A Conversation

It's not often that I get to use my sign language skills at work.

But today I was able to. :)

I'd just gotten off break, and as I was heading back to the fish wall.

-Since most of the customers in my dept are at the fish wall.

I noticed a customer in a wheel chair by the hamsters.

So I went to ask her if she needed help.

To which she said yes, her daughter wanted a hamster.

And then she signed something to her daughter.

Most people possibly wouldn't have noticed it.

But....having been an ASL major...I tend to pay attention when people move their hands. Seeing if they're actually signing something or not.

The woman had her daughter lead me to the particular hamster cage she wanted the hamster from.

To which she happily pointed at it.

So I signed "You Want?" pointing to the cage. It was only a half gesture really, as I wasn't sure if she actually knew sign language or not.

To which when I turned to her. Her eyes had lit up, a bright smile on her face. "You know sign?!" she asked excitedly in ASL.

To which I said Yes I did.

lol. It was fun to converse with her.

I mean I talked with her mom in English explaining our return policy and suggestions on how to handle the hamster.

But then I turned to the girl and in Sign explained to her as well what I'd just said.

lol. I had a small audience at that point. Curious customers watching me converse with the girl.

The light of excitement and wonder in their eyes as well.

The thought of "LOOK THESE PEOPLE ARE SIGNING!! Isn't that COOL!" very apparent on their faces. haha.

It definitely a feel good moment for me though.

That I was able to communicate with the girl and let her know information about how to care for her hamster. ^^

lol.

The downside to signing for those ten or so minutes.

Was that it was rather difficult for me to stop signing after that point.

I had to literally take a second and say "Sarnic, remember to speak English." to myself. lol. As once I get into the signing mode, I like to stay in it.

;) Which amused me coworkers and some customers to no end. lol.

Ah well.

At least I got to use my signing skills. :D I quite enjoy it when it's just normal conversations. :)

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Little Gold Here And There

Oftentimes we are like the young merchant from Boston, who in 1849, as the story goes, was caught up in the fervor of the California gold rush.
He sold all of his possessions to seek his fortune in the California rivers, which he was told were filled with gold nuggets so big that one could hardly carry them.

Day after endless day, the young man dipped his pan into the river and came up empty.
His only reward was a growing pile of rocks.
Discouraged and broke, he was ready to quit until one day an old, experienced prospector said to him, "That's quite a pile of rocks you are getting there, my boy."

The young man replied, "There's no gold here.
I'm going back home."

Walking over to the pile of rocks, the old prospector said, "Oh, there is gold all right.
You just have to know where to find it."
He picked two rocks up in his hands and crashed them together.
One of the rocks split open, revealing several flecks of gold sparkling in the sunlight.

Noticing a bulging leather pouch fastened to the prospector's waist, the young man said, "I'm looking for nuggets like the ones in your pouch, not just tiny flecks."

The old prospector extended his pouch toward the young man, who looked inside, expecting to see several large nuggets.
He was stunned to see that the pouch was filled with thousands of flecks of gold..

The old prospector said, "Son, it seems to me you are so busy looking for large nuggets that you're missing filling your pouch with these precious flakes of gold.
The patient accumulation of these little flecks has brought me great wealth."

The story illustrates the spiritual truth that Alma taught his son Helaman:

"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. ...

"... And by very small means the Lord ... bringeth about the salvation of many souls."

-M. Russell Ballard -Finding Joy through Loving Service -April 2011 General Conference

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Work Missed Me

So, apparently work didn't like me taking the day off yesterday.
Perhaps its a creature of habit.
And prefers me to take my days off at a set time....*shakes head*

Basically....
Work went kinda awol.

I mean, you know those days where everything seems to be working against you?
Yah. It was one of those days.

That I can only blame on work not liking me being absent yesterday. lol. ;)
Granted I don't quite think that's true.
Work tends to have the sort of days where you start out behind and never catch up.

Today was one of those days.
It started with me being scheduled to start work half an hour later than usual.
-Due to more strict hour management at work, I'm technically supposed to be coming in at this time, though we're still trying to keep me in at half an hour earlier for as long as possible.
But that half hour of lost time.
Meant that I was already half an hour behind in doing my tasks.
And considering that on Wednesdays my second opener doesn't come in until half an hour before the store opens...
Yah...I should have only been half an hour behind....

But when I came in....I immediately noticed that our aquatic turtle cage had a large puddle of water below it.
O.o Somehow the filter had been pushed against the door and was leaking through the seams that hold the glass panes in place.
So that mess had to be cleaned up and the filter moved into the proper place away from the door.
Then my opening tasks......took the usual amount of time.
However I had customers come into the store before we opened, so I was delayed in my tasks with them....

*shakes head*

Yah, just one of those weird days...

Thankfully I got basically all the tasks done. :)
So it was nothing too stressful.
Just kinda meant that the whole day felt off due to me being half an hour to an hour behind in the usual time sense. :)

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

To Recover

It was one of those days I didn't know I needed.

So, a few days ago.
One of my coworkers messaged me.
Asking if I would be able to take one of their shifts.
Why?
My coworker had taken a backpacking class.
And this weekend they were going out back packing.

It's one of those classes where you can't miss the actual weekend backpacking adventure as it often means that you fail the course.

For whatever reason, the request to get the weekend off didn't go through or was misunderstood.
So they had to find people to cover their weekend shifts so that they would be able to go.

It's not often that I'm asked to cover shifts.
Rarer still that I'm actually able to cover said shifts.

This time though.
It looked like I would be able to.
Except....
Their shift was about half the length of the shift that I would be switching with them.
Which....I wouldn't mind working a short shift.
Only I actually have to work a certain amount of hours a week.
And switching with them would mean I would be under that amount. :S Not good.

So I said I could....but only if I would be able to work a longer shift on that day.
Which meant that we had to check in with a manager before we could make the switch.

I know the amount of hours we've been given I a week for the store have been stricter. And the managers have been concerned about going over hours.
So I actually didn't think they would approve of the switch since I would need to work a longer shift.

So I suggested that my coworker try and see if any of the other coworkers could cover that shift as well.

However, when I came in Monday, the manager gave the okay that I could switch my shift today with my coworker's shift later in the week.

Which meant.

I had today off.

I'd done it to be nice really. I didn't mind switching days off this week since I didn't really have plans.

But who knew that I would actually need it.

As Monday, due to what I can only guess was stressful customers at work.
The headache I'd had off and on throughout the weekend came back. With a vengeance.
It took into the early hours of this morning for the headache to finally go away.

And after headaches finally go away.
I'm always left a bit....drained.

Today I felt more drained than normal.

So it was a relief to not have to wake up early.
To not have to go to work.
To not have to work.
To not have to socialize.

Instead.
I took a ME day.
And spent it in bed watching my current show obsession Detective Conan. ;) lol.

It was just what I needed.
To relax.
And recover.

I'm really grateful that I was able to switch shifts with my coworker. Because I don't know how I would have managed working today if I hadn't.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

General Conference October 2011 -Sunday Morning

Henry B. Erying -A Witness

• The effect of the Book of Mormon on your character, power, and courage to be a witness for God is certain.

Robert D. Hales -Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done

• The purpose of our life on earth is to grow, develop, and be strengthened through our own experiences.
• In my life I have learned that sometimes I do not receive an answer to a prayer because the Lord knows I am not ready. When He does answer, it is often "here a little and there a little" because that is all that I can bear or all I am willing to do.
• Too often we pray to have patience, but we want it right now.
• Sincere prayer is answered 'sometime, somewhere.
• Every one of us is more beloved to the Lord than we can possibly understand or imagine. Let us therefore be kinder to one another and kinder toward ourselves.

Tad R. Callister -The Book of Mormon--a Book from God

• That is the genius of the Book of Mormon--there is no middle ground. It is either the word of God as professed, or it is a total fraud. This book does not merely claim to be a moral treatise or theological commentary or collection of insightful writings. It claims to be the word of God--every sentence, every verse, every page. Joseph Smith declared that an angel of God directed him to gold plates, which contained the writings of prophets in ancient America, and that he translated those plates by divine powers. If that story is true, then the Book of Mormon is holy scripture, just as it professes to be; if not, it is a sophisticated but, nonetheless, diabolical hoax.
• "I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I am ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. ... You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. ... But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.
• "And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?"
• If the foregoing scriptures from the Book of Mormon teach us to worship and love and serve the Savior (which they do), how can they be from the devil? If so, he would be divided against himself and thus be destroying his own kingdom, the very condition the Savior said could not exist.

Elaine S. Dalton -Love Her Mother

• "The most important thing a father can do for his [daughter] is to love [her] mother." By the way you love her mother, you will teach your daughter about tenderness, loyalty, respect, compassion, and devotion. She will learn from your example what to expect from young men and what qualities to seek in a future spouse. You can show your daughter by the way you love and honor your wife that she should never settle for less. Your example will teach your daughter to value womanhood. You are showing her that she is a daughter of our Heavenly Father, who loves her.
• Your example, as her father, speaks louder than our important words.
• Your personal virtue will model for your daughters, and also your sons, what true strength and moral courage are. By being a guardian of virtue in your own life, in your home, and in the lives of your children, you are showing your wife and daughters what true love really is. Your personal purity will give you power.
• Be present in your daughter's life.
• If in her teenage years she should not come home from a date on time, go get her. She will resist and tell you that you have ruined her social life, but she will inwardly know that you love her and that you care enough to be her guardian.
• You are not ordinary men. Because of your valiance in the premortal realms, you qualified to be leaders and to possess priesthood power. There you exhibited and to posses priesthood power. There you exhibited "exceedingly faith and good works," and you are here now to do the same. Your priesthood sets you apart.
• Fathers, you are your daughter's hero.

M. Russell Ballard -The Importance of a Name

• The words Church of Jesus Christ declare that it is His Church. In the Book of Mormon, Jesus taught: "And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses' name then it be Moses' church; or if it be called in the name of a man [like Mormon] then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel."
• The name the Savior has given to His Church tells us exactly who we are and what we believe. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world. He atoned for all who would repent of their sins, and He broke the bands of death and provided the resurrection from the dead. We follow Jesus Christ.
• People and organizations are often given nicknames by others. A nickname may be a shortened form of a name, or it may be derived from an event or some physical or other characteristic. While nicknames do not have the same status or significance as actual names, they can be properly used.
• The Lord's Church in both ancient and modern times has had nicknames. The Saints in New Testament times were called Christians because they professed a belief in Jesus Christ. That name, first used derogatorily by their detractors, is now a name of distinction; and we are honored to be called a Christian church.
• Our members have been called Mormons because we believe in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Others may try to use the word Mormon more broadly to include and refer to those who have left the Church and formed various splinter groups. Such use only leads to confusion. We are grateful for the efforts of the media to refrain from using the word Mormon in a way that may cause the public to confuse the Church with polygamists or other fundamentalist groups. Let me state clearly that no polygamist group, including those calling themselves fundamentalist Mormons or other derivatives of our name, has an affiliation whatsoever with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• While Mormon is not the full and correct name of the Church, and even though it was originally given by our detractors during our early years of persecution, it has become an acceptable nickname when applied to members rather than the institution. We do not need to stop using the name Mormon when appropriate, but we should continue to give emphasis to the full and correct name of the Church itself. In other words, we should avoid and discourage the term "Mormon Church."

Thomas S. Monson -Stand in Holy Places 

• Also evolving at a rapid rate has been the moral compass of society. Behaviors which once were considered inappropriate and immoral are now not only tolerated but also viewed by ever so many as acceptable.
• "There are large parts of [the world] where religion is a thing of the past and there is no counter-voice to the culture of buy it, spend it, wear it, flaunt it, because you're worth it. The message is that morality is passé, conscience is for wimps, and the single overriding command is 'Thou shalt not be found out.'"
• My brothers and sisters, this--unfortunately--describes much of the world around us. Do we wring our hands in despair and wonder how we'll ever survive in such a world? No. Indeed, we have in our lives the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we know that morality is not passé, that our conscience is there to guide us, and that we are responsible for our actions.
• Although the world has changed, the laws of God remain constant. They have not changed, the laws of God remain constant. They have not changed; they will not change. The Ten Commandments are just that--commandments. They are not suggestions. They are every bit as requisite today as they were when God gave them to the children of Israel. If we but listen, we hear the echo of God's voice, speaking to us here and now:
• "Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
• "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
• "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
• "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
• "Honour thy father and thy mother.
• "Thou shalt not kill.
• "Thou shalt not commit adultery.
• "Thou shalt not steal.
• "Thou shalt not bear false witness.
• "Thou shalt not covet."
• Our code of conduct is definitive; it is not negotiable.
• It may appear to you at times that those out in the world are having much more fun than you are. Some of you may feel restricted by the code of conduct to which we in the Church adhere. My brothers and sisters, I declare to you, however, that there is nothing which can bring more joy into our lives or more peace to our souls than the Spirit which can come us as we follow the Savior and keep the commandments. That Spirit cannot be present at the kinds of activities in which so much of the world participates.
• "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Brain Is Melting

I can't decide if it was caused by stress or not.

My headache.

I mean, it started Saturday before work ended, and lasted into Sunday.

Only for it to come back in the afternoon on Monday (which is when this post was written since my head hurt too much to focus on Sunday) and again not want to leave.

Could stress really cause the headache to stick around for over three days?

Probably.

It wouldn't surprise me if it could.

But I do have to wonder.

Is it just stress?

Or is it something else in the environment. It could be the shifting weather patterns for all I know.

In any case.

Headaches are tedious.

Annoying.

And painful.

I should know. lol. I get them all the time....

But this time around, nothing seemed to be helping.

I did all the usual methods.

Sleep, more liquids, a bunch of medicine, showers, heat packs, pressure points, massaging the muscles....

Nothing. If there was relief it was only a lessening of the pain.

It didn't seem to go away.

*exhales*

It still hasn't gone away really.

Which makes me wonder.

Is it stress?

Am I tense?

Or are my muscles just pretending to be tense for some other reason?

Honestly....I think it may be people that are causing it.

Just energy that has infiltrated my own when my barriers were low or something.

As both Saturday's and Monday's headaches happened pretty soon after interacting with people.

So people caused the stress which caused the tension which caused the headache, which for some reason won't go away!

>.< Geez.

It's not like I haven't dealt with annoying stressful customers before.

I don't know for sure what it is about these particular interactions in the past couple of days that has affected me.

But if it's an annoyance wiggling in the corner of my mind, I really need to get it out of my brain.

Because this three days of headaches is beyond annoying.

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

186th SemiAnnual General Women's Conference Highlights

Sister Jean B. Bingham

• Be generous in our thoughts and our words.
• The greatest form of charity may be to withhold judgement.
• Don't focus on the differences and the flaws. Focus on the eternal image and the potential of the individual.
• We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness and contentment may we choose the right attitude.
• Choose to say what is positive, in order to uplift others around us.
• Words have power to build up or tear down
• Sometimes we look at what others might have or be & feel we have less. Don't become too focused on the "Instagram" lives of others.
• Be determined to look for the good in others and in the circumstances around us.
• Love YOUR life as it is, not what you think other peoples lives are.
• Allow others to grow and change, don't hold them to what they used to be and how they used to act.
• Forget the mistakes and stumbling of others rather than holding onto grudges that don't help anyone.
• Encourage others to Change. Allow them to do so on their own timing.
• Everyone is doing their best to overcome the challenges coming their way. Be patient as they work through them.
• Look for and embrace the beauty in others.
• Look for and share positive things about others and let the 'less than perfect' fade away.

Sister Carole M. Stephens

• If ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ and Endure to the End, ye Shall have Eternal Life.
• Don't look for perfect understanding within the Great and Spacious Building.
• When we are desperate for help, do we forget to turn to the Savior?
• Our Faith in Jesus Christ enables us to meet any challenge.
• Look upon the Heart, not upon the Sins.
• Christ meets us where we are, and understands our pain.
• The Master Healer can comfort and strengthen us when we experience pain because of the unrighteous actions of others.
• Hope and Healing aren't found in the dark abyss of Secrecy, but in the light and love of Christ.
• Don't suffer needlessly for the consequences of other's sins. Leave it to the Savior.
• Christ can heal the scars of what is unjust and undeserved.
• Remember your divine identity and God's plan for you when things get hard.
• The Master Healer can comfort and sustain us as we experience painful 'realities of mortality.
• You don't have to bare my pain, someone already has."
• Even in your darkest moments you can stand tall and bear Testimony and give Light to others.
• You don't have to carry the pain caused by unrighteous others, alone. Nor the pain of mortal realities, alone. Christ can heal you.

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson

• We need never despair.
• We need women who can detect deception in all it's forms and teach the next generation to stand strong against it.
• We have the innate strength to resist the challenges in our lives.
• The Temple holds a place at the Very Center of our Beliefs.
• Even the youngest can rise up in faith and make a difference.
• Are we fully drawing upon the power of those promises given to us?
• See yourself as an essential participant in the work of Salvation and not just onlookers.
• Confidently take your place in this work and Participate!! Your voice matters.
• Get to work. The Kingdom needs you!
• Imagine what one person of faith can accomplish!
• Make your home a safe place to be able to ask Questions with confidence.
• Some questions may not come in this lifetime. Be committed to a lifetime of serious study.
• We must use sensitivity, but we also need to use our common sense. Be bold and straightforward.
• Don't fail to teach correct principles to avoid offending others.
• If we don't teach pure doctrine the world will teach them lies.
• We must be careful not 2 live in such an atmosphere of avoiding the fence that our kids get caught up in the wire.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

• You are never too insignificant to have a meaningful influence on others.
• Activate the power of faith in our lives.
• Faith is being sure of what we Hope for and Certain of what we Do Not See.
• There are more ways to See than with our Eyes, more ways to Feel than with our Hands, more ways to Hear than with our Ears.
• Just because we Can't Hear Something Doesn't mean there's Nothing to Hear.
• Telling our loved ones to just "listen harder" may not be the best way.
• Seek the voice that speaks to our Spirit and not just to our Ears.
• Don't listen harder; listen differently. Not everyone discerns the Spirit the same way.
• Anything Essential is invisible to the Eyes.
• Faith is powerful and often does result in miracles.
• But no matter how much faith we have, faith cannot Violate another's agency.
• Faith cannot force our will upon God. We can't force God to comply to our desires no matter how right we think we are.
• God doesn't always answer our prayers the way we'd hoped they'd be answered.
• Faith is Trust. Trust that God Sees what we Cannot. He knows what we Do Not.
• I had to trust and act accordingly in an unseen voice to arrive safely at my destination.
• Faith is not only trust in God's wisdom, but in his love.
• In the End, everything will Make Sense. All things work together for Good to them who Love God.
• Faith comes to the humble, the diligent, the enduring. It comes to those who pay the price of faithfulness.
• We walk by whatever faith we have.
• If no one listens to your message, let it not be because you didn't make the effort to give it.
• Have Faith. Be Willing to Work.
• Be the Sunshine in Another's Life.
• In our Search for Enduring Faith, in our Quest to connect to God's Purposes. Remember to Knock. Don't give up after the first door.
• Knock until the Fourth Floor Last Door.
• God is Real. He Lives. He Loves You.

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Stone Energy

I love Gem Faires.

Mostly because ROCKS!!

lol.

Okay, Not just rocks.

But also, energy.

Lots and lots of energy.

I know I've done a post before on the Gem Faires.

How usually I end up with a headache afterwards because there is so much tension/energy/people in the place that it usually overwhelms me.

This post isn't about that kind of energy though. :)

It's about my own energy.

You see, a few months ago, when the last Gem Faire happened,

I was in a situation where my own energy levels were low. And I was looking for other means to get my energy levels back up.

And a good way to protect yourself from people who are leeching your energy is to surround yourself by things that help to keep your energy stable, or block others attempts to take your energy away.

Which, I was probably pretty desperate for something to help me out.

Since last time I went to the Gem Faire....I bought a ton of rocks.

All shapes and sizes.

Which equated to a lot of $$$

So, I was curious this time around.

To see what kind of stones I would find that I felt I needed to help me out.

How much money I would spend.

I mean, I'd set myself a limit to not spend more than a certain amount.

Ha...but that doesn't mean I stick with it at all when it involves rocks. lol.

In any case.

I was rather surprised and pleased....

That I ended up spending less than I usually do at the Gem Faire. ^^

Yay! lol. I only came out with a handful of different stones instead of an armful. lol.

I even stayed within my budget!! ()_() Shock. As it was a rather low budget to have... lol. I wasn't expecting to stay with it.

But it's also a good thing in another way.

To not buy so many rocks this time around.

Because it means....that I didn't need them.

I didn't need the rock energy to help out with my own.

Which means that my own energy levels are definitely bouncing back!!

Yay!!

I'm glad I went to the Gem Faire. ^^

It was a good way to get another indication of how I'm feeling overall. :)

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

I Knew You Would Come

Once while President Monson was on assignment in Louisiana, a stake president asked him if he would have time to visit a 10-year-old girl named Christal, who was in the final stages of cancer.
Christal's family had been praying that President Monson would come.
But their home was far away, and the schedule was so tight that there wasn't time.
So instead, President monsoon asked that those who offered prayers during the stake conference include Christal in their prayers.
Surely the Lord and the family would understand.

During the Saturday session of the conference, as President Monson stood to speak, the Spirit whispered, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."

"His notes became a blur.
He attempted to pursue the theme of the meeting as outlined, but the name and image of [the little girl] would not leave his mind."

He listened to the Spirit and rearranged his schedule.
Early the next morning, President Monson left the ninety and nine and traveled many miles to be at the bedside of the one.

Once there, he "gazed down upon a child too ill to rise, too weak to speak.
Her illness had now rendered her sightless.
Deeply touched by the scene and the Spirit of the Lord ..., Brother Monson ... took the child's frail hand in his own.
'Christal,' he whispered, 'I am here."

"With great effort she whispered back, 'Brother Monson, I just knew you would come.'"

My dear brothers and sisters, let us strive to be among those whom the Lord can rely on to hear His whisperings and respond, as Saul did on his road to Damascus, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf -Waiting on the Road to Damascus -April 2011 General Conference

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

In Two Years

I get random things stuck in my head.
There's the movie quotes, song lyrics, story ideas, made up arguments etc.

But on occasion, I just have a thought that just....is a thought.
A wonderment.

I'm guessing this particular thought came from an episode of Detective Conan
(yes I'm still obsessing over the show lol)
It was an episode where there was a reunion between classmates.

I probably watched it over a week ago,
but for some reason, in the past couple of days.
The thought has been in my mind.

About my next high school reunion.
It's still a couple of years away.

So in all reality, there really shouldn't be any reason to be thinking about it.

I've already gone through one.
Which was a rather small gathering. Only a handful of people I knew.
And it was rather awkward because I was basically the only one who showed up who wasn't already married.

Which is crazy to think about, since only 5 years had passed since we graduated.

It's one of those moments where you can't help but feel like...you're behind.
Missing out on things, delayed in special events...
*exhales*

So I suppose it's the awkward feeling.
Of wondering.....how things will be in two years.

Where will I be?
Where will my classmates be?
Some are already married, many of them have kids.
Would some have gotten divorced?
Will others be in the middle of a high rise career path?
Who had their dreams made?
Who is still working on them?

*shakes head*

Again, the question running through my mind.
Is....
Where will I be in two years?

And will I be in a place in two years where I'll be happy to tell people about what I've been up to since graduation?

Or will it be one of those situations, that just leaves an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach.
Where I feel that I've failed in others expectations. That my path took a different one from what they were expecting and they're...disappointed.

Honestly, it should be thoughts I should be thinking in two years.
When the next reunion happens.

But.
I suppose.
If the thoughts were taking place in two years.
Then it would be two years too late to change anything.

Since I'm thinking about it now.
It means I have time to actually consider.
How do I want to present myself to my classmates in two years?
What do I need to change in order to feel more comfortable in telling people what I've been up to?

In all Honesty.
I really just want to tell people that I've published a book and became famous. lol.

But with no written book, comes no publishing, comes no becoming famous.

So....
Is this the motivation I need to actually sit down, get to work, write one of the million story ideas I have, get it published, and get on the route to becoming an author?

;) Maybe.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

A New Calling

To be honest, I was hoping it would take longer for them to find me.

I mean, I understand how the wards wants everyone to have a calling. Have them be an active part of the running of the ward and such.

But to be honest.
I really would be alright with not having a calling for a while.
Is it really so bad to just be able to come to church and not worry about any responsibilities?
Relax. Have fun. Not worry about carrying out some task?

As to be truthful.
That's probably what I need the most right now.
A chance to do nothing, to just be able to come to church and listen to the spirit and enjoy being there.

*shakes head*
In any case.
As you can guess.
They found me. lol.

It only took them three weeks of me being in the ward to get a calling extended to me.

I'm going to be part of the Ward Prayer Committee.

-Which in typical YSA wards, on Sunday nights the ward gathers together to have a thought and a prayer together.
Which I don't mind much.
Though recently I feel like they've made it into a whole production. Needing to have activities and games and get to know you things as well as spotlights.

A simple thought and a prayer, some socializing afterwards with some treats. That would be my idea.
lol. Though with how social this ward is, I doubt that idea is going to fly well.

In any case, I'm grateful that I got a calling where I'm not the one in charge.
I can just be part of the group and go where I'm told to go and do what I'm told to do.

Guess we'll see how this goes. :)
Should be an interesting experience.
I've never been on a committee that's active every week in such a visible way.
So that will be different. :)

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

October 2011 General Conference -Priesthood Session

Jeffrey R. Holland -We Are All Enlisted

• Satan cannot directly take a life.
• I am looking tonight for men young and old who care enough about this battle between good and evil to sign on and speak up. We are at war.
• In this battle between good and evil, you cannot play for the adversary whenever temptation comes along and then expect to suit up for the Savior at temple and mission time as if nothing has happened. That, my young friends, you cannot do. God will not be mocked.
• We need young men already on the team to stay on it and stop dribbling out of bounds just when we need you to get in the game and play your hearts out! In almost all athletic contests f which I know, there are lines drawn n the floor or the field within which every participant must stay in order to compete. Well, the Lord has drawn lines of worthiness for those called to labor with Him in this work. No missionary can be unrepentant of sexual transgression or profane language or pornographic indulgence and then expect to challenge others to repent of those very things! You can't o that. The Spirit will not be with you, and the words will choke in your throat as you speak them. You cannot travel down what Lehi called "forbidden paths" and expect to guide others to the "strait and narrow" one--it can't be done.
• Now, brethren, we speak boldly to you because anything more subtle doesn't seem to work. We speak boldly because Satan is a real being set on destroying you, and you face his influence at a younger and younger age. So we grab you by the lapels and shout as forcefully as we know how: Hark! the sound of battle sounding loudly and clear; Come join the ranks! Come join the ranks!

Keith B. McMullin -The Power of the Aaronic Priesthood

• "It is your duty first of all to learn what the Lord wants and then by the power and strength of His holy Priesthood to magnify your calling in the presence of your fellows in such a way that the people will be glad to follow you."
• Shun profane and foolish chatter.
• Flee all evil.
• Avoid contention.
• Repent where needed.
• This will help you rise to the noble stature of your manhood. The qualities of courage, trustworthiness, humility, faith, and goodness will be yours. Friends will admire you, parents will praise you, brethren in the priesthood will depend on you, and the young women will adore you and become even better because of you. God will honor  you and endow your priesthood service with power from on high.

W. Christopher Waddell -The Opportunity of a Lifetime

• "Missionary work is difficult. It taxes one's energies, it strains one's capacity it demands one's best effort. ... No other labor requires longer hours or greater devotion or such sacrifice and fervent prayer."
• There is no returned missionary for whom it is too late to consider the lessons obtained through faithful service and to apply them more diligently.
• Without the Spirit, you will never succeed regardless of your talent and ability.
• Yours is the privilege to be not spectators but participants on the stage of priesthood service.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf -Providing in the Lord's Way

• The Give of all life has proclaimed, "All things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal." This means to me that "spiritual life is first of all a life. It is not merely something to be known and studied, it is to be lived."
• He is not only interested in our immediate needs; He is also concerned about our eternal progression.
• "This isn't a program of 'give me,'" they said. "This is a program of 'self-help.'"
• Brethren, please do not think that this is someone else's responsibility. It is mine, and it is yours. we are all enlisted. "All" means all--every Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood holder, rich and poor, in every nation. In the Lord's plan, there is something everyone can contribute.
• Too often we notice the needs around us, hoping that someone from far away will magically appear to meet those needs. Perhaps we wait for experts with specialized knowledge to solve specific problems. When we do this, we deprive our neighbor of the service we could render, and we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to serve. While there is nothing wrong with experts, let's face it: there will never be enough of them to solve all the problems. Instead, the Lord has placed His priesthood and its organization at our doorsteps in every nation where the Church is established. And, right by its side, He has placed the Relief Society. As we priesthood holders know, no welfare effort is successful if it fails to make use of the remarkable gifts and talents of our sisters.
• The Lord's way is not to sit at the side of the stream and wait for the water to pass before we cross. It is to come together, roll up our sleeves, go to work, and build a bridge or a boat to cross the waters of our challenges.
• The welfare principles of the Church are not simply good ideas; they are revealed truths from God--they are His way of helping the needy.
• There is no one-size-fits-all answer in Church welfare. It is a self-help program where individuals are responsible for personal self-reliance.
• You will receive specific guidance as to the who, what, when, and where of providing in the Lord's way.

Henry B. Eyring -Preparation in the Priesthood: "I Need Your Help"

• He will continue to prepare us as along as we will let Him.
• Don't worry about how inexperienced you are or think you are, but think about what, with the Lord's help, you can become.
• How to build that strength: it is to form a habit of pushing on through the fatigue and fear that might make you think of quitting.
• I can't be a perfect servant every hour, but I can try to give more effort than I thought I could.

Thomas S. Monson -Dare to Stand Alone

• As we go about living from day to day, it is almost inevitable that our faith will be challenged. We may at times find ourselves surrounded by others and yet standing in the minority or even standing alone concerning what is acceptable and what is not. Do we have the moral courage to stand firm for our beliefs, even if by so doing we must stand alone?
• "You cannot be immoral in any sense. You cannot be dishonest. You cannot cheat or lie.  You cannot take the name of God in vain or use filthy language and still have the right to the ministering of angels."
• "When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past."

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Syncing Problem

()_() GASP!!!

IT WORKED?!?!?!

So.
A while ago, I bought an iPod.
It's probably been two years or so. It feels like forever. Maybe just a year?
I got it before I got my new laptop in any case.

And with my new laptop, I had a bunch of new songs I had downloaded/uploaded.
One of those places was a homeshare with my Dad's library, has he's uploaded all the songs from the CDs we had at home.
I chose to download most of the songs there. But I didn't know what most of the songs were.
Which meant I would probably end up deleting some songs as I listened to them because I didn't like them.

In any case.
There were a gazillion songs I had. I never got a true number of how many songs I had on my laptop in the beginning.
I just knew it was more songs than my iPod could hold.
As I chose to buy an iPod with only 16gbs
That way I would only put songs on there I wanted to listen to.
Kinda silly now, but that's what I did.

So I didn't have enough room to download all the songs to my iPod.

Instead, I chose to just deal with the old songs from my old laptop that were on my iPod until I could listen to the songs on my new laptop, decide which ones I wanted to keep, organize them into playlists, so then I could choose which ones to place on my iPod.

*shakes head*
It took me like 8 months to listen to all those songs lol.
But I completed it!!!

Only....
When I went to sync up my iPod with my laptop.
My iTunes on my Laptop wasn't recognizing that my iPod was an iPod.
O.o
No device was showing up. Y_Y
My computer knew it was a device. As it kept asking me if I wanted to upload pictures or not.
But nothing about music.

Y_Y
For some reason, my iPod didn't like my computer or my computer didn't like my iPod.
I mean, thanks to the cloud I could get some songs from my iTunes. But only ones I had bought. Not ones I'd uploaded. Y_Y

However.

Today.
I went to grab my iPod to take it to church with me.
Since I use that as my scriptures more often than not now.
But...it was off.
O.o
I had thought it had enough battery last night as I'd used it.
Perhaps it had died during the night.

So I plugged it in and left.

And hours later, in the evening.
I remembered my iPod.
I went to check it.
....O.o and it was still off.
Just doing a black screen.
O.o
Maybe I hadn't had the charger plugged in properly.
So I plugged it in elsewhere.
For no sign.

I pressed buttons, checked other chargers and checked to make sure my cord was working.....
To no avail.
Blackness.

HAD MY IPOD DIED?!?!?
()_() Noooo!!!!!

My sister suggested that I google it, just to see if the online community had another idea to try.
Which they were like "Press both the power and the home button at the same time in order to turn it on."
Oh.
Right.

But why was it turned off in the first place?!

So I did that. Pressed the buttons, and my iPod turned back on!! Yay!!
It wasn't dead!!!

At that point, I had had it plugged into my laptop to charge it that way as I multitasked.
And randomly my iTunes popped up. O.o Huh?
I hadn't clicked on you.

And that's when I saw it.
The little picture in the top left corner.
The symbol of a device connecting.

()_()
Could it be?
Was it true?!
Was my iPod actually connecting with my laptop iTunes?!

It was.
It was!!
Finally.
Finally I could connect!
Finally I could put songs on my Ipod I wasn't able to before.

You have no idea how happy this has made me. ^^

Yay!!!
My iPod syncs again!!
Apparently it just needed a hard reset to remember it's supposed to be a music device and not just a picture device. lol

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Back and Forth

Today has been weird.

Emotionally wise.

As it's felt quite like the pendulum swinging back and forth.

Where one minute I'm happy, the next I'm sad, then I'm back to happy again.

At one moment, there's excitement causing my heart to pitter patter.

The next tears are threatening to fall.

O.o

It's weird.

It's like "Oh I forget I'm not supposed to be happy! Yay Happy Hyper!"

"Wait, I should be sad! Boo hoo I sad!"

*shakes head*

I don't quite understand it.

I think it's something where, I hadn't had much positive energy around me in the last little while, so I've dealt with more negative situations, so I wasn't totally happy excited about things.

Now that I'm in a new situation, with more positive energy, It's much easier to have a brighter attitude, to feel happy, excited, have a gleam in my eye, a skip to my step.

And then I got hit with some negativity.

Where I'm like "Oh! I've been hit! I should be sad!"

But I'm too upbeat too be sad, even though my brain is telling me to be so.

There is too much good. Why have the sad?

But the sad is like "Remember! Remember being sad?! You should be sad!"

So there's like this tug of war happening.

Where the happy is actually winning.

But the sad does sometimes pull ahead.

Yah.

It's weird to have it jumping back and forth.

I mean, I've started out the days in one emotion gone to a different one, and ended up back at the first.

But today is different.

It's like a fast moving metronome.

Back. Forth. Back. Forth.

Weird. So weird.

Hope it stops soon.

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

How to React

.... I've been struggling with how to write this post all day.

I mean, I could have easily blogged about something else. Some other event or thought process or thing that happened today.

But I've discovered that the easiest way to move past a problem. Is to blog about it. Get it down, get my feelings out, and then just work on forgetting it from that point on.

So.

I don't know how many of you readers know this.

But I have a twitter account.

It's been active for a bit now. I mean, I started it whenever I finished that reading goal I had a couple years ago of reading all the general conference talks from the year of my birth to the current year.

...I halfway think that was in 2012 that I finished it....Time passes so weirdly nowadays.

In any case.

On that twitter account, I decided to redo that Conference Goal.

Except I'm reading all the conference talks available on the LDS Gospel Library App (which is like 1972-2016) and then I'm posting the parts of it I like on twitter.

- If you're aware of my gospel blog - www.warriorofinspiration.blogspot.com then what's posted on Twitter is basically what is posted on that blog. -The blog will have more posts though because some quotes are just too long to post within Twitter's character limit.- lol.

Now Twitter....isn't that nice of a place on occasion.

Especially if you're posting something contrary to what an individual believes.

Then they can light into you like crazy. Writing things to make you feel bad, saying things to try and make you doubt yourself.

For the most part, I've managed to avoid this.

But posting about the LDS General Conference....basically attracts the haters.

Most often it's during the actual sessions of General Conference that they come out of the woodwork.

However,

Yesterday, I was posting some quotes I liked from Howard W. Hunter's October 1974 General Conference: To Know God

The link to it can be found here: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1974/10/to-know-god?lang=eng

The basic premise of the talk is that the search for Scientific Discoveries and the Search to Know God can be conducted along similar pathways.

And it attracted the ire of one of the anti-Mormon accounts that randomly decided to start following me a week or so ago.

*shakes head*

It was the sort of situation where they were like "Science is more logical than people believing in Tall Tales!" "You can't compare the two!" "Who says that the church encourages people to study out their principles, doctrines, and history before they join! This totally doesn't mesh with Science!!"

*rolls eyes*

You know these people are just itching for a fight.

They're not going to listen to reason.

They just want to browbeat you into the dust with their 'proof, and evidences and blah blah blah"

And anything you give them that is 'spiritual and heartfelt' is seen as insane because it's not 'physical proof.'

You're a 'blind sheep, part of a cult, are drinking the kool-aid'

Which is rather irritating.

I don't like being treated like I'm a five-year-old who knows nothing.

So my own ire rises. I want to fight back. To put them in their place and get them to shut up.

The problem is.

They won't shut up.

Feed the fire and you'll get more fire.

After all. These anti-people are waiting to fight with anyone who decides to cross their path.

They're the jaws of trap, the claws of crab grasping hard and not willing to let go.

And you know they're just saying things to get you to respond back. To prove yourself sane. To prove that you're not the crazy one.

*exhales*

So I've spent the last couple of days with a headache because of these anti-Mormon people. As I want to prove myself.

Not exactly prove myself right. But to get them to shut up for a minute would be really nice.

In any case.

The headache results from me having mental arguments with the people. Where I come up with ideas, and theories, and back it up with sources from conferences and scriptures and just life in general. And rehash them and rehash them trying to make it perfect.

The problem is....I don't know what the other side is going to say. (so these arguments end up staying inside my head more often than not) So when/if they say something different. It throws off the whole groove I had going, which sends me on another tract, where my mind is running around in circles.

But....

I think this is where I struggle.

Why do people find joy in proving others wrong? In taking away their happiness in their beliefs? Why are they so adamant to prove that people who are religious are a bunch of crazies?

Perhaps I was just raised differently.

But just because I have a different opinion on how the world work doesn't mean that I'm wrong. It doesn't mean that the other person is wrong. It just means we're different.

After all, we're all human, we're all individuals. It's up to us to decide what we end up believing in and doing.

Do some people research something to pieces before they decide whether or not they agree with it? Yes.

Do other people here something and think "Oh, that's cool, I'll go with that." and automatically agree?

Yes.

Are there people in the middle who do some research but for the most part accept what they're told as true?

Yes.

Does that mean any of these people are wrong?

No.

That's the nice thing about being individuals. We can believe act and do whatever we like.

Just because one of us is marching to the beat of a different drum doesn't mean that they're wrong.

Perhaps I'm just more accepting of differences.

I grew up being exposed to different religions, different standards, and different beliefs via traveling, meeting people, reading books, and just searching out answers to questions on my own.

Does that mean I have to agree with them all? No.

Does that mean they have to agree with my religion? My standards? my beliefs?

No.

It would be nice if they would respect them, as I'm perfectly capable of respecting other people's choices without having to agree with them. Why can't they do the same in return?

*shakes head*

It's hard to have conversations with people who just want to force their thought process down your throat. Can there be a reasonable conversation with them?

Honestly, I'm not sure.

The peacemaker within me wants to believe that it is possible to just meet up on neutral ground and talk things out. Hear each side, come to an agreement to disagree and leave on friendly ground.

But if one comes planning to attack, while one plans to just come......

The outcome will be rather bloody.

Especially if this discourse takes place within the 140 character limit of Twitter feeds.

It's so hard to have real conversations there.

In any case.

Just because I share something doesn't mean I'm trying to convert others to it. Sharing religious quotes is no different than quoting your favorite movie, sharing an inspirational thought, chatting about a favorite hobby, discussing the finer points of that football game the other night. Some people will be interested in it, some people won't. People share what they love. What they're passionate about. Whether that is The Church, The Flash, Red Rocks, or Pepper Jack Cheese.

Just because I love it doesn't mean you need to love it too. Again, we're individuals. We don't all need to like or believe in the same thing to get along. :)

As a final note on this whole thing....

The main thoughts that I've been having the past couple of days of dealing with the haters are these:

1. God is Perfect. People are not. They make mistakes.

2. Doubt your Doubts before you Doubt your Faith.

3. Let your Light shine. Spread Goodness, Positivity. Feed the Positive not the Negative.

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi