churches. But we have differences, and those differences explain why we send missionaries to other Christians, why we build temples in addition to churches, and why our beliefs bring us such happiness and strength to deal with the challenges of life and death."
• "There are only a few place son earth where man's questions about life receive the answers of eternity." The solemn mysteries of where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going are answered more fully in the temples.
• "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?" This is the reason we do ordinance work in temples for our deceased ancestors. No person's choice of agency is taken away. Those for whom the work is done may accept it or not, as they choose.
• We believe The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a restoration of the original Church established by Jesus Christ, which was built "upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." It is not a breakoff from any other church.
• We believe that the fullness of the gospel of Christ has been restored, but this is no reason for anyone to feel superior in any way towards others of God's children. Rather, it requires a greater obligation to invoke the essence of the gospel of Christ in our lives--to love, serve, and bless others. Indeed, as the First Presidency stated in 1978, we believe that "the great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammad, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God's light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals." Thus, we have respect for the sincere religious beliefs of others and appreciate others extending the same courtesy and respect for the tenets we hold dear.

Jeffrey R. Holland -Broken Things to Mend

• "Trust me, learn of me, do what I do. Then, when you walk where I am going," He says, "we can talk about where you are going, and the problems you face and the troubles you have. If you will follow me, I will lead you out of darkness," He promises. "I will give you answers to your prayers. I will give you rest to your souls."
• Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions.
• Brothers and sisters, whatever your distress, please don't give up and please don't yield to fear.

Earl C. Tingey -The Great Plan of Happiness

• "If you understand the great plan of happiness and follow it, what goes on in the world will not determine your happiness."

Anne C. Pingree -To Grow Up unto the Lord

• "We were gentle among you, ... being affectionately desirous of you, ... willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us."
• Look for a resolution rather than at the roadblocks.

Dallin H. Oaks -All Men Everywhere

• The gospel of Jesus Christ is universal in its promise and effect, reaching out to all who ever live on the earth.

Gordon B. Hinckley -Seek Ye the Kingdom of God

• We all face choices in the course of our lives, some of them with a siren song of wealth and prosperity; others appear less promising. Somehow the Lord has watched over and guided my choices, although it was not always evident at the time.

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

On the Overload

O.o Wow.
It's been a long while since my Single's Ward has gone over the time frame.
A Long. Long While.
I mean, it's almost expected when the Stake President speaks...
But today, it was just normal people from the ward.
O.o
So.
Very.
Weird.

They were being all super spiritual.
Which is great.
I love super spiritual.
It makes you really want to pay attention, really makes you want to listen...

But I felt like we were overloaded with it.
Like a tsunami of spiritualness just overwhelmed us.
Because honestly.
They were like....too spiritual.
O.o

The first speaker spoke for like 20 minutes, in a voice that reminded me of a person giving a talk in the movie the Single's Ward. Where they're really empathetic. Really striving to show the conviction but spiritualness in their voice. But also gave like hard hitting truths and just seemed to pound into your brain.

Honestly, all three speakers were long winded.
Even the prayers were long winded.

Again, it's not a bad thing.
Just a bit overwhelming when one isn't used to such a thing.
*shakes head*

lol. It definitely marks a change in the ward though.
I think all the new people that moved in are going to be good for us.
It's definitely looking out to be a different dynamic.
Hopefully one that I can get more into this year, and make more friends.

We'll see though. :)
Still...interesting to have such a spiritual overload....still trying to comprehend it really. :)

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Going through the Bin

So I was out and about today,
Doing some shopping.

Mostly for a laptop.
(Still unsuccessful.)
But also just checking out other things too.
For example.

I ventured down to Walmart.
To get desert for a family dinner later.
And decided to go check out the laptops there.
(again unsuccessful.)

And decided to see what $5 movies they had out in the bins this time.

oooh.
This time.
I totally scored!

I got Four Movies!
It was amazing.

^^
I got Horton Hears a Who
Jack the Giant Slayer
The Chronicles of Narnia -The Dawn Treader.
And Percy Jackson 2.

I haven't seen the last one ever. So I'm excited about that. ^^
Dawn Treader I'm curious to see it again as I haven't seen it since it was in theatres.
And I liked the other two,
So I went ahead and bought them all. :D
Considering how unsuccessful my quest to find a new laptop was...
I would say this a good reward in the meantime. ^^

Yay for more movies to watch!!

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

At the Antique Shop

I got home from work today to find that my roommate Ziz had gone out,
Which was surprising considering that she works Graveyards.
I would have expected her to still be sleeping when I got home from work.

But she wasn't. O.o
Surprising.
But she'd gone out to check out the Antique Stores.

And then she came by, to pick me up.
To check out another Antique Store.
Ziz, Yarot, and I went to one more Antique Store.
That was in an old house.
Which is always weird.
To have old things in old houses that someone used to live in.
You have to wonder what the rooms used to be used for.
Was this a dining room?
Was this a bedroom?
That was obviously a kitchen.

But now.
Its just rooms upon rooms full of stuff.
Furniture piled with old things.
Lots and lots of old things.

With lots of old stories, lots of memories, lots of things that people used to own.

So weird, to see what has ended up in antique shops.
What was left behind.
What has yet to discover a new home.

And the three of us ventured into this old treasure trove.
Seeking to explore,
But not buy.

Yet buy I did.
For I discovered a cool golden necklace with white crystals in it.
Didn't cost much
$10 to be exact.

But it was pretty.
Very Egyptian looking.
And for the past couple of days I've been in an Egyptian frame of mind.

So I bought it. ^^
Yay!
It's mine!

But now, I'm so curious about the necklace's past.
Who owned it before?
What places has it been to?
What has it seen?

I'll never know.

But at least I have a new necklace. ^^

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Stadium of Prayer

We can also access His healing power through prayer.
I'll never forget an experience that Sister Nelson and I had about three decades ago with President Spencer W. Kimball and his beloved Camilla.
We were in Hamilton, New Zealand, for a large conference with the Saints.
I was not a General Authority at that time.
I had been invited to participate in this and similar meetings in other Pacific Islands while serving as general president of the Sunday School.
And as a doctor of medicine, I had attended President and Sister Kimball for many years.
I knew each of them very well--inside and out.

A Saturday evening cultural program had been prepared for the conference by local youth of the Church.
Unfortunately, President and Sister Kimball both became very ill, each with a high fever.
After receiving priesthood blessings, they rested at the nearby home of the president of the New Zealand Temple.
President Kimball asked his counselor, President N. Eldon Tanner, to preside at the cultural event and to excuse President and Sister Kimball.

Sister Nelson went with President and Sister Tanner and other leaders to the event, while President Kimball's secretary, Brother D. Arthur Haycock, and I watched over our feverish friends.

While President Kimball was sleeping, I was quietly reading in his room.
Suddenly President Kimball was awakened.
He asked, "Brother Nelson, what time was this evening's program to begin?"

"At seven o'clock, President Kimball."

"What time is it now?"

"It's almost seven," I replied.

President Kimball quickly said, "Tell Sister Kimball we are going!"

I checked President Kimball's temperature.
It was normal!
I took Sister Kimball's temperature.
It was also normal!

They quickly dressed and got into an automobile.
We were driven to the stadium of the Church College of New Zealand.
As the car entered the arena, there was a very loud shout that erupted spontaneously.
It was most unusual!
After we took our seats, I asked Sister Nelson about that sudden sound.
She said that when President Tanner began the meeting, he dutifully excused President and Sister Kimball because of illness.
Then one of the young New Zealanders was called upon to pray.

With great faith, he gave what Sister Nelson described as a rather lengthy but powerful prayer.
He so prayed: "We are 3,000 New Zealand youth.
We are assembled here, having prepared for six months to sing and dance for Thy prophet.
Wilt Thou heal him and deliver him here!"
After the "amen" was pronounced, the car carrying President and Sister Kimball entered the stadium.
They were identified immediately, and instantly everyone shouted for joy!

I had witnessed the healing power of the Lord!
I had also witnessed revelation as received and responded to by His living prophet!

-Russell M. Nelson -Jesus Christ--the Master Healer -October 2005 General Conference

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Television Tragedy

Its heartbreaking to turn into the news
And see another senseless tragedy has unfolded.
It's hard to comprehend,
What would possess another person
To think that taking life would solve any problem whatsoever.
In the end, it only makes more problems.
More issues.
More people end up hurt.

I often wonder...
If they thought they could get away with it.
That life would continue on as normal after they've done their deed.
That some weight would be lifted off them.
And that they'd be free to continue on with their other goals.

Not realizing the consequences would be more drastic than they could have imagined.

Do these people think?
Do they comprehend?
Life will not be good afterwards.

Perhaps they do.
But not until after the deed is done.
And there are no go backsies. No control Z. No rewind. No do overs. Its done and it can't be taken back.

And then they don't know how to deal with the consequences.
Because they didn't think about them.

Not to say that they didn't think about them.
Who knows. Perhaps they had a death wish.
Perhaps they wanted to take as many people with them before they died.

But...sometimes I wonder if they ever think about afterwards....
I don't think they do.
Because once it hits them.
That the police are after them.
That they can be arrested.
Sent to prison.
They can't have a normal life.

They can't handle it.
And so kill themselves, to avoid the consequences of their actions here on earth.

And in the process.
Bright.
Beautiful
Wonderful
People
Have been lost.

Those who had a future.
Who knew what they were going to do with their lives.
Who were doing the normal things normal people do.
Those who leave family and friends behind.

They're gone.
Because someone thought violence was the answer.
And its never the answer.
Ever.

If only more people realized that.
Perhaps the world would be getting even less dangerous, instead of apparently more dangerous.

To the bright young lives, gone too soon.
You are missed.
We mourn your loss.
We mourn what you could have given.
We mourn for what could have been.


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

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Day in Review -August 25th

Wednesday, August 25th 2004

-Today is the first day of school ahhhh!! I'm not ready yet. Oh well...I hope its okay
..... Well I got through my first day of school. It was ..... interesting. I found out which of my friends ar ein my classes. I got to meet new teachers and find out what my homework is like. So far I think I'm going to like Drama, then Geography, Math then Seminary then Woodshop, Earth Systems and last English. Some interesting things I learned today. My drama class has 5 or 6 boy sin it and my woodshop class has 4 girls in it. (interesting how different the numbers are depending on which class you take.) Then in Seminary the boys have to open the doors for the girls and if they don't they have to make cookies and give them to the girls. I thought that was cool. :D

Monday, August 25th 2008

-Today I stayed in my room of solitude playing hermit. My roommates were gone basically all day-though did meet Hailie. She seems like a nice girl. Into pink. I spent most of the day unpacking, reading and being homesick. Managed to make myself some lunch and near sunset I went on a walk around the building because I was going crazy being stuck in an empty building. All my roommates have friends and family to hang out with.. tomorrow I get orientated. (at school I think.) Whooppeee. Hopefully I'll have more interaction tomorrow.

Tuesday, August 25th 2009

-I finally met my other two roommates today. Sara rubbed me wrong for some reason though I can't decide if it was just because she got home from practice. Maybe it was because she wouldn't be in charge of bills so I took the initiative and called up the power and gas companies and put them under my name. The other roommate is named Kendra, and out of all my new roomies I think I like her the best. (It was such a miserable year that year. Very comparable to what I just experienced this last year at my current place. Roomies always gone, no one to talk to. It sucked.) I can chat to Kendra easier than the other two. I also went down to the school to get the rest of my books, buy a new bus pass, and find all my classes. Though its not as bad as last year, I still have to walk halfway across campus twice in a day. Oh well. Hopefully all my classes will go well tomorrow. I came home and hung out working on organizing my room and such. I got everything I wanted up on the walls, otherwise my room is still disorganized even if I got rid of all the boxes. I'm going to try and head to bed earlier tonight so I can get enough sleep and be awake for tomorrow. So...Good night.

Wednesday, August 25th 2010

-Today was my first day of school. I twas kind of weird because my first class -Anthropology- didn't start until 2pm. O.o I headed over to the school around 1 to meet up with Kikay for lunch and help her buy a book before heading to class. My friend Kris is in that class, class itself seems difficult...but we'll see. After that I went up to the institute to check out the Book of Mormon class because I had the teacher teaching it as a sub before and I wanted to try him out as a teacher teacher. Needless to say I'm now signed up for the class lol. I learned about Word Prints -the way we use small words, like a, and, the, is, etc -its as unique as our finger prints! It can be used to say who worte what and proved that Joseph Smith didn't write the Book of Mormon and that there are 27ish unique word prints in the eBook of Mormon! Wow. After that I had an Interpreting class dealing with Law. The teacher's signing is hard for me to understand and this might be a harder lass, but at least I'm in the same boat as my classmates. :) At 5 I went to make sure that my British Sign Language class was for sure cancelled. Y_Y It was (had been looking forward to that class. but not enough people signed up for it. :( ) So I instead got my bus pass activated. Ha. The lady  was impressed my student card still worked. (it had gone through the wash a couple of times....bend, the black strip mangled...I'm surprised it worked the whole time I was at college lol.) It costs $15 to get a new one...so needless to say I'm sticking with my old one. I hung out waiting for my last class that started at 630pm. (I hated that, as I got further into my major the classes got later in the day >.< Personally I wouldn't want school to go pass 3pm. And it often did. BLEH! So. Annoying.) Another interpreting class, it seems like fun but a bit time consuming. I ended up with a slight headache because of lack of water and coolness because it had been too hot. I texted Kikay to come pick me up and 10 minutes later she drove right past me not recognizing me lol. We came home and had Tuna Fish Sandwiches. Met Sara's bf Todd and watched Princess and the Frog with Kikay in my room. :)

Thursday, August 25th 2011

-I woke up at 7 am this morning, it was more of a panicked jerk "I'm late!" reflex, but I still had plenty of time to take a shower and gather up my gear before heading to the institute to meet with the LDSSA for our council retreat thing. I took the car over so Kikay had to walk down to the school to get it back for work -I also left my laptop on so Kikay could check my mail incase the process to make my intership official happened -nothing got emailed to me. Anyways. Now I feel like I'm back at girls camp or youth conference. Its kinda a nice feeling, but odd. I know that tomorrow morning we have "scripture time" at like.. 7am...we have to get up at 6 am. :S But we'll have scripture time which might be like "alone time." So I don't know if I'll need this journal tomorrow morning. I kinda hope not. Just because I don't have a lot of pages left in this one. :S (I was nearly to the end of the journal.) I need to go buy a new one soon. But I met the rest of the LDDSA at the Institute. WE had muffins and bananas and after a bit we were on our way. We went to a place near the lake that was a  Rope's Course in a roundabout fashion because the usual exit to get to it was closed. At the ropes course we first played a couple of team building games. The first was called "Tank" where we were in groups of two where one member was blind folded "the tank" and the other person was the "driver" we had ammo and mines we had to grab/avoid. I was paired up with Sydney. The first time I was the tank. WE did pretty good for a while, but we got out. I had trouble hearing her sometimes but we managed. We got out quicker when I was the driver because Sydney couldn't hear/distinguish my voice among all the others. :( That was really frustrating for me because I already know I have a quiet voice. :( Next we did a "launch" game where using a trampoline like material we'd hold onto and pull taut. With a person sitting in the middle we would launch them into the air a couple of times taking turns. We had the choice of small, medium, large, and super large. Well everyone in our group was doing super large...so when my turn came I did it too...Only I'm a bit lighter than all the others... "Light as a feather" and apparently I wasn't sitting exactly right, because I basically flew up into the air and came down head first. :S -I landed on the base of my neck/shoulder blades so I was perfectly fine. But since I was basically vertical and upside down...when I landed my knees came down on my head. Especially the right one. WHAM. The knee slammed into my cheek bone and well...I have a black eye now. Its not that bad...I don't think it will be noticeable when the swelling finally goes down. (I looked like a pirate. lol. Nice dark ring around my eye.) The most annoying part of having the area of my cheek bone swell up is that looking down is a bit difficult...as is using any of those muscles...It did hurt a lot right after, but I gamely let them toss me into the air for a second time. (and landed just fine that time.) I waited until the game was over before I went in search of ice. I ended up with a blister on my left hand from gripping and pulling the trampoline so much. I'm just grateful I wasn't on the other team as that group had more guys than ours and with me being so light...I probably would have died...okay an exaggeration, but I'm glad I was with the group I was with. I contented myself with taking pictures for the rest of the activities. (all involving heights which I didn't want to do. Thankfully the black eye was a handy excuse.) But during lunch I was able to climb the rock wall they had there! Yes! I think because I'd gotten a black eye, the leader took pity on me and convinced the people to let me climb once because that was what I really wanted to do. :) Almost all of the LDSSA gathered around to cheer me on. The rock wall had three different levels. I started at the hardest one with the intention of moving around the easier one zigzagging it but I didn't find a good way to do that, so with the LDSSA cheering me on I went up and up the hardest one. lol I think I impressed everyone for 'quickly' climbing up the rockwall because the hardest level jutted out in two places, but still I made it to the top! Haha! I felt more like a part of the group afterwards, eating my lunch with them. I wanted to climb again, but I figured I shouldn't. I'm really grateful I could climb in the first place. ^^ After we finished lunch we drove up the canyon to the lodge we would be staying at. Once we arrived we played 'team building games' as well as creating skits, before having dinner, relaxing and heading to bed where everyone is asleep but me it looks like...

Saturday, August 25th 2012

-I woke up with my headache still in place which was a bit annoying and worrisome because of my job interview later today. :S I took some more advil, heated up my heatpack and basically nuzzled into it til a little after noon when I finally felt It fading. I caught up on my conference talk reading before carefully getting ready for my interview. At 2:50 pm I took off for Starsmet and in my haste drove right past it because I thought it was further down the road. :S Ah! So I was a bit panicked in turning around and getting to it, but I arrived at 3 pm and after some directions from the staff, made my way to the office where I met with Tosc. He looks like he'd be more comfortable in a computer store....we sat down and talked for 5-10 minutes he asking questions and such telling me he's looking for a part time person so I'd be working like 15-25 hours a week if I got hired. After our question/answer session... I must have said the right things because he said he had the Pet Care Manager -Reth- was there today, and that I could do an interview with her. So as he went to get her I stepped outside and made friends with the kittens, one in particular really liked me scratching his ears and another woman nearby was amazed at how much he liked it saying "He really likes that." yes. Yes he did. Reth showed up and I had an interview with her. I like her. :) She asked me questions like what animals I've had and if I'm comfortable with snakes. I told her the only thing I didn't want to handle was spiders (which at that point they didn't carry anyways.) She also asked if I would do Dishes, I said yes I would, it wasn't my favorite task, but I'd do it. (I'd do anything to get a job.) She also asked if I would be willing to work one Sunday a Month. And I said so long as I can still get to my ward I would be okay with that. I must have done well because I was scheduled for another interview with the next level up the head Manager -Cinres on Monday at 8am. I wonder if they want to see how I do/act in the mornings as well as the afternoons. :) It seems like things are rolling and I'm feeling pretty confident. Hopefully things work out...After the interviews I came home pretty hyped up. Luckily our old roommate Tiff was having a b-day party at 7 peaks tonight. So I went to her place and then drove over to water park for a couple of hours before retuning for cake and icecream. Kikay and Kah joined us there and we had a lot of fun and watched the Lorax before coming back home.

Sunday, August 25th 2013

-Today was my first time going to our 1 pm church since the ward switched times. I have to admit it was a bit surreal and before church felt more like a Saturday Morning. I just relaxed and wrote a tiny bit before heading to church in the new dress I bought from Ross. No one complimented it. :( But our ward was pretty empty. There were only 4 girls in relief society. But I made a new friend, her name is Andrea. (she moved in suddenly and moved out just as suddenly to not be heard from again. :( ) I invited her over for dinner with me, Kikay and Mirleki and I think she had fun. We watched Danny Phantom, and overall was a fun enjoyable evening. :)

Monday, August 25th 2014

-I had the painter guys visit my room just after 11am today. I was sleepingish still. Unfortunately my room is a bit of a pigsty from all the unpacking, so I'm going to need to clean up first before I invite them in to fix the walls. Work itself was chaos. Apparently disappearing for a day meant everything could go crazy. Reptile lights went out, my special coworker did something with the light above the birds, animals need to be taken to the vet that were alright Saturday, animals died...what a way to welcome Sirch back from his vacation. *sighs* My coworker Kay was still working on bedding changes when I came in at ONE because she was the only one scheduled in petcare from 830 on. Honestly I don't understand how we were expected to get anything done at all if only ONE person is scheduled in the department! I mean the rest of the department hadn't been opened and it was 1pm!! The fish NEVER got fed today. It was crazy! But truthfully we were able to get some things done, some but it seems like the entire store is spiraling into chaos. Stockers are behind, honestly I hope the new manager Tam -replacing May (she replaced Cinres)- and fix it all and get us all back on track.

Tuesday, August 25th 2015

-I had work this morning, and did the bedding changes for our back rooms. managed to get that done before the store opened and got most of the floor open as well with the exception of our reptiles because we were out of crickets, so we were waiting for our bug shipment to come in first. Worked on cleaning the fish tanks, receiving in shipments of bugs and fish and doing a bit of stocking as well. Thankfully the customers weren't too crazy today, so I was able to get all the tasks done. After work I went to Best Buy to check out laptops again, but they still didn't have the one I was looking for. I came home and dozed for a bit, before doing this and that and saying hi to the bishopric as they dropped by to make sure that they met everyone in the apartment. The apartment is stifling right now because our AC stopped working, again, and its probably not going to be fixed anytime soon due to all the new move ins who are undoubtedly sending in a ton of service requests.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

April 2006 General Conference -Priesthood Session

Dieter F. Uchtdorf -See the End from the Beginning

• We have great confidence in you. You are choice spirits.
• It has been said, "Teaching by example is one way to teach." I would say, "Teaching by example is the best way to teach."

Ronald A. Rasband -Our Rising Generation

• "Many of them are remarkable in their spiritual maturity and in their faith. But even the best of them are sorely tested. And the testing will become more severe."
• We must all look for opportunities to bless the youth whether or not we are currently closely associated with them.

Richard G. Hinckley -Repentance, a Blessing of Membership

• What does my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mean to me? It means everything. It influences, enlivens, permeates, and gives purpose and meaning to everything in life that is important to me: my relationship with God, my Eternal Father, and with His Holy Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It teaches me that through obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel, I will find peace and happiness in this life and be invited to live in God's presence, with my family, in the life that surely will follow mortality, where His mercy will satisfy the demands of justice and encircle me and mine, and you and yours, in the arms of safety.

James E. Faust -A Royal Priesthood

• Our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters and friend who have passed away from this earth, having been faithful, and worthy to enjoy these rights and privileges, may have a mission given them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again, bringing from the divine Presence messages of love, of warning, or reproof and instruction, to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh.
• Miraculous events have not always been a source of conversion. For example, when Laman and Lemuel physically mistreated their younger brothers, an angel appeared and warned them to stop. The angel also reassured all of the brothers that Laban would be delivered into their hands. Nephi, on the one hand, believed and claimed the brass plates from Laban. Laman and Lemuel, on the other hand, did not believe, nor did they change their behavior as a result of the angelic visit. As Nephi reminded them, "How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord?"

Thomas S. Monson -Our Sacred Priesthood Trust

• May we ever be ready "to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.
• The opportunity to declare a truth may come when we least expect it. Let us prepared.
• "The worth of a soul is its capacity to become as God."
• He is said to have replied, "To magnify a calling is to hold it up in dignity and importance, that the light of heaven may shine through one's performance to the gaze of other men.
• Miracles are everywhere to be found when priesthood callings are magnified. When faith replaces doubt, when selfless service eliminates selfish striving, the power of God brings to pass His purposes. Whom God calls, God qualifies.

Gordon B. Hinckley -The Need for Greater Kindness

• I remind you that no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church of Christ.
• Let us all recognize that each of us is a son or daughter of our Father in Heaven, who loves all of His children.
• Brethren, there is no basis for racial hatred among the priesthood of this Church. If any within the sound of my voice is inclined to indulge in this, then let him go before the Lord and ask forgiveness and be no more involved in such.
• "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."
• "Women have claim on their husbands for their maintenance, until their husbands are taken. ...
• "All children have claim upon their parents for their maintenance until they are of age."
• I believe that no man can be considered a member in good standing who refuses to work to support his family if he is physically able to do so.
• Why do any of us have to be so mean and unkind to others? Why can't all of us reach out in friendship to everyone about us? Why is there so much bitterness and animosity? It is not a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• We all stumble occasionally. We all make mistakes.
• "'For friends at first, are friends again at last.'"
• There is no end to the good we can do, to the influence we can have with others. Let us not dwell on the critical or the negative. Let us pray for strength; let us pray for capacity and desire to assist others. Let us radiate the light of the gospel at all times and all places, that the Spirit of the Redeemer may radiate from us.

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

People Here

It was so weird.
To have people in the apartment.
On a Sunday.
It feels like I'm usually the only one there in the mornings before Church.
But today,
I woke up to the sound of voices outside my door.
The sounds of my roommates chatting.
Roommates.
Because our apartment is all full now.
With people who will actually be around.
O.o
So.
Weird.
It hadn't been like that for a year.
And here it is.
People.
here.
On weekends.
Not disappearing.
Not leaving.
Just here...
Hanging out before church.
O.o
I had no idea what I was supposed to do with them. O.o lol.
I'm so used to having the mornings before church to myself.

This will take some getting used to. lol.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

To Meet Up With A Friend

One should never watch Crime Shows before going to any sort of event.
Because then the paranoia can easily kick in.
Your imagination runs away from you.

Wondering if something bad is going to happen at the thing you're going too...

Yah.
That paranoia was running through my mind.
Because I'd just done that.
Watched some Crime Shows before heading out to meet a friend I haven't spoken to/seen in a long while.

What if ....
What if their phone number had changed?
What if I was talking to a complete stranger?
What if they were luring me to their house....

*exhales*
Yah.
The mind can run away from you.

Thankfully.
The fears were unfounded.

I was able to see my friend.
See their new house.
Have a wonderful visit.

It was great. ^^
I was glad that we were able to catch up and have a wonderful time.

It had been too long since we'd managed to meet up.

It was great to spend the afternoon sitting in the shade, enjoying the sunny day.
^^ It was a much fun and needed break.
It was great to be able to catch up.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Day in Review -August 21st

Saturday, August 21st 2004

-My parents went up to visit my Grandma Retrun today to give her some fruit. Us kids got to stay home. Yes! We're only down to one baby snake now though. :( Because all the others died. Y_Y One of the adult snakes died too so we're only down to two when we had like 12. Two adults and 10 baby snakes.

Monday, August 21st 2006

-We went camping at Rockport for the weekend. Swimming, riding, reading and other things. It was very relaxing.

Thursday, August 21st 2008

-Still sick but feeling slightly better today. Ran Kikay and Meralto around most of the morning. To grandma's so Meralot could mow the lawn, the library, the book store, High School, and Arctic Circle before coming home and spending the rest of the day relaxing. *sighs* I have to start packing tomorrow...so I can move down to College Town on Saturday. I'm not looking forward to that. But Good news I saw 2 of Dove's kittens today and even managed to pet one. Ty, Mezee, Dove, and Jag seem no worse off after we were gone 12 days and all of them still let me pet them which made me glad though I won't get to see them once I move down.... :(

Friday, August 21st 2009

-My poor laptop is slowly going blind. If kept on too long now, the screen starts to show lines so I have to make each visit brief. :( I feel so bad for my laptop. Its been with me since Jr. High I think but at least 4 years. Its seen me at my best and worse. Now its painful to see my faithful laptop fall apart. I wish I could just get a new piece so it will be as good as new, but sadly I can't. But it makes me wonder about what will happen to my laptop. I can't bear to see it tossed in the trash like an unloved thing or taken to the D.I. for who knows who will destroy it...yet it can't stay in the house in some forgotten corner gathering dust either...just thinking about never using the laptop again brings tears to my eyes. I've had it for so long...through thick and thin. My first laptop. *sniff*. I try not to think about it, but its just so sad heading off to my second year of college without it. It just seems wrong! But...I've gotten myself a new laptop. Finally after a week of searching and not finding results, mom was getting frustrated.(I'm extra super picky with laptop looks. Like I am right now, continuing to be picky trying to find a new laptop again...) My new laptop is also an HP laptop though this one is a cool touchscreen! Comparing my old laptop to the new...you can tell my old laptop is old. No touchscreen, webcam, microphone, touchpad, etc. Yet I like the older version more even though the touch screen will be fun! At least I don't have to deal with sales people for a while now. I really don't like dealing with them. They make me feel so guilty because they spend so much time talking to you that its kinda heart wrenching to not buy something after all.

Saturday, August 21st 2010

-Kikay and I moved down to college today. The whole family had to pitch in to help move everything down. Total Kikay and I had 26 boxes. (I had like 30 by myself the last time I moved....) So we ended up needing all three cars to move down. After we moved the boxes into our apartment we went out to Sizzler for lunch before coming back and saying our goodbyes. Kikay and I spent the rest of the day unpacking except we ventured down to Walmart to buy food. Sadly our roommate from last year is still our roommate....but her friend Tass is also here and she seems like she'll be a lot of fun. :)

Sunday, August 21st 2011

- Kikay and Kels finally met this morning for the first time. It went rather well I think... We all went to church. Brother Boz made it seem like he was going to call some people out of the Audience to speak. Thankfully that didn't happen. :) After Church Kikay brought the Neffies over to make cookies for a fencing friend. Then they invited us over to dinner. Ham and potatoes. Afterwards we played Werewolf (like Mafia) with the family. It was actually pretty fun. I had a good time with them though I felt a bit awkward as they're more of Kikay's friends than mine (at this point.)

Tuesday, August 21st 2012

-I actually slept pretty restfully through the night. I wasn't tossing and turning like I had been for the past week. It felt good to just sleep peacefully. I think it helped that I'd gotten a father's blessing the day before.
Today compared to the last couple of days. I was really lazy just messing around on my computer, playing games on my ipod and watching TV. I actually miss doing work. I wanted to go out and do work, lol now if only I would get hired by someone. So I could work. >.< Grr job stuff grr. (Within a week or so I was called in for an interview. ^^ And got the job!) In other news I'm a bit worried now for tomorrow's fencing party as one of my council members posted that she is opening her mission call at the exact time my party starts. :( I had invited mostly council people to the party...and now I'm worried that once again I'll be playing second fiddle. (I had 8 people show up. ^^ Which was more than I was expecting, and it made me happy.) It seems to me that first plans should remain 'first plans' no matter what happens. But others don't see it that way. >.< I've tried many things to get more people to come. Different times days prices (to fencing) but other things 'come up.' And then...I end up getting left out in the cold with no one coming. I'm so tired of people saying " I want to come" but when I try to plan it so that they can...they end up backing out for other reasons....

Wednesday, August 21st 2013

-Spent the morning blog writing and the evening at work. Not much happened work wise out of the ordinary but now I have to head straight to bed for work in the morning.

Thursday, August 21st 2014

-I got to sleep in this morning, which was rather nice though I was woken up at 10 am by the carpet cleaners entering the apt to clean the carpets. Hopefully the dog smell disappears permanently. Work itself was one of those days where I wished I could have headed out early. My coworker -who had trouble yesterday and couldn't get to work and didn't think to Google our Store number so that he could call us and tell us that he wasn't coming in--was in a belligerent mood today, which caused me to snap at him a bit. Mean words, but he kept arguing with me when things were crazy and hadn't been done and I wasn't in the mood. He'd refused to help with the bedding changes, argued over snake bedding, really he'd talked back to me on most everything I had told him to do! I was so glad for him to leave. Though a rush at the end of his shift prevented me from taking a 15 minute break and so I didn't get a chance to sit down until nearly 6pm. Like 5 hours into my shift. For some reason only 3 of us were schedules in the store for two hours. Not usually a bad thing...unless I want to sit down. Thankfully I had a ton to do, finishing bedding changes feeding the animals, receiving some POs and other things along with helping customers. Twas busy and exhausting. I was glad to sit down. At least it slowed down towards he end so that I could leave on time.

Friday, August 21st 2015

-With work this morning I managed to open the department before our Fish Shipment arrived/the store opened. It was made a lot easier because we didn't have any cats in the cat area to clean up -though Sirch did come in to deep clean out the kennels for a few hours. Work itself was slow, with everyone heading back to school, less customers come in during the day which gave me time to work on facing the department, making sure products were placed in the right places and such. After work I came home and took a brief nap, waking up to my fourth roommate moving in. ^^ One of my friends from Jr. High. So exciting! But she disappeared back home for the night. I ended up going Laser Tagging with some other friends which was a ton of fun! ^^ I ended up getting first place in the second round! I drove up to the parents house afterwards and spent the evening getting my cable tv fix. :)

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Power of Forgiveness

There are so many in our day who are unwilling to forgive and forget.
Children cry and wives weep because fathers and husbands continue to bring up little shortcomings that are really of no importance.
And there also are many women who would make a mountain out of every little offending molehill of word or deed.

A time back, I clipped a column from the Deseret Morning News, written by Jay Evensen.
With his permission, I quote from a part of it.
Wrote he:

"How would you feel toward a teenager who decided to toss a 20-pound frozen turkey from a speeding car headlong into the windshield of the car you were driving?
How would you feel after enduring six hours of surgery using metal plates and other hardware to piece your face together, and after learning you still face years of therapy before returning to normal--and that you ought to feel lucky you didn't die or suffer permanent brain damage?

"And how would you feel after learning that your assailant and his buddies had the turkey in the first place because they had stolen a credit card and gone on a senseless shopping spree; just for kicks? ...

"This is the kind of hideous crime that propels politicians to office on promises of getting tough on crime.
It's the kind of thing that prompts legislators to climb all over each other in a struggle to be the first to introduce a bill that would add enhanced penalties for the use of frozen fowl in the commission of a crime.

"The New York Times quoted the district attorney as saying this is the sort of crime for which victims feel no punishment is harsh enough.
'Death doesn't even satisfy them,' he said.

"Which is what makes what really happened so unusual.
The victim, Victoria Ruvolo, a 44-year-old former manager of a collections agency, was more interested in salvaging the life of her 19-year-old assailant, Ryan Cushing, than in exacting any sort of revenge.
She pestered prosecutors for information about him, his life, how he was raised, etc.
Then she insisted on offering him a plea deal.
Cushing could serve six months in the country jail and be on probation for 5 years if he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault.

"Had he been convicted of first-degree assault--the charge most fitting for the crime--he could have served 25 years in prison, finally thrown back into society as a middle-aged man with no skills or prospects.

"But this is only half the story.
The rest of it, what happened the day this all played out in court, is the truly remarkable part.

"According to an account in the New York Post, Cushing carefully and tentatively made his way to where Ruvolo sat in the courtroom and tearfully whispered an apology.
'I'm so sorry for what I did to you.'

"Ruvolo then stood, and the victim and her assailant embraced, weeping.
She stroked his head and patted his back as he sobbed, and witnesses, including a Times reporter, heard her say, 'It's OK.
I just want you to make your life the best it can be.'
According to accounts, hardened prosecutors, and even reporters, were choking back tears."

What a great story that is, greater because it actually happened, and that it happened in tough old New York.
Who can feel anything but admiration for this woman who forgave the young man who might have taken her life?

-Gordon B. Hinckley -Forgiveness -October 2005 General Conference

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Whatcha Doin' Stomach?

I hate it when my body begins to act weird.
Because I don't know if its acting weird from a solvable problem.
Like it needs more sleep, more food, more water, less stress....
Or if I'm actually getting sick...and need basically the same things lol.

Today for example was one of those iffy days.
Because basically everyone around me is getting sick.
So I can only assume its a matter of time before I catch one of the twenty different things going around.

I'd just got done scrubbing every. single. fish tank on our fish wall.
Why did I scrub like 100 tanks in an hour and a half?
Because work has been crazy enough that we haven't had the opportunity to actually scrub our section of tanks for the past few days.
And with our DM coming in like...tomorrow...
It was super important to get the department to look presentable.
So.
When I had a spare moment.
I set out to scrub them all as they were beginning to look dingy with algae growth.

And as I finished the tanks...
My stomach began to act weird...
It was one of those 'I'm trying to eat myself" sort of squeezing feelings.
Muscles reacting? Stomach reacting?
Who knows?
Its one of those feelings where I could be getting sick or I was just hungry.
It seems to be more of the former rather than the later unfortunately.
Because I did grab food to see if that would help me feel better.
It helped...but the problem didn't go away.
So I'm probably suffering from some sort of stomach bug...
Where if I stand up for too long I start to get that 'squeezing/eating' sensation.
*sighs*
I hope its just a temporary thing,
And that I can get through work alright.
Because with so many of my other coworkers getting sick right now...
I can't afford to call in myself.
Or we'd be severely short handed on the one day when we really need to be at full staff so that the DM still gets a good impression of our store still.

Thankfully some Soda and Chips seems to be helping to settle the uneasy stomach...for now. :)

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Dash to the Dentist

Its rather typical.
That at work, when my shift is like a minute away from ending.
We get a rush of people into the store.
>.<
That delays me from leaving when I'm actually off.

Most days its not a problem.
I'm not in a hurry to get anywhere beyond home to my bed.

Not so the case yesterday.
You see.
I had an appointment to get to.
A Dentist Appointment.
Back in Home Town.
That was scheduled for an hour after I got off work.
Usually not a problem.
As it only takes like 40-45 minutes to get up there.

So getting off work.
I would have time to drop by home, change clothes, brush my teeth, etc before heading over to the dentist.

Only...
I didn't get off work on time.
>.<
I got hit with a rush of people exactly when I was supposed to get off and my other coworker coming on was delayed from coming to my rescue right away due to also being caught up with customers elsewhere in the store.
Seriously? Seriously! Guys. I need to go! Don't come in when I actually have to go somewhere! Let me leave! Stop asking me a hundred questions because I really really need to go!
Gah!

I got out of work 15 minutes late.
Y_Y
Can you say "AHHH!!"
Cus I can.

I had a 45ish minute drive to get to my appointment!
Basically I was either going to be right on time, or a bit late.
And with how things was going, I was leaning towards late.
Because they're doing construction on the freeway between here and there.
Which would mean slow downs, detours, heavy traffic...as this also was the beginningish of rush hour.

Which meant, no chance to get out of work clothes. >.< I had to rush straight to the dentist to get there on time.
It wasn't a simple matter either.
Another wrinkle to the journey was that the dentist had just recently moved to a new building.
One I'd never been to before. :S
So on top of possibly being late, I needed to find a building I'd never been to before. :S
Ah!!

So I drove like mad.
Weaving in and out of traffic.
And managed to get to the dentist!
Only a minute late! YES!

Of course...the building was rather confusing on which door was the actual entrance...
So I ended up accidentally going through the back door.
Oops.
But I made it to the receptionist alright and the dentist appointment itself went great!
lol
No cavities!! ^^

The hygienist was like "Wow, have you been doing something different this time around?" And I was like..."No?"
The only thing I could think of was that I'd been drinking more Dr. Pepper recently...but she probably wouldn't like hearing that lol. So I didn't mention it.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

April 2006 General Conference -Saturday Afternoon

Thomas S. Monson - The Sustaining of Church Officers

Robert W. Cantewell - Church Auditing Department

F. Michael Watson - Statistical Report, 2005

• Total Membership - 12,560,869
• Number of Full-Time Missionaries - 52,060

Boyd K. Packer -"I will Remember Your Sins No More"

• "The preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just--yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else."
• "Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world."
• "O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility."

David A. Bednar -That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us

• God determines the conditions of all gospel covenants. You and I do not decide the nature or element of a covenant. Rather, exercising our moral agency, we accept the terms and requirements of a covenant as our Eternal Father has established them.
• As we gain experience with the Holy Ghost, we learn that the intensity with which we feel the Spirit's influence is not always the same. Strong, dramatic spiritual impressions do not come to us frequently. Even as we strive to be faithful and obedient, there simply are times when the direction, assurance, and peace of the Spirit are not readily recognized in our lives.
• The standard is clear. If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us. Because the Spirit cannot abide that which is vulgar, crude, or immodest, then clearly such things are not for us. Because we estrange the Spirit the Lord when we engage in activities we know we should shun, then such things definitely are not for us.
• Certainly the Spirit can be with us more than it is not with us.
• Keep the spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach them what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom.

David F. Evans -Your Mission Will Change Everything.

• "You want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause, and bend your efforts to helping people."

Wolfgang H. Paul -The Gift of Agency

• "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."
• "This agency has always been the heritage of man under the rule and government of God. He possessed it in the heaven of heavens before the world was, and the Lord maintained and defended it there against the aggression of Lucifer and those that took sides with him. ... By virtue of this agency you and I and all mankind are made responsibility beings, responsible for the course we pursue, the lives we live, [and] the deeds we do."
• Thus, our agency makes our life on this earth a test period. If we did not have this wonderful gift of agency, we would not be able to show our Father in Heaven whether we will do all that He commanded us.
• In order for us to use our agency, we must have a knowledge of good and evil, we must have the freedom to make choices, and after we have exercised our agency, there must be consequences that follow our choices.

Russell M. Nelson -Nurturing Marriage

• Marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other human relationship.
• Marriages would be happier if nurtured more carefully.
• True happiness is predicated upon personal purity.
• To appreciate--to say, "I love you" and "thank you"--is not difficult. But these expressions of love and appreciation do more than acknowledge a kind thought or deed. They are signs of sweet civility.
• To communicate well with your spouse--is also important.
• Good communication includes taking time to plan together. Couples need private time to observe, to talk, and really listen to each other. They need to cooperate--helping each other as equal partners.
• To contemplate ...contemplation allows one to anticipate and to resonate (or be in tune) with each other and with the Lord.
• Above all, do not be selfish! Generate a spirit of selflessness and generosity.

L. Tom Perry -As Now We Take the Sacrament

• If ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.
• If we were to become casual in partaking of the sacrament, we would lose the opportunity for spiritual growth.
• May there be instilled in each of us an increased reverence for the Sabbath.

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi